The Liver Transplant Centre (LTC) that has been set up at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) at the cost of Rs14 billion is a big let down.

The huge amount from national exchequer spent on the centre does not reflect in facilities and quality of treatment being provided to patients.

The centre was established in June last year at the behest of Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who wanted to provide a liver transplant facility in the capital so those patients needing this costly procedure would not need to go abroad. Initially an amount of Rs120 million were given to the hospital administration for constructing a separate building of the LTC.

Housed in an old operation theatre and the adjacent doctors’ cafeteria and change room the centre presents the look of a basic health unit (BHU) instead of the state-of-the-art facility it was supposed to be for the most advanced and sophisticated transplant surgery.

A senior doctor who wished not to be named said the LTC was built in violation of the guidelines set by the World Health Organization.

When it rains the roof of the centre leaks and rainwater gathers inside. The floor tiles having gaps between them have been used in the three-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as well as the OT in the centre.

“Such tiles should be avoided because germs easily penetrate the gaps”, the doctor said.

It is difficult to maintain hygiene putting at risk the patient kept in the ICU. The length, width, space and the height of the centre’s roof and the OT’s design are also faulty, the doctor added.

Besides this, two OTs were supposed to be established at the centre but only one has so far been set up which too does not meet the international standard. No liver transplant has been done at the centre since August 2011.

A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Pims and Royal Free Hospital, London and a delegation from the UK hospital came to Islamabad to give liver transplantation-related training to the doctors and the paramedics.

They were also supposed to carry out first liver transplant at the centre but when they saw its condition they refused to do such operation.

According to another senior doctor who also wished not to be named, the top management wanted their people to be recruited at the LTC but their proposal was turned down.

All the inductions were made on merit contrary to the wishes and pressure of the administration. To punish the employees the administration has not paid to the employees for the last five months, forcing half of the doctors and other employees to quit their jobs.

The remaining staff is also being threatened by the administration when they demand their salary. The employees face uncertainty as their job contracts will expire in May 2012 and there is a fear among them that the administration would not renew their contracts to get rid of them and to bring in their own people, the doctor said.

He accused the top administration of the hospital and an MNA from an allied party of the government of being involved in corruption.

Despite many attempts to get views of Pims Executive Director Mehmood Jamal and Prof Nadeem Ahmed who is coordinator of LTC, they could not be approached.

Source: The Express Tribune

Yet, another summon to an elected Prime Minister by the ISI-backed Supreme Court to explain his position on on 13 February for not witting the much wanted letter to Swiss courts to re-open politically motivated graft cases against President Zardari of Pakistan.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appeared in the court on 19 January 2012 to explain why he should not be charged with contempt for failing to re-open the old, politically motivated corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.

He categorically stated: “We respect the courts…my intention is to respect the constitution and my associates also respect the constitution.” and he emphasised that “I decided to appear before the court immediately after getting the notice”.

Unlike Nawaz Sharif, PM Gilani did not attack the judiciary by stimulating his party loyalists. Readers might remember that on 28 November 1997, Nawaz Sharif had attacked the apex court when he was summoned for hearing of contempt case against him. He blasted the SC Like dictators. But on the other hand, Prime Minister of PPP made history by not taking unconstitutional and immoral step against SC. Truly, a heroic act indeed, in Third World countries it is a rarity to see such high sanity and morality. I salute Prime Minsiter yousuf Raza Gilani.

Ironically, PM Gilani the man who restored judiciary and honored all judges who were sacked by the military dictator General Musharaf. In the last four years Prime Minister Gilani has done his best to maintain the system of trichotomy of power. The executive has gone all out to defend the system of trichotomy of power envisaged in the constitution of Pakistan. Regarding the executive and the judiciary, the Constitution of Pakistan 1973, has described a system of trichotomy of power. The constitution assigns the Supreme Court a unique responsibility of maintaining harmony and balance between the three pillars of the state, namely, Legislature, Executive and Judiciary. The idea is to ensure that the state organs perform their respective functions within the stipulated limits and constraints.

As a guardian of the constitution, the court is required to “preserve, protect and defend” this document. But it is very sad that the current judiciary under the Lordship of CJ Iftikhtar Chaudhry (a cousin of PML-N’s Rana Sanullah of Sipah-e-Sahaba) has failed to maintain harmony and balance between the pillars of state. The number of NRO beneficiaries is 8041. So far, only one person, the elected president of Pakistan, has been targeted and the remaining 8040 people seem to be exempted from accountability. Is this not against national interests?

As far as the President is concerned, Swiss cases are no more an issue as former Swiss Attorney General Daniel Zappeli clarified that the “Swiss courts cannot reopen the cases against President Zardari due to the immunity he enjoys as President.” The furore must die down as the international law also provides immunity to President Zardari.

We have practical examples of France and Sudan regarding this. The French courts do not take action against Sarkozy for his alleged involvement in the submarine scandal, allegedly done while he was not the president and the Sudanese president is not being arrested due to his sovereign immunity anywhere in the world despite an International Criminal Court warrant against him, for violations he did while in office. President Zardari is the lawfully elected president and is as such immune from any legal action under the article 248 of the Constitution.

PM Gilani was right when he chose not to write a letter to Swiss courts to re-open politically motivated graft cases against President of Pakistan. Mr Chief Justice should follow the constitution of Pakistan because our country cannot afford to have any further clashes between institutions, against the backdrop of a faltering economy, widespread poverty and a bloody war with Islamist militant groups.

“I made mistakes and I am prepared to admit them but so must others. Others also owe it: they owe it to their own armed forces, to the people of Pakistan and to the Muslim world.” In one of her most candid interviews, Benazir Bhutto bluntly talks about her two terms in office, the difficulties that she faced, the things that she implemented and her vision for the future of Pakistan.

As Pakistanis, we are a little bit crazy when it comes to politics. We either love to make our politicians holy cows so much so that we cannot even accept constructive criticism regarding their policies or we just hate them to the extent that we will believe any allegations against them without even needing or wanting a proof. Benazir Bhutto fits perfectly into both camps. There are those who are ever ready to admire her (and very rightly so) for her courage and struggle for democracy in Pakistan by overlooking some of the faulty laws or policies enacted by her party; At the same time, there is certainly no shortage of those who are only going to believe whatever her opposition has to say and will never pay attention to her sacrifices for this country.

Despite being in power twice, she was a great believer in the power of the people and saw herself just as their representative, not a ruler. Even though military in Pakistan has always been successful in getting public support by picking up causes that has hurt this country in the end more than anything else, Bhutto always wanted to play the game of politics through proper channel in an unfair system which was ever ready to demolish democracy even before it had any chance to blossom. She believed that it was the people of Pakistan that should determine the future of this country as it is their country. “The real solution lies not with any individual. I can only give a clarion call. Then it depends on the masses whether they rally around that call to say that they want a constitution based on the supremacy of the will of the people and that the prime minister and parliament must determine national security and not the military.” However, I must say, we as people have disappointed her.

And it is not just a thing of the past, just look at the power balance in Pakistan today. People are always very sensitive to listen to any criticism of our military leadership and intelligence agencies. What they fail to realize is that pointing the mistakes of policies that are destroying our country is not less patriotic or treasonous; In fact it is more patriotic because you always criticize those who you love the most. If you don’t care about something, you are never going to interfere in their business and let them go down the path of destruction. But in case of Pakistan, the role of such institutions “has led to the destabilisation of political governments, the collapse of the economy and has undermined our standing in the international community.” Therefore, it is our duty as citizens of this state to question and speak against those whose decisions are causing problems for this country. The tragedy however, is that majority of our nation is unaware of the past and present policies of army and intelligence that has led Pakistan into one chaos after another. Benazir Bhutto clearly express her frustration when she says that people expect politicians to solve our problems but “how can a political party fight an organised military, several intelligence outfits, the president and the judiciary? It is very important to create this awareness. It is very important for the press to come on board to expose these manipulations.”

Now people always malign PPP government for being a puppet of US. You can certainly have your opinions on that but it’s not like the military has been making Pakistan independent of US slavery. In fact, some of the worse puppets that are the cause of our dire state today were army generals who have never cared about the prosperity of ordinary people and have this country be used by outside powers to fight wars with which we had nothing to do with. Despite the role of army in destroying our democracy and persecuting democratically minded leaders, Bhutto’s vision of future Pakistan included reconciliation between different authorities, not confrontation because at the end what matters is Pakistan, which is bigger and better than any one individual or institution. In her words, “It is for us, as a nation, to decide what we want together. The army can reveal its true intentions by eliminating democracy and Quaid-e-Azam’s Pakistan through rule by puppets — and there are a lot of puppets in the market. Or else, the military has to learn to acquiesce to the people’s will. We are all part of the problem and we are all part of the solution. I think there is a need for a frank and open talk between all the different players because, in our own ways, we all love Pakistan.”

Even though she was attacked by religious right for her progressive and modern ideals, she was not only well aware of her roots but also proud of them. For her, it was her identity as a Muslim woman that gave her the courage to do the things that she envisioned and face the atrocities that lied in her path. “I see life as a journey where every single soul is tested by Allah. What sustains me is my faith. I am not a fanatic though my enemies portray me as a fundamentalist with a dupatta on the head and a tasbih in hand. I am devout. I am like many modern Pakistanis who do believe in equal opportunities, freedom and free markets but who also need spiritual sustenance in a world that is increasingly materialistic.”

While this particular interview is some 10 years old, she very accurately predicted the future of Pakistan. Today we are standing at the same cross-roads where we have always found ourselves in. “Either the democratic forces win or the establishment wins. If the establishment wins, the past will be repeated and that is what has happened for 50 years. If the democratic forces win, maybe the 21st century will be different for Pakistan. It is a fight and we are unable to say who will be the winner. But then, democracy is also about evolution. And democracy is also about fighting for what you believe is right and not giving up.”

Just as candidly as she started the interview by accepting her mistakes, with the same honesty she tells that whatever power she has to bring any change, it’s the same as people of Pakistan want to give to her. “I am not a messiah. I can only work within the limitations placed upon me by the people (in terms of my ability to effect constitutional change) and the institutional realities of Pakistan.”

You don’t have to be a PPP or Benazir Bhutto’s supporter to realize that when she talks about the power imbalance in our country, she does have a point. Nations who don’t learn from their past are bound to repeat it and go down the path of doom. Civilizations after civilizations have been destroyed and not a single sign of them has been left just because they forgot to adapt to demands of modern world and were too busy glorifying the past or what could have been. It is high time that we do take a stand for something that we believe in because if we don’t, may be nothing would be left to take a stand for.

کیا ان کو قومی غدار قرار دینے کا فیصلہ ہوچکا ہے؟

غیر جمہوری ریاستوں میں جو لوگ آ فاقی انسا نی حقوق، جمہوری آزادیوں، عوام کو اختیارات اور انصاف منتقل کرنےکی تحریکیں چلاتے ہیں اور نۓ جدیر نظام کی بشارت دیتے ہیں، ان کے نام ریاست غداری کا سرٹیفکیٹ جاری کردیتی ہے اور پھر اس باغی کو زہر کا پیالہ پینا ہوتا ہے، یا پھر تختہ دار پر پھانسی کے پھندے کو چومنا ہوتا ہے۔

سقراط سے زوالفقار بھٹو تک اور بے نظیر پھٹو کو سیکیورٹی رسک قرار دینے تک عدالت ریاست کی سب سے بڑی معاون رہی ہے۔ اور آج بھی ریاستی ادارے عدالت سے ہی فیصلہ صادر کروانا چاہتے ہیں کہ کون اہل کون نااہل اور کون غدار ہے۔ گزشتہ روز جسٹس آصف سعید کھوسہ کی سربراہی میں سپریم کورٹ کے پانچ رکنی بینچ نے متفقہ فیصلہ سُناتے ہوئے کہا کہ وزیر اعظم نے عدالتی احکامات پر عمل درآمد اور آئین کی پاسداری نہ کرکے اپنے حلف سے روگردانی کی ہے اور بادی النظر میں وہ ایماندار نہیں رہے اور اگر کوئی بھی شخص ایماندار اور امین نہ ہو تو وہ پارلیمنٹ کا رکن نہیں بن سکتا۔

عدالت کا کہنا تھا کہ وزیر اعظم نے آئین کی پاسداری پر اپنی سیاسی وابستگی کو ترجیح دی۔

عدالت کا یہ بھی کہنا تھا کہ صدر پاکستان اور وزیر قانون بھی بظاہر اپنے حلف سے روگردانی کے مرتکب ہوئے ہیں اور اُنہیں بھی ایسے ہی نتائج کا سامنا کرنا پڑ سکتا ہے۔

عدالت نے اپنے فیصلے میں کہا ہے کہ آئین کے ارٹیکل 189 کے تحت تمام ادارے سپریم کورٹ کے احکامات پر عمل درآمد کرنے کے پابند ہیں۔

پاکستان کا شمار ایسی ریاستوں میں ہوتا ہے جہاں اقتداراوراختیارات کا منبع فوج ہے۔ اور جو گزشتہ 64 سالوں سے دیگر ریاستی اداروں بیوکریسی، عدالت اور میڈیا کی معاونت سے نظام سلطنت چلارہی ہے۔

جب بھی میڈیا کی سول حکومت کی کرپشن مہم کے بعد فوج نے منتخب حکوت کوفارغ کیا تو قانونی جواز کا سرٹیفکیٹ عدالت نے ہی جاری کیا ہے۔

اس تناظر میں عدالت کے دو فرائص بن گۓ ہیں؛ شہری نما ئندوں کو ایمانداری یا غداری کا سر ٹیفکیٹ اور فوجی حکومتوں کو شب خون مارنے کے پعد قانونی جواز فراہم کرنا۔

کون اہل ہے یا نااہل اور کون ایماندار فیصلہ عوام نے کرنا ہے، کہ رہے ہیں پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے نائب صدر ڈاکٹر بابر اعوان ، یہی جمہوری آفاقی اصول بھی ہے اورجدید ریاستوں کا دستور بھی۔

عاصمہ جہانگیر جو اپنے والد ملک جیلانی سے لے کر حسین حقانی تک انصاف کے لۓ عدالت کے دروازے پر کھڑی رہی ہیں؛ انہیں انصاف تو نہ مل سکا مگر آذاد عدلیہ کا بھرم ضرور کھل گیا۔ وہ واضع طور پر کہ رہی ہیں ’عدلیہ اپنے دائرہ کار سے تجاوز کرگئی ہے اوریہ بہت ہی خطرناک بات ہوگی کہ سپریم کورٹ اراکین پارلیمان کی اخلاقیات پر فیصلے دے۔‘

میاں نواز شریف کی حکومت جب جنرل پرویز مشرف نے غیر آئینی طور پر پرطرف کی اور انہیں جلاوطن ہونا پڑا تو انہوں نے لندن میں سہیل وڑائچ سے کتاب لکھوائ غدار کون؟ تو ا`س میں اپنی بیگناہی ثابت کرنے کے ساتھ ساتھ انہوں نے کارگل سے لے کر تمام اقدامات کا قصوروار عسکری اور انٹیلیجینس اداروں کو ٹھرایا، انہوں نے یہ تک لکہا کہ بی بی شہید اور آصف علی زرداری کے خلاف مقدمات انٹیلی جینیس ایجنسیوں کے کہنے پر بناے مگر سیاسی آزادی ملنے پر وہ یہ سب بھول چکے ہیں؛ وہ بھول چکے ہیں جب انہں فوجی آمر کے دور میں ھتکڑیاں لگائ گئیں، پنجرے میں لاد کر شہروں کا چکر لگایا جاتا تھا۔ آج جب ہمیں مزید سیاسی جمہوری آزادیوں کی طرف بڑھنا تھا، پی ایم ایل (ن) کے قائد کاغذ کا ایک ٹکڑا لے کر عدالت میں پہنچے ہیں، ا`ن کی انگلیاں شہری نمائندوں کی طرف ہیں اور وہ چلا چلا کر کہ رہی ہیں یہی ہیں غدار۔

پاکستان میں فوجی بالادستی کے تابع جو ریاستی نظام رہا ہے، ا`س کی ایک اہم خاصیت اختیارات، اقتدار اور وسائل کی مرکزیت رہی ہے۔ اس میں جس کسی نے بھی انسانی جمہوری وفاقی اصولوں کی بنیاد پر آفاقی حقوق اورصوبائ وسائل پر اختیارمانگا ہے ا`س کا نام غداروں فہرست میں ڈال دیا گیا ہے، پہلے ا`سکا میڈیا ٹرائل ہوا ہے اور پھر کورٹ میں۔ زیر نظر مضمون جو حسن مجتبیٰ نے لکھا اور بی بی سی اردو میں شائع ہوا ہے، میں قوم پرست غداروں کی ایک لمبی فہرست ہے۔

آج سازش ہورہی ہے کہ اس فہرست میںوفاق کے سربراہ عوام کے منتخب صدرآصف علی زرداری’ حکومتی سربراہ وزیراعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی اور امریکہ میں سابق پاکستانی سفیرحسین حقانی کا نام شامل کیا جاۓ ؛ ان کا جرم عوامی سیاسی اداروں کی بالادستی کا مطالبہ اور جمہوری عوامی حقوق کو فوقیت دینا ہے’ اس جرم کی بنا پر ان کی نہ صرف سیاسی بقا خطرے میں ہے بلکہ ذندگی بھی۔

حسن مجتبیٰ کا مکمل مضمون ذیل میں پیش خدمت ہے۔

غداری کے سرٹیفیکیٹ، ایک تاریخ
حسن مجتبیٰ
بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، نیو یارک

’اوہ جیہڑا جالب سی نہ! اوہ غدار سی غدار! قید ہوئیا چنگا ہوئیا‘ یہ وہ الفاظ تھے پاکستان کے عوامی شاعر حبیب جالب کے محلے والوں کے جو یہ اس وقت کہتے جب جالب گرفتار ہو کر جیل چلے جاتے۔ وہ حبیب جالب، آج جن کے شعر اگر پنجاب کے وزیر اعلیٰ شہباز شریف اور پاکستان کے صدر آصف علی زداری سمیت پاکستانی حکمران اپنے جلسوں میں نہ پڑھیں تو ان کی سیاسی روٹی ہضم نہیں ہوتی۔

پاکستان میں غداری کے القاب و سرٹیفیکیٹس بانٹے جانے کی تاریخ شاید پاکستان کی اپنی تاریخ سے بھی کہیں زیادہ پرانی ہے اور غداری کے ٹھپے بنانے کی فیکٹری کا سفر آج بھی جاری و ساری ہے۔

مضحکہ خیز بات یہ ہے کہ پاکستان میں ایسا بھی وقت آیا کہ جب تاج برطانیہ سے غداری کے الزامات تلے آنے والے اسی مٹی کی خمیر سے اٹھے ہوئے رہنما اور کارکن برصغیر میں انگریزوں سے نام نہاد آزادی حاصل کرنے کے بعد بھی پاکستان میں حکومتوں کی جانب سے بھی غدار ٹھہرائے گئے۔

اس کی ایک بڑی مثال خدائي خدمت گار اور ’سرحدی‘ گاندھی خان عبدالغفار خان باچا خان ہیں جنہیں آخر عمر تک اپنے اہل خانہ اور ساتھیوں سمیت غدار کہا جاتا رہا۔ پھر وہ غفار خان کے ساتھ ان کے بھائی ڈاکٹر خان صاحب تھے کہ بیٹے خان عبدالولی خان کہ ان کے پوتے اسفند یار ولی، اجمل خٹک کے زمانوں سے پہلے حاجی ترنگ زئي جیسے درویش (جن کے مزار پر کچھ عرصہ قبل طالبان نے قبضہ کیا تھا) یہ سب کے سب ایک یا دوسرے دور میں غدار ٹھہرائے جاتے رہے تھے۔

سابقہ مشرقی پاکستان میں حسین شہید سہروردی، مولانا عبد الحمید بھاشانی اور بنگلہ دیش کے بانی شیخ مجیب الرحمان کو غدار کہا گیا۔ اگرتلہ سازش کیس کے تحت ان پر غداری کا مقدمہ چلایا گیا اور دوسری بار انیس سو اکہتر میں ان پر خفیہ طور پر مقدمہ چلا کر انہیں سزائے موت دے دی گئی۔ ذوالفقار علی بھٹو نے برسرِ اقتدار آتے ہی شیخ مجیب الرحمان کی سزائے موت منسوخ کر دی تھی اور پھر اسی ’غدار‘ ٹھہرائے جانے والے شیخ مجیب الرحمان کے بنگلہ دیش کو نہ صرف تسلیم کیا گیا بلکہ اسلامی سربراہ کانفرنس میں شرکت کرنے کے لیے ان کی آمد کے موقع پر انہیں اکیس توپوں کی سلامی بھی دی گئی تھی۔

یہ بھی انسانی تاریخ میں شاذ و نادر ہی ہوا ہو کہ پوری کی پوری قوم اور فوج کا ایک بڑا حصہ بھی غدار کہلایا جائے۔انیس سو اکہتر میں پاکستان کی تاریخ میں اس روایت کی بھی داغ بیل ڈال دی گئی جب پورے کی پوری بنگالی قوم کو غدار کہا گیا اور پاکستانی فوج میں بنگالی فوجیوں کو بھی غدار۔
شاید لاہور کے پرانے لوگوں کو یاد ہو کہ اسی عاصمہ جہانگیر کے والد ملک جیلانی شیخ مجیب الرحمان کے پنجاب میں چند حامیوں اور دوستوں میں سے ایک تھے۔ وہ اکیلے ہی ان کی آزادی کے لیے بینر لیے مال روڈ پر کھڑے ہوا کرتے تھے۔
یہی عاصمہ جہانگير جو جوانی میں داخل ہوتے ہی اپنے ابا کو حبسِ بیجا میں رکھنے کے خلاف مقدمہ لڑتی رہی تھیں جسے پاکستان میں مشہور عاصمہ جیلانی کیس کہا جاتا ہے۔ اسی کیس میں ججوں نے جنرل یحییٰ کو فقط اس وقت غاصب کہا تھا جب وہ اقتدار میں نہیں رہے تھے۔
عبد الصمد خان اچکزئی پیر آف مانکی شریف، میاں افتخار الدین، فیض احمد فیض، مظہر علی خان، شيخ ایاز جیسے لوگ بھی مختلف دور میں حکومتوں اور ان کی کاسہ لیس میڈیا عرف قومی میڈیا کی طرف سےغدار قرار دیے جاتے رہے تھے۔

ایوب خان کے دور حکومت میں بلوچ رہنما نوروز خان اور اس کے بھائيوں اور بیٹوں کو پھانسی دے دی گئی تھی جبکہ عطاءاللہ خان مینگل ان کے بھائي نورالدین مینگل، غوث بخش بزنجو، خیر بخش مری، دود ا خان زرکزئي ، اور بلوچ قومی شاعر گل خان نصیر کو بھی غدار قرار دیا جاتا رہا جبکہ اکبر بگٹی کو سزائے موت سنائی گئی جو بعد میں معاف کردی گئی تھی۔

سندھی قوم پرست رہمنا جی ایم سید شاید غفار خان کے بعد اس ملک میں سب سے ’سینیئر غدار‘ تھے جنہیں اٹھائیس سال تک مختلف وقفوں سے تادم مرگ نظربند رکھا گیا اور ان کا انتقال بھی بینظیر بھٹو کی حکومت میں دوران نظر بندی میں ہوا تھا۔
بلکہ نظریہ ضرورت کی طرح غداری کے بھی سرٹیفیکیٹ حکومتیں، فوج اور میڈیا بانٹتے رہے۔

جنرل ضیاء کے آمرانہ دور حکومت میں غلام مصطفیٰ کھر اور جام صادق علی کو ’را کا ایجنٹ‘ بتایا گیا اور ان کے نام اٹک سازش کیس کے حوالے سے آئے۔ لیکن پھر اسی کھر اور جام صادق علی کی غداری کی سند پھاڑ کر انہیں بوقت ضرورت اعلیٰ عہدوں پر بھی بٹھایا گیا۔
غداروں کی فہرست میں ممتاز بھٹو، حفیظ پیرزادہ، الطاف حسین، مرتضیٰ بھٹو اور بینظیر بھٹو بھی بتائے جاتے رہے۔
تاریخ پلٹا کھاتی ہے اور پھر وہی حسین حقانی جو کہ اپنی اسی خالق اسٹیبلشمنٹ کے ہاتھوں سخت زیر عتاب آئے ہوئے ہیں اور غداری کے مقدمے کی تلوار پاکستانی اسٹیبلشمنٹ حب الوطنی کے کچے دھاگے میں باندھے ان کے سر پر لٹکائے رکھی ہوئی ہے۔ یہ ملک غداروں اور وعدہ معاف گواہوں کی فیکٹری ہے اور منتخب وزرائے اعظم کا مقتل گاہ ہے۔ پھر وہی عاصمہ اسی طرح ان کا مقدمہ لڑتی رہی ہے جس طرح وہ ملک جیلانی کا مقدمہ لڑتی رہی تھی کہ کردار وہی رہتے ہیں صرف غدار بدلتے رہتے ہیں۔

Pakistan's Supreme Court has been traditionally allied with the Punjabi-dominated military establishment against elected governments.

Make so much noise that everything becomes inaudible-then people would hear what we want them to hear. This is how the Pakistani Establishment is controlling the game at the moment – It is very clear who is who, and what is what. But because of a concentrated effort to remove the current Government and head of state, all the other noises and all other logic is being drowned.

Today the Supreme Court of Pakistan has given the Government six options to remedy the NRO decision. Yes you heard this right, Courts are now providing multiple answer type option to their decisions. I am not aware how this would work in future, would this be that decisions would be given to murders they have six choices, varying degrees of punishment and even a possible acquittal. We provide, you decide.

Court has stated following options:

Option 1: Court would move against the Prime Minister, President and Law Minister because they were ‘harping’ that they shall not write a letter to Switzerland, and this equates to violating the court’s order they have violated their oath to office and so are not worthy of the office. 

The Honourable Judge states that Prime Minister made these claims in the floor of the House and Senate. Honourable Judge has made many references to Quran, but perhaps has oversight over Article 69 of The Pakistan constitution that explicitly prohibits any scrutiny of statements made on the House floor. The said speech is non-justiciable in any court as it as it was made in the floor the house – How has there been such an oversight is amazing.

President made a similar statement in an interview with Hamid Mir – Be that may, Only way to remove a President is through Article 47 of the constitution, i.e. two-third majority of the Parliament.

Option 2: The Prime Minister and the Law Minister would be held to have made contempt of court, virtue of which both Gentleman could lose their membership of Parliament, and their office along with it.

Though again Article 63 (1) (g) (ridiculing Judiciary or Armed Forces) is mentioned, though again Article 69 defence should apply. Thus only 63 (1) (h) is applicable.

Option 3: Supreme Court would form a commission under Article 187 that shall execute the said relevant decision. 

Option 4: Immunity to President under Article 248 has NOT YET BEEN DISCUSSED  and if anyone seeks to discuss this in the court, they may do so. 

In any case, it is highly astonishing thus far that court has not heard anything under Article 248 presidential immunity, which one would have thought is a highly important defense available to the Government against writing the letter.

Option 5: NAB chairman has failed and protected the accused, namely Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, and Adnan Khawja who have been appointed wrongly and to take actions against Malik Qayoom.

Option 6: Court may ask the Parliament to take such steps as it sees fit to ensure that court’s judgement is implement  

It is not clear what court means about handing over the implementation to the Parliament. Does the court expect a resolution by the parliament would suffice, which would first form a commission to ensure implementation and the the said commission can advise parliament of way it has ensure implementation .

اردو اور پنجابی کے معروف منفرد تیکھے لہجے اور بلند آہنگ شاعر اور ادیب نذیر قیصر روزنامہ مشرق کیلئے روزانہ قطعہ لِکھ رہے ہیں۔
ہم آج کا قطعہ قارئین کی خِدمت میں کراس پوسٹ کر رہے ہیں

سیاست جو سر کے بل کھڑی تھی

وہ اب پیروں پہ چلنا چاہتی ہے

کہاں تک بوجھ اٹھاے آسماں کا

زمیں کروٹ بدلنا چاہتی ہے

شاعر: نذیر قیصر

Source: Daily Mashriq(Page 3)Date: January 06, 2012.

update: There has been alterations and additions made to accommodate few other articles on the same issue

The Supreme Court has stated that under the Article 184-3, they have
jurisdiction to hear the petition on alleged memo, because fundamental
rights are directly involved. The three fundamental rights that are
directly at issue are Article 9 (Due Process), Article 14 (Dignity of Man)
and Article 19A (right to information on matters of public information). If
there are any rights breached, it must be that of petitioner, which in this
case is Nawaz Sharif.
Here is the text of Article 9 “No person shall be deprived of life or
liberty save in accordance with law.”
It boggles mind that as petitioner was under no threat of any such loss of
liberty (as he not even a party to any of incidents) it may be assumed that
someone else’s life and liberty were under threat.
Mr Waris Hussain, JD. Writing for Daily Dawn makes an apparently ludicrous
claim that
“the implicit argument by the petitioners could be that if the U.S. had
acted on the memo and stopped a military coup from taking place, Pakistan’s
generals and treasonous military personnel would be subject to death or
illegal detention at the hands of the U.S. This hypothetical series of
events was enough to satisfy the Court to continue its probe in order to
protect the fundamental rights of the military”

But if Article 9 is at issue, one can’t help but feel if this was in fact what was in Supreme Court’s mind; unfortunately not much discussion is done to elaborate as to the line of thinking that led to this conclusion. It is clear that by having a parallel commission at same time as parliamentary
commission, under the prescribed rules in the proper legislation, National Commissions Act, Mr Haqani’s fundamental rights of due process are arguably being subverted.
As hinted earlier, Mr Sharif is not even party to any of the incidents, yet is a petitioner and court allowed him locus standi (i.e. Standing to fight the case). Now principle is that X, can’t fight Y’s claim against Z, unless X is himself somewhat affected as well. Only exception is that when Y’s
claim is such an issue that it is in Public interest that X should fight this case. There are of course limitations to this, one of this being that X must be a person who represents the people as a whole. No discussion was made in decision as Mr Sharif actually being that person. Similarly there
must be a credible reason why Y himself can’t start litigation. No discussion is made as to this either. It is as if Mr Sharif was given standing as of a right, even though he is not party to facts of the case.
Such are the pitfalls of an activist court that takes suo moto notices of customs relaxations.
Article 14 Text is “(1) The dignity of man and, subject to law, the privacy of home, shall be inviolable. (2) No person shall be subjected to torture for the purpose of extracting evidence.”
I have no idea whose residential privacy was violated, or who has been tortured, nor has the Court in its order explained this predicament. If anything Mr Haqqani’s privacy is going to be breached by court’s demand for his personal Blackberry messages.
Article 19A “Every citizen shall have the right to have access to information in all matters of public importance subject to regulation and reasonable restrictions imposed by law.”
If we are being honest, petitioner’s case mostly is dependent on this Article only. This however is an article that provides the freedom of Information to the public that is held by the Government. It is historically read as an enabling law. If a government agency is holding information against you, and you feel you have a right to it, or if that information is in public interest, then article 19A allows you to sue for that information.
What court has done in a moment of judicial creativity has turned this into a positive law which not only enables but also requires precipitous action, and by further taking it upon themselves to find the ‘facts’ it is submitted that the court has gone five steps further then a role ever
envisaged for a Supreme court in common law system. It taken the role of Judge, legislative (by a highly creative interpretation of Constitution) and executive (by means of the commission) – it was thus already raised by advocate for Hussain Haqqani that court had made itself bias, and by
removing a chance of appeal – it has further subverted due process. Creative reading of Article 19A has also other ‘flood gate’ implications, which normally courts are wary of, and thus avoid such adventures. If the court can on its own accord seek investigate memo issue, in public
interest. What stopped the court from investigating wikileaks? For example the leak that General Kiyani had spoken to US Ambassador about removing President Zardari. Here in addition to all, there is direct application of Article 6 as well. Or what prevents the court from looking into death of Akber Bugti, whose death was arguably violation of Article 9 and 10. In fact, in one of his speeches during the lawyer’s Movement, The Chief Justice alluded to killing of Akber Bugti being extrajudicial, if so, shouldn’t article 19-A not be used here as well. Then there is Death of
Benazir Bhutto, Liquat Ali Khan, Fatima Jinnah and Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
Also the issues of Kargil, Ojri camp, Tashkant Agreement, Niazi Surrender, East-Pakistan and so on. See what I mean by flood gates? This decision is a clear precedent for all other issues to be raised in the court, and with already a enormous workload at all courts, it may be a giant’s burden that
Supreme Court has taken upon itself. One can only speculate why?
Finally is the issue of Due Process. There was already a parliamentary
commission formed under the proper mechanism. If the Supreme Court or
petitioner had any objections to the said commission, a review of the
commission was possible even prior to its investigation. If the court was
worried about the commission’s potency, then more power should have been
recommended. The sphere of investigation may have been increased and if any
people on the commission were questionable, then even that could have been
addressed.
It is not for no reason that Highest Court in Land is being criticised in the country, there have been many liberties taken, and there is a lot of speculation, in the land of conspiracy theories, as to why there may be such an extreme action taken by Supreme Court. Only time would tell .

The tone of Jeay Bhutto rang in every ear and engaged the ambiance. The prospect became crammed with the red, green and black flags of the Pakistan Peoples Party and every flash held with it, an inimitable facet in the cosmos. The world, for that time, forgot everything other than the heroism of the Daughter of Destiny Mohtarmah Benazir Bhutto.

Benazir, who was entirely Benazir in verve, Benazir in valor, Benazir in the final moments of her life as well. The ocean of support for Peoples Party and Benazir – for the Bhutto bequest was too unfathomable to contain the whole world in it – the world of democracy aficionados – the world of peace and justice – the world free from altercation, but democracy and reconciliation – yes! The world free from starvation, scarcity and malady-the world, free from redundancy- the world of Benazir’s apparition- Yes. A Benazir world!

My existence had taken a new twirl, when I witnessed my leader – full of optimism and audacity – struggling to accomplish the delirium of her father and having guts of fighting every encumbrance in her way .A sudden distress got me paralyzed, as soon as I heard the voice of bullets after such a gargantuan public support for Benazir. And then, blood – O No!!! Later, too shoddier a catastrophe .A tragedy – the greatest adversity that I had ever observed. My Benazir had lain down her life.

The day had brought with it, lots of anguishes, torments for democracy, for humanity, for impartial justice, for true depiction of Pakistan and Islam, for Benazir was certainly, an incarnation of high virtues. The next instant, I do see the roads being washed to hide my Bibi’s blood and later, adding offense to the injuries, alteration in statements, about the reason of death……..The second day, even averring people accountable for the assassination and the other, start declaring themselves, extremely untainted beings .This was their realism, who even failed to grant security to the former Prime Minister of a state – mercy on them and their disreputable misdemeanors.

My eyes do hold back to the bereavement – yes! I see December 28, when I screech out my Benazir is alive .Thereby; I see the soil of Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto, taking in itself, another Bhutto, who had been martyred – who had struggled all her life for providing Bread, Clothing and Shelter to the people of her country. I too, can’t forget or ignore this very remarkable moment – Benazir was not buried under the earth, but she was laid in the divan of roses – she rules the world – yes! She rules the essence of her people, this day too from her grave.

Benazir-ism – an everlasting rule – an enduring inheritance! To this day, I see my favorite Benazir in President Asif Ali Zardari. When I look at Bakhtawar, Aseefa and Bilawal, my heart coerces me to acknowledge that Benazir Bhutto is at all times with me in their appearance, she’s always with us and directs us. Her phantasm is always with us and we can even peril our own lives to realize it.

Har gar say Bhutto niklay gaa,

Zinda Hai Bibi, Zinda Hai…!

Vision is something to be articulated, passionately owned and relentlessly driven to completion. Benazir is a vision – and a vision can never be executed. We rely that BHUTTO is neither a name nor a cast, but a legacy and a platform under which a struggle appears in every decade. Just like this, Benazir is neither only a name nor any epitaph, but a perception which has to be followed by the up coming generations. She’s the one who inspired the power and energy to get it down. Benazir, through her vision, was successful in conveying the philosophy of “Benazir’s Pakistan” and its main routs of future. Benazir is a teacher who teaches us to keep eyes on the stars and feet on the ground via her exemplary passion to bring the people of her homeland to the highest places of the world. She oxygenated those who had been almost killed when their political guide had sentenced to death, she rose to become her slain father’s political successor, halted people from being hopeless and appeared as the most promising representative of poor people who had always been ignored by the mean officials of the state. As a Muslim woman, she became an iconic figure in the West. She fought with extremism, terrorism and dictatorship so hastily that her opponents could not find any other way to pay out except being defeated by that courageous lady. In short, I would state that she was the reflection of her ‘SHAHEED BABA’

Today, when Pakistan is at crossroads, it’s enemy, from outside and from within, have capability, capacity and the reputation of painting their desired pictures in rosy colours as well as in horror schemes, some forces talk about to bring a revolution, but the real revolution had appeared when Benazir despite being departed, left her soul among her heirs / left behind true followers who are still ready to shed the last drop of blood in her love, the real supporters who used to pay her tribute by donating their precious blood every year to mark her anniversary so respectfully, the authentic believers who can forfeit their lives but can never make any sacrifice on their martyred leader’s legacy. It won’t be wrong if I say that she’s alive! She’s alive among us! She lives and rules through her profound legacy and philosophical vision to make a democratic Pakistan. Today, her legacy is guiding principles for the current political dispensation. She was the living embodiment of courage, determination, perseverance for her people, and so the nation pays her tribute via tears. Has someone ever thought that why people still miss her? Why her absence is being felt by the whole nation? Why our hearts torment when we see the PPP meetings but cannot find her chairing all the sessions? We do miss her because her legacy don’t let us to forget her.

Now in 2011, when political climate is changing unfavorably/conflictingly, rumors spread that Pakistan peoples party’s government would be dismissed, the government that has come into power after sacrificing the leader, how it can be dismissed! How can we let our leader’s blood waste! Seriously, I don’t understand that why PPP’s tenure depends upon the directions of winds flowing across? Because of such conspiracies, again the party workers and supporters are required to remain vigilant, cautious and watchful. The torture and stress of endangering the Govt; adds the implication of causing unbearable pain for the workers! We didn’t lose our leader to see such pity acts against us! If we have got a government, then it does not mean that the revenge has been taken from the evil-doers! If PPP is in power, then it really does not mean that Benazir’s struggle is over! Benazir’s struggle would come to an end when we have a BENAZIR PAKISTAN and to achieve so, we should stain the dust out and would have to weed out this menace! While marking the fourth death anniversary of our beloved leader, let’s make a promise to her that; “We will never abandon our struggle for a home you dreamed for us“

Benazir has left her vision among us and now it depends upon us that how we grasp and hold her vision! Benazir will prevail..

Long live BIBI – Long live Bhutto

Regards,

Maleeha Manzoor.