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Archive for March, 2014

Foe in the attire of ally

Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 23rd, 2014

Foe in the attire of ally

Asif Haroon Raja

 

Al-Qaeda as a terrorist organization was hardly known in Pakistan till the US declared openly that 9/11 attacks on World Trade Centre were undertaken by Al-Qaeda. The group known as Al-Qaeda was organized by Osama bin Laden (OBL) who was simply an ordinary Jihadi volunteer from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) with traces of Yemeni background having passion for participating in Islamic Jihad against Russian occupational forces in Afghanistan.

 

OBL was indoctrinated by CIA experts to choose Islamic Jihad as the main purpose of his life. He cooperated with CIA in their efforts to launch operations against Soviets in Afghanistan and till then was a pious warrior enjoying respect and prestige among US planners. But no sooner Russia was defeated in Afghanistan, US strategic priorities shifted having divergent goals and so was the respect for the Jihadi elements in Afghanistan. They termed them as the non-state actors dangerous for the world peace. US officials especially CIA started treating them with contempt and derision.

 

US invasion of Iraq in 1992 led OBL to readjust his mindset and realign the direction of its outfit ‘Al-Qaeda’. The rift between US and OBL led to fateful event of 9/11. The US invaded Afghanistan and occupied it with its full wherewithal and military weight but failed to make correct moves to apprehend OBL. Hence, OBL took advantage of faulty US policies through a method of exploitation. He used emotional appeal and urged the Muslim world to oppose US who is an occupational force in Afghanistan like the Russians and hence must be fought against. He also found its sympathizers in Pakistan who bought his message. Presence of OBL and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan was due to flawed US policies.

 

One of the major tasks assigned to the US led coalition in Afghanistan was to kill and capture Al-Qaeda leaders operating inside Afghanistan and some parts of Pakistan. Al-Qaeda had virtually turned into a perilous outfit capable of inflicting serious losses to coalition forces in Afghanistan. Pakistan took some difficult strategic decisions and offered full cooperation to capture the world most dangerous and treacherous terrorists associated with Al-Qaeda.

 

Pak Army deployed its sizeable force to be engaged in anti-terrorist operations. Pakistan Army and paramilitary forces prepared plans to conduct operations against Al-Qaeda elements in the most sensitive and volatile region of Pakistan’s Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), where powerful armies of Great Britain and Soviet Russia were once defeated at the hands of tribal lashkars.  

 

Pakistani government’s decision to provide support and make efforts to capture Al-Qaeda terrorists, earned Pakistan a very harsh backlash of terrorists associated with Al-Qaeda. They turned against the State of Pakistan and targeted its security forces, high officials, key communicators, and civil society including innocent women/children, peace loving people busy in their business or prayers in the mosques. Pakistani support and efforts, however, proved fruitful and many key commanders of Al-Qaeda were apprehended or killed during operation.

 

 

None can deny that it could not have been possible to break the backbone of Al-Qaeda without the significant support offered by Pakistan and efforts made by ISI to apprehend the Al-Qaeda elements.

 

 

Since Pakistani authorities had taken a strategic and historical decision to cooperate with US led coalition to fight the menace of terrorism, therefore, their top priority was to locate and apprehend OBL. Unfortunately OBL found sympathizers inside Pakistani soil and succeeded in having a facility to covertly live inside Pakistan. The killing / apprehension of OBL would have been a rejoicing event for both Pakistan and USA, but the US preferred to create an atmosphere of mistrust and betrayal for reasons best known to it.

 

The US and western public opinion builders and international media leveled serious allegations against Pakistan. This also created political and institutional turmoil inside Pakistan spreading divisive themes among civil military leadership and agitating the civil society to raise the questions of violation of sovereignty of Pakistan by US raiders. Had Pakistani officials / ISI known about the presence of OBL inside Pakistan they would have reacted positively to apprehend / kill him to save such a chaos which led to lingering court probes.

Pakistan as a responsible country was cooperating in US led war on terrorism and had shown substantial results by killing and apprehending vital Al-Qaeda terrorists. It was not an option for Pakistan to hide OBL (as alleged by USA and others) and get embarrassed. 

         

CIA wanted to take all the credit for hunting OBL without any support from any other agency. The arrangement enabled them to claim the assured invincibility of USA’s military might and professional competence of CIA. Hence, CIA deliberately sidelined ISI in their scheme to hound OBL alone. No doubt at tactical level US led coalition forces in Afghanistan had suffered stunning setbacks due to intelligence failure and poor performance of tactical commander, hence, they preferred marginalizing ISI and acted selfishly. In their short sightedness and high motivating pulse to claim full credit of OBL killing, they forgot the actual consequences.

 

As the world witnessed later on, the outcome of such uncaring attitude proved risky, edgy and nervous, as Pakistan and its spy agency was not only blamed openly for supporting the terrorists but also made responsible for hiding OBL inside Pakistan. The US leadership created an environment of mistrust and cynicism having lasting scars, thus destroying the spirit of coalition to collectively fight the menace of terrorism.

 

The US found it difficult to accept its greediness for having sidelined its vital ally in Global War on Terror (GWOT), but failed to realize that it will not work for the cause. Blame game played by US leaders / field commanders helped them to cover up their failures in GWOT, but overall loss / defeat in the effort against terrorism has not been realized.  

 

The US leadership was so staggered with the information of a high value target like OBL in Pakistan that they forgot all the norms of diplomacy and the hard fact that Pakistan was not a foe and had rendered immense sacrifices in fighting the US imposed GWOT. Pentagon ordered the Navy SEALs to violate the sovereignty of Pakistan by crossing the border and go for the attack. This was totally unlawful and illegitimate.

 

Former CJSC Admiral Mike Mullen informed Gen Kayani after the helicopters had reached Bagram base. Kayani in turn informed President Zardari and Air Chief Marshal Rao Qamar. By the time F-16s were made airborne, or the Quick Reaction Force in Abbottabad and ISI detachment commander reached the spot, raiders had flown back to safety. 

The egoist US leaders bereft of good judgment failed to realize that in the international politics such actions amount to intimidation of other independent States and that the reaction might be very perilous. Fortunately Pakistani side kept their cool despite internal tumult and nothing happened. On the other hand, the US leadership left no stone unturned in converting the crisis into a world war scenario.

 

Although OBL’s burial in the Arabian Sea fulfilled the desire of OBL wanting not to be buried in the ground, al-Qaeda members felt angered over the way his body was secretly disposed off. To avenge his death, their wrath fell upon people of Pakistan.

The US posing to be a strategic ally stabbed Pakistan in the back. People of Pakistan, government officials, Pak Army and ISI were at grave pains when they found that they have been misled, misinformed and betrayed by their own allies especially USA and its spy agency CIA who not only violated the sovereignty of Pakistan by intruding into its territory without permission but also for creating a situation in which Pakistan stood blameworthy and culpable for hiding OBL inside Pakistan. Public opinion went against Pakistan and there was an internal turmoil leading to serious political instability the impact of which still goes unabated. No doubt US action proved that a foe in the garb of a friend bashed its ally badly.

 

Failing to discredit the Army and ISI and in pressurizing Pakistan to launch an operation in North Waziristan, CIA-NATO punished Pak military by launching a murderous helicopters attack on a check post at Salala on November 26, 2011 and also heating up western border with the help of runaway Fazlullah. Pakistan that had been quietly taking the barbs and insults for years could take no more and reacted by closing Shamsi airbase from where drones were launched, suspended military and intelligence cooperation, refused to attend Bonn conference and above all, closed NATO supply lines.

 

Pakistan reopened the supply routes and restored relations when Washington apologized and promised to treat Pakistan as an ally. The US swallowed the bitter pill since northern network was too expensive to carry heavy military stores from Afghanistan. More so, Pakistan was seen as the only country that could help in easing the pains of risky drawdown in the face of impasse on talks between the US and Afghans Taliban.

 

Finding that no breakthrough has been achieved on peace talks with Taliban after Doha fiasco in June 2013, Karzai’s somersault on signing Bilateral Security Agreement, which will allow the US military to leave behind a residual force after 2014, and most disturbingly Pakistan making visible progress in talks with TTP, another attempt has been made by USA to shame ISI by reincarnating the ghost of OBL through a fictitious story appearing in NY Times dated 19 March that ex ISI chief Lt Gen Shuja Pasha had known about presence of OBL in Abbottabad.

 

The invention is based on the recently published book ‘The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan 2001-2014’ authored by British journalist Carlotta Gall. She further claims that Gen Musharraf and his top commanders were aware of al-Qaeda’s plan to assassinate Ms Benazir Bhutto. She quoted Gen Ziauddin Butt having confided in her that Gen Musharraf had arranged the hideout of OBL in Abbottabad. Ziauddin, who holds Musharraf in low esteem since he had put him in solitary confinement for two years in October 1999 and dismissed from service, says he was misunderstood and Carlotta misquoted him. He added that he had been misquoted by western media several times to advance their agenda.

 

Pak media, ever-ready to promote western themes to embarrass military establishment, added fuel to fire by playing up New York Times story. OBL for all practical purposes was a half-dead man after he escaped from Tora Bora caves in December 2001. With three wives and about a dozen children, the seriously ailing OBL wanted to lead a quiet life and die peacefully.

 

One wonders, how long the west would keep playing with the ghost of OBL about whom there have been dozens of articles published in western print media that he had died much earlier owing to his kidney disease and that 2 May attack was a false flag operation. Carlotta gimmicks are meant to publicize her book. She has however, given an opportunity to CIA to denigrate its rival ISI, which has foiled its dangerous agenda against Pakistan.                 

 The writer is a retired Brig, defence analyst, columnist and author of several books. [email protected]

 

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“Increasing injustices is a big dilemma in Pakistan’s society” by Rida Ali

Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 23rd, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COMMENTARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 “Increasing injustices is a big dilemma in Pakistan’s society”

 

By

Rida Ali

 

 

 

Increasing injustice is a full blown dilemma confronting Pakistani society. There are plenty of reasons of this prevailing inequality which is going to be increasing day by day and because of this people suffered their life specially the poor peoples and the reason which i want to high spot that the unavailability of free judiciary system .The judiciary system is a backbone of any country but in Pakistan the state of affairs is far different. The crime and rate system is increasing day by day and also other social problems which are a living example of in justice and the mostly victim of injustice are women’s and adolescent girls. The other major problem in Pakistan is corruption; one could hardly find any proper institution or governing body, which is free from this curse. Pakistan police is for the protection of their people, and to provide justice, or to keep up the law and order in the country. But regrettably, they’re actions are diametrically opposite; due to their reputation as the most corrupt institution in Pakistan. 

 

Rampant Police Corruption

Pakistani police has the reputation of being one of the most corrupt institutions in the country. Instead of punishing the reported criminal, they punish the innocent victims of the crime. There are many criminal cases reported, where police imprisons innocent people, while releasing the perpetrators, by accepting monetary bribes. Target killing in Karachi and the injustice in Muzaffargarh are the major examples of injustices which public has to cope.  Pakistan Police, the guardians of public peace and security, have failed to cope with the state of affairs since the founding of Pakistan. Many criminal acts in Pakistani society go unpunished due to the callousness and insensitivity of police. Due to the rule of criminals in our society, our people live their lives facing innumerable injustices. They are mentally, physically suppressed. Every person tries to get justice through approaches and contacts with people in corridors of power.  Therefore, they delegate their basic human rights to those in power and authority. This perpetual vicious cycle continues unabated for 65 years and there is no end in sight for rolling over over the rights of those with less power. The powerful feudalistic politicians deprive 180 million Pakistanis of their basic rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness in a safe environment. The middle class people are vehemently angry at the power elites on whom they have no control. People power in Pakistan has been hijacked by industrial, feudal, and clannish or Biradari based elites. The poor economic strata of society are serfs. They have no power. The face injustices every day, but cannot do anything to redress their grievances. Economically backward Pakistanis are the majority of this Agro country’s population, along with the thin sliver of middle class. Both these strata of Pakistani society face innumerable indignities and injustices. Their stress level is alarmingly high. Previously, the corruption of civil administration was interrupted by episodes of martial law. But, the military is in no mood to upset the apple cart of democracy. Therefore, we continue to follow our “Bhedh Chaal” or “same-old, same-old” attitude. The power lies with those who are economically strong and the poor are being crushed under the weight of corruption of the “haves.” Economically deprived population cannot even stand-up for their rights because the power has been stolen from them.

 Pakistan’s history is replete with cases of injustices against women. If we go through in the past history of see those buried faces of girls, who have been forcibly assaulted. Instead of punishing the rapist, Pakistani society punishes the rape victim. The victim of a gang rape in Pakistan recently died after setting herself on fire in protest against a police report that led to the release of a key suspect, a doctor and her brother said. College student Amina Bibi died after dousing herself with petrol and setting it alight on Thursday outside a police station near Muzaffargarh, in Punjab.

No one is there to listen poor rape victims’ shrieks of terror and pain; just because of they are born in a poor or economically deprived family. Economic and political power in Pakistan is kept strongly under the perpetual grip of rural and industrial elite. It is represented as a majority in executive, legislature, and judiciary. The Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is a dollar multibillionaire, in a society whose per capita income is less than $ 10 a day. On top of this inequity, Pakistan’s poor and economically deprived form majority of those killed by terrorist attacks, perpetrated by TTP and a hundred other splinter groups. Innocent people are viciously killed without any rhyme or reason. They are victims of terrorists, who do not differentiate between innocent or guilty, without any discrimination of age, gender, creed, or ethnic class.  Pakistani women have been victims of terrorism exported from abroad through fanatical religious organizations, liberally funded by rich foreign sponsors like Saudi Arabia, and Gulf Nations. Internally, hundreds of thousand women are murdered, kidnapped, subjected to spousal abuse, and raped in Pakistan every year by the feudals, gangsters, political goons, smugglers, drug and political feudal mafias. People have become immune to news of violence and abuse against women. They are blasé to incidence of rapes. A rape victim seldom gets justice, unless some foreign government or NGO takes up their cause. This alarming situation raises serious questions about governance and justice, and protection of women. People are asking, “Who is going to provide justice for those people, who lost their dear ones or their whole families? Where is the justice? Where are our Rulers?  Who would give assurance to the victim families that the culprits will be brought to justice and criminally prosecuted to the full extent of the law? What this democratic regime had done to redress the grievances of the peoples?

Law & Order. 

Nothing Has Being Done By Federal Government to Control Law and Order Situation in Pakistan

 

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Nothing! In order to sort out the problems of victim’s rights within the judicial process, laws are in the books for display and appeasing international monitoring agencies. But, practically nothing whatsoever has been done to protect women from the menace of sexual subjugation and violence. Pakistan government has done nothing to provide protection to women victims of violence. To overcome the injustices in society, people look towards the leadership of the judicial system. Protection of Human rights of the citizen is the responsibility of Pakistan Government, under PM Nawaz Sharif. It is his duty to provide institution for protection for poverty-stricken people and listen to their voices and find out what are their needs and wants. This can lead to a path towards solutions to these gargantuan problems. 

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Anti-Pakistan Posture of Hasina Wajid

Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 23rd, 2014

Anti-Pakistan Posture of Hasina Wajid

 

Sajjad Shaukat

 

 

 “Prime Minister Hasina Wajid acts, as if she is an Indian national.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

For her second tenure, Prime Minister of Bangladesh and leader of the ruling party, Awami League, Sheikh Hasina Wajid won the general elections 2014 in wake of bloodshed due to her dictatorial steps. In this regard, head of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Begum Khaleda Zia who was leading the alliance of the opposition parties protested against the rigging, deliberately practised by the Awami League, was placed under virtual house arrest during the election-campaign.

 

Earlier, to keep her in power, Prime Minister Hasina Wajid amended the constitution for holding of elections under a non-party set up and the opposition has accused her of manipulating the electoral process to establish one party state. The opposition alliance led by Khaleda Zia did not file nominations for the polls, sticking to their stance of boycotting the elections over the failure of Hasina Wajid to form a neutral interim government. The country’s largest religious party, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was also banned from taking part in the elections, while to address old grievances of her party, Prime Minister Hasina who was in connivance with the judiciary, hurriedly executed her political opponent, Abdul Qadir Mullah-leader of Jl.

 

In fact, since Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came into power, India has been employing various tactics to entrap Bangladesh by exploiting her pro-Indian tilt to fulfill its strategic interests. In this context, Prime Minister Hasina Wajid has continuously been pursuing Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign. Therefore, after passing of 42 years to the events of 1971, which resulted into the separation of East Pakistan, Abdul Qadir was hanged because of his loyalty to Pakistan.

 

However, Bangladesh’s ruling party, under Sheikh Hasina Wajid maintains an anti-Pakistan posture with sinister designs of expressing animosity, antagonism and unrestrained emotional flare-up. The aim is to exploit feelings of masses by keeping the “hate Pakistan” agenda alive. This enables Awami League and Hasina Wajid to remain significant in Bangladesh’s power politics despite their failure to deliver the goods. It also helps them to appease their mentors in India. Using abusive language against Pakistan and its armed forces makes Hasina Wajid relevant in Indian politics, while she herself prefers those entities which derive sadistic pleasure by depicting Pakistan in bad light.

 

 

For the purpose, Awami League and its leader, Prime Minister Hasina are propagating against Islamabad through a well thought-out media plan in order to spread venom against Pakistan, its armed forces and all those Bangladeshi nationals who were loyal to the state during 1971 crisis. As already stated, hasty execution of death penalty to Abdul Qadir Mullah, political ban on religious parties and exclusion of BNP (opposition party) from power sharing, on jingoistic claims, clearly point at Indo-Bangladesh-Awami League blueprint which itself speaks of their deep seated animosity against Pakistan and its armed forces. Old carriage of woeful accusations and planned insinuations are re-animated to maintain emotional incrimination and revamp intriguing blame game.

 

In this respect, on February 4, 2014, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during her parliamentary address stated that fresh investigation will be held to find out whether Hawa Bhaban (BNP political office) or Khaleda Zia was involved in smuggling 10 truckloads of arms—and to punish those found involved. On January 30, 2014, Chittagong Court awarded capital punishment to14 persons for the offence and observed that Khalieda Zia was silent even after knowing the crime. Sheikh Hasina alleged that Bangladesh soil was being used by Pakistan’s spy agency, Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and her government would not allow anyone to use it for terrorism.

 

In this connection, in connivance with India, Bangladesh government and Awami League have launched a massive media campaign against ISI regarding 10-Truck Arms Haul. On February 11, 2014, “The Daily Star” published news on court verdict that intelligence officials convicted in 10-Truck Arms Haul case maintained close contacts with the US-Pakistan missions—Dubai based Pakistan Company ARY Groups and leaders of the Indian separatist group ULFA.

 

Besides, reviving old animosity, media of Bangladesh has also started highlighting issue of 195 Pakistan Army officers allegedly involved in killing of Bengalis in 1971War. Although they were repatriated to Pakistan after tripartite agreement between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh in 1974, yet Prime Minister Hasina Wajid intends to file cases against them at International Crime Tribunal (ICT). They contended that tripartite agreement was no bar to hold a trial. In this context, chief prosecutor, Dr Tureen Afroz said that in 1971, Pakistanis committed crime on Bangladeshi soil; hence, Bangladesh has every right to hold trial of those crimes. And ICT will also consider Hamudur Rahman Commission report.

 

By neglecting Islamabad’s positive approach, Bangladesh government has continued its anti-Pakistan approach to please India. It could be judged from the statement of Prime Minister Hasina Wajid who has vocally said, “Bangladesh has no room for the people loving Pakistan.”

 

Nevertheless Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been following pro-Indian policies. In this context, on the secret insistence of India, unlike the past years, a ceremony was held in Dhaka on March 24, 2013, with full pump and show to honour ‘Foreign Friends of Bangladesh Award,’ in relation to the separation of East Pakistan. For this aim, several foreign friends who included various institutions and media anchors from various countries, particularly India were invited. The main purpose behind was to distort the image of Pakistan and its armed forces regarding alleged atrocities, committed against the Bengalis. Notably, in December, 2012, Prime Minister Hasina had refused to attend D-8 conference in Islamabad unless Pakistan tendered apology for the alleged genocide of Bengalis.

 

While, a famous Bengali journalist Sarmila Bose authored a book, “Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War” after thorough investigation. Her book was published in 2011. While countering exaggerations of the Indian and Bengali Journalists, Bose argues that the number of Bengalis killed in 1971 was not three million, but around 50,000, while Bengalis were equally involved in the bloodshed of Punjabis, Biharis, Pashtoons and Balochis.

 

Majib was already in connivance with India for separation of East Pakistan. Therefore, when East Pakistan was occupied by Indian Army in 1971, he stated with pleasure that his 24 years old dream of an independent Bangladesh had been fulfilled. He had earlier developed his contacts with Indian rulers and training camps of Mukti Bahini, established by Indian army and RAW which also funded Mujibur Rehman’s general elections in 1970.

 

Nonetheless, the government of Awami League led by Hasina Wajid has been following an anti- Pakistan agenda prepared by Indian masters. Therefore, it is India which actually desires to see Bangladesh locking horns with Islamabad. In this regard, the patriot people of Bangladesh must introspectively think that who is behind the intriguing yoke.

 

Undoubtedly, Prime Minister Hasina Wajid acts, as if she is an Indian national. Her sole aim is to remain in power and New Delhi has assured her that she will never lose political power, if she follows a strong anti-Pakistan posture. In fact, Prime Minister Hasina has badly failed in providing good governance and relief to the poor and maintains her relevance in Bangladesh only by propagating against Pakistan and making the latter a scapegoat of her dirty politics.

 

In these terms, Hasina Wajid’s allegations on 10-Truck Arms Haul scandal against ISI are baseless and must be countered assertively through our own media.

 

Open criticism against Pakistan and ISI by the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and intention of her government to launch cases against Pakistan Army officers through ICT indicate the deep rooted hatred of Awami League’s high command against Islamabad. The ruling party banks upon active support from India to implement anti-Pakistan agenda. Both Prime Minister Hasina and Awami League are pursuing a well-planned agenda, orchestrated by Indian spin masters against Islamabad. The purpose is to tarnish Pakistan’s image and damage the prestige of its armed forces.

 

Notably, Hasina Wajid is anti-Islam and hates her own country’s Muslim majority as much as she hates Pakistan. So, the people of Bangladesh will soon recognize her real face and she will again be rejected by her own people, as she has won the elections through rigging.

 

 

 

 

 

But, Pakistan’s silence over Sheikh Hasina’s anti-Pakistan policies, and to deal with the well thought-out combined plot of Dhaka, India and Awami League is regrettable. As enough is enough, there should be a limit to anti-Pakistan rhetoric of the Bangladesh’s rulers. Our continued silence on the issue of war crimes has further emboldened Hasina regime. Hence, every time, these conspirators come up with new strategy to implicate Pakistan.

 

 

 

 

 

So, Pakistan’s political entities and media need to counter anti-Pakistan posture of Hasina Wajid who has launched a deliberate propaganda campaign against Pakistan, its armed forces and ISI. No doubt, the real perpetrator is New Delhi which desires to see a permanent rift between Islamabad and Dhaka.

 

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

 

Email: [email protected]

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Misperceiving Two Nation Theory – Sajjad Shaukat

Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 22nd, 2014

Misperceiving Two Nation Theory

                                                           By Sajjad Shaukat

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Drought in Tharparkar in Sindh, which was going on for the last three years, has been worsened recently to a dangerous level, raising the death toll of starving children. It has adequately exposed the real worth of the rulers, uncovering their verbal assertions to reach the poor masses in order to save their lives.

In this regard, Supreme Court of Pakistan, most of the political parties like PTI and even the leader of PPP, Makhdoom Amin Fahim have held Sindh government led by Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah responsible for Tharparkar’s drought tragedy.

But, in order to divert the attention from the irresponsibility of their government in Sindh, PPP leader Shehla Raza has misperceived the ideological foundation of Pakistan. She has tried to hide criminal acts of negligence to create speculations among the loyal and patriotic people of Pakistan by suggesting to them that the very slogan of Pakistan, “Pakistan KA Matlab Kia, La-e-Laha-illallah” was not associated with Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In this respect, Shehla Raza stated on Capital TV that this slogan was never part of Pakistan movement and that she was ready to debate the issue at any forum. She argued that Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah in his address had said that all sects are free to offer prayers according to their religion. Thus, she expressed her skewed ideas, based on immature and reckless thoughts. She seems totally confused on Quaid-e-Azam’s vision for Pakistan and tried to puzzle the devoted audiences of Pakistan. She not only tried to distort the history, but also injured the feelings of people by attempting to create misgivings about Pakistan.

Perhaps Shehla Raza does not know that Two Nation Theory

 

 

which was basis of the Ideology of Pakistan, was kept alive from Sir Syed Ahmed Khan to Quaid-e-Azam. Undoubtedly, Two Nation Theory stated that Muslims of the Sub-continent have their own Islamic culture, traditions and religion which are quite different from those of Hindus.

In accordance with the Two Nation Theory, Allama Iqbal had demanded a separate land for the Muslims, where they could live freely according to their own religion, culture and social norms. Both Allama Iqbal and Quaid-e-Azam endorsed the Ideology of Pakistan which is based upon the Islamic principles. Although Muhammad Ali Jinnah had said that that all minorities and sects will live freely according to their religious norms, yet he never rejected the Two Nation Theory or Ideology of Pakistan, as misinterpreted by Shehla Raza.

Notably, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his sermon at Hajjatul Wida issued directions for protection of life, property and dignity of the whole mankind. The sermon became a charter of democracy which was included in the constitutions of the western elected governments in one way or the other.

However, the Constitution of 1973 which was adopted during the PPP founder, Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (The late), was signed by the members of all political and religious parties. It declares the country, The Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and clearly mentions that Pakistan is basically a democracy, guided by the Islamic principles and values—no law would be made contrary to Quran and Sunnah—the government will made efforts to implement Islamic system in future. So, the Constitution itself verifies the Ideology of Pakistan which emanates from the Two Nation Theory.

There is no controversy regarding the foundation of the country, while its ideology is free from Talibanization, as Taliban want to impose their own self-perceived agenda of Islam on majority of Pakistanis. And Islam does not allow elimination of innocent persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, beheadings and targeted killings.

Unfortunately, whenever politicians or rulers failed in controlling any crisis, they started crafting baseless stories. Some entities try to translate the Ideology of Pakistan to suite their agenda. In these terms, Shehla Raza has diverted the attention of media and masses to hide her government’s gross negligence, which badly failed in providing food and water to the feminine-hit people of Tharparkar. Following Machiavellian diplomacy, she may save her face at political level, but, in fact, people from all segment of society have well-measured her sincerity towards Pakistan.

PPP politician, Shehla Raza must think that she is also a Muslim and she must feel shy over her ill-conceived thoughts about the Ideology of Pakistan.

In this connection, Orya Maqbool Jan has already invited Shehla Raza to visit Lahore, asking her to educate herself that the slogan, “Pakistan KA Matlab Kia, La-e-Laha-illallah”  was correct and was also used by Quaid-e-Azam. So media must denounce her conceit about Quaid’s vision for Pakistan. Media must suggest to Shehla Raza that as a politician, she is the chosen icon of the country. It is her duty to defend the Ideology of Pakistan rather than creating mistrust among people.

Nevertheless, spreading speculations about the independence of Pakistan and promoting the ideals of Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who opposed its creation to earn Hindu approval in India, not only injure feelings of people, but also confuse them. Shehla Raza must correct her perception regarding the values of slogans used by the founder of Pakistan.

In every country, national slogans and symbols are representation of collective national will. At the time of partition of the Sub-continent, the entire nation used the slogan “Pakistan KA Matlab Kia, La-e-Laha-illallah” and through the power of this slogan, they united the people by making Pakistan a tangible reality. Once Pakistan was created, then all minorities and sects were free to follow their own sectarian practices and traditions of their faith. Confusion must not be created among simple people who love this country and its purpose, while believing in the Ideology of Pakistan.  

Therefore, Shehla Raza is advised to rectify her misperceived thoughts about the Two Nation Theory and Ideology of Pakistan which are interrelated. She must stopped self-assumed interpretation regarding Quaid-e-Azam’s vision for Pakistan, and instead, concentrates on good governance—resolve the basic problems faced by people of Sindh, especially the masses at Tharparkar.

Email: [email protected]

 

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Pakistan – How Did It All Go Wrong? (Part II)

Posted by admin in Pakistan-A Nation of Hope on March 22nd, 2014

 

OPINION

 

 

Pakistan – How Did It All Go Wrong ? (Part II)

Mohammad Soukat Ali
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

General Ayub Khan showed some initial progress, which even the people of East Pakistan appreciated. But the novelty of martial law did not last long and predictably became corrupted by vested interests.  He was President of Pakistan for most of the 1960s, but by the end of the decade, popular resentment had boiled over against him. Pakistan had fallen into a state of disarray, and on 25 March 1969 he handed over power to General Yahya Khan. In his first nationwide address, Yahya Khan re-imposed martial law, and ordered everybody to maintain law and order. Soon he set up a framework for elections that were held in December 1970. InEast Pakistan, the Awami League (led by SK. Mujibur Rahman) held almost all the seats, but none in West Pakistan. In West Pakistan, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto) won the lion’s share of the seats, but none in East Pakistan. SK Mujib won 162 seats in the National Assembly and Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party mastered only 88. When Bhutto refused to concede the leadership of Pakistan to Mujib, to resolve the impasse he proposed the ‘six-point formula’, but it was not acceptable either to Bhutto or to the people of West Pakistan. The six-point formula would have safeguarded several key rights of the Bengali people who may have gone on to remain in Pakistan.

 

The Bengali public did not forget the incident of 1952 when they had to pay in blood to retain their mother tongue Bengali. I had the opportunity to talk to Mujib in a gathering of Bengali Diaspora in Bayswater, when he was in London in 1969. He described how senior civil servants at the centre regularly flouted his orders or instructions by refusing to carry them out, when he became a minister under the Suhrawardy Government. It is reported in several sources that when Mujib was in London he secretly held talks with Indian diplomats about the separation of Bangladesh from Pakistan.

 

After the six-point formula failed, on March 7, 1971, Mujib asked the people to launch a major campaign of civil disobedience, and organised armed resistance at a mass gathering of people at the Race Course Ground in Dhaka; this was a de-facto declaration of Independence. Mujib was arrested by the military governor and transported to West Pakistan and imprisoned. Army clampdown, arrests, rampant murderous attacks on Bengalis, rape of Bengali women by Pakistani soldiers led to the emigration of millions of ordinary people, both Hindus and Muslims to India. Mujib’s deputies of the Awami League set up a government in exile in India. India exploited this golden opportunity by arming the freedom fighters and creating conditions which led to the 1971 Indo-Pak war. Pakistan was badly defeated. The generals of Pakistan had to suffer the ignominy of surrendering to the Indian generals who were their friends and colleagues in the days when they were in the British Army together. The exiled Awami league leadership and most of the refugees returned to East Bengal which they called the Independent state of Bangladesh. Later many non-Bengalis suffered torture and murder at the hands of Nationalistic Bengalis who had the chance to take revenge.

General Yahya Khan became the highest-ranking casualty of the war. To forestall the ensuing unrest in Pakistan on 20 December 1971, he handed over power to ambitious and mercurial Mr.Bhutto, age 43, who became the Prime Minister. In July 1972, Bhutto had to go to India, sign the Simla Agreement drawn up by India, to recover 93,000 prisoners of war and 5,000 square miles of territory captured by India. He strengthened ties with China and Saudi Arabia, and recognised Bangladesh. He also released Mujib who became known as Desh-Bandhu, Friend of the Nation of Bangladesh. Bhutto ran the country until 1977 by winning the parliamentary election of that year. However, the opposition alleged widespread vote rigging, and violence escalated across the country. On 5 July 1977, in a bloodless coup Bhutto was deposed by his appointed army chief General Zia-ul-Haq; he was controversially tried on murder charges and was executed in 1979 by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. Zia ul-Haq ran his martial law administration until August 1988 when he himself was killed in a helicopter crash. The American Ambassador to Pakistan Arnold Lewis Raphael and General Herbert M. Wassom, the head of the U.S. Military aid mission to Pakistan, were also killed in the same crash. After Bhutto’s  death his daughter Benazir was elected as the 11th Prime Minister of Pakistan which lasted from November 1988 to October 1990. But when Benazir was dismissed by President Ghulam Ishaq Khan in 1990 on corruption charges, Nawaz Sharif secured the nomination. He successfully campaigned for the office of Prime Minister. Nawaz Sharif, a right-wing conservative politician, served as the 12th Prime Minister of Pakistan from November 1990 to July 1993.

Benazir served again as PM from 1993 until her final dismissal on November 1996 and was again removed from the post by President Farooq Leghari on corruption charges in which her husband Asif Ali Zardari was also deeply implicated. Nawaz Sharif became Prime Minister again from February 1997. On 12 October 1999 he attempted to remove Musharraf from the post of Chief of Army, but was out manoeuvred by the crafty Army Chief Musharraf. Sharif was exiled to Saudi Arabia. Under US pressure Musharraf became involved in the war with the Talibans; this has brought all sorts of trouble causing the catastrophic condition Pakistan now finds herself in. Gradually he himself became so unpopular that he could not continue to stay in power.

Hostility towards Musharraf increased from all quarters. Under pressure he agreed to restore democracy. Bhutto, her husband Zardari and Sharif all returned home to take part in the election. Bhutto was killed in a bomb-blast during an election campaign on 27 December 2007 by whom no one knows. Her husband Asif Ali Zardari inherited the leadership of the People’s Party. He and Sharif of the Muslim League Party ran an interim coalition government but by skilful political manoeuvre and dominance of the PPP consolidated his power and became the President on September 2008. Musharraf was compelled to resign previously. Sharif was gradually sidelined by Zardari as he managed to exercise power with the help of the Prime Minister Gillani. In the 2013 general election Sharif became Prime Minister for the third time. Because of the continued Taliban/Al- Qaeda problems and regular drone strikes by the Americans he has been finding it very difficult to run the country with full authority and ease.

Failure of foreign policy

Since independence Pakistan has been following suicidal foreign policies. Pakistani politicians gave the impression that they were cleverer and smarter than the Indians. By becoming members of strong international alliances such as CENTO and SEATO they felt secure from attacks by foreign powers, particularly India. Alas! During the many wars with India, Pakistan never received any direct help from its allies. That frustration made her angrier towards the Indians and anti-Indian terrorist activity increased further.

I realised later what the well-attired gentleman in his forties, mentioned in the second paragraph of Part I of this essay, implied. The US and not India is the cause of Pakistan’s misfortunes. Pakistan is now a sport, a tool, a useful ally whom the US in her own interest employs willy-nilly when she needs, and discards each time once her purpose is achieved, leaving Pakistan in a worse situation than before. Due to lack of any foresight and/or desperate need of aid Pakistan has embroiled herself twice in an Afghan war, once during the Russian invasion and later during the current American fight with the Taliban. “A leading US expert on South Asia said the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) worked in tandem with Pakistan to create the “monster” that is today Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban”. They were friends of the Pakistanis until the US compelled them to fight their friends.

Recent drone attacks on Pakistani territories killing ordinary men, women and children show utter helplessness on her part and erosion of her sovereignty. As if she is a prey in the paws of a wild animal. The results have been catastrophic creating the dismal lawlessness, economic hardship, inability to employ resources to civilian works and the dire condition they find themselves in now. These two wars have caused Pakistan untold social, political and economic destruction from which rebuilding the country will be a long, painstaking and at times seemingly impossible process. The bipartisan foreign policy to satisfy the two enemies, the US and the Al-Qaeda/Taleban ally, has been disastrous for Pakistan. Will the toxic mixture of Al-Qaeda and Taliban be the Sword of Damocles for Pakistan which she cannot escape?

Pakistan – Is this A Civilian State or A Business Run By Junta?

The future of Pakistan depends to a large extent on the answer to this question. It is clear that since the junta became involved in the politics of Pakistan they have become so dominant that civilian governments could only run if they had their blessing. Most of the foreign aids, mainly from the US, are channeled through the military that enjoyed the lion’s share. It is also clear that the US prefers the military rulers who can serve their interests when they are bribed in the guise of aids. This is a clear hypocrisy on the part of the Americans who always talk about democracy, human right etc.

Incompetent and weak civilian governments did not have the chance to be replaced by other elected civilian governments because of the interventions of the junta. When one compares the situation with India (the only comparison I have made with India), people outside the country hardly know the names of the chiefs of Indian army, air force or the navy. India had many bad governments but they have always been replaced by another elected government. No junta intervened to threaten the democratic governments in India. Most of the Pakistan’s wars with India have always been instigated by the junta.

Rivalry with India

I am aware that Pakistan has a good reason to bear a grudge against India. This is because she could not inherit or capture Kashmir in its entirety. But the jealousy harboured by the leaders of Pakistan created their shortsightedness. So they fought several wars with the Indians under one pretext or another. Pakistan came second best every time losing face and causing economic hardship for her people. There have been several terrorist attacks against India originating in Pakistan. The1971 war with India and the inability to offer democratic rights to the people of East Pakistan proved the shortsightedness of the leaders of Pakistan. This had been evidenced time and again previously. The ignominy suffered by Bhutto and the military hegemony diminished the image of Pakistan further. Jingoism inevitably permeated among the populace as a result – hatred and contempt for India kept on increasing among the unsuspecting masses. It makes me wonder if these people are the progenies of the sturdy and heavily builtperson in his fifties pouring scorn and venom towards the Indians.

This has also badly damaged the relationship between these two countries whose common cultural heritage is deep rooted. I felt very sad when the film “Postcards from Pakistan” was shown in the evening of 26 November 2012 at the Pakistan High Commission. They were fragments of the heritage of the bygone Muslim Era. I felt sad because most of the Pakistanis present there had no idea what Muslim heritage they left in India from which they are permanently deprived of and how others are taking care of them and reaping the benefits by publicising them abroad as Indian heritage.

 

Mohammad Soukat Ali was educated in the sciences and embarked upon a career in agricultural economics in West Bengal, India, before working in the UK civil service. He writes articles and essays on Islamic reform and history.


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