A rock and a hard place

The struggles for the judiciary and an independent media launched during Musharaf's dictatorial rule are beginning to pay some dividends. There is a considerable distance to go before institutional independence takes root, but it is no longer business as usual in many respects.

The judiciary has begun to challenge the powers of the executive - something that was unseen since the initial days of Pakistan. Though the role of the judiciary is to interpret laws, the fact that this judiciary was willing to challenge a dictator's interpretation of laws shows the muscle it has formed. It no longer requires a stretch in imagination or strength to take on the 'civilian' government that attempts to shape power according to its whims. Though the President may get away with ordinances, circumventing the parliament for now, in the long run, relying on ordinances will eventually destroy the Presidency - and rightly so.

Public opinion will start to hold its representatives accountable. And this opinion is not just pushed by the reality that there is an institution willing to administer justice now, but is pushed on by a media that has muscle.

Currently PML-N has had to face the the worst with it's Rawalpindi MNA Haji Pervaiz resigning after caught cheating on an exam. Now another PML-N member, Shumaila Rana, was caught going on a spending spree with a stolen credit card. Pictures and CCTV camera footage provided undeniable proof of their actions condemning them beyond, seemingly, any reasonable doubt.

Ms. Rana's video footage shows her selecting some fine jewellry from Siddiq Trade Center happily using the stolen cards to make her payments.

Our politicians are known for bigger crimes like extortion, land grabbing and insider tradings. Cheating on an exam, stealing credit cards...these crimes may 'pale' in comparison to the grand larcony done by the big shots. However, the threat of facing an independent judiciary which is less likely to be bought and the general public has radically altered how our politicians and rulers conduct themselves.

Over the next weeks and months, our politicians will likely find themselves between a rock and a hard place. Thought the PML-N has come in the firing line recently, all other political parties better clean their stables or maintain some degree of discretion. Nawaz Sharif's party may have a lot of muck, but by accepting (even if forced to) defeat, the party has set a benchmark which the rest must follow when it comes to allegations against their members.