The ‘speed’ of the petition against Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif indicates something else has been dominating the hasty trial. The ‘justice’ being done on the behest of national interest has in the past turned out to be vested political interest of the individuals or the ‘hidden hand’. Accountability is a vital part of democracy, but it should not be political lynching, revengeful, influenced, motivated, or dictated by any element or factor of benefit. Those engaged in the process of accountability of anyone should not have any conflict of interest. They should complete the process with all honest and transparent manners. The probe done by the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, unfortunately, could not avoid any factor of benefit. We clearly see members of the JIT behaving unfairly, and playing tactfully to implicate the sitting Prime Minister by hook or by crook. There are instances where the JIT members crossed their limits of mandate. The JIT head Wajid Zia has publically confessed that he used his cousin’s firm to collect evidences. Calling a retired army officer ‘sir’ and referring to the sitting Prime Minister as ‘tum’ and several other similar incidents clearly reflect the defined attitude and motives that indicate something obnoxious behind the investigations. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself is aware of the ‘elements’ behind the scene and I believe he diligently knows how and why a clear divide has been managed in his cabinet and the parliamentary party. And, for sure, he knows too the game is almost over. He can linger on his regime a little bit but not for too long. Leading politicians who had also been in the governments are accused of being involved in several embezzlement scams. In the recent years, the ‘hidden hand’ has experimented successfully a new tactful methodology against the leading politicians to ouster them of the political arena, and that is to harness on their bad repute. Altaf Hussian was the first target. Asif Ali Zardari is playing hide-and-seek. Nawaz Sharif never understood how to avoid conflicts within the boundaries and beyond. Time and situations proved that he didn’t learn from his previous two tenures that conflicts with the mighty could ruin the regime. He should have known that only shrewd would survive in the pathetic system that we are surrounded by. Notions and rumours spread all around us narrate different stories about the speedy trial of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family. They cite and suggest many reasons for the hasty and insulting trial of the sitting Prime Minister and his family. The foremost reason cited by the insiders in the private gatherings is that the future politics of Pakistan would be without Nawaz Sharif, so it was necessary to blow up fake or genuine reasons to prove him a dishonest politician. Frankly, he is the one element of the ‘minus four formula’ – and the strategic approach is being implemented by those who brought him and many others in to the political arena. Everyone knows that why these blue-eyed boys are brought in to politics and groomed and then all possible support is provided to them to reach at the top ranks. Political campaigns and sit-ins have never been organic protests by the masses. Rather, they have always been motivated, supported and sponsored by the ‘strategists’ — the hidden hand Certainly, the ‘strategists’ need unconditional and blind support for their ‘strategic objectives’, solely defined by them – unilaterally, without the will and consent of those having the ‘public mandate’. Often, this public mandate is also questionable. Political campaigns and sit-ins had never been organic protests by the general masses. Rather, they had always been motivated, supported and sponsored by the ‘strategists’ – the hidden hand. The recently coined term for them is ‘third empire’ – thank you Imran Khan, the PTI chief, for giving us this term and the longest but useless dharna of 126 days that created a new realm of political anarchy and economic loss of billions of dollars to the nation. Despite all tactfulness, you could not find the third empire’s finger raising-up. They gave you fair chance to prove your ability to be a ‘politician’ of national calibre, and you could not. They realised that you would not be able to lead the nation as desired. Secondly, they have also noticed your declining profile and personality in the public of Pakistan. So Imran Khan, you are in the ‘minus four formula’ as well. Don’t be so happy that the petitions against you are lingering on in the courts of law, and it would remain on the back-burner all the time. They will be expedited too, and you will be facing the same, because despite every influence our courts still believe in judicial equality. 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 Published in Daily Times, July 18th, 2017.