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Showing posts from November, 2012

The arrival of spring has reopened all accounts

Courtesy:- Qamar Zaman Kaira It is hard to fix the bungled up things. When extra-constitutional arrangements are made they create such convolutions which are difficult to untangle through legal discourses. They can best be resolved through a combination of the vision of the elected representatives and the uninterrupted continuity of the political process. When the matters take an ugly turn, the ball is again thrown back in the court of the people. But the question is, can one or two elections and the governments with truncated tenure come up to the expectations of the people? Surely, election means complete power and independence of action. In our country the elected representatives have rarely been allowed freedom of action. Those were indeed towering personalities who made their way through this maze to serve the masses and are now alive in their graves.

UN and Kashmir

Courtesy:- Dr Raja Muhammad Khan The month of October is very significant in the history of Kashmir. It was on October 4, 1947, that Kashmiri started their struggle against Dogra Rule through announcement of an independent (Azad) Kashmir. On October 24, 1947, Kashmiri formally announced the state’s accession with Pakistan. On October 27, 1947, Indian forces landed at the Srinagar Airport and then there was a war between Kashmiris and Indian forces. A few units of Pakistan Army also joined the Kashmiri fighters. The Kashmir war continued until ceasefire was imposed by UNO on January 1, 1948. Surprisingly, India, an aggressor itself, referred the Kashmir case in the United Nations Organization, declaring Pakistan as an aggressor and invader.

The tale of delayed justice

Courtesy:-  Qamar Zaman Kaira The stealing of 1990 elections, once again, is a common subject of discussion these days. Not only that but the echoes of rigging of 1988 elections are also resonating. In the seventies President Nixon was banished from politics for bugging the party headquarters of the opponents. The court not only announced the verdict but also awarded due punishments. The entire process was completed within 22 days. The verdict in the rigging of 1990 elections has come after 22 years and that too in an incomplete form.

Enemies of democracy

Courtesy:- Malik Muhammad Ashraf The Supreme Court decision in the Asghar Khan case is a subject of great interest among the intelligentsia, legal community, politicians and the media with regards to its repercussions and impact on the political landscape of the country in the future. There are diametrically opposed views on the subject which reflect the political polarization that has remained the hallmark of Pakistani politics since the ’70s. The immediate impact of the decision is that the ruling PPP, who justifiably feels vindicated by the court verdict, and PML-N which was a major component of the IJI raised by the praetorian powers to subvert PPP’s chances to have access to the corridors of powers, are again locked in an intense blame game reminiscent of the crass politics of the nineties. Some retired generals and the main characters of the episode have also jumped into the fray, particularly General (retd) Hameed Gul who is not only seen defending and justifying the formati

Kashmir dispute

Courtesy:- Malik Muhammad Ashraf Let them decide their own future The landing of Indian troops in Srinagar on 27 October, 1947, on the basis of an instrument of accession, which the Indians claim was signed by the ruler of Kashmir, does not form part of any official record concerning partition and therefore does not have a legal basis. The legal experts are of the opinion that in consonance with Article 7 of the Indian Independence Act all agreements and treaties with the princely states or their rulers stood terminated on 15 August, 1947. Therefore, Maharaja of Kashmir ceased to be the legal ruler of the state and hence was not in a position to sign the instrument of accession.