Pakistani People Vying for Another Change

By Brig Asif Haroon Raja – Opinion Maker 

The people got disillusioned with democracy run by politicians from 1988 to 1999 because of the lackadaisical performance of the two mainstream political parties, each having two turns. Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif instead of concentrating towards welfare of the people consumed their energies in debasing each other and in corrupt practices. As a consequence to their vindictive and anti-people politics, their tenures got restricted to two to three years. The people got so fed up of the unprincipled politicians that they welcomed Gen Pervez Musharraf when he seized power on October 12, 1999 through a bloodless coup.

PPP Jayalas distributed sweets and Benazir offered to cooperate with the military dictator. None mourned the illegal booting out of democratically elected regime of Nawaz that had gained power with two-thirds majority in February 1997 and had the honor of making Pakistan 7^th nuclear state and only one in the Muslim world. No protests were launched when Nawaz was awarded life sentence.

 

Musharraf made a good start under his well-conceived seven point program but started to drift when he held a farcical presidential referendum to get himself elected. He then carved out a King’s Party consisting of turncoats from PML-N and PPP and ensured its success through manipulation in 2002 elections. His decision to fight the US dictated war on terror after 9/11, acceptance of all the seven demands of Washington and persecution of Islamists were castigated by the religious right and conservatives. However, it was MMA which got him elected through the act of parliament in 2004 after passing 17^th amendment in the constitution. Since Musharraf held all the controls, he managed to ensure good governance and pushed forward his reform and development programs.

US, UK Against Pakistan Nukes

The United States and Britain are against Pakistan’s nuclear programme and the CIA uses ‘foreign agencies’ for its operations in Pakistan, Defence Secretary Lt-Gen (t) Asif Yasin Malik has said.

Talking to media at the defence ministry here on Friday, Asif Yasin also said that they had ‘complete information’ of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) agents working in Pakistan, and US had provided a list of its spies.

But neither the defence secretary divulged when the US informed them about its sleuths nor did he clarify if their ‘complete information’ was solely based on the list provided by the US, whose behaviour with Pakistan, he said, had ‘changed’ after Salala checkpost attack and subsequent suspension of NATO supplies.

Interestingly, the Lt-Gen declared that no country was allowed to work undercover in Pakistan but he did not tell why then the ‘exposed’ US spies and agents have been operating here. Again he sounded too ambiguous when he said “The CIA also uses the agencies of other countries.” Whether he meant NGOs, media organisations, or some other sort of foreign presence, he did not explain.

General Asif said “There is no formal agreement between CIA and the ISI for secret operations.” He also said 95 per cent of defence policy is made by the three defence services on the basis of mutual consultation, leaving one to assume the civilian government might have been doing the remaining five per cent work.

Pakistan a Victim Of Geopolitics – Analysis

 

By: Shabbir H. Kazmi

Since independence Pakistan has remained the focus of global and regional powers. The country is termed a natural corridor for trade ‑ including energy products ‑ gateway to Central Asia and landlocked Afghanistan. There is a perception that often regimes are installed and toppled in Pakistan by the super powers to achieve their vested interest. This is evident from cold war era to occupation of Afghanistan and from love and hate relationship with India to creation of Taliban (phantom now having many offspring).

At present Pakistan is facing extremely volatile situation, which has become a threat for its own existence. Fighting a proxy war for United States in Afghanistan for nearly four decade has completely destroyed the economic and social fabric of the country.

Pakistan is suffering from the influx of foreign militant groups getting funds and arms from different global operators.

Analysts say over the years Pakistan has been towing foreign and military policy of the United States, which has often offended USSR, China, India and Iran. Therefore, one needs to analyze Pakistan’s relationship with Afghanistan, India and Iran, enjoying common borders with the country. It may not be wrong to say that at present Pakistan doesn’t enjoy cordial relation with none of these countries. 

Aman Ka Tamasha with Kamran Khan and Najam Sethi

PKKH Editorial

At the conclusion of the so-called Aman Ki Asha conference in Dehli, the Geo TV has aired a talk-show between a panel of Indian and Pakistani analysts, hosted by Kamran Khan, with Najem Shehti posed as the voice of the Pakistani media plus an interview with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khursheed has also been aired.

The astringent stance of the Indian side was obvious throughout the conference (of which Geo has telecast only heavily edited bits) and especially in these two programs in which the apologetic stance of the Pakistanis, who were constantly presenting such questions to their disinclined hosts that could perhaps yield any positive air to this 4-year long fruitless Jang-group endeavor but all questions were trashed to the lull of denial, by the Indians.

In the talk-show the Pakistani side, completely surrendering to unilateral peace, emphasized that the Pakistani media, all its political parties, its Army and the whole public of the country is bent on having peace with India. They presented the MFN status for India from the Pak side, the visa-policy review and the cultural absorption of Indian TV and Films as a proof of the love harbored by the Pakistanis for India. But in spite all this over-whelmed and over-stated appeal neither any of Admiral Rao (expert on Sir Creek) or Sham Sharan  (former foreign secretary of India) or Ambassador Naresh Chandra (former defense and cabinet secretary, national security advisory) seemed convinced that Pakistan has not done enough if anything, to remove their just contentions upon all issues, in fact Sham Sharan direly remarked that Pakistan should not expect their side to bend to any favors or even good-will gestures especially in the wake of the Mumbai incident. 

India’s Rape Capital Of The Country “Delhi Crisis”

By Priyanka Borpujari

It is for good reason that New Delhi, the capital city of India, is being hailed by the national media as the “rape capital” of the country. On Monday evening, after a movie trip with her male friend, a 23-year-old-woman was raped and beaten mercilessly in a moving bus by five men, while her friend was battered for protesting. They were stripped naked and were thrown out of the moving bus. The woman now is now battling for her life in a hospital; her damaged intestines had to be removed to prevent gangrene. Angry protesters have taken to the streets and online social media to vent their ire. This year alone, close to 600 rapes have taken place in New Delhi.

India’s National Crime Records Bureau data for 2011 states that 37,929 people were arrested on charges on rape. Five per cent of those arrested were released before any trial. And for those that do go to trial, the rate of conviction is distressingly low. New Delhi is worst by nearly every measure.

By Tuesday, a shocking video was circulating across social networking sites: a news channel camera recorded a car full of men leering at the young woman journalist from the same channel, who was, at that time, reporting about the gang-rape from the streets in New Delhi. With the car’s license plate number in hand and the men captured on camera, would they be arrested for violating India’s indecency laws? Unlikely, as the NCRB data shows.

USA & NATO Withdrawal from Afghanistan & Pakistan (Scenario)

PKKH Exclusive

As the exit of the US/NATO forces comes to nearing, the real-time situation regarding who have been the winners and the losers of this war is becoming clearer by the day. The terms and conditions upon which the withdrawal has to take place are no more in the hands of the brute and arrogant workmanship of the US and its allies any more, which is evident from the fact that the date of withdrawal has been set much before any agreements have been reached between the stakeholders.

It is a sorry event that like many previous imperialists the US/NATO has based its occupation of Afghanistan on the ‘divide and rule’ principle for all these 11 years and the strategy has failed. Any solution that can be considered a just and lasting solution is one which will ensure a stable Afghanistan. What Pakistan fears is that the US/NATO alliance, due to their negligence in the future of this region once they leave and their incapacity to work out a balanced, long-lasting peace, may abscond the region leaving a conflict-ridden Afghanistan prone to external interference and the lustful eyes of some other bounty hunter from around the world. Therefore it is in the interest of Pakistan that the interest of all stakeholders should be taken into account and that is precisely what the state machine has voiced so far.

The primary stakeholders in the matter of Afghanistan are all the communities living in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Allies. What has happened so far is that power has been delegated to a specific sector of the Afghan society, while all others have been consciously neglected, resulting not only in social and economic disharmony in the country but in acute polarization and a state of constant war, a war the Allies never won for a single day. What is required is that the Northern Alliance, the Taliban and all the tribal entities be given their due democratic portion in the powers and the decision-making of the future Afghanistan. It is required that the right of self-determination be returned to the Afghanis in terms of what kind of life they want to lead and how they want to run their country and that the foreign policy of the majority be accepted.

Tattoos on Uzbek Terrorist

PKKH Editorial

Security officials have said that at least five of the 10 attackers involved in Saturday night’s attack on Peshawar airport are Uzbek nationals. One of the Uzbek had western-style tattoos on his back.

This is not the first time foreign elements have been identified as terrorist, in Pakistan; in fact FATA is often alleged to be the hub of international terrorist by western critiques. The question of importance is not that foreign nationals are involved in terrorist activities inside Pakistan; but the real question is, on whose behalf do these terrorists act? Furthermore the root question comes out to be ‘to what extent is it possible to identify the sources and links of these individuals to their real handlers?

For example consider the assertion made by two different stake-holders in this situation; should we believe the Interior Minister of our country when he says that ‘there are evidences of foreign hand involvement in the terrorism in Pakistan… the ammunition and weapons are coming from Afghanistan’ and when he says ‘Pakistan has “solid evidence” of India’s alleged involvement in fomenting unrest in Baluchistan province’ OR should we believe on reports such as of the US Treasury Department when it has ‘imposed sanctions on three men who allegedly facilitated Taliban operations… all three based in Pakistan… for allegedly providing material, logistical, or financial support to… the Taliban in Afghanistan, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan’. The bottom line is that if we are to follow the media and believe in what it says we will never be conclusive in our thought but always confused as to where the truth really lays.

Therefore, living in this high-tech age of information and a thousand sources of news and opinion, it is again left upon each individual to assess truth in his/her own way. Do the tattoos on the Uzbek man prove that

Synopsis of Book “The Wastes of Time” by Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain’s (ex vice chancellor of dhaka university)

The Wastes of Time: Reflections on the decline and fall of East Pakistan a memoire of late Dr. Syed Sajjad Hussain, Former Vice Chancellor, Universities of Dhaka and Rajshahi. This was published by Natun Prokashani, Dhaka in 1995. He wrote this book during his captivity in Dhaka central Jail in 1973 (he was technically imprisoned since 20 December 1971) primarily to avoid his boredom and secondly to leave behind a record for the people to know the truth about the whole episode of the civil war or war of liberation (both terminologies used by him) which took place from March 1971 to 16 December 1971 and beyond when Bangladesh become an independent country.

 

He belonged to the older generation i.e the generation who were physically involved in creation of Pakistan in 1947. Hence he was the one who supported the cause of one Pakistan and worked for it which later turned to be the cause of his miseries, confinement etc. which narration follows. 

Following surrender of Pak army on 16 December 1971 a reign of terror was let loose and the pro Pakistan elements became the target of wrath of the Mukti Bahini or the liberation force. Dr. Syed Sajjad Husain also became a victim on 19 December 1971. Some armed youth stormed the house of Dr. Husain and looked for him. His family members wanted to let him hide but he preferred to face them. He thus surrendered to them. One of them caught him by collar and took him away to the vehicle waiting down. Then they drove him away to an undisclosed destination. He was blind folded and placed in a room and tied up to some thing.

Before this he was slapped, abused and even false unhealthy accusations were also made against him. He expected death any moment. His captors went away leaving him there under the care of an armed guard. It was night then. He was tied up so tight that his movement from one position to another had become difficult. That way he passed the night. At around dawn as he could notice from the cry of a cock, some men came and took him away from the room, herded him in a jeep and drove to a place. There he was dislodged from the vehicle and stabbed several time in the chest and was thrown on the street. He felt bleeding and then lost consciousness. When he regained senses, he felt much pain and realized that the location was some where around Jinnah Avenue near Gulistan Cinema. From a distance he also heard the voice of another person. He shouted that he was Dr. Hassan Zaman. Dr. Husain though in pain also cried for help.

Tethyan Copper Company Loses Reko Diq Case in International Court

The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Tribunal has given the decision in favour of the Balochistan government and Dr. Samar Mubarakmand, allowing them to carry out mining and smelting project in the Reko Diq area of Balochistan.

The tribunal has released its decision on provisional measures applied by the Tethyan Copper Company Pty Limited (TCC) in which they had sought to restrain the Balochistan government and Dr. Samar Mubarakmand to carry out mining and smelting project in Reko Diq.

The decision, a copy of which available with The News, was released by the tribunal on December 13. The Tribunal, comprising eminent scholars and Judges namely Dr. Klaus Sachs, Lord Hoffman and unanimous decision almost after five weeks.

The 45 pages unanimous decision has declined to accept TCC’s pleas regarding urgency and irreparable loss. The Tribunal has effectively given a go a head to the government but has required them to keep the Tribunal informed of all the developments on regular basis about the activities that would be carried out in the Reko Diq area by Dr. Samar and his team.

Pakistan’s Saga of Political Change

By Mahboob A. Khawaja, PhD

“….in December of 2000, the CIA released a report of global trends to the year 2015, which stated that by 2015, “The war in Afghanistan is inherently related to the situation in Pakistan……….Pakistan will be more fractious, isolated, and dependent on international financial assistance.”[1] Further, it was predicted, Pakistan:

will not recover easily from decades of political and economic mismanagement, divisive politics, lawlessness, corruption and ethnic friction. Nascent democratic reforms will produce little change in the face of opposition from an entrenched political elite and radical Islamic parties.”

Andrew Gavin Marshall “Imperial Eye on Pakistan- Pakistan in Pieces, Part 1 (Global Research: 5/30/2011)

Tragedies know no bound. Pakistani people know it too well as from the beginning of their nationhood; they have been living within the compound of self-generated tragedies. Is there another name for the institutionalized wickedness, known treachery, vengeful political liars and mass murders governing the ungovernable and calling themselves to be the guardians of Pakistani politics? In case, you have misapprehensions, you will recognize these wicked characters by their deeds, not by their claims – namely, the few military Generals and their by-products few feudal lord families – politicians encompassing the ruling elite – the hub – the colored body with borrowed white British colonial mindset and traditions seeing the people as ‘neo-subjects’, not entitled to any human dignity and rights or civilized consideration and role-play in political affairs. They have all consumed and stolen almost fifty years – most precious lifeline of the nation to satisfy their own whims and privilege mind. They are not accountable to anybody in the ‘no system’ political system. Over the years, many ordinary Pakistanis cry to locate their abducted family members known as “missing people” some twenty thousands or so people during the General Musharaf regime. Even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court cannot bring any news to the grieved families still waiting for their loved ones to return home in safety. Nobody knows if they are still alive somewhere, or traded-in to the Gunanatanobay terror business by the Generals, or thrown in the sea by Death Pilots as it happened to several thousands innocent political activists in Argentina during the 1980’s under military dictatorships. Those Argentinean military dictators are currently under scrutiny and legal trial.