All the energy, time and resources of the nation are being spent on probing members of the Sharif family for their offshore wealth mentioned in the Panama Papers. The Sharifs have supposedly not acted in a ‘gentlemanly’ manner in building their business empire. Rather, as stated by the Opposition, they have been unfair and shrewd in looting national resources, evading taxes, and laundering money. Fair enough, this might have been the case. And a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is probing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons for all of that.Something solid may or may not come out of this. We will find out about it in due course of time. In any case, it would be too late to set an example of ‘justice’ once the final decision comes out. When one meets diplomats and other foreigners in Islamabad, one question that is raised in these discussions is: how long will it take to resolve all cases mentioned in the Panama Leaks, if the case of the Prime Minister is taking so long? One can easily notice a sarcastic smile between the lips as this question is posed. The second most frequently asked question is would the decision really as ‘historic’ as expected? A few days back, a British journalist asked me how many civil and Army high ups charged with corruption and other crimes have been convicted to set ‘historic’ examples? I had no answer. The question remains if Panama Papers probe is going in the right direction, or if every move is leading to undirected and undesired possibilities? Doesn’t it look like everyone opposed to the Sharif family and the government has gathered around this one case? On the other hand, the PML-N is pursuing a similar case against Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan. This tit for tat is testing the limits of our courts. All the time and resources of courts and the nation are being consumed on these two cases. Everyone knows the result would not be as significant as expected. More than 450 names had appeared in the Panama Leaks. Sadly, there is no mention of any other case being probed by any court, the FIA or the FBR. Why is there tug of war between the top two political parties in Pakistan? Who is making them fight with each other, leaving the rest of the Panama lot untouched? What could be the possible agenda behind proving the two most popular leaders to be guilty of corruption and unethical behaviour? There is just very deep silence on these questions. But we can ignore these questions at our own peril. Unfortunately, no one is pointing out those missing parts of the jigsaw puzzle that every one of us wants to be solved sooner rather than later. The nation has seen so many of such political thrillers over the 70 years of its existence. Nothing has come out of these shows in the past. Do we expect miracles happening in the two cases in the limelight, as hundreds of similar cases stay unnoticed? Many are forced to believe that the investigations would remain futile. Many assume, if these cases by the two leading political parties are part of their election campaign moves. If so, isn’t it too early for that since the general elections are expected in mid-2018? Can we get the FIA and FBR out of their hibernation to investigate all instances of offshore wealth mentioned in Panama Papers? The two over-hyped corruption cases are serving as opportunities for political point scoring by all stakeholders. To me, these cases will serve no good until the courts take up all cases of offshore wealth mentioned in the Panama Leaks. Can we really ignore dispensation of justice in other instances? While attention of all power corridors is set at Sharif family’s probe, aren’t we ignoring important things happening in and around Pakistan? As we probe one instance of looting of millions of dollars, aren’t we ignoring the other side where billions of dollars are piling up in the form of borrowings in the name of ‘foreign direct investment’? The nation has yet to be taken into confidence on the rate of interest agreed on this so-called ‘foreign direct investment’. Large chunks of resources and huge pieces of land are being handed over to Chinese companies supposedly bringing in this ‘foreign direct investment’. Most of this money is going to return back to China. While all our resources are being wastefully consumed on hi-profile cases, millions of people await justice in their cases pending hearings in subordinate courts. Perhaps, it is time to set up segregated special High Courts and Supreme Court, exclusively dealing with hi-profile corruption and political cases without disturbing the judicial system catering to the common people. The authorities concerned should consider a new approach and methodology to handle cases like the Panama Papers. We ought to ask ourselves if we can get the FIA and FBR out of their hibernation and urge them to investigate all instances of offshore wealth mentioned in the Panama Leaks. Or, shall we just let these institutions ‘rest in peace’ as we keep grilling the Sharif family and the PTI chief? The writer is an Islamabad-based policy advocacy, strategic communication and outreach expert. He can be reached at devcom.pakistan@gmail.com. He tweets @EmmayeSyed