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
The same reader who sent the report above sent these pictures taken by him at the Supreme Court today. Thanks.
By way of update, a reader who wishes to remain anonymous sent me the following from the scene of the report from the Supreme court building in Islamabad:
————–
This afternoon Pakistan witnessed a historic event outside the Supreme Court Building. On the day of the trial against Chief Justice Ifitkhar Chaudhry, hundreds of lawyers gathered outside the SC to protest against the current administration’s action and to demonstrate support for the judiciary. The events that surrounded the CJs arrival and exit from the building were truly dramatic and unparalleled in the history of the country. I work next door, at the senate, and so was able to circumvent the barriers put up by the police to stop advancing crowds. These pictures were taken by me and I would like to contribute them for consideration for your blog.
The major news networks have been barred from covering the story. In fact, GEO and AAJ TV were temporarily taken off air yesterday for their reporting of the clashes between lawyers and police in Lahore. ARY has been taken to court and threatened with the cancellation of its TV license. After laying low for a while, they have finally starting reporting again, in view of the magnitude of the events. This news is only just breaking on the networks, and some details, like the dismantling of the CJs escort car, have been left out. It has been exactly three hours since these events happened.
In case the full news hasn’t reached outside Pakistan yet – and there is reason to believe it might not have – here’s a brief review of the events of the day.
Since one of the primary charges against the CJ was his indulgence in official protocol, he refused to go to the trial in a government car. Instead, he insisted on walking to the SC, accompanied by his wife and lawyers. However, a few miles from his house, he was intercepted by security personnel, roughed up, packed into an official car, and sent off to the Supreme Court in a motorcade of nine government vehicles. The main road in front of the supreme court, the famed Constitutional Avenue, was blocked throughout its entire length for all types of traffic, and in order to further avoid the public the motorcade made its way thru the parking lots of the cabinet secretariat, the presidency, the parliament, finally reaching the SC. At the SC it was intercepted by protesting lawyers, many of them lying down in front of the advancing motorcade. As soon as the vehicles slowed down, people climbed on top the car carrying the CJ, demanding his release. This went on for fifteen minutes. During this time the crowd managed to, literally, break the car apart; shattering its windows and unhinging the door (It’s the white corolla in the pictures.) The CJ was in the back seat sanwiched between two people, who were conveniently thrown out. Throngs escorted him into the SC building, raising slogans in his support and against the government. This was at 2 pm.
The crowd remained outside till the proceedings were over. At around 5 pm the hearing ended. The CJ again refused to board a goverenment car. He left in the jeep of a PPP MNA, accompanied by his lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, also of the PPP. The mob once again seized the car, climbing on top, chanting slogans in support of the CJ and the judiciary. But most importantly, they raised slogans against the army, and Musharaf (vitriolic ones like “Musharaf Kutta, hai hai”). Soon, he left, trailed by police cars.
MQ, Who is Durr Fitte? Durrani? BTW looking at his face on tv at times I think he is wishing he wasn’t part of this. MQM has everything to lose if they discussed anything about cj; they did however condemned the lahore incident.
Owais, yaar, can’t believe you are asking for tehzeeb when you know any civility will be cashed in by these extremely uncivil ministers. We are both karachites and with that disclaimer I think you are saying lawyers should have said “zara ibb kay maar?”
Omar R. That was a couragious editorial. I just wish somewhere there was a minute by minute update on this.
Can someone tell Musharraf how much of a good he has undone in the last 4 days?
Coverage of the first day of trial of Chief Justice-Part 1
Coverage of the first day of trial of Chief Justice-Part 2
Adil, I know you like quizzes and you like books, so guess who wrote this:
“The prime minister convinced certain judges to take his side, and they passed a resolution against their own chief justice. Then the prime minister got his party goons to storm the Supreme Court building while the court was in session. Their lordships had to hide in their chambers to avoid a thrashing, or worse. This was, to put it mildly, a very low poit in Pakistani political history.”