State & attributes of survival
COMPLEX and complicated survival of the “humanity” and “system” has been heavily relying on the supremacy of the “State”.
Attributes of survival and sustainability of the “system” may be different in different communities, groups, regions and countries but end goal has been remained same and vital i.e.
legitimacy of the state to take rational measures and appropriate decisions to curb menace of political chaos, social disharmony, ethnic destruction, and of course economic meltdown.
Moreover, state’s important organs have been protecting the basic fabric of the society and real essence of the system in which parliament, armed forces, secret agencies, law enforcement agencies, judiciary, teachers, political parties and last but not least NGOs ideally jointly work for achieving the desired goals of socio-economic prosperity, qualitative life, provision of basic human rights, schooling, shelter, and clean drinking water etc.
Justice is ultimate goal of the modern state since time immortal because no one is above the law. Social justice has been the key attribute of human civilization since beginning.
Conversely, concepts of “sacred cow” has been “fantasized” in different societies by some power elites, junta and war lords which ultimately ruined the basic fabric of it and Pakistan is not any exception.
Moreover, tussle among the main stakeholders of the state has been lethal due to which process of development has been compromised.
Armed forces have been trying to reconcile it but political leadership has not been supportive to achieve a progressive system.
On its part, state refuted this deep-rooted practice through holistic strategies and people’s friendly policies which is even true in case of Pakistan.
But “conspiratorial” plans and self-inserted definitions and parameters of justice, transparency, discretion, development and above all “syndrome” of selected justice pushed all stakeholders to fight against the institutes and organs of the state.
Historically, judicial reviews are usually sedate proceedings where only points of law regarding the original verdict are discussed.
Particularly, in this case however, the apex bench undertook a broader examination of the case, going back to the impetus behind the presidential reference itself.
During the pendency of the proceedings, a sharp divide among the superior judiciary became evident.
While dissent among judges helps in shaping the law and adding nuance to judgments, such a division can also suggest deeper tensions at play among the different stakeholders of the system.
Presidential reference was also thoroughly debated which did not have any connection with Faizabad sit-in judgment. Subordinate offices and officials should not be part of opposition parties political agenda.
They should respect the “Codes of Ethics” while any statement or engagement because secrecy and sense of responsibility demands it.
FIA, FBR and NAB represent the state and opposition parties should not blame these departments for their own downfalls.
They are downed and doomed because of their unlimited loots, corruption, unbridled practices of land grabbing and misuse of authority for personal gains.
The state has nothing to do with them. The establishment of this country is “loyal” and seriously “concerned” about political divide but journey of justice, transparency and accountability may not be compromised just because of appeasing the opposition.
Law Minister Farogh Naseem and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior and Accountability Mirza Shahzad Akbar have denied allegations made by former director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Bashir Memon.
In the past, former DG FIA Bashir Memon alleged that he was pressured by Prime Minister Imran Khan, Naseem and Akbar to initiate a case against Justice Qazi Faez Isa. Memon’s allegations, however, were swiftly denied by the government officials.
The law minister via Twitter refuted the “baseless allegations” levelled by Memon. He claimed that he never discussed any issue regarding Justice Isa with Memon. Azam Khan, Shahzad Akbar and Memon have never come to my office together.
Moreover, Azam Khan has only come to my office once and that was all by himself only to discuss legal reforms,” he said.
On his part, Akbar also refuted claims of any such meeting about Justice Isa, calling the allegations untrue and rubbish.
He also denied any meeting with PM or myself on Justice Qazi Faez Isa issue, and there was no meeting with the law minister and him as he claims.
Similarly he was never told to start any case against any specific individual. He further elaborated that only one case referred to FIA was of sedition by the federal cabinet.
Later in the day, Akbar’s lawyers sent a defamation notice worth Rs500 million to Memon terming his allegations as “false, politically motivated and absurd” and demanding an unconditional apology.
The notice asked Memon to retract his statements within 14 days and issue an “unconditional public apology” via newspaper and electronic media along with paying Rs500mn as “compensation for causing irreparable damage to Akbar’s reputation”.
Shahbaz Sharif upheld that unmistakable NAB-Niazi nexus has been out to make forged cases against the PML-N and put its leaders behind bars which is totally misconceived.
Speaking to the media in Islamabad, Maryam Nawaz also blamed the incumbent government for so-called character assassination and so called engineered transparency and accountability cases against them.
It is indeed out of the context and untrue and most recently filed case of Umra Jati should be an eye opener and are being carried out on merit in which national treasury is at stake.
Armed forces of Pakistan are providing all possible support to the system to deliver goods to common people.
Bashing to army will achieve nothing but further marginalization of political jugglers and alienation of their masters from the democracy.
Supremacy of the state should not be compromised and caravans of justice, accountability and transparency should disseminate hope of real change.
—The writer is Director, Geopolitics/Economics Member Board of Experts, CGSS.
