Iftikhar raps statements branding him politician

RAWALPINDI - Deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry urged the lawyers to keep on struggling for independence of judiciary and keep an eye on it after that since bar and bench are two wheels of a vehicle supporting each other.
On March 9 2007, a change had come that people wanted rule of law and independent judiciary for the prevention of their rights in the country.
He expressed these views while addressing the gathering of lawyers at Lahore High Court Bar Association (LHCBA) Rawalpindi here on Saturday evening after administering oath to the newly elected representatives of 18 different bars in Rawalpindi Division.
The CJ administered oath to 18 Bar Associations of Rawalpindi Division including, Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Taxila, Tala Kang, Jahang, Hassan Abdal, Kahuta, Gujar Khan, Kottli Sattian, Sohawa, Pindi Ghaib, Choa Syedian and other bars. The newly elected presidents of bar associations and executive members took oath.
The oath-taking ceremony was held amid tight security with a heavy contingent of elite personnel was guarding the stage. Earlier, the CJ was brought from District Courts to High Court in a bulletproof vehicle and a heavy contingent of patrolling force made a security ring around his vehicle to avoid any untoward situation. A walk through gate was also installed at the entrance of venue and security officials conducted body search of participants as a precautionary measure to avoid any act of terrorism.
Sacked Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Khawaja Sharif, Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court Ejaz Afzal, President Supreme Court Bar Ali Ahmed Kurd, former presidents of Supreme Court Bar Aitzaz Ahsan and Hamid Khan, Secretary General Karachi Bar Naeem Qureshi and hundreds of lawyers came from different parts of the country, a number of civil society activists, political activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Tehrik-e-Pakistan and Jamaat-e-Islami attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, the lawyers chanted slogans 'save judiciary save Pakistan' and read anti government poems besides clapping.
Addressing the participants, the deposed CJ remarked that a judge of superior court has no power to sustain the external pressure while deciding any matter except a pen and constitution of the country and his only strength was strong bar and common man seeking protection of fundamental rights.
Iftikhar Chaudhary said that before blaming the judges who ratified different martial laws in the country, it should be kept in mind there was nobody to stand with them in deciding against the dictators while it was due to lawyers struggle since March 9, 2007 that the SC did not endorse the unconstitutional step of November 3, 2007 by a military dictator.
"Supreme Court could not have given verdict against the November 3, 2007 martial law like its predecessors in 1999, 1977 and 1958, if there had not been support of common man, law practitioners and political activists, Justice Chaudhry maintained.
Urging on the lawyers to keep on struggling for independence of judiciary and keep an eye on it after that, the deposed CJ said bar and bench were two wheels of a vehicle supporting each other.
Expressing his surprise over the statements of his involvement in politics by the government, Justice Chaudhry questioned participation of many members of ruling coalition in the rallies of the lawyers before February 18, 2008 general elections.
He said that at that time he was not considered a politician and after February elections they had started calling him controversial figure despite the fact that he had addressed no other function than arranged by a bar.
Ijaz Afzal, a deposed judge of Peshawar High Court, said the reinstatement of the deposed judges was significant as it would secure the jobs of the judges rather the move would ensure the independence of future judiciary.
Calling refusal of CJ to resign in 2007 a turning point in the judicial history of the country, he said only an independent judiciary was catalyst of change for a progressive and secure Pakistan.
Khawaja Sharif also a deposed judge of Lahore High Court said the most important achievement of the lawyers' movement so far was that the people of four provinces had been talking about the rule of law in the country.
He urged on Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to issue executive orders about the reinstatement of deposed judges as he ordered the release of detained judges early last year.
Supreme Court Bar Association President Ali Ahmed Kurd vowed to stage the sit-in on March 16 on Constitutional Avenue in Islamabad and no power could stop them from reaching before the Parliament.
Former SCBA President Aitzaz Ahsan called the decision of sitting in the federal capital till the restoration of deposed judges a very difficult idea. He said the lawyers had to show a good degree of perseverance and fortitude while sitting in Islamabad for more than one day.
A large number of lawyers of Pindi Division and representatives of other bars were present on the occasion. Earlier, the CJ reached Rawalpindi in a rally and was welcomed by the lawyers at Kachary Chowk.