LAHORE: Judicial crisis has certainly changed the political dimensions. Opposition and government have been compelled to change their priorities and strategies in the prevailing judicial crisis. It has become the centre of focus.

What will be the end of this crisis? When it started Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry expressed no confidence on three judges of the Supreme Judicial Council. Hence a demand for a full court hearing came from the CJ's side.

President Musharraf pledged that decision of the full court will be acceptable to the Government. On the other side full court was constituted on the demand of the CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry. So the logical end to the crisis would be the decision of the full court.

All eyes are on the full court. As the proceedings progressed people tried to sense the mood of the court. Observations and remarks made by the judges of the full court during the hearings got spaces like lead stories of the newspapers and channels.

However, now a new version has emerged from the CJ's lawyers. In speeches at Multan lawyers have said that if the full court's verdict is against them than they will not accept the decision, and their agitation will continue. Thus meaning that the verdict of the full court will only be acceptable if it is in favour of their side.

This has once again created a question mark on the logical end of the judicial crisis. It would be unfair to the basic norms of the justice that a verdict of the highest court of the country will only be acceptable if it is in your favour.

Senior diplomatic circles and other independent observers of the crisis have also conveyed their displeasure on the recent statements of the CJ's lawyers. Justice demands that CJ's lawyers should withdraw their statement and should immediately pledge their full confidence on every decision of the full court.

-- The Post