On 5th July, Wednesday, a fleet of BMW’s, Land cruisers, and assorted police vehicles pulled up in front of the Federal Judicial Academy (FJA). This impressive cavalcade was carrying none other than the First Daughter Maryam Nawaz and her entourage. Flanked by her brothers, Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, her husband Captain (retd.) Mohammad Safdar and accompanied by none other than the Information Minister Marriyum Aurenzeb herself, Maryam Nawaz made her way into the FJA to present her statement before the JIT.
Her session with the JIT lasted for a couple of hours after which she gave a well prepared and strong-worded speech to the gathered reporters and media persons. She stated that her family had always stood for the rule of law and implied that the fact that she presented herself to the JIT was proof of her family’s subservience to the law.
The simple function of appearing before the Judicial Investigation Team at the FJA has highlighted the contrast between the words and the actions of the Sharif family
Curiously, in her talk, she said that the allegations against her family were still unknown whereas for the past few months a perpetually never ending discussion continues on all major news outlets regarding the Sharif family’s inability to explain the sources of their assets.
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The PML-N’s narrative, which the First Daughter very eloquently put forth, seems to center around the claim that “hidden hands” were behind the ongoing drive for accountability from the ruling family. They maintain that they are innocent and law abiding citizens who are committed to preserving the Constitution and law of the land.
However, the simple function of appearing before the Judicial Investigation Team at the FJA has highlighted the contrast between the words and the actions of the Sharif family.
The Salute
SSP Arsala Saleem, a female officer of the capital police, gave a salute/bow to the first daughter as she was getting into her vehicle. This action raised outcry from the public and opposition parties who have taken issue with the fact that a police official saluted a civilian who is a) not an elected representative of the public and b) is part of a criminal investigation.
What made this seemingly accomplished police officer compromise the norms of conduct of her rank and position? Do law abiding citizens committed to the preservation of the Constitution expect or accept such an action? In the wake of these questions, on the very evening of the incident, a legal notice was issued to the SSP in question by High Court Advocate Amna Ali who inquires:
“For being a civil servant who serves as an SP in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Police, fetching salary from the taxpayers’ money, please explain the reason for your action which [caused] agony and mental shock to the public at large,”
No statement or apology has been issued by SSP Arsala Saleem.
The Mysterious Motorcade
The impressive motorcade in which carried the First Daughter and her retinue to the FJA has compelled politicians, TV analysts, and members of the public to ask the need for such pomp and extravagance for a common civilian.
Answering these concerns, minister of information Marriyum Aurenzeb clarified that the fleet of BMWs and Land Cruisers were private vehicles of the Sharif family, not issued by the government.
This led to an astounding revelation, made by journalists, regarding the registration of these “private vehicles”.
The contradictions between reality and the narrative propagated by the ruling party can be termed, at the very least, as tragically ironic.
It turns out that there are serious discrepancies between the official records of the number plates used on the vehicles carrying the Prime Minister’s daughter and the actual vehicles to which these number plates were issued.
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Land Cruiser which is registered as a Toyota Axio under the name of Imran Maqbool:
BMW registered as a Honda Civic owned by Faisal Bank:
In one bewildering case a BMW was sporting number plates issued to a Honda CG125 motorcycle owned by a certain Muhammad Daud.
Under the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance of 1965 (Article 97A) the penalty for the fabrication of plates can be “imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year but which shall not be less than seven days”
The government has, as of yet, given no clarification or statement regarding this matter.
The contradictions between reality and the narrative propagated by the ruling party can be termed, at the very least, as tragically ironic.