In a development that has sent shockwaves through Pakistan’s political landscape, several senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), including the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, have been sentenced to ten years in prison in connection with the May 9 incident. While there can be no disagreement that those who break the law must be held accountable, the line between justice and political persecution is growing increasingly blurred.
There is no doubt that the events of May 9, 2023, were deeply troubling. Acts of vandalism, arson, and attacks on military installations are unacceptable in any democratic state. Those found guilty through a transparent judicial process must face consequences. However, what is equally important is that justice must not only be done but must be seen to be done — and that includes ensuring due process and avoiding the appearance of selective or politically motivated trials.
In the current case, the optics are difficult to ignore. With nearly all top PTI leaders now behind bars or facing long-term disqualification, one cannot help but question whether the true goal is justice or political annihilation. The Punjab government’s role in this is especially concerning. Rather than demonstrating political maturity and engaging with its opponents, it appears to be pursuing a scorched-earth strategy — one that aims to clear the field of any viable opposition.
This is not how democracies function. The elimination of political rivals through the courts — even under the veneer of legality — is a dangerous precedent. Today, the government may believe it is securing stability or clearing space for unchallenged governance, but tomorrow, the same instruments of state power could be used against them. Political vendettas dressed up as accountability are a game no one wins in the long term.
More importantly, the marginalization of a major political force like PTI, which still commands a substantial support base across the country, weakens the democratic fabric of the state. A healthy democracy thrives on competition, dialogue, and the ability of all political actors to participate freely and fairly. By sidelining opponents through legal overreach or administrative muscle, the state risks fostering resentment, polarization, and long-term instability.
Pakistan’s fragile democracy does not need another era of political engineering. It needs inclusivity, a commitment to constitutionalism, and an end to the cycle of winner-takes-all politics. The courts must ensure that justice is blind — not selective. And the government must remember that a strong democracy is built not by eliminating dissent, but by engaging with it.
If Pakistan is to move forward, it must resist the temptation to use accountability as a political weapon. Law must take its course, yes — but it must do so in a way that commands public confidence and upholds democratic norms. Anything less would be a disservice to both justice and democracy.
Published in daily Islamabad POST print edition as well, on July 24, 2025
