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).ÂÂÂ
’سیاؠ³Ã›Å’ خواÛÂ?Ø´ Ú©ÛŒ قبر‘
پاکستاà ƒâ„¢Ã¢â‚¬Â میں شریÙÂ? الدینپیرزاؠ¯Ãƒâ€ºÃ‚? آمر ØÂÂکمراÙà ¢â‚¬Â ÙˆÚº Ú©ÛŒ ÛÂ?ر آئینی مشکل کا ØÂÂÙ„ نکالÙ† Ã›â€™ والے ’جادÙË⠀ گر وکیلâ₠¬Ã‹Å“ سمجھے جاتے ÛÂ?یںÛâ€?
Ù„Ú¯ بھگ تیس سال Ù¾ÛÂ?Ù„Û’ انÛÂ?ÙˆÚº Ù†Û’ ضیاالØ ÂÂÙ‚ کوآئینی سÛÂ?ارا دینے Ú©Û’ لیے آٹھویÚà ‚º ترمیم Ú¯Ú¾Ú‘ÛŒ اور اس Ú©Û’ پچیس سال بعد جب جنرل مشرÙÂ? کوانکے جادوکی ضرورت Ù¾Ú‘ÛŒ توانÛÂ?ÙˆÚº Ù†Û’ بے ساختÛÂ? سترÛÂ?ÙˆÛÅ⠀™ÃƒÅ¡Ã‚º ترمیم کا منتر Ù¾Ú¾ÙˆÚ© ڈالاـ
(http://www.bbc.co.uk/urdu/miscellaneous/story/200 7/03/070315_aamer_analysis_aak.shtml)
It’s quite evident that the media is being gagged (though Omar gets irritated when I say that). Kamran Khan’s program not being aired and Aaj TV being repeatedly made to go off. The mention of the CJ issue was also badly limited today in the news headlines.
Proper coverage of tomorrow’s proceedings is in serious doubt now.
BTW, did someone watch Talat Hussain’s show on Aaj TV last night? If so, how was the discussion? Did it again contain something that might have irked the government?
Geo programme “Aaj Kamran Khan kai saath” banned! So only news source is I guess bbc urdu..and blogs
I assume these websites are monitored. I hope Gen. Musharraf is listening and sees that his actions are turning lots of people like myself who used to liek him to now be against him. He should worry about this. Whatever happens about teh Chief Justice in teh end, here are three things he could do that will help him. (1) stop the mistreatment of protesting lawyers. (2) distance himself from SJC proceedings and let them be free and fair. (3) Please, remove that embarsing Law Minister of yours.
BBC news: CJ’s daughter’s friends also took part in the protest outside the SC on Thursday.
Even Shareefuddin Peerzada has refused to appear from Government side. BBC Urdu
He has been involved in this from the outset and been advising Government on the matter.
The crime of CJ
’استع �یٰ دیا پھر واپس لے لیا‘
Ú†ÛŒÙÂ? جسٹس چودھرÛ Å’ Ù…ØÂÂمد اÙÂ?تخار Ú©ÛŒ برطرÙÂ?ÛŒ Ú©Û’ بعد ملک میں پیدا ÛÂ?ونے والی غیر یقینÛà …’ اور ابÛÂ?ام Ú©ÛŒ ÙÂ?ضا نےجمØà ‚¹Ã˜Â±Ã˜Â§Ã˜Âª کواس وقت ڈراماØà ‚¦Ã›Å’ صورت اختیار کرلی جب سندھ Ú©Û’ ایڈووʡ©ÛŒٹ جنرل انورم نصور خاننے اپنے عÛÂ?دے سے مستعÙÂ?Ûà …’ ÛÂ?ونے کا اعلانکرنے Ú©Û’ چند گھنٹوʡº بعد استعÙÂ?ÛŒ Ù° واپس Ù„Û’ لیاÛâ€?
BBC Urdu