Naming a chief executive: Does a judge make a good politician?

Across the board, political parties seem to think judges make good politicians, citing their neutrality.

ISLAMABAD:

A lawyer can be a good politician, but is a judge the best choice for the tricky job of executive? So far, the answer seems to be a resounding ‘yes’.

The list of nominees for interim chief executives, presented by the ruling and opposition political parties, is largely composed of retired judges, although some technocrats are also seen as good fits for the positions of caretaker prime minister and chief ministers.

It seems politicians have discredited themselves by not giving preference to their own kind, underscoring the impression that a politician cannot possibly be honest and fair.

The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl and Awami National Party (ANP) unanimously picked Justice (retd) Tariq Pervez for interim chief minister of the militancy-plagued Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has presented a list of three nominees, which includes two retired judges. Credit goes to the party for at least mentioning the name of a politician at number three. Though the party has withdrawn name of Justice (retd) Shakirullah Jan, Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid is still on the top of the party’s list.

The PML-N, once known for its hard stance against the judiciary, seems to be more impressed with the performance of judges as of late, as the party had also short-listed the name of Justice (retd) Saeeduz Zaman Siddiqi for president of the country back in 2009.

The party has also publicly announced its unconditional support to the judges for an independent judicial system several times. Perhaps the party wants to remove the bitter memories from the minds of people of the gruesome attack by its leaders and workers on the Supreme Court in 1996, which forced judges to flee the courts to save their lives. Many party leaders later faced disqualification for contempt of court.

Meanwhile, the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) seems to prefer economists to run the country during the interim phase. The party also mentions the name of a judge at serial number three in its list of nominees. Apparently, it seems this judge enjoys public approval.

And although judges are known for their impartiality, the basic question remains unanswered, that is whether or not they can be effective chief executives.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), known for having middle class and educated politicians at its top positions, also backed Justice (retd) Nasir Aslam Zahid for caretaker chief executive.

The party presented a list of five candidates for the slot of interim chief minister of Sindh, and at least three of them are retired judges.

The PML-N wanted to see retired bureaucrat Khawaja Zaheer as chief minister of the largest province of the country - Punjab. The Jamaat-e-Islami proposed the name of retired judge Justice Allah Nawaz and retired bureaucrat Safdar Mahmood for chief minister of Punjab.

PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal did confess that there are some politicians that can be picked for this job, specifically naming Senator Raza Rabbani. “We deliberately included the name of politician Rasool Bux Palijo,” he added. However, Iqbal said that neutrality is the main rationale behind the appointment of judges.

He clarified that judges work with different governments and thus, have relevant experience.

MQM Senator Dr Faroogh Nasim, a lawyer-turned politician, also says neutrality is the main reason, adding that since it’s a neutral set-up, there is no need for expertise. Judges are able people and can handle the task, he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2013.