Rule of Law Institute » PLM-N

ROLI Condemns Zardari’s Dictatorial Clampdown on Democratic Dissent

Ryan Hancock — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:15:14 +0000

The Rule of Law Institute (ROLI) stands in solidarity with the judges, lawyers and civil society members who, on March 12, 2009, will engage in a non-violent “Long March” to demand the full restoration of the judiciary which was unconstitutionally removed on November 3, 2007. Despite President Asif Zardari’s assurances and signed declarations, the judiciary has still not been fully restored.

In an effort to subvert the Long March, the Pakistani Government has passed emergency legislation to ban democratic dissent, issued detention orders for leaders of the lawyers’ movement and preemptively arrested several hundred opposition political party members and lawyers. Following the imposition of Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, persons may be detained up to three months without charge for asserting their constitutional right to free speech and political assembly.

The ROLI demands the immediate release of all persons arrested and/or placed under house arrest, an end to all preemptive house raids and arrests and the withdrawal of all detention orders issued for the leaders of the lawyers’ movement. Further, the ROLI demands the withdrawal of Section 144 and all other restrictions, which unconstitutionally prohibit free speech and political assembly.

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The Rule of Law Institute (ROLI) aims to defend constitutional democracy wherever around the globe its components are threatened. Democratic societies must respect — and ROLI will promote — principles of separated & balanced powers among government authorities, judicial independence, free and open media, and individual rights consistent with international norms. ROLI also promotes economic opportunity for all and universal access to basic needs including shelter, food, health care and education.

Our organization takes particular interest in countries where the international community has inhibited these principles. ROLI addresses each issue in a variety of ways, including: policy and legal analysis, private diplomacy, investigative & fact-finding delegations, and public education efforts.

PPP and PLM-N In Restoration Stalemate

Ryan Hancock — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:59:49 +0000

The News in Pakistan is reporting that talks in Dubai have concluded without success. “The talks for restoration of judges between Pakistan People’s Party and Muslim

League-N were ended in failure on Tuesday. Muslim League-N delegation is returning home in a flight at 3:00 pm from Dubai after the failure of talks.
According to the sources the leaders of Muslim League-N have told their PPP coalition partners that they could announce about quitting the ministries tomorrow evening. The final decision however will be made and announced by the party chief Mian Nawaz Sharif in a policy statement.”

NA Resolution to Restore Judges Drafted by PLM-N

Ryan Hancock — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:00:28 +0000

The News is reporting that PLM-N has finished drafting a resloution for adoption by the National Assembly. The draft, written by constitutional scholar Fakhruddin G Ebrahim, calls upon the federal government to remove all restrictions placed on the chief justices and judges of the superior courts.

Further, the draft reads in part: “And whereas, this assembly is mindful that the foundation of democracy cannot survive without a return to the rule of law. We are mindful that the rule of law cannot survive the rule of the gun unless we have an independent judiciary. And, we are cognizant that we shall never have an independent judiciary if judges of the superior courts of this country are imprisoned at the whims of a lone individual.”