I am watching TV and writing these lines. Just now the news has come that Supreme Court of Pakistan has struck down National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).
As I am changing channels, I just saw Imran Khan demanding mid-term elections. PML(N) guys seem to be asking for the resignation of President on ‘moral’ grounds where as PPP guys seem to be saying ‘nothing doing’ while on record they are saying they ‘welcome’ the decision. Atleast one, Farhatullah Babar has said President ‘will not’ resign.
The implication of this decision is that all the cases taken back as part of reconcilitation will/can be reopened.
On another channel I saw Abdul Hafeez Peerzada and Dr. Mubashir Hassan’s combined press conference where both of them are saying this is a ‘historic’ decision of Supreme Court and it has restored the pride of Pakistan in the comity of nations.
Few minutes ago I was driving across Karachi roads where shops and businesses were geting closed in anticipation of this decision.
Here is the news update at the daily News and the daily Dawn.
Title Photo is courtesy of ZAK
ATP’s related Post: Politics of NRO – List of beneficiaries released
1) Indeed a ‘landmark’ judgement but hardly surprising. What is equally not surprising is the swiftness with which the Supreme Court acts on political matters.
2) Still, I think this judgement is good for Pakistan IF the entire parliament is not derailed. Political losers like Imran Khan and Jamaat e Islami are probably going to call general midterm elections while ‘friendly’ opposition of PMLN will secretly continue to pull the rug beneath the PPP govt.
3) @Aamir Ali is correct: If Zardari could not be convicted for 12 years in Pakistan despite being in political wilderness then now, when there is a PPP-led govt. in center, I think Zardari will be safer.
4) For once, I wish, someone will drag the Army (and not just Musharraf alone) for taking part in the promulgation of the NRO in 2007. An ‘illegal’ and ‘unconstitutional’ law was introduced by the then govt. in power and yet…the media and the blogspace is quiet about that?
I do not care what happens to the govt. In fact, I hope it will stay put because we o not need another disruption (I hope those against whom there are real cases will face them), but I think today is a great day for Pakistan and for the supremacy of law Shows that the lawyers movement and its sacrifices were worth it.
PAKISTAN ZINDABAD
Some comments from the ATP Facebook Page:
– “Nawaz Sharif ki Adliya :-) b ready for Mid terms elections Pakistaniyo as Nawaz Sharif wanted to …”
– “v hav 2 find y these laws are implemented and who are behind this.judiciary system have 2 be effective n effecient so that pending cases hav 2 b solved. need 2 increase courts and judges.. no need 2 b happy. think logically ……..Pakistan Zindabad”
– “thats it!!!!!”
– “Good news, but sad part is CJ cleared all the Nawaz Sharif cases since taking his position back… we all know it was a gesture of thanks to Pml-N for their support in bringin back CJ… but what’s unfair is unfair… justice for all that’s what Islam says… and that’s what we need… this nation is sick of zardaris and sharifs… we’ve tested them 2-3 times and we all know their corruption cases and their illegal actions… peace”
– “include altaf hussain too my bro…. d greatest of all :)”
– “IR Happy :)”
– “presidnt saab to immune haina jee!”
– “bro I am referring to the leaders of the parties that have governed this country having majority of the seats… once a good govt. comes in they’ll kick out all the lunatics and the terrorists and the looters inshallah… Pakistan’s living on hopes and prayers… may Allah bless this country and the countrymen too… cause more than these politcal parties… we the nation are to be blamed… we keep giving chances to dumb people…”
– “great job done by supreme court. may pakistanis can experience democracy in Pakistan no”
– “why just blame the politicians. The establishment and the beaurocracy are the real culprits .. from the bottom down to the highest up. SO far as corruption goes, almost every one of us from a fruit vendor to a barrister and fed. secretary is corrupt…each in their own ways.
Still… God bless taking back of the NRO. Let’s see what drama awaits us now.”
– “kiya hooga mery bahi our bahnoo kuch nahi yah case reopn hoon gaye 3se 4 saal our chalyen gaye phir vohi M.ali wala dayelog yaad araha hai mujhy .
TARIKh per tarikh tarikh per tarikh (date) kuc nahi hooga ismulkh ka jab tak is me nawaz zardari jasy kameenay black sheeps mujood hian hum kabhi taraki nahi ker sakty hum sirf cheeni bijli our aty k buhran se hi lar lar k marjayen gye our kuch nahi hooga jab tak hum kahud awam jagye gi nahi tab tak kuch nahi hooga .”
– ” I laughed really bad whn they said keh the President’s cases wudnt be opened as long as he is in office … sint it hillarious ??? … cuz now that NRO is gone he is as guilty infact more than the others … and now we have a president who has cases of murder and stealing wealth of the country … JOKE !!! wiht NRO it wasnt this funny though …”
– “koi bhi dudha ka dhula nahi hai sub k sub corrupt hai Pakistan mai koi institution aisa nahi hai jahan corruption nahi hu jin judges nay decision diya hai wo bhi saray corrupt hai insaaf ki maiz per insaaf ko bechtay hai kisi nay NRO say faida uthaya tu kisi nay PCO say sub Corrupt hai bhai sub k sub.jis nay is mulk k sath itna kiya us ko bhaij diya jis nay corruption ki us ko ,,,,”
I was witness to a Capital Talk shows on December 15th with Aitzaz Ehsan…………..I always used to think good of him untill I heard him justifying being the lawyer for the most currupt elements of Haaris Steel Mills with 30 Million Rupees taken as Fees from them. I was devastated by what this believed to be great person said in defence of his act to be lawer of the evil. I mean how could you justify being a lawyer for the most currupt people in the country, I am also losing hope in Chief Justice now as he had Aitzaz on his side all the way long…….here’s a link to the program on FreindsKorner.com………listen to it and decide it fo your self. It’s been years since I have left the country but still the pain I had to go through when I was living there. It’s a jugle, you will see it only from far away. You won’t see anything wrong with it unless you leave it.
http://www.friendskorner.com/forum/f156/video-capi tal-talk-15th-december-2009-a-154966/
This is an excellent development since we really need to bring the culture of impunity to an end. The restored judiciary is doing a good job and it has demonstrated that the lawyers’ movement was fully worth it.