The containerized D-Chowk in front of the imposing Parliament House – even on is an ugly sight. It symbolizes a partial paralysis of governance and management at massive costs. At the same time – ironical as it is – the overnight pardon of an alleged killer Jam Abdul Karim, a PPP member of parliament, by the widow of the victim Nazim Jokhio – explains why Pakistan ranked 130th out of 139 nations in the 2021 Rule of Law Index, compiled by the World Justice Project. Even more embarrassing is Pakistan’s 5th position among six South Asian nations. A “remarkable” consequence of the cold-blooded perusal of party politics, personality cults, and the criminal justice system that is skewed in favor of those with money and muscle.
The latest trigger for the Container Wall was first Imran Khan’s March 27 Parade Ground rally, the PDM’s anti-inflation protest near the Kashmir Highway, and then the PTI protests against the election commission.
Several containers still adore the D-Chowk, the Blue Area as well as the surroundings of the Parliament and the Diplomatic Enclave. What an ugly sight.
The Container business entails staggering running costs in rents. has two discomforting dimensions; firstly just the 150 containers that the local administration rented for blocking off the diplomatic and other sensitive locations cost at least – at least – Rs.50 million a day.
What a waste of precious public money indeed just because leaders of political parties are not ready to ask their followers away from possible violence in the red zone. Tahir ul Qadri had set the trend of “sit-in” at the cost of public inconvenience during the PPP government, followed by Imran Khan’s dharna in 2014, which had turned the D-Chowk into a stinking trash site.
Secondly, containers now and then at critical places come across as ugly structures defacing the green and broad roads in the capital. Can the politicians agree on not allowing this ugliness anymore? Why can’t we protest without inviting containers? Living in 2022 but living in the 19th century. What a laughing stock Islamabad has been turned into by contesting political stakeholders!
Equally disturbing is the pardon that the wife of Nazim Jokhio provided to the alleged killer Jam Abdul Karim and his accomplices ahead of his arrival from Dubai. The eventual clean chit to the PPP member of parliament has been shockingly mindboggling too. The PPP needed Jam Karim for the No-confidence motion against Imran Khan, and hence the poor widow issued the controversial pardon by taking back the case.
“My family members are not supporting me anymore. I am not taking any action against the accused because of my children…… I cannot fight anymore. I am a loyal lady, I wanted to fight the case but my people left my support,” Shireen said after withdrawing the case against the PPP Member of Parliament, who she had accused of murdering her husband.
Jokhio, a young man from the Malir area in Karachi, had allegedly been murdered on November 3 by the chieftain of his tribe for filming and sharing a video of foreigners hunting Houbara Bustard, an endangered species of bird, near his village in Thatta.
Ms. Jokhio denied taking anything in return for withdrawing the case against Jam because she claimed, her own family had abandoned her and she couldn’t fight the case.
Ironically, the pardon for Jam and his companions contrasted sharply with what Ms. Shireen Jokhio had said on December 31; stop talking about a deal, we don’t want to do any deal. We spit on your money, we are not going to sell Nazim’s body,” she had said while talking to the media outside a court in Karachi. Shireen also alleged on the occasion that Abdul Karim Bikar had offered her money to withdraw the murder case against his brother Jam Awais, a member of the Sindh parliament.
Amazing swift settlement so the MNA could secure bail and travel to Islamabad for the vote of no-confidence.
Isn’t the speed and timing of the pardon for Jam Karim a slap for all those talking of rule of law? Will the senior judiciary took upon itself to get the settlement deal investigated? We couldn’t get the indictment of Shahbaz Sharif and his son Hamza in the Rs.16 billion money-laundering case for months. Major question – who sent those billions in the accounts of employees of the Sharifs and WHY?
What a mockery of justice in a country when even the worst offenders get off the hook if the bar, bench, and their patrons are in synch, unlike those millions that languish in jails for years either on false charges or because they lack the money they need for relief and freedom? Why wouldn’t people raise fingers when the apex court and the Islamabad High Court opened doors to entertain potential petitions against “offenders” as the dramatic proceedings inside the Parliament were still unfolding.
What a system where money and muscle can maul the rule of law for the mighty ones, while those without power – hapless and resource less – endure years of prosecution, even if not guilty!
