Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2033
2007-05-07 12:39:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002033
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS
REF: ISLAMABAD 2017 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002033
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS
REF: ISLAMABAD 2017 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On May 7, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the Supreme
Judicial Council (the ad hoc body hearing evidence against
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry since March) to suspend
proceedings against the Chief Justice. The suspension will
stay in force while the Supreme Court considers several
petitions concerning the Supreme Judicial Council, including
whether the Council's composition is constitutional and
whether three members of the Council should recuse themselves
for conflict of interest. Aitzaz Ahsan, the Chief Justice's
lead counsel, had petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend the
Supreme Judicial Council while the court decides the
outstanding petitions.
2. (C) In what some observers consider an attempt to exhibit
impartiality, the Supreme Court also acceded to a request
from the government's lawyers that the Court expand to a
"full bench" (9-11 judges) for all matters concerning the
Chief Justice, rather than the current five-judge bench.
3. (C) Comment: Rumors have circulated for weeks that,
should the Supreme Court suspend the Council's proceedings,
the Government might use the suspension as an opportunity to
withdraw the reference against the Chief Justice. In such a
scenario, the government would announce that it did not wish
to see the entire Supreme Court tied up for months on only
one issue while other important legal questions were held in
abeyance. Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat
told us last week that he indeed was eager to end the
controversy in a way that would save the honor of both sides.
While many other PML members tell us they also want the
Chief Justice issue to resolve itself sooner rather than
later, some of President Musharraf's interviews over the
weekend indicated that he still feels strongly that Chaudhry
does not belong on the bench. We will see a number of senior
PML leaders over the next few days and will report after
those meetings on the most likely next steps for the PML.
End Comment.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PK PREL
SUBJECT: SUPREME COURT SUSPENDS SUPREME JUDICIAL COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS
REF: ISLAMABAD 2017 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: DCM Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) On May 7, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered the Supreme
Judicial Council (the ad hoc body hearing evidence against
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry since March) to suspend
proceedings against the Chief Justice. The suspension will
stay in force while the Supreme Court considers several
petitions concerning the Supreme Judicial Council, including
whether the Council's composition is constitutional and
whether three members of the Council should recuse themselves
for conflict of interest. Aitzaz Ahsan, the Chief Justice's
lead counsel, had petitioned the Supreme Court to suspend the
Supreme Judicial Council while the court decides the
outstanding petitions.
2. (C) In what some observers consider an attempt to exhibit
impartiality, the Supreme Court also acceded to a request
from the government's lawyers that the Court expand to a
"full bench" (9-11 judges) for all matters concerning the
Chief Justice, rather than the current five-judge bench.
3. (C) Comment: Rumors have circulated for weeks that,
should the Supreme Court suspend the Council's proceedings,
the Government might use the suspension as an opportunity to
withdraw the reference against the Chief Justice. In such a
scenario, the government would announce that it did not wish
to see the entire Supreme Court tied up for months on only
one issue while other important legal questions were held in
abeyance. Pakistan Muslim League President Chaudhry Shujaat
told us last week that he indeed was eager to end the
controversy in a way that would save the honor of both sides.
While many other PML members tell us they also want the
Chief Justice issue to resolve itself sooner rather than
later, some of President Musharraf's interviews over the
weekend indicated that he still feels strongly that Chaudhry
does not belong on the bench. We will see a number of senior
PML leaders over the next few days and will report after
those meetings on the most likely next steps for the PML.
End Comment.
BODDE