A Sad Day for Pakistan

Can a serving colonel be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan? Can a serving army major also be a part time Member of National Assembly (MNA) or Member of Parliament? Can a serving general be the President or the Prime Minister of Pakistan? One can find prompt and sane answers to all such complex constitutional conundrums, even if one was to query a bunch of students of the local high school.

September 28, 2007 was a sad day for every citizen who hoped that the courts may finally bury the doctrine of necessity and unveil the dawn of a civil, democratic and constitutional order in Pakistan. The Supreme Court in its infinite wisdom de facto legitimised a unique dichotomy in the politics of Pakistan, making it the first country in the world, whose serving army officers could now take part in politics and even contest for political posts. The existing Q League dominated Parliament is now free to deliver another democratic gift to the nation by revising the military oath. The new oath would logically read as " I do solemnly swear that I will discard the constitution of Pakistan at the first possible opportunity, and I will take part in all political activities, and contest elections to political appointments while still in uniform".

How will the civil society respond to this legal catastrophe, that may begin to fold the very foundations of this country? Would it continue in its drawing room debates, subcontracting its sanity and conscience to a bunch of discredited dynasty-driven politicians? Or will it throw its weight behind newer social and legal struggles till we have a Pakistan where laws are same and equal for all its citizens.