Pakistan’s Political Future Still Hanging on a Flimsy Thread

It is wonderful to see people your age taking a keen interest in the affairs of the country. One only wishes there were a lot more of you.

Insistence on liberal secularism may be in vogue, but it excludes a significant segment of the population which is, at least the very least, moderately conservative. It is better to think of an approach which all segments of the civil society can subscribe to. Recent events clearly show that constitutionalism and independence of judiciary are two such causes. Beyond that, reducing poverty and enabling the children of the poor in the society to acquire education are, again, approaches that are bound to resonate with everyone.

Best wishes for your future.

Pakistanis got bamboozled by Mushy, the army and the landed gentry. And it is a beautiful thing..the alternatives are scary

#2 Posted by mehrozsiraj731,

I think it is quite clear that the Judiciary is trying to manage the best it can under the circumstances, but it is also aware thet musharraf will impose martial-law or emergency in a breath and demand new oaths from judges if a decision threatens to remove him from power. SC has to tread a very fine line.

Street protests are not likely for the reason the opposition is divided and people need to see a credible leadership, which is simply non-existant. You will recall people did come out in droves for the CJ because they 'agreed' with his cause, but who else will they come out for amongst the politicians?

So, the SC is trying for a smooth transition, under great pressures as well as public criticism, just to ensure musharraf does not wind up the entire political/judicial system again as he did on 12 October 1999.

No one should be under the illusion that he can't do it this time around because of the CJ movement or foreign pressure. The only pressure that counts is USA and he has their support. I see the recent spike of military operation in FATA as evidence musharraf wants to convince USA he will really do their job for them like NATO in Afghanistan. It is the first time F-16 fighters are being used in the operation.

There is a huge moral pressure on the Supreme Court Judges – to allow Mushraff to take the oath ; post-presidential election results and of course why allow elections and so much of hype and expenditure when you * Judges* why gone through with all this ‘topi-drama’. There is no option but to rule in favor of the current president.

Every time the Supreme Court defines another right in the constitution it reduces the scope of democratic debate. This is clearly a bias Supreme Court where at least 1/3 of the judges are actively taking on the government and most of the times , stepping over the fine line of neutrality. These judges are giving ‘public pleasing judgements’ to hear ‘wah , wahs’ and story’s of ‘glorifications’ from bias television stations ( who are clearly bias because negitivity sells – and achors turn celebrity only when he / she critisizes the government ) .


And then there are the snakes aka black coats aka so-called ballb lawyers – who are clearly politically motivared and in real life are ‘blackmailers’ and thugs!

PS. Although I do agree on treating Ahmed Shah Qusuri with a spray gun!

What about the Full Bench CJ talked about which can be formed after Eid?

Well it could be.. The contempt of Court petition taken up by the Supreme Court after the deportation of Nawaz Sharif have not been pursued in full sway! This shows that the judiciary though more assertive (I would not call it independent) is not capable of facing off in a head on collission with the military establishment. On the other hand, the court has now seen the levels of public agitation against General Musharraf in some parts of the country. Clearly, the ball is in their court and they can understand that a verdict in Musharraf's favour would lead to what BB called 'street agitation,' something her father could lead with expertise... The court is clearly in a very precarious situation!!

Thank you for a detailed run down.

There's a very good article in Friday Times this week titled 'The reasons given for non - maintainability were simply not maintainable'.

The article argues that after the CJ crisis, the military and the Judiciary have agreed on the parameters of Judiciary's independence. SC will not interfere with the legislative, and the Government will accept its verdicts in governance and/or human rights issues like disappeared persons etc. It is a kind of truce.

This appears very plausible since SC has been giving very bold decisions in cases like Lal Masjid, disappeared persons, NS return - but bailing out the military rule one way or another.