Islamabad, November 26, 2024-Justice Mansoor Ali Shah of the Supreme Court of Pakistan has described the trial of former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as a “classic example” of political victimization, noting that the investigation into Bhutto’s case was initiated illegally. These remarks were made by Justice Shah in an additional note to the Presidential reference regarding Bhutto’s conviction.
The senior judge emphasized that political trials often involve non-transparent methods aimed at achieving desired outcomes. In such trials, former allies are typically turned into witnesses through coerced statements, he observed.
Justice Shah further recalled that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto had stated that the judiciary could only remain independent under the protection of the Constitution. Reflecting on Bhutto’s words, Justice Shah also quoted his remark: “Flowers cannot bloom in the desert,” highlighting the challenges faced by an independent judiciary under adverse conditions.
