Furthering instability

Political instability deepens in Pakistan as Speaker Ayaz Sadiq defies Supreme Court orders, escalating tensions.

The coalition government's refusal to act upon the apex court decisions is furthering political instability. The resolve afresh from Speaker Ayaz Sadiq that he will "not comply with the Supreme Court's order regarding the reserved seats case" is a step towards the brink. This policy decision of the government has put the ECP too in a catch-22 situation. It is mandatory for the electoral watchdog to obey the top court orders and notify the PTI legislators on reserved seats, but it finds itself in a dilemma as the executive wants it to abide by the dictates of the parliament. This defiance on the part of the executive and the legislature has led the eight judges - who, as part of a 13-member bench of the top court, ruled in favour of the PTI in the reserved seats case - to clarify twice that non-compliance with the July 12 verdict is not an option.

The new decorum of the Supreme Court, in the wake of Qazi Faez Isa's exit, has come with new undercurrents. It will not be easy for the embattled dispensation to restrict the superior judiciary for long. What needs to be understood is that working with the opposition and upholding the dictates of law is the best way to move forward, helping in lowering political tensions and, likewise, contributing to economic revival and social peace. This standoff for the last two years has bred contempt and organs of the state are in a state of quandary.

The political rift is now being voiced with full throat at international forums as calls mount for respecting human rights and ending victimisation of political opponents. Just on the heels of the letter written by 62 US Congressmen to President Joe Biden stating reservations on political excesses and illegal detentions, legislators from the British House of Commons too have called for the release of ex-PM Imran Khan. The British parliamentarians have sought Foreign Secretary David Lammy's intervention to subdue the tense situation and work for political relief. The piece of advice is one of rationality and letting law and Constitution take its course.