For the sake of our beloved democracy, every well-wishes of Pakistan hopes Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa stands firm on his lofty commitment to all political parties to ensure elections are to be held on February 8, 2024. But then again, for the sake of our beloved democracy, the honourable judiciary is also expected to go the extra mile in ensuring these elections are held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Hands down, the underlying agenda of the election commission is clear to all and sundry. As it actively seeks to obliterate a key player from the field in one way or another, the machinery seems determined to serve power to the blue-eyed and the golden-haired on a silver platter. Ergo, the onus of overseeing the squareness of the deal falls on the shoulders of those who have till now resisted the political pressures. That the judiciary too seems divided when it comes to PTI cannot be denied.
More often than one would like to admit, its appeals and petitions are not analysed by the blindfolded Lady Justice but naked biases of people sitting on the bench. Nevertheless, it would be unfair to lay the blame on just one side. In cases where the gavel wishes to rise above individualistic agendas, those tasked by the party leadership to present their case can be seen embarrassingly fumbling, frantically rummaging about notes or prioritising media interactions over the actual proceedings.
Tilted scales or not, it is downright catastrophic to see the country heading towards an election that will serve no other purpose but exacerbating the fault lines. Even if PML(N) does get carried across the finish line on the shoulders of popular support, would it ever be able to satisfy the long list of discomforting questions based on the unprecedented judiciary relief offered to its premier Nawaz Sharif? While PPP’s Bilawal seems to be toeing an unusual line as he insists on the provision of a level playing field to all parties, a lot of this banter revolves around his wish to overwhelm the Nawaz factor. At this point, only a miracle can allow PTI to come out of the shadows but for that, Mr Khan and his lieutenants need justice on their side. *