From the frying pan into the fire

During the days before Musharraf's resignation, I had reached a state of hopelessness and helplessness. After sixty years, this nation which was asleep woke up as a result of Musharraf's dismissal of the chief justice. The society was electrified. The lawyers and the civil society continued the protest movement for eighteen months against all odds. Yet despite all this, the result was zero. Neither the judges had been restored nor Musharraf removed.

However, when Musharraf resigned, the nation heaved a sigh of relief, and hope returned. The movement had finally borne fruit, having ousted the dictator, which was a great achievement. Despotism was at an end and the democratic forces were in charge; they would now set the house in order.

This impression was strengthened by the fact that a few days before Musharraf's exit, the major coalition partners (PPP and PML-N) vowed in writing to restore all the deposed judges within 72 hours of the general's departure. It seemed that Pakistan's nightmare was about to end, and that democracy and rule of law would prevail. However, while Musharraf did in fact depart, the 24 hours came and went but the judges were not restored. Thus, PPP broke its promise of the restoration of judges for the third time.