Publisher: INFORMATION PRESS – www.InformPress.com – USA
U.S. Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren Demands Reinstatement of All illegally Deposed Judges of Pakistan
Introduces her H. Res. 1044 in the U.S. House of Representatives
By SYED ADEEB
(AdeebPress.com) – U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-16) introduced her Resolution (H. RES. 1044) in the U.S. House of Representatives of the 110th United States Congress on 12 March 2008, titled: “Condemning the dismissal of the Supreme Court in Pakistan and calling for their reinstatement by the Government of Pakistan.”
Two U.S. Congress members, Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-MA-10) and Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX-18), have co-sponsored the H. Res. 1044, which was referred to the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The Lofgren Resolution states that the United States House of Representatives:
(1) “Commends members of the legal profession in Pakistan as well as opposition politicians, human rights activists, and independent journalists for their courageous opposition to the removal of Chief Justice Chaudhry, their principled leadership in defending the Constitution of Pakistan, and promoting the rule of law;
(2) Welcomes public statements from Pakistan’s new civilian leaders that they intend to restore all judges dismissed after November 3, 2007, to office; and
(3) Calls on the Government of Pakistan, consistent with section 699F(b)(3)(D) of the [U.S.] Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161), to restore to their positions Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and all Supreme Court and high court justices and other members of the legal profession in Pakistan who were removed from office since the imposition of emergency rule [on 3 November 2007], and to respect the independence of the Pakistani judiciary.”
The H. Res. 1044 is based on the following 8 points:
1. On March 9, 2007, outlaw tyrant Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan illegally suspended the Chief Justice of Pakistan Supreme Court, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
2. This illegal removal triggered months of protests by thousands of Pakistani lawyers.
3. On July 20, 2007, the Supreme Court of Pakistan found Chaudhry’s removal unconstitutional and reinstated him as Chief Justice.
4. Following his imposition of Emergency rule on November 3, 2007, criminal Dictator Musharraf required Supreme Court justices to take a new oath of office under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) and dismissed seven judges, including the Chief Justice, who refused to take this new oath.
5. The principles of constitutional order and the rule of law are prerequisites to any functioning democracy.
6. An independent judiciary and free elections are equally vital as fundamental foundations of democracy.
7. Section 699F(b)(3)(D) of the U.S. Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110-161), withholds $50,000,000 of Foreign Military Financing for Pakistan pending the restoration of an independent judiciary.
8. These actions by Devil Musharraf undermine democratic governance and rule of law in Pakistan and thus reduce the ability of the Government of Pakistan and the Government of the United States to effectively fight against fictitious “al-Qaeda” and Taliban (students) that threaten United States interests in South Asia.
The following 12 American associations based in the USA have endorsed and supported the Lofgren Resolution No. 1044:
Human Rights Foundation (HRF), Pakistan Justice Forum (PJF), Government Reform Forum (GRF), United Nations Forum (UNF), Progressive Writers Forum (PWF), Pakistan Revolution Movement (PRM), Pakistani American Congress (PAC), Pakistan American Democratic Forum (PADF), Pakistani American National Alliance (PANA), Pakistan USA Freedom Forum (PUFF), Campaign to Restore Democracy in Pakistan (CRDP) and International Action Center (IAC).
[Mr. Syed Adeeb is an investigative journalist, Chief Editor of the Information Press, TV-Video Documentary Film Producer, Poet, IT Consultant and human rights advocate based in Virginia, U.S.A. Publication Date: Monday, 13 March 2008.
www.SyedAdeeb.com - www.SyedAdeeb.net - www.AdeebPress.com - www.AdeebMedia.com - www.InformPress.com - www.ReportPress.com ]
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