Case dismissed

E-Paper | July 25, 2026

Institutions, like human beings, do not have roles set in stone. Both evolve over time. Both change in tune with the changing times in which they exist. When an institution gets inexorably linked to a human being, or vice versa, any evolution or change in one reflects itself in the other – and immediately. This is exactly the case of outgoing Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and the Supreme Court of Pakistan under him.

In-Depth

karamba

Dec 12, 2013 01:32am

A well written article. In short, the man was all talk but no walk.

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imranrahbar

Dec 12, 2013 09:35am

good or bad whatever way you gauge the legacy, one thing is for sure this guy had nerves of steel and every politician and person on a decision making post in Pakistan should emulate him at least in this regards!!!Sir!enjoy a well worked retirement!

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Waseem

Dec 12, 2013 09:49am

very sober piece of analysis.

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Qasim

Dec 12, 2013 02:55pm

Brilliant summation of **the good, bad and ugly**

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Shabbir

Dec 12, 2013 02:56pm

Case Dismissed? Is Arsalan Iftikhar case also dismissed or still it is going on? Whatever good things CJ has done, his own son's case and the CJ's inaction remains a dark spot on the justice cloak.

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MURTHYINDIA

Dec 12, 2013 06:53pm

HE IS A GREAT MAN OF THE SUB CONTINENT.

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Tariq mehmood

Dec 12, 2013 07:08pm

In country like pakistan anyone who gets popularity for any reason think or make to think this way,so time would decied.

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Shahzad

Dec 12, 2013 07:27pm

Good analysis. I wish the author had put some more emphasis on his corrupt son and how CJ contributed to his successes!

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Salman Ali

Dec 12, 2013 07:50pm

Excellent analysis. Very objective. I am a fan of retired Chief Justice but also agree that he could have done more to strengthen Judiciary.

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Iqbal khan

Dec 12, 2013 08:55pm

Interesting to note all those anchors who used to praise him left right and centre are criticizing him openly about various things which they dare talking when he was CJ.

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bkt

Dec 13, 2013 12:02am

Despite his many, many, many failings, all I can say is that in the end, thank goodness he was there. Democracy with its checks and balances was never functioning well in Pakistan. It was always a one man show under the CJ showed up. The one man show of Musharraf was first challenged and then the one man show Zardari was challenged. That was whta we needed the most. Someone to remind these one man show dictators (whether military or elected) that there really were checks to their power. Thank you CJ sahib for being there for us

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S Chaudhury

Dec 13, 2013 05:30am

This man has done more damage than good to Pakistan. He is partly responsible since 2007 the economic difficulties face Pakistan today.

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Syed Ahmed

Dec 13, 2013 08:25am

Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry started twisting Zardari's tail, the later twisted his tail badly by setting Malik Riaz after his son, Arsalan Ifthikar. Malik Riaz cunningly tamed him to put a blot on Ifthikar Chaudris reputation.

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Aftab Ahmed shah

Dec 13, 2013 03:53pm

Chief Justice (R) has done his part now it is for his successors to preserve his legacy. He was an outstanding judge.

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Hamid hassan

Dec 13, 2013 06:32pm

the most politicised CJ ever who hasn't punished any terrorist in his all tenure, taken full perks and availed all the leaves but always focused on big projects and power politics. He always saw problems on the other side but when his kid was found doing bad, the case vanished from the court files as it was never there before

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siraj abbasi

Dec 13, 2013 07:02pm

A Govt Servant in his oath emphasize that he may not indulge in to politics and will do his job efficiently and effectively. That is why they are getting high salaries. If he did good so this was his job. If he did bad he was a corrupt officer. During all season Arsalan would remain a good question on his efficiency.

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Laeeq

Dec 13, 2013 09:48pm

@S Chaudhury: Please elaborate...

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Humayun Habib

Dec 14, 2013 05:33am

I would like to hear CJ's verison and look forward to his biography and memoirs. On a general note, I apprecaite his courage and respect his bold decisions

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Humayun Habib

Dec 14, 2013 05:36am

I do not want to sound biased but wondering way too heavy hopes pinned from an individual while rest of the systems, lawyer associations, and government office holders do not deliver. I appreciatee the courage of CJ Iftikhar and respect his bold clear decisions.

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usher

Dec 14, 2013 05:13pm

He was the "Sultan Rahi" of Pakistan's judiciary system, hence been very famous in Punjab

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Javed Agha

Dec 14, 2013 05:22pm

Very biased article. At least he highlighted a lot of cases for the good of Pakistan.

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