ISLAMABAD: In a landmark judgment passed this week, the Pakistani Supreme Court said the country’s anti-corruption watchdog was reluctant to crack down on politicians on “one side of the political divide,” a veiled reference to the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, but was misusing its powers to take action against others.
The much-awaited 87-page verdict on a bail petition filed by senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) opposition party comes amid rising concerns that an anti-graft crusade promoted by Khan, and spearheaded by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), was being used against the government’s political opponents.
Khan and NAB have repeatedly denied this.
“The [National Accountability] Bureau seems reluctant in proceeding against people on one side of the political divide even in respect of financial scams of massive proportion while those on the other side are being arrested and incarcerated for months and years without providing any sufficient cause even when the law mandates investigations to be concluded expeditiously and trial to be concluded within 30 days,” the court verdict read.
Referring to the post-arrest bail plea of PMLN leaders Khawaja Saad Rafique and his brother Khawaja Suleman Rafique in a corruption case involving a housing society, the judgment said: “NAB’s conduct throughout this case is a clear manifestation of their utter disregard for law, fair play, equity and propriety.”
It added: “Indeed, curbing loot, plunder and combating corruption is a noble cause. Nonetheless, the means, process and mechanism employed therefor should be within the parameters as prescribed and mandated by the law and not in derogation thereof.”
Leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and PMLN President Shahbaz Sahrif took to the Twitter to comment on the court verdict:
“SC judgment in the case against Khawaja brothers is a stinging indictment of the NAB & so-called accountability process which was more of a witch-hunt against them than accountability. Their perseverance & determination is laudable.”
NAB has not yet commented on the judgment.
Khan won power last year vowing to root out corruption among what he cast as a venal political elite and views the probes into veteran politicians, including jailed former PM Nawaz Sharif and ex-President Asif Ali Zardari, as long overdue.
While few dispute the need to clean up Pakistani politics, the NAB campaign has become a topic of fierce political debate.
Some in the business community also worry the anti-graft drive is hurting an ailing economy, which has received a $6 billion International Monetary Fund bailout. And the focus of the NAB so far on the Khan government’s political foes and critical voices in the media has prompted accusations of a one-sided purge.
Pakistan top court says anti-graft bureau misusing powers in ‘one-sided’ political purge
https://arab.news/5cr4s
Pakistan top court says anti-graft bureau misusing powers in ‘one-sided’ political purge
- National Accountability Bureau is widely accused of going after the government’s political opponents, it denies the charges
- PM Khan won power in 2018 vowing to end corruption and views probes into opposition politicians as long overdue
Pakistan PM invites UAE investment across tech and resource sectors at National Day event
- Shehbaz Sharif says the UAE remains a key economic partner and continues to lend ‘critical support’ to Pakistan
- UAE envoy says both nations have potential for cooperation in renewable energy, AI and economic diversification
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is ready to welcome investment from the United Arab Emirates across emerging technologies and resource sectors, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, as both countries marked the 54th National Day of the Gulf country in Islamabad.
Speaking at the ceremony attended by senior ministers, diplomats and business leaders, Sharif said the UAE remained a key economic partner for Pakistan and continued to lend “critical support” to the country’s stabilizing economy.
“Pakistan takes great pride in its strategic partnership with the UAE, which continues to deepen across every domain of life,” he said. “With Pakistan’s economy stabilizing, we stand ready to welcome Emirati investment in renewable energy, AI, fintech, agriculture and minerals.”
Sharif praised the UAE’s leadership and recalled his earliest memories of the Gulf nation as “a land that believed in possibilities long before they became realities,” saying the country’s progress under President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan commanded “profound admiration.”
UAE Ambassador Salem Al Bawab Al Zaabi said the Emirates was committed to strengthening ties with Pakistan in areas including the economy, energy and artificial intelligence.
He said the two countries shared a “deep-rooted friendship built on mutual respect, shared values and a common vision for regional peace and development.”
“We see tremendous potential for collaboration in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, sustainability and economic diversification,” the ambassador said, adding that the UAE aimed to broaden the scope of its economic relations with Pakistan.
The UAE hosts around 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the country’s largest overseas communities, who Sharif said contributed “tirelessly” to the Gulf state’s development.
Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also joined the UAE ambassador in a cake-cutting ceremony to mark the occasion.
