With little less than a fortnight
to Pakistan’s general elections, high political drama unfolds with the arrest
of three-time Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz in
Avenfield property case. Earlier, National Accountability Bureau (NAB)
convicting both on corruption charges pronounced a verdict of £8 million fine and 10 years jail
term for Sharif and £2.5 million
fine, 7 years imprisonment and as punishment for Maryam Sharif. Pakistan
observers described this development nothing less than a “judicial coup”.
Sharif’s imprisonment without proper trial confirmed Pakistan’s sanctimonious
reputation of fictitious democracy. Since independence in 1947, not even a
single prime minister has completed a full term. Nearly all of them are either
assassinated, imprisoned, coerced or ousted from power in military coups.
Indeed, the entire façade of a democratic civil administration is just a gloss since
the real power lies with military establishment. Strong institutional
framework, characteristic of every democratic country is in tatters in Pakistan.
It is a no secret that
authoritarianism of military subdues every other institution in Pakistan coming
in its path. Corruption has been a menacing issue in Pakistan. Interestingly
military-intelligence ecosystem of the country which is making piquant argument
of culling corrupt politicians should be subjected to such scrutiny for being
endemically corrupt. Besides, the two edicts which are now cited as reasons for
disqualification of Sharif-sadiq and ameen meaning honesty and
righteousness are added to the constitution in 1980 under the third schedule by
despotic Mohammed Zia-ul-Haq. Determined to steer Pakistan towards Islamization,
Haq argued that legislators should conform to these basic tenets. Ever since
not a single politician was ever punished for corruption.
In 2016 facing international
backlash for failing to rein in on the activities of terror modules operating
from Pakistani territory, Sharif pulls up Pakistan military. This
unprecedented warning and civil administration’s tough posturing has
irked military but struck cord with aspirations of common man. Sharif’s reputation
a tough politician began to find ground. Even his eventual re-election in 2018
seemed certain. At this juncture, military who scoffed Sharif, supported Imran
Khan’s, prime minister aspirant and founder of Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI)
demand for probe into Panama Papers revelations. Soon a JIT (Joint
Investigation Team) was constituted with ISI and intelligence officers in
November 2016. Pakistan military thus diligently employed political rivalry and
ambitions of Khan to engineer ouster of Sharif meticulously. In July 2017, Supreme Court, disqualified
Prime Minister Sharif on corruption allegations for concealing his assets,
bringing about his unceremonious exit one year ahead of his full term. With
this the three-time Prime Minister failed to complete not even a single term
completely.
Sharif, born into the family of
Kashmiri industrialists in 1949, devastated by the nationalisation of their
family steel business joined Pakistan Muslim League (PML) party in 1976. Military
who was looking for an urban politician found Sharif promising and groomed him.
Soon Sharif developed good connections with Pakistan’s top tier army officials
and steadily rose in political circles. He was inducted as finance minister in
federal cabinet in 1981 and in 1985 he became chief minister of Punjab and
formed PML-N (Nawaz). PML (N), a conservative, capitalist right wing party soon
dumped nationalisation policy of Haq. Under the tenure of Sharif, Punjab
registered substantial growth which catapulted his reputation as a committed
leader. With the support of military establishment, he became Prime Minister in
1990 and in 1993 he was removed by President. He was re-elected in 1997 but was
overthrown in a military coup by General Pervez Musharraf. Convicted of
corruption charges in 2000, he exiled to Saudi Arabia and following
Presidential pardon after ouster of Pervez Musharraf he returned to Pakistan
but lost in the 2008 elections. In 2013, Sharif was elected as Prime Minister
for third time.
Just before elections, in April,
inflicting a huge blow to Sharif’s political career, Supreme Court pronounced a
life time ban from political office. In what can be termed as the unparalleled
witch-hunt, Supreme Court, working in tandem with Pakistan military convicted
Sharif and his political heir Maryam in absentia on July 6th.
Sharif’s conviction has become
matter of intense debate since military didn’t raise any objections to any of
his corrupt practices in the initial days of his political career. Military
which had busy in handling other political rivals ignored Sharif’s pursuit
towards wealth acquisition. Husain
Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador precisely points out to this
aspect, “One need not be convinced of Sharif’s innocence to observe that he
was victim of less than transparent legal proceedings. His downfall started
when military got upset with an article in Dawn suggesting that civilian
government wanted to act against jihadis but the military did not”. In
1990’s military’s crackdown on Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party (PPP)
on corruption charges significantly enhanced electoral prospects of PML (N). By
parting ways with military Sharif has become victim of Pakistan’s perverse
judicial system while Imran Khan is reaping political benefits of military’s
targeted campaign against his rival. Khan who is now cynosure of deep state is currently
leading the electoral race of 2018.
More than two decades into active
politics, Imran Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, (PTI) having learned tricks
of trade is now inching closer to his dream of becoming Prime Minister.
According to reports, PTI is likely to emerge as the single largest party. The
military in cahoots with judiciary having literally stone-walled the electoral
prospects of Nawaz Sharif’s PML (N) has eased Imran’s journey to the coveted
post. Khan who has imbued all the desirable attributes of playing perfect fiddle
to military is now poised to win the elections. While political parties like
PPP is denied permission to hold rallies Khan never encountered such
difficulties. Even media was ordained to allot more air time to Khan and asked
to black out any disparaging content against Khan. Rehman Khan, second wife of
Khan was issued a legal notice to stop publishing her book alleging Khan of
fathering five illegitimate kids. Accordingly, even Khan’s previous stint as a
flamboyant play-boy image is also made up to suit the conservative approach. To
buttress, Khan’s portrayal as incorruptible, corruption
charges against him are quashed by Supreme Court. Khan entered the
elections with a single point agenda of fighting corruption and
accountability. Reuters
claims that 21 candidates PML(N) lawmakers have switched sides and joined PTI
following threats of corruption charges against them by intelligence agents.
While Khan denies having any understanding with military generals the collusion
seems to be more than significant.
Poll surveys predict an
overwhelming win for Khan in 2018 elections. Chasing his dream, Khan forged
ties with fundamentalist Islamic groups. He now supports blasphemy, tows a
strong Anti-Americanism, a prerequisite for such alliances. He strongly
denounces liberals as scum, has little respect for democratic values and clings
to retrograde views. His anti-India narrative and an aggressive Kashmir policy
has earned him friends from deep state. In short, he has aligned with every possible
group in Pakistan with significant clout for his political ascension. At a
time, when Pakistan ailing economy is reeling under the burden of spiralling
trade deficit and debts, neither military nor the people seem to be least
bothered about attributes of plausible prime minister candidate. Ironically
Pakistan Army is not interested in a realistic and independent leader but
aspires to bequeath power to a pliable and amenable person. Though Pakistan
proclaims itself as a democratic country, upcoming elections are everything
other than being free and fair. Clearly, these elections will neither revive
Pakistan’s stuttering economy nor bring respite from reign of terror. While
military made grand efforts for a smooth sail of Khan in elections, Sharif’s
return to Pakistan to court arrest has tilted the scales in favour of the
later.
Though Pakistan is turning into a
jihadi den, military has turned blind eye towards it and indeed, it is now
making every effort to mainstream cultivated strategic assets, Jihadi militant
outfits. Over 150 candidates from extremist groups, some of who are included in
fourth schedule for terrorism are now allowed to contest. Hafiz Talha Saeed,
son and Hafiz Khaleed Wahleed son-in-law of JuD (Jammat ud Dawa) head Hafiz
Saeed, who masterminded 26/11 and carries $10million bounty for terror
activities are now contesting elections. JuD earlier formed a political party,
Mili Muslim League (MML) to fight elections. But election commission (EC)
refused to recognise this party. Saeed’s motely group of 265 terrorists are now
in election fray under the little known political party, Allahu Akbar Tehreek
(AAT) registered with EC.
In the run up to election three
lethal bomb rocked secular parties’ election campaigns at Bannu, Mastung and
Peshawar raising concerns of burgeoning radical terrorism and ineptness of
Pakistan’s military and intelligence. SC issued fresh summons for illegally
channelling funds through benami accounts were issued to PPP Co-Chairman Asif
Zardari and his sister Faryal Talpur and FIA took Zardari’s aide Hussain Lawai,
a banker. Ironically, the military instead of addressing the security lapses
worked overnight to put Sharif behind bars.
Unlike in 2000, when Sharif sought
Presidential pardon and exiled to Saudi Arabia, he has decided to put up a
stiff fight. Crushing the raising support for Sharif, Punjab police issued
orders to arrest, PML (N) leader, former federal railway minister Saad Rafique,
seven PML(N) leaders are kept under house arrest. Over 400 party workers are
detained to thwart any attempts to welcome Sharif. Sharif who has returned to
Lahore after posting poignant pictures faring good bye to his ailing wife
Kulsoom Nawaz to court arrest is currently riding high on sympathy wave. While
army might have accomplished the task of crushing Sharif by lodging him and his
heir apparent Maryam Nawaz. In the meanwhile, PML (N) has intensified twitter
campaign on illegal detention of party workers and unprecedented restraints on
freedom of press. Upright journalists are assaulted or even kidnapped. Sharif’s
reputation seems to have surged with his masterstroke of courting arrest. Urban
populace is now increasingly considerate about Sharif. The party which seems to
have lost out in the election race has picked up momentum is now heavily
banking on the loyalties of Punjabi electorate. Sharif’s has sought legal recourse
and appealed for bail which is turned down by Supreme Court. SC argued that
Sharifs should be held in jail until the completion of elections. Army as the
most-powerful institute is highly revered in Pakistan, but crackdown of civil
liberties with iron hand might eventually open a new dynamic. High profile
drama days before election has effectively set stage for an election thriller.
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