JUDICIAL POWER AND POLITICAL TURBULENCE: ANALYZING THE ROLE OF PAKISTAN’S JUDICIARY IN SHAPING POLITICAL CONFLICTS (2013–2023)

Abstract

This study offers a nuanced exploration of Pakistan’s judiciary and its evolving role in shaping the nation’s political landscape from 2013 to 2023, drawing insights from six lawyers, two judges, and two politicians. Findings reveal that persistent electoral disputes, fragile governance, and entrenched regional grievances, including movements like PTM and Baloch nationalism, fueled political instability. Landmark cases, notably the 2017 Panama Papers verdict, emerged as critical junctures, intensifying debates over judicial impartiality and independence. Persistent allegations of corruption, favoritism, and delayed justice, compounded by external political and military pressures, eroded public trust. Judicial interventions in the leadership trajectories of Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan underscored the courts’ decisive yet contested influence on accountability and political transitions. The judiciary’s oscillation between alignment and autonomy highlights its delicate struggle to uphold constitutional supremacy while navigating political realities. Overall, the findings position Pakistan’s judiciary as both a stabilizing and polarizing force, striving to balance accountability, independence, and democratic legitimacy within a fragile governance framework.

Keywords: Judiciary, Political Conflicts, Judicial Activism, Disqualification of Politicians, Supreme Court of Pakistan