We solve all our problems abroad
Friday, September 4, 2009
As a commentator on a private TV channel said on Sept 2…"We solve all our problems abroad. We send our children abroad for their education and the same with our political problems. We never seem to sort them out ourselves here at home." Thus the sight of our previous president jetting in to Saudi Arabia on an aircraft sent by the Saudi government and then being received with full protocol should not surprise us. Neither should we be surprised at the apparently coincidental arrival of assorted government figures in Saudi Arabia at the same time as a past president and not surprised either that they did not – of course they didn't – meet or have any contact whatsoever with him. And no deal regarding his future, or any trial, was even thought about let alone agreed upon and signed with a discreet handshake. No, nothing like that at all.
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Labels: Democracy, Law, Power Politics, Saudi Arabia
posted @ 6:24 PM,
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Discriminatory legislation
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
There remains an urgent yet unaddressed need for state policies to reflect the country’s diversity. Regulating madrassas, reforming the public education sector, and invoking constitutional restrictions against private armies and hate speech are essential steps to stem the tide of religious extremism
As if the militancy currently gripping the country were not enough, a mob in a remote village of Toba Tek Singh, angered by the alleged desecration of the Quran, torched 40 houses and a church, where seven people, including two children and an elderly man, were burnt to death.
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As if the militancy currently gripping the country were not enough, a mob in a remote village of Toba Tek Singh, angered by the alleged desecration of the Quran, torched 40 houses and a church, where seven people, including two children and an elderly man, were burnt to death.
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Labels: Governance, Government, Human Rights, Law, Madrassahs, Rights of Minorities
posted @ 8:33 PM,
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One billion rupees to the PPP Senator Nawabzada Mir Lashkari Raisani
Monday, August 10, 2009
ISLAMABAD: The outgoing Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Amanullah Khan Yasinzai is said to have ordered the provincial government to pay one billion rupees to the PPP Senator Nawabzada Mir Lashkari Raisani, the younger brother of the Chief Minister Aslam Raisani, as compensation for losses to his crops and property during the violent tribal feuds with the Rind tribe.
This unusual order had put the Balochistan bureaucracy in a fix as to how to arrange a billion rupees from the meagre resources of the cash-starved province and make this payment to an individual in the name of losses to his property during the tribal feud.
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This unusual order had put the Balochistan bureaucracy in a fix as to how to arrange a billion rupees from the meagre resources of the cash-starved province and make this payment to an individual in the name of losses to his property during the tribal feud.
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Labels: BHC, Government, Judiciary, Law
posted @ 11:25 AM,
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Change the controversial blasphemy law
Saturday, August 8, 2009
The prime minister, during a visit to Gojra, has indicated the government could seek to change the controversial blasphemy law. While he avoided any direct reference to sections 295 A, B and C of the Pakistan Penal Code, which deal with blasphemy, he said ‘discriminatory’ laws would be reviewed. Although a minor amendment in the blasphemy laws, laying down investigation at a higher police level before pressing charges, was brought in under Musharraf, more sweeping amendments were put aside after an outcry by clerics. This time there is a need to act with wisdom and good sense. The attack on the homes of Christians in Gojra has been widely condemned. There seems no reason to believe that saner religious elements at least would protest changes required to prevent such happenings in the future. They need to be brought aboard now, so that the demands by extremist forces can be countered. The Islamic Ideology Council can also play a role. This under-utilized body has made a number of incredibly sensible proposals in past years. It is a failure of governance that has resulted in many of these suggestions remaining relegated to files.
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Labels: Blasphemy Law, Government, Human Rights, Law, Rights of Minorities
posted @ 11:57 AM,
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Graduation condition for MPs done away with
Thursday, August 6, 2009
ISLAMABAD, Aug 5: The federal cabinet decided on Wednesday to do away with the condition of bachelor’s degree for candidates for the Senate and the national and provincial assemblies, in line with the Supreme Court judgment of April 21 last year.
Briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said Pakistan was the only country to have such a condition in a democratic dispensation.
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Briefing reporters after a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said Pakistan was the only country to have such a condition in a democratic dispensation.
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Labels: Government, Law, Parliamentarians
posted @ 11:42 AM,
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PPP and Judiciary
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
NEITHER President Zardari nor Prime Minister Gilani wasted any time in welcoming the Supreme Court’s short order declaring the Nov 3, 2007 emergency unconstitutional, and terming it a triumph of democratic principles.
The order was described as a negation and rejection of dictatorship and its actions, and was called a success of the principles for which the PPP had fought and its chairperson and countless workers laid down their lives. The verdict was called a good omen for the future of democracy.
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The order was described as a negation and rejection of dictatorship and its actions, and was called a success of the principles for which the PPP had fought and its chairperson and countless workers laid down their lives. The verdict was called a good omen for the future of democracy.
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posted @ 2:44 PM,
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All Balochistan High Court Judges Resign
QUETTA: Balochistan High Court (BHC) Chief Justice Amanullah Khan Yasinzai and all the other four judges of the court, who had taken oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO), resigned from their offices to escape the references against them in the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC).
The BHC sources, confirming the resignations of the judges, said all the five resignations had been forwarded to the president of Pakistan for approval with the request to grant them premature retirement.
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The BHC sources, confirming the resignations of the judges, said all the five resignations had been forwarded to the president of Pakistan for approval with the request to grant them premature retirement.
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posted @ 2:36 PM,
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Musharraf may be charged for high treason
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Daily Times, Pakistan, Tuesday, August 04, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf can be tried on charges of high treason if parliament passes a resolution by simple majority, said Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa on Monday.
The attorney general made the comments while addressing journalists after the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali at the Supreme Court (SC). Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry swore in Justice Jamali as an SC judge.
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ISLAMABAD: Former president Pervez Musharraf can be tried on charges of high treason if parliament passes a resolution by simple majority, said Attorney General Sardar Latif Khosa on Monday.
The attorney general made the comments while addressing journalists after the oath-taking ceremony of Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali at the Supreme Court (SC). Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry swore in Justice Jamali as an SC judge.
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Labels: Government, Law, Parliament, Pervez Musharraf
posted @ 10:29 AM,
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Zardari approves 76 judges to go home
Monday, August 3, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Monday, August 03, 2009
ISLAMABAD: As many as 76 judges of the Supreme Court and high courts would cease to hold their offices immediately as approved by President Zardari late Sunday night.
An official handout says: In pursuance of the judgment of the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 31st July 2009, in constitutional petitions No 9 and 8 of 2009 (Sindh High Court Bar Association and Mr Nadeem Ahmed, Advocate vs Federation of Pakistan), the president is pleased to approve that the following judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts shall cease to hold their offices with immediate effect:
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ISLAMABAD: As many as 76 judges of the Supreme Court and high courts would cease to hold their offices immediately as approved by President Zardari late Sunday night.
An official handout says: In pursuance of the judgment of the full bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan dated 31st July 2009, in constitutional petitions No 9 and 8 of 2009 (Sindh High Court Bar Association and Mr Nadeem Ahmed, Advocate vs Federation of Pakistan), the president is pleased to approve that the following judges of Supreme Court of Pakistan and High Courts shall cease to hold their offices with immediate effect:
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Labels: Government, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 8:48 AM,
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110 judges of superior courts to go home
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan, Saturday, August 01, 2009
ISLAMABAD, July 31: At least 110 judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and high courts will retire or revert to their respective institutions after the landmark judgment of the apex court in the judges’ case.
The judgment will affect 15 judges of the Supreme Court, 41 of the Lahore High Court, 27 of the Sindh High Court, 10 from the Peshawar High Court, all five of the Balochistan High Court and eight of the Islamabad High Court and four from the Federal Shariat Court.
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ISLAMABAD, July 31: At least 110 judges of the Supreme Court, Federal Shariat Court and high courts will retire or revert to their respective institutions after the landmark judgment of the apex court in the judges’ case.
The judgment will affect 15 judges of the Supreme Court, 41 of the Lahore High Court, 27 of the Sindh High Court, 10 from the Peshawar High Court, all five of the Balochistan High Court and eight of the Islamabad High Court and four from the Federal Shariat Court.
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Labels: 03 Nov'07 Emergency, Governance, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:40 AM,
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03 Nov '07 emergency declared “unconstitutional”
The News International, Pakistan, Saturday, August 01, 2009
WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has, as expected, set the stage for far-reaching judicial, legal and political changes in the country with its landmark judgment on Friday night in the PCO judges case.
Some parts of the judgment are clear and categorical and an attempt has been made not to rock the boat and destabilise the present set-up but the window for selective decisions later has been kept wide open.
For instance while President Zardari’s oath given by Chief Justice Dogar has been accepted as valid, because that would have caused a sudden collapse of the system, the whole career of Justice Dogar during the Nov 3 emergency has been invalidated. This could be described as a political balancing act of a very dangerous kind.
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WASHINGTON: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has, as expected, set the stage for far-reaching judicial, legal and political changes in the country with its landmark judgment on Friday night in the PCO judges case.
Some parts of the judgment are clear and categorical and an attempt has been made not to rock the boat and destabilise the present set-up but the window for selective decisions later has been kept wide open.
For instance while President Zardari’s oath given by Chief Justice Dogar has been accepted as valid, because that would have caused a sudden collapse of the system, the whole career of Justice Dogar during the Nov 3 emergency has been invalidated. This could be described as a political balancing act of a very dangerous kind.
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Labels: Governance, Law, Politics, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:27 AM,
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High treason charges against former president Pervez Musharraf
Friday, July 31, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan, Friday, 31 Jul, 2009
ISLAMABAD, July 30: The Supreme Court ignored on Thursday a plea to order initiation of high treason charges against former president Pervez Musharraf for proclaiming emergency on Nov 3, 2007, as army chief.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who is heading a 14-judge bench hearing challenges to the imposition of emergency, observed that this was not the responsibility of the court. The court would rather take a simple route to decide cases before it, instead of derailing the system.
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ISLAMABAD, July 30: The Supreme Court ignored on Thursday a plea to order initiation of high treason charges against former president Pervez Musharraf for proclaiming emergency on Nov 3, 2007, as army chief.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, who is heading a 14-judge bench hearing challenges to the imposition of emergency, observed that this was not the responsibility of the court. The court would rather take a simple route to decide cases before it, instead of derailing the system.
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Labels: Judiciary, Law, Pervez Musharraf, Politics, Treason
posted @ 11:43 AM,
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Prosecution of Musharraf
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Dawn, Pakistan, Thursday, 30 Jul, 2009
REMEMBER them, anyone? What happened to the puppies he sported in the first weeks in power? Given our sudden desire for punishing Musharraf, he could now also be accused of first using them to offend the faithful and then abandoning them to their fate as he made off to London. Animal rights activists of civil society, please step forward.
The cacophony surrounding the demands to bring the former president-general to justice makes a spectacle of the way we do politics. Retribution, when it is a one-sided affair, is vendetta; and justice cannot be served by certain individuals in power bent on settling scores, albeit with a wrongdoer.
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REMEMBER them, anyone? What happened to the puppies he sported in the first weeks in power? Given our sudden desire for punishing Musharraf, he could now also be accused of first using them to offend the faithful and then abandoning them to their fate as he made off to London. Animal rights activists of civil society, please step forward.
The cacophony surrounding the demands to bring the former president-general to justice makes a spectacle of the way we do politics. Retribution, when it is a one-sided affair, is vendetta; and justice cannot be served by certain individuals in power bent on settling scores, albeit with a wrongdoer.
More
Labels: Law, Pervez Musharraf, Politics, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 12:53 PM,
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Governors can’t recommend judges’ appointment: CJ
Friday, July 24, 2009
The News International, Pakistan, Friday, July 24, 2009
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday observed the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary cannot be made merely on the recommendations of governors, as they lack information about judicial professionalism.
The chief justice was heading a 14-judge larger bench of the apex court hearing appeals regarding appointment of two judges of the Sindh High Court — Justice Bin Yamin and Justice Pir Ali Shah — who were not made permanent judges.
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ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry on Thursday observed the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary cannot be made merely on the recommendations of governors, as they lack information about judicial professionalism.
The chief justice was heading a 14-judge larger bench of the apex court hearing appeals regarding appointment of two judges of the Sindh High Court — Justice Bin Yamin and Justice Pir Ali Shah — who were not made permanent judges.
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Labels: Judges' Appointment, Judiciary, Law, Supreme Court of Pakistan
posted @ 11:27 PM,
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