PM Sharif has a strong survival instinct

Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif’s survival instinct is strong as he has braved the storm in the past also, coming out unscathed in sit-ins and series of mudslinging campaigns as well as in a high-level judicial probe into the allegations of rigging.  And, though there is no direct equation between the judicial commission on election rigging and the one likely to probe the issues arising out of Panama leaks, the abilities to remain composed and survive the challenges come into question in both the cases.

At that time too, the circumstances were sensitive from different angles as they sensitized the entire nation and media and now, once again, the society stands sensitized to the allegations of sorts that have been generated of late by Panama Papers leaks in which Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s sons have come under attack from different political and other circles, though without direct incriminating evidence still being available with anyone to prove the allegations.

Rather, the first impression formed is that the allegations are just without any prima facie veracity and all the hullaballoo revolving around these allegations is the offspring of PTI leadership’s and some other Opposition leaders’ eagerness to come into power by any means, whether real or imaginary. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s address to the nation in the wake of Panama allegations in which he came out steadfast on his principled stand that he is clean as ever before, has further indicated that he was not at all shaken or unnerved. Some people have inferred from his standpoint about ‘remaining in the saddle till proven guilty’ that the PM has tried to be haughty vis-à-vis some state structures. These people are, in fact, grossly mistaken. Having met challenges coming his way in succession throughout so many years, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has learned how to remain composed and steadfast in the face of any storm. And, if the storm is just a storm in the cup, then no worry!

The legal option that the Prime Minister has taken, also smacks ofhis liking for moralistic politics despite the fact that morality has always remained at the lowest ebb inour national politics during many tenures of the former governments.

The proponents of moralistic politics who preach the prevalence of high moral ground over politicking have been disarmed as, according to Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan has volunteered to present himself before a high-level judicial commission on moral grounds. ‘No illegality whatsoever, of any scale, has ever been committed by Mian Nawaz Sharif. As such, he has a strong legal case because of which no allegations can be proved against the PM in a legal manner. It is rather morality and PM’s love for good repute, a purely moral consideration, that has made him opt for the judicial commission manned by serving, learned judges of the highest court of the country’, says Shahbaz Sharif.

The PM has, in this manner, earned a moral edge over his opponents and checkmated them not only because of formation of sitting judges’ commission but also by way of his wholehearted acceptance of Opposition demands and preconditions.

Even in the matter of ToRs (Terms of Reference), there is nothing wrong with these Terms. The Terms rather cover all the aspects that match the public expectations. The fact is that the public is already quite too weary of two things, the never-ending blame game and the conspiracy theories. They now want the things to move totally transparently and free from the element of exploitation and in this context, the people now want everyone in the dock, whatever his political background or leanings. No one from any party should be spared and as Prime Minister has rightly pointed out, even the accusers must be brought to justice. There is the likelihood that the accuser party or leader must be having shrewd designs that of camouflaging his own follies and foibles behind the accusations especially the allegations leveled with finesse and persistence against the government- and person- of Nawaz Sharif.

Writing of the letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan has been widely acknowledged as a positive step on the part of the Prime Minister in the direction of cleansing the politics of all the moral debris. Circles in the political spectrum give lot of credit to Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar for suggesting this communication and then strongly recommending it to the Prime Minister. Certainly, Mr Dar wouldn’t have given such a suggestion had he found something questionable in PM’s record.

The ToR on written off loans is quite appreciable. This practice is a curse for national economic growth. It has also been reported that Finance Ministry bigwigs wanted this clause to be added, following which the Judicial  Commission of Inquiry will also look into the involvement of former and present holders of public office in the area of written off loans  including their own bank loans or those of their immediate family members, through the exercise of political influence. And as for the ToR on kickbacks, the Commission will also look into the transfer, from Pakistan, of funds which have originated from corruption, commissions or kickbacks, and would determine whether, in any case referred to above, any law for the time being in force in Pakistan has been infringed. Another ToR is equally good and that is: ‘Any officer not below the rank of a gazetted officer, specially authorized in this behalf by the President of the Commission, may enter any building or place where the Commission has reason to believe that any books of account or other documents relating to the subject matter of the inquiry may be found, and may seize any such books of account or documents or take extracts or copies therefrom.

These ToRs, combined with other Terms, provide a wide scope to the Judicial Commission in a matter that, according to the learned Supreme Court Judge, Mr Justice Dost Mohammad, is the demand of the entire 200 million population.

Moreover, there is no Term bigger than the Term of judiciary as the Commission will be headed not by a Panch (head of a village council/Panchayat of elders) but by the most learned Chief Justice or his nominee judges of the highest forum of justice.

As of late, the doubts about Audit by international firms including the Forensic Audit (as demanded by PTI and some other Opposition leaders) have also been cleared by Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid who has categorically stated that audit of any level, type could also be conducted as and when the Commission desires.