On 10th July 2017, a Joint Interrogation Team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court of Pakistan submitted its reports about the ruling Sharif family’s business transactions, particularly some assets which are beyond their stated means of income. This matter surfaced when the Panama Papers went viral around the world last year, exposing the malpractices of rulers in concealing their ill-gotten wealth abroad in off-shore companies. So a storm erupted around Nawaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan. And like many other corrupt world leaders, relatives were involved. In this case, Nawaz Sharif’s children have been exposed as having off-shore companies as well. The JIT report apparently was clearl bnbnv nnbmbnbmbnby damaging for Nawaz Sharif. The media, intellectuals and opposition parties have called upon him to resign immediately. However, he, his party and his family rejected the JIT report, with his daughter crudely dismissing the Panama Papers as “crap” and “trashed in the rest of the world.”
The people are clearly fed up of corruption and the corrupt political elite. Yet, despite having the JIT report, the people are not coming out on the streets against the current regime, as they did against former military dictator, Pervaz Musharraf, during the restoration of judiciary movement. People feel that although no good will ever come out of this system, their fate is to merely choose “the lesser evil.” The issue of the accountability of rulers has become a matter of discussion everywhere in Pakistan. The media men, analysts and common people are locked in debate and maintain that accountability of the rulers is necessary to end corruption. However, for this debate to bear fruit, it must be made clear that corruption and democracy are synonymous. It is this central matter which must be the focus of debate rather than; whether Nawaz Sharif has committed corruption or not, whether he has provided a money trail or not, whether the JIT has worked honestly or upon an agenda, whether Nawaz will resign or not, whether the Supreme Court will disqualify him as Prime Minister or send this case to National accountability Bureau (NAB), or who will be the next prime minister if he resigns or disqualified.
Indeed, wherever Democracy exists, so does corruption. Indeed, the Panama Papers revealed corruption in Democracies all over the world, from Russia to South America, not just in Pakistan. As for Pakistan, it is Democracy that allowed the law of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) which gave a free hand to corrupt politicians to increase corruption. And it is Democracy that allowed the law that if the corrupt surrenders some amount of his ill-gotten wealth, he will not be punished.
Moreover, Democracy is the guardian of all forms of corruption (Fasaad), financial and otherwise. Democracy allows ruling according to the whims and desires of human-beings, rather than according to the commands and prohibitions mandated by Allah (swt) and His Messenger ﷺ. So Nawaz Sharif does corruption when he rules by laws made by Parliament rather than according to all that Allah (swt) has revealed. Allah (swt) said,
وَمَن لَّمْ يَحْكُم بِمَآ أنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ فَأُوْلَـٰئِكَ هُمُ ٱلظَّالِمُونَ
“And whosoever does not judge by that which Allah has revealed, such are the Zalimun”
(Al-Maidhah: 45)
So he is involved in corruption when he implements the capitalist economic system which ensures the circulation of wealth within a few hands, even though Allah (swt) said,
كَىْ لاَ يَكُونَ دُولَةً بَيْنَ ٱلأَغْنِيَآءِ مِنكُمْ
“in order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you”
(Al-Hasher: 7)
He is involved in corruption when he forges alliances with the enemies of Islam and Muslims, even though Allah (swt) said:
يَـۤأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ لاَ تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلْيَهُودَ وَٱلنَّصَارَىٰ أَوْلِيَآءَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ مِّنكُمْ فَإِنَّهُ مِنْهُمْ
“O you who believe! Take not the Jews and the Christians as Auliya’ (friends, protectors, helpers, etc.), they are but Auliya’ to one another. And if any amongst you takes them as Auliya’, then surely he is one of them.”
(Al-Maidhah: 51)
And he is involved in corruption when he does not move the armed forces to liberate the Muslims of Occupied Kashmir, even though Allah (swt) said,
وَإِنِ ٱسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّصْرُ
“If they seek your help in religion, it is your duty to help them”
(Anfal: 72)
So, Nawaz Sharif, or any other ruler, is involved in corruption when he abandons the Quran and Sunnah in ruling. This is the only yard stick for corruption which Muslims must adhere to in accounting their rulers. Upon doing so, it becomes clear that Democracy produces and guards corruption, as it ensures ruling by other than all that Allah (swt) has revealed. Surely, Muslims must focus on eradicating democracy and work to establish the Khilafah (Caliphate) on the Method of Prophethood, as nothing less will end corruption.
Shahzad Shiekh
Deputy to the Official Spokesperson of Hizb ut Tahrir in Wilayah Pakistan
Written for Ar-Rayah Newspaper – Issue 139