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The (extreme) irony of it all
I hope Their Lordships are duly noting the irony in much that is going on in the country vis-a-vis themselves.
The writer is a columnist, a former major of the Pakistan Army and served as press secretary to Benazir Bhutto
I hope Their Lordships who sit in the Honourable Supreme Court are duly noting the irony in, and the contrariness of, much that is going on in the country vis-a-vis themselves? I hope they see through the present shenanigans of those who were their enemies when Musharraf had turfed them out, and who have now suddenly metamorphosed into their staunch and faithful friends.
To get straight to the point, Shiekh Rashid ‘Tulli’ and Senator Tariq Azeem, newly self-appointed guardian angels of propriety and ‘rule of law’, newly sprouted halos around their heads, are waxing eloquent on virtually every Pakistani TV channel every evening about how the government should give due respect to the Supreme Court, or else Armageddon and Apocalypse combined, and worse, are around the corner.
‘Tulli’ says it like he always has: rudely and insolently and loudly warning the government of the hellfire and brimstone that awaits it in the matter of the contempt of court citations against the Prime Minister, while Tariq Azeem says in hushed and respectful tones how wrong it is of the alleged contemnors’ to have acted in the way that they allegedly have, and so on, pretending as if butter wouldn’t melt in his own mouth.
Yet a short four or so years ago, these same two, and other ministers in the Commando’s junta at the time, are on record stoutly supporting the dictator’s sacking of the very same judges they are today most stoutly defending. I might add immediately that both have the reputation of being apologists for the Deep State, ‘Tulli’ actually forecasting several army take-overs over the past four years. In his words, every so often: ‘Biggal (Bugle) bajnay wala hai’! But more about his pretended(?) spokesmanship for GHQ and the Sipah Salaar tomorrow.
Indeed, Tariq Azeem was considered such an opponent of the restoration of the judiciary that he was beaten up as a sitting minister of state for information by the lawyers during a demonstration on Constitution Avenue during which heavy lathi-charge and tear-gassing were resorted to by the Commando’s government, badly injuring many lawyers including the brave and feisty Ali Ahmad Kurd, bless him. Azeem today is one of the foremost defenders of the rule of law? I ask you!
Let us now look at ‘Tulli’s’ and another of their fellow-minister’s, Dr Sher Afgan Niazi’s utterances against the judiciary at the time they were riding high on Musharraf’s coat-tails. On August 23, 2007, barely one month after the Supreme Court had re-instated the superior judiciary, Sher Afgan let loose on the honourable judges a veritable diatribe in extremely graphic terms in the programme Capital Talk with Hamid Mir, which words I am loath to repeat here because of my own deep respect for the judiciary. However, I append here the link for My Lords to ascertain whether contempt was committed or not should they wish to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4eE8i3bt_lQ
Likewise, Shiekh Rashid ‘Tulli’ appearing on Business Plus with Ammar Yasin Zaidi in 2008: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_VE_b5dDU0 says things about the Honourable Chief Justice himself which are too rude and discourteous for me to repeat for aforesaid reason. They seem a figment of his imagination to boot, trying to show himself off as a great champion and king of all he surveys.
This is not all for this man. In an appearance on Hamid Mir’s Capital Talk just before the Long March that finally saw the judiciary restored, he once again used words for the Chief Justice himself which are inappropriate, nay rude in the extreme. The link to this performance of ‘Tulli’s’ is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPvc7Ee1Bwc&feature=related
I hope too, that Their Lordships are noting the anguish of those who were their ardent supporters during the movement for their restoration. I will say no more.
In the end, ‘shabash’ for a prime minister I have sometimes denigrated: Well done, The Hon’ble Yousaf Raza Gilani for an excellent speech to the national assembly on its supremacy, and for extolling the majesty of democracy. How right you were to say that you do not matter, parliament does. And that every institution must remain within the parameters allowed to it by the Constitution of Pakistan. While I do not think you run the ideal government I am proud to be a democrat.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 19th, 2012.
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Reader Comments (25)
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The “Learned Writer” himself has Pointed to the TRUTH (though implicitly) i.e. the CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry and the Judiciary were RIGHT back then (in 2007) when PPP Loyalists Ali Ahmad Kurd, Asma Jehangir, Aitzaz and Latif Khosa were supporting them against the COMMANDO and his loyalists (Sheikh Rashid, Tariq Azeem, Sher Afgan)….. In the same vein, the CJP & Judiciary are RIGHT today when the COMMANDO Loyalists are supporting them against Zardari & Loyalists….
What has changed is not the CJP or Judiciary’s Conduct. They are the same: Insisting on “Rule of Law” and “Application of Law”…
But the roles of the COMMANDO & Loyalists have inter-changed with the Zardari & Loyalists...
Whether 2007 or 2012, it is the Rulers & Loyalists who insist on being “Above the Law” and defy / ridicule the verdicts of the Superior Courts especially SC.
In 2007, the COMMANDO thought his Military Uniform allowed him to do whatever he deems fit, to the country…In 2012, Zardari thinks his Mandate & Bhutto name allows him to do whatever he deems fit, to Pakistan….
BTW: If the Swiss Cases were ENTIRELY FALSE, which “ANGELS” do the $ 60 Million belong to??? Because Nobody denies the existence of the $ 60 Million… Pure COMMON SENSE Question.
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Kamran Shafi Saheb,
My regards to you sir as a fellow democrat!!
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These corrupt thieves are on the verge of being put to the book.
I salute the armed forces of Pakistan, for patiently handling the utter non sense
in the parliment, that means very little, vis a vis its authority, or commitment
to economic betterment of people’s lives.
Insha’Allah the army will put the decisive blow, on these thieves, through our courts,
and May Allah Subhana protect the army, and give them the last laugh.Recommend
My dear sir, do you want to imply that the judges should decide cases on a party’s role in the “restoration” movement or should they just interpret the law independently and without bias? Did those who supported the CJ and the SC at the time did that as an investment to draw upon in case of future need? Were the judges justified in their own right or only due to the merits and demerits of those who supported and opposed them, respectively? Do we want to bury the paradigm of necessity once and for all, or should we reincarnate it in the name of “democracy” and “system”? come on sir, the law prevails, come what may! Otherwise, we are doomed.
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This article is going a little too far in the support of our ever-confused and never-coherent national Premier… Parliamentary speeches cannot hide the actual (read: harrowing) performance of this government and bashing the opponents (as if the PPP has never changed its stance to the judiciary) will not help reclaiming the respect or obtaining the support.
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I fully endorse the comments from FATA.I do not think position of Supreme Court is vindicated or weakened because persons like Sh.Rashid and Tariq Azeem are supporting the judiciary.Their past record in this respect is indeed bleak.Similarly,I do not agree with Ali Ahmad Kurd but I support his freedom to express his views.PM Gilani deserves our praise for his decision to appear before the Honourable Court.But allow me to disagree with KS delivering his ‘shabashi’ to the PM for asserting the supermacy of the national assembly and majesty of democracy.I wish KS will,Allah willing,start realizing what has been done to the supermacy of NA and majesty of democracy under PM Gilan’s watch.After we got rid of Musharaf’s wanton misrule this nation was entitled to some relief.Unluckily we are still waiting for a break.
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Good analysis. I asöo enjoyed Kamran’s contribuition in NDTV a few days ago.
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@Kamran. After seeing your interview on NDTV and reading several of your earlier pieces, it now makes perfect sense that your writing is not intellectual, but you are just a pro-PPP mouth piece who is rationalizing every wrong decision of the standing govt and bashing everyone else out there by making personal comments. You have no real arguments. Instead of slinging mud on others, you fail to justify the current govt.’s performance (or lack of it) and they haven’t delivered much in their tenure. Neither can one argue against the corruption under their belt. Instead of finding faults with others and previous regimes, you and your allegiant party are now answerable for all they have failed to deliver in the current set up. Your wrongs cannot be justified by highlighting ‘wrongs’ of others. The argument, if others do it, we can carry on like this too, is just plain shamelessness on part of he leadership and it really needs to stop…
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Dear Kamran Sb,
Well Done Sir ! May God give more power to your pen.
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I disagree to FATA. Even if roles changed shouldn’t they have also been brought to justice for contempt in those days ?
However I agree SC is THE same . . . the power driving it against Musharraf is still behind it !
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People like you want selective justice .For the services rendered during lawyers movement people like you are trying to dictate their terms to CJ.
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@Shahbaz Asif Tahir:
You pointed out very correctly the evil nexus against democracy !
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very fair and pertinent comment by the mr kamran shafi
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Congrats from another democrat Kamran Sahib! The only difference I have with you is that I do not consider the judges to be free from the influence of the deep state. All non-elected arms of the state back each other against democracy.
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Dear Sir Karman Shafi, A large majority of comments are expressing disagreement to your views and display appreciation towards army. Though I agree with each word of yours and feel that you always write for the true interest of Pakistan some how it is not cutting ice with even the educated people.This is not happening with you but with most of the column writers in Pakistan press. It seems the night is long and dark before the people realize the true good of their country.
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Yes, Mr Shafi, they are ALL hypocrites…! That fact itself is hardly surprising, its just the deptth of their hypocrisy that leaves one stunned.
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just brilliant, again. I would have never supported the government of PM Gilani, but i’m proud of him now.
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@VINOD
As an Indian, you have no business to point out, as to what is good
for us or not. We Muslims believe in the oneness of Allah, and take guidance
from him alone, and the teachings of his beloved Prophet SAWS, the last and final
Messenger sent to humanity.
After all it was ZAB, who master minded the debacle of 1971, to
dis member Pakistan, for his obsession for power, and made a deal with Indira Gandhi.
How ever Allah Subhana taught these rulers, a big lesson, and their fate is for all to
reflect on.
Allah u alam and Allah Subhana alone knows best.:Recommend
@Shahbaz Asif Tahir:
.Then why are we in such a mess?
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@Umer:
Allah Subhana created humanity to worship him alone, and follow his
divine guidance, sent to different Prophets, at different times. When a nation resolves
to follow the guidance of Allah Subhana, as we Muslims, of Pakistan promised to do,
in 1947, but then did not obey him, by refusing to implement the shariah, we found
ourselves, in disarray. Today due to our disobedience of Allah Subhana, and the sunnah
of his Habeeb, SAWS, we are being ruled by crimnals, bigots, thieves, looters,
plunderers, and NRO tainted ministers. How ever the solution is there to repent both
individually, and collectively as a nation, and obey Allah Subhana, and his Messenger SAWS.
There is no need to give explanations to any one, and most of all Indians, who never were,
never can be and never ever will be Pakistan’s well wishers. They will be well wishers of
PPP.
Allah u alam and Allah Subhana alone knows best.Recommend
@VINOD:
look at the recommendations :)
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Excellent Article as Usual from KS!
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@Shahbaz Asif Tahir: Dear Sir I pray the same Allah to grant wisdom to you to understand the true good of your country. Indians are your half brother whether you like it or not and feel sad when some thing hurts you. Regards and may Allah bestow mercy on you.
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@VINOD:
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately I never trust India, and history
bears witness to this fact.
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Mr.Kamran,
If the present regime had delivered 10% good governance then all their sins would have been somewhat forgotten & forgiven,
But this PPP are inept unable to deliver by design or default,
To support them in any way to is make fun of all the suffering masses in Pakistan,
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