Abdul Qadir Gilani didn't turn up at the FIA office on Monday to answer a few questions in line with the Supreme Court's directive. The apex court is hearing the Hajj scam case in which he is alleged to be a beneficiary, particularly as to who 'gifted' him the bullet-proof Prado Land-cruiser and who paid the Rs 8.5 million duty on this expensive vehicle. Perforce, the FIA was constrained to have issued a 'notice' to the gentleman to join the investigation, failing which he might be summoned.
Will he make himself available to the agency's Joint Investigation Team is anybody's guess. After all Abdul Qadir is the son of Prime Minister Gilani and as per traditional practice, the prodigal sons of the high and mighty of Pakistan care two hoots for such notices. In fact, bringing them to book is such a risky affair that more often than not the investigators lose their positions. In this case also the head of investigating team, FIA Director Hussain Asghar has been transferred. So much for good governance and the PM's much quoted claim 'we honour the verdicts of the courts'.
If his hands are clean there should be no problem in joining the FIA investigation. If he is not a beneficiary, directly or indirectly, from the Hajj scam, why can he not tell the team that he did not receive the alleged "lion's share" in that sordid deal, or who paid the import duty on his Prado or that central figure in this scam, Rao Shakeel, paid him no money nor any funds were transferred to him from Saudi Arabia through someone named Zain Sukhera. But only if his hands are clean, a big 'if' that tends to thicken the plot with the resignation of Zain Sukhera from his job as advisor to the religious affairs ministry on the basis of his degree, which is said to be fake/forged.
The irony is only last week Prime Minister Gilani asked the establishment division to verify the educational degrees of all government officers, and Zain Sukhera is said to be one who was appointed at the advice of the prime minister. We expect Abdul Qadir Gilani to present himself before the FIA investigators and answer those simple questions. And, until then, the concerned officials are expected to place him on the exit control list (ECL) to ensure that he doesn't follow the suit played by other prodigal sons.
Abdul Qadir must realise that by refusing to appear before the FIA investigation team he would be lowering the prestige of his own father who happens to be the country's chief executive. We feel that he should come to the FIA office and answer those questions, and if there is some hesitation on his part, the prime minister should ensure compliance with the directive of the apex court.
After all, an elected leader that Yousuf Raza Gilani is, draws strength from his credibility as a man of integrity and his impartiality as chief executive. Islamic history is replete with instances when rulers presented themselves before judges to clarify their position against allegations. This is all the more pertinent in the present case when bowing to the public wish, the leadership jettisoned a number of ministerial incumbents who had forfeited their credentials as honest men. Fingers remain crossed, however - for the lengths to which the present dispensation has gone to hoodwink the truth and defeat court verdicts.