CJ Meeting with PM

As the nation waited eagerly for the promised good news the airwaves emanating from all TV channels in Pakistan from 3:30 p.m. onwards were abuzz with the news and views on the CJP meeting with the PM. Apart from the clippings showing the PM cordially receiving the CJP and the two exchanging pleasantries, the TV anchors remained animatedly engaged in obtaining the views and comments of the legal experts and other analysts on the propriety and outcome of the meeting. Amongst the commentators a clear divide was visible. Some praised the meeting as a good omen for the future of the democracy in the country, while others considered it unprecedented, potentially unproductive and against the norm. However, what really surprised me was the level of the discussions and comments of some of the analysts who were just hollow and shallow. Imagine the ignorance of one so-called senior advocate who po mpously narrated the story of the first CJP Mr. Justice Sir, Abdul Rashid declining to meet with the then PM Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan, and – lo and behold – according to the heavy weight advocate – “the Registrar of the Chief justice conveyed to the MILITARY SECRETARY of Nawabzada Liaqat Ali Khan that since there were a number of cases against the government pending before the superior court he could not meet with him. First of all, for his information the Prime Ministers then did not use to have military secretaries. This regalia was brought by ZAB who while stepping down from the Presidency brought all the protocol baggage of the President – the ADCs, the Military Secretary, the National Anthem et al with him to the Prime Minister’s House. Secondly, there were not a ‘number of cases’ before the Federal Court of Pakistan – as was the Supreme Courts of Pakistan known then - but only one case that of the dismissal of the NWFP government by the Governor Genera! l Muhamm ad Ali Jinnah. Thirdly, the PM Liaqat Ali Khan had not asked for some specific meeting with the CJP but had invited him to an official dinner that he (Liaqat Ali Khan) was to host in the Governor’s House Lahore. The CJP didn’t want to take a chance by attending the dinner lest he was seen exchanging the greetings and pleasantries with the PM, which was bound to happen. So much for the knowledge of the judicial history of Pakistan of one of the most knowledgeable advocates of ours!!

Now a word about the gate crashing by the PM. Such an unannounced, unexpected and uninvited presence of the Chief Executive of the country would have been a pleasant surprise for anyone and an equally magnanimous and modest gesture on his part on any other occasion but not this one. The formal dinner was being hosted by the CJP to bid farewell to Mr. Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday on his retirement. As such Justice Ramday was the Chief Guest or the Guest of Honour for the evening. No one superior in status to him should have been, therefore, here as that would tantamount to lessening his importance.

But --- I suppose  these are the finesses of protocol not known to many. God alone knows why has He blessed us with such leaders and such advocates.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)