KARACHI, Dec 16: Justice Rana Bhagwandas has challenged the validity of judges who have taken a fresh oath under the amended 1973 Constitution following the lifting of the state of emergency.
Justice Ghulam Rabbani and Justice Bhagwandas arrived in the city from Islamabad on Sunday evening, and were greeted by representatives of civil society and lawyers at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport.
Talking to media personnel, Justice Bhagwandas said he was now a retired judge under the Constitution, and not under the Provisional Constitution Order, since he had attained the age of superannuation by turning 65 on Dec 14.
He urged politicians to struggle for restoration of independent judiciary which was in the best interest of the country.
Answering a question, he said that he would take part in the lawyers’ movement, but not in politics.
He expressed satisfaction with his professional life. “I am satisfied with my 40-year career.”
He said that the present situation was inching towards the ‘old status quo’ and sounded sceptical when asked about the outcome of the movement of lawyers, civil society and media.
Regarding his future plans, Justice Bhagwandas said he would like to indulge in reading and do some social and welfare work.
At the airport, both judges appeared to be happy and on seeing their families tears welled up in their eyes. People gathered at the airport garlanded them and raised slogans against President Musharraf and for independent judiciary slogans.
Deposed chief justice of the Sindh High Court Justice Sabihuddin Ahmed, Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G. Ibrahim and Sindh High Court Bar Association president Justice Rasheed Rizvi were among those who were at the airport to welcome the judges.
Islamabad Bureau adds: Justice Bhagwandas vacated his official residence in the Judicial Colony and was taken to the Islamabad International Airport amid tight security along with Justice Ghulam Rabani.
A security source told Dawn that the deposed judges boarded a Karachi-bound flight, which took off at 3pm.
It is learnt that Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry was not allowed to meet Justice Bhagwandas and security officials locked the main gate of his residence.
Official residences occupied by the deposed superior court judges has been a source of major concern for the government and their critics say that the objectives of the emergency will not be met until the judges vacate the houses. The constitutional amendments introduced by a presidential order states that the deposed judges have been removed from service.The interior minister had announced earlier that all deposed judges should leave their official homes by Nov 30, 2007, but when the news appeared in the media, the government backed off and said the issue of official residences was a matter which concerned the apex court.
