Hazrat Ali (RA) had said that a country can survive in disobedience of God but cannot survive injustice'. A country cannot hope to survive in the absence of independent judicial system. What is the yardstick of an independent judiciary? Very simple, go to the common man and ask him. If he has trust in his country's judicial system, the nation is not in peril. Unfortunate is the country where even the Chief Justice cannot secure justice for himself. What hope is there for common citizens in such a country? -ASIF MAHMOOD, Attock, December 27.