- And the original sin
With cronies appointed to important departments like NAB, SECP, IB, and FIA Nawaz Sharif was confident that no probe into Panama case could implicate him in the scam. He wrote to the SC for enquiry and was comfortable with the formation of the JIT. The SC should have known that any judgment in this politically charged case would either be unacceptable to Sharif or the opposition, particularly Imran Khan. Instead of telling the parties to resolve the case in the National Assembly, the court decided to take it up. The court thus entered a minefield where blasts are bound to occur whether one goes ahead or decides to retreat.
The SC complains of the PML-N using women as a human shield, calling it unmanly. But this is how politics is conducted. Few would dispute that former Senator Nehal Hashmi foul-mouthed the SC. Some of the younger lot of the PML-N leaders too have used expressions that denigrated the courts. But even if the court punishes a score of them, this will fail to put the fear of law in the hearts of the shortsighted but emotionally charged thousands of party’s loyalists from undertaking recourse to similar or worse language.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday temporarily barred TV channels from airing allegedly “anti-judiciary speeches” by PML-N leaders. A learned member of the bench made observations that are likely to be challenged by the nonpartisan lawyers, civil society activists and media persons. He maintained that it would make sense for an expert or lawyer to comment on decisions by judiciary but not everyone can be allowed to do the same.
It did not suit the PML-N government politically to make Pemra either independent or an assertive body. But unfortunately it doesn’t equally suit other circles that matter. The removal of minister of state for information from the body which is to choose next Pemra chief would neither make the new appointee more independent nor more authoritative. During the last few months judiciary has come too much in the limelight through several interventions. A judicialisation of politics would benefit none. It is better to leave politics to politicians.