Author Archives: Faisal Siddiqi
15th March, 2013
Public-speaking judges
A CURSORY look at the daily print and electronic media reveals that judges no longer speak only through their judgments.
A CURSORY look at the daily print and electronic media reveals that judges no longer speak only through their judgments.
18th February, 2013
The Supreme Court debate
THE emergence of a powerful Supreme Court of Pakistan has given rise to a continuing critical debate about the Supreme Court’s functioning and its various judgments.
THE emergence of a powerful Supreme Court of Pakistan has given rise to a continuing critical debate about the Supreme Court’s functioning and its various judgments.
21st January, 2013
The judiciary & military
IS there a connection between the Supreme Court’s recent order against the prime minister in the rental power case and Maulana Tahirul Qadri’s long march? Is the “new anti-democratic establishment” now
IS there a connection between the Supreme Court’s recent order against the prime minister in the rental power case and Maulana Tahirul Qadri’s long march? Is the “new anti-democratic establishment” now
11th January, 2013
Poor man’s justice
TWO hundred and fifty-nine people died in the Baldia garment factory fire tragedy in Karachi on Sept 11, 2012.
TWO hundred and fifty-nine people died in the Baldia garment factory fire tragedy in Karachi on Sept 11, 2012.
2nd December, 2012
Can SC save Balochistan?
ANY functional modern state must have the capacity to administratively deliver, have superiority over the means of violence as well as political legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens. All three elements have ceased to
ANY functional modern state must have the capacity to administratively deliver, have superiority over the means of violence as well as political legitimacy in the eyes of its citizens. All three elements have ceased to
5th November, 2012
Puritanical democracy
BY invoking the criterion of being ‘sagacious, righteous, non-profligate, honest and ameen’ for elected members of assemblies, the significance of the Supreme Court (SC) judgment in the ‘dual nationality case’ lies
BY invoking the criterion of being ‘sagacious, righteous, non-profligate, honest and ameen’ for elected members of assemblies, the significance of the Supreme Court (SC) judgment in the ‘dual nationality case’ lies
15th October, 2012
Why is the SC so powerful?
THERE is a debate in Pakistan about the constitutionality and desirability of the judgments and conduct of the Pakistani Supreme Court (SC). But there is no debate about the fact that the SC has emerged as one of the
THERE is a debate in Pakistan about the constitutionality and desirability of the judgments and conduct of the Pakistani Supreme Court (SC). But there is no debate about the fact that the SC has emerged as one of the
14th September, 2012
Kinship, money and justice
CAN the son of Pakistan’s chief justice be held accountable for his alleged misdeeds? Can individuals wielding the power of money and allegedly influencing justice be held legally accountable?
CAN the son of Pakistan’s chief justice be held accountable for his alleged misdeeds? Can individuals wielding the power of money and allegedly influencing justice be held legally accountable?
13th July, 2012
Judicial democracy
THE removal of prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by the Pakistani Supreme Court was indeed a historic decision.
THE removal of prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani by the Pakistani Supreme Court was indeed a historic decision.
8th July, 2012
Misguided criticism
I WAS trained in law in England but I must confess that the judgments of the superior courts of India, especially the Supreme Court of India, and the legal literature produced by Indian lawyers and
I WAS trained in law in England but I must confess that the judgments of the superior courts of India, especially the Supreme Court of India, and the legal literature produced by Indian lawyers and
26th June, 2012
Judicial sovereigns
THREE judges of the Supreme Court issuing a short judicial order dated June 19, 2012 and consisting of only two pages has led to two dramatic consequences.
THREE judges of the Supreme Court issuing a short judicial order dated June 19, 2012 and consisting of only two pages has led to two dramatic consequences.
21st May, 2012
A defining judicial moment
WAS the prime minister guilty of contempt of court? Shouldn’t the sentence have been stricter? Does the Supreme Court (SC) judgment lead to the immediate removal of the prime minister?
WAS the prime minister guilty of contempt of court? Shouldn’t the sentence have been stricter? Does the Supreme Court (SC) judgment lead to the immediate removal of the prime minister?
26th April, 2012
Judicialisation of economics
THE emergence of an independent Supreme Court (SC) under Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry can be traced to the Steel Mills privatisation case in 2006.
THE emergence of an independent Supreme Court (SC) under Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry can be traced to the Steel Mills privatisation case in 2006.
2nd April, 2012
Acid attack: a case of injustice
DEATH might be inevitable, but must it be preceded by a life that is brutish? Unfortunately, the answer is in the affirmative in the case of the poor and of women in this country. For them life can be short, cruel and end in a violent manner.
DEATH might be inevitable, but must it be preceded by a life that is brutish? Unfortunately, the answer is in the affirmative in the case of the poor and of women in this country. For them life can be short, cruel and end in a violent manner.
19th March, 2012
The immunity mystery
Whether President Zardari has immunity/exemption from all civil and criminal proceedings in courts within and outside Pakistan is a central political and constitutional question at the heart of the present conflict between the PPP political elite and the superior judiciary.
Whether President Zardari has immunity/exemption from all civil and criminal proceedings in courts within and outside Pakistan is a central political and constitutional question at the heart of the present conflict between the PPP political elite and the superior judiciary.
27th February, 2012
Supreme contempt
“There is great disorder under heaven … the situation is excellent” — Mao Zedong
“There is great disorder under heaven … the situation is excellent” — Mao Zedong
3rd February, 2012
Supreme visions
WHO wrote the memo? Will Mansoor Ijaz come to Pakistan or not? Did President Zardari have a role in the memo issue?
WHO wrote the memo? Will Mansoor Ijaz come to Pakistan or not? Did President Zardari have a role in the memo issue?
13th January, 2012
Legal empire
IN the recent Supreme Court Order of Jan 10, 2012 in the cases seeking, inter alia, implementation of the NRO judgment (NRO implementation cases), His Lordship, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa observed: `We are
IN the recent Supreme Court Order of Jan 10, 2012 in the cases seeking, inter alia, implementation of the NRO judgment (NRO implementation cases), His Lordship, Justice Asif Saeed Khan Khosa observed: `We are
6th January, 2012
Supreme memo
A case instituted by a former PM regarding an allegedly treasonous memo involving the Americans.
A case instituted by a former PM regarding an allegedly treasonous memo involving the Americans.
1st January, 2012
The NRO mystery
“The past three years in the history of Pakistan have been momentous and can be accorded the same historical significance as the events of 1947… and those of 1971 … It is in this backdrop that these petitions have been
“The past three years in the history of Pakistan have been momentous and can be accorded the same historical significance as the events of 1947… and those of 1971 … It is in this backdrop that these petitions have been
