Daily Times

The strike call given by the PPP throughout Sindh in response to the Supreme Court’s (SC’s) short order for removal of Justice (retired) Deedar Hussain Shah as National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman has brought the confrontation between the executive and the judiciary to the streets. Giving its decision on petitions by National Assembly Opposition Leader Nisar Ali Khan and a private citizen Shahid Orakzai, a three-member bench of the SC declared the appointment unconstitutional and ordered NAB chairman’s removal. In Karachi and other parts of Sindh, enraged PPP workers resorted to aerial firing and damaged public property, which also resulted in the loss of eight lives. The Sindh Assembly has passed a resolution condemning Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s petition against NAB chief. Some Sindhi leaders have tried to give this issue an ethnic hue by claiming that this was done because the opposition does not want a Sindhi to become NAB chief.

Much as we would like things to remain within constitutional parameters, it seems that the ruling party has become disenchanted with the judicial process and lost hope of redress. The perception is strengthening within the PPP that the judiciary is taking a stricter stance over all the issues concerning the government — be it the NRO case, appointment of retired officials as heads of public sector institutions or the issue of appointment of judges — because the PPP did not restore the sacked judiciary immediately after it came to power after the 2008 elections. It was forced to do so when the PML-N joined the lawyers’ long march to Islamabad and it became apparent that there was no other choice but to go along with popular demand. Observers have noticed an extraordinary aggressiveness in the judiciary since the restoration of the judges and many, including the PPP, have interpreted it as a bias against the government. The SC, for its own part, has time and again complained against non-implementation of its verdicts and complained against the government.

Now that the ball has been set rolling by the PPP through its strike call, it would not be possible to stop the divide from going deeper and various parties taking sides for or against the government. Already, the ANP and the PML-F have distanced themselves from the strike, stating that they were not consulted over this decision. Comments and analyses in the media have demonised the ruling party. The opposition parties would like to capitalise on the situation and further discredit the government and call for an early election. The vested interests would do what suits them, but does the country need this kind of confrontation?

The answer to this question is obvious. Such a course will not only damage the government’s credibility but would destabilise the country teetering on the brink of an economic collapse. It is unfortunate that the PPP lost its cool and incited its workers to go on strike, which did not prove to be as peaceful as the PPP had hoped. But will it end here? Does it mean that from now on the PPP would retaliate in similar manner on any decision that it perceives to be biased? Will it not affect the reputation of the judiciary, which has attracted controversy through its conduct and verdicts? Can we conclude that this is the beginning of the end of this government? Restraint by both sides can help save the situation, but all the indications are that it will further deteriorate rather than improve.*