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India-Pakistan
Rs20bn defamation suit filed by ex-CJP against Imran Khan dismissed
2024-03-17
[GEO.TV] A local court in Islamabad Saturday dismissed a Rs20 billion defamation lawsuit filed against Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
 (PTI) founder Imran Khan
...aka The Great Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality disorders...
 by former chief justice of Pakistain Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry after almost 10 years.

In July 2014, the former CJP sent a defamation notice worth Rs20 billion to Khan for accusing him of rigging in the 2013 general election.

Chaudhry’s lawyers had warned that legal proceedings would be initiated against Khan if he failed to apologise for the allegations he had levelled earlier against their client.

However,
it's easy to be generous with someone else's money...
 the former top judge formally filed the lawsuit against the PTI founder in the court of district and sessions judge in the federal capital in January 2015.

In his lawsuit, the former CJP stated that the PTI founder used derogatory remarks against him in his statement published on June 27, 2014. It further claimed that Khan levelled baseless and fabricated
Tut tut, my good man! Made up out of whole cloth, I assure you, including the pictures and the audio!
 allegations against the judiciary.


After prolonged proceedings, the court dismissed the lawsuit against Khan, declaring the defamation notice as time-barred.

In her verdict, Additional District Judge Islamabad-West Haseena Saqlain said that the complaint stands rejected having been filed beyond the limitation period stipulated under Section 12 of the Ordinance 2002.

The judge noted that according to the plaintiff’s claim, Khan used derogatory remarks against Chaudhry on June 27, 2014. The complainant moved the court on January 20, 2015, after a span of six months and 24 days.

"The presumption is now that the plaintiff was aware of the alleged defamatory remarks on the date of publication. Consequently, the filing the instant suit beyond the limitation period stipulated under Section 12 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 is not permissible...," read the verdict.
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India-Pakistan
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was not given a fair trial: Supreme Court
2024-03-07
[GEO.TV] The Supreme Court of Pakistain on Wednesday issued its reserved opinion on the trial, sentence, and execution of the late prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
...9th PM of Pakistain from 1973 to 1977, and 4th President of Pakistain from 1971 to 1973. He was the founder of the Pakistain Peoples Party (PPP). His eldest daughter, Benazir Bhutto, would also serve as hereditary PM. In a coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq, Bhutto was removed from office and was executed in 1979 for authorizing the murder of a political opponent...
, saying that he did not get a chance to a "fair trial".

A nine-member bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistain (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, reserved its opinion on the 2011 presidential reference seeking to revisit the sentence, and execution of the Pakistain Peoples Party (PPP) founder and former premier Bhutto on Monday.

The bench also comprises Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Amin-ud-Din Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhel, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarrat Hilali.

"Zulfikar Ali Bhutto did not get a fair trial and it was not in accordance with the Constitutional requirement of due process," said CJP Isa while announcing the short order.

The court’s decision comes after nearly 12 years after a presidential reference seeking to revisit the sentence, and execution of the PPP founder and former premier was filed by former president and PPP Co-chairman Asif Ali Ten Percent Zardari
...former president of Pakistain, husband of the late Benazir Bhutto, who has been singularly lacking in curiosity about who done her in...
Bhutto was executed on April 4, 1979, following a verdict of the Supreme Court in a murder case that his party termed as "judicial murder".

The reference — filed by Zardari on April 2, 2011, under Article 186 of the Constitution — was taken up by the Supreme Court’s 11-member larger bench headed by former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry which held five hearings of the reference.

On December 12, 2023, the reference hearing resumed under a nine-member bench headed by CJP Isa following a decision to fix an instant case under the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act, 2023.

The SC had appointed amicus curies with expertise on the criminal and constitutional sides, seeking their assistance, particularly on the matter of maintainability of the instant reference, pending with the court for 11 years.

Apart from CJP, the other members of the bench include Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Aminuddin Khan, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Musarat Hillai.

The bench had reserved its opinion earlier this week after hearing all sides.
Related:
Supreme Court of Pakistain: 2023-03-28 Marriyum terms Minar-e-Pakistan rally a flop show, Maryam urges Pak gov’t to file treason case vs Imran
Supreme Court of Pakistain: 2023-03-28 President warns PM of 'contempt of court' if polls not held 'as per given timeframe'
Supreme Court of Pakistain: 2021-04-16 PM Imran, federal cabinet approves blacklisting of TLP as a terrorist organization
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India-Pakistan
SC dismisses convicts' appeals in 2007 case on 'roughing up' ex-CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry
2018-06-07
[DAWN] The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed appeals filed in 2007 by seven former members of the capital administration and police who were convicted in Nov that year for roughing up the former chief justice of Pakistain, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on March 13, 2007, DawnNewsTV reported.
If you're gonna rough somebody up, don't make it the chief justice. Not even an ex-chief justice.
On May 13, 2017, Chaudhry, the then CJP, was marching towards the apex court to answer the allegation of misuse of office before the Supreme Judicial Council when he was manhandled and roughed up by police personnel.

A five-judge bench of the SC headed by Justice Asif Saeef Khosa today upheld its November 1, 2007 order sentencing former Islamabad chief commissioner Khalid Pervaiz and deputy commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali till rising of the court; former IGP Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmed and SSP Zafar Iqbal sentenced for 15 days; and DSP Jamil Hashmi, inspector Rukhsar Mehdi and ASI Mohammad Siraj for one month.

The apex court had taken up a set of intra-court appeals (ICAs) moved by the convicts ‐ all former senior members of the capital administration and police personnel.

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India-Pakistan
Panama Papers have no credibility in eyes of law, Sharif tells LHC
2016-11-18
[DAWN] Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
 has said that contents of the Panama Papers have "no credibility/standing in the eyes of law and are inadmissible as evidence before any court".

He said so in a written reply submitted on Wednesday to Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, whose court is seized with a petition challenging the National Assembly speaker’s act of dismissing a reference for Mr Sharif’s disqualification as a member of the legislature in the wake of Panama Papers leaks.

The reply was filed by former attorney general Salman Aslam Butt on behalf of the premier.

In his reply, Mr Sharif not only challenged the territorial but also the constitutional jurisdiction of the LHC in taking up the petition moved by a member of the Pakistain Justice and Democratic Party, which was set up by former chief justice of Pakistain Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. He also challenged locus standi of the petitioner.

The reply said the speaker duly passed the impugned order in exercise of the powers conferred upon him under Article 63(2) of the Constitution and it did not merit any interference by the court as already settled by the Supreme Court in various judgements.

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India-Pakistan
Iftikhar Chaudhry launches his party
2015-12-28
[DAWN] Former chief justice of Pakistain Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry launched on Friday a political party namely 'Pakistain Justice Democratic Critic Party (PJDCP)'.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, he said the PJDCP would welcome only non-corrupt people, adding that the party's aim would be to solve people's problems.

Mr Chaudhry, 66, said his party would work on a 25-point agenda, including in the sectors of health and education and land reforms. Provision of justice to the common man would be the basic manifesto of his party, he added.

The ceremony was attended by lawyers, civil society activists and others.

Earlier, the ex-CJ had said that he would announce his political party and manifesto on Dec 25.

Iftikhar Chaudhry was appointed 18th chief justice of Pakistain by then president retired Gen Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
 on June 30, 2005.
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India-Pakistan
Judicial commission report nullifies all allegations, says Iftikhar Chaudhry
2015-07-25
[DAWN] Former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry has termed the judicial commission's report, formed to probe alleged rigging during the 2013 general elections, as an important milestone in the country's history.

“All those who alleged that rigging was done during the elections have been proven wrong and all conspiracies have now come to an end,” said the former chief justice.
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India-Pakistan
Convict in Musharraf attack case hanged
2015-01-01
[DAWN] A former technician of the Pakistain Air Force convicted of making an attempt on the life of former army chief Gen Pervez Perv Musharraf
... former dictator of Pakistain, who was less dictatorial and corrupt than any Pak civilian government to date ...
 in 2003 was executed at the Beautiful Downtown Peshawar
...capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly known as the North-West Frontier Province), administrative and economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan. Peshawar is situated near the eastern end of the Khyber Pass, convenient to the Pak-Afghan border. Peshawar has evolved into one of Pakistan's most ethnically and linguistically diverse cities, which means lots of gunfire.
 Central Prison on Wednesday morning.

Officials present at the time of the execution said Niaz Mohammad was calm and composed when he was being taken to the gallows.

"Niaz requested his parents to impart education to his children and forgive him if he ever hurt their sentiments," an official said, adding that the convict had also sought forgiveness from the public on the lam as well as prayers for him.

Johar Ijaz, a judicial magistrate, supervised the execution. Personnel of police, Elite Force and army were deployed in and around the colonial-era prison.

The last execution at the Peshawar jail was carried out on June 6, 2006, when Mawas Khan of Peshawar's Sufaid Sung area was hanged.

According to sources, a brother, wife and three children of Niaz were allowed to meet him before the execution.

His body was taken to his native village in Swabi an Edhi ambulance.

SEVEN HANGINGS: So far seven convicts have been hanged since the lifting of a moratorium on death penalty by the government after the Peshawar school carnage. Six of them were convicted in cases related to attacks on Pervez Musharraf.

In the first attempt on the life of the former president, which took place near Jhanda Chichi bridge in Rawalpindi on Dec 14, 2003, Niaz Mohammad, another former PAF junior technician Adnan Rashid, who later escaped during the 2012 Bannu jailbreak, former chief technician Khalid Mehmood, former senior technician Karam Din and former corporal Nawazish were sentenced to death by the Field General Court Martial at the PAF Base Chaklala on Oct 3, 2005. The sixth, Nasrullah, also a junior technician, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Their appeals were rejected in Feb 2006 by a court of appeal under the Pakistain Air Force Act. Later on March 28, 2006, the Lahore High Court dismissed their petitions.

A Supreme Court bench headed by then Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had on Sept 25, 2006, rejected their appeals against the high court verdict. The apex court also dismissed the convicts' review petitions in 2011.

Abdul Islam Siddiqui, an army soldier who was separately tried in the same case, was executed on Aug 20, 2005, after his conviction by a court martial.

Muqadam Khan adds from Swabi: Niaz Mohammad was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Swabi on Wednesday. His funeral was attended by his relatives and a large number of people. Media personnel were not allowed to make videos or take photographs of the funeral.
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India-Pakistan
Imran was a Musharraf sell-out: Iftikhar Chaudhry
2014-10-28
[DAWN] While giving as good as it gets, former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry claimed Monday that Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
 (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who ain't the brightest knife in the national drawer...
 was a Musharraf sell-out when confronted with a question by media representatives pertaining to his role in the alleged rigging in the May 2013 elections.

The former top judge was speaking to news hounds in the federal capital after offering his condolences to Barrister Akram Sheikh over the death of the latter's wife.

Chaudhry said there would be no compromise on the case registered against the PTI chairman. He moreover said that Imran did not deem anyone worthy of respect except himself.

Earlier in July, Chaudhry's lawyers had sent a defamation notice worth 20 billion rupees to Imran over allegations levelled against the former chief justice pertaining to involvement in alleged poll rigging. The two have been engaged in a war of words and have taken potshots at each other on several occasions.
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India-Pakistan
Balochistan CM elected with bogus votes: Imran
2014-09-08
[DAWN] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
 (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
 on Sunday said that Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
 Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was elected through rigging and bogus votes.

The PTI chief made the claim while speaking to PTI supporters in Islamabad's D Chowk.

He said that 600 votes of the opposing candidate to Dr Abdul Malik Baloch disappeared, and that the returning officer was changed in the poll to ensure Baloch won the election.

The PTI chief said during his speech that if a proper investigation was conducted on rigging in the election, the first culprit would be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf...
, the second former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, while the third culprit would be Najam Sethi, the caretaker Punjab CM during the election.

He also claimed that former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali won the NA 266 seat through vote rigging and that 24,000 bogus votes were among his tally.

Imran Khan also said that the country's rulers were liars who were shifting the cancellation of the Chinese president's visit on him.

He said by allegedly offering him a position as deputy prime minister they put a small price on him.

"I am not the deputy prime minister, but God has given me some dignity...If I wanted power then I would have been a weak opponent of the government," said Imran Khan.
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India-Pakistan
Matters out of politicians' hands, only army can resolve crisis: Shujaat
2014-09-06
[DAWN] Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, on Friday, said that matters were now out of the hands of politicians and only the military could improve the situation.

Shujaat also accused former chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and former army chief General (r) Ashfaq Pervez Kayani of being involved in rigging during 2013 general elections.
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India-Pakistan
Imran withdraws 'apologetic' letter to Iftikhar Chaudhry
2014-08-28
[DAWN] Pakistain Tehrik-e-Insaf
...a political party in Pakistan. PTI was founded by former Pakistani cricket captain and philanthropist Imran Khan. The party's slogan is Justice, Humanity and Self Esteem, each of which is open to widely divergent interpretations....
 (PTI) chairman Imran Khan
... aka Taliban Khan, who who convinced himself that playing cricket qualified him to lead a nuclear-armed nation with severe personality problems...
 has withdrawn a legal response to a defamation notice that appeared to be praising former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, his lawyer said on Wednesday.
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India-Pakistan
Nobody can derail democracy in Pakistan: Chaudhry
2014-08-02
[DAWN] Former chief justice of Pakistain, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Friday hinted on the possibility of launching a movement from Quetta, if the democratic system in the country was derailed.

Addressing lawyers and judges at a function organised by members of the legal fraternity in his honor at Balochistan
...the Pak province bordering Kandahar and Uruzgun provinces in Afghanistan and Sistan Baluchistan in Iran. Its native Baloch propulation is being displaced by Pashtuns and Punjabis and they aren't happy about it...
 High Court, he said some elements were being used to overthrow the current democratic system.

"These elements would not succeed in undermining the democratic right of people," said the former chief justice.

He said the people of Balochistan always stood by democracy and the Constitution and they would do so in future as well.
Then his lips fell off.
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