Raju Korti
In November 2013, I wrote one of my several blogs on Pakistan, ending it with a punchline "Welcome to Pakistan where the most insidious survive." Pakistan continues to plumb newer depths, yet a regular recap of the country's tumultuous existence makes for a spell binding reading with facts stranger than fiction.
With the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualifying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, another head has rolled. He joins the elite band of all elected PMs who have never been allowed to complete their terms. A quick recap of this Quixotic turn of events will show how Pakistan has turned into a theatre of the absurd. I shall consciously refrain from making personal comments in this blog since in this case, information itself doubles up as opinion.
The story begins with first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan who was murdered after 4 years. Khawaja Nazimuddin was deposed after 17 months. Mohammad Ali Bogra and Chaudhary Mohammad Ali were forced to resign when they had barely completed two years in office. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy was chucked out after one year. I I Chundrigar had to resign after one month while Feroze Khan Noon served 10 months before being thrown out. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto managed to occupy the office for four years after which he was toppled and hanged to death. Mohammad Khan Junejo stuck around for 30 months after which he was unceremoniously dismissed. Benazir Bhutto was elected PM twice but was chucked out after 30 months each and later murdered. Nawaz Sharif was thrice elected and removed thrice after serving 30 months, 30 months and four years each. (Looks like 30 months seems to be the standard grace period). Zafarullah Jamali was forced to quit after almost two years. Yousaf Raza Gillani was removed after four years.
General Ayub Khan overthrew a politically elected government and came to power. He set the precedent of Martial Law and ruled Pakistan for nine years. His authoritarian rule finally led to the fall of Dhaka. As a result of mass unrest, General Ayub beat a retreat in 1969. Soon thereafter, it was assessed that Ayub Khan's son Gohar's personal wealth at $ 4 million and his family's wealth at $ 10-20 million. No action was forced to probe his wealth. After he died in 1974, he was buried with full military honours. Ayub handed over the reins to General Yahya Khan who was notorious for his debauchery. He was one of the key players in the dismemberment of his country in 1971. No action was taken against him for the damage and ignominy he brought to his country. He died in 1980 and was buried with full military honours.
In July 1977, Zia ul Haq toppled Bhutto's government, suspended the Constitution and declared Martial law. He used religion to prolong his rule, oppressed people and punished anyone who dared speak against him. After a dubious travel, Bhutto was hanged. Cultural and liberal secular values (much tom tommed in India) were systematically demolished by Zia. Seeds of militancy and sectarianism were sown, which today has put the country under constant turmoil. Kalashnikov and heroin culture flourished and Pakistan was embroiled in an unending war in Pakistan during Zia's reign. After he died in a mysterious air crash in 1988, he was buried with full military honours.
General Pervez Musharraf came to power by staging a coup d' etat against Nawaz Sharif. After Musharraf was forced to step down by two major political parties as President in 2008, he was booked and charged with high treason for implementing emergency rule and suspending the Constitution. He was also named as a prime suspect in an assassination case. In 2013, Musharraf was indicted for Benazir Bhutto's assassination. Till recently, his wealth was put at 2 billion net cash in his offshore bank accounts besides other movable and immovable property but in his official papers submitted to the Election Commission he declared that his worth "mere" Rs 626 million. No action was taken to probe his wealth and though an absconder, he is leading a life of luxury in Dubai.
Sharif's party obtained 1.5 crore votes and has been removed by an order of the highest court. Sharif has not been dismissed on the contention of Panama papers (owning four flats in UK) not on corruption charges but on the flimsy ground of not declaring a supposedly a receivable amount (10,000 dirhams which is Rs 2.5 lakh) from the company of his son. The court gave the verdict that Sharif was no more sadiq (truthful) and amin (righteous). By the way, a very large number of judges and generals do not have a National Tax Number (something like our PAN) and those who do have an NTN and submit their tax returns generally conceal their actual income and assets. So much for sadiq and amin.
The original case revolving around Panamagate was about the ownership of four flats in London, corruption of public money and living beyond means. Neither the Joint Investigation Team nor the Supreme Court were able to substantiate any charge contained in the original prayer. And since Sharif was neither a judge nor a general but an elected Prime Minister, he has been disqualified for life without any trial, without any conviction.
Will Pakistan ever determine the rules of the game and the jurisdiction of the State institutions? Or continue its march towards total anarchy?
(Thanks to Mr Waseem Altaf for some inputs)
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| Another head rolls. Nawaz Sharif. |
With the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualifying Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, another head has rolled. He joins the elite band of all elected PMs who have never been allowed to complete their terms. A quick recap of this Quixotic turn of events will show how Pakistan has turned into a theatre of the absurd. I shall consciously refrain from making personal comments in this blog since in this case, information itself doubles up as opinion.
The story begins with first Prime Minister Liaqat Ali Khan who was murdered after 4 years. Khawaja Nazimuddin was deposed after 17 months. Mohammad Ali Bogra and Chaudhary Mohammad Ali were forced to resign when they had barely completed two years in office. Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy was chucked out after one year. I I Chundrigar had to resign after one month while Feroze Khan Noon served 10 months before being thrown out. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto managed to occupy the office for four years after which he was toppled and hanged to death. Mohammad Khan Junejo stuck around for 30 months after which he was unceremoniously dismissed. Benazir Bhutto was elected PM twice but was chucked out after 30 months each and later murdered. Nawaz Sharif was thrice elected and removed thrice after serving 30 months, 30 months and four years each. (Looks like 30 months seems to be the standard grace period). Zafarullah Jamali was forced to quit after almost two years. Yousaf Raza Gillani was removed after four years.
General Ayub Khan overthrew a politically elected government and came to power. He set the precedent of Martial Law and ruled Pakistan for nine years. His authoritarian rule finally led to the fall of Dhaka. As a result of mass unrest, General Ayub beat a retreat in 1969. Soon thereafter, it was assessed that Ayub Khan's son Gohar's personal wealth at $ 4 million and his family's wealth at $ 10-20 million. No action was forced to probe his wealth. After he died in 1974, he was buried with full military honours. Ayub handed over the reins to General Yahya Khan who was notorious for his debauchery. He was one of the key players in the dismemberment of his country in 1971. No action was taken against him for the damage and ignominy he brought to his country. He died in 1980 and was buried with full military honours.
In July 1977, Zia ul Haq toppled Bhutto's government, suspended the Constitution and declared Martial law. He used religion to prolong his rule, oppressed people and punished anyone who dared speak against him. After a dubious travel, Bhutto was hanged. Cultural and liberal secular values (much tom tommed in India) were systematically demolished by Zia. Seeds of militancy and sectarianism were sown, which today has put the country under constant turmoil. Kalashnikov and heroin culture flourished and Pakistan was embroiled in an unending war in Pakistan during Zia's reign. After he died in a mysterious air crash in 1988, he was buried with full military honours.
General Pervez Musharraf came to power by staging a coup d' etat against Nawaz Sharif. After Musharraf was forced to step down by two major political parties as President in 2008, he was booked and charged with high treason for implementing emergency rule and suspending the Constitution. He was also named as a prime suspect in an assassination case. In 2013, Musharraf was indicted for Benazir Bhutto's assassination. Till recently, his wealth was put at 2 billion net cash in his offshore bank accounts besides other movable and immovable property but in his official papers submitted to the Election Commission he declared that his worth "mere" Rs 626 million. No action was taken to probe his wealth and though an absconder, he is leading a life of luxury in Dubai.
Sharif's party obtained 1.5 crore votes and has been removed by an order of the highest court. Sharif has not been dismissed on the contention of Panama papers (owning four flats in UK) not on corruption charges but on the flimsy ground of not declaring a supposedly a receivable amount (10,000 dirhams which is Rs 2.5 lakh) from the company of his son. The court gave the verdict that Sharif was no more sadiq (truthful) and amin (righteous). By the way, a very large number of judges and generals do not have a National Tax Number (something like our PAN) and those who do have an NTN and submit their tax returns generally conceal their actual income and assets. So much for sadiq and amin.
The original case revolving around Panamagate was about the ownership of four flats in London, corruption of public money and living beyond means. Neither the Joint Investigation Team nor the Supreme Court were able to substantiate any charge contained in the original prayer. And since Sharif was neither a judge nor a general but an elected Prime Minister, he has been disqualified for life without any trial, without any conviction.
Will Pakistan ever determine the rules of the game and the jurisdiction of the State institutions? Or continue its march towards total anarchy?
(Thanks to Mr Waseem Altaf for some inputs)
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