Musharraf did not order Iftikhar Chaudhry's confinement: Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad

DUBAI: Former governor Sindh Dr Ishrat-ul-Ebad has revealed former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf did not issue orders to confine the deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

In an interview to Geo News' journalist Azaz Syed, Ebad said that the former dictator had already told him about his decision to depose the chief justice as far back as the start of December 2006.

“At that time Musharraf sahab had shared that provincial and central governments all are complaining against the CJ,” the former governor recalled.

Ebad said he learned through local news headlines that the deposed CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry had been confined to his home. 

He said he called up Musharraf and sought a meeting. 

“Sir, whatever reference you have filed against the deposed chief justice... but confining him at his residence along with his family is not good,” Ebad told Musharraf.

It was revealed then, that Musharraf had not given any such orders, Ebad said.

“What, I did not give any such order,” Ebad recalled Musharraf's reaction. The then president immediately picked up the phone and issued directives that there should be no restriction for Iftikhar Chaudhry, recalled Ebad.

The former governor said he was confident that Musharraf’s orders would be followed but to his disappointment, Musharraf’s orders could not be implemented, “because of the tides and the situation had already gone from bad to worse,” Ebad added with regret.