One of the definitions that got stuck in my mind, of what was meant by Banana Republic was: “A state in which all the resources in effect belong to the head of the government, all the laws are subservient to his or her ‘will’ and all the functionaries are regarded as employees of his or her family.”
This definition was given by none other than Dr. Kissinger after his tour of Africa in the sixties.
By this definition, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan as governed by Mian Nawaz Sharif should be the most eligible state to earn the ‘Banana Republic’ status.
It goes without saying that the government of Mian Nawaz Sharif is run not just by his own self but also by his entire family on his behalf. As if that is not enough, his cronies as well as the cronies of his family members too, carry, not just an aura of authority, but also its stamp.
Everyone knows that the Panama Leaks case has nothing to do with the government of Pakistan nor the state itself. It is all about the ‘alleged’ financial irregularities committed by the Sharif family in forming offshore companies in Panama (or elsewhere) through which the family members own expensive apartments in Parklane London.
Yet ever since the Panama Leaks scandal has hit the headlines the worldover—toppling some governments and leaders virtually in no time—the entire government machinery in Pakistan, and the resources of the State have got engaged in a long and endless exercise to earn exoneration for the Sharif family.
The climactic act in this respect happened to occur on Sunday the 28th of May 2017 when the son of the respondent number one, Hussain Nawaz (who himself is a key respondent) appeared before JIT in a kind of protocol one does not witness these days even in the world’s leading monarchies. Several ministers as well as Islamabad’s Mayor alongwith a coterie of officials were present to express their solidarity with the Prince.
As I was watching this ‘Banana Republic Spirit’ in magnanimous display before full public view (because of the TV cameras), I was wondering who would send the Sharif family, the ‘Bill’ on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, of the services provided by the State.
The defense for the Sharif family by the State of Pakistan might well have cost its people billions and billions in terms of Time, Money & Resources….
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