News

April 22 , 2017

Govt, opposition devise post-verdict strategies

Divided opposition an advantage for govt

ISLAMABAD: After first day of jubilation by both the sides, the ruling PML-N and its staunch opponent PTI are rethinking their post-Panama verdict strategies while the otherwise defensive PPP is also trying to cash in on the situation for its own political benefit.

Informed sources said that the PML-N has its reservations about certain aspects of the SC verdict but it has been decided that neither the Sharifs would file a review nor any member of the ruling party would speak against the apex court verdict or any of the judges included in the five-member bench.

The PML-N is not really comfortable with the constitution of the JIT, and apex court’s direction to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to appear before the probe committee. But still it has been decided to positively respond to any examination required by the JIT. “If required, the prime minister will also appear before the JIT,” an informed government source said.

The PTI, however, has rejected the JIT as directed by the Supreme Court. Tehrik-e-Insaaf believes that with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continuing as chief executive, the JIT comprising members of different government departments could not probe impartially.

The PTI has hinted at possibly re-approaching the apex court against the JIT. In case of a review filed by the PTI, it is said that the probe into the Panama case as per the guidelines of the SC is bound to get delayed. The SC has set the 60 days deadline for JIT to complete its inquiry on the 13 questions specified in the apex court’s order.

The government’s legal mind, however, think that it is not possible for the JIT to complete the task in 60 days when the issue being probed is spread over to five different state jurisdictions including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK and Qatar.

It is said that for oral and documentary evidences required from all these jurisdictions for production before the JIT, the Sharifs would require time. “Practically as well as technically, you can’t complete this probe in two months,” a source said.

It is unclear how would the events unfold in the coming weeks on legal aspects of the Panama issue and how early the JIT would complete its report. The fact remains that it is a political issue from day one and will remain so perhaps till next elections.

As against the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami, the PPP was opposed to taking up the matter to the apex court, knowing well that it is hard to get Sharifs convicted from the top most court in the absence of any independent investigation and prosecution.

The PPP wanted to handle the matter politically but PTI and JI opted to approach the SC. Most of the legal minds and many even in politics and media were pretty sure that despite PTI’s powerful campaign through media and social media, it was unlikely to get Nawaz Sharif disqualified from the SC.

What SC decided in its majority judgment on Thursday was already anticipated. Consequently, Nawaz Sharif appears to have won the first round on Panama issue but the second round if fought in political arena as suggested by the PPP could create problems for the premier.

To the advantage of the government, the opposition is badly divided. Even after the Panama verdict and despite the PPP, PTI, JI and some other parties demand for resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to ensure fair probe by the JIT, they are not sitting together.

Their demand is same but they have no one voice. The PPP wants a joint strategy but its dilemma is Asif Ali Zardari, who Thursday announced that he wanted the opposition parties to join him against Nawaz Sharif corruption.

Forget about the ruling PML-N, even the opposition and most importantly the PTI does not take Zardari seriously when he talks against corruption. The challenge is whether or not Asif Ali Zardari and Imran Khan can sit under one roof for a joint fight against Nawaz Sharif.

It appears not so easy because there is a feeling within the PTI that joining hands with Zardari-led PPP means, denting the repute of Tehrik-e-Insaaf.

This situation is comforting for the ruling PML-N.

 

Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk


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