Ijaz Kakakhel Islamabad
Supreme Court’s Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Monday issued a 27-page dissenting note on the NAB amendments verdict, observing that members of the armed forces and judges are accountable under the accountability laws.
Examining legislation by keeping interests of the legislators in mind is an insult to parliament and democracy. Judiciary can review legislation when it conflicts with fundamental rights.
This has been written by the Supreme Court’s Justice Mansoor Ali Shah in his 27-page dissenting note against the court’s majority verdict in the NAB amendments case.
On September 15, the Supreme Court had declared with a majority of 2-1 the NAB amendments of the previous government null and void on a petition of PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah had dissented from the verdict.
Justice Shah began his dissenting note with a quote from Benjamin Cordozo, a former associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Cordozo had said that the voice of the majority could be the victory of power. That voice may satisfy temporarily but be less significant for the future. A dissenter looks at the future, the note stated.
Antonin Scalia had rightly said that dissent enhances, rather than diminishing, the dignity of the court. Justice Shah’s note further says that courts should be above chaos, independent of changing politics, and focus on the future of democracy. As opposed to political parties, courts do not need to garner popular support, it adds.
