From the frying pan into the fire

The PML-N, having waited patiently for nearly four months since April 30, the date on which originally the judges had to be restored, finally and justifiably lost patience and quit the alliance. They were already being criticised for having remained in the coalition for too long after the PPP had failed to fulfil its promise of restoration. If they had stayed any longer, they would have lost credibility like the PPP. The conclusion was inescapable that Mr Zardari had used Nawaz Sharif to help oust Musharraf, and then ditched Nawaz Sharif.

The PPP has now started restoring the judges in small lots. Anyone who is willing to take a new oath is being restored; this means that they consider the dictator's unconstitutional act of November 3, 2007 as lawful. When asked if Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry will be restored, PPP's spokesmen say "yes, eventually," which means no. They are playing hide-and-seek with the judges.

Since it was announced that Mr Zardari is a candidate for the post of the president, everyone whom I happen to know is acutely uneasy. They ask why he is a candidate for the presidency when he is so controversial. They ask: can he not be persuaded to give up his candidacy? It may be difficult to convince him; while he is president, he is likely to be immune to prosecution.

What will become of the Lawyers' Movement? Mr Munir A Malik has explained the position of the lawyers very clearly. Talking on a TV programme, he stated that the movement was not for personal gains but was a principled stand in support of the contention that the November 3 action of the dictator was unlawful. As such it will continue, and sooner or later the judges will be restored. The lawyers have announced a two hour boycott of the courts and blockage of traffic at crossings in every district headquarters every Thursday, and have invited all those interested in the rule of law to join in the dharnas in large numbers.