The curious case of Suo Motu 7/2017 on February 8, 2019The Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) took suo motu notice (No.7/2017) regarding the Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan’s (TLP) Faizabad Dharna when the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seized of the matter in the Syed Pervaiz Zahoor case (WP No. 3914/2017). The judgement of the IHC had concluded that a right to protest is a qualified right that needs […]
Sahiwal tragedy on January 25, 2019What happened in Sahiwal has shocked the conscience of the nation – and legitimately so. If we allow law enforcement agencies to determine who is a terrorist, then public squares will witness mob justice and extra judicial killings, as a norm. Next could be the writer of this column or its reader. It was a […]
Conjoined twins and their diverging paths on January 21, 2019There is every reason to be excited as Justice Asif Saeed Khosa wears robes as twenty-sixth Chief Justice of Pakistan. In his address on January 17, 2019 at the full court reference for former Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Khosa shared his vision for the future course of the court. Making reference to the populism […]
A case for a presidential system on January 12, 2019Last year’s general elections saw another successful transition of democratic government. The electoral campaign, in each constituency, without exception, promised riches, development works, jobs, an odd airport and… dams – but we are not going there! Never mind the slogans on the national level, every returning or aspiring candidate gave, like before, administrative assurances of […]
Ode to Faiz on December 26, 2018I have crawled back to Faiz Sahib often. Over the years, in different stages of life, he has continued to evolve for me and make sense anew. Perhaps my experiences, and sense of association with his work; that relationship, is not unique and everyone who has read, reread, written, researched, critically appraised or simply narrated […]
Let there be cost! on December 4, 2018Cost of Litigation Act, 2017 was a game changer when it was enacted by the Parliament. And it is beginning to show its impact. It amends section 35 of the Civil Procedure Code, 1908 to the extent of Islamabad and mandates that parties to suits are to disclose details of the actual costs of litigation, […]
Trial by press on November 26, 2018There is little doubt that at the twilight of his term in office, the Chief Justice has carved out quite a legacy that will outlast many of his peers, past and present, on the Bench. In years, his role as chief justice would be critiqued, analysed and debated on different fora. With treatment of his […]
Comedy of errors on November 5, 2018Sometimes during the sleepy hours of another mundane afternoon in the outskirts of Islamabad on October 26; a cow of an internally displaced family, dared to graze in an encroached space adjoining a palatial farmhouse — which the rich neighbour; who after barrage of second, third, fourth… and afterthoughts was belatedly picked up in the […]
Three, two, strike! on October 25, 2018Islamabad Bar Council issued a notification calling for a strike on October 24, 2018. The notification refers to a “meeting of the Inter Provincial Bar Councils Relationing Committee [fancy, eh?] of Islamabad Bar Council, Punjab Bar Council, Sindh Bar Council, KP Bar Council, Balochistan Bar Council and AJ&K Bar Council” that was held on 19th […]
Pied piping accountability on October 23, 2018Our Constitution envisages a procedure for the removal of the judge of the Supreme Court or of a High Court. The Supreme Judicial Council, constituted pursuant to Article 209, of the Constitution is entrusted to inquire into whether a judicial officer is capable of performing duties of the office, by reason of physical or mental […]