ISLAMABAD: Let's forget about the pygmies of our politics. Tonight Aitzaz Ahsan, Munir A Malik, Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and Qazi Hussain Ahmed were the heroes of the day as were the lawyers and members of the civil society who put up an unprecedented show.
Exuberance and extraordinary enthusiasm ruled the day, which cannot be explained in words. History has been made and the people have, yet again, endorsed their Feb 18 verdict --- Musharraf must quit and the deposed judges should be reinstated immediately.
People were present in legions. Men, women, children, senior citizens, ex-servicemen, journalists and others from all walks of life gathered at what used to be the parade avenue in Islamabad. All faces were in high spirits, conveying their resolve for a new Pakistan.
Islamabad had never seen such a sea of people as was seen on Friday. And while the main venue in front of parliament's D-Chowk was flooded with people, there were no surrounding avenues free of enthusiastic slogan-chanting people. The main rallies of the lawyersí fraternity, led by Aitzaz Ahsan, and another belonging to the PML-N, were yet to arrive.
People had made it clear that they cannot remain indifferent on the indifference of the newly- elected National Assembly. Their Feb 18 verdict was a clear no-confidence vote against Musharraf and his policies. It also reflected their robust desire to get the deposed judges restored.
Regrettably, within no time the parliament forgot what it was supposed to do within the first few days and weeks of its commencement. The Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP), which had emerged as the largest political party, became euphoric soon after the elections and started breaking promises one after the other.
Instead of devising mechanisms to impeach the President, the top leadership of PPP became infatuated with him. On the issue of independence of judiciary, it started complicating the issue of restoration of those judges who had refused to show allegiance to the military dictator.
And finally the party came up with a constitutional package which was like stabbing people, who had reposed their trust in them, in the back. The constitutional package recommends indemnification of the unconstitutional steps of Nov 3 instead of penalizing the president for the clear violation of Article 6 of the Constitution.
On the judges' issue, the package seeks the restoration of judges through a constitutional amendment, the continuation of all those judges who took oath under the PCO or those appointed by Musharraf after Nov 3 besides proposing person-specific amendments to victimize deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and reward the incumbent Chief Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar.
The splendid lawyers' show, which enjoyed the complete support of the PML-N, has rejected the Zardari House strategies on both the issues. The masses want a change ó- a change which should look different from where we were before Feb 18 -- and an end to Musharraf regimeís status quo. They are not willing to keep a stiff upper lip on the indifference of the parliament which, instead of reflecting the wishes of the people, is following the dictates of a few compromised non-elected so-called politicians.
The lawyers have been criticized by vested interests. There has been an effort to create discord in their rank and file to enfeeble the movement. But they remain determined and focused on their struggle for the rule of law and independence of judiciary. Friday was a remarkable day for Pakistan and it all happened because of gritty lawyers. We are really proud of them.
The PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif also deserves applause for his clear and determined stance on the issue of judges' restoration and President's impeachment. His gestures, his words, his speeches and his expressions all are unambiguous and impressive. He sounds revolutionary. He sounds different from his past. Likewise, Imran Khan and Qazi Hussain Ahmad also deserve full marks for their stance on two of the thorniest issues of today's Pakistan.
One only hopes and wishes that the lawyers' long march would serve as a prelude to a new beginning for Pakistan. It is high time that the pre-Nov 2 judiciary and those who seek an end to military dictatorship in Pakistan get together and pool their energies for a better future of the people of this country.
