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.”
Go Aitzaz!
BTW, that picture looks like a screenshot from a video game. :)
With the yesterdays developments in Murree, it has actually given hope to the fellow Pakistanis that the Pride of Pakistani Judiciary will be restored by the political efforts of PML-N who took this issue as their top agenda in the elections, never to be blighted ever again in future.
Hats off to Pakistani Lawyers, all of them.
Perhaps this is the first time that the major decisions in PPP and PMLN are being made by two (corrupt and incompetent, but not in that order) non-elected persons namely Nawaz and Zardari. Shouldn’t the decision making power be with elected representatives from these parties and why does the mantle HAS always to be with the Sharifs (who are more in the ”Mush tau badla lai karr ravan gay!” mindset) and Zardaris (or Bhuttos, I’m confused!)
First cracks have already appeared with the most deserving candidate in PPP (Makhdom Amin Fahim) being sidelined by self-appointed co-chair.
The much touted ‘Murree Declaration’ will go down the avenue of the previously touted’ Charter of Democracy’ which had been abandoned by PPP ex-lead BB for the want of power. Keeping this track record in view, I am not too optimistic about the intent & the ability of the PPP or PMLN to have the right credentials to do what they actually say!
As if Mr. Musharraf’s exit will be the answer to all things! every couple of years we celebrate the exit of a leader…be it elected or not… so nothing new there.
Until ALL institutions are free of corruption, nothing will be fixed in this country.
As if the judiciary has always been full of saints!
Petrol prices are controlled by OPEC and Multinational corporations (oil companies). Even in the US. Petrol has gone from $3.23 to $3.61 per gallon since Feb 18 and still rising. Now tell me how Pakistani elections would affect US oil market? It is hard to see outside your own well. This is where overseas Pakis have advantage. They can look at the whole picture.
On the other hand, if Musharraf had any say in it, and he did it, let me tell you that he is one of the great politicians.
Load shedding: I was in Pakistan in last three weeks of February. There was a news on the front page of Jung that by year 2010 ( two more years) Pakistan will be officially considered a country with low water resources and by 2025, it will have very little water available ( may be you can correct me since you are the Jung guy). What can anybody do to avoid loadshedding. Oil and Electricity prices will keep going up in the summer time all over the word. Why don