'Chief Justice's reinstatement a constitutional issue'

President Pervez Musharraf has taken reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as a matter of his ego rather than considering it a Constitutional issue, said Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan, president, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) here on Monday.
President Musharraf ousted and detained Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry in November last year to protect his disputed presidency from legal wrangling. On March 24, Yousaf Raza Gillani ordered release of detained judges in his maiden speech after being elected as Prime Minister.
Deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had said that he would embark upon journey to submit his vote of thanks to the lawyers for their unflinching movement for the independence of judiciary.
In this regard, the he left for his native town Quetta here on Monday. Addressing the media at the residence of deposed chief justice before leaving for Quetta, Aitzaz said that presidency is still hatching conspiracies to avert his reinstatement. But we are hopeful the deposed chief justice's reinstatement along with others who did not take oath under the PCO, would take place within 30 days as envisaged by the Murree Declaration, he added.
Aitzaz Ahsan said that lawyers' movement has no other motive but to restore of deposed judges. This movement will come to an end the day ousted judges resume their offices, he added. On the other hand if the Murree Declaration failed to restore deposed judges the lawyers would be left with no other option but to restart their movement and rally against the regime, he added.
While talking about deposed chief justice's visit to Zardari House, he said that ftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry visited along with other lawyers to offer Fateha for the departed soul of Benazir Bhutto with Asif Ali Zardari.
Aitzaz said that Benazir Bhutto had once tried to meet Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during latter's house arrest but barricades and barbed wires hindered her and she could not make it. Benazir had said on the occasion that 'Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is still Chief Justice of Pakistan and she herself will hoist Pakistani flag at his official residence', he added.
He said that it was the moral duty of the CJ to pay homage to Benazir Bhutto. The CJ's meeting with Asif Ali Zardri lasted merely for 20 minutes and centerpiece of their discussion was none other than the life of slain leader, he added.
Talking about illegal eviction of Justice Ramday's house, Aitzaz said the people who are behind this heinous move should not forget that such an action can also take place with other judges as well. Later on, lawyers, civil society activists and school children who came with J. Salik, former minister saw off the CJ on his departure to Quetta.