Topic Of The Day:-“Spotlight on the judiciary”
The conduct of Pakistan’s judiciary in the matter has been far from judicious. The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Saqib Nisar, views himself less as an adjudicator in accordance with the law and more as a super policy maker. He has expressed interest in everything — from water scarcity to running of mental hospitals and prisons. He has taken to touring various government facilities and has even created a fund for the construction of dams. The fund will receive public contributions because the Chief Justice knows the exchequer does not have enough money to build the dams he wants built.
None of these actions is part of a Chief Justice’s job description, even after recognising that some judges are more activist than others. Justice Nisar has made his political biases well known and the case against Mr. Sharif proceeded in reverse order. Instead of beginning in a trial court where evidence of his wrongdoing was established beyond reasonable doubt, he was first disqualified by the Supreme Court and then put on trial.
But perceptions and common knowledge of political corruption cannot be a substitute for following legal principles. Elsewhere in the civilised world, the Pakistani practice of accusing someone of criminal conduct first in the highest court and then demanding that they prove their innocence would be deemed grossly unjust. The fact that this happens only in political cases further strengthens the view that politics, not corruption, is at the heart of such ‘prosecutions’.
Moreover, the Supreme Court invited representatives of the Military Intelligence and the ISI to help investigate the money trail for Mr. Sharif’s alleged properties in London. This highly unusual procedure itself casts doubt on the real motives behind the former Prime Minister’s trial. The military-led prosecutions of politicians, even when their malfeasance is well known, helps the politicians in building their case that their political conduct is the source of their troubles.
Pakistan is, therefore, unable to hold the politically powerful accountable through its politicised judiciary. The cynical view of Pakistani politics would be that three decades ago the deep state advanced Mr. Sharif’s political career while portraying Benazir Bhutto’s spouse, Asif Zardari, as corrupt; now Imran Khan is the ‘chosen one’ while Mr. Sharif’s alleged corruption is being targeted.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) Wield
Meaning: Have and be able to use (power or influence).
Example: “Faction leaders wielded enormous influence within the party”
Synonyms: Exercise, Exert
2) Allegations
Meaning: A claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof.
Example: “He made allegations of corruption against the administration”
Synonyms: Claim, Assertion
3) Invoking
Meaning: Cite or appeal to (someone or something) as an authority for an action or in support of an argument.
Example: “The antiquated defence of insanity is rarely invoked in England”
Synonyms: Cite, Adduce
Antonyms: Waive
4) Spectre
Meaning: Something widely feared as a possible unpleasant or dangerous occurrence.
Example: “The spectre of nuclear holocaust”
Synonyms: Threat, Menace
5) Intervention
Meaning: Interference by a state in another’s affairs.
Example: “The government was reported to be considering military intervention”
Synonyms: Involvement, Intercession
6) Temptation
Meaning: The desire to do something, especially something wrong or unwise.
Example: “He resisted the temptation to call Celia at the office”
Synonyms: Desire, Urge
7) Ideological
Meaning: Based on or relating to a system of ideas and ideals, especially concerning economic or political theory and policy.
Example: “The ideological struggle that underpinned the cold war”
8) Extremism
Meaning: The holding of extreme political or religious views; fanaticism.
Example: “The dangers of religious extremism”
Synonyms: Fanaticism, Radicalism
Antonyms: Moderation
9) Conviction
Meaning: A formal declaration by the verdict of a jury or the decision of a judge in a court of law that someone is guilty of a criminal offence.
Example: “She had a previous conviction for a similar offence”
Synonyms: Sentence, Judgement
Antonyms: Acquittal
10) Martyr
Meaning: A person who suffers very much or is killed because of their religious or political beliefs, and is often admired because of it.
Example: “She fought against racism all her life and died a martyr to the cause”
11) Standing up
Meaning: If an idea or some information stands up, it is proved to be true or correct.
Example: “Their argument won’t stand up to detailed criticism”
12) Judicious
Meaning: Having, showing, or done with good judgement or sense.
Example: “The judicious use of public investment”
Synonyms: Wise, Canny
Antonyms: Injudicious, Foolish
13) Adjudicator
Meaning: A person who adjudicates.
Example: “The proposal to close the school will have to go before an adjudicator”
Synonyms: Arbitrator, Arbiter
14) Scarcity
Meaning: The state of being scarce or in short supply; shortage.
Example: “A time of scarcity”
Synonyms: Shortage, Dearth
Antonyms: Abundance, Excess
15) Exchequer
Meaning: A royal or national treasury.
Example: “An important source of revenue to the sultan’s exchequer”
16) Wrongdoing
Meaning: Illegal or dishonest behaviour.
Example: “Police have denied any wrongdoing”
Synonyms: Crime, Misconduct
17) Perceptions
Meaning: Intuitive understanding and insight.
Example: “‘He wouldn’t have accepted,’ said my mother with unusual perception”
Synonyms: Insight, Percipience
18) Unjust
Meaning: Not based on or behaving according to what is morally right and fair.
Example: “Resistance to unjust laws”
Synonyms: Biased, Unfair
Antonyms: Just, Fair
19) Prosecutions
Meaning: The institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge.
Example: “The organizers are facing prosecution for noise nuisance”
20) Malfeasance
Meaning: An example of dishonest and illegal behaviour, especially by a person in authority.
Example: “Several cases of malpractice and malfeasance in the financial world are currently being investigated”
21) Cynical
Meaning: Doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it is worthwhile.
Example: “Most residents are cynical about efforts to clean mobsters out of their city”
Synonyms: Sceptical, Doubtful
Antonyms: Optimistic, Credulous
