Editorial

The Supreme Court speaks

This stir is hardly welcome given our need for stability as a means to overcome both political and economic problems.

Editorial September 22, 2010

The dramatic events at the Supreme Court have instantly caused a ripple in the air. This stir is hardly welcome given our need for stability as a means to overcome both political and economic problems. The best way to ensure we avoided turmoil would have been for the government to implement the apex court orders on the National Reconciliation Ordinance. It was essentially the ire of the court over this failure which led to the arrests of Brig (retd) Imtiaz Ahmed and Adnan Khawaja. The court’s view that the government had failed to do so had been expressed several times before. How things move on from here is also largely up to the government. It now has only days in which to re-open the Swiss cases. The strategy it adopts and the manner in which it handles this matter is something that everyone will watch closely. The law needs to be followed if the nation is to come out of this matter with any grace.

What we do have agreement on, among almost all people in the country, is the need for across-the-board accountability. Corruption needs to be tackled in all forms, wherever it manifests itself and in a manner that is transparent and leaves out no one.

A priority for the government should be to set up mechanisms through which this can be achieved. Those established in the past have all turned into bodies used to victimise opponents or extract revenge in other ways. Furthermore, this objective of dealing with corruption and punishing all those involved in it should extend beyond the political sphere, or else the perception that this is done only to single out politicians will be further reinforced. And by this one is referring to all institutions of the state and their subsidiary entities, since all are required to uphold the law and the Constitution. The apex court, through its latest actions, has made clear it is not willing to tolerate any violation of the law. The government must now proceed by doing all it can to uphold it and to make up for the delays that have been seen over the past weeks. The other pillars of state should also follow suit.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 23^rd, 2010.

COMMENTS (2)

Aftab Kenneth Wilson | 14 years ago | Reply In Urdu language it is said that "Qanoon Andha Hota Hy" (The Law is Blind) but here in our country we have seen it blindly used in the favor of Dictators but used with Open Eyes against the Democratic Elected Governments, what a joke !!! It has now become more important to legislate to fish-in all who ever violates the law of the country. One Book, One Law for All. We need to revisit again on certain constitutional clauses which are not crystal clear and have dual meanings/understanding which give lot of space to Play with in either sides favor. The ball then goes in the hands of the Judges who are now being viewed as highly controversial in 63 years of our history (this is what a common person on the street says). One wonders why they want the present government to move around on their knees ???

Meekal Ahmed | 14 years ago | Reply Yes, Sir, across-the-board including the sacred cows. It would be nice if someone had the guts to look into the affairs of our shadow establishments.

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