Now battle of ToRs

The ways out of the Panama Leaks imbroglio seem to have been locked in a battle of TORs now. Even if ToRS were accepted it would be an arduous journey to no where. Much hyped expectations that the prime minister would soon be shown the door -- is neither here nor there. It is turning out to be game of attrition—probably a Pyrrhic tussle.

PPP’s coming on board, formation of opposition alliance and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s demand for prime minister’s resignation did cause a big tremor to shake the Takht-e-Lahore. It would be morally and politically right if the PM steps down until his name was cleared by the inquiry commission. It is backed by most of the parties including PTI.

So far there is much of rhetoric than substance. The single agenda combined opposition alliance wants to send PM home. His battery of ministers unconvincingly parroting the sob story that the PM himself narrated twice in his two TV addresses within ten days — has been causing more damage to him than repairing it. Opposition has done nothing. Prime minister’s siblings involved in offshore money laundering — have taken the lid off their own Pandora’s Box. 

Hussain Nawaz Sharif’s pre-emptive appearance on television prior to the Panama Leaks was a leak itself. Despite his “Alhamd-o-lillah” whatever he said was nothing short of confessional statement. His sister Mariyam Nawaz and he were the rightful owners of the prestigious Parklane apartments — was nothing but self indictment. He also repeated his father’s sob story how after having lost all their wealth and assets Sharif family made it big from rag to riches.

Government’s spin doctors had it in half page advertisements in many newspapers that ICIJ had accepted its error naming the prime minister in the Panama Papers. However, this too was denied by the ICIJ spokesman – Ryle Gerad —who stated it in a tweet that “We simply made it more clear that the link to the prime minister was through his children.” How much money is held in those accounts is not known so far. Figures in the media are mind boggling.

Many prime ministers/presidents have been victim of the Panama’s fallout and showed great character to quit their offices on moral ground. British Prime Minister David Cameron who was also named did not relent to public rallies demanding his resignation. His conscience was clear. He went to the Parliament and on the floor of the House presented his tax returns and his father’s investment before he became prime minister. And the matter is now settled.

Our PM believes he is sound moral grounds. In his two television addresses to the nation he has claimed that neither he nor his children have been involved in either making money through corruption or they have laundered money through offshore companies. If any is proved he would quit his office.

Sharifs escapade could have been made easy but for Army Chief General Raheel Sharif, who just three days before the Panama storm - made a speech warning the nation that without transparent and indiscriminate accountability nothing could be achieved. He put it strongly that Pakistan’s survival was sine quo non with across the board accountability followed by some sackings in the army for corruption. PML-N circles believe that the much hyped “Praetorian house cleaning” was to embarrass the prime minister and smelled rat.

Prime minister could have got out least scathed by going British Prime Minister Cameron’s way. Instead, he appointed a commission of inquiry headed by a retired judge of the Supreme Court. This was instantly rejected by the opposition parties. I was, therefore, happy when MNS moved on to announce inquiry commission headed by the serving chief justice of the Supreme Court. However, the Terms of Reference were rejected by the opposition as much ado about nothing. And combined opposition has come up with its own 15 point ToRs and now we have battle of ToRs.

Despite the best interest of Pakistan and what could be of far reaching consequences for it now and in future, even a commission specific to the prime minister would take years to finally reach the conclusion that there is neither enough evidence to absolve him totally of money laundering nor enough evidence to prove him guilty. In short it would be nothing but an expensive and time consuming exercise in futility.

To my mind simple way out of the deepening imbroglio is a democratic one. While believing the prime minister that neither he nor his family members are involved in corruption, money laundering, written off bank loans, making money through abuse of office or commissions in mega deals like import of gas from Qatar and Orange train. He should present himself before the committee of the whole house of the Parliament with documents of his domestic and foreign assets, what has been his income and how much overall income tax he has paid to the national exchequer over the years.

In addition to it, the committee should also question the incumbent finance minister vis-à-vis his ‘forced’ confessional statement sworn by him for money laundering for his prime minister after Musharraf coup in 1999. In this context it would be worthwhile to have the screening of the BBC’s documentary “Pakistan to Parklane Via Illford”. The committee should also question Senator Rehman Malik since he had carried out an intensive investigation both in and outside Pakistan as Deputy Director General of FIA into PM and his family’s financial wheeling-dealings.

Popular interest is to see no harm comes to democracy by vultures out there to devour once it cannot sustain itself. Money laundering and stacking of billions in offshore accounts allegedly by the highest directly elected public office holder or his siblings — does not do proud to the country that was founded by the most honest Muslim leader in the sub-continent’s history. MNS should submit to the Parliament and lay bare not only his but his family’s accounts; business transactions and the taxes they have paying been all these years. If he is not guilty that would not only be a big boost to himself but to Parliament as the sole decision maker in vital issues.

The author is a former High Commissioner of Pakistan to UK during the PPP regime.