Law and Legal Issues

August 11, 2010

The right to clean water and sanitation is far less definable and depends on economic development, technology and infrastructure. Above all, if people have a right to water and sanitation, other people must provide it--in practice, governments using public money. Such privileges are called “positive rights,” as opposed to the inaptly-named “negative rights” to things that cannot be taken away from you. So this is really a call for state intervention, at the expense of other priorities and freedoms--and water is no more a practically enforceable human right than other essential commodities such as food, clothing or shelter.

March 16, 2010 

January 08, 2010

The Supreme Court on Wednesday (January 6, 2010), while criticizing the government for the second time, observed that the system in the country was in jeopardy and the concept of democracy would remain shattered until fundamental rights of the citizens were ensured.

August 18, 2009

Our parliament is nothing more than a trade union house of the parasites of Pakistan!

Ask a candidate why he contests elections and he will repeat the slogans and at best the clichés which have no real content, like ‘want to serve the country,’ as Mr. Nawaz Shariff is wont of repeating endlessly. Indeed, that candidate has nothing substantial to say. He is just after status, privileges, ruling elite active membership, and last but not least money.

July 22, 2009

For the last 62 years we the ordinary people of this country have been, and are still being, COERCED in the worst possible and worst imaginable manner by the elite and ruling classes of Pakistan. Take just one example that faces us at the moment: how we the common people are living day and night without electricity under 45 degree centigrade summer heat!

July 10, 2009

Here the point that needs to be highlighted is that government’s power to tax and regulate is not and should not be arbitrary and of the nature of extortion. However, practically and really it is more so in Pakistan. How can one on earth justify the levying of the tax on withdrawal of one’s own money from banks which has already been taxed at so many levels?

June 11, 2009

(1) Any person who abrogates or attempts or conspires to abrogate, subverts or attempts or conspires to subvert the Constitution by use of force or show of force or by other unconstitutional means shall be guilty of high treason. (2) Any person aiding or abetting the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high treason.
[The Constitution of Pakistan]

 Lahore April 3, 2009: The fundamental rights given in the 1973 constitution be treated as core values and made inviolable. This was demanded in a meeting organized yesterday in a local hotel by the Alternate Solutions Institute, first free market think tank of Pakistan. The meeting was attended by students from various institutions and young people in a large number. At this occasion the Institute formally launched its “Sign the Charter of Liberty Campaign.”

March 26, 2009

As every citizen is equal before law, he has equal right to life, property, happiness, dignity and self-respect and that these are not the exclusive privileges of the elite classes should be seen taking place at least in police stations and courts, if not in the public departments and public life. That there has come a qualitative change in the highest seat of justice in Pakistan should be felt by those who live on the edges and do not know anything about this change. They have been living in waiting for this for the last 62 years. First drops of this rain should exclusively be meant for them! That will be the beauty and the blessing of this change!

Lahore March 18, 2009: The Black Coat Revolution of March 16 which is the manifestation of the will of the people of Pakistan needs to be strengthened. The restoration of Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan, to his rightful and lawful position, will ensure the ordinary people of Pakistan their dignity and their fundamental rights. It is tantamount to moving of the Pakistani nation and society in a direction where rule of law, independence of judiciary and supremacy of the constitution will prevail.