DATE=1/26/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN-JUDICIARY (L-O)
NUMBER=2-258452
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
INTERNET=YES
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A judicial crisis has gripped Pakistan,
following the military government's order for senior
judges to take a new oath that would protect the
military. As Ayaz Gul reports from Islamabad, the
chief justice of Pakistan's Supreme Court has been
replaced after he refused to swear to the provisional
constitution introduced by the army.
TEXT: The military government has dismissed six
judges of Pakistan's Supreme Court and several others
in the provincial high courts who declined to take the
oath. It would bar the judiciary from challenging the
October 12th (1999) military takeover of the country.
The government's move comes days before the Supreme
Court is to hear (on January 31st) a petition
challenging the legality of the October military coup
that ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Seven new judges have been appointed to the Supreme
Court with Irshad Hasan Khan named chief justice.
Pakistan's military leader, General Pervez Musharraf,
is quoted as saying the action is taken in the best
interest of the country.
Pakistan's human rights groups and the former Prime
Minister's political party are criticizing the army's
move, saying it has undermined the independence of the
judiciary.
Raja Zafar -ul-Haq is a senior leader of Mr. Sharif's
party, the Pakistan Muslim League, that has challenged
the military coup in the Supreme Court.
// HAQ ACT //
This is a moral defeat for the people in power.
They thought that they have no defense under
constitution or law so they blasted the Supreme
Court and the high courts and there is a big
question mark on the confidence of the
(Pakistani) nation on the superior judiciary.
// END ACT //
A senior Supreme Court lawyer, Akram Sheikh, says the
military government's instruction to the judges to
take a new oath is disturbing.
// SHEIKH ACT //
It is a sad day for the judiciary and it is a
sad day for the whole nation. But I feel that
the judges who have taken [the] oath continue to
enjoy the power to strike down any
administrative or legislative act of the
(military) government.
// END ACT //
In 1977, then military dictator General Zia ul-Huq
issued a similar order for all senior judges and
sacked those who refused to take a new oath.
(SIGNED)
NEB/AG/ENE/RAE
26-Jan-2000 11:27 AM EDT (26-Jan-2000 1627 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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