News is in; the poor bakery employee of “Cake Gate” changed his statement in the court.

In his new statement, he denied he was kidnapped. He also absolved son-in-law of Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab from any involvement in the abuse he suffered. No surprises there. We were not expecting the poor fellow to stand against the might of the Sharifs.

Perhaps, he caused himself self-harm. Perhaps the whole world saw ghosts hitting him and dragging him to the waiting vehicle. Whatever it was, it wasn’t real. It was figment of our imaginations. Or perhaps cameras playing tricks on all of us, it actually was reflection of light.

Faisal Raza Abidi and some other leaders of PPP have levelled accusation of “Sharifs courts” in the past. Without condoning the behaviour of Abidi against the courts, it can be said with certainty now that Sharifs get away with a lot in Pakistani justice system.

What is at stake in this incident is not only the credibility of lower courts in Punjab, but the whole system of governance in Punjab under Sharifs. Irfan has also absolved “elite police force” of Punjab from any involvement. This statement is directly challenging the intelligence of millions of Pakistanis around the world who have seen both the son-in-law of Shahbaz and the personnel of elite force involved in physical abuse of the poor worker.

What at stake here are the rights of ordinary citizens of Pakistan. If the courts in Pakistan do not take stand on this issue and uphold the video evidence as prime source of guilt then millions of Pakistanis would be entitle to conclude “law of the Jungle” is operating in Pakistan, where “might is always right”.

What is stake here are the rights of ordinary citizens of Pakistan to have access to fair and impartial Justice. For them to get the justice without duress, without fear of persecution, fear to their lives, fear to their livelihood. In a country where the highest court in the land takes Suo Moto action against such trivial matters as two bottles of alcohol. A poor guy can be abused then put under duress to change his testimony enabling the power to be to go scot free. While the judiciary by accepting the changed testimony of the victim becomes party to the injustice done to poor of Pakistan for decades by the power to be.

Perhaps we should all stand up against such injustice and abuse of power by Sharifs. There is no denying the fact that Sharifs for decades have got away with paying no substantial taxes while maintaining life styles of “Kings”, well beyond their means. There is no denying the fact that despite repeated comments and excuses by many PMLN leaders in talk shows, the properties bought in the UK by the Companies managed by Hassan Nawaz were not merely financed by bank loans according the submitted financial statements.

In Pakistan these are trivial matters, because there might is right. This is in fact another test for Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Pakistan, if Sharifs gets away from such abuse of power once again. Pakistanis would start to think may be just may be Faisal Raza Abidi had a point.

For Pakistanis the justice should not only be done, but they should be able to witness the justice in operation; for the masses to have any trust in the rule of law in Pakistan. Otherwise, they have a right to conclude “law of the Jungle” is operating in Pakistan.

I for one, appeal from the Chief Justice of SCP to intervene in this matter and request him to come to the rescue of Justice System in Pakistan. Surely this matter is far more important than having two bottle of alcohol in your luggage. My lord you should intervene and stop such abuse of power by the ruling elites. Poor of Pakistan needs you to stand with them against such flagrant abuse of power by Chief Minister of Punjab Mr Shahbaz Sharifs.

When Shahbaz Sharif submitted his son-in-law to the law enforcing agencies in Punjab to avoid negative publicity at the time. No one was expecting a different outcome, knowing the modus operandi of Sharifs for decades.

We have become accustomed to watch such soap operas on the political screens of Pakistan. No one in their right mind was expecting the son-in-law of the Chief Minister to either remain in the police cell for long or held responsible for physical abuse of a poor citizen of Pakistan.

My lord this is the time to restore our faith in the judicial system of Pakistan. There is lot at stake than just one man’s dignity and well-being here. This drama of “might is right” is played every day in every corner of Pakistan. Shouldn’t it be your responsibility as head of the judiciary to stop such abuses from power to be and restore the faith of a nation in its judicial system?

Blogger Intro

"The Blogger is a Post Graduate in Business and Economics. An independent political analyst and researcher, with over 5 years experience in the media."

• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook