Pakistan

PCO judges’ case: ‘Armed forces destroyed the constitution’

SC should ensure the Constitution is never abrogated.

Express January 25, 2011

ISLAMABAD: The counsel for PCO judges Dr Abdul Basit urged the Supreme Court to set new precedents for contending with generals involved in abrogating the Constitution to discourage their comrades from following in their footsteps in the future.

“Armed forces have destroyed the Constitution. It was abrogated a number of times in the country’s history,” Dr Basit said in defence of Justices Shabbar Raza Rizvi and Hasnat Ahmad Khan. “The generals held the Constitution in abeyance, not the political parties.”

“We are in the process of creating history,” he said. “It falls within the Supreme Court’s ambit to ensure that these events do not take place in future. The court knows neither fear nor does it resort to favours.”

The four-member bench of the apex court constituted for hearing the cases against PCO judges did not comment on the assertions. The bench was headed by Justice MA Shahid Siddiqui and comprised Justice Jawad S Khawaja, Justice Khilji Arif Hussain and Justice Tariq Pervez.

“External powers are imposing new taxes in Pakistan when there is no water, no electricity and target killing is at its peak,” Dr Basit said. Analysts believe a conspiracy is being hatched against Pakistan’s nuclear assets.

The court adjourned the case till today (Tuesday).

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (9)

salim | 13 years ago | Reply If 'armed forces destroyed the constitution' then judges are equally responsible for aiding and abetting!

Khalid Rahim | 13 years ago | Reply Lets bury the past mistakes of the armed forces and pray that wisdom now prevails amongst the higher echelons of the Armed Forces. As a child I have been very closely associated with the Institution often arguing on her conduct and role against the Judiciary. If our Generals today look upon themselves as on of the wheels alongside the judiciary that carries the stagecoach onwards; The horses being the legisturers and the coachman being the executive. If the two wheels find that the Coach driver and the horses are running wild and liable to overturn the coach these two can jointly stop the motion to allow the shaken passangers change both the driver and the horses to maintain the onward journey without any pitfalls.

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Nirgas blue film 2011 | 13 years ago | Reply Lets look at what we have achieved with 3 years of democracy. Inflation, corruption, more inflation and more corruption. We have discussed this to death. Why cant we bring up successes of this country to motivate the youth and the people of this country. In spite of the corruption and the negativity this country produces the worlds best entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, artists, sportsmen, writers, lawyers, chefs etc. WE have built the largest dams, the largest canal systems, we have a great banking network, excellent telecommunications facilities, fantastic motorways, resorts, coffee shops, art galleries and yet everyone chooses to discuss the low lifes of society.

Ali | 13 years ago | Reply This is absurd. The judges never speak when Mr Zadari and company cream off billions of dollars, buy french villas, Surrey mansions. They never speak when Bhutto's governmant installs it's cronies in power across Sindh, sacks honest officials and plunges Karachi into near civil war. They never speak when rich industrialists, Sharif and company, feudal landlords who run the government evade taxes, pay less tax then a street vendor in Islamabad or teacher in rural village. They speak in areas where they have little or no knowledge like privatising steel mills, mining for minerals. They contribute nothing to the country. The only reason that they are speaking so virulently against the army is because the army done what was needed and tried to disband these useless individuals. They never speak when "Democratic" governments fail to run the government properly only when there own interests are threatened.

Hammad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply @ Asim.... Do not expect the politicians, judges or generals to come forward and rectify the wrongs they have done. Their interest lies in status quo. Youth will have to find out the way on its own. Previous generation has devastated this country. It is time for the current, young and educated generation to take this country forward. And do not expect any short cuts.

Asim+Ali | 13 years ago | Reply I am surprised at how opinions are formed in this country. And the issues which are brought up in the press about judiciary, army, politics. Lets look at what we have achieved with 3 years of democracy. Inflation, corruption, more inflation and more corruption. We have discussed this to death. Why cant we bring up successes of this country to motivate the youth and the people of this country. In spite of the corruption and the negativity this country produces the worlds best entrepreneurs, doctors, engineers, artists, sportsmen, writers, lawyers, chefs etc. WE have built the largest dams, the largest canal systems, we have a great banking network, excellent telecommunications facilities, fantastic motorways, resorts, coffee shops, art galleries and yet everyone chooses to discuss the low lifes of society i.e the members sitting in the parliament. We really need to discuss the positives and find leaders who will take us 50 steps ahead not 100 steps backwards.

Asmat Jamal | 13 years ago | Reply Judiciary paved way to the Armed Forces to destroyed the constitution. Have you forgotton about the decision of Supreme Court that it gave in favour of Zia Ul Haq and Musharraf or have we forgotton the long list of PCO Judges who gave every right to the dictator to amend constitution. Not forgetting to put it in writing, the cheeks of some vested interest laywers who challenged the power of the Parliment to amend constitution before the present bench.

Beatle | 13 years ago | Reply From what is being reported in press on the PCO judges issue, this guy; Basit, so far has said nothing in defense of his clients. Instead he has been poloshing the sitting CJ and his colleagues and making political statements against the present goverment - (not the one which made all this to happen). He clearly seems to be wasting his time and others' too. The bench should interrupt and ask him to come to the point.

Hammad Ali | 13 years ago | Reply Very right ! Precedents need to be set so that no future adventurist general dares to impose unlawful regimes which do more damage than benefiting the country and its people. We all know that in 1971, Afghanistan War, Kargil, Baluchistan Operation, Lal masjid operation and many more instances, our mindless generals were involved who do not have the vision to see the future impact of their actions. We seriously need to create history !

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