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Friday, March 15, 2024

Behold the JIT report! PML-N facade crumbling?

GVS News Analysis |

Behold the JIT report! The earth has broken asunder and swallowed whole the expertly constructed rhetoric, so fiercely propagated by Sharif stalwarts, defending the ruling family and professing their innocence. Key segments of the report have been made public and appear to have damned the Sharifs despite their multi-pronged campaign to discredit JIT members, their investigation, and competence.

PML-N Rhetoric

Since the first appearance of Hussain Nawaz before the Panama JIT, most of the interview sessions were followed by multiple press conferences. The Prime Minister’s children, his ministers and advisors erected a façade of complete innocence with their rhetoric of victimization and claims of schemes by “hidden hands.”

The overt and covert tactics used by the PML-N in the past 60 days to discredit and interfere with the investigations against the Sharif family can be the subject of a PhD thesis in political maneuvering.

Maryam Nawaz, the Sharif family scion touted to be the primary inheritor of the family’s political dynasty, following her appearance before the JIT, declaimed that the JIT had not even specified the allegations against the PM and his family. This was a clear attempt to take advantage of the complex nature of the case by introducing ambiguity to the confidential proceedings of the JIT.

Read more:Panama case: Is Nawaz Sharif’s political career coming to an end?

The overt and covert tactics used by the PML-N in the past 60 days to discredit and interfere with the investigations against the Sharif family can be the subject of a PhD thesis in political maneuvering. Here at GVS we have simplified some of the main aspects of the PML-N rhetoric in the list below:

There are no allegations of corruption against the Sharif family hence they are innocent

We have provided complete money trail

JIT is searching for reasons to prosecute the Sharif family, they don’t have any evidence

“Hidden hands” are working to topple democracy in Pakistan and the targeting of the Sharif family will serve the enemies purpose

Implications of undue interference by army and intelligence agencies

Political affiliations of relatives of JIT members is proof of their partiality against the Prime Minister.

Investigating the irregularities in finances of the Sharif family is hindering democracy

Without the Qatari prince’s statement, the investigation will not have merit

These arguments were employed like daggers by PML-N surrogates to defend against and deflect the demands raised by opposition parties who asked for the PM’s resignation due to the fact that he was under a criminal investigation.

It states that most of the business enterprises owned by the Sharif family were loss-making and their meager profits could in no way justify the enormous wealth of the Sharif family.

The JIT members could not defend or clarify against the PML-N onslaught but through their report, they seem to have demolished the PML-N façade.

Read more: Panama Case: should Supreme Court render the final judgement?

The bombshell

The damning report which is spread over 11 volumes confirms that the Prime Minister possesses assets which cannot be justified by his declared sources of income. It states that most of the business enterprises owned by the Sharif family were loss-making and their meager profits could in no way justify the enormous wealth of the Sharif family.

Read more: Panama JIT reviews the questionable history of the Sharif family

A startling revelation made by the JIT is that PM is also the chairman of an offshore company, FZE Capital in the UAE, which is a direct contradiction of the PM’s public statements.

The JIT revealed that the PM is a minor direct shareholder in the close network of family companies which are not profit-bearing, but these companies are continuously revolving funds amongst themselves and their shareholders, assorted directors, and offshore companies.

The Qatari letter, in response to the SC’s query, was declared as a myth having no legal standing. The JIT tried to contact the Qatari prince for a statement but was unable to procure a proper response.

The JIT also recommended that the cases of Hudabiya Paper Mills Ltd and Hudabiya Engineering Ltd be reopened for further investigation and re-trial on the basis of new evidence.

In sum, the credibility of the professions of innocence made by Nawaz Sharif and co. has been obliterated. This may well be the most damning report of a high-profile politician in the history of the nation.

The financial transactions and affairs of the Gulf Steel Mills were also termed dubious and ambiguous.

In sum, the credibility of the professions of innocence made by Nawaz Sharif and co. has been obliterated. This may well be the most damning report of a high-profile politician in the history of the nation.It would be interesting to note the arguments that his henchmen bring up in an attempt to exonerate the Sharif family. Will they again resort to calling out the highly-touted establishment?

Read more: Panama JIT: Has Army been trapped?

What next

Currently, all major players are engaged in advisory sessions, charting out their respective strategies.The Prime Minister House has implied that they will be filing a petition against the JIT’s reportImran Khan has called a meeting with his core committee and is currently strategizing.

There are two main avenues left to the Prime Minister and his retinue.Dig in and fight to the bitter end or retire into oblivion.There is still the question of the SC’s final decision. Will Maryam and her brothers be spared?

The jury is still out on that one.