Smoother sailing?

For all the uproar that surrounded judges appointments, it seems things may work out quite well after all.

The Judicial Commission has begun the process of making recommendations for filling vacant slots in the superior judiciary. These include 32 judges to the high courts who had been granted an extension to avoid a crisis while debate raged on over the method of filling seats as well as the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. The process will take some time, given that a long list of names is to be considered and debated with the chief justices of the high courts also set to attend the meeting, as will the attorney general and law minister as members of the judicial commission.

The list of names, once finalised, will be passed on to the parliamentary committee for approval as laid down under the 18th Amendment. For all the uproar that surrounded the matter, it seems things may work out quite well after all. For now, the storm that had hit the high seas and threatened to do a great deal of damage to the system seems to have died down. For this, the Supreme Court deserves credit. Its judgement in the matter was wise and respectful of the constitutional role of institutions. We hope this degree of maturity can continue and be expanded. We have suffered many times due to a fearful clash between institutions. This must not happen again. It is hoped that parliament will act with the kind of intelligence that can make individuals aware that the interests of the nation come above all else. The process of appointing judges is an important one. We need our courts to work efficiently and prudently but we also need a sense of stability, not just for the political front but also for the sake of our economy.

Over the past months, there has been much talk of a threat to the system. Problems between the judiciary and the parliament highlighted this. The key issue of the appointment of judges stood at the nucleus of the whole matter. It seems things may be working as per the requisites of the law. We must hope then that all institutions are ready to play their role. The appointment of judges is a test case. Let us hope all goes according to the requirements laid down in law and nothing is done to churn up calm waters.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 6^th, 2010.