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E-mail a friendYOUNG VOICES
Hooray for Lawyers
Pakistani lawyers fight with riot police during protest against President Musharraf.
It seems extremely counterintuitive in this society to champion a lawyer. Lawyers and sharks are almost referred to in the same breath, and usually with the same level of contempt. Even in comedy when the joke is: What do you call 10 lawyers at the bottom of the sea - and you hear the reply: a good start, roars of laughter enter a room, lighting up tons of faces.
But the situation in Pakistan has been no laughing matter. In past months and just recently lawyers in Pakistan have been taking bold action refuting the power of Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.
The New York Times cited on Saturday November 3, 2007 that Musharraf suspended the constitution, dissolved its Supreme Court, and shut down privately owned news channels. Musharraf did all of this wearing the hat of general and not president. Many have said this act is similar to declaring a martial law on the country.
It's important to note that the U.S. has been funding Pakistan for years, allowing it to grow its own nuclear power. Concerns are heightened as officials worry about Pakistan's nuclear power, or government structure becomes anti-American.
Lawyers who protested the Musharraf's actions were met with harsh opposition. Police officers used tear gas and beat lawyers who openly rejected Musharraf's most recent moves.
Lawyers are certainly not everyone's favorite, but they sure appear to be taking some heroic stances.
Musharraf's claim is that all of this has been done in order to fight terrorism. Some argue the legitimacy to this statement and ask some critical questions: If a president of a country thought their country were being threatened by terrorist attacks, why would they shut down the courts, suspend the constitution, and put their Supreme Court judges under house arrest as protection?
My question is if you're in an effort to stem terrorist activity why would you pull the agents tracking terrorists and have them start arresting lawyers? If we look at what happened September 11, 2001 Americans know firsthand suspending constitutions and having lawyers arrested is not one of the first priorities.
Are we in a nuclear crisis with the threat of Pakistan leaving America's side? Do you think the lawyers who are willing to be jailed for what they believe is an important matter? What else needs to be discussed in this Pakistani crisis?