Dear reader, online ads enable us to deliver the journalism you value. Please support us by taking a moment to
Nawaz Sharif has returned to prison, Asif Zardari appears to be a step closer to disqualification or prison — and once again the country’s politics has been plunged into uncertainty.
The PML-N supremo has been convicted by an accountability court in one of the two remaining references against him, while the PPP boss has had sweeping allegations laid against him in the so-called fake bank accounts investigation. Mr Sharif’s legal troubles are certainly more severe: permanent disqualification from elected office, a temporarily suspended 11-year conviction and now a seven-year sentence.
NAB will appeal Mr Sharif’s acquittal in the third accountability reference against him, while Mr Sharif will appeal his latest conviction. Those facts alone suggest that there remains a long legal road ahead for Mr Sharif, and as such the former prime minister ought to continue cooperating with and submitting to the law as he is required to do. Whatever misgivings the Sharif family and the PML-N have about the accountability process against them, legal battles must be fought in conformity with the law.
The legal proceedings against Mr Zardari are still in their preliminary stages, but the fact that the Supreme Court is seized of the matter under its suo motu powers could lead to swift consequences. And while a Joint Investigation Team report is not the same as conclusive evidence that has withstood judicial scrutiny, the allegations against Mr Zardari are serious and the Supreme Court is likely to press him and others implicated in the JIT report to provide adequate responses.
Once again, whatever misgivings Mr Zardari and the PPP have about the legal proceedings against them it is important that they cooperate with and submit to the law as is required of them. Tainted proceedings are often eventually exposed as such, but the danger in fighting legal troubles in the political arena is that it can cause system-wide instability. The country is already in a perilous economic situation and political brinkmanship will surely only hurt the very people the political leadership is meant to represent.
Yet, as the PML-N and PPP consider their future courses of action, it is also important that the PTI government not unnecessarily add to political tensions. Despite the PTI government having repeatedly pledged that NAB is an independent organisation, it was Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry who held a press conference yesterday to ostensibly explain the conviction of Mr Sharif.
Certainly, while the PTI has staked a great deal of its politics on the ouster of its political opponents on corruption allegations, the federal government may be courting unnecessary trouble for itself. Only recently a parliamentary impasse was broken by Prime Minister Imran Khan’s sensible decision to abide by parliamentary norms and offer the chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee to Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shahbaz Sharif. Restraint and good sense are needed on all sides.
Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2018
Comments (43) Closed
What his conviction and prison sentence has to do with uncertainity. How can one who turned the country into uncertainity with his corruption will bring more uncertainity being in jail. This is a perfectly normal way to get rid of the corrupts that never happens in our country.
Zardari is true candidate for PM. Drop charges let him run country
Both families are busted for massive corruption and they must be held accountable. Enough of the holla loppa stories. The government must further assist NAB in cases against the thugs
No need by Fawad Choudhry or any other PTI minister to issue any statement on judicial proceedings. No point in muddying the water. let justice take its course.
Don't worry Imran Khan's turn will also come, remember when Nawaz and Bhutto could do no wrong.
Excellent advice to both Zardari & Imran.. Hope they pay heed...Specially, the latter...The Info Minister adds negativity to anything positive..Its about time Immy tosses ball to someone else...
All offenders have 'misgivings' against judicial process, let us not dwell on it.
Why this pathetic equivocation?
Correction should not be tolerated at any cost but nobody including SJP has the right to humiliate other, it’s non professional, unethical and un Islamic
So corruption should go un-punished in the interest of stability and democracy? That's a page out of the current opposition's book, isn't it?
When Nawaz is back Imran will be in jail. It is just a cycle.
For once, I agree with the views of the writer. We know all too well Zardari is not going to be willing to be nice in return, he will fight with his clever come backs, NAB and the supreme court better be ready to face off with Zardari.
Zardari might be closer to losing his political status, but he also needs to pay for his wrong doings, he needs to serve time behind bars for his actions.
Congratulations to Dawn on writing a balanced editorial. It is hoped that it will have a sobering influence on all stakeholders,especially so on PTI ministers. There is saying 'what goes round will come round'. PTI rulers are not saints or angels. They will make mistakes.Then system will come around to bite them.
good times for Pakistan ahead... iA...... once this accountability finishes...
A very thorough & well written editorial on ongoing accountability saga against leaders of two major parties who took turns in bad governess, financial mismanagement, & free for all corruption spree, causing immense financial & governess issues for the country as a whole.
The two out of three cases resulting in conviction of NS in the AC, have an arduous journey ahead lasting many years. Similarly cases against Zardari, comparatively based upon incriminating evidence, which hopefully may result in conviction & incarceration of this con-artist, are likely to continue for many more years till finalized. Based upon past history of many such cases involving Zardari, no one can predict that the present ones will meet the same fate or otherwise.
The editorial is very correct in saying that both these leaders should not settle their legal scores by making them political victimization, which apparently they are doing right now & unless sanity prevails it may have perilous outcome for all.
To cause system-wide instability suits both NS & Zardari. They don't care if the country is in turmoil. They think they are above the country, unfortunately!
Why would Zardari be close to disqualification or prison? Any charges
The PTI government comments on the corruption cases because one of its signature promises, and the main reason many people voted for it, was for a relentless crusade against corruption.
One would hope the media would refrain from promoting the corruption mafia's agenda to paint every corruption conviction as a political event.
Nawaz will either get an acquittal on appeal, get the jail term suspended or, in the worst case, spend the "jail" time in a comfortable hospital instead.
Short of a revolution, the rules are ALWAYS different for the rich and powerful.
Chairmanship of the Public Accounts Committee is neither a parliamentary norm nor is it ta law. It is a practice. I agree Fawad Choudhury talks more than he should, but the government Information Ministry as every right to "broadcast" on what has been "informed"
The immature statements of ministers have been fomenting the political hatred and temperature, unnecessarily. This is impacting focus and actions of opposition and government to uplift the economy.
Let the court decide the fate of both Nawaz Sharif and Zardari. The information Minister should seal his mouth and not make the situation worst
Pakistan inching towards civil war
Good editorial, very true, restrain , sanity and rationality is needed from everyone.
Yes, back to prison, where they belong. As for the country being in 'perilous condition', it is only b/c they have been 'helping' themselves, heir families, and a little bit to their facilitaters. They 'will surely hurt the very people' they have been hurting all those decades b/c they only represent themselves. Accountability process must be expedited to make recovery of their loot. That has become more important when financial reality has dawned on everybody.
Hope zardari would be soon behind the bars
Political victimization is on the way. The PTI government is following the Chinese model. It tries to achieve economic development at the cost political oppression. The media censorship and the current NAB targeting of the political figures are cases in point. This will prove detrimental to the very essence of democracy. In the 1970s, Bhutto had used FSF for political victimization. It is now another authoritarian who is using NAB for the same purpose.
Gravity of crime committed by Nawaz Sharif notwithstanding, patriotic elements of country are struck by the casual handling of the event of judgment and even aggressive reactions of print and electronic media against govt of the day and judicial decision. This shows that tolerance of the wholesale loot at the hands of politicians is an old normal which might take some time to change. This is precisely the reason that Zardaris ,Nawaz, kairas, Sherry Rehaman etc have the audacity of making highly irresponsible and even antinational statements oblivious of the fact that people of this poor country have been made to pay the price for their jagirdarana. Waderana and feudal ayashis.
If nawaz was corrupt and if according to Ik niazi, the price of dollar goes up when rulers do corruption then why the dollar is still on the rise ? Why govt has taken 1 trillion of public debt in 100 days. ? Where is it spent ? Where r the claims of trillion and trillion of rupees being laundred by nawaz? Where is that money and why is there no mention of any of it in both detailed verdicts
Isn’t that wonderful news.
@Asgher Ali,
I suppose there is no internet on Mars.
At last a balanced article from dawn on the prevailing situation
No body understands what this AlAzizia and Flagship references are and what are the allegations and no body is trying to understand in this hue and cry of corruption but if someone will really try to understand these and will find out these are politically motivated references and had no basis to these but just only one reason to disqualify and discredit one person and political party
@Zia, After so many revelations he cannot be allowed to ruin the country.
Cases and judgements against Ex PM are going to bring instability in Pakistan as prima faci there was/is no case against him. On face value no corruption in his tenure could be established conclusively. He is being punished on presumed corruption.
— and once again the country’s politics has been plunged into uncertainty.
Sir, do you please explain why did you make the above statement? Why, every time a politician is punished for wrongdoing has to be a crisis? Do you think for the sake of "political certainty" they should not brought to justice? I am just puzzled.
Pandora's Box is now open. The "Out of Power" Politicians from now on would not be left alone to enjoy the Fruits of their Loot if they kept low profile unlike in the past; but would be jailed. Just Remember - What goes around comes around................A Great American saying.
NAB is a tool to bludegon the Out of Power Opponents. Every Body's Turn will come eventually.
If zardari has any brains; he would leave the country before ECL bars his exit.
@Pathanoo,
So it should.
But only guilty need to worry. IK came out unscathed after SC probe. NS and JT couldn't.
@LAHORI KID, Zardari's shenanigans are now over and there is nothing left in him to innovate or make fool with his democracy slogan to stay relevant. And there are no buyers either. As soon as his assets are seized by the state through court orders, he will be without a cover and he knows it. Money has definitely brought unlimited powers to him but the time has changed and he has no ace in hand to win his political poker.
Zardari family is like Gandhi Family in India. Both are corrupt.