Pakistan

'Behind every great fortune there is a crime'

Written

2 years ago

Oct 08, 2021 01:18 AM

Imran Yaqub Khan

"Behind every great fortune there is a crime." The echo of this phrase is not very old in our political and judicial history. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa wrote this sentence in his dissenting note in the Panama case judgment of April 20, 2017.

Imran Yaqub Khan

American author Mario Pozzo begins his novel "Godfather" with the same sentence of French author Anne de Balzac. It was only after this reference in the dissenting note that political opponents started calling Nawaz Sharif a godfather and a Cecilian mafia. Prime Minister Imran Khan has been convinced from day one that corruption is the root of all ills in society. Money made dishonestly is sent out of the country through various means.

The elites involved in this process have businesses and properties abroad. In national and international forums, he has repeatedly said that money made through corruption must be stopped from flowing out of the country, and that corrupt people must be severely punished, and that western countries' developing countries must return. Stop money from coming to your countries. Undoubtedly, strict laws are the need of the hour to eradicate corruption.

Pakistan has an authoritative body, the National Accountability Bureau, which is engaged in rooting out corrupt people from head to toe. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the head of the agency, will complete his term on October 8. The new chairman of the NAB is to be appointed in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. So far no consultation has taken place and whether the consultation will take place in the future or not, the question mark remains.

The question of whether Chairman NAB will be replaced or Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will remain in office remains. In the midst of all this, the government legal team was busy running and drafting an ordinance. One of the key points of this ordinance is that the existing clause of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will remain in force. The name of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will also be considered for the new chairman NAB.

If there is no agreement, the matter will go to the parliamentary committee. If there is a deadlock in the talks, the current chairman will remain in office until the new chairman arrives. The Supreme Judicial Council will have to be approached to remove the NAB chairman. The clause not to extend the chairmanship of NAB will also be removed by the ordinance.

Whether it is accountability or revenge, the government has often expressed its good intentions in this regard. Through this ordinance, the highly capable and astute legal team of the government has brought some new aspects to the fore. Legally important in this ordinance is that the NAB courts will also have the power to grant bail to the accused before 90 days.

Additional Sessions Judges and former Judges will also be appointed in NAB courts. For the appointment of the Chairman NAB, the provision of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition was made so that the head of the accountability body would agree.

No one could point a finger at his character and neutrality. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also became the head of the accountability body through this consultative process. However, now the opposition often keeps pointing fingers at him. Forough Naseem, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, is currently the country's law minister. The preparation of this ordinance will undoubtedly involve his hard work, and he believes that the appointment of the new chairman of the NAB will be in consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif. Naseem, however, acknowledged that Shhebaz Sharif has yet to be contacted in this regard.

Babar Awan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, also confirmed the existence of a consultation clause between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the NAB Amendment Ordinance. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. On this action of the government, PML-N leader and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says, "Chairman NAB is being extended by breaking the law. The law says consult but the Prime Minister is refusing. The President is also against the ordinance." We are ready to sign."

The PPP has termed the extension of NAB chairman's tenure through an ordinance as unconstitutional and illegal. PPP Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman raised the question that how can the current chairman work after his completion of term? If consulting the opposition is a conflict of interest, aren't there cases against ministers, including the prime minister? Sugar, flour, petrol, medicine, BRT, LNG, Ring Road, Billion Tree and helicopter scandals are against whom? Is the Prime Minister not protecting his own interests and the interests of his ministers?

The concerns and questions of PML-N and PPP are on the one hand, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry explained teh reason as why did not the premier and the opposition leader consult each other for the appointment. Talking to media, the minister said, "We will not consult Shahbaz Sharif about the NAB chairman. We will bring in an ordinance to remove the legal loophole so as to remove the alleged complexities in the law which has made it mandatory to consult the Leader of the Opposition on this issue,” he said.

In his briefing, Fawad further said: "The ordinance will clarify how the head of the anti-corruption watchdog will be appointed if the opposition leader is accused of corruption." Responding to Fawad Chaudhry's statement, PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb said, "Consultation with the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of NAB chairman is a constitutional requirement. With this decision, they are giving NRO to those who are flour, sugar, electricity, gas and medicine thieves.

It is clear from the heated rhetoric on this ordinance that the Prime Minister is not sitting in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif for the appointment of a new Chairman NAB. Shahbaz Sharif is currently facing only corruption charges, cases are pending, if anything is proved, he will definitely be found guilty. It would be fair not to talk to them after that. He is currently the representative of the opposition in the country. He should get his constitutional position.

In the Pandora Papers, offshore companies of close associates of the Prime Minister have come to light. The requirement of justice is not to sit with them till they are proved innocent. "Behind every big crime there's a crime," recalls the Panama case verdict, because now the Pandora's box has opened, and some of the culprits have been exposed. Let's see how does indiscriminate accountability take place?

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Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

Pakistan

IDB vows to complete projects in Pakistan at earliest

The meeting reviews progress on ongoing projects and deliberated upon opportunities for future cooperation between Pakistan and Islamic Development Bank.

Published

7 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 05:55 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Riyadh: Islamic Development Bank has vowed to complete its projects in Pakistan at the earliest.

The expression was made during meeting of President Islamic Development Bank Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia today, on the sidelines of special meeting of the World Economic Forum.

The meeting reviewed progress on ongoing projects and deliberated upon opportunities for future cooperation between Pakistan and Islamic Development Bank.

The Prime Minister thanked the Islamic Development Bank for its investments in Pakistan and appreciated the Bank’s assistance in rehabilitation after 2022 floods.

He said the Bank’s fruitful partnership with Pakistan is instrumental in achieving the government’s sustainable development goals along with providing support for reconstruction and employment.

Shehbaz Sharif highlighted that Special Investment Facilitation Council is fully functional to channelize foreign investment in the country, address all concerns of foreign investors and provide one-window operations.

On the occasion, the President of Islamic Development Bank said Pakistan is an important member of the Bank and is blessed with rich natural and water resources.

He said Pakistan’s large manpower is an asset to be utilized optimally.

Business

Two-day ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ to start on May 2

The forum is organized at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who will participate in the event.

Published

3 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 09:55 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: The third two-day, ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum” (TIIF) will be held on May 2-3, this year in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan.

The forum is organized at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, who will participate in the event. Two-day 'Tashkent International Investment Forum' to start on May 2.

Meanwhile, 30 businessmen and investors from different sectors from Pakistan will participate in the third Tashkent International Investment Forum, in which mutual economic and investment meetings will be held between the two countries, said a release issued here.

More than 2500 investor’s, delegates from different countries and various businessmen will participate in the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum, ‘who will discuss the promotion of investment and regional business.

The TIIF aimed at attracting foreign companies, investors and development partners to expand their activities as well as implement new projects and programs.

TIIF will serve as a unique platform of regional importance to promote business contacts with emphasis to such areas as digital transformation, transport connectivity, infrastructure development and green growth.

The Tashkent International Investment Forum will be the region’s largest international platform for discussing strategies to enhance Central Asia’s role in the international investment market.

This event will create a new international platform for Central Asia, which will attract leaders of major investment, financial and economic organizations and companies interested in finding new growth points in the dynamically developing market of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile addressing the business community in Federation Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) here, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Oybek Arif Usmanov said the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ to be held on May 2 under the patronage of President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The ambassador highlighting the importance of ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ said that in this forum, foreign investors and businessmen will gather in Tashkent, to discuss bilateral and multilateral investment and business opportunities.

He said that many agreements regarding investment and businesses will be signed during the forum, which will not only promote global investment but also businesses in the region.

Oybek Arif Usmanov said that major investment institutions and investors of the world will participate in the ‘Tashkent International Investment Forum’ which would provide a huge opportunity for multilateral cooperation to the partners.

He said, it would be great opportunity for FPCCI to participate in this international forum and become a part of the international investment.

The Uzbek envoy said that there will be G2B and B2B meetings in the Tashkent Investment Forum.

“We need to start the Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor for smooth trade and economic activities, ” he said.

He said that direct flights will be started from Islamabad and Lahore soon and we are committed to resolving visa issues as well to provide facility to the local business community.

Meanwhile, President FPCCI, Atif Ikram Sheikh said that Tashkent International Investment Forum is a pivotal forum for global investment, which has great opportunities for Pakistan’ businessman in various sector, in which the participation of Pakistani businessmen is extremely significant.

Atif Ikram said that Uzbekistan is an important trade partner of Pakistan with which Pakistan’s economic and trade relations are extremely important.

President FPCCI said that at the end of 2023, mutual trade between Pakistan and Uzbekistan was $387 million, which is an increase of 130 percent, compared to 2022, and adding that in the first quarter of 2024, the bilateral trade between the two countries was $104 million, which is 107 increases as compared to same period last year 2023.

He said Pakistan’s exports with Uzbekistan have increased gradually in the previous years, which has to be further increased.

He said that bilateral trade can be promoted in textile, pharmaceutical, rice, machinery, agriculture machinery, electromechanical and other sectors.

“We have to explore different avenues to further promote bilateral trade,” he added.

The high-ranking officials and business leaders from China, US, European Union, Gulf countries, Central Asia, South Asia and other regions will participate in the Forum with arrangement of bilateral, G2B and B2B meetings.

Pakistan

PM calls for addressing global inequalities in vaccine distribution

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says huge global imbalances and gap in distribution of vaccines need to be addressed jointly at the international level.

Published

7 hours ago

Apr 28, 2024 05:24 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Riyadh: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for addressing the global inequalities in distribution of vaccines and other cooperation to address health issues.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Riyadh on Sunday(today), he said huge global imbalances and gap in distribution of vaccines need to be addressed jointly at the international level. He said the gap in allocation of Covid-19 vaccines is a bright example in this regard.

The Prime Minister further said climate change is also a global issue which has completely changed the landscape. He said Pakistan does not contribute even a fraction of emissions but even then it is on the red list of climate change.

He said Pakistan experienced the worst climate change floods in Pakistan in 2022, devastating everything from hospitals, schools, lands and agriculture.

He said the government had to invest billions of rupees to rehabilitate people. But when it came to the question of seeking funds from abroad, there were expensive loans. He questioned as to how a developing country can afford that.

Regarding health facilities being extended to people in Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif said he, as the Chief Minister of Punjab, provided decent healthcare facilities to the flood affected people of the province and successfully controlled the outbreak of Dengue.

He said a state of the art liver and kidney hospital was established in Lahore, which is providing free treatment to the poor.

The Prime Minister also acknowledged the contribution of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in eradication of polio virus from Pakistan. He said the government of Pakistan managed to vaccinate children, despite devastating floods in 2022.

The Prime Minister also expressed the confidence that Pakistan will soon become as a polio free country as a result of continuous efforts.

At the conclusion of his conversation, he commended measures taken in the health sector by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.