- A small but significant step for former premier
The confusing, long-drawn Sharif family corruption saga has taken yet another twist, this time for the better for the erstwhile three-time prime minister. In reality, it represents a giant leap forward for his own self-belief, for incarcerated Shahbaz Sharif, apart from being a much-needed morale booster for the party’s dispirited rank and file. Among his string of references, the Avenfield properties decision in July 2017 by an accountability court was the first blow, as it disqualified him from the PM office, the April 2018 Supreme Court ruling confirmed it as a lifetime ban, while the accountability court decision in July 2018 was a severe jolt with its 10 years prison term, seven years and one year for his heir-apparent daughter and son-in-law, and hefty fines. An appeal against the jail sentence was upheld by the Islamabad High Court, the imprisoned Sharif trio was freed, and on Monday a five-member Supreme Court bench rejected the National Accountability Bureau’s counter-appeal against the release. There will no doubt be much rejoicing in the Sharif camp, and this matter would certainly constitute the main topic of talk shows for days, with much disparate input by top legal-eagles.
But Nawaz Sharif has not made a Houdini-like escape from his unenviable judicial entanglements as he still remains in a Lahore jail in accordance with the Al-Azizia Steel Mill reference decision of December 24. In this instance, his sources-beyond-income curse and no money trail condemned him to seven years rigorous imprisonment and disqualification from holding any public office for 10 years thereafter, fine of $25 million, forfeiture of case-related assets and property, with his two sons declared proclaimed offenders by the accountability court. A similar appeal for suspension of these sentences till final verdict is pending in the Islamabad High Court, whose two member bench is expected to hear it within 10 days. The PTI, with its razor-thin parliamentary majority and inertia-ridden performance so far, will be keeping its fingers crossed regarding this vital decision, while feuding opposition parties can possibly unite on a dangerous single platform. As for NAB, its working and competence again came under Supreme Court spotlight during Monday’s Avenfield appeal hearing, revealing flaws in prosecution reasoning.
