REFERENCE media reports regarding the acceptance of Kulsoom Nawaz’s nomination and related issues.

According to the reports, Kulsoom Nawaz suffers from the same problem that resulted in Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification. In these circumstances, acceptance of her nomination papers, despite objections by other parties, seems unfair.

Despite Mr Sharif’s counsel stating clearly that Mr Sharif will not attend the National Accountability Bureau before a decision is made by the Supreme Court on his review petition, NAB seems bent on sending further summonses demanding Mr Sharif’s attendance. Of course, it is a useless exercise which amounts to little more than bending over backwards to suit and comfort Mr Sharif.

By the look of it, after winning NA-120 seat, Kulsoom will be made a dummy prime minister and the whole family will move to the Prime Minister’s House, with Mr Sharif reigning supreme, and making all institutions and 200 million Pakistanis look like fools.

Comparing the treatment of Dr Asim Hussain with the one given to Nawaz Sharif, who must be miles ahead in corruption, does leave a bad taste in the mouth. Also, progress made by us in over 16 months since the Panama Papers issue surfaced hardly seems enviable. State officials must show a sense of urgency, impartiality and firmness, which seems to be absent so far.

A voter
Karachi

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2017