Pakistan, April 9 -- Justice Athar Minallah's remarks about Nawaz Sharifs' survival until the court's next hearing were not merely controversial but also emblematic of a judiciary, perceived as increasingly entangled in political machinations, and straying from impartiality.

But, perhaps even more striking than his remarks was his action to open the Islamabad High Court (IHC) at midnight on 9 April 2022, coinciding with Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial's decision to convene an extraordinary session of the Supreme Court (SCP) at the same time.

The synchronized midnight intervention was made to address a "brewing politico-legal crisis", during the then Prime Minister Imran Khan's final hours in office.

It will be recalled that in early 202...