All institutions should aid JIT: Zafar

LAHORE

The verdict of the apex court is the decision of the majority judgment and opinions of the five learned judges are in support of the verdict, observes Senator Dr SM Zafar, former federal law minister.

Legally speaking, verdict of the court is decision of the majority judgment and in support of the verdict are opinions of the five learned judges. Therefore, nation should cooperate and support the verdict given by the court. All institutions should also act in aid of probe by JIT of Panama, SM Zafar said while addressing 58th Conference of Pakistan Visionary Forum held at TECH Society Club on Sunday.

The topic of the conference was “Panama case verdict” in which Agricultural Scientist Dr Muhammad Sadiq, former Minister of State Qayyum Nizami, former Adviser Comsats Dr Haseebullah, former Adviser IMF Khalid Saleem, Jameel Gishkori, Engineer Mahmudur Rehman Chughtai, Muhammad Azeem, Professor Dr Atiya Syed, former member Privatization Commission Iftikhar ul Haq, former DG Intelligence Bureau Maj Shabbir Ahmed, Salman Abid, M Yaqoob Ch, former MD Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission Foundation Engineer Mansoor Ahmed, Muhammad Zubair and Imran Afzal also spoke.

Senator SM Zafar said that it is the first time in the history of Pakistan that a prime minister has been asked to appear before the JIT for accountability which is a good sign. It is in the interest of nation, society and state if all stakeholders, political parties, NGOs, social media and society help and aid JIT in performing its duties in accordance with the law and support of the orders of the court. Political parties seems to have geared up for elections and challenging each other which can affect the outcome of final verdict and have the potential of creating law and order problem in the country. Explaining various aspects of Panama case verdict, Dr SM Zafar said it has three dimensions: legal, perceptive and morality. The Inclusion of ISI and MI seems not favourable by me, Senator SM Zafar added. But court appears to have by compulsion included these two institutions for credibility. Because of the fact the five judges have not given clean chit to the prime minister, there is a general perception that he is corrupt. Majority is always a subjective opinion. Subjective opinion of the civil society is that PM should resign which may lead to mid-term elections. Finally there are many factors and internal threats to peace in the country it is the duty of the opposition not to give them any chance to take advantage of the situation.

Senator SM Zafar especially referred to intolerance in the country. This calls for restraint on both sides so that the ship of the nation reach safely to its cherished destination of a fair, independent and credible elections leading to full democracy in Pakistan.