Reinstatement of the Chief Justice of Pakistan is indeed a victory for the entire nation. It’s perhaps for the first time in a generation that ordinary Pakistanis, led admirably by the lawyer community, mobilized around a core domestic issue. Without brand name politicians in lead, they raised their voice and the movement for the independence of judiciary took root nationwide. Despite what Maulana Fazl ur Rahman claimed at the Multi-Party Conference is London, this was not a struggle for the sake of an individual – a welcome rarity in our history. It clearly was for the sanctity of an institution and the rule of law.


Perhaps most profound is the verdict’s impact on the psyche of ordinary Pakistanis (or “Mohammad Din’s” as Justice Ramday frequently called man on the street during the SC proceedings). In a country where people are denied basic justice, rules are manipulated daily to ensure that the mighty prevails, and institutions are systemically destroyed for individual gains, today’s verdict goes a long way in restoring confidence in the system, in the rule of law and, perhaps most critically, in the vitality of a grass roots movement. History will see this decision as one that empowered common citizenry of Pakistan. For it was at the end of the day, the ordinary Mohammad Din’s who brought about this change – those who lined up the country’s highways for hours to receive CJP on his visit to local bar associations. And those who gave their lives on May 12th in Karachi and this past week in Islamabad.


This new found vitality in the civic society in Pakistan must build on the momentum formed. The SC verdict could not have come on a better day. Today, the nation is on the verge of a civil war. Hundreds have been killed in the past week in suicide bombings through out the country. Let this be an occasion to forge unity. For Pakistan’s very existence and integrity is at stake. With the general elections around the corner (we hope), there is an opportunity to translate this momentum into a broader movement for full and unreserved democracy and a violence-free society. Today’s events have showed us again that collective action can change a nation’s course – people’s resolve on a principled stance does ultimately prevail. And, yes, even in an imperfect society like ours. No intelligence agencies, no forced disappearances, no state-sponsored thugs killing civilian protestors can deny justice and victory for the right cause – if the citizenry has the conviction and self-belief to lead the way.