Justice Nawaz Abbasi: A continuation of Goebalism
By Sher Ali
The appointment of Justice Nawaz Abbasi, a PCO judge as Chief Judge of the Northern Areas Supreme Appellate Court is against the spirit of the Charter of Democracy (CoD) signed by the two political giants of the country, Nawaz Sharif and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto.
Justice Nawaz Abbasi is among those judges who bowed in front of a merciless dictator and endured his illegal actions of November 3 neglecting the judgment of a seven member bench headed by the then chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. Justice Abbasi along with Justice Dogar went one more step ahead in the race of being ‘more loyal than the king’ and sealed the deal that was indispensable for the general to stay in power even in the worst of circumstances.
Soon after imposition of what the general termed emergency (but was martial law under a different banner), thousands of lawyers, journalists, political workers and civil society activists were arrested and put behind the bars. But justice Abbasi remained silent and turned a deaf ear to the habeas corpus of thousands of lawyers, journalists and activists of the civil society for the sake pf mere perk and privileges bestowed upon by the dictator of the day. For the first time in the history of Pakistan over sixty judges rejected the illegal act of a dictator i.e. the PCO, facing house arrest and other propaganda tools by the dictator of the day for the sake of promotion of justice. Never before any rulers has detained the Chief Justice along with his family for five months, but Musharraf did. It was a failed martial law against the judiciary and media. He was adamant to gag media to consolidate his power, but history proved him wrong; he has become the relic of the past. Today a PCO judge has been nominated as the chief judge of the apex court of northern areas as a continuation of the policies of the ex general that the so called democratic government has pledged in lieu of power. The masses of northern areas and those chanting slogans of roti, kapra aur makan should for now realize the fact that nothing has changed in the country. It’s the old wine in new bottle.
How could a PCO judge who endorsed the illegal and unconstitutional acts would deliver justice to the people of the Northern Areas. It’s the continuation of Geobalism. Geobal once said “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. Zardari and Co. under the clutches of NRO have no other choice but to install the liar and usurpers on us. The people of the Northern Areas should raise voice against this naked act. Rule of law and supremacy of the constitution is prerequisite for establishment of a just society, but under the PCO judges, the medieval era would prevail. Hazrat Ali (AS) said a society can withstand and flourish under infidel rule, but can’t sustain without justice even under a Muslim rule.
Today we need brave and fearless judges not Nawaz Abbasi. We must condemn the appointment of a PCO judge by Zardari, who himself is the great patronage of Geobalism and admirer of Dogar courts. Justice Abbasi would remain PCO judge and would be remember the collaborator of the merciless generals. Justice to the people of the Northern Areas under Justice Abbasi is a joke.
The writer works for Geo News. He can be reached at sher.ali@geo.tv
Thank you Sher Ali for the detailed post.
The judge is unwelcome here. But little is expected to change as the apex court in the Northern Areas is in dolldrums. The judges there are amenable to pressure from all-powerful buereaucracy of the area. They can change their minds and decisons to suit the wishes of the Chief Secretaries, Home Secretaries and Others of the region. So the newcomming judge may find good company!!!
There is a Bar Council, and one of there members condemed the induction of this new judge! So can they put up a show of resistance or will they succumb to the expediency of being in the good books of the powerful elite here!! only time will answer that
Dear Sher Ali
Your reservations are very much relevant not only that Abbasi is PCO judge but also due to the fact that his credentials with respect to GB are quite misfit. He along with Javed Buttur asked government to restore the Lal Masjid and its residuary seminaries like Hafsa and Faridia after they were reduced to ashes by army. It may be difficult to lock horns over deciding the acts of army or acts of Abbasi but one fears that his appointment as chief judge of NA Supreme Appellate Court may raise many a eyebrows as GB’s is highly charges with sectarian sentiments if not frenzy. In such a fluid and turbid scenario, his appointment compels many people to cry foul and such his appointment order may be withdrawn if possible. One half-baked news taking rounds that after enactment of new reforms package in GB (probably in this month), Mr Abbasi will be boated out. Let us have our fingers crossed!
Durbeesh