The Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) is a Sharif family’s personal empire, and a sort of business venture, though not offshore. People are employed here, fired here and promoted and demoted then and there as per a business concern's needs. Those performing extraordinary are given bonuses: ticket for a safe constituency, ministry or advisor office, ticket for a family woman on reserved seats and tickets of the Senate. Performances and services which land these rewards are making the Sharifs happy. What pleases the Sharifs is: defend them on the national media and project them the only popular leaders of Pakistan, if not of South Asia or Asia or the world. And if you have illicit or legal wealth, shower on them, without any thinking.
Many journalists have benefitted from the House of Sharifs. Many sycophants have become national leaders. Many are in the pipeline of the urban party to become leaders. The latest lineup to occupy Senate benches on the PML-N seats from Punjab and the federal capital area is a total disappointment. The way the Sharif family picked up Senate candidates and the way all parliamentary norms were trampled in the process suggest that the PML-N is just a to-serve-Sharifs party.
Those awarded PML-N tickets are former finance minister Ishaq Dar, former Punjab police IG Rana Maqbool Ahmad Khan, office-bearers of the party’s UK and US chapters Zubair Gul and Shaheen Butt, Mr Sharif’s spokesperson Dr Asif Kirmani, former senator Haroon Akhtar, industrialist Farooq Khan and Hafiz Abdul Kareem, a leader of the Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith and MNA from Dera Ghazi Khan.
The profiles of the candidates speak volume.
Ishaq Dar is a fugitive man; he is wanted to the National Accountability Court (NAB) for his alleged accumulation of wealth. More than a fugitive, he is the father-in-law of Maryam Nawaz’s sister. Maryam Nawaz is herself facing a number of NAB references. Why a party would give a Senate ticket to a retired provincial police chief is beyond people’s comprehension. The award of a Senate ticket for Rana Maqbool is a clear message to the serving bureaucracy that those serve us without any a second question are patronised and rewarded even after their retirement.
The next on the list Zubair Gul and Shaheen Butt. Zubair Gul, according to Rauf Kulasra columns, severed the Sharifs when they were in exile in the UK during the Musharraf regime. He served them from buying a good plate of mutton pulao to arranging air tickets for the whole family. He still serves their children who are on the run and have been living in the UK since the start of the NAB trial.
Shaheen Butt: when one browses his name, Google says that one Shaheen Butt was arrested and convicted of money laundering in the US. One is not sure if it is the same Shaheen Butt. Also, Sharifs are also facing the allegation of money laundering here in Pakistan. So, money laundering is a standing connection between the Shaheen and the Sharifs. Still, we are not sure if the Senate candidate Shaheen Butt is the same one convicted in the US.
Dr Asif Kirmani was once caught on camera for acting like a traffic cop to make way for the car of the Sharifs. In fact, he was making his way for the Senate corridor. Haroon Akhtar was rewarded for withdrawing an application against the relocation of a Sharif family’s sugar mills to Muzaffargarh. Farooq Khan has lots of wealth. Similarly, Hafiz Abdul Karim has a big pocket.
What will the Senate look like when such people occupy seats there and discuss national issues?
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