There is hope for Muslims, and it comes from Bangladesh

Fatwa illegal

HC rules against all extra-judicial punishments upon writ petitions

– Ashutosh Sarkar

The High Court in a verdict yesterday declared illegal all kinds of extrajudicial punishment including those made in the name of fatwa in local arbitration.

The court directed the authorities concerned to take punitive action against the people involved in enforcing fatwa against women.

Anyone involved, present or taking part in or assisting any such conviction or execution would come under purview of the offences under the penal code and be subject to punishment, the court observed.

It also observed infliction of brutal punishment including caning, whipping and beating in local salish [arbitration] by persons devoid of judicial authority constitutes violation of the constitutional rights.

The court said the people’s rights to life and equal protection have to be treated in accordance with the law.

As per the rules of the Constitution, the citizens will not be subject to cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment or punishment, the HC said.

The HC bench of Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore came up with the verdict in response to three separate writs. The petitions were filed by rights organisations — Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services, and Nijera Kori, and four Supreme Court lawyers — Advocate Salahuddin Dolon, Barrister Mahbub Shafique, Advocate AKM Hafizul Alam and Barrister Imaran-ul Hye.

Read more >>- The Daily Star

Aitzaz Ahsan talking about >> Khwaja Sharif

Courtesy: News Watch 7th July 2010 – Dunya Tv >> via – ZemTv

The Matchless Courage of Rana Maqbool

Extraordinary Rendition

By: Hakim Hazik

Justice Iftikhar of the Lahore High Court has struck a blow for democracy. He has granted a bail before arrest to the selfless civil servant and policeman par excellence, Rana Maqbool Ahmed, formerly of Sindh Police department and currently in charge of public prosecution in the Punjab.

This kind-hearted and mild mannered gentleman has always put duty before personal benefit and national service before self interest. However has never given any quarter to the enemies of the state and has always been unflinching and steadfast in upholding the rule of law.

Read more >>- JusticeDenied

Punjab Politics and Judiciary!

A lawyer’s ‘safarnama’ – By Khaled Ahmed

– Tribune

A Lahore lawyer Khwaja Muhammad Sharif travelled to the Philippines and the UK in 1995 and carefully recorded his observations during the tour. His jottings became the book that appeared titled Shakh-e-Nazuk kay Ashiyanay (Nests built on a Weak Branch) published by Kausar Brothers Publishers, Turner Road Lahore. Fifteen years later, he is the Chief Justice of the Lahore High Court.

For full article, click here

Justice Rushed, Justice Crushed

Courtesy: ARY TV

Source – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsexcHYXOoU&feature=player_embedded

High Court issues notice to Asif Zardari in dual office case

LHC issues notice to Asif Zardari in dual office case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday issued a notice to President Asif Ali Zardari during the hearing in the dual office case.

The legal challenge to Zardari over his two posts does not pose an immediate threat to the president but it is a reminder of the legal difficulties he faces, legal analysts said.

The Pakistan Lawyers Forum (PLF) filed a petition, or a challenge, questioning the right of the president to hold the two offices and in response, the High Court in the city of Lahore ordered Zardari’s principal secretary to explain.

“Since the president could not appear because of security reasons, the court asked his principal secretary to appear in court on May 25,” PLF president A.K. Dogar told reporters outside the court.

There is no constitutional bar on the president holding office in a political party but Dogar said the Supreme Court had in the past barred a president from holding a party post.

“Our Supreme Court judges decided in 1993 that the president should be non-partisan. He should not involve himself in political battles. He should shun politics but here he is a party head, which is illegal,” he said.

Hearing in the dual office case was then adjourned till May 27.

Monday, 17 May, 2010

Courtesy: daily dawn

Source: http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/04-lhc-zardari-notice-qs-09

Rehman Malik, Interior Minister of Pakistan Might Be Arrested Soon

Malik plea against sentences dismissed

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) dismissed the appeals filed by Federal Interior Minister Rehman A Malik against the punishments announced by accountability courts, Geo News reported Monday.

It should be mentioned that Accountability courts declared three-year sentences for not appearing in two different cases. At the outset of the case, the court suspended his sentences on his plea and granted him bail.

The legal experts said the sentences meted out to Malik stood as restored technically after his appeals for the repeal of the sentences were discharged by the court and he might be arrested.

Courtesy: http://www.geo.tv/5-17-2010/65062.htm