Adil Najam
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry arrives in USA today for a speaking tour, including a visit to the Harvard Law School to receive their Medal of Freedom. One wonders if this is the last hurray for a dying cause or yet another reminder that this is a cause that refuses to die?
On the face of it, Asif Ali Zardari’s elected government has done what Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf’s military government could not. All but the most diehard have given up on the hope for the restoration of Justice Chaudhry. But is the “Justice Movement” also dead?
For Pakistan’s sake, one hopes not.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry was, and remains, the face of the Justice Movement. But the Justice Movement was always bigger than him. Those who were mobilized by the movement were mobilized by much more than an ousted judge. Indeed, they were mobilized by more than just a disdain for military rule. Ultimately, they were mobilized by the idea that justice, as a concept, must prevail. That the integrity of nations flows from the integrity of its institutions. That, ultimately, the democratic spirit of a people is always more important than any leader – whether that of a judicial system, that of a military junta, or even that of an elected government.
As I had written way back on March 23, 2007:
Gen. Musharraf himself, and his supporters, view this as a conspiracy against his person. It may not be a conspiracy but his opponents certainly view this as an opportunity to bring an end – or at least seriously dent – his regime. There are, of course, also those who view – or wish to construct – Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as an arch villain or as a supreme hero. He is probably neither, but as a man caught in the cross-hairs of history he is well aware of the pivotal role that his person plays out in this unfolding saga…
This is not just about what Gen. Musharraf did, not about how Iftikhar Chaudhry reacted; the real story is about how the citizenry of Pakistan reacted. There is little surprise in either the actions of Gen. Musharraf or the reaction of the Chief Justice. The surprise lies in how people reacted – Lawyers on the street, media in their newsrooms, bloggers in bloggistan, and ordinary citizens everywhere in their thaRRas, drawing rooms, email lists and everywhere else.
That is ultimately what matters. If this spirit can be sustained then the future of democracy in Pakistan is secure; whether it comes with or without the current setup… This has been Pakistan’s democratic moment; that I find it to be a moment worthy of celebration because it signifies that trapped inside an “undemocratic state†lies a vibrant and clearly “democratic society.â€
We remain, I believe, a democratic society. We now also have an elected government. But it is not yet clear whether we are a democratic state. If we are ever to become one, then the Justice Movement must never die.
P.S. The video above is a GEO TV production based on Aitizaz Ahsan’s poem Kal, Aaj aur Kal which he had written while under house arrest. Whatever poetic merits the poem might lack it is an immensely powerful and honest political statement. So is this video. Both are powerful not only because of the sense of history that they embody, but also because of the hopes of the future that they embody.
Domestic and foreign media seems to be ignoring CJ’s visit to America. It makes sense, the CJ has no “news value” left no more as Mr Musharraf is no longer in office.
Amusing to still see folk who think this lawyer movement was actually about jamhuriyat, aaem, “awam kee adalat” and other baloney.
Here’s a new and innovative way to loot the country: Bring back 1000s of govt employees from previous administrations, promote them blindly, AND reimburse them with salaries for the years they didn’t even work. Is Zardari paying for this using his personal assets too, like he supposedly did for taking 240 of his friends to Saudi Arabia?
Source DAWN.net http://tinyurl.com/6kn84e
The federal government has approved the reinstatment of 6,400 employees who were removed by the previous administration. The prime minister will issue a formal notification next week. The suspended employees will be paid their dues for the last three years while the remaining dues would be paid after financial conditions improve.
Sources said that all the employees will be promoted to the next grade and their payments will be given in one installment.
This whole ‘Lawyer’s movement’ is such a farce. The likes of Aitzaz Ahsan and Ch. Iftikhar just needed leverage in order to propel their own and their paymaster’s political careers.
Ch. Iftikhar turned our 3rd most corrupt institute (the judiciary) into political grounds by running away from the Supreme Judicial Council and into the arms of political touts such as Aitzaz Ahsan (a known supporter of PPP and defender of corrupt practices of Benazir and Zardari in the courts). If he had not done anything wrong then why did he not face the SJC instead of turning this issue into a political stunt?
The pseudo liberals of Pakistan got carried away with the sham slogans of ‘civil society’ and ‘democracy’ without even thinking that the only one to bring any real figment of democracy was actually the one they called ‘the dictator’.
Further more old looters such as Nawaz Sharif capitalized on the situation by joining the band wagon so as to extort revenge from the person who threw these goons out in the first place.
In the end the nation shot itself in the foot by getting carried away in popular sentiments without actually ever thinking as to what was going on in the first place.
The CJ got a big welcome when he arrived at JFK on sunday. Unfortunately the media is downplaying it but you can see the video
HERE
You are exactly right Adil Najam. This movement is a movement for the people of Pakistan and of their hopes for a better Pakistan. It is bigger than all individuals.