Open Letter To CJP by Concerned Citizens 06.04.22 [PDF]

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An Open Letter to the Honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan by Concerned Citizens on the prevailing political and constitutional crisis 06.04.2022 Dear Justice Umar Ata Bandial,

We are a group of senior academics, civil society representatives, and concerned citizens. We are writing to put forth our grave concerns over the prevailing political and constitutional crisis. We are sure that your unwavering commitment to the Constitution of Pakistan and unbounded passion for justice will guide the nation through these troubled times and hope that you will give due consideration to our assertions below:

The Constitution of Pakistan represents the social contract between the state and the society. It provides the framework to govern the country. It is the basis for cooperation between the federating units. It is a sacred covenant between all sections of the society and the ultimate expression of the collective will of the people. It guarantees the fundamental rights of citizens and provides due process to place necessary limits on the exercise of executive authority. Unconditional and strict adherence to the constitution is the only way to establish and sustain a peaceful, civilized and prosperous society and avoid widespread lawlessness and anarchy.

We have noted with enormous distress the aggressive and contemptuous manner in which the Constitution of Pakistan was violated by the outgoing government. This is a major threat to the social cohesion and well-being of the nation. This action has brought us to the ignominious juncture where the ‘doctrine of necessity’ is again being invoked by some to suspend due process and violate the fundamental right to vote on the basis of unsubstantiated claims of alleged foreign interference in the political process.

The decisions you take today concerning the supremacy of Constitution will shape the destiny and trajectory of our national existence. As concerned citizens, we therefore request that following principles are considered while addressing the matter:

1. The due process prescribed in the Constitution must be followed in letter and spirit and no compromises be made under any pretext to justify unlawful and unconstitutional actions. 2. Responsibility should be fixed in case subversion of the Constitution is established during the proceedings and exemplary retribution ensured to deter any future excesses. 3. An independent judicial commission comprising serving judges of the Supreme Court should be established to adjudicate the evidence regarding the alleged foreign conspiracy to subvert the political process in the country. 4. All state institutions must be directed to remain in their constitutional boundaries. 5. Political process must be allowed to proceed unhindered and take its own course within the confines and in accordance with the Constitution. 6. All political parties must be directed to avoid hate-mongering and deepening social fissures on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations and assertions.

The honour and well-being of our future generations lie only in adherence to the Constitution and inclusive politics epitomizing mutual acceptance of mandates, a level playing field, and the basic norms of decency.

Today, we pin all our hopes on your lordship to uphold the Constitution and stand by the people of Pakistan in this hour of need.

Sincerely,



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SIGNATURES: # Name 1. Dr. Zafar Mirza 2. 3. 4. 5.

Gen. Talat Masood Amb. Shafqat Kakakhel Ms. Khawar Mumtaz Prof. Salima Hashmi

6. 7.

Barrister Salman Akram Raja Mr. Muhammad Tahseen

8. 9. 10. 11.

Mr. Nasir Zaidi Mr. Harris Khalique Dr. Tariq Banuri Mr. Karamat Ali

12.

Mr. Farooq Sumar

13. 14. 15. 16.

Dr. Ayesha Razzaque Mr. Reza Rumi Dr. A. H. Nayyar Ms. Nighat Said Khan

17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36.



Affiliation Former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Writer and Commentator Former Deputy Executive Director of UNEP Social Activist Professor Emeritus, Beaconhouse National University; Former Principal National College of Arts Advocate Supreme Court Founding Executive Director SAP-Pakistan; National Coordinator, Pakistan Civil Society Forum Secretary General, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Poet and Author Chairperson, Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Executive Director, Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research Former Chairman, National Textile Foundation

Educationist and Op-Ed Contributor Naya Daur Media Physicist and Author Director and Founder, The Applied Socio-Economic Research Resource Centre Mr. Najam Sethi The Friday Times Mr. Naazir Mahmood Author and Activist Mr. Afzal Butt Former President, Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists Mr. Peter Jacob People's Commission for Minorities Rights Mr. Afrasayab Khattak Former Senator and Chairperson HRCP Mr. Ammar Ali Jan Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement Mr. Adnan Rehmat M Journalist and Civil Liberties Campaigner Ms. Nida Aly Advocate High Court, AGHS Legal Aid Cell Prof. Ishtiaq Ahmad Academic and Author Mr. Azaz Syed Journalist and Author Mr. Farooq Tariq General Secretary, Pakistan Kissan Rabita Committee Mr. Mohsin Baig CEO Online International News Network; Editor-in-Chief Daily Jinnah Dr. Fateh Marri Vice Chancellor, Sindh Agriculture University Mr. Muhammad Aamir Rana President, Pak Institute of Peace Studies Mr. Aamir Ghauri Journalist Ms. Amber Rahim Shamsi Director, CEJ-IBA Prof. Naazish Ata Ullah Former Principal NCA Dr. Ijaz Khan Former Chair of International Relations, University of Peshawar Ms. Marvi Sarmad Human Rights Activist Mr. Nadir Cheema SOAS, University of London

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37. 38. 39. 40.

Prof. Amin Mughal Mr. Ali Usman Qasmi Mr. Fayyaz Baqir Mr. Rafiullah Kakar

41. 42. 43. 44.

Mr. Kapil Dev Dr. Rinchan Ali Mirza Dr. Zoha Waseem Dr. Yasser Kureshi

45.

Dr. Ali Raza

Political Activist Associate Professor of History, LUMS Academic and Author Director, Strategic Planning and Reforms Cell, Government of Balochistan Human Rights Activist Assistant Professor, University of Kent Asst. Prof. in Criminology, University of Warwick Postdoctoral Fellow, Trinity College, University of Oxford Associate Professor of History, LUMS

46.

Dr. Danish Khan

Asst. Professor Franklin and Marshal College, USA

47. 48.

Dr. Adnan Rafiq Dr. Arif Naveed

Public Policy Analyst Asst. Professor of Education, University of Bath

49. 50. 51.

Mr Aniq Zafar Dr. Zain ul Abdin Dr. Syed Jaffar Ahmed

52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68.

Ms. Soha Ahmed Professor Charles Amjad-Ali Mr Adnan Amir Dr Rana Jawad Asghar Ms. Tahira Habib Dr. Muhammad Usman Ilyas Prof. Ahmad Ali Khan Mr. Asim Khan Mr. Farooq Ahmed Khan Mr. Haroon Khan Mr. Taimur Malik Mr. Arshad Mirza Dr. Ashraf Nizami Mr. Sajid Mansoor Qaisrani, Mr. Shahrukh Nawaz Raja Mr. Javed Rasheed Mr. Adeel Shafqat

69. 70. 71. 72. 73.

Mr. Abdul Wadood Mr. Nasir Mansoor Mr. Tahir Hussain Shah Mr. Habib Tahir Ms. Sameen Siddiqi

74. 75. 76. 77. 78.

Ms. Hiba Siddiqi Ms. Ghazala Malik Mr. Sheharyar Khan Mr. Arshad Butt Mr. Shafqat Munir

Communications and Business Strategy Advisor Former DG Research and Development, HEC Director, Institute of Historical and Social Research, Karachi Data Scientist Professor Emeritus, Luther Seminary, USA Correspondent, Nikkei-Asia, Pakistan Field Epidemiologist & Writer Concerned Citizen Associate Professor, University of Jeddah Former Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Peshawar Concerned Citizen Cholistan Development Council Concerned Citizen Director Public Services, SAP Middle East Baidari, Sialkot President, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Former Chairperson, Pakistan Humanitarian Network Development Professional Concerned Citizen Associate Director, Centre for Economic Research in Pakistan Concerned Citizen General Secretary, National Trade Union Federation Advocate Supreme Court, Quetta Advocate Supreme Court, Chairperson HRCP, Quetta Chair, Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi PhD Candidate in Economics, University of London Concerned Citizen Development Economist, Public Policy Specialist Writer and Social Activist Development Consultant

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79.

Dr. Shimail Daud Arain

80.

Mr. Haider Bhurgri

81. 82.

Qazi Azmat Isa Q Mr. Sabookh Syed

83. 84. 85.

Mr. Khalid J. Butt Mr. Mubashir Tariq Mr. Raja Amer Iqbal R

86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116.

Mr. Zafarullah Khan Mr. Muhammad Aftab Alam M Ms. Afia Salam Mr. Saleem Malik Mr. Khayyam Mushir Mr. Zaigham Khan Mr. Arshad Mahmood Dr. Arif Azad Mr. Ammar Masood Mr. Faizullah Jan Mr. Xari Jalil Mr. Nadeem Iqbal Mr. Jami Chandio Mr. Murtaza Solangi Ms. Mujeeba Azhar Ms. Sanober Nazir Ms. Ismat Jabeen Mr. Raja Saad Mr. Zulfikar Rao Mr. Arsalan Vardag Mr. Arif Taj Mr. Farman Ali Mr. Imran Shirvanee Mr. Mukhrar Ahmed Ali Mr. Anis Jilani Mr. Altaf Hussain Mr. Arieb Azhar Mr. Hasan Zaidi Ms. Zainab Dar Mr. Athar Usama M Mr. Adnan Satar

Former President Rawalpindi Chambers of Commerce and Industry Former Director Institute of Educational Technology, AIOU Development Practitioner Editor IBC Urdu, Chairperson Digital Media Alliance for Pakistan Businessman Academic Former President Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Convenor Parliamentary Research Group Lawyer and Human Rights Activist Environmentalist Rights Activist and Writer Writer and Analyst Journalist and Writer Child Rights Activist Public Health Policy Expert Columnist Academic Digital Journalist Consumer Rights Campaigner Scholar Journalist Women's Rights Activist Rights Activist Journalist Sociologist and Rights Campaigner Rights Activist Lawyer Academic Journalist Journalist Right To Information Advocate Child Rights Campaigner Gilgit-Baltistan Policy Institute Musician Journalist and Filmmaker Academic Academic and Public Policy Expert Academic





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