PTI moves from ‘Go Nawaz go’ to ‘Just get Nawaz somehow’

Is internal strife rocking PTI’s boat?

PTI has announced the party’s intentions to lead a mass movement against the government on Aug 7 since according to them the matter could not be resolved in the Parliament and the National Assembly. However, PTI’s call to take the matter to the streets is considered undemocratic and unconstitutional.

The past always catches up sooner or later. A similar case can be observed in Pakistan, where Panama Papers revelations remain a lingering threat to Pakistan’s ruling party.

The disclosure of Panama Papers revealed the names of around 200 Pakistanis but the public’s main concern is that the list includes the names of Sharif family members.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has prolonged confrontation on this issue which is why the rift between the government and opposition continues to increase.

The leaked documents show that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s children Maryam, Hussain, and Hasan own offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands, but the Sharif family did not disclose these assets on their wealth statement.

PM Nawaz, however, has repeatedly denied the allegations against him for money laundering, tax evasions and hiding wealth abroad.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), as the party with the most street power in the opposition, has been on a ‘Get Nawaz’ mission since the beginning of this episode.

Initially, PTI leaders demanded that PM Nawaz should resign from his post since he did not disclose his foreign assets before the 2013 elections making him ineligible for the position

The opposition decided to take legal action against Sharif family and urged Nawaz Sharif to present himself before the judicial commission and explain how he acquired the funds to purchase the off-shore companies.

The opposition and the government prepared Terms of Reference (ToRs) to resolve the matter after reaching consensus in the presence of a Parliamentary committee but both sides presented reasons for rejecting the terms instead.

“Competition and groupings during elections are inevitable as like-minded people are bound to get together,” said Rasheed. “Since the elections are now postponed, the conflicts and disagreements have ceased.”

The opposition’s ToRs included the demand that Nawaz Sharif should present himself for investigation.

The prime minister maintained that his name was not listed in the Panama Papers and refused to accept the opposition’s ToRs, delaying the investigation.

PTI has announced the party’s intentions to lead a mass movement against the government on Aug 7 since according to them the matter could not be resolved in the Parliament and the National Assembly.

However, PTI’s call to take the matter to the streets is considered undemocratic and unconstitutional.

“Opinion makers and the government target PTI, persistently saying that the party does not use the Parliament to record its protests and arguments,” said PTI’s Central Media Coordinator, Anila Khawaja while talking to DNA.

“But it is nothing more than a condemnable outcome of ruling party’s obnoxious propaganda,” said Khawaja.

PTI has been accused of attempting to overthrow PML-N’s government or facilitate military intervention into the country’s political matter.

The reasons behind these allegations are the multiple protests conducted by PTI previously, and recently over the premier’s inclusion in the Panama Papers and his refusal to initiate an investigation.

The alliance of the opposition parties failed to reach consensus on the joint street protests or on the demand for Nawaz Sharif’s resignation from his current position.

The opposition has reiterated that they will continue protesting on every legal, social, and political platform until Nawaz Sharif presents himself for an investigation.

“We are launching an awareness movement against corruption, to inform the public about misleading, deceitful leaders who continue to exploit them,” said a Spokesperson for PTI, Andleeb Abbas.

“PTI leaders never pushed for PM Nawaz’s resignation, unlike Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto,” said Abbas. “The party urged him to present himself in front of an empowered judicial committee and address the allegations made against him,” she added.

The confidential documents from the off-shore services firm, Mossack Fonseca also included some prominent names from all over the world.

The former Prime Minister Sigmundur Davio of Iceland is accused of not disclosing his involvement with the company. He stepped down from his position early April.

“Iceland’s PM resigned after he was accused of the same charges but we respect democracy and are committed to bringing the corrupt under law,” said Abbas.

The public seems almost nonchalant about the fact that they have been deceived by the ruling party.

“PTI wants to eradicate corruption from the country at all levels, starting from the government,” said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Opposition Leader, Mehmood Ur Rasheed.

“This protest is aimed at building pressure towards the prime minister to launch an investigation into the allegations or else resign from his position,” he added.

PTI demands that PM Nawaz step-down and order fresh elections.

However, the party itself has been dealing with internal rifts that surface during the intra-party elections.

“Whatever conflicts occurred before, no longer exist as they were a result of the competition between candidates that increased during the intra-party elections,” said Rasheed.

“Competition and groupings during elections are inevitable as like-minded people are bound to get together,” said Rasheed. “Since the elections are now postponed, the conflicts and disagreements have ceased.”

The Panama Papers were disclosed in May but there seems to be no progress towards an inquiry into the revelations.

PM Nawaz maintains that the investigation cannot start until opposition removes his name from the ToRs. On the other hand, the opposition insists that the investigation should commence from Nawaz Sharif.

The opposition should agree to PML-N’s ToRs and instigate probe into the foreign and domestic assets owned by other members named in Panama Papers.

Maryam Nawaz is the owner of Nielson Enterprises Ltd. and Nescoll Ltd. The reports also show that the owners have the rights to authorise transactions for the firms.

Hasan Nawaz is the director of Hangon Property Holdings Ltd. Some of the assets acquired by the Sharif family were purchased through funds from these offshore companies.

Nawaz Sharif will inadvertently be exposed during the investigation by association with the offshore assets owned by his children as the probe will indicate the sources that facilitated the acquisition of these offshore companies.

PTI has conducted several movements on the streets but has failed to find a successful outcome.

There have been incidents of female harassment, vandalism, and disorder in these futile attempts by the party.

It is the responsibility of the strongest opposition party to take pragmatic measures and compromise on the ToRs to develop a mutual stance that could initiate a probe into Panama Papers.