IT is a matter of increasing concern for the right-thinking people of the country that our leaders have developed a highly damaging tendency to take constant pot shots at the judiciary, without any justification or provocation. Strangely, they do not seem to be conscious of the consequences of their aberrant behaviour. Railway Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour (ANP), while heaping laurels on President Zardari for the 18th Amendment on the floor of the National Assembly on Wednesday, suddenly went off at a tangent and warned the judiciary against making fun of Parliaments decisions. For, otherwise, it would be difficult for us to respect their decisions, he observed. Apparently, the ANP has been too happy, and euphoric, at the new name proposed for the NWFP in the constitutional reforms package, to contain itself It should rather be concerned over the adverse reaction the proposed name has provoked, in the form of an abiding alienation of the non-Pushtu speaking and nationalist-minded communities of the province. Mr Bilour should have known that while Parliament is supreme, as he pointed out, other pillars of the state also have constitutional obligations and duties to perform. And a most important function of the Supreme Court is that it is the guardian of the Constitution. It is the only institution authorised to interpret it. There is no court of appeal against its decisions on constitutional and legal matters. Its decision on the outlandishly bad law, the NRO, must be unquestioningly accepted. The ANP policy makers should understand that disrespect for the verdict that the government and its henchmen have been showing by evading its implementation, under flimsy and questionable pretexts, has grave implications for the political system under which Parliament has the sanctity and importance it enjoys. Respect for Parliament and the government would automatically follow, as they function to promote the national interest, not when they are seen to be putting up excuses to protect loot and plunder. The SC decision on the NRO is an attempt at setting things right and strengthening the democratic order. Taking issue with the apex court on any matter about which it has clearly and unambiguously pronounced, is neither good for democracy, nor for the person who joins the band of its critics. Mr Bilour would do well to counsel the government, of which he is an important part, not to hesitate to faithfully put the court verdict into effect without further delay. There is no point in trying to gain time, when that tactic damages the system.