Removal of 60 judges crippled economy: Aitzaz

Aitzaz Ahsan said the removal of over 60 judges of the superior courts in one stroke had badly tarnished the image of our judiciary as an independent institution as a consequence of which, he added, foreign investment, a key factor in bolstering economy of a country has come to a halt. He said when the impression of ‘vulnerable to pressure’ about the judges had been established after they had taken oath under the PCO, no investor would trust the judicial system and risk investing in the country. Resultantly the country is facing the present serious economic crunch and a miserable life of the people.

He said in Europe judiciary was made independent three centuries before the democracy came there and he questioned, how the prime minister can claim sovereignty of the Parliament when the judiciary was dependent.

He said independent judiciary comes through the judges having independent mind and how one can become so after a long detention as was the case with Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry along with his family members. He said a judge in that state of mind would even fear an ordinary officer. He maintained that judiciary would be called independent only if November 2 judiciary is back to their office. He called upon the government to restore that judiciary at the earliest keeping in view the larger public interest.

Justify the drop scene of the long march in Islamabad on June 14 last, Aitzaz said, some elements under the cover of long march were on the prowl to damage the Parliament while the government itself wanted to give the lawyers maximum stay to wait for any untoward incident. He said had there been any unruly scene and damage to the Parliament, the first name in the FIR would be that of Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

He said the lawyers movement had gained much more strength after the long march and July 19 All Pakistan Lawyers Representatives Convention in Lahore would decide ‘time and action’ to further the movement.