Daily Times

Sir: I am a senior citizen of Pakistan and I want an independent, unbiased judiciary, comprising of judges having no personal likes or dislikes for any citizen, based on faith or political ideology. I stood behind the deposed judges and condemned the dictator who arrested them. I hoped that after the restoration of the judiciary, no PCO judges will be working as judges of the superior courts, but unfortunately some who took the PCO oath are working as judges. It was expected that the most important organ of state would reform its functioning at the district level and corruption would be uprooted from the judiciary. Only those with independent mind, integrity, and competence will be appointed in the judiciary; unfortunately, nothing changed after the judges were restored.

It was expected that the judiciary would be setting an example of neutrality while hearing cases against leaders of mainstream political parties. Now the impression has been created that the present judiciary is only interested in punishing the PPP politicians, and have a soft corner for the Sharif brothers. The detailed verdict, the judgment of the apex court in the contempt of court case against the prime minister is out. Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who was a leader of the judges restoration movement by lawyers and the PM’s counsel in the contempt case, in his comments on the detailed verdict says he is not satisfied with the verdict, and that it has ‘mistakes’ to overcome the previously made mistakes in the short order.

In a separate note with the detailed judgment, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa quoted some words of Khalil Gibran that paint a picture unfortunately quite familiar to our country. Who is responsible in the state organs for compromises on morality, ethics, principles, and lack of moral courage while accepting and legitimising the rule of the military in Pakistan?

Politicians all over the world protect their party interests and sometimes misguide people to achieve their own objectives. Politics thus become a dirty game, and they use democracy for their self-promotion.

It is a pity that the state organs are fighting to establish their own supremacy over each other, instead of working for the welfare of the people.

S T HUSSAIN

CEO, Consumer Awareness and Welfare Association

Via e-mail