With Nawaz Sharif failing to justify the source of funds for setting up the Al-Azizia and Hill Metal Establishments, the accountability court sentenced him on Dec 24 to seven years in prison, imposing hefty fines of Rs1.5 billion and $ 25 million. The court ordered that all assets, properties, rights, receivables and interests of and in Hill Metal Establishment “stand forfeited to the Federal Govt, which shall forthwith approach the govt of Saudi Arabia, so as to implement and give effect to the said forfeiture”. Nawaz Sharif two sons, Hassan and Hussain, were issued permanent arrest warrants declared absconders. Given the money-laundering charges the entire Sharif family assets abroad are in jeopardy, they can be confiscated because of enactment of stringent new laws against money-laundering in the western world.
Given the feeble defence put up the guilty verdict is not surprising. Instead of providing a money trail despite ample time given, consistent attempts were made to delay court proceedings by the Sharif legal team. While Nawaz Sharif remains incarcerated in prison and with Shahbaz Sharif most likely to be, can the party remain united? The verdict endangers not only the political future of the Sharif family but also the PML (N).
The PML (N) has threatened to start a mass protest movement and disrupt parliamentary business. while this might be their right in a democracy, inflammatory statement provoking protests getting out of hand will give justifiable reason for an administrative reaction. with Nawaz Sharif appealing the conviction a very long legal battle still lies ahead. Having been permanently disqualified from elected office, a temporarily Suspended 11-year conviction and the current 7 year sentence plus a hefty cash penalty should give Nawaz Sharif food for thought to Start fighting his legal battles in conformity with the laws rather than playing the “mujhe Kyun nikala” political tune. that is what got Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Hanged.
Zardari’s problems are coming to a head starting with the “fake bank accounts” cases. A Supreme Court (SC) Bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Saqib Nisar banned all transactions of the properties of Bahria Town, Zardari Group and Omni Group based on the report filed by the Joint Investigative Team (JIT). This could lead to adverse consequences for Asif Zardari very quickly. Zardari’s close aide and Chairman Omni Group Anwar Majeed transferred graft money abroad through “Hundi” to buy assets in London, France and Dubai. The JIT report exposed the expenditures of Bilawal House incurred by Omni Group to seek “blessings” of the former president Asif Ali Zardari. Despite his professing innocence Zardari has no recourse except to come up with answers acceptable by the court. One will wait and see how long the Majeed family will resist family pressure to becoming “approvers” and avoiding long jail terms.
The JIT has done a tremendous job collecting details exposing a network of companies and individuals involved in money-laundering and fake accounts used to purchase property abroad illegally. Money transferred through fake accounts was used for the construction of Bilawal Houses in Karachi and Lahore, for payment of Bilawal family’s monthly personal expenses, for upkeep of pets (including dogs) in Bilawal House, etc. The mega-corruption and network of money-laundering is only the tip of the iceberg, the role of the Sindh govt and thus its constitutional legality has become very questionable, instead of cooperating with the JIT despite being at the very heart of the looting going on, Sindh Govt openly aided and abetted in criminal activity, rumours include kidnapping and murder? Those being investigated and convicted destroyed entire govt and semi-govt institutions as well as a couple of commercial banks. Can they Constitutionally remain in power? What does the “High Apostle of Constitutional Probity”, Senator Raza Rabbani say to that? One talks about the “fog of war” Raza Rabbani has perfected the “fog of hypocrisy”.
Like the PML (N), PPP’s second tier leadership has gone on the offensive, vociferously defending what appears to be indefensible, doling out frivolous arguments, lambasting the accountability process, accusing the system of victimization and trying to silence the democratic voice. Zardari’s recent rant against the Chief Justice indicates that he is under tremendous pressure feeling the heat of the investigations. For the record, if he goes down the “Army List” he will find a lot of “three years’ service” COAS tenure aspirants waiting for their turn at having a go at the crooks who have looted Pakistan’s in the name of “democracy” and the constitution”. The PPP may pick any number of holes in the accountability process, Asif Zardari is on his way to disqualification and prison.
Will somebody please listen to Zulfikar Mirza, and what to the self-confessed Zardari and Faryal Talpur hitman, Uzair Baloch, among others, have to say.
