Supreme Court to settle the PTI, PML-N ToRs conflict
The stakeholders in the case were asked to submit their responses but Nawaz Sharif’s children who had been named in the papers delayed the submission, prolonging the hearings.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a recent address to the public said: “Liars should not lead the people of Pakistan”.
The statement came after Supreme Court’s recent hearing on the Panama Leaks scandal that accuses the Sharif family members of hiding offshore assets from the public.
In Pakistan, the popular narrative is that privileged rulers can get away with anything; even corruption.
Initially, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as the leading opposition party, 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.
However, the investigation was prolonged after continuous denial from the Sharif side maintaining the statement that Nawaz Sharif is ‘not corrupt’.
Imran Khan called off the Islamabad lockdown on the “apex court’s assurance that Nawaz Sharif’s accountability will start”.
The apex court has asked both parties to reach consensus on the Terms of Reference (ToRs) so that the proposed judicial commission can initiate an investigation into Panama Papers.
However, the govt and the opposition have constantly been in a deadlock over the inclusion of PM Nawaz’s name in the ToRs for accountability.
“It is a positive initiative taken by the Supreme Court to look into the case,” said political analyst Hasan Askari while talking to DNA.
The Panama papers case had been neglected for the last 6 to 7 months and had an unsettling impact on politics in Pakistan, said Askari.
“No one took the matter to Supreme Court. PML-N only sent a letter which was rejected by the Chief Justice of Pakistan because the ToRs were too open-ended,” said Hasan Askari.
PTI insists that the investigation should begin from Nawaz Sharif and won’t accept any other way to let the probe commence.
However, the opposition failed to understand that the prime minister’s involvement in the offshore assets owned by his children would have been exposed by association.
Moreover, the opposition has been criticised for using the ruling government’s corruption case for political gains and ignoring all kinds of other failures that have been destabilising the country.
“The prime minister’s team has made an important decision to let the proceedings go forward,” said Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) Secretary General Khurram Nawaz Gandapur while talking to DNA.
“Once the proceedings reach the end, PML-N will challenge the jurisdiction,” Gandapur told DNA. “The courts have limited jurisdiction in both criminal and civil proceedings.”
“PTI has once again fallen into the trap for believing the SC proceedings will lead to justice,” he said.
PTI announced to celebrate the court’s decision, however, the people of Pakistan have lost trust in the judiciary system and believe nothing substantial will come out of this move unless the Supreme Court’s intentions are sincere.
The stakeholders in the case were asked to submit their responses but Nawaz Sharif’s children who had been named in the papers delayed the submission, prolonging the hearings.
“Once the chief justice retires the commission will be broken and it will take months to form a new bench. The process will start all over, delaying the dates for hearings again,” said Gandapur.
“Once the proceedings reach the end, PML-N will challenge the jurisdiction,” Gandapur told DNA. “The courts have limited jurisdiction in both criminal and civil proceedings.”
Commissions in Pakistan have a history of being unsuccessful. The judicial commission formed to probe the Model Town tragedy also failed to independently conduct an impartial investigation.
Although, the opposition party’s decision to accept SC’s decision is a more effective and alternative method to ‘dharnas’, however, the question arises, why is PTI celebrating the court’s decision to probe into the Panama Leaks case when commissions in Pakistan have been unsuccessful?
“The issue regarding the disagreement on ToRs has been settled since Supreme Court is taking action on Nawaz Sharif’s accountability,” said PTI Leader Asad Umar, while talking to DNA.
“We are not the proscribed organisation that tries to get justice through violent measures,” said Umar.
We operate within the constitution and the constitution gives power to the judiciary, Umar added.
PTI has achieved its objective to pressurise Nawaz Sharif to present himself for accountability before the court and the party will accept the decisions under law, said Asad Umar.
The National Accountability Bureau, the Federal Investigation Agency, the Federal Bureau of Revenue refused to take up the case of Sharif family’s hidden wealth.
The problem of corruption in Pakistan is deep-rooted and will continue to exist until financial accountability is sincerely conducted at all levels.
“The commission needs to be empowered, and the chief election commission should have the authority to supervise the procedures with executive powers,” said Khurram Nawaz Gandapur.
The Panama Papers scandal has already been dealt with in all countries across the world except Pakistan.
Transparency and accountability should be imposed on all levels and no exceptions should be made for anyone including the prime minister of the country.
