Executive Cannot Make Laws against Human Rights: Pakistan Non-functional CJ
'Pakistan Times' Special Correspondent

LAHORE: Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has said that the executive could not frame laws against the human rights and added that the human rights and freedom were inter-reliant.

Addressing a Lahore High Court Bar reception here, the Chief Justice said that the articles 3 and 4 could not be suspended even during emergency.

The human rights have a pivotal position in the constitution, which in fact have the status of a backbone in any civilized society and the human rights and freedom were independent, he said. He said that the conception of autocratic system of government has died down now and the notions, which do not learn lesson from the history vanishes.

Chief Justice said, “We understand the law and practice it. Some of our judgments put us in a trying situation.” As regards the arrested lawyers, Chief Justice hoped that the courts would be doing justice with the lawyers.

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry thanked the media for giving a running coverage to the rally and told that if the media would not have given support, then such a massive gathering could not have been held. He also thanked the judges and the lawyers present in the reception. The chief justice released pigeons on coming to the rostrum.

LHC Bar president Ahsan Bhawan addressing the reception said that the lawyers and the people from across the country were with the chief justice. He said that we were not struggling for any individual, but fighting a war for the freedom of judiciary.

Later, LHC Bar president presented a resolution, which demanded withdrawal of reference against the chief justice, judiciary be allowed to work freely and with dignity, restoration of 1973 constitution in its original shape, allow the exiled leaders to come back to their homeland, hold elections by setting up a caretaker government and the army must go back to the barracks leaving the power.

CJ lawyer, Chaudhry Aitezaz Hassan, while addressing the gathering on this occasion, told that the rally from Islamabad to Lahore was a referendum. He also paid tributes to the 17 LHC judges present in the pindal.

Later, LHC Bar life membership and a memorial shield was presented to the chief justice. One poem was also recited on this occasion highly eulogizing the chief justice.

Earlier, the lawyers, NGOs and the people Sunday morning gave a warm reception to the chief justice on his arrival in Lahore after having traveled for over 24 hours. The lawyers showered flower petals on the chief justice and raised vociferous slogans supporting him.

Recap

Meanwhile, the caravan of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has reached Lahore High Court. The convoy was accorded rousing welcome at various cities and towns on its way to Lahore from Islamabad.

Lawyers, political workers and other people enthusiastically received Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, when he reached Lahore High Court after 24-hours journey.

According to President Lahore High Court Bar Association Ahsan Bhawan 20 retired and 17 serving judges were present to receive Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

Former President of Pakistan Muhammad Rafique Tarar was also reached to receive Justice Iftikhar.

Prominent jurist Justice (Rtd) Javed Iqbal his spouse Nasira Javed, central leaders of Pakistan Peoples Party, Muslim League (N), MMA and Tehrik-e-Insaf were also present at roads of Lahore.

Thousands of charged members of the lawyers’ community, political workers, activists and leaders, members of the traders’ community and ordinary citizens gave an unprecedented welcome to the CJ. A large number of people stood on the footpaths to have a glimpse of the man, who is widely considered as the symbol of resistance against the regime.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on his much-delayed arrival in Lahore in the wee hours of Sunday, reached Data Darbar where he was accorded a historic welcome by Lahorites right from the outskirts of the city to the Lahore High Court Building.

The entire north of the city was bustling with life late into the night. The residents of Lahore had been awaiting the CJ’s arrival since Saturday afternoon, braving the May heat all day long. The atmosphere was so electrifying that there were no signs of fatigue on the faces of the host despite the long wait.

After seeing the vehicle of the CJ, thousands of charged political workers and a cross section of society raised loud slogans.

A large screen has been installed outside the Lahore High Court to watch the address of Justice Iftikhar.

The administration has taken stringent security measures on the occasion of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s address to Lahore High Court Bar Association.

Data Darbar

Earlier, the Non-functional Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, on his much-delayed arrival in Lahore in the wee hours of Sunday reached Dat Darbar where he was accorded a historic welcome by Lahorites right from the outskirts of the city to the Lahore High Court Building.

The chief justice had set off in a convoy from his Islamabad residence at 7:45 am and reached Lahore in 21 hours.

Thousands of charged members of the lawyers’ community, political workers, activists and leaders, members of the traders’ community and ordinary citizens gave an unprecedented welcome to the CJ. A large number of people stood on the footpaths to have a glimpse of the man, who is widely considered as the symbol of resistance against the regime.

The entire north of the city was bustling with life late into the night. The residents of Lahore had been awaiting the CJ’s arrival since Saturday afternoon, braving the May heat all day long. The atmosphere was so electrifying that there were no signs of fatigue on the faces of the host despite the long wait.

Reports say that thousands of charged workers of the PPP, PML-N, PTI, MMA, Labour Party Pakistan, MMA, Khaksar Tehrik, Joint Action Committee for People’s Rights and a cross section of society raised loud slogans.

They demanded supremacy of the judiciary besides resignation of President Pervez Musharraf, and withdrawal of the “unconstitutional reference” against the Non-functional CJ.

Of Referendum

And, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal Deputy Secretary-General Liaquat Baloch felicitated the people and workers for having extraordinarily welcomed chief justice into Lahore and termed it a referendum against the government.

According to a statement issued from Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Lahore office, he said the way thousands of people welcomed him along several hundred kilometers of GT Road and in Lahore, is laudable.

Liaquat Baloch said the government must have realized its real worth among the people.

MMA Deputy Secretary-General condemned the closure of transmission of Geo News and some other private channels in Sindh areas including Karachi and termed it an attack on press freedom.

PPP for Reception

And in Karachi, President Pakistan Peoples Party Syed Qaim Ali Shah on Sunday vowed warm welcome for Non-functional Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.

Talking to the party members, he believed that the rousing welcome CJ received in Lahore speaks volume that the move against him is unconstitutional.

Qaim Ali believed that the campaign for the restoration of democracy and freedom of Judiciary has entered in final stage and will continue further.

ANP Plans

Meanwhile, another report says that Awami National Party (ANP) decided Sunday to give a grand reception to Chief Justice Mohammed Chaudhry on his arrival in Karachi on his struggle for the rule of the law and freedom of judiciary.

This was decided in a meeting held here with ANP Sindh President Shahi Syed in the chair. A meeting will be called on Thursday to discuss the arrangements to receive chief justice in the metropolis.

The meeting decided to form a ladies wing of the party; a meeting has been set on May 18 for the purpose.

The meeting passed a resolution to condemn the continuous load shedding in Karachi. Another resolution in the meeting said that the transporters are being harassed in the city and underprivileged areas are being wronged.

The meeting demanded that the people arrested in a demonstration against power outages in Hyderabad should be set free.●