With the unfolding political developments currently dominating media coverage of Pakistan, it is difficult for me to not provide daily updates on the PML-N exit from the federal cabinet and the judiciary restoration issue. However, following this post, I do promise to update you on the other (mainly security-related) issues affecting the country.
On Wednesday, Pakistani media outlets continued to report on the developments following the widely covered PML-N resignation. The News reported:
In yet another controversial move, the government has contacted several deposed judges of the provincial high courts with an offer to reappoint them as judges of their respective high courts but at the cost of compromising their pre-Nov 3 seniority.
What exactly is this new initiative? If implemented, the offer “would make those judges of the provincial high courts who had refused to take oath under General Musharraf’s PCO on Nov 3, 2007, junior to their colleagues who preferred to work with a military strongman under the PCO.” The Daily Times noted, “It claimed that the government had decided to reappoint the sacked judges if they agreed to adjust themselves with the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) judges, adding that the same offer would be forwarded to the Supreme Court judges if the initiative succeeded.” However, almost all the deposed judges approached with the initiative rejected the offer. The News added, “Sources said that through this move the government would be rewarding the judges who had taken oath under the PCO on Nov 3, and punishing those who had refused to show allegiance to the military dictator in violation of the Constitution.” According to the media outlet, the PPP “wanted to retain the incumbent chief justices of the provincial high courts even if the deposed judges were restored.” This differs from the PML-N “full restoration” position, which had reportedly “compromised to the extent that the PCO judges appointed after Nov 3 in the Supreme Court, would be made ad hoc judges,” noted The News.
The debate over the judiciary restoration (not the issue itself, but the how-to) was essentially the impetus behind the PML-N resignation from the cabinet on Monday. Yesterday, the nine PML-N federal ministers submitted their official resignations to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, who asked them “to continue to hold their offices until the matter was discussed with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari who would return home soon,” Dawn newspaper reported. Although the resignations garnered significant media attention and speculation over the future of the ruling coalition, it is important to underline that Pakistani politicians downplayed its significance. On Wednesday, PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, following an announcement that a resolution for restoration of judges will be presented before a joint session of Parliament, told reporters, “The media is presenting a picture as if the country is facing a situation of severe crisis, but in my view the situation is not that grave.” BBC News reported that Zardari “called the dispute a minor matter and said he expected Mr Sharif’s party to re-join the government.” A separate analysis by the BBC’s Syed Shoaib Hasan further affirmed this point, noting,
And Tuesday’s cabinet split may not be as dramatic as it appears. Mr. Sharif says his party will continue to support the government from the backbenches, rather than join the opposition. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani is refusing to accept the resignations until Mr Zardari returns from abroad.
Do you agree that this situation can be rectified? Moreover, have we all just been waiting for this coalition to crumble, and therefore view any somewhat negative development as the final straw? According to The News, Zardari did assert that he will not abandon being Nawaz’s partner, and the PML-N leader emphasized that his party will continue to support the government. What do you think of these assertions? [Image from The News]
How did you ever find my blog. I like to think that I am alone in the blogosphere. My writings and I. I would love to link to your blog because you keep it quite updated and it’s all about Pakistani politics, my favourite subject. Anyhooo…keep writing. There aren’t enough of us out there.
Yawar-
WordPress tells me when sites link to mine, so I definitely checked out your website when you put up the link to CHUP and thought your blog was great. Will put a link to it in my blogroll and will continue to comment on your posts. Also, if you want to link up to other Pakistani bloggers – check out Pakistani Bloggers – http://www.pakpositive.com/pakistanibloggers/. They update the site with your new posts which helps drive traffic and it puts you in touch with other like-minded bloggers.
Kalsoom
[...] affecting the country. On Wednesday, Pakistani media […] Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan Tagged as: allegiance, chief justices, colleagues, controversial move, daily updates, [...]
Dear Sir/Madam,
Dare to raise your voice for the inevitable socio-political change in Pakistan, to empower the Pakistani , the country belongs to.
Since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favour of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster.
We have already lost the major part of Pakistan in 1971 simply to save the centralised sole power to exploit this country by the ruling elite they let the country break in part then allowing the masses to rule this country democratically. In the present circumstances we are again dragging our sovereignty at stake for the external interest in the name of national interest, instead of our interest i.e. the interest of Pakistani people at large.
Mr.Musharaf, is not a problem nor the restoration of chief justice will make any difference but it is the prevailing socio-political system destroying the institution and victimizing the patriotic people like Dr.Qadeer khan ,who provide strong sense of security to the nation and the government humiliate him for the pleasure of others. At the same time Oppressed nationality also exploited and deprived from their due right and resources.The current system with centralize sole power at the centre in the hands of one or few of them ,where in transparency and accountability can not be established, is responsible for all this mess need to be change for prosperity of Pakistani, otherwise exploitation and injustice will continue to exist in one form or the other. Pakistani are deprived from their right to rule this country since last 60 years.
The only way out of these crucial circumstances is to empower the common Pakistani at grass route level i.e. the change of system. This change is inevitable for the prosperous Pakistan . Along with basic guarantees for the creation of welfare state, where in public representative and institution shall be answerable and accountable to the masses.
Kindly see web site….www.idp.org.pk
Kindly acknowledge with your comments.
Ilyas khan Baloch
Organizer Islamic Democratic Party
[...] For further background on the judiciary movement and the Nawaz Sharif controversy, read the articles tagged in this CHUP category, particularly this article. [...]