The most unseemly tussle between this inept bull in a China Shop government and the bear with the sore head, the Jang Group has landed in the lap of the honourable Supreme Court, famed for its stern guardianship of Pandora's box and all that lies within. At the first  round last week, the honourable judge did the only thing they could do order that newsprint on which duty had duly been paid be released to the Group. Gloves go on again in two days time for the second round. 

The theory expounded recently by a columnist of this newspaper that anyone who is lying will not risk going to court, in this particular country holds no water. More lies than can be counting have been told in the courts of this land, under oath.

We must be happy that the Jang Group has been lucky enough to secure the services of Jadoogar SS Pirzada, and that monetary help was at hand. With its accounts being frozen, unable to even pay its employees, it has managed to rustle up enough to pay the fees demanded by SSP heavy, and in advance.

Stupidity and hypocrisy have both runs to form. That this government not exactly like Bill Clinton riding the popularity polls, could be so reckless as to joust with the press and think it can get away scot free is the height of stupidity. That Senator Saifur Rehman has publicly admitted not only to having turned the screws on the media group but that his government can, when desired, turn the screws on the judiciary is pure insanity . The Senator would have been far smarter to have kept his mouth firmly shut. And sedition cases. For heaven's sake this has been tried before by the Mian and flopped miserably.

That the head of the Jang group should choose this particular moment in time to state that he will do away with journalism and the country, delivered through his detailed and lengthy revelations of the crimes of Benazir, Asif & Co, smacks also of hypocrisy. As does the receiving of such an award that carries with it a case prize of Rs 50,000, particularly when the guns are now directed at the members of the same Sharif government. Will there be another award by some sort of government of the future as a reward for aiding the exit of the present lot?  Strange it is that the Groups newspapers now, over two years down the line, drag up the matter of Leghari and his false accountability. What good does it serve? Where was the Group in November 1996 when the country was demanding accountability prior to elections when the people made it quite clear what were their priorities. Any one with any nous at that moment in time was aware that Leghari intended to do damn all about any form of accountability, that it was ordained that it was Nawaz Sharif's turn to come in for his second round, and that his victory at the polls was being facilitated. Why did the group not then stand up and object? Why the gung ho policy supporting pseudo democracy and and elections? That was the time for urging proper accountability for the postponement of elections,. then we and the Jang group would not have had this government to plague us.

As for the evasion of income tax and tax default, this is small beer , run of the mill. Anyone who is any one with or without clout, will not pay the taxes due to State. It is infra dig and just not done. The ruling clique do not pay the fat cats in and out of favour do not pay, and all with the connivance of the income tax authorities who are splendidly rewarded one way or another. The same goes for the customs and customs duties.

However, and most importantly, we must all staunchly support the media group at bay. the Chaudhry of Chakwal, Ayaz St. Paul Amir, upon whom light shone when he recently trod the road to Damascus from his Punjab constituency , who is now back in the Dawn fold and welcomed with open arms has put it in a Pastor Niemoller nutshell.

(Dawn 2.2.1999) 

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