Media outlets framed the statements in light of Pakistan’s Long March, a cross-country lawyers’ protest slated to begin Thursday and reach Islamabad by next Monday. Reuters quoted Malik, who told reporters, “If in this long march, any death takes place or anyone’s property is damaged … then those who are bearing the flag of sedition or have borne it, then a police compliant [FIR] will be registered.” Dawn, in its coverage, noted, “The government on Monday stuck to its previous stance that it will not allow participants of the lawyers’ Long March from proceeding to the parliament house.” The news agency added, “Analysts believed that the prevailing political turmoil in the country will be further aggravated when the Long March reaches Islamabad on March 16, and it will not be allowed to enter into the federal capital. They foresee clashes between the security forces and the protesters, which may turn violent.”
In today’s news conference, Malik reportedly “cited the relevant sections of Pakistan penal code,” noted the AFP, “saying that expressing hatred or contempt against the federal or provincial government was punishable by life imprisonment.” The news agency reported, “He [Malik] read out phrases from speeches he said Nawaz Sharif has made since the Supreme Court disqualified him and his brother from contesting elections and holding public office. Sharif has made speeches calling on the police not to obey government orders and attacked judges who disqualified him saying he does not recognize the rulings of the Supreme Court — the highest in the country.”
Today’s statements are likely to exacerbate tensions further, which will hold negative ramifications for other arenas in Pakistan, including the economy. According to Reuters, “Pakistani stocks ended 1.5 percent lower on Monday as cautious investors sold shares on worry about political instability, dealers said.” Moreover, noted the news agency, “The main Karachi index has lost 3.5 percent this year after a 58.3 percent fall in 2008.” Given our burgeoning economic crisis, further political instability will be problematic, to say the least.
As for me, I feel like I am watching a comedy of errors, a car accident in slow motion. That sensation is both endlessly tragic and infinitely frustrating. Malik’s statements will only garner a stronger response from the already-fiery opposition, who are riding the wave of the country’s judiciary movement and upcoming Long March. The cycle of tensions and instability will undoubtedly continue until one or both sides are left toppled. Regardless of what the government’s intentions were with today’s announcement, watching the state wielding an iron fist with words like “life imprisonment” and “mutiny” will only incite further indignation and anger among segments of the populace. Moreover, it will likely add further fuel to the comparison of the PPP to the last years of the Musharraf regime.
Did the Sharifs cross the line with their fiery statements? Probably. Would that qualify as sedition or mutiny? The government will certainly argue so for its own preservation, and the law is ambiguous enough to leave that open to interpretation. At the end of the day, though, the real tragedy is that this entire situation has made a travesty of Pakistan’s attempt at democracy.
As William Shakespeare wrote in The Comedy of Errors: For slander lives upon succession/For ever hous’d where it gets possession.
Excellent piece Kalsoom. At a time when democracy is especially fragile, given the inherent instability of both the security situation and the national and international economies, both the justice and political systems have to recognize the necessity of maintaining political stability while simultaneously adhering to the principles of democracy. While this is undoubtedly a difficult task, the stability of a strong yet principled democracy is paramount, though all should recognize that each and every state practices a unique form of democracy.
James,
Pakistan definitely has a “unique” form of democracy, alright!
Wow Kalsoom, you have quoted Shakespeare. Very impressive!
“relevant sections of Pakistan penal code… [say] that expressing hatred or contempt against the federal or provincial government was punishable by life imprisonment”
?????!!!!!!
THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS! There should honestly be protests over THIS LAW, forget Nawaz Sharif. His little burlesque show is nothing compared to this outright tyranny, this law DIRECTLY strips away our precious freedom of speech. That the government has just brazenly announced their alleged power over people’s speech is a DISGUSTING display of totalitarianism.
Thanks Tanya, it involved googling so I’m not sure it’s that impressive, but I appreciate the compliment!
For those who are interested, here’s the reasoning behind why I chose the Shakespeare line. From Shakespeare’s Legal Language by Mary Sokol:
“The early modern courts held that even a truthful condemnation …made by a private party could be slander, on the principle that ‘a grievance should be addressed by law, and not by the party himself using force, or circulating extra-judicial accusations.”
And HGW, I agree with you to an extent. Mutiny is still “punishable by death” in several countries’ penal code to this day, but if the law can be used for political purposes, as is the case in our country, that’s pretty damn shoddy.
Oh so you did google the Shakespeare bit…and to think it was because I thought you were oh-so-smart…jk, Kals
(I can call you that, yeah?)
So I woke up today and checked out CHUP. And then I looked at the News site and it quoted Rehman Malik saying that an FIR should be filed against NS and his bro…and then it went on to say that an FIR should be filed against BB as well since she did the same…inciting people and what-not…but here as you said the law is being twisted to conform to political victimisation and if sedition charges are filed against NS and SS, then expect there to be a rampage…yeah, only God can then save Zardari…
And also Raza Rabbani, the last good-guy in the PPP and a BB stalwart just quit the cabinet. So what to do now is the question? How much worse can it get? And will it end in the culmination of Zardari and his stooges. I pray that it does.
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Speaking of a comparison between Zardari’s government and the last year of Musharraf’s regime, it’s interesting that certain members of the PML-Q have reached an agreement with the PPP. Didn’t Zardari hold them responsible for BB’s assassination? I remember his first press conference where he kept screaming that PML-Q is the QAATIL league. Interesting, how things change in politics.
PK,
It’s interesting how quickly people forget.
Yawar,
Yes it’ll probably culminate in the end of “Zardari and his stooges” but who’s left in power? And how long until they’re pushed out as well?
I sound incredibly pessimistic and jaded, but I frankly can’t help it. I think our country has so much potential, so much HUMAN potential, but it’s all ruined by our stupid politicians, [and other actors].
Nice piece…I think this sedition act is just a bunch of bull..I’m sure its main aim is to deter those who will take part in the long march and to deter those who are organizing it..with the aims of making it a more tame march then the sharif bros have planned. It’s interesting how people point to the books and the constitution only when it suits them. I think this is the root of all problems in Pakistan. The constitution is such an abused and disrespected document in Pakistan. Without respect for the constitution, democracy is completely ineffectual. Additionally, the judiciary in Pakistan is so politicized, not to forget the process by which they are appointed is way to politicized as well..Kalsoom- I think a comedy of errors is the perfect way to describe things. Or a comedy of negligence.
Or better yet. A tragedy of comedic proportions
HGW makes a great point. I always thought that one thing that Pakistan always had going for them was the ability of people to speak against anyone they wanted to. You can’t take away people’s freedom of speech. Sheri is right, people use the constitution when it best suits them. This is like a game of Risk, on crack.
Butters,
The media speaking out against the government so freely is a pretty new phenomenon. In the past, many many journalists and others were thrown in jail for speaking out against the state. It seems like democracy in our country equates to the curtailing of freedoms. Oh the irony.
Rehman Malik or the govt alone cannot do much.. Nawaz should also realize that the warpath he has chosen is ill-timed, ill-planned and immature.. he’s chosen to ride the judicial waves because it’s bound to get a large response from the nation.. in addition to the fact that the brothers were disqualified by the “jiala” judges..
i’m not saying the judges’ issue is not important or reversing to pre 2nd Nov is negotiable. i respect and demand the implementation of rule of law above everything.. but it’s high time that the deposed CJ realizes who he’s putting on the spearhead to retain his ego.. i didn’t want to believe it was his ego only but considering the amount of people who’ve been hurt in this fiasco and all those slated to get hurt in this upcoming week, i think a man as learned as him could’ve found an alternative to achieve the same goal he wants now.. rule of law..
as for the Sharifs.. they should be reminded that those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones… compromise and negotiation was the real way out.. the only way out.
Khadija,
Definitely – Nawaz is using the judiciary movement to gain political legitimacy and leverage. I think the lawyers’ movement is very important, but a solution needs to be reached and soon.
Politics and power-plays are one thing, but stripping away basic god-given rights from human beings is a whole other level. Our speech is our personal property, and in the words of John Locke:
“Every man has a property in his own person. This nobody has a right to, but himself… Government has no other end, but the preservation of property rights…Where there is no property there is no injustice.”
And we all know what HE suggests when government fails to do that…
Hark…. in the midst of all this the PM wakes up… he meets the presidente and the raybaned one soon… the sea of hatred is soothed by thandi lassi and promises of blue notes from blue passported ones…and we see the end of another march.
If this fails we can always sit till we cant sit no more…someone said that the winds of change are blowing again…could it be possible for Kayani to be our marjani?
There is no solution to this country, the writeup by you was glorius though
In any case the boli is now 7 carores for one MNA….
Thanks Faisal K-
Awesome coverage on your blog Deadpan Thoughts as well! I saw that there is a guest post about wearing a hijab, looked very interesting.
[...] march by the opposition party workers and lawyers to Islamabad.” CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reported earlier that the Interior Ministry Chief Rehman Malik threatened to impose sedition charges on the [...]