Express Tribune Editorials 22nd August 2026

A crisis of credibility

More than 84,500 complaints have been lodged against Punjab Police in just the first seven months of this year. That is nearly 400 grievances every single day - a number that would be staggering to anyone unfamiliar with the force's reputation for seamlessly blending violence, corruption and ineptitude.

The complaints read like a catalog of institutional failure. Nearly 39,000 people accused the police of flat-out refusing to register their cases - keeping the crime rate low is easy if you don't register cases. Another 19,300 alleged botched investigations, including failure to recover stolen property or arrest suspects. Almost 15,000 complaints centred on corruption and bribery - justice comes at a cost.

Making things worse is the fact that the police insist that their complaint redressal system is working. Police authorities boast that 94% of complaints have been "resolved". However, legal experts warn this is just theatre designed to mislead the public. The penalties rarely fit the crime, and most offending police officials get off with just a slap on the wrist.

A major contributing factor is the high level of political patronage that still exists in the police. Low-level hiring still involves local politicians and other influential people working the gears behind the scenes, while high-level postings are impossible without the express blessings of politically influential people. And while it is true that policemen around the globe often look the other way in cases involving politically connected people, in most countries, it is usually in lesser cases. In Pakistan, it seems there is no case the police will not actively suppress if given the opportunity.

The problems are so deep-seated now that any solution would take several years to implement successfully, as it would require changing not just the culture, but also those who carry it, while making independent oversight with meritorious responses the standard. Otherwise, the people of Punjab will continue to file complaints, and continue to be ignored.

Faster justice

Justice delayed is more than an administrative inconvenience. For many litigants, it can mean years of financial strain, repeated court appearances, damaged relationships and, in some cases, the effective denial of a remedy. Pakistan's courts remain burdened by an enormous backlog, with more than 2.26 million cases pending, according to the Ministry of Law and Justice. Against this backdrop, the Supreme Court's inauguration of its first court-annexed mediation centre is a welcome development.

The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with EU and UNDP, offers litigants an avenue to settle suitable disputes without having to endure the full length and expense of conventional litigation. It also reflects a much-needed recognition that access to justice must also be measured by how quickly, affordably and fairly people can obtain a remedy. Mediation is not a substitute for adjudication. There will always be disputes in which a binding judicial determination is necessary, particularly where fundamental rights and criminal liability are involved. But a large number of civil disputes do not necessarily require years of adversarial proceedings. Where parties are willing to negotiate, a trained and impartial mediator can help them reach an agreement while leaving the final decision in their own hands. Pakistan already has evidence that such an approach can work. The Court-Annexed Mediation Centre at the Sindh High Court has received 386 disputes since August 2023. Of these, 149 resulted in settlements, with some longstanding disputes being resolved within days rather than years. This is strong enough evidence to justify expanding the model.

The challenge now is to ensure that the Supreme Court initiative does not remain an impressive institutional announcement without producing a meaningful change. Mediation centres need adequately trained and independently accredited mediators for robust implementation. Ultimately, the reform should also move beyond Islamabad and expanded to other provinces.

Defiance or deception?

It was high drama of compliance and defiance enacted by the government. It failed to implement the Supreme Court's order to move former prime minister Imran Khan to a private hospital for treatment. A stubborn PML-N, whose review petition had been turned down in the morning, had instead moved the incarcerated leader to PIMS and back in the darkness of night for an eye check-up. Perhaps the party is trying to send a message that Khan is being taken care of as far as medical exigency is concerned, in accordance with the court's order. Yet the government's decision stands in contempt of court as the stipulated provisions of the order were thrown to the wind. These include the formation of a medical board with family physicians on it, his treatment at Al Shifa International Hospital and the subsequent submission of a report to the three-member bench of the apex court.

There is little rationality behind the government's claim that Khan could not be moved to Al Shifa owing to the outpouring of his supporters on the streets. The intent, however, seems to be an extension of the ongoing political vindictiveness. The fact that two separate convoys were constituted, with one carrying Khan's family physician towards the private hospital while Khan himself, accompanied by his sister, was taken to PIMS in the other is deception. It could be seen as a political ploy and a deliberate message of defiance towards the superior judiciary. Thus, it remains to be seen how the august court will react as the aggrieved PTI is expected to file a contempt plea today. This episode of deceit by the PML-N, especially given that the other major coalition partner PPP had welcomed the court orders, could prove detrimental to the political thaw that was being forcasted.

The details emerging from the press conference by Imran Khan's family have thickened the plot regarding the government's conduct and intentions. The imprisoned leader's complaint that he is being 'mentally tortured' and that his vital signs are unstable at times, is surely a point of concern. Implementing the top court's ruling by moving Imran Khan to Al-Shifa came as an opportunity for reconciliation. The government, however, failed to grab this opportunity. Moreover, its conduct sits in defiance of the court ruling as well as the jail manual.