After a lapse of over two years, today a full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan came through with a historic judgment declaring the 2007 National Reconciliatory Ordinance null and void. It must be recalled that the NRO was the mastermind of the then President of Pakistan General Pervaiz Musharraf who in October 2007 orchestrated this pact with the exiled PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in an attempt to negotiate his own extended stay on the Presidential seat of power and in this process pardoned most of the corrupt criminals whom he himself detested so vehemently in his autobiography a few months earlier all in the name of political compromise. Since then history stands witness to have watched the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the people of Pakistan stood embarrassingly dumbfounded as one of the most corrupt politician Mr. Asif Ali Zardari snuck through the back doors of diplomacy to land into the Presidency of Pakistan.
Today the year-old restored judiciary stood strong to declare the NRO null and void, a short order issued outlined some important aspect of this new judgment but the exact specification and its affect on the Presidency remains to be ironed out. But it might be in the interest of Pakistan to not embarrass and ridicule Asif Ali Zardari and the Presidency any further and it might serve us all well to settle for a negotiated compromise, possibly having him to hand over most of the illegally amassed wealth back into the national treasury in lieu of his respect and freedom
Overall it seems to be a balanced decision, we all know the NRO was illegal from the start and that is exactly what the Supreme Court delivered declaring it null and void. We still await the text of the short order of the Supreme Court but a summary can be outlined below (credit Abeer Hamid)
- NRO declared as null and void
- All NRO cases to lapse to the 5 oct,2007 position
- Monitoring cells headed by provincial CJs to make sure pending NRO cases are concluded ASAP without any impediments from the government
- Govt to apply to Swiss courts to resume cases
- Malik Qayyum to be brought to book by govt for writing unauthorized letter to swiss court to withdraw cases
- NAB prosecutor general and deputy to be sacked and replaced by competent people
It is my belief that the short order ever so gently touched on the NRO without raising much of an eye brow on the Presidency, quite literally leaving the people of Pakistan themselves to logically deduce an outcome of this soap opera while at the same time letting the media circus the license to drool over the implications of this judgment in a minefield of conspiracy theories.
On the flip side many may argue that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari is an elected officer of the democratic system, by hook or crook, I would have to more-or-less agree, but at the same time we need to understand that he along with 4000 other people benefited from this ordinance to sneak his way into the Presidency. Since then, and in the past, he has misused this office for his own monetary gains amassing millions if not billions of rupees into his own personal accounts, that is what I feel he must be held accountable for
To out rightly take Asif Zardari to task would be akin to picking a fight in broad daylight, it could very well turn into an unpopular decision and PPP might then exploit the Sindh card to counter this judicial activism and it could possibly lead to massive bloodshed on the streets of Pakistan as the supporters go amock In rage. A softer and more amicable solution might be to negotiate a settlement with Asif Zardari, asking him to surrender most of his billions in lieu of some controlled civilized freedom. The billions returned into the national treasury can then be channeled back into the educational and health sector of Pakistan to serve as a direct compromise with the people of Pakistan who have already suffered enough from his ruthless corruption.
The question that remains, will this crook part from his treasure chest so easily, it may seem difficult but if he is presented with a reasonable offer, he may see benefit, eyeing a possibility of walking away with his head held up high, the crook migh part with his wealth, but ‘might’ is an elusive word
It must be known that my position on Asif Ali Zardari has been quite strong, I see him as the most corrupt person on the face of the earth, embarrassingly he is my President of Pakistan, but at this juncture I advocate a level headed unemotional approach for the sake of Pakistan. A compromise buy-out is a tempting offer we simply cannot refuse as it will possibly benefit the people, we can easily be better off with a few billions injected into our system, as compared to facing a long and protracted court battle with Mr. Zardari and it may even result in an implosion of the country due to instabilty, as we may sit to await a judicail settlement which could possibly put this corrupt leader behind bars oblivious to where his entire wealth may remain hidden tucked forever
Will Mr. Asif Zardari be willing to go for this deal before he quietly sneaks out of the country, only time will tell. Until then, as activists’ battling for the independence of Judiciary since Nov 7th 2007 – TODAY marks a very historic day for us all and a round of congratulations are in order – I stand proud, with bright twinkling eyes, there is hope at the end of this gloomy tunnel, that we so fondly call our Pakistan. There is hope…
Comments
49 responses to “NRO declared Null and Void – What Now?”
doc, you forgot to mention the role of musharraf… there are news items daily about how he let corruption happen and protected these people to extend his rule. the important thing is that it is a power game!
Yes, under the very Musharraf, NAB and present Chief Justice???
If Klasra's Report good against PPP then why not quote Klasra is good for the following
Five generals also got their loans written off By Rauf Klasra Sunday, December 06, 2009
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?I…
No ID no worry, get loans and get them written off also
Saturday, December 05, 2009 By Rauf Klasra
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?I…
Guess who walked away with nation’s 100 bn rupees?
Friday, December 04, 2009 Chaudhrys, Saifullahs, Jatois, Legharis, Tawakals, Saigols,Jams, generals; some cases were genuine By Rauf Klasra
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?I…
What about a Sentence on this?
PAKISTAN: Corruption cases against Generals, Air Marshals and Admirals are the test of an independent judiciary http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/200…
What now?…nothing!
We, as a nation, have a habit of getting into a hype, but we also suffer from amnesia en masse.
Giving a statement is one thing, its implementation is another.
Supreme court can fix the price of sugar but cannot implement it.
No excitement. Those who are getting excited as if something awe-inspiring is going to happen perhaps have nothing else to do.
PCO judge vs NRO president
Is there any end to this enigma of ABCs and XYZs for our country?
I feel pity for zardari apologists. They're crying hoarse over why not trying generals for their corruption. Well, who bode farewell to musharraf with a guard of honour? You guessed it right. It was "SHAHEEDOOON KEE PARTY". Had zardari taken on musharraf and tried him in a court of law for the crimes he committed against Pakistan, I can bet you, people would have forgotten all about the restoration of cj and would've made himself (zardari) a hero. But then, old habits die hard, as the saying goes. Not my fault. Zardari can now now pack up his bags and leave or be prepared for another stint in adyala. The choice is his.
Watch the documentary:
Watch BBC Documentary on 12 Oct 1999 Martial Law in Pakistan and please do watch while keeping in mind the Article 6 of 1973 Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Please also note as to what the BBC Correspondent has to say about Judiciary. REFERENCE: Courtesy: Mr Wusatullah Khan, Correspondent BBC, فوجی بغاوت کے دس سال
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2009/10/0910…
What action is taken on this???
CJ says chiefs of MI, ISI asked him to quit: Affidavit on March 9 camp office event By Iftikhar A. Khan May 30, 2007 Wednesday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/30/top1.htm
How is it that those behind the deal-making based on this unconstitutional and illegal ordinance were not named and shamed/charged outright? Indeed, as reported widely at the time, the present chief of army staff was the DG ISI when the final draft of the NRO was being presented to Benazir in Dubai and was part of Musharraf’s team sent to convince her. Let us be grateful for small mercies By Kamran Shafi Tuesday, 22 Dec, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
Where is the justice on this:
The air marshal was advised by the Supreme Court on Oct 28, 1996 that his letter had been converted by the CJP into a petition and registered as Human Rights Case 19/1996,its first hearing to be on Nov 3 of that year. REFERENCE: Let justice awaken By Ardeshir Cowasjee Sunday, 30 Aug, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
Roedad Khan filed petition against NRO but who will look into the affairs of Roedad Khan???
Shaheen Sehbai VS Roedad Khan (Ex – Civil Serpent).
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/11/shaheen-…
doc, you forgot to mention the role of musharraf [Sophia]
====================
Dr Sahab has forgotten Musharraf because of this:
Islamabad, April 9: Pakistani cricket legend-turned politician Imran Khan on Tuesday backed the referendum to be held next month to decide the future of President Pervez Musharraf but his fledgling Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf headed for trouble as some of its leaders have opposed it openly. REFERENCE: Press Trust of India Posted online: Tuesday, April 09, 2002
Mr. Imran has also supported Musharraf's Coup in 1999 and PCOED Judiciary as well.
As per 1973 Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan
"QUOTE"
PART I
6. (1) Any person who abrogates or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason.
(2) Any person aiding or abetting the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.
(3) [Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)] shall by law provide for the punishment of persons found guilty of high treason.
"UNQUOTE"
A softer and more amicable solution might be to negotiate a settlement with Asif Zardari [Teethmaestro]
====================
No Sir,
Drag him and others in the Court of Law.
It said in February 2001, the Sunday Times published a report based on transcripts of 32 audio tapes, which revealed that Qayyum convicted Benazir Bhutto and Zardari for political reasons. The transcripts of the recordings reproduced by the newspaper showed that Qayyum asked the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s anti-corruption chief, Saifur Rehman, for advice on the sentence: “Now you tell me how much punishment do you want me to give her?” Malik Qayyum in new row over rigging By Muhammad Ahmad Noorani AG caught on tape again; denies HRW report Saturday, February 16, 2008 http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id…
The Friday Times, Editorial by Najam Sethi, Feb. 15, 2001
http://www.chowk.com/interacts/4948/1/0/a
The Sunday Times of London has recently published a story that damns politicians and state institutions alike in Pakistan. The report suggests that an official of the Intelligence Bureau was ordered in 1998 by the head of the Accountability Bureau, Mr Saif ur Rehman, to tap the telephones of Justice Abdul Qayyum of the Lahore High Court (illegal order by politicians, illegal implementation by IB). The IB official later pocketed the tapes and decamped to London, eventually handing them over to the British newspaper. If true, the conversations between Justice Qayyum and Saif ur Rehman, Khalid Anwar (then law minister), Mrs Abdul Qayyum and others are fascinating because they reveal the political bankruptcy of the system and those who are elected or nominated to make it work.
The tapes suggest that Justice Qayyum was bullied by the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his minions into convicting former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and her spouse Asif Zardari for corruption in 1998. This means that – irrespective of the substantial evidence laid against the two accused – the trial wasn`t conducted entirely in a free or fair manner as required by law. Ms Bhutto shrieked as much during and after the trial but critics, including TFT, dismissed her allegations against Justice Qayyum as inconceivable. Hence when the review petition comes up for hearing before the Supreme Court on February 26, the court will be hard put to choose between acquitting the couple or ordering a fresh trial. If it clings to a third option – upholding the verdict – it risks being tarred by the same brush.
plz shed some light on section 248 (2) of the constitution which gives Mr. Zorro immunity against legal proceedings till he is the president!
This was said by Farhat Ullah Babar. Has the president pulled another rabbit out of the hat and gotten away with murder/robbery/theft/so on and so forth?
Plx someone i am confused!
http://www.mofa.gov.pk/Publications/constitution….
Kindly read Page 122 of the above pdf link under the heading of Protection to President, Governer, Minister etc. and explain
I think the son of a gun has played yet another political masterstroke!
The impugned Ordinance is against the public policy because it also provides protection against future action in terms of its Section 7 and it had also rendered Articles 62 and 63 of the Constitution ineffective. Supreme Court throws out NRO
Thursday, 17 Dec, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
what is the difference between Mira’s recent denial of her marriage and escape abroad to the trials of these politicians in the Supreme court ?
the same circus and same clowns and same immortality…..
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any way ,the man who has shown,principals ,rule of law ,character strength and dignity is actually Mr.SHRIEF UD DIN PEERZADA speaking in Professional terms.
Dear Sir
Finally in the bunch of thugs when I see people like you standing firm and advocating on the basis of principals I have hope for my country.
Beacon of Justice and hope in Pakistan.
Best Regards & sincere wishes
May Allah keep you in good health
Roedad Khan filed petition against NRO but who will look into the affairs of Roedad Khan???
Now, my friend Roedad Khan, perpetual bureaucrat steeped in the art of bureaucracy, yet again ready to serve his country, has reacted in a letter printed in this newspaper on July 26. Apparently, his innocence has been injured. He denies having had any connection with those in President Ghulam Ishaq’s secretariat who were paid to ‘fix’ the 1991 elections. We never learn from history-3 By Ardeshir Cowasjee 11 August 2002 Sunday 01 Jamadi-us-Saani 1423 http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020811.htm
Roedad Khan and NRO
Mehrangate exposures which had recently appeared in the press, asking how the inquiry was progressing, and giving his own views. They exchanged information, each believing the other was being informed. They talked about how COAS Aslam Beg (sporter of shades in the shade) managed to get Rs 14 crore (140 million) from Yunis Habib, then of Habib Bank. This was deposited in the ‘Survey Section 202′ account of Military Intelligence (then headed by Major-General Javed Ashraf Kazi). From there Rs 6 crore was paid to President Ghulam Ishaq Khan’s election cellmates (General Rafaqat, Roedad Khan, Ijlal Hyder Zaidi, etc.), and Rs 8 crore transferred to the ISI account. We never learn from history By Ardeshir Cowasjee dated 21 July 2002 Sunday 10 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1423 http://www.dawn.com/weekly/cowas/20020721.htm
how much evidence do we need for these corrupt politicians and ASHRAFA of society?
How much public money has to be spent on the investigation and crimes of these people?
Ilzam aur muqadmai ,without any conclusions and trials without any punishments :band karou yeah tamasha?
Qanoon aur insaaf kai naam per kaab tuk awaaam kou louta jaiga?
Jumhouriat kai naam pai kab tuk loug marain gai?
The answer is very simple as long as the public will put up with it.
Recently I read in Dawn ,middle class hates democracy ,I think no,they are very wise they do not trust anyone of these thugs but the misery is despite that middle class does not cast the vote ……still elections take place….their is not a single character who motivates or inspire People of Pakistan.They do not associate with any of these people.
What Pakistani Public chooses to believe is:
Every one is chour ,daku ,lotaira nad thug…
They do not trust newspapers,anchors?
They do not trust Justice system?
All of them belive the one core principal ,Money is essential to survive.
They work very hard and keep their heads down,do not mess around and try to amend their needs and live with minimum without any expectation or complaints to the government.
People of Pakistan survive on their own.
The religion does provide them the biggest hope and that is their core trust on Allah and their own doings.
—–
Their expectations and hopes were never realised ,nor affiliated ,neither belong to Government……no relief??
That is why they accept Martial rule that without expecting anything ,law and order improves and life returns to normal,media is bridaled so no more WHAYAT KHABRAIN of Corrupt Politicians,Censor policy censors the WAHYATEE…
people can go to work from 9 to 5,earn their living and can think of growing up getting married,have children ,go to haj and die peacefully??
——
I am fully convinced army never imposed Martial law it is the corruption and Andhair Nagree of these chour Daku aur lutairai who with their actions invite Martial rule.
——
Maybe this is a very important ,Bench Mark or land Mark cases but you know what I am surprised it is teh Constitutional lawyers who are most famous and interviewd.
—-
Chief Justice himself is the most famous person when in rest of the world people do not even know ho are the judges knowing the name of Chief Justice publically is something like hmmn Does Tumbuk 2 really exist??
—–
I am quite skeptic balance of power and Justice is blind……
in Paksitan Justice has got all the eyes ….and a hammar.
so in nutshell storms in tea cups without any results?
Has nay body thought how we have damaged the psyche of our next generation the fear,the bomb blasts how children are seeing their parents struggling what will be the outcome?
we live on daily basis who will think about tomorrow?
these politicians and their corruption stories why this has become the sole purpose of the lives of the public there are many other aspects to life and challenges to the survival.
Since 2007 ,Adalat-e-Uzma ,parlimentarians and journalists keep creating and plunging country into caos one after another…….people have no more oxygen in their lungs to swim under water????
NRO declared Null and Void…
Why Chief Justice didnot decide this few months ago and threw the ball in the parliament could not he see the outcome?
A lot of time energy and money could have been saved.
—
Anyway do we need Chief Justice to declare about corruption of these people or do we need him fo rthe punishments?
Ok let us assume Zardari is out of office …is this Justice done?
Ok he is replaced by Nawaz ….is this Justice delivered.
Ok I am trialed in contempt of court tomorrow is it Justice?
JUSTICE IS SO SIMPLE,BRING THE MONEY BACK,you are blacklisted and suffer public humiliation live with it and they can live with it because public cannot humiliate them.
They have no dignity which they can be stripped off….why we choose to ignore this fact.
Now that the Supreme Court has nullified the NRO, we must proceed thoughtfully and carefully so as to preserve the democratic order and use the opportunity to strengthen Pakistan, not destroy it. In the following days there will certainly be the shrill voices of anti-democracy groups, especially those in the media. But we must remember that Pakistan is currently in a war, and a radical shakeup of government officials will only weaken our ability to defend our national security. Here are some key points to consider…
http://www.new-pakistan.com/2009/12/16/we-must-pr…
NRO, NO-NRO is all bullshit.
OUR Army (under Musharraf) backed NRO and now our Army wants to quit NRO.
I would be happy if Zardari, Altaf Hussain and every one of the people who benefitted from NRO be hanged.
But who would put the Generals on TRIAL? These bastards have gotten NRO from the day Pakistan came into existence.
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry met visiting US envoy Richard Holbrooke in the Supreme Court building on FridayBy Matiullah Jan Saturday, 06 Jun, 2009 05:29 AM PST http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
Also read:
With the intention to expand on these few paragraphs I chanced upon some reflections of a past judge which I added to my statement and am reproducing it below. https://teeth.com.pk/blog/2009/06/11/dorab-patel-o…
Let give you a glimpse as to who is ruling and ruining and running the country: Read…
Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report
http://www.bangla2000.com/Bangladesh/Independence…
Chapter 1
The Moral Aspect
Introductory
In Chapter I of Part V of the Main Report, we have dealt at some length with the moral aspect of the causes of our defeat in the 1971 War. This became necessary in view of the vehement assertions made before the Commission by a large number of respectable witnesses drawn from various sections of society, including highly placed and responsible Service Officers, to the effect that due to corruption arising out of the performance of Martial Law duties, lust for wine and women and greed for lands and houses, a large number of senior Army Officers, particularly those occupying the highest positions, had not only lost the will to fight but also the professional competence necessary for taking the vital and critical decisions demanded of them for the successful prosecution of the war. It was asserted by these witnesses that men given to a disreputable way of life could hardly be expected to lead the Pakistan Army to victory http://www.bangla2000.com/Bangladesh/Independence…
Roedad Khan and NRO!
The PML-N has fielded Roedad Khan as the covering candidate. Fourteen nomination papers of 13 candidates were filed in Lahore, 17 of eight candidates in Karachi and one in Peshawar. No papers were submitted in Quetta. Election Commission’s secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad told Dawn that nomination papers of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had not been submitted. 32 file papers for presidential poll By Iftikhar A. Khan August 27, 2008 Wednesday Sha’aban 24, 1429 http://www.dawn.com/2008/08/27/top1.htm
Tyrant Pervez Musharraf should be the first to be tried by the Supreme Court for the following three major crimes in addition to others:
1. Subversion of the Constitution;
2. Authorship and promulgation of the NRO;
3. Crimes in Balochistan against humanity, and against the national interests of Pakistan.
Altaf Hussein should be the second and Asif Zardari the third to be tried by the SC.
With a ton of love and ten tons of respect for Chief Justice Iftekhar Chaudhry,
Dr. Malek Towghi, Liaison, Baloch Human Rights International
great decision by supreme court….i believe supreme court is writing its history in new words.
i am highly skeptic of fundamental change by this decision but one thing is for sure that asif zardari is finished….
i believe that in coming days he will be pressurised for resignation and on the condition of saving his assets he will resign and leave the country forever….
In the December 18th New York Times publication, an article Pakistan Ministers Are Called Before the Courts was written by Jane Perlez and Salman Masood. Though the article does state the annulment of the National Reconciliation Ordinance and the repercussions of the decision taken by the Pakistan Supreme Court, it has given an image portraying the Pakistan Army as an anti-democratic institution. Understandably the Pakistan Army is going through a turbulent phase. The army is currently engaged in a battle against militants who are adamant in bringing down the current democratic set up in Pakistan. However, one must not forget that many of these militants have grown up in the same neighborhood as the army soldiers, and regardless of allegiance, it is always difficult to take up arms against a childhood acquaintance.
http://ahraza.wordpress.com/2009/12/18/the-pakist…
Another aspect of the judgment By Asma Jahangir Saturday, 19 Dec, 2009
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
The NRO judgment has struck down the law also for being violative of Article 62(f), which requires a member of parliament to be, ‘Sagacious, righteous and non-profligate and honest and ameen’.
Hence, the bench will now judge the moral standing of parliamentarians on these stringent standards set by the notorious Zia regime. This article of the constitution has always been considered undemocratic and a tool to keep members of parliament insecure.
If parliamentarians, who also go through the rigorous test of contesting elections in the public domain, are to be subjected to such exacting moral standards then the scrutiny of judges should be higher still.
After all, judges are selected purely on the value of their integrity and skills. Judges who erred in the past seek understanding on the plea that they subsequently suffered and have made amends. Should others also not be given the same opportunity to turn over a new leaf? How will sagacity and non-profligate behaviour be judged?
Roedad Khan and NRO!
The PML-N has fielded Roedad Khan as the covering candidate. Fourteen nomination papers of 13 candidates were filed in Lahore, 17 of eight candidates in Karachi and one in Peshawar. No papers were submitted in Quetta. Election Commission’s secretary Kanwar Mohammad Dilshad told Dawn that nomination papers of nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan had not been submitted. 32 file papers for presidential poll By Iftikhar A. Khan August 27, 2008 Wednesday Sha’aban 24, 1429 http://www.dawn.com/2008/08/27/top1.htm
’عدلیہ دائرہ کار سے تجاوز کر گئی ہے‘
علی سلمان
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، لاہور
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2009/12/091219…
آخری وقت اشاعت: ہفتہ, 19 دسمبر, 2009, 05:25 GMT 10:25 PST
عدلیہ کا کام ارکانِ پارلیمان کی اخلاقیات کی جانچ پڑتال نہیں
پاکستان انسانی حقوق کمشن کی چیئرپرسن عاصمہ جہانگیر نے این آر او کے بارے میں سپریم کورٹ کے فیصلے پر تبصرہ کرتے ہوئے کہا ہے ’عدلیہ اپنے دائرہ کار سے تجاوز کرگئی ہے اوریہ بہت ہی خطرناک بات ہوگی کہ سپریم کورٹ اراکین پارلیمان کی اخلاقیات پر فیصلے دے۔‘
Samad Khurram used to be a ardent supporter of Free Judiciary Movement, in fact he was the brain behind CJ’s visit to USA for receiving Harvard Medal, read his article on Judiciary,
The Taliban are here Monday, April 20, 2009 Samad Khurram
http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=173…
Perhaps the real question I should ask is, why do I even care? When I took time off from Harvard to be part of the lawyers’ movement I had seen a ray of hope. There were concerned citizens and lawyers who stood for what was right, no matter what the consequences. We fought for a principle and won, with the hope that things will slowly improve. Today the very judges we had faith in released the Lal Masjid cleric whose crimes everyone knows about. If the judiciary was going to release people whose crimes were recorded on TV, perhaps it does explain why the Taliban are growing popular.
Having said that, rays of hope like Afzal Khan Lala, who has refused to move from Swat while he is alive, appear every now and then. However, he stands alone in facing the storm. Other than Ayaz Amir, not a single Pakistani leader has spoken out against the Taliban. Will the real leader who can get rid of these monsters stand up, please? Imran Khan? Qazi? Nawaz Sharif? This silence is criminal!
typical non sense of BBC….
sari qom hi apnay pajamay say bahar hay…aik adliya hi apnay ikhtiyar say tajawuz na karay…baqi har kisi ko haq hay…
sounds like a perfect chutiya part…
BBC also give covered this. I hope you wouldn't use the above slang on this!
Where is CJ and day to day proceedings like NRO on this case, watch the BBC documentary.
’سیف اللہ پر نیو یارک میں مقدمہ نہ چلائیں‘
ریاض سہیل
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچ
آخری وقت اشاعت: جمعـء, 18 دسمبر, 2009, 18:52 GMT 23:52 PST
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/pakistan/2009/12/091218…
Syed Talat Hussain [AAJ TV] Praising Musharraf in 1999 and justifying the Military Coup, watch the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iZQ34s0p5g&fe…
Kudos to the president for deciding to fight the matter in the court and not take it to the streets.
kudos to CJ iftikhar chohadry and current judiciary which has no fear in bringing rule of law….
my god!!! that is lovely to see the names of current ministers in the ECL.
sooner Altaf kala and other pajamas will be in accused box facing their trials.
LONG LIVE RULE OF LAW
LONG LIVE CJ
LONG LIVE JUDICIARY
Altaf bhai in accused box…lol, keep dreaming.
Unaiza baji!
don't be so cocky….i mean shaikh mujib ur rehman enjoyed much larger and stronger support and devotion of bengalis but in the end he was murdered by the people who saluted him day and night.
it is much more possible than before that this judiciary could force the govt to arrange a repatriation of Altaf hussain through interpol.
Yes Jawwad bhai…that is why I say…keep dreaming. No one can stop you from dreaming. It is your birth right…lol!
the worried and depressed CEC of PPP. shaheen sehbai reports:
http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=21…
Same Shaheen Sehbai while in exile in USA after 2002.
Will You Please Let Asif Ali Zardari Go! Shaheen Sehbai
Farooq Mazhar hosted a grand dinner for me and also invited about 50 other common friends, among them senior journalists, senior politicians and officials. The dinner was a great success, drinks were flowing, food was in abundance and groups of like-minded people were discussing politics, and everything else, in a free and relaxed atmosphere. "QUOTE" Issue No 26, Jan 20-26, 2003 ISSN:1684-2075 satribune.com.
Shaheen Sehbai: Accountability of Benazir & Zardari.
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/11/shaheen-…
Vol-2, Jul 27- Aug 02, 2002 ISSN:1684-0275 satribune.com
Shaheen Sehbai praises Asif Ali Zardari.
http://chagataikhan.blogspot.com/2009/11/shaheen-…
Military Justice in Pakistan: The ISI and MI heads persisted in their demand for resignation, the CJ said. “I refused, saying that the demand has a collateral purpose.” “I was kept there absolutely against my will till 5pm. [Guess who was DG ISI IN THE NEWS] CJ says chiefs of MI, ISI asked him to quit: Affidavit on March 9 camp office event By Iftikhar A. Khan
May 30, 2007 Wednesday Jamadi-ul-Awwal 13, 1428 http://www.dawn.com/2007/05/30/top1.htm
Pirzada oppose NRO but support beneficiary [Agha Siraj Durrani and as per GEO a right hand man of Zardari] of NRO as a Lawyer.
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/22-12-2…
Reality of Abdul Hafiz Pirzada [who was against NRO in Supreme Court] who accepted the Fees [35 Lakh Pak Rupees] from Zardari to defend him in Swiss Case. Read the details in Hamid MIR’S ARTICLE IN JANG [21 DEC 2009]
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/21-12-2…
The same Pirzada and Mumtaz Bhutto too [Notorious Uncles of Late. Benazir Bhuto]: Mumtaz Bhutto’s loved Zoulfiqar Bhutto so much that only after a few days of ZAB’s Murder, both Mumtaz and Hafeez Peerzada got married [Courtesy Monthly Herald Pakisatn Divided They Stand by Mazhar Abbas Issue of January 2008].
Mumtaz Bhutto loved late Ms. Benazir Bhutto so much that after the dismissal of her second government [1993-1996] by PPP elected President Tumandar Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Laghari, he joined the Caretaker Chief Minister of Sindh under President Laghri in 1996 so much for the love of Ms. Bhutto.
Watch in BBC Documentary: Dirty Role played by the Close Friends [Pirzada, Jatoi and Mumtaz] of Bhutto.
نوٹس خستہ مگر یادیں تازہ
آخری وقت اشاعت: Saturday, 4 April, 2009, 18:18 GMT 23:18 PST
http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/multimedia/2009/04/0904…
LAWYERS: BRIBE OR FEE?
We must understand this,” Latif Khosa was quoted as saying by a participant of the PPP CEC meeting at the Presidency. “Why nobody talks about the ‘huge amount’ taken by Munir A Malik and others from Khanani and Kalia on the promise of securing them relief,” he argued. Khosa did not deny the ‘allegations’ he leveled in the CEC against Munir A Malik. Mr Malik, however, refuted the accusations saying they are ‘baseless’. “I have only charged Rs500,000 from my client (Khanani and Kalia). I am going to return the fee for pleading the case,” Mr Malik told Dawn. Aitzaz gets ‘unlikely support’ in party By Zulqernain Tahir Monday, 21 Dec, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
Apart from legal fees, Sheikh Afzal alleged that he had paid Mr Pirzada Rs10 million during July-August last year. The amount, he claimed, had been paid in return for orders obtained in July. Mr Pirzada attributed the success to his relations with a judge of the apex court.
Sheikh Afzal also alleged that Mr Qayyum informed him that the counsel had allegedly paid Rs1 million to Advocate Ibrahim Satti (private counsel representing NAB in the apex court) in July last year through Advocates Qayyum and Pirzada and in September 2008 Rs1.5 million to former Attorney-General Sardar Latif Khan Khosa. Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry ordered Khwaja Haris to negotiate with Mr Yaqoob for an amicable and out-of-court settlement and directed the authorities not to arrest Mr Yaqoob till Jan 11SC told Rs7.5bn of Rs9bn BoP loan scam recovered
By Nasir Iqbal Tuesday, 22 Dec, 2009 http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-…
" Ab Tera kia banay ga kaliya "
well known sindhi writer Amr jalil shared his observation of rampant corruption of fedral minister.
http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/dec2009-daily/22-12-2…
CJ advises eunuchs be appointed for loans recovery Updated at: 1430 PST, Wednesday, December 23, 2009 ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court (SC) advised the government to ponder over the appointment of the eunuchs for the recovery from loan defaulters, Geo News reported Wednesday. http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=94264
Abdul Hafeez Pirzada, who was earlier appointed as amicus curiae by the court in the case and later made a party for being the chairman of a private entity being a beneficiary of loan write-off, also appeared before the court. SBP list submitted in court includes Nawaz period Wednesday, December 23, 2009 SC gives last chance to loan defaulters If anyone says court has crossed its limits, we are ready to take the blame in nation’s best interest: CJ By Sohail Khan http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id…
For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ameer Bhutto
The historic Supreme Court verdict declaring the NRO null and void ab initio has opened new doors for a new beginning for this nation. Truth has finally prevailed and, for a change, it is the looters, violators of the constitution and criminals who find themselves on the back foot. Had the apex courts of yore displayed the same intestinal fortitude, one can only wonder what could have been.
But this verdict has also thrown up an unprecedented bizarre scenario; the accused find themselves as their own prosecutors. Being in government, they are compelled by the Supreme Court order to reopen their own cases, which had been dismissed or put on ice under the NRO, and must now prosecute themselves. The court has provided for monitoring bodies at the federal as well as provincial levels headed by judges of the Supreme and High Courts, but the prosecuting authorities remain either those who themselves stand accused or officers appointed by them. This is a clear conflict of interests. Already, the Prime Minister’s remarks in a press conference on 18 December give rise to suspicions that, despite his earlier commitment to fully complying with and implement the Supreme Court verdict, the government may not in fact go out of its way to do so. The first sign of this is the replacement of the Interior Secretary for stopping the Defence Minister from leaving the country. One would have thought that the Prime Minister, who had recently shown a glimmer of independence that gave the nation cause for guarded optimism, would distance himself from a sinking boat, but he seems inexplicably eager to jump aboard.
This government’s primary justification for throwing the ball of investigating Benazir Bhutto’s murder into the UN’s court was that the impartiality of any investigation carried out by local authorities under a Peoples Party government might be called into question. The same principle applies here. If the people could doubt the authenticity of the murder probe of the PPP Chairperson by a PPP government, then why should they be expected to accept the self-prosecution of senior members of the PPP government? Transparency will be impossible with a number of accused heading the very ministries responsible for prosecution.
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court verdict, the continuation in power of a government that elevated men with tainted pasts to positions of high authority and seems to be adopting a belligerent posture against the NRO verdict is not just in bad taste but seriously harmful to the country and the present system. It amounts to inviting trouble. It does not benefit the cause of democracy, writ of government or authority of state institutions in any way when incumbent ministers become under trial accused wanted by the law. It does not help when their names appear on the Exit Control List and the Defence Minister is not allowed to go abroad on a state visit to China, causing national humiliation and disgrace at home and abroad. It does not benefit the system when the Interior Minister has to face contempt of court charges in the Supreme Court. Nor does it help when a man accused of taking tens of millions of rupees in bribes to fix cases in court is elevated to the post of Law Minister. National prestige is reduced to a mockery around the world when our ambassadors in the United States and Iran can not return home without facing arrest on corruption charges, their legal status having reverted to the pre-NRO position of being absconders. Regardless of the legal or constitutional position, this government and especially the president stand thoroughly discredited and without a moral crutch to lean on.
Zardari has sought refuge behind Article 248 of the Constitution which, purportedly, gives the president immunity from prosecution, but he is in a quandary: Under protection of this article he becomes a lame duck president totally devoid of any moral authority, but without it he must go to jail. However, this article is unclear and in need of further interpretation and elaboration by the courts. This black law would appear to be next on the judicial anvil as a petition challenging the legality of this article has already been moved. There also remains the issue of Zardari’s eligibility to contest presidential elections for, since he had already been convicted of absconding and sentenced to six months imprisonment. As such, his candidature was in violation of article 63-1(P) of the Constitution.
It is self-evident that, having evaded accountability on the basis of a plethora of excuses, including certificates of mental illness, the web of circumstances and law is now tightening around Zardari. In realization of this fact, instead of brandishing an imaginary Sindh Card or talking of being wheeled out of Aiwan-e-Sadar in an ambulance, the only honorable course of action open to him and his cronies is to resign and spare the nation the humiliation and agony of further legal wrangles in and outside the country. This tough guy bravado of facing the storm, as Zardari refers to it, is totally misplaced. It is one thing to face political adversity with heroism but this is nothing of the sort. The crisis he faces is not political but legal and constitutional and dragging the dignity and sanctity of his office through mud will not make him a hero. To the contrary, it will jeopardize the future of democracy. Zardari’s failure or refusal to see this is, to quote Oscar Wilde, “the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.” A poor Third World country like Pakistan being ruled by an unabashed billionaire president, a fact confirmed by NAB as well as Forbes Magazine, which lists Zardari as the tenth richest head of state in the world, eight of the nine heads of state preceding him being royalty, is a cruel joke this nation can not stomach.
In April 2007, Polish Construction Minister, Barbara Blinda, committed suicide in her bathroom as Poland’s Internal Security Agency searched her home in connection with a corruption probe. In May 2007, Japanese Agriculture Minister, Toshikatsu Matsuoka, hanged himself to death in anticipation of corruption charges against him rather than having to face a demeaning trial. In September 2007, Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, resigned due to unproven allegations of corruption and mismanagement against his cabinet members. In May 2008, the Transport Minister of Bihar, Ramanand Prasad Singh, resigned just one day after he was named in a corruption case, though he vehemently denied the allegations, insisting that they had been politically motivated to defame him. In May 2009, former South Korean President, Roh Moo-Hyun, committed suicide by throwing himself off a mountain rather than facing corruption allegations, even though no formal charges had been filed at that time. No one expects the motley bunch in Pakistan to show a similar honor surge and hurl themselves off the Margala Hills, but at least they should spare what is left of national pride and dignity and just go home and leave us to pick up the splinters.
But Zardari and his minions seems to be operating under an après moi le deluge (after me the deluge) rationale that could sink the country. The collective will of the nation can not be held hostage to one man’s lust for fame and fortune. They say lessons not learnt in blood are soon forgotten. How many times must we learn our lessons in blood for the memory to stick? In a poem derived from older sources, John Donne wrote “… and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” The bell has been tolling from the day Zardari took oath of office, but the din has now escalated to a deafening crescendo.
Excerpts of Last Night's Hamid Mir's Capital Talk of GEO TV DATED 22 Dec 2009
Judges deciding cases on media lines: Kurd Daily Times Monitor Wednesday, December 23, 2009 http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=200912… http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/12-kurd-unhappy-over-sc-verdict-on-nro–bi-09
LAHORE: Judges of the higher judiciary are making up their minds about cases after reading newspaper headlines and watching TV shows, former president Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ali Ahmed Kurd said on Tuesday.
Describing the present situation as “justice hurry and justice worry”, Kurd deplored the fact that the judges were visiting and addressing the bars and said they would have to “prove themselves worthy of their positions”. According to Kurd, judges in the United States neither read newspapers nor watched TV programmes, but focused only on their work.