![Custom Text](https://bolojawan.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/New-top-banner-add-04.jpg")
It’s been more than two days since former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif left Pakistan for London, however controversies around his departure continue to rule the political discourse in the country.
The “Mein NRO nahi doonga,” statement came back to bite!
Now, Pakistan remembers all too well Imran Khan’s repeated promises of not brokering any deals with “corrupt” politicians. He had pledged, more than once that under his government, every criminal – no matter how powerful – would have to face the music.
However, once Nawaz Sharif was allowed to leave the country, the Prime Minister was accused of breaking his promise to the people by allowing a powerful convict to leave the country.
The Prime Minister deflected by putting the onus of responsibility on the judiciary
Khan, it seems is quickly learning the art of deflection. Like any seasoned politician, the moment he was faced with mounting criticism, the PM immediately transferred the onus of responsibility to another stakeholder: the judiciary.
Entirely washing his hands off Sharif’s departure from the country, Khan took a dig at the judiciary for giving him safe passage out of Pakistan.
“It’s always been like this in Pakistan, there’s one set of laws for the weak and another for the powerful. We have a very wise Chief Justice, I respect him immensely. But today I want to say something to both Chief Justice Khosa and the next in line, Justice Gulazar: make our country free by giving us justice. This perception that the law favours the rich is a historical fact. Those with clout have received favourable judgments by simply making a phone call. Justice has been sold in exchange for brief cases…our justice system does not dare touch the strong. I appeal to the sitting Chief Justice and his successor to change this perception and improve the justice system.”
Prime Minster Imran Khan (while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 39.3km Havelian-Mansehra section of the 118-km-long Havelian-Thakot motorway)
CJP Asif Saeed Khosa responded in no time to PM Imran Khan and how!
In less than two days, CJP Asif Saeed Khosa made it a point to respond to PM Imran Khan. Going by the Chief Justice’s demeanour, it is safe to assume that the top judge wasn’t quite pleased with Khan’s the-justice-system-does-not-dare-touch-the-strong statement.
While addressing a ceremony at the Supreme Court on Wednesday, Chief Justice Khosa reminded the Prime Minister that it was his government that had allowed Nawaz Sharif to leave the country and the judiciary had only passed judgment on the “modalities” of Sharif’s departure.
“The Prime Minister is the elected chief executive. We respect his position but please don’t take jibes of protecting the powerful at us. Please be careful (while passing statements about the judiciary).”
-Chief Justice Asif Khosa
The remainder of Wednesday evening saw PTI proponents reminding CJP Khosa where and how the judiciary had favoured the powerful while the party’s opponents kept posting and re-posting his statement to mock Imran Khan.
Now that two of the most powerful men in the country have thrown major shade at each other for – and the irony is not dead on us – “favouring the powerful,” we do dearly wish that they would both end this pointless exchange immediately.
The fact of the matter is that whether one likes it or not, Nawaz Sharif has left. Whether he returns back to Pakistan to serve the remainder of his jail term is really anyone’s guess.
What we can state with some level of certainty is that both the government and the judiciary played their roles to allow his departure.
Read: Hafeez Sheikh Through The Looking Glass: Rs. 17/Kg Tomatoes, Chilgozay & More
It was the elected government under Imran Khan that allowed Sharif to leave and it was Lahore High Court that set-up a hearing over the weekend and wrote-off the Rs. 7 billion condition imposed by the government as a guarantee for Sharif’s return.
At the end of the day, no matter who says what, no one can entirely wash their hands off Sharif’s departure.
And now since that’s settled, dear Prime Minister and honourable Chief Justice, please stop this awakward banter!
