Nawaz Sharif may not be compensated despite the resignation of the judges, or confessions made by them on video. In the history of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif is among those leaders, and elected prime ministers, who were hounded and victimized by courts.
I am taking up this topic at a time when after Supreme Court Justice Mazahir Naqvi, Justice Ijazul Hassan also resigned from his post and when Nawaz Sharif is going to the court of the public to put up his case. We all remember that in 2017, then courts tried hard to find a single instance of wrongdoing against Nawaz Sharif and failed. Then, they discovered a Dubai aqama and disqualified him. But that was not enough. The judges went ahead and convicted him in a series of cases.
All those cases have gone, proving Nawaz Sharif as a clean man.
What about the judges?
The latest acts unfolding with the resignations of Supreme Court Justices Mazahir Naqvi and Ijazul Ahsan provide a pivotal moment that coincides with the persistent legal battles of Nawaz Sharif, a leader who has found himself entangled in the web of judicial scrutiny throughout the nation’s history.
Now, it is 2024, and Nawaz Sharif is still looking for justice.
Fast forward to today, and all those cases have crumbled, revealing Nawaz Sharif as a man with a clean slate. The question that lingers now is, what about the judges?
The recent resignation of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, third in seniority and poised to assume the chief justice position in October, adds another layer to this unfolding drama.
Following Justice Mazahir Naqvi’s resignation, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah is now set to take the helm as the chief justice after Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa’s retirement in October this year.
President Dr Arif Alvi has accepted the resignations of both judges – Justice Mazahir Naqvi and Justice Ijazul Ahsan, marking a significant shift in the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and the Supreme Judicial Council. Justice Mansoor Ali Shah becomes the third member of the Supreme Judicial Council, and Justice Yahya Afridi joins the Judicial Commission of Pakistan.
Justice Ijazul Ahsan was raising dissenting notes in recent cases, and one such case, in his dissenting note, he raised concerns about the haste in the proceedings against Justice Mazahir Naqvi. Perhaps, the retired judge wanted to drag the reference for years. But his note failed to deter the judicial council leading to resignation of Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi and hos own resignation from the Supreme Judicial Council. This move sparks changes within the judiciary, indicating a shift in the dynamics of power.
The resignation of Justice Ijazul Ahsan, following Justice Mazahir Naqvi, is viewed by the Supreme Court as an attempt to manipulate the political narrative, creating divisions within the judiciary. This strategic move echoes the past, where Nawaz Sharif’s removal and the ascent of Imran Khan were carefully orchestrated.
The judiciary’s alignment with political agendas, especially during Imran Khan’s rise to power, raises eyebrows. A special bench seemingly favored Imran Khan, attacking state institutions, including the Pakistan Army. This has inevitably cast a shadow over the administration of justice.
Now, with the successive resignations of prominent judges, questions arise about a potential plot to strengthen Imran Khan’s political agenda and tarnish the country’s image by creating an illusion of division within the judiciary. However, it is essential to welcome accountability within the judiciary, establishing a tradition that safeguards against conspiracies aimed at the nation’s system and state institutions.
As Nawaz Sharif is going to the court of public opinion, the judicial landscape is answerable to Nawaz Sharif. Only time will reveal the true motivations behind these resignations and their impact on the delicate balance between justice and politics.
