.Dr. Umar Khan
Dr. Khan belongs to a Lahore based Think Tank.
17-5-16
Panama leaks, Nawaz Sharif’s quagmire
Having effectively controlled Imran Khan while PPP in his
pocket, Nawaz Sharif looked invincible in March when suddenly Hussain Nawaz
acknowledged his property in London. Some considered it Hussain’s naiveté while
those knowing the family well suspected something strange coming. A few days
later it came out as Panama leaks and the open secrets of Nawaz’s dubious
financial history lay out in the open. To control the damage to his reputation
he addressed the nation but it didn’t work. Later he addressed again and it got
worse. Yesterday he spoke in the parliament trying to diffuse the situation and
made the situation even more indefensible quoting facts which he won’t be able
to prove turning out to be complete lies, something outright suicidal. He is in
a quagmire and must rethink his strategy as the old one isn’t working and
neither he nor anyone else has unlimited time.
PM and his team has used nearly all the techniques available
to a propagandist. He started with trivializing the matter making it look like
Imran vs Nawaz, democracy vs martial law and not a corruption issue. Later he
argued that others also indulged in financial irregularities but never gave any
explanation himself. This was a strange strategy where he was incriminating
himself as being in power for the last 8 years it was his duty to act against
financial irregularities rather than indulge in shouting matches. This strategy
effectively imparted an impression of a blackmailer who has practically
confessed to his misdeeds. Trying to divert attention, creating a smoke screen
and ad hominem etc. all failed. Since the days of strong support of Zia and
Hamid Gul as CM Punjab bullying Pakistani PM, Nawaz has often boasted of being
a front foot player suggesting that he plays aggressively. His cohorts attacked
opponents viciously, the media and even national institutions (a bit subtly) but
all these techniques working so well for the last 35 years not only stopped
working but put him deep into the pit he was trying to come out of.
PM and his highly organized media team rightly argues that
political office holders making offshore companies is not a crime, but neither
is going to a bank wearing a face mask, but certainly very suspicious. Offshore
companies are a known method of saving taxes by corporations/institution or
expatriates but for individuals in public offices of 3rd world it is
nearly always to hide their ill-gotten wealth. The rule of thumb here is to
treat offshore companies of rich rulers of poor 3rd world countries
highly suspiciously until proven otherwise.
Commissions are a way of gaining time and diffusing the
issue in Pakistan. Nawaz has had exceptional luck whenever dealing with
individuals particularly associated with judiciary which late BB called
“Chamak”. Starting with the judgment against Tahir Qadri in late 80s to Nasim Hassan
Shah’s judgement that was announced before the case started to the latest
judicial commission on election irregularities, Nawaz was the beneficiary. Many
call it management but I would refrain due to lack of credible evidence.
However judicial commission has no place in this situation, it’s a political matter
and decided politically. The accused should not appoint his judge nor should he
have any place in determining its powers or TORs. Let’s face it the PM
determines their privileges as that of the election commission. We have
repeatedly seen its effects.
Over here contradictions between Nawaz, his wife, daughter,
sons and allies’ statements are more than enough to convict him politically and
he should be asked to resign. The only investigative commission needed here is
to investigate any criminal misdoings that might take him to jail. Naturally,
evidence needed for criminal conviction is always much stricter. No wonder Al
Capone could only be convicted for tax evasion charges.
Democracy is important for the multiethnic and multicultural
country like Pakistan. We have suffered a lot in the past due to military
interventions and autocratic tendencies of our polity. Forgetting about Nawaz’s
past democratic credentials which are very poor to say the least his current
services aren’t desirable either. To begin with corruption itself and a barrage
of allegations of corruption on elected officials is the worst enemy of
democracy as it vilifies it and damages the trust between voters and
politicians. Political parties where individuals are larger than the party
wastes another cushion in democracies by making them ineffectual dealing with
such crisis. In any country where democracy and corruption becomes synonymous,
democracy can’t last long.
Now the situation is all follows.
Nawaz has confessed to his late father’s illegal money
laundering. (in 70s taking $ out was a crime)
His sons have confessed owning Mayfair property since long.
His daughter has been proven to misstate as being property
less.
His wife has given a different date of acquiring the
property/
He has quoted facts in the parliament which he can’t
substantiate. His use of an old picture as a proof of ownership of an
industrial unit shows his extreme anxiety and distance from reality.
A pitiable situation indeed and worsening every passing
moment.
During Imran Khan’s ill advised dharna Nawaz strangely
didn’t concede an inch to his political rivals but offered everything to the
military including the Indian initiative. Even now instead of taking moral high
ground and resigning until cleared of allegations, he has started a mudslinging
campaign against his political rivals further damaging the repute of politicians
and thus democracy. Instead of a peaceful democratic change in parliament his
confrontational attitude might be tempting many potential usurpers giving
argument to those who think our democracy is not tenable. He is once again
giving a message to his political rivals to accept him despite everything or he
will ensure the demise of democracy in Pakistan, not a healthy approach.
Nawaz Sharif’s style of politics has worked exceptionally well
for 35 years allowing him to get away with unbelievable situations where any of
them could have politically ruined him. Provincialism, Changa manga, Johar town
plots, physically manhandling the supreme court, taking money from agencies to
name a few, instead of harming him got him PMship thrice and CMship of 60% of
Pakistan innumerable times. Strangely after his phenomenal success nothing is
working now, everything appears to be going wrong. Despite his team, resources
and skill, PM is getting deeper in trouble and if he continues like this even
his party N League, Pakistan’s biggest, might decimate. This is the way nature
works, no one gets endless opportunities. Our president rightly said Panama
issues has come from divine. Many opportunities have been squandered still
there is time, although not much. PM must accept that his responsibilities are
more than that of ordinary Pakistani requiring more scrutiny, he controls trillions
of public money and not them. He should resign, inform the nation how he made
this fortune, how he recently acquired expensive property controlled by Qatar
and leave the decision to the people of Pakistan. Our people can be very
forgiving and magnanimous. This time sincerity and honesty might win him
elections.
Neither Nawaz Sharif nor Pakistan have many options or time
left. Possibilities his confrontational strategy can lead us to are just too
scary even to contemplate.
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