Dr Asim caseto linger on: Sethi

Aapas ki Baat on Monday

Says case important for both Sindh govt and Rangers; Centre should take it up with both sides instead of resorting to legal action

LAHORE: Speaking in programme Aapas ki Baat, senior analyst Najam Sethi said the Dr Asim case - vital for both Sindh government and Rangers - would linger. The provincial government is focusing on the political angle, with a view that if a like Dr Asim-like important personality could face this scenario then it would be impossible for others to escape. That’s why it has taken a tough stance.

On the other hand, the Rangers are taking the matter as a test case as backtracking would damage their morale. The federal government wants to continue the Karachi operation but doesn’t want action against top politicians. However, the federal government cannot say this openly because it would also face the allegation of protecting its bad people in that case.

Sethi said the Sindh government was interfering in the case, while the Rangers was only following the mechanism and had moved the Sindh High Court for legal action. The Rangers, he said, had won the first round in anti-terrorism court, adding that the ATC’s verdict would not be nullified in the high court, if it was against Dr Asim.

It wouldn’t be easy for the Sindh government to rescue Dr Asim, Sethi remarked.He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was under pressure from both sides - Sindh government and army - on the issue of Rangers’ powers. There was no need of imposing governor’s rule in Sindh because it would aggravate the situation, he opined.

According to Sethi, the federal government can impose a semi-martial under Article 245 in the province but would never opt to that. Instead of legal action, the federal government should discuss the matter with both the parties.

Only political solution, not legal, could be found to resolve the issue. Any step by the Centre or the Rangers leading to fuelling Sindhi nationalism would be a dangerous stage for Pakistan.

Sethi said the five participating teams were selecting the squad, thus completing the last stage before PSL, and could spend up to Rs 100 million for purpose.

Every team, he said, would have to select 16 players including four foreigners and two from Pakistan Under-19. Each of them had chosen nine players on Monday and would select the remaining seven today (Tuesday), he added, while sharing his views in Geo News programme ‘Aapas ki Baat.

According to Sethi, Islamabad had the first opportunity to select a player and it wanted, like others, to pick Shahid Afridi. But Peshawar managed to get him for its squad after a lengthy discussion and deal with Islamabad.

Misbah is not a T20 player; however, Islamabad has appointed him as captain for its team for which Wasim Akram and Dean Jones are working as consultants. Muhammad Aamir too has been chosen by Karachi after extensive dealing.

Sethi said he and his team had worked round the clock for the PSL during which some people initially tried to create hurdles; however, everyone joined hands at the end. The teams had a month for preparations during which each one of them could hire a TV channel for promotion, resulting in increasing their financial resources, he added.