Editorial
Bravo, Pak Judges!
IT is profoundly heartening to note that six judges of the Supreme Court of Pakistan led by the Chief Justice Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui refused to take a fresh oath of office on Wednesday defying the orders of the military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf. The refusal meant automatic removal of the judges from office. We salute the judges for their courageous act in defence of the country's Constitution. Had this example been set by their peers the country would have been rid of military coups and healthy democratic traditions would have taken firm roots there. This is the biggest affront to the military ruler Gen Musharraf since he came to power and introduced a provisional order that protected the military against legal action without abrogating Pakistan's Constitution. But as it always happens there is no dearth of people who fall in line with a new order of things at the drop of a hat. There has been a very sharp reaction world-wide to the move made to erode the independence of Pakistan's judiciary. Eminent jurists, prominent lawyers and human rights activists have strongly voiced their indignation over this sordid drama being enacted by the army junta.
The sudden action by the General may have stemmed from the fact that cases filed by the deposed politicians challenging the army rule are set for hearing in the Supreme Court on 31 January. This might have been a preemptive action by the military to remove the judges who risked taking a negative view on the legitimacy of the government. The General knew about it and wanted to be absolutely sure that judges owing allegiance to the provisional constitution introduced by the army should hear the case and dispose it of accordingly. Whatever may be the reasons cited for the change-over in Pakistan we cannot support military rule in any form or shape because each time it comes democratic values are tarnished another level down.
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