Free judiciary must for survival.

LAHORE - Speakers who addressed a Iqbal Day function have linked the survival, stability and progress of the country to following the philosophy of Allama Iqbal. They maintained that factors like supremacy of the Parliament, rule of law and independence of judiciary were necessary for strengthening democracy in the country. They said that Pakistan could become an independent democratic state if the nation adhered to the philosophy of Allama Iqbal. They stressed the need for strengthening the institutions for the well-being of the people and solidarity of the country.

The Iqbal Day function was held here at Alhamra on Sunday. Markazi Majlis-e-Iqbal organised the function. Former Chief Minister Sindh Ghaus Ali Shah presided over the ceremony while President SCBA Ali Ahmad Kurd was the chief guest. Dr Javed Iqbal, Farzana Raja, Athar Minallah, Attaul Haq Qasmi, Dr Baseera Anbreen and Muneeb Iqbal also addressed the function. Editor-in-Chief TheNation Majid Nizami, Editor TheNation Arif Nizami, Justice Aftab Farrukh, Justice Sardar Muhammad Dogar, Mian Afzal Hayat and Mian Farooq were also present.

In his presidential address, Ghaus Ali Shah said the nation should proceed in the context of the philosophy of Allama Iqbal and fulfil the wishes of Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal with respect to making Pakistan an Islamic welfare state. He said the PML-N was vigorously supporting the movement for the independence of judiciary as its success would ensure independence of the country. He said the movement should not be confined to restoring the judiciary to November 3 position but its scope should be widened to nullifying of illegal acts like that of dismissal of the elected government on October 12, 1999. He hoped that the movement would lead to its logical end and Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry would be reinstated.

He said it was the struggle of lawyers, civil society members and political workers that had sent a dictator out of the President House. He said dictators should be hanged in a bid to stop autocratic rule in the country in future. He said the Army was the dire need of the country but the generals have no right to enter the power corridors. He said this type of attitude of the generals had caused split of the country.

He said that it was a pity that the US air strikes in tribal areas continued with more vigour even after the passage of a unanimous resolution by the parliament.

Ali Ahmed Kurd said that power-seeking generals had damaged the country and spoiled the identity of the people. He said that the movement of lawyers, civil society members and media men had united the nation and brought them on one agenda of independence of judiciary. He said that it was step towards revolution in the country. He said that no power in the world could stop Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from sitting in the court number one of the Apex Court. He said that Abdul Hameed Dogar have to vacate the office for Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry.

Farzana Raja said that the nation had been divided in sects and on the basis of language. She said that this was against the philosophy of Allama Iqbal and sayings of Quaid-e-Azam.

Athar Minallah said that philosophy of Allama Iqbal served as beacon light for the lawyers in their struggle for the restoration of deposed judges and independence of judiciary. He said that the lawyers, youths and the entire nation had decided that the constitution would rule supreme in the country in future. He said that the nation would never forgive the military dictator for violating the constitution.

Dr Javed Iqbal said that the military dictators had been coming to power after every decade due to wrong direction of the political leadership and distance from the philosophy of Allama Iqbal and sayings of Quaid-e-Azam. He said that it was a pity that no one was ready to listen to others view point. He said that the founder of Pakistan wanted to make country an Islamic welfare and modern state but it did not happen. He said that the rulers even failed to introduce philosophy of Allama Iqbal and ideology of Quaid-e-Azam in the syllabus in 60 years.

Muneeb Iqbal stressed upon the need of following philosophy of Allama Iqbal and ideology of Quaid-e-Azam for achieving the goals for which the Pakistan come into existence.

link: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/10-Nov-2008/Free-judiciary-must-for-survival