EagleEyes
PDF THINK TANK: CONSULTANT
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2005
- Messages
- 16,773
- Reaction score
- 25
- Country
- Location
SC to decide Pakistans fate, not just Musharrafs
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court prepares to decide President General Pervez Musharrafs fate, independent analysts say it is actually the fate of Pakistan the court will decide in the next week or so.
The predominant view is that if the court derails Gen Musharrafs election and thereby his pledge to doff his uniform, Pakistan will plunge into an unprecedented crisis which will hurt the judges, the economy, and the transition to democracy currently underway. In the ensuing instability, only extremists would benefit, thereby alarming the international community and isolating Pakistan all over again. But if the court legitimises the presidential election and thus guarantees that Gen Musharraf will become a civilian president, it will pave the way for a new and workable balance of power between the executive and judiciary, say mainstream politicians. If the court rules against Gen Musharraf, the latter is bound to react to protect his agenda. This would be counterproductive since all political parties, except those at the periphery like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the PML-N, would be hurt if this led to a postponement of elections.
Gen Musharraf would likely react with martial law or a constitutional amendment with the help of the PPP to curtail the courts powers. The historic gains made by the court in its quest for independence in the last six months would be lost. Some pundits worry that the court may miscalculate its strength. Apart from a divided bar, no one is prepared to take to the streets to support the court in its battle against the executive. All major political parties aspire to executive office and do not like the idea of an aggressively independent court encroaching on their domain. Only marginal groups and parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Insaf are in favour of overthrowing the established order because they have nothing to lose, say observers.
The idea of the Supreme Court playing revolutionary politics in a political void is a dangerous one, say experts. The court should not mistake the outpouring of public support for the reinstatement of its chief justice with the shrill but isolated cries of motivated politicians or outraged media with an axe to grind, says the government. Whatever decision is forthcoming, Pakistan will remain in the grip of uncertainty for some time to come.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: As the Supreme Court prepares to decide President General Pervez Musharrafs fate, independent analysts say it is actually the fate of Pakistan the court will decide in the next week or so.
The predominant view is that if the court derails Gen Musharrafs election and thereby his pledge to doff his uniform, Pakistan will plunge into an unprecedented crisis which will hurt the judges, the economy, and the transition to democracy currently underway. In the ensuing instability, only extremists would benefit, thereby alarming the international community and isolating Pakistan all over again. But if the court legitimises the presidential election and thus guarantees that Gen Musharraf will become a civilian president, it will pave the way for a new and workable balance of power between the executive and judiciary, say mainstream politicians. If the court rules against Gen Musharraf, the latter is bound to react to protect his agenda. This would be counterproductive since all political parties, except those at the periphery like the Jamaat-e-Islami and the PML-N, would be hurt if this led to a postponement of elections.
Gen Musharraf would likely react with martial law or a constitutional amendment with the help of the PPP to curtail the courts powers. The historic gains made by the court in its quest for independence in the last six months would be lost. Some pundits worry that the court may miscalculate its strength. Apart from a divided bar, no one is prepared to take to the streets to support the court in its battle against the executive. All major political parties aspire to executive office and do not like the idea of an aggressively independent court encroaching on their domain. Only marginal groups and parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami and Tehreek-e-Insaf are in favour of overthrowing the established order because they have nothing to lose, say observers.
The idea of the Supreme Court playing revolutionary politics in a political void is a dangerous one, say experts. The court should not mistake the outpouring of public support for the reinstatement of its chief justice with the shrill but isolated cries of motivated politicians or outraged media with an axe to grind, says the government. Whatever decision is forthcoming, Pakistan will remain in the grip of uncertainty for some time to come.
Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan
