Between them and the crime machines being run by Asif Zardari and Mian Nawaz Sharif, there was no crime, they did not commit. That is quite an achievement.
Given that ours is a third world country, it may be proudly asserted that at least in one field our leadership has excelled. But with the uncovering of the “Judge” video scandal, our pride should receive a further boost. Not only has every known crime been committed by those sworn to serve you and me, but they seem to have ventured even further and invented a few entirely new ones. When you take these new crimes into consideration, it may be said that poor Pakistan has in the process graduated from a third world country to a third rate one.
Unbeknown to us all as the economy of Pakistan was being gutted and its treasury plundered, not only did the Blackmail Industry take root, but it appears, that it has been thriving for some time now.
Many deserve credit for helping this Industry take root. But none more so than Maryam Safdar who nourished and led it with loving care, to take it to its present position of preeminence among Pakistan’s new ventures which have gained international renown.
Just when days were getting dull and hugely boring, Maryam decided to spring her stupid father from jail. For this she convened her ill-fated press conference to present the now infamous “Judge Scandal” video. To bring due gravity to the occasion, she ensured that as she presented her video “evidence” on the basis of which Papa Sharif was to find exoneration, she was duly flanked on either side by the senior mutts of her party, who sat through the proceedings with due moroseness.
And well they might have. For now it seems pretty clear that in a huge twist of fate, far from getting Papa Sharif out of jail, there is good likelihood that Maryam herself may find herself going back in the jug on charges of presenting as kosher, evidence which was clearly tainted, in order to malign the judiciary and to bring pressure against it; on conspiracy to blackmail; and at the very least, for contempt of court.
And with her could go to jail for their silence, and thus endorsement of her fantastic yarn, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Ahasan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, and Shahbaz Sharif etc. And our “Nawaz Sharif intoxicated” Maryam Aurangzeb should also be consulting her lawyers for not missing an opportunity to give maximum mileage to this clearly doctored video.
Others who should also be consulting their lawyers, are those who went into hiding, or fled the country, as the good Chaudhry Qamar Zaman [ ex-Chairman NAB], Nasir Janjua, Nasir Butt, Maher Jilani, and property dealer, Mr Khurram Yusaf.
This video is indeed the gift that promises to keep on giving. How much it gives will ultimately depend on Justice Khosa and the type of commission he forms to get to the bottom of the video scandal. Panama was big. In certain respects, this promises to be bigger. And the only man in the country who can be depended upon to do his best for Pakistan, is Mr Justice Khosa.
The single most significant event which has brought forth the hope that at long last Pakistan will be cleansed of much dirt which had settled on its name and flag during the last three decades, was the arrest of Mian Tariq, the pioneer of Pakistan’s blackmail industry.
Mian Sahib, we are told has handed over a lot of material to FIA, and has begun singing non- stop. And his songs are replete with big names, including those of very senior judges. The “material” surrendered, or confiscated from him purportedly shows the stars in the act of make-believe procreation.
These are those videos of which our Maryam had so recently boasted, and with which she promised to bring the house down.
And this would be just the right time not to forget for honourable mention, the names of Justices Athar Mikaelah and Gul, whose unprecedented judgement quite literally gave Maryum the freedom to rake the muck, which she has managed to do with such fine sense of theater.
Whether the connections of these Judges with PMLN are ever investigated or not, surely it is about time that the infamous order that gave bail to Maryam and father is now, at long last, recalled because Maryam has used the bail to flout every restraint which such bail inherently presumes.
Meanwhile all eyes are on Mian Tariq. Apparently when his blackmail industry met with early success, he decided to make this entirely a family venture, and married two more wives to “entertain” clients, who could then be caught on tape with their pants down.
Whether Maryam had bought these additional videos with which she planned to blackmail the higher judiciary, the clear hint of which she gave during her 6 July press conference, is not clear as yet. But what is suspected is that Sardar Latif Khosa did make an attempt to buy them to get on good terms with Judge Arshad Malik. Remember, it is this same Judge who was also hearing a number of important Zardari cases.
Thus, the agencies need to keep an eagle eye on the officers of the FIA who are interrogating Mian Tariq. If this is not done, a huge amount of money is likely to change hands, and a lot of evidence is likely to disappear.
And if the PM has the time, he should watch the five second clip of Mian Tariq in FIA custody. This clip, if seen with a keen eye, will tell him that it is not courts of law or sentences handed out by them which will get Pakistan’s stolen wealth back, but the advanced techniques employed by our SHOs that will do the trick.
But if these techniques are not to be used, the very least what needs to be done is that orders should immediately go out to deal with all prisoners strictly as per rules laid out in the Jail Manual, and all such privileges not clearly specified therein, be immediately withdrawn. No legislation is needed to enforce this measure. Just an administrative decision is needed.