The “Long March”: A Call for the Rule of Law
"As lawyers who value freedom and the rule of law, we at Harvard Law School want Chief Justice Chaudhry and all of the courageous lawyers in Pakistan to know that we stand with them in solidarity. We are proud to be their colleagues in the cause of justice, and we will do all we can to press for the prompt restoration of constitutionalism and legality in Pakistan."
Harvard Law School Dean Elena Kagan awarding
Chief Justice Chaudhry the Harvard Law School Medal of Freedom, the school’s highest award.
November 13, 2007
Dear Colleague,
I write to draw your attention to the upcoming National March in Pakistan. The march, led by the Pakistani Bar Association, continues the ongoing struggle for respect for the rule of law and an independent judiciary in Pakistan. On March 12, lawyers, civil servants and everyday Pakistanis will march from throughout Pakistan to the capital of Islamabad to demand the reinstatement of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry and a government commitment to respecting the rule of law.
During last year’s constitutional crisis, Chief Justice Chaudhry was illegally removed from office by former President Pervez Musharraf. In response to President Musharraf’s unconstitutional and undemocratic actions, the people of Pakistan, led by Chief Justice Chaudhry, rose up in protest. As a result, democracy was restored. Although democracy prevailed, Chief Justice Chaudhry has still not been reinstated to the Pakistani Supreme Court.
We must remember that the principles being fought for now in Pakistan are the same as those espoused by our own nation’s founding fathers. By respecting the wisdom of an independent judiciary, America has kept a basic promise of our democracy: the peaceful resolution of disputes by the rule of law rather than by force, economic sway or appeals to prejudice. A Pakistan grounded in these same principles represents an opportunity to replace the growing threats of extremism and terrorism.
Sincerely,
André Carson
Member of (US) Congress
