Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday slapped a suo motu contempt case against a real estate tycoon at the centre of a corruption scandal involving Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's son, viewing his remarks against the top judge as an attack to malign and ridicule the judiciary.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday took notice of allegations levelled against Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry by a real estate tycoon at the centre of a corruption scandal involving the top judge's son and sought a record of the businessman's news conference.
With the country riveted on the sensational case that could have far-reaching ramifications, a business tycoon has told the Pakistan Supreme Court that he will present evidence against the son of the chief justice "that will be like bombs". The case involves Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry's son Arsalan Iftikhar, who has been accused of having been paid up to Rs 400 million by real estate tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain, said to be under treatment in London.
Issuing the notices, Justice Chaudhry said the court would ascertain whether Sharif had been sent to Jeddah on his own or deported and whether the exit seal was stamped on his passport.
The repercussions of the Pakistan Supreme Court's verdict declaring the amnesty law as 'unconstitutional' has started showing effects with the Interior Ministry placing the names of 253 beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance, including Interior Minister Rehman Malik, on the Exit Control List. The latest move has thus barred Malik from moving out of the country. The names of other prominent people on the ECL include Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar.
The apex court made this observation while hearing petitions challenging President Pervez Mushrraf holding dual offices.
President Pervez Musharraf has declared a state of emergency in Pakistan, the state run PTV reported on Saturday evening. He issued the provisional constitutional ordinance in his capacity as the chief of the army staff. Immediately after the announcement, army troops entered the Supreme Court building in Islamabad. Reports said that, Chief Justice Iftikhar M Chaudhry is likely to be removed from his post. Reports also suggested that Chaudhry has been detained.
The apex court within hours took suo motu notice of it and a five-member bench started hearing the case on Monday.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday extended by six weeks the term of a judicial panel probing a mysterious memo that sought US help for staving off a feared coup after the killing of Osama bin Laden in May last year.
Pakistan's Supreme Court will on Thursday hear former envoy Husain Haqqani's plea to testify via video link from abroad on a mysterious memo before a judicial commission, which has warned that an arrest warrant could be issued if he does not return to the country.
The government wanted an early end to the case as Chaudhry's suspension ended up creating one of the biggest political crisis during Musahrraf's eight year of military rule.
The apex court detailed its views in a 26-page judgment on Friday on a petition seeking a review of its earlier validation of the emergency. A 13-judge bench headed by Chief Justice Abdul Hamid Dogar refused to take back an earlier judgment in favour of Musharraf. The judgement also made observations about the deposed judges, the lawyers' movement and the media.
Ailing virologist Khalil Chishti, detained in Rajasthan for nearly two decades on a charge of involvement in a murder, arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday after being given special permission by India's Supreme Court to return home to meet his family.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notices to former Inter-Services Intelligence chief Asad Durrani and the Defence Ministry as it resumed hearing a petition against the funding of politicians by the spy agency after a gap of over 12 years.
Pakistan's Election Commission on Friday disqualified former prime minister Imran Khan for five years in the Toshakhana case for hiding proceeds from the sale of gifts he received from foreign leaders.
In a verdict having far-reaching implications, Pakistan's Supreme Court on Friday declared as 'unconstitutional and illegal' the emergency imposed by former President Pervez Musharraf in 2007.
Khan was ousted from power after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership following days of high drama.
'Now I will see how you escape...'
Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan reiterated his allegations of a foreign conspiracy behind his ouster and said he knew that the 'match was fixed' when a no-confidence motion was moved against him.
Pakistan's Supreme Court took suo motu notice of reports that a woman was stoned to death on the orders of a panchayat in Punjab and summoned the provincial police chief to give an explanation on July 23.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Monday dismissed major legal challenges to President Pervez Musharraf's re-election even as the general reportedly made plans to visit Saudi Arabia for talks with its ruler on the possible return of former premier Nawaz Sharif.
The officials had manhandled Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in March, soon after he was removed as chief justice by President Musharraf.
The Sharif brothers have asked the apex court to issue a judicial directive to the government, allowing them to return home.
In a breakthrough that could end the political uncertainty in Pakistan, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party have agreed on a power-sharing deal to form a new coalition government after intense negotiations following a fractured poll verdict.
Prime Minister Khan, who had effectively lost his majority in the 342-member National Assembly, made a brief address to the nation after a stormy parliament session was adjourned by Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri.
'At this moment you cannot give her asylum because if you do, then you are directing public anger against India.'
The spy agency had tapped 6,523 phone numbers in February, 6,819 in March, 6,742 in April
Musharraf survived two attempts on his life in December 2003 in Rawalpindi. He narrowly survived the second assassination bid which killed at least 16 people, a majority of them policemen.
The ex-army chief is facing a slew of court cases after returning from five years of self-exile in Dubai.
The ruling Pakistan People's Party has nominated senior leader Makhdoom Shahabuddin for the post of premier following the Supreme Court's disqualification of Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. Shahbuddin is also a Sajjada Nashin or the descendant of a Sufi saint like his predecessor Yusuf Raza Gilani.
As the year 2023 comes to an end, a look at some newsy events that shaped the world in the first half of the year.
Referring to section 6A of the Citizenship Act applicable exclusively to Assam, a five-judge constitution bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said governments have to make compromises for the overall well-being of the nation.
The Pakistani Supreme Court ordered for a joint investigation team to probe the allegations of money laundering against his family.
Pakistan's Supreme Court adjourned for two weeks the hearing of Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi's petition seeking his acquittal in a case related to the Mumbai attacks in order to study Ajmal Kasab's confessional statement.
RIM had informed the Pakistan government that under its privacy policy, BlackBerry data could be released only if a request was made by customers who were involved in the communications.
India should remember that Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations will remain special due, not least, to bonds of all Muslims with The Holy Land. They would also be strategic enough, irrespective of whether the ambassador is a military man or a career civilian appointee., notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at the Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency.
Dropping references to the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, the killing of Muslims in Gujarat riots and Hindutva, and tweaking the reference to Manipur's merger with India are among the latest set of revisions made public by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) in its textbooks.
His disqualification to participate in future elections may follow, notes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W, India's external intelligence agency.
Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the last petition challenging President Pervez Musharraf's re-election.
