Opinion Judiciary vs government

On July 27,Daily Times reported that,on the court’s directive,Ahmed transferred Asghar back to the FIA and re-assigned to him leadership of the investigation into the Haj scam. In reaction to this move,Ahmed was made OSD a few hours later. “According to sources,the action against the establishment division secretary was taken on the ground that he transferred Asghar,who was serving as the inspector general of Gilgit-Baltistan police,without taking the chief minister into confidence.”

The News,on July 28,cited sources saying that during a cabinet meeting,the PM expressed his discontent over the ongoing drama and reportedly said that “there was a limit to everything and the situation had reached to such an extent that there was an intervention in his authority. Speaking in an emotional manner,the prime minister said that secretary establishment Sohail Ahmed was removed since he had exceeded his powers.”

Dawn updated the news on July 29: “The supreme court on Friday gave the federal government seven days’ time to reinstate Sohail Ahmed to the post of establishment secretary…”

The Express Tribune reported on July 29 that the PM and President Zardari met coalition partners and decided to not “give in” to any “arm-twisting” from the judiciary. The ruling PPP and the judiciary have locked horns earlier too,on issues like the national reconciliation ordinance. The report stated: “President Asif Ali Zardari and PM Yousuf Raza Gilani had a two-and-a-half-hour long meeting with leaders of coalition parties at the Presidency on Thursday night. The meeting was briefed about the ongoing situation,which has seen the judiciary once again put its foot down in the face of what it terms non-cooperation on the part of the government in high-profile corruption cases. ‘The government does not want confrontation with any institution including the judiciary but the executive cannot hand over its powers to any other institution,’ a participant of the meeting quoted President Zardari as telling the meeting.”

Pillionless Karachi

Karachi’s political,sectarian and ethnic violence continued this week,with 30 deaths in just two days. As a damage control measure,the government banned pillion riding in Karachi,reported Daily Times on July 25: “Sindh home department on Sunday imposed an indefinite ban on pillion riding in the metropolis after rising incidents of violence. It issued a notification banning pillion riding for an indefinite period from Monday (12 am). According to the notification,senior citizens,women,children and journalists will be exempted from the ban.” The News reported on July 25 that 17 people,including activists of the MQM and Ahle Sunnat Wal-Jamaat,were killed. Citing a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan report,Dawn reported on July 25 that 490 people were killed in targeted killings in Karachi in the first half of the year.