Bails and arrests

Many politicians notably from opposition parties have been facing corruption cases, inquiries and references. As our attention was diverted to the more pressing issue of LoC hostilities, many were released on bail raising doubts that the ongoing accountability process has been impeded.

Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif made headlines when he was allowed to go abroad for medical treatment. His daughter Maryam Nawaz is making efforts to strike her name off the no-fly list and join him. The government appears unwilling to budge but she may receive a similar reprieve from the courts.

Then ex-president Asif Ali Zardari was given relief from the courts and was released on bail owing his ill health. He appeared unwell and flew to Karachi to receive better care. However, his sister Faryal Talpur, who was accused in the fake bank accounts case, has also been released on bail till the completion of the trial.

On the same day that Talpur was bailed, PPP leader Khursheed Shah also received a similar decision by an accountability court in Sukkur. He received a setback when the Sindh High Court suspended the decision to release him. The case of former Sindh minister Sharjeel Memon is even more peculiar; the court has restrained NAB from arresting him in the fake bank accounts case.

The PPP seems to on a roll in bailing out its leaders. The Sindh Speaker has received bail in one case while Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah already has been granted pre-arrest bail. Bilawal has been summoned by NAB but has refused to appear daring them to arrest him. The PTI government is not concerned, stating that those bailed will be back in jail soon.

Except the Sharif family, the PML-N has not received the kind of reprieve as the PPP. Miftah Ismail secured bail in the LNG case but co-accused Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is still facing an inquiry. On the same day that Ismail received a favourable verdict, NAB arrested Ahsan Iqbal in the Narowal sports city corruption case. Khawaja Saad Rafique has approached the Supreme Court but his case has not been heard yet, while Khawaja Asif has landed himself in hot waters too.

It should be noted that many politicians are securing bail due to weak prosecution. The investigative agencies are unable to submit irrefutable evidence or even file references thus courts have to release them. This gives politicians an opportunity to decry that the cases against them are based on prejudice. The government should not give an impression that the accountability process has been weakened.