Presidential immunity

Monday, November 09, 2009

According to a news item, Aitzaz Ahsan has said that the president will have protection under the “principle of sovereign immunity” and that no court can summon him. This is truly amazing. I always thought all laws in the Islamic Republic were supposed to be in conformity with Islam, according to which, all citizens of the state are equal. Why does the office of president enjoy immunity?

The second caliph of Islam, Hazrat Omar (RA), was publicly questioned in the mosque by a commoner to explain why he was wearing a robe made of a bigger piece of cloth than was allotted to him. If an ordinary man could confront the ruler of the first Muslim state then why can our president not be summoned by the court?

Shakir Lakhani

Karachi
The News, November 09, 2009

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