Chowrangi

Role of Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan in Lawyers’ Movement, restoration of suspended judges, and reinstation of Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as Chief Justice of Pakistan, is shrouded in mystery and confusion. Aitzaz appeared on the scene as a lawyer for the deposed CJP after March 9th, 2007. That was nothing new because Aitzaz previously served as counsel for Nawaz Sharif as well. However, his position changed dramatically as he first became head of the team that was representing CJP’s case and later he fought and won the election of Supreme Court Bar Association President. To a conspiracy theorist, this seems to be a deeply thought-up move, injecting Aitzaz Ahsan high up in the lawyer fraternity that is protesting for the rights of their kin. Now, Aitzaz is the voice of CJP and seemingly leading the Lawyers’ Movement. Other prominent and vocal lawyers like Ali Kurd, Munir Malik and Justice Tariq Mehmood are apparently sidelined.

Aitzaz Ahsan belongs to Pakistan Peoples’ Party. It is evident that restoration of judiciary was not top at of list in PPP’s election manifesto. It was the need for Nawaz Sharif’s support and ultimately the Murree Declaration that forced PPP to raise voices for this issue.

Now, the PPP is stuck between Devil and the Dead Sea. At one end Co-Chairman Asif Zardari is trying to make everybody happy, including those who were part of previous government that sacked the judges. Defence Minister Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar considers President Musharraf as National Asset, and one PPP minister is doing rounds of the Judges Enclave getting assurances that once the judges are restored they won’t confront President Musharraf.

During all this mayhem, Aitzaz Ahsan is pretty much supporting his party. He is pacifying Lawyers’ Movement by acknowledging demands of party-buddy Farooq Naik. If restoration of judges is as easy as passing a resolution in Parliament then what is the need of forming committees and giving deadlines to the government? It should have happened in the inaugural session of the Parliament.

Aitzaz Ahsan should better clarify his position and decide which side he is supporting. Otherwise the nation will take him as a Pied Paper, taking Lawyers’ Movement down the drain.

Other posts by Kashif Aziz

• Pakistan edging towards another Military Rule? - Part 2 - August 30th, 2008
• Pakistan edging towards another Military Rule? - Part 1 - August 29th, 2008
• Say No to Electricity Bills - August 28th, 2008
• Tanzeem Naqvi resigned from KESC - August 28th, 2008
• Pakistan faces severe Power Crisis - August 27th, 2008
• NATO Vehicles Burned at Maripur Karachi - August 27th, 2008
• Dr. Aafia Siddiqui and her son interrogated by Afghans - August 25th, 2008
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs updates on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui - August 23rd, 2008
• Pervez Musharraf resigns as President of Pakistan - August 18th, 2008
• Clarification by US Consulate in Pakistan on Dr. Aafia Siddiqui's Abducation - August 17th, 2008