By By Ansar Abbasi
1/18/2008
ISLAMABAD: The government has turned down the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's request for the provision of a tutor for his children, who too are under house arrest since November 3, 2007.

Schooling is no more an option for three children, seven-year-old son Ahmad Balaj, 16-year-old Palwasha Iftikhar and 18-year-old Ifra Iftikhar.

Though Justice Iftikhar's eldest daughter Aysha Iftikhar and his first son Arsalan Iftikhar are also detained with the whole family, they have completed their education.

Family sources said Iftikhar asked for a tutor for Balaj and Palwasha but he was conveyed a "No" from the government. Balaj is a Grade-I student while Palwasha is in A-levels. Interior ministry sources also confirmed that the request of the deposed CJ was turned down.

However, despite these difficult times, it was Palwasha who wrote an open letter recently to her honourable uncles (all the deposed judges of the superior judiciary) saying: "This might be one of the crucial times we are facing but we should be proud that Allah chose us to sacrifice for this country.

Yes it is indeed a sacrifice, which we have to bequeath, not for ourselves but for this country.

Ever since I opened my eyes I have seen my father affiliated with judiciary and now it is like a part of our lives.

Our life is like a tree and the judiciary is one of its branches.

We have grown up with this branch and we cannot let anybody slice it. If we will not protect it, then who else?"

Ifra Iftikhar has been, however, a little bit lucky to have succeeded in taking her English A Level paper during the days of detention.

It was the British Council, which within a few days of the Nov 3 imposition of emergency, reportedly approached the government to get permission for the CJ's daughter to take the examination at her father's official residence.

The eldest of Justice Iftikhar's five children, Dr Arsalan is too facing a strange situation at the very beginning of his practical life.

Arsalan, who was at the centre of controversy in his father's suspension on March 9, had requested his repatriation to Balochistan leaving both police and the FIA just before yet another executive attack on his father on November 3.

He went on leave soon after his father became the victim of the government's March 9 misadventure.

According to the family sources, despite all the odds the CJ family is facing today, the morale of each member of the family is high.

"These days they are busy in prayers and other religious rituals," a source said, adding that they were positive about the outcome of their struggle

Replied by(Noman) Replied on (23/Jan/2008)

The site is still not affiliated with any Party
But you need centuries to learn that.
This site is a voice forum, where every one can say what they want to say.
In top 20, you can find articles almost against all parties.
If more people post articles against one party or other then it doesn't mean site is promoting any.
You are free to express your thoughts and this is what freedom of expression is.

Saacha_Pakistani, if any one defends MQM or Musharraf then what it means, you please tell me.

My experience has taught me few things and one of them is, only those People defend MQM who belongs to it, otherwise every one else knows this is the party of fascist and anti-Pakistanis.

Similarly if a person defend Musharraf and oppose Mullah, one can make a guess that he either belongs to MQM or PML(Q), but all these things needs atleast little brain and common sense, and apparently it seems you both don't have any of them.