Adil Najam
The judiciary issue remains an irritant to the mainstream political forces in Pakistan - including not just the current establishment but the current opposition forces struggling to become part of the new establishment.
The announcement from Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif that they intend to restore the judiciary within 30 days of the formation of the parliament is good news. But given the constitutional shenanigans that we have all become used to it remains unclear (a) whether they will be ‘allowed’ to do so, and (b) if so just what form a ‘restoration’ might take.
More importantly, this announcement is a recognition of the political reality that the judiciary issue has become. Thanks, in part, to the tenacity and sagacity of Aitzaz Ahsan - who has not emerged as the key leader not only of the “Justice Movement” but of a larger civil society rising - the issue not only survives, but thrives. It never really was just about the Chief Justice, and is now clearly about much more - especially including the independence of the judiciary as an institution, about the rule of law, and about the sanctity of the constitution.
The call for the Lawyer’s Black Flag Week comes from Aitizaz Ahsan in his capacity as the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, but it is clearly a call that he makes in his stature as a now national leader of a national civil movement. It is a passionate call. A well-worded call. A heart-felt call. A non-partisan call. A call to support constitutionalism. A call that asks no one to break the law, but everyone to register their calling. It is a call that is compelling.
We have admired Aitizaz’s political acumen as well as his poetic instincts in previous posts. He rises above the fray once again in how he words this call for “Black Flag Week.”
Great reception given to CJ and Aitizaz in Quetta today shows that they are still a great force.
Is this right;
http://jang.com.pk/jang/mar2008-daily/28-03-2008/t opst/m.1.jpg
CJ meeting someone with serious corruption charges?
Posting from PakPolitics. This clearly outlines the issue.
Well, I don’t know really what’s the problem with these followers of the Devil. They don’t want to follow any law. I mean it’s ridiculous to say that:
“One man, without any mandate & without any 2/3rd majority, can make any change to the constitution WHEREAS the parliament, which collectively holds a clear mandate from the people of Pakistan with each one of it’s members representing the will of the people of Pakistan, has to undo those changes with a 2/3rd majority” !!!! What a load of xxxx!
What the law says is:
Only if the parliament approves any illegal (unconstitutional) steps when presented to it for approval, can they become part of the constitution.
If anyone says that the court has the right to ratify any illegal steps taken by an individual (i.e. make them part of the constitution) and then the parliament has to remove those steps from the constitution with a 2/3rd majority, it’s nothing more than a BLATANT LIE.
May God save us from the greatest follower of Satan, George Bush and his aidee Mush & his criminal regime.
Khurram.
And the wizard (Pirzada) is claiming that the SC can set aside any move by the Parliament to reinstate the judges. He deserves the same treatment as Mush.