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What, in your view, are the implications on Pakistan’s politics of the Supreme Court’s judgement in the SGS scam case involving former premier Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari?

Please send your opinions at
vf@jang.com.pk

Your Opinion

1. The political implications of the Supreme Court's judgement will only be to the extent of what the Chief Executive General Pervez Musharraf decides in the matter. There can be no other outcome.
   Naresh K. Wadhera
   UK
   
2. The two main implications of the Supreme Court’s decision are: -
   It has helped to extend the political life of Benazir Bhutto.
   General Musharraf is now batting on a weak wicket.
   Kishan Bhatia
   USA
   
3. This new development preceded by the sudden appearance of the Justice Qayyum tapes smell heavily of a conspiracy against this poor country to bring BB back to power to destroy what is left. I guess Benazir’s tilt towards the USA and India on issues relating to Pakistan is starting to pay off.
   
   We as a nation have become totally ineffective and can just sit and wait for others to make decisions for us. May Allah save us from the incompetence and the corruption of Benazir for a third time.
   Tanveer Aslam
   Australia
   
4. This judgement, whatever the merits, puts the ruling military regime on the back foot. Benazir Bhutto, a shrewd lady herself, will try to extract the maximum gain from the episode. Again the international community will be watching what the military does as the next step.
   
   Within Pakistan, there will be more pressure on the rulers by the dissidents and opponents. Unless General Musharraf adopts a cautious and silent approach, he will be in for unpleasant surprises.
   S. Kundy Pee Ibrahim
   India
   
5. The decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan will no doubt give fresh confidence to Ms Bhutto to return to Pakistan and cause chaos once again. Any sane person cannot be blind to the fact that the assets of this family have been acquired over the last twelve years at the expense of the country.
   
   No doubt the decision will also weaken the Musharraf Government and the whole accountability process, since this will now open the floodgates to all aggrieved parties who have been found guilty by the courts, to get their convictions quashed. With the return of Bhutto and the Peoples Party to power, Pakistan will go back to being the world's most corrupt state.
   
   This decision will have far reaching consequences for the future of every Pakistani. In that the achievements and progress made over the last eighteen months to make the country self sufficient and more prosperous will be lost, and we will be condemned to go back to the politics of musical chairs.
   Hanif Mohammed
   UK
   
6. We hear that Benazir is set to return to Pakistan to continue from where she left off. If one glances at the sequence of events, one can get a picture of what is happening. She was dismissed for mass corruption for the second time (this time by her own party man), tried and convicted by the courts causing her to flee the country.
   
   She started canvassing and giving lectures in the US and Europe, for a return to 'democracy'. A report of the tapes appeared in an English eveninger followed by a review of the judgement of conviction. The Supreme Court of Pakistan set aside the proceedings and ordered a fresh trial. BBC flashed her interview on TV.
   
   The drama is unfolding step by step. Are we in for the same agitation, followed by 'elections' and misrule, political killings, extra-judicial killings, hijackings, etc.
   
   In the end, I would like to quote, "History repeats itself & those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it."
   Abdul Hameed Khan
   Karachi
   

1. The Supreme Court’s decision is much more than just a verdict. It's a reflection of the maturity of the people who are at the helm at the moment.
   
2. To fully comprehend the ramifications of this short order, one needs to go into the background leading to this decision.
   
   Benazir in her tenure despised the judiciary. She held the courts in contempt by calling them names. Any Pakistani who remembers her terming Pakistani courts "Kangaroo courts" would know what I mean. This conduct does not speak well for someone who claims to be fighting for democracy and demanding of the despised judges and "Kangaroo courts" to uphold the law.
   
   The other champion of democracy in the land was Mr. Heavy Mandate. He took a lead from BB and went a few steps further than her. He declared war on the judiciary. He publicly humiliated CJ Naseem Hassan Shah. He sent gangs of thugs and mobs to the highest courts to intimidate insult and threaten them.
   
   Now let's turn our attention to the current government and its relations with the judiciary. One key point to remember here is that the current judicial set-up has taken oath under the PCO, which means that all judges are to obey every order coming from the General. In the face of these realities, if the highest court of the land is prepared to give a new lease of political life to a fugitive and politically sick leader, then General Musharraf should be applauded. It really depicts the character of the person. As Abraham Lincoln said "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
   
   General Musharraf having absolute power in the country has demonstrated his willingness to be legally defeated so as to put the past behind and unite every Pakistani to take the country forward.
   Tanveer Ahmed
   UK
   
3. The present verdict will definitely have an instant effect on the politics of Pakistan if Benazir comes back. This is because the majority of our people forget what damage such leaders have caused in the past. These cunning leaders know this weakness of our people and take full advantage of the situation. If Benazir comes back in power for a third time, one can image the resultant catastrophe.
   Shahid Javed Butt
   Turkey
   
4. In my opinion, the recent judgement has proved the impartiality and independence of the judiciary, contrary to the common public opinion in the past of judges acting in favour of the rulers. I recall Miss Bhutto calling the Pakistani courts by her favourite word "Kangaroo courts" very frequently for a long time. She has always tried to damage the integrity of the country's institutions in the foreign media whenever things did not go her way. Now, that the judgement goes in her favour, she openly applauds Pakistan's judicial system. Way to Go!
   
   As far as the impact of the judgement on the political environment of the country, Ms Bhutto has several other references against her which are yet to be decided. She is still not off the hook. The court has just set aside one prior judgement and ordered its hearing again via a competent court of jurisdiction. The recent judgement would have very little or no effect on "Mohtarma's" political career or the country's political environment other than a 'temporary' moral booster for her. She would calm down shortly and things would be back to where they were before the verdict of the Supreme Court was announced.
   Ahsan Bashir
   USA
   
5. The full judgement of the Supreme Court has not been released as yet and we only know that the case has been sent to the NAB court for re-trial. While the conviction of the accused has been set aside, the case against them still stands.
   
   Benazir Bhutto has time and again challenged the credibility of all the courts in Pakistan including the Supreme Court. Now she is boasting that the Supreme Court has acquitted her, which is a delusion.
   
   This development may have other implications, but certainly not favouring Ms. Bhutto. The lady is under the false impression that the whole country is impatient to install her as prime minister again. She must not forget that she was given the opportunity to serve the country twice and she ended up creating and leaving the country in a miserable condition.
   
   The people, with the exception of a few ignorant men and women, are convinced that she is not mentally and morally capable to do anything good for the country and she can only cause disaster for the country. It is better for the country if she stays away.
   Mukhtar Ali Naqvi
   USA
   
6. The Supreme Court’s decision does not make much difference to the muddle that Pakistan politics has turned into. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Zardari are tainted and will remain so.
   
   Nevertheless, there is also a warrant against Ms Benazir for money laundering, issued by the Swiss courts whose impartiality is rather difficult to be questioned.
   Nasah
   USA
   
7. If they are found guilty then they should be barred from any public office. This must be equally applied to all those who are found guilty of embezzling with public trust and money. No one in the eyes of justice is a criminal until the crimes are proven in the court of law.
   Mumtaz
   USA
   
   

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