Pak judges' overstepping of authority against govt. posing danger to fragile democracy'

Islamabad, Jan 23 (ANI): Many Pakistanis are of the opinion that the country's Supreme Court is dangerously overstepping its authority against an elected civilian government that could damage their fragile democracy and lead to a new military intervention.

Led by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the judges have since 2009 issued numerous rulings that have propelled them into areas traditionally dominated by government here, The New York Times reports.

In recent weeks, the court has taken interventionism to a new level, inserting itself as the third player between the military and civilian leaders at a time when the relationship between Pakistan and the US is undergoing a troubled phase.

Judges say their expanded mandate comes from the people, dating back to the struggle against the military rule of General Pervez Musharraf that began in 2007, eventually helping to pry him from power.

In recent months, however, the Supreme Court has ventured deep into political arena. Last week it summoned Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to testify in a judicial inquiry, under threat of contempt charges that, if carried to conviction, could leave him jailed and ejected from office.

Now, many in the country view this trend as a threat to their democracy.

"In the long run this is a very dangerous trend," the paper quoted Muneer A. Malik, a former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association who campaigned for Justice Chaudhry in 2007, as saying.

"The judges are not elected representatives of the people and they are arrogating power to themselves as if they are the only sanctimonious institution in the country. All dictators fall prey to this psyche - that only we are clean, and capable of doing the right thing," he added.

The court's supporters, however, have a different view. They believe it is reinforcing democracy in the face of President Asif Ali Zardari's corrupt and inept government.

On Saturday, Justice Chaudhry slammed the critics, saying: The court's goal was to "buttress democratic and parliamentary norms."

"Destiny of our institution is in our own hands," he added. (ANI)