Judicial odds piled up against Nawaz's homecoming: Javed

PPP and PML-N don’t see problem with IPP’s criticism of the govt; minister bemoans bails being doled out to PTI chief

LAHORE:

Federal Minister Javed Latif has said that odds were piled up against former premier Nawaz Sharif’s return to Pakistan, bemoaning the judicial system that doled out bails to “those responsible for the 9 May riots” – a tacit reference to PTI chief Imran Khan.

The remarks came against the backdrop of speculations about the party supremo’s possible reappearance on the country’s political firmament on the cusp of elections season and recent legislation that aimed to revoke his lifetime disqualification.

Besides, a string of other laws was also passed to alleviate, among many other things, Nawaz’s legal worries.

Despite these measures, Latif, who has yet to get a portfolio despite being a cabinet member for a year, cast a shadow of doubt over upbeat predictions of Nawaz’s immediate return, saying that the judicial environment was not conducive for that.

Taking a dim view of the current scenario, he said that at a time when the “person who tried to spread chaos on May 9” was getting dozens of bails, “how can one believe that Mian Nawaz Sharif would get justice”.

Nonetheless, in the same breath, he also reaffirmed that the former prime minister would certainly return prior to elections, irrespective of the consequence.

Apart from the lifetime disqualification handed to him in the Panama papers scandal, Nawaz also faces twin convictions in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference as well as the Avenfield apartments case.

However, it was hoped following the acquittal of PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz and her spouse Capt (retd) Mohammad Safdar that the Nawaz’s own path to acquittal would be relatively easy. As for the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference, he will still have to fight in the appellate court.

In order to reverse Nawaz Sharif’s lifetime disqualification, an amendment was introduced to Elections Act 2017 to limit disqualification to a period of five years.

Moreover, the former premier also got acquitted in a land allotment case last month after a detailed judgment described the case as political victimisation, a judgment that left many bewildered legal experts noting that judgment will be cited as an example of bad jurisprudence.

‘Nawaz to lead electoral campaign’

Continuing, Javed Latif also that Nawaz Sharif will lead the party’s political campaign in general elections and not only that but he would also become prime minister for the fourth time.

Asked if PML-N was waiting for the retirement of the current Chief Justice of Pakistan – Umer Ata Bandial – and waiting for Qazi Faiz Esa to take the helm, the minister remained cagey and instead repeated that the party head will return before the elections. However, he stopped short of specifying any date.

Nawaz, convicted of corruption, was living in London since November 2019 after he was allowed to leave the country by courts for medical treatment on the assurance that he would return to Pakistan as soon as he received the required treatment, to complete his ten-year jail term.

Despite having his brother’s government in Pakistan for over six months now, Nawaz has not returned, seeking assurance of a level playing field’ which many interpret as blank immunity from his corruption cases.

PPP and PMLN avoid criticising IPP

Javed Latif, asked to share his views on the recent interview of IPP President Aleem Khan Tareen wherein he had criticised the government for its poor economic performance, said that IPP was a new party and had all the right to criticise whoever they wanted.

However, he said that they need to understand that PML-N was not celebrating the IMF deal rather it was celebrating saving the country from those who wanted it to default and were writing letters to the IMF to not extend the fund facility to Pakistan.

Interestingly, senior PPP leader and SAPM Qamar Zaman Kaira also did not see anything unusual with the IPP criticising the government, despite having two of its own members in the federal cabinet.

Qamar said that it was an independent party and was entitled to take any position it deemed fit, adding that criticising the government was currently in their political interest, alluding to the fact that there was no real opposition in the political arena after PTI was forced downfall.