No individual, no matter how important or well-placed, can be above the law. That being so, the law is naturally expected to function according to the tenets on which it is based.

What worries us is that the first case, that related to extortion, filed against the Awami League chief came soon after she voiced her criticism of the caretaker government in distant America. It will be tempting to suggest that it was all a coincidence, but the reality appears to be graver than what we can imagine. We only have to observe the nature of the murder case filed on Wednesday. Sheikh Hasina's name was not in the original case but was clearly added later. That fact only adds to the public perception that a clear move may be on to neutralize high profile political leaders rather than have the law serve the interests of justice. That again is cause for worry.

The nation as a whole remains witness to the tragic turn of events on 28 October last year, when an opposition protest turned into murder and mayhem at a certain point at the hands of a lynch mob. Clearly, responsibility for the deterioration in the situation on the day must lie with the political leadership directing the movement. But that does not explain why or how a patent charge of murder can be laid at the door of major political figures. The alacrity with which the cases (and they include the earlier extortion charges against the Awami League president) have been filed raises the suspicion that legalities are perhaps being conveniently employed to serve certain political ends. That would be an unfortunate occurrence.

We believe that it is always a mistake making light of the legal system by turning it into a weapon to serve certain motives. Sadly, though, that is precisely what seems to be going on. In the larger interest of the nation, therefore, we ask that justice must not only be done and seen to be done, but also that it be seen to be done in a clearly credible manner.