Karachi, Dec 20: Justice Rana Bhagwandas, who was retired on December 15 by the Musharraf regime, believes that the current extra Constitutional set-up will not be able to sustain itself for too long.

"I think it will hardly survive for two or three months. I am an optimistic man, actually, and I never lose faith in Allah. This spirit keeps me hoping that the (pre-November 3) judiciary will be restored and all the deposed judges will ultimately regain their positions, " he said.

Justice Bhagwandas added that in his view, Musharraf is increasingly being isolated after the recent crises and that the days of his authoritarianism are numbered.

Bhagwandas was the second most senior Supreme Court judge after the deposed Chief Justice, Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry.

Along with over a dozen of his colleagues, the former Supreme Court judge refused to take oath under the Provisional Constitution Order (PCO) of November 3.

Despite having suffered under the current dispensation, Justice Bhagwandas believes the decision taken by a few political parties to boycott the upcoming January 8 polls is unwise.

"It is true that the elections would legitimise all the unconstitutional measures taken, but at the same time, the political parties must attempt to reach Parliament and oppose such legislation, ’ he added.

The parties should not leave the field open for those who are ready to be handpicked by Musharraf, he suggested.

Justice Bhagwandas conceded that the judiciary has played an unimpressive role in 60 years of Pakistan’s history, when democracy was damaged and the judiciary protected illegal and unconstitutional moves taken by both civil and military governments, the Dawn reported. (ANI)