New PM for Pakistan Frees Judges

Yusuf Raza Gillani took the oath of office as Pakistan’s new Prime Minister earlier this week. He heads a coalition that opposes the president, Mr. Pervez Musharraf. He proved it with his first act as PM, releasing the judges Mr. Musharraf had detained during his November coup. Soon, analysts expect the judges to be reinstated, and then, Mr. Musharraf might just have to defend the dubious legality of his election in the first place.

Raja Ashgar of TheDawn.com reported the move shocked many. “Mr Gilani’s order for the release of judges, including deposed Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry and some of his colleagues confined at their official homes in a nearby Judges’ Colony, came as a big surprise as it was issued before his scheduled formal induction as prime minister on Tuesday when President Musharraf will administer him an oath of office. ‘I order the immediate release of detained judges of the judiciary,’ Mr Gilani said, to be greeted by a standing ovation and desk-thumping from members and slogan-chanting from both the house and the galleries.” When the crowds visited the judges, though, the police didn’t interfere.

Chief Justice Chaudhry thanked the crowds, “I have no words to thank you for the way you struggled for nearly five months for the enforcement of the rule of law and our constitution.” Men who speak of the rule of law and the constitution are very dangerous to dictators like President Musharraf, all the more so when there are cheering crowds around them.

Mr. Musharraf’s pals in the military hold the key to the future of the regime. It is difficult to see how they can keep him in office if the judges rule against him. That is not to say that another general might not put himself at the head of a tank column and get rid of Mr. Gilani, but the current constellation of power argues against it -- at least, until the civilians have screwed up badly.

Prime Minister Gilani said, “It is because of the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto that democracy is being restored. It is a historic event.” Oddly, though, it is happening despite of American policy, not because of it. And that is a very weird occurrence since the administration believes it is spreading democracy throughout the world.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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