News Analysis |
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) received a petition seeking a ban on speeches of the disgraced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. It also requested the IHC to initiate criminal proceedings against Nawaz for his controversial remarks over the Mumbai attacks.
The petition was filed by the Pakistan Tehrek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and an Islamabad based lawyer, Babar Awan. After admitting the petition, Justice Aamer Farooq sought a reply from the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Chairmen Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
On May 12, during an interview with a local newspaper, Daily Dawn, Nawaz Sharif stated that “militant organizations are active. Call them non-state actors. Should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain that to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”
The petitioners wants the FIA to register a case against Nawaz on court’s orders. Moreover, PEMRA should be directed to bar TV channels from broadcasting such anti-Pakistan statements and any content pertaining to this regard must be removed from social media by the PTA.
Nawaz made such accusations despite the fact that Pakistan was will to further investigate the Mumbai attacks while the Indian authorities did not comply with the requirements of the law and never provided the evidence against the alleged culprits. Indian authorities did not allow Pakistan to record the statement of the primary suspect, Ajmal Kasab before his hanging.
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Therefore, India itself became a hurdle in justice. Then, why did Nawaz blame Pakistan for not completing the trial? Secondly, from his statement, it seems that Pakistan allowed them [terrorists] to operate from its soil against India. Further, Pakistan had accused Indian intelligence agency, RAW of recruiting Pakistani individuals to orchestrate the 26/11 incident.
Then, how can one stated and that too the former three time PM of the country, that Pakistan allowed the terrorists to enter India. With this in mind, Awan argued in the court that Nawaz’s statement is paramount to disrespect for the Constitution and treason.
The petition also quoted his informal interaction with media outside the Accountability Court, on May 03, where he threatened to spill the beans and reveal the state secrets. It continued that after his July 28 disqualification, Nawaz confronted the state institutions. The former premier was annoyed with the state institutions particularly the judiciary and military establishment.
He is using the federal and provincial resources and facilities to promote his anti-state narrative and agenda. Since, Nawaz’s statement can have grave consequences for Pakistan, especially after the FATF decision to put Pakistan on the grey list for failing to comply with the money laundering and anti-terrorism laws.
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Depending on how India moves the case forward, it could have even dire international repercussions. Pakistan may get itself on the blacklist, if Indian makes the move at FATF. Awan believes that Nawaz’s actions can provoke the enemies to make a case against the country for purposely allowing the cross-border raids.
During an interview with a local newspaper, Daily Dawn, Nawaz Sharif stated that “militant organizations are active. Call them non-state actors. Should we allow them to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai? Explain that to me. Why can’t we complete the trial?”
The petitioners wants the FIA to register a case against Nawaz on court’s orders. Moreover, PEMRA should be directed to bar TV channels from broadcasting such anti-Pakistan statements and any content pertaining to this regard must be removed from social media by the PTA.
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India and Afghanistan have colluded in the past to make an case against Pakistan in the international community and to put sanctions on Pakistan. When Nawaz Sharif] asks, who is a friend of Pakistan? He mocks Pakistan. But, in fact, he is ridiculing his own government for failing on the diplomatic front. Nawaz is possibly trying to create an environment where Pakistan is in isolation..
At the beginning of this year, Pakistan’s all-weather friends and closest allies – Saudi Arabia and China – deluded Pakistan and voted against Pakistan at Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Was that not the failure of Pakistan’s civil government for not being able to implement laws against money laundering and terror financing? Why was the civil government complacent in preparing well in time to save Pakistan from this international embarrassment? Nawaz must answer these questions before mocking Pakistan of international isolation.