Karachi – Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Asif Saeed Khosa has said thatthe allegations levelled against him of influencing the high treason caseverdict against Pervez Musharraf are not true and purely based on falseassertions.
He added, “A malicious campaign has been initiated against the judiciarybut the truth shall finally prevail.”
The remarks of the chief justice came after the Additional Attorney General(AAG) Amir Rehman criticised Khosa for influencing the judgment during thefull court reference on Friday.
The CJ said that the judiciary decided thousands of cases that were pendingsince 25 years. He said the judiciary always worked for the promotion ofjustice system in the country.
The CJ said that a judge’s heart should be like a lion. “I apologize forany mistakes that I made during my tenure as chief justice,” he remarked.
The outgoing chief justice said that he had always “strived to live up tomy oath of office and have tried to dispense justice according to law andwithout fear or favour, affection or ill-will”.
“It is not for me to lay any claim on correctness of my legal opinions butI only hope that posterity may judge me with kindness and may appreciatethe sincerity of the efforts made,” he added.
“An all out effort was made to put our own house in order with an approachfocusing mainly on improving the justice delivery system,” he said, addingthat during his tenure as the country’s top judge “the image of [theSupreme] court as a dignified judicial forum sitting at the apex ofjudicial hierarchy was maintained, the principle of separation of powerswas adhered to, judicial restraint was exercised and dignity and respectwas ensured for all appearing before the Court as lawyers, litigants orofficials.”
On the occasion, the new Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Gulzar Ahmedsaid that state has the responsibility to protect the Constitution.
He said the judiciary decides cases on merit and taking into considerationthe legal circumstances.
“Rule of law, protection of Constitution and independence of the judiciary,are the foremost tasks with which this court is constantly confronted with.
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“This court has, in the past, addressed these challenges and shall continueto address these challenges with all due dignity and profoundness,” hesaid. He also insisted that the “state should build and provide for civicand civil infrastructure”. Justice Ahmed is currently hearing multiplecases pertaining to illegal encroachments and lack of infrastructure inurban cities.
He said the state must adopt a “humanistic approach,” emphasising that“corruption and illegalities, in all the departments of the State, need tobe seriously addressed and eliminated”.
Earlier, AAG Amir Rehman said, “With a heavy heart, I would like to saythat the chief justice supported the short order of the case and used hisinfluence in the verdict.”
He said that special court’s verdict in Musharraf treason case is againstthe Constitution. He added the basic principles of evidence have beenignored in Article 10A in the said judgment.
The additional attorney general said, “A judge who authored such a judgmenthas no right to remain a judge of a superior court.”
He stated that the verdict clearly shows an element of revenge. Amir Rehmanpointed out that the procedure of carrying out the conviction which isstated in the judgment is against humanity and illegal.
He said that the judgment is against the principles of criminal justicesystem. “In the past, the tenure of several judges were extended.”
On Thursday, the special court announced its detailed verdict in the saidcase. In its judgment, the court ordered to hang Musharraf’s body inD-Chowk if he dies before undergoing the said punishment.
