The political environment has got even more sour after the raid of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on the PML-N’s provincial secretariat in Lahore to confiscate purported videotapes of accountability judge Arshad Malik, who convicted former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case. The PML-N, which was relatively in hibernation after the miraculous, fast tracked release of Nawaz Sharif for treatment in London, may be forced to show reaction, playing to the tune of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI). Political tensions suit the PTI, as calm situations turn public discourse towards price hike, foreign policy, internal situation, living standard, economy, etc. In the latest spat, an FIA cybercrime team along with police raided the PML-N secretariat at 180-H in Model Town to find the “tapes”. It is not clear if the treasured tapes were found or not, but one educated guess is that such sensitive tapes, if they exit, would be kept at an office. The controversial tapes are linked with PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz who played them at a press conference sometime back, turning the tables on the government’s prosecution team, forcing them to take a defencive position in the case. Reacting to the raid, the PML-N said they would get a case registered against the FIA chief, Wajid Zia, “for harassing its leaders”. The team confiscated the hardware of the computer with search warrants in hands.
The FIA has legal powers to raid a place after search warrants, and the force has a track record of detecting high-profile white collar crime and cybercrime. But when a raid is carried out at a political place, it entails certain complications. The FIA should explain the situation about the raid, and about the videotape. In the wake of the video displayed by Ms Nawaz at a press conference at the secretariat in July, judge Arshad Malik had also issued a presser alleging he was blackmailed by the PML-N. Soon after the release of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam and other Sharif family members went into a mysterious silence, triggering the rumours of a deal with the government. On the other hand, the government keeps shedding the impression of deals, and has arrested Ahsan Iqbal while the FIA has summoned PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid, MPA Azma Bokhari and Attaullah Tarar to record their statements. Maryam Nawaz, who is eagerly awaiting the permission to fly abroad for a much-awaited family reunion, may also be summoned in the videotape case.
This case must reach a conclusion but without any further political controversy. *