Opposition’s same old rant

Spokesperson of PML- N Maryam Auranzeb has alleged that PTI government is using the National Accountability Bureau for political engineering to victimise leaders of opposition parties. She said that anti-corruption watchdog is a silent spectator over wheat and sugar scams, electricity and gas pilferage in which top guns of the ruling party have been involved. NAB has failed to show some spine to move against the main characters of wheat and sugar scams and start inquiry. But on the contrary, Hamza Shabaz is languishing in jail despite the fact that charges of corruption and money laundering could not be proved against him in the court of law. His only crime is that he is the son of opposition leader Shabaz Sharif and nephew of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam Aurangzeb fresh outburst, alleging therein of nexus between the Prime Minister and NAB, seems to be linked with fresh summon issued against Shabaz Sharif. After remaining on the saddles of power in the center and Punjab, without check and balance in the system of governance, the leadership of main opposition party has never thought off possibility to face probes in mega corruption cases. When PML- N formed government in the center and two provinces after October, 1990 polls, laws were brought on the statute book to promote culture of corruption and money laundering. Protection of Economic Reforms Act of July 1992 dilutes the powers of the central bank, regarding the transfer into and out of foreign currency accounts maintained in banks. The Telegraphic Transfers of money abroad from the accounts of industries and businesses Sharif family abroad amply explain this shady phenomenon. Likewise, Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) had remained almost dysfunctional in all three PML N governments. During the proceedings of Panama Papers case, a botched attempt was made to tamper the record of SECP that pertained to the companies of Sharif brothers, their kith and kin. The weakened anti-money laundering regime of the previous two governments had led to placing Pakistan twice on the FATF greylist.

The inquiry report on IPPs reveals how private power producers, which also include a close buddy of former Prime Minister Nawaz Mian Mansha of Nishat and Chonia Power Companies, robbed the national exchequer of Rs.1000 billion during the past two decades, because of the shady electricity generation and purchase policies. These policies were approved and implemented during the tenures of other two mainstream political parties from 1994 till 2018. It also raised questions about the two coal based power plants, which were set up during the last PML- N government under CPEC framework.

Performance of NAB is also not satisfactory. Faulty investigation of corruption charges, building of weak cases and not hiring competent legal team to defend references filed in the Accountability Court pave the way for acquittals of people accused of corrupt practices. The appeals against the verdicts of lower courts in higher judiciary did not produce the results that are desired by NAB. It gives credence to allegations of opposition leaders against the government.