Path to confrontation

The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz has adopted a clear two pronged policy with regards to Panama the Panama Papers case. Certain high profile leaders within the party have been rubbishing talk of an ‘establishment’ led conspiracy against former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Whereas other leaders including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif himself in his latest press talk openly took on the judiciary hinting that the decision against him in the Panama Papers case was ‘pre-decided’.
Speaking at the recent press conference the former Prime Minister said “when they [Supreme Court] could not find proof [of his wrongdoing], they made a joint investigation team. The same courts and judges announced the decision and told NAB to open references.”
Sharif concluded his argument by saying, “No accusation was proved; they were not able to prove any corruption. But they had to disqualify me and so the Iqama was used.”
To say that the Court had already decided to ‘disqualify’ him and Iqama was used as an excuse cannot be considered fair criticism. It appears that the former Prime Minister wants the Court to issue him a contempt notice but so far the Apex Court has shown judicial restraint and hasn’t taken notice of the unfair criticism being heaped on it by Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz.
This two pronged policy is aimed at seeking political mileage. The former Prime Minister clearly believes that by maligning the judiciary and twisting facts of the Panama Papers case he can somehow get the support of the masses. However, as Nawaz Sharif himself walks on the path towards confrontation some senior leaders in the party are still trying to stop the party from clashing with state institutions for personal gains. Former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan is one of those persons; in a recent interview he advised his party to avoid confrontation with the Army and the Judiciary and added that those seeking confrontation are a minority in the party. Sharif’s press conference and the open criticism of Judiciary hints otherwise.
PMLN wants to gain political mileage by adopting a policy of confrontation with state institutions.