Prodding justice along

Jatoi's arrest may seem like a pivotal moment, lull us into false sense of security. We should not fall into the trap.

Justice in Pakistan may be slow, flawed and may not always follow a straight line on the path of righteousness. But, as the Shahzeb Khan case has shown, it can be prodded along if there is sufficient media coverage and public outcry. The arrest of Shahrukh Jatoi, the chief suspect in the murder of Shahzeb Khan, in Dubai, shows that a strong civil society can embarrass lethargic government officials enough to get them to do their job. Normally, this is a case that would have been swept under the rug with Shahzeb’s murder written off as just another statistic in a violence-soaked city. Instead, it has turned into a litmus test for a justice system that has tended to favour the rich and well-connected and forced into action a state apparatus that would have preferred to do nothing.

The arrest of Jatoi may seem like the pivotal moment in the case and lull us into a false sense of security. We should not fall into this trap. There is still plenty of time and opportunity for a miscarriage of justice. The media needs to be extremely vigilant but also ensure that it does not become hysterical and conduct a public trial where guilt is predetermined. Jatoi deserves all the rights that are granted to an accused and his wealth and status does not mean that he has forfeited those rights.

The media’s attention should now turn to Jatoi’s escape from Pakistan. How was he able to leave the country for Dubai when he was the prime suspect in a murder case? The investigation should turn to the Federal Investigation Agency — which should have placed Jatoi on the exit control list — and airport and immigration officials. Anyone who is found to have facilitated Jatoi’s escape should be fired and prosecuted for obstruction of justice. For too long, wealthy people have been able to escape the consequences of their actions. If that is indeed what has happened here, then this should serve as a warning that we as a society are no longer willing to put up with this dual justice system.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2013.