The Aasia Bibi appeal and the Lal Masjid clerics

Don’t pressurise the apex court

Pakistanis frequently complain that their country is in the news for all the wrong reasons. Yesterday, amid heavy security at the capital, the Supreme Court was to start hearing the appeal of Aasia Bibi who is in jail awaiting the apex court’s decision on death sentence since 2010.

Lal Masjid cleric Hafiz Ehtesham Ahmad meanwhile has already delivered a verdict on the accused being guilty. What is more, he has threatened that in case the Supreme Court was to declare her innocent and she was released, Lal Masjid would become a centre for the anti-government movement. His supporters would take to the streets and would not allow the government to function.

What remains lacking is a fitting response from the government denouncing the agitators to provide confidence in its ability to maintain the rule of law.

Silence on the part of the government would indicate that it is unable to provide security to judiciary, thereby threatening the very independence that ensures unbiased decision making. What one sees happening is the appearance of another group of hardliners challenging the writ of the state. Allowing the Lal Masjid hardliners to issue fiery statements would indicate government’s inefficiencies at a time when we can least afford it. It must be remembered that the safety of the judiciary is central to the very functioning of the State. There should be a denouncement of such agitators from all sides, the government and the opposition.

The counsel for the complainant against Aasia Bibi has said that they are “ready to accept the court’s decision”. Personal opinions on the controversial blasphemy law aside, it is the duty of the Government that judiciary is allowed to function without threats direct or indirect. None should be allowed to put pressure on the judiciary to have a verdict of his liking. Similarly there should be no doubt regarding the government implementing the orders of the Supreme Court.