Weaponising the law

In Pakistan, if you are disliked by the government of the day or the powers that be, there is a good probability that you will be booked under the Anti-Terrorism Act or a similar law which carries heavy penalties. Iman Mazari, a prominent lawyer at the forefront of human rights abuse cases, has been booked under the ATA along with her spouse. Earlier this week, a video shared on social showed the lawyer removing barricades from a road in the federal capital placed to halt traffic for the security of the England cricket team's convoy. The offence at the most required a disorderly conduct charge. Amnesty International decried the lawyer's "violation of rights to due process" and added that it was "another example of abuse of the Anti-Terrorism Act". Similarly, two sisters of former premier Imran Khan were booked under terrorism provisions in connection with D-Chowk violence.

Such detentions are not an isolated incident. It reflects a pattern of escalating repression against political opponents and activists in Pakistan. The rule of law should protect individuals, allowing for healthy criticism of the government. However, in Pakistan, the legal system is increasingly being manipulated to stifle voices of dissent. Arrests of political figures, particularly those who challenge the status quo, have surged, raising concerns about the erosion of democratic freedoms. International observers and human rights organisations have expressed alarm at this practice, and Pakistani authorities need to recognise that democracy thrives on pluralism and open dialogue. Arresting dissenting voices and weaponising laws to silence critics only deepen divisions and fuel further resentment. In a highly fragmented society such as Pakistan, the government needs to pivot away from repression and towards engagement. The nation is already grappling with profound economic and social challenges, and the need is for the government to protect civil liberties and provide space to all voices.