Pakistani minorities oppose International Jurist award for Pak Chief Justice

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Mr. Lala Robin Daniel, Chairperson of National Minorities Alliance NMA have written a letter to Mr. Adish C Aggarwala who is President of International Council of Jurists to review selection of Chief Justice of Pakistan to receive International Award for Jurist 2012. The NMA have argued that Chief Justice Iftekhar Muhammad Chouhdary of Supreme Court of Pakistan not gave fair judgment in Hindu girl’s conversion case of Rinkle Kumari and others which was widely disagreed by Women Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Religious Minorities Community Organization. Justice Chouhdary imposed his decision against the will and desire of Rinkal Kumari on 26 – 03- 2012. After the CJ passed orders to shift her to the shelter house, Rinkal started crying and screaming in the court, that she wanted to go to her mother. She also said that she will not go to the shelter house and would rather like to sleep in the court. It was heart rending to hear her say in the court that she doubted if she could get any justice in a system where majority is Muslim and wanted to make her Muslim forcible, which is why she thought they were helping each other, not her. Mr. Lala Robin Daniel said “The Supreme Court in Pakistan is more interested in taking up the politically motivated cases instated of providing relief to the poor people and failing again and again to deliver justice to the common people of Pakistan. The most important organ of the country “Judiciary” has collapsed in Pakistan with police, lawyers and judges turning into the survival force and shield for the feudal lords, extremist forces and oppressors” NMA have urged International Council of Jurists ICJ to review its decision of awarding Justice Ifthekhar Chouhdary with the International Award of Jurists 2012. The Honorable Adish C Aggarwala, President, International council of Jurists Subject: Request to review the selection of Chief Justice of Pakistan to receive International Award for Jurists 2012 As Mr. Iftekhar Muhmmad Chuhdary the Chief Justice of Pakistan has been announced to receive the prestigious international Award for Jurists 2012. I being the chairperson of National Minorities Alliance – Pakistan would like to request you to review the nomination of Mr. chuhdary on the following grounds: 1. The decision made by Mr. Chuhdary about the famous case of conversion of young Hindu girl Rinkal Kumari where widely disagreed by the Women Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Religious Minorities Community Organization. Mr. Chuhdary imposed his decision against the will and desire of Rinkal Kumari on 26 – 03- 2012. After the CJ passed orders to shift her to the shelter house, Rinkal started crying and screaming in the court, that she wanted to go to her mother. She also said that she will not go to the shelter house and would rather like to sleep in the court. It was heart rending to hear her say in the court that she doubted if she could get any justice in a system where majority is Muslim and wanted to make her Muslim forcible, which is why she thought they were helping each other, not her. 2. This Award is in recognition of the tireless and fearless endevours made by the Hon’ble Chief Justice towards Administration of Justice in the country against all odds. To my understanding the concern of the administration of justice is the fair, just and impartial upholding of rights, and punishment of wrongs, according to the rule of law. In Islam administration of Justice is defined by Imam Ja'far ibn Muhammad al Sadiq (P) as "Avoid being a judge, for judgeship is a position which should be held only by a person who knows how to administer justice and whose judgments are impartial. ". (Wasail al-Shi’ah, vol. 18, p. 7). 3. The Supreme Court of Pakistan sentenced Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto ex-Prime Minstar of Pakistan in 1979 to death by hanging for a crime he did not commit. This judicial murder is seen as a flawed decision our courts have made. As result this decision has never been used as reference for the courts in Pakistan. If the judgment passed in the case of Rinkal Kumari is used as reference in Pakistan it is feared that in future the women of religious minorities will not be safe. 4. The Supreme Court in Pakistan is more interested in taking up the politically motivated cases instated of providing relief to the poor people and failing again and again to deliver justice to the common people of Pakistan. The most important organ of the country “Judiciary” has collapsed in Pakistan with police, lawyers and judges turning into the survival force and shield for the feudal lords, extremist forces and oppressors. In the light of above mentioned points we would kindly request ICJ to review its decision of awarding Mr. Ifthekhar Chuhdary with the International Award of Jurists 2012. Robin Daniel Chairman