And delaying tactics
The Sharifs clearly invested considerable effort and time, not just in court, to delay the indictment. The lawyer-mob outside the accountability court the other day – an ominous throwback to the ’07 Supreme Court attack — then requests to delay proceedings for one reason or another, were attempts to kick the can further down the road and upset the six-month time bar on the NAB references. But now that the indictments have been served, it seems the Sharif family’s next move is to make the trial as controversial as possible. Maryam Nawaz wasted little time, commenting on the unfairness immediately after the hearing. Then Nawaz, talking to reporters in London, took shots at the JIT and lamented the murder of justice in the homeland, etc.
Now, as the trial gets underway, a drama that has kept the entire country glued since April ’16 will finally begin a slow journey towards completion. And since the case revolves around money – the black and white of which the court will investigate and expose – and not some political intrigue, the Sharif family is advised to stop playing the martyr on the streets, as they have done since the Jul28 verdict, and concentrate on the proceedings.
So far the Sharifs have been able to muddy the waters because Nawaz’s ouster owed to the controversial iqama while the money cases were sent to NAB. But now that details of accounts, estates and lavish lifestyles will make their way to the news, the conspiracy theory will become increasingly difficult to sell to the public. Plus, they have enough on their plate as it is. Inter-Provincial Coordination Minister Riaz Pirzada’s outburst will stoke rumours of a forward bloc, etc, in the ruling party. Talk of a widening cleavage between Nawaz and Shahbaz, and their families, was already doing the rounds. Rather than go out on a limb in pulling institutions into a slugfest, the Sharifs should look after their cases and especially the party, lest it too becomes difficult to hold together as the election approaches.
Sharif family playing the martyr on the street is made possible by a majority of fools in the street who come out in support for a keema nan or a small insignificant payment. In any democratic set up, the lawyers have be whiter than white in terms of character, or their licence to practice is cancelled by the bar association. In Pakistan, the lawyers behave no different to common street urchins, entire mindset and culture of both the ruling and the ruled is contrary to the norms and requirements of democracy, the country and its people are far too backward for democracy to function. It is like growing a seed in a barren soil that does have what it take to nurture and sustain the growth of the seed. It is pointless to blame the army for democracy not taking root, because democracy functions amongst people who are always ready and willing to protect it from any threat including the rulers. Sadly in Pakistan we have very few people and far too many SHEEPLE. As long as SHEEPLE remain the majority in Pakistan, they will ensure the rule of elected autocracy of crooks and thieves till the country reaches its final demise. The initial stages of democracy in the west, common people did not qualify for the right to vote because the rulers knew they had too many sheeple and too few people, it ensured democracy to function and take root.
In your opening remarks you missed out the most significant element that Sharifs used; Money.
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