Empowered by Article 19 of Constitution, I hereby would like to question any measure that provides for partial justice
CHINA: The 21st Amendment made in the wake of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar has come under a lot of debate, making it quite controversial. The definition and motives of the newly enacted laws seem to be narrowly based and aimed at only those who are involved in violence by using religion as an excuse. Crimes like high treason, hijacking, attacks on national installations, target killing, ethnic and racial violence, abduction and arson of public property are outside the ambit of this definition. It seems as if a group of hyenas sat in, decided to go against a pack of wolves but ignored a long saga of inhuman acts committed by those other than the ones who will be explicitly targeted under the new laws.
Basic and fundamental rights provided in the Constitution would find no place in the presence of this amendment.
Free nations believe in the freedom and independence of the judiciary and justice for all on an equal basis. No one is meant to be exempt from the law and there must not be any sacred cows. Free and fair trial is the fundamental right of everyone and the Constitution puts forth this principle for all. Empowered by Article 19 of the Constitution, I hereby would like to question any measure that provides for partial justice that is based on false foundations.
Shah Rukh Hashmi
Changchun, China
Published in The Express Tribune, February 1st, 2015.
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