Caging in the Sharifs

…the Sharifs are left with only two choices.

One to stay abroad and never to return and the second,

which seems more likely is, to end up behind bars for their alleged corruption.

From the General’s captivating accusations against Asif Zardari, to the tightening of the noose around the Sharif’s neck, it has been a happening week. The judiciary also remained in the news with the Model Town report decision. Simultaneously, our Prime Minister took a bold stand at the United Nations General Assembly. In a surprise move he, categorically, reiterated Pakistan’s actual stance before the world powers. Obviously, we all know whose words he actually speaks but in spite of that a courageous message was reflected.

To begin with, ten years after the high profile assassination of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, the General all of a sudden had a recurring thought. Miraculously he recalls, out of nowhere, that it was Asif Zardari who orchestrated Benazir’s assassination and ended her life in a successful attempt to benefit from her death. I would have agreed with the general’s tirade against Zardari, but it seems arduous at the moment to comprehend these bizarre accusations. The general himself is a proclaimed offender and has fled the country in order to save himself from the murder trial and its repercussions. Not very gutsy to sit abroad and make videos levelling serious asseverations against other political opponents. It doesn’t even reflect good upon his commando days since a commando never backs down let alone run from criminal trials. Moreover, it was the general residing in the Presidency when Benazir was killed and not Zardari. How difficult was it for him to get the murder investigated and take out the culprits? How difficult was it for him to provide adequate security for BB? Not to mention Benazir’s own finger pointed towards the general, himself, in case something happened to her.

The second interesting development was the continuation of the Panama-gate decision. An accountability court issued bail able warrants for Ishaq Dar’s arrest. Even his assets were reportedly put on hold. Preferential treatment was once again extended to the Sharifs though. The judge didn’t defy the custom of granting relief to the Sharif family and, merely, issued another summons to them. This treatment, however, will be short-lived, hopefully, as the 6 month deadline is being cut short each passing day. It was this backlash which made the NAB spring into action. The bureau’s officials went on to paste instructions of the Court on the residences of the Sharifs. Another bold step was to write to different departments instructing them to ensure no movement of moveable or immoveable assets of the Sharifs. Despite employing all desperate measures to curtail the damage, the Sharifs can, for sure, feel the noose tightening. With the appeal against the Hudaibiya paper mills case, another nail in their coffin has been hammered.

A lot many people anticipated the younger Sharif to escape unhurt from the concurrent disasters. Another short-lived perception as Justice Mazahir’s words echoing throughout the courtroom staggered the younger Sharif’s feet. The learned judge of the Hon’ble High Court ruled that it is the fundamental right of the families of the Model town victims to be enlightened with the findings of the Justice Ali Baqar Najafi report. Highly commendable and a brave decision by the judge, especially, in the prevalent circumstances. With the report to be made public pursuant to the orders of the court, things are about to get serious for the Metro Sharif as well. Coupled with the Apex Court taking up the Hudaibiya mills case, he is in for sleepless nights just like ‘baray bhai jaan’. Even his son might not be able to get out of it this time.

Distancing themselves from the NAB references is in no way going to be beneficial for the Sharifs. Latest news reports have also revealed Khawaja Harris’s advice to the Sharif family in London. According to insiders he has advised them to appear before the accountability court and contest the case, legally, as compared to a diatribe against state institutions on the streets of Lahore. After all a collusion with the judiciary isn’t the best of choices for them. Gone are the days when the courts can be ransacked by a handful of lobbyists. It would be a sensible decision if they were to return to the country and seek protection as envisaged under the law for every citizen of Pakistan.

Even the NA-120 victory wasn’t an actual victory to be honest. The marginal lead was an eye opener or at least I hope it was, for the family. An ordinary citizen who happens to be doctor by profession was able to pierce the apparently strong vote bank of the N leaguers. This political setback adds to the worries of the Sharifs. With the ongoing legal woes of the Jati Umra brothers their political stature was the only fall back option available to them. It was, in their opinion, easier to manipulate the public at large and twist the judicial dictum. However, last Sunday, their hopes of a public uproar were extinguished.

There was a time in history when people would think the end of an autocratic rule to be wishful thinking and an impossible feat. Be it the days of Adolf Hitler, Muammar Qaddafi or Saddam Hussain, their respective people were petrified to even let the thought of good riddance enter their minds. With passage of time these vicious leaders met their fateful end, rather bloody ends. If such dreaded rulers could be blown away in the pages of history, never to return, then I find it simple to see the end of the Sharif era, though theirs might not be a bloody end.

People might disagree with me for now, but the Sharifs are left with only two choices. One to stay abroad and never to return and the second, which seems more likely is, to end up behind bars for their alleged corruption. It is easier to state the following in the prevalent circumstances;

The age of the Sharifs, it would appear, is over.