While the PPP MPAs from Sindh did well to show respect to the SC and were duly commended by the CJ for this, one wonders why it was necessary to take the crowd to the apex court. Further, what was the sense of a subsequent statement by Zulfiqar Mirza that all PPP members in the Sindh Assembly would go to jail if the two provincial party leaders were convicted? It is understood that once a judgment has been delivered it becomes public property and can be criticised on its merits. However, one expects from responsible politicians that they would refrain from issuing calls for public protests against a verdict which is not to their liking. The right option for those who disagree is to take recourse to forums available under the law to get the judgment re-examined. This is what should have been done in the case of the verdict regarding former NAB Chief Deedar Hussain Shah. In fact, the PPP-led federal government subsequently decided not to insist on his appointment. The course chosen by he Sindh PPP MPAs was to stage a protest outside the Assembly. Secretary General, PPP Sindh went a step further by issuing a call for a peaceful protest all over Sindh. He should have known as a politician that irresponsible elements always use occasions of the sort to create mayhem. What happened consequently was loss of millions of worth of property and a number of innocent lives.
The move by the PPP MPAs to accompany two of their leader charged with contempt sets a bad precedent. The courts are currently dealing with a number of sensitive cases including the murder of former Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. These cases have to be decided on merit without any attempt to mob the courts to indicate that those charged have the support of powerful groups.
The PPP leaders should prepare their case during the three weeks given to them. Meanwhile, the PPP-led Sindh government should compensate all those who suffered as a result of its appeal for protests. The various contenders for power in Sindh would do well to spare Karachi when issuing protest calls on partisan issues that invariably cause inconvenience to the population and losses to the economy.
