Print Print edition: 2011-06-27

Judicial rhetoric and magnanimity

Published Updated

This refers to a June 24 media report, quoting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman, Imran Khan, who, while addressing a press conference in Lahore, demanded the judiciary (to) intervene and play an effective role to save the country from total institutional collapse.
Imran Khan went on to suggest that "the Superior Judiciary was the only institution left that could intervene to salvage the country from the present corrupt and reckless government." Imran then went on to urge the judiciary that it is time that it took firm and resolute steps to implement its verdicts, including the Lahore High Court decision, barring holding of two offices by the President. One would have liked to add the taking up of Asghar Khan's petition and reopening of the Hudaibiya Paper Mills money-laundering issue, to the list of Imran Khan's asks of the judiciary.
Nobody in Pakistan would disagree with Imran Khan on the issues raised by him in his above press conference, particularly to the matters pertaining to the superior judiciary and the entailing demands. In the past, demands, such as the above, used to be directed towards the armed forces, but not any more.
As a common citizen, one would like to remind Imran Khan that while his demands of the judiciary are legitimate, in order and consonance with the nation's wrenching desire and what the current situation demands, it is unlikely that the present Superior judiciary would oblige him or for that matter, the nation, for a variety of reasons.