Is it beginning of the end? Musharraf to reacat?

AS people were still in a state of shock over the shameful treatment meted out to former Chief Minister of Sindh Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim in Karachi, a group of unruly lawyers poisoned the political atmosphere further by manhanhling former Federal Minister Dr Sher Afgan Khan Niazi the following day. Niazi, who always spoke about the Constitution and rules and regulations, received punches, kicks and shoe strokes only because his interpretation of the intricate laws and dubious clauses of the Constitution was not acceptable to some people.

What happened to Dr Niazi was vandalism of the highest order, which cannot be and must not be tolerated, in a civilized society. A person of the stature of Sher Afgan, who is a reputed constitutional expert and seasoned parliamentarian, was detained for four long hours and as per interviews he gave to media during this period his life was in real danger.

Ultimately, when he was brought out in apparently tight security even then he could not escape the wrath of the lawyers. He was dragged, pounced upon and beaten. It is all the more shameful that the ambulance in which he was being evacuated was not spared and some people broke its sidescreens. According to eyewitnesses, President Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, who reached the spot to calm down the protestors and ensure safe passage for She Afgan, was also manhandled. It was such a chaotic scene that someone could have stabbed the former Minister to make things more complicated and worrisome.

All this shows that the situation was moving in the wrong direction and it is time that the lawyers’ movement and the issue of restoration of judges is brought to a swift closure. Advisor to Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik has already ordered an inquiry, which would fix the responsibility, but it is quite obvious that those behind the unfortunate incident were none else but black-coat wearing lawyers. No doubt, one has to pay attention to the statement of Barrister Aitzaz that fifty per cent of the mob consisted of people other than lawyers but it is the group of lawyers that triggered the ugly
process, which is to be blamed. Plain-clothes men – be they policemen, intelligence personnel or ordinary citizens – got opportunity to exploit the situation because of the hostile acts of some unscrupulous lawyers. The role played by the caretaker Government of Punjab (during its dying days) and the city police was also questionable, as they deliberately allowed the situation to aggravate. Police reached the scene after criminal delay and its high-ups did not pay heed to repeated calls by the President of the SCBA for deployment of more troops to ensure safe evacuation of the beleaguered Sher Afgan. It is also astonishing that the driver of the ambulance disappeared for quite some time, allowing the situation to worsen. We believe that this was the single most severe blow to the lawyers’ movement ever since its launching about a year back and it is time for their leadership to ponder over ways and means to check violent tendencies. It is because of the fall-out of this incident that some stray elements have started describing it as the beginning of the end. We strongly reject this extremist view of the situation, as it is reflective of treacherous mindset. Though such incidents cannot be condoned yet these do happen elsewhere in the world as well and are never considered as an excuse to harm the democratic process.

Incidents like manhandling of Imran Khan, Arbab Ghulam Rahim or Dr Sher Afgan can be eliminated only through consolidation of the democratic process and institutions. It is satisfying that the entire top leadership of the lawyers has distanced itself away from the condemnable act and Aitzaz even went to the extent of offering his resignation in protest. But they must control their workers, who are not only bringing bad name to the country but also damaging their own cause by indulging in violent acts.
Editorial: Daily Pakistan Observer