I agree with Benazir Bhutto that the lifting of the emergency in Pakistan is an important step forward. But what’s really needed is a step backwards, the release of those still detained such as the Supreme Court Chief Justice Chaudhry, and the http://www.gooakley.com/ restoration of judges to their posts.
I reckon Benazir Bhutto’s approach to all this is the key: that’s why I’m disappointed by this post on Pakistan Politics. The report in Dawn of what she said gives a slightly more nuanced version, but still, I’m not with her. Fair enough for a new parliament to make a fresh constitutional start, but I think they shouldn’t start from here. The first step should be to restore the pre-November 3rd situation, and then consider what changes should be made, democratically and constitutionally, to the judiciary. With luck the still-protesting lawyers’ movement will force this.
Hate to be cynical in all of this because the lifting of the state of emergency is indeed a positive step forward, but perhaps there’s a silent trade off going on here ( I am loathe to use the word’deal’) – judges stay imprisoned= possibility of ” free and fair” elections? Politicians Eh??
Deal, I dunno, but Musharraf obviously has a clear destination in mind, with him as President after elections, and he’s succeeding in getting other parties to buy into his process I think: the PPP and the Muslim League can see they have the prospect of power if they go along with it, and of course neither than afford to boycott elections alone. I remain hopeful that politics and protests will force the main parties into a more principled stance, but I fear, too, that the outcome may be messier and less satisfactory than I’d like.
I’m a cynic, I’m afraid; I think there is a very real possibility of a messy and unsatisfactory outcome here…..