Chowrangi

I am honored to be in the timeless city of Cairo, and to be hosted by two remarkable institutions. For over a thousand years, Al-Azhar has stood as a beacon of Islamic learning, and for over a century, Cairo University has been a source of Egypt’s advancement. Together, you represent the harmony between tradition and progress. I am grateful for your hospitality, and the hospitality of the people of Egypt. I am also proud to carry with me the goodwill of the American people, and a greeting of peace from Muslim communities in my country: Assalaamu alaykum.

The decimation of the Taliban in the Malakand Agency and in it’s suburbs was imminent, but the weeks long military operation is taking it’s toll on the people who are displaced in specific and upon rest of the Pakistan in general. The sooner it ends, the sooner miseries would quell and things would look more hopefull, until then confusion and frustration and the fear grips the country.

Far numerous, better-equipped and aerially-supported Pakistan Army troops have thrashed the Taliban and the terrorists are on the run. Terrorists have either been killed, arrested or they are on the run. The top leadership of the terrorists is still out there in hiding, more likely in the FATA area, and that is worrisome.

From top to bottom, throughout the hierarchy of the present government, everyone is adept in vowing and reiterating the tall claims about doing this and doing that. Hear the harangue of the President Asif Ali Zardari or go through the speech of puppet Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, you will hear the same vows and such is the case with boring speeches of all the stalwarts of the PPP at the national and provincial level.

Whoever was thinking that after the restoration of justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry as the chief justice of Pakistan and after the reinstatement of Shahbaz Sharif as the chief minister of Punjab and after the peace accord in Swat, the situation would start improving in Pakistan and the healing process would start immediately was living in the fool’s paradise.

Instead of the betterment, things are sliding down rapidly towards more chaos and confusion and new, much more frightening crisis have emerged. Though a good news has come from Balochistan, the suicide attack in Islamabad has eclipsed whatever relief we got from the Balochistan.

Flag hoisted, Slogans raised and praises accumulated and Chief Justice reinstated, now is the time to do some action and to placate the burning aspirations of the people of Pakistan who are excessively thirsty for the justice for the past 60 years. This has come just when the Pakistanis are about to commemorate the Pakistan resolution of 1940 on the 23rd March and when they are going to remember what their founder said as the vision for the country.

The political situation in the country is very uncertain and the biggest theater is set in the biggest province of Pakistan: In Punjab. The federal government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court here praying for a Stay Order against its earlier decision upholding the Sharif brothers’ electoral disqualification by the Lahore High Court. Earlier, the federation had filed four separate petitions in the Supreme Court for the revision of the SC February 25 decision relating to the declaration of Sharif brothers.

The government issued on Tuesday notifications about restoration of all deposed judges, including Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. This notification ends one speculation but still there are some loose ends, the biggest of all is the status of PCO judges.

All the democratic political forces of the country need to learn to demonstrate flexibility on national issues, especially the Pakistan People’s Party. Lawyers, civil society and the opposition parties like PML(N), JI, TIP and have done a great job, now its upon the shoulders of the PPP to repair the damage.

Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary has been restored. Now the judiciary and parliament has to join hand and work for the rule of law. Now justice should be reached and make available easily and speedily to the doorstep of every citizen of Pakistan.

As soon as the news broke about the restitution of the Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary, celebrations started. People belonging to all walks of life, from every where, most of them political workers, came out on the roads at 2am on Monday after hearing the news about the restoration of the deposed judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who were sacked by former President Pervez Musharraf on November 3, 2007.

Let’s buck tradition and let’s this time face the reality. The nation has given its verdict and the writ of the people has spoken. The police is not only has surrendered to the people’s will, it has also joined the people in raising slogans in the favor of restoration of judiciary.

Ali Ahmad Kurd, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, known for his aggressive speeches and choreographed hand movements is still being blocked in the Quetta. That is very dangerous as the volatile Balochistan could erupt any time. The situation in Punjab has gone out of control of PPP and they are just now sticking to the Islamabad.

An overwhelming majority of Pakistani people have left their homes and work and are heading towards Islamabad even in the face of adversity and Draconian measures taken by the government of Pakistan People’s Party. While Asif Ali Zardari refuses any way out and is stubborn to stop the public protest, the other side is also adamant to reach to their goals, no matter what.

The long march is scheduled to culminate in a sit-in on the Constitutional Avenue in Islamabad, and is to continue until the judges deposed on Nov 3 are restituted to their constitutional offices. The symbolic figure of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Nawaz Sharif are there to fuel the passions of the marchers.