Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) – The political and social crisis that seemed to be seriously affecting the country in recent days has been resolved for the time being. The President of Pakistan, Ali Zardari, decided to restore Supreme Court Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry, who had been fired almost two years ago by then President Pervez Musharraf. The decision detained the protests that were coming from various social and political groups like lawyers, human rights groups, Islamic groups, and followers of the Muslim League of Nawaz Sharif. The opposition leader challenged the President and was trying to organize a “march” from Lahore to Islamabad, to denounce the incoherence of Zardari, who in the past had promised to reinstall Chaudhry.
In order to end the crisis, Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani also announced the suspension of the claims against Sharif (who was under house arrest) and free those persons arrested in recent anti-government demonstrations.
The political crisis in Pakistan was a concern to the international community. It was feared that the country could lose stability and fall under power of the Pakistani Taliban and strengthen the terrorist groups in the country. The conflict among powers and among the different factions leaves much room for Islamic extremist groups who are in control of a region on the border with Afghanistan. The extremists, who openly propose doing away with a democratic system, are seeing in the political conflicts, the confirmation of the weakness of the institutions and are reinforcing their intention to impose the sharia.
The problem of the growing Islamic fundamentalism in the country, in a situation of permanent political conflict, has often been denounced by religious minorities and the Catholic Church. In a recent statement sent to the government, the Justice and Peace Commission of the Pakistani Bishops' Conference confirmed that protection and respect for religious minorities in Pakistan continues to be one of the most delicate issues on a social and political level, and one of the sectors most in need of legislation (see Fides 11/3/2009). The document was signed by other ecclesial organizations and civil society organizations of Pakistan. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 16/3/2009)
