DefinePK

Abstract

The objective of this study is to highlight the judicial crises during Musharraf regime1999-2008. This study focuses on the decisions of the government regarding thejudiciary during Musharraf regime (1999-2008). The October 1999 coup of GeneralPervez Musharraf and the suspension of the 1973 Constitution and the imposition ofemergency were validated by the judiciary under the law of necessity. The militarytakeover put the judiciary under pressure. Chief Justice, Iftikhar Chaudhry, took somebold steps of public interest litigation which were seen as a threat to Musharraf’smilitary rule and as a result, Iftikhar Chaudhry was deposed by Musharraf. But thejudiciary tried to reverse the trend through judicial activism and challenged the extraconstitutional steps of the military dictator. This was a sensational episode in thejudicial history of Pakistan. A countrywide lawyers’ movement was launched for therestoration of judiciary and the end of military rule. The movement succeeded in therestoration of the judiciary and the culmination of military rule. This can be termed asthe re-emergence of judiciary in a military led political environment.