At the very outset of this article, I must explain and elucidate quite categorically and emphatically without the slightest shadow of doubt whatsoever that I am commenting on the subject purely on academic grounds which means neither I am tilting towards the complainant nor even siding with all the defendants come what may and, therefore, my words cannot and should not be painted and construed otherwise.
Supreme Court Justice Qazi Faez Issa himself for quite some time had been attending Supreme Court proceedings and defending himself for many long months in connection with the presidential reference instituted against him. Just out of blue he suddenly and unexpectedly revealed some very sensitive and specific information which is not less than a bomb if, not an atom bomb, to be honest which must have definitely shivered and shocked some people for sure if not the whole lot.
No denying the hard fact that learned Justice Faez being not only BA Honors Law from London but also the graduate of the bar professional examination from the Inns Court School of Law very well, truly proves that he has deep and thorough knowledge of different laws. Having practiced as an advocate for over 20 years, he has practically learnt the art of how to plead a case to win. He has polished himself so far as advocacy of law is concerned and was ranked as one of the prominent lawyers. Then of course being former chief justice of the Balochistan High Court, he has still the more excelled in the field and ever since he has elevated as the judge of Supreme Court, he has touched the zenith to be very honest and, therefore, I am not hesitant at all to pronounce that the learned judge very well knows at his own as to what he is to say, when to say and why to say hence on the face of it whatever he has already said or likely to say in future too has deep meaning and the learned judge is fully charged to confront anyone of them one by one or even all at the same time whatever pleases him or her or them as the case may be.
Imran Khan also told Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem that if at all the said properties are believed to be owned by him, which he does not own in any case, “I as owner of such properties do hereby voluntarily authorize the Government of Pakistan to confiscate those properties and sell the same and the cash so earned should be deposited in the national exchequer of Pakistan”
Justice Qazi Issa has informed the larger bench of the Supreme Court consisting of 10 judges, headed by Justice Umar Ata Bandial, that he purely through his own personal sources and resources have found out that many prominent personalities of my beloved Pakistan who either still very much belong to power corridor of the country or belonged to the power corridor very much own, owned properties in their personal name in the United Kingdom. He very well understand that each and everybody is fully authorized and entitled to own property within Pakistan or even overseas or both, as the case may be, thus he is not objecting at all that as to why someone owns properties in the UK, instead he is very much interested to know as to how these owners have earned such huge money to buy the said properties as their prices run into six digits, if not seven. The simple and core issue raised by Justice Qazi is that all such owners are to satisfy the authorities concerned that they have purchased these properties with white money so the very question of loot money or money laundering does not arise at all.
Seven people have been named by Justice Qazi Issa – former president retired Gen Pervez Musharraf owns two properties; Prime Minister Imran Khan has six properties to his name; Mirza Shazad Akbar, head of Assets Recovery Unit, has five properties against his name; Zulfiqar Bukhari, Special Assistant to the PM on Overseas Pakistanis, has seven properties to his name; Mohammad Usman Dar has three properties against his name; Dr Ashiq Firdous Awan, former Special Assistant to PM on Information, has one against her name; Jahangir Khan Tareen, a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, has one property to his name.
Barrister Dr Farogh Nasim former Law Minister and now pleading on behalf of Pakistan government in the Supreme Court, defending the government in the presidential reference against Justice Qazi Issa, said that he has himself spoken to PM Imran that Justice Qazi Issa has informed the Supreme Court that Justice Qazi that PM Imran owns five properties in the UK. The PM told him that allegations are nothing but false statements. PM Imran has quite vehemently denied the same and instead he has very loudly and clearly said that he does not own any property in the United Kingdom what to talk of five properties as alleged by Justice Qazi. PM Imran has not just refuted the news but has gone to the limit declaring it quite explicitly that if Justice Qazi Issa can prove that PM Imran does own those five properties, then he will immediately quit the throne because then he will have no moral authority to continue as the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Imran Khan also told Barrister Dr Farogh Naseem that if at all the said properties are believed to be owned by him, which he does not own in any case, “I as owner of such properties do hereby voluntarily authorize the Government of Pakistan to confiscate those properties and sell the same and the cash so earned should be deposited in the national exchequer of Pakistan”.
Very hypothetical, sensational and blood boiling situation has been created by PM Imran saying all that just in one breath whereby he has gone even touching to the point of no return and, therefore, under the given situation now when Imran has thrown back the ball in the court of Justice Qazi Issa to proceed accordingly.
Quite surprisingly, the rest six persons whom Justice Qazi Issa accused along with PM Imran are dead silent but for some candid reasons and not otherwise. I am sure they must have known what has been alleged against them and, therefore, they must be preparing their statements at their own or with the consultation of their lawyers as to which words and expressions be used so that the message is easily understood even by a commoner and not just the intelligentsia.
Pleasant change to divert our attention and put all of us up to watch to wait and see what is next otherwise we are facing nothing but either deaths or lock down even if it is the smart and fashionable lock down.
The writer can be reached at [email protected]