‘What if the General does the unthinkable’ By: Amjad Malik
Sharifs were given a relief to enter and remain and continue political activity as guaranteed in the 1973 Constitution as a basic right of every Pakistani citizen on 23 August 2007. 7 member bench of Supreme Court in Constitutional petition no 48 & 49 of 2007 of Sharifs said in their short order , “1) For reasons to be recorded separately, both the captioned petitions, being maintainable, are accepted. 2) It is declared that Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, and Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, under Article 15of the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 have an inalienable right to enter and remain in country, as citizens of Pakistan. Their return/entry into country shall not be resisted, hampered or obstructed by the Federal or Provincial Government agencies, in any manner.”
Sharifs have indicated their plans to return on 10 September 2007 and along with it General Musharraf has shown intentions of subverting those plans despite the order of the court. For readers I would mention that article 190 of the Constitution binds all authorities judicial as well as executive to ensure implementation of the orders of highest court as it says, “All executive and judicial authorities through out Pakistan shall act in aid of the Supreme Court”.
Now looking at the tendencies General Musharraf has developed in the state by bulldozing the constitution to secure one man’s job at top slot and sacking elected Premiers twice, Chief Justice of Pakistan twice, President once as well as overhauling the Constitution to that extent that its neither Parliamentary nor Presidential. He has the credit of deporting Shehbaz Sharif in May 2004 despite clear observations too.
Supreme Court, media as well as Civil Society fully charged along with 90,000 lawyers force will not allow the outgoing president to have first aid in the shape and form of any constitutional package to secure one man’s future role before and or without ballot. This new power in the state of Pakistan will not allow the business of wheeling and dealing as the true dealers must rightly be ‘160 million people’ and they must be given a right to choose their representatives through a ballot which is free, fair and transparent and it is not going to happen if General Mushrraf does not declare that he has withdrawn from his vested interest in continuing his armed forces employment as well as civil aspirations.
General Musharraf came to power to bring about true democracy and rule of law. His 7 points agenda is all but a shameful slogan seeing results of his 8 years reign when we see land mafia and absconder and wanted criminals in the list sitting besides him as national heroes and good governance idea is sacrificed on the alter of scandalous government which has land mafia, sugar and cement crisis, oil price hike, steel mill reference, stock exchange crash, Nabbed’ ministers and incidents of Bajaur and damadola shining like a medal on their collar. A common man fears for the worst if not stopped here and if permitted these rulers will not hesitate to sell any thing they grab as they are on ‘hit and run’ policy because their political days are numbered and only true Parliamentary democracy is the future of Pakistan.
If general Mushrraf tried to stop Nawaz Sharif and did not allow the nation to make a choice at free polls, then he must be ready for their wrath too as post 20 July its a new Pakistan and its a new political climate and people if risen will become unstoppable and 400,000 army men will feel helpless to impose martial law even if the General desires as the charged civilians who have still to digest the humiliation with the Chief Justice and incident of 12th May in Karachi are waiting for punishment to those responsible for the onslaught.
Pakistan does not need a martial law any more, it only requires a free and fair elections under a lawful authority and smooth running of the institutions as desired by the Constitution. People will not allow these hybrids any more and Mushrraf sahib must be weary of that. People are not willing to give in their rights so easily anymore. Nation is watching you.
Amjad Malik is a Chair of Association of Pakistani Lawyers (UK).
30 August 2007
- Posted by valiantpk on 09/09/2007.
- valiantpk's site
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