OFFICIALS INDICTED FOR MANHANDLING CHIEF JUSTICE

C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 001516 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/05/2017 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL PK SUBJECT: OFFICIALS INDICTED FOR MANHANDLING CHIEF JUSTICE REF: ISLAMABAD 1490 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) On April 3, the Supreme Court indicted seven senior government and police officials on charges of contempt of court for their March 13 manhandling of non-functioning Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. A three-member bench of Acting Chief Justice Bhagwandas, Justice Jillani, and Justice Mulk issued the indictments, citing gross manhandling and disrespectful acts toward the Chief Justice. Deputy Attorney General Raja Muhammad Irshad, on behalf of the State, argued in favor of the indictments. ¶2. (U) The indicted officials have until April 11 to sumbit their replies to the court. If convicted, the officials could be sentenced to six months imprisonment and termination of government employment. The indicted individuals include Islamabad Chief Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police. ¶3. (C) Comment: The images of police grabbing the Chief Justice by the hair and forcing him into a vehicle made a strong impact on the legal community, and the Supreme Court wasted no time in ordering a full inquiry into the incident. Acting Chief Justice Bhagwandas' quick response may help build confidence among lawyers and other members of civil society that he will carry out the Supreme Judicial Council process fairly and independently. End Comment. BODDE