Iftikhar Chaudhry vows fresh struggle against Musharraf
Islamabad (PTI): Denouncing imposition of emergency, Pakistan's sacked Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry has vowed to launch a fresh struggle for restoration of Constitution and rule of law in the country.
In his first comments after being put under house arrest two days back, Chaudhry rejected Musharraf's allegations that he had been soft towards terrorism and asserted that he had never done any wrong.
"Everything that is happening today is illegal, unconstitutional and against the orders of the Supreme Court," the 59-year-old dismissed Chief Justice told 'The News' daily over telephone on Sunday night.
Chaudhry, whose suspension in March had triggered nationwide protests against Musharraf, declared that he was determined to launch yet another phase of struggle for independent judiciary, rule of law and upholding of Constitution.
"These are testing times for me from Allah and I will react to this situation in the same manner as is desired by the Creator of all," he said.
"God blessed me with success last time and I am sure that He would again bless me and other respected judges, who had refused to take fresh oath under the PCO (Provisional Constitutional Order), in a similar manner this time too, Chaudhury said.
He was removed as Chief Justice on Saturday after the seven-member bench of apex court headed by him declared Musharraf's new Provisional Constitutional Order as null and void and refused to take fresh oath under it.
Musharraf suspended Chaudhry on March 9 following allegations that he abused his position. It sparked off massive protests in the country before he was reinstated on July 20 when a 13-judge bench declared Musharraf's March 9 action as illegal.
Chaudhry said he had done nothing wrong either previously when he was suspended nor now, the daily said.
Without referring to Musharraf's speech in which the General accused judiciary of going soft on terrorists, the sacked Chief Justice said that it was wrong to conclude that the judiciary had been lenient towards terrorists.
He said out of his serious concern over terrorism, he set up a committee under him that included judges from each provincial high court to expedite terrorism cases.
Musharraf had said that 61 militants arrested during the Lal Masjid operation had been set free by the Supreme Court.
He said although no one is allowed to visit him, a judge, who took oath under the PCO, visited him.
Chaudhry showered praises on judges, both in the apex court and the high courts, who refused to take oath under the PCO.
He specifically mentioned the name of Justice Javed Iqbal, who despite getting the opportunity to become the Chief Justice of Pakistan on Saturday, refused to take oath under the PCO.
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