The wheels of justice, already sluggish in Pakistan, appear to have all but stalled when it comes to addressing the electoral disputes stemming from the 2024 general elections. More than a year has passed, yet, as recently reported by the Free and Fair Election Network, two-thirds of all petitions remain unresolved by the election tribunals. This judicial inertia not only defies legal deadlines but also raises serious questions about the commitment of state institutions to democratic accountability and constitutional order.
Justice, when delayed to such an extent, becomes not only ineffective but also meaningless. The tribunals, by failing to expedite their decisions, have contributed to an environment of uncertainty and distrust. Their silence and inaction have had consequences far beyond the courtroom. They have undermined the credibility of the federal government and parliament—institutions that should symbolize the will of the people. Instead, they now stand diminished, unable to perform their foundational roles or win back the trust of a deeply sceptical citizenry.
It would be simplistic to place the blame solely on the tribunals. The failure is systemic. The Election Commission of Pakistan, the federal government, and other key branches of the state have all played a part in weakening the democratic framework. Through legislative manipulations, opaque administrative decisions, and institutional apathy, they have allowed a governance structure to persist that many view as illegitimate.
This disconnect between the governed and those in power has begun to manifest in increasingly visible and volatile ways. Protests in Sindh over controversial water projects, for instance, are more than isolated expressions of environmental concern—they are symptomatic of a broader breakdown in state-citizen relations. Even after the shelving of the canal project, the agitation continues, fuelled by a pervasive sense of betrayal and disregard.
Moreover, this domestic discontent has broader implications. A state seen as illegitimate and unaccountable is more vulnerable to external threats, its cohesion and resilience eroded from within. Pakistan’s governance crises are no longer mere internal matters; they have begun to compromise its national security and sovereignty.
At a time when the country faces profound economic, environmental, and geopolitical challenges, the refusal to correct democratic wrongs only deepens instability. The election tribunals had an opportunity to restore some measure of public confidence. That opportunity is slipping away, and with it, another chance for democratic renewal.
If justice continues to be treated as an afterthought, those in power must prepare for a public that increasingly turns away from state institutions. Trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild. The cost of delayed justice, as we are witnessing, is not just procedural—it is existential.
