LAHORE – The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Asma Jahangir has criticised the Supreme Court of Pakistan for framing charges against PCO-tainted judges.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Asma said that PCO judges were almost non-functional. However, they are still judges and no court of law had the right to issue a notice or frame charges against a sitting judge of the superior court. A reference remains the only option against PCO judges.
Asma felt that issuing contempt of court notices to PCO-judges was incomprehensible. Instead, these judges should have been sent home or references should have been issued, she added. Expressing displeasure over the apex court’s decision to frame charges on PCO judges, Asma grieved that the decision would weaken the foundation of judiciary. She added that this decision will create fear among other judges and dignity of the judiciary will be at stake.
She explained that history had never seen prosecution of sitting judges for contempt of court. Asma dispelled media news that the SC also issued notices to former President Musharraf, former Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, core commanders and many retired army officers. She explained that the media had misinterpreted the court’s proceedings.
The SCBA president said that lawyers had struggled for the reinstatement of judiciary at a time when judges had no hope of their restoration. She reminded that she was a petitioner in the famous Asma Jillani case, in which majority of the judges deciding the case had taken oath under PCO.
She suggested introduction of a check and balance system for evaluation of a judge’s performance. She believed that courts, and not the government, should decide on the issue of Raymond Davis. SCBA Vice President Zubair Khalid and Secretary Qamaruz Zaman Qureshi were also present on the occasion.
