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The summoning of the Sharif family by JIT: Shall we praise the Prime Minister?
Global Village Space |
Saad Rasool |
Last week had been consumed with speculations and talk about Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his family’s appearance before the Panama case JIT. What was meant to be a simple act of legally binding nature, has been hailed (by one side) has some great deed of personal sacrifice, and (by the other) as an eyewash.
And so, it must be asked: was Nawaz Sharif’s appearance before the JIT, or that of his family members, really such a big deal? Was there any other option available to the First Family of PML-N? Did they appear before the JIT as a testament to their belief in accountability? Or were they compelled, reluctantly, by the orders of the honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan?
For many months, the people of Pakistan (in and outside of politics) have asked whether the Prime Minister (and his family members) will be called on to rebut the damning allegation made against them in Panama Leaks.
Read more: Will the JIT be able to handle PML-N’s pressure?
In the initial days of Panama Leaks, it was expected that the Prime Minister would be made to answer before the Parliament (an appropriate and representative forum). However, over time, this option was ruled out because of two things: 1) the Prime Minister’s speech before the Parliament was sketchy (at best), providing no details as to money trail, and 2) PTI took to the streets, demanding that a full disclosure be made before a judicial forum.
The honorable Supreme Court (in the majority as well as minority judgment) made damning observations that Mr. Nawaz Sharif has economized with the truth, and provided no details of any bank account, any banking transaction or any money trail.
Thereafter, as the honourable Supreme Court conducting hearings on the Panama Leaks case, it was once again expected that (perhaps) Mr. Nawaz Sharif and family would (voluntarily) appear before the Honourable Court, to clarify the many gaps in their Sindbad-esque story of a Qatari prince, riding through the deserts of Hijaz to come to their rescue. But that did not happen, instead, the honorable Supreme Court (in the majority as well as minority judgment) made damning observations that Mr. Nawaz Sharif has “economized with the truth”, and provided “no details of any bank account, any banking transaction or any money trail.”
In fact, the majority judgment categorically observed that the Qatari letters, which form the very basis of Sharif family’s defense, “have not been proved in accordance with law, are ex facie based on hearsay and not substantiated by any credible material, let alone document(s)/evidence.”
Read more: PM appears before the JIT: A test of accountability
Still, even as PML-N members distributed sweets (no one still knows why), neither the Prime Minister nor his family members, appeared any place to substantiate their fantastical claims. In fact, up until it became clear that the JIT would (inevitably) call members of the Sharif family for testimony, many in the PML-N ranks – e.g. Rana Sanaullah – were adamant that the JIT had “no power” to call upon the Prime Minister.
Is this a heroic act?
In a constitutional democracy, it is hard to justify the accolades and criticism bestowed upon Mr. Nawaz Sharif (and his family) for appearing before the JIT.
But we are here now. The JIT called Mr. Nawaz Sharif, his sons, his brother, and maybe a few more are on the list. And this event… this calling to a criminal investigation, is being hailed by PML-N workers (read: servants?) has some sacrificial act of martyrdom. In a constitutional democracy, it is hard to justify the accolades and criticism bestowed upon Mr. Nawaz Sharif (and his family) for appearing before the JIT. Should citizens of Pakistan (who, in this case, happen to be members of the ‘first family’) be celebrated for doing something that the law and the Constitution compel them to do? Should we praise them for having had no other option but to abide by directions of the Honorable Supreme Court (of which JIT is a mere extension)? Why stop here? Why not sing praises for them for having the moral fortitude of stopping at a red signal? Or for chewing before they eat? While on the point, should we not also bestow praises on Gullu Butt for joining the Model Town investigation? Or on Dr. Asim and Uzair Baloch for answering JIT’s questions?
Read full article:
The summoning of the Sharif family by JIT: Shall we praise the Prime Minister?
Global Village Space |
Saad Rasool |
Last week had been consumed with speculations and talk about Mr. Nawaz Sharif and his family’s appearance before the Panama case JIT. What was meant to be a simple act of legally binding nature, has been hailed (by one side) has some great deed of personal sacrifice, and (by the other) as an eyewash.
And so, it must be asked: was Nawaz Sharif’s appearance before the JIT, or that of his family members, really such a big deal? Was there any other option available to the First Family of PML-N? Did they appear before the JIT as a testament to their belief in accountability? Or were they compelled, reluctantly, by the orders of the honorable Supreme Court of Pakistan?
For many months, the people of Pakistan (in and outside of politics) have asked whether the Prime Minister (and his family members) will be called on to rebut the damning allegation made against them in Panama Leaks.
Read more: Will the JIT be able to handle PML-N’s pressure?
In the initial days of Panama Leaks, it was expected that the Prime Minister would be made to answer before the Parliament (an appropriate and representative forum). However, over time, this option was ruled out because of two things: 1) the Prime Minister’s speech before the Parliament was sketchy (at best), providing no details as to money trail, and 2) PTI took to the streets, demanding that a full disclosure be made before a judicial forum.
The honorable Supreme Court (in the majority as well as minority judgment) made damning observations that Mr. Nawaz Sharif has economized with the truth, and provided no details of any bank account, any banking transaction or any money trail.
Thereafter, as the honourable Supreme Court conducting hearings on the Panama Leaks case, it was once again expected that (perhaps) Mr. Nawaz Sharif and family would (voluntarily) appear before the Honourable Court, to clarify the many gaps in their Sindbad-esque story of a Qatari prince, riding through the deserts of Hijaz to come to their rescue. But that did not happen, instead, the honorable Supreme Court (in the majority as well as minority judgment) made damning observations that Mr. Nawaz Sharif has “economized with the truth”, and provided “no details of any bank account, any banking transaction or any money trail.”
In fact, the majority judgment categorically observed that the Qatari letters, which form the very basis of Sharif family’s defense, “have not been proved in accordance with law, are ex facie based on hearsay and not substantiated by any credible material, let alone document(s)/evidence.”
Read more: PM appears before the JIT: A test of accountability
Still, even as PML-N members distributed sweets (no one still knows why), neither the Prime Minister nor his family members, appeared any place to substantiate their fantastical claims. In fact, up until it became clear that the JIT would (inevitably) call members of the Sharif family for testimony, many in the PML-N ranks – e.g. Rana Sanaullah – were adamant that the JIT had “no power” to call upon the Prime Minister.
Is this a heroic act?
In a constitutional democracy, it is hard to justify the accolades and criticism bestowed upon Mr. Nawaz Sharif (and his family) for appearing before the JIT.
But we are here now. The JIT called Mr. Nawaz Sharif, his sons, his brother, and maybe a few more are on the list. And this event… this calling to a criminal investigation, is being hailed by PML-N workers (read: servants?) has some sacrificial act of martyrdom. In a constitutional democracy, it is hard to justify the accolades and criticism bestowed upon Mr. Nawaz Sharif (and his family) for appearing before the JIT. Should citizens of Pakistan (who, in this case, happen to be members of the ‘first family’) be celebrated for doing something that the law and the Constitution compel them to do? Should we praise them for having had no other option but to abide by directions of the Honorable Supreme Court (of which JIT is a mere extension)? Why stop here? Why not sing praises for them for having the moral fortitude of stopping at a red signal? Or for chewing before they eat? While on the point, should we not also bestow praises on Gullu Butt for joining the Model Town investigation? Or on Dr. Asim and Uzair Baloch for answering JIT’s questions?
Read full article:
The summoning of the Sharif family by JIT: Shall we praise the Prime Minister?
