THE Supreme Court Bar Association and the provincial bar associations have challenged the validity of the 21st Constitutional Amendment in the Supreme Court on legal grounds only; without considering the realities on the ground.

The fact that the criminal justice system has failed owing to various factors has not been a matter of concern to the legal fraternity.

The bar associations, had they been serious, could have at least proposed reforms in the criminal justice administration. None of that. Only a point blank ‘no’ to military courts.

No consideration was given to the 50,000 of our brothers, sisters and children who have been killed by terrorist vultures; and no consideration for the cold blooded assassination of a governor by his security guard in broad daylight in full view of cameras (not a whimper from the bar).

On the issue of fundamental rights, the government has for the first time asked a sensible question: “What about the fundamental rights of the 50,000 citizens brutally killed by terrorists?”

Is the bar (and the HRCP) concerned about the fundamental rights of the criminals, militants and terrorists only?

If the ‘fear factor’ does not bother the leaders of the bar, may I ask how many of them would like to volunteer sitting on the anti-terrorism court benches and how many will act as public prosecutors?

Concluding, I would like to appeal to the members of the bar to accept the fact that our country is at war, and these are extraordinary times demanding extraordinary solutions.

Moreover, the 21st Amendment has a sunset clause of two years. So let us move forward as a united nation and rid our country of terrorism in all forms.

Nazim Haji
Karachi

Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2015

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