Politicians have failed Pakistan: CJP

Jamali laments legislation done out of vested interest

SUKKUR: Pakistan’s top judge has said the country has failed to achieve the dreams of its founders largely because of “insincere and dishonest” politicians.

“Our [successive] generations have failed miserably in materialising the dreams of our ancestors,” said Chief Justice of Pakistan Anwar Zaheer Jamali while addressing the legal fraternity of Larkana on Saturday.



“Muslims and Pakistanis are taken as the most incapable people and the forces behind this perception are known to everyone,” he said, adding that even the countries created after 1947 had surpassed Pakistan in development. “We, as a nation, have failed to create unity and solidarity among our ranks,” Jamali said. “[But] other nations have been quite fortunate to have sincere and honest leaders, which we lack.”



The top judge also blamed prolonged bouts of dictatorships for the dismal state of affairs in the country.

“A lot of legislation in our country has been done to fulfil vested interests,” he said, lamenting the court decisions announced for the welfare of the people were seldom implemented.

Giving an example, Jamali said if the court takes action against any incapable person, a certain lobby always comes to his rescue. “This is very painful,” he added. “We should not wait for angels to come down and solve our problems. Somebody amongst us has to volunteer.”



While appreciating the media for highlighting public issues, the chief justice said there were still some black sheep within the media organisations who manipulated things.

He also urged the government to initiate development projects to generate employment.

Meanwhile, District Bar Association Larkana President Sarfaraz Jatoi presented gifts of a horse, a goat, a sword and a gun to the CJP, who politely refused to accept the precious gifts. “I cannot accept gifts worth more than Rs10,000,” Jamali said, citing a law.

He, however, took a picture with the horse and the goat, saying he would display the unusual photographs in his drawing room.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 29^th, 2016.