{"id":30537,"date":"2023-12-02T00:20:07","date_gmt":"2023-12-02T00:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/ptis-avenfield-dilemma-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-02T00:20:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-02T00:20:07","slug":"ptis-avenfield-dilemma-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/ptis-avenfield-dilemma-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"PTI\u2019s Avenfield dilemma | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nISLAMABAD:
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The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is grappling with disbelief after the acquittal of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) leader Nawaz Sharif in the Avenfield reference. While the PTI denounces the court\u2019s decision as a \u201cdeath knell to the justice system,\u201d it continues to label Sharif a \u201ccertified criminal.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Islamabad High Court’s exoneration of Nawaz Sharif, nearly six years after his initial trial, has provoked a strong response from the PTI. The party, which once based its narrative on opponents\u2019 convictions, now contends with the stark reality of the court’s decision contradicting its long-standing accusations.<\/p>\n

Having built its narrative on branding Sharif as a \u201cthief, dacoit, corrupt, and traitor,\u201d the PTI now faces the challenge of reconciling its past reliance on court judgments with the current acquittal.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s difficult for PTI to accept Nawaz Sharif\u2019s acquittal from a corruption case as its whole narrative was built on this very thing,\u201d eminent political expert, Zaigham Khan said and added, \u201cfor the PTI, everyone excluding Imran Khan is corrupt; how can it go against what was an integral part of the Tabdeli [change] project.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zaigham said that the PTI\u2019s predicament underscores the complexities of political narratives grounded in legal outcomes, as the party now confronts the unexpected outcome that challenges its foundational anti-Nawaz and anti-PMLN stance. Back then, he recalled, the state machinery was pushing corruption narrative against certain individuals just like it is doing against some others right now.<\/p>\n

Commenting on the judiciary\u2019s role, Zaigham said that courts or the justice system was easily used to manage politics, saying several judges were on board back then who interpreted things as they wanted and didn\u2019t even hesitate to create new jurisprudence. The subordinate judiciary, he lamented, followed what had already been decided by the superior judiciary. \u201cIt\u2019s highly unfortunate but the judicial process was used for pushing narrative,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

Professor Tahir Naeem Malik of NUML University said that the PTI finds it difficult to accept the IHC\u2019s decision as it contradicts its whole narrative against Nawaz and PML-N.<\/p>\n

Also, the professor added, the PTI is unable to fathom the decision because the general elections are just around the corner and its voters won\u2019t buy the anti-corruption narrative as the previous one has just fallen flat. \u201cAcquittal is the end result of the politically-motivated cases,\u201d Professor Malik said, adding political parties in Pakistan, unfortunately, do not believe in exposing the system as they simply prefer to go after individuals as long as it suits them.<\/p>\n

On the judiciary\u2019s role, Malik said that the country, where people have almost no trust on the justice system, puts a big mark on it. He recalled that the PTI had even taken credit for courts\u2019 decision but it is not ready to accept reality now.<\/p>\n

On Thursday, the PTI declared that the acquittal of \u201ccertified criminal\u201d Nawaz Sharif in Avenfield Apartments reference under the \u201cnotorious London secret deal\u201d by placing law and justice in the rear view mirror is a death knell to legal and justice system of the country as he had no proof to prove his innocence in the mega corruption case.<\/p>\n

Strongly reacting to the IHC\u2019s decision, PTI spokesperson said that the major relief granted to the \u201ccrooked person under a secret deal\u201d was akin to murder of the law and justice system.<\/p>\n

In a statement, he noted that the \u201ccriminal process of acquitting national criminals\u201d one after another was continued with lightning speed by destroying the country\u2019s institutions and judicial system altogether.<\/p>\n

Contrary to the court\u2019s ruling, PTI spokesperson recalled that \u201cthe tale of Nawaz Sharif\u2019s ceaseless corruption exposed in the Panama Papers was still fresh in the minds of the nation\u201d. He pointed out that \u201cthe saga from fabricated Qatari letter, Calibri font and other evidences like fake trust deeds were enough to prove Nawaz as guilty in Avenfield reference\u201d.<\/p>\n

The PTI spokesperson said that a person, who raised the slogan “Respect the vote”, was being given major relief through \u201cthird NRO, which was a very humiliating and a matter of great concern for the judicial system\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n