Sajad Haider’s Rebuttal to George Bruno’s Rant in New Jersey Star-Ledger Blog on Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry

SAJAD HAIDER’S REBUTTAL TO FORMER US AMBASSADOR’S GEORGE BRUNO’S RANT AGAINST CHIEF JUSTICE IFTIKHAR CHAUDHRY 

IN

New Jersey Star-Ledger

Sir Bruno through learned Shaharyar,

Any sane and suffering reader here in Pakistan  can see this is diatribe and total misinformation and contrived interpretation of debilitating facts on the ground to show Zardari as the gladiator of democracy and the convict Gilani cooling his shins in the freezing environ of opulent presidency,  while people are dying of sizzling heat without a Gujrati fan whirring, as the victims of Vishnu CJ, demolishing sacred democracy supplanted through the odious but defunct NRO, is the language of yet another memo by Haqqani, to Bruno what ever.

Some falacies for mr. Bruno,s attention:

Zardari was not elected by 70 % of any thing in elections. He is incontrovertibly a supplant of USA/UK PLAN, manufactured in DC after the dictator Musharraf refused to attack N.Waziris  the rest is a high intrigue script whose embryo lies in the vaults of State Dept.

For accurate facts Only 18 % of the nation voted. PPP, ML Nawaz(fetched more votes), ANP, MQM, PMLq, and assortment plus independent shared that 18 % vote- so PPP had 8-9 % share. The 80 % not part of politic cult have no part in this fabricated elections which by Zardari’s vassal like CEC declared as 40 % bogus votes. Scores elected had forged degrees, false declaration, perjury about  dual nationality leaves what these liars call the court of the people!!’ so the remaining few were also purchased with colossal amounts from empty treasury and paid double or more than the price tag they wore on their sleeved or foreheads. Their hands were spring loaded as were their pockets to raise in unison to elect Zardari, Gilani, vote of confidence, and now vote for Raja Rental.

As far the outcome of that selection not election,  essentially Emotion for slain BB, and hate vote against Musharraf drummed up by NS with the huge plundered money reflected the outcome. No one voted for Pakistan as is expected in democracies. Had Zardari been a contender along with BB no one would have touched him with a barge pole. What Mr. Bruno does not know or choses to rubbish is the mayhem this perverted version of ‘democracy for the family’  not people’ has wroght havoc on the beleagured nation. Let me give one example which is enough, that today pakistani streets are an inferno from debilitating power outages, minuscule gas, and kerosine, basic staple like flour, oil and milk are out of reach of millions who are starving, killing infants in desperation. Most of this power imbroglio causing civil war in the streets was brought about by a nincompoop raja Parvez Ashraf who was irrevocably found involved in mega corruption by providing huge advances to power barons whose derelict power plants on sea were producing a fraction of the contractual stipulation. ADBP the international lender pointed out in their report about massive kick backs by Raja Parvez, and one of his ministerial  colleagues had charged him in court for massive corruption, a raisin d’ être of PPP & PMLN AND Q !!! so what should have the SC done. This charlatan was found fully involved and removed from his job by a puppet PM  reluctantly as the public out roar was getting too loud. Like all crime prone ministers of PPP every one and the bureaucrats with criminal record once removed by SC have invariably been propelled upwards. I can list at least 20 here. But the honest like Tariq Khosa who was about to arrest female MNA Ashiq Awan and LAL JEE and cabal were kicked out and most Ill reputed and convicted baboos were installed shamelessly; the most reprehensible being the selection of Raja rental for his kick backs in rental power, to now put the faded dignity of this mob, once a nation,  to undying shame, since  that word shame, honor and dignity and honesty have any effect on these reprobates in power.

So mr. Bruno is just another of Haqqanis supporters, and why not! Haqqani has usurped some 12 million dollars of this poor nation, a nation seething with hunger and indignity in the hands of history’s most corrupt helmsmen. So now declared traitor, H. HAqqni can get many articles written but now that the sewerage lid Is sliding open more stench will spread and suffocate as soon as people see this Raja Rental also accommodated in the Presidency till that also is declared a university for character building of future generations where Quaid e Azam would be the role model. Soon God willing.

Also worthy of note is that during this tumulus 4 grueling years after the reprehensible NRO opened the flood gates of fugitives criminals, extortionists, plunderers, defaulters and indeed murderers were  received in stretch Mercs. With president or PM emblems with green covers took these criminals and ensconced them in the NA,PAs, SENATE and ministries. So far four honest and upright finance ministers, finance secretaries, DG FIA, NAB, Governors State bank have been sacked from each institution for being true to their good character and refusing to accede to the plunder by the Gilani Zardari gang. Look at the figures of how many billions are being printed daily and the deficit burgeoning at tremendous velocity. All this while the prodigal PM and president are spending on their lavish style of 39,000 Sterling per jacket x 3. The bunkered Zardari’s fabric for that dark Don special baggy attire is woven at 17,000 sterling a meter in Italy. This info  is from one very close to power center in unguarded moment. Without exception there is a billions worth scandal by the sons of Gilani, the chair of Evacuee property, by the Niazi of national insurance, Punjab bank, new Benazir airport, steel mil, PIA, Railways,  lighting for Islamabad, land mafia headed by Zardari and operated by partners likes of MLik Riaz, in cahoots with a convicted criminal KHOKHAR and son plus brother, jack the ripper fame,  all under protection and patronage of Rehman Malik, yet another convicted liar and perjurer.

This is the tip of the melting iceberg, sir, and Sr. Bruno either is oblivious of the state of Denmark and the miseries this perverted version of democracy supplanted through an odious and illegal order the NRO is inflicting upon the masses or he just has to write a smart piece to improve his living standards.

Trust me Every one wants democracy even it’s truncated version but where rule of law of the country is not humiliated and sparse resources not looted with impunity, and that too by men and women whose crimes against the impoverished nation are written and wedged in stone, indelibly. Zardari may have a measure of immunity but.  not entitled to impunity to take revenge.

Best

Sajad HAIDER

On Jun 24, 2012, at 0:57, Shaheryar Azhar <[email protected]> wrote:

Posted by forum member Husain Haqqani.

Excerpt: “As one who has devoted my life to the international human rights agenda and democratization of former autocratic nations, I am growing increasingly concerned that the historic progress that was made in Pakistan in 2008, reversing a decade of military dictatorship, is now threatened by an unexpected source — the politicization of the Pakistani judiciary and the stark political ambitions of a formerly respected chief justice. In two Supreme Court decisions, the chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has unveiled an agenda that is antithetical to democracy and seems fueled by self-aggrandizement and political opportunism. Most recently, and contrary to the constitution of Pakistan, Chaudhry usurped the right of appointment of vacancies in the court from the elected prime minister and president….Chaudhry claims he is attempting to check the arbitrary power of the president and prime minister. But who is to check the arbitrary power of the chief justice? At least Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Gilani were elected by the people’s representatives.”

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: Husain Haqqani
Date: Sat, Jun 23, 2012 at 3:34 AM
Subject: Article from 2010 by George Bruno–Judge Iftikhar Chaudhry threatens Pakistan’s democracy
To: [email protected]

 

 

Judge Iftikhar Chaudhry threatens Pakistan’s democracy

Published: Friday, March 12, 2010

New Jersey Star-Ledger

By: George Bruno

http://blog.nj.com/njv_guest_blog/2010/03/judge_iftikhar_chaudhry_threat.html

As the NATO military offensive against the revitalized Taliban progresses in Afghanistan, the political situation in neighboring Pakistan remains tense in a way that can directly impact U.S. military and political objectives in the region.

I have long believed that the pacification of the extremist threat in South Asia and around the world can only be accomplished in an environment of democracy and the rule of law. Any assault on these values fuels the fires of fanaticism.

As one who has devoted my life to the international human rights agenda and democratization of former autocratic nations, I am growing increasingly concerned that the historic progress that was made in Pakistan in 2008, reversing a decade of military dictatorship, is now threatened by an unexpected source — the politicization of the Pakistani judiciary and the stark political ambitions of a formerly respected chief justice.

In two Supreme Court decisions, the chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has unveiled an agenda that is antithetical to democracy and seems fueled by self-aggrandizement and political opportunism. Most recently, and contrary to the constitution of Pakistan, Chaudhry usurped the right of appointment of vacancies in the court from the elected prime minister and president.

Asif Zardari, husband of the slain Benazir Bhutto, elected president of Pakistan by over 70 percent of the country’s electoral college vote but currently suffering sagging popularity, acquiesced to avoid a constitutional crisis. Yet by acquiescing he may have permitted a far greater crisis to loom in the future, a crisis fueled by what appears to be the unchecked political appetite of Chaudhry.

In a previous ruling, Chaudhry reaffirmed the right of the court to disqualify members of Parliament, the president and all ministers of the cabinet from serving if they are not of “good character,” if they violate “Islamic injunctions,” do not engage in “teaching and practices, obligatory duties prescribed by Islam,” and if they are not “sagacious, righteous and non-profligate.” The chief justice affirmed that non-Muslims must have “a good moral reputation.”

These disqualifications could apply arbitrarily and whimsically to anyone, contrary to any recognized standard of democratic rule. This is the language of dictatorship, not democracy.

Although ostensibly the chief justice is campaigning against corruption by insisting that old, unproven corruption and clearly politically motivated charges against elected leaders be reinstated, he is effectively attempting to overturn the results of Pakistan’s last election.

It isn’t particularly relevant what Zardari’s approval ratings are in Pakistan today, just as it’s not relevant what Barack Obama’s approval ratings are in the United States. Like it or not, Zardari is the legitimately elected president of Pakistan, supported in September 2008 by an overwhelming majority of the country’s legislators to serve a five year term. If he is to be replaced, it must be by the ballot box or by the constitutional process of impeachment, not by his political enemies determining if he is of “good character” or whether he is “sagacious and righteous.”

Chaudhry claims he is attempting to check the arbitrary power of the president and prime minister. But who is to check the arbitrary power of the chief justice? At least Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Gilani were elected by the people’s representatives.

Pakistanis coups have historically been led by a general in green fatigues not a jurist in black robes. Chaudhry’s recent actions have not only undermined the future of democracy in his nation, but threaten the political stability on which U.S. national interests rest. For Pakistani democracy to succeed, the chief justice must remain within his constitutional bounds, as must the executive and legislative branches of the government.

George Bruno is the co-director of the University of New Hampshire’s Partners’ for Peace program, which works to strengthen countries of the former Soviet Union as they transition to democracy. He served as U.S. ambassador to Belize and as senior executive at the Pentagon under President Clinton.

ADDITIONAL READINGS:

Pakistan’s Chief Justice-Recognized by Jurists as a Leader in Global Jurist Community.

International Jurist Award announced for Chief Justice of Pakistan

 

London: International Jurist Award has been announced for Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.

A spokesman for International Jurist Association said on Saturday that the International Jurist Award  for 2012 would be given  to Mr Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on May 28 in London.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry put up great resistance against former military ruler Gen Peevez Musharraf that led to restoration of democracy in Pakistan after nine years  of tyranny.

He was deposed by the military dictator in March,2007 when he refused to relinquish the post.

Pakistan had seen historical lawyers’ movement after Musharraf sacked the chief justice.

He was restored on July 20,2007  and was again sacked along with  other judges of the superior judiciary on November 3,2009 when Musharraf imposed emergency in the country.

Mr Chaudhry and other judges were reinstated by the democratic government  in March ,2009 after great struggle that eventually led to ouster of Gen Pervez Musharraf.