Asma Jehangir terms August 8 Black-day of history

Terming August 8 as yet another Black Day in the judicial history of the country, Asma Jahangir criticized the Supreme Court’s ruling that issued show-cause notices to Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) implementation case.

While speaking to the media, the former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) said that the judiciary was itself undermining the institutions.

In her view, democracy will not flourish in the country if situation remain continued.

She was of the opinion that the hearing could have been postponed, saying the primer was not running out of the country.

She strongly reacted over the ruling, saying the common man loses confidence in the courts when it gives verdicts based on political biases.

She remarked, “There is a perception about the courts that their decisions are politically-motivated. The court had hinted a middle way out in the previous hearing but today’s attitude of the court was contrary to the previous. It reflects a strategized and planned ruling”.

In her view, the attitude of the judges could lead the country to irrecoverable loss if they were planning or part of the planning against the incumbent.

Asma clarified that the nation wants a strong judiciary rather a powerful one, saying Arsalan Iftikhar and Prime Minister Ashraf should be treated with the same eye of justice.

The human right activist made it clear that she doesn’t support the newly approved Contempt of Court Act 2012, adding that its sections were against the spirit of the Constitution.

She, however, said that restrictions couldn’t be imposed on the parliament taking away its right of lawmaking.

Moreover, Asma said she had nothing to do with the issue of writing letter to the Swiss authorities but wants the judiciary to give its rulings in line with the law of the land.

She remarked, “I have fought and would continue to fight for the independence and supremacy of judiciary but keeping in view the conduct of the Supreme Court, it seems democracy will not work”.

Commenting about the legal bodies, the jurist said that the Pakistan Bar Association is a professional body of lawyers and it should not go on strike if a matter is sub judice before the court.

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Posted by Faisal Farooq on Aug 9 2012. Filed under Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.