How it all unfolded

President and prime minister jump to dispel rumours, calling them baseless and attempts to malign the government.


Irfan Ghauri October 15, 2010

ISLAMABAD: On Thursday evening, the media was alerted to a ‘report’ that a nervy government might withdraw a notification it issued back in March 2009 to reinstate all those judges of the superior judiciary sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf in the November 2007 emergency declaration.

The report had been doing the rounds in recent days with key verdicts in high-profile cases within sight.

The rumours had it that the notification of judges’ restoration lacked parliamentary cover, and hence could be withdrawn by the executive at any time – sending the judges packing once again. This, the rumours had it, would help the government escape  what was being perceived as impending action against it by the apex court.

Rumours and speculation gathered steam in the backdrop of a marathon meeting on Thursday morning by the 17 judges of the Supreme Court, which was reportedly called to ponder upon a decision in the recently concluded 18th Amendment case – the verdict of which had been reserved. The meeting dispersed without any concrete information on the agenda or any decisions.

However, in the absence of information, speculation took over.

So sudden and potent were all these developments that both President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani had to jump in to dispel these reports, calling them baseless and attempts to malign the government of their Pakistan Peoples party (PPP).

“It’s not true. We are the ones who render sacrifices for the independence of the judiciary. We give our blood for that,” a spokesperson for the President said.

The Prime Minister House was next to respond with a statement issued by its media office saying: “Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani taking notice of the news items being flashed at TV channels regarding withdrawal of notification of judges’ appointment.  He said that these news reports are baseless. Certain elements are trying to create bad taste among the institutions but these conspiracies will fail. We respect (the) judiciary.  The government will take every possible step for strengthening of institutions.  Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership has scarified their lives for the independence of judiciary.”

However, as all this was happening, the drama unfolded even further. The PPP then began a meeting of its own with the president himself in the chair. The speculation heightened further. News then broke that the 17 judges of the apex court had rushed back to the Supreme Court building and had begun another meeting in the middle of the night.

All the cameras shifted their attention to the hallowed building, which was now lit up in the darkness of the speculation-filled night. In the end, a press release was issued – “clarifying” that the matter was beyond reversal now.

This story has opened another chapter in the ongoing judiciary-executive saga.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2010.

COMMENTS (10)

Sarfraz Hussain Naqvi | 13 years ago | Reply In recent years our lawyers and the judiciary has been (and is being) used to destabilize Government(s) of Pakistan by USA. This shift is due to the fact wherein Pakistan Armed Forces have refused to play the game. Pakistan is about to take a strategic decision regarding global power politics that is likely to have its deep impact in the coming century. We must all show patience even if we see some in the government indulging in money making.
Sultan Ahmed. | 13 years ago | Reply Saga between judiciary and executive who will come with a best plan of conciliation? what you say?''United States''
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