Pakistan Views

Deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary made his first appearance after prime minister-elect Yousaf Raza Gillani ordered his release here on Monday. President Pervez Musharraf ousted and detained Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry along with other judges in November 2007 to protect his disputed presidency from legal wrangling. Within no time after the order of prime minister-elect for release of the detained chief justice, people from all walks of life rushed towards his residence chanting slogans in support of judiciary and deposed judges, who did not take oath under the PCO. Dozens of activists and lawyers climbed the wall of the compound where deposed chief justice had been under house arrest for more than four months. Riot police, who had previously sealed all routes to Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry’s residence stood by as intruders entered the front lawn. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry accompanied by his family came out and waved from the balcony of his house. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, former Justice Tariq Mehmood, Ather Minallah and other lawyers who have been rallying against the regime since November 3 were also with the CJ. Speaking to the gathering Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that he along with 60 other judges was illegally detained since November 3 the day emergency was imposed.He said that he always had worked for the supremacy of constitution and will carry on his mission in the future as well. In this regard he said I hope that the civil society and lawyers will continue their support, he added. Aitzaz said that we welcome the decision taken by the prime minister and it is a victory of the people and political parties of the country. But this is not the objective of our struggle, we still have to go a long way till the reinstatement of the chief justice, he added. He said that we are satisfied with the Murree delectation and wait for 30 days so that the newly-elected parliament could resolve the issue. We will not agitate as we want a strong parliament, he added.

APP ADDS: Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Amir Ahmed Ali said on Monday that order of Prime Minister-elect Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani regarding release of deposed judges was immediately implemented. Talking to APP at the residence of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he said: “Order of the PM has been implemented and all deposed judges are free to move”. Earlier, soon after the order of the Prime Minister, police started removing all barricades and barbed wire hurdles from the Judges Colony. Balaj Iftikhar, son of deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, appeared on the upper portion of the house and waved to acknowledge support of lawyers, political workers, media and activists of civil society for his father.