Irreparable harm

The nation has been harmed, politically, financially and mentally many times over the years. There was the 'law of necessity', used to indemnify Governor-General Ghulam Mohammad’s high-handed moves against the constituent assembly as well all the military takeovers. Then there was also the cancellation of the Reko Diq copper and gold contract. This resulted in the ICSID slapping a $4.08bn penalty and $1.87bn in interest against Pakistan in a case filed by the TCC. Work that should have started in 2011 has remained stalled. Any benefit that could have come to the poor people of Reko Diq, the government of Balochistan and the government of Pakistan if TCC had been allowed to develop the mine, is now just a dream. How and when the PTI government will revive the Reko Diq project is the 64 million dollar question.

Then comes NAB. The actions of the NAB chief have caused government officials to stop working for fear of being accused of corruption, which is the last thing that Pakistan’s economy needs at this time. As per the law a person is considered innocent till proven guilty. In the case of former PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Jang/Geo's Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman, both are being bullied by forcing them to make appearances as if their guilt has been proven.

Syed Hussein El-Edroos

Islamabad