The Swiss letter

Inches away from resolution

The decision by the government to write the letter to the Swiss authorities withdrawing the earlier one written by former Attorney General Malik Qayyum was widely seen as a breakthrough. The standoff with the Supreme Court has already cost one prime minister his job. The democratic order which has yet to strike roots firmly would be shaken badly if a second chief executive of the country was to be sent home. The last three hearings of the SC have led many to think that a happy ending of the affair is possible.
At the first hearing Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf agreed to write the required letter. He also agreed to notify that the draft of the letter would be prepared by the law minister keeping in view the SC’s directives. In the second hearing both the notification and the letter were presented before the court. The notification was approved but the law minister sought more time to make the desired changes in the letter in the light of the SC’s observations. At the third hearing on Friday, two paragraphs of the draft letter were approved by the SC. The apex court however expressed reservation on the third para. It granted the request made by the law minister for consultation in the chamber to better understand the judges’ point of view in order to be able to put it before the PM. The court agreed that open discussion on some of the sensitive matters at this stage could be harmful. The law minister was given four more days to make the required changes in the draft. While the journey continues there are milestones which indicate that the destination may not be very far.
When the PPP leadership which had vowed never to write the Swiss letter took a 180-degree turn on the issue, it did so because of a belated realization that the cost of a prolonged standoff with the judiciary was highly detrimental for the government and the democratic system. The exemption to the prime minister from appearing before the court and the permission to nominate someone else to write the letter encouraged the party to change its stance on the letter. During the last three years the government must have fully realized what the court wants it to do. Once a decision has been taken to write the letter, the matter should not be delayed any longer. The party leaders claim that they have always accepted the court’s verdicts instead of defying them. The time has come to prove it. The government would do well to fully focus on resolving the issue. The court should meanwhile continue to encourage the government. Neither side should do anything that upsets the apple cart.