ISLAMABAD: PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari has said that judiciary should not get involved in political issues and should avoid taking decisions of a political nature.

“Justice should not only be done but also be seen to be done,” he said in a statement issued soon after the Lahore High Court’s decision barring the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the Pakistan Awami Tehrik from holding ‘unconstitutional’ marches on Thursday. The former president also urged the government not to obstruct the PTI and PAT marches.

Know more: LHC prohibits PTI, PAT from 'unconstitutional' march and sit-in

He said holding peaceful demonstrations was a basic democratic right of people and political parties.

Justice should not only be done but also be seen to be done

Mr Zardari, who is abroad these days, issued an Independence Day message, in which he urged the people to guard against threats to democracy.

He said people should beware of sinister machinations of the enemies of democracy who appeared to have suddenly and mysteriously become active again.

“Let us on this occasion resolve to squarely face the enemies of democracy and not let them derail democratic institutions of the state. Let us resolve to collectively protect and defend democracy and to make Pakistan a truly modern, dynamic and progressive country in which there will be no place for militancy, extremism and dictatorship.”

He said people should protect the constitution and not to allow it to be subverted nor democratic process to be derailed.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2014