A FEW days ago, two young women were killedin a tragie road accidentin the federal capital when a speeding SUV, allegedly driven by the teenage son of a sitting judge of the Islamabad High Court, ran over the scooter on which they were travelling. It was further alleged that the SUV involved in the accident was bearing a fake number plate and that the driver, being under 18 years of age, did not possess a valid drivinglicence.

The most disturbing aspect of this tragic episode is that the trial court reportedly concluded the case within just five days, after the families of both victims pardoned the accused.

A similar incident occurred in August 2024 in Karachi, where a speeding SUV driven by a woman belonging to an influential and wealthy family ran over a motorcycle on Karsaz Road. The accident resultedin the death ofafather and his daughter, and left three persons seriously injured. After approximately four months, the district and sessions courtreleased the woman driver following a `settlement` reached with the victims` families.

Such cases togetherlead to aastrong public perception that the legal system functions primarily for the benefit of the powerful. High-profile cases appear to move at an unusually fast pace, while ordinary litigants are forced to wait for yearsfor the resolution of their cases.

According to international rankings, Pakistan stands at the 140th position in terms of justice dispensation. More than two million cases are currently pending in the lower courts across the country.

Against this backdrop, the swift handling of selective cases reinforces the perception that justice is reserved solely for the elite.

Shams Jafrani Karachi