The coalition government has been lured into a classic red herring trap by the forces determined to destabilise the nascent democratic order. While Nawaz and Asif have been made overconcerned with the Judges case, by falling into a debate on the issue. Either Asif was with it or not. If he was he should have issued instructions on the restoration, and left it at that. If not, then walk away from the Bhurban Declaration. Focussing solely on the judges to the exclusion of all else has allowed the enemies, considerable in number, to group together and to chip away at the coalition. Even more alarming is the run on the rupee. A few months ago in an earlier piece I had written on Salman Shah allegedly advising that the market would drop 5000 points i.e. 20 billion dollars, if the opposition forces continued in their criticism. I had even raised the issue with the Governor State Bank in a private conversation, and she assured me that she would take up the matter with Doc Salman, to prevent a crash. However, the recent run on the rupee may also be read in the same context, for both, once started have a dynamic of their own, with disastrous consequences. If this is a plot, then surely it is the mother of all conspiracies, and the government is taking the wrong course. We should not impose any restriction, but catch the speculators, and deal with them the way the Malaysians did. The buying should be documented, and any undocumented dollars not just be confiscated but fined heavily. The coalition must resume its governing, without any hiccups, and get away from the paralysis that seems to have set in. The media is determined to follow the CJ's case. So be it. What the people have not realised is that a Judge after he has been appointed normally assumes a conscience, which then dictates to him his own independence. Example in point is the case of Sajjad Ali Shah who as chief justice turned on his appointing authority and had to be removed by incredible skullduggery - his erstwhile protagonists both having suffered at his hands are now members of the grand coalition. The point being that after taking the oath judges do tend to go independent. Right now it would be difficult to toady to the government of the day without being lampooned by the media, and a stint on Hum Sub Umeed Say Hain would be automatic. Sajjad Ali Shah should not be considered a maverick but independence grows from within, in most judges. That is why so many of our judges did not take dictation hence refusal by so many on the PCO. Nawaz and Asif should have told the PM to issue a one liner. For the restoration and not invite a discussion. Everybody is giving an opinion, and will if invited to do so. The PM must decide, and then defend the law. Before the act there will always be a divergence of views. That is what lawyers are paid for, and good at. Nawaz and Asif should just get on with it. To be afraid of resurrecting a maverick is not the danger. The reality is that with any judge one must obey the law. Isn't that the point. To approve a wimp is no guarantee on his future behaviour nor is it licensed to break the law. The inherent danger in the dilly-dallying, serves only to convey an impression of weakness. As in nature, weakness is always taken advantage of. In the political world it is doubly dangerous, so the sooner the coalition partners get on with governing the better. There are enough sharks lurking about while the rumblings have started and soon the public will be on the streets yelling for the good old days. The signals of indecision, or deadlock, are not welcome. For Pakistan in its sensitive location, placed at the hub of terror this yo-yoing is neither safe nor acceptable. We Pakistanis have a history of political adventurers, and the invitations seem to be going out. The major player is the phantom of the establishment who removed Nawaz, and then Musharraf, and now have already created a weak coalition, that is seemingly at a deadlock, without admitting it. This must be broken, Bhurban, Dubai or London - just get on with it.