After March 9 and May 12, July 20 has turned out be another milestone in the politically chequered history of Pakistan in general and the superior judiciary in particular. All this and much more has happened and is happening during 2007.
Lawyers community more than four months long struggle for the restoration of the CJP, supremacy of the Constitution and independence of judiciary has met with success.
Lawyers community, civil society and political parties are celebrating the Supreme Court's Full Court historic verdict in jubilant manner all over the country. President General Pervez Musharraf has already more than once categorically stated that the verdict of the apex court on the Presidential Reference will be accepted and implemented without reservations or hesitation whatsoever.
Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has said after the verdict that all, including the government, should accept the Full Court of the Supreme Court of Pakistan verdict with dignity, honour and sobriety.
During the turmoil period Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry had himself stated that he would forget the bitter past after being restored and continue to uphold the Constitution.
The lawyers fraternity through their long struggle has indeed taught a good lesson to the political and religious parties and their leaders provided they are willing to accept the bitter ground realities now.
The lawyers and all those who supported and backed their struggle need a pat on their backs. Now that the CJP has been restored, Justice and Truth have prevailed, there should be no remorse and venom from any side and the Bench and Bar should persist the cordial relations for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law and in all fairness the lawyers should resume their normal professional working straight away.
They have been boycotting the courts, staging sit ins, taking out rallies and processions and in the process their clients, the litigating public, have suffered a lot. Now that they have secured a moral victory, they should better realise their obligations towards their clients and go back to the courts - of course with the same black coats which have been out there on the roads and become a symbol of struggle, unity and integrity.
Now, their clients need them back in the courts and the country needs them to join hands with each other including those on the other side of the fence and launch a united, integrated and committed war on terrorism, extremism and sectarianism. By doing so, they will not be supporting General Pervez Musharraf as such but safeguarding the integrity, solidarity and security of the Motherland which is threatened by a handful of hostile elements. Collective national interests should take precedence over individuals interests as well as differences.
Will the lawyers rise again to the occasion to fight extremist militants and extremists. They may be empty-handed. But their unity and solidarity are their weapons in the war on terror. They can oppose General Pervez Musharraf even afterwards. The stakes are very high now as Pakistan's very existence is threatened. Who is responsible for creating such an extreme crisis like situation can be dilated upon and decided later on, please. Lawyers should now go back to the courts, and start afresh a struggle to eliminate extremism, militancy and sectarianism which confront majority of the people of Pakistan. There will be much more time and occasions for politicking if Pakistan surmounts the internal threats to its security and integrity now.