The Shadows of the Panama Case

Is the wheel rotating in opposite direction? Is this nation, whose home has been haunted by an uproar, once again on the brink of change? The people, I mean the politicians and Fans of TV programs, are looking forward to the curse, and are hopeful. Just a fraction left. I’ve been in Karachi for the last two or three days, and every-one whom I met had the same question that what’s going to happen?

This question is related to the decision of the Panama case. What will this decision be, and what is going to happen to the ruling family, the longest-serving family of Pakistani politics? Najam Sethi and other courtiers of PMLN should refrain from dusting the in their own eyes or of the Public. The PSL final (some even call it the PSL Theatre) is now part of the past. It created some excitement, and then the media also didn’t like to remain behind in the race of stupidity. People are stunned to read some articles published in newspapers leaning towards PMLN, that they see this match in the decisive battle of history.

It has been tried to convince us that the match resulted in a national unity, Pakistan’s victory or defeat of terrorism and so on, but the lights of Gaddafi Stadium were just off and three of our military checkpoints were attacked by terrorists in Mohmand Agency from the other side of the Devender Line. The attack killed five soldiers. According to the ISPR, the enemy’s attack was repulsed ‘and fifteen terrorists were killed; but the martyrdom of the five soldiers was not a small incident. In addition, in Swabi, a captain and a young man were killed in exchange for firing with insurgents or terrorists, or whatever you name them. No doubt the threat of terrorism is reduced but not yet eliminated, whereas to eliminate it completely there is a need to eliminate the terrorists with a priority and attention more than that for conducting a dazzling cricket match has been given.

The Panama case is one of the most important point on the national scene right now. It has sparked doubts & uncertainty, ignited rumours, heated up the speculation because it involves serious cases of corruption and misrepresentation. If the decision goes against the prime minister and his family who are main Actors of the case, then the country can suffer from any situation. Only the angels know what the decision will be, but the ruling family is upset and the ruling party is in dire straits. The bench is comprised of five judges, and it looks like the future of the country is in their hands. This is a unique moment in the history of Pakistan. Even before this, the judges have been making memorable decisions. Some of them even appeared to endorse Martial Law, and this happened not once, but many times. A prime minister was hanged, some of the prime ministers who belonged to Sindh were dismissed, such as Mohammad Khan Junejo and Benazir Bhutto but court gave no remedy. On the other hand, a prime minister from Punjab, Nawaz Sharif, was restored by the court after being removed from office under the presidential decree. Things are similar, but decisions are different, so critics got the chance to call it as “double standards”. From Justice Munir who first invented the “theory of requirement” to Chief Justice Anwar ul Haq who upheld Bhutto’s death sentence, and to Chief Justice Irshad Hassan Khan, who endorsed General Musharraf’s act of overthrowing the democratic government all the superior judiciary either fell prey to the self-interests or it turned its back on the powerful. However, the Supreme Court reversed its independence to restore Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry. It was well done but nothing more. In all other important decisions, it preferred the interests of executive power.

However, this is a different time. Justice Khosa’s bench hearing the Panama case, is free and self independent and is controlled by its own conscience. Whatever the decision will be taken by the bench, it will be without any pressure and as per the facts of the case under law and justice. The PMLN would have brought it under pressure, if it was possible as it was the same party that raided the apex court of Justice Sajjad Ali Shah, who has recently died, and the chief had to quickly escape from his court but now the PMLN is a weak Party. It is not in the same degree as it was in 1998 when it survived by attacking the Supreme Court; therefore, it can no longer try the past. Today, the military will not allow it to do so, and then the PTI and other political forces will be resistant to it; therefore, even if PMLN is worried about the worst situation, it will be helpless. Now there are just hollow and baseless threats from some of the ministers, such as Saad Rafiq and Rana Sana are presenting, and they can do nothing except grinding their teeth. Other methods through which they used to ram the judges, are not available today.

It is well known to all that during his long political innings, Nawaz Sharif always received relaxation and relief from the courts. Those allegations and cases, which removed other politicians from offices, or destroyed their political career, could have harm him and his family. No PPP Prime Minister could escape from the Asghar Khan case. The case is about taking money from ISI by some politicians, including Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, in the 1990 elections. It was impossible for any political figure to escape the Model Town case, in which fourteen people were killed and dozens injured in police firing. After Ishaq Dar’s acknowledgment of money laundering, what is the political minaret that will not be washed away? But the Sharif brothers have so far proved to be the “Achilles” in Pakistani politics, who have never been harmed by any one. But now is the first time that Nawaz Sharif and his close family, both sons and daughter, are facing a difficult case in court – standing against the imaginations and most helpless before the bench. The Défense mechanism adopted through the Qatari Letter by Sharif family’s lawyers has become a national joke – a joke throughout the country. Now the situation has become that nobody has a problem with their taxes or if there is no answer to anything else, he has the same idea of arranging a letter from Qatar, Bahrain or any other desert state.

However, the importance of this case goes far beyond the fate of the Sharif family. In this case, it is not only their trail but entire nation and system is being trailed. So whatever decision comes out, good or bad, will have far-reaching consequences. Currently, the case has ruined Sharif family reputation before the verdict. Earlier, they were charged but said there was no evidence; whereas the Panama hearing has exposed a lot of things, such as overseas secret accounts, property and money laundering charges, and the Sharif family has no answer for them. Even if he escaped the storm, the sky would have changed. These stains on the foot will not go away easily and quickly.

(Published in Monthly Tribute International on 01-03-2017)