CHAUDHRY: international legal bodies condemn decision


The International Bar Association (IBA) and the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association (CMJA) have condemned the suspension of Pakistan's Chief Justice, which has provoked huge protests from the country's lawyers.



Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who has a reputation for speaking out for human rights and challenging government decisions, was suspended by President Musharraf on charges that have never been made public and which he faced in closed court hearings. Mr Musharraf has insisted he acted within the constitution.



Lawyers boycotted courts last month and judges have resigned. Police have suppressed protests by blacking out independent television stations and attacking demonstrators.



Dr Karen Brewer, secretary-general of the CMJA, said: 'We are very much concerned that due process and the constitutional requirements do not seem to have been followed.'



She added that the Commonwealth's Latimer House principles on the relationship between branches of government had also not been respected. 'An independent and impartial judiciary judging without "fear nor favour" is indispensable for any state espousing democracy and is a core fundamental value of the Commonwealth,' she said.



IBA lawyer Dr Phillip Tahmindjis said its Human Rights Institute had sent letters of protest to the Pakistan government. 'Mr Chaudhry has been under house arrest and held incommunicado, which makes us fear the process before the Supreme Judicial Council may not accord him best justice,' he said. An IBA mission will visit the country shortly.



The Pakistan High Commission in London said the matter is subjudice and declined to comment.



Jonathan Rayner