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Judiciary always supports army rule, rues Asma
Ex-SCBA president says Parliament, not judiciary, is the supreme body.
Judiciary should not consider itself as an all-knowledgeable entity, says Jahangir. PHOTO: TARIQ HASSAN
LAHORE: Former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Asma Jahangir condemned the judiciary on Wednesday, saying it has always approved military rules in the past.
She said if judges wanted a hand in politics, they should contest elections. Talking to reporters at the Lahore High Court, she said that Parliament, not judiciary, was the supreme body in the country.
The judiciary should not consider itself as all knowledgeable, Asma said, while expressing her reservations over many decisions of the Supreme Court.
The judiciary also disregards decisions of Parliament, she said, while pointing out the annulment of the parliamentary committee’s decisions on judges’ appointment.
She further expressed her inability to understand the SC’s January 10 judgment on the NRO non-implementation case. She said that while the NRO was a complicated issue, she never favoured it.
Asma regretted that state institutions were being politicised and added that no institution was clean.
She advised the judiciary not to keep pursuing the NRO issue but rather take up thousands of other pending cases.
Over the role of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in the present tense political situation, Asma said that PML-N is the same party which had, in the past, attacked the Supreme Court.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 12th, 2012.
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Reader Comments (37)
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How is NRO complicated … dear can you please clarify …..???? NRO the name is so clear… U let the thieves roam freely
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ordinary people cases should be solve in day while NRO is complicated i cant see any logic. Recommend
NRO is an excuse for SC to do nothing for ordinary citizens.
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She’s right.. “Aur bhee Ghamm hain Zamaanay main NRO kay siwa!!”
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Love the fact that Asma is so outspoken. Atleast someone has the courage to say the right things at the right time
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What is she talking about. They are the biggest looters of People’s wealth and still it is a no issue for her.Recommend
Asma Jahangir siding with corrupt lot isn’t new thing.
Surprised how she get so much props from liberals who unaware of her past
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If the government refuses to accept the SC’s verdict on the NRO case, then all cases in Pakistan should be closed. And everybody irrespective of their crime, from rape to murder to throwing acid on women, should be pardoned under the garb that these cases were political!!!
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Asma criticise anybody who disagree with her.
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Yes, judiciary always supported military governments but democratic governments made sure that their were enough reasons for the military take over. The present government is the classic example.
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She is telling the truth, nothing but the truth and the whole truth.
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So now the courts are wrong…because they dont agree with you?
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The judiciary should act with maturity and not take sides blindly and in this case Asma assessment appears to be correct.
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NRO is complicated because its author Gen Mush is not charged at all. Just like the confessed writer and delivery man of Memo, Mansoor Ijaz is not charged of any crime. How could the authors of main crimes be treated as innocent stars?
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a brave and rational woman; salute to her.
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People: She is only explaining the constitution.
Most comments on here are laughable. The level of ignorance of the people of my country and lack of objectivity towards such matters seem to me as some of many reasons our nation fails to progress.
If people of PK want to remove the elected govt the right way to go about is by voting for someone else next time. Unfortunately every passing day a little respect is chipping away from the (supposedly) unbiased judicial might of our SC.
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@Adnan:
This shows tht are ppl hav no idea abt democrarcy wht so ever.
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if people disagree with her then people are always at wrong side..she is the most righteous and truthful person..
i wonder why people take it as a courageous act
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I dont agree with Asma.The present judiciary has shown RESTRAINT and tolerence in the civilian setup.Two years is a long time for the implementations of its decision.She is wrong in declaring MEMO GATE decisions as biased.How can you expect the parliment committe headed by a party member Mr Raza Rabbani to take action against his own part chairman?.A high power commission was necessary to investigate this serious issue.If Hussain Haqqani is innocent why he is not handing over the blackberry and its code to the commission.Unfortunately we have so called leaders here in Pakistan which can sell the country in order to stay in power.
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The track record shows that Asma has been mostly right. You can’t say the same about the judges.
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supreme court must not become a bone of contensions – what about asghar khan case verdict?
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Madam Asma Jahangir is supporting, rules laws and justification and not the corrupt rulers. It was not Asma Jahangir who stop judiciary taking any action against NRO. Who stop SC taking action through article 199? It is correct that all Martial Laws were always supported by Judiciary. It is USA who is stopping Martial law now, and the proof of that is the attack on Army in Baluchistan and not reported by the media in detail.
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So when they were supporting politicisation of judiciary and large rallies headed by the CJ and giant posters with judiciaries pictures that wasn’t them encouraging the politicisation of the judiciary. Hypocrisy at its best. Basically Asma supports human rights and rule of law as long as it suits the PPP agenda.
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@Aliya:
did u mean to say that you love corruption
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@ali azhar:
You are welcome to prove otherwise. Can you?
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In gaining media attention or in order to stay in lime light she has forgot that no body is above law…i think she should immediately enroll in a law school which may work as a refresher for her…
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@Amar:
How do you know? Have you managed to find wealth of generals to compare with?
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Open and Implement the NRO cases either its against the Army, the Agencies, the politicans, the diplomats, or any Pakistan.
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Well that is because the so called “democratic” govts have never allowed an independent judiciary to flourish,because it then poses a threat to their “democratic” activities.Recommend
@Mirza:
Ijaz mansoor is a US national,he didnt write the memo,he just delivered it.Govt of Pak cant charge a US national for acting courier.Recommend
@Umer:
Stop speaking against our army …i guess you must be from India
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@Umer:
60 million dollars is the money of ordinary citizens…..Recommend
Supporting No investigation on memogate and now supporting NRO…Wah! Asma
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@Aliya: What is so right about criticizing the Supreme Court for declaring NRO illegal and only taking it up 2 years after its original decision regarding the legality of this ordinance? Asma Jehangir is simply showing her true colours right now. She wants to protect Zaradri then by all means she should get going with it. However, there is nothing complicated about NRO and she should not try to defend such a black law in any form or manner.Recommend
Asma admits political parties had attacked the Supreme court in past. Is it possible in Pakistan that parliament where govt enjoys majority will oppose illegal actions of the government like NRO and Memogate issues.
Establishing sovereignty of the Supreme court is important and being a senior lawyer Asma should know this.
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Thx Asma, for being courageous and brave.
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I fail to understand what have we to do with NRO, Memo etc……This fight and lust is for power between “Siting Bulls” of our system. Ordinary citizen is only concerned with day to day affairs of living an honorable life. There are around million cases in our courts which are more important because they are directly related with you and me. I agree with this brave lady Madam Asma who is least afraid to point out truth. This A and B team which validates each other time and again must now sit on back benches and allow the democratic process to move forward which is in the interest of the country and not one or two institutions who are bent upon creating impediments in the whole system of governance.
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