Adil Najam
The way that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was removed was bad enough. But what has happened since then is even more disturbing.
The Chief Justice removed. Media being muzzled. Lawyers protesting beaten up.
One can debate whether Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry should have been removed or not, or even whether the way he was removed was appropriate or not. But there is no question that the way the government is dealing with this issue is shameful, distressing, and dangerous.
The shamefulness is obvious in these pictures; just as it was when a young man’s shalwar was taken off as he protested ‘disappearances’ some months ago. It is distressing because it demonstrates the sanctity of our most important institutions - the judiciary and the media - is under stress. It is dangerous because if one keeps slipping down this road then it is not merely the future of this government but that of the entire country that will be at stake.
Whether the lawyers here instigated the violence or not, I do not know. They very possibly did, and that is itself disturbing. But that is not the point. The question is how a society and a state deals with dissent and protest. Once again, the answer is: “Shamefully.”
I do not know who is advising the government on all of this. I just pray that someone is. I hope there is someone who stands up and says:
“Don’t do this.
Please don’t do this.
This is not good for you.
This is not good for the country.
This cannot be good for anyone.
Please - for God’s sake - STOP!”
I wish I had something more profound to say right now. But as I stare at these pictures and this video clip, I hold my head in shame; I am distressed; and I ponder on the dangers before us.
All I can think of right now is: “Allah khair karey!”
(Also see a BBC video report here. All pictures above from BBC website; video from GEO News).ÂÂ
aqil for god’s sake man get your facts right — aaj is no right now
Pakistan president faces open revolt as lawyers take to streets again - Guardian
Yes, just confirmed from a source, Aaj is indeed off air. According to my info, Geo is not covering the proceedings outside president house.
So they have been effectively gagged for now. I hope someone in the area can take videos/photographs on mobile phone cameras and have them posted on the internet.
Can someone confirm that Aaj TV has again gone off air. They were apparently giving some reports on some protest activity outside the president house where a heavy police presence was preventing lawyers from gathering.
Late night crackdown on lawyers, politicians.
LUMS faculty and students start campaign against military regime.
Pakistani. The only thing hurting Pakstan’s image is the behavior of the government. I have never been prouder of Pakistani people and specially of lawyers who are showing that we DO have a sense of right and wrong and are willing to stand up against what is wrong. This is a great moment for Pakistan and a eally bad one for the government. This makes me prouder of being Pakistani than any tal building ever could.
Civil judge resigns in protest:
yeh aghaaz-e-Ishaq hay! rootah hay kiya?
agay agay dekhiya hota hay kiya ha ha ;)
Musharraf has still three to four more years to go. After him the same process will countinue. Things will never change untill people start realizing that PAKarmy is no lesser evil and ITS not going to solve all our problems.
They are our problem and to a solution to our problems.
I don’t hate our army, I just don’t agree that they should be made GOD.