IN recent years, Pakistan has witnessed an alarming rise in political vendettas disguised as governance and ongoing harassment of Judge Humayun Dilawar and his family by Gandapur Government in the KP province is a prime example. CM Ali Amin Gandapur, famous for his unchecked corruption and misuse of power, has stooped to unprecedented levels of intimidation and defamation against those who stand against him. The target of his latest campaign is none other than Judge Humayun Dilawar, who recently convicted Imran Khan in Toshakhana case. The Gandapur government’s smear campaign against judiciary is a dangerous precedent that threatens rule of law and the independence of judiciary in Pakistan. As PTI government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa grapples with its internal fractures, it has resorted to harassing dissenters and discrediting anyone who challenges its authority. Those who dare to speak out against Gandapur or his corrupt ministers are swiftly removed from their positions, silenced or subjected to legal harassment. The stories of Shakil Khan, Junaid Akbar, Atif Khan and Sher Ali Arbab are stark reminders of this growing autocratic behaviour.
Judge Humayun Dilawar’s family has been at the receiving end of this harassment, largely due to his involvement in convicting Imran Khan in a high-profile corruption case. Paid YouTubers, allegedly on Gandapur’s payroll, have launched a vicious smear campaign, accusing Judge Dilawar and his family of corruption without any factual basis. This orchestrated assault on the judiciary, facilitated by social media influencers acting as mouthpieces for Gandapur regime, underscores gravity of the situation. One prominent YouTuber, acting on direct instructions from Gandapur, has made outrageous and baseless allegations against Judge Humayun Dilawar and his father, Mr. Dilawar Khan, a highly respected lawyer from District Bannu. Mr. Dilawar Khan, who began his legal practice in 1956 and retired in 2017, is known for his integrity and professionalism. His contribution to the legal fraternity in the KP is well-documented and he remains the most senior lawyer on the KP Bar Council roll. Despite these achievements, the Gandapur regime has chosen to drag his name through the mud, all in an attempt to discredit his son, Judge Humayun Dilawar.
To set record straight, Dilawar Khan’s decision to establish a residential society on his land in Bannu was above board. The Central Provincial Elite Community Residencia was inaugurated in July 2022, during the tenure of PTI government. The project was lauded by local officials, including PTI Tehsil Nazims Junaid Rasheed and Pir Kamal, and received necessary approvals from district scrutiny committee. Claims that public land was illegally included in society’s boundaries are not only false but also part of a calculated smear campaign designed to malign the Dilawar family.
One of the most outrageous accusations levelled by YouTuber, presumably on Gandapur’s orders, is that former Minister of C&W, Mr. Shakil Khan, approved a road and bridge at public expense to benefit the residential society owned by Judge Dilawar’s family. These claims are not only factually incorrect but also an attempt to deflect attention from the corruption allegations facing Gandapur and his associates. The road and bridge in question have existed since before the partition of India and are public property, serving thousands of people in the area. Furthermore, the project was approved during the tenure of the previous PTI-led government, not under Mr. Shakil Khan’s ministership.
As part of its broader campaign to harass judiciary, KP government has tasked Anti-Corruption Department to investigate the Dilawar family based on these baseless allegations. The investigation is being fast-tracked under dubious circumstances, with anonymous sources prompting inquiry. Four officials from Anti-Corruption Department, who were transferred recently, have been retained specifically to expedite the investigation. This overt political manoeuvring is yet another attempt by Gandapur government to use state machinery for personal vendettas. The Gandapur regime’s tactics are clear: distract public from its own corruption and incompetence by targeting high-profile individuals like Judge Humayun Dilawar and his family. By casting aspersions on Judge Dilawar’s integrity, Gandapur government aims to weaken judiciary and intimidate other judges who may rule against PTI officials in the future. The judiciary, however, must remain steadfast in the face of such pressure.
It is imperative that federal government intervenes immediately to put an end to this harassment. The independence of judiciary is a cornerstone of any democratic society and if judges are subjected to such campaigns of defamation and harassment, the entire justice system is at risk. The highest courts in Pakistan must take notice of this situation and ensure that those responsible for spreading falsehoods and engaging in smear campaigns are held accountable. The harassment of Judge Humayun Dilawar and his family is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader pattern of intimidation and corruption under Gandapur government. If left unchecked, this will have far-reaching consequences for Pakistan’s legal and political systems. The federal government and the judiciary must act decisively to protect Judge Humayun Dilawar and his family from these baseless attacks. Only then can the judiciary remain free to deliver justice without fear of retribution.
—The writer is Islamabad based regular contributor.
