Thursday, December 29, 2011

Law allows SC to hear any case: Chief Justice

Islamabad: Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry further said that parliament is important institution of state. He said certain news about assemblies’ failure are wrongly attributed to the court in the media. The CJP further said the court had only declared that the parliamentary committee cannot conduct investigations.
The President is head of state and this regard is respectable to us, the CJP added.
Asma Jehangir, counsel for accused Hussain Haqqani, contended that court’s jurisdiction to take up matters of public importance couldn’t be applicable to political issues.
Justice Shakirullah Jan said the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction is not confined to matters of public interest.
Asma said the court should not consider the big names of the applicants and instead tread as per the law.
The CJP said Army Chief should be respected because them people give toil and blood to the country. Asma said those who give blood are others, they (the general) only enjoy rule. She said we are indebted to Jawans (army soldiers) for their sacrifices.
She said tomorrow someone, invoking public interest and national defence, may approach court to bring into question the decision that are taken at Corps Commanders meetings.
The Chief Justice said the law doesn’t permit keeping anything secret. He also said that the petitioners have not sought action against Hussain Haqqani; they have only sought an inquiry into the matter.
Asma said that invoking national security to trample on rights is American practice. Pakistan doesn’t have any such doctrine, she added. The CJP said that court didn’t validate dictator’s unconstitutional and undemocratic steps. He said the court doesn’t have any application in which impeachment of the President is sought.
The nine-member bench of the Supreme Court is hearing the memogate case.
During Wednesday’s hearing, Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had asked how the court should interpret president’s silence on memo case.
It may be pertinent to mention here that the President Asif Ali Zardari had not submitted his answer to the court as yet on memo, as required by the apex court.
Husain Haqqani’s Attorney Asma Jahangir said the things are being driven to president’s impeachment. The nine-member bench heard the memo case headed by the chief justice of Pakistan. There ensued an interesting exchange of words between Asma Jahangir and the court during the course of the hearing.
She also referred to one of Habib Jalib’s couplet during the hearing. She said Hussain Haqqani has informed the president about his decision to resign in his letter. The court asked did Haqqani made his decision to resign on November 16?
The CJP asked Asma Jahangir to trust the court. Asma Jahangir said in her reply she did trust her husband but could not surrender her rights to him.
Justice Jawad S Khwaja said the citizens have right to information under the article 19.