Medals of Freedom for Justice Chaudary

#18
In 1999, I was opposing the Military rule on this forum.
And others were favoring it.
Now the matter is not democracy but the very survival of Pakistan.
There is no question, that Musharraf has done some mistakes.
But is the Taliban pushing Pakistan towards civil war. As they did in Afghanistan, paving the way for American/NATO adventure. American would have think twice if Afghans were united.
There was a mosque named "Zarrar", built in the name of Islam. But it was demolished by prophet PBUH himself.
If democracy is so important, then take part in election.
There is no question that both left and right can do agitational politics. But the silent majority is subdued enoegh or sane enough to know that it is not the panacea.

Judiciary always needs public support for bold/independent decisions. The Judges cannot do so unless they are assured that their lives, liberties and jobs are secured after they give an independent verdict. In absence of independent media/press, any protest/agitation from the masses after the military take over in 1999, it would be highly unfair to put all the blames on judiciary for legitimizing military govt for three years under the doctrine of necessity for achieving objectives (accountability, revival of true democracy etc) laid down by musharraf in his first speech. It was the Parliament (elected through rigged elections)the supreme institution for law-making in the country which 'legalized' everything and gave him five more years in the uniform with the timely help of friendly opposition faction(group of religion-using political parties). It was not the judiciary.

I won’t agree with the author that all Mr. Chadhry did was to say no for saving his job. We have to look into the reason for which the Musharraf wanted him to b removed so desperately in the first place. we cannot ignore 'steel mills case' and the case of missing persons whereby the authority of intelligence agencies was directly questioned for the first time in the history of pakistan. We cannot ignore the way he upheld the fundamental rights through various suo moto notices. Justice Chaudhry had all the options open during the lawyer's movement but he didnt compromise that makes him the real hero. had the lawyers any doubt as to the genuineness of the cause they were fighting for they would never be able to launch any such struggle that passionately. Lawyers knew that fighting for reinstatement of Justice Chaudhry was meant for rule of law, independence of judiciary, democracy and safeguard of fundamental rights, in which lies the ultimate peace and prosperity. It was Mr. Chaudhry's 'No' which made the whole nation to say no to the dictatorship and exteremism, which made the whole nation to demand democracy and rule of law. it conveyed the real enlightened message to the whole world from the visible vast majority of pakistani people which was obviously against the wishes of those whose interest lies in proving them to b exteremis and terrorists. Mr. chaudhry didnt only stressed on the glorified ideas of civil liberties in his speeches to make them much more sacred for the common people in Pakistan for whom these were once portrayed as something anti religion by the 'hidden forces' he also upheld these fundamental rights after he was restored much more vibrantly. again he had all the options open for compromise when he instead declared the imposition of emergency by the Genreal, nul and void. this s how he sacrificed his job and liberty for the freedom of the people of Pakistan. i dont know wht else he should have done for deserving a medal for freedom. and i also dont know y those who r really heard today dont ask for reinstatement of independed minded constitutional judges beside lifting of emergency, restoration of constitution and free and fair elections...
i think opposing/disputing any award for Asma, aitzaz, ayaz Mir, Justice Chaudhry or anyone who has the genuine contributions for rule of law only helps the forces working against these glorified ideas in which lies the ultimate peace and prosperity of our people.

Regards.

The CJ became the bastion of democracy. Taking all decisions for the Administrative, legislative and judiciary branch.
I would urge him to resign as Cheif Justice (rather than clinging to it inspite of being fired) and join one of the political parties. Tehrik-e-Insaaf (Justice Party) would be a good choice. Both can join hands in bringing out the much deserved revolution in Pakistan in which nobody except GEO, Dr. Shahid Masood and chowk interactors in their spare time seem to be interested.
Any way looks like GEO has been mislead. The emergency siren and timing was till the sacking of Musharraf when GEO would take credit for bringing down the Government of Pakistan. GEO like Nawaz Sharif should never forget that their real masters are, were and will be establishment. They cannot and should not bite the hands that made them strong and bypass them and replace them.

Let the politician take care of their constituency.
Why do you want 20 or so people in the name of democracy who can be paid double for their service to their MASTERS.
Let the politicians go to their constituency and take care of the problems there. Lets make our institutions including Army stronger.
Is Pakistan doomed or at crossroads.

Re: # 15
agreed once again...
tell it to followers of hypocrites like Nadeem Farooq Paracha..

HP: The CJ lived up to the saying "It is better to light a single candle than to curse the darkness". And if that candle has inspired other noble judges and lawyers, and if they in turn have inspired thinking people around the world who understand the importance of the rule of law, then more power to the Chief Justice.

Perhaps the military boot will crush this movement. Perhaps it will not. But one thing is for sure - those who gave up their careers, or suffered police batons and prison, or gave up their very live - will go down in Pakistn history as the true patriots and heroes. And Musharraf's name is mud, no matter if he clings to power another few weeks or another few years.

Many have done even better deeds...
But only a few are lucky because of the timing and public recognition which at times transforms into public support..
In a charged atmosphere those with public support become one of the key movers and shakers...
Moreover intentions also do not often lead to the desired consequences as events have a tendency to spiral out of control...
This award is perhaps influence by all that...

Re: # 11
Many have done even better deeds...
But only a few are lucky because of the timing and public recognition which at times transforms into public support..
In a charged atmosphere those with public support become one of the key movers and shakers...
Moreover intentions also do not often lad to the desired consequences as events have a tendency to spiral out of control...
This award is perhaps influence by all that...

Please help!

Explain to me please just one thing: does independence for a judge just mean independence from the executive branch?

Or, independence from personal feelings? After he came back to his job, you could bet that he would take that decision that would be most against Musharraf. How judicial was he?

Healthy skepticism is necessary when dealing with situation in Pakistan.
I don’t think the CJ has done any thing to deserve this medal except perhaps standing up to the General for saving his job. Did the CJ plan what happened after March 9? No, absolutely not! So his first motive was to save his job and the lawyers movement came about because the Pakistani society was tired of the army rule and the way army was running the country. Pakistani middle class is tired of this BS in Pakistan and the lawyers took the opportunity to take on the army on the CJ issue. There were many before this CJ who refused to work with the Army and lost their jobs but they never became heroes. Justice Wajihuddin is one of them. He deserves as much accolade for losing his job as the CJ did. Just recall that when Justice Wajihuddin refused to take oath under the previous order, Justice Chowdry was more than willing to do so.

People at the top level have motives and interests and often they play. I am sure the CJ knew what was required of him. He played it well and then got lucky that the Lawyer movement was successful in bringing him back even though the General always had the option of declaring emergency.

Things in Pakistan are not as simple as they appear. Just look at how Saudi Arabia is helping the General and now how Dubai came forward to help him. It shows two things: first, Musharaf and the army have reasonable amount to influence over the Saudis and the Gulf States and second, he still is not isolated and the US will have to do more to remove him. One more thing, the US alone will not be able to remove him, his ties with Saudis will have to be cut.

The US never wanted to remove Musharaf they just wanted to clip his wings and impose BB on him. He did not go for it and look who is supporting him. The most trusted US allies in the area Saudis and the Amir of Dubai.

The CJ drama was manufactured. When a company puts a product out in the market, the company itself doesn’t know how the product would be received. It could bomb or it could make the company. The group in the ruling classes that supported the CJ initially did not know what would happen and I can guarantee they were not expecting that things would reach this stage. The product they put out has taken a life of its own and is in heavy demand. They don’t have the ability to stop the demand. However, what they can do is try to manage the demand by controlling the media, press and the political parties. The US sends out Negroponte who wants to figure out how to help the army. He also wants to assess: where would the bleeding stop? The resistance in Pakistan may end up blocking the army from the future adventures and that is not in the US interests.

The damage control is in full swing. I seriously doubt that the US would be able to control the events in Pakistan.

Re#8 I agree, I was merely responding to author's assertions in the article by pointing that the medal is for the resistance in the current crisis and therefore her point about his tenure from 2000-2005 is irrelevant

tahmed writes "So, the Chief Justice is a fool who is being manipulated by the west"

Not only that, he is a f..ing immoral sob, who deserved to get a medal of freedom from the enemies of freedom i.e. the US elite and their conservative institution of higher learning where immoral a$$ wipes are trained to perpetuate barbarism around the globe.

Skeptical: If Pakistanis want to be free, they need all the support they can get. This Medal of Freedom has been done in a timely manner, since it makes it impossible for Musharraf to "disappear" the Chief Justice as he has "disappeared" others. It changes the face of the opposition to Musharraf to that of the Law, rather than that of Musharraf-wannabes whose uniform is a beard.

If Pakistanis chose to treat everyone as an enemy and are incapable of understanding even these basic things, then they will continue to be ruled by others, rather than have the right to elect their leaders within the rule of law.

Masadi the Pea-brain of the East: So, the Chief Justice is a fool who is being manipulated by the west. Musharraf loves geniuses like you!!

Urstruly #5 Spoken like a true loser - the whole world is your enemy, and you are the only good-intentioned individual left on earth other than those who turn young people (not their own children) into suicide bombers who kill themselves and other innocent people.

In all honesty I beleive that Choudri Iftekhar Sahib should tell Harvard to take its medal and shove it. Accepting it would be tentamount to an insult to the people of Pakistan who love Ch. Sahib and came out on their own to suppot what was his crusade. Ch. Sahib must understand that those who are offering him this medal are the just sending him another set of shackles and chains; as the urdu poverb goes "sugar-coated knife". Currently, people of Pakistan are laying down their lives to break free from the system of corruption and oppression these frigging self-proclaimed champions law and democracy has imposed on us through their hired goons. Tell them choudri sahib, tell them.