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“Long march” to reinstate judges

ISLAMABAD: The issue is the same and those in the forefront of the protest are the same too. Since last year, when Pakistan’s black-coated lawyers began rallying for the deposed Chief Justice, much has changed in the country.

President Pervez Musharraf is no longer all powerful. A new democratic government has taken power and may sideline him. But the one leftover issue that continues to haunt the new government is that of the judges dismissed by the retired General Musharraf after he imposed Emergency rule in 2007. Despite its promises, the new dispensation has not reinstated them.

In protest, the lawyers have kept up their agitation. Backing them is the second biggest party in the ruling coalition, and it appears the government cannot move forward without resolving the complex question, which is also linked to the fate of General Musharraf. The restored judges could reopen legal challenges to his controversial 2007 election. The lawyers are now aiming to renew their pressure on the Pakistan People’s Party-led government with a “long march” to the capital this week.

On Monday, the “black coats” began rolling out in motorcades from cities and towns to converge first in Multan, in Punjab, and then in Lahore.

The plan is to set off on Thursday from Lahore in a massive caravan towards Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Earlier, the lawyers said they would lay a siege on Army House, where General Musharraf continues to stay even after stepping down as Army chief.

It now appears that this confrontationist plan has been called off. The lawyers may head towards the National Assembly instead.

Civil society activists — a hold-all phrase denoting concerned citizens, including human rights activists, teacher, and students — are also expected to participate. Aitzaz Ahsan, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association and a prominent PPP leader, who defied his party leadership on this issue, has said the “long march” aimed to remind the new rulers of their March 8 Murree Declaration, promising to reinstate the judges and create public awareness of the importance of their resentment.

Political commentators view the rally as crucial for the fate of the ruling coalition, which has already developed cracks over the judges’ issue. That in turn will be an indicator of the strength of General Musharraf.

The Pakistan Muslim League (N), which quit the Cabinet recently over the issue, reiterated on Monday that it will support the rally.

“This is a march for freedom,” declared one PML (N) leader in Lahore. Shahbaz Sharif’s government will provide water and other facilities to the rally participants.

The march has considerable support among anti-Musharraf educated middle classes, who see the restoration of the judges as the panacea for all of Pakistan’s ills. The slogans of “rule of law” and “supremacy of the Constitution” have resonated most loudly with them.

Student activists too have thrown themselves into preparations for the long march with fervour, and even have a blog offering “live coverage” — http://pklongmarch.blogspot.com. Pakistan’s electronic media has already begun blanket coverage of the march.

But many are also troubled that the lawyers’ movement has become a catchment for all manner of dubious anti-Musharraf elements, some of whom have no connection to democratic to progressive values.

Commentators have raised concerns about the democratic credentials of a group of ex-servicemen comprising former Army chiefs and an assortment of generals and other officers, who have announced they will join the rally, as also a group of retired diplomats.

The neutrality of deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary after his long overtly political battle is also certain to become a question if and when he is reinstated. For now, PPP sympathisers warn that the march would end up destabilising the government, thus playing into the hands of non-democratic forces. The PPP has proposed that the judges be reinstated through measures in a package of constitutional changes that it drew up recently and that also aims to cut General Musharraf’s powers.

But both the PML (N) and lawyers have rejected this route for the reinstatement, as it will validate General Musharraf’s action of dismissing the judges, and also because the amendments envisage cutting back Mr. Chaudhary’s remaining term in office.

They want the reinstatement done through a parliamentary resolution followed by a government order. This week is critical to deciding the battle.

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