Pakistan

Military takeovers left society in shambles, says CJP

Says people kept away from accepting democratic norms

Naeem Sahoutara March 19, 2016

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali. PHOTO: FILE

KARACHI:

Pakistan’s top judge has said repeated martial laws have not only hampered democracy in the country but have also kept its people away from accepting democratic norms.

“Martial laws have left Pakistani society in a shambles,” Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali said on Saturday while speaking at a ceremony organised in memory of renowned lawyer Abdul Hafeez Pirzada at Karachi’s Mohatta Palace Museum on Saturday.

Courts can shoot down anti-people laws: CJP

Pakistan has witnessed three decades of direct military rule since its independence in 1947. Military coups began in 1958 and since then there have been three successful military-led governments besides several unsuccessful coup attempts.

The CJP termed the repeated imposition of martial laws Pakistan’s ‘misfortune’. Paying rich tributes to Pirzada, who authored Pakistan’s existing Constitution of 1973, the CJP said Pirzada had a distinctive personality both as a lawyer and a politician with worldwide recognition.

He recalled it was the late lawyer whose contribution and services had helped the country come out of the 1971 disturbance.

After the death of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Pirzada quit politics in 1977. Jamali said Pirzada’s signature trait was his uprightness. He always voiced support for righteousness.

SJC starts acting on complaints against top judges

He added Pirzada had always put the national interest before his personal interests and always called for the superiority of the law in the country.

The CJP also recommended the government should confer the Pride of Performance Award on Pirzada for his remarkable services for the nation.

Haseeb Pirzada, son of the late Pirzada, recalled that ZA Bhutto had widely appreciated his father for his zeal and untiring efforts to finish the phenomenal historic task of writing the Constitution.

He also lauded his father for demonstrating his legal and political finesse in authoring the Constitution.

Haseeb thanked the Endowment Fund Trust for holding the ceremony to pay tribute to his late father. Supreme Court’s Justice Amir Hani Muslim called Pirzada one of the finest lawyers of the country and ‘father’ the 1973 Constitution.

Pirzada, he added, was greatly admired in the legal fraternity for his services to the nation.

Hamid Haroon called Pirzada a “man of culture”, who worked hard for the promotion of the country’s culture and setting up institutes for this purpose.

Sindh High Court Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, judges of the superior judiciary and a number of dignitaries attended the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (14)

Syed | 8 years ago | Reply Justice Sahib Martial Law put your "Democracy or Demon Cracy" in shambles, but Martial Law saved Pakistan as that was the only check on your fraud degree "Paki Politicians", who were ever ready to sell off the country, including your ZA.Bhutto. Whereas your Judiciaries, Internationally known to be, "The Most Corrupt Judiciaries of the World", (where you start bribing as you enter its premises) are the hibernation nests and flourishing pools of all kinds of Criminals. What a majestic combination?

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan’s top judge has said repeated martial laws have not only hampered democracy in the country but have also kept its people away from accepting democratic norms. He is not the first one in his opinion, others in his position not only warned of the consequences of riding roughshod on institutions but also actively resisted the despot. Todays civilian has practicaly sealed the fate of the people by cohibiting with those who of no fault of theirs but their training have lost the country of majority. Rex Minor

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Baloch | 8 years ago | Reply As did judicial and political corruption.

nadeem | 8 years ago | Reply Agreed, the top most disasters in Pakistan's history were all the result of military takeovers, namely: break up of the country in 1971, the death of 50,000 citizens at the hands of militants, the wild and out-of-control fire of extremism, the erosion of legislature and judiciary. Civilians are no angels, but they can't be blamed for the biggest disasters, except perhaps nationalization of the economy in 1970s.

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply Military take over are undoubtedly bad........and would NOT be necessary if the politicians did their job and the judiciary did theirs.

ahsan | 8 years ago | Reply @A J Khan: Was the first martial law due to failure of politicians (that include Quaid e Azam, Liaqat Ali Khan, H S Suhrwardy and Fatima Jinnah) or intrigues and plots hatched by generals Mirza and Ayub? Be truthful please.

khan | 8 years ago | Reply Dont tell me, it was cheif justice who give authority to mushrraf to make amendments. And if justice were given to people, people would have never supported Marshal law. Ayyan ali was caught on camera, the reporting custom officer were killed, she is about to be free as well. so please tell me where is army rule in that, did army stop you from indicting a criminal.

A J Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Repeated Martial Laws was result of failure of successive governments to deliver, may it be development, justice, services or governance. Even today after three Martial Laws, our successive democratic governments continue to plunder exchequer, and people still donot get timely justice in any matter. Martial Law is the only check on governments which in their lust for money is ready to sell Pakistan and its people to the scavengers.

Saleem | 8 years ago | Reply Its a unique land where every power broker is quick to point right or left. I would not argue about his statement regarding military takeovers where I think he is correct. It would have been more pertinent to listen from him about the implications of lack of justice in the society. Providing justice is the core requirement of any society and the way it works from top to bottom is no secret. Should CJP be more concerned about the area where he can bring a difference or otherwise ?

Fawad | 8 years ago | Reply The military never allowed institutions to flourish and that was the real damage. They constantly undermined any institution that looked viable.

NKAli | 8 years ago | Reply Mr. Chief Justice Sir, are our civilian politicians any better? The history of civilian democracy is in front of the nation and only diehard supporters come out on the streets and on TV shows, otherwise, who has any good words for this current lot of corrupt and incompetent politicians. In seventy-years of Independence we are still being nostalgic of our past. That time is GONE, we have to look FORWARD. Salams Quote: "In a state where corruption abounds, laws must be very numerous." Tacitus (Brainyquote.com)

Sami | 8 years ago | Reply That is why you let dictator to go in connivance with PMLN.

Brainy Bhaijan | 8 years ago | Reply Army would be happy if there were new leaders chosen every 4 to 5 years within the parties, just like else where in the world. So because of the prevailing system, both civilians and the army generals have to keep a check on each other to maintain a strategic balance. This implicit "standard operating procedure" may retain itself in existence until an intra-party leader selection mechanism is widely adopted.

Replying to X