Rights activists concerned

LAHORE: Civil society members have unanimously expressed concern over the disqualification of Nawaz Sharif and said such verdicts cannot only undermine the democratic process but also confine the civil liberty.

Muhammad Tehseen, Chief Executive (CEO), South Asia Partnership Pakistan (SAP-PK), said he was not happy with the verdict issued by Supreme Court. Unfortunately, it was mistrust on the people who elected prime minster for thrice. Panama case was a political issue.

It must have been resolved on the floor of parliament. According to him, 93 percent of our population is not Sadiq and Ameen. In coming days, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza Shahbaz will be disqualified in Hudaibia case. The law made by Zia, be revised, otherwise political process will be ended in the country, he suggested. Pakhtun, Sindhi and Baloch had been silent; Nawaz was only man who used to resist against establishment. That is why he was thrown out, he lamented. 

Tehseen said dictators were not punished on the violation of Pakistan’s law; rather necessities of justification were created for them even by the courts. On the other hand, democratic leaders were not spared. One elected prime minister was hanged and others, including Yousuf Raza Gillani and Nawaz Sharif had been disqualified.

Head of Institute for Peace and Secular Studies Diep Saeeda, said the disqualification of the prime minister would lead the country towards chaos.

Limited justice will spoil the environment, said Executive Director at Democratic Commission for Human Development (DCHD)Tanveer Jahan, while speaking to The News exclusively. According to her, accountability should not be confined to politicians only. Generals, judges, journalists must be held accountable. No one in the country qualifies for article 62 and article 63.

Mumtaz Mughal, a human rights activists and head of Aurat Foundation, said continuation of democratic process makes parliament supreme. Prosperity and progress of any country always connect with justice and accountability. Supremacy of law is inevitable in Pakistan now. Pakistan must be a corruption-free country. 

Abdullah Malik welcomed the verdict and said the verdict shows that even powerful is also accountable now. Ruling elite was not considered accountable before this. The culture of corruption by ruling elite will be eradicated with the help of courts in the country.