Adil Najam
Over the last number of weeks now we have quietly followed the news on the Chief Justice’s removal case even as the paishis keep happening but also keep getting postponed.
That may happen again today but it should be clear by now to everyone that this issue is not going to die away and as it winds through the system, instead of other (very dramatic) news eroding the importance of this case, the symbolic value of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry’s stand is actually increasing.
The lawyers will be at the court once again today. Once again there is talk of protests and showdowns. Once again, the likely result is of hearings being postponed. But important events also continue unfolding even as this happens.
A few that are worth reminding ourselves of include:
A bench of the Supreme Court has now served notice on President Pervez Musharraf on the CJ’s petition challenging the filing of a reference against him.
Prominent lawyer Sharifuddin Pirzada has agreed to represent the government in the Supreme Court on the issue, after having declined to do so earlier.
PML-Q is planning a major demonstration in response to the anti-government demonstrations on the issue and, reportedly, has brought in its supporters from other cities for this. There are indications that we may be in for a ‘clash of the protestors’ today.
The National Assembly saw an uproar over the judiciary issue and there were heated exchanges between government and oposition leaders on the CJ issue; not surprisingly, Law Minister Wasi Zafar was in the forefront of trying to suppress the debate.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry continues to attract much support and large crowds, especially within the lawyer community, including judges.
Acting Chief Justice Rana Bhagwandas continues to talk the nation ‘will hear good news soon’ line, but it remains clear what that might really mean.
Piecing together the puzzle and making sense of it all is, of course, leading to much speculation everywhere and by everyone. Much of it is exactly that - speculation. But one thing is clear; this case has taken on a life that is bigger than either Gen. Musharraf or Justice Iftikhar would have imagined it would have when things started unravelling three weeks ago.
There are no entry barriers for ordinary people, just success barriers.
Everyone can enter politics but not everyone can succeed. Only if the good people join politics, persist and accept that things will not change overnight then slowly the hold of the existing leaders will weaken.
Take the example of India. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, India’s intelligentsia joined existing political parties with all their flaws. Congress was dominated by Nehru-Gandhi family, the Communist parties had their own limitations and the BJP is a communalist party. But the process has continued and as a result, India has both a braod middle class and a significant role for the middle class in politics.
Manmohan Singh, an economist, joined Congress, got elected as Member of Parliament, sat in opposition and now is Prime Minister. Ordinary man.
In Pakistan, people like him don’t want to “dirty their hands” in politics. They don’t join regular political parties and just wait for a caretaker regime or military government to become ministers.
The problem is “ordinary people” (by which you probably mean educated, English-speaking pakistanis like us) want political change but do not have the patience or stomach for politics.
It is like Imran Khan complaining that going in jalsas and processions makes him sweaty and he has to change his shirt many times.
Politics requires that we step out of air conditioned rooms, guys and be prepared to be controversial, even abused.
The idea of a government of national unity is not practical. There are very diverse opinions on how the country ought to be run. There will always be an opposition and that’s just a normal thing in politics.
As for people needing to be electable, that’s true, but when we (and the entire media) spend the whole time arguing the case of people like BB and NS to return instead of raising demands for concrete steps to reduce entry barriers for ordinary people and to move away from personality politics towards issue based politics, then the continuation of scoundrels like BB and NS (because only they are electable) becomes a self fulfilling professy.
A government of national unity would have to represent Pakistanis and would, therefore, have to include electable people, whether we like them or not.
We have had too many experiments with “good” people and “people passionate about Pakistan.” The good and passionate people need to organize themselves into a political party and get votes. Until then, they should put their weight behind whomever they think is relatively better and in return for that try and influence some aspect of government policy.
Politics is about politics. Many of us in the Pakistani educated elite just keep wanting non-political solutions.
Non-political solutions never work as governance is neither a technical matter nor merely a matter of installing good and decent people in office.
A government must reflect the will of the people as exercised in a free and fair election. An elected government might be imperfect but it is a lot better than an ‘installed’ government even if it is of “good” people.
[quote comment=”44753″]Saad,
Honestly, I wanted to, but the guys looked too intimidating for me to take their pictures. [/quote]
Ah!! But you should’ve ducked under a shade or something and snapped a few pics :p And then could’ve spread it on the world wide web with an anonymous id using a proxy server somewhere on the East Coast (US). :p. That’s how one should fight a proxy media war against a tyrant in the 21st century :p
[quote comment=”44806″]I think Justice Chaudhry is doing his electoral campaign. He may become President when BB comes back to Pakistan.[/quote]
Sir jee, lets not go all that far, shall we?
I think Justice Chaudhry is doing his electoral campaign. He may become President when BB comes back to Pakistan.
So the wizard who can bend the law to justify military dictatorships is back in business, eh?
Welcome to the party, Pirzada sahib.
I think Wasi Zafar is the funniest man in Pakistan, i cant stop laughing whatever issue he is talking about. Cant wait to see any new video of him.