ALTAF HUSSAIN DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL

16 April 1999
London

The decision of sentencing, imposing fine and disqualifying the former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and her husband, Asif Zardari has created confusion in the minds of the law-abiding citizens of Pakistan. This decision has not only confused the people but has also raised concern and suspicions on the double standard. The conscientious, educated and law abiding citizens are fully aware of the names of the persons belonging to the feudal and industrialist class who have obtained billions of rupees in loans from the national exchequer and different government banks.

Categorisation would identify the people in hundreds who have acquired loans of more than one crore and then defaulted leaving the concerned banks into financial crisis. Other category includes persons who have acquired loans worth millions and billions of rupees through abuse of political influence and power, and had these loans written off or waved off. There is another category that includes Mr Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister and his brother Mr Shahbaz Sharif, the Chief Minister of Punjab, who have not returned a single penny of loans taken from the banks. There is a further category of very powerful and influential people who are still sitting on the benches of different legislative bodies including the Senate, the National Assembly and the Provincial Assemblies belonging to the PML who are involved in misusing their power and authority for their personal gains. There is another category, whose cases of corruption are pending before the Ehtesab Bench including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother the Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Sharif.

The confusion in the minds of the people has further precipitated as to why the Ehtesab Bench has singled out Ms. Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and her husband and not proceeded against other persons whose cases are already pending before the Bench for a long time.

People are amazed that although the Pakistani legal system is the co-option of the British legal system and is enforced in the lower and higher courts of Pakistan then why the Ehtesab Bench has totally ignored the decision of the London High Court against the Sharif family on fraudulently acquiring loans from international bank with the intent of not returning it. The Sharif family decided not to contest this case despite opportunity and previous admission of Mr Saif-ur-Rahman disputing the figures. This decision has irrevocably proved the Sharif family's involvement in international fraud and criminal activities.

The charges of corruption, loot and fraud against Ms. Benazir Bhutto has not been adjudicated by any international Court, whereas fraud of Sharif family has been proved in the London High Court. People are amazed that not a single member of the PML has been disqualified in similar cases pending against them.

I am not pleading the case of Benazir Bhutto and her husband, as my party was the victim during her regime. It would not be appropriate to say anymore on this matter since I believe Ms. Benazir Bhutto is approaching the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

In the end, I would like to add that the accountability process must be transparent for all regardless of the past and present position. People of Pakistan demand a just and transparent action against all those involved in corruption and these corrupt people must be tried and punished irrespective of their positions.