Elections roundup: Chariots of Fire

The 1981 Oscar for Best Picture went to Chariots of Fire, a film set in the 1924 Olympics. President Ronald Reagan called it his favourite movie.

Though the movie is a rich, layered story, one principal plot point in the film was one of the protagonists refusing to run the 100-metre race in the Olympics because it was set on a Sunday and, given his devout Scottish missionary Christian heritage, he would not break the Sabbath. The British Olympic Committee and even the Prince of Wales tried to talk sense into him, but to no avail.

Well, it is a Chariots of Fire-style situation that Khawaja Harris has pulled in the NAB court. The lawyer representing Nawaz Sharif in the accountability court recused himself from corruption references on Monday. The reason: he said that the apex court had said that the all-three references against the former prime minister had to be completed within a month, even if the NAB had to work on Saturdays. Khawaja Harris took the “I don’t do Saturdays” line.

The real reason, obviously, is something else. There was going to be political fallout of a decision, which was slated to come out ten days before the general polls. This is a good enough way to defer. Sharif has already said it is too short a notice for a new lawyer to do his thing. Also took a jab, as expected, “Is it more important to complete the legal formalities or to announce the verdict before the elections?”

A reasonable enough plea. Court cases are deferred across the breadth and expanse of the country on the exact same grounds. In fact, changing lawyers is a time-tested method to delay verdicts.

Meanwhile, Chaudhry Nisar has finally let it out. Displaying the quantum grace that many suspected he had: little.

While announcing his decision to contest from four constituencies (NA-63 Taxila, NA-59 Rawalpindi, PP-12 and PP-10,) he lashed out at the Sharif family. “They will not be able to show their faces anywhere, if I decide to open my mouth,” he said, while speaking to the reporters.

“There are 10 faults in the PTI and 100 in the PML-N,” he added.

Also threw some sexism in the mix. They were against “aurat raj,” but have now put Nawaz’s daughter in charge. Now, though technically, he is right, pointing out the League’s sordid, misogynist past, what was he implying here? That the previous situation would have been better?

On the other hand, the Supreme Court has ordered Nadra to unblock former dictator Musharraf’s CNIC and passport. The CJP stated that the said blocking could hinder his return to the country and we want him back and face the charges against him in court.

Detractors, of course, are going to be interpreting it as letting Musharraf contest the polls from Chitral.