We live in a divided, partisan world. Whether it’s governments, countries, parties, families, or individuals, we as humans, move in packs, like animals. It is the instinct of survival that bonds humans together. From systems of monarchy to modern electoral democracy, life is a race based on groups supporting each other in order to keep their vested interests safe and strong. There is one process that levels the playing field for all, the rule of law. No one is above the law, at least in theory. It is the process of law that delivers many a power broker in the world, to be tried as an ordinary person who can be held accountable for his actions and taken to task, regardless of rank, title, power or money. A few days ago in Pakistan, a former General and former President was given the death penalty for treason by lawmakers of the land. An unprecedented move in the history of our homeland, an army general being held to task for crimes against the state. The debate aside of whether it is a political or legal move, it shows the supremacy of the tenets of the law. You screw up, you pay the price. Doesn’t matter if you are General, President, or King. A few weeks ago Prince Andrew abdicated his role in the royal monarchy due to controversial social behaviours. You screw up, you pay the price. Today, in America, a group of law makers voted to impeach the sitting President. Only the third incident in the history of US. Only three US presidents have faced impeachment – Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998 were both impeached, while Richard Nixon resigned before he could be impeached in 1974. He will be tried by the Senate, with the chief justice of the Supreme Court presiding. No sitting president has ever been convicted, yet. Trump was charged with abusing his office, the other charging him with obstructing Congress. These are based on Congress’ investigation into whether Trump attempted to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son. Via impeachment is a Congress has to remove presidents or other federal officials from office if enough lawmakers find them guilty of charges of treason, or other high crimes.
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s mandate has been to institutionalize the process of accountability and law in our homeland, so that no one, including him, is above the law. Recently, a group of lawyers, ironically, beholders of the legal system, broke the law in retaliation to a group of doctors whom they deemed as disrespectful to their colleague. It brings up the issue of whether law makers are above the law. The Prime Minister stuck to his ideals, despite common knowledge that his own nephew was part of the riot. In my book, this is what distinguishes a great leader from a power player. That he did not use his office to show leniency to his own family. This is what Pakistan needs. That just because our own break the law, we pick up the phone and get them off the hook using powers of office. In the end, there is a process of democratic legality which levels the field for bad behavior. You screw up, you pay the price.
Will Donald Trump, General Musharraf, or the PM’s nephew who is absconding, pay the price for their wrong doings? Will the impeached President be actually removed from office? Will the General stand trial? Will Khan’s nephew be held for treason? Three varying levels of abuse of power, three different verdicts, three examples of how the law levels the playing field, here and abroad. You screw up, you pay the price. As everyone should.