Daily Times

A last ditch effort by Nawaz Sharif to find some way out of the deep hole that he is in ended miserably on Friday. Property tycoon and self-appointed political mediator Malik Riaz of Bahria empire met Sharif at the Raiwind Estate.

Later, both Malik Riaz and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari issued clear statements that the attempt had fizzled out.

The meeting had continued for almost two hours. According to media reports, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was also present. Any meeting that goes on for two hours cannot just be confined to pleasantries.

Riaz Malik’s twitter statement after the failed meeting said more than he wanted to hide. His first tweet said, “All speculations on meeting NS are incorrect. I don’t carry pol. baggage of anyone & don’t ve any pol. motivations, agenda or role whatsoever”.

Then, in two subsequent tweets, he said: “I visited to enquire about health of Begum Kalsoom Nawaz. Following Sunnah of Prophet PBUH shouldn’t be questioned for ulterior motive,” and, “I reiterate, I am not part of any political discussion or tussle at all & certainly not a saviour to anyone either. Thank you.”

Riaz’s denial that he had any political motivations belies his previous role and indulgence in all matters political. He has been generously throwing money after politically helpful projects everywhere.

The magnificent Bilawal House in Lahore gifted to Zardari, the Karachi Clifton bypass built to provide road access to the mega tower of the Bahria, the Rs 10 billion given for Karachi’s sanitation, the financial support for the Altaf Hussain University in Hyderabad, and many such projects including private residences for the big and the mighty, speak of Riaz’s largesse.

Malik Riaz was instrumental in pushing top politicians Zardari and Nawaz to agree on the name of the present NAB chief, as in the past when he would get people of his choice appointed to key positions. That probably has been the key to his success in expanding his business empire to a world class corporate behemoth.

But Friday’s attempt collapsed because Asif Ali Zardari is in no mood to listen to him any more.

The PPP leader was quoted by anchorperson Hamid Mir in a TV show as having said that Malik Riaz was not his representative and he had not sent him to meet Nawaz Sharif.

According to Hamid Mir, Zardari also said that he would not have any understanding with Nawaz Sharif because Mian Sahib had ditched him several times during the last few months, especially after his “bricks” speech against the generals.

“Nawaz Sharif refused to see me after that speech,” Zardari told Mir. “Nawaz also ensured that the NAB gave relief to PML-N and treated Nawaz very softly but PPP was given a harsh treatment and its people were arrested and put on ECL even before NAB instituted cases,” he said.

Significantly, Zardari also said when that at the time of the appointment of NAB chief Qamar Zaman Choudhryk, the understanding was that both the PPP and PML-N would get relief but this did not materialise. So now he will not trust Nawaz Sharif again when he is in the dump.

This statement by the PPP chief, read with Riaz Malik’s tweets, makes it clear that no headway at all was made at the Friday meeting. But despite all denials, it is beyond comprehension and belief that Riaz did not discuss the present situation of the Sharif family during the meeting.

This failure also shows Zardari’s state in mind in the present political situation. Zardari has apparently been using Riaz’s private jet as and when needed, like so many other politicians and leaders. The Bilawal House in Lahore was reportedly gifted to him, although it was later said that Zardari had sent a cheque of Rs160 million to Malik Riaz. Whether that cheque was ever cashed is still a mystery but even if it was, Rs160 million would not have been enough to furnish the palace with even the most mediocre quality material.

Despite all this lavish generosity, Zardari’s statement that he would not trust Malik Riaz to negotiate a deal with Nawaz Sharif shows how deeply the former is hurt.

Likewise, Nawaz Sharif may find himself in deeper depression after the meeting with Malik Riaz. It is well-known that while the Bahria tycoon has had some leverage with Zardari, his leverage with the Pindi boys is currently in the negative, almost nil.

There was a time when Riaz was known to be the poster boy of the establishment. He secured grand deals of land and built many socieities for the military but all that ended when General Raheel Sharif put his foot down and asked him to reimburse billions of rupees that he owed to military investors in his projects.

There were credible reports and an official had told me personally during General Raheel’s tenure that Malik Riaz was not allowed to meet any senior Army officer – above the rank of colonel. All his meetings with any colonel-level officer were also to be reported to the high command.

What does the failed mediation attempt mean for Nawaz Sharif and Zardari is obvious. Zardari will not do anything to bail out Nawaz Sharif and, when it comes to nominating the new NAB chairman, after Qamar Zaman Choudhry quits in a few days, or if an interim PM is to be named for fresh elections, Zardari will not trust Nawaz Sharif or his nominee.

This deadlock will aggravate the woes of the Sharifs but it could also open avenues for talks, negotiations and some understanding between other political forces.

Published in Daily Times, September 30^th 2017.