PAKISTAN: Top judge coping with the stress
Updated
Pakistan's chief justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has never spoken publicly about his suspension two months ago, fearing it might inflame the situation.
He has, of course, spoken to his lawyer about the circumstances surrounding President Pervez Musharaff's decision to suspend Mr Chaudhry over claims of misconduct. The dismissal has led to a wave of protests across Pakistan, including weekend violence that left more than 40 people dead in Karachi.
Presenter: Rob Sharp
Speakers: Iftikhar Chaudhry's lawyer, Aitazaz Ahsan
AHSAN: Well the past few days have been eventful and tragic also. On the 12th the Chief Justice and I we flew to Karachi which is down south in Pakistan and we wanted to address the High Court Bar Association there. We landed at the airport and we were held virtually prisoners at the airport for ten hours.
SHARP: Do you think anyone could have predicted the level of violence that broke out in Karachi with more than 40 people killed?
AHSAN: I think the government should have known, the government itself through its ally, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement tried to take out a rally against the Chief Justice. And when you do that you really run the risk of violence, not that the Chief Justice was rallying any forces. On the contrary he hasn't even spoken to the press in the two months since his suspension. He's inflamed nobody's sentiments. He has not even spoken about the reference and the action that General Musharraf has taken against him.
SHARP: Obviously he's spoken to you about that though hasn't he?
AHSAN: No, no I'm not talking a private conversation. Of course he's had private conservations, who would not have private conversation? He's also instructed me as his counsel to make submissions on his behalf first before the Supreme Judicial Council, which is hearing the charges against him, and then before the Supreme Court where we have challenged the proceedings before the Supreme Judicial Council. Obviously privately talking, I'm not saying he's keeping mum, but he's made no public statements, what to talk of inflammatory statements, what to talk of asking and inducing people to rally around him. He has made no public statement or a political statement or any inflammatory statement whatsoever. He has made no statement.
SHARP: But sure his supporters say that General Musharraf wants the judiciary headed by a lawyer whom he can more easily manipulate. Does he feel the same way?
AHSAN: That's obvious, that's obvious to everybody, that's what General Musharraf has virtually conceded by the nomination of the acting chief justice who initially wasn't the most senior judge.
SHARP: Is Iftikhar Chaudhry concerned for his safety?
AHSAN: Well everybody's concerned for his safety and everybody's concerned for the safety of those associated with him.
SHARP: Has he specifically told you that he is concerned for his safety?
AHSAN: Well no not that way, but I know, I mean I know that everybody's concerned about the safety of everyone who's associated with this case on behalf of the Chief Justice.
SHARP: Is he under any stress at the moment? How's he shaping up with all of this pressure?
AHSAN: He's alright, he's taking the stress factor, but he's deeply grieved at the death of an associate, one who withstood torture in endeavours to implicate the Chief Justice.
SHARP: This was Mr Raza of course you're referring to, the court registrar who was killed, yeah?
AHSAN: Yes, yes.
SHARP: Is he confident that he'll win this battle, that he'll be reinstated?
AHSAN: Well let's hope so, certainly he is confident.
SHARP: Has he told you that he's confident?
AHSAN: Look I'm not going to tell you what he's told me and what he hasn't told me. You are asking information from an attorney, things that his client has confided in him one way or the other.
