Pilate was just the vessel thru which God worked.
Pilate had no choice, but to go along with the force of the Holy Spirit.
He knew Jesus was innocent and even gave the Pharisees a choice to save Barrabas or Jesus. They chose Barrabas...............
The synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) do not mention the Pharisees in their accounts of the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of Jesus (rather the chief priests, the scribes and the elders and the council). Only John mentions the Pharisees once (18.3) in connection with the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Pharisees were laymen, not officials (but perhaps some members of the council were Pharisees).
-—the Pharisees -—
It is my understanding that Caiapas the high priest and leadert of he Jewish opposition demanded the death of Jesus. Jesus was said to be King of the Jews by virtue of lineage back to David. They did not want to be usurped from their political positions by a King.
It is argued that Palm Sunday was a political event where a new leader was recognized by large segments of the population. Such a turn of events was not viewed as favorable by Caiphas and the existing leadership out of the Temple.