It has been the strategy of the government to prolong the issue after the leaks emerged in April. However, its problems have compounded. The prime minister can step down and name a party worker to replace him until he is cleared after investigations. It looks simple but it will be difficult for him to return. Nobody in Pakistan leaves the corridors of power easily. It can also create rifts in his party. He can also hold early elections, but the leaks will not die down soon, even though all opposition parties would start preparations for the polls. It is a defining moment in Pakistan. All politicians and institutions will have to work together to launch across-the-board accountability or the future of democracy and next generations will remain bleak in Pakistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had sent a letter to the Supreme Court registrar last month, requesting Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali to constitute a judicial commission to investigate Pakistanis who had been named in the Panama leaks as well as those who got loans written off. However, the Chief Justice of Pakistan rejected the government’s appeal on the grounds that the commission, formed on its terms of reference, will be “toothless” and take years to reach its conclusions. “The formation of a commission under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 1956 (Act VI of 1956), looking to its limited scope will result in the constitution of a toothless commission, which will serve no useful purpose,” a letter sent by the SC registrar to the Law Ministry said. It observed that the terms of reference (ToR) of the proposed commission are so wide and open that it may take years for the commission to conclude proceedings. Chief Justice Jamali also asked the government to legislate on the commission in the parliament and reach a consensus on the terms of reference with the opposition. “It is necessary to have a list of all individuals, families, groups, companies, along with some relevant particulars, against whom purported inquiry proceedings are to be held,” he added. In this way, the court has foiled the government’s plan to form a powerless commission, which will not be able to complete its task in years. It is a moral victory for the opposition.
Earlier, the media speculated when Gen Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a one-on-one meeting after some time. Though the PM’s spokesman denied, yet the media speculated the Panama issue was discussed in the meeting. The meeting was a major development in the wake of rising speculation that the relations between the army and the political government are under considerable strain since the release of the Panama leaks and an army operation in South Punjab, against the will of the government. In a veiled reference to the leaks on April 19, General Raheel Sharif had stressed across-the-board accountability and elimination of corruption to ensure the prosperity, solidarity and integrity of Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar played a role in breaking the ice between the Prime Minister’s House and the General Headquarters.
Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his government would not accept anyone’s dictation on the terms of reference for the inquiry commission. The prime minister’s remarks were seen against the military as the opposition cannot dictate its terms to the government. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called on him at Jati Umra in Raiwind to discuss the Panama leaks. Later, the government denied the meeting had taken place, in a bid to control damage.
President Mamnoon Hussain also broke his silence on the Panama leaks and said they were a godsend for the people of Pakistan. “The issue will expose many big names,” he told the Kotri Association of Trade and Industry. Urging the corrupt elite to stop their ill practices, the president said, “Corruption has adversely affected every institution of the country and now there is a need to launch collective efforts to eliminate it. Youths constitute fifty to sixty percent of the population and they should come forward in the fight against corruption,” he added. His remarks may be not be directed at the ruling family but they must have not gone down well with the government.
The second set of the Panama leaks does not contain names of former military officers, as was speculated by some politicians and analysts. A clean chit has given the establishment a greater leverage to take action against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not accept the terms of reference of the opposition, though the government may engage it for some time to let the dust settle. According to some people, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has started making contacts with the opposition parties after sensing the gravity of the situation. He telephoned former President Asif Zardari recently and wanted to be part of the opposition, but some parties are not willing to accept him into their fold. The PPP is willing to welcome him but the PTI is against it.
In the situation, the best option for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is confrontation. He will like to take the system with him to gain public sympathies for the next polls. He is in search of political martyrdom. The establishment will not interfere in the affairs. It will only oversee a ruthless accountability process through state institutions after the budget in June.
formation of a commission under the Pakistan Commission of Inquiry Act 1956 (Act VI of 1956), looking to its limited scope will result in the constitution of a toothless commission, which will serve no useful purpose,” a letter sent by the SC registrar to the Law Ministry said. It observed that the terms of reference (ToR) of the proposed commission are so wide and open that it may take years for the commission to conclude proceedings. Chief Justice Jamali also asked the government to legislate on the commission in the parliament and reach a consensus on the terms of reference with the opposition. “It is necessary to have a list of all individuals, families, groups, companies, along with some relevant particulars, against whom purported inquiry proceedings are to be held,” he added. In this way, the court has foiled the government’s plan to form a powerless commission, which will not be able to complete its task in years. It is a moral victory for the opposition.
Earlier, the media speculated when Gen Raheel Sharif and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a one-on-one meeting after some time. Though the PM’s spokesman denied, yet the media speculated the Panama issue was discussed in the meeting. The meeting was a major development in the wake of rising speculation that the relations between the army and the political government are under considerable strain since the release of the Panama leaks and an army operation in South Punjab, against the will of the government. In a veiled reference to the leaks on April 19, General Raheel Sharif had stressed across-the-board accountability and elimination of corruption to ensure the prosperity, solidarity and integrity of Pakistan. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar played a role in breaking the ice between the Prime Minister’s House and the General Headquarters.
Two weeks ago, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said his government would not accept anyone’s dictation on the terms of reference for the inquiry commission. The prime minister’s remarks were seen against the military as the opposition cannot dictate its terms to the government. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif called on him at Jati Umra in Raiwind to discuss the Panama leaks. Later, the government denied the meeting had taken place, in a bid to control damage.
President Mamnoon Hussain also broke his silence on the Panama leaks and said they were a godsend for the people of Pakistan. “The issue will expose many big names,” he told the Kotri Association of Trade and Industry. Urging the corrupt elite to stop their ill practices, the president said, “Corruption has adversely affected every institution of the country and now there is a need to launch collective efforts to eliminate it. Youths constitute fifty to sixty percent of the population and they should come forward in the fight against corruption,” he added. His remarks may be not be directed at the ruling family but they must have not gone down well with the government.
The second set of the Panama leaks does not contain names of former military officers, as was speculated by some politicians and analysts. A clean chit has given the establishment a greater leverage to take action against corrupt politicians and bureaucrats. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not accept the terms of reference of the opposition, though the government may engage it for some time to let the dust settle. According to some people, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has started making contacts with the opposition parties after sensing the gravity of the situation. He telephoned former President Asif Zardari recently and wanted to be part of the opposition, but some parties are not willing to accept him into their fold. The PPP is willing to welcome him but the PTI is against it.
In the situation, the best option for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is confrontation. He will like to take the system with him to gain public sympathies for the next polls. He is in search of political martyrdom. The establishment will not interfere in the affairs. It will only oversee a ruthless accountability process through state institutions after the budget in June.
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