Barrister Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, raising objection on the establishment of the Supreme Judicial Council, has said that its present body cannot hear the reference filed by the President against the Chief Justice of Pakistan because under the Constitution, there already exists another forum for accountability.
He was addressing the Lahore High Court Bar Association at Kiani Hall here on Wednesday. The president LHCBA, Ahsan Bhoon also addressed while a number of lawyers were present on the occasion.
Aitzaz said that the Chief Justice is accountable but the Supreme Judicial Council was not authorise to hear the reference against him, therefore, we demand hearing of case in an open court.
He said that we did not want in camera trial because there was a judge in the Supreme Judicial Council who never shook hand with the non-functional CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while against another judge he sent a reference to the Supreme Court.
Similarly, he said, there was also a judge in the Council who after removal of the CJP could avail the opportunity of becoming the Chief Justice for four years and under such a situation how we could expect justice. He said that our complaint and apprehensions were against the prejudice of judges and in camera trial.
He said that we were fighting for the supremacy of judiciary and more freedom and powers to judges. He said that during the past right from the time of Maulvi Tameez-ud-din, the courts praised the dictators but when the CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took some imperative decisions for national interest, a reference was filed against him.
Later talking to media men, Aitzaz said that the lawyers and workers of the political parties were a part of movement being launched by the lawyers. To a question, he said, that lawyers' panel and CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry could decide to boycott the hearing in the Supreme Judicial Council but the time has not come.
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