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Restoration of Judges
The two main coalition partners "“ PPPP and PML-N are meeting on August 5th to decide two crucial matters "“ one, restoration of the judges and two, impeachment of the President. Of the two, restoration of the judges seems more likely to be agreed upon to save the coalition and the democracy in the country.
Honourable Judges, particularly of the superior courts all over the world are persons of great character, principles, honour, self respect and high morals. They are known to not hear a case where there is even a remote chance of their being partisan or they lack to enjoy the full confidence of any of the litigants. So much so they shun socialising with them, their counsels and decline their invitations, if any. Honourable Justice Sir, Abdul Rashid "“ the first Chief Justice of Pakistan "“ had regretted to attend a dinner hosted by the Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan as a case against the then government was subjudice in his court. There was a time when the judges did not use to read news papers or listen to the radio lest their decision was influenced In short the conduct and the character of a judge has to be impeccable beyond any shadow of doubt.
Now, certain allegations of corruption, nepotism and misuse of authority had been levelled against the honourable Ex-CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while he still held the most august office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan by an Advocate - Mr. Naeem Bokhari. Unfortunately those allegations got so much of publicity through the print and electronic media and the subsequent events that they became the part of every Pakistani house hold. Again, as far as my information goes those allegations were not heard in any court of law, nor was Mr. Naeem Bokhari served with any libel notice by the Ex-CJP or any contempt notice by the Superior Courts. Would it, therefore, be not in the fitness of the propriety and high tradition of the conduct of the Honourable Judges that the Honourable Ex-CJP offers himself before a court of law to be exonerated of those allegations before he resumes the office, if he along with the other judges is restored? At least I would like the nation and the posterity to see their Honourable Chief Justice to be impeccable and with an unblemished record and conduct.
Truly
Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)
30, Westridge-1
Rawalpindi 46000
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