THE ugly episode in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa town of Pabbi on Sunday — and its aftermath — illustrates that despite the claims by some quarters that a new political culture is being forged in Pakistan, in many respects the vindictive ways of old refuse to go away.

Though there are claims and counter-claims about what exactly transpired, this much is clear: Habibullah, a teenaged PTI supporter, was shot dead as hundreds of the party’s activists staged a victory march after Saturday’s LG polls, and headed towards the local ANP office in Pabbi.

Take a look: ANP's Mian Iftikhar Hussain arrested after killing of PTI activist

Eyewitnesses say some of the marchers were indulging in celebratory gunfire. The victim’s father at first alleged that ANP secretary general Mian Iftikhar Hussain — who was inside the party office when the PTI crowd arrived — ordered his guard to open fire on the marchers.

The senior ANP leader has denied this, saying the mob was baying for his blood and that he had to be whisked away to safety by army officers.

Mr Hussain was arrested and produced in court on Monday. While Imran Khan says the PTI has nothing to do with the arrest and that this is purely a police matter, a further twist emerged yesterday when the victim’s father told the court that he had been “pressured” to register a case against Mian Iftikhar Hussain.

No doubt, due process has to be followed and the killers of the teenager must face the law.

Yet there is a strong perception that Mr Hussain is being victimised on political grounds. While the political stature of the accused must not colour the investigation, it is a fact that the ANP leader is a politician of repute and has openly spoken out against violence and extremism.

His own son was killed by militants. It must be revealed who put pressure on the victim’s father to implicate the ANP leader. The possibility that Habibullah fell victim to celebratory gunfire must also be considered by the law enforcers.

Above all, the investigation must be free from political pressure. Political parties have condemned the arrest of Mr Hussain and the way in which he was led away. If it is proved that the senior leader was implicated in the case to settle political scores, it would be an unhealthy precedent.

The PTI has itself complained of being a target of political victimisation in other provinces. It would be a shame if it is itself now resorting to such tactics in the province it rules.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2015

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