Daily Times

The hysteria of our media loons, political clowns, obfuscated lawyers and some retired not retarded generals after every Panama papers probe proceedings shall be considered as a desire for something which also previously being tested on many of our political leaders. Every day is to be deemed as one step forward towards a judicial, yet chaotic, hammer on Nawaz’s politics.

Undoubtedly there is no role of our military establishment behind Panama papers. Nawaz Sharif and his family, who have had properties in London and elsewhere in the world, never had disclosed in public before that how much money or land they have abroad. It was after the Panama scandal that Hussain Nawaz, the elder son of Nawaz Sharif, in a TV interview admitted that the ownership of Park Lane flats in London belongs to him.

Imran Khan on the advice of his close aides submitted a petition in Supreme Court for Nawaz’s disqualification from the parliament after his call for a shutdown of Islamabad which miserably failed. His petition was taken up by the SC and a five member bench was established to hear the case. And from where we see the signs of some of our state institutions mood.

After the retirement of Chief Justice (CJ) Jamali, the newly appointed CJ Saqib Nisar reestablished a five member bench headed by Justice Asif Khosa. After months of trial and scathing remarks by bench members pointed at Nawaz and his sons, the two members of the bench declared Nawaz mendacious and dishonest while other three judges were with the view that the allegations on Sharif family are dire, wherefore, further investigation is needed to finally come to a decision and ordered the Executive to form a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) approved by SC bench.

The SC bench took flake after labeling Sharif family ‘The Godfather’ in their judgment, not only from the ruling government but also from some sane elements in mainstream media, lawyer’s community and civil society for that it’ll hurt the overall perception of politicos. The further dent on PMLN’s vote bank in Punjab was made by calling PMLN ‘Sicilian mafia’ after the contemptuous diatribe against the JIT members with a threat of severe consequences if they keep on investigating Sharif family on allegations of money laundering and tax evasion by ruling party’s Senator Nehal Hashmi.

JIT members have repeatedly apprised SC implementation bench about the tampered documents being submitted to them by SECP, NAB, FBR et al. and the harassment IB is involved in to them and their family. Yesterday the SC implementation bench made the following remarks against IB: “what legal backing the bureau has to become private sleuths?” It’s not for the first time that the bureau was being used by the ruling party for their own interests.

Since the beginning of the investigation by JIT, there is an ongoing debate on mainstream and social media on the intentions of SC and military establishment regarding the future of PMLN especially Nawaz. The anti-establishment media channels are convinced that military establishment and SC are conniving to disqualify Nawaz so that the terrain of Punjab gets a chance to elect some new faces. The pro-establishment media channels believe there is no role of military in Panama probe proceedings being carried out by JIT and that it’s an open-and-shut case.

Both sections of media have raised valid points in their debates. Our state institutions need no international corruption findings to ‘connive’ for any political leader’s ouster from parliament or politics. Also that they didn’t play any role in Panama papers findings but they have the capacity to manipulate them. The point is not to disqualify Nawaz but any considerable damage to their vote bank in Punjab is beneficial too. A coalition government in upcoming general elections is more favourable to them than a simple majority by any political party.

If Imran is being molded and the state institution is sure that his input in foreign and defence policy will not hurdle the strategic paradigms they’ve planned for Pakistan’s neighbours especially Afghanistan that Afghan Taliban get considerable share in the political sphere of Kabul then they would love to have a prime minister, extremely vocal on the atrocities in Indian-held Kashmir, the LoC violations by Indian troops and in lieu of the doctrine of ‘brotherly relations’, try to carve out a milieu that support the idea of ‘respecting neighbours’.

A grand opposition alliance in Punjab would be highly welcomed. PMLN without Nawaz in Punjab would definitely result in the same way as it was resulted in 2002 general elections – the infinitesimal number of PMLN members in parliament.

The military establishment and many sane analysts savvy that if Nawaz survives Panama probe and stands vindicated, his victory in Punjab in forthcoming elections is written on the wall unless some ghosts intervene and play the spoiler role belligerently. A ‘free’ Nawaz would be difficult to counter as he has been a part of this system for almost three decades and knows how and who maneuvers.