A mockery of law

Jokhio was found murdered at the legislators’ farmhouse in Karachi, since then on it has been a tale of hide and seek

Dispensing justice in the Nazim Jokhio murder case has become a test case. The daredevil twists and turns that the state prosecution has taken to salvage the accused is disgusting, and a mockery of law. It is also unbecoming of elected representatives, who are supposed to be humble while upholding the rule of law. But in this case the two legislators belonging to PPP, who were booked in the murder case, are seen flouting laws to their end and literally bringing the judicial process to a naught. To further ridicule the situation, their names too have now been struck out of the final challan presented before the court. What more can you ask for in erecting a dual carriage of lawful hypocrisy and that too right under the nose of the ruling dispensation, which seems to be in complete cahoots with the assassins?

Jokhio was found murdered at the legislators’ farmhouse in Karachi and since then on it has been a tale of hide and seek. MNA Jam Abdul Karim Bijar, the primary accused, went absconding abroad, only to resurface at the vote of no-confidence motion under the shameful patronage of a political party, which prides itself in being a harbinger of human rights. So is the case with MPA Jam Awais Bijar, who too is at large. This mode of deception and criminal connivance on the part of the Sindh government is outrageous. No human consideration was exhibited towards the victim’s family nor was the law allowed to take its course. Rather, Jokhio’s widow was shamefully made to go viral on a recorded video message, wherein the poor soul was seen pardoning the suspects. This is abject feudalism, and power arrogance at its worst.

While the case pertains to anti-terrorism clauses, the accused shouldn’t be allowed to go off the hook. The State must prosecute the culprits, and ensure that justice is seen to be done. There is no room for any patch-up, and it shouldn’t be the case at all even if the victim’s family gives up under duress. What are the perils in punishing the rich and the powerful? Why can’t we let law exercise its writ? How long are we going to cut a sorry figure and allow travesty of justice? The state should take cognizance of tampering with the challan, stringently scrutinise the leniency at work by shunting out the black sheep, and ensure exemplary retribution.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 15^th, 2022.

Like Opinion & Editorial on Facebook, follow @ETOpEd on Twitter to receive all updates on all our daily pieces.