The PPP rank and file – from the president, to the prime minister, to the common worker – have become experts on constitutional matters as well as national and international laws, so much so that they have started declaring that it is the judges, not the rulers, who are violating the constitution.
In my opinion, the PPP should do necessary legislation to declare the closure of the entire judicial system of Pakistan. After that, parliament, besides forming laws, will also have the powers to interpret laws as well as issue verdicts on all matters.
Similarly, in addition to their legislative and executive responsibilities, the MNAs may take up the positions of sessions judges. The MPAs, at the tehsil level, may replace civil judges while provincial ministers may occupy the high offices of high court judges with the chief ministers as the chief judge.
Likewise, at the federal level, the PM may become the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the federal ministers could fill the positions of other SC chief justices. The president must retain the final appellate position. I am not suggesting some unprecedented scheme.
In olden times, monarchs and emperors the world over, including our Muslim rulers of the undivided India, would delegate magisterial powers to nawabs and big land lords. What the PPP has to do is to re-establish this system and add another feather in its cap for doing a great service to the nation.
SIDRA NAEEM
Karachi
