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
First they came for the bloggers.
Then they came for the IT Executive.
Then they came for the lawyers…
stay tuned.
Reliable eyewitnesses report that the Chief Justice tried to take a walk with his wife and two daughters whereupon the police tried to stop them, and when the CJ persisted, they beat him up, manhandled his family and threw them in their cars and sped them off to the Baluchistan house. Eyewitnesses say his clothes were torn and he had to be forcibly pushed into one of the vehicles.
This was confirmed by Geo TV at the 1pm news hour on March 13, 07, also by people in Islamabad.
As someone who is in Pakistan right now… I am beginning to feel that something is up. General Musharraf, who despite being a military dictator, had generally governed without stepping on two many toes suddenly finds himself in the eye of the storm… all of Pakistan is unanimous against Musharraf right now, unlike the Bugti Affair where the opinion was divided.
What is going to happen next. As Jawaharlal Nehru said (ominously in response to ML’s direct action threat in 1946) all those years ago: Either the government brings down the direct action or the direct action brings down the government…
The lawyer fraternity is up in arms and will soon be joined up by the opposition and the religious right … next few days will see the direct action succeed or the government succeed…. either way, blood of Pakistanis will be spilt in the streets of Pakistan… and whatever innocence is left shall be lost.
I have supported President Musharraf for more than 6 years now throughout all sorts of semi-legal machinations engineered by his team, but this episode of the ‘suspension’ and house arrest of the CJ has changed my mind. I think after being in power for so many years, the President has been corrupted by it. This incident might well mark the beginning of the end of Musharraf’s rule, at least I hope so!
Article 144 enforced in Lahore , all sorts of congregations are made illegal.