Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2207
2007-05-17 10:54:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
GOVERNMENT, CHIEF JUSTICE'S ATTORNEY REFUSE TO
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002207
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PHUM PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT, CHIEF JUSTICE'S ATTORNEY REFUSE TO
COMPROMISE, CASE CONTINUES IN SUPREME COURT
REF: ISLAMABAD 2033 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002207
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PHUM PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT, CHIEF JUSTICE'S ATTORNEY REFUSE TO
COMPROMISE, CASE CONTINUES IN SUPREME COURT
REF: ISLAMABAD 2033 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Since May 14, Pakistan's Supreme Court has held daily
hearings to consider 23 petitions objecting to the filing of
a reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The Court has issued no opinions since the opening of
arguments. Supreme Judicial Council proceedings against the
Chief Justice remain in suspense while the Supreme Court
hears arguments about the constitutionality of convening the
Supreme Judicial Council.
2. (C) On May 11, Former Pakistan People's Party Senator
Abdullah Riar hosted a quiet meeting at his residence between
National Security Advisor Tariq Aziz and Chief Justice
Chaudhry's lead counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, to encourage
outside-the-courtroom dialogue between the two sides.
According to Riar, the meeting did not go well. Both sides
stuck to their formal talking points, and Aziz reportedly
remarked that it would be better for Musharraf to accept the
court's judgement than to withdraw the reference. The tense
meeting ended with both sides saying, "We will see you in
court."
3. (C) On May 15, Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas
appointed two Supreme Court justices to supervise the
investigation into the murder of Supreme Court Additional
Registrar Hammad Raza. Four unidentified men entered Raza's
home in the early morning hours of May 14 and shot him to
death. Police initially characterized the incident as a
robbery, but Raza's wife (also a British citizen) and others
have claimed that it was a targeted killing. Munir Malik,
one of Chief Justice Chaudhry's defense attorneys, told us
that Raza and the Chief Justice were close associates. Chief
Justice Chaudhry brought Raza with him from Balochistan when
he came to Islamabad to take the position of Chief Justice.
After President Musharraf filed the reference against
Chaudhry, Pakistan's intelligence and security agencies
reportedly questioned Raza several times, according to Malik.
The court has directed police to submit daily status reports
on the investigation to the supervising Supreme Court judges.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017
TAGS: PGOV ASEC PHUM PREL PK
SUBJECT: GOVERNMENT, CHIEF JUSTICE'S ATTORNEY REFUSE TO
COMPROMISE, CASE CONTINUES IN SUPREME COURT
REF: ISLAMABAD 2033 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Peter Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Since May 14, Pakistan's Supreme Court has held daily
hearings to consider 23 petitions objecting to the filing of
a reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry.
The Court has issued no opinions since the opening of
arguments. Supreme Judicial Council proceedings against the
Chief Justice remain in suspense while the Supreme Court
hears arguments about the constitutionality of convening the
Supreme Judicial Council.
2. (C) On May 11, Former Pakistan People's Party Senator
Abdullah Riar hosted a quiet meeting at his residence between
National Security Advisor Tariq Aziz and Chief Justice
Chaudhry's lead counsel, Aitzaz Ahsan, to encourage
outside-the-courtroom dialogue between the two sides.
According to Riar, the meeting did not go well. Both sides
stuck to their formal talking points, and Aziz reportedly
remarked that it would be better for Musharraf to accept the
court's judgement than to withdraw the reference. The tense
meeting ended with both sides saying, "We will see you in
court."
3. (C) On May 15, Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas
appointed two Supreme Court justices to supervise the
investigation into the murder of Supreme Court Additional
Registrar Hammad Raza. Four unidentified men entered Raza's
home in the early morning hours of May 14 and shot him to
death. Police initially characterized the incident as a
robbery, but Raza's wife (also a British citizen) and others
have claimed that it was a targeted killing. Munir Malik,
one of Chief Justice Chaudhry's defense attorneys, told us
that Raza and the Chief Justice were close associates. Chief
Justice Chaudhry brought Raza with him from Balochistan when
he came to Islamabad to take the position of Chief Justice.
After President Musharraf filed the reference against
Chaudhry, Pakistan's intelligence and security agencies
reportedly questioned Raza several times, according to Malik.
The court has directed police to submit daily status reports
on the investigation to the supervising Supreme Court judges.
BODDE