June 26, 2007
Chaudhry Pressurized Pakistan PM
for Mercedes
Islamabad
Suspended Pakistan chief justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry's had
"pressurized" top officials and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to allot
him a Mercedes car, an official has alleged in a counter-affidavit
filed in the Supreme Court.
All the officials who admitted to have succumbed to Chaudhry's
"pressures" are now liable to punishment under the National
Accountability Bureau (NAB) Ordinance, The News reported Tuesday.
The officials have countered claims made by Chaudhry in his
affidavit he filed in the apex court, which is hearing several
petitions pertaining to his suspension and subsequent disputes
between him and the government.
President Pervez Musharraf suspended Chaudhry March 9, accusing him
of using his office to get a posting for his son Arsalan. Chaudhry
has denied the charge and is in the eye of a nationwide agitation by
lawyers, supported by opposition parties.
But Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Yousaf has said in his affidavit
that he was compelled by Chaudhry to appoint his son as a section
officer, despite there being no available post in the technical
cadre.
Yousaf said he obliged because he "could not afford the displeasure"
of the chief justice.
According to the affidavits filed, Prime Minister Aziz too is among
those who had succumbed to the top judge's "pressures" and
sanctioned a Mercedes Benz car for Chaudhry - something he was not
entitled to. Aziz, however, is not among the official witnesses.
Chief of Staff to the President Lt Gen (retd) Hamid Javaid said in
his affidavit that Chaudhry, in his statement, had tried to create
an impression of the Mercedes Benz car having been sent to him by
the prime minister "of his own volition".
"Being dissatisfied with the 1993 model car, the chief justice
started demanding its replacement with a 2004 model Mercedes Benz.
He kept pressing the matter until the prime minister approved the
replacement of the car in February 2006," he was quoted as saying.
Other witnesses, including Yousaf, Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao
and Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah, admitted in writing to have
favored Chaudhry beyond his entitlement.
A legal expert of the NAB said they were all liable to punishment.
"If you are vested with some trust or authority, you are responsible
for its discharge in accordance with law," the expert said on
conditions of anonymity.
But questions have been raised about why NAB has not initiated
action against the accused officials till now.
Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc Privacy Policy |
Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may
be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.
