Opinion Saudi interlocutions

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia,and the Saudi foreign minister’s “concern” about extremism in Pakistan was carefully tracked in the Pakistani media. The News quoted the foreign office spokesman on March 1: “‘Suffice to say Saudi Arabia is our brotherly country,with which Pakistan enjoys exemplary relations. Let us wait for full details of what India is proposing’.” Dawn,in its editorial on March 2,said: “Manmohan Singh became the first Indian PM to visit Saudi Arabia in nearly three decades and his Saudi hosts clearly rolled out the red carpet for him… But Pakistanis needn’t worry about losing out in a zero-sum game for Saudi Arabia’s attention… The Saudis were simply acknowledging an emerging reality: India is establishing itself as a big regional power,and trade with it is becoming increasingly important for other countries. Afghanistan featured only marginally in the talks… Though the Indians will almost certainly be hoping Saudi Arabia will,when the time comes,try and placate Pakistan over India’s future role in Afghanistan…It’s worth noting,though,that where Pakistan may be interested in Saudi help,India remains fiercely opposed to it: on Kashmir .”

Daily Times also weighed in with an editorial: “Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal made some very interesting remarks during Indian PM Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia . He said Saudi Arabia was ‘worried’ about the rising tide of extremism in Pakistan. One would like to remind him as to the role of Saudi Arabia in fuelling religious extremism in Pakistan… In the 1980s,both Saudi Arabia and Iran competed for influence in Pakistan. Since a majority of Pakistanis are Sunnis,Saudi influence in the country was stronger,ultimately leading to a virulent Wahabi/Salafist ideology…The Taliban are staunch followers of this ‘ideology’.” Questioning Saudi Arabia ‘s integrity,it stated: “Since only Pakistan,Saudi Arabia,and the UAE recognised the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan,the Saudis were great supporters of the antedilvian policies of the Taliban government until September 2001. How is it possible that during these five years while the Taliban gave sanctuary to Osama bin Laden,the Saudis were unaware of it?”

Judging judges

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Judicial crisis revisited Pakistan this week in a new form. Last month’s big reshuffle in the Lahore high court (LHC) and Supreme Court was challenged this week. Dawn reported on March 2: “A constitutional petition filed with the Supreme Court challenged the appointment of Justice Khalilur Rehman Ramday as ad hoc judge,elevation of two LHC judges to the apex court and selection of two retired sessions judges as LHC’s additional judges. The petition,filed by Barrister Zafarullah Khan,referred to the judgment in the 1996 Al Jihad Trust case that the most senior judge should be appointed as the LHC chief justice…” Daily Times added: “These appointments had breached the ‘principle of merit’ and ‘blocked’ the promotion of other deserving judges,he said.” The parliamentary committee on constitutional reforms (PCCR) took note of this development. The debate took a new turn as Dawn reported on March 3: “PCCR agreed on the process of appointment of judges through a judicial commission as mentioned in the Charter of Democracy (CoD),but abolished a condition that the body should be headed by a chief justice who had never taken oath under a PCO (Provisional Constitution Order).” Interestingly,Pakistan’s chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is the only serving Supreme Court judge to have do so in 2000.

Minority report

After the army rescued two Sikhs from the Taliban’s custody on March 1 from Khyber Agency in FATA,Daily Times wrote in its March 4 editorial: “It is heartening they are back and didn’t suffer the unfortunate fate of their companion who was beheaded last month by the Taliban… They have shown no remorse in killing their ‘Muslim’ enemies,be it ‘American spies’ or ‘pro-government’ tribal elders or innocent civilians. However,the state has the responsibility to protect all citizens,particularly minorities,who are at a greater risk of abuse and violence… For a country… whose constitution gives inalienable rights to the minorities as equal citizens,events such as these call for introspection. Pakistan needs to lay the foundation of a state and society that is pluralistic,tolerant and protective of threatened minorities.”