The gory JIT saga

Panama leaks exposed many leaders involved in corruption around the world. Some of them sought the honourable way and resigned from their public offices.

In contradiction to both—democracy and freedom of expression–Pakistan has taken a turn for the worst. It seems to be pursuing a Goebbelian notion that it is the absolute right of the State/government to supervise/ formulate/manipulate public opinion. That’s what we are witnessing these days in the media free-for-all over JIT and the Panama leaks case.

In a country where history has been distorted from day one starting from the censoring of Quaid’s speech of August 11, 1947 to this day we see summer soldiers and sunshine patriots coming up with their own versions. Jinnah Sahib’s secular Pakistan has almost become a semi-theocratic state.

Regretfully, in the game of muck throwing to cloud each other’s views and perceptions, it is forgotten that in the final run, it is the divine retribution-the perfect justice of the Lord of the Universe that would matter. It needs to be remembered that God Almighty pays back every sinner exactly as their sins deserve.

Currently when we see the ordeal of the Sharif’s family it seems something more of the same stated above. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claims he has set an example for the first time in Pakistan’s history that even Prime Minister is not above law by appearing in the JIT.

While one appreciates his spirit, one would remind him that it was Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who had set an example by appearing before the Murtaza Bhutto Murder Inquiry Commission headed by Justice Aslam Zahid. One would also recall that her statement was recorded in the court while recording of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was objected to. Second was Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani who appeared before the Supreme Court when Chief Justice Iftikhar held him in contempt for refusing to write a letter as desired by him to the Swiss authorities.  He preferred to resign.

While one appreciates his spirit, one would remind him that it was Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who had set an example by appearing before the Murtaza Bhutto Murder Inquiry Commission headed by Justice Aslam Zahid.

It is nothing but divine justice that the most powerful family in the country is whining profusely. Indeed, it is nothing but ironic retribution that the sitting Prime Minister had to face cross examination by 21/20 grade officers while their departmental heads were busy wiping sweat of their brows in the adjoining waiting room.

It needs to be recalled how Senator Saifur Rehman as chief of Accountability Bureau acting as his hatchet man resorted to third degree methods against Asif Ali Zardari, Benazir Bhutto and other PPP stalwarts. His government would go to any extent to coerce innocent people to commit perjury against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari.

Can anyone forget how Justice Qayyum was dictated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother, his law minister and Senator Saifur Rehman to convict Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari in SG/Cotecna case? The Gestapo-like treatment meted out to foreign investors can never be forgotten by them.

One can imagine the pathetic plight of the Prime Minister in the JIT saga. It is like adding insult to injury. He is the chief executive yet helpless waiting nervously for the sword of Damocles to fall on his neck. Day in and day out his media musketeers keep on wailing loudest, hurling one accusation after the other, to make the Supreme Court and JIT proceedings controversial. Their howling seems to be falling like seeds on the stony ground.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. People with absolute power are blind to Nature’s mechanism of justice. It may take time but it ultimately gets the sinners. Not only that they are given long rope to mend and to seek forgiveness. Instead of learning a lesson, they tend to repeat their mistakes.

Panama leaks exposed many leaders involved in corruption around the world. Some of them sought the honourable way and resigned from their public offices. Two judges of the Supreme Court in Pakistan have not only indicted the Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif but branded him as God Father/Pablo Escobar or Al Capone and his government a Sicilian mafia and yet the psychopathic mind-set seems to be having better hold of him for the worst to come.