ISLAMABAD, Sept 20: Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed regretted Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry’s decision to keep himself out of the bench hearing petitions challenging the president’s dual offices. He said the nation had stood behind the chief justice in the movement for judiciary’s independence but he had decided not to sit on the bench hearing the petitions.

Talking to reporters Qazi Hussain said the entire nation expected the judiciary to support its stand against the dictatorship.

He said: “In this situation, instead of sitting before their televisions, the nation must rise and confront the elements who want to perpetuate a dictator for five more years.”

He said: “I appeal to the nation … to demonstrate its resolve that it would no longer tolerate dictatorship.”

When it was pointed out that he was criticising the superior judiciary, Qazi Hussain said there was a Supreme Court ruling that the apex court’s performance was subject to public criticism.

Commenting on PML-N acting president Javed Hashmi’s statement after meeting the US ambassador in Islamabad, he said: “So far, there is no undisputed definition of terrorism. But (everyone agrees that the) US is the biggest terrorist state which attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, and patronised India in Kashmir, unleashing a reign of terror. Whoever sides with it is part of this terrorism.”

Qazi Hussain said: “People must not assume that the judiciary has gained independence after the historic movement launched by lawyers and the nation.” He said that while the nation had wholeheartedly supported them, they (the judges) did not appear to be in a mood to support the nation.

Qazi Hussain, who is also president of the Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal, said if the nation did not come out and impressed upon the judiciary what the national interest was, people should not expect justice from the judiciary.

When asked if he wanted to emulate the MQM in pressurising the judiciary, he said: “While the MQM had harassed the SHC through hooliganism, we want to demonstrate outside the apex court’s building peacefully”.

“A very important matter is in the apex court and it is up to the judiciary to demonstrate its independence,” he said.