In a functioning democracy this government would be sent to the gallows
This Panama affair is in a league of its own. The PM has gone from denial to more denial to slight acceptance to absence to the retired judge commission to finally caving in. Yet the main points are still unclear. Why the uncertainty about the CJ taking it up for example. Nobody seems to know, or nobody’s talking, if the ‘independent’ judiciary is bound to accept the PM’s directive – it is a matter of grave national importance, after all – or does its autonomy give it the right to refuse? And if it does play along, what’s the first step it’s going to take? It already clarified, back when Imran first recommended the CJ take it up, that it does not have the capability to conduct a probe of this nature; no more than the PM’s original retired judge route, at least.
The simple point that any inquiry would have to order a forensic audit seems lost on the opposition. Nonetheless, now that the CJ’s been invoked, things will assume a momentum of their own soon enough. And even if he decides to sit this one out, the matter will go to the parliamentary committee PPP has been proposing all along. That, too, would have to order the audit. There’s no other way forward.
If you look at some of our institutions – NAB, FIA, etc – they are under immense pressure. They are being controlled by the government. In such situations institutions can clearly not function in a transparent manner. That is precisely why they did not move on this issue, even though it is a matter of grave national importance.
But to add to the confusion, the opposition went mum immediately after the PM’s address to the nation Friday night. Then they came out on TV but nobody talked to print. Luckily, DNA was able to get hold of Ali Zaidi; politician, entrepreneur, gentleman and old guard of naya Pakistan. He has always been very generous with his time.
Question: Now that the PM has caved in – and accepted the opposition’s demand of writing to the Chief Justice – are you happy? Will you give Nawaz Sharif credit for doing the right thing finally?
Ali Zaidi: A few things need to be put into perspective first. Why do you think we had to ask for an investigation led by the CJ? If institutions meant to deal with such issues were allowed to function independently, they would have acted by now. And they should have acted by now. It’s because they didn’t act that we had to recommend the CJ route.
If you look at some of our institutions – NAB, FIA, etc – they are under immense pressure. They are being controlled by the government. In such situations institutions can clearly not function in a transparent manner. That is precisely why they did not move on this issue, even though it is a matter of grave national importance. Hence the resort to the CJ.
Q: But, again, now that the CJ is most probably going to be in play, is there some measure of relief or satisfaction in the opposition?
AZ: We’ll have to wait and see before I can comment on that. A lot is still unclear. There’s still a lot of fuss on the ToRs. There’s also a lot of legal uncertainty. And, like you said earlier, it’s yet to become clear whether or not the CJ can sidestep this one.
And if so a lot of the same old questions will be asked again. So maybe the SC can and will refuse. Maybe NAB will have to be involved. Maybe a parliamentary committee eventually be formed. Let’s wait and see the CJ’s reply first.
Q: Surely you can’t land the CJ’s decision at the PM’s door now that he’s complied with your demand?
AZ: Surely he has lost the moral authority to remain prime minister of Pakistan. This needs to be repeated to drive the message in. Basically there are three questions Mr Nawaz Sharif has to answer. One, where did the money for that upscale London real estate come from? Two, how did it arrive in England? And three, why was it not disclosed at the right time?
And surely everybody understands that in Pakistan we follow the British parliamentary form of democratic government. If David Cameron can face the House’s wrath, why is Mr Sharif so above everything, even parliamentary scrutiny? He should listen to the opposition’s criticism and answer everybody’s questions. Why hasn’t he called a joint session yet? Why is he always sobbing on PTV, which, by the way is run on our tax money. The PM must answer to parliament.
Q: On a different note, what do you make of this chotu affair? Why was the Punjab machinery exposed so badly?
AZ: Why do you think the army had to be called in despite the CM’s boasts that the police had matters under control? And can an army chief make a claim about controlling corruption, like COAS did, when there’s not a big political void that the government is unable to fill? In any functioning democracy he would have been summoned. But we don’t have a functioning democracy. That’s why the PM has no authority. And that’s why the army had to take a stand on corruption.
But consider some examples. In the fifties, American General Douglas MacArthur – hero of the Korean War – was dismissed because he issued a statement that was out of sync with the White House. More recently President Obama dismissed his top general in the terror war after the latter expressed his own controversial opinions on Vanity Fair.
Consider some examples. In the fifties, American General Douglas MacArthur – hero of the Korean War – was dismissed because he issued a statement that was out of sync with the White House. More recently President Obama dismissed his top general in the terror war after the latter expressed his own controversial opinions on Vanity Fair
In Pakistan the government, especially the prime minister, has no moral authority left. And its self-serving system has destroyed state institutions. That is why the army is doing all the work.
Actually this government lost all moral authority after the Model Town incident. In any properly functioning democracy, its leaders would have been sent to the gallows.
Q: Finally, where do you see Nawaz Sharif in six months?
AZ: Six months is a long time, but I don’t see Nawaz Sharif surviving another six months in office. The odds are stacked up against him. I don’t see him surviving that long.
