Feeling eeling the heat of the Supreme Court’s rejection of the government’s review petition against the apex court’s NRO verdict, President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday urged the chief justice of Pakistan to fix an early date for hearing the reference against the “judicial murder” of PPP founder chairman Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
In a letter written to the CJP, the president desired that the case be heard on a day-to-day basis so that it may be concluded soon. “The history and the nation are anxiously looking forward for the correction of the record and the removal of the stigma cast on the unjust judicial process adopted during the proceedings of the case,” the letter sent to the chief justice of Pakistan said.
Following is the text of the letter.
Dear Mr Chief Justice,
Former prime minister and Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was one of the most outstanding leaders of our history. His services to the Muslim Ummah, the third world and humanity at large were tremendous and outstanding. He successfully convened the Islamic Conference at Lahore, pioneered the nuclear programme in Pakistan, gracefully brought back our ninety thousand POWs and gave dignity and empowerment to the teaming millions of this country. He gave Pakistan the 1973 Constitution which unifies the nation and gives it an Islamic and democratic polity.
Tragically, because of a conspiracy and under the dictates of a notorious and cruel dictator who had usurped power after destroying the constitution, Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was eliminated through what is universally termed as a judicial murder.
The history and the nation are anxiously looking forward for the correction of the record and the removal of the stigma cast on the unjust judicial process adopted during the proceedings of the case. I had sent a reference to the Supreme Court of Pakistan under Article 186 of the Constitution through my counsel, Dr Babar Awan, senior advocate Supreme Court, seeking the court’s opinion on various legal questions of law and of public importance in connection with the aforesaid judicial murder. The reference was filed as far back as on 02.04.2011 and was initially, being a matter of great public importance, heard expeditiously by the Supreme Court generally proceeding on a day to day basis. My counsel concluded his arguments in the last week of June 2011 and soon thereafter, the case was adjourned. I understand that the only arguments which are outstanding are those of the amicus curiae. The said case is awaiting fixation at the earliest now after the Supreme Court has achieved its full numerical strength of judges.
As we are well aware according to the Quran, a Shaheed never dies and thus both Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and the entire world are anxiously waiting to receive the answers of the Supreme Court at the earliest on the questions which I have raised in my reference and which stood canvassed before the court, so that the ends of justice are met with the full attention the matter deserves. The reference may therefore be fixed for an early date and be proceeded on a day to day basis so that it may be concluded soon.