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Contempt notices to Islamabad policemen

Nirupama Subramanian

Plea against Bhagwandas appointment

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday sent notices to a number of officers in the capital's police force, from the top ranked Inspector-General of Police to an Assistant Sub-Inspector, for their alleged involvement in the manhandling of "suspended" Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary outside his home last month.

Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas sent the notices after a judicial enquiry charged the police officers with contempt of court. The case is posted for Wednesday.

Political parties are preparing for another day of protest along with lawyers in front of the Supreme Court on Tuesday when Mr. Chaudhary is to appear again before the Supreme Judicial Council investigating the charges against him in the presidential reference.

House arrest

The police placed Jamaat-e-Islami leader Qazi Hussain Ahmed under house arrest for two days.

"That will not stop us. We are going ahead as planned. From our side it will be a peaceful protest, but if the Government tries to stop us, they will have to bear responsibility for the consequences," said Shahid Shamsi, spokesman of the JI and the umbrella Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal religious parties coalition.

Pakistan People's Party spokesman Farahtullah Babar said activists of the party had "dispersed" to escape preventive arrest and would collect in strength before the Supreme Court.

"Our people will be there to participate in support of the protests by lawyers," Mr. Babar said.

The Supreme Court enquiry was headed by a judge of the Peshawar High Court who took statements from all the police officers and journalists present at the scene on March 12.

Emerging from his home for the first time after his ouster on March 9, Mr. Chaudhary had decided to walk to the Supreme Court, where he was to appear before the Supreme Judicial Council for the first hearing of the reference against him. Television footage showed the Chief Justice being pushed around by policemen, and into a car against his will. His coat tore in the scuffle.

The incident incensed lawyers and gave strength to protests against Mr. Chaudhary's removal.

The Supreme Court also issued a notice to the Government on a petition challenging the appointment of a non-Muslim as the acting Chief Justice.

Petitioner Shahid Orakzai has argued that as a non-Muslim, Mr. Bhagwandas was not qualified to perform the duties of a Chief Justice, among which is administering the oath of office to the President, who is required by the Constitution to be a Muslim. The oath of office was Islamic in content and can only be administered by a Muslim, the petitioner has argued.

This case is also posted for Wednesday.

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