Judges Release

Either I have an impaired vision and hearing or most others are dumb witted with slow reflexes. I had no intentions of digging up the dead but the PM's press conference of yesterday has forced me to bring it up  once again what I had said a couple of times ago. The PM answering a questioner about the reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said that he had himself announced his release from the floor of the house immediately after getting the vote of confidence. Well listen ye all men, HE HAD NOT DONE SO. While recounting all that he WOULD do he had also said that  " Madam Speaker, I WILL order the immediate release of the superior "˜arrested' judges".  (implying after taking his over as the Prime Minister). Please see the proceedings of the assembly of that day, which are available as "Pakistan PM Speech Part III"  at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnNnNYN4vy8&feature=related. How could he order the release of someone "˜arrested'  on just being elected the leader of the house, when he had yet to be sworn as the Chief Executive of the country, which was done two days later?  In what capacity could he order the release of the "˜arrested' judges on just becoming the leader of the house?  In Urdu he had said "  ----- karonga" and not " ---- karta hon".  Please listen to the recording CAREFULLY. He has till date not issued any executive orders to that effect.  If there is one in somebody's knowledge please quote me the letter no. and date of its issue. I am writing the word "˜arrested; in inverted commas because they were never arrested, nor were any orders for their arrest issued by any executive authority.  Again, please quote any such letter ordering their arrest. I am challenging the entire media  "“ the likes of Hamid Mir, Ansar Abbasi, Mujib Shami and others the so called investigative reporters - and the lawyers including Aitezaz Ahsan, Ali Ahmed Kurd and others. - to quote me any such letters.  As the judges were never arrested there was no question of issuing any such letter ordering their release. It was all just the media and the lawyers' concoction to show him and his family "˜arrested' to evoke the sympathy of the masses for them.  To the naïve who will instantaneously come up with the barbed wires and the posse of the police posted there, please be advised that it was all for the security purposes to stop the emotionally charged rallies and jalooses from going to the judges colony and the Ex-CJ's house where the maintenance of law and order could have taken any ugly turn and not to restrict the judges' movement.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)

30, Westridge-1

Rawalpindi 46000

Tel: 546 3344