People not accepted February 25 verdict: CJP.

DG KHAN: chief justice, Iftikhar Muhamamd Chaudhry has said people of Pakistan have not accepted the verdict of February 25.

Addressing the lawyers convention here on Wednesday night he said; “All decisions must have popular support and the people have not accepted the decision of February 25.” Unpopular decisions could lead to risk, he said.

The CJ said there was no Constitutional crisis in the country on November 3, 2008 which called for imposition of emergency.

“The steps taken on November 3, 2008 were completely in violation of the Constitution. There was no Constitutional crisis in the country at that time which called for imposition of emergency,” Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said.

All the institutions and governments were functioning when the extreme step of declaring emergency in the country was taken and serving judges were sent home.

Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry said the present government has reappointed the deposed judges and not reinstated them.

He said the government is earning Rs12 billion per moth from petrol but no court is taking notice of this. The Finance Advisor has admitted this on record, he added.

Earlier, President Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) Ali Ahmed Kurd and former SCBA president Aitzaz Ahsan also addressed the lawyers.

Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan condemned the declaration of Governor rule in the province of Punjab. He said such steps will prove detrimental for Pakistan People’s Party.

“If we want to change our fate, then there is no other option than to have independent judiciary,” Aitzaz Ahsan asserted adding “now there is no time to sit at home.”

Ali Ahmed Kurd on the occasion said if Mian Sahab (Mian Nawaz Sharif) is with us then we are with him too.

“We do not recognise the existing Supreme Court,” he said adding “people’s support is with us.”

link: http://www.geo.tv/2-26-2009/35998.htm