The Avenfield predicament faced by PTI

The PTI faces a significant challenge following the Islamabad High Court's decision to acquit Nawaz Sharif nearly six years after his initial trial. The party, known for its emphasis on opponents' convictions, now grapples with the unexpected reality of the court's ruling conflicting with its longstanding accusations against Sharif.

Once relying on a narrative that labeled Sharif as a "thief, dacoit, corrupt, and traitor," the PTI must now reconcile its past dependence on court judgments with the current acquittal. Political expert Zaigham Khan highlights the complexity of political narratives tied to legal outcomes, emphasizing the PTI's predicament in the face of an unexpected turn that challenges its foundational stance against Nawaz and PMLN.

Zaigham points out that the PTI's reliance on the judiciary becomes evident in the complexities of political narratives grounded in legal decisions. He remarks on the unfortunate misuse of the judicial process for pushing a narrative, with judges interpreting matters as they pleased and creating new jurisprudence.

Professor Tahir Naeem Malik from NUML University underscores the PTI's struggle to accept the IHC's decision, emphasizing that it contradicts the party's entire narrative against Nawaz and PML-N. As general elections approach, the PTI faces the challenge of convincing voters with a narrative that has been compromised by the recent acquittal.

Reflecting on the judiciary's role, Professor Malik notes the lack of trust in the justice system among the public, highlighting the PTI's previous credit-taking for court decisions while now hesitating to accept the reality.

In response to the IHC's decision, the PTI strongly declared Nawaz Sharif a "certified criminal" and criticized the "notorious London secret deal." The party labeled the acquittal as a "death knell" to the country's legal and justice system, asserting that Sharif had no proof to establish his innocence in the corruption case. The spokesperson expressed concern about the "criminal process of acquitting national criminals" and decried the continuation of this trend as detrimental to the country's institutions and judicial system.

Contrary to the court's ruling, the PTI spokesperson recalled the Panama Papers' revelations of Sharif's alleged corruption and criticized the major relief granted to him as a humiliating development for the judicial system. The spokesperson concluded by highlighting the irony of a person who championed the slogan "Respect the vote" being granted relief through what the PTI terms a "third NRO," expressing deep concern for the integrity of the judicial system.