Apropos the letter ‘Judicial activism’ (July 9) by Shomaila Loan Maker. The writer says: “In a parliamentary democracy, all three branches of government (executive, legislature and judiciary) must function independently and within their delineated boundaries.”

She adds: “The judiciary’s function is to protect the Constitution and to check the exercise of power by state institutions, including protection of law and rights of citizens.” That means she concedes that in certain cases, the judiciary has a right — indeed a duty — to intervene.

Then she says: “Good or bad, Pakistani citizens have the right to choose their representatives, and time must be given for democratic systems to evolve.”

Surely, being elected by voters does not exempt representatives from prosecution for crimes committed now, or in the past. Also, improvements in democratic systems will come over time only if things move in the right direction.

However, in 10 years of ‘democratic’ rule, things have only worsened. Even the elections for the local bodies were held under judiciary pressure, and so was the much-delayed national population census.

Considering our circumstances, what we really need is an empowered National Security Council, including the superior judiciary and the armed forces to keep a watchful eye on the government and to ensure that only honest, capable persons enter the assemblies.

Syed Hashmi
Karachi

Published in Dawn, July 18th, 2018