Let’s keep it in the family
Not that anything stands proved against Musa Gilani. What we have heard so far are no more than allegations in the eye of the law. But one thing is certain. The allegations are of a highly damaging nature. What thickens the plot are some of the circumstances surrounding the episode. Attempts seem to have been made to hush up the scam. Soon after the Anti Narcotics Force (ANF) initiated an enquiry Secretary Narcotics Control Division was transferred. A couple of month after the ANF initiated a probe into the scam, Director General ANF was also relocated. Afterwards orders were issued for the transfer of two more officers of the ANF associated with the enquiry. The government can claim that these were routine transfers but perceptions count as much as realities when political personalities are involved. It is intriguing that once these officers were out of the ANF, the new appointees rushed to seek the permission of the Supreme Court to withdraw the case.
Prime Minister Gilani has a number of positive points to his credit. He played a leading role in developing parliamentary consensus on the three historic constitutional amendments and in piloting the NFC award. He also ordered the release of the judges kept under house arrest by Musharraf and subsequently restored them, albeit belatedly, through an office order. He is known for his conciliatory attitude and poise, qualities which are rare among politicians. There is, however, a flipside also which cannot be ignored. A number of highly damaging financial scams involving government personalities and their close relatives burst into the open during the last four years. Getting rid of the corrupt leadership has become the major plank of the opposition as the elections draw near.
It is being claimed that rules were flouted in the allocation of Ephedrine quota by companies that are said to be the favourites of Ali Musa Gilani whose personal secretary allegedly got the out-of-turn quota approved by the health ministry against rules and regulations. The SC has rehabilitated the old enquiry team ordering it to investigate the issue without yielding to any pressure. There is a need on the part of Musa Gilani to cooperate fully with the team to clear his name.