Editorial
Landmark judgement in Pakistan
It is a loud message Musharraf must hear
The landmark decision by Pakistan's Supreme Court to reinstate Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry gives a dramatically new dimension to politics in Pakistan. The judgement is a clear rebuff to President Pervez Musharraf, whose arrogant and arbitrary decision to remove the country's chief justice in March sparked a situation that has been going progressively bad for him and his regime. Chaudhry's return as chief justice is clearly a rejection of the abuse of power the military ruler has demonstrated in recent months. It is a broad suggestion that even in non-democratic conditions, there are certain rules of political behaviour that must be followed. Obviously, Musharraf ignored those rules and has now paid the price.The judicial verdict upholds, to the satisfaction of everyone in Pakistan and outside it, the supremacy of an important institution of the state. Had the judgement gone against Chaudhry, there is no saying how grave a damage would be done to Pakistan's institutions as also its future. The CJ's reinstatement has saved Pakistan such an embarrassment and now patently weakens Musharraf as he tries to hang on to the presidency without at the same time doffing the uniform of army chief of staff. The verdict must make the president pause and rethink his plans. For the reinstated Chaudhry, the priorities are too well-defined to be missed. Let it be said, in brief, that now that he has returned on the strength of a judicial decision as also a groundswell of public support, he must be seen upholding the integrity of the judiciary. He will be expected to eschew all ideas of vengeance against Musharraf and give people reason to think that the quiet determination and dignity with which he has fought his way back will be reflected in his future interpretations of the law. If Musharraf has stooped low, Chaudhry must scale the heights in professional dignity and national interest. At a time when Pakistan is under assault from various quarters, especially from religious extremists, and with the Americans threatening to strike al-Qaeda bases in the country, the Supreme Court judgement is an unambiguous statement that there can be no military solution to Pakistan's problems. Military rule may offer short-term palliatives, but such an approach not only undermines a nation's dignity and security, but also threatens to damage the army as an institution in the longer run. It is neither effective much less durable. The verdict is a wake-up call to General Musharraf: he must engage in dialogue with the political parties in order to restore democracy and thereby save Pakistan from a looming disaster. His adventurism vis-à-vis the CJ has left him humbled. That is warning enough that he cannot undermine Pakistan's image more than he already has.
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