Your move, Mr Prime Minister. Your move.
“This was opposition research” the whole lot of the PML-N has begun to shout. Out of some fear, which people may feel is good, they are now reluctant to make any remark against the Supreme Court, the highest legal forum of the country, molested earlier by Saad Rafiq, Talal Chaudhry, Nihal Hashmi, Danial Aziz, Asif Kirmani and even by the children of Prime Minister – without realising, perhaps, that their father is the head of the state they are talking against.
Essential to politics, this research paper should not be taken as a misunderstanding of the researchers, all appointed by the highest legal forum of the country, misunderstood by the ruling party’s hawks. Only Imran Khan’s determination against the alleged corruption of the ruling party has irritated them to the extent of madness and in annoyance the ruling party’s pawns are out busting on Imran Khan for any information or detail of corruption pointed out about Nawaz Sharif. A generous observer might give the political tenderfoot Madam Maryam, Hassan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz a pass for not knowing this, but still is unable to understand the different statements made by the members of the Prime Minister’s family. Obviously their home work was not properly done, but perhaps this was out of guilt and shame to face each other for such a huge corruption and abuse of the national exchequer. After all, everybody is not guilt-free like Asif Ali Zardari.
No matter how NS thinks the researchers spend their days and nights exploring the truth, JIT’s research work is not a Black-Art. They have done their job in a professional way, it’s a thoughtful, direct process of compiling known facts and figures about relevant allegations and elements pointed out by a third party which requires proper clarification rather than bolster an argument. But even when done badly, opposition, especially Imran Khan, still has nothing to do with what JIT did. There are lines that trained and talented political operatives shouldn’t cross.
When Imran Khan jumped into politics people thought he would be another wager in opposition as Nawaz Sharif for Zardari and Zardari for Nawaz Sharif with their purchasable aides like Fazal Ur Rehman and Asfand Yar Wali. Both worked according to the theme of sociology. Zardari wanted to hold the office peacefully for five years, to be able to get rid of his cases and corruption assertions. Nawaz wanted a resolution by the National Assembly allowing the Prime Minister for a third term.
It had nothing to do with the welfare of the state or the public.
It was their own lust of power to support one-an-other to hold the office and to stop the investigations against their corruption during previous periods. The third character in this game of deceitful acts was Pervez Musharraf who initiated NRO especially for Zardari, to please Benazir, to give her a safe passage over the billion dollar corruption of her husband and come back in the country, to arrange a safe passage for Musharraf and to save his skin from his misdoings which had forced the public to stand against him.
In the 2008 elections, Imran Khan’s party was nowhere near a majority – they only received a few seats. But the 2013 elections were a shock for all political anacondas. From nowhere, to their great shock, Imran Khan jumped in with complete determination and his party was able to make an entry in the National Assembly and also formed a government in KPK. His strength of mind towards development of systems and his hard work against corruption exposed both the major parties. Suddenly, Panama Leaks brought a dramatic change in Pakistan’s political circle exposing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s family against their corruption and abuse of national exchequer. Nawaz Sharif and his family was given ample opportunities to explain the billion dollars trail of money for their off-shore companies and flats in London which they still are unable to prove.
Imran Khan stood sturdily against this corruption and despite many difficulties and strong resentment; he educated the public to understand the corruption of both the parties. As a result, the public’s present awareness about Zardari and Nawaz’s corruption is a gift of Imran Khan to the nation.
The musical chair game started in 1988, after the accidental death of Gen Zia ul Haq. PPP and PML-N came into power, PPP in centre and PML in Punjab. AND; the musical chair game started between the two, up till Pervez Musharraf intervened in 1999. The same game once again started in 2008 because of Musharraf’s deceitful act of NRO. Now, both the parties talk against each other, use utmost abusive language, and then sit down together and laugh it out.
I would formulate hypothesis and seek evidence from the litany of things from the statements of PM’s family members and Ishaq Dar. That litany came mostly from mundane sources such as Panama, Qatar and Dubai. Diligently, the family would oppose and cite every piece of data, claiming factious and fraudulently taken. Because, they themselves have done so, majority of the papers presented to JIT by Nawaz Sharif and his children are bogus and factious. They just forgot one main point that data could be packaged in any number of ways: by year, by topic, by state, for an ad, for a fundraiser, for a speech, and yes, even the media in their reporting.
I confess, people were not sure that the JIT would present such a comprehensive report, but we quickly learned that the day-to-day reality of JIT’s research wasn’t an eyewash and it could be tidy. Here’s why: When PM’s family was summoned, they were all talking the same language “What’s our fault? What is the allegation?”
How strange, living lavishly in London, money pouring in from various un-known sources from abroad and from domestic sources as well, and they still don’t know what the allegation is.
Whenever extra money is added in your regular income, it is noticed and if not noticed the guilt is always there. Unfortunately, our politicians and their families are guilt-free. It’s the saddest part of this soil.
However strange the source, everything was read, every voice heard. You might even say researchers, however maligned, are unfailingly polite.
That is what “responding accordingly” means. Despite the constant noise from the ruling party and elsewhere, JIT researchers remained focused and supervised their work. And people certainly believe them, and in their claims of adhering to ethical standards regarding sources and methods.
Involvement of Qatari Prince, a stranger for our Nationals, from a foreign nation may actually occur in the name of opposition research. But not on the watch of professionals. Politically such involvements have sharp elbows and barbs and anger and fear and, even, desperation, but never worked with any positive result which could exhibit such stunningly, alarmingly poor arranged proves.
Again, Maryam, Hussain and Hassan are right – they can’t help what someone advised them to read and present. People can’t fault them for reading it. But if they believe that they “responded accordingly,” they are gravely wrong.
Now that Nawaz Sharif and his team plan to challenge the JIT report, the people of Pakistan are worried. The PM’s team is well within its rights, but has the Prime Minister visualised its effect on the day to day working of the government as well as the general public? Wouldn’t it be better that the matter be resolved in the parliament – after all, this is what the parliament is formed for. And if the parliament feels it appropriate, why not select a new, interim Prime Minister from the same party, until the final decision of the Supreme Court.
If the opposition (mainly PTI, PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM), join hands and make a no confidence move against PML-N, even a number of MNAs of the ruling party may join them. In that case, Nawaz Sharif will have to step-down.
And while we’re on the topic, one can talk about his children. Though Maryam tried to talk like a politician, she could not succeed. They all should remember one main point: illegal money and illegal acts have no standing and are exposed automatically. It’s the law of nature.
We can’t let the people think that in Pakistan democracy means “Hukamran Sharif” or “Zardari Clan” – if not Nawaz Sharif or Maryam then Kalsoom Nawaz. If not Zardari or Bilawal, Faryal or Bakhtawar. Is democracy another name of an elite family business in Pakistan?
If so, that’s unfortunate!
