CJ doing Politics

Published in Pak Tribune
The recent remarks by the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Lahore High Court (LHC) advising the PPP to quit the Punjab government if it does not agree with the appointment of Rana Maqbool as secretary prosecution have left everyone stunned.

Judges should refrain from politicking and giving such statements. They should rather speak through their judgments. It is pertinent to mention here that the federal government had requested the Punjab government not to appoint Maqbool as he was an accused in the case of cutting President Zardari’s tongue in the mid-1990s.

This incident has raised a number of serious questions. First, is the CJ authorized to speak on behalf of a proclaimed offender, and can he advise a major political party to quit the government? Second, when the CJ has openly admitted that he has relations with the Sharif brothers, was this the reason for him to be retained in Lahore rather than being promoted to the Supreme Court (SC)?

Without any iota of doubt, this amounts to sheer misconduct on the part of CJ Khawaja Sharif. Ali Ahmad Kurd, Aitzaz Ahsan and Hamid Khan, all being staunch supporters of the present judiciary, were left startled. These remarks have not only put a question mark on the credibility of Justice Sharif, but have also given legitimacy to the criticism of those who call the current judicial set-up biased. Besides, when these assertions have been condemned by all, the silence of the PML-N is indeed regrettable. Justice Sharif has brought a bad name to the judiciary and has invited open criticism. The honorable CJ of the SC is expected to take sou motu action and send the case of Justice Sharif to the Supreme Judicial Council. This would not only silence the critics of the free judiciary but would also establish a precedent that no one is above the law.
Pak Tribune
July 4, 2010
 http://www.paktribune.com/news/print.php?id=229460

Politics and Judges

Published in Daily Express Tribune
This is with reference to the recent remarks made by the Honourable Chief Justice of Lahore High Court wherein he said that the PPP should quit the Punjab coalition government if it had any objections to Rana Maqbool’s appointment as chief prosecutor.

Clearly, this is a political statement made by someone who should not have made it. If anybody had to say this it should have been a spokesman of the PML-N or the Punjab government. The fact is that Mr Maqbool was declared a proclaimed offender in a case involving the president some years back and should a sitting chief justice of a high court be making such comments in the first place? With due respect, judges are supposed to be impartial and are assumed to steer clear of politics and making political statements. 
 Daily Express Tribune
July 04,2010.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/25661/politics-and-judges/ 

Kainat Soomro’s Case

Published in Daily Times
How can any sane and humane person stop his tears after seeing the victim of a brutal gang rape collecting the dead body of her younger brother who was killed in search of justice? Sabir Soomro was first arrested a couple of months ago by the local police on fabricated charges in order to silence his family, who had been clamouring for justice. This incident has completely shattered my confidence in the law and law enforcement agencies, especially the police. Kainat Soomro has not lost heart; rather she has remained steadfast in her quest for justice. Is there no one to wipe the tears of that sorrow-stricken girl? Has the home minister of Sindh spared a moment’s time from his fiery political statements to listen to her cries? If she is not provided with justice and those who have inflicted pain upon her are not prosecuted, the confidence of even those who are optimistic about the system would shatter.
Daily Times
Friday, July 02, 2010
Daily Dimes