Pakistan: Moving towards self destruction
No one knows what Pakistani establishment has in its mind & what it is planning & planning for whom’s benefits? But we say surely not for people of Pakistan. However, one thing’s for sure, that it’s leading us towards death & destruction, as: James Jones, former US general and National Security Adviser, has said that Pakistan is hell-bent on self-destruction.
He said that Pakistan was not taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the US and others countries that can lead to a dramatic changes in the Pakistani society.
The level of animosity between Islamabad and Washington has spiked in the days since the raid on Abbottabad, and after then Admiral Michael Mullen’s explosive statement that “the Haqqani militant network is a “veritable arm” of Pakistan’s powerful ISI intelligence service”, memogate issue & now plunged into a new low after a Nato attack on a Pakistani check post that killed 24 soldiers.
US has accused Pakistan of not doing everything it could to rein in the Pakistani Taliban especially Haqqani network & it’s officials have stated publicly that these insurgent groups are working with either the implicit or the explicit sanctioning of Pakistan’s intelligence agency; now it’s administration wants to put forth one clear message, & one message has been delivered today as Washington attaches strings to military aid. We need to understand message. We should also keep in mind that the US is the largest donor in Pakistan and has provided over USD 1.1 billion to Islamabad
As a result of the ill-advised and ill-concieved policies designed & enacted by the establishment; through which state-created insurgent groups as an instrument of its foreign policy all this has now come to hunt our own cities & citizens. It not only taking a heavy toll on innocent Pakistani masses, today, but also the main reason of animosity with our neighbour countries. So no regional cooperation, no regional trade & we are in iron curtain countries list. Furthermore, by boycotting Bonn Conference on Afghanistan future in reaction to the attack we are hurting our benefits and space within region.
Virtually everybody, even our friends are angry; a few weeks earlier a renowned Pakistan expert, Professor Anatol Lieven who is also considered as a friend of Pakistan suggested to count Pakistan as an “Enemy State” for better output . He writes in his article, “With a Friend Like This“:
“If Washington wishes to improve relations with Pakistan, it needs to stop regarding Pakistan as an ally, and to start regarding it as an enemy — at least as far as the Afghan War is concerned.
Seeing Pakistan as an ally has not only obscured the reality of the situation, but has bred exaggerated bitterness at Pakistani “treachery.” And since Pakistanis also believe that America has “betrayed” them, the result is a thin veneer of friendship over a morass of mutual distrust and even hatred.
It would be far better from every point of view to admit that the two countries’ policies over Afghanistan are opposed to the point of limited conflict — and then seek ways to negotiate an end to that conflict.”
Anatol concluded that there is no prospect at all of the Pakistani military abandoning its support for the Afghan Taliban or the Haqqani network. The most that U.S. aid and pressure can achieve will be to keep Pakistani support fairly covert and limited.
“Instead of pushing at a Pakistani door that will never open, the Obama administration instead should treat Pakistan as a sponsor of the Taliban and on that basis involve Pakistan in talks on Afghanistan.
An essential part of such negotiations should be to force both Pakistan and the United States to place on the table their own terms for an Afghan settlement and their minimum conditions as far as their own interests are concerned. On that basis, and on that basis alone, it may be possible for these two de facto enemies to make peace with each other. If that is not possible, at least the U.S. will be clearer about the realities of the Afghan War.”
We are very much concerned with the prevailing internal political situation in Pakistan and the conduct of the country’s institutions particularly the Judiciary, which was not free in the past and it is not independent now & representative political parties whose leaders are more effective in serving the undemocratic forces. Another key political figure & two-time prime minister of Pakistan Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has now turned his back on representative democratic forces & parliament. He appeared in person before the Supreme Court bench in the petition filed by him. He contended that the memo gate issue was of national importance as the sovereignty and integrity of the country had been threatened. The Ex prime minister ignored the realities of the chequered political history of Pakistan. He ignored the Judicial murder of country’s first elected prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, he ignored during the 90s, the two governments of Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif were dismissed by civilian and military dictators. And on top of all that he ignored Kargil war, a conspiracy against his govt, on the basis of his govt was overthrown and he faced exile. Basically just like Kargil the memorandum issue is a conspiracy against the PPP’s civilian govt.
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khrusheed Ahmed Shah has said that conspiracies were always hatched against the democracy and the government of Pakistan Peoples Party and even those who signed the Charter of Democracy were trying to weaken the parliament by approaching the Supreme Court instead of discussing the issues in the parliament. SAFMA Secretary General & senior journalist Imtiaz Alam terms memo third Kargil against PPP govt.
An old but effective tool against democracy.
Kamil Ali Agha, spokesman of PML-Q, while talking to News, said that when Parliament had already taken notice of the memogate issue then it should not have been taken to the Supreme Court. “Everyone must recognize the supremacy of Parliament because the lawmakers are deemed to be more responsible than others,” Kamil said. He mentioned that Tariq Khosa was not superior to Parliament.
“Raza Rabbani is a man of character; therefore, the findings of his committee should have been awaited.” The Awami National Party says that those who have taken the memogate scandal to the Supreme Court will be responsible for the positive and negative outcomes of it. “Every Pakistani has right to knock the doors of the supreme court but the onus of consequences of taking the memogate scandal to the apex court lies on Nawaz Sharif,” Haji Adeel, Senior Vice President of the ANP, said when approached.
He said that Parliament had made a committee and a person who has trust in the collective wisdom of 180 million Pakistanis, then he should have gone to Parliament rather than the 17 judges. “A person who has resigned before the investigation and is prima facia innocent and has come to Pakistan to face the investigation while in this country no one resigns even he is proven guilty in fact people run abroad in such situations, but Husain Haqqani has come back,” ANP leader said.
He said that he could not comprehend why all believe an American citizen who is of dubious character. Though SC has formed a commission but such matters should not have been taken to the courts, Haji Adeel said.
He said that the courts have formed commissions in the past as well and has given judgments as well and were attacked by politicians in the 90s, but it seems people have forgotten these things.
In a country that has achieved only modestly in the realms of democracy & freedom, where the security establishment remains the main decision-maker and state pillars(judiciary & media)act as a veritable arm of state’s intelligence institution. Notably, these negative undemocratic political trends leading us towards self destruction.
Nawaz Sharif and CJP Iftikhar Chaud are high risk to democracy.
Dr Babar Awan said the government would never allow anyone to exercise executive authority or undermine the supremacy of the Parliament.
He said under Article 10-A, the Federation should be given an opportunity to be heard but the order was issued without hearing the Federation and even the former ambassador to Pakistan Hussain Haqqani who had returned to country to clear himself from charges.
“He will be in the country unless exonerated from this charge, and PPP has history of facing charges in the court of law within the Constitutional limits,” he added.
He said the Nawaz Sharif’s petition in memo case was a direct assault on the democracy.
He said it was very unfortunate that effective order was issued in the constitutional petition without issuing notice to the Federation and neither the person against whom the petition was file.
He said that 17-member bicameral Parliamentary Committee, comprising all parties, was not given an opportunity to investigate the matter.
He said the Nawaz Sharif had once again tried to divide the country by working on Bangladesh (East Pakistan) model.
He blamed Nawaz Sharif for working on the behest of someone else to declare an elected President of the Parliament and provincial assemblies as ‘traitors.’
He said historically PPP had never been given justice or relief and had always been subjected to suppression.
He said Nawaz Sharif’s agenda was not in favour of country, people and democracy but it was only creating divisions in the country.
He said his party had always worked for the welfare of the people of the country and the recent decision of boycotting the Bonn conference was also taken in the best interest and sovereignty of the country after the Nato attack.
Criticizing Nawaz Sharif for not challenging the Oct 12, 1999 coup in the court of law, he said Sharif brothers were always ready to sabotage democracy by moving courts against the democratic decisions.
He said that Nawaz Sharif violated the Charter of Democracy (CoD) which enshrines giving respect to each other’s mandate.
Babar Awan questioned the composition of the bench hearing the memo case, saying certain judges were biased.
Talking on the occasion, the Information Minister Firdous Ashiq awan showed her concerns over ‘protocol’ provided to Nawaz Sharif by the apex court.
Dr. Babar Awan press conference (part I)
Dr Babar Awan press conference (part II)
I can not agree more to what the author has said.
Great article Qaiser bhai. sums up the situation much better than many of our over-paid and over-exposed journalists, anchors and analysts.
Dear Junaid,
great article. Pakistan is for sure on self implosion path and we are giving the world confusing vibes. One good thing that has come out firstly from the Raymond Davis saga and then OBL raid is that the US and the West know that their dealing with the military will not help their cause and they need to deal with the civilians. It is in this regard that we see more attacks and vitriol against the civilian leadership in the last few months. The Memo issue is just to create the path for the removal of the civilians. These idiotic military walas think “agar civilian hukoomat hee nahee hogi to hum say hee deal karen gay”!
yeh azad adliya nahin nawaz adliya hey
Thank you so much Maula Bux Thadani & Ahmed Iqbalabadi for words of appreciation & for liking the concept & concerns.
Key US senators urge review of Pakistan funding
WASHINGTON: The United States must “fully review” its ties with Pakistan and consider cuts or new restrictions to military and economic aid, Republican senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham urged Monday.
A joint statement from the veteran American politicians conveyed the depth of feeling felt by many of their contemporaries in Washington about the need to re-evaluate a decade-long strategic relationship that has foundered this year.
“The United States has been incredibly patient with Pakistan. And we have been so despite certain undeniable and deeply disturbing facts,” they said.
“The time has come for the United States to fully review its relations with Pakistan. We must assess the nature and levels of our support.”
McCain serves as the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, while Graham is a member of that panel and is the top Republican on the committee that allocates US foreign aid.
“All options regarding US security and economic assistance to Pakistan must be on the table, including substantial reductions and stricter standards for performance,” they said.
The senators then cited alleged support from Pakistani army and intelligence officials for the Haqqani network “and other terrorist groups”blamed for attacks on US targets in Afghanistan “that are killing US troops.”
Such actions require that “US policy toward Pakistan must proceed from the realistic understanding that certain actions of Pakistan’s military are contributing to the death and injury of our men and women in the military and jeopardising our national security interests,” said the senators.
McCain and Graham also offered their “deep condolences” over those Pakistani troops killed in what they called an “unfortunate and unintentional” strike and predicted the investigation would “clarify the circumstances of this terrible tragedy.”
“The Pakistani government’s response to these events, however, has been deeply troubling and has added to the continued deterioration of our relationship,” they added.
They were referring to Pakistan’s decision to prevent Nato supplies from reaching Afghanistan, ordering US intelligence officers to leave the country, and boycotting the Bonn conference, and reports that Islamabad may have decided to suspend all bilateral counter-terrorism agreements.
“Such steps by the Pakistani government would mark a new low for our relationship,” they warned.
http://www.dawn.com/2011/12/06/key-us-senators-urge-review-of-pakistan-funding.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+dawn%2Fnews+%28DAWN%29