Islamabad, Aug 18 (ANI): After nine years of military dictatorship, the judiciary cannot afford to destabilise the democratically elected government in Pakistan, and it should desist from hampering its functioning, an editorial in a Pakistan daily has said.

A recent contempt of court case involving former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani saw a clash between the Parliament of Pakistan and the Supreme Court.

According to the editorial in The Express Tribune, the judiciary in Pakistan, which is an integral part of the democratic system, will only remain independent as long as there is a stable democratic dispensation in place.

The editorial said that while a court in Pakistan convicted Gilani of contempt of court and sent him home, it should not forget the fact that 'democracy' takes a long time to take root and if it is not allowed to function normally, it is bound to be derailed.

The editorial suggested that if the judiciary acts with some restraint, it would do a great favour to the nation by strengthening the culture of democracy and reinstating the public's faith in the electoral process.

Pakistan's current Prime Minister Raja Parvaiz Ashraf has been asked to appear in the Supreme Court on August 27 regarding its order in the National Reconciliation Ordinance judgement implementation case, the editorial said.

Although how he will be 'accommodated' by the Court is yet to be seen, but it is hoped that this time around, a clash between the executive and the judiciary can and will be avoided, it added. (ANI)