Excellency,
I am the Chief Justice of Pakistan presently detained in my residence since November 3, 2007 pursuant to some verbal, and unspecified, order passed by General Musharraf.
I have found it necessary to write to you, and others, because during his recent visits to Brussels, Paris, Davos and London General Musharraf has slandered me, and my colleagues, with impunity in press conferences and other addresses and meetings.
Complete Letter From Beginning Below
His Excellency
The President of the European Parliament,
Brussels.
His Excellency
The President of France,
Paris.
His Excellency
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,
London.
Her Excellency
Ms. Condaleeza Rice,
Secretary of State,
United States of America,
Washington D.C.
Professor Klaus Schwab,
World Economic Forum,
Geneva.
All through their respective Ambassodors, High Commissioners and representatives.
Excellency,
I am the Chief Justice of Pakistan presently detained in my residence since November 3, 2007 pursuant to some verbal, and unspecified, order passed by General Musharraf.
I have found it necessary to write to you, and others, because during his recent visits to Brussels, Paris, Davos and London General Musharraf has slandered me, and my colleagues, with impunity in press conferences and other addresses and meetings. In addition he has widely distributed, among those whom he has met, a slanderous document (hereinafter the Document) entitled: “PROFILE OF THE FORMER CHIEF JUSTICE OF PAKISTAN”. I might have let this go unresponded but the Document, unfortunately, is such an outrage that, with respect, it is surprising that a person claiming to be head of state should fall to such depths as to circulate such calumny against the Chief Justice of his own country.
In view of these circumstances I have no option but to join issue with General Musharraf and to put the record straight. Since he has voiced his views on several public occasions so as to reach out to the public at large, I also am constrained to address your excellencies in an Open Letter to rebut the allegations against me.
At the outset you may be wondering why I have used the words “claiming to be the head of state”. That is quite deliberate. General Musharraf’s constitutional term ended on November 15, 2007. His claim to a further term thereafter is the subject of active controversy before the Supreme Court of Pakistan. It was while this claim was under adjudication before a Bench of eleven learned judges of the Supreme Court that the General arrested a majority of those judges in addition to me on November 3, 2007. He thus himself subverted the judicial process which remains frozen at that point. Besides arresting the Chief Justice and judges (can there have been a greater outrage?) he also purported to suspend the Constitution and to purge the entire judiciary (even the High Courts) of all independent judges. Now only his hand-picked and compliant judges remain willing to “validate” whatever he demands. And all this is also contrary to an express and earlier order passed by the Supreme Court on November 3, 2007.
Meantime I and my colleagues remain in illegal detention. With me are also detained my wife and three of my young children, all school-going and one a special child. Such are the conditions of our detention that we cannot even step out on to the lawn for the winter sun because that space is occupied by police pickets. Barbed wire barricades surround the residence and all phone lines are cut. Even the water connection to my residence has been periodically turned off. I am being persuaded to resign and to forego my office, which is what I am not prepared to do.
I request you to seek first hand information of the barricades and of my detention, as that of my children, from your Ambassador/High Commissioner/representative in Pakistan. You will get a report of such circumstances as have never prevailed even in medieval times. And these are conditions put in place, in the twenty-first century, by a Government that you support.
Needless to say that the Constitution of Pakistan contains no provision for its suspension, and certainly not by the Chief of Army Staff. Nor can it be amended except in accordance with Articles 238 and 239 which is by Parliament and not an executive or military order. As such all actions taken by General Musharraf on and after November 3 are illegal and ultra vires the Constitution. That is why it is no illusion when I describe myself as the Chief Justice even though I am physically and forcibly incapacitated by the state apparatus under the command of the General. I am confident that as a consequence of the brave and unrelenting struggle continued by the lawyers and the civil society, the Constitution will prevail.
However, in the meantime, General Musharraf has launched upon a vigourous initiative to defame and slander me. Failing to obtain my willing abdication he has become desperate. The eight-page Document is the latest in this feverish drive.
Before I take up the Document itself let me recall that the General first ousted me from the Supreme Court on March 9 last year while filing an indictment (in the form of a Reference under Article 209 of the Constitution) against me. According to the General the Reference had been prepared after a thorough investigation and comprehensively contained all the charges against me. I had challenged that Reference and my ouster before the Supreme Court. On July 20 a thirteen member Bench unanimously struck down the action of the General as illegal and unconstitutional. I was honourably reinstated.
The Reference was thus wholly shattered and all the charges contained therein trashed. These cannot now be regurgitated except in contempt of the Supreme Court. Any way, since the Document has been circulated by no less a person than him I am constrained to submit the following for your kind consideration in rebuttal thereof:
The Document is divided into several heads but the allegations contained in it can essentially be divided into two categories: those allegations that were contained in the Reference and those that were not.
Quite obviously, those that are a repeat from the Reference hold no water as these have already been held by the Supreme Court to not be worth the ink they were written in. In fact, the Supreme Court found that the evidence submitted against me by the Government was so obviously fabricated and incorrect, that the bench took the unprecedented step of fining the Government Rs. 100,000 (a relatively small amount in dollar terms, but an unheard of sum with respect to Court Sanction in Pakistan) for filing clearly false and malicious documents, as well as revoking the license to practice of the Advocate on Record for filing false documents. Indeed, faced with the prospect of having filed clearly falsified documents against me, the Government’s attorneys, including the Attorney General, took a most dishonorable but telling approach. Each one, in turn, stood before the Supreme Court and disowned the Government’s Reference, and stated they had not reviewed the evidence against me before filing it with Court. They then filed a formal request to the Court to withdraw the purported evidence, and tendered an unconditional apology for filing such a scandalous and false documents. So baseless and egregious were the claims made by General Musharraf that on July 20th, 2007, the full Supreme Court for the first time in Pakistan’s history, ruled unanimously against a sitting military ruler and reinstated me honorably to my post.
Despite having faced these charges in open court, must I now be slandered with those same charges by General Musharraf in world capitals, while I remain a prisoner and unable to speak in my defense?
There are, of course, a second set of charges. These were not contained in the Reference and are now being bandied around by the General at every opportunity.
I forcefully and vigorously deny every single one of them. The truth of these “new” allegations can be judged from the fact that they all ostensibly date to the period before the reference was filed against me last March, yet none of them was listed in the already bogus charge sheet.
If there were any truth to these manufactured charges, the Government should have included them in the reference against me. God knows they threw in everything including the kitchen sink into that scurrilous 450 page document, only to have it thrown out by the entire Supreme Court after a 3 month open trial.
The charges against me are so transparently baseless that General Musharraf’s regime has banned the discussion of my situation and the charges in the broadcast media. This is because the ridiculous and flimsy nature of the charges is self-evident whenever an opportunity is provided to actually refute them.
Instead, the General only likes to recite his libel list from a rostrum or in gathering where there is no opportunity for anyone to respond. Incidentally, the General maligns me in the worst possible way at every opportunity. That is the basis for the Document he has distributed. But he has not just deposed me from the Judiciary. He has also fired more than half of the Superior Judiciary of Pakistan – nearly 50 judges in all — together with me. They have also been arrested and detained.
What are the charges against them? Why should they be fired and arrested if I am the corrupt judge? Moreover even my attorneys Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir Malik, Tariq Mahmood and Ali Ahmed Kurd were also arrested on November 3. Malik alone has been released but only because both his kidneys collapsed as a result of prison torture.
Finally, as to the Document, it also contains some further allegations described as “Post-Reference Conduct” that is attributed to me under various heads. This would mean only those allegedly ‘illegal’ actions claimed to have been taken by me after March 9, 2007. These are under the heads given below and replied to as under:
1. “Participation in SJC (Supreme Judicial Council) Proceedings”:
(a) Retaining ‘political lawyers’: Aitzaz Ahsan and Zammurrad Khan:
It is alleged that I gave a political colour to my defence by engaging political lawyers Aitzaz Ahsan and Zamurrad Khan both Pakistan Peoples’ Party Members of the National Assembly. The answer is simple.
I sought to engage the best legal team in the country. Mr. Ahsan is of course an MNA (MP), but he is also the top lawyer in Pakistan. For that reference may be made simply to the ranking of Chambers and Partners Global. Such is his respect in Pakistan’s legal landscape that he was elected President of the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan by one of the widest margins in the Association’s history.
All high profile personalities have placed their trust in his talents. He has thus been the attorney for Prime Ministers Bhutto and Sharif, (even though he was an opponent of the latter) Presidential candidate (against Musharraf) Justice Wajihuddin, sports star and politician Imran Khan, former Speakers, Ministers, Governors, victims of political vendetta, and also the internationally acclaimed gang-rape victim Mukhtar Mai, to mention only a few.
Equally important, Barrister Ahsan is a man of integrity who is known to withstand all pressures and enticements. That is a crucial factor in enaging an attorney when one’s prosecutor is the sitting military ruler, with enourmous monetary and coercive resources at his disposal.
Mr. Zamurrad Khan is also a recognized professional lawyer, a former Secretary of the District Bar Rawalpindi, and was retained by Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan to assist him in the case. Mr. Khan has been a leading light of the Lawyers’ Movement for the restoration of the deposed judiciary and has bravely faced all threats and vilification.
Finally, surely I am entitled to my choice of lawyers and not that of the General.
(b) “Riding in Mr. Zafarullah Jamali (former Prime Minister)’s car”:
How much the Document tries to deceive is apparent from the allegation that I willingly rode in Mr. Jamali’s car for the first hearing of the case against me on March 13 (as if that alone is an offence). Actually the Government should have been ashamed of itself for creating the circumstances that forced me to take that ride.
Having been stripped of official transport on the 9th March (my vehicles were removed from my house by the use of fork lifters), I decided to walk the one-mile to the Supreme Court. Along the way I was molested and manhandled, my hair was pulled and neck craned in the full blaze of the media, by a posse of policemen under the supervision of the Inspector General of Police. (A judicial inquiry, while I was still deposed, established this fact). In order to escape the physical assault I took refuge with Mr. Jamali and went the rest of the journey on his car. Instead of taking action against the police officials for manhandling the Chief Justice it is complained that I was on the wrong!
(c) “Creating a political atmosphere”:
Never did I instigate or invite any “political atmosphere”. I never addressed the press or any political rally. I kept my lips sealed even under extreme provocation from the General and his ministers who were reviling me on a daily basis. I maintained a strict judicial silence. I petitioned the Supreme Court and won. That was my vindication.
2. “Country wide touring and Politicising the Issue”:
The Constitution guarantees to all citizens free movement throughout Pakistan. How can this then be a complaint?
By orders dated March 9 and 15 (both of which were found to be without lawful authority by the Court) I had been sent of “forced leave”. I could neither perform any judicial or administrative functions as the Chief Justice of Pakistan. I was prevented not only from sitting in court but also from access to my own chamber by the force of arms under orders of the General. (All my papers were removed, even private documents).
The only function as ‘a judge on forced leave’ that I could perform was to address and deliver lectures to various Bar Associations. I accepted their invitations. They are peppered all over Pakistan. I had to drive to these towns as all these are not linked by air. On the way the people of Pakistan did, indeed, turn out in their millions, often waiting from dawn to dusk or from dusk to dawn, to greet me. But I never addressed them even when they insisted that I do. I never spoke to the press. I sat quietly in my vehicle without uttering a word. All this is on the record as most journeys were covered by the media live and throughout.
I spoke only to deliver lectures on professional and constitutional issues to the Bar Associations. Transcripts of every single one of my addresses are available. Every single word uttered by me in those addresses conforms to the stature, conduct and non-political nature of the office of the Chief Justice. There was no politics in these whatsoever. I did not even mention my present status or the controversy or the proceedings before the Council or the Court, not even the Reference. Not even once.
All the persons named in the Document under this head are lawyers and were members of the reception committees in various towns and Bar Associations.
3. Political Leaders Calling on CJP residence:
It is alleged that I received political leaders while I was deposed. It is on the record of the Supreme Judicial Council itself that I was detained after being deposed on March 9. The only persons allowed to meet me were those cleared by the Government. One was a senior political leader. None else was allowed to see me, initially not even my lawyers. How can I be blamed for whomsoever comes to my residence?
Had I wanted to politicize the issue I would have gone to the Press or invited the media. I did not. I had recourse to the judicial process for my reinstatement and won. The General lost miserably in a fair and straight contest. That is my only fault.
4. “Conclusion”:
Hence the conclusion drawn by the General that charges had been proved against me ‘beyond doubt’ is absolutely contrary to the facts and wide off the mark. It is a self-serving justification of the eminently illegal action of firing and arresting judges of superior courts under the garb of an Emergency (read Martial Law) when the Constitution was ‘suspended’ and then ‘restored’ later with drastic and illegal ‘amendments’ grafted into it.
The Constitution cannot be amended except by the two Houses of Parliament and by a two-thirds majority in each House. That is the letter of the law. How can one man presume or arrogate to himself that power?
Unfortunately the General is grievously economical with the truth (I refrain from using the word ‘lies’) when he says that the charges against me were ‘investigated and verified beyond doubt’. As explained above, these had in fact been rubbished by the Full Court Bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan against which judgment the government filed no application for review.
What the General has done has serious implications for Pakistan and the world. In squashing the judiciary for his own personal advantage and nothing else he has usurped the space of civil and civilized society. If civilized norms of justice will not be allowed to operate then that space will, inevitably, be occupied by those who believe in more brutal and instant justice: the extremists in the wings. Those are the very elements the world seems to be pitted against. Those are the very elements the actions of the General are making way for.
Some western governments are emphasizing the unfolding of the democratic process in Pakistan. That is welcome, if it will be fair. But, and in any case, can there be democracy if there is no independent judiciary?
Remember, independent judges and judicial processes preceded full franchise by several hundred years. Moreover, which judge in Pakistan today can be independent who has before his eyes the fate and example of his own Chief Justice: detained for three months along with his young children. What is the children’s crime, after all?
There can be no democracy without an independent judiciary, and there can be no independent judge in Pakistan until the action of November 3 is reversed. Whatever the will of some desperate men the struggle of the valiant lawyers and civil society of Pakistan will bear fruit. They are not giving up.
Let me also assure you that I would not have written this letter without the General’s unbecoming onslaught. That has compelled me to clarify although, as my past will testify, I am not given into entering into public, even private, disputes. But the allegations against me have been so wild, so wrong and so contrary to judicial record, that I have been left with no option but to put the record straight. After all, a prisoner must also have his say. And if the General’s hand-picked judges, some living next door to my prison home, have not had the courage to invoke the power of ‘habeas corpus’ these last three months, what other option do I have? Many leaders of the world and the media may choose to brush the situation under the carpet out of love of the General. But that will not be.
Nevertheless, let me also reassure you that I continue in my resolve not to preside any Bench which will be seized of matters pertaining to the personal interests of General Musharraf after the restoration of the Constitution and the judges, which, God willing, will be soon.
Finally, I leave you with the question: Is there a precedent in history, all history, of 60 judges, including three Chief Justices (of the Supreme Court and two of Pakistan’s four High Courts), being dismissed, arrested and detained at the whim of one man? I have failed to discover any such even in medieval times under any emperor, king, or sultan, or even when a dictator has had full military sway over any country in more recent times. But this incredible outrage has happened in the 21st century at the hands of an extremist General out on a ‘charm offensive’ of western capitals and one whom the west supports.
I am grateful for your attention. I have no other purpose than to clear my name and to save the country (and perhaps others as well) from the calamity that stares us in the face. We can still rescue it from all kinds of extremism: praetorian and dogmatic. After all, the edifice of an independent judicial system alone stands on the middle ground between these two extremes. If the edifice is destroyed by the one, the ground may be taken over by the other. That is what is happening in Pakistan. Practitioners of rough and brutal justice will be welcomed in spaces from where the practitioners of more refined norms of justice and balance have been made to abdicate.
I have enormous faith that the Constitution and justice will soon prevail.
Yours truly,
Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhry,
Chief Justice of Pakistan,
Presently:
Imprisoned in the Chief Justice’s House,
Islamabad.
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January 30th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
According to Shaikh Rasheed, ” There will be no election on Feb 18 and there will not be any election in Pakistan ever”,..means something is cooking big in Pakistan. Only time will tell!!
January 30th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
wow
thats the way to deal with it
gud one a very gud one
that is the last nail in the couffin of general musharaf
cj iftikhar is a brave man and he will prevail justice soon
January 30th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
I am just amazed at the nerve this usurper jurnail has to accuse the CJ of “politicizing” the issue…
The only reason these traitors (in literal sense of the word) are able to do this because Pakistani people do not offer them any resistance.
The British and American people love their military, but that love affair would end if any of them decided to usurp people’s power, and the culprits would be shot like DOGS in the streets of washington DC and London..
The citizens of a democracy are the final protectors of their freedom, and our jurnails need a little taste of that freedom instead of the usual apathy.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Mr CJ , come to Canada and live like among humans. Pakistan is not fit for you. leave them on their own circumstances.
agar inn logoon main ghairattt hotee too aaj aap apnay gharr main qaiddd na hotay.
let them see nargis mujra on cable. and u come here plz.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
ways we can bring Pakistan back to partial stability are
1) Free and Fair elections
2) Bring back pre-Nov3 judiciary
3) Mush resigns or take the 73′ constitutional role of a president. Not be a cowboy what he likes to be…
4) Unity among four provinces
5) Talk with Baloach leaders
6) People to people contact of Punjab and Interior Sindhis.
Read what Dr. Mazari, The writer is director general of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad, has to say:
the Pakistan military cannot fight without the support of the nation as a whole, as well as political and economic inputs from the state. Otherwise the army will expend all its force fighting bush fires, no matter how successfully…..
In Afghanistan: US success — of moving the centre of gravity of the war on terror into Pakistan. After all, was it not a deliberate policy to allow Al-Qaeda and the fighting Taliban an escape route from the south into Pakistani territory rather than moving in from the north and south right at the start of the war in Afghanistan post-9/11? http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=93628
January 30th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
How about a campaign or printing the copies and sending it Parliament members of EU. UK. USA and other legislative bodies?
January 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
I have worked in Ireland and UK for past ten years. One thing I have learnt here is that what is written on paper is far more effective and powerful than verbal messages.
I fully agree with econfused that we should print it or email it to all the members of the parliament in UK, france, USA, Ireland and whereever we can. This is the most effective way to counter this liar Musharraf.
Musharraf is after all an ordinary military man who are no more than FA pass. Even an ordinary lawyer who has done LLB is far more educated than him. He has absolutely no idea what minefield he has stepped in and this one letter wirtten so eloquently and in perfect legal language is far more effective than those handouts by Foreign Office spokesman.
So I would request everyone if you could please get us email addresses of UK, USA, France, EU, UN parlimanterians and all media outlets like CNN, NBC etc so that we can email this one letter.
We salute you Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. You have made us feel proud. We are with you and would do everything to end this mad man’s game.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
aahmad - I dont agree with your Mush adopting the President role. No way. He has to go. He is an illegal president and thats all. Even if he remains president for next five years he should always be addressed as illegal president so that in history books he goes as illegal president.
We should show no leniency to this mad man.
January 30th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
@econfused: this is a good idea! mail to parliamentarians is FREE in most western democracies. The only thing is finding the time to do all this..
I for one am going to send a copy to our local parliament member and a couple of mayors of big cities.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Lets start a campaign, we can use a thread in discussion. Put Name and addresses of people where you have sent it to. I will find the Senate member and congressman from my area, and others as well.
I am wondering, if we should a cover letter. Any lawyer here, who can provide us a cover letter, in which we can address the Congressman/senator?
January 30th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
This the way arrogant people handle the worst characters of society.Mussarf always use low level language against this man who is trying to teach him the basic laws of humanity and that is not even acceptable to him as he is suffering a problem -blind syndrome,.He only knows the language of baton and gun and surely he would encounter all such consequences that he created for others respectable people of Pakistan.It is just like cast the pearls before swine so honourable CJP dont waste your pearls in front of devil and keep it in care as these are divines for our weak and fragile nation.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Okay, let us coordinate this, @econfused can we ask admin to start a forum thread just for this?
I will get links for US & Canadian legislative bodies
It should be pretty easy to get the EU addresses too.
We should also send a copy (by FAX) to the Jurnails meeting tomorrow (does anyone know the FAX number of ex serviceman’s society?)
January 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
i am surprized at the CJ. Cant understand why he has taken up such a stand and that too for principles and pakistan. he could have stayed as CJ till 2013 and could have enjoyed all the perks and priviliges. infact he could have made millions and billions without any check had he given mush another term. his children and family would have had the ride of their life. It could have been paradise for him if he had allowed mush to continue in uniform. no general or federal secretary has resigned in protest against mush. i must say these judges deserve respect love and honor of entire nation
January 30th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
@taban.khamosh
Click on discuss and start a new topic. We will put names and addresses, so other visitors can use to send hard copies. We can ask our friends or give them copies along with envelopes, so there can be more than one letter.
Now if some one can provide a nice cover letter, and it would be good campaign. May be we set a goal of sending x (say 200) numbers by the Monday. I sure can mail 5 or 6.
January 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
@taban.khamosh
Started a thread, lets see if you can add the name and address. I will put some name and addresses soon.
http://pkpolitics.com/discuss/topic/campaign-send-cj-letter-to-eu-uk-usa-legislative-body-members?replies=1
January 30th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
Musharraf is a true example of a LIAR. Looking at the past he has been lying. Today he has issued a statement that he never used abusive language against the journalist. http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/story/2008/01/080129_mush_ziaudin_denial_ra.shtml
So Mush is just a pack of lies. Let this man not escape Pakistan. We should spread the letter of CJ and try to circulate it to our friends all over the world. Every one should know the facts. Writing to US will make no difference. How can GORA master let his brown servant go????? Lets have a line of action, instead of wasting our efforts alone, lets combine the efforts…….
January 30th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
@econfused: Thanks for starting the thread, I see someone has already put the US info, I am collecting Canada/US information for snail mail.
I agree with your idea that sending snail mail with a signed cover letter has more psychological impact.
I will put together a skeleton cover letter, it has to be short and sweet IMO, we can collectively spruce it up and use it as a template for snail-mails.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
@enfocused
It is a real great idea the best person i could imagine was George Galloway and i have forwarded him this letter since he is also running a popular radio program in UK he might have a program on this matter thanks.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Thanks to the honorable chief justice, millions in Pakistan still dream of a day when we will have rule of law instead of the rule of the gun. The brave lawyers and 60 brave judges led by the honorable chief justice seem to be all that stands between Pakistan and total hopelessness. Keep hope alive. Spread this message and do what you can, wherever you are, to change the ugly status quo. I have sent this letter to every major newspaper in the US and also the American Bar Association and the International Bar association. Please do the same for every journalist and legal body you know of.
If the people of Pakistan cannot stop this madman and the CJ’s brave stand goes to waste, then we will not deserve a state….somalia will look pretty compared to what lies in store for Pakistan.
January 30th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
@admin etc. I am not able to login to DISCUSS using my pkpolitics account (taban.khamosh) and when I try to register, it says name is already taken….
Here is the Canadian Info:
Find out who is your representative in current parliament (kaash ham bhi yeh din daekhaeN):
=======================================================
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/HouseOfCommons/MemberByPostalCode.aspx?Menu=HOC
Write them a letter with copy of CJ’s letter:
=================================
http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Parlinfo/Compilations/Addresses/ParliamentaryHOC.aspx
Mail may be sent postage-free to any Member at the following address:
>>>> NOTE: I’m not sure if it is free to the Constituency address!!! <<<<<
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
K1A 0A6
January 30th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
If 5 or more people write to a British MP, she/he is obliged to raise that issue in Parliament. More people write to them, better pressure would be on Musharraf. If you would like to write online:
http://www.writetothem.com/
PS: Make sure that you attach them the copy of this letter. Even if a couple of MPs take a stand, the government will have to take this seriously.
January 30th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Write to Australian MPs (those who live in Australia)
http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/mi-state.asp
January 30th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Write to Canadian Members of Parliament (For those in Canada)
http://webinfo.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E
January 30th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Write to the US Senators (From anywhere in the world)
http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
January 30th, 2008 at 9:19 pm
@ Optimist
Plz ask admin to put these links on the home page, so that everyone can see them.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
I do not want to disappoint my fellow Pakistanis, nor do I want to sound pessimistic, but I would like to tell them about a general ( NOT, JURNAILI ) PERCEPTION, prevalent amongst, that a majority of OLDER & MUCH experienced Pakistani people, of the ages beyond 85 years, BELIEVE, that Mush is NOT likely, to leave his present position, of his own accord.
The REASON they give, is, THAT, that NOBODY EVER, whether in Pakistan or abroad, left the ‘ Throne ‘ on his own, naming the following, as examples : -
In Pakistan.
Gov:Gen Ghulam Mohd; Presidents, Iskander Mirza, Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Z.A
Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq,etc.
Abroad. Iddi Amin in Uganda; King Faisal in Saudi in Arabia, and many many
other such people.
These seniors are also of the opinion, that whether it’s CIA of USA / MI 16 of
U.K / Mossad of Israel, all are behind putting various, so-called ‘ leaders ‘ ( who are actually their secret agents, on their ‘ Thrones ‘ like following ,: -
Hosni Mubarak in Egypt, King (?) Abdullah in Jordan, Saddam Hussain in Iraq, & so on & so forth. When these guys do not ‘ dance ‘ to the tunes of there Mentors/ Benefactors, anymore, then these ‘ ruling buffoons ‘ are REMOVED by killing
them, through various means.
Thus, COME WHAT MAY, nobody can remove Mush, the say, till he is seen,
as ‘ dancing to the tunes ‘ of his Mentors.
Do you believe in above?
January 30th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
Its good to see ,The honorable,detained Chief Justice of supreme court of Pakistan has responded to the baseless propaganda against him by The Dictator,although the factual position is obviously crystal clear to all of them as well as to the Nation and to the entire world .The House detention, unhuman/bad treatment given to honorable Judges will end only with the termination of illegle powers exercized by Dictator . In case power not withdrawn,there is a fear of civil war as I read in some News Paper{express /urdu ).Politicians called upon people to get ready to start civil disobedience .Any how the Lawyers movement
for the restoration of Rule of Law is geared up .Political movement like meeting of Shahbaz Sharif with Brigadier (r) Niaz and with Zardari ,while Dictator’s meetings with Brig. Niaz and with leader of MQM in London; Zardari’s suport to Dictator , if PPP gets 2/3 Majority in Paliment (impossible to get ) and the very first comment - Sh. Rasheed says, No elections . Some thing is expected in the coming days .
January 30th, 2008 at 10:39 pm
CJ Zindabad
January 30th, 2008 at 11:00 pm
Our whole system is corrupt thats why its giving births to Mush, Chaudaries, Generals and we let it and make it happen due to our deeds.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
@ Runied
I totaly agree with u.
Now what next??
whats the solution?
what shud we do now once we can believe whatever u have said..??
shall we keep silent and let this status q be there?
i m waiting for ur reply anxiously….
January 30th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
was the CJ also against Musharraf when he led a coup against Nawaz Sharif?
January 30th, 2008 at 11:19 pm
@GM
thats what we have and should started doing it creating awareness, public opininion calling people to the Laws defined by Allah and this is the first step towards implementation of shareat.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
Quran Allahs book, what he says to us, what he forbids about us we should start doing it which we arnt so the only solution is Allahs book and his messenger.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
This is a biased website with no freedom of speech.
My comment was not allowed to appear in response to Mr. Chaudry’s letter.
The only comment I will make about Mr. Chaudry (who is trying to be an angel now) is that he is the same person who took oath under the PCO (1999) issued by the same GENERAL MUSHARAF.
How can he criticize other judges who have now taken oath under a new PCO (2007) issued by the same GENERAL MUSHARAF. One should have principles and the character to stand by them.
The only reason he is angry and trying to be an angel is that he was not even allowed to take oath under a new PCO (2007) this time.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
@ admin
could you make a ‘featured article’ and put the above links to encourage people to write to their MPs. Also tell them to attach Chief Justice’s letter with that and ask them not to fear their status, i.e. student, visitor etc.. because I have seen many people being paranoid about this and that is why they don’t write or complain.
January 30th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Link to PDF for printing here (via Teeth Maestro) :
http://www.teeth.com.pk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/chief-justice-of-pakistan-responds.pdf
January 31st, 2008 at 12:02 am
CHOR BHI KAHE CHOR CHOR.
Funny but true
Retired generals to seek apology from nation
ISLAMABAD: Several high-profile retired generals, air marshals and admirals, who have asked President Musharraf to resign, have announced to seek an unqualified apology from the Pakistani nation for imposing martial laws in the past, abrogating the Constitution several times and not letting democracy flourish in the last 60 years.
They would make this admission of guilt today (Thursday) at a press conference with a request for forgiveness from the people of Pakistan, who have been suffering at the hands of dictatorship for the role played by them and their successors. They have also invited General (retd) Pervez Musharraf to attend the meeting.
But surprisingly despite their apology, which would be a welcome and refreshing departure from the norm, these adventurous generals and admirals of the past are not showing enough moral courage. They have given the task of seeking the apology to a retired brigadier, Mehmood Qazi. “I will apologise on the behalf of all the ex-servicemen for the past misdeeds,” Qazi told The News.
He is the convener of the meeting to be presided over by Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, a man whose role against Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is well known. The first speaker of Thursday’s meeting will be Lt. Gen. Abdul Majid Malik, a gentleman who was a major in 1956 when he drafted a resignation which General Ayub Khan forced President Iskandar Mirza to sign.
Malik has been a strong Musharraf supporter until the graduation clause for contesting the NA elections was introduced, leaving no option for him but to take a ‘principled’ stand. Discriminatory treatment meted out to him by the PML-Q leadership further pushed him into the ex-generals’ camp.
His speech will be followed by Mirza Aslam Beg, a former Army chief, whose political ambitions had forced the then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan to nominate the new Army chief three months prior to Beg’s retirement. His role in the famous Mehran Bank scandal and misuse of ISI funds for electoral/political manipulation is still fresh in public memory. His then DG ISI, Lt. Gen. (retd) Asad Durrani, who had distributed Rs.140 million to win over ‘for-sale’ politicians never felt ashamed of his role or offered an apology.
After consuming two ambassadorial positions for four years during the Musharraf regime, Durrani has plenty of time now to criticise Musharraf. Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Gul, former DG ISI, is yet another activist who never thought very high of any civilian prime minister. As master spy, he employed all the dirty tricks to dislodge Benazir Bhutto’s first government. These days he can count the damage that the Army’s political role could incur on the political fabric of the society.
Another ex-serviceman and sitting President Gen. (retd) Pervez Musharraf was probably right in using the term “good for nothing generals” for some of these ex-serviceman. However, this correspondent came to realise the truth of Musharraf’s words only recently when he was handed over a letter addressed to Musharraf for publication.
Initially, none of these generals was ready to name himself as the author of the letter, including those who had authored it. Air Marshal (retd) Asghar Khan, who had approved the draft of this letter, refused to acknowledge it when contacted. A ghost author and the convener of today’s meeting, Brig. (retd) Mehmood Qazi, shifted the responsibility to others, including Gen. Hamid Gul, who was reluctant to own it. He rang up this correspondent to clarify that he had not written it. However, by that time the letter had gone into print.
Brig. (retd) Mehmood requested this correspondent that his name should not be identified. Other co-authors also made the same request, fearing that Musharraf could retaliate.
The truth dawned upon this scribe by accident when he overheard Brig. (retd) Mehmood talking to his colleagues. He was admitting that he gave wrong names to the media. He was heard disclosing to his colleague that the letter was initially written by him and he had used unprintable language.
Mehmood told his colleagues that many ex-servicemen raised objections to his writing and sought a correction. Asghar Khan later formed a committee to redraft the letter, which was subsequently approved by him before it was sent to the press.
When confronted with these facts, Mehmood did not admit that he was sharing the real story of the letter with his colleagues, which this correspondent overheard. Mehmood, however, admitted that Gen. Hamid Gul was not the co-author of the letter and admitted that he wrongly included his name among the list of the authors. Mehmood instead said there was serious resentment shown by the co-authors, who were of the view that Gul’s name must not be passed on to the press, as he was a controversial figure.
January 31st, 2008 at 12:35 am
@ ramzi
Yes CJ took PCO (1999) issued by the same GENERAL MUSHARAF. But We should forget about the past roles being played by some personalities we have a saying
“Dair ai Durust ai”
“Subah ka bhoola sham ko ghar ai to usai bhoola nahi kahtai”
and the good thing is atleast CJ have awaked
January 31st, 2008 at 12:53 am
@ramzi,
You are such a genius? how did you figure that out. What was the crime of rest of judges? If only CJ was corrupt, what about 60 others.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:02 am
CJ’s letter and related article have made it to the front page of New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/world/asia/31pakistan.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
January 31st, 2008 at 1:16 am
I know this not the place for the topic but I felt importance.
About 100 ex military officer are going to give unconditional appolize to the people of Pakistan Today (thrusday)
These general do haave the gut to face the media and some some brigadier to face the media.
I would like to ask this general are they going to give back the loots of people of Pakistan. If they are ask for forgivenss are they going to surrender their Ranks.
Would this forgiveness would include People of East Pakistan. Liaquat Ali Khan, Z.Bhutto, Nawaz Sharriff, BB.
Is Retd Air Marshall Ashgar Khan would tell us about his role in the murder of ZAB.
If any of you know the addresses of this General please post or Email it me so I can write what right these general had to destory by country Pakistan made by politician.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:19 am
Why did Chief Justice addressed Mushy as General. He no longer is a General. Anyways, nice to see its getting out there for people to read. I wonder what do the mushy chamchas say when they read this. Probably still in a state of denial and lies. I was very much hoping that people should revolt against him when he is out of the country and take it back. lol. We really need a Che.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:05 am
This fraud should be thankful to Musharraf for not throwing him out of the Government home that he is occupying illegally which proves that there is democracy and human rights in Pakistan. If it would be a dictatorship, he would have beeen thrown out on his butt a long time ago. Does he still think he is Chief Justice? He is making all of you think the same and all of you are so happy to drink this coolaid. You deserve this.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:05 am
@ kinnare
your demands are legitimate. But I would suggest that wait till they apologise. This will put them on the first right step. Then we can add more.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:37 am
CJ should deliver a triple chapair and laathee charge on Mush’s ugly bottom.
CJ is an enlightened hero - THE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN. Mush is a sleazy cheapster, referendum cheatercock, instition destroying cures..
he could sell suzukis well — Especially to naiive foreigners. just as he sells his stale story about being the only choice for our blighted country.
Time to GO MUSH. SEE THE WRITING ON THE WALL> LEAVE US TO OUR FATE - WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR SHENANIGANS. THE MASK IS OFF.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:40 am
sorry that should read CURSE and not cures….!!! hardly a cure for anything, our general-fraudster.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:43 am
Please check out this site.
http://www.ppp.org.pk/
January 31st, 2008 at 3:51 am
Long live Chief Justice Iftikhar, he will be back! inshallah
January 31st, 2008 at 4:33 am
Today in the news it says the generals will appologize the nation. Why a junior brigadier? why not the senior most one???? or they are still a stiff neck not willingly doing it???
January 31st, 2008 at 6:15 am
retired musharaf wanted to assure his masters that his every action is legal and justified. Its a shame that the so called democratic countries have nothing to contribute but to back this tyrant because of their selfish interests. great job Chief justice, together we stand with you.
January 31st, 2008 at 6:20 am
@busybee
They are just confirming their cowardice. Read the article posted by khosa above…
January 31st, 2008 at 6:51 am
Musharraf met daughter of Aitzaz in Davos
By Khaleeq Kiani
ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: President Pervez Musharraf had an unannounced meeting in Davos with Saman Ahsan, daughter of Aitzaz Ahsan, the incarcerated leader of lawyers, to persuade her father to give up opposition to his regime, it is learnt.
”Saman was not convinced with whatever views he put across,” said Mr Ahsan’s wife Bushra Aitzaz while, confirming that the president had had a one-to-one meeting with her daughter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
Saman, 30, works with the WEF in Geneva as project manager of the Council of 100 Leaders (C100), an initiative for dialogue between Muslims and the West. The meeting took place through Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, who is a friend of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz.
Mr Aziz attended the WEF where he met corporate leaders and spent substantial time with President Musharraf.
Mr Ahsan’s daughter is reported to have told her friends and colleagues after the meeting that the president had asked her to convince her father “not to come in my way”.
Mrs Aitzaz said the president had not given any message to her daughter.
She said the WEF executive chairman had raised the issues of democracy, removal and detention of independent judges and assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in his meeting with the president and mentioned that the father of “one of my forum members is still in detention in Pakistan”. This led to a meeting between the president and Saman.
She denied that Mr Ahsan’s permission had been sought for the meeting.
She said that during the meeting the president leveled allegations against the deposed chief justice of Pakistan and referred to the Supreme Court’s decision against a reference filed in this regard.
January 31st, 2008 at 7:20 am
[...] http://pkpolitics.com/2008/01/30/chief-justice-responds-to-musharraf-propaganda/#more-1231 [...]
January 31st, 2008 at 7:24 am
Chaudhry Iftakahr Sahib(Cheif Justice of Pakistan)Is Honorable and most respected man in Pakistan history.I do SALAM to him and to his brave family.
I pay Slam with full respect to all honorable judges.All nation with all judges.
Chief Justice Grater General is Dictator
Chief Justice Honest General is dishonest
Chief Justice Protector General is looter
Chief Justice saver General is killer
Chief Justice winner General is looser
January 31st, 2008 at 8:02 am
By the way we must give a standing ovation to our beloved President, Shortcut aziz, Cori sbs of gujrat, Mqm, sleeping beauties ops I mean Generals of three forces, Q league…. and many more..that due to their love for the country their efforts, and hard work it has make it possible today for Pakistan to become a failed state. Gentlemen we could not have done it with out you all……
By the way we can share the expenditure of thsi meeting but the prerequisite is that each general will get half an hour to APPOLOGIZE and speak the truth and tell the nation of their dirty game with full media coverage.. there is no security threat to this country. The biggest threat is Mush. He has the time to think about him self only he spend millions of dollars in playing bridge, doing nothing for his country. Dear countrymen he is speaking always about the nuclear devices of Pakistan that they are safe….. are they really safe. If yes then why the repitition of same in every meeting? CJ should get ready as Inshallah soon he will be the judge on Mujib ur Rehman sort of trial. If Mujib ur Rehman was a traitor than Mush is no better than him.
January 31st, 2008 at 8:40 am
I am so happy, at last CJP answered but i believe it is useless to send smbdy in usa as the music is nthg id the audience is deaf but it is surely going to put more power in Lawyers and they will be victorious in restoring the Judiciary. I pray for them from my heart!!!!
January 31st, 2008 at 9:30 am
http://www.express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1100342514&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20080131
A very interesting article by Javed Chaudhry - just illustrating how Muslims have no morality and a country like India showed some morality - its about visit of President of France to India and how India refused to give protocol to his girlfriend and didnt allow her to come to India as part of the delegation and how Muslims countries like Qatar, and others gave all the protocol to French President. This one incident is among thousands of incidents happening everyday how we as Muslims and then as Pakistanis conduct ourselves and how we judge others as if we are the owners of Islam
January 31st, 2008 at 10:01 am
I have read comments above and also an article in The News where the author has criticised the army generals because they want to apologize.
I want to ask what you want then. You are not happy that they are openly apologizing even if they are doing it through a brigadier and you are not happy if they support Musharraf.
I have seen that suddenly those people who were from inside with Musharraf and from outside clamouring against him the moment they realised that there is clear shift in loyalty of army be them retired army people - they have started to get panicky and have started criticising them for criticising musharraf so late.
We dont live in an idealistic world where everything is black and white. Plus so long as a person is alive - repentence is acceptable even in Allah,s court - so if these generals whatever their past = if they are openly coming against musharraf and have said sorry - so lets accept it and move on.
This is a time when we as a nation has to gather together everyone whatever their past to get rid of Musharraf and every little support is welcome.
We should welcome the support of generals and use it rather than to criticise them for the past actions - if past actions are to be measured and taken a criteria then Bhutto was the one who appointed Zia, NS was the one who appointed Musharraf, BB was the one who appointed Leghari as President - so no one’s hands are cleaned. Imran Khan had supported Musharraf in his referendum and Qazi had given vote for 17th amendment. I remember that when in 1988 Zia dismissed Junejo, BB was the one who supported Zia in dismissing Junejo and even know Zardari is secretly dealing with Musharraf for power and is ready to work with him - so as a nation if we see ourselves its full of people who made mistakes.
The present objective should be to GET RID OF THIS EVIL - MUSHARRAF
January 31st, 2008 at 10:38 am
I’m sitting in the building of the one of the most prestigious business schools of this world. One of the senior lecturer who represents the developed and democratic nation of this world has placed a comic at his door. The comic is about the democracy which is rewritten here:
You can fool some of the people all of the time
and you can fool all of the people some of the time
But you only need to fool a majority of the people for one day every few years…
and you have got a democracy!
This is how democracy is defined in the highly democratic parts of the world. Pakistani nation, please wake up and see what is happening around you. Pakistan is way behind than the concept of democracy as our mindset is feudal and dictatorial. Just ask a question to these politicians and bureaucrats that what benefit and fame they’ll be getting after indulging in a self-destructive war of blame-game! Can any one show humility and let make things better for one another. But our totalitarianism stops us to do that as we lack real spirit of leadership.
January 31st, 2008 at 10:53 am
Long live Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. We as a nation salute you for the courage, commitment, dedication, fearlesness and honesty you have shown to the nation. Truth will prevail one day, Insha Allah and you will be restored with honor. For Musharraf history will remember this despot as the most shameless, fraudulent, wicked, immoral, illegal, unauthorized, unlawful, undemocratic and illegitimate soul of the country. Mr. Musharraf yor are shame for the very existance of the mankind.
January 31st, 2008 at 11:06 am
@c hussain: I agree with your sentiment in the sense that it is a step in the right direction. What remains to be seen is whether it is sincere or just a “good cop, bad cop” mentality being shown by various part of the military establishment ?
I would also encourage the politicians of our motherland to come forward and admit their faults, as they are many, most MAJOR of which is giving miles to the military (let alone inches) whenever it came looking for accomplicies.
So, Jurnails, Jageerdars, Urban-Waderas, Khans, Foundation-Fauji’s , RaQba Commodores, Khans, “Maulana’s”, “Ulema’s”, Mardoods, and complacent and apathetic Pakistani Awam, my question to you is:
Will the REAL SLIM SHADY PLEASE STAND UP?
January 31st, 2008 at 11:07 am
@pakistani2008: I think you’ve got it wrong bro, that is just one cartoonist’s opinion about democracy and pluralism (a cynical one).
Besides, you probably already know what they say about opinions…
January 31st, 2008 at 11:27 am
Long live the Chief Justice! He is the bravest man in the legal history of mankind! He stands not only for pakistanis but muslims throughout the world and for all ages to come! He is a symbol of freedom, justice and all Islamic principles! My heart and soul weeps for him! I wish i could offer everything i have !!
January 31st, 2008 at 12:31 pm
@tabam.khamosh
Please send me the cover letter. I try to find the list of MPs contact details here in UK.
@Optimist
No matter whatever our status is. We are living here and paying taxes so they mush listen to us.
@admin
PKPOLITICS Members should also sign those letters or attach a seperate sheet having the signatures of all. How can we do it?
January 31st, 2008 at 12:42 pm
@c hussain
I will still say it is meaningless coming from these guys. I will take them seriously if they, besides this “hot air” apology also own up to their crimes against the people of Pakistan and agree to give up their ill-gotten gains. Name one of them who has not received some financial benefit. Name one who has not become a multimillionaire because of it. A simple apology is not worth the paper it is printed on.
January 31st, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Happy ‘IFTIKHAR’S DAY to all the particpant of Pakistan Politics.is there any dare devil in this forum who can convey my this felcitation to mussarf and his team.CjP IFTIKHAR is not a symbol of anti army mafia but he is rasing voice to secure his principles of dignity and protection of justice and law from dictatorship.He is an open example of standing alone in front of brutal dictator to secure the foundation of one of important pillar of Pakistan.At this moment judiciary has become proud of nation and shameful to say that our army has become symbol of tyrany for us.Come on Gen Kiyani we also need a ch iftikhar like character in our army who can only think to restore the actual dignity of uniform on national scale.Stop making nuclear weapons or modern equipmnets of war for most illeterate nuclear state of world other wise Pakistan name will be sooner change to Faqirastan(beggarland).
January 31st, 2008 at 2:26 pm
my cover letter:
================
Honorable Sir/Madam,
I write to you as a voting citizen of your constituency, to bring to your attention a matter of grave importance to the cause of democracy, justice, and indeed world peace. I write to bring to your attention the plight of the judiciary and the Cheif Justice of Pakistan who is currently illegally detained along with 60 other Supreme Court and High Court judges. Their crime being that they refused to serve under an illegal military dictatorship.
Dear , I want to bring this injustice done against the People of Pakistan by an ILLEGAL usurper of democratic power, one Pervez Mushsharraf who claims to be “Military Chief” and “President” of the State of Pakistan. Dear representative, it needs no reminding that anarchy and terrorism thrive in nations which are lawless and under tyrannical one-man regimes. Some examples being Saddam, Kim-Jong-Il, Suharto and Pervez Musharraf. It is a fallacy to fool ourselves into thinking that “one tough man” can do our dirty work there, while the fact is that what is needed is a legitimate democratic government with an independent judiciary.
I urge you, in the name of democracy, justice and common sense to please bring up this issue of illegal destruction of the Judicial Branch of the Pakistani state in front of the legislative body of which you are a member. If we are to safeguard our western civilization from terror and religious extremism then we must fight against those who prepare the breeding grounds for such activities by usurping democratic governments in the name of stability and “fighting terror”. The fact is that only democratic governments are able to deal with such matters as they enjoy the moral support of the fabric of underlying societies.
Attached please find the open letter sent by the illegally imprisoned Chief Justice of Pakistan to all those who would heed the call of democracy and decency while we have time. Please raise a voice of support for the illegally imprisoned judges, lawyers and political prisoners in Pakistan by one Pervez Musharraf right under the very sensitive democratic noses of the West.
Sincerely I am,
January 31st, 2008 at 2:35 pm
The last sentence:
Please raise a voice of support for the illegally imprisoned judges, lawyers and political prisoners in Pakistan by one Pervez Musharraf right under the very sensitive democratic noses of the West.
should read:
Please raise a voice of support for the illegally imprisoned judges, lawyers and political prisoners in Pakistan imprisoned by none other than Pervez Musharraf right under the very sensitive democratic noses of the West.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:49 pm
People of pakistan have lot of respect to these honour able judges (speacially in the vast majority of hope less poor people). we must support the lawyers and civil society movement as much as we can do. The dictatorship tries to use all means to suppress this strugle but they failed. Mush visited europe but he got nothing. He has shown him self in the streets of london where several hundrads demonstrated the protest against him. he is extreamly unpopular in any group of class in pakistan. He himself is a problem to pakistan.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Musharraf met daughter of Aitzaz in Davos
Intimidation and harrasment continues
ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: Pig President Pervez Musharraf had an unannounced meeting in Davos with Saman Ahsan, daughter of Aitzaz Ahsan, the incarcerated leader of lawyers, to persuade her father to give up opposition to his regime, it is learnt.
“Saman was not convinced with whatever views he put across,” said Mr Ahsan’ wife Bushra Aitzaz while, confirming that the president had had a one-to-one meeting with her daughter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum.
Saman, 30, works with the WEF in Geneva as project manager of the Council of 100 Leaders (C100), an initiative for dialogue between Muslims and the West. The meeting took place through Klaus Schwab, the founder and executive chairman of the WEF, who is a friend of former prime minister Shaukat Aziz.
Mr Aziz attended the WEF where he met corporate leaders and spent substantial time with President Musharraf.
Mr Ahsan’s daughter is reported to have told her friends and colleagues after the meeting that the president had asked her to convince her father “not to come in my way”.
Mrs Aitzaz said the president had not given any message to her daughter.
She said the WEF executive chairman had raised the issues of democracy, removal and detention of independent judges and assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in his meeting with the president and mentioned that the father of “one of my forum members is still in detention in Pakistan”. This led to a meeting between the president and Saman.
She denied that Mr Ahsan’s permission had been sought for the meeting.
She said that during the meeting the president levelled allegations against the deposed chief justice of Pakistan and referred to the Supreme Court’s decision against a reference filed in this regard.
January 31st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ex-military officers call for Musharraf to go
What will it take for this mad man to go?
ISLAMABAD, Jan 31 (AFP) A group of retired Pakistani military officers Thursday urged President Musharraf to step down and hand over power to ousted chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry. The demand came at a meeting of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society in Islamabad. “Musharraf should step down and hand over power to Justice Chaudhry, who is still constitutional chief justice,” former Pakistan Air Force chief Asghar Khan told reporters. He said Chaudhry should form a neutral caretaker government to supervise free and fair elections next month. “We do not recognize any electoral process under Musharraf and the present election commission,” Khan said. Former army chief General Mirza Aslam Beg, who headed the military from 1988 to 1991, said Musharraf had tarnished the image of the armed forces and called on all ex-servicemen to help restore it. “We should also work together to strengthen democracy by removing the only impediment in its way - Pervez Musharraf,” he told reporters Thursday.(Posted @ 17:06 PST)
January 31st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
my only comment is that I wish the Chief Justice letter was much shorter and to the point instead of a “DASTAAN”. All we Pakistanis tend to tell “lambi chorhi dastaan” which looses its effect.
A covering letter also needs to be two liner instead of repeating the whole story.
In the UK all mail for MPS can be sent to Parliament House, Wesminster
January