The Panama Papers case suspense that had gripped the nation for over two years is finally over, though not without some last tension-filled moments. Whilst the people stayed glued to their TV sets awaiting Islamabad accountability court’s verdict in the Avenfield apartments case, delayed five times, journalists covering the event were ordered out of the courtroom, further trying everyone’s patience and prompting certain commentators to spin conspiracy theories. In the end, after 9 long months and 22 days, the court hearing three references against former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain Safdar (retd), announced its judgment in the Avenfield case. Sharif has been sentenced to 10-year jail term, confiscation of the property in question together with a £8 million fine, and Maryam handed a 7-year imprisonment and a £2 million fine (sounds a bit strange that the fine is to be paid in a foreign currency rather than the national legal tender). Captain Safdar is to be imprisoned for just one year.
The judgment comes as no surprise. In fact, it was quite predictable considering the defence had failed to address the two key questions: where the money came from for buying the controversial properties? And how it was transferred to London? The outcome though is being viewed from two different prisms, depending on who is looking through them. To many, it is a landmark development because a powerful top political leader has been duly held to account, for the first time, in a corruption case under a civilian dispensation. Others see it as selective justice coloured by political considerations. As a matter of fact, right from the start of the Panama Papers case proceedings, even before his disqualification by a Supreme Court bench, Nawaz Sharif had turned — to a significant extent successfully — a purely legal battle into a political one. Claiming political victimization he and his daughter, Maryam Nawaz, as well as various party loyalists relentlessly attacked the judiciary, accusing the apex court judges of being pawns of the establishment. They and their supporters/sympathizers are now to push the same line with a view to making the verdict as controversial as possible.
The defence, it needs to be noted, was given ample time to clear its position, first in the Supreme Court and then the NAB court. Sharif’s request that in view of his ailing wife Kulsoom Nawaz’s serious medical condition the verdict be delayed for another week was also given proper hearing. Though the concession he sought could not be granted since the law contained no such provision. Without a doubt, it is major setback for Nawaz Sharif both personally and politically. The bigger question now is what next? As the supreme leader of the PML-N, Sharif can still fight for his political survival. He has the option of staying away, which will badly damage his party, particularly at this point in time when the general elections are only three weeks away. The second choice for him to make is to return home. He is likely to be arrested as soon as he arrives, but he would have the right to go into appeal before a higher court, and obtain release on bail. He being the PML-N’s face, could use that freedom to lead the party’s electoral campaign, and lift the morale of his supporters and sympathizers, encouraging them to vote for the party. Nonetheless, there is the danger that he could be placed on the Exit Control List, shutting the door on the escape route to London. The Avenfield case and the other two references will continue to hang over him like the proverbial sword of Damocles. It is a testing time for him as well as the PML-N.
