The latest victim of the no holds barred politics of Pakistan, its Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, was manhandled by security men before shifting the venue of hearings on allegations on him to another place.
The sacked Chief Justice of Pakistan’s Supreme Court and his family were on their way to appear before a judicial council that inquires into the charges of misuse of authority against him. The security officials refused to allow him inside and a scuffle followed in which Chaudhry, his wife and daughters were manhandled by the men.
Subsequently, the venue of the hearing was changed to Balochistan House and the former chief justice was taken there in his car. Lawyers and followers of the Islamist alliance Muthahida Majlis-e Amal turned up in the hundreds at the venue to express their support to Chaudhry.
Chaudhry denied the charges on him as useless and said he will not resign his post. ‘My trial should be held in an open court so that everyone should know what is happening’, Chaudhry said. He has also expressed reservations about some of the judges in the council that hears allegtions on him as he had initiated disciplinary proceedings against them while in service.
The sacking of the Chief Justice and the subsequent mishandling of the situation by the government of Pakistan is expected to have serious repercussions on the image of Musharraf’s government.
