This weaponization of lawsuits must stop

Eminent lawyer ZI Khan Panna’s involvement in a murder case is a disturbing reflection of a trend of legal harassment that refuses to go away even after the fall of an autocratic regime that normalized it over the years. Panna was involved in the case along with 179 others on October 17. On Monday, the High Court granted him interim bail after a petition. But the fact that he was named at all – with the prosecutor admitting that he did not know Panna and had no idea how his name ended up on the list of suspects – shows the farce such dubious cases make of our legal system.

The irony of Panna’s case is hard to miss. Not long ago, the veteran human rights activist denounced the mass filing of murder cases over the July massacres across the country, but now he finds himself on the business side of a case. This does not look good for the interim government. In recent weeks, Panna has made headlines by criticizing the government for several reasons, including Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’ “reset” comments, the cancellation of March 7 and several other national days, and the suspension of an assistant commissioner after her controversial Facebook posts. It won’t be a leap to suggest a connection between his critical views and his accusation in a case. No advisors spoke out strongly against the development either. This is a PR disaster that the government cannot afford when both its credibility and competence are being tested on multiple fronts.

As things stand, it seems likely that Panna’s name will be removed following the plaintiff’s application. However, this does not alter the fact that the concerns or questions this case raises will be resolved. In the two and a half months since August 5, we have published multiple reports and editorials on the arbitrary filing of such murder cases without any evidence, mainly involving the leaders, activists and suspected supporters of the Awami League regime. Even journalists and rights activists were not spared. In many cases, fabricated FIRs were filed. There were also cases where the names of suspects in cases before August 5 were replaced. This is nothing more than a weaponization of the legal process for intimidation and political revenge. Such false or exaggerated cases only dilute the justice system, diverting resources from real investigations and creating an atmosphere of fear.

The interim government has a responsibility to ensure that the justice system is not abused in this way. Although the country has taken some initiatives to reform the system, progress has been slow and often invisible. This must change. Authorities must take decisive steps to stop the filing of false cases and punish those responsible. The real culprits behind the violence during the mass uprising must be brought to justice, but not at the expense of innocent individuals, including critics of the government.