While Pakistanis are protesting against the Martial Law (or so called Emergency) and attack on judiciary, the Harvard Law School has announced Medal of Freedom for Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary. I first heard the news on Geo and couldn’t believe if it were really true but later HLS website has also confirmed this news. Medal of Freedom is the highest honor of Harvard Law School and is awarded to individuals who have worked to uphold the legal system’s fundamental commitment to freedom, justice, and equality.
According to Harvard Law School’s Dean Elena Kagan, this award has been conferred to assure the solidarity of Harvard Law School with Justice iftikhar Chaudhary and Pakistan’s valiant lawyers in their heroic struggle. The previous recipients of this prestigious award include people like former South African President Nelson Mandela. I also found it pleasantly surprising that HLS have have NOT used word former Chief Justice for Justice Iftikhar even though our own Pakistani media is calling him former Chief Justice of Pakistan.
According to Harvard Law School website:
Following last week’s military crackdown in Pakistan and the detention of hundreds of lawyers, the Harvard Law School Association has decided to award Pakistani Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry its highest honor: The Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom. Chaudhry was detained after he convened the Pakistani Supreme Court to declare the current state of emergency imposed by General Pervez Musharraf to be null and void.
Although Chaudhry has been placed under house arrest and is not free to leave Pakistan, Dean Elena Kagan has reached out to the chief justice regarding the award and hopes that he’ll be able to come to the Law School to receive it when the state of emergency is lifted.
“As lawyers who value freedom and the rule of law, we at Harvard Law School want Chief Justice Chaudhry and all of the courageous lawyers in Pakistan to know that we stand with them in solidarity,” said Kagan. “We are proud to be their colleagues in the cause of justice, and we will do all we can to press for the prompt restoration of constitutionalism and legality in Pakistan.”
Hundreds of lawyers and other critics of Musharraf have been detained since the emergency rule was established more than a week ago. HLS graduates and practicing lawyers in Pakistan Babar Sattar LL.M. ‘02 and Tariq Hassan LL.M. ‘76 S.J.D. ‘80 have spoken out in protest of the suspension of the constitution.
To raise awareness and further promote discussion about the events in Pakistan, the Harvard South Asia Initiative will be hosting campus-wide events on Friday, November 16.
The Medal of Freedom was established by Harvard Law School to honor the achievements of individuals who have worked to uphold the legal system’s fundamental commitment to freedom, justice, and equality. To symbolize this commitment, the award bears the image of Charles Hamilton Houston, whose leadership of the crusade that culminated in the landmark Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education exemplifies the highest ideals of our democracy.
Past recipients of the Medal of Freedom include the members of the Brown v. Board of Education litigation team and former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Isn’t it amazing that just one word NO, which Chief Justice said to Gen Musharraf on March 09 when he tried to remove him, has changed the course of history. Since then, Justice Iftikhar has probably become one of the most popular man in Pakistan and Gen. Musharraf the most unpopular man. I wonder if Gen. Musharraf would release him from detention and allow him to collect this prestigious award. Pakistani are not honored by world’s top institutes like HLS everyday.
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Dear Mr. Chief Justice, As-Salaam-o-Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullah-e-Wabarakatuhu
Respected Sir,
We, the daily wages staff of CAA, are the essential part of CAA functional activity. As our job is on immediate bosses discretion, we are bound to put more effort than that of permanent staff. We are the backbone of this respectable authority and enjoying no facility (medical, leaves, house loan, allowances) and working about one third to one fourth salary and we have to work seven days a week.
Sir, you know that multinational companies believe in human equality. You must not like the double standard for the people working with the same organization and with the same job description. I think it is the sevior example of human discrimination and sevior violation of human rights.
We appeal for justice and have strong believe in your kind just personality, we are looking forward for your decision to permanent our jobs. We and our families will be highly obliged and we pray for your’s and your family’s good health and prosperity.
Muhammad Nazir
Daily Wages Employee
Civil Aviation Authority
JIAP Karachi
Justice Chaudry’s son, Arsalan failed in the Intermediate Examination, his result was changed and he got admission in Bolan Medical College in gross violation of merit. Later Justice Chaudry coerced the Chief Minister and forcefully got inducted as an officer of grade 17 in the Health Department of Balouchistan Government on a non existing post.
To please his beloved son who was not happy with his job as a doctor, Justice Chaudry used his influence to get him posted in FIA headquarters against a non existing post . DG FIA protested but the Ministry told him to keep quite lest the CJP gets annoyed.
After a while when Doctor Arsalan was not happy serving at FIA, his father ordered the Ministry to send him for training at the Police Academy Sihala. On being told that training at Sihala was meant only for formally inducted police officers, the CJP got annoyed and conveyed to the authorities that orders of the CJP were final.
After a few weeks in Sihala, Doctor Arsalan was ill legally posted to the Punjab Police. At Lahore he started wearing police uniform without having been inducted in the police and gave himself the rank of an SP. IG Punjab protested but was advised to keep quite. The IG was ordered to send Doctor Arsalan for a foreign course to Turkey on which a senior police officer after due selection was supposed to go.
The CJP told the Ministry of Interior to induct Arsalan in Police. He was advised that rules did not allow induction of a grade 17 officer in the police without selection through the Federal Public Service Commission. On this the Chief Justice ordered ill legal promotion of his son to grade 18 with only five months of service where as this grade is earned after a mandatory 5 years of service. Thereafter, he told the establishment to transfer him to Police as he was no more in grade 17. The establishment division objected to the ill legal demand on which the Establishment Secretary was summoned by the CJP at residence in the middle of the night and warned not to obstruct.
The CJP visited the PM at his residence , several times, often late at night, for waiver on rules to facilitate Arsalan’s induction in the police. On being told that the PM did not have authority, the CJP got very annoyed with the PM.
The above facts are part of the evidence available on record.
Besides favours to his son there are other serious charges of misconduct against Chaudry.
Justice Chaudry is a beneficiary of the public outrage against an unpopular government which was ousted through the elections. The Supreme Court at that time too refused to investigate charges against a brother judge (for self serving purpose). Charges against Justice Dogar are serious and must be investigated, preferably, in camera, by a non political body. To ensure fair play this body should also look into favours of parental love of Justice Chaudry.
An unbiased investigation could pave the way forward and free the nation from a hostage like situation that has been created by the judicial crisis since the last two years.
He is combine leader of Punjabi and Phaktoon, what he is doing in Quetta Balochistan.