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
Critic and MQ:
Points well made and taken.
Vaissay I am just wondering what kind of things Shiekh Rasheed would have said if he were the disinformation minister. Would be interesting if they invite him on one of their TV talkshows to discuss this.
The mockery of justice and law that has been made by different governments and now by General Musharraf is one of the biggest curses of our country. The fact that lawyers have to seek justice on the streets through such acts demeans them and their profession (specially throwing stones) but in the end it happens because our rulers have left them no chance and no hope of getting justice in the courts.
Aqil,
I think the issue of sitting in a politican’s car was explained by Aitzaz Ahsan and others on a TV show. In the morning while going to the Court the CJ refused to sit in a government car because he was so cut up with the government for denying him access to telephone and TV in the house as well as to newspapers and his official cars. Therefore, he decided to walk to the Supreme Court along with his wife — a walking distance from his house. Instead, the officials tried to physically force him into the car and tore up his jacket in the process.
On the way back from the court, Aitizaz Ahsan was escorting him back but, he said, there was no way his car could have made through the crowd. So, he spotted his friend, an PPP MNA, and asked him if had a 4-wheel. He did and fetched it, in which the CJ and lawyers rode back. Ahsan said, the CJ probably didn’t even know whose car was it. So, I don’t see it as a big deal.
Incidentally, “Durr Fitte” has termed the CJ’s wish to walk to the court as an effort to start a “long march”.
Doesn’t open for me, site unavailable. Can you upload the image somewhere? Thanks.
The image of the CJP being manhandled and pushed in the car is on the nation website.