NY bar gives honorary membership to Iftikhar Chaudhary

ISLAMABAD: The New York City Bar Association has given honorary membership to Pakistan's deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry in recognition of his efforts to uphold the 'independence' of the country's judiciary.

This is the first time that the orgnaisation's honorary membership has been bestowed on a person in absentia. Chaudhry has been under house arrest here since President Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in Pakistan on November 3 last year.

The New York City Bar Association's honors committee, chaired by US District Judge Jed S Rakoff, had unanimously recommended Chaudhry's honorary membership to the body's executive committee in September.

Chaudhry had intended to visit New York to formally accept the award but the ongoing political strife has prevented him from leaving Pakistan.

"The New York City Bar Association has been obliged to deviate from a decades-old policy of requiring that honorary membership be presented to the honoree in person," Rakoff said on Tuesday.

"We cannot allow the abysmal events occurring in Pakistan to derail the bestowment of an honour so rightfully deserved. Chief Justice Chaudhry has made tremendous contributions to the independence of Pakistan's judiciary. We remain hopeful that the Chief Justice will come to New York in the near future to celebrate this honour."

The Association has written to Musharraf seeking the restoration of Pakistan's constitution, the release of those who were unlawfully detained and the reinstatement of Chaudhry and other judges relieved of their posts during last year's emergency rule.