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Archive for category LEAD PAKISTANI COLUMNISTS &THINKERS

Depoliticise this mess soon By Shaheen Sehbai

 

 

 

 

Let-car

 

 

Depoliticise this mess soon

By
February 01, 2016
 
 
 

Viewpoint

DUBAI: The operation in Karachi and Zarb-e-Azb are fast being pushed into the political arena similar to the battles gladiators fight to the last.

Otherwise the Rangers DG Major General Bilal Akbar would not have to say: “They would criticise Rangers, if according to them, the operation is going fast. And if they find the operation getting slow, they would accuse the Rangers of having a ‘setting’.

“Our setting is only with our mission. Our setting is only with the nation. Our setting is only with our motherland,” he had to clarify on Sunday. There can be no doubt about his mission and his goals but why this situation has arrived is the big question the Rangers, and their think tanks, will have to ponder and answer.

After arrest of Uzair Baloch and starting with the arrest of Dr Asim Hussain, the Rangers have issued numerous statements and reports and its leaders have made public appearances. Plainly speaking they had to go public to lobby and explain their mission. Again why was it needed?

The simple answer to all these questions is that Rangers are working in a highly complex situation where conflicts of interests and contradictions are countless and the entire structure is infested with untenable centres of power and influence and twisted realities.

The first is that a government, which should have been the main vehicle of carrying out this operation, aided by the Rangers, has positioned itself against the operation, fearing its own wings may get burned. So the momentum and fury, as well as its effectiveness, has been cut short dragging the pace.

Secondly, while operations were in full swing against collaborators, abettors and helpers of terrorists inside the political parties, these parties were allowed to operate and contest elections and use their political muscle to pressurise the Rangers. Who allows rivals to gain and display support in the middle of the battle.

This situation was not taken into account by the think tanks of the Rangers and the army authorities. A temporary stop, a moratorium, on politics was a must to provide the necessary space and cover to take out the dirty fish, both political and apolitical. That was not done before the operations were launched.

The key issue was that if cleansing inside the political parties had to be done, a neutral, objective, non-political and strong administrative cover must have been provided first. That was not done.

So now there is a visible mess and this situation has to be resolved sooner than later because the operation has to go on. Any reversal or slow-down will encourage terrorists and their supporters to hit back with a vengeance. No one can afford it.

Even now the federal government, the army leadership, the security agencies and the Sindh government must sit down and find a workable solution. The worst-case scenario could be that the army may be left with no option but to steamroll everyone to achieve the logical results of the operation, as stated repeatedly by Army Chief Gen Raheel in the early days of Zarb-e-Azb. That may not be liked by many.

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Regime Change in Pakistan – ‘Nero’s Democracy’ ? By Dr Shahid Qureshi

Regime Change in Pakistan – ‘Nero’s Democracy’ ?

 

By Dr Shahid Qureshi  

 

 

 

 

 

nawaz modi bowing

 

On the day of Eid when Indian army firing on the (LOC) Line of control in Kashmir have killed poor innocent Pakistani civilians preparing for Eid celebrations while Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was in Saudi Arabia praying for his sins for over 10 ten days, with his finance minister Ishaq Dar and later other family members joined him including his son in law and former ADC Captain ® Safdar. He is proven to be Nero of Pakistan?

His brother Shabaz Sharif dynamic chief minister of Punjab was in London. He could not attend the Eid Party at Pakistan House in London the official residence of the High Commissioner. Asif Zardari chickened out of Pakistan few weeks ago after threatening the Armed Forces of Pakistan with his ‘dark forces’ and his kids joined him later in Dubai, his sister Faryal Talpur is in London. MQM leader Altaf Hussain adopted British citizenship and living in London. While all this going on Army Chief Raheel Sharif was with troops on the front line and Imran Khan with his wife with internally displaced mean refugees in its own country – thanks to war on terror and business of the arms dealers.

Above is a sketch of what is going on in Pakistan with democracy, and one more thing is that model, escort and alleged money launderer Ayan Ali was released on bail granted by the Lahore High Court with the great efforts of her lawyers and supporters Latif Khosa former Governor of Punjab, Farooq Naik former President of Pakistan and chairman senate. It was Ayan Ali’s 81 trip to UAE. In all this democratic activity poor custom inspector and investigator who recovered half million US dollars was murdered in Rawalpindi.

This highly sexualised Pakistani democracy where leaders snatch wives and daughters of people working under their command to the point where one need a request for protection like Ferdinand of Spain did to the Khalifa in Baghdad as his daughter was hostage with the cruel king. Obviously these leaders are rich and can have as many women they wish but going after subordinates wives and sisters is below any moral standards? That is the state of democracy.

Now question one ask is that when Pakistan don’t have a full time foreign minister as Nawaz Sharif is also hold that charge who will defend the foreign policy? He appointed two elderly gents one in Indian back pocket other in the US side pocket.

The defence minister is not only corrupt but also incompetent. He is responsible and complicit in over 1500 deaths of innocent people in Karachi due to the corruption of politicians in matter of K-Electric. Who is benefiting the profits who is getting Rs. 4.70 per unit and selling over Rs.22 per unit? Is it a rocket science that they are partners in this crime? They can’t see that there was a breach in the contract by K-Electric in any other democracy heads would be rolling but in Pakistan only poor people’s die rich go in exile to come back later. According to released documents K-Electric is owned by Indians and they have data of every house and sensitive installation in Karachi. Otherwise it will take less than hour to take over K-Electric and hang all the director?

Nawaz Sharif regime previously gave to access to a US-Israeli owned company mapping and 3 D survey of Pakistan with access to every street and town. I wrote in 2006 that load shedding and starvation of electricity  is a security matter started by corrupt Shaukat Aziz now employee / advisor of Indian steel magnet Lakshami Mittal continued by Asif Zardari and now Nawaz Sharif.

A country like Pakistan who can make drones, fuel jets in the air, making long rang ballistic missiles, making JF17 fighter jets but cannot make a hole in Attabad lake for 5 months that caused floods and make electricity. All the water dam projects were in papers in past 15 years and those who were objecting are on foreign pay roles. However to please his foreign masters’ politicians have cut into budget of higher education and atomic energy as well as defence production.

The worst event must have been when defence minister (Nawaz Sharif-Khawaja Asif) and finance minstry (Ishaq Dar) refused money to the Pakistan Air Force who wanted to buy F16 jets from Jordan. It was unprecedented when Army Chief General Raheel Sharif gave money to air force from army budget to buy ever needed F16s. However Ishaq Dar paid money for the ‘metro’ projects the most expansive and over billion rupees per kilo meter construction cost.

This newly rich with corruption money has taken over so called democracy of Pakistan. If we talk about their corruption they says ‘democracy is in danger’. In fact Pakistan is in danger because of them as, A S Dalit former chief of Indian intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) said, ‘why kill them when you can make them corrupt’. Asif Ali Zaradari followed that policy and appointed most corrupt people on the high positions. In actual fact more corrupt one was, higher the position for him in Zardari Inc.

This policy was not mere coincident. There was a back ground to it. During the USSR period a KGB agent defected to USA and investigation was done but they could not find anything against him. After the fall of USSR his old KGB mates met him in USA and asked him what were you doing for the enemy we could not find any proof against you? He simply replied when I was appointing KGB agents for foreign postings I was appointing the most corrupt and rest was done by the enemies.

The worst damage these politicians did to Pakistan is economic, physical and psychological. They have used the armed forces of Pakistan as shield and achieved their sinister objectives. Over 30000 people have been killed in Sindh and Karachi by Zaradri-MQM-A nexus in the name of ‘reconciliation’. Their lies cost billion and human lives were lost. Zardari banned executions in Pakistan by presidential orders to save Indian agents and his mafia goons in prisons. He lied to the nation saying EU will stop trade with Pakistan while EU is trading with Saudi Arabia, USA, China, and Iran where execution is legal.

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Political Turmoil & Media Biases against the Security Agencies By Sajjad Shaukat

                           Political Turmoil & Media Biases against the Security Agencies

                                                            By Sajjad Shaukat

7-kashmir-sold-by-geo

 

Political turmoil, uncertainty and chaotic situation persists in capital city of Islamabad, asPakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) led by Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) by Dr. Tahirul Qadri continue AZADI (Freedom) and INQILAB (Revolution) long marches after having converted their protests into sit-ins (DHARNAs) have placed tough conditions, demanding resignation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of PML (N) and top ministers. The protesters have virtually brought life to stand still in Islamabad after implementing their rebuking slogans to move into Red Zone where security has further been tightened.

 

The stakes appear to be getting high with every passing day, because, on the one hand, the protesting groups are getting edgy, impatient and vibrant, hoping that more people will join them. On the other hand, delayed strategy of the ruling party, PML (N) to accept the demands of PTI and PAT resulted into loss of precious time and failure to bring a peaceful political solution through dialogue. Commissions and Committees launched at such a belated stage are finding it difficult to create and manage a thaw in the tension ridden situation.

 

In this regard, leaders of the political parties like PPP, Jamaat-e-Islami and MQM including some other prominent political figures and government’s top officials have tried to defuse the tension through dialogue, emphasizing both the rival parties to show flexibility to reach some peace agreement, but could not yet succeeded. A hope was again created when PPP’s co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and leaders of various political parties, but his efforts also produced no results.

 

While the Imran Khan displayed a greater flexibility when he altered his demand of prime minister’s resignation, saying, the PM Nawaz can hold his post after a month, once the investigation of poll’s rigging is completed. But the ruling party rejected the demand, remaining stern to its stance. Meanwhile, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution, demanding supremacy of the constitution and law, rejecting the unconstitutional demands of PTI and PAT including the resignation of the Prime Minister Nawaz and the dissolution of the National Assembly. In their fierce speeches, leaders of PML (N), PPP and ANP including other ones, also said that they would oppose any move which could derail democracy in the country.

 

Although impartial politicians are still hopeful, and continue talks between the ruling party and the leaders of the long marchers, yet no breakthrough seems to occur. In these tense circumstances, some politicians and most of the media anchors have continuously been misguiding the general masses by pointing out that the ongoing system of democracy can be derailed, and martial law can be imposed in the country.

 

Unfortunately, certain media houses, analysts and commentators played a very negative role in projecting the entire gamut of political standoff between the government and the protesting parties. Instead of acting as a redeemer, allowing the public to take a sigh of relief, media took clear positions to support the wishes and promoting the agenda of their employers, while creating sensationalism, giving biased comments and remaining unruly, noisy and rowdy in their overall conduct. The viewers were at pains to see these media analysts, offering their comments and favoring their sponsoring agencies and influencing authorities. Their obvious and slanted views enabled the viewers to quickly understand that they were trying to payback to their sponsors. This is nothing, but selling one’s intellect for few pennies or for other petty gains of personal advancement and fame.

 

By manipulating the political turmoil, created by the politicians, particularly media anchors, especially those working with Geo/JANG Group insinuate that Pakistan’s Armed Forces and intelligence agency, ISI are behind Tahir-ul-Qadari and Imran Khan’s long marches, and sit-ins in Islamabad. The commentators and reporters like Asma Jehangir, Ansar Abbasi, Tariq Butt, Wasim Abbas and Ahmed Noorani appear to have ganged up against Army and ISI, and are trying to score points against these security agencies by accusing these esteemed national institutions without any evidence. However, while speaking in the tone of foreign entities, such elements are hostile to Army and ISI, and leave no stone unturned in depicting these security agencies in bad light.

 

Undoubtedly, democracy has displayed its success in the west, but, it has proved to be fruitless in Pakistan. Therefore, it is generally said that “any instrument can be misused.” Pakistan’s politicians and media have always claimed that they nourish democratic ideals, but, we could not establish this system on a strong footing due to irresponsible approach of our political entities and media.

 

Past experience proves that our political parties have worked on undemocratic principles like hostility for the sake of hostility, formation of alliances and counter-alliances to win the elections. Much time is wasted in retaliation against the previous government instead of fulfilling the promises, made with the voters during election campaign. So, they forget the real aim of public mandate by resolving the economic and social problems of the masses. In this context, they also misguide the general masses by forming extreme opinion among them towards their opponents. In fact, concentration of wealth in few hands has created a privileged class of landowners and industrialists who contest elections winning the same against each other again and again.

 

It is noteworthy that in 2011, during the Memogate case, some political entities and media commentators were saying that martial law will be imposed in the country. The then Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani stated, “The Pakistan Army has and will continue to support democratic process in the country.” As Army was acting upon the principle of non-interference in political affairs, therefore, the previous government completed its tenure.

 

At this critical juncture, Pakistan is facing multi-faceted crises. And our Armed Forces are successfully obtaining their objectives in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) through military operation Zarb-e-Azb against the terrorists who had challenged the writ of the state, and had frightened the entire nation by their terror-acts. So Armed Forces are already committed in Zarb-e-Azb and have no intention to get involved in political issues. Political disputes need political solutions or political compromises with give and take. They sincerely desire political stability and economic viability in Pakistan. They support all peaceful efforts to resolve internal conflicts and condemn violence as well as acrimonious propaganda against them.

 

In this connection, taking note of the ongoing crisis and rumors, DG of Inter-Service Public Relations, Major General Asim Bajwa impartially stated on August 20, “The buildings in the Red Zone (Islamabad) are symbols of state and must be respected. He, also added, “All issues should be resolved through dialogue…all the stakeholders to hold result-oriented dialogue in the interest of the country and its people.” 

 

Nonetheless, the protesting groups have challenged the moral authority of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Now, the premier has to show political acumen to handle the situation and prove his worth as a leader. In this respect, Pak Army and ISI fully support the government by openly rejecting the baseless allegations that the prevailing political mess has been orchestrated by the former. Therefore, sense must prevail upon those who tend to shift the blame on Army and ISI, as and when they fail in resolving the serious issues.

 

Now, situation in Islamabad is getting serious and so is the case of political temperature. According to latest reports, stalemate has deepened between the PTI-PAT and the rulers, and they remains firm on their stands—after the PTI launched movement of civil disobedience, and presented resignations of its members (Parliamentarians) in the National Assembly.

 

Time is running out. Hence, in wake of this unresolved crisis, demonstrating patience and tolerance, the rival parties should find out the solution in national interest with meaningful negotiations. And media has a great responsibility to remain neutral by offering balanced views, ensuring objective reporting and making efforts to show maturity, while commenting, analyzing and reporting high profile issues and matters, having involving national stakes. Instead of showing media biases against the security agencies by exploiting the political turmoil, our media must realize its responsibilities, especially when the country is faced with an extra-ordinary challenge like the one, being experienced in Islamabad.

 

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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