Tuesday 27 November 2007

Karachiites Pay Homage Visit to Dissenting Judges

A congregation of Karachi citizens paid a surprise visit Monday evening to the Sind High Court judges who did not take oath under the PCO, this discussion group posting reports.

The judges were met by a large delegation of citizens – including students, businessmen, accountants, corporate executives, journalists, and activists – carrying flowers and cake when they gathered for dinner at one of their homes.

“This meeting was part of the campaign to let these judges know that the people of this country stand by them and are proud of their principled stand”, says the beena-issues group run by senior journalist and activist Beena Sarwar.

“The citizen’s delegation covered the entrance of the judge’s residence with rose petals. As each judge entered, he was presented with a bouquet of flowers with his name on it, on behalf of the people.

“On learning what the bouquets were for, the flower-seller sent two bouquets ‘with love’ on his own account, said one of the citizens.

“Members of the delegation were receiving messages from all over Karachi as well as other cities asking them to convey their heartfelt gratitude to the non-PCO judges.

“A student from the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) had flown in especially for the occasion with a letter for each judge from his fellow alumni and students explaining their support.

“The judges particularly appreciated the principled stand of their colleagues who had only recently been elevated from the District Courts, and of Justice Rehmat Hussain Jaffery, who was due to retirement this November but did not take oath despite being offered a position in the Supreme Court.

“Members of the civil society reiterated their vow to never accept the PCO judges and their resolve to demand for reinstatement of the pre-PCO judiciary”.

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