Editorial Time to recover money stashed abroad A Swiss federal tribunal has ruled that a valuable jewellery set that was seized by authorities for investigations into allegations of graft belonged to former president Asif Ali Zardari or the legal heirs of the late Benazir Bhutto. The set included: a necklace, a bracelet, a pair of earrings and a ring, is reportedly valued at over $180,000. The case was originally filed by the attorney general for Pakistan in October of 1997 against Benazir Bhutto, her mother Nusrat Bhutto and husband Asif Ali Zardari, and the jewels were seized the same year, but the original cases were closed in 2008 following the promulgation of the National Reconciliation Ordinance. However, these cases were reopened on the orders of the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Former president Asif Ali Zardari has publicly disowned these ornaments and denied allegations of corruption in the SGS-Cotecna scandal. The judgment has provided enough leverage to the government recover national assets stashed away in foreign banks. Having the Imran-led PTI chief out there on the road against the Prime Minister Nawaz, the judgment, which can be termed a great victory for the incumbent rulers, may put the government to the test as the head of the friendly PPP has, over and again, offered his support to the tumbling government of the Pakistan Muslim League-N. Even the former president defied the call emerging from his party ranks, saying that this is no time for such politics hence the PPP will not compromise on democracy and supremacy of the constitution and parliament. Though the former president always sounds a constitution-abiding politician, now the entire nation is waiting for his words on the judgment that has put him in an awkward position. After the verdict of the Geneva court of appeal it does not matter what he says but what matters the most is how the government approaches the verdict-- a copy of which has already been received in Islamabad. Because of the Prime Minister’s engagements abroad, the government is yet to make its future strategy on the case public. The incumbent rulers, in their public oratory, always expressed their commitment to repatriating assets that were stashed away in foreign banks. And this Swiss tribunal’s verdict has given the rulers a solid basis to do that as soon as possible. The entire world knows that the filthy rich politicians have stashed their ill-gotten money in the foreign banks. A short while a British MP sounded alarm bells on Pakistan’s money lying in the foreign banks that nobody cared to bother about. Much has been said and written about the Pakistanis’ money lying in the foreign accounts, but for the first time, the government has received a key to unlock the accounts. All it has to do is to forge a courage and conviction to take a lead and thereafter, there may be a long queue to follow. Though it is a difficult task to proceed with; it can antagonize the Pakistan People’s Party that ultimately may spell out some more trouble for the government. We advise to the Prime Minister not to compromise with the plunders and looters –no matter who they are. Just do what the country needs the most at this point in time. Honestly speaking the government cannot find a better opportunity than this to ensure recovery for the sake of Pakistan which is on the brink of the economic collapse. The implementation on the verdict of the Swiss Tribunal can rewrite a new history of the country’s politics. And one bold decision can change the future of the country and that of the people alike. Dear Prime Minister; please do not hesitate or compromise for a second to initiate the further proceedings.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 06:01:11 +0000
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