Dear Sir/Madam,

Already terrific damage has been done within the last 61 years since the take over of power by the ruling elite’s imposition of the emergency and martial-law implicit destroying the independence of institution including judiciary dismissal of judges from the Supreme Court, the higher courts and appointment of those infavour of the regime is an old practice in our country. The people of Pakistan will memorize this as a fatal wound to the independence of the judiciary. It is an absolute and crucial practice by our ruler, doesn’t matter who the ruler is, because game is played by all of them in one way or the other.

Musharraf was not different from the other ruler, they are one and the same, some used army uniform others did- not, but role played by all of them was same. All of them in fact turned their spear on the independent judiciary of his country. Certainly there is resistance to this move by the lawyers, judges and a very large section of the population. This resistance is the country's only hope in the battle for the independence of the judiciary. The aim of this resistance is to bring back the dismissed judges to their respective courts with the hope to undo the enormous damage done to this extremely important institution but can they redress the damage done?

The recognition as Lawyer of the Year conferred on the former chief justice is fitting, as what is being challenged in Pakistan is the very meaning of the law in the country. The entire ruler has treated the country's constitution as a tool to protect their power, placed his own declarations and decrees in its place. In any country with respect for law this action would be treated as an act of treason, but the external forces whom all of them are loyal, help to keep them in power. Pakistani people do not have any voice in the day to day administration of the country can watch the demise but ………. .

Ever since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favors of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to build this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society.  The society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your attention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster.

 Now the lawyers and the judges feel discrimination and victimization of their rights, thought its worth sacrificing their careers to defend the independence of the judiciary.But, with the help of people they must resist with all their strength to change prevailing socio-political system, design to destroy the independence of the judiciary and other institution in the country, along with the democratic right of the people to rule this country.

Iftekhar Chowdhury is a symbol of this great historical moment. But it would be remarkable and symbolic if the direction of the struggle be turn to wards elimination of the real cause of injustice, i.e. centralize sole power in the hands of one person or few of them depriving the masses from their democratic right to share the decision making process at grass route level and enjoy the benefit of real democracy.

If this reality will be ignored then the sacrifices in this struggle will go in vain without any achievement in the patriotic direction and power will again fall in the hands of one person to another (because all the eggs in the basket are the same) and the people of Pakistan will again be at a distance from the corridor of power.

www.idp.org.pk

Ilyas khan Baloch

Organizer, Islamic Democratic Party.