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Pakistan

'Behind every great fortune there is a crime'

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"Behind every great fortune there is a crime." The echo of this phrase is not very old in our political and judicial history. Justice Asif Saeed Khosa wrote this sentence in his dissenting note in the Panama case judgment of April 20, 2017.

Imran Yaqub Khan Profile Imran Yaqub Khan

American author Mario Pozzo begins his novel "Godfather" with the same sentence of French author Anne de Balzac. It was only after this reference in the dissenting note that political opponents started calling Nawaz Sharif a godfather and a Cecilian mafia. Prime Minister Imran Khan has been convinced from day one that corruption is the root of all ills in society. Money made dishonestly is sent out of the country through various means.

The elites involved in this process have businesses and properties abroad. In national and international forums, he has repeatedly said that money made through corruption must be stopped from flowing out of the country, and that corrupt people must be severely punished, and that western countries' developing countries must return. Stop money from coming to your countries. Undoubtedly, strict laws are the need of the hour to eradicate corruption.

Pakistan has an authoritative body, the National Accountability Bureau, which is engaged in rooting out corrupt people from head to toe. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal, the head of the agency, will complete his term on October 8. The new chairman of the NAB is to be appointed in consultation with the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. So far no consultation has taken place and whether the consultation will take place in the future or not, the question mark remains.

The question of whether Chairman NAB will be replaced or Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will remain in office remains. In the midst of all this, the government legal team was busy running and drafting an ordinance. One of the key points of this ordinance is that the existing clause of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition will remain in force. The name of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal will also be considered for the new chairman NAB.

If there is no agreement, the matter will go to the parliamentary committee. If there is a deadlock in the talks, the current chairman will remain in office until the new chairman arrives. The Supreme Judicial Council will have to be approached to remove the NAB chairman. The clause not to extend the chairmanship of NAB will also be removed by the ordinance.

Whether it is accountability or revenge, the government has often expressed its good intentions in this regard. Through this ordinance, the highly capable and astute legal team of the government has brought some new aspects to the fore. Legally important in this ordinance is that the NAB courts will also have the power to grant bail to the accused before 90 days.

Additional Sessions Judges and former Judges will also be appointed in NAB courts. For the appointment of the Chairman NAB, the provision of consultation between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition was made so that the head of the accountability body would agree.

No one could point a finger at his character and neutrality. Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal also became the head of the accountability body through this consultative process. However, now the opposition often keeps pointing fingers at him. Forough Naseem, who belongs to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, is currently the country's law minister. The preparation of this ordinance will undoubtedly involve his hard work, and he believes that the appointment of the new chairman of the NAB will be in consultation with the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif. Naseem, however, acknowledged that Shhebaz Sharif has yet to be contacted in this regard.

Babar Awan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs, also confirmed the existence of a consultation clause between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in the NAB Amendment Ordinance. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post. On this action of the government, PML-N leader and former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi says, "Chairman NAB is being extended by breaking the law. The law says consult but the Prime Minister is refusing. The President is also against the ordinance." We are ready to sign."

The PPP has termed the extension of NAB chairman's tenure through an ordinance as unconstitutional and illegal. PPP Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman raised the question that how can the current chairman work after his completion of term? If consulting the opposition is a conflict of interest, aren't there cases against ministers, including the prime minister? Sugar, flour, petrol, medicine, BRT, LNG, Ring Road, Billion Tree and helicopter scandals are against whom? Is the Prime Minister not protecting his own interests and the interests of his ministers?

The concerns and questions of PML-N and PPP are on the one hand, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry explained teh reason as why did not the premier and the opposition leader consult each other for the appointment. Talking to media, the minister said, "We will not consult Shahbaz Sharif about the NAB chairman. We will bring in an ordinance to remove the legal loophole so as to remove the alleged complexities in the law which has made it mandatory to consult the Leader of the Opposition on this issue,” he said.

In his briefing, Fawad further said: "The ordinance will clarify how the head of the anti-corruption watchdog will be appointed if the opposition leader is accused of corruption." Responding to Fawad Chaudhry's statement, PML-N spokesperson Maryam Aurangzeb said, "Consultation with the Leader of the Opposition on the appointment of NAB chairman is a constitutional requirement. With this decision, they are giving NRO to those who are flour, sugar, electricity, gas and medicine thieves.

It is clear from the heated rhetoric on this ordinance that the Prime Minister is not sitting in consultation with the Leader of the Opposition Shahbaz Sharif for the appointment of a new Chairman NAB. Shahbaz Sharif is currently facing only corruption charges, cases are pending, if anything is proved, he will definitely be found guilty. It would be fair not to talk to them after that. He is currently the representative of the opposition in the country. He should get his constitutional position.

In the Pandora Papers, offshore companies of close associates of the Prime Minister have come to light. The requirement of justice is not to sit with them till they are proved innocent. "Behind every big crime there's a crime," recalls the Panama case verdict, because now the Pandora's box has opened, and some of the culprits have been exposed. Let's see how does indiscriminate accountability take place?

 

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Sports

Suit: Bad Bunny's agency hit with 'death penalty'

Rimas Sports, the agency founded by recording artist Bad Bunny, is accusing Major League Baseball's Players Association of "placing a death penalty" on the agency, according to a federal lawsuit the company filed Thursday.

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Rimas Sports, the agency founded by recording artist Bad Bunny, has accused the Major League Baseball Players Association of "placing a death penalty" on the agency through "a discriminatory, biased, and pre-determined investigation" into Rimas' business practices, according to a federal lawsuit the company filed Thursday.

On April 10, the MLBPA decertified Rimas agent William Arroyo and prevented Rimas executives Noah Assad and Jonathan Miranda from seeking certification after accusing the agency of providing improper benefits to players. Additionally, Rimas' other MLBPA-certified agent, Michael Velasquez, was threatened with decertification and quit the company, according to the lawsuit.

In a 27-page complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Puerto Rico, Rimas sought a temporary restraining order and injunction against the penalties levied by the union, which the company argued were "designed to put Rimas Sports permanently out of business." The suit alleged that the MLBPA had "exceeded the scope of its statutory authority under the National Labor Relations Act" by extending sanctions on individuals to what amounts to the whole of the company. Rimas employees were previously denied a temporary restraining order to continue doing business, and, the complaint said, relief is warranted from overreach by the MLBPA that extends to the entire company.

"By blanketly prohibiting any MLBPA certified agents from affiliating with Rimas Sports and Rimas Entertainment in any capacity," the complaint said, "the MLBPA has effectively placed a death-penalty sanction on Rimas Sports as an agency and prohibited Rimas Entertainment, which is not in the sports agency business and has never had a MLBPA Certified Agent, from contracting with clients who may wish to secure branding, sponsorship or endorsement deals. These restrictions extend well beyond the scope of the MLBPA's authority to regulate its agents."

The MLBPA declined comment through a spokesperson.

Rimas previously sought relief from the sanctions on Arroyo, Assad and Miranda through an arbitrator, who denied the effort. The American Arbitration Association will determine the appeal of their individual penalties, which were filed before a May 10 deadline.

The effect on Rimas as a whole, the complaint argued, goes far deeper. Rimas argued that the sanctions have caused the company "irreparable harm," citing the union's prevention of certified agents from working with Rimas; a note sent from MLB to teams warning them not to deal with Rimas employees; and the unwillingness of third parties to engage with the company.

As examples, Rimas cited an inability to continue negotiating a contract extension for New York Mets catcher Francisco Álvarez as well as losing the opportunity to sign reigning National League MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. as a client due to the penalties. Topps, the baseball card brand owned by Fanatics -- in which the MLBPA has invested -- "notified Rimas Sports that because of the MLBPA's prohibitions that they cannot speak with Rimas Sports marketing, endorsement, and sponsorship deals, such as one for Ronald Acuña," according to the complaint.

Rimas Sports, which was started in 2021 by Assad, Miranda and Benito Martínez Ocasio -- the international recording superstar known as Bad Bunny -- aimed to cater to players from Latin America and quickly built a list of clients that included Álvarez, Mets prospect Ronny Mauricio and Colorado shortstop Ezequiel Tovar, for whom the agency negotiated a seven-year, $63.5 million contract extension. Other agents accused Rimas of paying players to join the agency, which would run afoul of MLBPA regulations. While Assad and Miranda sought MLBPA certification, Martínez, according to the complaint, remains "a semi-passive investor."

While the lawsuit does not address the substance of the MLBPA's disciplinary action against Rimas employees, it suggests that the union and others believed "these Puerto Rican 'outsiders' were disrupting baseball sports agency order too much, too fast. This was something that the MLBPA and Rimas Sports' competitors would not allow."

About a year before the completion of the MLBPA's investigation and its decision, entertainment attorneys Oswaldo Rossi, John Baldivia and Jimmy Barnes sought union certification, according to the complaint. In a letter from an MLBPA lawyer, the complaint said, they were told their "certifications will be conditioned on your agreement not to work for or with Rimas Sports, represent Rimas Sports clients" -- an "unprecedented condition imposed on them [that] is not part of the MLBPA Regulations."

"The MLBPA knew, or should have known, that such actions have caused and will continue to cause severe and agency-killing harm to the Rimas Companies," the complaint continued. "In fact, the intended effect of the MLBPA's actions was precisely to eliminate the Rimas Companies from participating altogether in the sports agency market for MLB and MiLB players."
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Crime

Naqvi orders crackdown against encroachments in Islamabad

The authorities demolished encroachments of Raja Gulfraz Farm in Sangjani Sasing and sealed another factory

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Islamabad: Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday ordered a crackdown against the encroachments in Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff to remove and eliminate all encroachments without discrimination and without accepting any pressures from anywhere.

He ordered Islamabad administration, CDA and police to conduct joint operation against the encroachment. Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa immediately took action on the direction of the federal minister and launched an operation against encroachments in Islamabad. The authorities demolished encroachments of Raja Gulfraz Farm in Sangjani Sasing and sealed another factory.

The farmhouse was built illegally by constructing 10 rooms on 24 kanal area The Islamabad administration and the police led by the DC and CDA, jointly conducted the operation against encroachments.

 

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Pakistan

Imran faces new Toshakhana case: Inquiry report reveals seven watches sold

The inquiry report says the new case involves the unlawful possession and sale of ten valuable gifts including Rolex watches, diamond and gold sets

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Islamabad: An inquiry report on Saturday surfaced in another case against PTI Founder Imran Khan regarding Toshakhana scandal.

The report alleged that not just one, but seven watches were illegally acquired and sold.

According to the inquiry report, the new case involves the unlawful possession and sale of ten valuable gifts including Rolex watches, diamond and gold sets. The gifts were sold without being legally claimed as personal property.

The report indicated that a valuable set was sold without being “retained” legally. It also mentioned that a private appraiser colluded to benefit the buyer of the watch.

The inquiry report said that the appraiser’s act of undervaluing the watch by thirty million rupees before receiving an email from Toshakhana is evidence of connivance. The watch in question was valued at 109.2 million rupees, and 20% of the amount, 20.178 million rupees, was deposited into the government treasury.

The report also mentioned that every gift must first be reported and submitted to Toshakhana.

 Only gifts worth up to 30,000 rupees can be kept without any charge.

 

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