Nawaz Sharif is not only disgracefully out, a corruption charge will be brought against him within four weeks which, according to the verdict of Pakistan Supreme Court must be brought o completion within six months. A case of money laundering brought against him by the Tehreek-i-Insaf has been vigorously pursued by the Pakistan Supreme Court and the final verdict came the finding of six-member JIT constituted under the orders of the Supreme Court. The JIT was asked to find the trail to Nawaz Sharif and his sons and daughter making assets disproportionate to their legal income in London where four expensive flats stand in his/their name.
Disqualification of Mian Nawaz from even the membership of the Parliament and the directions that he be framed for corruption is in fact ignominious for a person who has been the Prime Minister for three turns. This apart, what has motivated the Pakistani establishment, the Army, judiciary and civil society to single out Sharif family for inquiry and action that ultimately culminated in his ouster?
This is indeed a victory of the radicals and fundamentals in Pakistan. TI led by Imran Khan, Pakistan Jamaat-i-Islami and Army seniors are among those who have celebrated the ouster of Nawaz Sharif and congratulated the judges of the Supreme Court. Former Army chief and President, Pervez Musharraf, who had ousted Nawaz Sharif through a coup, has congratulated the judges and the nation for removing Nawaz.
A couple points may be touched upon in this context. Is Nawaz the lone defaulter, the corrupt and the money launderer in Pakistan? Why has not anybody so far in Pakistan demanded probe into the large assets which Pakistani Generals have raised in foreign countries especially in the US after their retirement? Why not a single General has been brought to the book for owning assets disproportionate to his genuine income? And when General Pervez was indicted and a case was in offing against him, the Pakistan army went out of way and out of established rules to protect him and even provided him security. Where was Imran Khan then? Secondly, why are Jamaat-i-Islami and pro-rightist TI Party supportive of Pakistan Army’s action against the TTP and the launching of Zarb-e- Azab against Islamic radicals in KP?
It has to be noted that for last couple of months the US has exerted tremendous pressures on Nawaz Sharif demanding that Haqqani group should be denied safe haven in Pakistan. Does not the US know that in Pakistan, real power rests with the Army and not with the “elected” Government? Obviously, somewhere Nawaz Sharif did not fit in the chemistry of Pentagon and therefore his removal.
Whatever has happened in Pakistan it is a very important lesson for us in this country. First and foremost we need to give kudos to the independence of judiciary in Pakistan. Secondly, we should also appreciate Pakistan civil society leaving no stone unturned to root out corruption in the country and begin with the top most civilian authority and his family. This should send a message to the Modi Government which has its hands full with pending corruption cases against personalities of influence and power. The snail’s speed with which prosecution of known cases of corruption and misuse of power are proceeding creates doubts whether any decision on these will come at any point of time. Pakistan Supreme Courts historical decision should be an eye opener for our judiciary, Government and the civil society, no matter under whatever circumstances this decision has come. For nearly a decade or two we have been hearing of billions of rupees stolen from the public exchequer buy bigwigs and deposited in Swiss Banks. Where is any action or inquiry or report about these thefts? Many against whom cases of corruption were established during the regime of Congress are roaming like free birds and nobody touches them. They have the audacity to challenge the Government to touch them.
We cannot comment on the quality of democracy in Pakistan because that is not the subject matter we are dealing with. It is a case of public trust and the manner in which Pakistan constitution is protecting and promoting that trust. People have hailed the decision of the court and people are the best judge of their leaders. We hope our leaders and policy planners will take a cue from the historical verdict of Pakistan court and cast a glance at our domestic affairs from that standpoint at least with the purpose of how we can improve and enforce our campaign against corruption
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