ISLAMABAD, 10 May 2007 — The Supreme Court yesterday issued a decree banning comments, speculations, slogans, analyses and hypothetical commentaries by the print and electronic media concerning Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s case.
A statement issued by the top court said, “Any attempt to comment on the conduct of judges, speculations, analyses, hypothetical comments or questions and statements will be considered contempt of court and the court will take notice of it.” Only newsmen with special entry cards will be allowed in the court. The special cards will be issued by the registrar of the court.
The statement banned all kinds of slogans, which were used during the previous proceedings of the Supreme Judicial Council by lawyers and political activists. Those slogans were, however, not directed against the court but against President Pervez Musharraf.
Suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry plans to address the Sindh High Court Bar Association on May 12. The Muttaheda Qaumi Movement, a partner in the Sindh ruling coalition, has planned a rally in Karachi the same day.
President Musharraf is also scheduled to address a public meeting in Islamabad.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government yesterday sealed the offices of President of Supreme Court Bar Association Munir Malik in Karachi, who is one of the defense lawyers of Iftikhar Chaudhry. Two judges of the Sindh High Court admitted a petition by Malik alleging that the police had removed papers from his office when they came to seal it.
President Gen. Pervez Musharraf defended his contentious suspension of the chief justice as being in state interests, but an international lawyers’ group called alleged coercion of the judge “unacceptable.” Musharraf, who is also army chief, suspended Chaudhry on March 9 for alleged misconduct, triggering major protests by lawyers and opposition groups who say the judiciary’s independence is under attack.
With demonstrations escalating, the US-backed ruler faces his worst political crisis since he seized power nearly eight years ago, promising to strengthen and restore democracy.
Musharraf, who is vying for a new five-year presidential term this year, defended his suspension of Chaudhry in an address late Tuesday.
“In dealing with matters of state, you have to leave your personal and social relations aside,” the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency quoted Musharraf during a speech in Rawalpindi, a city near the capital, Islamabad.
“I had to decide whether the state or whether personal relations were more important ... and I stood for the state,” Musharraf said. “The state demands justice and fair play.”
Since his appointment in 2005, Chaudhry has made rulings that challenged the government’s authority and human rights record. The government has accused him of abusing his office, including seeking unauthorized privileges for himself and relatives.
The London-based International Bar Association issued a statement received yesterday saying “the atmosphere of intimidation and coercion” that had been brought to bear on the chief justice to try forcing him to resign — which he refused to do — was “unacceptable.”
“This is a very serious situation. The events are contrary to international standards requiring respect for judicial independence and fairness to judges facing allegations of misconduct,” said Phillip Tahmindjis of the bar association.
