There is some truth if not whole truth
Mehran Bank scandal has surfaced once again wherein it is alleged that both namely former Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and present Chief Minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif along with many other politicians have taken very handsome money through ISI at the time when Ghulam Ishaq Khan was the President. Quite interestingly Younus Habib who headed Mehran Bank at that point of time has said that President GIK has instructed the then Army Chief Gen Aslam Baig to be instrumental in buying some of the influential politicians who could be influential and prevail upon others in blocking PPP candidates being elected in next general elections so that PPP does not become the ruling party again in Pakistan. President had taken very strong decision not to let PPP gain any majority under any circumstances whatsoever and this is what has been witnessed that PPP could not emerge as majority party in the general elections and GIK did succeed in his nefarious plans.
Money and women, from time immemorial have been considered as the weakest weakness of man and undoubtedly history books are full with such like instances where many men whether in east or west or south or north have been swayed away from their principles just because of money or woman or both and this is what has been very often witnessed in Pakistan too. Of course very few who can be counted even on finger tips were those who shunned money or woman or both and proved rock like solid not to give in and do what someone wanted to be done by them in return for money. They were very few in the past, they are very few now and they will be very few in future as well to be honest. As a matter of fact, money gets edge over woman in any case and not vice versa. Money can very easily buy a woman so it is more powerful than woman in any case. GIK being one of us living his whole life very well knew as to who we are and how much flexible we can be. He was quite sharp and intelligent to feel pulse of many of our so called popular and commanding politicians who could certainly be bought by money so why not to mould them as he wanted and not as they wanted.
The money scandal mentions that millions of rupees were to be distributed amongst those who matter and could influence either the contestants not to contest from PPP platform and or convince the voters not to vote for PPP candidates and in both the cases PPP is kept out of power and this mattered the most or not the logistics. The people on the ground are to work either way to achieve the desired results. In this scheme Army Chief Gen Aslam Beg, ISI Chief Lt Gen Asad Durrani and Younus Habib of Mehran Bank had to play their principal roles accordingly to get PPP defeated in forthcoming elections and whether one likes it or not GIK did succeed in his game plan and PPP was defeated badly and deprived of to rule again at that point of time. It is reported that fake bank accounts were opened in different cities where the money was deposited for the purpose which eventually was withdrawn and distributed amongst some notable politicians who were believed to carry sufficient strength and could very well influence those who really matter. Younus Habib has given so many names along with the figure saying that so much hard cash was dished out to so and so persons for the purpose and Sharif brothers are very much the beneficiaries.
However, Shahbaz Sharif has said that neither he nor his elder brother Mian Nwaz Sharif has taken any money on this account and therefore he is going to sue Younus Habib for defaming them for no reason and rhyme. He also maintains that President Zardari is using Younus to malign Sharif brothers so that their reputation is jolted in public and they may be routed in the general elections to be held in 2013 or may be late 2012. Had it been just a case of false fabrication as Mian brothers maintain then why president, army chief, head of intelligence agency and top banker etc be involved for nothing? Mian brothers are too hollow to shout now when the whole nation has come to know that they are none but purchasable commodity. What amazes me most that Interior Minister Malik Rehman has said publicly that he has documentary evidences to prove that Mian brothers have taken the money. He also said that he will produce the papers before Supreme Court of Pakistan which is presently investigating Mehran Bank scandal case to prove in black and white that both Nawaz and Shahbaz have been heavily bribed. He went another step forward saying that he is also going to sue both the brothers for withdrawing huge money from I B account. Imran Khan, Chief of Tehreek e Insaf has said aloud that Mehran Bank scandal has exposed Mian borthers of taking money to block the entry of PPP to power corridor. The best and the only solution for Mian brothers is that they must return the money back to our national exchequer and tender unconditional apology in public to restore back their respect to some extent which has been completely tattered and torn in any case and under the given circumstances it is of no consequence and importance if these brothers still disown it.
Come what may it is not an airy fairy story from any set of imagination rather on the contra it is quite but natural that hefty money has been paid to Mian brothers and it cannot be just false propaganda against the brothers except that figures may be a bit different if at all different otherwise they have been bribed so I can say with confidence that there is some truth if not the whole truth.
********************************************* Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait
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