| Lawyers' Movement Stabbed in Back |
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Lawyers' movement started on 9 March, 2007 when Iftikhar Ahmed Choudhary Chief Justice of Pakistan was summoned to GHQ and asked to resign. On his refusal to do so, he was humiliated and confined to his house. His alleged offence was that he did not submit to pressure of military rulers in performance of judicial duties as envisaged by the law and the constitution.
Lawyers from all over the country strongly reacted against the rulers for man-handling the Chief Justice and threatening independence of judiciary. They protested against rulers and resorted to strikes. They rallied streets through out the country. Political leaders belonging to opposition who were life-less and just like orphans since imposition of military rule resuscitated to support lawyers in their movement The movement shook the foundations of military rule's edifice. Its impact was so strong that Gen Musharraf turned humble to accept the verdict of SC reinstating the Chief Justice.
In order to get rid of military dictator, lawyers launched second phase of movement on Sept 6, 2007 . Objectives set for this phase of movement were to compel rulers (1) to ensure Preservation of rule of law, (2) supremacy of constitution, (3) restoration of democracy and bringing an end to military rule for ever. The lawyers requested MNAs, MPAs and Senators belonging to opposition to resign their seats to make the second phase successful. No MNA/MPA/Senator responded to the request of lawyers. Instead they preferred to cut deal with the military rulers in order to get criminal cases pending against them dropped. The movement suffered a serious set back. The rulers were strengthened with winning over the co-operation of power-hungry leaders for sharing power.
Schedule of election for top slot of president was announced. Lawyers nominated Justice retired Wajiuddin as their candidate; none of the legislative members cast vote in his favor. Rather some of them boycotted election and thus wasted their votes just to please the rulers.
This resulted into imposition of emergency plus and sacking of SC judges who were expected to declare presidential election of Gen Musharraf as illegal and un-constitutional. This followed by arrest, detention of thousands of lawyers, human rights activists and curbs on media. Police used brutal force and tortured lawyers during arrest.
Recently deposed judge justice Shajihan Khan of Peshawar High Court addressing a 'lawyers convention' held at the premises of Peshawar High Court urged the political parties to fully back the lawyers in their crucial struggle against military rule and independence of judiciary as well as media. Barrister Masaud Kausar and other senior advocates while addressing the convention said that in a situation when emergency was imposed, constitution was held in abeyance and media voice curbed how would it be possible to hold free and fair elections? They demanded of political parties to boycott elections in order to lend strength to lawyers' movement.
From the conduct of political parties it appears that they will not respond to the request of lawyers. They are determined to participate in elections to satisfy their greed for power. If they do this, they will stab the movement of lawyers in its back and sacrifices of lawyers, judges and rights activists will go waste. These politicians should realize that country's future lies in supremacy of rule of law and independent judiciary and not in false democracy or military rule.
Gangly Khan
Mandi Bahauddin
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03-12-2007 10:53, IP 195.93.21.73, Guest Sooner or later the masses will respond to the current situation. It is likely to occur after the removal of Illegal and immoral emergency imposed by the genius Gen of Pakistan. The apparent calm is in fact an indication of storm which will burst. The lawyers will be able to talk about their demands. The politicians will join the movement of lawyers for a very simple reason. The chances of winning elections are higher for politicians and parties who will propagate the Judicial supermacy. The only way, Pakistan and its people can progress in the current age is through an impartial judiciary. |
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