Musharraf interview: Praise for Pasha, no comment for Kayani
By News Desk
Published: March 9, 2012

Former president supports extension for Director-General ISI Ahmad Shuja Pasha. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf has said that if he was in the position, he would give an extension to Director-General Inter-Services Intelligence Lt General Shuja Ahmad Pasha, saying he is an “able officer” and a “good man”. He, however, repeatedly refused to offer any comments on Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Replying to a question by host Shahzeb Khanzada on “To The Point”, aired on Express News on Thursday, the former president praised Shuja Pasha as being an “intelligent officer, a straight talker and a person with a very upright character”. Musharraf, who is also the chief of the All Pakistan Muslim League, added that the DG ISI is “a good person as well”.
The APML chief was asked whether Kayani’s appointment as the COAS was part of the National Reconciliation Ordinance deal with former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and whether it was true that Musharraf delayed Kayani’s promotion till he was compelled to fulfill his promise. However, the former president replied: “Absolutely wrong”.
He did, however, add: “It was Kayani who always accompanied me. I cannot confirm that Bhutto had a soft corner for Gen Kayani.”
Further asked about whether promoting Kayani was a good or bad decision, Musharraf said, “I shall say ‘no comments’”.
Yet, the former president strongly defended Shuja Pasha when it was pointed out his tenure is marked by events like the Mehran attack, the May 2 incident, and the attack on the General Headquarters. The DG ISI cannot keep a check on everything, was his reply.
The Mehran base and the GHQ are open places and anyone who is ready to risk his life to attack these places can do it, he said. “Even a child can jump over the wall of Mehran, you cannot blame the DG ISI for that.
“He does not have angels to keep him informed. He has unearthed 95% things, like terrorist acts, but nobody talks about them. He is running the organisation in a good way and has done well.”
Asked about the DG ISI’s frequent visits abroad, which came under scrutiny, Musharraf said, “The DG ISI does not have to seek permission like a child has to. He can meet people locally and internationally. If he is on a fact finding mission, it is justified even if it is against the prime minister.”
Asked again about Kayani and rumours that the army chief’s brothers are involved in corruption, he said that he cannot comment till he has proper information, but added that “the smoke suggests fire”.
“It is very sad that relatives of the people in leadership roles use their positions for corruption and plunder the wealth of this poor nation while nothing is done for the betterment of people,” he said.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/347587/musharraf-interview-praise-for-pasha-no-comment-for-kayani/

Pak Observer, an ISI rag, wrote an editorial in support of extension:

Question of extension to Gen Pasha

PML (N) is following a strange policy of pinpricking every now and then without realizing the consequences and implications of the lopsided approach to important issues. The matter of granting extension or otherwise to the Director-General, ISI, General Ahmad Shuja Pash is purely an administrative and professional issue that should be handled on merit by the Army Chief and the Prime Minister but some circles are trying to trigger a controversy out of it.

The latest statement of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Ch. Nisar Ali Khan that extension to General Pasha would be a big joke is reflective of traditional thinking of playing to the galleries and that too at the cost of vital interests of the country. While, as a matter of principle, one must agree to Ch. Nisar Ali Khan that there should not be extension in service of either civilian or military personnel but in this case the incumbent DG, ISI himself is not keen to get the one. Former Army Chief retired General Aslam Beg, who is considered to be veteran and elder of the institution of army, has categorically stated, on the basis of his intimate knowledge, that General Pasha was not interested to get extension in service. There are some other reasons to believe that Pasha wants to call it a day because he has had one of the most nerve-wrecking assignment ever since his appointment as ISI Chief in September 2008 as he had to tackle not only the menace of terrorism and extremism but also counter agenda of some foreign powers who want to weaken Pakistan. General Pasha proved himself a superb and a role model spymaster as he had necessary experience as DG Military Operations and his professional acumen is acknowledged by the world intelligence community. Therefore, in our view, if for some cogent reasons the Government considers it appropriate to grant him an extension then one should not object to it for the sake of objection. There might be some unaccomplished tasks and otherwise too sensitive military issues should not be debated in public like that.

http://www.eurasiareview.com/10032012-pakistan-low-profile-officer-to-head-isi-analysis/

Last year in September, Admiral Mike Mullen, then chairman joint chiefs of staff, claimed that the Haqqani Network was a “veritable arm” of the ISI. The US has also been suspicious of the ISI’s role in the murder of journalist Saleem Shahzad. Furthermore, relations with the US soured when the agency failed to find the whereabouts of Osama bin Laden, however, one hopes that an attempt will be made to examine this under the new chief.

Rebuilding the credibility of the ISI will be the general’s toughest task. The intelligence agency’s political activities are currently under scrutiny in the Supreme Court after the judiciary decided to take up Air Marshal (retd)Asghar Khan’s petition against the ISI’s funding of politicians in the 1990s. The US, while sure to breathe a sigh of relief that Pasha was not granted a second extension, will remain wary. Thus, the best start that can be made given the current situation is for the military to ensure that there is no such interference by the agency in the country’s political process.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/348199/appointment-of-new-isi-chief/

Who is happy and who is worried about Pasha’s exit

Tariq Butt
Sunday, March 11, 2012

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has heaved a sigh of relief over the departure of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Ahmed Shuja Pasha and boasts of forcing his exit, despite claims of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan that President Zardari wanted badly to retain him.

At the same time, in the heart of hearts Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani is blowing his own trumpet that by using his authority as chief executive he has refused another extension to Pasha, who otherwise was hardly interested in continuing.

If the PML-N was publicly campaigning against further extension to Pasha and is content over his leaving, Gilani is not less thrilled over the change in what he once openly dubbed as “the state within the state”. Both had no love lost for Pasha in their own way, and had been giving vent to their opposition at the time of their own choosing.

“Two one-year extensions were more than enough for the spymaster, and there was no need to retain him further because it would have blocked promotions,” a senior PML-N leader told The News on condition of anonymity.

When the prime minister, cornered by the Memogate scandal, declared a few weeks back that the government’s position would improve, it would surmount crises and the season of rumour-mongering would end in March, he had in mind the key appointment of the chief spymaster and the election to half of the Senate during this month.

Top PML-N stalwarts especially leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan openly accused Pasha of sponsoring Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and prevailing upon several politicians to join his party, a charge always vehemently denied. The PTI chief says he would quit politics if it were ever proved that he has taken even a single penny from the ISI or other agencies.

The PML-N became exceptionally panicky after Imran Khan’s Lahore public meeting which sent shutters down its spine. Its nervousness further heightened as hordes of political figures rushed to join Imran Khan’s tsunami. Matching this development, the PML-N paced up its onslaught against Pasha.

However, there was a strange logic behind claims of certain PML-N leaders during private discussions with this correspondent. The chief” (General Ashfaque Parvez Kayani) “is not behind Imran Khan and it is only Pasha who is promoting him,” one leader told The News.

It is generally believed by all and sundry that it is beyond question that the ISI director general would do anything in such important matters without an unambiguous nod and consent of the army chief.

However, according to PML-N sources it is a fact that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Chaudhry Nisar have excellent relations with Kayani and that is why they have frequently met him, openly or quietly.

The chief minister has always publicly spoken high of the army chief. Chaudhry Nisar is known to have somewhat strained relations with Pasha for different reasons. The two had a tough exchange during the in camera session of the parliament on May 14, 2011 on the US Navy Seals’ raid on Osama bin Laden’s hideout in Abbottabad.

As the expiration of Pasha’s extension approached and a decision was to be taken on the appointment, Chaudhry Nisar strongly opposed his continuation at least twice in the past four days.

A PML-N source said this had the approval of the Sharif brothers, who too were convinced that Pasha had been assisting Imran Khan to cut their party to size particularly in Punjab.

In his powerful public campaign against grant of extension to Pasha by the prime minister, Chaudhry Nisar said that by retaining the incumbent ISI chief President Asif Ali Zardari wants to influence the memo case in the Supreme Court. “Pasha has exhibited clear negligence towards intelligence matters, and after allegations against the government by the ISI on nuclear and other national issues, there was no justification for giving him an extension. If an extension was granted, the PML-N and other opposition parties would decide their future strategy. The issue would not be resolved through compromise and the administrative issue of extension in service could become a political and judicial issue.”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-97150-Who-is-happy-and-who-is-worried-about-Pashas-exit

Pakistani daily sizes up new ISI chief
March 11, 2012

Islamabad, (IANS) Intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism are messy jobs and it will have to be seen “how clean the mess can be kept by the new ISI spymaster”, a Pakistani daily said Sunday.

Lt. Gen. Zaheerul Islam is to succeed Lt. Gen. Ahmed Shuja Pasha who is “just about to end what can be described as a roller-coaster career as ISI chief which saw major events including GHQ coming under attack from militants, the Mumbai bombings, the May 2 Abbottabad operation and the Memogate affair”, an editorial in the News International said.

The daily said that history will assign Pasha “due credit or deserved blame for his role and responsibility in these and other matters”.

It said there are allegations of Pash supporting cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

The editorial noted that the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) under Pasha became somewhat open in discussing its policies and plans, especially with the media.

“He was also perceived to be generally firm while dealing with the CIA, the Pentagon and other US institutions and officials – at times flying in and out of Washington in a matter of hours, just to send the ‘right messages’ and expressing his anger and sometimes protests over events and developments,” it said.

The editorial went on to say that Pasha’s successor, Lt-Gen Zaheerul Islam, has been described as a competent, honest and straightforward person who brings with him rich experience in the fields of internal security and intelligence.

“His appointment is being seen by some as critical in the context of the problems Pakistan-US ties have run into, the Afghan situation and the approaching general elections with the institutions of state at loggerheads with each other on many issues.

“How and why Zaheerul Islam’s appointment should be critical in all these respects remains to be seen…Indeed, the task is not going to be easy; he will have to clear many negative perceptions and, maybe, create a new image for his organisation.

“And as we know, for images and perceptions to change, we need a change in the reality in which they may be rooted.”

“Despite the fact that spying, intelligence gathering and counter-terrorism are messy jobs, it will have to be seen how clean the mess can be kept by the new ISI spymaster,” it added.

http://nvonews.com/2012/03/11/pakistani-daily-sizes-up-new-isi-chief/

As expected, ISI’s traditional propagandist and PTI’s informal spokesman steps forward to defend General Pasha.

http://e.jang.com.pk/03-14-2012/karachi/images/06_06.gif

میر صاحب زمانہ نازک ہے…ناتمام…ہارون الرشید

آدمی کی جبلت سب وہی ہے۔ کسی بھی طرح کی ہو، طاقت گمراہ کرتی ہے اور زیادہ طاقت بے حد گمراہ۔ لازم ہے کہ میڈیا کا بھی احتساب ہو۔ نوبت اب یہاں تک آ گئی کہ الزام و دشنام ہے اور پگڑیاں اچھالی جا رہی ہیں۔ دو سو برس ہوتے ہیں، جب دلّی کے شاعر نے کہا تھا #
میر# صاحب زمانہ نازک ہے
دونوں ہاتھوں سے تھامیے دستار
ایک سبکدوش فوجی افسر اپنی دستار کیونکر تھامے؟ وہ لکھنے والوں کے رحم و کرم پر ہے۔ کوئی قصیدہ لکھے یا ہجو۔ جذبات سے مغلوب تحریریں۔ کیا اس کا نام صحافت ہے؟ جنرل اشفاق پرویز کیانی سے میں نے عرض کیا تھا کہ اپنی داستان اور اپنے مشاہدات وہ خود لکھیں۔ جنرل شجاع پاشا کو بھی مشورہ یہی ہے۔ اخبار میں لکھیں اور کتاب بھی ۔ جنرل نے کہا : لکھنے کا مجھے کوئی تجربہ نہیں لیکن دوگھنٹے کا لیکچر اگر مقصود ہو تو دس منٹ میں ذہن میں اس کے بنیادی نکات وہ مرتب کر لیتے ہیں۔ اور کیا چاہئے؟ ظہیر الدین بابر کا تو اس وقت مجھے خیال نہ آیا، آج بھی جس کی تزک مصنف کی شخصیت کا آئینہ ہے۔ یہ مگر کہا کہ کرنل محمد خان اور تہمینہ درانی کو بھی تحریر کا کوئی تجربہ نہ تھا۔
جنرل پاشا سے کبھی ملاقات نہ ہو سکی۔ کبھی ان کے بارے میں تجسس تک پیدا نہ ہوا۔ گزشتہ ایک برس کے دوران، ان کے دفتر نے کئی بار رابطہ کیا لیکن اتفاق سے ہر بار مسافرت۔ رمضان المبارک کی ایک سہ پہر البتہ میں اسلام آباد میں تھا جب پیغام ملا کہ ساڑھے نو بجے ان کے دولت کدے پر پہنچوں۔ میرپور کے لئے پابہ رکاب تھا ؛ چنانچہ کسی قدر تلخی کے ساتھ عرض کیا کہ حضور، ان کاموں کے لئے میں فارغ نہیں ہوتا۔ کم از کم دو دن پہلے آپ کو بتانا ہو گا۔ اس کے بعد فون نہ آیا۔ زاہدانہ بسر کرنے والے ایک فوجی افسر کا پندار یا غیر معمولی مصروفیت؟ اللہ جانے لیکن اب جی چاہتا ہے کہ ملاقات ہو۔ افسوس کہ نقادوں نے انہیں اس انگریز افسر سے جا ملایا جس کی ترجیح نوکری کے سوا کچھ بھی نہ تھی۔ اپنے فرائض کا آدمی اور بس۔ جنرل پاشا پہ کوئی بھی اعتراض ہو سکتا ہے مگر ان کے ذاتی کردار کی نجابت اور پرجوش حب الوطنی پر کبھی کسی کو شبہ نہ تھا۔ اعتراض بجا اور تنقید کا حق ہے مگر شواہد کے ساتھ۔ گالی کیا معنی؟ سب زمانوں میں سب لوگوں نے حاکموں، جنرلوں اور دولت مندوں کو زعم کا شکار بہت دیکھا لیکن اب قلم کار بھی مبتلا ہونے لگے۔ تحریر کا حسن رمز و کنایہ میں ہوتا ہے، دلیل اور حسن بیاں میں۔ صحافت میں کبھی برہنہ گفتم بھی لازم ہوتا ہے مگر اس طرح کبھی نہیں۔ اس طرح کبھی نہیں۔
پاکستانی فوج آج بھی دنیا کی بہترین افواج میں سے ایک ہے۔ دو مسائل مگر اسے درپیش ہیں ایک داخلی اور دوسرا خارجی۔ ایک یہ کہ فوجی افسروں میں سے بعض خود کو برتر و بالا سمجھتے ہیں۔ اب برتری کا احساس ایسی چیز ہے کہ پارسا کو بھی لاحق ہو تو برباد کر دے۔رئیس المتغزلین حسرت #موہانی نے کہا تھا
کچھ بھی حاصل نہ ہوا زہد سے نخوت کے سوا
شغل بیکار ہیں سب تیری محبت کے سوا
اسی طرز احساس نے وجیہہ و شکیل فیلڈ مارشل محمد ایوب خان سے لے کر احساس کمتری کے مارے کم رو پرویز مشرف تک کو مارشل لاء نافذ کرنے پر آمادہ کیا۔ ثانیاً ان سیاستدانوں کے علاوہ جن میں سے بعض مرعوب ہو کر کا سہ لیس ہو جاتے اور پھر نفرت میں مبتلا ہو کر گالی بکتے ہیں، بھارت اور امریکہ اس کے دشمن ہیں۔ آزادی کے فوراً بعد جواہر لعل نہرو نے کہا تھا : شبنم کے قطروں کی طرح جو اوّلین کرنوں کی نذر ہو جاتے ہیں، پاکستان تحلیل ہو جائے گا۔ تب سے اب تک بھارتیوں کی تین نسلیں اس امید میں زندہ ہیں۔ قائد اعظم کے بعد کوئی پاکستانی سیاستدان نہیں بلکہ پاک فوج اس کے راستے کی سب سے بڑی رکاوٹ ہے۔ فقط ذوالفقار علی بھٹو ایک استثنیٰ ہیں۔ اپنی تمام خامیوں کے باوجود وہ ایک قوم پرست تھے اور بھارتیوں سے کبھی مرعوب نہ ہوئے۔ اس اثنا میں پاک فوج کی قیادت بھی اپنے پاؤں پر کلہاڑی مارتی رہی۔ اس کی صفوں سے یحییٰ خان اور پرویز مشرف ایسے لوگ اٹھے، جنرل نہ ہوتے تو کوئی شریف آدمی اپنے ساتھ کی کرسی پر بیٹھنے کی اجازت نہ دیتا۔ بے شک سیاست میں بھی مولانا فضل الرحمن، زرداری اور نواز شریف پائے جاتے ہیں مگر ایک منظم ادارے میں اس اعلیٰ سطح پر اس قدر سستے آدمی کیسے پہنچ جاتے ہیں؟ بارہا عرض کیا اور ایمان کی حد تک طالب علم کو یقین ہے کہ جمہوری خطوط پر استوار ، جدید اور منظم سیاسی جماعتوں کے بغیر امن و استحکام کی منزل کبھی حاصل نہ ہو گی۔ ہر سیاسی پارٹی کسی ایک آدمی کی جیب میں پڑی ہے۔ اس پر افتاد اترتی ہے تو خود اس کے ساتھی لاتعلق ہو جاتے ہیں۔ کیا کسی کو یاد ہے کہ احسن اقبال نے 12/ اکتوبر 1999ء کی شب بی بی سی کو انٹرویو دیتے ہوئے نواز شریف کے بارے میں کیا ارشاد کیا تھا؟ وہ آقا بدلنے پر آمادہ تھا اور صلے میں ایک یونیورسٹی مانگتا تھا۔ جنرل ہی نے گوارا نہ کیا۔
منتخب پارلیمنٹ، آزاد عدلیہ، آزاد میڈیا، فقط یہی جمہوریت نہیں۔ جمہوریت قانون کی بالادستی کا نام ہے۔ چھڑی گھمانے کی سبھی کو اجازت ہے لیکن وہاں تک جہاں دوسرے کی ناک شروع ہوتی ہے۔
کیا کسی بھاڑے کے ٹٹو نے کہا کہ گجر خان میں تحریک انصاف کا جلسہ ناکام ہو گیا؟ یہ اخبار نویسوں کی ایک اور قسم ہے۔ ان کے گھر سے سرکاری گاڑی اٹھا کر انہیں ہوائی اڈے لے جاتی ہے۔ لاہور میں ایک زیادہ بڑی کار منتظر۔ پنج ستارہ ہوٹل میں وہ قیام فرماتے اور انشا پردازی کرتے ہیں۔ ڈنکے کی چوٹ میں کپتان کو دوسروں سے بہتر قرار دیتا ہوں لیکن اختلاف بھی ڈٹ کر کیا جاتا ہے۔ شوکت خانم میں بھارتی اداکاروں کو گوارا کرنے کا سوال ہو یا سوات اور وزیرستان میں فوجی آپریشن کا، ہماری اپنی رائے اور کپتان کی اپنی رائے۔ گجر خان کے سٹیڈیم میں شاید ہی کبھی کوئی جلسہ کرنے کی جرات کر سکے ۔ راولپنڈی کے لیاقت باغ سے پانچ گنا بڑا۔ چالیس ہزار آدمی سما سکتے ہیں۔ کرسیاں ہوں تو پوری بیس ہزار۔ ایک انگریزی اخبار کے ہم نام چینل نے اعلان کیا کہ جلسہ شاید ملتوی کر دیاگیا ہے۔ لوگ نہیں آ رہے کہ پرویز اشرف کا حلقہ انتخاب ہے۔ تب ہجوم واقعی نہ تھا ۔اس لئے کہ نماز جمعہ کا وقت تھا۔ رہے پرویز اشرف تو وہ کیا ابراہام لنکن ہیں بلکہ شہر کے سب سے زیادہ ناپسندیدہ آدمی۔ پچھلی بار اس لئے جیتے کہ نون لیگ کے امیدوار پر منشیات فروشی کا الزام تھا (اور اب کی بار اس پارٹی کا لیڈر جعلی ڈگری والا) ۔ پرویز اشرف نے شہر کو ایک سرپرست کے سوا کچھ نہیں دیا جو اس کے سگے بھائی ہیں اور دندناتے پھرتے ہیں۔
جلسہ گاہ بھر گئی۔ سب سے زیادہ لوگ عظیم چوہدری کے ساتھ آئے۔ ارب پتی ہونے کے باوجود گلیوں بازاروں میں گھومتا پھرتا وہ ایک سادہ سا آدمی جو کبھی تادیر مسجد میں بیٹھ رہتا ہے۔ ابھرتے ہوئے نوجوان لیڈر چوہدری فخر الزماں مضافات سے ایک بڑا جلوس لائے اور شہر یار بھی۔ ان سے زیادہ مگر ابرار الحق، کچھ راحت قدوسی اور شاہد گیلانی کے ساتھ بھی۔ اکثریت خود آئی اور یہ میلے کا سماں تھا۔ گجر خان کی پوری تاریخ کا سب سے بڑا جلسہ۔ سٹیج موزوں مقام پر نہ تھا۔ سامعین کو دقت تھی۔ کچھ لوگ عقبی کرسیوں سے اٹھ کر سامنے جا کھڑے ہوئے۔ جلسہ گاہ کے باہر بھی مگر اتنا ہی ہجوم تھا۔ اس روز پیسہ بے دردی سے خرچ کیا گیا اور کئی اخبار نویس خریدے گئے۔ خلق خدا مگر اندھی نہیں۔ کوئی گجر خان جائے اور پوچھ لے۔ حکمران ہو یا زردار، جنرل یا جرنلسٹ آدمی کی جبلت سب وہی ہے۔ کسی بھی طرح ہو، طاقت گمراہ کر سکتی ہے اور زیادہ طاقت مکمل طور پر گمراہ بھی

http://jang.net/urdu/details.asp?nid=604510

Previously General Kayani had explained his position on WikiLeaks via Haroon-ur-Rashid:

http://criticalppp.com/archives/37523

Of course, it is the same journo (Haroon Rasheed) who wrote a full book in praise of ISI’s former chief Akhtar Abdur Rehman (Faateh).

etc

Another ISI agent defends Pasha on an online forum:

Hamid Mir’s half spoken truth
Writing about Hamid Mir is pretty exhausting[IMG][/IMG] task because lot many cards on his sleeve and so many masks in use make him one of the most successful jugglers on stage, in front of this already too confused nation. Sensation is our national industry and blind faith is deep embedded in our psyche. It is not surprising that people like Hamid Mir are hot commodity we long for. He refers to undisclosed sources at times to make his words credible, this magician sings for Osama Bin Laden on one hand and confides with US Ambassadors on the other. He likes high spirit of COAS but annoyed with ISI chief who happens to be part of COAS team on national security.

Not surprising to see his latest article in Daily Jang where he exposed his inner self. It is worth having another look to gauge his credentials. We know though that being staunch supporter of SAFMA, his desired view on Pakistani system of governance, his lust for Pakistan being laid to Indian designs and his allegiance with secularists is proven time and again.

Hamid Mir begins with Shuja Pasha leaving with broken heart for not being able to complete his AGENDA… and he explains that agenda was replacement of Parliamentary system with Presidential one. He adds that cession of East Pakistan was caused by Presidential system.
It is impractical to assume that Hamid Mir is not an informed person. He is but more to that he is a dishonest intellectual too. He cunningly hides too many facts to chisel down Pasha’s personality in main frame. Looking at the performance sheet, style and vision of Pakistani rulers from Ayub Khan to Asif Zardari we find that all rulers, civilian or in uniform chose dictatorial style, shared values of plunder, deception and manipulation, strengthened feudal mindset and left legacy of betrayal behind.

More to that, surprisingly enough civilians made cracks wider in national fabric. Ayub Khan is blamed for cession of East Pakistan, assuming his vision of a stronger centre but why do we forget that his BD system was appropriate approach for grass root level participation in his time. If it was presidential system to cripple Pakistan, why our seasoned parliamentarians are failing to reach Baloch people for dialogue today ? Why people welcomed Sufi Mohammad as better alternative in Swat and why Karachi is a lawless state within Pakistan ? If parliamentary system was ideal, why Bhutto was restless to inject new clauses in constitution soon after approval of new constitution by National Assembly and he called a British expert to formulate a parliamentarian constitutional skeleton with presidential head ? Hamid Mir will not talk over it because in the name of General Pasha, whole security apparatus is to be discredited with ghostly propaganda.

Pakistan’s ruling class has turned Pakistan into a salt mine. Presidential or parliamentary system, result remains the same except that in parliamentary system the corruption can be institutionalized by making all assembly members ministers and advisors as in Balochistan, with huge perks, plunderers favor this system as it accommodates all types of corruption in different forms. This system is best because it allows auction of senate seats and buy votes in National Assembly. Minister and advisor brigades are large in numbers capable to blackmail the executive at blink of the eye. So, if ever General Pasha as ISI chief showed his resentment over poor quality leadership, was he mistaken or professionally crossing the line?

I do not think so. Ethically speaking, Pasha’s frank views shared with media persons were in private and represented overall hopelessness of majority of Pakistanis. We are all sick of business of politics in its current shape, harbored by scavengers. ISI’s scope of work is security of state and that includes geographical, physical, military, financial and food security. Down slide in a single sphere impacts overall security. If he ever worried about certain situation, what else he was supposed to do ? Hamid Mir expected him to behave like Sharmila Farooqi or Babar Awan ?

If Hamid Mir sensed danger for our democratic values in words by General Pasha, that is appreciated but what democratic values? Civilian performance sheet shows a continuous downslide. Can he mention a single leader with a vision? can he quote a single politician with sustained political lineage or ideology ? They have behaved like restless toads jumping from pond to pond without exception. How about their cooperative union injecting dictatorial powers for party leader into constitution? is that way forward for democratic values? Don’t know who coined this phrase to befool us that more democracy is solution to bad democracy. Are we selling dictatorship without uniform as democracy ? Does question arise for growth of something non-existent? Pakistan is twitching over gushing wind of fate in ugliest form where a common person is not treated equally even in places like a court where all are supposed to be equal. Zardari, Gilani, Nawaz Sharif and Babar Awan are practically taller than laws and Supreme Court looks exhausted chasing them. But a civil magistrate can simply spoil my life with a wrong judgment because the road to correction is too long to afford for weak and without resources. Civility, justice, equality and accountability come before democracy which are missing here.

Problem with people like Hamid Mir is that they are always scared of any force watching the naked dance of political hooligans with serious concern because exploiters with shutters down, trumpets like Hamid Mir vanish into thin air.. Parliamentary system in Pakistan has opened enormous channels of paid-up information and they thrive interdependently. Will Hamid Mir’s beloved politicians hire railway from Japan if Indian threat comes over ? Our railway is slurped by Haji Billour as part of parliamentary alliance MOUs.

General Pasha would have assured Americans for restoration of NATO supplies but the same was assured by Gilani and Hina Rabbani as well. What else could be said to Americans ? But Hamid Mir tried to paint Pasha as siding with US interests while playing adversely inside Pakistan. Indeed it proved Pasha to be positively playing Pakistani line ? He assured US whatever but they were unsatisfied with his actual role in decision making process. He disappointed them.

Hamid Mir should be appreciated for writing some golden words too. He blamed Pasha for certain mentality which serves interests of few people but defames institutions. I wonder what he would say about his masters who adopted advanced approach and destroyed all institutions to serve a few people. They are not in uniform so eternally innocent in Hamid’s game of words but uniform can not be pardoned as it is one of targets of SAFMA, Hamid Mir’s cradle of wisdom. As a loyal SAFMA cuckoo, he cries for blunders in uniform but keeps silent about civilians as usual.

He mentions the lies by military leadership about situation on the ground before fall of Dacca, but he does not explain why Bhutto and others forced Yehya Khan to postpone the first session of newly elected National Assembly, he is not surprised why Bhutto hushed up findings of Hamoud-ur-Rehman commission. Findings of the commission were “ General Yahya Khan, General Abdul Hamid Khan, Lt. Gen. S.G.M.M. Pirzada, Lt. Gen. Gul Hasan, Maj. Gen. Umar and Maj. Gen. Mitha should be publicly tried for being party to a criminal conspiracy to illegally usurp power from F.M. Mohammad Ayub Khan, if necessary by the use of force. In furtherance of their common purpose they did actually try to influence political parties by threats, inducements and even bribes to support their designs both for bringing about a particular kind of result during the elections of 1970, and later persuading some of the political parties and the elected members of the National Assembly to refuse to attend the session of the National Assembly scheduled to be held at Dhaka on the 3rd of March, 1971. They, furthermore, in agreement with each other brought about a situation in East Pakistan which led to a civil disobedience movement, armed revolt by the Awami League and subsequently to the surrender of our troops in East Pakistan and the dismemberment of Pakistan: Do we need more to locate the actual traitors ?

Hamid Mir quotes 11 years rule of General Zia but holds back the similarities among both. Zia vs Bhutto saga explains psyche of Pakistanis. Both camps enjoy reasonable support, both take lead from US, even Zia and Bhutto played equally Mechiavillian game hypocratically, serving their self interests, crushing opponents mercilessly. By no standard historian can term civilian rulers pious and generals as devils in Pakistan as both have proved to be sides of the same coin.

Hamid Mir complains about policies of Pervez Musharraf and drone attacks but fails to deplore Zardari for continuing the same policies and sharing power with PML-Q, the rug for Musharraf.
Hamid Mir has been a disputed figure in Pakistani media but his article about General Pasha has exposed him to the core, leaving aside all sensitivities and care he sounds hissing like an injoured snake. In the Pakistan of today when politicians talk of justice, rights, jobs and rule of law, it stinks. If Pasha was a road block in the way of SAFMA, I do not expect any good news from new ISI chief for Hamid Mir or SAFMA either.

Last edited by Altaf Lutfi; Yesterday at 02:48 PM.

http://www.siasat.pk/forum/showthread.php?106914-Hamid-Mir-s-half-spoken-truth

General Pasha is a brave soldier who faced tough challenges throughout his career with bravery and perseverance. The article appears to be seriously biased against Pasha, I think the easiest thing in the world is to criticize someone, that’s what writer has resorted to.

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