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Concentration of power in one man dangerous: CJ
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry took a veiled swipe at President Gen Pervez Musharraf on live national television on Saturday, warning “absolute power corrupts absolutely”.
Chief Chaudhry was speaking publicly in the Supreme Court for the first time since President Musharraf suspended him about two months ago for alleged abuse of power, triggering a public furor that is testing the military leader’s hold on power.
Justice Chaudhry did not specifically mention Musharraf in his address, but made veiled criticism of the president, who also serves as the military chief, saying the centralisation of power in one man could be dangerous.
“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Justice Chaudhry told a televised, packed seminar on “Separation of Power and Independence of Judiciary”.
He also said it was critical to maintain the separation of powers among the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government, calling judicial independence a “bulwark against abuse of power”.
“The courts must be independent,” the chief justice said in his 10-minute address. “Courts should remain free from the pressure of the executive.”
Saturday's speech, which started six hours late, culminated an evening that had the trappings of a well-planned political rally.
About 8,000 jubilant lawyers and supporters from opposition parties gathered outside the court building, chanting slogans against Musharraf.
The crowd inside erupted in cheers as Justice Chaudhry entered at the centre of a massive scrum of photographers and cameramen. The national anthem, Islamic prayers and shouts of “God is great” preceded Chaudhry's speech.
“The bloodshed in Karachi will not go to waste. Revolution will come,” several people in the crowd shouted, punching the air with their fists. “Go, Musharraf, go,” chanted others.
Earlier, Ali Ahmad Kurd, one of Justice Chaudhry's attorneys, told the crowd a war was being waged for the independence of judiciary.
“One war was initiated by a general against the judiciary, and the other one has been waged by lawyers for protection of the judiciary, and God willing, we will win it through peaceful means,” he said.
“Even if you cut off my head, my tongue will speak and say we don't accept you (Musharraf).”
Outside the Supreme Court building, Khawaja Asif, an opposition leader from exiled former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N, told reporters that Musharraf was “like a falling wall” and that the entire nation wants Chaudhry restored to his position.
Speaking on occasion, PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal said that passion of people was highly appreciable. He added that the masses wanted a positive change.
He said that workers of all political parties were united today here to express solidarity with the Chief Justice of Pakistan. Today workers of all opposition parties are shouting "Go Musharraf go".
Speaking on the occasion, PPP Secretary-General Raja Pervez Ashraf said that all the political parties are united for freedom of the judiciary and they want democracy in the country.
He said that all the political parties were striving hard for freedom of the judiciary.
He said the masses wanted restoration and respect of the judiciary and supremacy of law. He added that there could be some internal conflicts in the parties but all Opposition parties were agreed for freedom of the judiciary and wanted that free, fair and transparent elections must be held under a caretaker government.
Courtesy Geo