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The issue of restoration of the CJ is more about the “step in the right direction”. Lets hope this decision as a watershed moment in our rather ignominious history. It could never have happened before today, without the popular support that we witnessed in recent times.

We need to realize that under the CJP Iftikhar the SC case load was halved from 83,000 cases to 43,000. The SC did not take their usual summer vacation all in an endeavor to reduce the case load.

However, I am sure you would agree that social, intellectual maturation of nation is a process and does not occur in isolation. For example, our private broadcast media played an important role in the current crisis. More and more people got mobilized as a result, which imparted a sense of courage to the judges that they can take the “right” decisions and need not be afraid of a military general any longer. Today, we have a populace that is generally not scared of the military, and openly seeks democratic relief.

Now lets roll back to the time of our previous generation, where FM Ayub stated the democracies is for people of cold climates and does not suit us. Imagine someone giving a statement like that today. Realize that as a nation, we too have come of age — matured substantially.

I am not disagreeing with either of you, instead pointing out that make no mistake we all (including you and I) have a role to play. Road to Democracy requires a Free Press and Independent Judiciary, and warrants ongoing sincere and complete participation and activism from the demos (people). We must continue to do the needful to make sure that the initiative we have gained through the current SC decision is not lost, insha Allah.

It used to irritate me a lot whenever I saw these so-called men of justice claiming they are fighting for the people of Pakistan when every-the-hell-one knows Waqeel gharib aadmi ko kitna _aleel karta hai.

I am afraid this will create a precedence for non-accountability of judges.

Very true! I also am.

Judiciary’s true strength and freedom does not lie in CJP’s restoration, rather, it depends on:

- whether it is able to restore true democracy in the country.

- how quick can our system resolve millions of unsolved, pending cases.

As common people, no one is more interested in what they do to the CJP than being more concerned about one’s case in the court that remains pending no just for a few years, rather, for generations…

If things are moving in right direction. Let it be, let it be.

And I do hope they make him remove his uniform too.