The Lahore High Court has dismissed three petitions questioning the removal of incumbent Pakistan President RafiqTarar on June 20, and the subsequent take over of the same post by militaryruler Gen Pervez Musharraf.
Besides questioning the removal of Tarar as President and take over of thesame office by Gen Musharraf, the petitioners were also aggrieved of the ChiefJustice of Pakistan Irshad Hasan Khan, for swearing in Musharraf to thepresidential office, "bypassing the traditions of the judiciary".
After hearing the arguments from the petitioners, the court has dismissedthem in limine yesterday.
The court dismissed all the three petitions on the grounds that theconstitution was currently under suspension after the Supreme Court validatedthe October 1999 military coup and the subsequent promulgation of theProvisional Constitutional Order by the military regime, the Nation<newspaper reported.
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The case had taken an interesting turn after one of the petitioners objectedto the hearing of the case by Justice Khalilur Rahman Ramday of the Lahore HighCourt.
One of the petitioners, Mian Hanif Tahir of Peoples' Lawyers Forum, told thecourt that the Judge had remarked in the past that the military regime shouldhave been given six years' tenure.
Mian Tahir said since the judge was 'pro-government', therefore, he did notexpect justice and pleaded the Court to ensure the judge did not hear the case.
The Court turned down the request and asked the counsel to argue the case.
The petitioner, however, declined to argue saying, he leaves the matter tothe conscience of the Court.
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The court then dismissed the three petitions. (PTI)
