Let’s Celebrate The New Dawn of Democracy
By A Khokar • Jun 23rd, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 7 Comments •Surely it’s blue sky thinking on part of few placed at the hems of affairs of governing our country; simply by resorting to mocking, jeering and blaming the previous administration for the state of anarchy and mayhem found in Pakistan and hoping that it will go away simply by reinstating the deposed Judges or throwing the President Musharraf out; but these purported issues may not be the prime concerns of peoples of Pakistan today? The garb of piety, some how are being stretched too far; …to the extent that the fomenters in the seats of power are sadly seem eluded, even to look back that their own apparels are blotted, blackened and are full of holes.
After having taken oath twice under the PCO and also validating the take over by a dictator ( President Pervez Musharraf) twice; if Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary now claims that he or other retired Judges (likely to be reinstated), now stands ‘pious and holy’, because they refused to take the third time oath under last PCO; the onus in any case lies on the Judiciary and the burden does falls on the one, who willfully validated the coup of so called Military Dictator on the very first time and called that coup as legitimate. If the subject judges claim that since they have repented that they were wrong to do then and their repentance of today makes them ‘pious and holy’; then this ‘Train of Piety’ that they would like to ride should also stop at the next stations to accommodate the others; who are also seen truly repenting that they have since abundant the very notions to stay in dictatorial power or impose even more PCOs. The fairness of business demands that the credit should go to the one who against all the odds initiated the phase of renaissance and made possible the dawn of democracy ( a blessing in disguise) in our society:-
- The One who granted the amnesty even to the known convicted plunderers and looters of this nation through a ‘National Reconciliation Order’ so that they could come over and form new government?
- One who promised a enlighten democracy and that the most transparent elections in the history of Pakistan were held and country could embrace a true democracy.
- One who facilitated the transfer of power to new government with out any hindrance or hesitation?
- One who is ready to walk away that he is, since relinquished of all the powers as dictator and has handed over to the new Parliament.
- One who has announced that he will abide by any verdict passed and given by the new Parliament i.e. through impeachment etc?
- Credit also goes to PML-Q that they volunteered to work with a Dictator President and bore tireless efforts and at last, were able to deliver the country the fruits of True Democracy. They were successful in diverting the path of draconian dictatorship and steer it toward a real Democracy by peaceful means and they achieved it.
Although President Pervez Musharraf still holds the extra ordinary executive power of ‘clause 58(2) b’, that most of the parties are weary about. But this may not be logical to think that when he has conceded and is ‘wishing-n-watching’ the transfer of power so keenly; he will ever take some untoward actions to see his dreams perished or see his ship going down; that it took him, his utmost strenuous efforts to wade through the prevalent storms of terrorism engulfing Pakistan. In the present peculiar malignant atmosphere found in the country; all the politicians along with certain other groups of civil or judicial society, are all out in a race to grab the seat of power. They will go to any extent in mudslinging.
All the parties large or small are trying to make President Musharraf a punching bag. With out any exception their fumy exhales always start with…one word; ‘an impeachment of President’ and to see him go out defunct. Where as President is seen getting ready to step aside preferably with grace but he is keeping the card of clause 58(2)b to himself, in case he needs it to apply for his safe exit and to save guard the country to plunge into yet another phase of anarchy at the hands of new coalition partners and their purported adventurism of grab of power.
Other than the price hike in markets and scarcity or unavailability of daily essential commodities; NRO is another contentious issue that this nation has to deal with. The National Reconciliation Order was only issued for the benefit of few. Normally any reconciliation will have an element of truth as its basic ingredient. Truth must be known to the people that for what, the reconciliation is being granted? The absence of phenomenon of truth in NRO, is a wilful act to give a concealment to the known pilferers, looters and plunderers and allow them to come back home safely.
This is surely allowing a lateral entry and to facilitate them even to take over the government. The beauty of the controversial NRO is that in a way it carries Supreme Court validation also. There is no known Suo motu etc as such on the record challenging the misdeed connected with NRO. Lately the same courts who could not decide the cases of plundering of usual suspects for last so many years, surprisingly were found quick to quash all the charges after issue of NRO? Although in our little orchard, every tree branch seem infested with the operatives, perched there on executive posts with mal intent; so fruits of malice are but obvious. Matter of the fact is that we do not find anyone who does not deserve any punishment? “her shakh peh uloo (aa)betha hey; anjam e gulistaan kiya hoga”. It needs a wider reconciliation for all and we need to renew our covenant of loyalty to uphold our ‘Country First’.
On the international level we as Pakistani have got certain obligations in the war against terrorism; where Pakistan and President Musharraf are the declared allies and the President is the man of the West; the chieftain of war on terror, US President George W Bush is at the last leg in his office till January next year; US may like to see Musharraf as ally till last when US President departs; so we should know our unavoidable position being proxy that where we stand and refrain from uttering of use less, emotion charged superfluous rhetoric and better see our interests and keep our house in order.
In the wake of the dawn of true democracy in our country that finally it has arrived to embrace our country and our military has also committed to stay away from their habitual indulgence in politics. Let’s celebrate our blessings in disguise; the new dawn of democracy in Pakistan!
Last 5 posts by A Khokar
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- RAW is Actively Engaged in Terrorism in Pakistan - January 3rd, 2009
- A Global Fatwa Clearing House ? - January 2nd, 2009
- Israel is committing a Manifest Error - December 30th, 2008
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With all the due respect to the blogger, I guess he seems to be living in an idealized world.
To set the record straight The deposed CJP took oath under PCO once only and so did some of his colleagues not twice.
Also the case realting to NRO was pending in the SC and was being heard by the deposed CJP and that is primarily the reason that Zardari sb is so adamnt on the issue of restoration of judicary.
As far as the cleanest of all then men living on this planet earth, Gen Pervaiz Musharraf is concerned, well if you were not being satirical and I guess you were not then, for the sake of argument lets assume that elections were free and fair, what do you think would have happened if they were not so after the assasination of BB and the following slogans of ” pakistan na khappay” and the talk of Punjab having sent the third deadbody to Karachi.
It would have resulted in an East Pakistan like situation rather far worse. So unfair elections were not a possibility and well everyone knows about the pre-poll rigging even the polll day rigging eg Karachi itself witnessed some.
Unhindered transfer of power, well yes the unhindered transfer took more than a month and a half and had that been not the case we all witnessed the protests following Nov 3rd actions, this time the scenario would have been entirely diffrent it would have been the Bare footed vs the Boots On.
I agree that Reconiliation without Truth is meaningless but well the NRO was suppose to be meaningless to everyone but the benficaries who happened to be certain personalities and people belonging to certain groups.
As far as bearing with the man is concerned for the sake of USA well lets us get out of the politics being done for the sake of neccessity of foreign powers. If the Americans can decided when a new face like Obama can come up from nowhere so can we the people of Pakistan. And my dear sir it is only such an attitude which may eventually lead us from a “Failed State” in their dictationary to a ” Progressing State” and well we should Damn care about what they think.
We have China to fall back upon in case of economic trobule or Russia which seesm to be a bit at odds with USA for some time yet again.
And lastly the Dawn of a new Democracy, Well Sir as the General used to putr it during the previous Government that Democracy is in transitional stage I guess we have indeed transitioned but from a Millitary Dictatorship to a Civilian Dictatorship.
For today the decision makers are those people who cannot be held accountable for their decisions. They are the people who not having taken the National Security Act Oath are attending the briefings of PM and Presidents eyes and ears only. And when the time of accountability would come well they held no office in a govt for which one could blame them.
So sir we are still under a Dictatorship its just that its not the one who has his Boots on.
Talha, the former / deposed Chief Justice did take oath twice - once as a Judge of the Supreme Court and then on his appointment when sworn in as the Chief Justice. It is just to refresh our memories. But then does it really matter? Everything was fine and dandy as long as all concerned were busy, shall we say, mutual back scratching, so to speak, untill the then CJP rubbed them the wrong way. Had there been no conflict of interest into play - would the CJP do what he did?
Since our friend Mr Talha Lodhi wants to set the record straight; so it must be noted that there are two occasion when Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary, physicaly took the oaths under PCO twice;
* First Oath under PCO
In January 2000 Chief Executive General Musharraf dictated that all superior court judges swear a new oath under the PCO No.1 issued on October 15, 1999, which had suspended the Constitution of Pakistan. After swearing an oath on the PCO Justice Iftikhar Choudhary was elevated as Judge to the Supreme Court on 4 February 2000.
** Second Oath Under PCO
He was appointed as Chief Justice of Pakistan on 7 May 2005 by President General Pervez MusharrafJustice. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was the senior-most judge among the sitting judges of the Court after the outgoing Chief Justice Nazim Hussain Siddiqui. Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry assumed the office of Chief Justice on 30 June 2005.
President Pervez Musharraf administered the oath of the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on 7 May 2005.
This is good one, “her shakh peh uloo (aa)betha hey; anjam e gulistaan kiya hoga”. My late father, may his soul be blessed with eternal peace, used to quote with reference to a man called Sardar Bahadur Khan (younger brother of the presdident Ayub Khan) who apparently resigned under family pressure from the West Pakistan Assembly or the National Assembly, he quoted this wonderful satire while pointing to the Treasury Benches (The Convention Muslim League - creation of Ayub - equivalent to Nawaz League). I suppose it still holds, don’t it?
• It must be borne in mind that the Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Choudhary took the first oath under PCO no.1, which was issued on 15 October 1999 and he took the oath as a SC judge in January 2000, some three month after the issue of PCO which also confirmed that supreme courts has today suspended and buried ‘The constitution of Pakistan’. (Double whammy)
• I did not say that there were free and fair elections; rather I said that these were ‘the most transparent Election’s. What all happened; all the concerned parties knew it well? Any how to what avail is that democracy or the Elections, which bring the known authoritarians, looters and plunderers back in seat of power.
• You rightly said that Reconciliation with out Truth is meaning less; which also demands that such action must out rightly be condemned.
We seems to be so vocal and fomenters…to say; ‘NO PCO judges’; but why we are so hesitant to say; ‘NO NRO Leaders’! A Punjabi saying comes handy; [Shuraay nall mannay-an; Tey haddi naal rhosay way]. Mind you when we say no PCO judges; sadly it includes our blue eyed CJ also? Please refer to my earlier contribution; if you could; link: http://www.pakspectator.com/court-business-must-be-conducted-in-courts-only/
You have said about ‘the bearing of this man’i.e. President Musharraf for sake of USA; well we need to have another, a full lead story for that; but please just recall back, if you could that the entire Middle East Governments could not do any thing to stop the invasion of Iraq in Gulf war rather they all abetted. But we don’t have to even go that far to Iraq; Just here in Pakistan, on our western borders; for last few months. American Drones are continuously attacking inside Pakistan with precision guided weapons and have killed scores of our Pakistani brethren as well as Military men inside military posts and their properties destroyed; Lately there has been Artillery guns shelling also; What Pakistan could do? For sure; nothing…at all! As for as we all know; not a single drone has been shot down neither there was a single bullet fired back… officially?
Freedom is; when people have got their say and enjoy the freedom of speech; and democracy is; where government listens.
Aftab S. Alam.
Sorry to hear about the sad demise of you father; May Allah bless, the deceased’s soul.
Ina Lillah, wa ina-ilaehay Rajayhoon!
Yeah, thanks. Aameen.