Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
CRUSADES
OF
21ST CENTURY
BY RIAZ AMIN
Vol-XVIII
CONTENTS
CRUSADES GOING ON
3
A few days more than six weeks from now, twelve years will pass when
the Richard the Lion of our times, George W Bush had decided to wage
Crusades against jihadis or militants of Islamic world. While declaring the
launching of holy war he had visualized that it could continue at least for two
decades.
Keeping in view the tentative duration of the war it can be said that
miseries of Muslims around the globe are just half way to the end. The visible
successes of the Crusaders in the last twelve years are many, though some
observers insist that the US has failed in the longest war in its history.
These achievements include the crushing of almost all the movements of
oppressed Muslims for autonomy or independence, or these have been forced to
become dormant in the face of the military might of the US and its allies. Quite
a few non-complaint and unwanted regimes in Islamic world have been toppled;
Mursi of Egypt is the latest and Assad of Syria is the next in line of fire.
Barring odd exceptions, the entire Muslim ruling elite has been tamed
through show of Crusaders ability to create an atmosphere of shock and awe.
Hundreds of thousands Muslims have been massacred mostly as collateral
damage; a phrase concocted in this war to cover up indiscriminate killings that
fall in the category of war crimes.
The Arab rulers with Saudis in the lead have played commendable role
in aiding and abetting both in achievements of and war crimes committed by the
Crusaders. They are operating as bunch of front men of the man in White House
and Qatar has facilitated establishment of forward Pentagon in the form of
CENTCOM Headquarters. Most operations in Islamic countries are planned and
executed from here.
Keeping in view the plan and time-frame given Bush and adhered to by
Obama (fathered by a Muslim), much more can be expected by the time second
decade ends; of course with the cooperation of Muslim rulers. This is because
almost all of them have been made to believe that their respective rules can only
last under the umbrella of the US and its Western allies.
Pakistani rulers were coerced to join the war as ally of the US and later
they volunteered to render services as mercenaries. Their performance did not
satisfy those who hired their services; resultantly they were constantly urged to
do more and then have been treated as enemy. Ultimately, they started owning
this war as our war.
In the process Pakistan has suffered the most in this war which is holy
for its initiators and dirty on all other counts. The image of Pakistans armed
forces has been put to dust by attacks launched by its friends and foes. Some of
the friendly attacks known to every Pakistani are Abbottabad raid; blasting of
Salalah Post and hundreds of drone attacks and still counting.
The foes have carried innumerable attacks out of which those on GHQ,
Mehran Naval Base, Naval War College, Kamrah Air Base and on some
important ISI setups stand out. In two of these attacks PAF and Pak Navy have
lost their prime airborne air defence assets; P-3 Orion and AWACs.
Pak-US alliance in this war is unbelievably unique. It was for the first
time in history of mankind that a force comprising US CIA operators,
equivalent of an Army Division was deployed in Pakistan through issue of
illegal visas. Pakistan and the US are reportedly working on a deal for exchange
of prisoners (of war). If the deal is finalized it would be another unique addition
to the military history of the world where two allies carried out exchange of
prisoners of war.
There are some changes in the format that have been brought since last
couple of articles. The events relating to insurgency in Balochistan, turf war in
Karachi and sectarian violence, which were previously included in series war
within, have been shifted to war in the region. This has been done because all
types of militancy have the same aim destabilize Pakistan and have foreign
involvement.
The headings like rule of law and provincial harmony have been deleted
and instead new headings of governance and national cohesion have been
added. Under governance events pertaining to respect for merit and fair play;
enforcement of law for safety of life and property; provision of social services;
accountability, etcetera are covered. Under national cohesion events related to
preservation of ideology; provincial harmony and sectarian/ethnic cohesion are
included.
27th July 2013
In the war in Syria, mazars of Hazrat Zainab (R.A.) and Hazrat Khalid
bin Walid and their attached mosques were attacked and damaged. The war in
Syria is in its third year and such desecrating attacks have been occurring, but
attacks of these two mazars have been widely reported and condemned in
Islamic world.
The shelling and bombing of these mazars has to be seen in the
backdrop of the decision of the West and its Arab allies to expedite supply arms
to the rebels fighting against the regime in Damascus. The weapon supplies
from Saudi Arabia have reportedly started arriving in Syria. The desecration of
mosques and mazars and media hype over it suits those who intend escalating
bloodshed in Syria.
In its neighbourhood, Iraq kept bleeding even during the holy month of
Ramazan. There have been daring attacks on two prisons in which about one
thousand prisoners escaped. These attacks were first of their kind in years of
militancy in this country afflicted by Shia-Sunni tensions.
Across the Red Sea, the democracy, the favourite child of western
civilized nations was breathing its last in Egypt. This is being strangulated by
the pro-West military commander because the democracy that emerged in the
country after Arab Spring was not adequately secularized. The protests against
and in support of military coup continued unabated.
NEWS
Far East
Philippines: On 20th July, seven people were reported killed when
communist insurgents attacked a rural army outpost in the southern Philippines.
Six rebels and a pro-government militiaman were killed while another
militiaman was wounded during the five-hour gun battle yesterday. Two MG520 attack helicopters were sent to drive back the guerrillas.
On 23rd July, Philippines told Muslim teachers to remove their veils
inside classrooms, in part to promote better relationships between teachers and
pupils. Education Secretary said the move was part of reforms to make schools
more sensitive to religion. Muslim schoolgirls will still be allowed to wear the
veil or hijab on campuses as well as appropriate clothing in gym class.
On 27th July, a powerful blast ripped through a crowded popular
nightclub in a southern Philippine city late last night, killing six people and
wounding dozens. No one claimed responsibility for the attack and an army
spokesman said security forces are looking into a potential motive for the
attack, including the possible involvement of communist rebels who are active
in the area.
6
Defence lawyer Tajul Islam said his client would appeal the ruling. Its a
perverse judgment. There was no iota of evidence against him. The case is
politically motivated, he said. The opposition criticised the trials as a politically
motivated exercise aimed at settling old scores rather than meting out justice.
On 20th July, Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistans Ameer Syed Munawwar
Hassan condemned the Foreign Offices statement describing the convictions of
JI leaders in Bangladesh as Dhakas internal issue, and said this was something
most shameful and shocking. In a statement, he said the JI leaders in
Bangladesh were being punished not for some personal crimes but for trying to
save Pakistan from split supporting the Pakistan Army and trying to foil Indias
evil designs against the country. He said these were the people who offered
every sacrifice for safeguarding the countrys solidarity. The Foreign Office
remarks would certainly be more painful for these patriotic Pakistanis than their
convictions by the so-called War Crimes Tribunal, he said.
Mainland Asia
Russia: On 14th July, four policemen were killed in Russia's violenceplagued Dagestan region when unidentified gunmen opened fire on their car.
Insurgents are fighting to carve out an Islamic state in Dagestan an ethnically
mixed, mostly Muslim region in the North Caucasus between Chechnya and the
Caspian Sea.
Middle East
Iraq: On 19th July, a suicide bomber killed 20 and wounded 40 people
inside a crowded mosque north of Baghdad. The bomber detonated explosives
soon after entering the Abu Bakr al-Sadiq Mosque as the imam gave the Friday
sermon in the town of Al-Wajihiyah. Authorities slapped a curfew on AlWajihiyah and closed the main road from Baquba to the town after the
explosion.
Iraqi Sunnis accuse Shia-led government of marginalizing and targeting
their community, including making unwarranted arrests and terrorism charges.
Protests that first broke out in Sunni-majority areas at the end of 2012 are still
ongoing. More than 450 people have been killed each month from April to the
present.
On 22nd July, militants stormed two prisons, including the notorious Abu
Ghraib, sparking clashes that killed 41 people and freeing at least 500 inmates.
The coordinated attacks on Taji prison, north of Baghdad, and Abu Ghraib, west
of the capital, were launched last night and raged for around 10 hours.
About 500 prisoners escaped from Abu Ghraib prison, Hakem alZamili, a member of the parliamentary security and defence committe, told AFP.
Zamili said that, to his knowledge, no inmates escaped from the prison in Taji.
But MP Shwan Taha, also a security and defence committee member, said in an
9
online statement that between 500 and 1,000 inmates escaped from the two
prisons.
Officials said at least 20 members of the security forces were killed and
40 wounded in the attacks. And the justice ministry's spokesman said that 21
inmates were killed and 25 wounded during rioting at the prisons. It was not
clear how many of the militants who attacked the prison were killed, wounded
or captured.
Five roadside bombs also exploded near the prison in Taji. Fighting
continued throughout the night as the military deployed aircraft and sent in
reinforcements around the two facilities. The situation was eventually brought
under control in the morning. The attacks on the prisons came a year after alQaeda's Iraqi front group announced it would target the Iraqi justice system.
Deadly violence also hit security forces in northern Iraq on Monday. A
suicide bomber blew up a vehicle near an army patrol in the city of Mosul,
killing 12 people and wounding 16, while a roadside bomb wounded five
people, among them three police. And two roadside bombs near Mosul killed a
soldier and wounded another and a civilian.
Next day, an al-Qaeda front group claimed brazen assaults on two Iraqi
prisons that freed hundreds of militants including leaders. The mujahideen,
after months of preparation and planning, targeted two of the largest prisons of
the Safavid government, said the statement signed by the Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant (ISIS), using a pejorative term for Shiites. The statement, posted
on jihadist forums, comes as security forces were hunting for the escapees.
Officials declared a curfew around the two prisons, where ongoing search
operations are being conducted. They claimed that 108 escaped prisoners had
been recaptured, and reinforcements from the interior and justice ministries
have been sent to the two prisons. What happened puts the government in a very
embarrassing situation.
On 24th July, militants attacked a police station in Mosul with mortars and
automatic weapons, killing nine officers. It was followed by a roadside bomb
explosion as emergency personnel rushed to the scene, wounding another two
people. Gunmen also killed a soldier in Mosul, while others attacked a bus
carrying soldiers in Tikrit, killing four soldiers and wounding four others, along
with the civilian driver.
In the northern city of Kirkuk, a suicide bomber driving an explosivesladen vehicle attacked an army patrol, killing a soldier and wounding seven
other people. And on a highway in Anbar province militants with heavy
machine guns attacked an army checkpoint and a joint army-police convoy in an
apparent attempt to free a captured senior al-Qaeda member it was transporting.
10
The attack left four militants dead, while four soldiers and a militant were
wounded. Gunmen also shot dead four people in other attacks.
Next day, militants summarily executed at least 14 Shias after setting up a
roadblock north of Baghdad, stopping trucks and checking the IDs of drivers.
Some 150 militants carried out a coordinated operation during the night that
included the highway killings, in the area of Sulaiman Bek, a town north of
Baghdad. The night time attack was reminiscent of the darkest days of the
sectarian bloodshed in Iraq in 2006-2007, when thousands of people were killed
because of their religious affiliation or forced to abandon their homes under
threat of death.
Syria: On 14th July, shelling killed at least 13 people in the Damascus
district of Qaboon, where fierce fighting between the army and rebels has
trapped hundreds of families. Regime troops have been trying for months to
dislodge rebels from rear-bases they have established in parts of the outskirts of
Damascus. A car bomb detonated outside a police station in Damascus province,
causing an unknown number of casualties.
Next day, shelling and air raids by Syrian government forces against a
string of villages in the northwestern province of Idlib killed at least 29 people.
The military carried out five separate strikes, including a rocket attack on the
village of Maghara that killed 13 people shortly before iftar. Another six people
were killed in the village of Al-Bara, four in Basamis, three in Kfar Nabl in an
air strike, and three in Iblin. The dead included at least eight women as well as
the six children, it added. Nationwide, at least 129 people were killed in
yesterday's violence.
On 16th July, UN officials said five thousand people a month are dying in
the Syria war. A host of top officials called on the divided UN Security Council
to take stronger action to deal with the fallout from the 26 month old civil war.
Nearly 1.8 million people are now registered with the United Nations in
countries around Syria and an average of 6,000 people a day are now fleeing,
UN High Commissioner for Refugees added.
He said the gesture of Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and other countries to accept
refugees was saving hundreds of thousands of lives. This crisis has been
going on for much longer than anyone feared with unbearable humanitarian
consequences, he added. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said the
international community may have to consider cross border operations to get aid
into Syria. Amos said $3.1 billion was still needed for operations in and around
Syria for the rest of the year.
The cross-border aid is controversial as it is opposed by the Syrian
government. Russia has resisted discussion of such operations at the United
Nations. Turkeys deputy UN ambassador backed the call, however. The
11
council needs to consider alternative forms of aid delivery, including crossborder operations, he said.
Lebanons UN ambassador Nawaf Salam told the meeting that it was now
urgent for the Security Council to act on the refugee crisis. Increasing cross
border fire and incursions from Syria in Lebanon are threatening the security
and stability of my country, he told the 15 ambassadors on the council. Salam
said the UN has registered 607,908 refugees in Lebanon but the government
estimates the figure at 1.2 million. He estimated the number would grow 20-fold
during 2013.
In Pakistan, the Taliban rejected suggestions they were sending fighters to
Syria, saying some have gone there independently but the movements focus
remained in Pakistan. Taliban sources said some militants, mainly Arabs and
Central Asians, had gone to fight the forces of President Bashar al-Assad, but a
senior leader dismissed reports of them setting up camps in Syria.
On 18th July, it was reported that at least 29 people have been killed in
fighting between Kurdish and jihadist fighters in northern Syria in the past two
days. At least 19 Al-Nusra Front fighters and 10 Kurds have been killed since
the day before yesterday in clashes in the oil region of Hassakeh, an NGO said.
The clashes between Kurdish fighters and jihadists erupted after Al-Nusra
Front militants attacked a convoy of Kurdish women fighters. Activists in Ras
al-Ain said members of the jihadist groups had taken advantage of the Muslim
fasting month of Ramazan, which began last week, to try to impose their
extreme version of Islam.
Kurdish fighters meanwhile advanced elsewhere in the northeastern
province, taking control of part of the Sweidiya area of Hassakeh, which is the
only majority Kurdish province in Syria. Syrias Kurdish minority have walked
a sometimes ambiguous line in the countrys conflict, which is now in its third
year.
Elsewhere in the country, five people killed in an air strike on the town of
Saraqeb north-western Idlib Province. The group said at least four missiles fired
by regime war planes hit residential buildings. At least 120 people were killed
throughout Syria yesterday, according to the group, including 42 civilians, 61
rebels and 17 soldiers.
On 21st July, clashes broke out at dawn near Aleppo international airport
and Nairab air base, once Syria's commercial hub. Over the past year, insurgents
have fought hard to take Aleppo's airports, aiming to stop regime warplanes
from bombing areas they control. The city's international airport has been closed
since January. Elsewhere, a Republican Guard officer killed by rebels in
northeastern outskirts of Damascus. Clashes also took place at Kwayris military
airport. Army captured several terrorists from Al-Nusra Front, some of them
12
foreign nationals, west of Adra. Yesterday at least 109 people were killed
nationwide.
Next day, Pakistan strongly condemned the deliberate and wanton attack
on the holy sites including the recent attack on Syeda Bibi Zainabs (RA) shrine
in Damascus. Foreign office Spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry in a statement
said the trend of desecration of the holy sites has hurt the sentiments of Muslims
in Pakistan as indeed the world over. Such violations, which also fan sectarian
strife, are most reprehensible.
In Syria, shelling destroyed the centuries-old mausoleum of a companion
of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the central city of Homs. Reports of the
destruction of the Muslim pilgrimage site emerged as an intense army campaign
to reclaim rebel-held areas of Homs, a strategic junction city, entered its fourth
week.
Housed in the rebel area of Khaldiyeh, the Khaled bin Walid mosque had
already suffered significant damage during earlier fighting for control of the
city. Amateur video distributed by activists showed the mosque, renowned for
its two towering minarets, and images of what was identified as the destroyed
mausoleum.
The video also shows an unidentified man lashing out at the world over
the destruction of the shrine. I want to tell Arabs and Muslims, how will you
face God after Khalid bin Walid's shrine has been destroyed? Why have you
abandoned besieged Homs, says the man. Speaking to AFP via the Internet,
Khaldiyeh-based activist Yazan said the mosque holds symbolic importance not
only for Homs' residents but for Sunnis as a whole.
On 23rd July, Pakistan urged the Security Council to try and stop arms
supplies to all sides in the Syrian conflict, stating only a political solution could
pave the way towards peace in the Middle East country. Noting that the dates
for the Geneva Conference have been moved from June to July and now to
September, and even beyond, Ambassador Masood Khan said he believes each
side wanted to demonstrate military superiority before moving to the
negotiating table. But he said, more arms will only lead to more bloodshed, not
peace. We believe that in this war there will be no victors because Syrian is
killing Syrian. The entire Syrian nation is suffering.
The top US military officer has outlined the costs, risks and benefits of
possible American military involvement in the Syrian conflict. Joint Chiefs of
Staff chairman Gen Martin Dempsey offered five military options, including
limited strikes and establishing a no-fly zone. But he said using force in Syria
would be no less than an act of war and could cost the US billions of dollars.
In an open letter to senators, Gen Dempsey analyzed five military options
the US military could potentially undertake in Syria which include training,
13
15
royal court is situated in the same area where the bomb, made from a gas
cylinder, had exploded July 17. Several people were wounded two days later,
including a policeman shot with a home-made gun, in clashes between security
forces and anti-regime protesters. At least 80 people have been killed since the
protests erupted.
Yemen: On 17th July, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula confirmed the
death in a US drone strike of its deputy leader Saeed al-Shehri, dealing a new
blow to the already-weakened network's operations in Yemen. Shehri was
released from Guantanamo Bay in Cuba in 2007 and was flown to Saudi Arabia,
where he was put through a rehabilitation programme.
After completing the programme, the militant leader disappeared only to
resurface later as AQAP's number two. He had planned the kidnap of the Saudi
deputy consul in Aden, Abdullah al-Khalidi, who has been held captive by
AQAP since March 2012. AQAP militants are demanding the release of female
Al-Qaeda-linked prisoners held in Saudi in return for Khalidi's release. Shehri
was hounded by Yemen's security forces and had survived a number of attempts
on his life.
On 21st July, armed men seized an employee of the Iranian embassy in
Yemen's capital. The Iranian man was traveling through the diplomatic quarter
in southern Sanaa when gunmen blocked the road, forced him to get out of his
vehicle and took him to an unknown location. It was not clear who carried out
the kidnapping.
Africa
Algeria: On 21st July, it was reported that at least two of four Islamists
killed by security forces in a raid southeast of Algeria's capital were members of
al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The four were aboard a vehicle
ambushed in the town of Sour El-Ghozlane yesterday night.
Tunisia: On 26th July, Tunisia marked a day of mourning after gunmen
killed a leading opposition figure, sparking fresh political turmoil, protests and a
general strike which brought Tunis to near standstill. MP Mohammad Brahmi of
the leftist and nationalist Popular Movement was assassinated outside his home
in Ariana, near Tunis, by gunmen on a motorbike.
As news of the killing spread, thousands of angry protesters took to the
streets yesterday in central Tunis and in Sidi Bouzid, birthplace of the Arab
Spring and Brahmis hometown. Police in Tunis fired tear gas to disperse scores
of demonstrators who tried to set up a tent for a sit-in calling for the fall of the
regime after the second such slaying of a critic of the countrys Islamist
leadership.
Political tension has been rising in Tunisia, with the launch of the
countrys own version of the Tamarod (rebellion) movement launched in Egypt
16
17
appealed for an end to the violence. But within hours of his statement, the
Egyptian capital was rocked by political violence for the first time since dozens
of Morsi supporters were shot dead outside an elite army barracks early last
week.
Two people died in clashes around the central Ramses area near Tahrir
Square, while another five were killed in Giza. A security source cited by state
media said 401 protesters were arrested in the Ramses area alone. At least 17
security personnel were injured. Thousands of Islamists had poured onto the
streets after the iftar meal to demand the reinstatement of Morsi. Some of them
blocked the October 6 Bridge over the Nile in central Cairo, where security
forces fired tear gas to drive them back.
Egypts new rulers voiced strong resentment at comments by Turkeys
Islamist premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan backing Morsi as the countrys only
legitimate president. Foreign ministry spokesman expressed strong resentment
at comments like these, which... represent a clear intervention in internal
Egyptian affairs. The diplomatic spat came as the authorities tighten the screws
on Morsis backers, freezing the assets of 14 top Islamists, including 9
Brotherhood leaders.
Next day, thousands of supporters of deposed Egyptian President
Mohamed Mursi demonstrated outside the prime minister's office in a day of
steadfastness to protest against the formation of a new interim cabinet on its
first day on the job. Protesters held up copies of holy Quran and portraits of
Mursi in the blistering noon heat outside the main government buildings in the
centre of Cairo, demanding Mursi be restored to power. They shouted God is
Greatest!, Down with military rule! and We are all Mursi!
A few dozen youths from Tahrir armed with wooden sticks, construction
helmets and wooden planks tried to charge at the Brotherhood supporters being
held back by police. Some threw stones that fell short of the Mursi supporters.
Crisis in Egypt, which straddles the Suez Canal and has a peace treaty with
Israel, has alarmed its allies in the West and the region. Catherine Ashton, the
European Union's foreign policy chief, is due in town, the latest international
figure to meet Egypt's interim rulers.
The Brotherhood has maintained a vigil into its third week, with
thousands of supporters camped out in a Cairo square vowing not to leave
unless Mursi is restored. It has called protests attracting tens of thousands of
people every few days. Running street battles in the early hours yesterday were
the deadliest in a week. Before that, more than 90 people were killed in first five
days after Mursi was removed, more than half of them shot dead by troops
outside a Cairo barracks.
On 19th July, tens of thousands of Islamists poured onto Egypts streets
demanding the reinstatement of ousted president Mohamed Morsi, despite
18
20
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for demonstrations raises the prospect of further violence
on the streets between the pro and anti-Morsi camps.
Next Friday, all honourable Egyptians must take to the street to give me
a mandate and command to end terrorism and violence, said Sisi, wearing dark
sunglasses as he took to the podium to address a graduation ceremony of
military cadets near Alexandria. Meanwhile, Islamists called mass anti-coup
protests for Friday, the day the army chief has called for public rallies to give
him a mandate.
Senior Muslim Brotherhood leader Essam al-Erian said Morsi loyalists
would not be intimidated by the army chief's call for mass rallies. Your threat
will not prevent millions from continuously protesting, Erian said in a
statement on his Facebook page. He was referring to demonstrations by Morsi's
supporters which have continued non-stop since the Islamist leader was
overthrown and placed in custody by the military.
Qatar, a strong backer of Arab Spring uprisings and supporter of ousted
Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, has joined international calls for his
release from detention while expressing concern at violence sweeping Egypt. It
said it was surprised by the continued detention of elected president Mohamed
Morsi which threatens the achievements made by the 25 January (2011) revolt
that forced former Egyptian ruler Hosni Mubarak out of office.
Next day, military insisted it was not targeting backers of ousted president
Mohammed Mursi in calling for a mass rally to counter terrorism, amid
outrage from Islamist protesters and concern in Washington. The military
statement came after the chief of Mursis Muslim Brotherhood defiantly called
for a stand against the coup that toppled the president.
After Abdel Fattah al-Sisis call for a rally to justify a crackdown on what
he called terrorism and violence, Washington announced it would suspend a
delivery of F-16 warplanes. In Qatar, a Muslim organization headed by the
influential Egyptian-born cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi issued an edict against
obeying Sisis call, saying it could lead to civil war.
In the restive Sinai Peninsula, where militants have staged daily attacks
on security forces, two soldiers were shot dead in separate ambushes yesterday.
Senior Brotherhood leader Essam al-Erian said Mursi loyalists would not be
intimidated by the army chiefs call for mass rallies. Your threat will not
prevent millions from continuously protesting, Erian wrote on Facebook.
On 26th July, Egypt formally detained Mohamed Morsi for allegedly
abetting militants in murdering policemen and staging prison escapes, as clashes
during massive rallies by his opponents and loyalists killed two people. He was
also accused of conspiring with Hamas. His detention, under a court order for a
21
renewable 15 days, further raised tensions as those applauding the decision and
those demanding his reinstatement flooded parts of Cairo and other cities.
Two people were killed in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria in clashes
between the rival protesters, despite a massive police and military deployment.
At least 19 people were wounded in the Alexandria violence, in which riot
police intervened. Ten people were wounded in clashes in Cairo.
In Tahrir Square, more than 100,000 anti-Morsi protesters gathered in
response to a call from army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for Egyptians to
show their support for a security clampdown on terrorism. Tens of thousands
of army supporters also rallied outside the presidential palace, waving Egyptian
flags and holding posters of Sisi who was Morsis defence minister before
ousting him.
A leader of Morsis Muslim Brotherhood, Essam al-Erian, said in a
statement they would respond to his detention with peaceful marches. Hamas
condemned the allegations based on the premise that the Hamas movement is
hostile. Morsi had helped negotiate a truce to halt fighting between Israel and
Hamas in November on favourable terms for the Islamists.
Western nations are watching the crisis in Egypt with growing unease,
fearing the military may be angling for a prolonged power grab. The interim
governments strategy clearly consists of politically sidelining the Muslim
Brotherhood until the elections, said German Middle East expert Michael
Lueders. London-based rights group AI criticized Sisis call for rallies.
UN Secretary-General urged Egypts interim authorities to release ousted
President Mohammed Morsi. Ban Ki-moon also urged all the parties in Egypt
to act with maximum restraint and called on the interim authorities to ensure
law and order along with guaranteeing the safety and security of all Egyptians.
Pakistan called for immediate release of former President Muhammad
Morsi. In a statement, Foreign Office said that Pakistan and Egypt enjoy close
and friendly relations based on strong bonds of fraternity, mutual respect and
common aspirations of the people of the two countries. It is therefore with a
sense of deep concern that Pakistan wishes to express its anguish at the loss of
innocent lives in the violence which has currently engulfed Egypt.
On 27th July, more than hundred Morsis supporters were shot dead and
more than one thousand were wounded early in the day in the deadliest incident
in a month as violence. Egypts interior ministry insisted security forces had not
used live fire, and blamed the clashes on Islamists. Interior minister also warned
that pro-Morsi demonstrations would be dispersed soon.
The latest violence erupted at dawn outside Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque,
where Morsi loyalists have been camped since the week before the military
ousted him on July 3, with police firing tear gas at stone-throwing protesters on
22
the airport road. Birdshot and live rounds were fired, but it was unclear from
which side. Thousands of supporters and opponents of the coup also took to the
streets of second city Alexandria yesterday, sparking fierce clashes that killed at
least eight and wounded 194.
British Foreign Secretary urged Egyptian authorities to respect the right
of peaceful protest, to cease the use of violence against protestors, including live
fire, and to hold to account those responsible. The EU urged a rapid move to
an inclusive transformation process that would include the Muslim
Brotherhood.
The military has so far kept Morsis whereabouts secret to avoid
attracting protests by his supporters. Political polarization has raised fears of
prolonged violence, and even a militant backlash. The military is already facing
daily militant attacks in the Sinai Peninsula bordering Israel.
Somalia: On 24th July, at least one person was killed and several others
were wounded when a car bomb exploded in Mogadishu, the latest in a string of
attacks. The blast targeted a car belonging to a member of parliament who was
not hurt in the attack. No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but alQaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have carried out a series of bombings, attacks
and killings in a bid to overthrow the government.
On 27th July, a suicide car bomb attack struck a Turkish embassy annex in
Mogadishu, killing a Turkish guard and a Somali bystander. Three other Turkish
security forces were wounded, one of them seriously, in one of the worst attack
against the Turkish presence in Mogadishu.
VIEWS
Bangladesh
90 years sentence: A War Crimes Tribunal in Bangladesh has handed a
90 year old sentence to 91 year old Jamaat-e-Islami leader Professor Ghulam
Azam for war-crimes the court said were committed in league with Pakistan
military in the war of 1971. Naturally the reason why he was not given the death
sentence was because of his age and health but the long punishment is just
meant to convey the intensity of the sentence, especially since Mr Azam is
already past the twilight of his life. Justice is meant to be blind but even then it
is thought to have mercy.
Reports are that a few people have died as a result of the clashes between
demonstrators protesting both for and against the verdict, which for one thing
shows the kind of polarization dividing the Bangladeshi society. Recently, the
unrest has been hitting towns and cities all over the country; large-scale
disturbances were witnessed this February in the wake of the death sentence of
another Jamaat leader Dilawar Hussain Syedee also for war crimes in 1971
war.
Now the Jamaat has censured professor Azads sentence as politically
motivated. But whether political or not, the case appears to be that Bangladesh
is now at a juncture where it is intent upon dredging up the relics of the 1971
war even at some cost to its stability. These are not easy decisions for anyone to
digest, neither for the court giving the verdicts nor for the Jamaat or the general
public. There is absolutely no harm in going back in time to set the record
straight but the way that is being done is sure to raise a few eyebrows. Those
who are making amends for history must remember to distinguish themselves
from those who left their blood marks on it. (Editorial, TheNation 17th July)
Egypt
Egypt's road not taken could have saved Morsi: Mohamed Morsi
might still be president of Egypt today if he had grasped a political deal
brokered by the European Union with opposition parties in April, Egyptian
politicians and Western diplomats say.
Convinced that election victories gave them a sufficient basis to rule,
Morsi and his Muslim Brotherhood spurned the offer to bridge the most
populous Arab nation's deep political divide. Less than three months later, the
army overthrew him after mass anti-government protests.
24
26
27
Muslims
At a standstill: The other day, Shahid Mahmood, former Pakistan test
cricketer and a pioneer in community activism in the tri-state region of the
northeast corridor of United States, sent an email vividly illustrated with
graphics depicting the Muslim world at a standstill, mired in sloganeering,
while the rest of the world during the last 100 years has marched on through
motor cars, airplanes, space flights and space satellites. Shahid, today, spends
most of his waking hours in prayerful meditation. It is a clarion wake-up call to
fill the moral, spiritual and intellectual void in the Muslim world.
It is in stark contradiction to the mighty legacy of path-breaking learning
in the Muslim world. Right in the European heartland of Budapest, Hungary, is
a shrine of the Sufi saint Gul Baba. It takes a steep climb to get there, but is
worth it to see the rose-covered tomb of the holy man, who was declared patron
saint of Budapest during the 16th century. In Andaluca, Spain, is the great 12th
century Al-Mowahid mosque at Seville. In the mid-13th century, the city was
captured and the mosque was Christianized as a cathedral. In it lies buried
Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of America.
The scientific achievements of medieval Muslims are too numerous and
staggering to be enumerated here. But when coffee is drunk in the West, it is not
often realized that it made its way first via Vienna when the Ottoman Turks
made their final bid in 1683 to capture Vienna.
The current leadership is devoid of inspiration and direction, steeped as
it is in passive victimhood, defeatism, grabbing of wealth and preservation of
perks and power. To expect leadership, then from those who have none, is
absurd. They are incapable of raising the bar. Tariq and Babar accomplished
great conquests with a small band of intently committed and motivated fighters.
Baba Farid Ganjshakar and Baba Bulleh Shah conquered the hearts of huge
swaths of the populace with sheer piety and simplicity. They did so without
materiel resource.
Today, the resources are overflowing and so is the size of the Ummah.
But all this has not put a dent in the occupation of Palestine and Kashmir nor
curbed Islamophobia. In a memorable scene from the Punjabi blockbuster
Maula Jutt impeccably written by Nasir Adeeb, a shackled jail inmate, Noori
Nutt, peerlessly portrayed by Mustafa Qureshi, accosts the burly jail
superintendent with the putdown taunt that despite your huge size, your voice
is quite tiny and squeaky. This can be said with equal relevance to the 1.5
billion Muslim community.
28
Yet, despite pitiful results, the ruling oligarchy considers itself over-smart
when the evidence suggests crushing ineptness. When grit, endurance and
foresight are needed, they, instead, have squandered the national energies into
the futile quagmire of venality and vendetta. Even the finest formal education
has not removed the anxieties and complexes of a defeatist mindset, nor has it
instilled an abiding sense of integrity. Often one encounters the rationale of
surrender in that there is no choice. As the Arab upsurge demonstrates, for too
long, the oligarchy has enjoyed a free ride; now some of them have paid and are
paying the price.
To make its mark now in the international arena, Muslims have to show
that they are twice as good as their contemporaries. Mohammad Ali showed it in
America during the 60s and the 70s. Now, the bearded Hashim Amla of South
Africa has stamped his class on and off the cricket field without compromising
his Islamic convictions. There has been an accelerating slippage of standards.
Ashraf Mumtaz, a respected journalist narrated in The Nation a horror story of
his Umrah journey on PIA from Lahore to Medina. In it, he cited foul smelling
toilets, intolerably hot temperature inside the plane and shoddy service. Similar,
too, is the case of Pakistan cricket, which recently has disgraced itself in South
Africa and in England, breaking the hearts of millions of their country folks.
Both PIA and Pakistan cricket were once a source of joy and pride.
The status quo suits the oligarchy who, through sheer weight of wealth,
control the keys to the kingdom and, thereby, act as pliable proxies for vested
interests by fanning fissiparous flames. They have kept the gates of intellectual
inquiry and of moral audit closed. They may appear strong, but they are
inherently vulnerable because they are wrong.
Can the Muslim world stand up and be counted to face its real foes, while
they are themselves being kept busy and entrapped in suicidal squabbling? Hate,
paranoia and falsehood has a cannibalizing impact. The focus remains on
ceremonial aspects of faith and not on its vibrant moral core. By wrangling over
non-issues, the influentials are doing exactly what the foes want them to do.
And in doing so, they are keeping the Muslim world at a standstill. (Mowahid
Hussain Shahm, TheNation 18th July)
Europe
UKs silence over attacks on Muslims is worrying and divisive: Last
week, a nail bomb partially exploded at a mosque in the West Midlands - the
fourth attack in two months on mosques in Britain during Juma prayers. A
suspect in one of those attacks is also being questioned in connection with the
killing of Mohammed Saleem, a Muslim pensioner in Birmingham, who was
stabbed to death as he returned home from prayers. The police response to these
attacks has been heartening, but the silence from government and the
establishment in general, has been deeply worrisome
29
REVIEW
Pakistans Foreign Office condemned attacks and damages caused to
mosque and mazar of Hazrat Zainab (R.A). This formal condemnation was
more for pacifying the public sentiments than any love or respect for one of the
most revered ladies in Islamic history. Had it been for Islam, it would have
30
come long time ago as many mazars have been deliberately damaged by the
foreign-sponsored rebels.
All news from Syria come courtesy western news agencies. The mazars
and mosques have been targeted and damaged since long, but this aspect of the
war has been focused on for the first time. It could be intended to demonize
the regime that now tops the list of those to be toppled.
This shift in reporting pattern has come after the US and Saudis have
openly started delivering weapons to the rebels. The weapon supply is also
related to the induction of US-trained fighters into Syrian. The US and its
European allies are now certain that these rebels would wage only that version
of jihad that has been approved by the Crusaders.
Strangely most of the mazars have been damaged by the US and Saudibacked rebels. Even for those damaged by shelling and bombings by the
Syrian security forces the rebels have to share the blame because of using those
as hideouts. In this perpetration of death and destruction the hands of Saudi
rulers are conspicuously visible.
Egypt too has been pushed into a quagmire courtesy a General who has
done his apprenticeship in the United States. On third Friday of the holy month
of Ramazan more than hundred protesters were killed and thousand wounded by
security forces, while the enlightened segments of Egyptian society were sitting
peacefully in Tahrir Square to give mandate to General Sisi.
The civilized world issued formal statements showing concern over the
killings, but behind doors the Crusaders in Washington and other western
capitals must be having ear to ear smiles over the spilling of the blood of
Islamists. Through Sisi and his Arab backers the Crusaders have sent a firm
warning to Islamists all over the world.
28th July, 2013
Four days after this Indian paramilitary forces opened fire at Kashmiris
protesting at a raid by the troops on an Islamic school in Gool, IHK. Officially
six people were reported killed saying the death toll could rise further. Indias
Home Minister ordered an investigation into the shooting, but no ruler in
Pakistan had time to take notice of the gruesome incident in holy month of
Ramazan.
The blood on Pakistans jugular vein was not enough to extinguish the
fire of Amn ki Asha burning in hearts of its rulers. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
spared time to apprise the visiting United Kingdom Secretary Hague of the
initiatives aimed at improving relations with India, including the revival of back
channel diplomacy and the resumption of dialogue process.
It was followed by the US Vice President Joe Bidens four-day visit of
India designed to fire up bilateral trade. Biden, the first US vice president to
visit India in three decades, also focused on reassuring strategic partner of the
US that it would have a role in Afghanistan after occupation forces thin-out in
2014.
In Pakistan, the new rulers were yet to make up their mind about their
stance on the war on terror. Americans seemed to be in no hurry and were
prepared to give enough time to PML-N government as was evident from
several postponements of pending Islamabad visit of John Kerry. Meanwhile,
Sartaj Aziz visited Kabul without achieving any thing worthwhile.
As Pakistani rulers were still to make up their mind, their adversaries
across eastern border wasted no time in deciding how to react to hue and cry
over Mr Manis statement and Gool incident. Pakistan experienced a spate of
terror, sectarian and insurgent attacks starting from suicide bombing on ISI
office in Sukkur, suicide bombing in Parachinar, attack on Coastguards post
west of Gwadar, violation of ceasefire along LoC in addition to drone strike in
North Waziristan
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 15th July, the government of Pakistan strongly
condemned the US drone strike that took place in Mir Ali Tehsil of North
Waziristan Agency. The Foreign Office spokesman in a statement said these
unilateral strikes are a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty and territorial
integrity. He said Pakistan has repeatedly emphasized the importance of
bringing an end to drone strikes.
Next day, an ASI of Police was killed when some unknown armed men
opened fire on him in Qissa Khwani Bazaar, Peshawar. He was on duty in
32
Police Station Kabli and after attending his duty he was on way to his home for
Iftar. Armed attackers, who were riding on two motorcycles, escaped after the
incident.
On 17th July, unknown assailants shot dead an official of Khasadar Force
at bypass road of Tehsil Landikotal, Khyber Agency and dumped his body at the
Landikotal Bazaar Railway Line. Meanwhile, two NATO aircraft penetrated
into Pakistani airspace by seven kilometers over Torkham.
A senior Pakistani Taliban commander Adnan Rasheed, a former air
force member turned TTP cadre in an open letter to Malala Yousafzai wrote
that he personally wished the attack on her had not happened, but accused her of
running a smearing campaign against the militants. It is amazing that you are
shouting for education, you and the UNO (UN) is pretending that you were shot
due to education, although this is not the reason...not the education but your
propaganda was the issue, he wrote.
What you are doing now, you are using your tongue on the behest of the
others. He accused Malala of seeking to promote an education system begun by
the British colonialists to produce Asians in blood but English in taste and said
students should study Islam and not what it called the satanic or secular
curriculum.
I advise you to come back home, adopt the Islamic and Pashtun culture,
join any female Islamic madrassa near your home town, study and learn the
book of Allah, use your pen for Islam and plight of Muslim Ummah, Rasheed
wrote. He said he had originally wanted to write to Malala to warn her against
criticizing the Taliban when she rose to prominence with a blog for the BBC
Urdu service chronicling life under the militants 2007-9 rule in Swat.
Next day, gun and bomb attacks killed two security personnel and three
members of an anti-Taliban militia in Mamond Tehsil of Bajaur Agency.
Suspected Taliban militants attacked a vehicle of security forces with automatic
weapons when the paramilitary soldiers were on routine patrolling in Kamar
area north-west of Khar. Hearing the firing, residents of several villages nearby
and members of village defence committees rushed to the spot and started firing
on the attackers. However, the attackers managed to escape from the scene.
Separately, a remote-controlled bomb blast killed three members of antimilitants peace committee in Mamond Tehsil of Bajaur Agency. Locals of the
area and officials of the administration said the explosion took place in Badan
area, north-west of Khar, the headquarters of Bajaur tribal region.
Imran Khan has called for a closed-door meeting with PM Nawaz Sharif
and Army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani before the All Parties Conference. He in
a press statement said: I had asked for a meeting to be held between PM Nawaz
Sharif, General Kayani, and myself two months ago when I was still laid up in
33
hospital. My reason was, and remains, simply to get to the truth of government
and militarys prevailing commitment/understanding with the US on its war on
terror and drone attacks and the position of intelligence and security
organizations on sectarian terrorism.
Imran Khan added that he realized that facts cannot be stated in a large
open forum like APC because of national security but at the same time it is
imperative for the government to inform the political leaders about the nature of
their understanding with the US. For far too long the governments have refused
to take political leaders into confidence and have lied to the people, Imran said.
On 19th July, two Frontier Corps personnel were killed when forces were
conducting clearance operation in Aka Khel area of Tehsil Bara, Khyber
Agency. They were targeted with a roadside bomb planted by militants. Soon
after the incident, the forces launched operation to track the culprits. During the
operation, they shot injured two civilians, including a woman.
Next day, at least twenty eight militants were killed and six soldiers
martyred in fierce clashes in Khyber Agency and FR Kohat. The confrontation
started yesterday in Khyber Agency. According to security forces, ten extremists
were killed when security personnel battled with the terrorists in Akka Khel area
of Bara Tehsil. Two security men were also martyred during the clashes.
In another clash, 18 militants have so far been killed in the on-going
clashes in Kharmatang area of FR Kohat where Pakistan Air Force fighter jets
pounded militant compounds and razed two hideouts to the ground. During the
battle, four security men were also martyred in FR Kohat.
Meanwhile, NATO jet fighter violated the Pakistan airspace at Torkham
border area. NATO aircraft continued flight for at least ten minutes creating
panic among people of the area. It was the third time NATO aircraft have
violated the Pakistan territory during last three days. Pakistan Air Force refuted
the media reports regarding violation of Pakistani airspace by NATO jets.
On 21st July, two oil tankers were destroyed in an attack by armed men in
Mastung district. Attacks on containers particularly carrying supplies of NATO
forces are common on highways connecting Karachi with Quetta. PTI expressed
its concern over the US governments prisoners swap agreement with Pakistan,
which calls for a release of Shakil Afridi in exchange for the release of Dr Aafia
Siddiqui. PTI press release said that there are serious issues with accepting the
conditions laid down by the US for the release of Aafia.
The US governments conditions to release Aafia dictates that Pakistan
accept that she is a terrorist and should complete the remainder of her life
sentence in Pakistan. Moreover, the conditions state that Pakistan should accept
that her trial in the US was fair and justified. The PTI statement said that the
34
government would not accept any conditions forcibly asked for by the US
government.
Next day, two persons, including an apparent saboteur were killed and
three others received injuries in a bomb blast in Chaman town. A man whose
body was blown up into pieces apparently was planting a bomb close to a
mosque adjacent to Immigration and Customs offices at Pak-Afghan border
when explosive went off.
On 23rd July, unknown gunmen shot dead a member of the peace
committee, Shahi Rehman in the jurisdiction of police station Kanju when he
came out of his house to go to a mosque for prayers. His body was later
recovered from a nearby orchard and was shifted to Saidu Sharif Hosital, Swat.
Next day, suicide car bombers and gunmen attacked a government
complex housing offices of Pakistans top intelligence agencies the ISI and MI
sparking a shootout that killed seven people. The dead included four attackers,
one intelligence agent and another government employee and at least 38 people
were wounded in the attack.
More than an hour after the initial explosions, the gun battle still raged as
security services hunted up to 10 militants who detonated four bombs in the
heavily guarded compound. Although there was no immediate claim of
responsibility, but the ISI has been a frequent target for Pakistani Taliban. Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack.
On 25th July, bodies of 19 militants, who were killed in recent clashes
with the security forces in Kharmatang area of Bara subdivision in Khyber
Agency, were shifted to Jamrud. The search operation continued for two days
against the militants in Kharmatang area last week in which six soldiers were
also killed.
Deputy Commandant Frontier Reserve Police (FRP) was critically
wounded while his gunman and driver were killed when their car was ambushed
in Gulbahar locality in Peshawar. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP),
presently posted as Deputy Commandant FRP, was on way from his residence
to his office when his vehicle was attacked.
Law enforcement agencies arrested several suspected men from various
areas during a search operation in connection with terrorist attacks at the ISI
building in Sukkur. During the search operation the Barrage Colony area of
Sukkur was cordoned off and sealed to nab the culprits. The arrested suspects
were shifted to undisclosed place for interrogation. The death toll has risen to
nine from yesterdays attack.
Meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister, the federal cabinet
considered the issue of repatriation of Afghan refugees beyond June 30 deadline
and decided that the proof of the registration card for them may be extended up
35
till 2015. The US did not want them to return to before it pulled out from
Afghanistan in mid 2014.
Pakistan and the United States agreed to bring the issue of drone strikes
on top of the agenda for future talks between the two sides, though most of this
exercise will be behind closed doors. These negotiations will commence with
the arrival of senior US officials including US special representative for
Pakistan and Afghanistan James Dobbins and later US Secretary of State John
Kerry, for which dates are being worked out.
Dr Fauzia Siddiqui, sister of Dr Aafia Siddiqui who is incarcerated in the
United States of America, said that news are in circulation that the US
administration wants to barter Dr Shakeel Afridi with Aafia Siddiqui. She added
that no one has contacted the family in this context.
Next day, twin suicide bombers attacked two busy markets in Parachinar
killing at least 50 people and injuring more than 180 others, out of them 20 were
critically wounded. The first explosion came in front of a Shia mosque while the
second one at the School Road. There was heavy rush in the congested bazaar as
people were buying food items for Iftar.
The area where the bombers struck is mainly inhabited by minority Shias
but officials said they could not immediately identify the victims. Kurram has
been the scene of frequent sectarian violence between Sunni majority and Shia
minority. The army has also been fighting for years against the insurgents in this
district and the other agencies of the tribal belt. Militants from Afghanistan have
also occasionally crossed the border and launched attacks on the local
population and the Pakistani forces.
Two persons were killed and six others sustained injuries when a pick-up
vehicle hit an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in the Kurram Agency when
it was on way to Parachinar from Kharpata. The victims were shifted to the
headquarter hospital where the condition of two wounded was stated to be
critical.
On 27th July, at least eight militants and two personnel of security forces
were killed and 24 others injured when Frontier Constabulary successfully
repulsed a terrorist attack at Speen Thall Post of Hangu early in the morning.
Maps and documents in Arabic language were recovered from the possession of
a killed Arab militant.
Around 150 miscreants, armed with light and heavy arms including
RPGs, mortars, grenades and C-5 explosives had attacked the post. The
attackers suffered substantial human and material losses and were forced to flee
from the scene. Militants are said to have taken along six to eight dead bodies of
their accomplices.
36
37
Bolan district at night. Unknown persons had planted the explosive material
with pylons of two main transmission lines; one of the pylons was destroyed
completely and three others were partly damaged.
On 21st July, FC and police personnel arrested 28 suspects during a
security operation conducted in the Kali Gio area of Saryab Road last night on
the information that terrorists are present in the area. Forces conducted search
operations in the wake of repeated incidents of terrorism in Balochistan.
On 25th July, at least three people including a PML-N leader were gunned
down in Khuzdar district. PML-N leader Abdul Qadir Zarakzai was injured last
night in fight with his opponent group and he was being shifted to Khuzdar for
treatment when unknown persons opened fire on his vehicle in Zehri area. As a
result, three people including Mr Zarakzai, Levies man and passer-by Sanaullah
were killed on the spot after receiving multiple bullet wounds.
Next day, two people were gunned down, including a Levies personnel in
two separate incidents in Turbat and Khuzdar towns. Meanwhile, a complete
shutter-down strike was observed in various Baloch dominated districts of
against extra-judicial arrest of political workers and recovery of bodies.
On 27th July, at least seven personnel of Pakistan coastguards were killed
and seven others wounded in an armed attacked by militants in Gwadar. Banned
outfit Baloch Liberation Front (BLF) owned the pre-dawn attack, claiming their
fighters also picked up two coastguards from the check post in Suntsar area,
some 100 kilometres from Gwadar. Around 24 insurgents had attacked the
check post with rocket launchers and sophisticated weapons.
Next day, militants fired two rockets in Chattak area of Panjgour district
near Iran border. The rockets landed in a desolated area near Rakshan nullah.
Militants blew up the railway track in Sariab locality connecting Quetta with
rest of the country, temporarily suspending rail service.
Turf war: On 15th July, at least five people were gunned down and two
Rangers personnel injured in different incidents of violence. The Human Rights
Commission of Pakistan noted with grave concern about the steep rise in
Karachi violence in the first six months of this year. Releasing the statistics to
the media through a press statement, the HRCP reported that as many as 1,726
people had been killed in violence in the port city until the end of June in 2013.
Over the six-month period in 2013, as many as 73 people were killed in
sectarian attacks; 203 people were killed after being abducted; 545 people who
did not have any overt political affiliations were killed in attacks; and 178
political activists (48 in June alone) were killed. The fatalities also included 92
policemen and 18 personnel of paramilitary forces. Dead bodies of 101 people
were found in the city during the period under review. Bomb blasts claimed 92
38
lives and the Lyari gang war claimed another 41 while 49 people were killed by
robbers and another 57 in police encounters.
The Supreme Court resumed the hearing of Karachi law and order suo
moto implementation case and expressed displeasure with Rangers over their
failure to restore peace in the violence-plagued metropolitan city. Advocate
General Sindh appeared before the bench and said that IG Sindh Police would
not turn up today due to his ill health. IG's non-appearance irked the court.
During the hearing, Rangers presented its report on law and order
situation in the city and measures taken by them. However, the report bore no
signature of the DG Rangers. At which Justice Amir Hani termed it as a bid to
hoodwink the court. The court also inquired of recent unrest in Lyari and
subsequent migration of residents from the area. It also took notice of five
criminals' escape from the police custody and scolded police officials over their
negligence.
The bench expressed displeasure over Sindh Revenue Board authorities
for not properly maintaining land record after it was lost in large quantity during
riots in Sindh over Benazir Bhutto's assassination. The court has summoned the
Chief Secretary to inform the court how its orders were implemented.
Next day, Rangers killed an innocent citizen near Gulistan-e-Jauhar in
Karachi. The Rangers asked a cabbie to stop for checking but the driver, Murad,
did not stop, triggering the law enforcers to open fire on the cab. The driver died
while his four-year-old son survived. Meanwhile, another under-trial prisoner
managed to run from the Karachi City Court. Eight inmates fled from the
captivity of police during the last week.
On 18th July, six people including two policemen were killed in various
incidents of violence in Karachi. Next day, at least four persons including a PPP
worker were gunned down in different incidents of violence. Meanwhile, Chief
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry expressed annoyance over the killing of a
taxi driver by the Rangers in Karachi and directed the police to submit challan
in the court within one week.
On 20th July, three people were killed and dozen others wounded within
an hour in two separate blasts in Karachi. The first blast targeted the convoy of
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Commissioner Matanat Ali Khan in Essa
Nagri area, wounding six people. Police said after leaving his office, Khan had
just reached near Lyari Expressway entry gate when an explosive device planted
at the roadside went off. They said the bomb was detonated remotely. Law
enforcers and rescuers rushed and shifted the injured to Abbasi Shaheed
Hospital, where one of them, a police guard Sohail Anjum Siddiqui, expired.
Another blast took place on the third floor of a building in Patel Para area.
39
40
Abu Bakkar and Muhammad Muavia, who have been handed over to CID
Police on physical remand till July 28, were presented before media. They
confessed to their crime and said they had chalked out the terror attack on
Justice Baqar at the resident of Bashir Leghari, another accused who succumbed
to injuries he had sustained during encounter with law enforcing agencies a
couple of days ago.
Abu Bakkar said mastermind Bashir Leghari had also sent him an SMS
of shadi mubarrak after the blast which was successfully carried out. He said
they had used a stolen motorcycle to carryout the blast. Explosives were
planted in lights, indicators, oil tank and silencer of the motorcycle that was
taken to the spot in a rickshaw, they further revealed. They said they, being
directed by Qari Bashir, had also targeted Advocate Kausar Saqlain and his two
sons in Kemari.
District South police in collaboration with intelligence agency had
arrested alleged master mind Basher Ahmed Leghari along with his son Mavia
Leghari and Abu Bakkar during a raid at their hideout in Surjani locality two
days ago. During the raid, the alleged mastermind received bullet injury in his
abdomen, later succumbed to his injuries during the treatment at Jinnah
Postgraduate Medical Centre. Reportedly, police investigators have arrested
four more suspects those were allegedly involved in the case of the attack.
In Islamabad, DG Intelligence Bureau (IB) informed Prime Minister that
the alleged death squad chief of banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) Masoom Billa
has been arrested. The accused had provided significant information regarding
attack on Justice Maqbool Baqar. Prime Minister directed the IB to keep a
vigilant eye on terrorists, their cohorts and other criminals to realize the
collective goal of peace and security in the country.
On 21st July, police said that the three terrorists killed in the blast inside a
residential apartment in a Karachi neighbourhood yesterday were associated
with the banned Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The explosion in the multi-storey building
in Patel Para area killed three terrorists Matiullah, Subhan and Akbar Aka
Bukhari and wounded another, namely Imran.
Next day, two men from the Hazara community were gunned down in
Quetta in targeted killing while two passersby also got injured. Two armed
persons riding a motorcycle opened indiscriminate firing on a cab when the
driver and passenger were boarding it. Some members of Hazara community
staged a protest demo at Meezan Chowk close to the murder site.
On 27th July, Hazara Town residents gunned down a suicide bomber who
along with his accomplices was trying to target an Imam Bargah in the area.
Private guards of Hazara community intercepted them and killed the suicide
bomber, while his accomplices managed to flee from the scene.
41
42
held talks with Afghan Foreign Minister Dr Zalmay Rasul. The two sides
discussed ways to further promote bilateral relations and prospects for peace in
Afghanistan.
Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan has been trying to help jumpstart the peace
process as a stable Afghanistan is in Pakistans own interest. However, he said
any peace talks must be Afghan-owned and Afghan-led. He said Pakistan would
take every step to bring peace in Afghanistan.
Sartaj said Pakistan was again prepared to ease the movement of Taliban
negotiators and release more Taliban detainees should the Afghan government
request it. I have brought a message of cordiality and goodwill for
Afghanistan, he told the news conference.
Aziz said Pakistan had helped persuade some Taliban factions to discuss
peace in the past, and also had played a role in helping Taliban representatives
travel to Qatar before those efforts stalled. In the future, to the extent we are
requested, we can play the same role but at the appropriate time and in
consultation with other interested parties, Aziz said.
A video showing women in burqas at a weapons training camp in
Pakistans tribal region. The minute-long footage, passed to The Sunday Times,
shows five women being trained to use AK-47 assault weapons and fire rocketpropelled grenades. Video prompted fears that militant groups are recruiting
women to frontline terrorist roles.
The Tehrik-e-Taliban, LeJ and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan have
used female bombers on more than six occasions since December 2010 to hit
targets in Pakistan. Qari Ziaur Rahman, the Taliban and al-Qaeda leader who
operates from Pakistans tribal agencies of Mohmand and Bajaur and in the
Afghan provinces, is known to run most of the training camps for suicide
bombers.
On 22nd July, Afghan President Karzai gave a lukewarm response to
Pakistan's invitation to visit Islamabad, setting conditions for any high-level
talks designed to mend increasingly frosty relations. But he said a high-ranking
delegation could visit Pakistan only when the agenda is specified, initial
preparations have been made and a serious and effective struggle against
terrorism and the peace process are on the top of the agenda.
Meanwhile, the Afghan president told the top US military commander
that he was ready in principle to let American troops stay in Afghanistan beyond
2014. General Martin Dempsey, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is the
most senior American to meet Hamid Karzai since he suspended negotiations
for a long-term security pact in protest at how the Taliban opened a liaison
office in Qatar.
43
44
injured. We are a professional force. We respect all the tenets of all religions,
Rajeev Krishan, inspector general of the BSF, told reporters in Jammu.
Omar Abdullah, the states chief minister, warned that the ghastly
incident risked igniting wider unrest. It is highly unacceptable to shoot at
unarmed protesters just because they were reportedly protesting manhandling of
an imam of their area, Abdullah said in a statement.
In a separate incident, unidentified gunmen shot dead two policemen who
were bodyguards of a top cardiologist, near the doctors home in the town of
Pampore, 15 kilometres south of Srinagar. Three terrorists attacked and injured
the doctor while he was walking towards a car along with his bodyguards who
laid their lives on the spot, Abdul Ghani Mir, police chief, told AFP.
The Prime Minister apprised the United Kingdom Secretary Hague of the
initiatives aimed at improving relations with India, including the revival of back
channel diplomacy and the resumption of dialogue process. Secretary Hague
expressed full support for all the initiatives. British Prime Minister said India
and Pakistan can play a crucial role to bring peace to Afghanistan through their
resumed bilateral dialogue process.
On 20th July, Indian-held Kashmir was gripped by curfew, two days after
security forces shot dead six demonstrators, triggering widespread protests
across the Muslim-majority region. Yesterday, a further 59 people, including 49
police and federal paramilitary personnel, were hurt in clashes between
government forces and protesters in dozens of places.
In a rare gesture, Indian Kashmirs council of ministers condemned the
firing and ordered 500,000-rupee compensation payments to the families of the
slain demonstrators. Indian Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has also said he
regretted the killings and ordered a probe into the decision to open fire. Pakistan
reacted sharply to the alleged desecration of Quran and the killings.
The PM Nawaz Sharif stressed the importance of a peaceful and stable
neighbourhood and Pakistans positive contribution to the creation of such an
environment. He directed the foreign ministry officials to come up with a
renewed plan to sort out all the outstanding issues with neighbouring India
through dialogue. Sharing his vision on dealing with all these areas, he strongly
emphasized the imperatives of promotion of trade and pursuit of economic
diplomacy.
The Prime Minister apprised the United Kingdom Secretary Hague of the
initiatives aimed at improving relations with India, including the revival of back
channel diplomacy and the resumption of dialogue process.
On 22nd July, US Vice President Joe Biden arrived in India for a four-day
visit designed to revive flagging diplomatic ties and fire up bilateral trade.
Biden, the first US vice president to visit India in three decades, will meet
46
senior leaders including Prime Minister in New Delhi tomorrow before heading
to the financial hub Mumbai to deliver a keynote speech on the economy.
Next day, US Vice President Joe Biden held talks with Indian leaders as
he sought to calm fears over the exit of American troops from Afghanistan and
capitalize on growing investment opportunities. Biden said the worlds two
largest democracies share common goals on a range of regional security issues.
But there is widespread unease among Indian leaders over what will happen in
Afghanistan once US troops have left in 2014, with many fearing that Pakistan
has most to gain from the withdrawal.
Even though planned talks between the US and Taliban collapsed last
month, the possible return to power of the Taliban alarms many in India. In an
interview ahead of his arrival, Biden said the Taliban had a part to play in the
political process as long as they renounced violence.
On 26th July, protest rallies were held across IHK over killings by Indian
forces, but TheNation reported of it front page that Islamabad has proposed two
sets of dates to Delhi for senior official-level talks that would be held in August
and September. The third round of Pakistan-India dialogue was launched in
September 2012 and suspended due to tension caused by border incidents
between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
According to the roadmap for sectoral dialogue agreed by senior officials
on both sides, Pakistan is to host talks on water and Sir Creek issues besides a
meeting of the foreign secretaries on the Kashmir dispute where peace and
security will also be discussed and India would host the interior secretary/home
secretary-level meeting and defence secretary-level talks on the Siachen Glacier
dispute and meeting of the two foreign ministers to review the overall progress
of the bilateral dialogue process. India has yet to propose dates for meetings.
On 27th July, Indian troops shot and killed one Pakistani soldier and
injured another in an unprovoked attack across the Line of Control in Rawala
Kot area of Kashmir. The Indian army said it had fired in a calibrated manner
in response to Pakistani firing. The Foreign Office strongly condemned the
unprovoked firing by Indian soldiers along the LoC.
VIEWS
Pakistan
India in Balochistan: Charges of foreign interference, including by
India, in Balochistan and other troubled areas of Pakistan have, during the last
PPP-led setup, also been leveled off and on, even by government functionaries
holding responsible positions. However, somehow they invariably shied away
from producing any documentary evidence in support of these charges, though
47
claiming to possess them, and despite calls from the media and opposition
political leaders failed to raise the issue either at the bilateral or international
level. Nevertheless, the widespread public perception, undoubtedly, is that
neighbouring and other countries are fishing in troubled waters in the
strategically located Balochistan, possessing vast natural resources, to gain their
own ends.
Now former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Jamali, who hails from
Balochistan, has pointed an accusing finger at New Delhi, blaming it for
infiltrating into the province through Afghanistan. In an interview with AlKhaleej, he has said that to keep the pot boiling, certain foreign powers are
funneling huge sums of money into the tormented province. One hopes he
would back up the charge with credible evidence. He is of the view that the
issues concerning Balochistan could only be resolved when all institutions adopt
one single agenda of tackling them. He is critical of the role of the outgoing PPP
government, alleging that it had its own preferences that did not tally with the
demands of developing the province and improving the lot of the people; rather,
it further worsened their condition, thus losing the trust of the common man.
Mir Jamali felt that the Baloch, should they have recourse to their traditional
ways of settling issues, would be able to tide over the problem and succeed in
bringing the situation back to normal.
Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who observed on Sunday that there was
dire need for unity of approach between Pakistan and Afghanistan to defeat
militancy, should first of all ensure that the infiltration the Baloch leader has
talked about is brought to an end. And similarly the unseemly chapter of his
wavering between fulminating against Islamabad and extolling it for being a
real brother of the Afghans should be closed. That would demonstrate not only
the seriousness of intentions to work with Pakistan, but also be a sign of his
feelings for the good of Pakistan. There can be no question that the scourge
could best be eliminated by the two neighbours working together. (Editorial,
TheNation 16th July)
Reliving the raid: Though it does not seem the judiciary, as represented
by the Supreme Court, will give the military the legal cover it needs for future
takeovers, it should not be forgotten that the Abbottabad raid was followed by
the attack on the navy airbase at PNS Mehran, and preceded by the attack on
GHQ. These attacks can be seen as attempts to weaken the link between the
armed forces and the people.
The government must, therefore, tread a very careful path. It must ensure
that it is not derailed from any of its purposes. One way of quickly putting the
whole affair beyond it would be to have the report published. Even if it does not
have sufficient recommendations for action, the government can still decide on
detailed actions but if given, recommendations must be acted upon.
48
One advantage that the present government has is that it was in the
opposition at all times, from the actual event, to the setting up of the
commission, to the presentation of the report, to the setting up of a committee to
consider publication. In short, no member of the present government has any
role in setting the defence policy leading up to the Abbottabad raid, or in the
leak of the commissions report. It thus has no need to defend either and can
come down hard on whoever is responsible, with the added advantage that that
person would belong to the PPP, and thus punishable not just with impunity, but
positive political advantage to the government.
The PPP too must act calmly in this time; forget, at least for now, its
animus against the armed forces and not protest too loudly, or try to save any of
its members guilty of any wrongdoing.
The nation as a whole has paid heavily for its defence against all
attackers, not just those from a specific country. It must have armed forces
capable of repelling invaders and of ensuring that all, foreigners, included are
protected by the state. That might be too much to ask in this era of the war on
terror and rendition, but the nation as a whole has paid too heavily for foreign
support of domestic coups to want a repetition. (M A Niazi, TheNation 19 th
July)
Our terror treatment: The decade-long war on terror has melted our
already fragile economy. We are, indeed, helpless due to the ongoing acts of
terror. It is unfortunate that the only thing we have done up till now is engage in
futile all parties conferences (APCs).
After 9/11, it seems, our vulnerable realties have been exposed; how high
we talked and how low we performed. The only industry in Pakistan is the
industry of terrorism that is flourishing, making ground zero to every tower of
hope.
The war on terror was followed by suicide bombings, heavy taxes,
reduced foreign investments and zero respect for law and order, ultimately
breaking the societys social fabric with great speed. However, we cannot deny
some marvelous moves by Pakistani armed forces. The daring operations
conducted by the military in Swat Valley and Fata are the cases in point. Yet, the
fear of losing ground is greater than the hope of success.
Indeed, there is no policy, no strategy and no maturity; we are busy in a
wild goose chase, while telling cock and bull stories to each other. The
question is: why dont we try to find the actual root cause of the problems
prevailing in the country?
Needless to say, social justice with rational and realist attitude is the main
ingredient to the solution of our problems; but it is absent from our
strategy/policymaking. At the moment, our country is a prisoner of the ruthless
49
designs of the great game though the front actors are the terrorists, hidden are
complex manifestations of the great game. The question, thus, remains: Who
would be defeated when nuclear Pakistan will be on the road to economic
prosperity?
So, it is time to revisit the past to get some practical, viable and dynamic
lessonsfor Pakistan, time has come to shun the bags of personal incentives of
our elected representatives and the security establishment and join hands to
create a peaceful society and state. (M. Dilawar Chaudhry, TheNation 20th July)
Towards comprehensive security: Ideally, the national security policy
should establish an optimum balance among its political, economic, diplomatic
and military dimensions so as to preserve domestic political stability and social
cohesion, promote economic strength and progress, and safeguard the
independence and the territorial integrity of state. A unidimensional approach
focusing on the military aspect of national security to the neglect of other
essential ingredients will prove counter-productive, particularly in the long run.
For instance, excessive allocation of the national resources to the military
may give the impression of a strong defence in the short run, but it may weaken
national security in the long run by slowing economic growth and weakening
the economic foundation of national security. A heavy military superstructure on
a weak economic foundation is likely to crumble in the face of a serious
external challenge to a nations security. Pakistans current weak economic
condition is the inevitable result of excessive allocation of the national
resources to the military sector over the past several decades. The need of the
hour is for Pakistan to place due emphasis on both the military and economic
sectors so as to achieve a happy balance between the short term and long term
requirements of national security.
Similarly, domestic political stability and social cohesion are a sine qua
non for national security. A divided nation that lacks political stability is in no
position to safeguard national security when confronted with a serious external
threat. The loss of East Pakistan in 1971 was the direct outcome of the neglect
of this essential principle of national security by the military regime of the time.
Musharraf by killing Nawab Akbar Bugti and undertaking military operations in
Balochistan, instead of taking care of the genuine grievances and concerns of its
people, aggravated the crisis in the province showing once again the dangerous
consequences of having at the helm of affairs a military dictator, who knows
only the art of the use of brute force, for the national security.
Finally, it is the job of the diplomatic arm of the state to assess and
prioritize the external challenges and threats to a nations security, and identify
ways and means of overcoming them within the constraints of a nations
economic and military resources, and its political strength and vulnerabilities. In
50
so doing, we must at all the times remain cognizant of the regional and
international security environment.
Unfortunately, there is no institution in Pakistan at present which can
synthesize the political, economic, diplomatic and military dimensions of
national security so as to present to the elected government viable policy
options. That is why it is imperative that the government should take immediate
steps for the establishment of a National Security Council (NSC) headed by the
Prime Minister in his capacity as the Chief Executive. The NSC should be
served by a full-fledged secretariat headed by a National Security Adviser. It
should be the responsibility of this secretariat to submit to the government well
studied recommendations on national security issues based on inputs from
various organs of the state. Only policies based on such a comprehensive
approach can hope to safeguard effectively the nations short term and long term
security. (Javid Husain, TheNation 23rd July)
No room for laxity: It would be self-defeating for the Sindh government
to ignore the offer of help to check the bloodshed in Karachi that Interior
Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali made when he visited the metropolis on Monday.
The over month-long rule of the new setup has not helped improve the situation;
if anything, the city is seen relentlessly going down deeper into anarchy. The
PPP, now holding the sole charge of running the show in the province, could no
longer take shelter behind the excuse of restraints that hamstring a coalition
setup from proceeding against the lawbreakers with full force
Chaudhry Nisar rightly said that the situation cannot be allowed to go on
any longer since its fallout affects economy of the entire country. In an
attempt to find a way out of the mess, he met the Chief Minister, the Governor,
Rangers MD and PML-F and PML-N local leaders. He denied that the idea of
imposing Governors Rule in the province ever crossed the minds of those at the
Centre. Underlining the importance the federal government attached to bringing
back to Karachi the glories of the past, he told the media that the Prime Minister
would soon also be in the town to take stock of the situation and discuss
remedial measures with the local authorities. Hopefully, the Ministers visit
would make the provincial leadership shed its lackadaisical attitude to the ongoing tragedy and show some results by the time Mian Nawaz Sharif visits the
troubled city. (Editorial, TheNation 24th July)
Conflict of ethnic vulnerability: Though I have refrained from writing
on the subject for long, the recent activity on the status of Durand Line, Tehriki-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in Afghanistan, nationalist card being
played by President Hamid Karzai and the melting pot that is Khyber
Paktunkhwa (KPK) warrants, that the nation must be apprised of the
vulnerabilities and challenges therein. Having failed to nibble into Pakistans
integrity through the Baloch separatists, strategists have now turned their eyes
51
53
also that the stream of funds and arms coming from sympathetic sectarian
interests abroad are not allowed to reach them. (Editorial, TheNation 28th July)
Afghanistan
Afghanistan imbroglio: The Obama administration wants a maximally
safe passage for US army's retreat in order to minimize the impact of its
humiliating defeat at the hands of the warring Taliban. So, it wants peace with
the Taliban.
President Karzai too wants peace in Afghanistan, but for his own and
cronies' security. According to the Afghan constitution, he cannot contest the
presidential elections for the third time and, thus, wants to be the lead player in
the peace negotiations with the Taliban - as said earlier, to possibly secure
concessions for himself and his cohorts in the post-withdrawal Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, the game that is being played by the American and Afghan
governments is very dangerous, which may have disastrous consequences for
Afghanistan and the region. So, the war-battered country actually needs a grand
national reconciliation that, arguably, stands a good chance of coming about if
given a try at this point in time when the situation is propitious.
All parties to the conflict appear to be exhausted and it is in this backdrop
that the Taliban have indicated that they are not loath to talk to its erstwhile foes
of the Northern Alliance. So much so, that Mullah Omar, in his last years Eid
message, had categorically stated: The Taliban had no intent at all to
monopolize power in a post-withdrawal Afghanistan.
Further, several Afghan political and ethnic entities also want to be part of
the peace dialogue, though to the anger of Karzai. He insists implausibly that
his regime represents every hue and stripe of the Afghan polity, which those
entities do not accept. But there is no other choice. Indeed, the dialogue for
peace, harmony and security has to be broad-based. And the Taliban would not
be averse to the peace deal if it is judicious and based on merit, and other parties
show due respect for the erstwhile kings and kingmakers in Afghanistan
Pashtuns.
Add to this, the American policymakers must be ruing in their hearts for
being so disrespectful to Afghanistans ground realities since their occupation
has come to cause difficulties in their idea of a respectable exit. They had taken
the Taliban lightly 12 years ago. Anyhow, they have reaped the fruits of their
folly. But President Karzai should not throw a spanner in the works to obscure
the prospects for peace and should rather facilitate the reconciliation process to
bring stability in Afghanistan. (Mohammad Jamil, TheNation 17th July)
India
54
also combined with the protests against the killing of six people when the
occupation forces fired on a crowd protesting the desecration of a mosque. The
incident showed the Kashmiri people as well as the world at large the cost of
Indian occupation, the price of not being allowed their right of selfdetermination. The cost to India of this occupation can be seen from a recent
opinion poll, carried out with the joint cooperation of the Lowe Institute of
International Policy and the Australia-India Institute, showed that 94 percent of
Indians regard Pakistan as the greatest danger to India. This shows an awareness
that India has fought three wars with Pakistan, but there has to be a
corresponding realization that the wars were over Kashmir.
There does not seem a sufficient effort by Indians to join the dots: to
understand that the unrest in Kashmir was created by the Indian government
when it illegally occupied the Valley, and has been compounded by its
subsequent refusal to allow the Kashmiri people this intrinsic right of selfdetermination through a UN-supervised plebiscite. This solution was taken to
the international community, in the shape of the UN Security Council, by India
itself, but it has itself resiled from it. At the same time, the Indian refusal to
accept the existence of Pakistan is shown by the survey, and thus the futility of
all peace efforts which do not attempt to solve the core issue of Kashmir in
accordance with the wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The government of Pakistan must never forget its role as the base camp
of the Kashmir freedom struggle, and must insist that India settle this issue
before obtaining a general settlement. India must not be allowed to posture
before the world as an upholder of human rights while brutally crushing those
of the Kashmiri people. It is the duty of Pakistan to provide the moral and
diplomatic support necessary for this, which would start with refusing to have
any talks which do not start with resolving the Kashmir issue. (Editorial,
TheNation 21st July)
Ties with neighbours: In line with the highly pragmatic principle of
having an environment that is conducive to peace and progress, the Prime
Minister directed the Foreign Ministry to frame policies that could make for
improved relations with the neighbouring countries, policies designed to
advance national development goals and enhance Pakistans international
stature
Stress on strengthening the economy is of unquestionable relevance to
our needs, no doubt, but in the context of relations with New Delhi, it is
pregnant with serious dangers, unless tied with resolution of disputes. Kashmir,
in particular, if not settled soon, could spell disaster to our agriculture, the
mainstay of the Pakistans economy, since it is relentlessly diverting our rivers
whose headwaters lie in the occupied state. Mian Nawaz should know that it is
not just the Kashmiris, who feel disillusioned and let down by his unconditional
56
overtures of friendship to India, but the Pakistanis are equally perturbed. He had
better rein in his instinct of adopting an expansive attitude towards it without
ensuring a matching response to matters of our concern. Instead of positive
signals coming from across Wagah, the recently-revealed stories of Indias own
hand in staging Parliament attack as well as the Mumbai massacre keep distrust
of India alive here. (Editorial, TheNation 22nd July)
Retooling Pakistan-India relations: When Indian Prime Minister Dr
Manmohan Singh meets his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the 68th
UNGA, he would no longer be able to refer to at least two sticky incidents: the
attack on Indian Parliament in 2001 and the Mumbai carnage of 2008. Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif will still be able to talk to him about the Indian
intelligence agencys handiworks within India as well as in Pakistan, thanks to
the startling revelations by a former Indian investigator Satish Verma.
Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and Satish Verma belong to the
category of people, who risk their way of life to set the records straight. Not an
easy thing to do, indeed. It is stressful, often costing near and dear relationships.
Whistleblowers of this level are destined to lifetime harassment by the
silhouettes and revengeful persecution by the affected states and former
colleagues. Certainly, Verma was not unaware of the hardships Assange and
Snowden are facing, yet he chose to follow their line.
Verma has, indeed, done a good service to expose the wheels within
wheels system that does not let the Pakistan-India relations stabilize, let alone
attain maturity in a sustainable way. This bilateral relationship has followed the
analogy of one step forward and two backwards. Some very meaningful
initiatives proved to be non-starters because something would happen just
when their launch was around the corner.
According to Times of India, Mr Mani, a former Interior Ministry official,
has submitted affidavits in court in the Ishrat Jahan fake encounter case,
stating that Verma, told him that both the 2001 attack on Indian Parliament and
the 2008 Mumbai attacks were set up
Pakistan does not expect a confession from the Indian government, there
are signs that Mani is already retracting; Verma could also follow suit under
duress. Nevertheless, Pakistans relevant quarters should certainly pick up the
cues and construct the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzles. Earlier on, also
there have been indications about Indian Parliament attack being a false flag
operation. However, it is for the first time that fingers have been pointed from
within India with regard to Mumbai carnage as well.
Both these attacks served Indian strategic objectives, as did the fake
hijacking of its own airliner Ganges in 1971. After the attack on Parliament, the
Kashmir issue got inseparably linked with prevailing trends of terrorism.
According to one narrative, Afghanistans Northern Alliance leadership had
57
provided five Kashmiri boys out of the arrested stock. They were brought to
India, brainwashed and used. The promptness with which this drama was
enacted left many questions unanswered. Against the backdrop of 9/11, the
world opinion quickly swayed in favour of India. It seems that both these
attacks were part of the series of incidents planned to create justification for
unilateral Indian military intervention as part of hot pursuit operations.
If one digs deeper, there have been a number of similar incidents,
especially in IHK, when the blame was immediately put on Pakistan without
concrete evidence and later when the inquiry reports came to light; it was
proved that the terrorist acts were engineered indigenously. In all probability,
Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab were made the scapegoats and promptly executed.
Likewise, massacre of 36 Sikhs in IHK on March 20, 2000, coinciding with the
visit of then US President was exposed by Mr Clinton himself, saying that
Hindu militants had perpetrated the act.
Hopefully, the Indian government would give a serious consideration to
the acts of its intelligence outfits and check their activities inside its own
country and in Pakistan in order to sincerely improve bilateral relations.
Apart from these issues, India is not letting due space to Pakistan in
matters like international trade. Ahead of the next WTO ministerial meeting,
reportedly, it has begun aggressive lobbying to get legal shelter for subsidy on
rice exports to the world market, a move likely to affect Pakistans rice exports.
As a result of trade distorting subsidies in India, Pakistan has already lost its 7
percent market share in rice exports to it.
Further, it has recently passed an ordinance on food security, which is
nothing short of a government takeover of two major commodities: wheat and
rice. Production of these two commodities is highly subsidized in India; further
policy space would mean that it will have an adverse impact on the food
security of other countries, which will lose their market share due to subsidized
Indian exports.
Against this backdrop, Pakistans High Commissioner to India Salman
Bashir has recently said: The government of Pakistan is clear and categorical in
according high priority to improving relations with India... We are working on
the dialogue process and fix date of various meetings.
One wonders that in the presence of these fundamental weaknesses, how
bilateral relations could become self-sustaining? While the Prime Ministers of
both the countries are keen to leave behind a legacy of putting Pak-India
relations on right track, the two sides need to correct the macro level distortions
and create an environment of mutual tolerance. Rhetoric alone wont work; the
entire structure of Pak-India relations needs reorientation and refitting. As of
now India is in no mood to cede space, and Pakistan is in position to cede space.
One should not expect much beyond symbolic. Nevertheless, the effort must go
58
on to re-rail the bilateral peace process yet for another time. (K. Iqbal,
TheNation 22nd July)
US Vice President visits India: While Pakistans federal government
mulls over its future internal and external policies, it is important for it to
thoroughly know what is happening in its neighbourhood and how leading
powers of the day, especially USA, view and work in this part of the world. In
this context, not much notice has been taken in Pakistan of US Vice President
Joe Bidens recent four-day visit to India.
It is pertinent to note that Bidens visit follows Kerrys sojourn to India in
June and is expected to be followed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singhs
six-day state visit to Washington in September. One may recall that the US
Secretary of State was to visit Pakistan too in June. He, however, did not come.
Then he was expected to come by the end of July. But the latest is that he may
not visit Islamabad this month.
Following Kerrys precedence, Biden spoke about the purpose and issues
relating to his visit before leaving Washington As articulated in the New York
Times report, during the last few years US companies have been complaining
about problems faced by them in dealing with the Indian government and its
private sector: The problem that companies confront here endemic
corruption, shifting government rules and poor infrastructure, among others
-seemed less dire when the Indian company was growing at a blistering rate.
But growth has slowed to five percent over the past year, and those issues have
become for greater irritants.
As Sadanand Dhume, writing in the Wall Street Journal, has remarked
that the American business had to deal with an obstreperous bureaucracy,
grasping politicians and regulatory systems that sometimes appear designed
more to enhance opportunities for graft than to encourage productive long-term
investments?
Biden after meeting with Indias political leadership discussed the trade
and investment problems with Indian businessmen in Mumbai. He did not
mince words while referring to these issues and addressing the City Stock
Exchange. There were obstacles, he said, to friendly business environment in
India. These were the lack of protection for intellectual property, inconsistent
tax rules, high barriers to market entry and protectionist policies. He called for a
trade and investment partnership that was open and fair to both countries and
pushed for an improved bilateral trade agreement.
While the trade and related relations between USA and India have hit a
rough patch mostly, according to reports, because of the deficiencies and
malpractices in India, Washington is determined to boost Indias role in the
region and in its plans for the Pacific Pivot, aimed at, inter alia, containing
China.
59
REVIEW
Yet another revelation, or yet another disclosure of Indian blatant lies was
made. This was about implicating Pakistan in engineered terror attacks to
tarnish its image with the sinister aim of portraying it as a state that sponsors
terror. Indian investigators also discovered that three persons killed in an
encounter in Gujarat were not terrorists sent by ISI from across the border as
claimed by the killers.
The revelation made by investigators is not the first of its kind. There
have been many in the past including burning of Samjhota Express, massacre of
Sikhs in Chatti Singh Pura near Jammu, attack on Malegaom mosque and so on.
Killing of just three persons only has been mentioned specially because of a
statement submitted by Mr Mani in the court in which he said that attacks on
Indian Parliament and in Mumbai were conducted by Indian agencies.
On 15th and 16th July, most Pakistani news channels held discussions on
this statement and some also took Indian journalists on line, including Kuldeep
Nayyar, who has the reputation of being moderate and a staunch peace-seeker in
the Subcontinent. During discussions when execution of Afzal Guru over attack
on Indian Parliament and that of Ajmal Kasab over Mumbai attacks were
mentioned, the learned Kuldeep suggested as both have been hanged on court
orders the matter should be closed and the two countries must move forward.
60
61
62
The period under review saw many events worth mention. It began with
Fauzia Kasuri staging a come back to PTI, with which she had parted her way
over some differences developed during general elections. The EU observers
mission declared that nine percent polling stations were poorly managed while
30 percent polling stations in Sindh, especially port city of Karachi, saw
irregularities in the polling process during general elections.
Farooq Sattar admitted that the London police had seized some amount
of money during the raids of residence of his party boss, but he alleged that the
BBCs documentary on Altaf Hussain was influenced by pro-Taliban elements.
Three-pronged investigations against Altaf Hussain Imran Farooqs murder,
money laundering and inciting to violence continued.
MQM filed a defamation case with the Sindh High Court against Imran
Khan claiming damages to the tune of Rs5 billion for hurling unfounded
allegations against Altaf Hussain. Imran was summoned by the SHC to appear
before it on August 19. The PTI mulled filing a counter-case.
Tauqir Sadiq remained in custody after a NAB team had brought him
back to Pakistan from Abu Dhabi. The FIA continued investigating EOBI scam.
The Supreme Court ordered freezing all the bank accounts of DHA, Islamabad
and Rawalpindi, till deposit of Rs22 billion with the SC registrar.
Islamabad High Court issued its detailed judgment on amnesty scheme
introduced by the previous government for smuggled vehicles and termed it
illegal. The Supreme Court was informed that the federal government has
instructed the Balochistan government to proceed against ISI Brigadier,
allegedly involved in a case of enforced disappearance.
Turkish power firm Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim (KKEU)
approached the Washington based International Centre for Settlement of
Investment Disputes against Pakistans water and power ministry and also
served a Rs33billion damage notice on the ministry. The ship-based Karkey
rental power project had failed to generate electricity as per the contract.
Above were some of the important events, but all these were overshadowed by the political-cum-judicial row over the schedule of Presidential
polls. On 16th July, ECP issued the presidential election schedule and three days
later, it showed unwillingness to accept a government request for changing the
polling date.
On 23rd July, PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq
moved the Supreme Court, requesting for change of polling date. Next day, a
bench, headed by Chief Justice heard the petition and gave relief to PML-N by
ordering the election commission to hold presidential election on July 30
instead of August 6.
63
PPP and its former allies, PML-Q and ANP, announced boycott of
Presidential polls, which exposed PPPs love for the so-called democratic
system. Perhaps, the clever politicians of the party had visualized that the
democracy was about to take revenge from them. PTI, however, decided to
contest with reservation
NEWS
Power politics: On 8th July, Fauzia Kasuri announced to rejoin Pakistan
Tehrik-e-Insaf and vowed to serve the party to her level best. Insiders said
Fauzia resigned from the party after she developed differences with some of the
influential members of PTI. The differences between Fauzia Kasuri and the
partys high command started when she raised voice against the distribution of
party tickets for women reserved seats, ignoring those having long association
with the party.
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira welcomed recent meeting between Imran
Khan and Akhtar Mengal in Islamabad in which they resolved to raise a
collective voice against the alleged rigging committed in May elections. He
further said that meeting of the two partys leaders on the very important subject
was a good initiative because all the political parties including ruling PML-N
had been complaining malpractices during the recently held elections.
On 10th July, the EU observers mission said that nine percent polling
stations were poorly managed while 30 percent polling stations in Sindh,
especially port city of Karachi, saw irregularities in the polling process during
2013 general elections. Issuing a report of Election Observation Mission for
Pakistan, two months after the polls, Chief Observer of the Mission and
Member EU Parliament Michael Gahler reiterated that the elections in Pakistan
registered 55 percent voter turnout. The report contains 50 recommendations on
improving the polling process and ensuring transparency.
He dismissed notions that Pakistan's intelligence agencies had any
interference in the election process, saying there was no evidence regarding
their involvement. He hoped the ECP would take appropriate steps to avoid
such situation in future. The autonomy of the election commission, he said it
had autonomy but lacked capacity, adding that some state institutions including
the judiciary acted beyond their constitutional role.
The report made the following recommendations: A special parliamentary
committee on elections should be formed to review related legislation within a
framework of international law commitments. Key issues to address for
compliance with Pakistan's international commitments include: candidacy
criteria, transparency requirements, and mechanisms for effective remedy.
64
The ECP should take full responsibility for the administration of the
elections, including through management and control of the work of Returning
Officers (ROs), and it should fully implement its five-year strategic plan, using
the opportunity of any upcoming by-elections and local elections to implement
improved practices.
The ECP establish a clear regulatory framework for all aspects of the
election, including those about the results management, observation and
scrutiny and complaints. The ECP review and develop procedures to increase
checks in the polling and results process, and develop practices to improve the
quality of completed results forms.
The ECP introduce strong transparency measures including making all
notifications, decisions and election related information immediately and easily
available to the public. All polling and results information should be swiftly
publicly available on the ECP website. The legal framework for media should
be revised so that it fully supports editorial independence and eliminates
censorship. The Code of Conduct for Media should be enforced, so that
equitable opportunities are given to candidates and parties by the state and
private media.
Measures should be taken to promote the participation of women.
Resolute actions should be taken against agreements that prohibit women from
voting. The separate list for Ahmadi voters should be abolished, so that all
voters are on one unified electoral roll, according to requirements for age and
Pakistani citizenship.
Next day, London Metropolitan Police said that it has started
investigation of money laundering and inciting violence against MQM chief
Altaf Hussain. The BBC claimed that 0.4 million pounds were found in London
police raids at the office of the MQM and Altaf Hussains residence. Police did
not give details about the amount but said the amount was taken into custody
under Proceed of Crime Act. The raids were conducted on December 6, 2012
and June 18, 2013.
Former deputy convener of MQM Dr Farooq Sattar talking to BBC
admitted that the London police had seized some amount of money during the
raids; adding that he was not aware of the exact figure. Sattar said that MQM
was not involved in money laundering. He alleged that the BBCs documentary
on Altaf Hussain was influenced by pro-Taliban elements. He claimed that no
threatening statements were issued from London to trigger violence in Pakistan.
During a report prepared by BBC show News Night, the police told a
BBC correspondent that the investigation into former MQM leader Imran
Farooqs murder was also underway. Earlier in June, as part of its investigation
into the Imran Farooq murder case, Scotland Yard raided Altaf Hussains house
in London. The search operation continued for over 55 hours. The London
65
Police declared the last years arrest of two men in Karachi crucial in Imran
Farooq murder case, saying that it is in contact with Pakistani authorities on the
matter.
On 16th July, ECP issued the presidential election schedule. Approved by
the Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Fakhruddin G Ebrahim and the
four ECP members, the presidential elections schedule seeks nomination papers
from the candidates on July 24, scrutiny of nomination papers on July 26,
withdrawal of candidature/display of final list on July 29 and polling day on
August 6.
On 18th July, the Supreme Court reproved Punjab and Sindh governments
over their apparent fraudulence over the local government (LG) elections and
warned that it will pass an order in case of continuous doggedness over the
issue. The court disapproved the arguments presented by their advocate
generals, who sought to buy unnecessarily long period of time. It directed all the
provinces, the Islamabad Capital Territory administration and the election
commission to hold elections by September, telling them to give specific dates
for the polls on next hearing on July 22.
The ICT and KPK governments said they were ready for the polls and
they have written to the ECP for the date of elections. This earned them praise
from the court. But the other three provinces and the ECP expressed their
inability to hold the polls by September. ECP Additional Director General
(Legal) said that the commission was presently busy with the preparation for
presidential elections and needed some time to go for local government
elections.
The Supreme Court suspended the membership of PTI MNA Ghulam
Sarwar Khan for holding fake degree and disqualified two members of Punjab
Assembly Khawaja Muhammad Islam of PML-N and Mir Baad Shah Khan
Qaisrani of JUI for holding fake degrees. The Higher Education Commission
(HEC) submitting a report before the bench told that their degrees were fake.
Upon this, the bench directed the ECP to issue notification regarding their
disqualification.
Next day, the ECP showed unwillingness to accept a government request
for changing the polling date. In a letter to ECP Secretary, Law Secretary had
intimated that several lawmakers were intending either to observe Aitkaf or
leave for Saudi Arabia for Umrah and they would not be available to participate
in the election on August 6, the polling day. He suggested that rest of the
schedule may remain unchanged while the polling may be held on any date
before August 6.
In the light of Article 41 (4), the ECP can hold the presidential election
not later than August 10 as the term of incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari
expires on September 8. The said article says, Election to the office of
66
president shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days
to the expiration of the term of the president in office. In case, the election
could not be held within the prescribed period because of dissolution of the
national assembly, it shall be held within thirty days of the general elections.
Moreover, the ECP, in exercise of its powers as per Article 254, can fix
the polling date beyond August 10. When any act or thing is required by the
constitution to be done within a particular period and it is not done within that
period, the doing of the act or thing shall not be invalid or otherwise ineffective
by reason only that it was not done within that period, it states. Citing the same
article, the ECP had changed the schedule for 2008 general elections after the
assassination of PPP leader Benazir Bhutto in December 2007. Also, the
schedules for certain by-elections in 2010 and 2011 were amended due to
floods.
On 20th July, PTI announced the name of Justice (Retd) Wajihuddin
Ahmed as the partys candidate for the upcoming presidential election, making
it clear that there would no joint candidate from the opposition parties. Pakistan
Peoples Party (PPP) has already nominated its senior leader Senator Mian Raza
Rabbani as the candidate for the presidential election.
On 22nd July, the ECP made its already taken decision final on keeping
the polling date for presidential elections unchanged and returned a related
summary to the law ministry. The decision came during a meeting of the CEC
chaired through teleconferencing by the Chief Election Commissioner. The
CEC ordered returning the summary to the ministry with the reported comments
intimating the ministry about the ECP decision and urging it to comply with the
same.
The Supreme Court once again told the provincial and federal
governments that local bodies elections must be held in September. The court
said: Efforts should be made to arrange local government polls close to the date
of elections in cantonment boards. The court already fixed September 15, 2013
for holding local government elections in cantonment board areas across the
country.
Next day, PML-N Chairman Senator Raja Muhammad Zafarul Haq
moved the Supreme Court, requesting it to direct the ECP to hold presidential
election six days ahead of the schedule. The petition is filed by his attorney
under Article 184 (3) of the Constitution.
Making the ECP, chief election commissioner and federation as
respondents, the PML-N leader contended that last 10 days of Ramadan are
normally the days of extensive religious devotion/worship and quite a number
of the legislators may either be in aitekaf or go to Saudi Arabia for performing
umrah. August 6 will be on the 27 of Ramadan. This would be too close to
67
Court; seven candidates each filed their nominations at the registrars' offices of
Lahore and Sindh High Courts while one candidate filed his papers at the
Peshawar High Courts registrar office. No candidate filed papers at Balochistan
High Court (Quetta) for the presidential poll.
After a decade-long rivalry between the two political parties, PML-N
made the first direct contact with MQM, A PML-N delegation arrived at
MQMs headquarter to request the opposition party for support in the
presidential election. Altaf Hussain agreed to back the Nawaz-League. PML-N
reciprocated by inviting MQM to join federal government.
Imran Khan said though his party was not happy with the verdict of
Supreme Court regarding the new date, they would contest the presidential
election as per the schedule given by the ECP. Imran Khan said PTI would not
give free space to PML-N and its candidate, Justice (r) Wajih-ud-Din Ahmed
who is an upright and honest person beyond any doubt would contest the
presidential election.
Jamaat-e-Islami decided to fully support PTI candidate in the presidential
poll. About PPPs decision to boycott the presidential poll, Munawar Hassan
said it would prove harmful for their party. It is tradition of PPP that the party
does not accept the SC decision in any matter, he said, adding it had accepted
no decision of the Supreme Court during the last five years.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman expressed disappointment over the
boycott of PPP and its allies saying that Raza Rabbani being a formidable
candidate will be missed in the presidential race. The Maulana said that PPP is
within its right to boycott elections. However, we all have complaints against
decisions of judiciary in the past, yet we have to live with these judgments, he
observed.
The Sindh High Court summoned PTI Chairman Imran Khan in court
after filing of defamation suit by MQM. The court has issued notice to Imran
Khan to appear before the court on December 13. He is obliged to appear before
court with relevant documents and written statement in favour of his stance
against MQM; otherwise, decision could be given as per available evidences.
Next day, it was reported that JUI-F has conditioned its support to PMLN presidential candidate Mamnoon Hussain with giving it three ministries in
Balochistan government. Only a day before, Fazlur Rehman told Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif that national interest, not the ministerial positions, was their
priority.
No-trust motion brought against Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime
Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed failed as no member present in the
Legislative Assembly voted in its favour. The motion had been submitted by
two ruling Peoples Party (PPAJK) dissidents. However, the assembly
70
secretariat sources claimed that they had also received an application from the
two MLAs for withdrawal of the no-confidence resolution.
funds not approved from the BISP board as the BISP management made
payments during 2010-12.
An amount of Rs7.665 million was spent in the head of provision of
vehicles to unauthorized officers and Rs1.930 million was paid in irregular and
unauthorized payment to cash reward to World Bank consultants. Similarly, an
amount of Rs2648.747 million was spent in undue favour to SLIC as the BISP
management Board decided to provide life Insurance worth Rs100,000 to the
primary bread-earners of the families.
A total sum of Rs73.752 million was awarded to NADRA without open
competition for printing and distribution of 184,379 Benazir Smart Cards at the
rate of Rs400 per card. An amount of Rs65098 million was spent on agreements
with Pakistan Post and commercial banks, which contained provision of
reconciliation of funds disbursed before next payment. Similarly an amount of
Rs66.968 million was spent in the head of over-payment to Pakistan Post. An
amount of Rs305.577 million was paid to ineligible beneficiaries.
The BISP was established through an Ordinance in 2009 to provide
financial support, assistance and other opportunities, such as education,
vocational training, skills development, welfare programme, livelihood
programme, health insurance, accidence insurance and access to micro-finance.
The President of Pakistan is chief patron and prime minister is executive patron
of BISP while a federal minister manages its operations as chairpersons with the
help of board constituted by the President on the advice of the PM.
Taking notice of increase in cost of Nandipur power project, Prime
Minister directed the Planning Division secretary to submit a report on the
matter within three days. Former Pepco managing director, in a recent letter to
Chief Justice of Pakistan, had exposed Rs15 billion scam in this project.
Munawar stated the PML-N government had revived the 425MW project with a
monumental upward cost revision of $570 million from previous $329 million.
The Nandipur plant was supposed to start production by the end of 2010,
but the work was stopped in April 2011 after the former government failed to
pacify concerns of the foreign lenders who refused to release funds for the
project. Being built near Gujranwala, the combined-cycle plant is halfway
complete with three turbines already installed at the site.
On 16th July, President Zardari, on the advice of the Prime Minister,
approved termination of the appointment of Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari as
chairman NAB with effect from the date of judgment of Supreme Court of
Pakistan. The Supreme Court of Pakistan in its judgment dated 28-05-2013
declared the appointment of Admiral (Retd) Fasih Bokhari as Chairman NAB to
be without lawful authority and was set aside with immediate effect.
72
73
The KPK government has allocated a sum of Rs373 million in its budget
for the year 2013-14 for the 12 new powers generation schemes in the province.
Of them five schemes will be completed during the current financial year. There
are 13 under-construction Wapda projects of cumulative capacity of 8,152mw in
the province. There are another eight IPP projects of various capacities ranging
from 132mw to 840mw, being implemented by the private sector under the
Power Policy 2002.
KPK has launched an ambitious programme for generating 2,036mw
electricity to be implemented phase-wise. Most of these are run-of-the-river
type projects with high, medium and small water heads, some with small daily
water storage. While the province has already established an independent
organization PHYDO which has focused on hydropower generation and, of late,
from the oil and gas having been explored in the southern districts a few years
ago.
It was also, in principle, approved as part of the said policy that the
province should explore the establishment of such an independent and
autonomous power distribution organization which would enable the provincial
government to ensure just and direct distribution of power so generated among
both the domestic consumers and industrialists. Therefore, the offer of cheap
electricity will not only be limited to hydropower generating areas but also from
gas too, which is in abundance in the southern and backward districts of the
province.
On 25th July, Chief Minister Taskforce against electricity and gas stealers
conducted a raid over a factory located on Multan Roadm Lahore and traced out
electricity stealing through tempered meter. Factory owner Bukhtiar Ahmed and
his employee have been arrested and a case has been registered against them.
On 27th July, Railways announced up to 57 per cent reduction in fares of
different trains at specific sections. But this cut is for the air-conditioned class
passengers while the economy class would continue to pay the old charges.
Railways Minister said this fare decrease is initially for three months but the
facility would continue if it resulted in enhanced revenue generation.
The first-ever mobile court in Pakistan started functioning in Peshawar by
hearing six cases after it was formally inaugurated by Peshawar High Court
Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan on Saturday. The idea to have mobile
courts in the province was of the chief justice who, soon after his appointment
in November 2011, had announced that there were several things on his priority
list and setting up of mobile courts was one of them.
74
the EOBI Scam. He denied the allegations leveled against him in front of the
probe team. The Supreme Court had directed the FIA to complete the
investigations within ten days and submit a detailed report before the bench.
Next day, an accountability court remanded Tauqir Sadiq, the fugitive
former chief of the Ogra, in NAB custody for 14 days. Tauqir the prime
accused in Rs82 billion corruption scam was presented in the court; he pleaded
not guilty and accused authorities of mistreating him. During the court
proceeding, he denied corruption allegations, saying that NABs investigation
team has tortured him.
Earlier, NAB team brought him back to Pakistan after an Abu Dhabi court
had ordered his deportation June 3. During his body search at airport, the NAB
official recovered 1,410 dirhams, 50 pages written in Urdu and English and a
list of telephone numbers of his jail fellows from India, Bangladesh,
Philippines, Afghanistan and some local numbers from Lahore and Peshawar.
The documents recovered from Tauqir were written in Al-Ain Jail of Abu
Dhabi. In his writings, he termed the Ogra scam as a political move against the
previous government and claimed to go to the International Court of Justice
(ICJ) against the judgment of the apex court of Pakistan. Tauqir refused to sign
the paper recovered from him and threatened the NAB official that he would not
succeed in obtaining his physical remand.
During the preliminary investigation at the airport, Tauqir showed
arrogance and threatened the NAB official of dire consequences. Tauqir, in
presence of a Abu Dhabi-based TV journalist, said I played with the judicial
system of UAE for six months and now I will play with the judicial system of
Pakistan.
On 10th July, the Supreme Court suspended the membership of two
Punjab Assembly members, Shaukat Aziz and Khawaja Muhammad Islam, over
improper degrees. According to the verdict, membership of Shaukat Aziz Bhatti,
PP-4, will remain suspended until the verification of his degree from the Higher
Education Commission (HEC). The HEC said Shaukat Aziz submitted someone
else's degree for verification. Meanwhile, the court also suspended the
membership of Khawaja Islam, PP-72. He had submitted A-Level certificate
that is not equivalent to Bachelors degree.
Reportedly, Rahim Dad Khan and Syed Zahir Ali Shah, former KPK
ministers, helped the proclaimed offender, Tauqir Sadiq, by using their links
with the consul general of Afghanistan and arranged the visa for Kabul for the
fugitive. Similarly, after escaping from Islamabad, the proclaimed offender
stayed for four to five days at the Peshawar residence of Syed Zahir Ali Shah
who managed the visa for him from Afghani consul.
75
On June 18, 2012, the passport of Tauqir Sadiq was handed over to him,
the same day he crossed the Torkham border by road and reached Kabul where
a crony of Syed Zahir Ali Shah accommodated him for three days. During his
stay in Kabul, the fugitive got the visit visa of UAE and on June 21, Tauqir
Sadiq flew with Arian Airlines flight bound to Sharjah. The immigration
authorities at Torkham border have no record that shows the exit of Tauqir
Sadiq. The NAB, despite many attempts, could not have any information about
his escape from Torkham border.
The Supreme Court asked the NAB prosecutor to provide details of the
expenditures occurred on bringing Sadiq back, directing him to explain from
whom the amount would be recovered. The court also sought progress report of
action taken by NAB against the people who aided Sadiqs escape.
Next day, the high-ups of NAB prosecution wing failed to vacate the
restraining orders of Dewan Zia-Ur-Rehman Farooqi, the co-accused of the
OGRA scam, from the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The owner of Dewan
Petroleum Limited (DPL), Zia, was involved in the multi-billion OGRA scam
regarding the well-head pricing of Sal Sabeel Gasfield of Dera Ghazi Khan, the
sources added.
Tauqir Sadiq, the former Ogra Chairman had managed about Rs36 billion
for DPL to bag in the wellhead pricing of Salsabil gas field, while violating all
rules and regulations. The wellhead pricing which is a matter related with the
mainstream and comes under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Resources was interrupted by Tauqir, Member Gas Mansoor Muzafar
and Mir Kamal Mari, Member Finance of the OGRA.
Similarly, the wellhead pricing as per rules is the sole prerogative of the
Ministry of Petroleum and OGRA as the regulatory authority has no mandate
other than to follow the instruction and notify the price on the basis of given
instruction from the ministry but in this very unusual and special case the
OGRA gone out of its domain to increase the wellhead price of DPL Salsabil
Field.
The NAB wrote a letter to the Foreign Office for getting access to the
Afghan diplomats involved in the issuance of visa to former Ogra chairman
Tauqir Sadiq. NAB cannot summon Afghan diplomats because of their
diplomatic status. NAB will summon former KPK PPP ministers, Syed Zahir
Ali Shah and Rahim Dad Khan, who aided Sadiq escape from Pakistan, the
sources added.
On 13th July, an anti-narcotics court ordered for confiscation of the
properties and assets of former health secretary Khushnood Akhtar Lashari and
owners of three pharma companies over their failure to appear before the court
and submit details of their assets in ephedrine case. The court had issued notices
to 15 accused to provide details of their assets. However, the Gilani family and
76
77
79
pieces of paper. The allotment letters are not equal to transfer of title of the land
as possession has not been handed over to the EOBI.
The chief justice took note of the last payment made by EOBI to the
DHA on March 15, 2013, the last day of the previous government. The FIA
informed the court that EOBI also gave money to four other housing societies
Eden Housing Society (Rs1.87 billion), River Edge Housing Society (Rs2.60
billion), Messer Pak-Arab Society (Rs1.15billion) and Mughal Engineering Pvt
Ltd (Rs 1.43 billion). The court said if they also not deposit the money with SC
registrar the same order passed for DHA would be applied to them. The bench
adjourned the hearing until July 26.
On 22nd July, the Supreme Court reserved its judgment in the case of
doling out of over Rs47 billion discretionary development funds by the former
Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz with clear intentions to lay down principles for
future utilization of development funds by the legislators. The court, however,
allowed the executing agencies to pay the money to contractors who undertook
different schemes through a transparent manner and after submitting due
feasibility reports.
With regards to the schemes initiated out of the funds allocated to the
PWP-II, the executing agencies were directed to undertake an exercise and
examine across the board all the schemes so as to ascertain as to whether or not
the PEPRA rules have been followed strictly. They also see whether the
development works were assigned to the contractors in a transparent manner
keeping in view the recognized standards for award of execution of such works;
and whether the said schemes were based on feasible reports.
As far as the leftover work is concerned, it should be examined as to
whether the same is in the public interest and is feasible to continue execution
of the said schemes. If such schemes are found not to be in the public interest or
feasible, the same shall be abandoned subject to the approval of the competent
authority i.e. on whose behalf the schemes were initiated; and the funds so made
available shall be deposited with the public exchequer.
The bench did not give serious consideration to the response of different
ex-members of parliament and notables that included Ghias Ahmed Maila,
Anwar Ali Cheema, Fozia Behram, Maula Bakhash Chandio and Mushaid
Hussain Syed as how they received the development funds and where they
utilized the public money. Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry observed he had
noted the arguments of the respondents and would make it part of the detailed
judgment.
Reportedly, a senior official of the Defence Housing Authority (DHA)
said that depositing more than Rs22 billion on a short notice was impossible.
The official severely objected to the allegations of the FIA against the DHA
stating that the Agency had launched a propaganda campaign on the behest of
80
81
82
General of Pakistan. The Secret Funds existed in the budget for financial years
2012-13 in about 27 ministries and amounted to more than Rs3.57 billion.
The 20 pages order, authored by Justice Jawwad S Khawaja, in
constitutional petitions filed by two journalists said, All expenditure from the
public exchequer must be made in a transparent manner and each rupee of such
expenditure must be audited by the auditor general of Pakistan (AGP), to ensure
compliance with law. The journalists in their identical petitions had sought the
abolition of Secret Service Funds, which have purportedly been used by the
governments to buy the loyalty of journalists and other opinion-makers.
The verdict acknowledged that there may be exceptional circumstances
where certain audit information would need to be kept outside the public
purview. If such exceptions are to be claimed, they must claim through
legislation and not in an arbitrary manner. Furthermore, such legislation would
be subject to judicial review to ensure compliance with constitutional
requirements.
The court concluded that the distinction between audit and secrecy is
made clear, ruling that it would be for the auditor general to ensure the audit of
each rupee spent from the consolidated fund and the public accounts, without
exception. The parliament may make a law imposing reasonable restrictions
on public disclosure of such parts of the Auditor Generals Report as may be
classified.
after warnings. Now we would see who the commandants of the centres are.
The court also asked him to provide details of cases related to disappeared
persons pending in the Supreme Court, high and lower courts and in the
Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances (CIED).
The judge said: We would tally the names in the lists with the Amna
Masood Janjuas list and the CIED report. Chairperson Defence of Human
Rights Pakistan, Amna Masood Janjua, told The Nation that she had provided
the list of 84 missing persons who are kept in the internment centres. She also
said that these 514 missing persons are in addition to 749 missing persons,
whose list she had already presented to the court.
Additional Advocate General informed the court that the Punjab
government had decided to initiate proceeding against Army officer involved in
case of Amna Masood Janjuas missing spouse Masood Janjua in the light of Dr
Imran Munirs statement given to the joint investigation team in 2009. The
hearing of the case is adjourned till tomorrow.
Anti-Terrorism Court while taking strict notice of the absence of Pervez
Musharraf, accused of Benazir Bhuttos murder, directed Rawalpindi police to
produce the accused on July 30; otherwise, the court would stop the trial of the
case. Musharraf had not appeared before the court on the last date of hearing too
because of security threats. He also observed that no more delay could be made
in the hearing of the high profile case as the court wanted to dispose of the case
as soon as possible. The court postponed the hearing till July 30.
On 10th July, the Supreme Court questioned under what legal provision an
employee of the United Nations organization office in Islamabad could refuse to
answer the queries by a Pakistani policeman in missing persons case. SP Lahore
Cantt informed the court that as per the direction of the court he went to the
UNO Mission in Islamabad, to inquire about Mudasir Iqbal, who went missing
from Lahore three years ago. But its employee Zaman informed him that he
cant assume any responsibility, therefore, the police should enter into some
correspondence through Foreign Affairs as the Mission had come from Geneva
and had returned to Geneva.
The court inquired from Additional Attorney General, Under what
authority this office (UNO) is functioning in Pakistan and whether there are any
legal provisions that the employee of the UNO could refuse to answer the
questions asked by an SP rank police officer. The AAG sought time to respond
to the query.
The bench said: The UNO had maligned our government because the
statement of UN Working Group on Enforced Disappearances, (during its visit
to Pakistan), said that Mudasir Iqbal was seen in a secret detention centre by
several people. It is also stated that the family of Mudasir Iqbal was reportedly
84
informed by other people that they have seen Mudasir in the secret detention
centre. The court also heard the cases of three other missing persons.
Next day, the Supreme Court, in response to contention of Military
Intelligence (MI) that superior courts and police have no jurisdiction to proceed
against any serving army officer, observed that Criminal Procedure Code (CrPc)
or any other law does not bar police from registering FIR against armed forces
officers. The court sought comprehensive plan from the federal government
about the person being detained at the internment centres on July 17.
The police on the complaint of Abida Malik, whose husband Tasif Ali
went missing on November 23, 2011, had registered an FIR 386/13 at
Sadiqabad Police Station of Rawalpindi against Major Haider. Representing MI,
Ibrahim Satti objected to the registration of case against a serving army officer.
He said the army officers have special status and asked that how come the
police could register a case against a serving army officer and arrest him.
The counsel referred to the Article 63(1g), which says a parliamentarian
would be disqualified if he defames or brings into ridicule the judiciary or the
armed forces of Pakistan, and contended that applications about the missing
persons in the Commission made on the subject and the SC ridiculed Pak Army.
He also said that armed forces officials were performing duties for the
protection of boarders. Upon that the court remarked they were being paid for
performing their duties. The hearing of the case was adjourned until tomorrow.
On 12th July, Islamabad High Court directed Islamabad police to record
the statement of Ghazis son and register a case against the former military ruler
Pervez Musharraf if there is a cognizable offence. The order was passed by
Justice Noor-ul-Haq N Qureshi after hearing a petition seeking registration of
murder case against Musharraf.
Advocate Ilyas Siddiqui representing Pervez Musharraf, contended that
Lal Masjid operation was carried out with the approval of cabinet and if
Musharraf had done anything wrong, the Parliament of that time could have
done his impeachment under Article 47 of the Constitution. The petitioner
Haroon through his counsel Tariq Asad Advocate maintained before the court
that his father namely Ghazi Abdul Rashid and grandmother Sahiba had been
killed in the military operation having been ordered by Musharraf.
The petitioner said that the law required that Musharraf should be
punished for his misdeeds of killing innocent people and this is only possible if
criminal case be registered against him. Therefore, he prayed in his petition that
the court may direct SHO Aabpara to register criminal case of murder against
Prevez Musharraf in accordance with law.
Next day, Police refused to register a murder case against Pervez
Musharraf for allegedly killing Ghazi Abdur Rashid and his mother Sahiba
85
Khatoon during Lal Masjid operation in 2007 on the grounds that the police had
yet to receive court orders. After thoroughly going through the court order, it
could be ascertained what action has to be taken in the case, police official
said.
On 15th July, the Supreme Court ordered the home secretaries of FATA
and PATA to produce the complete record of the detainees and the periodical
report prepared by the review board. The court wanted to examine whether the
detainees are being treated as per the regulations and the law is being adhered.
The Chief Justice said that executive should take steps to extend federal laws to
FATA and PATA. He made it clear that they would not allow any parallel
judicial system regarding the trail of detainees in internment centres.
The bench hearing the missing persons cases said it should not happen
that people are arrested and put in the internment centres. The Chief Justice
said: If somebody has committed a crime then he should be dealt in accordance
with law therefore don't ruin the lives of their families.
Next day, the Supreme Court was informed that the United Nations
Working Group on Enforced Disappearances in Islamabad would extend
cooperation to the Pakistani police regarding the investigation in a case of
enforced disappearance. UN Acting Resident Coordinator Neill Wright has also
offered apology over his rude behaviour for keeping a senior police waiting for
almost three hours.
Shahzad Waseem Bukhari, SP City Lahore, in the last hearing had
informed the bench that on the Court order, he went to the Resident Coordinator
to UN office, set up in an Islamabad hotel, related to the case of Mudasir Iqbal,
who went missing three years ago. But the Coordinator kept him waiting despite
the fact he had prior fixed the meeting times. The court taking notice of it had
ordered additional attorney general to talk to concerned UN officials through
ministry of foreign affairs.
On 19th July, the ISI showing distrust over the Attorney General for
Pakistan (AGP) office expressed the desire before the Supreme Court to engage
a private counsel in missing persons case. Additional Attorney General
submitted a written statement on behalf of ISI. According to that, the ISI is
considering to engage a private counsel in missing case of two brothers Umar
Bakhat and Umar Hayat from Chakwal. The letter further stated that both the
persons were not in the custody of ISI. The police have already informed the
court that both persons are being detained under the custody of ISI.
The court made it clear that notice was not issued to ISI in the matter as
they had always served notices to the Federation through defence ministry,
saying the ministry may produce his own counsel. The Military Intelligence
(MI) had already hired a private counsel Ibrahim Satti in missing person case
86
and he was defending the stance of MI aggressively. He had objected that the
court and police had no jurisdiction to proceed against serving army officials.
On 25th July, the Supreme Court was informed that the federal
government has instructed the Balochistan government to proceed against ISI
Brigadier, allegedly involved in enforced disappearance of Ali Ahmad
Bangalzai. During the hearing of missing persons case, AAGP told the court
that in compliance of its order, the secretary interior had written a letter to
Home Secretary Balochistan for taking action against ISI officer in view of the
statement of JUI senior leader and ex-MNA Hafiz Hussain Ahmad.
Bangalzai was picked up from Quetta in 2001. According to Hafiz
Hussain Ahmad, senior ISI officer Saddique had confirmed him that Ali Ahmad
Bangalzai is detained in their custody and would be back home soon. The court
directed the AAGP to furnish the copy of the secretary interior's letter, sent to
home secretary Balochistan for the registration of FIR against ISI brigadier
Saddique. The bench also issued notice to the AG Balochistan for submitting
progress report tomorrow on behalf of provincial government in this matter.
Meanwhile, the court was also told that the federal government had
constituted a Federal Task Force (FTF) to deliberate upon the issue of
disappeared persons. According to the notification, the FTF will recommend
National Policy on missing persons, monitor the progress in cases of missing
persons and coordinate efforts of all stakeholders working on the subject.
Next day, the Supreme Court sought details of criminal or terrorism cases
lodged against 568 detained persons in internment centres and also asked the
Additional AGP to explain why their cases could not be proceeded in the courts
of law if they were involved in terrorism offences. During the hearing, AAGP
told the apex court that out of the total 568, 64 persons have been detained at
the FATA and 504 at the PATA, but did not provide the cases detail.
About the complaints regarding lack of proper medical care and supply of
food, the bench ordered the secretaries of FATA and PATA to submit a
comprehensive report about the provisions of medical treatment and food and
observed that being a human being the detainees were also entitled to proper
treatment. The court also directed the concerned district and sessions judges or
the political agents to appoint focal persons for holding meeting of detenue with
their families at the internment centres according to the law.
Economy: On 8th July, at least two women were crushed to death and
several others injured at a charity handout. The women died in a stampede
during ration distribution in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area. The stampede occurred due
to mismanagement and mishandling in a marriage hall in Karachi where food
items were being distributed by few affluent people ahead of Ramazan.
87
On 14th July, the PTI took serious notice of massive, unscheduled power
load shedding in Peshawar and other parts of the KPK. The partys Peshawar
chapter has given a one-day deadline to the federal government and Wapda for
the resolution of the issue, warning they will besiege the Wapda House
Peshawar.
Next day, the prime minister visited Faisalabad, where he learnt about
business communitys problems. He separately chaired a meeting on energy
crisis in Lahore and inaugurated a 84 mega watt hydropower project in Mirpur.
Nawaz said it was the utmost effort of his government to rid the people of
power outages at the earliest, as steering the country out of energy crisis was
also necessary to move the wheel of the economy.
The premier visited Faisalabad, where he along with Punjab Chief
Minister visited a mill that was involved in annual gas theft of worth Rs0.2
billion. A case was filed against the owner of the mill and all the equipment
used for gas supply was seized. The Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited
(SNGPL) recently started an operation against gas theft and had raided multiple
commercial mills and factories. The mill in Faisalabad was also raided as a part
of this operation and was fined a total of Rs0.11 billion.
The PTI put off its protest against unannounced load shedding in the
province. It had announced protest demonstration outside the Peshawars
WAPDA house and across the province. However, in a statement issued, Special
Advisor to CM said that the planned protest had been postponed on the
directives of the CM who would announce the further course of action later
after taking coalition partners into confidence.
On 19th July, Prime Ministers Advisor on Aviation Shujaat Azeem said
that the revenue of CAA is expected to rise from Rs19 billion to Rs50 billion
while PIA is expected to save Rs150 million in addition to the saving of Rs400
million per annum with the termination of a loss-making route.
Massive irregularities leading to major loss of revenue have been
detected in operation of the billing system relating to over-flight charges for use
of Pakistan air space by foreign aircrafts. Having acquired the Gentrick
automated billing machine from New Zealand, the system was intentionally
used manually so that the billing could be manipulated, Azeem said.
Regarding the appointment of PIA Board of Directors (BoD) and alleged
corruption in construction of New Islamabad International Airport, the advisor
reiterated that the Supreme Courts respective decisions on both the issues
would be implemented in letter and spirit Both these matters have already been
taken up by the SC, whose decision will be implemented in letter and spirit, he
added.
88
The aviation advisor also reiterated that the PIA would be privatized with
the selling of its 35 percent shares to a potential strategic investor and every
pressure shall be withstood in this regard. Deliberations with Virgins, Emirates,
Qatar Airways and other companies are going on in this regard, he said. Its just
a matter of 180 days that the PIA would make a major leap towards
privatization. Thats in the best interest of the airline as well as Pakistans
economy.
Mentioning of the expected pressure to be faced in the privatization
process, Azeem said, We would not bow down to any pressure come what may.
Those elements who are trying to sabotage our efforts to revamp the PIA will
fail miserably. Such traditional tactics have been applied in past but theyll not
work on us.
On the other hand, the unions and associations of PIA employees under
the banner of Joint Action Committee of Pakistan International Airlines
Employees (JACPIAE) have announced to stage protests against conspiracies
being hatched to grab assets of national airline under the slogan of
privatization.
On 23rd July, on the suggestion of the provinces, the Council of Common
Interests (CCI) deferred presentation of the national energy policy for a week so
that the provinces could come up with proposals for value-addition to it. The
23rd CCI meeting was chaired by Prime Minister in Islamabad. Sindh Chief
Minister was the first to come up with the objection on the new policy and said
that Sindh was not given proper time to study the draft and that the provincial
government wanted to come up with some value-addition to the national energy
policy.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Pervez Khattak also supported the proposal of
Qaim Ali Shah and after a brief discussion PM Nawaz Sharif accepted their
demand and deferred the matter for a week. He constituted a committee
comprising four chief secretaries to come up with a report on the document by
July 31.
89
witnesses received regarding the moon sighting and that the holy month of
Ramazan would commence from Thursday. The unofficial committee of
Peshawars historic mosque has record of opposing the decisions of the official
Central Ruet-i-Hilal Committee in the past.
VIEWS
Power politics
Imprudent, impulsive: The Metropolitan Police in general and the
Scotland Yard in particular are known for upholding pristine investigative
prowess vaunted the world over, yet they have also gained a standing for
professionalism. And by virtue of that it is tomfoolery to expect them to hound
anyone least of all when the suspect happens to have a UKs ID and passport.
The MQM thinks it is helping matters by being vocal. At this point in
time there has not been any high-profile arrest or resort to strong-arm tactics,
the hallmarks of our own police that is notorious for using torture as the most
common tool to elicit confessions. The criticism frequently coming from the
partys top carders are signals as though they are afraid of the investigation
process. And if the thinking is to inveigle the London police into giving up the
probe with threats and cajolery that sure is a grave miscalculation. A bad
reflection on the state of discipline by the party, the frenzied statements like,
we will prepare your bodybags has now caught the attention of the British
society; a BBC documentary raises some pressing questions. In Pakistan as well
the channels and the newspapers who were merely reporting the events in
London have been lashed with a harangue as though those events were far too
sacrosanct for the media in the country to even report. One party leader leveled
the charge against some Pakistani media houses who he said were trying to turn
their wishes into news, criticism that is unjustified.
The London police has clarified once again that the investigations are
underway against Altaf Hussain over money laundering as well as incitement of
violence. Contrary to what some radicals might think that should help quell
needless rumour mongering. It falls to the party to itself set standards of
restraint and remain calm until the probe reaches its conclusion. (Editorial,
TheNation 13th July)
Of chickens coming home: The bulk of us, while liking certain ideas
about the MQM ideology, have never been quite able to come to terms with the
way the party is run - cult style by an individual based in London. Those
living in Karachi have a much clearer picture of how the party operates and it
was anything but a pretty one despite having able and well groomed
spokespersons at the forefront.
90
The MQM party head has had a great run changing his political stance
according to requirements and by being a partner to whoever was in power, as a
matter of policy, so that he remained a kingmaker and, therefore, untouchable.
Minor issues, like ideological stands on important subjects changing frequently,
were the least of his concerns.
A case in point can be the show of overt support for the army and its
Chief in Karachi where he has held sway for a number of years, aka May 12,
2007, but forgetting to mention the letter he wrote to the British Prime Minister
in 2001 in which he wanted the ISI to be disbanded. However, one cannot be all
things to all people all of the time and the chickens, as the saying goes, do
decide to come home to roost eventually.
Lately, the MQM chiefs telephonic theatrics had taken on another
dimension. This had something to do with the general elections too. He could
not deal with the fact that another political party had made some inroads into
what he considered his personal stronghold in the city of Karachi. All those
threats that he made to his opponents, the resultant letters and calls to the
London Metropolitan Police, the murder of Zahra Hussain, etc have all helped
to put him in a glaring spotlight in front of the British authorities.
The Brits, who had given asylum to Altaf Hussain for the last 19 odd
years as well as citizenship, have now woken up to his antics and threats, and
seem to have gotten hold of hard evidence from the look of things, about the
goings-on at his famous Edgeware Road address. While they were only trying to
connect the dots in the Imran Farooq murder case, they have, inadvertently, also
gotten on to some other unexplainable things. Several pieces in the puzzle have
just come together and even if they wanted to show him a bit of leniency, there
is no way that the British system can roll back on all that has been discovered.
Perhaps, the party for Altaf Hussain is finally over. I do not have the slightest
doubt that when things do come to a head and Altaf is put on trial, there will be
a reaction among his followers in Pakistan, even though it is the British system
that has unraveled his doings because he is one of their citizens
As we watch this developing story, we hope that the MQM leadership in
Pakistan will deal with this situation in a manner that no harm is caused to
anybody or any property and that they will select a leader, who can lead the
party while Altaf has the opportunity to respond to any charges that may be laid
at his door. (Tallat Azim, TheNation 14th July)
Boycotting the election: At first glance, the PPP has done what every
politician does when virtually sure to lose an election: boycott it. The PPP
candidate for President, Senator Raza Rabbani, announced the boycott on
Friday using the change in date to claim that it did not leave him time to
campaign among the MPAs. The boycott is unilateral The timing of Senator
Rabbanis announcement also indicated that the MQM decision to throw its
91
weight behind the PML-N candidate pushed him to the decision. Not only did it
mean that the MQM was ignoring its old alliance with the PPP, but it also meant
the government was assured the numbers to have its candidate elected.
Because M Justice Wajihuddin is not retiring, there will be an election,
even though Senator Rabbani will not be contesting. Senator Rabbani should
also note that there will be a successor to Asif Zardari elected at the end of the
exercise, ready to take over when his term expires. He should also note that no
other candidate has boycotted the election because of this. His claim that the
federation is in danger is also specious, because the inability to campaign
among the MPAs is counterbalanced by the ability to campaign among the
Senators, who are elected by the MPAs.
If Senator Rabbani wanted to campaign among the MPAs just as they
themselves campaigned among the voters in their constituencies, he should have
conceded his opponents the right of appealing the ECP decision in the Supreme
Court. The process of obtaining an earlier date for the poll was entirely legal, no
appeal was entered against the court's decision, and to use it as an excuse to
boycott the election merely sets an inapt example for those contesting other
elections, such as national or provincial. (Editorial, TheNation 27th July)
Governance
Appointment of AGP: legal or not? While the edifice of a new
Pakistan is being erected by the same old hands, with the same old devices, in
the same old fashion, there is a growing sense of restlessness and
disillusionment, witnessed even among the inmates of our madhouse let alone
the normal lot. Here is a heated debate I overheard between two hillbillies just
the other day:
It is strange. It is strange, mumbled one madman repeatedly.
Just what is so strange, man, inquired another, sitting beside him.
The alleged appointment of Mustafa Ramday as the acting Advocate
General of Punjab and his appearing before the Supreme Court on behalf of the
provincial government in the same capacity, replied the first.
What about it, asked the second curiously?
Doesnt the name Ramday ring any bell with you, came forth the querycum-reply.
Of course, it does. I remember Mr Ramday for his opposition to the
commando and his role in the reinstatement of the Chief Justice. And later, after
his retirement, his appointment as an ad hoc judge, for which the Pakistan Bar
Council gave the Supreme Court a tough time, replied the second fool.
Good. You got a good memory, quipped the first one, letting out a
guffaw.
92
Now come on. What you are driving at, asked the other, apparently
irritated.
Well, I find it moronically ironic for a government claiming to be
democratic in letter and yet cultivating the seeds of nepotism, cronyism and
favouritism in spirit, as if there is no rule of law in the country, as if we are
really a nation of imbeciles, answered the first, now settling himself for a
serious exposition.
Enunciate it for me. Expand on it. Throw some light on it please. You
see, I am only a fool, pleaded the second.
Well, it is the talk of the town. No secret as such. Even a lunatic like me
knows about that. Anyway, I will do what you ask for, said the first, adding,
let me first ask you a simple question. Do you by any chance know who
Mustafa Ramday is?
Well, no, curtly replied the second.
He is the son of Justice (retd) Khalilur Rehman Ramday, you just
eulogized, the first said.
And, asked the second still further.
That he is the nephew of the PML-N MNA and former Federal Minister,
Chaudhry Asadur Rehman, who got elected on the NA 94, Toba Tek Singh,
seat.
And?
That Mustafa Ramday was actively involved in his election campaign.
And?
That he is the first cousin of the former Advocate General Punjab, Raza
Farooq, who tragically enough, died at a young age, in May 2010, in Islamabad,
while in the line of duty, remarked the first.
And?
That he is the member of a family firm, Ramday Law Associates. The
baby of the PML-N; so to say. And beneficiary of high-profile Punjab
government cases in the recent past.
And?
That he is the nephew of the LHCs honourable judge, Justice
Muhammad Yawar Ali.
Now wait a minute. Just how come all the credentials you just mentioned
disqualify him for his post? You know Id rather take them as his strong points,
making him perfectly eligible for the job, observed the second idiot
disapprovingly.
93
Oh, I was, as they say, just warming up. Heres how, I tell you, his
selection has more to do with cronyism than meritocracy and transparency
which the federal government so cockily stands for, replied the first,
continuing, First of all, as per Article 140 of the constitution, only that person
could be appointed the Advocate General, who is eligible for the post of a high
court judge. Mustafa, it appears, is not. Why? Because, the minimum age limit
of such a law officer has to be 45 years. He is only 41. Secondly, the Punjab
government has adopted an indirect procedure to fill the vacant post and to
accommodate an individual of choice, while the law demands otherwise. Ergo,
the PBC Vice Chairman, Syed Qalb-i-Hassans remark that the appointment was
made in a very ridiculous manner, ignoring relevant constitutional provisions.
Hmm, should we construe then the selection has been made on purely
political basis, since the guy had appeared as a counsel for the Sharif brothers
and that he had political affiliation and ties with the party, asked the second,
now somehow satisfied with the line of argument.
Well, apparently, it seems like it. But you dont have to jump to
conclusions. Personally, Id prefer the law to take its course, as the case is
pending in the LHC. Besides, passing judgments isnt the way of us lunatics,
but of the normal lot, replied the first in a light tone and with that both burst
into big laughs.
But I still dont get it, you know. Despite the feverish efforts by the
PML-N central and provincial government, it has, to some extent, failed in
creating a soft corner for itself in the apex court. Just recall the grilling of
Mustafa in the Supreme Court the other day on the issue of local body elections.
And the strong censure by the Chief Justice with regard to the party leadership,
equating it with kings and kingdoms, said the second fool.
That is true. Could be one reason why Ramday Sr. declined to head the
Bhoja Air Crash Commission a couple of days ago, even against a hefty, Rs5
million. As you can see, all other retired judges are busying themselves with one
or another commission these days. I mean just look at the sky-high popularity of
the super-hit blockbuster, Abbottabad Commission Report which is the
brainchild of Justice (retd) Javed Iqbal and which made such inroads in the
national discourse via foreign routes (read Aljazeera), put the first fool as if in
meditation.
To which the second replied: Well, yeah. I agree with you on that. And
coming back to the subject, it is just so sad to see the two sons of our top two
judges face such criticism, for one or another reason. First it was Arsalan
Iftikhar. And now, it is Mustafa Ramday. One can only hope there surface no
more scandals in the future. We already have so many.
Sometimes, I just feel as if we are merely a nation of sleazy scandals. In
the US, there was only one gate, the Watergate, which shook the very
94
95
economic concept. Foreign investments, by their own very nature, are mostly
made by global corporate capitalist entities to make the foreign investors rich.
The dynamics of this system do not work in reverse the investing capitalists
make the profits along with their local partners, while the cheap labour force is
exploited. Massive profits are repatriated overseas, leaving the country depleted
of foreign exchange reserves and technological and capital dependency on
foreign economic actors and managers.
What is required in Pakistan is a broadening of the small-scale industrial
sector by indigenous and local entrepreneurs by the federal governments
dynamic financial, logistic, and technological assistance and intervention for a
balanced development throughout the country. Perhaps, Islamabad can come up
with a national industrial development blueprint in which the local investors
share ownership with the state institutions to overcome fund availability and
streamline management systems of taxation, repayment of state loans, state
assisted marketing and nationwide mobilization of the training and placement of
the labour force through technological education.
Let us not forget that the Pakistani masses are a frustrated lot. The 20082013 democracy delivered nothing of substance for the average Pakistani
citizen. It simply added to their daily deprivations, economic difficulties, lack of
health and education facilities and increased poverty. The people of Pakistan do
not want a political system that can only diffuse their anger by rhetorical public
diplomacy and repeated democratic slogans and elections, while leaving their
demands largely unmet. They want a democracy that delivers, meets their
demands, resolves political problems, and finds the ways and means to manage
social and economic justice. To put it simply, a democratic dispensation that has
solutions to public issues and the solutionists determined in their task of
dispensing public welfare at all levels of society.
The question is: is the contemporary democratic system in Pakistan
moving in that direction towards that political discourse? Or, I wonder at times:
are we at a stage where democracy and the deep state of vested interests are
cohabiting? I will leave you to answer that question! (Dr Haider Mehdi,
TheNation 27th July)
REVIEW
Since days of election campaign and till to date two topics have been
talked about a lot on the electronic media. Both topics relate to economy in
one way or the other. The first topic involved the business tycoon Muhammad
Mansha. In Mansha-murmur several aspects were heard i.e.; link between
Mansha and PML-N top leadership; release of over Rs300 billion for clearing
circular debt of IPPs; favouritism in compensating delayed Nandipur project
96
amounting to Rs14 billion; use of Manshas private jet aircraft by Sharif family
during China visit; privatization of PIA and so on.
It would be pertinent to mention that since election campaign Nawaz
Sharif has been speaking a lot about having bullet train in Pakistan. Some one
should tell him that Pakistan shall have bullet train only after its rulers will get
rid of bullet-proof cars.
The second topic related to Nawazs love for improving bilateral relations
with India primarily to give boast to trade. For this he was prepared to ignore
incidents like submission of an affidavit in Supreme Court of India by an Indian
civil servant and the massacre of Kashmiris in Gool, IHK. This is discussed
separately in the article related to the series pertaining to war in the Af-Pak
region.
The murmuring over general elections had not died down yet when
Presidential polls generated new controversies. The ECP fixed August 6 as the
date of polls, just two days inside the expiry limit of the time-bracket given in
the Constitution. Why the polls could not be held before Ramazan not earlier
than sixty days given in the Constitution only Fakhru Bhai could explain the
wisdom behind that?
The polling date fixed by the ECP did not suit Nawaz Sharif, who spends
last ten days of Ramazan in Makka. PML-N requested for the change in the
date, but ECP declined; forcing the ruling party to approach the Supreme Court.
The court in consultation with the ECP advanced the date to July 30 as was
requested by the petitioner.
The PPP reacted by announcing the boycott of the Presidential polls
making excuse that its candidate, Raza Rabbani, did not get adequate time for
canvassing. Some of its former allies in the government supported the stance
taken by the PPP. The leaders of this party, however, ignored the fact that when
Zardari was elected he did not go out of Islamabad for canvassing.
Aitzaz Ahsan had cribbed before media men recently that his party
always assign the dirty tasks to him and Raza Rabbani; exposing them to pelting
of rotten tomatoes and eggs by media and masses. After their decision to
boycott polls, the masses and media must acknowledge the prudence of Zardari
as to why the two party stalwarts are assigned the dirty jobs.
Their score cards make them the obvious choice for accomplishing such
tasks. Aitzaz has the distinction of defending the two most corrupt politicians
a President and a Prime Minister in a court of law. He had also eaten his own
words that pledged that he would never appear before the Chief Justice in a case
fixed in his court.
Raza Rabbani has the honour of shaking the very foundation of the
federation by heading a committee that brought constitutional amendments. He
97
did this on the pretext of granting provincial autonomy. At the same time he
turned the Parliamentary democracy into dictatorship of party leaders through
stringent defection rules which suppressed the voices of conscience.
The PML-N moved ahead with mustering support for its candidate Mr
Mamnoon. A delegation led by Ishaq Dar went to Nine Zero requesting for their
support while praising the delicacies of haleem and pakorras he had once
enjoyed as part of the hospitality of the MQM. Altaf Hussain obliged the
visitors while talking to them on telephone.
The MQM has once again emerged as optimum beneficiary of pre-poll
bargaining as was evident from immediate reciprocation by PML-N in which
MQM was invited to join the federal government. It is understood that sooner or
later the invitation will be accepted, as there are no plausible reasons for
declining the offer.
The acceptance would mean that the MQM will be part of the federal
government at this critical juncture of its existence, in addition to Ishrat Ibad
continuing as Sindh Governor. It will be of immense help to get its party boss,
Altaf Hussain out of investigators tangle in the United Kingdom. The eel will
once again slip out of the fishing net.
In Pakistan, there are Machiavellian politics in vogue, not of principles as
claimed by most politicians. Here Machiavelli is followed in letter and spirit
who said end justifies the means. Whereas in Islam, the basis on which
Pakistan came into existence, it is the means that matter and end is of no
significance what-so-ever.
30th July, 2013
98
In the last volume it was said that Allamah Iqbal wanted to have a team of
likeminded so that they could join hands to achieve the mission of resurrection
of Islam. This could facilitate reaching the destination while the pleasant
company making the journey easier.
That was not to be, Allamah was not disheartened by the dearth of birds
of his feather. The burning desire to reach the destination did not let him wait for
gathering of a flock. He took off and flew beating his wings and crying for
company like a crane confident of reaching where he wanted to.
The change seekers, the reformists, and revolutionists are like cranes; they
just cannot not sit back and wait when it is time to fly. Allamah was to be no
exception, so he undertook the task to accomplish the mission all alone. He
devoted all his energies to spread the Message using the God-gifted poetical talent.
The works in this chapter are taken from Bal-e-Jibril with English
translation by Naim Siddiqui in most cases. The chapter begins with some
ghazals from Part Two of that book.
GHAZALEIN: Part-II
***** (5) *****
()
Tou abhi rehgozar mein hai, qiad-e-moqam sey gozar; Missr-o-Hijaz sey gozar,
Paras-o-Shaam sey gozar.
Thou art yet region-bound, transcend the limits of space; transcend the narrow
climes of the East and the West.
Jiss ka amal hai bey gharaz, oss ki jaza kochh aur hai; Hoor-o-khiyaam sey
gozar, baadah-o-jaam sey gozar.
[Khiyaam: Kaimah ki jamaa.]
For selfless deeds of men rewards are less mundane; transcend the houris
glances, the pure, celestial wine.
Garchih hai dilkosha bohat hosn-e-Farang ki bahar; taerak-e-boland baal,
danah-o-daam sey gozar.
99
Ravishing in its power is beauty in the West: Thou bird of paradise, resist this
earthly trap.
Koh shigaaf teyri zarab, tojh sey koshaad Sharq-o-Gharb; taigh-e-hilal ki tarah
aish-e-niyaam sey gozar.
With a mountain-cleaving assault, bridging the East and West, despise all
defences, and become a sheathless sword.
Teyra imam bey hazoor, teyri namaz bey saroor; aisi namaz sey gozar, aisey
imam sey gozar.
Thy imam is unabsorbed, thy prayer is uninspired, forsake an imam like him;
forsake a prayer like this. (Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
***** (7) *****
Pher chiragh-e-lalah sey roshan hoay koh-o-daman; mojh ko pher naghmon
peh oksaney laga morgh-e-chaman.
Hill and vale once more under the poppys lamps are bright; in my heart the
nightingale has set new songs alight.
Phhool hein sehra mein ya pariyan qatar andar qatar; oodhey oodhey, neiley
neiley, peiley peiley pairhan.
Violet, violet, azure, azure, golden, golden mantles: Flowers, or fairies of the
desert, rank on rank in sight?
Burg-e-gul per rakhh gaeyi shabanam ka moti baad-e-sobh; aur chamkaati hai
iss moti ko sooraj ki kiran.
On the rosy-spray dawns soft breeze has left a pearl of dew; now the sunbeam
turns this gem a yet more glittering white.
100
Hosn-e-bey perwa ko apni bey niqabi kay leay; hon agar sheharon sey bun
piyarey tuo shehar achhey keh bun.
Town or woodland, which is sweeter, if for her unveiling careless beauty love
towns less than where green woods invite?
Apney mun mein doob kar pa ja soragh-e-zindagi; tou agar meyra naheen
bunnta nah bun, apna tuo bun.
Delve into your soul and there seek our lifes buried tracks; will you not be
mine? Then be not mine, be your own right!
!
!
Mun ki dunya! Mun ki dunya soz-o-musti, jazb-o-shouq; tun ki dunya! Tun ki
dunya sood-souda, makr-o-fun.
World of soul the world of fire and ecstasy and longing: World of sense the
world of gain that fraud and cunning blight.
Mun ki doulat haath aati hai tuo pher jaati naheen; tun ki doulat chhaon hai,
ata hai dhun jata hai dhun,
Treasure of the soul once won is never lost again: Treasure gold, a shadow
wealth soon comes and soon takes flight.
Mun ki dunya mein nah paya mien ney Afrangi ka raj; mun ki dunya mein nah
deikhhey mien ney Shaikh-o-Brahman.
In the spirits world I have not seen a white mans Raj, in that world I have not
seen Hindu and Muslim fight.
101
Paani paani kar gaeyi mojh ko qalandar ki yeh baat; tou jhoka jabb ghair kay
aagey, nah mun teyra nah tun.
Shame and shame that hermits saying pouted on me you forfeit body and soul
alike if once you cringe to anothers might!
(Translated by V.G. Kiernan)
***** (14) *****
Dil-e-bidaar Farooqi, dil-e-bidaar Karrari; mus-e-Adam kay haq mein kimiya
hai dil ki bidaari.
A heart awake to man imparts Umars brains and Hyders manly parts: If
watchful heart a man may hold, his dross is changed to sterling gold.
Dil-e-bidaar paida kar keh dil khwabidah hai jabb takk; nah teyri zarab hai
kaari, nah meyri zarab hai kaari.
Beget a heart alive and sound, for, if it be in slumber bound, you cannot strike a
deadly blow, nor even I can daring show.
Mashaam-e-taiz sey milta hai sehra mein nishan oss ka; zun-o-takhmin sey
haath ata naheen aahooey Tataari.
If sense of smell be full and stunted, the musk-deer never can be hunted: If
bereft of sense of smelling true, surmise and guess can yield no clue.
Iss andaishey sey zabt-e-aah mien karta rahon kabb takk; keh mogh-zaadey
nah ley jaain teri qismat ki chingaari.
My sighs no more I can withhold, when Muslims sloth I do behold: If Muslims
do not mend their way, magians their luck might steal away.
102
Khodawanda yeh teyrey saadah dil bandey kidhar jaain; keh darvaishi bhi
ayyari hai, sultani bhi ayyari.
These simple thralls of Yours, O Lord, from every house and door are barred:
For kings, no less the acolytes, are fraudulent and hypocrites.
Mojhey tehzeeb-e-hazir ney atta ki hai woh azadi; keh zahar mein tuo azadi hai,
batin mein gariftari.
The freedom that this age does grant does ever freedoms essence want: Though
freedom seems to outward sight, yet is no less than prison tight.
!
Tou ay Moulaey Yasrib! Aap meyri charah-saazi kar; meri daanish hai
Afrangi, mera iman hai zonnari.
O Lord of Yathrib! Cure provide for doubts that in my breast abide: My wisdom
to the West is due, girdled my faith like Brahman true.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (15) *****
Khodi ki shokhi-o-tondi mein kibr-o-naaz naheen; jo naaz ho bhi tuo bey lazzate-niaz naheen.
In the coquetry and fierceness of the self there is no pride, there are no airs.
Even if there are airs, then they are not without the pleasure of submission.
Nigah-e-ishq dil-e-zindah ki talash mein hai; shikar-e-mordah sazawar-eshahbaz naheen.
The eye of love is in search of the living heart; hunting for carrion does not befit
up to the royal hawk.
103
Meri nawa mein naheen hai adaey mehboobi; keh Bang-e-Soor-e-Israfil dil
nawaz naheen.
In my song there is no charming and romantic grace, for the blast of the trumpet
of Israfil is not meant to please the heart.
Sawal-e-maey nah karon saqi-e-Farang sey mein; keh yeh tariqah-e-rindaane-pakbaaz naheen.
I will not ask for wine from the Frank, saki, for this is not the way of the purehearted profligates.
Hoeyi nah aam jahan mein kabhi hakoomat ishq; sabab yeh hai keh mohabat
zamanah saaz naheen.
The rule of love has never been widespread in the world. The reason is this
that love is no time-server.
Ekk iztirab-e-mosalsal, ghiyab ho keh hazoor, mien khod kahon tuo meri
dastan draaz naheen.
(Ghiyab: Ghaib hona, ghair hazir hona.)
One continual anxiety; whether absent or present! If I tell it myself, my story is
not long.
Agar ho zouq tuo khalwat mein parrh Zabur-e-Ajam; foghan-e-neim shabbi
bey nawaey raaz naheen. (Zabur-e-Ajam: Allamah ki mashoor Farsi kitab.)
If you desire then read the Persian Psalms; in seclusion; the midnight lament is
not bereft of secrets.
(Translated by D.J. Matthews)
***** (16) *****
104
Mir-e-sepah nasaza, lashkariyan shakastah saff; aah woh teer-e-neim kash jiss
ka nah ho koeyi hadaf.
(Hadaf: Nishanah.)
A recreant captain, a battle-line thrown back, the arrow hanging target-less and
slack!
Teyrey moheet mein kaheen gohar-e-zindagi naheen; dhoondh choka mien mouj
mouj, deikhh choka sadaf sadaf.
Nowhere near you that shell which holds lifes pearl; I have dragged the waves
and searched the oceans track.
Ishq-e-bottan sey haath othha, apni khodi mein doob ja; naqsh-o-nigar-e-Deir
mein khoon-e-jigar nah kar talaf.
Plunge in your self, on idols dote no more, pour our no more hearts blood for
paint to deck their shrines.
Khhol kay kaya biyan karon sirr-e-moqam-e-murg-o-ishq; ishq hai murg-ebasharaf, murg-e-hayat bey sharaf.
I unveil the courts of Love and Death: Death life dishonoured; Love death
for honours sake.
Sohbat-e-Pir-e-Rome sey mojh peh hoa yeh raaz faash; laakhh hakim sar
bajiab, ekk Kalim sar bakaf.
I gleaned in Rumis company: one bold heart is worth of learned heads the
whole tame pack.
105
Misl-e-Kalim ho agar maarkah aazma koeyi; abb bhi darakht-e-Toor sey aati
hai bang-e-la takhaf.
Once more that voice from Sinais tree would cry fear not! If some new Moses
led the attack.
Kheirah nah kar sakka mojhey jalwah-e-daanish-e-Farang; sormah hai meyri
ankhh ka khak-e-Madinah-o-Najaf.
No glitter of Western science could dazzle my eyes: The dust of Medina stains,
like collyrium, black.
(Translated by V.G. Kiernan)
***** (18) *****
Yeh Deir-e-kohan kaya hai, anbaar-e-khas-o-khashaak; moshkil hai gozar iss
mein bey nalah-e-aatish naak.
The ancient fane in which we live has heaps of thorns at every turn; too hard to
cross it safe and sound without the aid of sighs that burn.
Nakhchir-e-mohabat ka qissah naheen tolaani; lotf-e-khalash-e-paikan,
asoodgi-e-fitraak.
(Nakhchir: Shikar kiya hoa parindah ya janwar. Lotf-e-khalash-e-paikan:
Teer lugney kay dard ka maza. Asoodgi-e-fitraak: Shikarbund mein latak jaaney
ka sakoon.)
The tale of quarry shot by Love is simple, brief and not too long: The victim
feels the joy of prick and then the rest of saddle thong.
Khhoya gaya jo matlab-e-haftaad-o-duo millat mein; samjhey ga nah tou jabb
takk bey rung nah ho idraak.
(Haftaad-o-duo: Bahattar; seventy-two.)
106
The sterling truth to Muslim taught, in feuds of different sects is lost; how can
you catch this truth again, with bias if your mind be fraught?
Ekk sharaa-e-Mosilmani, ekk jazb-e-Mosilmani; bey jazb-e-Mosilmani, sirr-efalk al-aflaak. (Falak al-aflaak: Aasmanon ka aasman, yaani Arsh.)
One is the outward form of faith, the other its spirit deep and true: He, who
quaffs its spirits deep, brings secrets hidden to his view.
Ay rehro-e-farzanah, bey jazb-e-Mosilmani; ney rah-e-amal paida ney shakh-eyaqin numnaak.
O pilgrim wise, who tread the path, if passion strong for faith you lack, the
bough of faith shall whither fast, obscure and dim become the path.
Ramz-e-hein mohabat ki gostakhi-o-bey baaki; her shouq naheen gostakh, her
jazb naheen bey baak.
Courage and valour are the signs by which the state of Love is known: Not
every zeal is pert and rude, nor daring by evry person shown.
Farigh tuo nah baithhey ga mehshar mein janon meyra; ya apna gariban
chaak ya daman-e-Yazdan chaak.
On the Day of Judgment too my frenzy will not let me rest: With Mighty God I
shall contend or rend to fragments my own vest.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (19) *****
Kamal-e-terk naheen aab-o-gill sey mehjoori; kamal-e-terk hai taskhir-e-khakio-noori.
(Mehjoori: Jodaeyi. alehdagi.)
107
The way to renounce is to conquer the earth and heaven; the way to renounce is
not to starve oneself to death.
Mien aisey faqr sey ehl-e-halqah baz aya; tumhara faqr hai bey doulati-orunjoori.
(Ehl-e-halqah: Tasawwuf ki eik istilah.)
O cultists! I like not your austere piety; your piety is penury, suffering and grief.
Nah faqr kay leay mouzon, nah sultanat kay leay; woh quom jiss ney ganwaya
mataa-e-Taimuri.
A nation that has lost Taimurs great heritage, is unfit for piety, and is unfit to
rule.
Sonney nah saqi-e-mehwash tuo aur bhi achha; ayyar garmi-e-sohbat hai harfe-maazoori.
If the sweet cup-bearer listens not to me, it is good; when I say, no more, that
will only bring me more.
Hakim-o-Arif-o-Sufi, tamam must-e-zahoor; kissey khabar keh tajali hai ain
mastoori.
The Sufi and his peers are all engrossed in a glimpse; they know not that
concealment is itself a vision.
Woh moltafat hon tuo konj-e-qafas bhi azadi; nah hon tuo sehan-e-chaman
bhi moqam-e-majboori.
(Moltafat: Matwajoh, meharban.)
Bondage is freedom with favours from on high, and when favours are withheld,
even freedom is bondage.
108
Bora nah maan, zara aazma kay deikhh issey; Farang dil ki kharabi, khird ki
maamoori.
The West is a treasure-house for the reasons quest; but for the heart it is a
source of decay and death.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
***** (20) *****
Aql go aastan sey door naheen; iss ki taqdir mein hazoor naheen.
Though reason to the portal guide, yet entry to it is denied.
Dil-e-beina bhi kar Khoda sey talab; ankhh ka noor dil ka noor naheen.
Beg God to grant a lighted heart, for light and sight are things apart.
Ilm mein bhi saroor hai laikan; yeh woh jannat hai jiss mein Hoor naheen.
Though knowledge lends to mind a glow, no houris its Eden can ever show.
Kaya ghazab hai keh iss zamaney mein; eik bhi sahib-e-saroor naheen.
How strange that in the present time; no one owns the joy sublime!
Ekk janon hai keh bashaoor bhi hai; ekk janon hai keh bashaoor naheen.
Some passions leave the mind intact, while others make it blind to fact.
109
Nasaboori hai zindagi dil ki; aah woh dil keh nasaboor naheen.
The heart from unrest gets its life, what pity if it knows no strife!
Bey hazoori hai teyri mout ka raaz; zindah ho tou tuo bey hazoor naheen.
You die because from God you flee, if living, linked with God shall be.
Her gohar ney sadaf ko torr diya; tou he aamadah-e-zahoor naheen.
The pearls have all their covering cleft, of urge to show you are bereft.
Arni mien bhi keh raha hon, magar; yeh hadis-e-Kalim-o-Toor naheen.
Show unto me, though I too cry, it is not tale of Moses and Sinai.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (21) *****
Khodi woh behar hai jiss ka koeyi kinarah naheen; tou aabjoo ossey samjha
agar tuo charah naheen.
The self of man is ocean vast, and knows no depth or bound: If you take it for a
stream, how can your mind be sound?
Talism-e-gonbad-e-gardon ko torr sakktey hein; zojaj ki yeh amarat hai, sunge-kharah naheen. (Zojaj: Shishah.)
The magic of this whirling dome we can set at naught: Not of stone but of glass
its building has been wrought.
110
Khodi mein doobtey hein pher obhar bhi aatey hein; magar yeh hoslah-e-marde-haich karah naheen.
In Holy Trance in self we drown, and up we rise again; but how a worthless
man can show so much might and main?
Terey moqam ko anjam shanas kaya jaaney; keh khak zindah hai tuo tabiy
sitarah naheen.
Your rank and state cannot be told by one who reads the stars: You are living
dust, in sooth, not ruled by Moon or Mars.
Yaheen bahisht bhi hai, Hoor-o-Jibril bhi hein; teri nigah mein abhi shokhi-enazarah naheen.
The maids of Edn and Gabriel eke in this world can be found, but, alas! You
lack as yet glances bold and zeal profound.
Merey janon ney zamaney ko khoob pehchana; woh perhan mojhey bakhsha
keh parah parah naheen.
My craze has judged aright the bent of times wherein I am born: Love be
thanked for granting me the gown entire and untorn.
Ghazab hai, ain karam mein bokheil hai fitrat; keh laal-e-naab mein aatish tuo
hai, shararah naheen.
Spite of Natures bounty great, its guarding practice, mark! It grants the ruby
reddish hue, but denies the heat of spark.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
111
Khirad kay pass khabar kay sawa kochhy aur naheen; tera ilaaj nazar kay sawa
kochh aur naheen.
The mind can give you naught, but what with doubt is fraught: One look of
Saintly Guide can needful cure provide.
Her ekk moqam sey aagey moqam hai teyra; hayat zouq-e-safar kay sawa
kochh aur naheen.
The goal that you presume is far and out of view: What else can be this life but
zeal for endless strife?
Garan baha hai tuo hifz-e-khodi sey hai vernah; gohar mein aab-e-gohar kay
sawa kochh aur naheen.
Much worth the pearl begets, for guard on self it sets: What else in pearl is
found except its sheen profound?
Rugon mein gardish-e-khon hai agar tuo kaya hasil; hayat soz-e-jigar kay
sawa kochh aur naheen.
Though blood in veins may race, to Life it lends no grace: Only the glow of
heart to Life can zeal impart.
!
Aroos-e-lalah! Monasib naheen hai mojh sey hijab; keh mien nasim-e-sehar kay
sawa kochh aur naheen.
Wherefore, O Tulip Bride, from me your charms you hide? I am the breath of
morn, your face I would adorn.
Jissey kisaad samajhtey hein tajiraan-e-Farang; woh shaey mataa-e-honar
kay sawa kochh aur naheen.
(Kisaad: Bey ronaqi, bey rawaji, karobar ka mandah parr jana.)
112
What Frankish dealers take for counterfeit and fake, is true and real art not
valued in their Mart.
Barra karim hai Iqbal-e-bey nawa laikan; attaey shoala sharar kay sawa
kochh aur naheen.
Though indigent I be, I am of hand yet free: What can the Flame bestow except
its spark and glow?
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (25) *****
Nigah-e-faqr mein shan-e-sakandari kaya hai; khiraj ki jo gada ho, woh
Qaisari kaya hai.
The splendour of a monarch great is worthless for the free and bold: Where lies
the grandeur of a king, whose riches rest on borrowed gold?
Botton sey tojh ko ummeidin, Khoda sey noumeidi; mojhey bata tuo sehi aur
kafiri kay hai.
You pin your faith on idols vain and turn your back on Mighty God: If this is
not unbelief and sin, what else is unbelief and fraud?
Falak ney onn ko atta ki hai khwajgi keh jinhein; khabar naheen rawash-ebandah perwari kaya hai.
Luck favours the fool and the mean, and exalts and lifts to the skies: Only those
who are base and low and know not how to patronize.
Faqat nigah sey hota hai faislah dil ka; nah ho nigah mein shokhi tuo dilbari
kaya hai.
113
One look from the eyes of the Fair can make a conquest of the heart: There is no
charm in the fair sweet, if it lacks this alluring art.
Issi khata sey ataab-e-malook hai mojh per; keh janta hon maal-e-Sikandari
kaya hai.
I am a target for the hate of the mighty rich and the great, as I know the end of
Caesars great and know the freaks of luck or fate.
Kissey naheen tamanna-e-sarwari, laikan; khodi ki mout ho jiss mein woh
sarwari kaya hai.
To be a person great and strong is the end and aim of all; but that rank is not real
and true that is attained by the egos fall.
Khosh aagaeyi hai jahan ko qalandari meyri; vagarnah shear mera kaya hai,
shaeri kaya hai.
My bold and simple mode of life has captured each and every heart; though my
numbers are lame and dull and lay no claim to poets art.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (26) *****
Nah tou zamin kay leay hai nah aasman kay leay; jahan hai teyrey leay, tou
naheen jahan kay leay.
Thou art not for the earth or for the heaven alone; the world is for thee, not thou
for the world.
Yeh aql-o-dil hein sharar shoalah-e-mohabat kay; woh khar-o-khas kay leay
hai, yeh neistan kay leay.
114
The mind and the heart are sparks in the flame of love; one for a moments
flash, the other for a blazing fire.
Moqam-e-perwarash-e-aah-o-nalah hai yeh chaman; nah siar-e-chaman kay
leay hai nah aashiyan kay leay.
This garden of delight is not for thy delight; thou art here to yearn, to seek a
beatific vision.
Rehey ga Ravi-o-Neil-o-Farat mein kabb takk; tera safinah keh hai behar-ebikaran kay leay.
Equipped for unfathomed seas, thy vessel should not confine itself to rivers, and
to familiar shores.
Nishan-e-rah dikhhatey thhey jo sitaron ko; taras gaey hein kissi mard-erahdan kay leay.
They were a beacon once to the brightest stars of heaven, but now they languish
in darkness, in search of a guide to lead them.
Nigah boland, sakhon dil nawaz, jan por soz; yehi hai rakht-e-safar mir-ecaravan kay leay.
A lofty vision, gracious speech, and a passionate soul: These are the attributes of
the leaders of all men.
Zara si baat thhi, andaishah-e-Ajam ney ossey; barrha diya hai faqat zaib-edastan kay leay.
It was a plain and simple truth but the imagination of the Persian mind has
confounded it with the poetic license.
115
Merey golo mein hai ekk naghmah-e-Jibril aashoob; sanbhaal kar jissey rakhha
hai lamakan kay leay.
My soul has a secret song, a defiance to Gabriel: A song I have preserved
For life in eternity.
(Translated by Naeem Siddiqui)
***** (30) *****
He shaey mosafer, her cheez rahi; kaya chand taarey, kaya morgh-o-mahi.
The sun, the moon, the stars and all life on earth, are shackled by the tyranny of
time victions of transience.
Tou mard-e-maidan, tou mir-e-lashkar; Noori Hazoori teyrey sepahi.
Thou art in command of all in the chain of Being; Angels and species on earth
are legions of thy armies.
Kochh qadar tou ney apni nah jami; yeh bey sawadi, yeh kum nigahi.
(Bey sawadi: Bey ilmi.)
Regent of God on earth, thou knowest not thy worth; sunk by self-bnegation,
sunk by a lack of vision.
Dunyaey duon ki kabb takk ghulami; ya rahibi kar ya padshahi.
How long wilt thou be a slave of the worthless world? Either be an ascetic, or a
king of men.
116
Pir-e-Haram ko deikhha hai mien ney; kirdar bey soz, goftar waahi. (Waahi:
Bey sar-o-pa.)
The holy men in sanctums inspire me not; their souls are passionless, their talk
is puerile.
(Translated by Naeem Siddiqui)
***** (37) *****
Fitrat ko khird kay robaroo kar; taskhir-e-moqam-e-rung-o-boo kar.
Nature before your mind present, subdue this world of hue and scent.
Tou apni khodi ko khho choka hai; khhoeyi hoeyi shaey ki jostajoo kar.
Of selfhood you appear bereft, to find the thing lost go on quest.
Taaron ki faza hai bikiranah; tou bhi yeh moqam-e-aarzoo kar.
The stars do shine in boundless space; desire to get this lofty place.
Oriyan hein terey chaman ki Hoorin chaak-e-gul-o-lalah ko rafoo kar.
Disrobed the houris of your mead; the rose and tulip darning need.
Bey zouq naheen agarchih fitrat; jo iss sey nah ho saka, woh tou kar.
Of urge, though Nature not deplete, yet where it fails you must complete.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (41) *****
117
Dhoondh raha hai Farang aish-e-jahan ka dawaam; waaey tamannaey
khaam, waaey tamannaey khaam.
The West seeks to make life a perpetual feast; a wish in vain, in vain, in vain!
Pir-e-Haram ney kaha sonn kay meri roedaad; pokhtah hai teyri foghan, abb
nah issey dil mein thham.
Aware of my state, my spiritual guide assures me; thy ecstasy has reached the
plenitude of its power.
Thha arani go Kalim, mein arani go naheen; oss ka taqaza rawa, mojh peh
taqaza haraam.
Moses asked for a Divine glimpse, but I do not: The demand was right for him;
but is forbidden for me.
Garchih hai ifshaey raaz, ehl-e-nazar ki foghan; ho naheen sakkta kabhi
shaiwah-e-rindaanah aam.
The plaint of the men of God betrays a suppressed secret; but the ways of the
men of God are not meant for all.
Halqah-e-Sufi mein zikr, bey num-o-bey soz-o-saaz; mien bhi raha tishnah
kaam, tou bhi raha tishnah kaam.
Zikr in the Sufis circle was devoid of ecstasy, I remained unsatisfied, and so
was everyone.
118
Ishq teri intiha, ishq meri intiha; tou bhi abhi natamam, mein bhi abhi
natamam.
Love is thy goal, and mine, too, but both are so far novices on the path of love.
Aah keh khhoya gaya tojh sey faqiri ka raaz; vernah hai maal-e-faqir Sultanate-Rome-o-Shaam.
Alas! Thou hast betrayed the secret of a fakir, though a fakir has wealth more
than a king of men.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
***** (42) *****
Khodi ho ilm sey mohkam tuo ghairat-e-Jibril; agar ho ishq sey mohkam tuo
Soor-e-Israfil.
If self with knowledge strong becomes, Gabriel it can envious make: If fortified
with passion great, like trump of Israfil can shake.
Azaab-e-daanish-e-hazir sey bakhabar hon mien; keh mien iss aag mein dala
gaya hon misl-e-Khalil.
The scourge of present science and thought, to me, no doubt, is fully known,
like Abraham, the Friend of God, in its flame I have been thrown.
Faraib khordah-e-manzil hai carvan vernah; ziyadah rahat-e-manzil sey hai
nishaat-e-raheel. (Raheel: Kooch.)
The caravan in quest of goal by charm of lodge is led astray, though never can
the ease of lodge be same as joy to be on way.
119
Mojhey woh dars-e-Farang aaj yaad aatey hein; kahan hazoor ki lazzat,
kahan hijab-e-dalil.
Still to mind I can recall, in Europe what I learnt by heart: But can the veil of
Reason match with joy that Presence can import.
Andhairi shabb hai, joda apney qaafley sey hai tou; terey leay hai mera shoalah
nawa, qandeel.
From caravan you are adrift, and night has donned a mantle black: For you my
song that burns as flame, like a torch, can light the track.
Gharib-o-saadah-o-rungin hai dastan-e-Haram; nehiyat iss ki Hosein, ibtida
hai Ismail.
The tale of the Holy Shrine, if told, is simple, strange and red in hue: With
Ismail the tale begins, ends with Husain, the martyr true.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (47) *****
Yuon haath naheen ata woh gohar yakk danah; yakk rungi-o-azadi ay himmate-mardanah.
O manly heart, the goal you seek is hard to gain like gem unique: Get firm
resolve and freedom true, if aim of life you wish to woo.
120
Ya Sanjar-o-Toghral ka aein-e-jahan giri; ya mard-e-qalandar kay andaz-emalookanah.
Like Sanjar great and Tughral just to rule and conquer learn you must: Or like a
qalandar true and bold the wont and way of monarch hold.
Ya hairat-e-Farabi ya taab-o-tabb-e-Rumi; ya fikr-e-hakimanah, ya jazb-ekalimanah.
Farabis thirst for lore beget, or Rumis fever great and fret: You need a
thinkers lofty gaze, or Moses passion to amaze.
Ya aql ki roobahi ya ishq-e-yaddullahi; ya heelah-e-Afrangi ya hamlah-eTurkanah.
Learn the wolfish tricks and guile, be like Franks in wit and wile: Else own the
passion of Gods Hand, or strike the foes like Tartar band.
Ya sharaa-e-Mosilmani ya Deir ki darbani; ya naarah-e-mustanah, Kaabah
ho keh bottkhanah.
Act on Muslim law and rites, or sit in fane like acolytes: Be it the Shrine or
temple high, ever like a drunkard cry.
Miri mein faqiri mein, shahi mein ghulami mein; kochh kaam naheen banta bey
juraat-e-rindanah.
In whatsoever state you be, a fettered thrall or monarch free: No wonder ever
can be wrought, with Love, if courage be not fraught.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
***** (53) *****
121
Garm-e-foghan hai jaras, othh keh gaya qaflah; waey woh rehro keh hai
montazir-e-rahelah.
(Jaras: Ghhenti. Rahelah: Sawaari.)
Arise! The bugle calls! It is time to leave! Woe be to the traveller who still
awaits!
Teyri tabiyat hai aur, Teyra zamanah hai aur; teyrey mowwafiq naheen khanqihi
silsilah.
The confines of a monastery suit thee not: The times have changed, thou seest,
and so hast thou.
!
Dil ho ghulam-e-khird ya keh imam-e-khird; salik-e-reh, hoshiyar! Sakht hai
yeh marhalah.
Thorny is the path, O seeker of salvation! Whether thy heart is the slave or the
master of reason.
Iss ki khodi hai abhi shaam-e-sehar mein aseer; gardish-e-douran ka hai jiss
ki zoban per gillah.
The selfhood of one who bemoans all change, is yet a prisoner of time, shackled
by days and nights.
!
Teyrey nafas sey hoeyi aatish-e-gul taiz-ter; morgh-e-chaman! Hai yehi teyri
nawa ka silah.
O songbird! Thy song is well rewarded when it infuses fire into the roses
bloom.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
122
QUATRAINS
*****(3)*****
Urging Muslims to know thyselves.
Makani hon keh azad-e-makan hon; jahan bein hon keh khod sara jahan
hon.
Woh apni lamakani mein rehein must; mojhey itna bata dein mien kahan hon.
Am I bound by space, or beyond space? A world-observer, or a world myself?
Let Him remain happy in His Infinitude, but condescend to tell me where I am.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
*****(8)*****
Koeyi deikhhey tuo meyri naey nawazi; nafas Hindi, moqam-e-naghmah Taazi.
Nigah aaloodah-e-andaz-e-Afrang; tabiyat Ghaznavi, qismat Ayazi.
I wish someone saw how I play the flute the breath is Indian, the tune
Arabian!
My vision has a taint of the Western style; I am a Ghaznavi by temper, but my
fate is that of an Ayaz!
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
*****(18)*****
Tera johar hai noori, pak hai tou; farogh-e-deidah-e-aflaak hai tou.
123
Yehi Adam hai sultan-e-behar-o-ber ka; kahon kaya majra iss bey basar ka.
Nah khod bein, ney Khoda bein, ney jahan bein; yehi shahkaar hai teyrey
honar ka.
So man is the powerful lord of land and seas! A lord of the world with an eye
that hardly sees!
He knows neither himself, nor God, nor the world. Is this, O Lord, Thy greatest
masterpiece?
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
*****(37)*****
Zamaney ki yeh gardish-e-javidanah; haqiqat eik tou, baqi fasanah.
Kissi ney dosh deikhha hai nah farada; faqat imroz hai tera zamanah.
(Farada: Aaney wala kall. Imroz: Aaj.)
The movement of days and nights is eternal, fast; no one has seen the future or
the past.
124
Thou art the only fact, the rest is fiction; the present is the only time thou hast.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
SAKI NAMA
In this relatively long poem Allamah offers words of advice with
expectations along with prayers.
Saqi Namah
Gul-o-nargis-o-sosan-o-nastran; shaheed-e-azal lalah khoonein kafan.
(Sosan: Chanbaili.)
With a riot of flowers iris, rose, narcissus, lily, eglantine, and tulip in its
martyrs gory shroud.
Jahan chhop gaya pardah-e-rung mein; lahoo ki hai gardish rug-e-sung mein.
The landscape is all covered with a multicoloured sheet, and colour flows even
in the veins of stones like blood.
Faza neili neili, hawa mein saroor; thhehartey naheen aashiyan mein tayoor.
(Tayoor: Parindey.)
The breezes blow intoxicatingly in a blue sky, so that the birds do not feel like
remaining in their nests and fly about.
Woh jooey kohistan ochakti hoeyi; attakti, lachakti, sarakti hoeyi.
125
Ochhalti, phissalti, sanbhalti hoeyi; barrey paich khha kar nikalti hoeyi.
And then, collecting itself; surges up and rushes on.
Rokkay jabb yeh tuo sill* cheir deyti hai yeh; paharron kay dil cheir deyti hai
yeh.
(*Pathar, chataan.)
Should it be stemmed, it would cut open the hills hearts and burst the rocks.
Zara deikhh ay saqi-e-lalah faam! Sonati hai yeh zindagi ka payam.
This hill-stream, my fair saki, has a message to give us concerning life.
Pala dey mojhey woh maey-e-pardah soz; ke aati naheen fasal-e-gul roz roz.
Attune me to this message and, come, let us celebrate the spring, which comes
but once a year.
Woh maey jiss sey roshan zamir-e-hayat; woh maey jiss sey hai musti-e-kainat.
Give me that wine whose heat burns up the veils of hidden things, whose light
illuminates lifes mind;
Woh maey jiss mein hai soz-o-saaz-e-azal; woh maey jiss sey khholta hai raaze-azal.
Whose strength intoxicates the universe, whose effervescence was Creations
source.
126
Othha saqiya pardah iss raaz sey; larra dey mamolay ko shahbaz sey.
Come lift the veil off mysteries, and make a mere wagtail take eagles on.
Zamaney kay andaz badley gaey; niya raag ghai, saaz badley gaey.
The times have changed; so have their signs. New is the music, and so are the
instruments.
Hoa iss tarah faash raaz-e-Farang; keh hairat mein hai shishahbaz-e-farang.
The magic of the West has been exposed, and the magician stands aghast.
Porani siyasat-gari khwar hai; zamin mir-o-sultan sey bizar hai.
The politics of the ancient regime are in disgrace: world is tired of kings.
Gaya dour-e-sarmayah-daari gaya; tamasha dikhha kay madaari gaya.
The age of capitalism has passed, the juggler, having shown his tricks, has gone.
Garan khwab Chini sanbhalney lagay; hamalah kay chashmey obalney lagay.
The Chinese are awaking from their heavy sleep. Fresh springs are bubbling
forth from Himalayan heights.
Dil-e-Toor-o-Seina-o-Faran duo neim; tajali ka pher montazir hai Kalim.
Cut open is the heart of Sinai and Faran, and Moses waits for a renewed
theophany.
127
Mosilman hai Towhid mein garam josh; magar dill abhi takk hai zonnar posh.
The Muslim, zealous though about Gods unity, still wears the Hindus sacred
thread around his heart.
Tamaddan, tasawwuf, shariat, kalam; bottaan-e-Ajam kay pojaari tammam.
In culture, mysticism, canon law and dialectical theology: He worships idols of
non-Arab make.
Haqiqat khorafaat mein khho gaeyi; yeh ummat rawayat mein khho gaeyi.
The truth has been lost in absurdities, and in traditions is this ummah rooted
still.
Lobhata hai dil ko kalam-e-khatib; magar lazzat-e-shouq sey bey nasib.
The preachers sermon may beguile your heart, but there is no sincerity, no
warmth in it.
Biyan oss ka mantiq sey soljha hoa; loghat kay bakhhairron mein oljha hoa.
It is a tangled skein of lexical complexities, sought to be solved by logical
dexterity.
Woh Sufi keh thha khidmat-e-Haq mein mard; mohabat mein yakta, hamiyat
mein fard.
The Sufi, once foremost in serving God, unmatched in love and ardency of soul;
128
Ajam kay khiyalat mein khho gaya; yeh saalik moqamaat mein khho gaya.
Has got lost in the maze of Ajams ideas: At half-way stations is this traveller
stuck.
Bojhi ishq ki aag, andhair hai; Mosilman naheen, raakhh ka dhair hai.
Gone out is the fire of love. O how sad! The Muslim is a heap of ashes, nothing
more.
Sharab-e-kohan pher pila saqiya; wohi jaam gardish mein la saqiya.
O Saki, serve me that old wine again, let that old cup go round once more.
Mojhey ishq kay per laga kar orra; meri khak jugno bana kar orra.
Lend me the wings of Love and make me fly. Turn my dust to fireflies that flit
about.
Khird ko ghulami sey azad kar; jawanon ko piron ka ostaad kar.
Free young mens minds from slavery, and make them mentors of the old.
Hari shakh-e-millat terey num sey hai; nafas iss badan mein terey dum sey hai.
The millats tree is green thanks to your sap: You are its bodys breath.
Tarrapney phharrakney ki toufiq dey; dil-e-Mortaza, soz-e-Siddiq dey.
Give it the strength to vibrate and to throb; lend it the heart of Murtaza, the
fervour of Siddiq.
129
Jigar sey wohi teer pher paar kar; tamanna ko seinon mein bidaar kar.
Drive that old arrow through its heart which will revive desire in it.
Terey aasmanon kay taaron ki khair; zaminon kay shabb zindah-daaron ki
khair.
(Shabb zindah-daar: Abadat gozaar.)
Blest be the stars of Your heavens; blest be those who spend their nights praying
to You.
Jawanon ko soz-e-jigar bakhsh dey; mera ishq, meri nazar bakhsh dey,
Endow the young with fervent souls; grant them my vision and my love.
Meri nao gardaab sey paar kar; yeh saabit hai Tou issey siyyar kar.
(Nao: Kashti. Saabit: Rokki hoeyi, saakin. Siyyar: Motaharik.)
I am a boat in a whirlpool, stuck in one place. Rescue me and grant me mobility.
Bata mojh ko asrar-e-murg-o-hayat; keh teyri nigahon mein hai kainat.
Tell me about the mysteries of life and death, for Your eye spans the universe.
Merey deidah-e-ter ki bey khwabiyan; merey dil ki poshidah bey tabiyan.
The sleeplessness if my tear-shedding eyes; the restless yearnings hidden in my
heart.
130
Omangein meri, aarzooein meri; ummeidein meri; jostajooein meri.
My aspirations, longings and desires; my hopes and quests;
Meri fitrat aeinah-e-rozgaar; ghazalaan-e-afkaar ka marghazaar.
(Ghazalaan-e-afkaar: Khiyalat kay heran, khiyalat.)
My mind that mirrors the times (A field for thoughts gazelles to roam);
Mera dil, meri razam gah-e-hayat; gomaanon kay lashkar, yaqin ka sabaat.
My heart, which is a battlefield of life, where legions of doubt war with faith.
Yehi kochh hai saqi mataa-e-faqir; issi sey faqiri mein hon mien amir.
O Saki, these are all my wealth; possessing them, I am rich in my poverty.
Merey qafley mein lota dey issey; lota dey, thhikaney laga dey issey.
Distribute all these riches in my caravan, and let them come to some good use.
Damadum rawan hai yam-e-zindagi; her ekk shaey sey paida rum-e-zindagi.
In constant motion is the sea of life. All things display lifes volatility.
131
Issi sey hoeyi hai badan ki namood; keh shoaley mein poshidah hai mouj-edood.
It is life that puts bodies forth, just as a whiff of smoke becomes a flame.
Garan garchih hai sohbat-e-aab-o-gill; khosh aaeyi issey mehnat-e-abb-o-gill.
Unpleasant to it is the company of matter, but it likes to see its striving to
improve itself.
Yeh saabit bhi hai aur siyyar bhi; anasar kay phhandon sey bazaar bhi.
It is fixed, yet in motion, straining at the leash to get free of the elements.
Yeh wahdat hai kasrat mein her dum aseer; magar her kaheen bey chagon, bey
nazir.
A unity imprisoned in diversity, it is unique in every form and shape.
Yeh alam, yeh bottkhanah-e-shash jehaat; issi ney trasha hai yeh somnaat,
This world, this six-dimensioned idol-house, this Somnat is all of its fashioning.
Pasand iss ko takrar ki khoo naheen; keh tou mien naheen, aur mien tou
naheen.
It is not its way to repeat itself: You are not I, I am not you.
Mun-o-tou sey hai anjuman aafrin; magar ain mehfil mein khalwat nashin.
With you and me and others it has formed assemblies, but is solitary in their
midst.
132
Chamak iss ki bijli mein taarey mein hai; yeh chandi mein, sonay mein, paarey
mein hai.
It shines in lightning, in the stars, in silver, gold and mercury.
Issi kay biyaban, issi kay babool; issi kay hein kantey, issi kay hein phhool.
Its the wilderness, its are the trees, its are the roses, its are the thorns.
Kaheen iss ki taqat sey kohsar choor; kaheen iss kay phhandey mein Jibril-oHoor.
It pulverises mountains with its might, and captures Gabriel and houris in its
noose.
Kaheen jorrah-e-shaheen semaab rung; lahoo sey chakoron kay aaloodah
chung (punjay).
There is a silver-grey, brave falcon here, its talons covered with the blood of
partridges.
Kabootar kaheen ashiyaney sey door; pharrakta hoa jaal mein nasaboor
(Intihaeyi bitaab).
And over there, far from its nest, a pigeon helplessly aflutter in a snare.
Faraib-e-nazar hai skoon-o-sabaat; tarrapta hai her zarrah-e-kainat.
Stability is an illusion of eyes, for every atom in the world pulsates with change.
133
Samajhta hai tou raaz hai zindagi; faqat zouq-e-perwaz hai zindagi.
Do you think life is great mystery? No, it is only a desire to soar aloft.
Bohat oss ney deikhhey hein pust-o-boland; safar oss ko manzil sey barrh kar
pasand.
It has seen many ups and downs, but likes to travel rather than to reach the goal;
Safar zindagi kay leay burg-o-saaz; safar hai haqiqat, hazar hai majaaz.
(Hazar: Safar kay beraks, saakin.)
For travelling is lifes outfit: it is real, while rest is appearance, nothing more.
Olajh kar solajhney mein lazzat issey; tarrapney phharrakney mein rahat issey.
Life loves to tie up knots and then unravel them. Its pleasure lies in throbbing
and in fluttering.
Hoa jabb issey saamna mout ka; kathhan thha thhamna mout ka.
When it found itself face to face with death, it learned that it was hard to ward it
off.
Otar kar jahan-e-mokafaat mein; rehi zindagi mout ki ghhaat mein.
So it descended to this world, where retribution is the law, and lay in wait for
death.
134
Mazaaq-e-doeyi sey bani zouj zouj; othhi dasht-o-kohsar sey fouj fouj.
(Zouj zouj: Jorra jorra.)
Because of its love of duality, it sorted all things out in pairs, and then arose,
host after host, from mountains and from wilderness.
Gul iss shakh sey toot-tey bhi rehey; issi shakh sey phhoot-tey bhi rehey.
It was a branch from which flowers kept shedding and bursting forth afresh.
Samajhtey hein nadan issey bey sabaat; obharta hai mitt mitt kay naqsh-ehayat
The ignorant think that lifes impress is Ephemeral, but it fades only to emerge
anew.
Barri taiz joolan, barri zood rus; azal sey abud takk rum-e-yakk nafas.
(Taiz joolan: Taiz chalney waali. Zood rus: Jald pohnchney waali.)
Extremely fleet-footed, it reaches its goal instantly. From times beginning to its
end is but one moments way for it.
Zamaney ki zinjeer ayam hai; dummon kay olat phair ka naam hai.
Time, chain of days and nights, is nothing but a name for breathing in and
breathing out.
Yeh mouj-e-nafas kaya hai talwaar hai; khodi kaya hai, talwar ki dhaar hai.
135
What is this whiff of air called breath? A sword and selfhood is that swords
sharp edge.
Khodi kaya hai, raaz-e-daroon-e-hayat; khodi kaya hai, bidaari-e-kainat.
What is the self? Lifes inner mystery, the universes waking up.
Khodi jalwah budmast-o-khalwat pasand; samandar hai ekk boond pani mein
bund.
The self, drunk with display, is also fond of solitude; an ocean in a drop.
Andhairey ojaley mein hai taabnak; mun-o-tou mein paida, mun-o-tou sey pak.
It shines in light and darkness both; displayed in individuals, yet free from
them.
Azal iss kay peichhey, abud saamney; nah hadd iss kay peichhey, nah hadd
saamney.
Behind it is eternity without beginning, and before it is Eternity without an end;
it is unlimited both ways.
Zamaney kay darya mein behti hoeyi; sitam iss ki moujon kay sehti hoeyi.
Swept on by the waves of times stream, and at the mercy of their buffeting;
Tajasos ki rahein badalti hoeyi; damadum nigahein badalti hoeyi.
It yet changes the course of its quest constantly, renewing its way of looking at
things.
136
Sobak iss kay haathon mein sung-e-garan; paharr iss ki zarbon sey raig-erawan.
For it huge rocks are light as air: It smashes mountains into shifting sand.
Safar iss ka anjam-o-aaghaz hai; yehi iss ki taqweem ka raaz hai.
(Taqweem: Sabaat, mazbooti, istihkaam.)
Both its beginning and its end are journeying, for constant motion is its beings
law.
Kiran chand mein hai, sharar sung mein; yeh bey rung hai doob kar rung mein.
It is a ray of light in the moon and a spark in stone. It dwells in colours, but is
colourless itself.
Issey waastah kaya kum-o-baish sey; nashaib-o-faraaz-o-pus-o-paish sey.
It has nothing to do with more or less, with light and low, with fore and aft.
Azal sey hai yeh kashmakash mein aseer; hoeyi khak-e-Adam mein surat pazir.
Since times beginning it was struggling to emerge, and finally emerged in the
dust that is man.
Khodi ka nashaiman terey dil mein hai; falak jiss tarah ankhh kay til mein hai.
It is in your heart that the Self has its abode, as the sky is reflected in the pupil
of the eye.
137
Khodi kay nigahban ko hai zehar-naab; woh nan jiss sey jaati rehey iss ki
aab.
To one who treasures his self, bread won at the cost of self-respect is gall.
Wohi nan hai iss kay leay arjumand; rehey jiss sey dunya mein gardan boland.
He values only bread he gains with head held high.
Fur-o-faal-e-Mehmood sey dargozar; khodi ko nigah rakhh, Ayazi nah kar.
(Fur-o-faal: Shaan-o-shoukat.)
Abjure the pomp and might of a Mahmud; preserve your self, do not be an
Ayaz.
Wohi sajdah hai laiq-e-ihtimam, keh ho jiss sey her sajdah tojh per haraam.
Worth offering is only that prostration which makes all others forbidden acts.
Yeh alam, yeh hungamah-e-rung-o-saut; yeh alam keh hai zir-farman-e-mout.
This world, this riot of colours and of sounds, which is under the sway of death;
Yeh alam, yeh bottkhanah-e-chashm-o-gosh; jahan zindagi hai faqat khord-onoush.
This idol-house of eye and ear, in which to live is but to eat and drink,
138
Teri aag iss khakdan sey naheen; jahan tojh sey hai, tou jahan sey naheen.
(Khakdaan: Matti ka ghhar, morad hai yeh dunya.)
The fire that is you has not come out of this heap of dust. You have not come
out of this world; it has come out of you.
Barrhey jaa yeh koh-e-garan torr kar; talism-e-zaman-o-makan torr kar.
Smash up this mountainous blockade, go further on and break out of this magic
ring of time and space.
Khodi Sher-e-Moula, jahan iss ka siad; zamin iss ki siad, aasman iss ka siad.
Gods lion is the self; its quarry are both earth and sky.
Jahan aur bhi hein abhi bey namood; keh khaali naheen hai zamir-e-wajood.
There are a hundred worlds still to appear, for Beings mind has not drained of
its creative capabilities.
Her ekk montazir teyri yalghar ka; teri shokhi-e-fikr-o-kirdar ka.
All latent worlds are waiting for releasing blows from your dynamic action and
exuberant thought.
Yeh hai maqsad-e-gardish-e-rozgar; keh teri khodi tojh peh ho aashkar.
It is the purpose of the revolution of the spheres that your selfhood should be
revealed to you.
139
Tou hai faateh-e-alam-e-khoob-o-zasht; tojhey kaya bataon teri sarnawisht.
You are the conqueror of this world of good and evil. How can I tell you the
whole of your long history?
Haqiqat peh hai jamah-e-harf tung; haqiqat hai aeinah, goftaar zung.
Words are but a strait-jacket for reality: Reality is a mirror, and speech the
coating that makes it opaque.
Farozan hai seinay mein shamaa-e-nafas; magar taab-e-goftar kehti hai, bus.
Breaths candle is alight within my breast, but my power of utterance cries halt.
Agar yakk sar mooey berter peram; farogh-e-tajali basosad peram.
[Agar meyri orraan moqararah hadd sey baal brabar bhi onchi ho jaaey tuo
noor-e-motliq ki aatishin tajali meyrey baal-o-per jala kar khak kar dey.]
Should I fly even a hairbreadth too high, the blaze of glory would burn up my
wings.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
THE ANGELS BID FAREWELL TO ADAM
Urging on the Mankind, especially the Muslims.
Farishtey Adam ko Jannat sey rokhsat kartey hein
Atta hoeyi hai tojhey roz-o-shabb ki bitaabi; khabar naheen keh tou khaki hai
ya keh seimaabi.
140
You have been given the restlessness of Day and Night, we know not whether
you are made of clay or mercury;
Sona hai, khak sey teyri namood hai, laikan; teri sarisht mein hai kokabi-omehtaabi.
(Kokabi-o-mehtaabi: Sitaron aur poorey chand ki tarah roshan hona.)
We hear you are created from clay, but in your nature is the glitter of Stars and
Moon.
Jamal apna agar khwab mein bhi tou deikhhey; hazar hosh sey khosh-ter teri
shakar khwabi.
(Shakar khwabi: Meithhi neind.)
Your sleep would be preferable over much wakefulness, if you could behold
your own beauty even in a dream!
Garan baha hai tera giryah-e-sehar gahi; issi sey hai terey nakhal-e-kohan ki
shadabi.
Your morning sighs are invaluable for they are the water to your ancient tree.
Teri nawa sey hai bey pardah zindagi ka zamir; keh teyrey saaz ki fitrat ney ki
hai mizraabi.
Your melody unravels the secret of life or it is Nature that has attuned your
organ.
(Based on a translation by S A Vahid, edited by Hafeez Malik)
ADAM IS RECEIVED BY THE SPIRIT OF THE EARTH
Rooh-e-Arzi Adam ka ka istiqbal karti hai
141
Khhol ankhh, zamin deikhh, falak deikhh, faza deikhh; Mashriq sey obhartey
hoay sooraj ko zara deikhh;
Iss jalwah-e-bey pardah ko pardon mein chhopa deikhh; ayam-e-jodaeyi kay
sitam deikhh, jafa deikhh; bey taab nah ho maarkah-e-beim-o-raja deikhh.
(Beim-o-raja: Khouf aur ummeid.)
Open thy eyes and look above, look at the streak of dawn; lLook at the veiling
of the vision; look at the banishment unfair; look at the battle of hope and fear.
Hein teyrey tasarraf mein yeh badal, yeh ghhatain; yeh gonbad-e-aflaak, yeh
khamosh fazain;
Yeh koh yeh sehra, yeh samandar, yeh hawain; thhein paish-e-nazar kall tuo
farishton ki adaain; aeinah ayam mein aaj apni ada deikhh.
Thine are the clouds, the rains, the skies, thine are the winds, the storms, the
woods, the mountains, the rivers are thine; the world of the angels was a void;
look at the peopled earth, which is thine.
Samjhey ga zamanah teri ankhhon kay asharey; deikhhin gey tojhey door sey
gardon kay sitarey;
Napiad terey behar-e-takhiyal kay kinaarey; pohnchein gey falak takk teri
aahon kay shararey; taamir-e-khodi kar, asar-e-aah-e-rasa deikhh.
142
Thou wilt rule it like a king; the stars will gaze in wonder; thy vision will
encompass the earth; thy sighs will reach the heavens; look at the power of thy
pain and passion.
Khurshid-e-jahan taab ki zuo teyrey sharar mein; abad hai ekk tazah jahan
teyrey honar mein;
Jachtey naheen bakhshey hoay Firdous nazar mein; jannat teri penhan hai
terey khoon-e-jigar mein; ay paikar-e-gul koshish-e-peham ki jaza deikhh.
The spark in thee is a radiant sun; a new world lives in thee; thou carest not for
a borrowed heaven; thy life-blood has it concealed; look at the reward of
anguish and toil.
Nalindah terey ood ka her taar azal sey; tou jins-e-mohabat ka kharidar azal
sey;tou pir-e-sanam-e-asrar azal sey; mehnat kash-o-khon raiz-o-kum aazar
azal sey; hai raakib-e-taqdir jahan teyri raza, deikhh.
Thy lyre has an eternal plaintive string, panting with the passion of love; thou
guardest eternal secrets divine and livest a life of obedient power; look at the
world as shaped by thy will.
(Based on a translation by S A Vahid, edited by Hafeez Malik)
AZAN
Ekk raat sitaron sey kaha najam-e-sehar ney; Adam ko bhi deikhha hai kissi
ney kabhi bidaar?
143
One night in a vision, I saw a morning star, asking the stars if they saw man
ever awake.
Kehney laga Marikh, ada fehum hai taqdir; hai neind he iss chhotay sey fitney
ko sazawaar.
Mercury said, Destiny has wisely decreed, that this impish trouble maker
should always be asleep.
Zehrah ney kaha, aur koeyi baat naheen kaya? Iss kirmak-e-shabb kor sey kaya
hum ko sarokaar.
Venus replied ill disdain Let us mind our business; thus night-blind insect is
beneath our contempt.
Bola meh-e-kamil keh woh kokab hai zamini; tum shabb ko namoodar ho, woh
dinn ko namodaar.
The full moon said, He is a star of the earth; you appear by night, and he
appears by day;
Waqif ho agar lazzat-e-bidaari-e-shabb sey; oonchi hai suriyya sey bhi yeh
khak por asrar.
This handful of dust, when keeping awake at night, is loftier than the galaxies in
heaven;
Aaghosh mein iss ki woh tajali hai keh jiss mein; khho jaain gey aflaak kay
sabb saabit-o-siyyar.
He has a beatific light concealed in his soul: A light that will eclipse the
brightest stars and planets.
144
Naagah faza bang-e-azan sey hoeyi labraiz; woh naarah keh hill jata hai jiss
sey dil-kohsaar.
Then came the echoing thunder of the sound of azan; the thunder which gives
shivers to mountains hearts.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
ABU AL ALA AL-MAARRI
Kehtey hein kabhi gosht nah khhata thha Maarri; phhal phhool peh karta thha
hamaisha gozar auqaat.
It is said that Maarri never ate meat; he lived on fruit and vegetables.
Ekk dost ney bhoona hoa teetar ossey bhaija; shaid keh woh shatar issi tarkib
sey ho maat.
A friend sent him a roasted partridge, to allure that clever gentleman into eating
meat.
*
*
Yeh khwan-e-ter-o-tazah Maarri ney jo deikhha; kehney laga woh sahib-eGhufran-o-Lazumat.
*Risalah-tal-Ghufran, Maarri ki eik mashoor kitab ka naam hai; Lazumat oss
kay qisaeyd ka majmoah hai.
When Maarri saw that elegant tray he, the author of Ghufran* and Lazumat**
said:
(*Risalah Ghufran is a famous book of Maarri. **This is collection of his
poetical works.)
145
!
Ay morghak-e-baicharah! Zara yeh tuo bata tou; teyra woh gonah kaya thha
yeh hai jiss ki mokafaat?
O You helpless little bird, would you tell me your sin for which this
punishment has been awarded to you?
Afsos, sadd afsos keh shaheen nah bana tou; deikhhey nah teri ankhh ney fitrat
kay asharaat.
Alas, you did not become a falcon; your eye did not perceive the directives of
Nature.
Taqdir kay qazi ka yeh fatwa hai azal sey; hai jorm-e-zaeefi ki saza marg-emofajaat.
It is the eternal decree of the Judge sitting in Judgement on destinies: That
weakness is a crime punishable by death.
(Translated by M. Munawwar Mirza)
BLOOD
Lahoo
Agar lahoo hai badan mein tuo khouf hai nah haraas; agar lahoo hai badan
mein tuo dil hai bey waswaas.
Jissey mila yeh mataa-e-garan baha, oss ko; nah seim-o-zar sey mohabat hai,
ney ghum-e-aflaas.
If blood is warm in the body, there is no fear, nor anxiety, and the heart is free of
tribulations.
146
The one who has received this bounty is neither greedy for wealth nor miserable
in poverty.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui)
THE LION AND THE MULE
Advising Muslims to refrain from boasting pidram sultan bood and
instead be like fathers and forefathers.
Sher aur Khachar
Sher: Sakinan-e-dasht-o-sehra mein hai tou sabb sey alag; kon hein terey abbo-jadd, kiss qabilay sey hai tou?
You are so different and unlike all the other dwellers of the wild and the desert!
Who are your parents and ancestors? And what is your tribe?
( )
Khachar: Meyrey mamon ko naheen pehchantey shaid hazoor; woh saba
raftar, shahi astabal ki aabroo. (Makhoz az German)
Perhaps your highness does not know my uncle my mothers brother: He
gallops like the wind, and is the pride of the royal stable! Adapted from
German.
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
THE ANT AND THE EAGLE
Chewnti aur Oqab
I am so miserable and forlorn: Why is your station loftier than the skies?
!
Oqab: Tou rizq apna dhondhti hai khak-e-rah mein; mien neh sepeher ko
naheen lata nigah mein.
You forage about in dusty paths; the nine heavens are as nothing to me!
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
1st August, 2013
148
continued mercilessly inside Pakistan during the holy month of Ramazan at the
rate of at least one major attack every day.
Nawaz Sharif returned from Saudi Arabia and asked for briefing from
Foreign Office and the Army about the recent developments. After the briefing,
he pretended to be unperturbed by the untowards incidents and vowed to pursue
the policy of appeasing the eastern neighbour.
He however ordered preparation of draft counter-terrorism strategy;
after twelve years of fighting the war. Yet some would say it is never too late. It
has been because of such facts that Pakistans civil and military leadership was
unable to speak in the same language in which Indians were talking.
There was also no consensus on policy to tackle problems faced by
Pakistan. This was quite evident from the fact that on 3 rd August, President
Zardari was in Tehran to attend oath taking ceremony of Hassan Rowhani and
the same day Nawaz Sharif was in Saudi Arabia to when favours of Saudi
rulers.
Before proceeding to review the events of last two weeks it is pertinent to
mention that incidents of violence in Pakistan are covered under four subheadings, but it is difficult to decipher the exact motive behind every incident.
The common motivating factor of all incidents, however, is to destabilize
Pakistan.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 29th July, Pakistan strongly condemned the US drone
strike that took place in Shawal area of North Waziristan. These unilateral
strikes are a violation of Pakistans sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan
has repeatedly emphasized the importance of bringing an immediate end to
drone strikes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Army was called in after militants carrying heavy weapons stormed Dera
Ismail Khans Central Jail late at night. DIG Prisoners Khalid Abbas said that as
many as 5,000 prisoners, including 250 belonging to banned outfits were held in
the jail. The attack appears to be an attempt to free several militants who are
held in the jail.
149
The prison, in the central town of Dera Ismail Khan, houses Taliban and
militants from banned sectarian groups. Some prisoners belonging to banned
outfits and terrorist groups were on a hunger strike after a conflict with the jail
authorities over possession of mobile phones. The jail authorities had been
issued warnings by the terrorists of attacks for the last three days.
Next day, it was reported that Taliban fighters freed nearly 250 prisoners,
including hardcore militants, during a sophisticated overnight attack on a jail
that killed 13 people. Armed with guns, mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and
bombs, the Taliban bombarded the prison in Dera Ismail Khan before escaping
with scores of inmates after a three-hour shootout.
The attack by well-trained gunmen, disguised in police uniforms, will
heighten concerns about the ability of the Taliban to operate with impunity in
parts of the nuclear-armed state. They appeared easily to overpower police on
duty at the prison. At least 248 prisoners escaped, of whom six were later
rearrested.
Officials blamed a combination of negligence and lack of communication
among many security agencies, but some suggested there may have been a
degree of insider help. It is very difficult to attack such a place without proper
information or contacts, said the police source, adding that some prisoners
were suspected to have been in touch with the Taliban by mobile phones
provided by sympathetic wardens.
Another senior official in Peshawar said only about 70 of the 200 prison
guards who were meant to be on duty were present that night. Most policemen
ran for their lives once the attack started, leaving their weapons behind. They
could have easily killed some of the attackers but they even gave up their own
guns, providing the attackers with more ammo.
The Central Prison in Dera Ismail Khan can hold up to 5,000 inmates and
around 300 were being held in connection with attacks on security forces and
sectarian killings. But it was not clear how many were present during the
assault. KPK Chief Minister, a member Imran Khan's party that advocates peace
talks with the Taliban, branded the latest attack a failure of intelligence
agencies.
The Taliban, which has led a domestic insurgency since 2007 killing
thousands of people, claimed responsibility. Some 150 Taliban, including 60
suicide bombers, attacked the Central Prison and managed to free about 300
prisoners, Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told AFP by telephone.
The militants arrived in more than a dozen vehicles and that two Taliban
commanders were among those who escaped. Militants also torched jail records
and an office. Jadoon said the fighters planted dozens of explosive devices in
150
the jail which were later defused by bomb disposal experts. A curfew was
imposed in the city after the attack.
On 31st July, fierce clashes between security forces and militants left 10
people dead in Khyber Agency. Dozens of armed insurgents attacked check
posts in Khyber region with eight militants and two soldiers killed in the
ensuing gunfight. The attack took place on posts near Bara River.
A NATO container driver was gunned down in an ambush by armed
assailants in Chaman. Some men opened fire on a container, injuring the driver.
He was hurried to hospital but died on the way. In Mastung district, some
unidentified men set on fire a container carrying supplies for NATO forces. The
container was on its way to Chaman from Karachi.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah demanded the PTI government in
KPK resign over its failure to protect Dera Ismail Khan Central Jail and made
good their escape releasing more than 250 prisoners 35 of whom were the most
wanted. He asked PTI Chairman Imran Khan to answer the nation on DI Khan
jail-breaking incident and also admit that his party was incapable of running the
provincial government.
The KPK government commissioned an enquiry to probe the attack on
central prison in DI Khan by militants and the escape of 253 prisoners from it. A
committee has been constituted for the purpose, which comprises Waqar Ayub,
Senior Member Board of Revenue and Syed Alamgir Shah, Special Secretary
Home and Tribal Affairs Department, Syed Akhtar Ali Shah, Additional IG
(Special Branch) and Representative of the HQ 11 Corps Peshawar.
Police rearrested 47 prisoners who escaped during a Taliban attack on a
jail. The prisoners were held, with some handing themselves in and others
caught in a police search operation. They included five women prisoners and a
female police constable who had been taken hostage.
US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived on a two-day official visit to
meet Pakistani civil and military leadership in renewed efforts to rebuild
relations with Pakistan based on mutual respect and interests. The two sides
would hold thread bare discussion on the regional situation with particular
reference to the post-2014 situation in Afghanistan.
The White House described the relationship with Pakistan as vitally
important to US national security interests. Our relationship with Pakistan is
extremely important to Americas national security interests. It is a complicated
but important relationship, as weve discussed in the past here, Press Secretary
Jay Carney said. President Obamas spokesman was responding to a question at
the daily briefing about the message Kerry is carrying on the visit.
Next day, Nawaz Sharif came out of his Office to receive Kerry and
during talks he emphasized Pakistans desire to get access to the American
151
markets to boost economy and assistance in overcoming the energy crisis. Kerry
said he endorsed Prime Ministers vision and his agenda of reforms. He said he
unequivocally believes that Prime Minister Nawaz desires building of their
relationship.
Pakistan and the US agreed to resume broad partnership talks that were
suspended two years ago. Two sides agreed to start their strategic dialogue and
five sub-groups will begin meeting immediately. Kerry summoned Nawaz
Sharif to Washington to meet President Obama in about a month.
Despite wide differences on some crucial issues, the two sides resolved to
fight the common threat of terrorism and move relations forward. They also
vowed continuing to work for the peace in the region, especially in Afghanistan,
from where Secretary of State said the US will not completely pull out.
Sartaj Aziz said that Pakistani officials had reiterated their long-standing
opposition to US drone strikes. Kerry reiterated that the drone strikes will
continue. He reminded Pakistanis that the terrorists in their midst are the ones
who violate the sovereignty of this country. I would simply remind all of our
friends that somebody like al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri is violating the
sovereignty of this country.
To a question, Kerry revealed that nothing was discussed with regard to a
possible bilateral prisoner swap agreement or repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddqui.
Referring to the issue of terrorist safe havens, Kerry said a lot of issues need
detailed attention and talks. He maintained tough US stance on Iran-Pakistan
gas pipeline project. Sartaj Aziz said that the US Secretary of State was also
briefed on the countrys upcoming terrorism policy and about the proposed All
Parties Conference (APC).
Kerry said the US is gearing up for the drawdown of its forces in
Afghanistan and to prepare the grounds for talks to organize the Afghan
presidential election next year. He made it clear that the US will not completely
pull out of Afghanistan, saying it was a drawdown and not a withdrawal. He
hoped the Afghan Taliban will return to negotiations as part of efforts to find a
political solution to the Afghan problem.
Kerry reiterated his country will facilitate construction of Diamer Bhasha
Dam, and 1,000MWs of additional power will be available to the country with
the assistance of the USAID. Later, during a visit to Islamabad Electric Supply
Companys grid station, Kerry was briefed about USAID-funded Local Data
Improvement Project.
Imran Khan had a one-on-one meeting with John Kerry in Islamabad
where he told his partys viewpoint on drone attacks in Pakistan, war on
terrorism and the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Imran reiterated that drones
152
153
officers, Colonel Ghulam Mustafa, Captain Ashfaq and SSP Diamer Hilal
Ahmed were killed on the spot while another cop sustained injuries.
Army and Frontier Corps were deployed at the Peshawar Central Jail as
part of security measures. Peshawar Central Jail is considered of high priority
since Dr Shakeel Afridi along with other Taliban militants are jailed there. The
police have increased their patrolling in their respective jurisdiction. The police
were strictly checking the vehicles coming from Khyber Agency and Tehsil
Bara.
The Punjab Rangers took positions outside three jails of the province
while the provincial prisons department will recruit new staff and impart
commando and elite training to them for the outer security of jails. They said the
army trainers were already imparting training to the prisons staff regarding
firing and weapon handling.
In Karachi, four low-intensity bombs exploded outside four separate
liquor shops in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) and Gulshan-e-Iqbal
areas late at night; no casualty was reported. The Police said the first blast
damaged a motorcycle, but no damage was caused by other three blasts.
The US State Department added the emir of the Mullah Nazir Group, a
Taliban subgroup based in South Waziristan that supports al-Qaeda, to the list of
terrorists. Bahawal Khan, the leader of the Mullah Nazir Group was added as a
Specially Designated Global Terrorist. Khan, who is also known as Salahuddin
Ayubi, was named the emir of the group after Mullah Nazir was killed in a US
drone strike early January 2013.
On 8th August, Quetta city was once again soaked in blood as at least 31
people, including a DIG and senior policemen were killed and more than 44
others wounded in a suicide attack at Police Lines. The bomber exploded his
suicide vest when DIG Operations Fayyaz Ahmed Sumbal arrived at the Police
Lines for a guard of honour for Station House Officer Mohibullah who was
martyred in an ambush earlier in the day.
The DIG himself spotted a stranger close to him when he got out of his
vehicle, but the suspected man blew himself up when elite police guards tried to
walk up to him to investigate him, killing all senior officials present there. The
dead included DIG Operations Fayazz Sumbal, SP Headquarters Mehrullah,
DSP in charge Shamsur Rehman, SP Traffic Mohammad Anwer Khilji,
Inspector Shakeel Akbar and others. Majority of the wounded personnel were
from Balochistan Constabulary.
Balochistan police chief Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera and Quetta city police
chief Mir Zubair were the prime target. But they remained safe as they reached
the Police Lines a minute after the bomber struck. Sukhera had escaped a
154
massive suicide attack in Red Zone near his official residence about three
months ago.
According to officials of Bomb Disposal Squad, around 10 kilogrammes
of explosive material was used in attack. They said the explosive also carried
ball bearings. Doctors at Combined Military Hospital, 15 of the injured people
are in critical condition. Earlier in the day, SHO Mohibullah was killed in a hail
of bullets when he was on his way back home from a bazaar near Almo Chowk
by attackers riding on a motorcycle.
The Prime Minister held a detailed discussion with the interior minister in
the wake of the fresh wave of terrorism in the country, including a suicide attack
in Quetta that killed dozens of police officials. He directed Ch Nisar to present
the final draft on counter-terrorism and extremism strategy not later than August
13.
Next day, three people were killed in road-side bomb blast near
Parachinar and four more people were killed two firing incidents in Tank and
Hungo. On 10th August, TTP made conditional offer for peace dialogue through
trustworthy religious leaders. They showed willingness to accept Maulana
Fazlur Rehman and Munawwar Hassan as mediators.
Pakistan Army for the first time entered the remote northern town of
Chilas, headquarters of Diamer district to conduct an operation to arrest the
miscreants behind the killing of security officials and other terrorist activities.
An army colonel, a captain and a senior superintendent of police (SSP),
investigating the June 23 killing of nine foreign tourists and one of their
Pakistani guides in the area, were killed four days ago.
Insurgency: On 30th July, four members of a banned outfit were killed in
a pre-dawn raid on the outskirts of Quetta. One security official was also
wounded in the operation in which a huge stash of arms and ammunition was
seized. Meanwhile, a policeman guarding the polio vaccination team was killed
by unknown gunmen riding a motorbike in Pishin.
Next day, unknown assailants gunned down a renowned tribal elder Mir
Abdul Rauf Kurd and his two guards in Quetta. Three passers-by were injured
in the attack. Meanwhile, unidentified men kidnapped a doctor from Killi
Sheikmanda area when he was on his way.
On 1st August, an oil tanker of Pakistan Air Force caught fire after it was
attacked by unidentified gunmen in Mastung district. A couple of gunmen riding
a motorbike chased the oil tanker and opened indiscriminate fire on it near Kirri
Dor area in Mastung. No loss of life was reported.
On 6th August, militants killed 14 people, including three security
personnel, in the Machh area of Bolan district. The militants also kidnapped
four Levies personnel after the attack. One soldier of the Frontier Corps was
155
also killed and two were wounded in the firing. Most of the deceased belonged
to different parts of Punjab, who were going home to celebrate Eid. The banned
Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility for the incident.
Bolan Deputy Commissioner said around 150 to 200 militants in Frontier
Corps and Balochistan Levies uniforms blocked the road and set up a fake
check post. The militants stopped five to six passenger coaches which were
heading towards Punjab from Quetta and, after checking their NICs, they
kidnapped 13 passengers from different coaches. They took these passengers to
mountains and shot them dead.
Next day, a woman and two children were killed and 21 others sustained
serious wounds when the explosives planted inside a shopping centre exploded
in Mastung town. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the blast.
Meanwhile, unidentified assailants gunned down a local Baloch singer in
Turbat. At least three persons including a minor girl were killed in a landmine
blast in Kashmor. A railway track was blown up with explosive device near
Khuda Dad Railway Crossing in Tando Adam.
On 9th August, eleven people were killed and 31 wounded when militants
opened fire at Masjid Farooqia in Quetta where people offered Eid prayers.
Security forces arrested eight suspects in search operation after the attack. Next
day, one person was killed in firing in Quetta and another was killed in a roadside bomb blast in jaffarabad.
Chief Justice of Pakistan took suo moto notice of the killings in Quetta.
Chief Minister announced that families of the deceased Police officials will
continue getting the pay. Federal Minister, Qadir Baloch said that the militants
have declared war against Pakistan and now there is no way out except fighting
and defeating them.
On 11th August, eight militants were killed in search operations in Bolan
and Mastung districts. A huge stash of arms and ammunition was also seized.
Security sources said one raid was made on Machh area where militants had
taken 20 passengers captive and killed 13 Punjabis.
Security sources claimed they all belonged to a banned outfit and were
involved in killing passengers traveling to their homes to celebrate Eid. Identity
of the militants was not disclosed to media. In another raid, two militants were
killed in Ispilnji area of Mastung bordering Bolan.
In another r incident, at least two security personnel were injured in a
blast near an FC check post in Jabal-e-Noor area. Sources said an FC convoy
was on its way when a roadside bomb exploded soon after it passed by. After
the incident, FC carried out a search operation and arrested eight suspected
persons.
156
Nisar arrived in Quetta following the deadly attack on the eve of Eid that
left 30 dead. Addressing a press conference alongside Balochistan Chief
Minister, he said the morale of the police, security agencies and civil armed
forces was high despite repeated terror attacks on them and they will continue
to fight this war being in the frontlines.
Asserting that the ongoing war was not of Balochistan alone but of the
whole country, he said, We have to set Balochistan on the track of development
and it is the war of Pakistans integrity... It has been 13 years since we plunged
into a war which was not ours. This was imposed on us.
Turf war: On 29th July, it was reported that the sole reason for allowing
MQM Chief Altaf Hussain to live permanently in Britain and ignoring his
activities in London is the cooperation that MQM provides to British
intelligence agencies, claimed a report published in Guardian. It has further
been claimed in the report that Karachi is, perhaps, the only city of the world
where the US has assigned Britain the lead intelligence role.
According to Guardian, MQM is the greatest asset to Britain as far as
Karachi intelligence is concerned. The report further claims that having secret
information and intelligence from Karachi is not a difficult thing for the British
who know that they have a person into their country whose representatives are
also present in Pakistans federal cabinet.
At least eight people, among them a policeman, were killed in Karachi. A
head constable, Zafar Iqbal, posted to Quaidabad police station, was shot dead
by unidentified gunmen in Landhi area. Two youngsters were found dead in
SITE-B police area. A passerby was shot dead in Swat Colony where rival
groups were trading fire. Four more were killed in different areas.
Next day, Rangers claimed to have held at least five Tehreek-e-Taliban
Pakistan operatives and recovered explosives during a targeted operation in
Muzaffarabad Colony, Landhi. The accused were also involved in the attacks on
polio vaccination teams in Landhi. Meanwhile, at least nine people were gunned
down in various incidents of target killing here.
On 31st July, eight people, including a worker of MQM were gunned
down in separate acts of violence in the city. On 3rd August, at least five
policemen were gunned down in two incidents of targeted killings. Next day, at
least five people succumbed to incidents of violence in various parts of the
metropolis. On 5th August, at least four people were killed in separate incidents
of violence. Next day, five more people lost lives in the ongoing violence in the
city.
On 7th August, a powerful bomb ay midnight killed 11 people, mostly
teenagers in Lyari neighbourhood after a football final between two local teams.
Though no one claimed responsibility for the attack but investigators believed
157
the target was a PPP provincial minister, who was the chief guest at the final
match, and the leadership of the banned Peoples Amman Committee (PAC),
which has a strong grip in the area.
Meanwhile, five people, including a policeman, were shot dead in various
acts of violence during the day. At least 20 people, including three cops and two
political workers, were gunned down in various incidents of target killings and
other acts of violence during the three days of Eidul Fitr in the metropolis.
Sectarian militancy: On 2nd August, former Tehreek-e-Jafferia leader and
Shia Ulema Council Bahawalpur Divisional President Sheikh Manzoor Hussain
and his son were murdered near their home before Juma prayers in Rahimyar
Khan. They were on their way to offer Juma prayers when four unidentified
persons on two motorcycles intercepted them and opened fire. As a result,
Sheikh Manzoor died on the spot while his son Haider expired on his way to
hospital.
As the information of their killing reached different corners of the city,
protesters entered various bazaars and markets with sticks and weapons in their
hands. They started firing in the presence of police and misbehaved with
women. Police failed to control the angry mob and stood away from the
protesters as a silent spectator. The angry protesters broke the showcases of
many shops and some protesters torched a Ramazan bazaar.
Meanwhile, a prominent religious leader, Yaqoob Qadri, was shot dead by
unknown armed attackers in Nawabshah. Fear and tension gripped neighboring
areas following his killing. According to the police, two motorbike riders
opened fire on Yaqoob Qadri in the Mohni Bazaar area of the city and fled,
injuring the religious leader seriously. On 9 th August, a suicide bomber shot and
killed a private security guard during his attempt to enter a Shiite mosque in
suburbs of Islamabad. Other guards shot the intruder dead and four more people
were wounded in the shoot-out.
158
rescue a politician being threatened by the Taliban. The Taliban claimed only
five of their fighters and 84 government soldiers were killed in the battle.
The long war has become increasingly unpopular in the US and other
coalition countries such as Britain and Germany, with national leaders now
hoping their troops can withdraw rapidly after a credible Afghan government
takes power. Karzai, who came to power soon after the Taliban were ousted, has
repeatedly said that he will leave office in line with the constitution and has
vowed to work towards a fair election of a new president.
Next day, suicide bombers targeted the Indian Consulate in the city of
Jalalabad, detonating an explosives-packed car and killing nine civilians,
including seven children in a nearby mosque. A spokesman for the Taliban
militant group immediately denied responsibility for the blast that left the
mosque, private houses, tailors and other shops in ruins. Pakistan condemned
the attack. On 4th August, a remote-controlled device exploded in Jalalabad as a
vehicle passed carrying state prosecutor. The powerful explosion in the city
centre wounded him, his driver, four guards and 10 civilians.
On 7th August, Taliban ambushed the convoy of a female senator on a
main highway in eastern Afghanistan, wounding the woman and killing her
daughter and a bodyguard. The senators husband, son and another daughter
were also wounded in the attack. The deputy governor of Ghazni province said
insurgents ambushed Senator Rouh Gul Khirzad as she was traveling from
Kabul to her home in Nimroz province.
US Special Envoy James Dobbins said that Islamabads concerns over
New Delhis presence in Afghanistan are exaggerated but not groundless.
Dobbins, US special envoy on Afghanistan and Pakistan, also said that
Islamabad was also concerned about the issue of cross-border militancy. The
dominant infiltration of militants is from Pakistan into Afghanistan, but we
recognize that there is some infiltration of hostile militants from the other
direction as well. So Pakistans concerns arent groundless They are simply,
in our judgment, somewhat exaggerated, he said in an interview with the BBC.
Next day, a bomb killed 14 women and children at a graveyard in the
Ghani Khel district of Nangarhar Province. Spokesman of the governor told
AFP: Seven women and seven children were killed and four others, three
women and a child are wounded. There was no immediate claim of
responsibility. On 10th August, four persons including three Chinese were killed
in attack in Kabul. Taliban killed three US soldiers in an attack.
Iran: On 2nd August, Iran held massive anti-Israel rallies, with presidentelect Hassan Rowhani calling the arch-foe Jewish state a wound on the
Muslim world, drawing a sharp response from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu. In our region, a wound has for many years been sitting on the body
159
of the Islamic world in the shadow of occupation of the holy land of Palestine
and the dear Quds (Jerusalem), Rowhani said in remarks broadcast on state
television.
Netanyahu was quick to denounce Rowhani, based on the initially
reported remarks. Even if the Iranians work to deny these comments, this is
what the man thinks and reflects the regimes plans, Netanyahu said, adding
that Tehrans objectives remained to build a nuclear weapon to threaten Israel.
Addressing a large crowd at Tehran University, outgoing President
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned that a regional storm was brewing that would
uproot Israel. I will inform you, with God as my witness, that a devastating
storm is on the way that will uproot the basis of Zionism, Ahmadinejad said.
Next day, Hassan Rowhani assumed Irans presidency promising to work
to lift punishing international sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic over
its controversial nuclear programme. He became the seventh president after
receiving a formal endorsement from supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at
a ceremony. His public inauguration will take place on tomorrow when he takes
the oath of office in parliament, which will be attended by 10 regional
presidents and other high-ranking foreign officials.
On 4th August, President Hassan Rowhani told the West after taking the
oath of office the only way to interact with Iran is through dialogue, not
sanctions. Washington was quick to respond, saying Iran would find the United
States a willing partner if Rowhani was serious. The West is hoping that
Rowhani will take a more constructive approach in long-running talks on
Tehrans controversial nuclear drive, which despite Iranian denials is suspected
by world powers of having military objectives.
Nine regional leaders attended, including the prime minister of close ally
Syria, as well as former EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who represented
world powers in nuclear talks with Iran in the past. But Sudanese President
Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC, failed to show because Riyadh
denied permission for his plane to cross Saudi airspace enroute to Tehran.
After his speech, Rowhani presented parliament with his male-dominated
cabinet line-up, mostly experienced technocrats seen as close to his mentor,
pragmatic ex-president Hashemi Rafsanjani. Officially, he had two weeks to
name his cabinet, the political breadth of which is seen as a testament to his
priorities.
Rowhanis first staff appointment was Mohammad Nahavandian, a US
Green Card residency holder with a PhD in economics from George Washington
University, as chief of staff. Nahavandian is expected to play a leading role in
coordinating Rowhanis economic policies. Other key nominees were veteran
160
retired diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif as foreign minister and ex-oil minister
Bijan Namdar Zanganeh, for the same portfolio again.
India: On 2nd August, the Indian army said it had killed 12 suspected
militants in Held Kashmir in a forested area along the Line of Control. Five
rebels were killed during a fierce gun battle with the army yesterday in Hafrada
forests, 100 kilometres from Srinagar. The operation was launched on specific
intelligence about the presence of a group of militants.
Next day, an Indian drone violated Pakistani airspace near Sialkot
evoking a formal protest from Pakistani authorities, who have asked the Indians
to explain this violation. The green coloured Remote Piloted Vehicle (RPV)
entered Pakistani airspace in Sialkot sector near the Bajwat-Chaprar-Sialkot
sector at around 1:55pm.
On 4th August, Indian troops crossed the Line of Control and kidnapped
four Kashmiri men near Neelam Valley. The victims were plucking herbs near
the Line of Control when Indian troops invaded the border and took them away.
Meanwhile, three out of the five fishermen, who had gone missing after cyclone
hit Thatta and Badin coastal areas in 1999, returned home the other day. The
Indian forces had arrested the fishermen after the cyclone pushed their fishing
boats into the Indian territory.
Next day, AJK Prime Minister strongly condemned the abduction of four
male citizens of Azad Jammu and Kashmir by the Indian troops, violating the
LoC allegedly by crossing into the no-man land area. He urged the world
powers to take notice of the Indian atrocities by abducting men harvesting herbs
in the AJK side close to the Line of Control.
The indiscriminate firing by Indian Border Security Forces (BSF) on
Sialkot bordering villages created panic and harassment among locals in
Charwah Sector of Sialkot Working Boundary. The people were preparing for
Iftar in the evening when Indian BSF started indiscriminate firing on Pakistani
villages.
On 6th August, India said a group of Pakistani army soldiers and militants
killed five of its soldiers in an ambush along the Line of Control in Kashmir.
Pakistan rejected the allegation, saying there had been no exchange of fire along
the heavily militarized LoC. Pakistan also urges the need for abiding by and
strengthening existing military mechanisms to ensure that such ill-founded
reports that have the potential of vitiating the atmosphere, are avoided.
However, the so-called attack puts the Indian government under pressure
from opposition parties to respond aggressively as it heads into a tough election
next year. India summoned Pakistans deputy envoy to New Delhi and lodged a
protest over the killings of soldiers of 21 Bihar Regiment who were deployed on
the Sarla forward post in Chakan-da-Bagh sector of Poonch.
161
The killings caused uproar in parliament and a senior leader of the main
opposition BJP said the Indian army should give a befitting reply to Pakistan.
He called on the government to abandon planned talks with Islamabad.
Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said India would not be cowed
down by the deceitful killing of five of its soldiers along the LoC and asked
the government to take appropriate measures.
The United States voiced concern over the killing of five Indian soldiers
in occupied Kashmir and hoped that Pakistan and India would carry forward
their peace efforts. But the State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki said the
reports about the incident were unconfirmed.
Meanwhile, the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan
(UNMOGIP), which monitors ceasefire along the Line of Control in Kashmir,
has not received any official complaint about the reported killing of five Indian
soldiers in Indian-occupied part of the disputed Himalayan State.
Next day, India said that talks with Pakistan were still on and despite the
recent unfortunate events the proposed meeting of Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif will go ahead in September
on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Indian Foreign Minister Salman
Khurshid came in face of strong demands from opposition groups for freezing
the peace process and giving a befitting reply to Pakistan over the alleged
killing of five of their troops by Pak Army at the Line of Control (LoC).
Earlier in the day, Pakistan Foreign Office summoned Indian Deputy
High Commissioner and conveyed it concerns about security of Pakistans High
Commission in New Delhi after violent protesters tried to force their entry into
the commission over killing of Indian soldiers. Yesterday, India had summoned
Pakistan Deputy HC and conveyed a strong message over the incident.
Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid also told the media that the
government did not want to create a situation detrimental and destructive for
Indias security and peace. Regarding engaging with Pakistan, Khurshid said
India did not want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Pakistans
Foreign Office also avoided condemnation for the protestors attack on its High
Commission but urged to tighten the security measures.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called for restraint and peaceful
resolution of issues as escalating tensions between Pakistan and India led to
hostile demonstration in front of the Pakistani High commission in New Delhi.
Pakistan has firmly denied any involvement in the reported incident. The
Secretary-General is closely monitoring developments, the Secretary-Generals
spokesman said in response to a question.
On 8th August, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed sadness over the
clashes at Line of Control in Kashmir, and said Pakistan and India must take
162
VIEWS
Pakistan
D.I. Khan jailbreak: The jailbreak at the Dera Ismail Khan Central Jail
is one of the most violent in recent times, with no less than 40 blasts, 12 people
killed, including six staff members. It is not clear how many militants got away,
not only has the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility The attack
was preceded by a large number of explosions in the prison, and was launched
by 60 militants, who fired heavy machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades.
The prison break comes after al-Qaeda militants managed a prison break in the
notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, apart from another in Benghazi, and
the one in Kandahar in 2011.
163
165
From whichever angle you look at it, your stance is both illegal, and antiPakistan. I will not raise the issue of double standards because thats a given in
most cases.
Why is it illegal? Because it was signed in 2009 but natural gas was
initially not part of the sanction law. It was included only this year.
And also on legal matters, in cases having a much greater security
implication, Washington has shown flexibility, when it so chose to.
Washingtons flexibility on the NPT, which it neglected to sign, civil nuclear
coop with a non-NPT signatory India, is a case in point. Is the Iran sanction law
of a greater significance than NPT?
Even in the case of this law, Washington has shown flexibility with India
and other Central Asian republics too, who are currently meeting their energy
needs from India. But for Pakistan this law doesnt apply, because we signed it
before your law came into play. And you cannot apply this retroactively.
Your administrations stance on the Iran Pipeline (IP) is anti-Pakistan.
Why? You know Pakistan has an acute energy crisis. We are faced with riots,
terrorism, industrial closures, unemployment breeding terrorism. IP is the
cheapest and quickest way of partly meeting our energy needs.
Also the IP agreement is a done deal and Pakistan must start importing
gas by December 2014. Every single days delay will cost us a daily penalty of
$3 million.
Also if Pak does not pursue the project, Iran can claim billions of dollars
in compensation for breach of contract.
Your Administration is the biggest advocate of regional integration and
connectivity, your sanction law runs contrary to this policy.
Ultimately, it is my elected governments responsibility to pursue what is
in our national interest, wisely and responsibly. The last government wisely
moved ahead, and this government must follow the same route. We will demand
this government pursue the IP project diligently. Equally, we expect it to tell
your Administration in clear and categorical terms that your stance on IP is antiPakistan. And to you we must say, please give up nagging us on something that
is integral to our economic development and indeed our right to pursue. (Nasim
Zehra, TheNation 1st August)
Planting seeds of doubt: Doubt and disillusionment seem to be the
prescription for the day. A story in a local newspaper has alleged that Save the
Children (the NGO accused of carrying out a fake vaccination programme to
hunt Bin Laden in league with Dr Shakeel Afridi) was allegedly facilitated in
trying to exert influence on the Abbottabad Commission, by commission
member General (r) Nadeem Ahmed. His help, according to the report, was
166
obtained and most sympathetically extended to not only nose out each and every
development within, but even to influence the findings in respect of Save the
Children. Apparently three drafts of the report concerning the NGO were shared
with them, before the report was even sent to the Prime Minister.
After Shakeel Afridis links with the NGO were made known in 2012, the
NGO was ordered to wind up its operations in Pakistan. The news story has
tried to make the connection that the NGO desperately wanted the commission
to give it a clean chit so as to be able to continue its presence on our soil.
In a country like ours, where we are obsessed with smoke and mirrors
style of deduction, the story will have the greatest success in making neither
Save the Children, nor General (r) Nadeem Ahmed questionable characters, but
it will instead be most effective in making the entire Abbotabad Commission
report suspicious. The fact that a retired general has been accused of exerting
bias in an official enquiry, is something that will cast a shadow on the rest of the
report, which will no doubt be appreciated by those who wished to discredit its
findings when it came to light as an Al-Jazeera scoop.
The government which was being pushed to officially release the report
after its contents were leaked and not contested, will now have the excuse of
feigning that the document is controversial. The aspersions cast on the workings
of the commission are unfortunate and very worrying to hear. The members of
the commission who provided so thorough and brave a dissection of flaws
present in all layers of Pakistani government and military structures, have been
made a subject of concern after todays news report.
If true, the allegations must be proven and the government must follow
up in investigations whether General (r) Nadeem Ahmed did indeed exert the
kind of influence that is implied. If not, the source of the news story must be
found and the matter taken to court for causing grave damage to the standing
and reputation of the committee members.
However, more than personal reputations, the committee members must
speak up and defend their work and protect the veracity of the Abbotabad
Commission report against the kind of doubts that will be encouraged after the
publication of todays news story. (Editorial, TheNation 3rd August)
Undeclared War on Pakistan: The drift of the first high-level
interaction of our new government with the US administration is clear: Pakistan
will continue to play the role of a facilitator for the US meddling in the region.
With economic policy conveniently outsourced to the IMF already, this easy
surrender to the US strategic diktat diminishes the hope for the turning of a new
leaf. It is unfortunate because the need to do so is urgent.
It is not difficult to decipher the sharpening contours of the undeclared
war on Pakistan once you snap out of the hypnosis of the US War on Terror
167
narrative. But our civil and military leadership seems to be under a spell; rolling
out red carpets in the capital for the enemy and devising half-honest roles for
itself to fit into the imperial script.
After all, the patently false and tyrannical framework of War on Terror
is a poor justification for imperial ambition. The project is not meant to protect
us, or anyone for that matter, from barbarian hordes. In fact, it is designed to
suck entire states and societies into its violence-ridden broadening vortex.
Pakistan might be designated as an ally and a front-line state in this scheme of
things for public consumption. But lets face it; we are a prime target and under
attack.
American drones not only spy on the most sensitive parts of Pakistani
territory bordering Afghanistan at will, they also rain missiles and bombs as a
routine and have killed thousands of innocent citizens in the tribal belt, turning
their meager settlements into ruins. The visiting US Secretary of State John
Kerry flatly refused to bring an end to these repeated acts of aggression,
brushing aside the humble requests of the Pakistani leadership. Apparently, this
was not an important point on the agenda at least not important enough to
impact the direction of the bilateral discussion which ended with warm handshakes, diversionary promises and meaningless clichs.
It was reported that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif emphasized Pakistans
desire to get access to the American markets to boost the economy and
assistance in overcoming the energy crisis. It is ironical that while the US
unilaterally drones us, the two sides resolved to fight the common threat of
terrorism. It was also decided to resume the strategic dialogue to move relations
forward. Shouldnt we give some thought to what had pushed them back in the
first place?
Drones, of course, are only a part of the multi-faceted and otherwise
undeclared war waged by the US on the state of Pakistan. The Raymond Davis
episode had exposed the large-scale clandestine intelligence operation the CIA
was running under the garb of intelligence sharing. When thousands of CIA
agents posing as diplomats and consultants were told to leave, the CIA boss
boasted that the move would not disrupt the agencys work as a local
intelligence network had been put into place.
We caught a clear glimpse of this local network courtesy Shakeel Afridi,
who hid behind a vaccination drive to collect DNA samples that are supposed to
have led to Osama Bin Laden and the Abottabad operation. Through the
controversial operation about which serious questions remain unanswered, the
US tried to establish the right to bring its boots on Pakistani ground and wage
its murky war with full abandon. Despite Trojan horses in our midst who
congratulated Obama for the successful attack, this was resisted and boots on
the ground declared a red line. The increasing Pak-US estrangement became
168
official after the Salala attack in 2011 and the so-called strategic partnership
dialogue was disrupted. Is there any point in resuming a farcical dialogue with
someone who wields a dagger under his cloak?
Has the US stepped back from its shady shenanigans in what it calls the
AfPak region? Events in the Middle East and northern Africa should cure us of
any such optimism. If anything, the nexus between the two-faced super power
and terrorist groups has become clearer. It was largely hidden after Iraqs
invasion, came out in the open during Libyan intervention and stands fully
exposed in Syria. If anything, the US and its NATO allies have become more
blatant about aiding, arming and training terrorist outfits for sowing chaos in
targeted societies and changing regimes that resist the strangling embrace of the
empire or do not fit into its larger plans for the planet. So should we play its
game in Afghanistan with the hope of fitting in?
It doesnt take an Einstein to figure out the game. Kerry made a point to
educate his hosts about the difference between withdrawal and drawdown,
affirming the US commitment to maintain its occupation of Afghanistan. What
is basically required of us is to stabilize its control on Afghanistan by peddling
power-sharing talks with the Taliban, bringing its tormentors to the table and
helping it buy the support of factions willing to go along with it so that things
could be managed with fewer troops. A cheap exit through our territory is taken
for granted since the resumption of NATO supplies. Meanwhile, the war against
Pakistan will continue and not be discussed.
The dots are there to be connected, if we bother to see beyond the US
narrative that is falling apart with each passing day. The peddlers of divisive
identity politics being nurtured in NATO capitals, the unrelenting propaganda
onslaught against the intolerant Pakistani society and rogue state institutions,
the ever-ready bogeys of nuclear proliferation, terrorist sanctuaries and nukes
falling in the hands of terrorists, the fanning of sectarianism through middle
eastern partners, the cultivation of media and donor-driven intelligentsia are all
tried and tested tactics that we have seen at work in recent history in the service
of the empire.
It is crucial that Pakistan distances itself from the US game plan in the
region and devise an Afghanistan/Counter-terrorism policy in partnership with
Afghanistans immediate neighbours, a policy that aims to end the US
occupation of Afghanistan and counter the undeclared war on Pakistan. The new
government seems oblivious to the need for this course-correction. (Jalees
Hazir, TheNation 5th August)
Kerry comes, Kerry goes: issues stay on! Bilateral relations between
the two countries are poised to stay tumultuous for short to medium term. On its
part Pakistan is making all out effort to bridge the gap between the Afghan
Taliban and America on one hand and Afghan Taliban and Karzai administration
169
on the other hand. As the time is running out, Taliban, America and Karzai
government need to narrow down their perceptional gaps about post 2014
Afghanistan.
It is in the interest of America and Pakistan to sustain functional bilateral
relationship and cooperate in stabilizing Afghanistan. It is a complicated and
important relationship. Both, the US and Pakistan have much to gain in fixing
their relationship. Pakistan needs US investment, and the US needs stability in
Pakistan as it strives to affect a sustainable transition in Afghanistan.
America owes a responsibility to the international community for leaving
behind a stable Afghanistan. Side by side, the onus squarely rests with the UN
Security Council (UNSC). It authorized the entry of foreign forces into
Afghanistan, it must come forth to manage the fallout of their exit. It should
start in-house deliberations to evolve a backup contingency plan to induct its
peace-keeping mission if America-Taliban-Karzai rapprochement does not
materialize. In such an eventuality, the 2014 elections in Afghanistan should be
under UN supervision. Pakistan and America need to discuss this and formulate
a timeline-based workable plan of action to take the UNSC on board, say by
mid 2014.
Kugelman has rightly assessed: Behind the bonhomie, trouble
lurks...Instead of depicting Kerry's Pakistan visit as a prelude to an extended
period of goodwill, we should simply regard it as a respite from the tensions.
(K. Iqbal, TheNation 5th August)
Kerrys Islamabad visit: Secretary Kerry, who has been a frequent
visitor to Pakistan, appeared visibly discomfited; perhaps, the uncertainty of
dealing with the new political dispensation in Islamabad was having a telling
effect. Yet, he called on the outgoing President Asif Ali Zardari commending
him on a smooth political transfer
The visiting Secretary played with semantics that the US forces are being
drawn down from Afghanistan and not withdrawn, as some of the US
Special Forces will be retained. Interestingly, President Hamid Karzai is yet to
endorse a strategic pact with the US to the effect.
Pakistans handicaps enumerated earlier constrained it to optimally utilize
the visit, while PM Nawaz eagerness in accepting the invitation to visit
America depicts naivet. Pragmatic leaders manoeuvre their response to such
invitations, using it to leverage the pursuit of national interests.
Kerrys snub to Pakistan on the drone issue and denunciation of
Pakistans sovereignty was, perhaps, undiplomatic and an adequate rejoinder
should have been issued by Islamabad. The legality of President Obamas drone
policy can be challenged in international courts.
170
leadership and top military commander. The Secretary said: We are here to
speak honestly with each other, openly about gaps that may exist that we want
to try to bridge Our people deserve that we talk directly. Indeed, an
honourable and auspicious political sentiment by the Secretary focusing on
honest talks and a reference to what our people deserve Well said.
Speaking after the honest and open talks, Prime Minister Mian Nawaz
Sharif described the Secretary as a wonderful friend. Responding to his
culturally-loaded indigenous compliment, Kerry said: I have had the pleasure
of visiting (Sharifs) home and having a number of meals with him. Obviously,
in a blitz of the moment, the Pakistani Prime Minister initiated Meal
diplomacy to overcome the existing mutual distrust between the two nations,
hoping to end years of antipathy over US drone strikes on Pakistani soil, and reestablishing a full partnership. On the face of it; an ideal beginning of a new
era of friendship between Islamabad and Washington.
However, the vital question that needs to be asked in earnest is: will the
Meal diplomacy, the sumptuous Pakistani kababs, the exotic curries, the
aromatic biryani with a touch of zafrani fragrance, desserts topped with
delightful and delicious mangoes and extravagant shahi tukras served to the US
Secretary of State at the PMs residence, change Americas foreign policy
discourse towards Pakistan?
It is instructive to note that during a television interview in Pakistan last
Thursday, Kerry said: The US had a timeline to end drone strikes in that
countrys western mountains, adding, we hope its going to be very, very soon
(reported the New York Times). Ironically, hours after his interview, the State
Department issued a statement saying: There was no definite timetable to end
the targeted killing programme in Pakistan; in addition, a Department
spokesperson said: In no way would we ever deprive ourselves of a tool to
fight a threat if it arises (reported Mark Mazzetti and Mark Landler from
Washington)
The Pakistani leadership in Islamabad must come to recognize the fact
that prolonging the present structure of the US-Pak alliance and preserving the
status quo in its foreign policy relations with Washington will only do more
harm than good to Pakistans national interests. Hence, it is imperative that
Islamabad convey a zero tolerance of the US ambiguous and unspecified
policy discourse towards Pakistan
In the new structure of political-economic coordination between the US
and Pakistan, perhaps, the following must be the fundamentals of engagement
between the two nations:
Drone strikes must end on a specified date.
172
173
It has now been 13 years since the invasion of Afghanistan. At the edge of
a war, Pakistans role in the conflict and the consequences on Pakistans internal
security will be debated for decades. But now is not the time. At this point, it is
clear that a zero tolerance approach is called for, to re-establish order within
Pakistan. A clear-cut, unambiguous strategy to reassert the writ of the state, and
to deal with any and all who would try to mould the nature of the constitution to
their will by violence, or intimidation, is called for.
It has been unfortunate that where at times our leadership lacked the
required vision that resulted in a timid, directionless approach, at other times
staunch opposition to military action from the people has led to inaction and
ultimately to the further proliferation of terrorism. A debate is underway as to
whether policy is to reflect the will of the people in the short-term, or protect
them in the long-term?
Political capital and goodwill conservation is an instinct not just restricted
to Pakistan, but perhaps also afflicts President Obama.
Latest reports, including one from the UN, rightly maintain that al-Qaeda
remains a significant threat. President Obama, on the other hand, views the alQaeda as having been mortally weakened, particularly since its top leadership
has been destroyed.
The fact is that outfits loosely linked to al-Qaeda, such as the Taliban,
with their own agenda to enforce through violent means, have emerged, posing
even greater danger. Pakistan that has been witnessing escalating violence
proves the point. The terrorist phenomenon, as described in the UN report,
continues to diversify into self-radicalized extremist groups and cannot be
taken lightly.
It is an indisputable reality of statecraft that all those who take up arms
against the state as well as their backers are to be treated as enemies and dealt
with accordingly. What we urgently need is a firm commitment to ensure
peaceful conditions in the country, whatever it takes to restore them.
The draft of the national security policy that the Prime Minister wants
ready by August 13 must make that unmistakably clear. An indecisive policy not
only encourages these elements, but will ultimately prove fatal to every dream
of a prosperous future that any Pakistani has ever dared to dream. (Editorial,
TheNation 12th August)
A death by thousand cuts: Pakistan is in the grisly grip of callous
contraption of home-grown terrorists linked with global terrorist networks.
Haplessly we are watching ourselves being subjected to cuts-one by one,
bleeding profusely. The series of recent cuts culminated into the dare devil
Dera Ismail Khan jail attack drama which demolished the confidence of
Pakistanis to the hilt. It must have baffled those even more who came to know
174
that this inverted jailbreak was one of the episodes of international serial of such
jailbreaks carried out in Abu Ghraib and Taji jails in Iraq in quick succession.
The pattern and style in all the incidents was almost identical giving a strong
indication that the same planner was behind it.
Recently the US shut down nineteen diplomatic posts across the Middle
East and Africa over an unspecified terrorist threat from al-Qaeda. Reportedly
an intercept revealed that Dr Ayman Al Zawahiri, who succeeded Osama bin
Laden, gave directions to Nasir al-Wuhayshi, the founder of al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), to undertake an attack. Some Western analysts like
Bruce Hoffman, a terrorism expert and Georgetown University professor
believe Zawahiri is in border lands of Pakistan and Afghanistan
This is a matter of greater worry for Pakistan than the US. If al Qaeda is
trying to replenish its strength and carry out terrorist acts like inverted jailbreaks
through its affiliates in and outside Pakistan, then Pakistan is the most
vulnerable target, because of the presence of dreaded TTP and its sub groups;
more importantly due to deadly delay in the governments decisiveness to tackle
them in a coordinated and sustained manner. Zawahiris reported presence in or
around Pakistan and calling shots for international terrorism from our soil puts
Pakistan in a graver situation. Not only the foreign militants would be
emboldened to look at it as re-establishment of the centre of command of alQaeda in tribal areas of Pakistan, but the international reaction would be also
highly unfavourable.
It is a folly to think that al-Qaeda is dead and that Pakistan is not its
target. Al-Qaeda is mercurial in nature. When it is suppressed at one place it
emerges at a different place in a different form, with more vigour and
vengeance. Zawahiri has never minced words to express his disdain for the
government, the army and the constitution of Pakistan. Like Abu Bakr Naji, an
al Qaeda ideologue, Zawahiri eyes the extremist elements in Pakistan as a
potential pool of activists for his present and future designs
One should not take solace in the less frequency of terrorist acts in
Punjab. It is an illusion and matter of choice of the terrorists. Bomb blast at
Food Street Old Anarkali Lahore when the Prime Minister was on a tour to
China was a strong message from the terrorists of their presence and prowess.
High profile kidnappings and extortion are the modus operandi mostly
employed in Punjab so far. Karachi is already on fire where a host of groups are
engaged in target killings with impunity.
Are we waiting for somebody to come and free us from this contraption?
Allahs system does not work like this. The enemies will gloat and friends will
watch from the fence. Nobody would come forward and yank us out of this
contraption of terror. Only we ourselves are responsible and capable of doing it.
The government and people of Pakistan will have to take the bull by the horns
175
now before the cuts bleed us to unfortunate destiny. If the government is taking
time to make up its mind and to formulate its long awaited anti-terror policy,
people should organize themselves to defend their localities, towns and cities. It
is a war of existence. Everybody must act as a warrior and a defender. (N.
Elahi, TheNation 12th August)
India
Back-channel lessons: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs back-channel
initiative has given rise to a flurry of speculations and anxiety in the country.
The media on both sides of the border is running wild with assumptions of all
sorts. With a narrow tunnel-vision overview of the India-Pakistan relations
history and little comprehension of the intricacies of the regional as well as
global dynamics, commentators of all sorts are spreading uncertainty if not
confusion. While some are drawing doomsday scenarios with a likely sell-out
on Kashmir, others see an India-Pakistan peace around the corner
Indeed, with Varma-Mani disclosures of the reality of two major
incidents, the New Delhi Parliament attack in December 2001 and the Mumbai
attacks in November 2008, the back-channel would, perhaps, be the best forum
for both sides to rise above the blame game. The challenge for them now is to
overcome their mistrust and return in good earnest to the composite dialogue
that remains suspended since last year. It is primarily in this context that Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharifs back-channel initiative should be seen.
But any expectations in India to be able to nudge Pakistan to pick up the
threads from where they were left in General Musharrafs back-channel
diplomacy would just be wishful thinking. No matter what the Indians expect or
say, the PML-N is committed to a principled position on Kashmir and cannot
afford any secret deal on this issue. Nawaz Sharif knows that there is but one
fair, just, legal and moral solution to Kashmir which was provided by the United
Nations, and which both India and Pakistan mutually accepted.
The wishes of the Kashmiri people will have to be ascertained
impartially, in conditions of freedom from military coercion. This is the crux of
the Kashmir issue. On other issues, Nawaz Sharif cannot ignore Indias
illegality in Siachen and its ongoing water terrorism in Occupied Kashmir by
building dams and reservoirs on Pakistani rivers in violation of the Indus Waters
Treaty. Trade with India requires a level playing field.
The government must build a national consensus on our India policy,
which would require transparency and domestic confidence-building through
genuine debate and consensus in parliamentary chambers, not in shady backchannels. It will only strengthen its hands and reinforce Pakistans negotiating
position in any dialogue with India. (Shamshad Ahmad, TheNation 30th July)
176
177
REVIEW
178
A lot was said about DI Khan jail-break during the period and its
similarities with Bannu jail-break were also discussed. However, a glaring
common factor in the two incidents was not highlighted as it should have been.
It was prison staff which after Bannu jail-break was posted in bulk to DI Khan.
It was suspected then that terror attack in Bannu could not have been carried out
without inside help.
Phenomenon of jail-breaks is not confined to Pakistan. It is part of what
has happened in the recent past in other Islamic states Libya, Egypt, Syria,
Iraq, Afghanistan and so on. All jail-breaks were succeeded by escalation of
terrorism in respective countries. In view of that it can be said that more
bloodshed in Pakistan is imminent.
It was unfortunate that the following day only a few TV channels spared
time to debate this incident which could have serious consequences. Most of
them remained pre-occupied in covering the installation of a dummy in the
Presidency. They also missed the coincidence of John Kerrys arrival in
Islamabad within 48 hours of jail-break.
According to most observers the only success of the visit was that Kerry
honoured the new democratic government by coming to Islamabad. The
conduct of Nawaz Sharif during the visit was no different from Zardari-led
regime. Despite his meek conduct Dr Haider Mehdi in his post visit column
reproduced above asked Nawaz government to restructure Pak-US policies. It
amounted to asking for moon at high noon.
Coming back to the jail-break, the reactive decision to augment security
of prisons with Rangers and Army troops is completely devoid of foresight.
Instead, the focuss should be on de-politicizing and cleansing the existing prison
staff and their training by Army. Emphasis should be on blocking of approaches
at a safe distance rather than reinforcing the pickets along boundary walls of
prisons.
Kashmiri freedom fighters killed five Indian soldiers of 21 Bihar
Regiment near Poonch, IHK. New Delhi chose to accuse Pakistan Army of
violating ceasefire and killing of Indian soldiers. Indian media and BJP raised
the hype and on 7th August, playing to the gallery, Congress activists attacked
Pakistans Embassy in New Delhi.
Chaudhry Nisar Khan while commenting on the attack said he was unable
to comprehend the Indian reaction. He being Interior Minister can be excused
for not comprehending but he must ask his boss, who is also the Foreign
Minister, to put him wise. He, however, should not be disappointed if his boss
too shows his inability to understand.
His boss is one of those whose vision is blurred by their desire to have
trade with India at any price; so they can never understand the logic, or lack of
179
it, behind Indian actions and reactions. The same is the case with those afflicted
by Amn ki Asha. On 7th August almost every TV channel discussed this incident
except Geo TV. Hamid Mir in his programme preferred to invite French and
German guests to discuss how the long standing enemies become friends.
After the briefing Nawaz emerged completely unperturbed by the attack
on Pakistan Embassy. He insisted upon improving relations with India at any
cost. By nature he is like a mule but only partly; stubborn but not sure-footed.
12th August, 2013
180
The works included in this chapter are taken from the book Zarb-e-Kalim
translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah. The last three poems are from Armoghan -eHijaz translated by Q A Kabir
DEDICATED TO NAWAB SIR HAMINDULLAH KHAN
!
Aalihazat Nawab Sir Syed Hamidullah Khan Farmanrawaey Bhopal ki
Khidmat mein!
Zamanah ba Aishia chih kard-o-konad; kassey nah bood keh ein daastan
farou khwanad.
[Zamaney ney Aishia ki quomon sey abb takk jo salook kiya aur kar raha hai;
koeyi nah thha joy eh dard bhari daastan tafsil sey sona sakta; aakher mojhi
ko yeh farz anjaam deyna parra.]
What Time has done or shall do with the East, none save a prince, like you, can
know the least.
Tou sahib-e-nazari aanchih dar zamir-e-mun ast; dil-e-tou beinad-oandaisha-e-tou mi-danad.
[(Hamidullah khan) tou sahib-e-nazar hai aur tojhey Khoda ney woh milkah
atta kiya hai keh jo haqiqatein meyrey zamir ki gehraiyuon mein moujood
hein; teyra dil onnhein deikhh raha hai aur teyra damagh onn sey agah hai.)
You own insight and what lies in my mind, is not too hard for you to ken and
find.
Bagir ein hamah sarmayah-e-bahar az mun; keh gul badast-e-tou az shakh
tazah-ter manind.
[Mien bahar ka yeh sarmayah laya hon tou ossey ley ley, iss leay keh phhool
teyrey haath mein dey diya jaaey tuo woh shakh sey bhi ziyadah tar-o-tazah
aur shadab rehta hai.]
Accept from me this treasure of spring tide, whose roses in your hand shall
fresh abide. (Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
181
THE PROLOGUE
Tamheed
(1)
Nah Deir mein nah Haram mein khodi ki bidaari; keh khawaran mein hai
quomon ki rooh taryaki.
(Khawaran: Aishia ki quomein. Taryaki: Afiyuoon.)
In fane and shrine the self in slumber deep is sunk, it seems that soul of East an
opiate strong has drunk.
Agar nah sehal hon tojh per zamin kay hungamey; bori hai musti-eandaishah-haey aflaaki.
If freaks of fate with smile on lips you can not face, the secrets hid in firmament
n're claim to trace.
Teri nijaat ghum-e-murg sey naheen momkin; keh tou khodi ko samajhta hai
paikar-e-khaki.
Your anguish sharp for Death you can not keep at bay, because you deem that
Self is merely made of clay.
Zamanah apney hawadis chhopa naheen sakta; tera hijab hai qalb-o-nazar ki
napaki.
Time can conceal mishaps at all from you, Alas! Your heart and soul are foul
and are not true.
Atta hoa khas-o-khashak-e-Aishia mojh ko; keh meyrey shoaley mein hai
sarkashi-o-bibaaki.
182
The straws and thorns of East to me have been assigned, for flame that burns in
me is rash and unconfined. (Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
The poetical works reproduced hereafter are from the Chapter One of
Zarb-e-Kalim titled Islam and Muslims.
ASCENSION
Dey walwalah-e-shouq jissey lazzat-e-pervaaz; kar sakta hai woh zarrah meho-mehar ko taraaj.
(Taraaj: Taskhir karna.)
A mote endowed with strong desire for flight can reach the Sun and Moon with
effort slight.
!
Moskil naheen yaraan-e-chaman! Maarkah-e-baaz; porsoz agar ho nafas-eseinah-e-dorraaj.
If chest of partridge fire and zeal emit, my friends, in fight with hawk it can
acquit.
Navok hai Mosilman, hadaf iss ka hai Suriyya; hai serr-e-sara pardah-e-jan
noktah-e-Miraaj.
Ascension means to gauge a Muslim's heart; the Pleiades are the target of his
dart.
Tou maani-e-wNajam, nah samjha tuo ajab kaya; hai teyra madd-o-jazar abhi
chand ka mohtaaj.
No wonder, meanings of Najm from you hide, on Moon depends your ocean's
ebb and tide. (Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
183
Shokar-o-shikayat
Mien bandah-e-nadan hon, magar shokar hai teyra; rakhhta hon nehan
khanah-e-lahoot sey paiwand.
(Lahoot: Alam-e-bala; tasawwuf mein woh moqam jahan salik ko fana fillah ka
darjah hasil hota hai.)
Though unwise, thanks to God I must express for bonds with celestial world
that I possess.
Ekk walwalah-e-tazah diya mien ney dilon ko; Lahore sey ta khak-e-Bokharao-Samarqand.
My songs fresh zeal to hearts of men imparts, their charm extends to lands that
lie apart.
Taseer hai meyrey nafas ki keh khazan mein; morghan-e-sehar khwan meri
sohbat mien hein khorsand (khosh baash).
In Autumn my breath makes birds that chirp in morn, imbibe much joy and feel
no more forlorn.
Laikan mojhey paida kiya iss dais mein Tou ney; jiss dais kay banday hein
ghulami peh razamand.
O God, to such a land I have been sent, where men in abject bondage feel
content.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
184
DESTINY
Taqdir
Na-ehl ko hasil hai kabhi qowwat-o-jabroot; hai khwar zamaney mein kabhi
johar-e-zaati.
(Johar-e-zaati: Morad hai bakamal loug.)
Oft men who don't deserve get might and main, anon a Person's gifts un-graced
remain.
Shaid koeyi mantiq ho nehan iss kay amal mein; taqdir naheen taabe-emantiq nazar aati.
Perhaps some rules of logic are concealed; mishaps that lie in wait are not
revealed.
Han, ekk haqiqat hai keh maaloom hai sabb ko; taarikh-e-ommam jiss ko
naheen hum sey chhopati.
(Tarikh-e-ommam: Quomon ki tarikh.)
There is a fact that all of us can know world annals much light on this matter
throw.
Her lehzah hai quomon kay amal per nazar iss ki; beran sift-e-taigh-e-duo
paikar nazar iss ki.
(Taigh-e-duo paikar: Duo dhari talwar.)
Fate keeps its eye on what the nations do, like two-edged sword can riddle
through and through.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
AUTHORITY AND FAITH
Qowwat aur Deen
185
Eskandar-o-Changaiz kay haathon sey jahan mein; suo baar hoeyi hazrat-einsan ki qaba chaak.
Autocrats like Alexander and Changez, have trampled men beneath their feet;
not once but hundred times so far, they brought man down from honoured seat.
!
Tarikh-e-ommam ka yeh paigham azli hai; sahib-e-nazaran! Nashah-e-qowwat
hai khatarnaak.
The annals right from historic dawn the message eternal bear as such: O man,
with insight great endowed, the wine of might is dangerous much.
Iss sial-e-sobak siar-o-zamin-gir kay aagey; aql-o-nazar-o-ilm-o-honar hein
khas-o-khashaak.
(Sial-e-sobak siar: Taizi sey behta hoa sialab.)
Before this quickly flowing flood that spreads to all the tracts with speed art,
insight, intellect and science; are carried along like straw and reed.
La Deen ho tuo hai zehar-e-hilahal sey bhi barrh kar; ho Deen ki hifazat mein
tuo her zehar ka tariyaak.
(Zehar-e-hilahal: Halak kar deyney waali mohlik zehar.)
Divorced from Faith, a poison strong, when propped by Faith and true belief,
'gainst poison works with speed, and proves a source of much relief.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
KINGSHIP
Sultani
186
Kissey khabar keh hazaron moqam rakhhta hai; woh faqr jiss mein hai bey
pardah rooh-e-Qurani.
The lofty states of faqr are known to few, the faqr that brings the soul of Koran
to view.
Khodi ko jabb nazar aati hai qahiri apni; yehi moqam hai kehtey hein jiss ko
sultani.
(Qahiri: Ghalbah, faatihanah shaan.)
When selfhood sees its sway and upper hand, this exalted state the folk as
kingship brand.
Yehi moqam hai Momin ki qowwaton ko ayyar; issi moqam sey Adam hai zille-Sobhani.
(Ayyar: Kasouti. Zill-e-Sobhani: Khoda ka sayah.)
This rank gives verdict of a Muslim's worth, and makes him vicegerent of God
on earth.
Yeh jabr-o-qahr naheen hai, yeh ishq-o-musti hai; keh jabr-o-qahr sey momkin
naheen jahan baani.
This is not mere power and authority; this is Love; as kingship is not possible
with power and authority alone.
Kiya gaya hai ghulami mein mobtila tojh ko; keh tojh sey ho nah sakki faqr ki
nigahbaani.
You have got bondage as a fit reward, for you have failed to keep on Faqr a
guard.
Misal-e-mah chamakta thha jiss ka dagh-e-sajood; kharid li hai Farangi ney
woh Mosilmani.
187
Prostration made like moon his forehead shine, Alas! The Franks have snatched
that essence fine.
) (
Hoa harif-e-meh-o-aftab tou jiss sey; rehi nah teyrey sitaron mein woh
drakhshani.
Riaz Manzil (doulat kadah-e- Sir Rass Masood) Bhopal mein likhhey gaey.
Your stars have lost their pristine glow and sheen that made them rivals of Sun
and Moon so keen.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
GHAZAL
Dil-e-mordah dil naheen hai, issey zindah kar dobarah; keh yehi hai ummaton
ki marz-e-kohan ka charah.
(Marz-e-kohan ka charah: Porani baimaari ka ilaaj.)
A heart devoid of love is dead; infuse fresh life in it again. It is the only cure for
folk who suffer from some chronic pain.
Tera behar por sakon hai ya fason hai? Nah nahung hai, nah toofan, nah
kharabi-e-kinarah.
(Nahung: Magarmachh; morad hai khatraat.)
Your sea is full of calm and rest, is it repose or magic art? No sharks and storms
disturb your sea, intact its coast in every part.
Tou zamir-e-aasman sey abhi aashna naheen hai; naheen bey qarar karta
tojhey ghumzah-e-sitarah.
188
You are not intimate with laws that rule the spheres that spin around; the
twinkling stars do not disturb the calm which in your heart is found.
Terey neistan mein dala merey naghmah-e-sehar ney; meri khak pey seper
mein jo nehan thha ekk shrarah.
(Pey seper: Afsordah, bojhi hoeyi.)
The dormant spark that buried lay in my extinguished clay since long has set
afire your bed of reeds, assuming form of morning song.
Nazar aaey ga ossi ko yeh jahan-e-dosh-o-farda; jissey aagaeyi mayassar meri
shokhi-e-nazarah.
That man can only see in full the world of future and the past, who has the luck
to be endowed with my glance so pert and fast.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
THE WORLD
Dunya
Mojh ko bhi nazar aati hai yeh buqalmooni; woh chand, yeh tara hai, woh
pathar, yeh nagin hai. (Buqalmooni: Runga rungi.)
The diverse hues of world I can descry, here stone and gem, there moon and
starry sky.
Deyti hai meri chashm-e-baseerat bhi yeh fatwa; woh koh, yeh darya hai, woh
gardon, yeh zamin hai.
My insight also gives this verdict clear; these are hills, river, earth and sphere.
189
Haq baat ko laikan mein chhopa kar naheen rakhhta; tou hai, tojhey jo kochh
nazar ata hai, naheen hai.
Of facts so true, I strive to hide not aught, you are, all else a trick that eyes have
wrought.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
REVELATION
Wahi
Fikr bey noor tera, jazb-e-amal bey boniyad; sakht moshkil hai keh roshan ho
shabb-e-taar-e-hayat.
Your zeal infirm and weak, unlit your thoughts by light it is too hard to illume
your life's dark dismal night.
Khoob-e-nakhoob amal ki ho girah waa kiyuonkar; gar hayat aap nah ho
shaarih-e-asrar-e-hayat.
Twixt actions good and bad it's hard to draw a line, unless life undertakes
such subtle points to define.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
ISLAMIC CIVILISATION
Madniyat-e-Islam
190
Taloa hai sift-e-aaftab iss ka gharoob; yaganah aur misal-e-zamanah
gonagon.
Like sun, his rise and setting both are rare, he veers with Time and would e'er
truth declare.
Nah iss mein asr-e-rawan ki haya sey bizaari; nah iss mein ehad-e-kohan kay
fasanah-o-fason.
He is not sick of modesty like the current age, black art and myths his attention
don't engage.
Haqaiq-e-abadi per asaas hai iss ki; yeh zindagi hai, naheen hai talism-eAflaton.
On lasting truths its foundations firmly rest, no Plato's conceit but life replete
with zest.
Anasar iss kay hein rooh-ul-Quds ka zouq-e-jamal; Ajam ka hosn-e-tabiyat,
Arab ka soz-e-daron.
Like Gabriel it owns fine taste and grace, has warmth of Arabs and mind like
Persian race.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
GUIDANCE
Imamat
191
Tou ney poochhi hai imamat ki haqiqat mojh sey; Haq tojhey meyri tarah sahibe-asrar karey.
What Guidance signifies you wish to know, insight, like me, may God on you
bestow.
Hai wohi teyrey zamaney ka imam-e-berhaq; jo tojhey hazir-o-moujood sey
bizaar karey.
He is true guide and teacher of your age, who can with present fill your mind
with rage.
Mout kay aeinay mein tojh ko dikhha kar rokh-e-dost; zindagi teyrey leay aur
bhi dashwar karey.
By showing the face of Friend in looking glass, may make your life more
onerous and crass.
Dey kay ehsaas-e-ziyan teyra lahoo garma dey; faqr ki saan peh charrha kar
tojhey talwar karey. (Saan: Hathiyar taiz karney ka aalah.)
He may make your blood seethe with sense of harm and on Faqrs whetstone
may to sword transform.
Fitnah-e-Millat-e-Baiza hai imamat iss ki; jo Mosilman ko salatin ka parastar
karey. (Millat-e-Baiza: Mosilman quom.)
Such guidance means revolt 'against Lustrous Creed that makes the Muslims
bow to kingly breed.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
GHAZAL
192
Teyri mataa-e-hayat, ilm-o-honar ka saroor; meyri mataa-e-hayat eik dil-enasboor. (Dil-e-nasboor: Biqarar dil.)
A restless aching heart that throbs with Love; is my life's only stock and hoard
your joys of life consist of wealth and gold that worldly Science and Arts to you
afford.
Moajazah-e-ehl-e-fikr, falsafah-e-paich paich; moajazah-e-ehl-e-zikr, Mosa-oFiroan-o-Toor.
The marvel wrought by thinkers wise and sage consists of problems stiff that
thought provoke: Mount Sinai, Pharoah's rout and Moses' Staff are miracles
worked by those who God invoke.
Maslehatun keh diya mien ney Mosilman tojhey; teyrey nafas mein naheen,
garmi-e-Youm-an-Nashoor.
(Youm-an-Nashoor: Qiyamat ka dinn.)
I have conferred a Muslim's name on you for sake of courtesy, custom and
routine though your breath is quite bereft of heat of Reckoning Day that shall
emit blazing sheen.
Eik zamaney sey hai chaak gariban mera; tou hai abhi hosh mein, meyrey
janon ka qasoor.
My vest is torn to shreds and pieces since long and this is due to my mind's
frenzy great; your mind is still intact and sound, wherefore impute the blame to
me and slate?
Faiz-e-nazar kay leay zabt-e-sakhon chahiy; harf-e-perishan nah keh ehl-enazar kay hazoor.
193
You ought to keep your words within control, if you seek the bounteous glance
of Guide: When you talk with those who insight own be courteous much, by
conduct nice abide.
Khwar jahan mein kabhi ho naheen sakti woh quom; ishq ho jiss ka jasoor,
faqr ho jiss ka ghayoor. (Jasoor: Bibaak, juraatmand.)
That nation cannot come to shame at all, nor shall e'er come across or face
disgrace, whose youth are blessed with. pluck and courage great, and guard with
zeal the prestige of their race.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
RESIGNATION
Taslim-o-Raza
Her shakh sey yeh noktah-e-paichidah hai paida; poudon ko bhi ehsaas hai
pehnaaey faza ka.
The twigs and boughs this subtle point explain that sense of surrounding wide to
plants is plain.
Zolmat kadah-e-khak peh shaakir naheen rehta; her lehzah hai daney ko janon
nashv-o-noma ka.
The seed is not content with dwelling dark; it has a craze to spire from earth like
spark.
Fitrat kay taqazon peh nah kar rah-e-amal; maqsood hai kochh aur he taslimo-raza ka.
Don't bar the path to deeds for Nature's claims; submission to will of God has
different aims.
194
Juraat ho namoo ki tuo faza tung naheen hai; ay mard-e-Khoda, molk-e-Khoda
tung naheen hai.
If there is pluck for growth, the suburbs suffice; O man, the world is wide, if
you are, wise.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
UNITY OF GOD
Noktah-e-Towhid
Biyan mein noktah-e-Towhid aa tuo sakta hai; terey damagh mein bottkhanah
ho tuo kaya kehiay.
The subtle point in God's Oneness hid with ease in words we can explain, but
what about your mind unsound that brims with myths and idols vain?
Woh ramz-e-shouq keh poshidah la ilah mein hai; tariq-e-shaikh faqihaanah ho
tuo kaya kehiay.
The Elder of the Shrine has traits that smack of Jurist's faith and creed; much
thirst for view 'No god but He', among his fellows cannot breed.
Saroor jo haq-o-batil ki kaarzar mein hai; tou harb-o-zarb sey biganah ho tuo
kaya kehiay.
None can appraise the glee one gets, when war is on 'twixt good and bad; he
who can't inflict deadly blows and strokes in war is never glad.
Jahan mein banadah-e-Hur kay moshahidaat hein kaya; teri nigah
ghulamanah ho tuo kaya kehiay.
195
Observations made by free born men in world with marvels so replete to those
who own the glance of thralls none can such wonders 'fore them repeat.
Moqam-e-faqr hai kitna boland shahi sey; rawash kissi ki gadayanah ho tuo
kaya kehiay.
A Darvesh holds a loftier rank than a monarch who wears a crown; there is no
cure for such a man, who, like paupers, has sunk down.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
REVELATION AND FREEDOM
Elhaam aur Azadi
Oss kay nafas-e-garam ki taseer hai aisi; ho jaati hai khak-e-chamanistan
sharar aamaiz.
The intense heat his breath imparts, a blaze in park and orchard starts.
Shaheen ki ada hoti hai bulbul mein namoodar; kiss darjah badal jaatey hein
morghaan-e-sehar khaiz.
(Morghaan-e-sehar khaiz: Sobh kay waqt gaaney waaley parinday.)
The mode of hawks the thrush displays, the birds that chirp change mode and
ways.
196
Oss mard-e-khod agah Khoda must ki sohbat; deyti hai gadaon ko shikoh-eJam-o-Pervaiz.
Such man rapt with God's Love can raise, low-born to rank of Jam and Parvez.
Mehkoom kay elhaam sey Allah bachaey; gharatgar-e-aqwaam hai, woh surate-Changaiz.
God save from revelations of a thrall, like Changez, he leads to nations' fall!
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
SOUL AND BODY
Jan-o-Tun
Aql modat sey hai iss paichaak mein oljhi hoeyi; rooh kiss johar sey, khak-etirah kiss johar sey hai.
(Paichaak: Paich-o-kham; morad hai oljhan. Tirah: Andhairi.)
Since times antique the mind of man in complex problems is involved; what is
the source of clay-born man and how the soul has been evolved?
Meyri moshkil, musti-o-shor-o-saroor-o-dard-o-dagh; teyri moshkil, maey sey
hai saaghar maey saaghar sey hai.
Pain, anguish, glee and rapture sweet are spiritual states that man must face;
what is of much worth, cup or wine, is knotty point you wish to trace?
Irtibaat-e-harf-e-maani, ikhtilaat jan-o-tun; jiss tarah akhgar qaba posh apni
khakistar sey hai.
197
(Irtibaat: Rabt, taaloq. Ikhtilaat: Mail jol, khalt malt. Akhgar: Bojhta hoa
angarah. Khakistar: Raakhh.)
What binds the words and their import? What links the body and the soul? It
wears the cloak of its own ash just like the burnt refuse of coal.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
LAHORE AND KARACHI
Lahore-o-Karachi
Nazar Allah peh rakhhta hai Mosilman-e-ghayoor; mout kaya shaey hai, faqat
alam-e-maani ka safar.
For Muslim true Death has no dread; to realm of souls, he straight is led.
Inn shaheedon ki diyat ehl-e-Kalisa sey nah maang; qadr-o-qimat mein hai
khon jinn ka Haram sey barrh kar.
(Diyat: Khon baha.)
Don't ask the rulers of this land to grant blood price for martyred band. Their
blood is precious and divine like precincts of the Holy Shrine.
' '
Ahh ay mard-e-Mosilman tojhey kaya yaad naheen; harf-e-la tadaa maaAllah illaha aakhar.*
(*Aur matt pokaro Allah kay sawa doosra haakim.)
Alas! The Muslim forgot the lesson that to him was taught. He was ordained to
cry to none save to God Unique and One.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
PROPHETHOOD
Nabawwat
198
Mien nah arif, nah mojadad, nah mohadis, nah faqih; mojh ko maaloom
naheen kaya hai nabawwat ka moqam.
A gnostic, revivalist, jurist or expert in Prophet's maxims I do not claim; as such
a Prophet's rank and state in terms precise I can't proclaim.
Han, magar alam-e-Islam peh rakhhta hon nazar; faash hai mojh peh zamire-falak-e-neeli faam.
Despite these things I always keep on Muslim lands my watchful eye to me are
known the secrets hid in depths of this azure sky.
Asr-e-hazir ki shabb-e-taar mein deikhhi mein ney; yeh haqiqat keh hai roshan
seft-e-maah-e-tamam.
(Roshan seft-e-maah-e-tamam: Poorey chand ki tarah roshan, morad hai bilkol
waazeh.)
In present age, so full of dusk I have beheld this fact so stark that peeps like
bright and full grown moon from sky that wears the mantle dark.
''
"
Woh nabawwat hai Mosilman kay leay burg-e-hashish; jiss nabawwat mein
naheen qowwat-o-shoukat ka payam.
(Burg-e-hashish: Bhang ki patti.)
The seer, inspired by God, who fails to prompt to deeds of might and main, is
just akin to leaf of hemp that makes oblivious to loss or gain.
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
MAKKAH AND GENEVA
199
Iss dour mein aqwaam ki sohbat bhi hoeyi aam; poshidah nigahon sey rehi
wahdat-e-Adam.
In present age the League has been contrived, but sight of man from oneness is
deprived.
Tafriq-e-millal hikmat-e-Farang ka maqsood; Islam ka maqsood faqat millat-eAdam.
(Tafriq-e-millal: Quomon ka nifaaq.)
The aim and end the Franks before them keep, has caused in several states such
rupture deep.
Makkey ney diya khak-e-Geneva ko yeh paigham; jamiyat-e-aqwaam keh
jamiyat-e-Adam.
Makkah this question to Geneva posed: Is League of Man, or diverse states
composed?
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
Quomon ki hayat onn kay takhiyal peh hai mouqoof; yeh zouq sikhhata hai
adab morgh-e-chaman ko.
A nation's life gets much prolonged by lofty aims and ideals high if dwellers
here some zeal possess, they can explore the heights of sky.
200
Majzoob Farangi ney beh andaz-e-Farangi; Mehdi kay takhiyal sey kiya zindah
watan ko.
(Majzoob Farangi: Dewanah Farangi, morad hai Neitsche jiss ney Superman ka
takhiyal paish kiya.)
The Frankish Sage by guile and skill new lease of life to nation gave the path
for birth of Superman by valour great he strove to pave.
Ay woh keh tou Mehdi kay takhiyal sey hai bizaar; noummeid nah kar aahoo-emoshin sey Khotan ko.
(Aahoo-e-moshin: Woh hiran jiss ki naaf sey moshk nikala jata hai. Khotan:
Wast Aisia ka khittah jahan kay mosk waaley hiran mashoor hein.)
To Guide's concept you seem averse, too fed up with this thought appear, this
view for Muslims has the weight that for Cathay has musk of deer.
Ho zindah kafan posh tuo miyat ossey samjhein; ya chaak karein mardak-enadan kay kafan ko?
If man alive puts on the shroud, must we take that ass for dead or tear to pieces
small and shreds his shroud and cast away the threads?
(Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah)
As said in the opening lines of this part, last three poems are from
Armoghan -e-Hijaz.
AN ADVICE OF OLD BALUCH TO HIS SON
Calling Millat through advice by a Baloch elder
Buddhay Baloch ki Nasihat Baitey ko
Ho teyrey biyaban ki hawa tojh ko gawara; iss dasht sey behtar hai nah Dilli
nah Bokhara.
201
I pray desert breeze would harmonize thee, to desert tops not, Delhi Basras
glee.
Jiss simmat mein chahey sift-e-sial-e-rawan chal; wadi yeh hamari hai, woh
sehra bhi hamara.
Like a moving gale, move any where, this desert and dales would hail thee
there.
Ghairat hai barri cheez jahan-e-tug-o-duo mein; pehnati hai dervaish ko taj-esar-e-Dara.
In tug and pulls race envy is a grace, which puts Darius1 crown on poor mans
face.
Hasil kissi kamil sey yeh poshidah honar kar; kehtey hein keh shishay ko bana
saktey hein khara (sakht patthar).
Get this hid skill from a paragon* lone, it is said that glass can be turned to
stone.
(*A model of excellence.)
Afraad kay haathon mein hai aqwam ki taqdir; her fard hai millat kay
moqadar ka sitara.
In each mans hand lies the nations fate, each man is a star of nations great.
Mehroom raha doulat-e-darya sey woh ghawwas; karta naheen jo sohbat-esahil sey kinara.
(Ghawwas: Ghotah khor.)
202
That diver was robbed of wealth of sea, who was afraid to leave the shore with
glee.
Deen haath sey dey kar agar azad ho millat; hai aisi tijarat mein Mosilman ka
khasara.
If his freedom hangs on the faiths bargain, in such a bargain he stands not to
gain.
Dunya ko hai pher maarkah-e-rooh-o-badan paish; tehzeeb ney pher apney
darindon ko obhara.
The soul and body yet face a clash; this culture has made her wild beasts rash.
Allah ko pamardi-e-Momin peh bharosa; Iblis ko Europe ki mashinon ka
sahara.
Allah has faith in Momins might and will, on Europes hardware Satan makes
his skill.
Taqdir-e-ommam kaya hai, koeyi keh naheen sakta; Momin ki farasat ho tuo
kaafi hai ashara.
On the fate of nations none cant foretell, on the Momins shrewd look you can
always dwell.
Akhlas-e-amal maang niyagaan-e-kohan* sey; shahan chih ajab gar
banawazand gada ra. (* Qadim zamaney kay bazorg)
[Kaya ajab keh badshah bhikari ko nawaz dein.]
A selfless life learn from foremost in deen, the kings may favour a man of poor
means.
(Translated by Q A Kabir)
203
Yeh mehar-o-meh, yeh sitarey yeh aasman-e-kabood; kissey khabar keh yeh
alam-e-adum hai ya keh wajood. (Kabood: Neila.)
This Moon and Sun the skies and stars lot. Who know that this world would live
or not.
Khiyal-e-jaadah-o-manzil fasanah-o-afason; keh zindagi hai sarapa raheel-ebey maqsood.
(Jaadah: Rastah. Fasanah: Khiyali kahani. Afason: Jadoo. Raheel: Safar.)
The thought of Aim and Stays, my fictions same; this life looks a journey sanz
any aim.
Rehi nah aah, zamaney kay haath sey baqi; woh yaadgar-e-kamalat-e-Ahmedo-Mehmood*.)
(*Morad hai Sir Syed Ahmed aur Justice Mehmood jo Sir Syed kay baitey
thhey.)
Ah! The world kept not that monuments shine, of Mehmood and Ahmads
miracles fine.
Zawal-e-ilm-o-honar murg-e-naaghan oss ki; woh caravan ka mataa-egaran baha Masood.
(Murg-e-naaghan: Achanak mout. Mataa-e-garan baha: Baish qimat doulat.)
His death to knowledge a fall and decay, a great wealth he was for caravans
stay.
204
Mojhey rolati hai ehl-e-jahan ki bidardi; foghan-e-morgh-e-sehar khwan ko
jaantey hein sarood.
(Foghan-e-morgh-e-sehar khwan: Sobh ko bolney waaley parindey ki fariyad.
Sarood: Gana.)
It moves me to weeping, the worlds cold ways, at dawn to wail of birds, they
think songs gay.
Nah kah keh sabar mein penhan hai charah-e-ghum-e-dost; nah kah keh
sabar moimma-e-mout ki hai kashood.
(Charah: Ilaaj. Kashood: Khholna, hal.)
Say not, hid in patience, cure of friends grief, say not, patience solves the
deaths crossword brief.
( )
Dilley keh ashiq-o-sabir bood sung ast; z-ishq ta beh saboori hazar farsung
ast. (Saadi)
[Woh dil jo ashiq bhi ho aur ghum-e-ishq mein sabar bhi kar sakta ho woh
pathhar tuo ho sakta hai, dil naheen; kiyuonkeh ishq aur sabar kay beich
hazar kos ka faslah hai.)
The beau is restive, but a stone is heart, the love and patience thus are poles
apart.
Nah mojh sey pooch keh omar-e-garaiz-pa kaya hai; kissey khabar keh yeh
nairung-o-seimiya kay hai.
(Omar-e-garaiz-pa: Taizi sey gozarney waali zindagi. Nairung: Shobdah baazi.
Seimiya: Jadoo.)
Ask me not whats the fleeting life and age, who knows tricks and charms of
lifes beauty cage.
205
Hoa jo khak sey paida, woh khak mein mastoor; magar yeh gheebat-e-soghra
hai ya fana, kaya hai?
(Mastoor: Chhopa hoa. Gheebat-e-soghra: Aarzi tor per chhopna; yeh eik
mazhabi istilah hai.)
Who came from this dust, hid in dust again, is this death a short void? Who
knows the arcane?
Ghobar-e-rah ko bakhsha gaya hai zouq-e-jamal; khird bata naheen sakti keh
moddaa kaya hai.
To dust of path destined His visions taste, the wisdom cant tell this purpose in
haste.
Dil-o-nazar bhi issi aab-o-gill kay hein eijaz; naheen, tuo hazrat-e-insan ki
intiha kaya hai?
(Aab-o-gill: Pani aur matti. Eijaz: Moajzah dikhhana.)
The heart and eyes too wonders of this dust, if not who knows then the height of
man just.
Jahan ki rooh-e-rawan la ilah illa hoo; Masseih-o-Maikh-o-Chalipa, yeh
majra kaya hai.
(La ilah illa hoo: Allah kay sawa koeyi maabood naheen. Masseih: Hazrat Issa
(A.S.). Maikh: Lambi keil. Chalipa: Sooli.)
No god save Allah is worlds moving soul, in Christ, the Cross and nail, what
was the role?
Qisas khoon-e-tamanna ka mangiay kis sey; gonah-gar hai kon. aur khon
baha kaya hai.
206
Ghumein mashuo keh beh bund-jahan gariftaraim; talism-ha shiknad an
dilley keh ma daaraim.
[Iss ka ghum mut karo keh hum jahan ki qiad aur pabindion mein gariftar
hein; woh dil jo Allah Taala ney hamarey jism-e-khaki kay andar rakhha hai
agar zouq-e-jamal sey batini taur per her shaey ko deikhhney wala bun jaey
tou yeh jadoo toot jata hai (aur mout-o-hayat, jism-o-rooh, aql-o-ishq, qalb-onazar kay tamam moimmey hal ho jaatey hein.)
If fastened in this tie no grief feels hence, this heart is breaking the magics
sense.
Khodi hai zindah tuo hai mout ekk moqam-e-hayat; keh ishq mout sey karta hai
imtihan-e-sabaat.
With selfs live the death a place for rest with death the love makes its
permanence test.
Khodi hai zindah tuo darya hai bey karanah tera; terey faraq mein moztir hai
mouj-e-Neil-o-Farat.
(Bey karanah: Jiss ka kinarah nah ho. Moztir: Biqarar.)
If self is alive thy sea has no shore, to meet the restive Nile-o-Euphrates roar.
Khodi hai mordah tuo manind-e-kah paish-e-nasim; khodi hai zindah tuo
sultan-e-jomlah moujodaat.
(Manind-e-kah paish-e-nasim: Ghhas ka tinka jo halki si hawa mein bhi orr jata
hai. Jomlah moujodaat: Woh sabb kochh jo kainat mein moujood hai.)
With dead self the breeze is like a grass, if selfs live lie is king of whole mass.
207
Nigah eik tajali sey hai agar mehroom; duo sadd hazar tajali talafi-e-mafaat.
(Tajali: Jalwah. Duo sadd hazar: Duo suo hazar. Talafi-e-mafaat: Koeyi cheez
jo fout ho gaeyi aur oss ki jagah oss jaisi kissi doosari cheez ney ley-li ho;
noqsaan ka ewaz.)
If he takes from the eyes His Visions glance, that void cant make up thousand
Visions hence.
Moqam bandah-e-Momin ka hai waraey sepeher; zamin sey ta beh Suriya
tamam Laat-o-Manat.
(Waraey sepeher: Aasman sey aagey. Suriya: Woh chhey sitarey jo eik saath eik
khas tartib mein nazar aatey hein.)
The place of Momin lies beyond the sky, from Earth to seven stars Lots only
lie.
Harim-e-Zaat hai oss ka nashiman-e-abudi; nah tirah khak lehud hai, nah
jalwah gah-e-sifaat.
(Harim-e-Zaat: Allah Taala ki manzil, woh moqam-e-alwihat jo insaani aql sey
mawara hai. Tirah khak: Morad hai insan. Lehud: Qabar. Jalwah gah-e-sifaat:
Allah Taala ki sifaat ki jalwah gah.)
See her lasting home with God, in trance, no dusk in grave and Gods lustres
hence.
Khod agahan keh azein khakdan baron jastand; mehar-o-sepeher-ositarah bashakastand talism.
[Woh loug jo khod agah hein (jinnhon ney Allah aur Rasool (S.A.W.) kay baad
maarfat hasil kar li) woh iss matti ki dunya sey bahar nikal gaey hein;
onnhon ney sooraj, aasman aur sitarey ka jadoo torr deya hai.)
The self conscious hearts who crossed this dust, they broke the magic of Sun
and Moon just.
(Translated by Q A Kabir)
208
QUATRAIN
*****(11)*****
Terey darya mein toofan kiyuon naheen hai; khodi teyri Mosilman kiyuon
naheen hai.
Abus hai shikwah-e-taqdir-e-Yazdan; tou khod taqdir-e-Yazdan kiyuom
maheen hai.
Thy river keeps not, no tempest why? To be a Muslim why fails ego thy?
Of fate why youre weeping so late, you are not why the Gods own fate.
(Translated by Q A Kabir)
Hindi Muslims, the followers of Islam in the Indian Subcontinent, were
the intended audience of Allamah Iqbals Urdu poetry. Contrary to that, his
Persian poetical works are meant for entire Ummah wherever they are, or were
during his times. He generally addressed them using words of Mashriq, Ajam
and Arab.
The poetical works reproduced hereafter are taken from Payam-eMashriq. The last poem however is from Zabur-e-Ajam.
THE TULIP OF SINAI QUATRAINS
*****(14)*****
Tunnay piada kon az mosht-e-ghobarey; tunnay mohkam-ter az sangin
hisaarey.
Daroon-e-oo dil-e-dard aashnaey; cho jooey dar kinar-e-kohsaarey.
[Apni khak ki mothhi sey aisa badan paida kar; jo sungin hisar sey ziyadah
pokhtah ho.
209
Magar oss kay andar dard sey ashna dil ho; jaisey kohsar kay andar nadi.]
Build, with your handful of dust, a body stronger than a rock fortress;
And inside this body let there be a heart that feels sorrow like a stream
flowing by a mountain.
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
*****(56)*****
Z-khoob-o-zasht tou na-aashnaim; ayyarash kardaheyi sood-o-ziyan ra.
Darein mehfil z-mun tunha-terey neist; beh chashm-e-deigrey beinam jahan
ra.
[Mien teyrey (aam insan kay) khoob-o-nakhoob sey na-ashna hon; tou ney
nafaa-o-noqsan ko (zindagi ka) miyar thhera liya hai.
Iss mehfil (-e-jahan) mein mojh sey ziyadah tanha aur koeyi naheen;
(kiyuonkeh) mien iss jahan ko aur nazar sey deikhhta hon.]
I do not know thy Ugly and thy Fair: Thou takest Gain and Loss to measure by.
I am the loneliest in this company; I view the vast world with another eye.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
*****(58)*****
Cho taab az khod bagirad qatrah-e-aab; miyan-sadd gohar yakk danah
gardad.
Beh bazm-e-humnawayan aanchonan zei; keh gulshan ber tou khalwat
khanah gardad.
[Woh eik pani ka qatrah apney aap sey chamak hasil karta hai; woh kaeyi suo
qatron mein sey gohar-e-yakk danah bun jata hai.
210
Tou bhi apney saathiyuon ki bazm mein iss tarah zindagi basar kar; keh
gulshan (dunya) teyrey leay khawat khanah bun jaaey.]
The water-drop, when it is self-illumed, amidst a hundred as one pearl shall be:
Then at this feast of choristers so live to take their garden for an oratory.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
*****(63)*****
Agar kardi nigah ber parah-e-sung; z-faiz-e-aarzooey tou gohar shod.
Beh zar-e-khod ra masunj ay bandah-e-zar; keh zar az goshah-e-chashm-etou zar shod.
[Jabb tou ney pathar kay tokarrey per nigah daali; tou woh teyrey faiz-e-aarzoo
sey qimati moti bun gaya,
Ay zar parast! Apni qimat zar sey nah laga; kiyuonkeh zar ko zar bananey
wala tou (teyri nigah) khod hai.]
If you were merely to glance at a piece of rock, it would turn into a jewel if you
so desired.
Slave of gold, dont measure yourself by gold; it was your glance that turned it
into gold.
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
*****(67)*****
Mera rozey gul-e-afsordaeyi goft; namood-e-ma cho pervaaz-e-sharar ast.
Dilam ber mehnat naqsh aafrin sokht; keh naqsh-e-kalk-e-oo na-payidar ast.
[Eik dinn pazzmordah phhool ney mojh sey kaha; hamari zindagi sharar ki
pervaaz ki manind hai.
211
Khaliq ki mehnat per meyra dil jalta hai; keh oss kay qalam ka naqsh napaidar hai.]
One day a withered rose thus spoke to me: Our manifesting is a spark swift
blown.
My heart is anguished for the Artists pain; the painting of His brush fadeth so
soon! (Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(68)*****
Jahan-e-ma keh payaney nadaarad; cho maahi dar yam-e-ayam gharq ast.
Yakkey ber dil nazar wa-kon keh beini; yam-e-ayam dar yakk jaam gharq ast.
[Hamari dunya jiss ka koeyi kinarah naheen; zamaney kay samandar mein
machhli ki tarah gharq hai.
Laikan zara apney dil per nazar daal; zamaney ka samandar iss eik jaam mein
samaya hoa hai.]
Our infinite world of old Times ocean swallows it up (like fish).
Look once in thy heart, and behold Times ocean sunk in a cup.
(Translated by R.A. Nicholson)
*****(76)*****
Bapaaey khod mazun zinjir-e-taqdir; teh-e-ein gonbad-e-gardaan rehey hust.
Agar bawar nadaari khaiz-o-daryab; keh chon paa waa-koni jolaangehey
hust.
[Apney paon mein taqdir ki zinjeer nah pehan; iss gonbad-e-gardan (aasman)
sey nikalney ka rastah moujood hai.
212
Agar eitibar naheen tuo othh (koshish kar) aur oss rastey ko pa ley; jabb tou
qadam othhaey ga tuo (deikhhey ga) keh maidan moujood hai (Toufiq baandazah-e-himmat sey azal hai Ghalib).]
Set not the chain of Fate upon thy foot; there is a way beyond this rolling
sphere.
If thou believest not, rise up, and find thy foot uplifted leapeth in the air.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
*****(82)*****
Tou ay koodak manash khod ra adab kon; Mosilman zadaheyi tark-e-nasab
kon.
Barung-e-ahmar-o-khoon-o-rug-o-post; Arab naazad agar, tark-e-Arab kon.
[Teyri adat tiflanah hai, adab seikhh; tou Mosilman ki aulaad hai nasab (per
naaz karna) chhorr.
Agar Arab bhi apney sorkh rung, khoon aur rug-o-post per naaz karey, tou
ossey bhi nazar andaz kardey.]
Leave childishness, and learn a better lore; abandon race, if thee a Muslim bore.
If of his colour, blood, and veins and skin the Arab boasts an Arab he no
more! (Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(83)*****
Nah Afghanaim-o-ney
shakhsaaraim.
Turk-o-Tataraim;
chaman
zaadaim-o-az
yakk
213
[Nah hum Afghan hein, nah Turk, nah Tatari; hum chaman-zaad hein aur eik he
shakh sey hein.
Hum per rung-o-boo ki tamiz haraam hai; kiyuonkeh hamari pervarash eik
naubahar (Islam) sey hoeyi.]
We are not Afghans, Turks or Tartars: Offspring of the garden, we grew from
the same bough.
Distinctions of colour and scent are forbidden to us, for we are products of a
new spring.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
LINES ADDRESSED TO MUSTAFA KAMAL PASHA
Khatab beh Mustafa Kamal Pasha
1922
Asal-e-ma yakk sharar bakhtah rungey bood ast; nazarey kard keh khurshide-jahangir shodaim.
[Aap (S.A.W.) ki tashrif aawari sey pehelay hum iss sharar ki manind thhey jiss
ka rung orr choka ho; Aap (S.A.W.) ney hum per nigah daali tuo hum aaftab-ealam taab bun gaey.]
In origin we were nothing but a faint spark. He looked at us, and we became a
world-illuminating sun.
Noktah-e-ishq frau-shist z-dil-e-pir-e-Haram; dar jahan khwar beh andazahe-taqseer shodaim.
214
[(Magar baad mein jabb) Pir-e-Haram ney apney dil sey ishq ko noktah dho
dala (oss ka natijah yeh hoa keh) hum dunya mein apni iss taqseer kay motabiq
khwar ho gaey.]
The old man of the Harem wiped the imprint of Love from his heart, and we
were humbled in the world in keeping with our sins degree.
Baad-e-sehrast keh ba fitrat-e-ma dar saazad; az nafas-haey saba ghonchae-dilgir shodaim.
[Hamari fitrat ko baad-e-sehra raas aati hai (hum sehra chhorr kar baghon
mein aa-bassey tuo) humein baad-e-saba kay jhonkon ney ghonchah-e-dilgir
(maghmoom) bana diya.]
It is the desert wind that suits our natural make-up. The morning breezes breath
turned us into buds with constricted hearts.
Aah aan gholgholah kaz gonbad-e-aflaak gozasht; nalah gardid cho pabande-bum-o-zir shodaim.
[Aah hamara gholgholah gonbad-e-aflaak sey bhi oopar nikal gaya thha;
laikan jabb hum bum-o-zir (tamaddan ki rasoomat) kay pabund hoay tuo wohi
gholgholah fariyad bun gaya.]
O that tumultuous din of ours which once used to shoot up above the sky,
reduced to treble and bass, became a mere lament.
Ay bassa siad keh bey daam beh fitraak zadaim; dar baghal teer-o-kaman
koshtah-e-nakhchir shodaim.
[Eik waqt thha jabb hum ney baghair kissi jaal kay bohat sey shikar apney
fitraak mein baandh leay abb baghal mein teer-o-kaman rakhhtey hoay bhi
hum apney he shikar kay koshtah hein.]
How many quarries we once caught without nets and tied to our saddle straps!
But now, with bows and arrows under armpits, we ourselves became our
quarries prey.
215
Her koja rah dehad asp, ber aan taaz keh ma; bar-ha maat darein arsah
batadbir shodaim. Nazeeri.
[Jahan takk ghhorra pohnchta hai yalghar jaari rakhh; kiyuonkeh iss
maidan mein hum baarha tadbir sey maat khha chokay hein. Nazeeri.
(wasael kay nah honay ki pervah nah kar)]
Wherever you can find a way race your horse thither, for we have been outdone
many times on this maneuvering-ground.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
THE WINE REMAINING GHAZAL
*****(21)*****
Faraib-e-kashmakash-e-aql deidani daarad; keh mir-e-qaflah-o-zouq-erehzanni daarad.
[Aql ki kashmakash ka faraib deikhhney sey taaloq rakhhta hai; hai yeh ameerr-qaflah magar raahzani ka zouq rakhhti hai. (Zindagi ka masalah soljhaney ki
bajaey aur oljhati hai)]
The intellects deceitfulness is worthy of remark: It is the leader of the caravan,
yet fond of highway robbery.
Nishan-e-raah z-aql-e-hazar heelah mapors; biya keh ishq kamaley z-yakk
fanni daarad.
[Aql jo hazaron heilon ki maalik hai oss sey rastey ka pata nah poochh; ishq
ki taraf aa, jo (aql zuofanon kay moqabley mien) yakk funni mein kamal
rakhhta hai.]
Do not seek guidance from that jack-of-all-trades, intellect. Apply to Love, for it
is perfect in the only art it practices.
216
Farang garchih sakhon ba sitarah mogoeyad; hazr keh shaiwah-e-oo rung-ejozani daarad.
[Agarchih ehl-e-Farang sitaron sey baatein kartey hein; magar onn sey bachh
kiyuonkeh onn kay andaz mein saaheri ka rung hai.]
Although the West converses with the stars, beware, there is in all it does a taint
of sorcery.
Z-murg-o-zeist chih porsi darein rabaat-e-kohan; keh zeist kaahish-e-jan
murg-e-jankoni daarad.
[Iss porani caravan sara (dunya) ki mout-o-hayat kay barah mein kaya
poochhta hai; yahan ki zindagi ghhot ghhot kay murna hai aur mout mein
jankani.]
What can I say concerning life and death? For in this ancient inn life is slow
death, and death lifes final agony.
Sar-e-mazar-e-shaheedan yakkey anaan dar kash; keh bey zobani-e-ma harfe-goftani daarad.
[Shaheedon kay mazar per zara apna ghhorra khhainch (rokk jaa)) hamari bey
zobani ki baatein bhi sonnaney kay qabil hein.]
Pull up your horse sometimes at the graves of us martyrs; our silence has
something to say.
Digar dadasht-e-Arab khaimah-zun keh bazam-e-Ajam; maey gozashtah-ojaam shakastani daarad.
[Eik bar pher Arab kay sehra mein khaimah laga kiyuonkeh Ajam ki bazm
mein; bey asar sharab aur toota hoa jaam hai.]
Pitch your tent in the desert of Arabia again, for Persia is convivial company,
which has stale wine and breakable wine-cups.
217
TRIFLES
Khordah
*****(6)*****
Sakhon-go tiflak-o-barna-o-pir ast; sakhon ra saaley-o-maahey nabashad.
[Bachah, jawan aur boorrha sabb baat kartey hein; sakhon kay leay meh-o-saal
(omar) ki koeyi qiad naheen.]
The poet is child, youth and old man all in one; distinctions of age are unknown
to poetry.
*****(7)*****
Chash ra bienaeyi afzaeyad seh cheez; sabzah-o-aab-e-rawan-o-rooey khosh.
klbad, ra farbahi mi-aawurd; jamah-e-qazz jan-e-bey ghum, booey khosh.
[Teen cheezein beinaeyi mein azafah karti hein; sabzah, aab-e-rawan aur
khoobsurat chihrah.
Badan ko (bhi teen cheezein) farbah karti hein; raishmi kaprra, bey fikri aur
khoshboo.]
Three things make your vision better: Greenery, running water and fair faces.
Three things tend to make you fatter: Silk robes, good smells and a carefree
heart.
218
Ay brathar mun tera az zindagi daadam nishan; khwab ra murg-e-sobak daan
murg ra khwab-e-garan.
[Ay braather! Mien tojhey zindagi ka raaz batata hon; neind ko sobak mout
samajh aur mout ko khwab-e-garan.]
Of Life, O brother, I give thee a token to hold and keep; sleep is a lighter death,
and Death a heavier sleep.
(Translated by R.A. Nicholson)
*****(9)*****
Taqat ofov dar tou neist agar; khaiz-o-ba doshmanaan dar aabah sataiz.
Seinah ra kaarga-e-keinah saaz; sar keh dar angabin khwaish maraiz.
[Agar tojh mein moaf kar deyney ka hoslah naheen; tuo othh aur doshmanon
sey bersar-e-paikar ho.
Magar apney seinay ko keinay ki kaargah (factory) nah bana; (apni zindagi
kay) shehad mein sirkah nah mila.]
If you do not possess the power to forgive, go; get to grips with those who have
wronged you.
Do not nurse hatred in your heart. O do not make your honey sour by mixing
vinegar with it.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
*****(13)*****
219
Mazun-o-sammah ber raish-o-aabrooey khwaish; jawaney z-dozbeidan saal
neist.
[Apni raish aur abroo per wasmah nah laga; saal chora kar jawani qaim
naheen rakhhi ja sakti.]
Do not apply a hair-dye to your eyebrows and your beard, for you cannot get
back your youth by stealing years from time.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
*****(16)*****
Chih khwaish boodey agar mard-e-nikoey; z-bund baastan azad raftey.
Agar taqlid boodey shaiwah-e-khoob; payamber hum reh-e-ijdaad raftey.
[Kaya achha hota keh agar naik-khoo mard; gozarey hoay lougon kay
bundhanon sey azad reh kar zindagi basar karta.
Agar taqlid achhi baat hoti; tuo hamarey Rasool-e-Pak (S.A.W.) bhi aba-oijdaad ka rastah ikhtiyar kartey.]
How nice a thing it were if every traveler who wants to travel far and fast could
go free from the trammels of the past.
If blind conformity were good, the Prophet himself would have gone the way of
Arabs in an earlier day.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
GHAZAL
This ghazal has been taken from Part Two of Allamah Iqbals book titled
Zabur-e-Ajam.
*****(21)*****
220
Baaz ber raftah-o-aeindah nazar bayad kard; hallah ber khaiz keh
andaishah digar bayad kard.
[Apney maazi-o-mostaqbil per dobarah nazar daalni chahiay; khabardar
oothh dobarah ghor-o-fikr karna chahiay.]
Sleeper, rise thou up, and fast! Once again upon the past and the future fix thy
gaze; Thou must think on other ways.
Ishq ber naqah-e-ayyam kashad mehmal-e-khwaish; aashiqi? Rahilah az
shaam-o-sehar bayad kard.
[Ishq naqah-e-ayyam per apna mehmal bandhta hai; agar tou aashiq hai tuo
tojhey shaam-o-sehar per sawari karni chahiay (ayyam ka markib naheen,
raakib hai qalandar).]
Love hath laid his heavy load on Times saddle to the road: Art thou lover? In
thy need eve and dawn must be thy steed.
Pir-e-ma goft ber rawashey mohkam neist; az khosh-o-nakhosh oo qataa
nazar bayad kard.
[Hamarey ustaad ney humein samjhaya keh jahan eik rawash per qaim naheen
rehta; oss ki pasand-o-na-pasand ko nazar andaz karna chahiay.]
Elder said, This world below in no certain gait doth go; we must close our
eyes, nor care what is foul herein, or fair.
Tou agar tark-e-jahan kardah sar-e-oo daari; pus nakhastin z-sar-e-khwaish
gozar bayad kard.
[Agar tou sirf tark-e-jahan kay zariay oss takk pohnchna chahta hai tuo yeh
naakafi hai; pehley tojhey apney sar ki qorbani deyna parrey gee.]
If, the world being wholly spurned, unto Him thy mind is turned, first of all the
things to do is thy own life to forgo.
Goftamash dar dil-e-mun Laat-o-Manat ast bassey; goft ein bottkadah ra ziro-zabar bayad kard.
221
[Mien ney oss sey kaha keh meyrey dil mein bohat sey Laat-o-Manat bassey
hoay hein; oss ney kaha oss bottkaday ko teh-o-bala karna hoga.]
Ah, within my heart, said I, yet unbroken idols lie: Then this temple,
answered he, must be shattered utterly! (Translated by A.J. Arberry)
13th August, 2013
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
The military regime of General Sisi in Egypt had been telling the
protesters camping in Cairo University and Rabaa al-Adawiya to disperse, but
they kept demanding reinstatement of Mohamed Mursi, who was
democratically elected only a year ago. Diplomats of Europe and America,
Catherine Ashton and William Burns visited Egypt to ask Brotherhood to come
to terms with the military coup, but the visitors also failed in convincing the
protesters.
The military dictator decided to launch crackdown against protesters,
but differences within his hand-picked interim government caused delay. At last
the will of the General prevailed primarily because he enjoyed the support of
the civilized world. He ordered uprooting of six-week long sit-in camps of
Islamists by force.
On 14th August the brute force was unleashed against peaceful
protesters. On the first day of operation, according to official estimates, about
six hundred people were killed and at least 1500 were wounded. Brotherhood
sources put the death toll more than two thousand and about the same number
were injured. After a days lull, more than hundred people were killed on Friday
and Saturday each.
The police-led and Army-backed operation received wide media
coverage in the civilized world. Western media covering the operation live
however kept blaming Islamists for refusing peaceful resolution of differences.
Media frequently repeated a line that the Sisi-installed government has at last
222
concluded that enough is enough; indirectly saying that all the nonsense came
from Islamists belonging to Muslim Brotherhood.
Meanwhile, the low profile coverage of events in Syria continued as per
the revised strategy of the West. The change was because of the apprehensions
that al-Qaeda-backed jihadis could emerge as a stronger force after toppling of
Bashar al-Assad regime. In its neighbourhood, Iraq kept bleeding ever more
profusely. Elsewhere it was business went on as usual.
NEWS
Far East
Philippines: On 5th August, a bomb exploded at the centre of the southern
Philippines city of Cotabato, killing six people and wounding 26 others. The
explosive device was placed in a vehicle parked near a hospital and a school
during the afternoon rush hour. No group has claimed responsibility for the
attack, and Balquin said the motive was still being investigated.
Indonesia: On 5th August, a bomb that exploded at a Buddhist temple in
the Indonesian capital Jakarta bore the words we are responding to the screams
of the Rohingyas. It appeared to be the latest outburst of anger in Muslimmajority Indonesia at the plight of Rohingya Muslims, who have been fleeing
from sectarian violence in Myanmar, where most of the population is Buddhist.
Myanmar: On 13th August, the United Nations called for dialogue after
another violent clash in a camp for dispossessed Rohingya Muslims in western
Myanmar, as its human rights envoy toured the strife-torn area. UNHCR is
reiterating its call for peaceful dialogue and confidence-building between the
(internally displaced persons) and government. We believe this is key to
avoiding further violence, spokesman Adrian Edwards said in Geneva.
Bangladesh: On 1st August, amid tight security outside the court in
central Dhaka, a panel of judges ruled in favour of a long-running petition
which argued that Jamaat-e-Islami should never have been allowed to register as
a political party. It (Jamaats registration) is hereby declared illegal, said
Moazzem Hossain, the senior judge hearing the case, reading out the brief
verdict. The election commission said the ruling meant Jamaat could not stand
in a general election scheduled for January.
Jamaats lawyers immediately appealed the verdict, as party activists took
to the streets of Dhaka and some dozen towns and cities elsewhere in the
country, blocking roads and attacking vehicles. In Bogra, scores of Jamaat
supporters burnt a bus and damaged several cars.
On 13th August, Bangladesh police fired rubber bullets and tear gas at
supporters of the countrys largest Islamist party as they protested against a ban
223
Mainland Asia
China: On 12th August, a court in China sentenced two men to death over
violent unrest in the ethnically divided western region of Xinjiang that left 21
people dead. China blamed the April 23 violence on terrorists, a charge rights
groups say is often used to justify the authorities' use of force against members
of the mostly Muslim Uighur minority.
224
Middle East
Iraq: On 28th July, a suicide bomber killed nine Kurdish police in
northern Iraq. The bomber detonated an explosives-rigged vehicle near a police
convoy in the town of Tuz Khurmatu in Salaheddin Province, also wounding
nine officers. The town is part of a swathe of northern territory that Iraqi Kurds
want to incorporate into their three-province autonomous region.
Security forces, meanwhile, began a major operation in Diyala,
Salaheddin and Kirkuk provinces, aimed at tracking down those behind
bombings and assassinations during the holy month of Ramadan. All three
provinces have been hit by frequent attacks, including in recent weeks.
In Baghdad, a magnetic sticky bomb on a bus killed two people and
wounded eight, while an employee of the Southern Oil Company was shot dead
in Basra province in the countrys south, officials said. With the latest unrest,
more than 730 people have been killed in July, making it the deadliest month in
the year.
Next day, car bombs across Iraq killed at least 60 people. The 17 blasts,
which appeared to be coordinated, were concentrated on towns and cities in
Iraq's mainly Shi'ite south, and districts of the capital where Shi'ites live. The
violence has raised fears of a return to full-blown inter-communal conflict in a
country where ethnic Kurds, majority Shi'ites and Sunni Muslims have yet to
find a stable way of sharing power.
The blasts occurred in Kut, Mahmoudiya, Samawa and the rest of
bombings took place across Baghdad, in the districts of Habibiya, Hurriya,
Bayaa, Ur, Shurta, Kadhimiya, Risala, Tobchi and Abu Dsheer. Attacks
underscored deteriorating security in Iraq, where nearly 4,000 people have been
killed since the start of the year, said violence monitoring group Iraq Body
Count. In July, more than 810 people have been killed in militant attacks.
On 1st August, it was reported that violence killed around one thousand
people in July, making it Iraqs deadliest month since 2008 when the country
was emerging from a bloody sectarian conflict. More than 1,350 civilians were
wounded in attacks, according to the figures compiled by the health, interior and
defence ministries. On 3rd August, gunmen shot dead a woman and her two
daughters near Baquba and a roadside bomb in Baghdad killed a man and his
son as nine died in other attacks.
225
On 4th August, attacks in Iraq killed six people, including three soldiers
and a judge. Militants opposed to the Iraqi government frequently attack
security forces and other government employees with both bombs and gunfire.
The soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb that exploded near their patrol in
the northern province of Nineveh.
On 6th August, a series of apparently coordinated bombings across
Baghdad killed at least 32 people and wounded more than 100. The spate of car
and roadside bombs struck the capital just before Iraqis broke their daytime
Ramadan fasting. At least seven car bombs and several roadside bombs hit a
variety of targets including shops and a market, in Sunni and Shia districts as
well as confessionally mixed neighbourhoods.
In Fallujah, west of the capital, gunmen armed with automatic weapons
killed a policeman, while a bombing at a housing complex near Khanaqin,
northeast of Baghdad, killed two people and wounded four. Security forces also
killed two militants driving explosives-laden vehicles in restive Diyala
province, north of Baghdad.
On 11th August, at least 74 people were killed more than 320 were
wounded in attacks came just weeks after assaults on prisons near Baghdad.
Iraqis voiced frustration with the government and security forces for failing to
prevent the 16 car bombings and other attacks which killed 74 people, 47 of
them in Baghdad late yesterday.
The United States condemned the perpetrators of deadly attacks in Iraq as
enemies of Islam, in an unusually detailed statement following the latest
violence in the war-ravaged country. The State Department said the car bombs
that tore through Baghdad cafes and markets, as well as other blasts and
shootings elsewhere, were cowardly attacks aimed at families celebrating the
Eid holidays.
A senior United Nations envoy expressed shock and outrage at a series of
coordinated bombings that targeted shopping areas and parks in Baghdad and
other parts of Iraq as people were celebrating the end of the holy month of
Ramadan. This carnage reflects the inhuman character of its perpetrators, said
the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq.
Next day, bombers killed 24 people in Iraq, 16 of them in a suicide attack
on a cafe north of Baghdad. The other bombings hit a football field and a
market. This Ramadan, which ended last week, was one of the deadliest for Iraq
in years, with more than 800 people killed in attacks.
On 13th August, attacks in Iraq killed 13 people, four of them Shia
worshippers, while militants bombed a major oil pipeline, halting exports via
Turkey. Security forces launched major operations against militants in recent
weeks that are said to have resulted in scores of arrests, including 12 people
226
227
228
was sure of victory. Yet hours after he spoke, his forces were hit hard in the
still-contested city of Homs when suspected rebel rockets hit an ammunition
dump, killing at least 40 people and wounding scores.
Senior opposition figure Burhan Ghalioun expressed his disgust at
Assads remarks. It is repulsive that he speaks of victory after he destroyed his
country, killed tens of thousands and forced into exile half the population, after
a period of two and a half years. Prime Minister Wael al-Halqi said that the
government was in favour of a proposed Geneva peace conference but could not
sit down with terrorists.
Next day, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay urged
an independent investigation into whether war crimes had been committed when
armed opposition groups in Syria allegedly executed dozens of captured
Government soldiers in the northern province of Aleppo last month. Opposition
forces in Khan Al-Assal purportedly filmed and posted on the internet between
22 and 26 July a series of videos, one apparently showing Government soldiers
being ordered to lie on the ground. Another video shows several bodies
scattered along a wall and a number of bodies at an adjacent site.
The events in Khan Al-Assal are further evidence that flagrant violations
of international humanitarian and human rights law committed by all parties
have tragically become the norm in the Syrian conflict, stressed Ms. Pillay.
Opposition forces should not think they are immune from prosecution. They
must adhere to their responsibilities under international law, Pillay said.
On 3rd August, rebels captured an arms and ammunition dump in the
Qalamun area near Damascus. In the north, fighting between Kurds and
jihadists raged as the main opposition National Coalition called on armed
groups there to exercise restraint. In Damascus, fighting was reported in the
flashpoint southern belt, as loyalist forces pressed a months-long bid to dislodge
rebels from the citys outskirts. Elsewhere, the army shelled rebel-held areas of
the central city of Homs, focusing on the neighbourhoods of Juret al-Shiyah and
Qussur.
Meanwhile, a Turkish man was killed by a stray bullet fired across the
border from Syria into the Turkish town of Ceylanpinar. Ramazan was the
fourth Turkish citizen to be killed by stray shells and bullets fired during clashes
in the neighbouring Syrian town of Ras al-Ain.
Next day, Syrian President issued a decree banning the use of foreign
currency in commercial transactions. The US dollar is the preferred foreign
currency in Syria where the lira has lost three quarters of its value against the
greenback since the outbreak of the anti-regime uprising. At the start of the
conflict in March 2011 one dollar fetched 50 liras, while a dollar today is worth
more than 200 liras.
229
On 5th August, Human Rights Watch said that the missiles used by the
Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad are killing many civilians, including
children. The group claimed investigating nine missile strikes that killed at least
215 people in six months. Among those killed in nine attacks from February to
July, 100 were children.
Next day, rebels seized Minnigh air base in Aleppo province in a new
advance after they overran villages in Latakia province, heartland of President
Bashar al-Assads Alawite sect. State television said the airport in question was
empty of all military apparatus and planes.
The rebel successes came after a string of battlefield setbacks in recent
months at the hands of regime forces in the central city of Homs and the nearby
town of Qusayr. This would presage a possible division of Syria into rebel and
regime-held areas, while the Kurds are trying to set up an autonomous area in
parts of the north.
The victory again underlines the leading strategic impact being played
by militant Islamists, particularly in northern Syria, said London-based Charles
Lister of IHS Janes Terrorism and Insurgency Centre. Lister described the
bases capture as a morale boost for jihadists and for rebels as a whole.
Army shelling of a market in Aleppo citys opposition-held Sukkari
neighbourhood killed at least five people, including two children. These were
revenge attacks... The only means the regime has at its disposal is the shelling of
civilian targets from far away, said Yehya Naanaa, who heads Aleppo
provinces opposition council.
Elsewhere, at least 13 fighters of Al-Nusra Front, another al-Qaeda
affiliated rebel group, were killed in a counter-attack on an arms depot seized by
rebels two days ago in Qalamun near Damascus. Meanwhile, Rome said that
Father Paolo DallOglio, an Italian Jesuit who had hoped to negotiate with the
jihadists, has apparently been kidnapped in Syria.
A Syrian security source said Al-Nusras chief for Damascus and two
deputies had been arrested over attacks in the capital, including one that killed
five people and wounded Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim al-Shaar and 23
other people in December. And the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said
Syrians who flee their country face recruitment as child soldiers, sexual
violence and exploitation for labour, with lawlessness in camps driving exiles
home.
On 7th August, government forces killed at least 62 insurgents in an
ambush near Damascus. The regimes military said those killed were members
of the jihadist Al-Nusra Front. Meanwhile, rights group Amnesty issued a report
saying entire neighbourhoods of the northern city of Aleppo have been flattened
230
over the past year, with residents bombed from the air and abused on the
ground.
Next day, rebels said they targeted President Bashar al-Assads motorcade
heading to a Damascus mosque to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr, but
state television showed him unharmed and the government denied he had been
attacked. The Tahrir al-Sham rebel brigade, a unit of the Free Syrian Army, said
it fired several artillery shells towards Assads convoy in the heart of the capital
and that at least some hit their target.
On 12th August, it was reported that nearly 60 Syrian soldiers and
jihadists were killed in three days of fighting in Deir Ezzor, the largest city in
eastern Syria, where rebels have made advances. At least 33 fighters of the alQaeda-affiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and Al-Nusra Front were
killed since August 10. Syria's state news agency said the army had killed
terrorists in the Senaa neighbourhood and other terrorists were killed when a car
they rigged with explosives detonated.
Next day, a statement said that opposition activists, including National
Coalition members, have prepared a roadmap to achieve national reconciliation
and justice for all of Syrias victims. It comes amid reports of abuses carried
out by both regime forces and rebel fighters in Syrias conflict.
The proposals also call for disarming and restructuring Syrian security
forces to uproot corrupt officials. All armed groups will be disarmed,
demobilized and reintegrated into Syrian society. The roadmap also lays out
plans for the countrys political system after the fall of the Syrian regime,
calling for a hybrid presidential/parliamentary system.
The group behind the proposal, Syrian Expert House, includes some 300
activists, lawyers and members of the opposition National Coalition and Syrian
National Council. Defected government officials and rebel commanders also
participated in the drafting process. The document was being released as
fighting continued on the ground in Syria, with fierce battles in eastern Deir
Ezzor and coastal Latakia.
On 15th August, the government said it has nothing to hide from a UN
team of chemical weapons inspectors that it expects to visit the war-ravaged
country in the coming days. The announcement comes a day after the United
Nations said a team of inspectors led by Swedish arms expert Ake Sellstroem
would soon depart for Syria after getting the green light from Damascus.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman said the team would
investigate the sites of alleged chemical weapons attacks for two weeks. The
mission has been delayed in the past over differences with President Bashar alAssad's regime over the scope of the probe into the alleged use of chemical
arms in the country's civil war.
231
232
the conflict in March 2011. At least 182 people were killed across Syria
yesterday.
Lebanon: On 7th August, four Israeli soldiers on patrol were wounded in
a blast 400 metres inside Lebanese territory. An AFP correspondent at the scene
and a Lebanese army officer said two separate explosions had taken place, but
Israel and Lebanon had yet to confirm this detail. An infantry patrol of the
Israeli enemy penetrated 400 metres inside Lebanon, the army said.
On 15th August, a powerful car bomb struck the southern Beirut
stronghold of Hezbollah group, killing 20 people, wounding 120 and trapping
many others inside damaged buildings. The blast came amid sectarian tensions
over the intervention of Hezbollah against Sunni rebels in Syria's civil war. A
Sunni Islamist group calling itself the Brigades of Aisha claimed responsibility
for the attack and promised more operations against Hezbollah.
Next day, Lebanon observed a day of mourning a car bomb in Beirut
stronghold of Shiite group Hezbollah. A previously unknown group, apparently
a Syrian rebel cell, said it carried out the attack in the densely populated
southern suburbs of Beirut. Police said the death toll had climbed to at least 22,
while the Red Cross said 325 people were wounded.
Leaders from across the political spectrum condemned the bombing.
President Michel Sleiman said the terrorist bombing targeted all Lebanese, not
just Hezbollah. Former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, a staunch critic of
Hezbollah, said the attack was part of a vicious terrorist scheme targeting
Lebanon. UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged Lebanons fractious political scene to
stay united, in a statement that condemned the bombing as completely
unacceptable.
Bahrain: On 16th August, protesters calling for the overthrow of
Bahrain's ruling Sunni monarchy clashed with police across several Shiite
villages overnight. "Down with Hamad," hundreds chanted of King Hamad
whose family has ruled the kingdom for decades. The protesters hurled stones
and petrol bombs at policemen who responded by firing buckshot, tear gas, and
sound grenades.
Saudi Arabia: On 29th July, a Saudi court sentenced a rights activist to
seven years in jail and 600 lashes for setting up a liberal network and alleged
insults to Islam. The judge ordered the closure of the website of the Saudi
Liberal Network. He said Badawi, a co-founder of the Saudi Liberal Network,
was charged with criticizing the religious police, as well as calling for religious
liberalization.
On 4th August, Saudi Arabia denied permission for a plane carrying
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to cross its airspace for the swearing-in of
the new Iranian president. The aircraft had to turn back. Ahmed said Bashir was
233
not flying in his normal presidential aircraft but was using a plane rented from a
Saudi company. Saudi Arabia, a Sunni Muslim kingdom, has repeatedly voiced
fears about the controversial nuclear programme of Shiite-dominated Iran,
whose warships twice docked in Sudan late last year.
Yemen: On 28th July, an apparent US drone strike killed six suspected alQaeda militants overnight. The six suspects were traveling in a two-vehicle
convoy in Mahfad in the southern province of Abyan, much of which was held
by the jihadists before an army counter-offensive last year. The United States
has stepped up its support for Yemen's battle against AQAP, which it regards as
the most active and deadliest branch of the worldwide al-Qaeda network.
On 30th July, a US drone strike killed three suspected al-Qaeda militants
in Shabwa, a southern province of Yemen at dawn in the second such attack in
three days. The car in which the three were traveling two Yemenis and a Saudi
was blown to pieces and all of them were killed outright.
On 1st August, a US drone killed four al-Qaeda suspects in Yemen, the
third such strike in five days as the Yemeni president prepared for White House
talks. The United States, the only country to operate drones in the region, has
increased its use of them against al-Qaeda targets in Yemen over the past two
years.
On 7th August, a US drone strike killed seven al-Qaeda suspects in
Yemens southern Shabwa Province amid fears of an imminent attack by the
networks deadly franchise. The drone destroyed two vehicles in the town of
Nasab. The raid is the fifth of its kind since July 28 and brings to 24 the number
of suspects killed since then.
Yemeni authorities have foiled an al-Qaeda plot to seize control of two
cities and an oil export terminal and to kidnap foreigners, a government
spokesman claimed. The main aim of the plot was to seize control of two cities,
Al-Mukalla and Ghayl Bawazeer in the southeast, he told AFP, adding that oil
export facilities near Mukalla were also to be targeted. Foreigners working at
the terminal were to be kidnapped as well.
Next day, a drone strike in Yemen killed six al-Qaeda members, a day
after Sanaa reported it had foiled a militant plot to storm a Western-run oil
terminal. The dawn attack, presumed to have been launched by an American
drone, was the sixth of its kind since the end of July. It targeted two cars bearing
members of al-Qaeda in the Maarib region east of the capital.
On 11th August, an attack by al-Qaeda elements at a gas export terminal
in Yemen killed five soldiers, a military source said, as Washington kept its
embassy in Sanaa closed. The attackers arrived in a car at the army checkpoint
near the Balhaf terminal and opened fire with automatic weapons at soldiers
belonged to an army unit responsible for security at the terminal.
234
Africa
Nigeria: On 30th July, the death toll from a series of yesterdays bombings
in a mainly Christian area of the northern Nigerian city of Kano rose to 24. The
military blamed the attack on suspected members of extremist group Boko
Haram and said packages that caused the explosions were left in the area.
Nigerias military has been waging a sweeping offensive in the countrys
northeast in a bid to end Boko Harams four-year insurgency.
On 5th August, at least 35 people were killed in two separate gun battles
between Nigerian security forces and Islamist sect Boko Haram in northeast
Borno state. Boko Haram, which wants to impose sharia law in Nigeria's north,
and other spin-off Islamist groups have become the biggest threats to stability in
Africa's top oil exporter. Nigeria began last week withdrawing some of its 1,200
troops from Mali to support security operations at home.
On 13th August, suspected extremists stormed a mosque and shot dead 44
worshippers as well as 12 other people in a village in Nigerias restive northeast.
The attacks at the weekend were believed to be in revenge over citizen vigilante
groups formed to help the military battle extremist group Boko Haram, which
has been waging an insurgency since 2009.
Suspected Boko Haram members also raided Ngom village in the nearby
Mafa district and shot dead 12 people on August 10. Some residents spoke of
the attackers in Konduga arriving wearing army camouflage, a tactic they have
used in the past to disguise themselves, though those details had not been
confirmed.
Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed a series of recent deadly attacks
on security forces in the northeast and insisted that he was in good health
despite the offensive. Shekau also referred to fighting in the towns Baga and
Gamboru Ngala near the border with Cameroon. The Boko Haram leader has
been declared a global terrorist by the United States, which in March put a $7
million (5.3 million euros) bounty on his head.
Tunisia: On 29th July, Islamist-led government discussed ways to ease
political tensions at an emergency meeting as protests mounted demanding its
ouster and police clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators in Sidi Bouzid.
Tensions have frayed across Tunisia, particularly in Sidi Bouzid, cradle of the
2011 Arab Spring popular uprising that toppled strongman Zine El Abidine Ben
Ali, and home town of an anti-Islamist MP who was assassinated last week.
Mohamed Brahmi was the second opposition politician killed.
Next day, Tunisia mourned eight soldiers slain by militants as appeals for
unity from the Islamist-led government and the calling of a general election for
December failed to quell violent protests. As pressure mounted for the
government to resign, Interior Minister Lotfi Ben Jeddou said he considered
235
stepping down but would stay put until the formation of a unity government
capable of tackling political tensions and unrest.
The soldiers were found yesterday, their throats slit after they were
ambushed by an armed group in Mount Chaambi near the Algerian border
where the army has been tracking al-Qaeda militants. Their brutal killing
triggered protests in the nearby eastern city of Kasserine, where demonstrators
ransacked the local office of the ruling moderate Islamist Ennahda party.
On 7th August, the Islamist party heading Tunisias coalition said it
accepted a decision to suspend the work of the National Constituent Assembly,
and urged talks to form a national unity government. Ennahda party chief
Rached Ghannouchi said in a statement he hoped the ACNs suspension would
have a beneficial outcome. Speaker Mustapha Ben Jaafar had said yesterday
that the ACN would stop work until the government and opposition opened
negotiations to break the political deadlock in the service of Tunisia.
Le Quotidien, which is highly critical of Ennahda, said everyone is
unanimous as to the seriousness of the situation and urged the party to make
real concessions. The hour of compromise has come, it said. Analysts say the
moment of truth has also arrived. No party, including Ennahda, can ignore the
position of the UGTT (Tunisian General Labour Union)... Ennahda cannot carry
on without taking on board the fact that the (economic and social) forces in the
country do not agree with it, said political scientist Slaheddine Jourchi.
The powerful half-million strong UGTT has organized a general strike to
try to force the governments hand. In addition to the political instability,
Tunisian security forces have lost 10 soldiers since July 29 and have intensified
an operation to hunt down Islamist militants holed up in the remote Mount
Chaambi region along the Algerian border.
On 14th August, Nigerias military said it had killed the second-incommand of Islamist group Boko Haram while repelling an insurgent attack
earlier this month. There had been a bounty of 25 million naira ($156,000,
117,000 euros) on the head of Momodu Bama. He was killed in the town of
Bama in northeastern Borno, Boko Harams traditional stronghold, it added.
Libya: On 1st August, a former minister in the government of Muammar
Gaddafi was sentenced to death for inciting violence against protesters during
the uprising that led to Gaddafi 's overthrow in 2011. In the first such ruling
against a Gaddafi-era official, a court in Misrata found Ahmed Ibrahim guilty of
undermining national security and plotting the killing of civilians. He said
Libya's Supreme Court would have to confirm the ruling for the death penalty to
be implemented.
Egypt: On 28th July, thousands of supporters of Egypt's Muslim
Brotherhood stood their ground in Cairo, saying they would not leave the streets
236
237
Brotherhood. The group has insisted that it will not accept any solution to the
crisis that does not involve Mursis return to office.
In its first comments on the bloodshed, Egypts interim presidency said
on Sunday that it was saddened, but dubbed the protest area where the deaths
occurred a terror-originating spot. In the Sinai Peninsula, where security has
deteriorated rapidly since the 2011 uprising, an attack on a military post in
Rafah near the border with Gaza killed one soldier and wounded eight
overnight.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his profound concern
about the direction in which the transition in Egypt is moving. In a telephone
call with Interim Vice President ElBaradei, Ban called on the interim authorities
to assume full responsibility for the peaceful management of the demonstrations
and to ensure the protection of all Egyptians, regardless of party affiliation.
On 30th July, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton met Egypts
ousted Islamist president, saying he was well, but the countrys political crisis
seemed no closer to resolution despite her efforts. Neither the interim
government nor supporters of deposed president Mohamed Mursi showed any
indication that they had shifted their positions after talks with Ashton, who left
Cairo. Mursi loyalists continued to rally throughout the day, despite stern
warnings from the military and National Defence Council.
On 1st August, Egypts interior ministry promised Mohamed Mursis
supporters safe exit if they quickly leave their Cairo protest camps, as police
prepared to disperse them amid international appeals for restraint. The call to
disperse, which came after police commanders discussed how to carry out
orders from the military-installed interim government to end the protests, was
immediately rejected by the demonstrators.
Diplomatic efforts to avoid further bloodshed picked up pace, with EU
Middle East envoy Bernardino Leon and German Foreign Minister Guido
Westerwelle both arriving in Cairo to urge the rival camps to find common
ground. The German foreign minister urged both sides to remain peaceful and
seek an inclusive solution.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State John Kerry said the Egyptian army,
which deposed President Mohamed Mursi, had intervened at the request of
millions to protect democracy and had restored it. Kerry made the remarks in an
interview in Pakistan when he was asked why the United States had not taken a
clear position on military intervention against Mursis democratically elected
government.
Next day, Islamist backers of Mursi staged defiant rallies, with police
firing tear gas at demonstrators, after the government ordered their protest
camps to be broken up. The new marches came after US Secretary of State John
238
Kerry angered Mursi loyalists by saying said Egypts military had been
restoring democracy when it deposed the Islamist leader.
Protesters tore up the pavement to make barriers as police in armoured
vehicles fired barrages of tear gas. I am a Muslim, not a terrorist,
demonstrators chanted. The Anti-Coup Alliance of groups calling for Mursis
reinstatement said it planned to make Alf Maskan a new sit-in site. It also
announced evening marches to four security buildings in Cairo, including two
army headquarters.
On 3rd August, al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, himself an Egyptian,
in his first public comment on the July 3 military coup said: Crusaders and
secularists and the Americanized army have converged...with Gulf money and
American plotting to topple Mohamed Mursis government. Zawahiri also
accused Egypts Coptic Christian minority of supporting the Islamist presidents
ouster to attain a Coptic state stripped from Egypts south.
Zawahiri attacked Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei, the Nobel
Laureate and former UN nuclear watchdog chief who was an opposition leader
during Mursis single year in office. ElBaradei is the envoy of American
providence, Zawahiri said, labeling him as the destroyer of Iraq.
John Kerry appeared to try to distance himself from comments he made
that were seen as endorsing the Egyptian militarys overthrow of a civilian ruler.
During a visit to Pakistan, Kerry had told a television interviewer that Egyptian
forces had acted to restore democracy in ousting the elected leader. This
infuriated Mursis supporters in Egypts Muslim Brotherhood, and undermined
previous US attempts to appear neutral in the dispute.
General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi criticized the United States of disregarding
the Egyptian popular will and of providing insufficient support amid threats of a
civil war. You left the Egyptians. You turned your back on the Egyptians, and
they wont forget that, he said in his first interview to an American newspaper.
The US administration has a lot of leverage and influence with the
Muslim Brotherhood, and Id really like the US administration to use this
leverage with them to resolve the conflict, Sisi said. Asked if he intends to run
for president, as previous military leaders have done, Sisi suggested he will not,
saying he doesnt aspire for authority. But when pressed, he stopped short of
ruling out the possibility.
The most important achievement in my life is to overcome this
circumstance, [to ensure] that we live peacefully, to go on with our roadmap and
to be able to conduct the coming elections without shedding one drop of
Egyptian blood, he said, before adding, When the people love you, this is the
most important thing for me.
239
Next day, Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi met with several
representatives of the Islamist movements... and stressed that there are
opportunities for a peaceful solution to the crisis provided all sides reject
violence, army spokesman said in a statement. Among those attending the talks
with Sisi were influential Salafist clerics Sheikh Mohammed Hassan and
Mohammed Abdel Salam, who just days ago addressed pro-Mursi supporters
from the stage at the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in.
The Islamists who met Sisi, while not members of the Muslim
Brotherhood, have been supporting them at the Rabaa al-Adawiya sit-in.
Hopefully, the Brotherhood will listen to what they have to say to find a way out
of the crisis, a source close to the talks said. Sisi's meetings come after days of
intense diplomatic activity that saw visits by US Deputy Secretary of State
William Burns, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and an African Union
delegation lead by former Mali president Alpha Oumar Konare.
Meanwhile, an Egyptian court set an August 25 trial date for the Muslim
Brotherhood chief, his two deputies and three other group members for their
alleged involvement in protesters' deaths. Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie,
who is currently in hiding, and his two deputies Khairat al-Shater and Rashad
Bayoumi who are being held in Cairo's Tora prison, are accused of inciting
violence against protesters outside the Islamist group's headquarters on June 30.
Tensions have spiked over a looming police bid to dismantle the proMursi sit-ins. But Fahmy insisted authorities have no desire to use force if there
is any other avenue that has not been exhausted. There is an open invitation
for all political forces to participate. The door is open for everybody, including
the Brotherhood, to participate in the process, he told reporters.
Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei hinted at the possibility of a safe
exit for Muslim Brotherhood leaders, including ousted President Mohamed
Mursi, as long as they are not implicated in serious crimes. His comments, in
an interview with the Washington Post, were published as Mursi supporters held
fresh rallies in Cairo in defiance of a government order to disband their protests.
Egyptian authorities banned Yemeni rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize
winner Tawakkol Karman from entering the country for security reasons.
Karman was held at Cairo Airport on arrival and ordered to return on the flight
back to Yemen. The first Arab woman to win the Nobel peace prize has voiced
support for loyalists of deposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi and
described his ouster by the military in July as undemocratic. Mursi supporters
said in a statement that Karman had been due to make an appearance at a Cairo
sit-in where backers of Mursi have rallied for more than a month.
The Anti-Coup Alliance said Vice President Mohamed ElBaradei, also a
Nobel laureate, is to be held responsible for banning activists and Nobel Prize
winners from entering Egypt. They condemned the move as a violation of
240
human rights and freedom of speech, which they say is evidence of the
police/military state in Egypt.
On 5th August, fresh international efforts were under way in Egypt to find
a peaceful end to the crisis sparked by the militarys overthrow of Mursi. EU
envoy Bernardino Leon met Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi after US Deputy
Secretary of State William Burns met the number two of Mursis Muslim
Brotherhood movement, Khairat al-Shater, in prison. Both envoys have engaged
in a series of meetings with Mursi loyalists and members of the army-backed
interim leadership including army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
But Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said Shater
refused to speak to the delegation, saying only that the Brotherhoods position
on defending Mursis legitimacy is unchanged. The powerful Shater, one of
the main financiers of the Muslim Brotherhood, is due to face trial on August 25
along with senior Brotherhood leaders accused of inciting the killing of
protesters during clashes outside the Brotherhood headquarters in Cairo in June.
In Cairo, hundreds of Mursi loyalists marched to the High Court, calling
for the release and reinstatement of their leader, blocking traffic in the centre of
the capital. Supporters of Mursi Egypts first freely elected president see his
ouster by the military as a violation of democracy and insist on nothing short of
reinstatement.
On 7th August, the presidency said that Western and Arab efforts to
mediate an end to Egypt's political deadlock have failed, signalling a possible
crackdown on Islamists that world powers fear could end in carnage. The
statement came hours after US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns left
Cairo, having made no headway in finding a compromise between the armyinstalled government and supporters of deposed president Mohammed Mursi.
Egypt's Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi vowed to disperse Islamist
protest camps in Cairo, after the failure was announced. The cabinet affirms
that the decision to disperse the Rabaa Adawiya and Nahda sit-ins is a final
decision, on which all agree, and there is no going back on it, Beblawi said,
reading a statement aired on state television.
Adding his weight to the drive for a peaceful resolution to the crisis,
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged the release of Mursi, who
has been formally remanded in custody in an undisclosed location. He reiterated
his call for the release of Mursi during talk with Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy.
The Brotherhood's supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, and his deputies will
stand trial on charges of inciting the shootings of protesters outside their
headquarters on June 30. The Islamists say their release is a precondition for
further talks on finding a settlement, which could include symbolically
reinstating Mursi, who would then call for early elections.
241
243
stage near the mosque of the camp blared Islamic anthems and protesters
chanted Allah-o-Akbar.
Clashes quickly erupted between protesters and security forces on the
outskirts of the camp, with automatic fire reverberating across the square.
Protest leaders wearing gas masks stood defiantly on a stage while crowds of
people wearing face masks stood amid the swirling tear gas as bulldozers began
dismantling the camp.
Television footage showed flattened tents, as women and children flanked
by police and army troops were led out of the square. Dozens rounded up in the
dispersal were shown sitting on the ground, handcuffed and surrounded by
security forces. As clashes raged in Cairo, three churches were attacked in
central Egypt, with Christian activists accusing Mursi loyalists of waging a war
of retaliation against the Copts in Egypt.
Mursis Muslim Brotherhood urged Egyptians to take to the streets in
their thousands to denounce the massacre. This is not an attempt to disperse,
but a bloody attempt to crush all voices of opposition to the military coup,
Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said on Twitter.
In Cairo, supporters of the deposed president blocked several roads in the
central Mohandesseen neighbourhood, and were working to set up a new protest
camp there. Clashes also erupted between security forces and Mursi loyalists in
the northern provinces of Alexandria and Beheira, the canal provinces of Suez
and Ismailiya and the central provinces of Assiut and Menya.
In Menya the Saint Ibram and Virgin Mary church and the Saint Mina
church were torched. Assailants also threw firebombs at Mar Gergiss church in
Sohag, a city with a large community of Coptic Christians who comprise up to
10 per cent of Egypts 84 million people, causing it to burn down. Coptic Pope
Tawadros II, together with Al-Azhars Tayyeb, had supported the military and
sat by army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi when he announced that Mursi had been
deposed and laid out a new political roadmap for the country.
Tear gas canisters rained down on a pro-Morsi march in the Sharq
neighbourhood in Alexandria, amid repeated bursts of automatic gunfire.
Hundreds of Morsi loyalists had marched through the city when police fired tear
gas to disperse them. Residents, armed with clubs, came out of their homes and
shops to help the police. Mursi supporters, carrying Egyptian flags and his
pictures, then clashed with his opponents on a road carpeted with rocks.
Meanwhile, the teenage daughter of a senior Muslim Brotherhood leader
was reported killed as police cracked down on the camp. Seventeen-year-old
Asmaa al-Beltagui, daughter of wanted Brotherhood leader Mohammed alBeltagui, was killed in clashes at the Rabaa al-Adawiya protest camp,
Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad said. A spokeswoman for the main
244
pro-Morsi coalition, the Anti-Coup Alliance, told AFP the girl had been shot
twice, once in the chest and once in the back.
On 15th August, fresh violence hit Egypt, with Islamists going on the
counterattack a day after a crackdown on supporters of ousted president
Mohamed Morsi sparked clashes. The country awakened to an unusual calm
after an overnight curfew imposed by the army-backed government, but Morsi
supporters vowed to rally again to demand his reinstatement and violence
erupted as the day progressed.
Islamists attacked police facilities in the Sinai and the central city of
Assiut, killing four soldiers, and also torched the headquarters of the provincial
government in Giza, near the capital. In Alexandria, hundreds of Morsi
supporters cut the road on the corniche, chanting for their deposed president. In
Beni Sueif province, they took to the streets to denounce the police and army
crackdown on two protest camps in Cairo.
As the death toll from the carnage soared, condemnation of the assaults
poured in, with France warning of the threat of civil war and Turkey
demanding UN action. The United States led a global outcry against the
deplorable violence, while Paris, London, Berlin and Rome summoned Egypt's
ambassadors to voice their strong concern.
President Barack Obama said the United States had canceled military
exercises with Egypt to protest the killing of hundreds of protesters. Obama
warned that Egypt had entered a more dangerous path but stopped short of
suspending $1.3 billion in annual military aid. He urged Egypt's army-installed
authorities to lift a state of emergency and allow peaceful protests.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a Morsi supporter, called
for an urgent UN Security Council meeting over Egypt's massacre. Only the
United Arab Emirates and Bahrain voiced support for Egypt's military leaders,
saying it was the state's duty to restore order.
The National Assembly of Pakistan unanimously passed a resolution
expressing great dismay and concern over the use of force by Egyptian security
forces against protesters opposing the removal of a democratically elected
government. The resolution urged the Egyptian government to show restraint
and resolve the issue by adhering to dialogue so that democracy can be restored
as soon as possible in accordance with the wishes of the people of Egypt.
Following the initiative taken by the National Assembly, Punjab
Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution to denounce massacre of
Egyptian people by the army tanks and troops and demanded immediate
restoration of Morsi government. The resolution, tabled by the Opposition,
condemned the Egyptian army which killed supporters of former Egyptian
President Mohamed Morsi.
245
Next day, at least 95 people were reported killed and around 250 injured
across Egypt in clashes between Islamist protesters and security forces. The
violence came people marched on the call of Muslim Brotherhood in several
cities around Egypt in what they called a Friday of rage to protest the killing of
hundreds of loyalists of Morsi during a security crackdown.
Fresh bloodshed came despite tightening of security by the army in Cairo
and other cities in response to the Brotherhood's calls for marches from 28
mosques following Friday prayers. Protests were held in Cairo, in the second
city of Alexandria, in several Nile Delta provinces, in Suez Canal cities and
central Egyptian provinces.
The Muslim Brotherhood said 45 people had been killed in Cairo,
accusing security forces of using live fire against peaceful protesters. Security
sources also reported a police conscript was killed when gunmen attacked a
checkpoint in the capital. Among those killed elsewhere included a policeman in
the North Sinai town of El-Arish.
A protester said that the crowds near Ramses Square were shot at by men
in helicopters. Helicopters started to shoot us as we were walking. My friend
took a shot in the neck and he died, he said. This was the first time we saw
helicopters shooting. There were people shooting from the windows. The call
to end days demonstrations came shortly after a night-time curfew went into
effect. But Anti-Coup Alliance spokesman Gehad El-Haddad told AFP that
Morsi loyalists would hold daily anti-coup rallies going forward.
The crackdown drew strong condemnation from the international
community and the Iranian foreign minister phoned OIC secretary general,
urging the organization to intervene in Egypt to prevent further massacre of
defenseless population. In Jordan, Morocco, Palestinian territories, Sudan,
Indonesia and Malaysia hundreds joined demonstrations in support of Morsi.
Scores of people took to the streets in Karachi against the state sponsored
massacre of Muslims in Egypt. The protest appeal was made by Jamaat-eIslami. Turkey recalled its ambassador to Cairo. Catherine Ashton called for the
EU bloc to adopt appropriate measures in response. Germany said it would
review ties with Cairo, and joined France in calling for EU talks on the
situation. But Egypt's cabinet issued a defiant statement, saying it was
confronting a terrorist plot. Saudi Arabia and Jordan sided with military
backed regime saying they backed Egypt's fight against terrorism.
On 17th August, police cleared Islamist protesters from a Cairo mosque.
Security forces dragged supporters of Mohamed Morsi from the al-Fath
mosque, passing through angry crowds who tried to beat the Islamists, calling
them terrorists. The government said 173 people were killed in the past 24
hours alone.
246
247
five cars were damaged. Police closed off the area and were collecting evidence.
Germanys foreign minister and his Qatari counterpart condemned the spiraling
violence in Egypt, urging political dialogue to avoid further bloodshed. Qatar is
a key supporter of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood. We in Qatar are extremely
concerned about the high number of victims. We are devastated by the
violence, Qatari Foreign Minister said.
With the political and security situation in Egypt deteriorating, American
officials have begun to question whether Americas long-standing Middle East
ally can remain a fundamentally stable state. There is a real possibility of civil
war, a senior US official briefed on the intelligence was quoted as saying in a
dispatch published in The Wall Street Journal Friday. There is a dangerous
possibility Egypt goes the way of Syria.
Bernardino Leon, the European Unions envoy for Egypt said the United
States and its European and Gulf allies were close to a peace deal two weeks
ago between Mohamed Morsi supporters and Egypts military. The deal called
for supporters of the ousted president to abandon their street camps in exchange
for a promise of non-violence from the authorities.
The peace deal, which also included a probe into competing claims of
violence, was supposed to lead to talks between the interim government and the
Muslim Brotherhood, but vice president Mohammed El-Baradei apparently
could not convince General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to agree.
The US officials visualized that even if an insurgency breaks out, the
Egyptian army could contain it. There are no signs of a split within the military,
and intelligence. US agencies also think that the Muslim Brotherhoods
supporters dont have a large quantity of arms.
But they feared that eastern Libya could serve as a springboard for
insurgents moving across the border into Egypt. The Egyptian military has
appealed to the US for months to help curb the flow of weapons they feared
were moving across the Libyan border and on to the militants operating on the
other side of Egypt, in the Sinai Peninsula.
The Obama Administration has been carefully critics say, timidly
calibrating its response. Administration officials and those from allied nations in
the region both argue that cutting off all aid to Egypt could make a dangerous
situation even worse, prompting the countrys generals to sever ties with the US
and emboldening Muslim Brotherhood supporters to step up protests. So Obama
tried to balance his impulse to keep open lines to the Egyptian government with
the mounting pressure at home to take stronger action against it.
The administration is employing what amounts to a good-cop, bad-cop
approach to try to pull Egypts generals back from the brink. While the White
House has made clear privately and publicly that it doesnt want to cut off
248
Egypts aid, it has also warned the generals that a growing number of
lawmakers may do just that if the violent crackdowns continue. The violent
course of events in Egypt shows the extent to which the Obama Administration
misjudged the depth of divisions within Egyptian society and the potential for a
sustained violent showdown between Islamists and secularists.
Sudan: On 30th July, it was reported that some 134 people were killed in
fresh clashes between two rival tribes in Sudans strife-torn Darfur region. Arab
Misseriya tribesmen and members of the rival Salamat tribe in Um Dukhun in
South Darfur clashed again on July 28. They had fought already two days ago in
the same area. Around 300,000 Sudanese have been displaced as a result of
clashes between government forces, rebels and rival tribes.
On 10th August, fighting between two Arab tribes killed 100 people in
Sudan's Darfur region, where hundreds had already died in worsening unrest
this year. The battle between a group of Rezeigat and the rival Maaliya tribe
happened near Adila in East Darfur state. A Maaliya source said the Rezeigat
attacked and burned villages but he declined to say how many from his side
had died.
Prior to this year's surge of violence, there were already 1.4 million
people in camps for those uprooted by the conflict in Darfur. While the number
of displaced has risen, the United Nations said that it has had to reduce its
humanitarian assistance because permits for some UN international staff in
Darfur have not been renewed by the government. France condemned the
"unjustified" expulsion of the 20 from Darfur.
On 13th August, reported that a helicopter and its crew contracted by
peacekeepers in Sudans Darfur were detained be rebels in the troubled region
for 10 days. The chopper was contracted by a Russian company and did not
carry UN markings. One of the crew members is Sudanese while the other two
are foreign.
249
Nidal Hasan from representing himself at the high-profile trial or allow the
court-appointed lawyers tasked with assisting him to be removed from the case.
Hasan interrupted Poppe, declaring this is a twist of the facts and insisting he
was not trying to martyr himself.
Military judge Colonel Tara Osborn cleared the courtroom to discuss the
matter privately with Hasan and then called an early end to the days
proceedings. Hasan has repeatedly attempted to plead guilty to killing 13 people
and wounding dozens more in the 2009 attack at a Texas military base.
On 8th August, President Barack Obama insisted that al-Qaedas leaders
were on the ropes, but admitted the threats that have closed US embassies
across the Middle East must be taken seriously. His remarks to around 3,000
Marines at Camp Pendleton military base in California came after around 20 US
missions were shut in response to reports that an attack on US interests could be
imminent.
A UN report said Osama Bin Ladens successor as the leader of al-Qaeda
has struggled to unite its various factions, but the group remains an evolving
threat. The report, delivered to the UN Security Council by a group of experts,
said al-Qaedas Egyptian leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri had failed to rebuild the
groups core leadership in Pakistan. But it said various groups affiliated with alQaeda are still adapting their tactics and seeking new targets, while retaining the
ability to conduct deadly strikes.
And, while the French-led military operation in Mali and an African
Union campaign in Somalia have pushed back al-Qaeda militants, the Syrian
civil war has seen hundreds of foreign volunteers join the cause there. Al-Qaeda
and its affiliates are more diverse and differentiated than before, united only by
a loose ideology and a commitment to terrorist violence.
On 11th August, US decided to reopen diplomatic missions closed on
August 4 over an al-Qaeda security alert, except in Yemen and the US
Consulate in Lahore. Spokeswoman for the US embassy in Islamabad, however,
said the evacuation of staff from Lahore Consulate had nothing to do with the
terror threat which prompted closure of 19 diplomatic missions in the Middle
East and Africa.
VIEWS
Myanmar
Fresh Myanmar clashes signal growing Muslim desperation:
Attempts to bring stability to Myanmars strategic northwest Rakhine State
could be unraveling after police opened fire on Rohingya Muslims for the third
251
time in two months, reviving tensions in a region beset by religious violence last
year
Rakhine State is one of Myanmars poorest regions, but in the reform era
it is emerging as one of its most strategic.
In Sittwes harbour, India is funding a $214 million port, river and road
network that will carve a trade route into Indias landlocked northeast. From
Kyaukphyu, a city 105 km southeast of Sittwe, gas and oil pipelines stretch to
Chinas energy-hungry northwest. Both projects capitalize on Myanmars
growing importance at Asias crossroads.
Rumours of extensive mineral wealth in Rakhine State would add or
perhaps are now adding fuel to the existing ethnic tensions, said the Harvard
Ash Center in a July 2013 report. Aung Win, a well-known Rohingya activist
who visited the troubled area on Sunday, blamed the unrest on deteriorating
relations between the displaced Rohingya and police
As tempers rose on Friday, Rohingya villagers and IDPs burned down a
police outpost in Ohntawgyi and erected a nearby roadblock, witnesses said.
Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and live rounds. The IDPs fought with sticks
and catapults.
Chris Lewa of the Rohingya advocacy group Arakan Project sees the
latest violence as an attempt to resist oppressive measures common in northern
Rakhine State, a Rohingya-majority region of three townships bordering
Bangladesh.
In two townships, Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the state government
recently announced the enforcement of a two-child limit on Rohingya families,
one of several measures that the United Nations has called a violation of human
rights. The violence near Sittwe follows two other recent instants of fatal police
gunfire in Rakhine.
On June 4, three Rohingya women were shot dead by police in Mrauk-U
township, said UN envoy Ojea Quintana who arrived in Myanmar on Sunday. In
June, he called it the latest shocking example of how law enforcement officials
operate with complete impunity in Rakhine. Then, on June 27, two IDPs were
killed and six wounded when security forces opened fire on a crowd, according
to the UNHCR. Rakhine State government spokesman Win Myaing blamed the
Rohingya for Fridays violence, which he said was timed to coincide with the
UN envoys visit. They want to show to the international community the
Rakhine State government is neglecting them, he told Reuters.
Ojea Quintina was met in Sittwe by Rakhine Buddhist protesters wearing
T-shirts reading Get Out and carrying signs labeling him a Bengali Lobbyist.
(Andrew RC Marshall, TheNation 13th August)
252
Syria
Is West running out of time in Syria? The US and the West are not
waiting for the opposition to restructure politically or to possess military
discipline, but are waiting to see clearly who will win and when in Syria. While
waiting though, they lose both in Syria and in the region, (Ufuk Uluta).
If at the outset of the Syrian conflict one was to mention that the West
was aiding and abetting Assad, very few would have believed. Thirty months on
it is now vividly clear, America and its Western allies are not only supporting
Assad's tyrannical rule, but are eagerly hoping that for their sake, Assad is
victorious in the protracted conflict with the opposition.
Last month, the British PM David Cameron told the BBC that Britain
would not provide arms to the Syrian opposition as some elements are too
radical for the West's liking and in his estimate Assad was much stronger than
before. He said: I think he [Assad] may be stronger than he was a few months
ago, but I'd still describe the situation as a stalemate. And yes, you do have
problems with part of the opposition that is extreme, that we should have
nothing to do with.
America's assessment of the situation in Syria echoed similar sentiments.
Currently, the tide seems to have shifted in his [Assad] favour, General Martin
Dempsey, the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on July 18, 2013.
Even the US Defence Intelligence Agency revised its earlier prediction that
Assad would fall early this year. Its Deputy Director David Shedd said: My
concern is that it could go on for a long time... It is in large measure a
stalemate. So how is it possible that Assad, who was once on the verge of being
toppled, is now going to stay in power for a long time?
It seems that this could only have happened with outside powers
conniving with each other to prop-up Assad's precarious rule. The failure of
different political initiatives, such as Kofi Annan's six-point plan, the Lakhdar
Brahimi plan and, presently, the much coveted Geneva talks, was intentional.
These political initiatives were specifically designed to buy precious time for
Assad to halt a series of military defeats at the hands of the Islamic opposition,
and to overturn battlefield gains made by them in his favour. Assad was not able
to accomplish this without tacit support from Washington, uninterrupted
weapons supply from Russia, Chinese intransigence at the UN, targeted air
strikes from Israel to prevent the opposition taking sensitive arms, and dogged
military support from Iran and Hezbollah.
To underline the assistance from this odd group of political powers and
their respective surrogates is USA's determined effort not to intervene in the
conflict. In July 2013, General Dempsey described in detail all the military
options most of which would require hundreds of aircraft, ships, submarines
253
and other enablers and cost in the billions. Again, the intention behind such
statements was not to only frighten the Congress and the American people from
supporting intervention, but to allow the status quo in Syria to continue,
especially in the wake of recent gains made by Assad's forces.
Assad's change in fortunes has also put on hold West's flirtation with the
idea of arming pro-Western Syrian fighters via the Syrian Support Group (SSG).
On August 1, 2013, the Daily Telegraph reported: The West had hoped the
SSG, founded in the US in December 2011, would channel support to these
moderate elements within the Syrian uprising and in May last year it was
granted a coveted Treasury licence allowing it to skirt American sanctions on
the country. But private donations dried up after the US State Department
warned the SSG that its funds could not be used for weapons.
What galvanizes and unites such disparate major powers, along with
arch-enemies Israel, Iran, the GCC and Hezbollah, is their collective fear of the
return of the Caliphate at the hands of the sincere Muslims of Syria. For
instance, the leader of the Syrian jihadist group, Jabhat Al-Nusra (Al-Nusra
Front), recently, declared that his group was in favour of establishing an Islamic
Caliphate in Syria. It is precisely such declarations that petrify Cameron,
Obama, Putin and Netanyahu and their surrogates in Tehran and in the capitals
of Gulf countries.
Indeed, what is transpiring in Syria today is nothing short of a conflict
that has taken on the appearance of a world war being waged against poorly
equipped Muslims. And after 30 months of waging fierce battles, it looks like
America and its allies have failed to crush the uprising. Instead, Western leaders
are quick to acknowledge that a stalemate is taking shape on the ground in
Syria.
It is this very fact that is extremely heartening for the Muslim Ummah
and dispels the oft painted stereotype picture that Muslims are too weak to stand
up to the West, including the US. The Syrian conflict proves the exact opposite,
and when combined with the failures in Iraq and Afghanistan, it puts to shame
the collective feeble excuses offered by the rulers of the Muslim world that they
cannot stand up to America. Indeed, it is this very notion of inferiority to the
West that is being challenged and swept aside in Syria with the rest of the
Muslim world following suit.
As the Muslim masses become increasingly emboldened to publicly
reassert their love for political Islam either through civil disobedience, the ballot
box or through the taking up of arms, the existing secular order presided over by
the West for the past 90-odd years is looking both insecure and unmanageable.
It will no longer be a surprise if Syria is the first domino to fall to the Caliphate.
The real shock, however, would be the failure of the world powers to use all of
254
their political guile and military might to stop it happening in the first place.
(Abid Mustafa, TheNation 6th August)
Egypt
Eyewitness in Egypt: Most were shot in the face only one in the
back: Aiman Husseini was lying by the wall. Khaled Abdul Nasser had his
name written in black ink on his white shroud just to the left of the door. There
were 37 corpses in the room. It was swamped in blood. The doctors had blood
on their shirts. It wasnt long before we had blood on our shoes. There were
ribbons of it, dark brown, where they brought the stretchers in, even on the
walls. The hospital next to the Rabaa Mosque was packed with men and women
in tears. Many of them talked about God. These people are in the sun, a doctor
said to me. They are with God. We are just in the shade.
Believers all, I suppose. And the dead? Perhaps it requires a medical
report to understand this many dead. Shot in the face, most of them, several in
the eyes, many in the chest. I saw only one body which they claimed was shot in
the back. Most of the faces they showed me were bearded. A massacre? Most
certainly. And these were only a few of the dead. What on earth did General
Abdul-Fattah al-Sisi intends to do when he called on Egyptians to give their
support to him on the streets on Friday?
These killings took place in the hours before dawn. The police, everyone
said, opened fire, first with birdshot, then with live rounds as members of the
Muslim Brotherhood led by Mohamed Mursi paraded close to the tomb of
President Anwar Sadat himself assassinated 23 years ago by an Islamist called
Khalid al-Islambouli, a lieutenant in the Egyptian army no less not far from
the mosque. Who fired first? Well, all the dead were Muslim Brothers or their
friends or family. There were no dead policemen.
The Brotherhood said its people were unarmed, which may well be true,
although I have to say that a man guarding a car park near the mosque who
directed me to the hospital was holding a Kalashnikov rifle. Living in Beirut, I
have grown used to seeing guns in the hands of young men, but I was a little
shocked to see this man in a blue T-shirt holding an automatic weapon. But he
was the only armed man I saw.
But why did this have to happen? Ahmed Habib, a doctor, told me that in
all his life he had never experienced dead on this scale and you have to
remember that I was seeing only some of the Egyptians who died and that he
had used up two weeks worth of medical equipment in just a few hours. Look
at the blood on my clothes, he shouted at me. Many of the doctors lay outside
the room of the dead, sleeping on the dirty floor, exhausted after trying to save
lives all through the morning.
255
No one blamed the army which lets al-Sisi off the hook as a general but
not as the coup leader who demanded that the people of Egypt support his battle
against terrorism. Nor does it let him off the hook as a father. The general has
three sons and a daughter, but the 37 dead men I saw were also children of
Egypt who deserve, surely, some compassion. That they belonged to the
Brotherhood if they all did does not make them terrorists. On Friday night,
I told several friends that I feared there would be dead on the streets of Cairo.
Does this mean that I, a mere foreigner, feared the mortuary room I saw and that
al-Sisi a lofty general could not have predicted this?
We are told we are a minority now, so we dont deserve to live, another
doctor told me. I didnt like the propaganda line but these were dramatic
minutes in a room packed with dead bodies, so many that medical staff were
literally tripping on the corpses and their shrouds. They were taken from the
room on stretchers under the flash of cameras no one missed the opportunity
of Brotherhood martyrdom and many times was Gods name invoked outside
and inserted into ambulances that queued beside the mosque in the midday heat.
Many people said the things people always say when confronted by
tragedy. That they would never give way, that they would die rather than submit
to military rule this in a country, remember, where we must believe that the
coup that happened didnt happen and that God was greater than life itself,
certainly greater than al-Sisi, a statement which the general would, of course,
agree with. Dr Habib insisted that there was an afterlife which being in a place
of death I admit I did ask him to prove. Because we are not animals, to eat
food and drink water all our lives. Do you think that is the only reason for our
being?
Behind the hospital were many men who had been wounded in the feet,
some of them groaning with pain. But it was the dead who caught our attention,
so newly killed that their faces had not yet taken on the mark of death. One
paramedic had difficulty closing the eyes of a corpse and had to ask a doctor for
help. In death, it seems, you must always appear to be asleep. And, clich as it
might be, I wonder if that is now the state of Egypt. Robert Fisk for
Independent, Republished by TheNation 29th July)
What failed in Pakistan wont work in Egypt: Amid violent clashes in
Egypt, White House officials argued this week that the United States cant cut
off its $1.3 billion a year in assistance to Egypt. To do so would cause
Washington to lose influence with the countrys generals. Vital American
security interests are at stake, they said, and keeping the torrent of American aid
flowing gives Washington leverage.
If that argument sounds familiar, it is. For the last decade, the United
States has used the same logic in Pakistan. The US has given $11 billion in
military aid to the Pakistani military in the name of maintaining American
256
257
pen, the bodies lay side-by-side on the floor at a field hospital in Cairos Nasr
City.
Their deaths five of the 72 supporters of the deposed Muslim
Brotherhood-led government killed this week at the hands of Egyptian security
forces and the armed thugs who fight beside them marked another crisis point
for the Islamic movement that in just one year had risen to the heights of
political power and then crashed back to earth.
With its senior officials, including the deposed president Mohamed Morsi
held incommunicado for a month, Egypts Muslim Brotherhood appears to be
struggling to find a coherent response, pushed aside by a surge of anti-Islamist
sentiment sweeping through the countries of the Arab revolutions.
The aftershocks of Egypts political earthquake when millions took to
the streets to call for Mursis overthrow on June 30 and the military stepped in
to grant them their wish three days later are being felt far and wide.
Across the border in Libya and in its neighbour Tunisia, Brotherhoodaffiliated parties are also under fire, their headquarters attacked and their
political wings accused of having a hand in the high-profile assassinations of
two opposition figures in the last week.
On the streets of Egypt, the Brotherhood has few friends at best people
are relieved that its disastrous year-long rule is over, at worst, many support the
violent actions of the security forces who in attempting to break up protests
calling for Mursis reinstatement have killed at least 123 people in two incidents
alone
Most analysts agree it is way too soon to write the obituary of political
Islam. There are other strong Islamist parties, such as Egypts Al Nour, who
may benefit from the Brotherhoods failings.
Indeed many who are disappointed in the Brotherhoods performance in
government will simply vote for another Islamist party next time, says Geneive
Abdo, a Middle East fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Centre.
I would argue that the Brotherhood will still do well in parliamentary
elections because they are extremely well organized on the ground.
Hand-in-hand with the Brotherhoods failure comes the failure of US
foreign policy, Abdo says.
The US has lost the Islamists, Egyptian society and the military, she
warns.
This shows Islamist groups that they should never trust the US, because
they are just backing whoever is on top.
258
Add to that the competition between the gulf states of Qatar and Saudi
Arabia for influence in Egypt, and the situation becomes very complicated, says
AUCs Said Sadek.
Traditionally antagonistic towards the Muslim Brotherhood, many of the
Gulf monarchies had held back their support while Morsi was in power.
Soon after Mursis fall, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and
Kuwait stepped into pledge $US12 billion in aid to stabilize Egypts struggling
economy.
Hazem Kandil, a lecturer in political sociology at Cambridge, argues the
behaviour of the Brotherhood, both while in government and over the last
month of protests at the Rabaa al-Adawiya Mosque in Nasr City and Nahda in
Giza, has forced many Egyptians to re-evaluate the relationship between Islam
and Islamism.
In Tunisia, the July 25 assassination of Mohamed Brahmi, the leftist
leader of the opposition Popular Front coalition, drew thousands of protesters
onto the streets. They blame the al-Nahda, Muslim Brotherhood-connected
Islamist party that leads the government.
Calling on al-Nahda to relinquish power, the protesters say the party has
created a sense of impunity among the countrys more hardline Islamists.
But unlike Egypts Morsi, the al-Nahda party has offered concessions and
on Tuesday said it was ready to form a new government with an even broader
base.
Still, the pressure is on the ruling party. Tunisian protesters are emulating
Egypts Tamarod, or Rebellion movement, by collecting signatures on the street
calling for the governments downfall. In Libya, where the Justice and
Construction Party the Brotherhoods political wing controls the secondlargest number of seats in the countrys legislature, there is also disquiet at their
influence.
Last Friday there were protests outside the partys offices in the capital
Tripoli and in Benghazi to denounce the killing of a prominent political activist
and critic of the Brotherhood, Abdelsalam al-Mosmary, who was shot dead
leaving a mosque.
The Brotherhood can stay in the political game if they admit their
mistakes, if they modernize and democratize, experts say. But the brand has
been seriously damaged.
Along the baking hot pavements of the Rabaa protest, there is no pressure
for the movement to change.
259
Support for the Muslim Brotherhood is enduring, and officials say they
do not have any plans to give up their demands that Mohamed Morsi is
reinstated as president.
Despite the interim governments promise of a safe exit for demonstrators
and its public vow to clear the protest site, most show no signs of leaving.
I believe peace is stronger than bullets, said Ahmed Gamal Hussein, a
father of two who has been maintaining his vigil for 32 days. We will stay to
make sure that our families can live their lives in freedom, that democracy and
the president are restored. (Ruth Pollard for Sydney Morning Herald,
republished in TheNation 4th August)
Egypt's military will not get away with human rights abuses:
Everyone in Egypt should now be concerned about the legality and
consequences of the military overturning its first democratically elected
government. Whatever the stated justification, disenchantment with a
democratically elected leader cannot legitimize the use of force and should
never be used to remove a democratically elected government.
We can see where Egypt has descended to in the aftermath of the coup.
The new military-installed regime does not appear to be interested in
safeguarding Egypt's democracy. The hallmarks of a democratic state have
vanished almost immediately. Morsi has been detained in a secret location along
with much of his administration. Suddenly dubious and historic criminal
charges have surfaced and been leveled against them. So far these detainees
have not had access to their families or legal teams. How they are being treated
is anyone's guess
Democratic nations should recognize the great promise shown in the
wake of the Arab spring in Egypt. The fledgling democracy that is Egypt should
not be allowed to escalate into another Syria or fall into a perpetual cycle of
coup. The British government should rise to its responsibilities and take a global
leadership role on this issue as a permanent member of the Security Council. It
is absolutely vital that the ICC steps in where countries are unable or unwilling
to bring to account those who use lethal force to undermine the rule of law and
democracy. It is clear that the Egyptian military will not investigate, let alone
bring to justice, those who have committed these atrocities. It should be made
clear to the Egyptian military, police and coup government that they will not be
allowed to betray the Egyptian people and continue these abhorrent practices.
Some human rights are so important that it is the responsibility of all states to
protect them. This is encapsulated in the Latin maxim erga omnes meaning
towards all. In July 2004 the International Court of Justice found, when
deliberating on the legality of the wall in Palestine, that the right of selfdetermination was such an erga omnes right. All states have an obligation to
protect it
260
261
turmoil at the moment, is of little value in the eyes of those who could turn a
screw on the perpetrators and compel them to stop the wanton massacre.
While Arab regimes are not just dictatorial, but are also used to defer to
the Egyptian government, more support for a democratically elected leader from
the upholders of democracy and human rights, might have been expected. This
also places a peculiar burden on Pakistan, as a country which resembles Egypt
in many ways, but which has embarked on the process of democratization
earlier, and has not undergone such violent upheavals. It must remain within the
bounds of diplomatic convention, but it must provide whatever support possible
to the democratic forces in Egypt.
The events in Egypt cannot be ascribed merely to the growing pains of
democracy. Too much blood is flowing for that. The use of state force against
that states people can never yield positive results, especially when there does
not seem to be any purpose to this violence. The Egyptian government does not
seem to have any plan leading to a better future for the Egyptian people.
(Editorial, TheNation 16th August)
A tragedy to haunt Egypt: The Egyptian crucible has broken. The
unity of Egypt that all-embracing, patriotic, essential glue that has bound the
nation together since the overthrow of the monarchy in 1952 and the rule of
Nasser has melted amid the massacres, gun battles and fury of Wednesdays
suppression of the Muslim Brotherhood. A hundred dead 200, 300 martyrs
makes no difference to the outcome: for millions of Egyptians, the path of
democracy has been torn up amid live fire and brutality. What Muslim seeking a
state based on his or her religion will ever trust the ballot box again?
This is the real story of Wednesdays bloodbath. Who can be surprised
that some Muslim Brotherhood supporters were wielding Kalashnikovs on the
streets of Cairo? Or that supporters of the army and its interim government
in middle-class areas of the capital, no less have seized their weapons or
produced their own and started shooting back. This is not Brotherhood vs army,
though that is how our Western statesmen will mendaciously try to portray this
tragedy. Todays violence has created a cruel division within Egyptian society
that will take years to heal; between leftists and secularists and Christian Copts
and Sunni Muslim villagers, between people and police, between Brotherhood
and army. That is why Mohamed el-Baradei resigned.
In Algeria in 1992, in Cairo in 2013 and who knows what happens in
Tunisia in the coming weeks and months? Muslims who won power, fairly
and democratically through the common vote, have been hurled from power.
And who can forget our vicious siege of Gaza when Palestinians voted again
democratically for Hamas? No matter how many mistakes the Brotherhood
made in Egypt no matter how promiscuous or fatuous their rule the
262
263
Stand by, of course, for the usual jargon questions. Does this mean the
end of political Islam? For the moment, certainly; the Brotherhood is in no
mood to try any more experiments in democracy a refusal which is the
immediate danger in Egypt. For without freedom, there is violence. Will Egypt
turn into another Syria? Unlikely. Egypt is neither a sectarian state it never has
been, even with 10 per cent of its people Christian nor an inherently violent
one. It never experienced the savagery of Algerian uprisings against the French,
or Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian insurgencies against both the British and
the French. But ghosts aplenty will hang their heads in shame today; that great
revolutionary lawyer of the 1919 rising, for example, Saad Zaghloul. And
General Muhammad Neguib whose 1952 revolutionary tracts read so much like
the demands of the people of Tahrir in 2011.
But yes, something died in Egypt Wednesday. Not the revolution, for
across the Arab world the integrity of ownership of people demanding that
they, not their leaders, own their own country remains, however bloodstained.
Innocence died, of course, as it does after every revolution. No, what expired
today was the idea that Egypt was the everlasting mother of the Arab nation, the
nationalist ideal, the purity of history in which Egypt regarded all her people as
her children. For the Brotherhood victims along with the police and progovernment supporters were also children of Egypt. And no one said so. They
had become the terrorists, the enemy of the people. That is Egypts new
heritage. (Robert Fisk for Independent, republished in TheNation 16th August)
Arab leaders tacitly back crackdown on Brotherhood: Most Arab
leaders tacitly support Egypt's deadly crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood,
fearing the group's growing regional influence since the Arab Spring threatens
their own power, analysts say But only Qatar, a Brotherhood patron, and
Tunisia, whose ruling Ennahda party is affiliated with the movement, strongly
condemned the assault.
All the Gulf monarchies, except for Qatar, and Jordan fear that the
Muslim Brotherhood revolution will be exported to them, said Khattar Abou
Diab, a professor at University of Paris-Sud. For that reason, they are hoping
for a return to the classic situation of a strong power in Egypt, a pivotal country
in the Arab world.
These countries, Saudi Arabia in particular, have noted with disapproval
the growing weight of Turkey and Iran... and their support for the Egyptian
regime demonstrates their desire to return to a purely Arab regional system
based on more classical lines.
Turkey, whose Islamist government is ideologically aligned with the
Muslim Brotherhood, has widened its influence in the Arab world since the
outbreak of the Arab Spring. And Iran has reinforced its links with the regime of
264
265
266
America
Force-fed torture or humane treatment at Guantanamo ? One
Yemeni prisoner at Guantanamo Bay says it is an agonizing, cruel punishment
that he would not wish on anyone.
US federal Judge Gladys Kessler describes it as a painful, humiliating
and degrading process. But for staff at the controversial US military jail, the
criticisms of feeding by tubes force-feeding or enteral feeding depending on
where you stand are overblown.
A six-month mass hunger strike by detainees at Guantanamo this year has
forced prison authorities to repeatedly resort to the practice to prevent inmates
starving to death. But while it has been decried by a legion of rights groups as
inhumane, Guantanamo officials insist it is merely uncomfortable.
In a tour arranged for reporters last week, journalists were given a
glimpse of the protocols governing feeding by tube. Reporters were shown
where hunger-strikers are restrained before a tube delivering essential nutrients
is inserted into their body for feeding.
267
For enteral feeding, the first thing we do is offer the person a regular
meal, said a hospital medic given the alias Leonato. They refuse that; we
now offer a nutritional supplement to drink themselves. They refuse that, then
theyre taken by the guards to the enteral feed chair and restrained. We measure
the correct length of the tube; theyre offered either a (anesthetic) gel or olive
oil. The feed lasts 30-35 minutes.
One of Leonatos colleagues, identified only as Froth, says the
procedure is a quick process. The most irritation is when it passes back to
your throat, he said. Its a quick in-and-out process. You do feel it, but its not
painful. Another colleague agreed. It just feels uncomfortable.
No journalist was allowed to view an inmate being fed by tube. The
sessions are typically conducted twice a day on the 38 detainees who are on the
enteral feeding list, out of the 53 who remain on hunger strike
There is, though, a vast gulf between the official line expressed by
Guantanamo officials and testimony by individuals who have experienced the
technique. There was agony in my chest, throat and stomach, detainee Samir
Naji al-Hasan Moqbel told the New York Times. I had never experienced such
pain before. I would not wish this cruel punishment upon anyone.
Four other detainees refer to the practice as torture, and have called in
vain for an end to the practice. The senior medical officer at Guantanamo
however insists feeding by tube is done to preserve life. Its not something
that we take lightly, he explains, saying the procedures at Guantanamo are
similar to those used in US federal prisons.
The doctor, who withheld his name, had treated the majority of the 106
prisoners from a total population of 166 who had been on hunger strike at the
peak this year.
No fewer than 137 medical personnel work at the prison, including 37
drafted in as reinforcements after the hunger strike began. The doctor admits he
sometimes fears for the life of some patients. I have (feared for them) because
of prolonged hunger-striking, he said. Wed had quite a few taken to the
hospital...weve resuscitated them.
While none of the hunger-striking detainees has ever been declared to be
in danger the doctor refused to rule out the possibility of a sudden death from
hunger-striking, citing long-term risks.
The trigger for nasal feeding comes when an inmate loses 15 per cent of
his bodyweight after 21 days of consecutive fasting while exhibiting signs of
malnourishment. At that point inmates are fed by tube either willingly or by
force. (Chantal Valery, TheNation 13th August)
268
REVIEW
Zawahiri rightly accused the US of conspiring to overthrow of Morsi
through a military coup. After the coup the US and its European ancestors
pretended as if they disapproved subsequent actions of General Sisi as result of
which hundreds of innocent Egyptians were massacred. General Sisi
reciprocated by blaming the US for abandoning Egypt thus giving the touch of
reality to a noora koshti.
Saudi King and other Arab monarchs of the Middle East however did not
feel the need to pretend. Riyadh was quite vocal in supporting General Sisi
especially after he used indiscriminate force against terrorists of Muslim
Brotherhood and spilled blood across Egypt. Arab Sheikhs welcomed crushing
of a potent threat to their rule.
They never felt the need to say anything when Israel once again
announced construction of more Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian
lands just ahead of the resumption of peace dialogue. They also remained mum
over perpetration of death and destruction in Iraq. There were solid reasons to
support Sisi as Mursi was favourably inclined towards Turkey and Iran.
The rejoicing over toppling of Mursi was shared by western
intellectuals and diplomats. Ruth Pollard in his analysis reproduced above
gleefully saw or at least wished to see the end of political Islam. John Kerry
during his visit to Pakistan said Sisi has saved democracy in Egypt. From the
foregoing it is not difficult to infer that the Crusaders, the Zionists and the Arab
Sheikhs form the deadliest Axis of Evil for the Islamic world.
General Sisi, the new mercenary contracted by the Crusaders has
certainly delivered much more than Mobarak could have done in saving the
democracy. What would have been the reaction of the West and its touts in
Islamic world if Mursi had done the same to save his genuine democratic rule is
not difficult to guess. If he had launched a crackdown against his opponents
who staged sit-ins in Tahrir Square; the West would have placed his name with
Bashir of Sudan, who is wanted in war crimes.
Through out the day of unleashing of the crackdown on 14th August the
Western media kept regretting the killing of a western TV camera man and
attack on a Church while ignoring the disputed figures of those who fell
victims to the Sisis indiscriminate use of force. They also blamed the
supporters of Mursi for possessing weapons.
While this was happening, the chief of world body spent busy day in
Islamabad enjoying protocol and in return assuring the hosts that the UN would
continue supporting democracy in Pakistan. In fact his real mission was the
least reported by media; he was on mission to muster troops from Pakistan for
deployment as peacekeepers in Syria and Egypt.
269
SHARAMNAAK
The Chief Justice of Pakistan took suo moto notice of the use of word
sharamnaak by Imran Khan for the judiciary for its role on the polling day of
May General Elections. On 2nd August, PTI chairman appeared before the Court
but his two explanations were not accepted by the honourable judges on the
bench. He was given three weeks to resubmit a detailed reply.
The Chief Justice went to Quetta to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr and during his
stay the terror attacks in and around Quetta provided him an opportunity for his
favourite pass-time of FC-bashing. He was still busy in that when a sharmanaak
drama was enacted in Islamabad by Sikandar and Zamurad. The Chief Justice
once again rushed to take suo moto notice and summoned all concerned to
appear in the court on 19th August.
Activities on political front regained impetus as the date of bye-polls
neared. A Supreme Court judge was sworn in as CEC, who was immediately
confronted with demands to deploy Army in Karachi on polling day and ANP
and JI boycotting polls in the port city. Imran Khan and Maulana Fazl-urRehman hurried to exchange pleasantries as the election campaign began.
NEWS
Power politics: On 29th July, on the eve of presidential poll,
parliamentarians from the PPP staged a walkout in the National Assembly to
protest the change of the date by the Supreme Court. Ameen Faheem said his
270
party would end the boycott if the election was held on its original date. Nawaz
Sharif said: The PPP will realize its mistake of boycotting the presidential
elections in the future.
Rana Sanaullahs public sulk about MQM almost killed the understanding
reached between MQM and ruling PML-N about presidential election. it took a
flurry of meetings and news conferences at the either side to heal the fissure the
Punjab minister made by saying his opinion of this (MQM) party was
unchanged and was the same as it was in the past. Meanwhile, JUI-F was the
last to announce its support for PML-N candidate.
Next day, the Parliament and the four provincial assemblies; despite
boycott by PPP, ANP, PML-Q and BNP-Awami; elected PML-N candidate
Mamnoon Hussain as the countrys 12th president with an overwhelming
majority as he secured 432 votes against 77 of PTIs Justice (r) Wajihuddin
Ahmed. Mamnoon Hussain will be sworn in to replace President Zardari upon
the completion of his five-year term on September 9.
Registering a voters turnout of almost 79 percent, in the bigger break-up,
a total number of 887 lawmakers of total 1,124 voters from the Parliament and
the provincial assemblies exercised their right to vote. The total strength of the
Electoral College becomes 1,174, including 50 vacant seats.
We cant force anybody to participate in the election, CEC Justice (r)
Fakharuddin said, in a referral to the boycott, while announcing the election
result in a brief media interaction evening. It would have been good if they had
not boycotted, but nobody can force anybody into voting or anything.
Some say that by the boycott, the PPP leadership, under a well-thoughtout plan, were trying to target the judiciary to counter it on its planned action
against President Zardari over his pending graft cases. Though PPP senior
leaders deny these notions, insiders insist it is lining up opposition forces to
mount pressure on the judiciary and the government to stop them from
reopening the corruption cases against the outgoing president as his
constitutional immunity will end with the completion of his five-year
presidential term.
President Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif felicitated Mamnoon
Hussain on his election to the office of the President of Pakistan. Unlike his
predecessor, the outgoing President Zardari, Mamnoon Hussain soon after his
victory resigned from the basic membership of PML-N in a bid to establish that
he had become symbol of the federation and had quitted the party politics.
Talking to media persons at Parliament House, PTI Chairman said that
their participation in the presidential elections have exposed the 'political
romance' between the PML-N and MQM and quickly added that it was
consensus view of the participants in 2007 All Parties Conference that till the
271
time MQM would not bring its militant wing to an end, no talks would be held
with the party. He said that his party would soon be bringing a white paper on
the elections rigging and would present solid evidence of rigging before the
nation.
On 31st July, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (r) Fakhruddin G
Ebrahim stepped down, a day after he supervised the presidential election,
maintaining in his resignation letter that he has quitted to give a chance to the
next CEC to lead the next general elections. This comes as sudden yet long
pondered over development linked to CECs reported reservations over the
Supreme Courts role regarding the electoral issues and cases pending with the
court including lawmakers dual-nationality and fake degree issues, and local
bodies elections.
Requested to comment on the reported reservations about SC role in
election issues, the retired judge said, I dont want to get into it. I just hope
everybody plays their role for the betterment of democracy and prosperity of
Pakistan. The CEC had first decided to resign a month ahead of the general
elections, in April this year, when the SC was hearing a case on the voting right
to overseas Pakistanis. On the requests of ECP Secretary Ishtiak Ahmed Khan
and the four commission members, he had reviewed his decision then.
The president signed the commission of appointment in respect of
Muhammad Sarwar as Governor Punjab. Spokesperson to the President Senator
Farhatullah Babar said that in terms of Article 101(1) of the constitution,
Governor of a province shall be appointed by the president on the advice of
prime minister.
On 4th August, Imran Khan announced said that Maulana Fazlur Rehman
accused him of being a Jewish agent; therefore he would take him to the court.
Next day, the ECP officials said that organizing Local Government elections
across the country was not possible in September as 90 days were required after
lawmaking. According to the ECP, a minimum of 60 days are needed for
holding Cantonment election after completion of legislation. The officials said
that all four provinces have not finalized their legislative work necessary for the
Local Government elections; therefore it is impossible to hold the elections in
September as directed by the Supreme Court.
In Punjab, PTI and PML-Q announced boycotting the meeting of Special
Committee on Local Government Bill on the plea that the provincial
government has changed the schedule unilaterally. PML-Q Deputy
Parliamentary Leader Waqas Hasan Mokal said the provincial government had
told the opposition parties that the session of the committee would be held on
August 13, but it had summoned the meeting on 27 th of Ramazan to block
oppositions participation.
272
decided to register its protest by staying out of the by-election. He, however,
said they would support Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates in the polls.
276
security lapse that exposed security apparatus. The house, which was to start
debate on Presidential address, spent most of the time discussing different facets
of the incident in which accused Sikandar kept hostage one part of the capital
for over five hours.
Deputy Speaker Murtaza Javed Abbasi, on the repeated objections on
treasury benches, asked State Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab to
ensure governments response on the issue. On it, Shaikh assured the house that
the government would share a detailed response with the house on August 19.
During the hearing of missing persons case the Chief Justice expressed
displeasure of the live airing of a dramatic stand-off in the federal capital a day
earlier. The media's live broadcast gave the impression to the world that one
man was enough to hold the federal capital hostage, he said. The chief justice
questioned chairman of Pemra over what action he had taken against all those
channels which had aired the six-hour long fiasco live. Pemra Chairman, Rashid
Mehmood responded by expressing his helplessness saying that he had no
powers to take any action.
While the doctors in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS)
struggle hard to save life of gunman Sikandar, Capital Territory Police
registered an FIR against him and his wife under Terrorism Act in Kohsar police
station. Security agencies are, however, conducting investigation into the
apparent and hidden motive of the injured attacker Sikandar. And the way
Zamurad Khan was given a go ahead to approach the attacker moments before
the administration had decided to conduct an action against the assailant.
On 17th August, taking notice of Tariq Asad advocates petition, the chief
justice fixed the hearing for August 19 to hear the firing incident at Jinnah
Avenue Islamabad where a an armed man kept the federal capital hostage for
more than five hours. Petitioner has sought formation of a Judicial Commission
to probe the matter to see if there was any conspiracy behind this incident. He
has made federation (through Interior Secretary), Islamabad inspector general of
police, chief commissioner and PEMRA chairman as respondents.
The Ministry of Interior has formed a three-member committee to probe
the incident of a high drama led by armed man Sikandar on the Jinnah Avenue
of the capital on August 15. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif taking notice of the
incident had sought report from the interior ministry as to who was responsible
for the delayed action to handle the armed man. The PM had also sought who
permitted Zamurad Khan, the local politician, to get close to the armed man as a
result of which the high drama ended. After the botched attempt of Zamurad
Khan to get control over Sikandar, the capital police had to take unplanned
action and he was arrested after critically injured with the gunshots of the
police.
277
Next day, it was reported that corruption and corrupt practices cause an
estimated loss of Rs12 billion, including Rs7 billion tax evasion, daily to
national exchequer. The tax-to-GDP ratio currently stands at an alarmingly low
rate of nine per cent of the GDP. The government needs to demonstrate a strong
political will and a clear direction to check both the evils.
Interior Minister and senior officials of ministry of interior, police and
district management were on the same page when they discussed pros and cons
of the incident of Sikandar. Media played a destructive role throughout the
incident. We had planned to get hold of the gunman without hurting him.
However, it was electronic media which not only confused the law enforcement
agencies but also compelled them to go on back foot, one of the senior police
officers said during the high profile meeting chaired by the Interior Minister.
Nisar criticized police, arguing how did Zamurad Khan managed to break
the red line in presence of senior police officials. Meanwhile, unofficial leaked
report of three-member inquiry team established to investigate the firing
incident pointed out failures in communication mechanism of security forces
during the incident on August 15. Nisar gave another 48 hours to the inquiry
team to complete the task.
278
the Contempt of Court Ordinance, 2003. Aitzaz said that freedom of expression
was the fundamental right of every citizen which the court should respect.
On 2nd August, the Supreme Court did not accept PTI chairman's
explanations for uttering scandalous remarks against the judiciary and gave him
until August 28 to resubmit a detailed reply, saying it was not a matter of
personal ego but of the respect and dignity of the institution of judiciary. The
bench headed by Chief Justice heard the contempt of court case of Imran Khan,
who allegedly declared that judiciary's role in the general elections was
shameful. He presented verbal and written replies but the court deemed them
insufficient.
Imran, instead of seeking an apology for his alleged remarks, submitted
two written explanations, preceded by a verbal response, which all were
rejected and the court asked his counsel Hamid Khan to file a comprehensive
reply. The second explanation said, The press statement was made in good
faith...wherein reference to the 'judiciary' was for the Returning Officers and/or
District Returning Officers assigned to the election process... Mr Imran Khan
has high respect and esteem for the Supreme Court and he has high
expectations from the court for redress of PTIs election grievances.
The bench observed that the word shameful that Imran Khan had used
in his press conference tantamount to abusing the courts, which should have
been avoided. It said if PTI chief thinks that by using the word judiciary he
was only referring to lower courts then he should know that under Article 175 of
constitution the word judiciary is used for the Supreme Court and high courts.
The CJ said Imran was not an ordinary person so he must be careful in
selecting the words. If PTI chairman had grievances then the remedy was
available, he added. There was no effort on the part of the Imran Khan to
ridicule the court. The chief justice said they have did not say Imran should seek
apology for criticizing the judiciary.
Earlier, the PTI chief came on the rostrum and said that six years ago he
had started struggle for the independent judiciary. He told the chief justice that
he spent eight days in the jail for him. Justice Chaudhry said it was not only him
but a large number of media persons, labourers, political workers and lawyers
who offered sacrifices for restoration of free judiciary. Many of them even had
to lose their jobs, but their struggle was not for the sake of a person but for an
institution. Latter, speaking to media outside the SC building, Imran Khan said
he stood by each and every word he said.
On 4th August, Imran said he would appear before the Supreme Court
with full preparations and would defend himself. Free judiciary is the first
point in the manifesto of PTI and we have always been in the frontline in its
defence, he said. He said that he could never think of insulting the courts,
adding he only raised a legitimate objection regarding the role of Returning
279
Officers in the general elections. Imran said the PTI would issue a White Paper
on August 16 regarding the large scale rigging in the general elections 2013.
These were the most controversial elections in the history of Pakistan, he said.
On 7th August, the Control of Narcotics Substances Court Special Judge
Muhammad Arshad Tabbasum, while hearing the case of controlled chemical
Ephedrine, has directed seven accused including Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, the
former MNA of N League, to appear before the court on 16 th August. The antinarcotics court also extended the interim pre-arrest bails of two accused
Khawaja Asad and Salim Akhter in the same case till August 16.
On 16th August, an anti-narcotics court provided the copies of challan
submitted by Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) to six accused including former MNA
of PML-N and owner of a pharmaceutical company, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi,
in ephedrine smuggling case. The other five accused include Ghazanfar Ali,
Muhammad Nasir Khan, Rana Mohsin Khurshid, Siraj Ahmed Abbasi, and
Nazakat Khan. However, the court could not frame the charges against the
accused and adjourned the hearing till September 2.
Reportedly, FIA has recovered Rs25 million in one of the cases connected
with EOBI Scam in which land had been purchased at much exorbitant rates
than the actual value near Kallar Kahar, The Nation has learnt. A senior FIA
official said that Maqsoodul Haq was the landowner who had sold it to EOBI
and now he had voluntarily handed over a cheque of Rs25million to the FIA
investigators.
Taming military: On 30th July, a trial court fixed the sixth of August
for framing charges against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf in the
Benazir Bhutto assassination case. Besides Musharraf, copies of the charge
sheet have been handed to Saud Aziz and Khurram Shehzad, former city police
officer and former superintendent of police, respectively, and five other accused
in Adyala Jail.
The court however de-freezed Musharrafs bank accounts and property
and set aside the plea FIA had filed for their seizure. The former president was
brought under stringent security checks after the judge warned on the last
hearing that the trial would be barred if Musharraf did not obey the court orders.
Meanwhile, Balochistan High Court rejected the bail application of
Pervez Musharraf in Akbar Bugtis murder case while a special anti-terrorism
court once again issued his production order, directing the police to produce
before the court on next hearing. ATC Quetta-1 rejected Pervez Musharrafs
pre-arrest bail application and issued production order after which he moved the
high court. The court had reserved the judgment on the last hearing.
On the other hand, Special ATC Quetta-1 also heard the case, during the
hearing, expressed resentment over former provincial interior minister Shoaib
280
Nosherwanis absence from the court and non-arrest of Musharraf. The judge
remarked that despite clear orders of the court the main accused of the case was
not being produced though arrest warrants for him had been issued. The court
once again issued arrest warrants for Musharraf, directing the police to produce
him before the court on August 19.
On 1st August, in view of the hardship of its employees, the Supreme
Court allowed the DHA to withdraw Rs52 million from its frozen bank accounts
for the payment of salary and pension to its workers. Upon the objections raised
by Zulfiqar Maluka and FIA, the court directed Irfan Qadir the counsel for
DHA Islamabad and Rawalpindi to furnish the statement of balance of amount
and also place before it all the documents about the deal. The counsel undertook
to unveil all the facts about the case.
Earlier, Muhammad Bilal advocate, along with the EOBI chairman,
argued the case. The chief justice inquired from the counsel whether the
institute got the documents of properties duly vetted by legal experts before
entering into transaction. Bilal informed that Babar Sattar was legal expert of
EOBI in Islamabad. He gave the opinion that the transaction was against the
Pepra rules but EOBI may obtain opinion from other experts about the issue.
The court noted that Babar Sattar advocate wrote an article in an English
daily, in which he had discussed the merit of the case at considerable length and
a programme based on the article was also aired by a private TV channel. Babar
in his article had criticized the court for taking suo moto on EOBI issue.
The bench noted that Babar Sattar was on regular roll on EOBI until June
2013. The chief justice said that instead of writing article in the newspaper, he
should have come to the court. The court also directed the chief executive
officer of the channel to produce CD/DVD of the said programme along with
complete transcript before next of hearing. The case was adjourned until August
21.
In the Benazir Bhutto murder case a medical report of an alleged killer of
FIA prosecutor was submitted before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). During
the hearing, Adiala Jail Superintendent informed the court that on the court
directives, a three-member medical board was constituted and after examining
the alleged killer, the board in its report suggested that he did not need
hospitalization and further medical assistance.
He further told that the board was of the view that the injured would
recover naturally. Advocate Rao Abdul Rahim, the counsel representing the
accused, told the court said that he had not yet received the medical report. He
was of the view that he could argue only after reviewing the report. The court
directed the jail authorities to provide a copy of medical report to the lawyer of
the accused. Later, the court adjourned the proceedings till August 5.
281
On 6th August, a trial court could not frame charges against Pervez
Musharraf in Benazir Bhutto murder case, as the law enforcers did not produce
Musharraf before the court owing to security threats. The court postponed the
hearing in the case till August 20 with issuance of new production orders
against the former president.
On 13th August, the Supreme Court directed the Secretary Ministry of
Defence to provide the details of MI Major Haider, who is allegedly involved in
the enforced disappearance of Tasif Ali. Abida Malik, wife of Tasif Ali, claimed
that Major Haider of Military Intelligence, had taken away her husband last year
and since then she had no information about him.
Since March 18 this year the Supreme Court has been hearing the cases
of missing persons on a regular basis. In many cases the involvement of
intelligence agencies officials is alleged. The court directed the Secretary
Defence to inform within 10 days where Major Haider is presently posted and
what are his duties. The court directed the police to continue the investigation
and submit its report and adjourned the hearing for three weeks.
Meanwhile, hearing the disappearance case of Zaheer Ahmed Gondal,
advocate Rawalpindi Bar Association, the bench issued notice to ISI, MI, IB,
and asked the Punjab police if they would fail to recover him then the IGP
Punjab should himself appear before the Court.
Rs6.59/unit hike in the power tariff for Azad Kashmir, which has reached
Rs12.22/unit. Previously, it was Rs5.63/unit.
The government is all set to increase the tariff of domestic consumers
from October 1. However, the power consumers using 200 units in a month
would not be affected by the said power tariff hike. Although power rates for
domestic consumers will be increased from October 1, the highest hike of 73pc
will be on consumption of units up to 300 per month, the tariff going up from
Rs8.11/unit to Rs14/unit.
For the consumers using from 301 to 700 units, the tariff will be
increased by about 30pc (from Rs16 per unit to Rs12.33). Those using more
than 700 units will face an increase of 20pc (Rs18 per unit from Rs15.07). The
rate for peak load exceeding 20kw will increase by 52pc to Rs12.50/unit from
Rs8.22.
Commercial Consumers: The tariff for commercial consumers has been
increased to Rs18 per unit from the current notified tariff of Rs14.77, up by
22pc. Regular 20kw commercial rates have gone up by almost 65pc to Rs16 per
unit from Rs9.72. The TOD rate for commercial consumers has been increased
to Rs18 per unit from Rs13.20 for peak consumption while off-peak rates would
rise to Rs12.50 per unit from Rs8.01. And temporary commercial rates will
remain unchanged at Rs15 per unit.
With the addition of 81 paisa per unit equalization surcharge for all
industrial consumers, the tariff for B-1 consumers has increased from Rs10.51
to Rs15.31 per unit. The B-1 TOD peak rate has increased to Rs18.81 per unit
from Rs13.99 while off-peak rate will jump to Rs16.31 per unit from Rs8.22.
The B-2 tariff has gone up to Rs14.81 per unit from Rs9.14; B-2 TOD
peak rate to Rs18.81 per unit from Rs12.77 and off-peak rate to Rs13.11 per
unit from Rs8.01. The B-3 TOD peak rate has been raised to Rs18.81 per unit
from Rs12.68 and off-peak rate to Rs10 per unit from Rs7.75. The B-4 TOD
peak rate has been increased to Rs15.31 per unit from Rs12.37 and off-peak rate
to Rs9.91 per unit from Rs7.46.
On 18th August, it was reported that Federal Board of Revenue is
scheduled to take a decision in couple of days Ito increase prices of compressed
natural gas (CNG) by Rs2.50/kg. The welfare-oriented PML-N government,
following the imposition of a heavy GST on CNG, will now jack up its price,
which is being used by 3.7 million vehicle owners of the country.
minister, Shah said that under the 18th Constitutional Amendment provinces
have complete control over the natural resources and any attempt to limit this
authority and control would be just opening up of a Pandora box.
Additional Secretary of the PPP and Opposition leader in the Senate,
Mian Raza Rabbani in a press conference alleged that federal government was
violating the Constitution since it came to power. Flanked by PPP Sindh
General Secretary Taj Haider, Waqar Mehadi and Rashid Rabbani, he said
PML-N government was moving to establish a one unit system in the country,
but the democratic forces would foil this plan through peaceful struggle in the
parliament and on the streets.
Raza Rabbani said the PPP would contact the ruling parties of the three
smaller provinces to get resolutions passed from the three provincial assemblies
against this plan. Besides it, Senate session would be requisitioned to discuss
the federal petroleum ministers statement about amending the Article 158,
which uphold the first right of the province on the natural gas where well-head
is located.
PPP Senator, who had led the parliamentary committee for constitutional
reforms, condemned the statement of Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who
disclosed that the government was mulling to roll back the 18th amendment and
abolish Article 158, which relates to gas sharing. He said that federal
government has reduced gas share of Sindh, which is violation of the Article
158 that allows a province producing gas to supply the commodity to others
only after meeting its own needs.
VIEWS
Power politics
The fall that nearly killed me possibly saved my life: I had been told I
was number one on the terrorist hit-list, although who the terrorists would be
was anybodys guess. There are perhaps 25 militant groups which now call
themselves Taliban and any one of them could have been hired by my political
opponents.
There had already been damaging smears, including the claim that I was
part of a Zionist conspiracy to take over Pakistan. It was a dangerous allegation,
and one that sounds crazy given my vehement opposition to drone strikes and
the so-called war on terror. But the threat to my life was all too real.
It is an irony, then, that a serious assassination attempt was prevented
only by an accident and the fact that I spent the closing days of the Pakistan
election campaign in a hospital bed.
The fall that nearly killed me quite possibly saved my life
285
And this is how I nearly met my end. The fork-lift rose in a series of jerks
and the security men surrounding me formed a barrier. This meant I could not
see there wasnt a guard rail around the platform.
Losing my balance, I leant over to where I thought the safety barrier
would be and grasped at thin air. I somersaulted downwards, landing on my
back from a height of about 18ft. The next thing I knew I was coming round in
hospital, with doctors stitching up a head wound.
I also suffered a punctured lung, a crushed vertebra, three more chipped
or fractured vertebrae, and concussion. I was lucky to be alive. My great fear as
I lay there was that I was going to be paralyzed.
Ive always been fit; Im now 60 and Ive never known a life where I
wasnt in control of my body. I found myself prey to morbid thoughts,
something completely out of character. I thought in particular about the victims
of drone attacks and terrorist bombs. We always hear about the dead, not so
much those who end up maimed. That was my great fear: not death, but being
disabled.
As I regained consciousness, however, I started feeling all my toes,
fingers and limbs, and I realized I hadnt lost any sensation. My relief was
intense.
Later, CT scans showed I had indeed come very close to being paralyzed.
The bullet-proof vest Id started wearing only a few days earlier had acted as a
cushion, and absorbed some of the shock of the fall.
I knew I was fortunate in more ways than one. The Almighty had been
looking out for me that night. I could easily have sustained brain damage.
But there was something else, too: if I hadnt been in hospital I could
have been dead. Pakistans home minister came to visit and told me of an
assassination attempt scheduled for the day after my fall
My fitness undoubtedly helped me recover quicker. Another factor has
been the fact that I got injured several times as a fast bowler, so I have the
advantage of knowing how to bounce back.
The support Ive had from my family, friends and ordinary Pakistanis has
been overwhelming. I was touched to discover there were crowds camping
outside the hospital and praying for my recovery.
My ex-wife, Jemima, the mother of my two sons, called immediately
after hearing the news, worried about the impact the TV images would have on
our boys. My sisters, one of whom is a doctor and my nephews were all at my
bedside. There is much to be optimistic about. Yet the discovery that I had
avoided an assassination plot serves to illustrate that Pakistans multiple crises
are as serious and threatening as ever
286
To anyone who knew the country even ten years ago, the level of
extremism and violence now is almost unimaginable. It is fuelled by the belief
that in attacking militants in tribal areas, the army and the government have
become tools of American policy. Every time there is a drone strike, there are
revenge bomb attacks in the settled areas and cities, especially in the KPK.
Drone attacks approved by the Pakistani government and it is an
established fact that Musharraf gave his permission for them to be carried out
have enabled militants to justify their call for jihad, and this has led to suicide
bombings, our national scourge.
Each drone attack, each operation against militants in tribal areas leads to
more Pakistani dead, and the level of violence, along with a surge in extremism,
will lead to a radicalization of our society. It will only diminish when Pakistan
starts to control its own territory and its destiny again, and disengages from this
American-led war.
Last month in the High Court in Peshawar, in a case brought by families
of drone attack victims and supported by my party, the judge forced the
governments chief representative in the autonomous tribal area of Waziristan to
produce a statistic we had often demanded but never received: how many
people, militant or civilian, have been killed by drones.
What he said was horrifying: in the past five years only 47 militants have
been killed, while the number of ordinary Pakistani victims has reached 1,500
and that does not include the 330 now missing limbs.
Yet I still have hope. Once again, I face each new day with excitement. I
was hugely cheered when NATO General Nick Carter said recently that we
should have been talking to the Taliban ten years ago. Thats what Ive been
saying for many years the only way out of this crisis, and to rebuild our
country, is to reach a political settlement. Imran Khan for Daily Mail,
republished in TheNation 29th July)
Governance
Nawaz Sharifs slip-ups: The PML-N and in particular Nawaz Sharif
have in the past suffered from tactical weaknesses. A glaring example was the
way Sharif tried to dismiss the Chief of Army Staff in 1998. It was a move clumsy and lacking finesse. It cost him his job and earned for him
imprisonment, exile and deep misery. Earlier, he had run into serious trouble
while relating himself with the then Presidents Ghulam Ishaq Khan and Farooq
Ahmad Leghari.
Adversity had no doubt chastened him. His Charter of Democracy was a
remarkable act of wisdom. His conduct during Zardaris regime earned for his
party the epithet of a friendly opposition. He was criticized for not playing the
role of a watchful player. But he stuck to his plea for the survival of democracy
287
so that the system would continue. A balance sheet has, however, yet to be
drawn of the gain and the loss, this approach cost his party and the country.
In character with his indiscretions or defaults indicated above, he
unwittingly has provided grist to the mill of his critics, detractors and the
political opposition. The media and the opposition accuse him of giving too
much importance and patronage to his own province - the Punjab. In his
entourage of the trip to China and in the closet briefings at the ISI secretariat, a
prominent participant was the Punjab Chief Minister (who happens to be his
younger brother) while Chief Ministers of Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa were kept away. These acts of omission have been repeatedly
mentioned in TV discussions. There also are charges of inaction and lethargy in
taking urgent and important decisions. For instance, two months have elapsed
and the Cabinet in Balochistan has yet to be completed because the Prime
Minister has no time to attend to this task. The Balochistan Chief Minister has
publicly complained about this lapse. Why are the vital posts of Pakistans
Ambassador at Washington and London still unfilled? Where is the new security
policy and strategy? Why this dilly-dallying?
Add to these faults, the sudden dash of the leading PML-N leaders to
Karachi to embrace (erstwhile unwholesome) the MQM. What a song and
dance, it was! The PML-Ns earlier view of Altafs party was repeatedly aired
by TV channels. If at all such a somersault was considered politically necessary,
couldnt this be done in a different way, maybe in a sober and dignified fashion?
Last but not the least, a word about the way the presidential election has
been handled. Surely, a more acceptable approach might have been found to
arrive at a suitable date for the election, in consultation with PPP and PTI. It is
most unfortunate that the newly-elected President has become controversial
with the second largest political party abstaining from voting for the office.
There are yet more arrows in the detractors bows: a transaction or a
financial act that may have dubious undertone. Like the Nandipur cost
escalations and payments to certain parties, also in regard to the circular debt
disbursements. Such charges and insinuations must be dealt with sensibly, at
once. If not immediately addressed, they stick and do a lot of damage.
As a final word, Prime Minister Sharif possesses extensive political
experience. He faces enormous and extremely exacting problems and
challenges. He has a good team and considerable political clout. Yet, he needs to
unlearn a little to avoid the mistakes and slip-ups like the ones identified in this
column. To succeed in his formidable tasks, besides political vision and
expertise in governance, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has to be careful in the
way he proceeds to do things, avoiding tactical pitfalls and slip-ups.
(Inayatullah, TheNation 3rd August)
288
289
killing innocent civilians, including women and children, because those who
send the drones are very powerful and lend us money. They say we must listen
to the advice of discredited and thoroughly exposed international financial
institutions like the IMF because we cannot run our economy without them.
They see the entire spectrum of donor-driven NGOs with their carefully
designed discourse boosting all sorts of fragmented identities to pave the way
for divide-and-rule, as our saviours.
Have you ever wondered why we dont hear any serious questioning of
the war on terror framework from the mouths of these so-called intellectuals
and leaders? Isnt it strange that along with our leadership of every hue, our
experts on economy never bother to see the gaping holes in the neo-liberal
mantra of privatization and a convoluted concept of free trade that is free only
to the extent of forcing us to open up our markets to whoever the powerful wish,
without any reciprocal access to the markets that they carefully protect?
Isnt it a crying shame that our so-called intellectuals and leaders dont
have the courage to denounce the imperial project in the Middle East? That
there is a deafening silence when it comes to the systematic destruction of a
peaceful Syria at the hands of the champions of democracy and human rights?
Why they dont talk about the roots of sectarian violence that have been
uncovered in the process as deplorable instruments of sowing chaos and regime
change? Dont they see the same strategy at work in the land they speak for?
Nothing in our country will get better unless we address the underlying
cause of our various troubles. Those leading our opinions and our nation could
keep spinning deceptive yarns about this or that problem, analyzing them to bits
and suggesting solutions that refuse to see beyond their empire-sanctioned
cocoons, but that would solve nothing. They might pledge their loyalty to the
country and express devotion to the welfare of the people, crying crocodile tears
for the common man and how his struggle for survival is getting harder, but
those will remain words without meaning or conviction.
Without an independent perspective that defines and guide us, we will
continue to be little more than tools in the hands of those busy setting the planet
on fire. If you ask me, we are yet to embark upon our journey to any meaningful
independence. (Jalees Hazir, TheNation 19th August)
Shooting the messenger: On Thursday night, an armed man,
accompanied by his wife and two children, entered into a standoff with police in
the heart of Islamabad. The stalemate lasted five hours and ended only after the
intervention of an unarmed civilian forced the police to act.
In the aftermath of this incident, the Chief Justice of Pakistan ordered the
Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) to issue a show
cause notice to media channels that covered the event live. PEMRA complied,
291
and in the notice alleged that such coverage violated the terms of their licenses
that prohibit broadcasting anything encouraging terrorism or inciting violence.
PEMRAs argument is debatable at best, flawed at worst. The media has a
responsibility to inform citizens of important events, especially those
concerning their security and safety of movement. There is no justification to
assume that covering such incidents incites violence, or that this particular
incident was triggered by exposure to media coverage. The onus of proving
such assertions rests with PEMRA.
If the government genuinely believed that a media blackout was
necessary for it to apprehend the assailant, it would not have been difficult for it
to jam phone transmissions from the area. The governments capacity to do so
has been demonstrated on several occasions, such as Ashura, when there is
heightened risk of militant activity.
While we do not believe that broadcasting the event was inappropriate, in
and of itself, it is important for the media to be open to criticism of any excesses
that might have been committed in the coverage. Interviewing the gunmans
children, especially once their father was in hospital with serious injuries, was
insensitive and unnecessarily traumatic for minors. Similarly, there was little
need for the local media in Hafizabad to air the familys wedding photographs
on TV.
Media coverage of the Jinnah Avenue confrontation cannot be proven to
have incited violence or promoted terrorism. Rather, it simply depicted reality
and served an informational need. The fact that such incidents are becoming
increasingly frequent is a symptom of deeper structural causes in society, than
media coverage. PEMRAs notice to television channels is simply a case of
'shooting the messenger'. (Editorial, TheNation 19th August)
Judiciary
Can sharamnaak be khatarnaak? The current raging debate on the
usage of the word sharamnaak by Imran Khan (IK) in his public
pronouncements is about the actual meaning and inference of the word.
The issue has taken on so much importance because IK was called by the
Supreme Court to explain just what he thought he was doing when he was
alleging that the behaviour of the monitoring authorities of the general elections
(the Election Commission and the judiciary) was, in his opinion, sharamnaak?
Apparently, the august court was not satisfied by the explanation that was
submitted by him and has rapped him on the knuckles to go back, stand in a
corner and come back when he felt chastened enough to make amends.
292
REVIEW
Islamabad incident involving Sikandar and his family undoubtedly
exposed the weaknesses in the security of the federal capital. But its live
coverage by dozens of TV channels for hours with random comments was
unwarranted. The media had no justification to make mockery of the system
for saving which its anchors had been harping day in and day out.
Within moments the telecast of drama began one could make out that
Sikandar was mentally abnormal person. The police on the spot rightly chose
not to rush for the drop scene. Arresting him alive without causing harm to his
wife and two children was a wise decision; though in doing that lot of time was
wasted giving chance to all sorts of media intellectuals to ooze out their
wisdom.
Hamid Mir, in his daily programme taunted at Sikandar for demanding
enforcement of Islamic rule while puffing cigarettes. Mir forgot that in Pakistan
293
there has been a political leader, projected as the best of all produced since
Quaid, who used to talk of Islamic socialism after consuming a bottle of whisky.
A reporter at the site left Mr Mir far behind as he compared Sikandar with
Maulana Ghazi of Lal Masjid.
While covering the incident the TV teams violated their own code of
conduct in many ways. The worst was rowdy conduct of media camera teams
when the Police told them to maintain the safe distance. Immediately, the Police
was accused of roughing up the civilized citizens belonging to the newborn
sacred cow in Pakistani society.
The drama, which was started by a made man, ended with appearance of
another mad man on the scene. The former MNA of PPP was perhaps still under
shock of the defeat of his party in general elections and he chose to tackle
Sikandar to draw attention of disenchanted voters.
This was the biggest mistake of Police officers in charge of the situation
to allow Zamurad to do what he did. On the face of it Zamurad acted bravely
but in doing that he not only risked his own safety but also exposed all those on
the site to dangers which could have been disastrous. In doing that he also
interfered in the work of police officers on duty.
Nevertheless, the mad man No 2 earned spontaneously applaud courtesy
the TV channels. This worked as a tonic for him and his party leaders, who were
badly in need of something which could help them to stand up again. Zardari
and Zardari-cum-Bhutto immediately commended his bravery.
Rana Sana from Faisalabad termed the act of Zamurad stupid, but he
could not stop the opposition from availing the opportunity for taking political
mileage. Federal ministers retreated to hideouts and did not turn up in National
Assembly next day. This was undoubtedly a cowardly political conduct
especially on the part of Ch Nisar who was perhaps busy in proof-reading of the
anti-terror strategy he was evolving.
The government ordered probes and the CJP has taken the matter into his
own hands. Everyone should wait for the answers to some of the questions
related to Zamurads bravery and Sikandars services as security guard of
Zardaris children in Dubai. Meanwhile Police should have Zamurad on the list
of volunteers and call him when a genuine suicide bomber is encountered in
Islamabad.
19th August, 2013
294
UNFLINCHING RESOLVE
The surge of militancy that started with the installation of new democratic
government in Islamabad continued during the period under review. The
security forces carried out some successful raids in Lahore, Quetta and
Peshawar capturing information cells and explosives. Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharifs offer of peace dialogue earned mixed response from Pakistani Taliban.
However, the armed clash between Sunni and Shia groups in Darya Khan area
gave a dangerous turn to the ongoing bloodshed across the country.
Since killing of five Bharti Soormas at the hands of Kashmiri freedom
fighters Indian occupation forces have been expressing their frustration by
violating ceasefire along Line of Control almost on daily basis. But, this
relentless unprovoked aggression has not dented the resolve of Nawaz Sharif
government to improve bilateral relations with India.
The government persisted in its resolve for dialogue during the period in
which four Pakistani soldiers, including an officer, were martyred by Indians.
Backdoor diplomacy was also revived and letters were exchanged at highest
level. The motivation behind these good will actions could be seen in the long
distance call from John Kerry to Nawaz Sharif.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 12th August, a bomb exploded outside the house of a
journalist partially damaging the building. The journalists urged the government
to ensure safety of the working journalists and asked the government to
announce Shuhada Package for the journalists.
Central leader of PPP, Senator Raza Rabbani asked the PML-N
government not to merely rely on the civil and military bureaucracy in
formulating the National Security Policy of the country, emphasizing inclusion
of the political parties and parliament in the policy making process. He unveiled
six suggestions for the federal government to make a national security policy to
eliminate terrorism from the country.
UN Ban Ki-moon has said that Pakistans role in promoting peace and
stability in Afghanistan following the US troop withdrawal in 2014 will be
295
among the main topics his discussions with Pakistani leadership during his twoday visit to Islamabad, beginning Tuesday. Referring to the security vacuum to
be left behind by troop pullout from Afghanistan, he said, There should be a
strong regional cooperation. This is why I am visiting Pakistan. It is one of our
priority agendas, which I will be discussing with Prime Minister (Nawaz) Sharif
and President (Asif Ali) Zardari.
Responding to a question about the deep concern and anger in Pakistan
over the continuing US drone strikes in the country that have killed and injured
many civilians, Ban urged the countries or any group operating armed drones to
strictly adhere to the international laws regulating UAVs (unmanned ariel
vehicles). The UN really and strongly urges that all these UAVs should be
strictly regulated and controlled under international laws, including
international humanitarian laws.
About recent surge in terrorist activity in Pakistan, Ban said, I am very
much saddened by all that has happened in Pakistan... I strongly condemn these
heinous terrorist attacks against civilians. This must stop. This must be stopped.
When asked how the rampant terrorism in Pakistan can be brought under
control, the secretary-general said terrorism is something which needs a
collective and coordinated response of the whole international community.
Next day, Ban Ki-moon categorically stated that drones should be used
only for collection of information in accordance with the international laws.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of International Centre for Peace and
Stability in Islamabad at the National University of Science and Technology, the
UN Secretary General said every effort should be made to avoid civilian
casualties in the use of armed drones.
With a view to fighting war against terrorism in a more organized way,
the federal government has decided to establish a joint intelligence secretariat
representing all the civilian and military intelligence agencies in order to
coordinate all the intelligence sources of information, Interior Minister said.
Addressing a press conference after giving a briefing to the prime minister on
National Security Policy (NSP), the interior minister said that they were both
ready for peace and war.
The minister said that a plan was under way to establish a
Counterterrorism Rapid Deployment Force at the federal level and that would
be replicated at the provincial levels. This force will sift area on the basis of any
intelligence report and would quickly respond after any terrorism incident.
Nisar said the federal government would make NACTA (National
Counter Terrorism Authority) an effective body within two months and all the
vacant posts in the authority were being filled on urgent basis. Rejecting the
criticism of media on the PMLN led federal government for its failure to give a
national security policy, he said it was too early to criticize and a draft of the
296
National Security Policy (NSP) would be presented to the prime minister within
next two weeks.
The minister said that they had finalized homework on proposed all party
conference (APC) to from comprehensive counterterrorism policy and they had
negotiated with all the parliamentary parties on the issue. The date of APC
would be finalized within this month, he said. The government would place
four options before APC, either to continue with the present policy, to start
dialogue with the militants, initiate strong action or a policy should be adopted
having mix of dialogue and action, he informed.
On 14th August, Nawaz Sharif after meeting Ban ki Moon said Pakistan
would work for a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and give all assistance for an
Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process. Nawaz vowed to continue
combating terrorism and Ban said UN will be pleased to support Pakistan in this
fight. The prime minister said the government was fully cognizant of masses
concerns on the menace of terrorism and extremism, adding, the people also
know that such challenges come in the history of nations and they fight these
with unity and courage. Nawaz said Pakistan is a nuclear-weapon state and an
important regional power, and any decision about the region cannot be taken
without the involvement of Pakistan.
Next day, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told the National Assembly
that what is happening in countrys streets and neighbourhoods is our war.
Speaking on a point of order, Nisar said the security situation of the country is
grave and we will have to pay a heavy price to deal with it. He said the
federal government is in the process of formation of the strategy and urged the
provincial governments to also devise their own effective policies in this regard.
On 16th August, unknown persons barged into the house of Najma Hanif
in Hayatabad and opened firing, killing her on the spot. Najma was a candidate
for one of reserved seats for women in KPK assembly. Najmas husband, Hanif
Jadoon and 16-year-old son were killed in suicide attack in 2011. ANP chief
Asfand Yar Wali Khan has condemned the incident and expressed grief over
losing an important party leader.
On 19th August, in his first speech since the general elections, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif called a spade a spade, admitting that the countrys
institutions have failed on almost all fronts, including the war on terror. He
offered an olive branch to the militants and promised to explore all possibilities
of talks but at the same time expressed his determination to eliminate the
menace of terrorism from the society even through use of force if need be.
The PM said terrorism is a menace which has plagued Pakistan due to
bad policies. He said over 40,000 Pak Army soldiers, security agencies
personnel, policemen and civilians have lost their lives. He invited the
individuals for dialogue who have taken up militancy. Nawaz Sharif said it is
297
time for bold review of our foreign policy as without the scant national
resources cannot be exploited for the good of the poor and progress and
prosperity of the country. He said his dream to make Pakistan an Asian tiger is
deeply linked to this.
The PM said that drone strikes were against both the international laws
and the national sovereignty. He said he reiterated to US Secretary John Kerry
that drone attacks are a violation of the countrys sovereignty and asked him to
stop this violation. He said UN Secretary General has also expressed concern
over killing of civilians in these attacks. The PM said, We will have to pursue a
policy on Afghanistan that highlights bright face of the country in the comity of
nations.
The prime minister said situation in Balochistan is of concern for every
Pakistani as innocent citizens are being targeted by the killers. He said this state
of affair cannot be allowed to persist and the federal government would provide
all support to the provincial government for restoration of peace and
development of Balochistan.
Nawaz said it is his desire to see peace and prosperity in Karachi, which
is nerve centre of the national economy. I am sure Sindh government will be
able to tackle the issue of violence in Karachi, as the city could not be left on
the mercy of criminals. He said he wants development of Karachi and a plan of
underground metro service in the city is on the cards.
Before the address to the nation, Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez
Kayani called on PM Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad and they discussed current
wave of terrorism and security issues. They also discussed proposed national
security policy to be finalized soon to control terrorism. The army chief briefed
the PM on important defence-related matters and the border situation. Punjab
CM Shahbaz Sharif was also present.
Earlier, the Diamer Police claimed a major breakthrough in the
investigation of the Nanga Parbat massacre by arresting over 20 attackers
following a targeted operation. We reached the hideouts of the terrorists
involved in the assassination of security officials, foreign tourists and sectarian
killings on Karakoram Highway and Naran-Kaghan road (Lolo Sar) after
tremendous efforts, Superintendent of Police Diamer District said.
These men also carried out sectarian killings during 2012 in Harban Das,
Lolo Sar points in which Shia passengers were lined up after identification and
shot dead, he informed. He added that men were behind the killings of foreign
tourists in Diamori Point of Bunar Das and the investigators of Nanga Parbat
massacre including a SSP, a colonel and a captain were also traced.
He lauded the joint efforts of Pak Army, law enforcement agencies and
police in apprehending the criminals and added: The intelligence agencies
298
played a pivotal role during the operation. In another two days, we will reveal
more details about the terrorists that we have arrested. Due to the sensitivity of
the issue, we cant give out anymore information, the official said. He added
that the arrested individuals would be tried in Diamer district court and none of
them would be sent to any other place.
Next day, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies raided a house in
the Green Town area of Lahore and detained six suspected persons including
four women. The arrested persons are described as militants with links to a
banned terrorist outfit. The suspected militants have been shifted to some
unknown place for further interrogation.
Sources stated that the militants compound was on the radar of the
intelligence agencies since the neighbours complained to the authorities after
noticing suspicious activities taking place inside that residence. The house,
located near the Kot Lakhpat Jail, was sealed soon after the local police and
reporters rushed to the site to dig up more details.
The raiding team seized several gadgets, computers, handsets, and
communication tools. The suspected militants were running an illegal telephone
gateway exchange in the house for communication with the terrorists network.
Initial investigations revealed that al-Qaeda had been using the gateway
exchange as an international technical hub.
The Lahore police widened the search action against the suspected
persons and detained over three dozen men from different parts of the provincial
metropolis. A police spokesman said that the search action was launched on the
orders of DIG (Operations) to keep a check on the movement of the suspected
elements.
The US Treasury set economic sanctions on a Pakistan Islamic school it
branded a terrorist training centre supporting al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The
Treasury said the Ganj madrassa in Peshawar was being used as training and
recruiting base by the two militant groups, as well as the radical Lashkar-eTaiba blamed for the November 2008 Mumbai attacks.
The head of the madrassa, known as Shaykh Aminullah, has been a US
and UN-designated terrorist since 2009, for his support for Al-Qaeda and the
Taliban. But it was the first time a madrassa generally, schools managed under
Islamic principles has been the target of sanctions, which forbid any
Americans from having any business interaction with it, and freeze any of its
assets that come under US jurisdiction.
While calling for an end to armed drones strikes, Pakistani diplomat
backed the UN human right chiefs demand that the United states and Israel
clarify the legal basis for the use of unmanned aircraft in Pakistan, Yemen and
Gaza. We believe that such strikes violate international humanitarian law; and
299
300
security agenda with the aim to formulate a national security policy that will
become the guiding framework for its subsidiary policies defence policy,
foreign policy, internal security policy and other policies affecting national
security.
On 23rd August, unknown armed persons kidnapped three people
including two brothers from Ibrahimzai area of Orakzai Agency. The search
operation was under way. A bomb blast occurred in Bazid Khel area at Kohat
Road, Peshawar when a convoy of security forces was passing through; no
casualty was reported.
In an interview with British daily The Telegraph, Nawaz Sharif said: My
responsibility is to restore peace in Pakistan and bring the genuine security that
will allow economic development. To achieve this goal I need to explore an
option of direct dialogue with the Taliban, as Britain negotiated with the Irish
Republican Army to resolve the conflict in Northern Ireland.
The Punjab Assembly passed a unanimous resolution against drone
attacks on Pakistan, urging the federal government to convey the US that these
attacks were not acceptable at any cost. Jamaat-e-Islami parliamentary leader Dr
Waseem Akhtar said such resolutions had been passed by various assemblies of
the countries, but the US government did not honour them. He asked the federal
government to order the army to shoot down US drones.
Next day, TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid told a foreign news agency
that TTP Shura led by Hakimullah Mehsud has sacked TTP Punjab chief
Ismatullah Muavia. But Muavia rejected the TTP decision saying that the
Punjabi Taliban were independent and the TTP had no authority to remove him.
PM Nawaz Sharif had offer conditional peace talks to Taliban in his first
televised address to the nation. Muavia had welcomed PMs offer and praised
him by saying that he had shown maturity by offering dialogue.
The TTP spokesman said Muavia was not authorized to comment on the
government offer therefore he has been expelled from the organization the TTP
Shura which met under Commander Hakimullah Mehsud. He also said they
would come up with their response to the talks offer latter but made it clear that
they would never accept the pre-condition of laying down arms.
Federal Information Minister Pervez Rasheed told The Nation on
Saturday the government has not shunned the option of talks with Taliban.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar also clarified that there was no precondition
for the Taliban to lay down arms before dialogue could be held. If conditions
are set by both sides up front, dialogue will not take place, he said in an
interview with a private TV channel, showing a major shift in government
stance.
301
303
A representative of the FC, while talking about the missing persons issue,
informed the court that communication could not be established with the IGFC,
who has remained absent from court proceedings. The court also instructed the
deputy attorney general and the advocate general to record the statements of the
heirs of all missing persons whereas a report over the missing persons was also
submitted in court by the FC. Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry summoned IGFC
for the next hearing.
He further said that the Ziarat incident was sensitive in nature adding that
no one was serious about the issue and that the situation was deteriorating day
by day while mentioning the recovery of five bodies in the area a day earlier.
The court also summoned for the case's next hearing the Chief Executive
Officer of a private new channel again over the airing of a video, showing
footage of the destruction the Quaid-e-Azam residency in Ziarat. The court had
earlier said that the airing of destruction of national heritage sites was against
the constitution of Pakistan.
On 18th August, unidentified armed assailants attacked an FC check post at
Sariab Road of Quetta; resultantly, two FC personnel were killed and another
received critical wounds. One of the attackers was also killed and another
received serious wound in the ensuing clash. The injured attacker however
managed to flee the scene. Four more people were killed in other attacks across
Balochistan.
On 20th August, Frontier Corps foiled a terror attempt as it seized more than
100 tons of explosives during a raid at a warehouse in New Addah area in
Quetta. Explosives recovered from the hideout included potassium chloride,
aluminium chloride, improvised explosive devices, detonators, circuit wires and
other ammunition. Ten suspects were also arrested during the operation that
lasted for more than one hour.
In another development, law enforcement agencies arrested dozens of
suspects during various raids and targeted operations in Quetta. Being tipped
off, Frontier Corps, Police and Anti Terrorist Force carried out joint raids in
various parts including Sariab, Kili Qambrani, Sabzal, Satellite Town and
Western Bypass.
Next day, one person was killed and two others were wounded in a remotecontrolled bomb blast in Mastung. On 23 rd August, a bullet-riddled dead body
was found in Kalat. On 24th August, a complete wheel-jam and shutter-down
strike was observed in various Baloch-dominated towns of Balochistan against
the alleged extra-judicial killings of political workers, enforced disappearances
and recovery of bullet-riddled bodies of Baloch political activists and members
of the civil society. The strike call was given by Baloch National Front.
Turf war: On 12th August, at least six people were killed in various
incidents of violence in Karachi. Next day, nine people were gunned down in
304
separate incidents of target killing. On 14th August, nine people were gunned
down in separate incidents of target killing.
Next day, five people, including a worker of PPP were gunned down in
various incidents of target killing. Separately, three police officials including a
deputy superintendent of police and four alleged gangsters were killed while
four other cops including two SHOs were injured in a shootout in Gulshan-eIqbal. On 16th August, at least 11 people were gunned down in various violent
incidents.
On 18th August, five people were gunned down in ongoing violence in the
metropolis. On 21st August, the unabated target killing claimed 16 lives,
including a army soldier, in various incidents in the city. Next day, one person
was killed and 18 others were injured including 10 personnel of Army in a
roadside bomb explosion in the port city. The blast was aimed to target the
convoy of Pakistan Army passing through a Korangi area after the completion
of their duties during the by-polls.
On 23rd August, eleven people, including political workers were gunned
down in various incidents. Next day, at least 10 people were gunned down in
various violent incidents in the city. On 25 th August, tension simmered in many
neighbourhoods of Karachi as in a fresh wave of ethno-sectarian violence at
least 13 people were killed.
Sectarian militancy: On 23rd August, eleven people were killed when
members of two sectarian groups clashed in Bhakkar. Six people died on the
spot while five others, hurt in the clash, succumbed to injuries later. The clash
was between Ahle Sunnat Waljamaat (ASWJ) members and a Shia group in the
town. The conflict followed a protest rally by ASWJ over the killing of one of
their members. The Majlis-e-Wahdat-e-Muslimeen condemned the clashes and
declared three days of mourning.
Three people including curator of a seminary were killed in the suburbs of
capital Islamabad when gunmen opened indiscriminate firing at the madrassa.
The Madinatul Ilm madrassa, belonging to Deoband sect of Islam, is situated by
the Islamabad Highway. The incident took place when people were coming out
of the mosque, situated next to the madrassa, after night prayers.
Next day, curfew remained imposed in Bhakkar and other nearby areas on
second consecutive day as tension persisted after deadly incident which claimed
12 lives. As many as 17 people were still missing following the sectarian
clashes. Tension was in fact escalated once again and gunshots were heard and
violence reported in Darya Khan, Kotla Jam, after the funeral prayer was
offered for four abductees whose bodies were recovered after an armed clash.
Bhakkar city presented a deserted look as people mourned their dead and
injured. The businesses, routine life and academic activities remained suspended
305
due to curfew in various areas. An indefinite curfew was imposed from 10am
onwards in Bhakkar and other restive districts in order to ward off any further
violence.
On 25th August, three more dead bodies were recovered in sectarian-hit
Bhakkar, while authorities lifted curfew claiming that normalcy has been
restored in the district after two days of clashes between two armed sectarian
groups. Recovery of bodies brought the overall death toll to 15 in four days.
306
307
were also held in Mirpur, Kotli, Bagh, Rawalakot, Bhimbher, Neelam Valley,
Hattiyan, Haveli, Sudhanoti, and other small and major towns across AJK.
The Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution jointly moved by the Treasury
and the Opposition, to condemn the ongoing Indian aggression on the Line of
Control. The House demanded of the Federal government to raise the issue at
the international level to mount pressure on India to abide by the international
laws.
Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that there was no immediate
recommendation being considered to grant India the status of most favoured
nation (MFN). Speaking in a TV programme, Dar said there was a need to
normalize relations with India on a number of issues.
Nawaz Sharif urged India to sit together and make a new beginning in its
ties with Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries.
He said before 1947 people of Pakistan and India used to live together, adding
that now 65 years of independence have passed and both the countries needed to
improve their ties for betterment and prosperity. We must become good friends.
Hold each others hands. We must sit together with open and clean heart, he
said.
In an interview the UN Secretary-General, who is visiting Islamabad at a
time of escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, voiced his concern over
the renewed violence at the border in Kashmir and called on both the
neighbouring states to resolve the Kashmir and other bilateral issues through
peaceful means. Ban also offered his good offices for mediation on Kashmir
issue.
While I am saddened by the loss of lives in the course of all this conflict,
I am relatively, reasonably encouraged by the recent move by both sides to
engage in dialogue, to resolve their source of conflict through dialogue that I
will strongly welcome and support, Ban said in response to the question. He
noted, I know that this (Kashmir) is a long-standing issue, but the UN military
observers have been trying to prevent any conflict (across) the Line of Control.
But you should know that UNMOGIP is not mandated with any political role.
So, these political issues should be handled and discussed by the leaders of both
governments.
Next day, responding to Nawaz Sharifs call for a new beginning in
relations, India on Tuesday said talks cannot take place as long as New Delhis
concerns stay unaddressed. Addressing a press conference, Indian Ministry of
External Affairs spokesperson said, We welcome Pakistan Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharifs hand of friendship. However, we want to tell Pakistan that there
will be no talks if Islamabad fails to respond to New Delhis concerns. Pakistan
must also respond immediately on killing of five Indian soldiers along the LoC
recently.
308
PM Nawaz said his government would explore all avenues to ease tension
with India and start dialogue process to address all outstanding issues. The UN
chief said he wholeheartedly welcomes all efforts to tackle serious challenges
at home and strengthen relations with your neighbours.
Meanwhile, Pakistan and India accused each other of provoking violence
as a week of cross-border shelling threatened to derail attempts to resume peace
talks between the nuclear-armed rivals. Indian army said a group of unidentified
gunmen had tried to cross into India in the first infiltration attempt from the
Pakistani side since the August 6 incident, provoking its servicemen to open
fire. Two gunmen were killed.
There was no immediate comment from Pakistan's army on the latest
Indian accusation, but military sources in Islamabad said one Pakistani civilian
was killed earlier in the day in Battal Sector as a result of unprovoked Indian
shelling. Two other incidents were reported elsewhere on the border.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs conveyed that the visit of Pakistani
Zaireen to participate in the Urs of Hazrat Amir Khusro (RA) in Delhi, India has
been cancelled. A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs read that the
visit, scheduled for August 22 to 29, 2013, had been canceled due to security
reasons.
Next day, unprovoked mortar shelling from the Indian army injured one
woman in the Nakyal Sector of Kotli. Manmohan Singh, in his Independence
Day speech, minced no words to warn Pakistan against anti-India activity.
Meanwhile, amidst continuing ceasefire violations and volleys of allegations on
both sides of the Pakistan-India border, the Prime Ministers of the two nucleararmed neighbours extended courteous felicitations to each others nations on
their respective Independence days.
In Azad Jammu & Kashmir, people observed India's Independence Day as
black day in protest against the illegal occupation of the large part of Jammu
and Kashmir and registered their deep concern against the ruthless use of force
against the innocent people of occupied Kashmir who have been struggling for
their right to self-determination guaranteed by the United Nations and the India
as well.
On 16th August, Indian troops continued violations of LoC in Kotli and
Battal sectors by opening unprovoked firing. They targeted civil population and
fired over 800 mortar and artillery shells injuring six civilians in Kotli Sector. It
was 34th violation in last 12 days.
Next day, Indian army aggression on the Line of Control continued as
two civilians sustained injuries in an unprovoked mortar firing in Nakial Sector,
which continued for three hours. Pakistan army, in a bid to silence the Indian
guns, retaliated, but the Indians started targeting the civil population with the
310
help of heavy weapons. In Nakial Sector alone Indian army has fired over 800
mortar shells during the last three days.
Meanwhile, Indian army chief General Bikram Singh has directed his
battalion commanders deployed along the LoC to be aggressive and offensive
in the face of provocation by Pakistani forces. In an interview, Singh threatened
to retaliate against Pakistan for the alleged killing of its soldiers.
A mob vandalized a joint exhibition by acclaimed Pakistani and Indian
artists in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. The show, which featured works by 11
Pakistani and six Indian artists at the Amdavad ni Gufa gallery, aimed to
showcase the development in art and artists of both countries for more than 60
years but was cut short when over a dozen men stormed the exhibition and tore
down everything from paintings to windowpanes.
Indian police claimed they had arrested a top militant accused of helping
mastermind the 1993 Mumbai blasts and over 40 other deadly bomb attacks
across the country. Seventy-year-old Abdul Karim Tunda, an alleged member of
the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) group, was arrested by a special Delhi police
team near the border with Nepal yesterday.
Meanwhile, Pakistan government decided at the highest level to resort to
active back-channel diplomacy to lower temperatures on both sides of the
border and to ensure that the 29 September meeting between the prime ministers
of India and Pakistan is held as scheduled in New York. In Delhi, Indian
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid also made it clear in a television
interview that while the military was to respond to the developing situation on
the LoC, diplomatic options were to be decided by the government.
On 18th August, despite Pakistan's goodwill gesture of announcing release
for Indian prisoners, the neighbouring country again indulged in unprovoked
firing and shelling at Line of Control posts in Kotli districts Nakyal Sector.
Three civilians and a soldier were injured as India continued heavy shelling
between 02:00am and 04:00am using both small and heavy weapons including
artillery.
Next day, in his first address to the nation the PM said Kashmir is a
national issue and the nation is fully prepared to defend the motherland along
with its valiant armed forces. Terming Kashmir as the jugular vein of Pakistan
Premier Sharif reiterated his wish to have good neighbouring relations with
India, saying that people supported his contention during recent elections. He
said stability and prosperity of a nation is linked to good relations with its
neighbours.
The PM said, It is responsibly of Pakistani and Indian leadership to
understand that wars of the past have ruined our relations. He said both
311
countries should realize that instead of wasting their energies and resources on
wars they should wage war against poverty ignorance and disease.
India said it was running out of patience with what it alleged Pakistan
army-backed transgressions across disputed Kashmir. Indian Defence Minister
AK Antony said it was clear that specialist troops of the Pakistani army were
involved in the attack on the soldiers whose deaths triggered criticism that the
governments posture toward the neighbour had been too soft.
Antony demanded that Pakistan act against its troops involved in the
latest incident as well as the killing of two soldiers back in January, one of
whom was decapitated. Naturally, this incident will have consequences on our
behaviour on the Line of Control and for our relations with Pakistan, he told
parliament, referring to the de facto border between the two countries in the
disputed Kashmir region. Our restraint should not be taken for granted.
Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson, commenting on PM
Nawaz Sharifs address, said Washington encourages further dialogue between
the two countries to resolve all issues, including Kashmir. We believe Pakistan
and India can work through any issues through dialogue and we encourage
that, State Department Spokesperson said.
On 21st August, Pakistan Army Captain was martyred and another solider
seriously wounded in unprovoked Indian shelling at Shakma Sector (near
Skardu) on Line of Control. Pakistani forces effectively responded to the firing
and the exchange of fire continued for around three hours. The Foreign Office to
once again summon the Indian Deputy High Commissioner in Islamabad and
lodge a strong protest over the continued ceasefire violation. An Indian army
official came up with counter allegation, telling Reuters that Indian troops came
under heavy mortar and light-machine gun fire from the Pakistani side in the
Kargil region.
Nawaz Government announced to release 338 Indian fishermen,
including eight juveniles, detained in Juvenile Jail on August 23. These
fishermen will arrive at Wagah border on August 24 by eight buses. A
spokesman for the Pakistan Fisher folk Forum said their organizations officials
with Legal Aid Office would present gifts to the freed Indian fishermen. He
called it a favourable decision and appealed to the Indian government to release
Pakistani fishermen also.
Next day, unprovoked Indian firing across LoC in Rakhchakri Sector near
Rawlakot killed two Pakistan Army soldiers and wounded at least two civilians
including a woman and a child. Foreign Secretary called Indian High
Commissioner to the Foreign Office and conveyed Pakistans serious concern
over the continued and unwarranted ceasefire violations. NA unanimously
adopted a resolution against Indian violation of the ceasefire agreement.
312
313
VIEWS
Pakistan
A war of survival: Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khans point that it was not an
easy task to formulate national security policy, though true in the sense that
conflicting views about what means to adopt to counter the growing scourge of
militancy and lawlessness prevail among the different stakeholders, betrays
PML-Ns failure to have done its homework, while in opposition for five long
years. The Interior Minister was answering a question at Quetta, where he
traveled several days after a terrorist attack which left 30 dead.
It is axiomatic to say that oppositions in democracies have responses to
the challenges facing their countries ready to implement, as soon as they get the
chance of occupying the seat of power. At best, the policies would call for
finishing touches to be given. The more than two months that the PML-N has
been in power now, would have been sufficient for it to have had a
314
the present COAS to expire, and then have a freehand? If true, these options
give a poor and uneducated account of their knowledge in military sociology
and its robust corporate and inclusive culture. Whatever? The limbo is
emboldening the militants. This leads to the conclusion that none of the parties
in power have a policy narrative of how peace will be negotiated with militants,
leaving hapless citizens and law enforcement agencies at the mercy of terrorism.
Islamabad is a case in point.
This indecision, expediency and lack of management capacity are a bad
omen for a post-exit Pakistan. As opined in Doha Initiative (The Nation June
22, 2013), the most dangerous variant could be reversing fronts of AfPak like
switching North Pole. As winter approaches and conflict in Afghanistan
hibernates in frigid weather, lawlessness in Balochistan and Karachi could peak
to engage Pakistans law enforcement agencies. Unfortunately, this is happening
earlier than appreciated. Time and tide do not wait. (Samson Simon Sharaf,
TheNation 17th August)
Terrorism - challenge and response: What makes the job of managing
and ultimately eliminating terrorism most challenging are the inbuilt,
convoluted complexities. It is not merely a question of dealing with the Afghan
and Pakhtun militant elements. There are other local operators and foreigners as
also religious extremist militant groups. Not to be forgotten is the fact that there
are still close to two million Afghan refugees, some of whom are lured to join
the ranks of militants on promise of payments. Then there are foreign agencies,
like Blackwater and CIA contractors. There is further the probability of Indian
involvement in the militancy in Pakistan.
There is further need for governments federal, provincial, and local to
follow up the military operations and rebuild a new effective administrative
system in Fata and some other areas.
Our two immediate neighbours on our east and west are by no means
friendly. Both are in a relation of partnership and enjoy the patronage of the
most powerful state in the world. Despite its nuclear assets, Pakistan has been
reduced to a divided, weak, badly-managed, and insecure country. Without the
restoration of law and order, it will go on deteriorating. The first and most
urgent task is to get rid of the menace of terrorism, which has been threatening
its very existence? (Inayatullah, TheNation 17th August)
The menace of terrorism: The roots of the menace of terrorism in
Pakistan can be traced to our flawed internal and external policies in the past.
What we need is a comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy, which should
cover adequately the various dimensions of this problem. A partial approach
simply would not do.
To begin with, we need to recognise that there is a virtual international
consensus against the menace of international terrorism. While our declaratory
316
317
no one's grip; some have formed private armies and now operate in South,
North Waziristan and other areas. Once we accept this fact only then will we be
able to completely eliminate the scourge.
It is only by a firm response, in which terrorists are brought to justice,
that the country can hope to avoid being further plunged into the bloodshed it is
already wallowing in. (Editorial, TheNation 25th August)
The appetite for negotiations: The governments desire to bring the
TTP to the table may be reflective of popular public sentiment, but a successful
settlement with the extremist faction requires a lot more than just that. The
objective of a terrorist organization is to create an atmosphere in which people
fear for personal safety, challenge the writ of the government and intimidate
institutions into meeting its demands by threats of violence. The job of the
government, should it choose to accept it, is to protect the lives and interests of
its people. Which, of the two, have been more successful in achieving their
objectives can be ascertained after a reading of the morning newspaper on any
given day.
While it is true, most conflicts end on the negotiation table, the position
from which a government negotiates is crucial to the process. As of now, the
government extends a bandaged hand in thin air.
The truth is that the TTP feels no pressing need to enter negotiations. The
government needs to take serious steps, even of an aggressive nature if
necessary, to put the Taliban in a compromised position where a dialogue offer
would be music to their ears.
The TTP must be made to feel that they stand to lose a lot more than they
can gain, should they foolishly choose to turn down the offer of talks. The PM is
advised not to rely on the TTP, or any other militant faction for that matter, to
hold dear the same desire for peace, as him. The TTP has demonstrably
displayed time and again, in Sharifs less than 100 day tenure, that it does not
share his enthusiasm for talks.
The time for second-guessing and delay is over. An action, of one kind or
the other, as long as it ensures peace in the country, must be taken -- now.
(Editorial, TheNation 25th August)
Confusion about talks: Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif had
probably not intended for his talks offer to make the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) split, but that is the effect it has had. The decision of the central TTP
leadership on Saturday to expel its Punjab chief for accepting the talks offer
Mian Nawaz made in his telecast last Monday also illustrates that the TTP
represents a coalition, not a single organization, and thus the problem the
government has caused for itself in making the talks offer: who will it talk to?
The TTP faces the danger of a split after Asmatullah Muavia, the Punjab chief
319
deposed by the TTP Shura, refused to accept the decision, saying the Punjabi
Taliban were independent.
The problem seems to be compounded by Muavias being the face of the
Punjabi Taliban. Punjab has been so far relatively protected against the TTPs
activities, but if the government was to negotiate with Muavias outfit, would
that be acceptable to the TTP. Conversely, if the government wished to talk to
the TTP, considering that it has told all militants not to contact the expelled
commander; it is not easy to see any agreement reached with it honoured by
him.
Another source of confusion is within the ruling PML-N. Punjab Law
Minister Rana Sanaullah told a private TV channel that the government and the
Army were not on the same page as regards the talks. This was hastily corrected
by Federal Information Minister Pervez Rashid, who said that they were. Not
only is Senator Rashid more likely to know as a member of the Cabinet Defence
Committee, but the Army is very much a part of the government, and would
have to be supportive of any talks offer. Still, Rana Sanaullahs statement
reflects a fear held even by senior activists of the ruling party. Unless this is
dispelled, and talks are seen as being held between negotiators who represent
their principals completely, they will not be meaningful.
The main bar to such talks, which are the continued attacks across the
country are themselves the biggest reason the government should indeed give
up the idea of talking to the Taliban. The Taliban who are killing people in cold
blood, it would be nonsensical to assume they will keep their promise.
Now that the present confusion has arisen within the TTP, it is for the
government to use it to its advantage, create more confusion and fissures within
the militants so as to be able to pounce on them with enough force. (Editorial,
TheNation 26th August)
India
Indian aggression: India continues to escalate aggression along the Line
of Control, by another violation this Eid weekend, which led to an exchange of
artillery fire in several areas of the Sialkot Sector, continuing till Monday. A
man was killed and his sister wounded. It was almost as if this was in
fulfillment of what Information Minister Pervez Rashid on Sunday said about
Indian guns being trained on Pakistan. He said that India had not done well by
doing so, in an interview to Nawa-i-Waqt, and emphasized that Pakistans
restraint did not mean any compromise would be made over delivering a
befitting response should our patience be tried further. He also said that the
attitude of the Indian government made it seem that it was suffering some
internal difficulties of its own.
320
counterpart, yearns for peace. It is high time; the majority of the peace-loving
citizens across both sides of the divide take charge to impede this insanity and
give peace a chance, lest Euripides prophesy is proved correct. (S M Hali,
TheNation 13th August)
Border tensions: Pakistan has tried to show due restraint in what is a
trying situation, but India appears to have thrown all caution to the wind, with
its rejection on Tuesday of Pakistans offer of talks. The demand, expressed by
the Indian External Affairs spokesman, that outstanding issues be addressed by
Pakistan, especially the Mumbai attacks, amounts to pointing a loaded gun at
PM Mian Nawaz Sharifs head.
India has shown no restraint, blasting away on the LoC with artillery,
fomenting an attack on the Pakistani High Commission, and tolerating attacks
on the Delhi-Lahore bus. This contrasts with the dignified response by Pakistan,
which has tried to respond in a manner which shows its desire for peace, though
not at the cost of its national dignity. Mian Sahibs insistence on peaceful means
to resolve issues in the face of Indias hysterical outcry has, in fact, raised his
stature, revealing how small the leadership across the border is!
There is a certain appropriateness in Ch. Nisar addressing the matter at a press
conference on national security, for though he spoke mostly about militancy, the
border situation also forms a vital part of the sense of security of the citizen.
Instead of pointing fingers and tying to distract world attention from its actions,
India should engage in self-scrutiny, so that it can identify where it went wrong.
Pakistan has no desire except to improve its relations with all, on the
basis of peace and justice. However, it is India which has the problem it is
refusing to resolve, that of illegally and forcibly occupying Kashmir. One of its
own installations there, Farooq Abdullah, has called for talks with Pakistan,
where the Kashmir issue will be discussed, primarily how the UN-supervised
plebiscite to determine the will of the Kashmiri people. That is the only way out
of the present situation. (Editorial, TheNation 15th August)
Indian Army Chief's tirade: At the same time as Pakistan has decided
to activate back-channel diplomacy to end the LoC confrontation with India,
jingoists on the Indian front are going about fanning the flames of the
confrontation, and showing a hostility that does not respond at all to the Nawaz
governments oft-expressed, pre-crisis, desire for better relations. One is moved
to pity for the Nawaz government, seeing the response it is getting from India.
While the statement by Indian COAS Gen Vikram Singh reflects the
official stand of the Indian government, the vandalism at an art exhibition in
Ahmedabad reflects that the Indian opposition is more adamantly opposed to
Pakistan than the present government. Given the total lack of a manifesto, the
opposition is trying to unite the Indian people under an anti-Pakistan agenda.
322
The exhibition, at which 11 Pakistani and six Indian artists exhibited their
works, was vandalized by workers of the Vishwa Hari Parishad (VHP), as
admitted by the Gujarat VHP general secretary. Ahmadabad is not only the
capital of Gujarat, the place where riots were fomented in 2002 by Chief
Minister Narendra Modi, but is still his state capital. Still chief minister, Modi is
now head of the BJP, which is the political arm of the Sangh Parivar, of which
the VHP is also a key member, and which shared the VHPs Hindu supremacist
ideology.
Since the unmasking of Colonel Purohit, the links of the military with the
Parivar have become clear, so it was only natural, according to its own twisted
logic, for the workers of a Parivar organization to respond to the border
situation by trashing an exhibition.
Under these circumstances, Pakistan government's efforts to restart backchannel diplomacy display correct patience and responsibility, in contrast to
continuing Indian aggression.
Pakistan must convey the need for India to move towards a permanent
solution of the Kashmir conflict by allowing the people to exercise their
inherent right of self-determination. The flare-ups over the LoC have caused
loss of life to both sides. It is only in their own self-interest that the matter is
more permanently resolved, and the Kashmiri people can look forward to
beginning life under a government with full agency, not a forcibly installed
regime. If only the Indians would realise this, as the Pakistanis have, as behave
more demonstrably like a responsible entity, instead of endangering a sensitive
ceasefire by their posturing. (Editorial, TheNation 19th August)
The will of the people: The key question today is as to the motive
behind the current wave of incidents along the Line of Control and Indias
intransigent refusal to enter into a dialogue with Pakistan, unless the latter
takes care of ground realities. One reason could be that with elections
approaching Indian Politicians are taking up the popular cry wolf slogan. The
other motive could be more sinister, when viewed in tandem with the sudden
escalation of militant and terrorist activity in Balochistan and Indian
involvement in fermenting trouble in that province.
Nevertheless, ground realities are that an armed conflict with its neighbor
is not the leading option with Pakistan, which is currently beset with domestic
issues. This does not in any way imply that the latter is incapable of a befitting
response if threatened by external adventurism. Another emerging reality isthat
a growing number of people in both countries are desirous of peace, but this
would only be possible when all parties lay its foundation on a mutually honest
and reciprocally dignified relationship. Regretfully, the Indian dream of
becoming a quasi-global power is based on the Chanakyan Doctrine, the
323
angrily accused the minister of deliberately choosing not to blame the Pakistani
army for the attack, amid attempts to revive peace talks with Pakistan. This
delayed response itself speaks volumes for an effort at balance among saner
voices in India.
Indias overall belligerency is in sharp contrast to the very positive and
friendly posture of Sharifs government ever since it came to power. Even in
face of Indian hysteria, he advised that Pakistan and India must take effective
steps to restore normalcy on the LoC. A restrained attitude towards the issue
was also displayed by the local media. What Indian media and Indian politicians
are doing most unfortunately, is putting at stake the chance of getting on with
improving relations with the fresh incoming government of Nawaz Sharif. This
is neither mature nor advisable. A reality check is needed-or do we accept the
advice a friend, Anthony Permal, gives in a tweet: The 'LoC' needs to be
renamed 'LoC': Line out of Control. (Yasmeen Aftab Ali, TheNation 20 th
August)
Captain Sarfaraz Shaheed: The situation on the Line of Control (LoC)
worsened on Wednesday, when Pakistan Army Captain Sarfaraz was martyred
in the early hours of the day, by Indian artillery fire. The firing from across the
border started at 45 minutes to midnight, and continued for three hours
The Indian establishment has been guilty of stirring up war hysteria,
including attacks on the Pakistan High Commission and the New Delhi-Lahore
bus, but the specious reasons India has been giving since August 6 for violating
the ceasefire in place since 2003 have not ceased.
The latest Indian violation thus was not isolated, but part of a pattern,
which was why it proved to be a focal point for Pakistani resentment, which
found expression in the National Assembly resolution condemning the killing. It
was also duly noted in the meeting of the Defence Committee of the Cabinet on
Thursday Though no one wants war, especially between two nuclear powers,
Islamabad must decide on a threshold beyond which its patience will be
exhausted in the one-sided quest for peace.
Perhaps the only sign in favour of peace is the sheer mindlessness of an
Indian-imposed war, which would mean destruction for both nuclear
neighbours.
India will find that Pakistanis may quail and hold differing opinions, but
when faced with a common threat, they will put aside those differences and
unite to face the common enemy.
Only a final settlement of the Kashmir issue would let the two countries
establish an international border and lasting peace. The issue must be settled in
accordance with the aspirations of the Kashmiri people, as determined in a UN-
325
Waters Treaty problem, Siachen, Sir Creek, et al. Only then will it be able to
grow in strategic reach and stature. It will then be able to take advantage of the
massive economic developments that are likely to take place in the SouthCentral Asian Region in the foreseeable future.
India has presumably loftier geopolitical and strategic designs and
ambitions. To seek them, it must free itself from the debilitating Pakistan
Syndrome. It is its call to make.
Appeasing India is unnecessary and redundant. Pakistan must always act
and conduct itself as a self-respecting nuclear power ought to. (Imran Malik,
TheNation 26th August)
REVIEW
Soon after the Eid-ul-Fitr, Ban ki Moon came to Pakistan on orders of
the US to ensure that its demands in the context of Afghanistan are fully met. It
was also reported that he was on mission to hire mercenaries from Pakistan
Army for deployment as peace-keepers in Syria and Egypt to serve interests of
the Crusaders and their allies ruling Arab countries.
His visit had nothing to do with the primary duty of Secretary General of
the world body i.e., to ensure implementation of resolutions passed by the
United States Security Council. Surprisingly no one in Pakistan reminded him
about resolutions on Kashmir dispute awaiting implementation. When a media
person drew his attention towards tensions along Line of Control, he was
gracious enough to offer his good offices for defusing it provided both sides
agreed.
As regards the dialogue offer to Taliban made by the Prime Minister, the
government should not be discouraged from the mixed response. Even if
Punjabi Taliban alone accept the offer, the government must go ahead and hold
talks. This could prove ice-breaking; a dozen militants giving up arms should be
taken as a success.
Due to killing of Maulana Akbar Saeed Farooqui of Ahle Sunnat Wal
Jamaat in Karachi on 25th August media gave new name of ethno-sectarian
war to turf war in Karachi. The killing of Sunni leaders and workers is not
new; so it remains a turf war between political mafias maintaining formidable
armed gangs operating with sinister criminal motives.
The involvement of Pakistan in Americas holy war for more than a
decade now has lot to do with arrogance of India. Pakistan Army must have
certainly told Prime Minister to defuse the tensions on eastern border because of
its limitations in fighting a two-front war.
327
PART FOUR
The last part of this volume comprises of quatrains from the last book of
Allamah Iqbal, the Armoghan-e-Hijaz. In these four liner poetical works, the
poet discusses some of the salient aspects of life and the related issues in the
light of Islamic teachings. All the quatrains are translated by Qazi Ahdul Kabir.
Before explaining the Message of Islam pertaining to the selected issues
he submits to the Muslims in these words:
HAZOOR-I-MILLAT
Majoo az mun kalam-e-arifanah; keh mun daaram sarisht-e-aashiqanah.
Sarishk-e-lalah gon ra andarein bagh; bifishaanam cho shabnam danah
danah,
[Mojh sey matasawwafanah kalam ki ummeid nah rakhh; mien aashiqanah
sarisht rakhhta hon.
(Mien shear naheeh kehta, balkeh) apney khoon amaiz aansoon ko shabanam
ki tarah iss bagh mien qatrah qatrah tapkata hon.]
Seek not of me the gnostics-verse and prose, as I hold the nature of faithful
beaux.*
The poppy like tears in this garden main,** I am flowing like dew drops grain
by grain.***
(*Pronounce bouz; lovers. **In the main; for the most part, on the whole.
***Garden; viz. country.)
SET 1: TIE YOUR HEART WITH HAQ
Ba-Haq dil bund-o-raah-e-Mostafa (S.A.W.) rao.
[Allah Taala sey dil laga aur Hazoor-e-Akram (S.A.W.) ki itbaa kar.]
Tie your heart with Allah Taala and follow the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.).
*****(1)*****
329
Beh manzil kosh manind-e-meh-e-nau; darein neili faza her dum fazon
shuo.
Moqam-e-khwaish agar khwahi darein deir; ba-Haq dil bund-o-raah-eMustafa (S.A.W.) rao.
[Naey chand ki manind mazil takk pohnchney ki koshish kar; iss fazaey
neilgon mein her dum barrhta ja.
Agar tou bottkhanah (-e-dunya) mein apna moqam pana chahita hai; tuo Allah
Taala sey dil laga aur Hazoor-e-Akram (S.A.W.) ki itbaa kar.]
Be nearer to the aim like a moon new; seek the higher heights with efforts anew.
A place in this lane if you wish to make; make a tie with God in the Prophets
wake.*
(*Basic ideas Seek a tete-a-tete with God in the Prophets wake. The ultimate
aim of each faithful (without distinction of cast and creed) is tete-a-tete with
God or the Wisal-i-Ilahi, for which Raza-j-Ilahi is a must. The Namaz, Roza and
Zikr are the necessary vehicles through which we strive to achieve the ultimate
aim of Visal-j-llahi. (Tete.a-tete of God is more appropriate than union here).
Raza-i-Ilahi, means) pleasure of God.)
*****(2)*****
Cho mouj az behar khod baalidah-um mun; bakhod misl-e-gohar
paecheedah-um mun.
Az aan Nimrod ba mun sargaran ast; beh tameer-e-Haram koshidah-um
mun.
[Mien mouj ki manind apney samandar sey othha hon; aur moti ki manind apni
nashv-o-noma per matwajah raha hon.
Nimrud iss leay mojh sey naraaz hai; keh mein Haram ki taamir mein koshan
hon.]
My selfs own sea gave a rise to me; it sharpend my wits like pearls in sea.
330
Biya saqi bagardaan saatgin ra; bifashaan ber duo geeti aastein ra.
Haqiqat ra beh rinday faash kardand; keh Mulla kum shinasad rumz-e-Deen
ra.
[Saqi! Othh aur jaam-e-maey aagay barrha; duonon jahanon per apna
daaman jhaarr dey.
(Iss dour mein) mojh jaisey rind per haqiqat faash ki gaeyi hai; kiyuonken
Mulla raaz-e-Deen samajhney sey qasir hai.]
Come O bearer* and move the cup of Wine**; and leave the worlds both under
long veils line***.
He raised all the curtains before this sot; the codes of His Path the Mullah
knew not.
(*Bearer means Iqbals own preceptor and religious guide. **Wine among
mystics of Indo-Pakistan and Persia is the terminology used for spiritual
guidance. The mystics of East are wont to talk in esoterics to avoid an air of
pride and boasts. ***I have added long veils line (after leave the worlds both) to
convery the true sense of this Persian phrase. Iqbal clarifies this sense in line 3
of this quatrain. (viz. curtains of pride, pomp and show, criticism, jealousy etc.
common with entire mankind).
*****(4)*****
Biya saqi niqab az rokh ber afgan; chakeed az chashm-e-mun khoon-e-dil-emun.
331
Beh aan lehnay keh ney Sharqi nah Gharbi ast; nawaey az moqam-e-La
takhaf zun.
[Saqi! Othh apney chehray sey niqab othha (aur deikhh); meyrey dil ka khoon
meyri aankhhon sey tapak raha hai.
Aur moqam la-takhaf sey iss laey mein; nawaraiz ho, jo nah Sharqi hai, nah
Gharbi.]
Come O bearer and raise the veils aside; cause my hearts blood dripping from
the eyes side.
From a tone which gives no East or. West trace; send a no fear note from the
no fear place.*
(*Send a La takhaf note from its place, was the best literal translation
(Latakhaf means fear not) as it was addressed to Moses by God.)
*****(5)*****
Baroon az seinah kash takbir-e-khod ra; bakhak-e-khwaish zun akseer-ekhod ra.
Khodi ra geer-o-mohkam geer-o-khosh zei; madeh dar dast-e-kas taqdir-ekhod ra.
[Apney seinah sey (naarah-e-) takbir bahar nikaal (zoban per la); aur apni
(iss) akseer ko apni khak per daal.
Khodi ko pakarr, mazbooti sey pakarr aur khosh reh; apni taqdir kissi aur kay
haath mein nah dey (khod apni taqdir bun).]
Raise from thy bosom a Call of God Great; hit thy own exir on thy dusty fate.
Gaurd thy ego ever, lead a life nice; to none give thy luck at any great price.*
(* From thy own dust (dusty fate) make thy own nexir: A call of God Great;
viz. Takbir of Arabic.)
*****(6)*****
332
Mosilmanan keh khod ra faash deidand; beh her darya cho gohar
aarmeidand.
Agar az khod rameedand andarein deir; bajan-e-tou keh murg-e-khod
kharidand.
[Woh Mosilman jinnhon ney apney aap ko poori tarah deikhh liya; woh her
daryaey (moseebat) mein gohar ki manind por-sakoon rehey.
Laikan agar woh iss bottkhanah (-e-dehar) mien apney aap sey garaizon
rehein; tuo, teyri jan ki qasam! Onnhon ney (apney haathon) apni mout
kharidi.]
As long the Muslim, in self can peep; like pearls they rest in the oceans deep.
From ego if you ran in this fane; your own death you buy for lifes bargain.*
(* Basic thought: Thus the Egos price he forgot when he took his own life with
own hands then.)
*****(8)*****
333
Beh Turkaan bostah dar-ha ra koshaadand; banaey Misriyan mohkam
nehaadand.
Tou hum dastey bidamaan-e-khodi zun; keh bey oo molk-o-Deen kas ra
nadaadand.
[Turkon kay leay bund darwazey khhol diay gaey; Misriyuon ki buniyad
mostahim kar di gaeyi.
Tou bhi khodi ka daaman pakarr; oss kay baghair (kabhi) kissi ko molk-o-Deen
naheen mila.]
Now all the shut doors for Turks are ope; the Egypts base would be firm I hope.
You give a rap too at the Egos door; none knew without it his faith and lands
lore1
(*The poet is explaining the condition of Turks during 1922 AD., when they
were surrounded all over by difficulties and so the Egyptians slater on. Land
and Fold; country and faith.)
*****(10)*****
334
Her aan quomay keh mi-raizad baharash; nasaazad joz beh boo-haey
rameidah.
Z-khakash lalah mi-rooeyd wlaikan; qabaey daarad az rung paridah.
[Her (zawal pazir) quom, jiss ki bahar ja choki ho; onnhi khoshbon ko seinay
sey lagaey rakhhti hai jo khatam ho choki hai.
Oss khak sey (gul-e-) lalah ogta tuo hai, magar, oss ki qabaey (sorkh) ka rung
orra hoa hota hai.]
A nation whose spring falls to decay; she always craves for the good old days.
A poppy grows though from her dusty gems; it also takes a gown of fading
stems.*
(*Here poppy means a young man (of that nation), when every young man of a
nation falls a prey to disappointment and makes no efforts for his revival. As
such the nations can regain their lost prestige by efforts alone.)
*****(11)*****
Khoda aan millatey ra sarwari daad; keh taqdirash badast-e-khwaish
banawisht.
Beh aan millat sarokaarey nadaarad; keh dehqanash baraey digaraan kisht.
[Allah Taala sirf issi quom ko sardari atta farmatey hein; jo khod apney haath
sey apni taqdir likhhti hai.
Allah Taala aisi quom sey koeyi sarokaar naheen rakhhtey; jiss ka dehqaan
dosaron kay leay khheiti bota hai.]
God gave that nation a sway oer lands; who shaped her fortunes with her
hands.
With that nation he keeps no links; whose farmer tills for others drinks.
*****(12)*****
Z-Razi hekmat-e-Quraan biaamoz; chiraghey az chiragh-e-oo ber afroz.
335
Walley ein noktah ra az mun fra-geer; keh natwaan zeistan bey musti-o-soz.
[(Bey shak) Razi sey Quraan Pak ki hekmat seikhh; oss kay chiragh sey apna
chiragh jala.
Laikan mojh sey yeh noktah samajh ley; keh musti-o-soz (ishq) kay baghair
zindah naheen raha ja sakta.]
From Razi thus learn the Qurans insight; from his lamp he lit up his own
lamps light.
But a point from me you must learn hence; that cant be life, lacking flame and
trance.*
(*No life is life without the Prophets flame of love burning in his heart.)
SET 2: EGO
Khodi
*****(1)*****
Kassey keh ber khodi zadd la-ilah ra; z-khak-e-mordah rooeyanad nigah
ra.
Madeh az dast damaan chonein mard; keh deidam dar kamandash mehar-omeh ra.
[Jiss ney apni khodi per la-ilah ki zarab lagaeyi; oss ney apni mordah khak
(badan) sey nigah paida kar li.
Aisey shakhs ka daaman nah chhorr; mien ney mehar-o-meh ko oss ki kamand
(tasaraf) mein deikhha hai.]
Who makes Ego firm by Lailahs tie; from lifeless sands can make a seeing
eye.
Lose not ever that mans greatest boon; in whose reach I see the Sun and
Moon.*
(*Iqbal has been looking for a fit man always and here he pinpoints the qualities
of that great man.)
*****(2)*****
336
Tou ay nadaan dil-e-aagah daryaab; bakhod misl-e-niyagaan raah daryaab.
Chisaan Momin konad poshidah ra faash; z-La moujood illallah daryaab.
[Ay nadaan! Tou dil-e-agah hasil kar; (aur) apney bazorgon ki manind apney
aap takk rasaeyi hasil kar.
Momin poshidah raazon ko kis tarah faash karta hai; yeh noktah la-moujood
illallah sey seikhh.]
O ignorant man get a knowing heart; in wake of thy elders learn thy own part.
Flow can a momin tell His Secret act; from La got the Allahs positive fact.
*****(3)*****
Dil-e-tou dagh-e-penhaney nadaarad; tabb-o-taab-e-Mosilmaney nadaarad.
Khiyaban-e-khodi ra daadaheyi aab; az aan darya keh toofaney nadaarad.
[Teyra dil (mohabat ka) dagh-e-penhan naheen rakhhta; yeh Mosilman (kay
dil) ki chamak aur hararat sey khali hai.
(Kiyuonkeh) tou ney khodi kay khiyaban ko iss darya sey sairaab kiya hai, jo
baghair toofan kay hai.]
Thy heart keeps not that hidden scar. A Muslims shine it lacks so far.
You always water the Soil of Ego; from a lake which knows no furious flow.*
(Literal: From a lake which knows no flood and great wave which sweeps every
thing.)
SET 3: ANA-AL-HAQ
Ana-al-Haq
*****(1)*****
337
Ana-al-Haq joz moqamey Kibriya neist; sazaey oo Chalipa hust ya neist.
Agar fardey bagoeyad sar-zanash beh; agar quomey bagoeyad narawa neist.
[Ana-al-Haq sirf moqam-e-Kibriya hai; (koeyi insan kehey tuo) oss ki saza
Salib hai ya naheen?
(Iss sawal ka jawab yeh hai keh) agar fard ana-al-Haq kehey tuo woh qabal-esaza hai; laikan agar quom kehey, tuo jaaiz hai.]
A place of I am God is Gods own place. This sin takes to gallows* or no
disgrace?
If one man says this reprove at this wrong; if a nation says, then you get along.
(*This sin takes to gallows or just gets grace. It refers to Ana-al-Haq of
Mansoor Hallaj.)
*****(2)*****
Beh aan millatey ana-al-Haq saazgar ast; keh az khoonash num her
shakhsaar ast.
Nehan andar jalal-e-oo jamaley; keh oo ra nah sepeher aeinah-dar ast.
[Ana-al-Haq kehna oss millat ko zaib deyta hai; jiss ka khoon (nehaal-e-bagh
ki) her shakh ki abiyari karta hai.
Jiss kay jalal mein jamal nehan hai; kiyuonkeh nou aasman (saari kainat) issi
(ki jolaniyuon) kay aeinah daar hein.]
I am the God suits to that nation lone; whose bloods moisture feels each branch
grown.
In whose power hids a beauty queer; to him the nine heavens are servants clear.
*****(3)*****
338
Miyan-e-ummataan wala moqam ast; keh aan ummat duo-geeti ra imam ast.
Niyasayad z-kaar-e-farinash; keh khwab-o-khastagi barooey haraam ast.
[Aisi ummat, ummaton mein boland martbat hai; kiyuonkeh woh duonon
jahanon ki sardar hai.
Woh (her dum) naeyi takhliq mein masroof rehti hai; neind aur takaan oss per
haraam hai.]
Among nations large she holds a place great; that race is the leader of both
worlds fate.
From her novel acts, new miracles breed; to dream and weaken is banned in her
creed.
*****(4)*****
Wajoodash shoalah az soz-e-daroon ast; cho khas oo ra jahan-e-chund-ochoon ast.
Konad sharah-e-ana-al-Haq himmat-e-oo; pey her Kun keh mi-goeyad
Yakun ast.
[Iss ummat ka wajood apney soz-e-daron kay bais shoalah ki manind hai; yeh
jahan-e-asbaab-o-aadaad iss kay (shoalah kay) saamney khas ki manind hai.
Iss ki himmat (kay kaarnamon) sey ana-al-Haq ki wazahay hoti hai; woh jabb
kun kehti hai tuo yakun iss ka saath deyta hai (aisi quom jo kaam shoroa
karti hai, ossey paya-e-takmil takk pohnchati hai).]
From her inner verve* that race is a flame; to her the world charms is a
worthless game.
What means by Im God her efforts define; her each Kun/be says
Yakun/become an object fine.
(*What is Soz-i-Daroon (inner flame of love or inner verve of faithful is further
defined by Iqbal in Javed Namah, under the beading of Afghani (Syed
Jamaluddin Afghani) and Piyam-i-Mashriq: 1). He is making efforts from Inner
339
verves flame, From bonds of East and West to one worlds frame. 2). My heart
is lit up from inner flame; from blood tears my eye views the worlds frame.
3). To secrets of life they are almost blind, They brand the loves pathos to
deranged mind. 4). Like moths how long you lead fools life; how long you
wont face the lifes hard strife. 5). Burn thy self once with thy inner flame;
round ones fire how long you move sans aim.)
*****(5)*****
Parad dar
aashiyanah.
wosaat-e-gardoon-e-yaganah;
nigah-e-oo
beh
shakh-e-
Beh baghban andalibey khosh safiray; beh raaghan jorrah-e-baazey zood
geeray.
Ameer-e-oo beh sultani faqiray; faqir-e-oo beh darvaishi ameeray.
[(Aisi ummat) baghon mein khosh awaz andaleeb hai; laikan paharron kay
daaman mein woh nar baz ki tarah shikar per jhapatti hai.
Oss kay ameer sultani mein faqir hein; aur oss kay faqir dervaishi mein ameer
hein.]
In gardens lawn he is song bird sweet; in jungles a hawk with ruthless heat.
340
Her king in power is a poor mans base; her poor man in want has a kingly
grace.
*****(7)*****
Bajaam-e-nau kohan maey az saboo raiz; farogh-e-khwaish ra ber kaakh-okoo raiz.
Agar khwahi samara az shakh-e-Mansoor; beh dil la ghalib illallah fruo
raiz.
[Apney naey jaam mein saboo sey porani sharab (Islam kay dour-e-awwal ki)
Daali; pher apni chamak damak sey mehal aur koochay roshan kar dey.
Agar shakh-e-Mansoor sey phhal hasil karna chahta hai; tuo apney dil per la
ghalib-a-illallah ka naqsh monaqash kar.]
Fill the old wine in the New Age bowl. Cast the selfs light on hills and lands
whole.
If you wish to eat fruits from Mansoors bowl; say none save Allah can rule the
world whole.*
(*Basic thought: Take the worlds order in you own hand; throw other Gods
from your hearts land.)
SET 4: SUFI AND MULLA
Sufi-o-Mulla
*****(1)*****
Griftam hazrat-e-Mulla torsh roost; nigash maghz ra nashinasad az post.
Agar ba ein Mosilmani keh daaram; mera az Kaabah mi-raanad haq-e-oost.
[Mana keh maulana sahib budmazaaj hein; mana keh onn ki nigah chhilkay kay
andar sey maghaz ko naheen pehchanti.
341
Laikan agar woh mojh jaisey Mosilman ko; Kaabah sey bahar nikaal dein, tuo
oss mein woh haq bajanib hein.]
The Mullah and Sufi are cross in deed; his eye seldom sees the pitch in its seed.
If this is the faith which I have in me; to oust me from Kaaba a right has he.
*****(2)*****
Farangi siad bost az Kaabah-o-Deir; sada az khanqahan raft la-ghair.
Hiqayat paish-e-Mulla baaz goftam; doa farmood ya Rabb aaqibat khair.
[Farangi ney Kaabah-o-Deir (duonon jagah) sey (loug) shikar kar leay;
khanqahon sey sada othhi keh woh ghair naheen,
Maulana sahib ki khidmat mein shikayat ki; tuo onnhon ney doa kay leay haath
othha diay: Elahi! Oss ki aaqbat khair ho!]
When the English subdued the mosque and fane; no aliens are they, said the
convents brain.
I told my fears to a Mullah when; make his end well, he just prayed then.1
(Convent: Khanqah or monastry.)
*****(3)*****
Beh bund-e-Sufi-o-Mulla asseri; hayat az hekmat-e-Quraan nageeri.
Beh ayaatash tera kaarey joz ein neist; keh az Yasin oo aasan bimeeri.
[Tou Sufi-o-Mulla ki qiad mein gariftar hai; Quraan Pak sey zindagi hasil
naheen karta.
Iss ki ayaat sey tojhey sirf itna sarokar hai; keh murtey waqt Yasin parrh ley, takeh jan aasani sey nikal jaaey.]
To Mullah and Sufi thou art a slave; from insight of Quran no life you crave.
You need verses only at time of grief; that Yasin would give death pangs a
relief.
342
*****(4)*****
Z-Quraan paish-e-khod aeinah aawaiz; digargoon koshtah-e-ein az khwaish
bagaraiz,
Trazooey baneh kirdar-e-khod ra; qiyamat-haey paishin ra ber angaiz.
[Quraan Pak kay aeinah mein apney khad-o-khaal deikhh; tou yaksar badal
choka hai, apney aap sey graiz kar.
Apna kirdar janchney kay leay (Quraan-e-Pak ka) trazoo saamney rakhh; aur
pher sey (dour-e-awwal ki sei) qiyamatein barpa kar dey.]
Through the mirror of Quran see thy deeds; how changed it thee, change the life
you lead.
Thus weigh in a scale thy actions and thought; get a sweeping change as the
elders brought.
*****(5)*****
Z-mun ber Sufi-o-Mulla salamey; keh paigham-e-Khoda goftand ma ra.
Walley tawil-e-shan dar hairat andaakht; Khoda-o-Jibril-o-Mustafa (S.A.W)
ra.
[Meyri taraf sey Sufi-o-Mulla ko salam pohnchey; ken onnhon ney humein
Allah Taala ka paigham sonaya.
Magar iss kalam ki jo tawil onnhon ney ki; oss ney Allah Taala, Jibril aur
Janaab Rasool-e-Pak (S.A.W.) sabb ko hairat mein daal diya.]
I salute the Mullah and Sufi old; who gave me the message of God as told.
It tilled with wonder the meaning he drew; which God, His Prophet and Gabe
never knew.
*****(6)*****
343
Z-dozakh waiz-e-kafir garey goft; hadisey khosh-ter azooey kafirey goft.
Nadanad aan ghulam ahwal-e-khod ra; keh dozakh ra moqam-e-digarey
goft.
[Eik waiz-e-kafir gar ney (Jo baat baat per dosaron ko kafir kehta thha)
dozakhy ki baat ki; magar kafir ney oss sey bhi dilchasp baat kehi:
Yeh ghulam (shaid) apney ahwaal naheen janta; jo dozakh ko auron ka
moqam batata hai (ghukami ki dozakh ki zindagi hai).]
On hell kafir-maker Mullah spoke; on which a kafir in a nice way broke.
That slave knows not where he would go? Who is sending the rest in heirs long
row.
*****(7)*****
Moridey khod shinasey pokhtah kaarey; beh piray goft harf-e-naish daarey.
Bamurg-e-natammamey jan spordan; gariftan rozay az khak-e-mazarey.
[Eik pokhtah-kaar aur khod shanas morid ney; apney pir sey yeh teekhhi baat
ki:
Khak-e-mazar sey rozi hasil karna; apney aap ko murg-e-natammam kay
sapord karna hai (aisa shakhs nah zindah hai, nah mordah).]
A well read disciple asked his guide; with a word in which a sting did hide.
To die for a life will it well behave? To make ones living from bones of a grave.
*****(8)*****
Pisar ra goft piray khirqah baazey; tera ein noktah bayad harz-e-jan kard.
Beh Nimrodaan ein dour aashna baash; z-faiz-e-shan-e-Brahimi tawaan
kard.
344
[Eik paishah-war pir ney apney baitey sey kaha; tojhey yeh noktah achhi tarah
sey yaad rakhhna chahiay:
Iss duor kay Nimrodon sey dosti rakhh; (kiuyunkeh) onn kay faiz sey Brahimi
ka dhong rachaya ja sakta hai.]
Thus spoke to his son a guide in patched robe; I tell thee a point after whole
lifes probe.
To Nimrods of this age, know by face by Gods grace live with the Abrams
grace.
SET 5: RUMI
Rumi
*****(1)*****
Bakaam-e-khod digar aan kohnah maey raiz; keh bajaamash nirzadd Molke-Pervaiz.
Z-ashaar-e-Jalal-ud-Din Rumi; badiwaar-e-harim-e-dil biyaawaiz.
[Apney halaq mein pher wohi porani sharab ondail; jiss ka eik jaam Sultanate-Pervaiz sey barrh kar hai.
Jalal-ud-Din Rumi (R.A.) kay ashaar; harim-e-dil ki diwar per aawaizan kar
ley.]
Pour in thy self that old wine again; his one cups worth is more than a reign.
Keep the verses of Rumi in thy brain; and paste them around the hearts walls
again.
*****(2)*****
Bageer az sagharash aan lalah rungay; keh taseerash dehud laaley beh
sungay.
345
Nasibay bordam az tabb-o-taab-e-oo; shabam manind-e-roz az kokab-e-oo.
Ghazaley dar biyabaan Haram bein; keh raizad khandah-e-sher az labb-e-oo.
[Mien ney ossi ki chamak aur tapash sey hissah paya hai; issi kay sitarey ney
meyri raat ko dinn ki tarah roshan kar diya hai.
(Abb) biyaban-e-Haram mein (oss) ghazaal ko deikhh; oss kay labbon per sher
ki sei moskarahat hai (apni taraf asharah hai).]
From his verve and heat I got a good share; my night was a day from that bught
stars flare.
See a gazelle on Harems desert sands; he smiles like a lion on oasis or lands.
*****(4)*****
Sarapa dard-o-soz aashanaseyi; wasal-e-oo zoban-dan jodaeyi.
Jamal-e-ishq geerad az naey oo; nasibay az jalal-e-Kibriyaeyi.
[Rumi (R.A.) ka kalam sarapa dard-o-soz-e-mohabat hai; oss ka wasal, hijr ka
tarjmaan hai.
346
Girah az kaar ein nakarah waa kard; ghobar-e-rehgozar ra kimiya kard.
Ney aan naey nawazey pakbaazey; mera ba ishq-o-musti aashna kard.
[Oss ney mojh nakarah ki moshkilat hul kar dein; mojh jaisey ghobar-e-rah ko
kimiya bana diya.
Iss pakbaz naey nawaz kay naghmon ney mojhey ishq-o-musti (ki doulat) sey
aashna kar diya.]
He solved many ties I had to face; he gave to ways dust* his exirs grace.
347
The tone of this flutist, tender heart hence; made me conscious of Love and
fervour sense. (*Ways dust the poet himself.)
*****(6)*****
Barooey mun dar dil baaz kardand; z-khak-e-mun jahaney saaz kardand.
Z-faiz-e-oo gariftam eitibaarey; keh ba mun maah-o-anjam saaz kardand.
[Mojh per dil kay darwazey khhol diay gaey; meyri khak sey eik niya jahan
taamir kiya gaya.
Mien ney Rumi (R.A.) kay faiz sey woh martabah paya; keh abb chand sitarey
meyri mowafqat mein chaltey hein.]
To me his hearts door was always ope; from my dust he caused a worlds new
hope.
From his grace I got a grace and trust. For me he tamed the Moon and Stars
first.*
(*Moon and stars here it means the angels of fate (who are the proctors of fate
as well) or those who are living heavens became my supporters.)
*****(7)*****
Khiyalash ba meh-o-anjam nashinad; nigahash aan sooey pervin babeinad.
Dil-e-bitaab-e-khod ra paish-e-oo neh; dum-e-oo raashah az seimaab
cheenad.
[Oss ka fikr (bolandi mein) meh-o-anjam ka hum-nashin hai; oss ki nigah
suriya (jo bolandi kay leay mashhoor hai) kay iss janib deikhhti hai.
Apna dil bey taab oss kay saamney paish kar; Rumi (R.A.) ka dum paarey sey
bey taabi chon leyta hai.]
His thought thus flies with stars and moon rays; his eye thus views beyond
milky ways.
348
Lay thy restive heart at his fluid tune; from his quick silver get a quick calm
soon.*
(*If you shake a restive heart it gets content. As such the poet is seeking Rumis
shaking for a content, peace and tranquility.)
*****(8)*****
Z-Rumi geer asrar-e-faqiri; keh aan faqr ast mehsood-e-amiri.
Hazar z-aan faqr-o-dervaishi keh azooey; rasidi ber moqam-e-sar baraizi.
[Faqiri kay asrar Rumi (R.A.) sey seikhh; oss kay faqr per ameeri rashk karti
hai.
Aisey faqr-o-dervaishi sey bach; jo tojhey aajizi-o-darmandgi kay moqam per
pohncha dey.]
Take secrets of content from Rumis call; that content is envied by rich men all.
Be cautious from content which may take thee, to a place of bow1down and
sheer slavery.
*****(9)*****
Khodi taa gasht mehjoor-e-Khodaeyi; beh faqr aamokht adaab-e-gadaeyi.
Z-chashm-e-must Rumi waam kardam; saroorey az moqam-e-Kibriyaeyi.
[Jabb khodi ney khodaeyi chhorr di; tuo oss ney faqr ko gadaeyi kay aadab
sikhhaey.
(Magar) mien ney Rumi (R.A.) ki chashm-e-must sey; moqam-e-kibriaeyi ka
saroor qarz liya hai (pa liya hai).]
When self is deprived from godly tint; the content then gets a beggars print.
From Rumis drunk eyes I borrowed a trance, to taste a sweet joy of his godly
glance.
*****(10)*****
349
Maey roshan z-taak mun fruo raikht; khosha mardey keh dar damanam
aawaikht.
Nasib az aatishey daaram keh awal; Sinai az dil-e-Rumi ber angaikht.
[Meyrey angoor sey roshan sharab tapak rehi hai; khosh nasib hai woh shakhs
jiss ney meyra daaman thhaam liya.
Mien ney bhi iss aatish (-e-ishq) sey hissah paya hai; jo Sinai (R.A,) ney pehley
pehal Rumi (R.A.) kay dil mein bharrkaeyi hai.]
That bright wine scattered from my wineyard; who hung to my shirt, got the
lucks award.
To Rumi I owe a share of his flame, which Sinai took first and earned great
fame.
SET 6: THE MESSAGE OF FAROOQ
Payam-e-Farooq
*****(1)*****
Tou ay baad-e-biyaban az Arab khaiz; z-Neil Misriyaan moujay ber angaiz.
Bago Farooq ra paigham-e-Farooq; keh khod dar faqr-o-sultani biya-amaiz.
[Ay baad-e-sehra! Arab sey othh; aur Misriyuon kay Darya-e-Neil mein sey eik
mouj othha.
(Pher) Farooq (Shah-e-Misar) ko Farooq-e-Azam (R.A.) ka yeh paigham
pohncha; keh woh apney andar faqr-o-sultani ko mila dey.]
O deserts breeze rise from Arabs sky; from Egypts Nile raise a new wave
high.
Give Farooqs message to King Farooqs race; how content is mixed with the
kingships face.
*****(2)*****
350
!
Khilafat faqr ba-taj-o-sarir ast; zehay doulat keh payan napazir ast.
Jawan bakhta! Madeh az dast, ein faqr; keh bey oo padshahi zood meir ast.
[Taj-o-takht kay bawajood faqiri ho, tuo ossey khilafat kehtey hein; khosha woh
doulat (-e-khilafat) jissey kabhi zawaal naheen.
Ay jawan bakht padshah! Yeh faqr haath sey nah dey; kiyuokeh iss kay
baghair padshahat jald fana ho jaati hai.]
The Faqr and Caliphate with Kings Crown shine; a great wealth this is which
never declines.
O Young king! Leave not the contents boon; sans it the kingship ends very
soon.
*****(3)*****
Jawanmardey keh khod ra faash beinad; jahan-e-kohna ra baaz farinad.
Hazaran anjuman andar tawafash; keh oo baa khwaishtan khalwat gazinad.
[Woh jawanmard jo apney aap ko aashkara deikhh leyta hai; wohi iss jahan-ekohnah ko az sar-e-nau paida karta hai.
Hazaron anjumanein oss ka tawaf karti hein; kiyuonkeh woh apney andar
khalwat gazein hota hai.]
A young man who peeps in his ego deep; can make a world anew on old worlds
heap.*
Around his circle lo! Are thousand leagues; in selfs reading though a solace he
needs.**
(*Can fill the world with justice. **It probably means worshipping the God.)
*****(4)*****
351
Beh rooey aql-o-dil bakoshaey her dar; bageer az pir-e-her maeykhanah
saaghar.
Dar-aan kosh az niaz-e-seinah perwar; keh daaman pak daari aastin tar.
[Aql-o-dil kay saamney her darwazah khhol dey; her maeykhaney kay pir sey
saaghar ley.
Magar iss niazmandi ki badoulat jo dil ki tarbiyat karti hai; koshish kar keh
teyra daaman (gonahon sey) pak aur teyri aastin aansoon sey tar rehey.]
For sense and hearts sake leave each door ajar take a cup thus from every
sects bar.
Make all the efforts with love and heart pure; to lead a chaste life with no greed
and lure *
(*It has been taken from a verse of Amir Khisro, known as Nightingale of India
(Tooti-e-Hind).) Although he was a minister in the court of the king yet he
passed his whole life in the company of great disciples and favourite of Hazrat
Nizam-ud-Din Aulia of Delhi whose annual anniversary is still celebrated with
all the pomp and show by the Congress Government of India under the State
patronage; the Prime Minister and President of India make their presence at his
tomb.)
*****(5)*****
Khonak aan millatey ber khod rasidah; z-dard-e-jostajoo na-rameedah.
Drakhsh-e-oo teh-e-ein neilgoon charkh; cho taighey az miyan bairoon
kashidah.
[Mobarik hai woh millat jiss ney apney aap ko pa liya; jissey dard-e-jostajoo
ney kabhi chian sey nah baithhney diya.
Iss neilgon aasman kay neichay, oss ki chamak yuon hai jaisey miyan sey
khhinchi hoeyi talwar.]
352
How happy is the race who wins her goal, who never took rest for that purpose
sole.
See her shine and sheen beneath this sky; like a sword drawn out and unfurled
high.
*****(6)*****
Chih khosh zadd Turk malahey saroodey; rokh-e-oo ahmarey chashmash
kaboodey.
Beh darya gar girah aftad beh kaaram; bajoz toofan nami-khwaham
kashoodey.
[Oss Turk mallah ney, jiss ka chehrah arghwaani aur ankhhein neilgon thhein,
kaya khoob geet gaya keh:
Agar darya kay andar mien kissi moshkil mein gariftar ho jaon; tuo sirf toofan
he sey oss ka madawa chahta hon.]
That Turkish seaman how sang a song gay; his purple face beamed with eyes
blue gray.
When I see a gale my heart then regales; to tempest time ties my hardihood
hails!* (*Iqbal uses girah (a tie) for whirl pool, a storm.)
*****(7)*****
Jahangeeri bakhak-e-ma sarishtand; imamat dar jabeen-e-ma nawishtand.
Daroon-e-khwaish banigar aan jahan ra; keh tokhamash dar dil-e-Farooq
kishtand.
[Hakoomat hamari khak mein gondhi hoeyi hai; imamat hamari paishani per
raqam hai.
Apney andar oss jahan ko abad kar; jiss ka beej Farooq-i-Azam (R.A.) kay dil
mein boya gaya thha.]
The world rule is destined to my own dust; the worlds guidance writ on my
forehead first.
353
In thy bosom see the whole worlds map, whose seed was sown first in Farooqs
lap.
*****(8)*****
Kassey koo danad asrar-e-yaqin ra; yakkey bein mi-konad chasham-e-duo
bein ra.
Biya mi-zanad choon noor-e-duo qindeel; minadaish iftiraaq-e-molk-o-Deen
ra.
[Jo shakhs aiman-o-yaqin ka bhaid janta hai; woh apni duo-bein ankhh ko
yakk bein banata hai.
Deen-o-watan kay (iftiraaq sey parishan nah ho; (Islam mein) Onnhein duo
qindeelon kay noor ki tarah apas mein mila diya hai.]
To certitude truth* who so ever knew with two eyes he had had the oneness
view.
As we often join two lamps in need be cautious from rift in home and creed.
(* Certitude secret amounts to certitude truth.)
*****(9)*****
Mosilmaney keh khod ra imtihan kard; ghobar-e-raah-e-khod ra aasman
kard.
Sharar-e-shouq agar daari nigahdar; keh baoey aaftabey mitawaan kard.
[Woh Mosilman jiss ney apni salahiyaton ko aazmaya; oss ney apney ghobare-rah ko aasman ki bolandi takk pohncha diya.
Agar teyrey andar mohabat ka sharar moujood hai, tuo oss ki hifazat kar;
kiyuokeh, oss sey sooraj ka kaam liya ja sakta hai (saarey jahan ko roshan kiya
ja sakta hai).]
354
A Muslim who tested his own ego first; he took to the heavens his pathss own
dust*.
Keep an eye on, if you hold the love flame; with that you could make the whole
world tame.
(*His paths own dust; the poet himself; those who followed his path.)
SET 7: ARAB POETS
Shoaraey Arab
*****(1)*****
Bago az mun nawakhwaan-e-Arab ra; bahaey kum nehadam laal-e-labb ra.
Az aan noorey keh az Quraan gariftam; sehar kardam-o-sei saalah shabb ra.
[Arab kay shoara ko meyri taraf sey keh duo; mien ney labb-e-laalein (rawaiti
mehboob) ko bohat kum ahmiyat di hai.
Albatah iss noor sey jo mien ney Quraan Pak sey hasil kiya hai; mien ney
(Hindi Mosilman ki) eik suo tees salah lambi raat ko sobh mein tabdil kar diya
hai.]
To Arab* poets sweet on my part say I shun to versify on red lips gay.
From a beam I had of Holy Books light; after hundred years nights I see a dawn
bright.
(*Iqbal is advising Arab poets to give up love poetry (ode) of beautiful women
as he was seeing a change to good after one hundred thirty years continuous
decline of Arab world.)
*****(2)*****
Beh jahan-ha faridam haaey-o-hoo ra; kaff-e-khak shamordam kakh-o-koo
ra.
Shawud rozay harif-e-behar-e-por shor; z- aashobey keh daadam aabjoo ra.
355
[Mien ney Mosilmanon ki zindagi mein shor-e-ishq bapa kar diya hai; mien
ney dunivi maal-o-mataa ko mothhi bhar khak (ki manind bey woqaat) qarar
diya hai.
Mien ney (Hindi Mosilman ki) iss chhoti sei nadi ko jo toofan atta kiya hai; oss
sey yeh eik roz behar-e-por shor ki harif bun jaaey gi.]
I caused in his soul a verve* a heat; to cottage or castle** a dust I treat.
This brook may once vie a noisy seas*** pride; as I gave this brook**** a
passion of tide.
(*Here it means verve for the love of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and the good people.
**Cottage or castle means every place of world. ***Noisy sea means big
powers of the world. ****Abjoo; brook; here it means a small nation, as
compared with sea or a big power.)
*****(3)*****
Tou hum bagozar aan surat nigaari; majoo ghair az zamir-e-khwaish yaari.
Babagh-e-ma ber aawordi per-o-baal; Mosilman ra badeh sozey keh daari.
[(Ay shaer-e-Arab!) Tou bhi (rawaiti mehboobon ki) surat nigaari chorr; sirf
apney Zamir sey dosti rakhh.
Tou ney hamarey (Isalm kay) bagh mein per-o-baal nikaley hein; teyrey pass jo
soz hai, ossey Mosilman ki zindagi mein bhar dey.]
You leave making now the portraits on wall; be friendly with conscience and
Egos call.
Since you got growth in my nations lawn; fill your songs flame in their brain
and brawn.*
(*In the above twin couplets Iqbal is addressing the Arab poets and then to the
Arab youth not to hang portraits of film stars and other beauties on their walls.)
*****(4)*****
356
Bakhak-e-ma dilley, dar dil ghumay hust; hanooz ein kohnah shakhey ra
numay hust.
Beh afsoon honar aan chashmah bakoshaey; daroon her Mosilman
zamzamey hust.
[Hamari khak (badan) mein dil aur dil kay andar ghum (-e-ishq) moujood hai;
abhi (Islam ki) iss shakh-e-kohnah mein numi hai.
Her Mosilman kay andar Zamzam ka chashmah moujood hai; tou apney fun
kay zor sey ossey jaari kar dey.]
My heart has a grief*, and dust has a heart; yet this old branch claims His
moists great part.
With thy skills magic cause a fount so; in each Muslim lies a fountain lo!
(Grief: It means love of the Prophet S.A.W.)
*****(5)*****
Mosilman bandah-e-Moula safaat ast; dil-e-oo sirrey az asrar-e-Zaat ast.
Jamalash joz beh noor-e-Haq nah beini; keh asalash dar zamir-e-kainat ast.
[Mosilman aisa bandah hai, jiss mein apney aaqa ki sifaat moujood hein; oss
ka qalb Zaat (Bari Taala) kay asrar mein sey eik ser hai.
Haq Taala kay noor kay baghair oss ka jamal naheen deikhha ja sakta;
kiyuokeh oss (kay jamal) ki asal zamir-e-kainat mein hai.]
Of virtues of God Muslim has a part; like secrets of God a secret is heart.
I saw not his beauty save of Gods own; in the cosmos conscience his roots are
grown.
*****(6)*****
Badeh ba khak-e-oo aan soz-o-taabey; keh zaiyad az shabb-e-oo aaftabey.
Nawa aan zann keh az faiz-e-tou oo ra; digar bakhshad zouq-e-inqilabey.
357
[Tou oss ki khak ko woh soz aur chamak atta kar; keh oss ki raat sey aaftab
namodar ho jaaey.
Tou aisa naghmah chhairr keh teyrey faiz sey; ossey duobarah zouq-e-inqilab
atta ho jaaey.]
Give to his dust that flame and might; which brings into being a sun from night.
Hit a tune and tone due to whose grace; he gets a new verve from worlds new
face.
*****(7)*****
Mosilmani ghum-e-dil dar kharidan; cho seimab az tapp-e-yaraan tapeidan.
Hazoor-e-millat az khod dar gozashtan; digar bang-e-ana-al-millat
kashidan.
[Mosilmani, ghum-e-dil kharidna; aurr doston ki taklief sey paarey ki tarah
bey chain rehna hai.
(Mosilmani) apney aap ko millat mein gom kar kay; ana-al-millat (mien millat
hon) ka naarah boland karna hai.]
A Muslim you were named for griefs bargain; to be restive for friends in pains
and strains.
He cares not for hlmself in nations cause; he shouts I am Ummah from every
clause.
*****(8)*****
Kassey koo faash deid asrar-e-jan ra; nabeinad joz beh chashm-e-khod jahan
ra.
Nawaey aafarein dar seinah-e-khwaish; baharey mitawaan kardan khazan
ra.
[Jiss kissi ney ani jan kay asrar ko faash deikhh liya; woh sirf apni nazar sey
dunya ko deikhhta hai (khod soch samajh kar raaey qaim karta hai, dosaron
sey maroob naheen hota).
358
Tou apney seinah mein aisi nawa paida kar (jo bahar ka payamber ho); (Isalm
ki moujoodah) khazan ko bahar mein tabdil kiya ja sakta hai.]
On whom were opened the secrets of soul;* with his own eyes** he sees the
cosmos whole.
Make in thy heart his loves cosy room; and turn the autumn to vernal bloom.
(*Soul means self. ** Not through others point of view.)
*****(9)*****
Nigahdar aanchih dar aab-o-gill-e-tust; sarwar-o-soz-o-musti hasil-e-tust.
Tehi deidam sabooey ein-o-aan ra; maey baqi beh meinaey dil-e-tust.
[(Ay Mosilman!) Jo kochh teyri aab-o-gill (nehaad) mein hai, oss ki hifazat kar;
(aur samajh ley keh) saroor-o-soz-o-musti teyra maqsood hai.
Mien ney sabb kay saboo khali deikhhey hein; agar kochh sharab baqi hai tuo
teyri meinaey dil mein hai.]
So guard the nature of thy mud and dust; a bliss, trance and burning for thee is
must
I see empty bowls of the nations whole; a lasting wine lasts in thy hearts own
bowl.
*****(10)*****
Shabb ein koh-o-dasht seinsh taabey; nah darooey morghakey ney mouj-eaabey.
Nagardad roshan az qindeel rehbaan; tou maidani keh bayad aaftabey.
[Yeh seinah jala deyney waaley koh-o-dasht; jahan nah parindah (per maarta)
hai, nah kaheen pani (nazar ata) hai.
Onnhein raahib kay chiragh sey roshan naheen kiya ja sakta; (tum khoob jantey
ho keh) onn kay leay aaftab chahiay.]
359
The hill and desert night* defies thy day; the birds and waves know not their old
songs gay.
This world wont lit up from the hermits lamp; Thy sun light is needed in every
camp. (*This is an illusion to godless men.)
*****(11)*****
Niko mi-khwan khat-e-seimaey khod ra; badast aawar rug-e-fardaey khod
ra.
Cho mun pa dar biyaban-e-Haram neh; keh beini andaro pehnaey khod ra.
[Apni parishani ki lakeeron ko achhi tarah sey parrh; aur (onn ki madad sey)
apney mostaqbil ki rug ko qaboo mein kar ley.
Meyri tarah Haram kay maidan mein qadam rakhh; ta-keh tou iss kay andar
apni wosaat ko deikhh sakkey.]
Read the clear writing on thy foreheads slate; find out a way to change thy
future fate.
Like me find a way on the Harems land; to know thy worth true, thy own grit
and sand.
SET 8: O SON OF THE DESERT
Ay Farzand-e-Sehra
*****(1)*****
Sehar gahaan keh roshanshod dar-o-dasht; sada zadd morghay az shakh-enakhilay.
Frau hul khaimah ay farzand-e-sehra; keh natwaan zeist bey zouq-eraheelay.
[Sobh kay waqt jabb abadi-o-sehra mein roshni phhail gaeyi; tuo darakht ki
shakh sey perinday ney aawaz di:
360
Arab ra Haq dalil-e-caravan kard; keh oo ba faqr khod ra imtihan kard.
Agar faqr-e-tehi dastaan ghayoor ast; jahaney ra teh-o-bala tawaan kard.
[(Qroon-e-oola mein) Allah Taala ney Arab ko qafley ka salar banaya;
kiyuonkeh oss ney faqr kay zariah apney aap ko azmaya.
Agar bey mayah lougon ka tariqah ghayoor ho; tou oss sey saari dunya ko teho-bala kiya ja-sakta hai.]
The Truth chose Arab for caravans lead; on faqr since he tested his own selfs
breed.
If the poors content with envy is green*; his growth can upset the whole
worlds scene.
(*Here green means flourishing, in figurative sense. It means full of vigour as
we say (keep a mans memory green). He lives to a green old age, although
looking green with envy also means pale or sickly looking.)
*****(3)*****
Dar aan shabb-ha kharosh sobh-e-fardast; keh roshan az tajali-haey
Seinast.
361
Tou chih daani keh darein gard sawarey bashad.
[Tojhey kaya maaloom ho sakta hai keh iss gard-o-ghobar mein koeyi sawar
penhan ho.]
Make not a face wry on the humbles eye; hark! A rider comes from dust
soaring high.
(The above mentioned verse and couplet is the heading and also a synopsis of
the remaining 10 verses of Iqbal.)
*****(1)*****
Digar aein-e-taslim-o-raza geer; tariq-e-sidq-o-ikhlaas-o-wafa geer.
Mago shearam chonein ast-o-chonan neist; janoon-e-zirakey az mun fara
geer.
[Eik baar pher taslim-o-raza; aur sidq-o-ikhlas-o-wafa ka tariq apna.
Yeh nah keh keh meyra shear yuon hai aur yuon naheen hai; balkeh onn mein
jiss janoon-e-zirak (ki taalim) hai, woh ley ley.]
Learn the ways to win His pleasure and grace; be truthful to Him and whole
human race.
Take me not poet in this or that sense; look my passions depth from the
wisdoms lens.
362
*****(2)*****
Chaman-ha z-aan janoon-e-veranah gardad; keh az hungamah-ha biganah
gardad.
Az aan hooey keh afgandam darein shehar; janoon manid walley farzanah
gardad.
[Woh janon jo tojhey hungamon sey bey ganah nah kar dey; oss sey chaman
veraan ho jaatey hein.
Magar mien ney iss shehar mien hoo ki sada lagaeyi hai; iss sey janon (qaim)
rehta hai, magar iss mein farzaangi aajati hai.]
If a craze consumes the gardens face; and saps its beauty and social grace.
I poured a verve and roar, in this town* lanes; will leave a craze yet to sharpen
their brains. (*City of Lahore)
*****(3)*****
Nakhastein lalah sobh-e-baharam; piya pey sozam az daghey keh daaram.
Bachashm-e-kum mabein tunhaeym ra; keh mun sadd caravan-e-gul dar
kinaram.
[Mien aghaaz-e-bahar ka pehla gul-e-lalah hon; aur (Millat-e-Islamia kay)
ghum kay dagh sey mosalsal jall raha hon.
Mojhey akailey pa-kar haqarat ki nazar sey nah deikhh; phhoolon kay
sainkarron caravan meyrey aaghosh mein hein.]
The poppy of my dawns first vernal tide; is burning alone from a scar I hide.
So under rate not my verves lone part; see caravans* budding from my heart.
(*Here caravan means a nation.)
*****(4)*****
363
Perishanam cho gard-e-rehgozarey; keh ber dosh-e-hawa geerad qararey.
Khosha bakhtay-o-khurram rozgarey; keh bairoon ayad az mun shehsawarey.
[Mien aisey ghobar-e-rah ki manind parishan hon; jissey hawa othhaey
phertri hai.
Kaya khosh nasibi ho-gi aur kaisa mobarik zamanah ho-ga; jabb meyrey iss
ghobar kay andar sey koeyi shehsawar zahir ho-ga.]
So scattered Im like dust of the way; on the wings of storms I cannot stay.
How august and happy would be that day; when a ride is born from my own
clay.* (*Here Iqbal forecasts that a superman will appear to guide the destiny of
nation.)
*****(5)*****
Khosh aan quomey perishan rozgarey; keh z-ayad az zamirash pokhtah
kaarey.
Namoodash sirray az asrar-e-ghaib ast; z-her gardey baroon na-ayad
sawarey.
[Woh perishan haal quom kitni khosh nasib hai; jiss kay andar sey koeyi
pokhtah-kaar (leader) paida ho.
Aisey shakhs ka zahar hona asrar-e-ghaib ka eik raaz hai; kiyuonkeh her
ghobar kay andar sey sawar zahir naheen hota.]
How lucky a nation whom wheel of fate; had caused a wonder through a leader
great.
His birth a secret of a secret hand; who would change her fate in a manner
grand.
*****(6)*****
364
Nigahash por konad khali saboo-ha; dawanad maey beh taak-e-roz-ha.
Z-toofaney keh bakhshad raigani; harif-e-behar gardad aabjoo-ha,
[Iss shehsawar ki nigah he sey khali saboo por ho jaatey hein; woh aarzo kay
angoor mein sharab dourra deyta hai (dilon mein aarzoein machalney lagti
hein).
Jo toofan woh yuonhi barpa kar deyta hai; oss sey nadiyan samandar kay
madd-e-moqabil bun jaati hein.]
His glance* would fill up the empty bowl**; he runs the wills wine in vines
veins whole.
His storms**** and gales are a God gift free; he made a small brook, rival of
sea.
(*His glance: Glance of super man. **Empty bowls: From love of the Prophet
and mankind. ***Wills wine: New hopes. ****Storms verve and vigour of love
and cravings. A brook; a small nation. Sea a big power.)
*****(8)*****
365
Cho ber geerad zamam-e-caravan ra; dehadd zouq-e-tajali her nehan ra.
Konad aflaakiyan ra aanchonaan faash; teh-e-pa mi-kashad neh aasman ra.
[Jabb woh shahsawar qafley ki qiyadat sanbhalta hai; tuo her poshidah
(aarzoo) ko zouq-e-tajali atta karta hai.
Woh aasman walon kay raaz iss tarah faash kar deyta hai; keh nou kay nou
aasman iss kay qadmon mein bichh jaatey hein.]
The caravans reins he would take when; he gives vision taste to each hidden
then.
He makes so much bare the heavenly hosts; that all nine skies would be tinder
his force.
*****(9)*****
Mobarikbad kun aan pak jan ra; Keh z-ayad aan ameer-e-caravan ra.
Z-aaghosh chonein farkhandah maader; khajalat mi-dehum Hoor-e-Janan
ra.
[Mobarik-baad kay qabil hai woh pak jan (man) jiss ney aisey ameer-ecaravan ko janam diya.
Aisi khosh bakht man ki aaghosh jannat ki Hooron ko sharamsar karti hai.]
To that holy mother I greet with pride; from whom will be born the caravans
guide.
On the lap of, that fortunate dame the paradise nymphs would feel a shame.
*****(10)*****
Dil andar seinah goeyad dilbarey hust; mataey aafrin gharatgarey ra.
Bagosham aamad az gardoon dum-e-murg; shagoofah choon fruo raizad
barey hust.
366
[Meyrey seinah mein jo dil hai, woh kehta hai keh aisa mehboob rahnuma, jo
quom kay leay sarmayah paida karney wala aur iss kay zakhmon ko door
karney wala ho ga, moujood hai.
Murtey dum mojhey aasman sey yeh aawaz sonaeyi di; keh jabb kali jharrti hai,
tuo zaroor phhal ata hai.]
The heart in my chest says that leader who cares and is an asset for the nation
exists.
I heard a voice at the time of my death: When flowers are shed; the fruit comes
out.
SET 10: THE CALIPHATE AND MONARCHY
Khilafat-o-Malookiyat
*****(1)*****
Arab khod ra beh noor-e-Mustafa (S.A.W.) sokht; chiragh-e-mordah Mashriq
ber afrokht.
Walaikan aan khilafat rah gom kard; keh awwal Mominan ra shahi aamokht.
[(Dour-e-awwal kay) Arabon ney apney aap ko noor-e-Mustafa (S.A.W.) sey
munawwar kiya; Mashriq kay bojhey hoay chiragh ko roshan kiya.
Magar abb onnhon ney woh khilafat gom kar di hai; jiss ney pehley pehal
Mosilmanon ko padshahat sikhhaeyi thhi.]
The Arabs gained a lot from Prophets light; that the dead lamps of East, too
became bright.
But the Caliphate lost that path and force; and taught the Momin first the
Kingships course.
*****(2)*****
367
Khilafat ber moqam-e-ma gawahi ast; haraam ast aanchih ber ma padshahi
ast.
Malookiyat hamah makr ast-o-nairung; khilafat hifz-e-namoos-e-Elahi ast.
[Khilafat hamarey moqam (-e-boland) per gawahi dey rehi hai; jissay
padshahat kehtey hein, woh hamarey leay haraam hai.
Padshahat sarasar makr-o-faraib hai; jabb keh khilafat Namos-e-Elahi (ikhlaqe-aala) ki mohafiz hai.]
Take the Caliphates witness with a heed; as the kingship is banned in our creed.
A trick is the kingship with each new face; the Caliphate but was the Gods own
grace.
*****(3)*****
Dar aftad ba malookiyat Kalimay; faqirey bey kullahey, bey galimay.
Gehey baashad keh baazi-haey taqdir; bageerad kaar-e-sarsar az nasimay.
[Kabhi koeyi Kalim, jo kullah aur godrri kay baghair; faqiri shan rakhhta hai,
padshahat sey takra jata hai (aur ossey tabah kar deyta hai).
Yeh bhi taqdir kay khheil hein; keh kabhi nasim sey sarsar ka kaam ley liya jata
hai.]
A Moses grapples with kingdoms all; and threatens tyrants though means are
sina!
It happens oft that the wheel of fate; turns a light breeze into tempest great.
*****(4)*****
Hanooz andar jahan Adam ghulam ast; nizamash khaam-o-kaarash
natammam ast.
Ghulam-e-faqr-e-aan geeti penahum; keh dar Deenash malookiyat haraam
ast.
368
[Dunya mein abhi takk insan (insan ka) ghulam hai; oss ka nizam (-e-hayat)
khaam aur oss ka maqsood (-e-hayat) namokamil hai.
Mein iss Geiti Panah (S.A.W.) kay faqr ka ghulam hon; jiss kay Deen mein
padshahat ko haraam qarar diya gaya hai.]
The Adam is slave in this world yet; yet his order raw, weak and poor set.
I am his page, who sheltered each Age; who banned in my faith to keep a page.
*****(5)*****
Mohabat az nigahash paidar ast; slookash ishq-o-musti ra ayyar ast.
Moqamash abdoho aamad walaikan; jahan-e-shouq ra perwardigar ast.
[Mohabat Aap (S.A.W.) ki nigah sey paidari hasil karti hai; Aap (S.A.W.) ki
bataeyi hoeyi raah-e-salook, ishq-o-musti kay leay miyar hai.
Aap (S.A.W.) ka moqam Abd-o-Ho bataya gaya hai, magar Aap (S.A.W.) jahane-shouq (-o-musti) kay pervardigar hein.]
The Adam is slave in this world yet; yet his order raw, weak and poor set.
I am his page, who sheltered each Age; who banned in my faith to keep a page.
SET 11: TURKS OF OTTOMAN EMPIRE
Turk-e-Usmani
*****(1)*****
Beh molk-e-khwaish Usmani ameer ast; dilash gah-o-chashm-e-oo basir ast.
Napindaari keh rast az bund-e-Afrang; hanooz andar talism-e-oo aseer ast.
[Turk-e-Usmani apney molk mein khod hokmaran hai; woh dil-e-agah aur
chashm-e-beina rakhhta hai.
Magar yeh gomaan nah kar keh woh Afrangiyuon ki qiad sey nikal choka hai;
abhi takk woh onn kay talism (-e-Maghrabiyat) ka aseer hai.]
369
In the Ottoman reign, the Turks are free; he holds conscious heart, with insight
to see.
On freedom of the West they do not boast; they are captives yet of his Charming
toast.
*****(2)*****
Khonak mardan keh sehar-e-oo shakastand; beh paimaan-e-Farangi dil
nabostand.
Mashuo noummeid-o-ba khod aashna baash; keh mardan paish az ein
boodand-o-bostand.
[Mobarik hein woh loug jinhon ney Afrangi ka sehar torr deya; aur iss kay
quol-o-qarar per eitibar nah kiya.
Aisey mard pehley bhi thhey aur abb bhi hein; (ay Turk-e-Usmani!) Tou naummeid nah ho balkeh apney aap ko pehchan (tou bhi yeh kaam kar sakta hai).]
How daring were they who broke his charms; who paid no heed to his pledges
warm.
Get not despaired, have thy egos own view; what did the past nations you also
do.
*****(3)*****
Beh Turkaan aarzooey tazah daadand; banaey kaar shan-e-deigar
nehadand.
Walaikan koo Mosilmaney keh beinad; niqab az rooey taqdirey koshadand.
[Turkon ko (Maghrabiyat ki) naeyi aarzoo di gaeyi hai; onn kay kaam ki
mokhtalif boniyad rakhhi gaeyi hai.
Laikan (onn mein) aisa Mosilman kahan hai; jo yeh deikhhey keh (Islam kay
dour-e-nau) ki taqdir sey pardah hata deya gaya hai.]
The fate thus gave to Turks a verve anew; and gave them a base for a build up
new.
370
Where are those Muslim who could behold? The meanings of fate which God
had told.*
(*It means when the Turks decided to keep their freedom at any cost, God came
to their help. In this quatrain the poet wants to say that the nations make their
own destinies.)
SET 12: TO DAUGHTERS OF THE NATION
Dokhtraan-e-Millat
*****(1)*****
Behal ay dokhtarak ein dilberi-ha; Mosilman ra na-zaibad kafiri-ha.
Maneh dil ber jamal-e-ghazah perward; biyaamoz az nigah gharatgari-ha.
[Baiti! Dilbari ka yeh andaz (aaraish-o-zeenat) chhorr dey; Mosilman ko kafri
zaib naheen deyti.
Aisey hosn sey dil nah laga, jo ghazah ka marhoon-e-mannat ho; balkeh nigah
sey gharat gari seikhh.]
Learn O daughterling this loveliness trend; to Muslim suits not the heathens
blend.
You need not a beauty of rouge and scent; with the chaste eyes teach thy
charming bent.*
(*Iqbal has used Gharat Gari again in line 4 which means robbery. In
amatory language of this sub-continent and Persia, it means loveliness.)
*****(2)*****
Nigah-e-tust shamshir-e-Khodadad; beh zakhmash jan-e-ma ra Haq ba-ma
daad.
Dil-e-kamil ayyar aan pak jan bord; keh taigh-e-khwaish ra aab az haya
daad.
371
[Teyri nigah shamshir-e-Khodadad hai; issi kay zakham sey Haq Taala ney
hamari jan atta ki hai.
Sirf wohi iffat maab (khatoon) qalb-e-kamil shikar karti hai; jo apni taigh (-enigah) ko haya sey aabdar banati hai.]
A God-given sword thy glance to thee; whose wounds thus gave my full right to
me.
The heart of great sage that holy soul took; as she tempered her sword with
bashful look.
*****(3)*****
Zamirash asr-e-hazir bey niqab ast; koshadash dar namood-e-rung-o-aab ast.
Jahan-taabi z-noor-e-Haq biyaamoz; keh oo ba sadd tajali dar hijab ast.
[Dour-e-hazir ka zamir ayyan hai; iss (zamir) ki koshaad rung aur chamak
damak ki namood mein hai.
Magar tou Allah Taala kay noor sey jahan ko monawwar karna seikhh; jo
sadd-ha tajaliyat kay bawajood hijab mein hai.]
At last modern age shows her conscience lo! They feel quite happy with false
pomp and show.
A tip for worlds tight learn from His light; with hundred visions who hids from
sight.
*****(4)*****
Jahan ra mohkami az ummahat ast; nehaadashan amin-e-momkinaat ast.
Agar ein noktah ra quomay nadanad; nizam-e-kaar-o-barish bey sabaat ast.
[Dunya ki paidari maon (kay dum qadam) sey hai; kiyuonkeh onn ki nehaad
momkinat ki amanat-dar hai (Maon ki goad sey aisey bachay paida hotay hein,
jin ka zariah momkinat kay darwazey khholtey hein).
372
Mera daad ein khird perwar janooney; nigah-e-maader pak andar-ooey.
Z-maktab chashm-o-dil-e-natwaan gariftan; keh maktab neist joz sehar-ofassooney.
[Mojhey yeh khird perwar janoon apni pak teenat man ki nigah sey mila hai.
Maktab sey chashm (-ebeina) aur dil (-e-agah) hasil naheen kiay ja-saktey;
kiyuonkeh maktab sehar-o-fason kay allawah aur kochh naheen.]
That nation is lucky in whose hard race; a change the world espied on each
mans face.
What happend to him in this worlds race; can be seen now from their mothers
face.
*****(6)*****
Khonak aan millatey kaz wardatash; qiamat-ha babeinad kainatash.
Chih paish ayad, chih paish aftaad-e-oo ra; tawaan deid az jabeen
ummahatash.
[Mobarik hai woh millat jiss kay karnamon kay sabab; oss kay dour ney kaya
qiamatein deikhhein.
373
Kissi quom ko kaya paish aaney wala hai aur kaya paish aa-choka hai; (yeh
sabb) oss ki maon ki jabeenon sey deikhha ja sakta hai.]
This craze she gave me for sharp wits sense; my kind mothers sacred inner
glance.
In schools, my heart and eyes didnt get calm; no schools are these but magic
and charm.
*****(7)*****
Agar pundey z-dervaishey paziri; hazar ummat bameerad tou nameeri.
Batooley baash-o-penhan shuo azein asr; keh dar aaghosh-e-Shabbirey
bageeri.
[Agar tou iss dervaish ki nasihat pallay baandh ley; tuo hazar quomein mur
jaein, magar tou naheen murey gi.
Syedah fatama-tu-zohara (R.A.) bun aur iss dour sey penhan reh; ta-keh tou
kissi Shabbir ko janam dey sakkey.]
If you pay a heed once, to this poor guy; may die thousand nations but ye wont
die.
Hid from this Age like Batool if you can; in thy lap too there may be a Hussain.
*****(8)*****
Z-shaam ma baroon aawar sehar ra; beh Quraan baaz khwan ehl-e-nazar
ra.
Tou maidani keh soz qiraat-e-tou; digargoon kard taqdir Omar (R.A.) ra.
[Pher Quraan Pak ki talawat sey ehl-e-nazar ko matasir kar kay; hamari shaam
sey sehar paida kar.
Tou jaanti hai keh teyrey soz-qiraat ney; Hazrat Omar (R.A.) ki taqdir badal
di.]
From my evenings dusk get a dawn new; to seeing eyes read the Koran anew.
374
From thy readings flame you know that fate; had totally changed Omar the
Great.*
(*Before embracing Islam, Hazrat Omar (R.A.) heard that her sister alongwith
her husband had embraced Islam. In rage he went to her house and heard her
reciting the Holy Quran, which melted his heart, and he too joined the fold of
Islam.)
SET 13: THE MODERN AGE
Asr-e-Hazir
*****(1)*****
Chih asr ast ein keh Deen fariyadi oost; hazaran bund dar azadi-e-oost.
Z-rooey aadmiyat rung-o-num bord; ghalat naqshey keh az behzadi-e-oost.
[Yeh kaisa zamanah hai keh Deen iss kay haathon fariyad-konan hai; iss dour
ki azadi mein hazaron bund (penhan) hein.
Iss ki mosawwari kay ghalat naqsh ney; insaniyat kay chehray ki aab-o-taab
khatam kar di hai.]
What is the age? On whom the faith cries; who puts on it thousand checks and
ties.
From Mans face it saps all the healthy signs; his paintings depict, his evil
designs.
*****(2)*****
Nigahash naqshbund-e-kafiri-ha; kamal-e-sanaat-e-oo Aazeri-ha.
Hazar az halqah-e-bazarganash; qomar ast ein hamah saudagri-ha.
[Dour-e-hazir ki nigah (andaz-e-fikr) kafiranah naqoosh (nazariyat) ki khaliq
hai; iss ki sanaat ka kamal (naey naey) bott ghharrna hai.
375
Iss dour kay tajron kay halqah sey bach; inn ki saari soudagri mehaz qomar
baazi hai.]
His glance only paints the heathens shade; his skills big height are statues he
made.
Thus shun the trade circles of his own make; who plans all business for
gambling sake.
*****(3)*****
Jawanan ra bad-aamoz ast ein asr; shabb-e-Iblis ra roz ast ein asr.
Badamanash misal-e-shoalah paicham; keh bey noor ast-o-bey soz ast ein
asr.
[Her duor jawanon ko boraeyi sekhhata hai; iss ki wajah sey Iblis ki raat roz (e-roshan) mein tabdil ho choki hai.
Mien oss kay daman kay saath shoalah ki tarah lipta hoa hon; kiyuonkeh yeh
duor noor (-e-hadayat) aur soz (-e-mohabat) sey khali hai.]
To youths of this age he taught evil ways; it turned the Satans night into his
days.
Like flame I make a coil on his face; as this age lacks all the shine and grace.
*****(4)*****
Mosilman faqr-o-sultani behum kard; zamirash baqi-o-faani behum kard.
Walaikan al-aman az asr-e-hazir; keh sultani beh Shaitani behum kard.
[Mosilman ney faqr aur hokamrani ko yakja kar deya thha; oss kay zamir mein
baqi (aakherat) aur fani (dunya) akathhey ho gaey thhey.
Laikan asr-e-hazir say Khoda bachaey; oss ney sultani aur Shaitani ko
akathha kar deya hai.]
The Muslim draws content and kingship close; he views the man and God in a
close pose.
376
From this Age but I wished to run away; who has mixed the kingship with
Satans way.
*****(5)*****
Chih goeym raqs-e-tou choon ast-o-chon neist; hashish ast ein nishat-eandaroon neist.
Beh taqlid-e-Farangi paaey kobi; beh rug-haey tou aan toghiyan-e-khoon
neist.
[Kaya kahon keh teyra raqs yuon hai aur yuon naheen; yeh androoni
mosarat ka azhaar naheen, balkeh hashish hai.
Tou Farangiyuon ki taqlid mein paon sey harkaat karta hai; magar teyri
rugon mein khoon ka woh josh naheen.]
The dance you now play in this or that way; is just a drugs kick, a bliss to soul
nay.
In wake of whites so? You play feet, lo! No blood boils ever in thy-own-veins
so!
SET 14: BRAHMIN
Brahmin
*****(1)*****
Dar sadd fitnah ra ber khod koshaadi; duo gaamey rafti-o-az pa fataadi.
Brahmin az bottan taaq-e-khod arast; tou Quraan ra sar-e-taaqey nehaadi.
[(Ay Mosilman) tou ney apney oopar sainkarron fitnon ka darwazah khhol
liya; tou duo qadam chala aur gir parra.
Brahmin ney tou taaq ko botton sey arastah kar liya; (magar) tou ney Quraan
Pak ko taaq (-nasiyan) per rakhh diya.]
377
For him, he opened hundred doors for plots; two steps he only takes and slips in
trot.
The Brahmin adorned his idols on arch; in arch bin you placed the Quran as
mark.
*****(2)*****
Brahmin ra nagoeym haich karah; konad sung-e-garan ra parah parah.
Niayad joz beh zor-e-dast-o-bazo; khodaey trashidan z-kharah.
[Mien Brahmin ko nikamma naheen kehta; woh tuo bhari pathar ko tokarrey
tokarrey kar deyta hai.
(Aakher) zor-e-dast-o-bazoo kay baghair; pathhar sey khoda naheen trasha ja
sakta.]
To Brahmin I say not a useless bloke; since all heavy stones with efforts he
broke.
It cant be achieved save with arms might; from stone he carves gods to put his
hand right.*
(*To put ones right hand; to show ones will and determination. (for poetic
need I reversed right hand to hand right.)
*****(3)*****
Nigah daarad Brahmin kaar-e-khod ra; nami goeyad beh kas asrar-e-khod
ra.
Bamun goeyad keh az tasbih bagozar; badosh-e-khod bord zonnar-e-khod ra
[Brahmin apney kaam ki hifazat karta hai; woh apney raaz kissi sey naheen
kehta.
Mojhey kehta hai keh tasbih chhorr dey; magar apna zonnar kandhay sey
naheen otaarta.]
A pundit keeps eyes on his own task; he wont let to know his secret mask.
378
To me he says Give up counting beads; for his own neck feels holy threads
need.
*****(4)*****
Brahmin goft ber khaiz az dar ghair; z-yaraan-e-watan nayad bajoz khair.
Bayakk Masjid duo Mulla mi-gunjad; z-afsoon-e-bottaan gunjad bayakk
Deir.
[Brahmin ney (mojh sey) kaha: Ghair (Angraiz) kay darwazey sey othh ja; hum
tumharey ehl-e-watan hein, hum tumhari bhalai kay sawaey kochh naheen
sochtay.
(Waisey tuo) duo Mulla eik Masjid mein naheen samatey; magar botton kay
jadoo say kaeyi Mulla eik bottkhaney mein samaey hoay hein (Hindu kay
haami ulma ki taraf asharah hai).]
The Brahmin said leave this white mans door; from Hindies think not, save
good any more.
In one mosque two Mullahs may neer contain; with magic of gods can live in a
fane.
SET 15: EDUCATION
Taaleem
*****(1)*****
Tabb-o-taabey keh baashad javidanah; samand-e-zindagi ra taziyanah.
Beh farzandaan biyamoz ein tabb-o-taab; kitab-o-maktab afsoon-o-fasanah.
[Woh tabb-o-taab (hararat-o-chamak) jo hamaishah baqi rehey; jo asb-ezindagi kay leay taziyanah ka kaam dey (hararat-e-zindagi mei azafah karey).
Apney farzandon ko yeh tabb-o-taab sikhha; (iss kay baghair) kitab-o-maktab
mehaz afsoon-o-fasanah hein.]
379
A shine which lasts with beauty and grace; to lifes mustang a whip for race.
Teach the kids and colts,* a verve and flame; to books and schools a fiction I
name. (*Kids and colts: New generation.)
*****(2)*****
Z-ilm charah saazey bey godaazey; bassey khoshter nigah-e-pak baazey.
Niko-ter az nigah-e-pak baazey; walley az her duo alam bey niazey.
[Oss ilm sey jo dunvi masael tuo hul karey, magar godaz (mohabat) atta nah
karey; pakbaaz nigah (jo hawus-e-dunya sey aaloodah nah ho) kaheen behtar
hai.
Magar woh dil jo duonon jahanon sey bibiaz ho; pakbaz nigah sey bhi behtar
hai.]
A knowledge which cures but melts not to trance; far better is the eye with
sacred glance.
It looks better yet to the sacred eyes; a heart who seeks not any earthly ties.)
*****(3)*****
Beh aan Momin Khoda kaarey nadarad; keh dar tun jan-e-bidaarey nadarad.
Azan az maktab-e-yaraan garaizam; jawaney khod nigahdaarey nadarad.
[Allah (Taala) oss Momin sey koeyi sarokaar naheen rakhhtey; jo apney badan
mien jan-e-bidaar nah rakhhta ho.
Mien doston kay madrassah sey iss leay garaiz karta hon, keh wahan aisey
naujawan naheen miltay, jo azmat-e-insani ka ihsaas rakhhtey hon.]
No links with that Momin the God would keep; who keeps no conscious soul
with selfs deep peep.
My friends Maktab way I left that is why; no youth I found there with self
guarding eye.
380
*****(4)*****
Z-mun geer ein keh mardey kor chashmey; z-beinaey ghalat beinay nikoter.
Z-mun geer ein keh nadaney niko kaish; z-danishmand-e-bey Deenay nikoter.
[Mojh sey yeh baat sonn ley keh andha Adami; oss beina sey behtar hai jo
moamlaat ko ghalat rung mein deikhhey.
Yeh bhi sonn ley keh naik niyat nadaan shakhs; iss danishmand sey behtar hai
jo Deen-o-aiman sey khaali ho.]
A blind eye is better from eyes crook; which sees a virtue from evil look.
An ignorant man and a simple guy; is better than a wise but faithless sly?
*****(5)*****
Azan fikr-e-falak paima chih hasil? Keh gird-e-saabat-o-siyyarah gardad.
Misal-e-parah-e-abray keh az baad; beh pehnaey faza-e-aawarah gardad.
[Aasmanon takk pohnchney waaley iss fikr sey kaya hasil; jo sitaron aur
siyyaron kay gird ghhomta hai.
Badal kay oss tokarrey ki manind jo hawa sey faza ki wosaat mein awarah
pherta rehta hai.]
No use of a thought which measures sky; but settles like dust or moves like fly.
Like sections of clouds he moves here there; and wanders in space with
draughts of air.
*****(6)*****
381
Adab pairaiyah-e-nadan-o-danast; khosh aan koo az adab khod ra biyar ast.
Nadaram aan Mosilman-zadah ra dost; keh dar daanish fazoud dar adab
kast.
[Adab, nadaan-o-dana duonon kay leay labas ki hasiat rakhhta hai (bais-ezinat hai aur ayoob dhanpta hai); mobarik ho woh shakhs jiss ney apney aap
ko adab sey arastah kiya.
Mien, aisey Moslim naujawan ko pasand naheen karta; jo aql mein barrha hoa,
magar adab sey khaali ho.]
Respect is the dress of a sage or fool; a lucky man likes to make it a rule.
With that Muslim child I keep no love ehains; in wisdom who gains in respect
who wanes.
*****(7)*****
Tera nomeidi az tifalan rawa neist; chih perva gar damagh shan rasa neist.
Bago ay sheikh-e-maktab gar badaani; keh dil dar seinah-e-shan hust ya
neist.
[Ay Sheikh-e-maktab! Tojhey Mosilman bachon sey naummeid hona monasib
naheen; kaya perva agar onn ka damagh taiz naheen.
Agar tojhey maaloom hai, tuo mojhey yeh bata; keh onn kay seinon mein dil
hai ya naheen.]
Why you lose hopes of kids a bit; if they do not catch a point of wits.
Tell me Maktab Sheikh if you know a lot; do they keep in bosom a heart or not?
*****(8)*****
Beh por-e-khwaish Deen-o-danish aamoz; keh tabad choon meh-o-anjam
naginash.
382
Nawa az seinah-e-morgh-e-chaman bord; z-khoon-e-lalah aan soz-e-kohan
bord.
Beh ein maktab, beh ein daanish chih naazi; keh naan dar kaff nadaad-o-jan
z-tun bord.
[Oss ney morgh-e-chaman kay seinay sey naghmah chhin liya; gul-e-lalah kay
khoon mein sey oss ka porana soz khatam kar diya.
Tou oss sakool aur oss taalim per kaya fakhar karta hai; jiss ney rooti tuo nah
di, olta badan sey jan nikaal lee (hararat-e-zindagi sey biganah kar diya).]
Who sappd sweet tone of the birds and buds; who dampd old flame of the
poppys blood.*
On this Maktab and wits how can you boast; which gave him no bread till he
gave up ghost.
(*Poppy; the young man. Buds; the garden, the nation)
*****(10)*****
Khodaya waqt-e-aan dervaish-e-khosh-baad; keh dil-ha az dumash choon
ghonchah bakoshad.
383
Beh tifal-e-maktab-e-ma ein doa goft; pey naaney beh bund-e-kas mi-fataad.
[Khodaya! Woh dervaish khosh rehey; jiss kay dum (taalim) sey hamarey dil
ghonchah ki manind khhil othhey (por ummeid ho gaey).
Iss ney hamarey sakool kay bachey ko yeh nasihat ki; keh rooti ki khatir kissi ki
(zehni) ghulami mein nah phhansa.]
The days of that Dervesh O God keep gay; whose breath opes hearts like buds
in-early-May.
To a Maktabs child he prayd in this way; for bread put him not in some bodys
pay.
*****(11)*****
Kassey kpp La ilah ra dar girah bost; z-bund-e-maktab-o-Mulla baroon
just.
Beh aan Deen-o-beh aan daanish mapardaaz; keh az ma mi-bord chash-odil-o-dast.
[Jiss kissi ney La ilah (Tawhid) ko apni girah mein bandh liya; woh madrassey
aur Mulla kay bundhnon sey azad ho gaya.
Oss Deen-o-daanish kay hasool mein koshan nah ho; jo hum sey nigah, dil aur
aql chhein ley.]
Who eer tied himself with Lailahs tie; from Mullahs Maktab he jumpd very
high.
To that faith and fire no heed we should pay; my friends heart and eye from me
who took away.
*****(12)*****
Cho mi-beini keh rehzan-e-caravan kosht; chih porsi carvaney ra chisaan
kosht.
Mabaash ayman azan ilmay keh khwani; keh azoey rooh-e-quomay
mitawaan kosht.
384
[Jabb tou deikhh raha hai keh rahzan ney qaflah halak kar diya; pher yeh
kiyuon poochhta hai keh oss ney ossey kis tarah halak kiya.
Jo ilm tou parrh raha hai, oss sey ghafil nah reh; oss sey pori quom ki rooh
halak ki ja sakti hai.]
A caravan was killed, if you eer see; make not a probe, how it could be.
No use to learn a knowledge and skill; which murders a nations soul and will.
*****(13)*****
Jawaney khosh gillay rungin kullahey; nigah-e-oo cho sheraan bey panahey.
Beh maktab ilm-e-maishi ra biyamokht; mayassar nayadash burg-e-giyahey.
[Woh khoobsurat Moslim naujawan jo rungin kullah pehnay thha; jiss ki nigah
sheron ki manind bey baak thhi.
Oss ney (rizq ki khatir) sakool sey bhairron ka ilm seikhha; magar ossey ghhas
ki patti bhi mayassar nah aaeyi.]
A well dressed fighter and handsome guy; his flaming eyes beamed like a lions
eye.
He learnd from Maktab a knowledge of sheep; he is now craving for few
crumbs to keep.
*****(14)*****
Shotar ra bachah-e-oo goft dar dasht; nami beinam Khodaey charsoo ra.
Pidar goft ay pisar choon pa balaghzad; shotar hum khwaish ra beinad hum
oo ra.
[Oont kay bachay ney sehra mein apni man sey kaha: Mojhey tuo kaheen
kainat ka malik (Allah Taala) dikhhaeyi naheen deyta.
Baap ney jawab diya: (Baitey) jabb paaon phhislta hai; tuo oont apney aap ko
bhi deikhh leyta hai aur Khoda ko bhi.]
To a camel addressed its youngest foal; no God I have seen in the desert whole.
385
The father said: Filly thy foot slips when; you would see thy self, to God also
then.* (*Due to too much load on his back his foot is likely to slip, of course
when he is grown up).
SET 16: SEARCH FOR FOOD AND LIVING
Talash-e-Rizq
*****(1)*****
Paridan az sar-e-baamey beh baamey; nabakhshad jorrah-e-bazaan ra
moqamey.
Z-nakhchiray keh joz mosht-e-peray neist; haman behtar keh meeri dar
konaamey.
[(Kawwon ki tarah rizq ki khatir) eik chhat sey dosari chhat takk orrna nar
bazon ko zaib naheen deyta.
Oss shikar sey jo mothhi bhar per kay sawaey kochh naheen; yehi behtar hai
keh tuo apney ghhonsley mein mur jaaey.]
If the hawks too fly for roof to roof race*; amongst the birds of prey they find
no place.
For a hunt of few wings and a bit flesh; it is better to die in aereys mesh.
(*It is below ones dignity to knock door to door for help)
*****(2)*****
Nigar khod ra bachashm meharmanah; nigah-e-mast ma ra taziyanah.
Talash-e-rizq azan daadand ma ra; keh baashad per kashoodan ra bahanah.
[Apney aap ko gehri nazar sey deikhh; hamari (mohasbah ki) nigah he hamarey
leay taziyanah hai.
Rizq ki talash humein iss leay di gaeyi hai; ta-keh humein apney per khholney
ka bahanah millay (apni qowwatein azmaney ka mouqaa millay).]
386
(A hawk said to another hawk as follows): See thy own self with a seeing eye;
this eye is a whip for us to fly;
This eye is a lash for a hunting dash; an excuse for wings to pounce in a flash.
SET 17: A CROCODILE TO ITS YOUNG
Nahung ba Bachah-e-Khod
*****(1)*****
Nahungay bachah-e-khod chih khosh goft; beh Deen-e-ma haraam aamad
keranah.
Beh mouj aawaiz-o-az sahil baperhaiz; hamah daryast ma ra ashiyanah.
[Eik magarmachh ney apney bachah sey kaya khoob kaha; hamarey mazahab
mein sahil haraam hai.
Moujon sey qowwat azmaeyi kar aur kinarey sey door reh; sara darya he
hamara ghar hai.]
Thus said to its child a croco:* with boast; it is banned in our faith to see the
coast.
So mix up with waves and shun the coast; to us the river bed plays a host.
(*Diminitive of crocodile.)
*****(2)*****
Tou dar darya naeh oo dar ber tust; beh toofan dar fataadan johar-e-tust.
Cho yakk dum az talatum-ha biyasood; humein daya-e-tou gharatgar-e-tust.
[Tou darya mein naheen balkeh darya teyrey pehlo mein hai; iss kay toofan sey
qowwat aazmaeyi teyri nehaad mein hai.
Agar tou ney eik lamah kay leay iss (ki moujon) kay talatom sey graiz ikhtiyar
kaya; tuo yehi darya teyri halakat ka sabab bun jaaey ga.]
387
In sea you are not it lies but in thee; show thy mettle now and face floods of sea.
If you seek from storms a fast retreat; this sea within thee will rob thy heat.
SET 18: THE FINIS
Khatmah
*****(1)*****
Neh az saqi neh az paimanah goftam; hadis-e-ishq bibakanah goftam.
Shoneidam aanchih pakaan ummat; tera ba shokhey rindanah goftam.
[Mien ney (shaeron ki manind) nah saqi ki baat ki hai, nah paimaney ki; mien
ney tuo ishq ki baat ki hai aur woh bhi bey bakanah andaz mein.
Jo kochh mien ney ummat kay pakbaz bazorgon sey sonna thha; woh shokhi-erindanah sey keh diya hai.]
I talk not of bearer nor of bowl hence; this love theme, I say in a frank parlance.
From Holies of Ummah what eer I hold; in their own frank style to thee I have
told.
(Here Iqbals setting of words is so wonderful that it was difficult to convey that
sweet lush (of words) to the readers. According to Websters Collegeate
Dictionary Parlance means language, a style or manner of speaking or writing
as Military parlance. However, the archaic words (old use) are allowed to be
used in poetry for special purposes only.)
*****(2)*****
Bakhod baaz oo damaan dillay geer; daroon-e-seinah-e-khod manzilay geer.
Badeh ein kisht ra khonabah-e-khwaish; fishaandam danah-e-mun tou
hasilay geer.
[Tou apney aap ki taraf wapas aa aur apney dil ka daman thhaam ley; aur
apney he seinay ko apni manzil bana.
388
Abb apney (dil ki) iss khheiti ko apney khoon sey seinch; danah mien ney
bakhhair diya hai, abb paidawar tou samait.]
Back to ego turn, and back to heart look; make the selfs own place in thy
bosom nook.
Treat this tillage with moist of blood and tear. Eat the harvest thus, I throw my
seeds here.
*****(3)*****
Haram joz qiblah-e-qalb-o-nazar neist; tawaf-e-oo tawaf-e-baam-o-dar neist.
Miyan-e-ma-o-Baitullah ramzeist; keh Jibril-e-Amin ra hum khabar neist.
[Haram tuo qalb-o-nazar ka qiblah hai; iss ka tawaf mehaz makan ka tawaf
naheen.
Hamarey aur Baitullah Sharif kay darmiyan jo raaz hai; oss sey Jibril Amin bhi
bakhabar naheen.]
For heart and eyes course, the Harem is the aim; its round is not the round of
dooran roofs frame.
In us and Gods House there hids a hint so; which Gabe, the Trustee may not
even know.
27th August, 2013
389
NEWS
Far East
Myanmar: On 25th August, about 1,000 anti-Muslim rioters burned shops
and homes in a fresh outbreak of communal unrest in Myanmar. Police fired
warning shots on three occasions as a mob tried to set property ablaze and
attacked fire engines that were attempting to put out fires in a village at
Kanbalu, in the central region of Sagaing.
The unrest erupted after a Muslim man was arrested on suspicion of
attempting to rape a Buddhist woman. A crowd of about 150 people and three
Buddhist monks gathered at the police station demanding that the accused be
handed over to them. When the authorities refused, the mob attacked Muslim
property in the area and the crowd grew in size and ferocity as the night went
on.
Next day, Muslims displaced by Myanmar's latest eruption of religious
violence picked through the charred remains of their shattered homes as police
patrolled the streets, amid concern over spreading unrest. Hundreds of people
390
were made homeless after about 1,000 anti-Muslim rioters rampaged through
villages in Kanbalu, in the central region of Sagaing.
Middle East
Iraq: On 18th August, attacks in Iraq killed at least six people including a
local council member. Two roadside bombs targeted a bus stop and a
supermarket in two separate areas of Baghdad, killing at least four people and
wounding 13 and the body of a local council member who was kidnapped the
day before was found south of Kirkuk. In Muqdadiyah, a roadside bomb killed a
teacher.
Next day, Iraq hanged 17 people to death, 16 of them on terrorism-related
charges. They are the first executions announced by the ministry since brazen
July assaults on two major prisons freed hundreds of prisoners, including some
who had been sentenced to death, drawing criticism within Iraq that executions
were proceeding too slowly.
Iraq carried out 129 executions in 2012 and Baghdad insisted it would
continue to implement the death penalty. Executions in Iraq, which are usually
carried out by hanging, have drawn widespread international condemnation. UN
human rights chief Navi Pillay said earlier this year that the criminal justice
system in Iraq is still not functioning adequately, with numerous convictions
based on confessions obtained under torture and ill-treatment, a weak judiciary
and trial proceedings that fall short of international standards.
On 20th August, violence in Iraq killed a policeman and two civilians and
16 militants died as security forces conducted wide-ranging operations. Prime
Minister Nuri al-Maliki vowed to press on with a campaign against militants in
a bid to stem the spike in bloodshed, with more than 3,500 people killed since
the start of this year and the interior ministry describing Iraq as a battleground.
Separate bombings at a livestock market and a police station north of Baghdad
killed three people, including a policeman, and wounded nine others.
Next day, attacks across Iraq killed seven people, damaged an oil pipeline
and hit a Shiite shrine. In the deadliest attack, gunmen broke into the house of a
local anti-al-Qaeda militia chief west of Baghdad, killing his son and cousin.
Sunni militants consider the Sahwa, a collection of Sunni tribal militias that
joined forces with the United States and turned against al-Qaeda from late 2006,
to be traitors and frequently attack them.
On 23rd August, a suicide bomber killed 25 people and wounded more
than 50 in Baghdad when he detonated his explosives inside a busy cafe near a
park. Seven people were killed in half-dozen separate shootings and explosions
in the capital Baghdad and Mosul, a mostly Sunni Arab city in north Iraq, killed
two people and wounded 12 others. In Hilla, a mostly Shiite town north of
391
Baghdad three people was killed. Security forces claimed arresting seven Sunni
militants linked to al-Qaeda.
On 25th August, at least 31 people were killed across Iraq, including five
soldiers who were shot dead by gunmen and their bodies were burnt. Two
explosions took place in commercial areas in western and eastern Baghdad,
killing three people and wounding another ten. Three people died and 15 were
wounded when a car bomb exploded in Balad. Two people were shot dead near
their homes in Mosul. Roadside bombs killed two members of a Shi'ite family
and wounded nine others in central Baquba.
On 28th August, more than a dozen bombings ripped through
neighbourhoods in and around Baghdad and in all 67 people were killed across
Iraq. Residents in one neighbourhood angrily reacted to one blast by chasing
down a suspected attacker and killing him before setting his corpse ablaze. The
unrest came despite widely publicized security operations targeting militants in
Baghdad and to the north and west.
Overall, violence in Baghdad and towns just south of the capital left 57
dead, while two others were killed in attacks in the northern cities of Kirkuk and
Mosul. More than 190 people were wounded nationwide. The deadliest attack
struck in the Jisr al-Diyala neighbourhood of southeast Baghdad, with at least
nine people killed and 27 others wounded in twin bombings.
Next day, a car bomb ripped through a popular fruit and vegetable market
north of Baghdad, killing at least 16 people. The blast, which also wounded 25
people, struck in the predominantly Sunni Arab city of Samarra. It came a day
after a wave of nationwide violence including a spate of bombings in the Iraqi
capital killed at least 75 people.
On 31st August, gunmen killed five worshippers at a Sunni mosque in
Baghdad. The militants fled the scene after carrying out the attack, which came
during early morning prayers in the predominantly-Shiite neighbourhood of
Baghdad Jadidah, in the capital's east. One worshipper was also wounded in the
shooting.
Palestine: On 20th August, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian and
wounded two others during a raid in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied
West Bank. An Israeli military spokeswoman said security forces arrested a
suspected militant in Jenin and, after being attacked with live fire, home-made
bombs and rocks, shot back. Violence in the West Bank has worsened since the
beginning of 2013. Israeli forces have killed 11 Palestinians there this year;
most of them in clashes, compared with three killed in the same period in 2012,
according to United Nations figures.
On 26th August, peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators
were cancelled after Israeli security forces shot dead three Palestinians during
392
clashes in the West Bank. Medics earlier reported that in addition to three
Palestinians shot dead, 19 were wounded by Israeli security forces in Qalandiya
camp, between Ramallah and Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, early morning.
Syria: On 18th August, it was reported that thousands of Syrians crossed
the border into Iraqs Kurdish region to escape battles between warring factions
and Kurd forces in their homeland. The UN refugee agency said in a statement
that the 15,000 who crossed recently into Iraq were in addition to about 154,000
Syrian refugees already registered in Iraq.
On 21st August, main Opposition group accused the government of
massacring more than 1,300 people in a chemical weapons attack on rebel
areas near Damascus, stating many of the victims choked to death. The claim of
a chemical attack, which could not be independently verified, was vehemently
denied by the Syrian regime which said it was intended to hinder the mission of
UN chemical weapons inspectors now in the country.
The Local Coordination Committees (LCC), a network of activists,
reported hundreds of casualties in the brutal use of toxic gas by the criminal
regime. And in videos posted on YouTube, the Syrian Revolution General
Commission, another activist group, showed what it called a terrible massacre
committed by regime forces with toxic gas.
Chief UN chemical weapons inspector Ake Sellstrom is holding
discussions with the Syrian government over an alleged chemical weapons
attack and is following the situation carefully, a UN spokesman said. Ban was
shocked by the report of the alleged attack, the statement said.
The European Union condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons
by Syrian government forces as totally unacceptable, demanding an immediate
investigation. Saudi Arabia urged the UN Security Council and EU ministers to
immediately address Syrias massacre. French President called on UN
inspectors to visit the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack outside
Damascus. William Hague said that Britain would refer Syrian opposition
claims to the UNSC.
But Russia called Syrian opposition claims a premeditated provocation.
The foreign ministry stressed that the reports were issued just as a UN chemical
weapons inspection team had arrived in Syria and noted that this makes us
think that we are once again dealing with a premeditated provocation.
Next day, the UN Security Council called for a thorough, impartial and
prompt investigation of the latest allegation of chemical weapon use in Syria
when the 15-member body met in an emergency session. The United States,
Britain and France are among around 35 countries that called for chief UN
investigator Ake Sellstrom, whose team is currently in Syria, to investigate the
incident as soon as possible.
393
On its part, Pakistan fully backed the move for an impartial investigation
into the tragic incident, but questioned claims about the Syrian government's
involvement in the gas attack. It seems totally counter-intuitive that the Syrian
Government would use chemical weapons, especially after allowing the UN
team, led by Ake Sellstrom, into the country to investigate the use of such
weapons, Pakistan UN Ambassador told the Security Council.
During the private Council meeting, Russia and China, which support the
Syrian government, blocked a stronger press statement supported by Britain,
France, the United States and others. But Russia and China agreed that the
council president could sum up the session with press elements close to the
weakest response from the UN's most powerful body.
On 24th August, President Barack Obama met his national security
advisers to discuss the chemical weapons attack in Syria, with American media
reports saying that one of the options considered was the NATO air war in
Kosovo in late 1990s as a possible blueprint for military action against the
Middle East country without a mandate from the United Nations. The top-level
meeting took place amid indications that military assets are being positioned for
a possible response to the new developments in Syria.
Faced with the possibility of a Russian veto at the UN Security Council,
President Obama is considering whether to order military strikes against Syria
without UN Security Councils approval, according to The New York Times.
President Obama had indicated that doing so in Syria would require a robust
international coalition.
Among the options at Obamas disposal are cruise-missile-armed US
ships currently in the Mediterranean. Speaking to reporters during a trip to the
Far East, Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel indicated assets in the region are
being bolstered and repositioned to bring them within range of Syria. Hagel
declined to discuss any specific force movements.
Russia has accused the opposition of staging Wednesdays attack to
discredit Assad. But all options have remained on hold pending confirmation of
the chemical attack. UN inspectors currently in Damascus have not yet been
able to visit the site of the incident, as the United States and Russia have traded
charges over which of Syrias warring camps was blocking the probe.
Next day, the United Nations said its experts would start their probe of an
alleged Syrian chemical weapons site. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
instructed the mission, currently in Damascus, to focus its attention on
ascertaining the facts of the 21 August incident as its highest priority.
The UN announcement came shortly after Damascus gave the green light
for the inspectors to carry out the probe into the alleged use of chemical
weapons near the Syrian capital. Doctors Without Borders has said 355 people
394
died last week of neurotoxic symptoms, after the opposition claimed regime
forces unleashed chemicals east and southwest of Damascus causing more than
1,300 deaths.
In Washington, the United States said there was very little doubt Syrian
forces had used chemical weapons on civilians and dismissed an offer by
Damascus for a UN team to view the attack site. The comments marked a
significant escalation of a showdown over the attack as Washington appeared to
be positioning for possible military action.
Russia welcomed Damascus offer to allow a mission by UN inspectors
probing alleged chemical weapons use and warned the West that military action
against the Syrian regime would be a tragic mistake. We strongly urge those
who, by attempting to impose their own results on the UN experts, are raising
the possibility of a military operation in Syria to use their common sense and
refrain from committing a tragic mistake, foreign ministry spokesman said in a
statement in Moscow.
Meanwhile, the governor of Hama province in central Syria was killed in
a car bombing blamed on rebels. Anas Abdel Razzaq al-Naem was appointed to
the post in July 2011, four months after the beginning of the revolt against
President Bashar al-Assads regime.
On 26th August, UN inspectors braved sniper fire to reach the site of a
suspected deadly chemical weapons attack near Damascus, as the West weighed
possible military action against Syrias regime. The Syrian authorities accused
rebels fighting Assads forces of being behind the sniper fire, while the
opposition said pro-regime militias were to blame, although both sides were
said to have agreed to a temporary ceasefire.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the West could act even
without full UN Security Council backing. France said the West would decide in
the coming days on a response. The only option that I do not envisage is to do
nothing, Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said. Turkish foreign minister said
Turkey would join an international coalition against Syria even if the UNSC
fails to reach consensus.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Monday that US would only
take action in concert with the international community and with legal
justification. Hagel declined to discuss US military options but said, The US is
looking at all options. President Bashar al-Assad declared that any strike by the
US and its allies would be doomed to failure and key ally Moscow warned of
dangerous consequences for the entire region.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned his US counterpart John
Kerry of the extremely dangerous consequences of a possible new military
intervention for the whole Middle East and North Africa region, Lavrov said,
395
396
moon pleaded for them to be given the time they need to complete their
mission.
But the United States and European and Middle East allies have already
pinned the blame on President Bashar al-Assads forces. Even if Russia blocks
UN approval, US-led air or missile strikes on Syria look all but certain, though
the timing is far from clear. That has set Western leaders on a collision course
with Moscow, as well as with China.
Weve always said we want the UN Security Council to live up to its
responsibilities on Syria. Today they have an opportunity to do that, Cameron
said in a statement. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said earlier in the day that
any attack would be folly. One of his deputies responded to Cameron by saying
the Council should wait for the UN inspectors report.
Bans special envoy for Syria, Algerian diplomat Lakhdar Brahimi, said
international law is clear in requiring Council authorization for any military
action. But Western leaders have made clear they are ready to do without it,
citing precedents for foreign intervention to protect civilians.
As long as the UN team is in Syria, Western action is less likely. Strikes,
expected to involve cruise missiles fired by US ships in the Mediterranean, are
also unlikely before Obama has an intelligence report on the August 21 gas
attack. Its conclusions, however, are scarcely in doubt.
It has heightened tensions between Assads sponsor Iran and Israel, which
bombed Syria this year, and has fueled sectarian bloodshed in Lebanon and in
Iraq. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that US action would be a disaster for the
region. Tehran has steadfastly supported the secular President Bashar al-Assad
against a two-and-a-half-year-long rebellion. In a related development, the
Israeli cabinet authorized a partial call-up of army reservists amid growing
expectations of a foreign military strike on neighbouring Syria.
Poland voiced reservations about military action in Syria, in a rare
departure from toeing the same line as the United States. Im not convinced
that an armed attack will stop the crimes, Prime Minister Donald Tusk told
reporters. Tusks announcement that Poland does not plan to take part in a
military intervention came as the United States and allies press their case for
such action.
The French parliament was also recalled, but only for a session set for
September 4. Australia, which takes over the chair of the Security Council on
September 1, added its voice to the Western view that continuing deadlock
along Cold War lines in the top UN body would not rule out an attack on Syria.
Next day, as the West prepares for possible strikes against Syria, the US
Navy deployed fifth destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean while Damascus
ally Russia will be sending an anti-submarine ship and a missile cruiser to the
397
area over the next few days. Obama said he had not yet signed off on a plan to
attack Syria, but action appeared likely after Washington stopped seeking UN
mandate.
And British government said it would still be permitted under
international law to take military action against Syria on even if such a move is
blocked by the UN Security Council. Britain's Labour opposition, however, said
it was set to vote against the principle of military intervention in Syria.
With any US-led missile strike unlikely to have UN Security Council
backing, Russia and Iran again warned against any Western intervention, saying
it could set off a wider regional conflict. Syria's nervous neighbours have
already stepped up preparations for conflict, with Israel authorizing a partial
call-up of arm reservists while Turkey put its forces on heightened vigilance.
Russia is also reportedly sending warships to the Mediterranean, while
Britain said it was sending fighter jets to the strategic island of Cyprus. Russian
General Staff said, The well-known situation shaping up in the eastern
Mediterranean called for certain corrections to the make-up of the naval forces.
In Damascus, soldiers were being pulled back from their command posts
and tougher security controls were in place at roadblocks and hospitals. A
Syrian security official said the army was preparing for the worst. Syrian
President, whose army has been gaining ground against the rebels in recent
months, vowed his country would emerge the victor in any confrontation with
the US.
Reportedly, Pakistan would oppose any resolution calling for
authorization of military action against Syria on alleged use of chemical
weapons if put to vote before the UN Security Council. Pakistans foreign
policy does not afford any room for supporting a resolution for armed
intervention as in principle it is against use of force and undermining the
sovereignty of a state.
On 30th August, the United States laid the groundwork for unilateral
military action in Syria, following the release of an American intelligence report
assessing with high confidence that the Syrian government planned and
launched last weeks chemical weapons attack. John Kerry released the details
obviously intended to muster support at home and abroad for a military
response.
Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General, in a meeting with five permanent
members of the Security cautioned against launching any military strike without
the authorization of the 15-member body. The Council is deadlocked as Russia
and China have made it clear that they would veto any resolution seeking
approval for the use of force against Syria.
398
399
Americans who say they can't stomach another war all took to the Manhattan
Square.
Next day, bowing to domestic and international pressures, President
Obama said that while the United States has decided to use military force
against Syria in response to the alleged August 21 chemical weapons attacks
near Damascus, he has decided to seek congressional authorization for such a
strike. Analysts noted that the announcement appeared to put off an imminent
cruise missile attack on Syria and opens the door to what will almost certainly
be a contentious and protracted debate.
Obamas announcement followed several days of faltering support for
military action in Congress as well as in foreign capitals. Congress is in recess
until September 9, and it was not immediately clear whether lawmakers would
try to convene earlier for an emergency vote. Leading lawmakers who had
called on the administration to seek congressional approval were pleased by
Obamas announcement.
The president did not put a timetable on the possible attack, stating an
order to the military to proceed would be effective tomorrow or next week or
one month from now. President Obama did not take questions from the press
for the announcement and ignored a shouted question from a pooled press
reporter over whether he would forgo a strike if Congress ultimately
disapproves. A low din of chanting could be heard during the presidents
remarks as demonstrators both for and against US intervention staged afternoon
rallies outside the White House compound.
Acknowledging the realities of a war-weary public and a seemingly
perpetual state of congressional gridlock, the president made a plea to
lawmakers: Heres my question for every member of Congress and every
member of the global community: What message will we send if a dictator can
gas hundreds of children to death in plain sight and pay no price? Whats the
purpose of the international system that weve built if a prohibition on the use of
chemical weapons that has been agreed to by the governments of 98 per cent of
the worlds people and approved overwhelmingly by the Congress of the United
States is not enforced?
Syria expects a military attack at any moment and is ready to retaliate,
an official said, after UN experts probing a suspected gas attack blamed on the
regime left the country. Syrias army is ready for potential foreign strikes
against it and has its finger on the trigger, Prime Minister said. Russian
President Vladimir Putin said claims that the regime had used chemical
weapons were utter nonsense and demanding proof. Common sense speaks
for itself, he told journalists.
Lebanon: On 23rd August, car bombs exploded outside two Sunni
mosques in a Lebanese city riven by strife over the war in neighbouring Syria,
400
killing 42 people and wounding five hundred. That was the highest toll in an
attack since Lebanons 1975-1990 civil war coming a week after a bombing in
the Beirut bastion of Shiite party Hezbollah.
The first bomb struck in the city centre at the Al-Salam Mosque as
worshippers were still inside; 14 people were killed in this attack. The second
explosion struck outside Al-Taqwa Mosque, about two kilometres (a little more
than a mile) away, near the port in which 28 people were killed.
Israeli air force struck a Palestinian group in Lebanon, hours after a
different organization said it had fired four rockets at the Jewish state from
Lebanon. The raid, which the Lebanese army said caused no casualties or
damage, nonetheless drew condemnation from the Lebanese government as a
violation of its sovereignty after it had vowed to hunt down the perpetrators of
rocket fire.
On 30th August, a Syrian army captain was among five people charged in
Lebanon over the countrys bloodiest attacks since the end of its 15-year civil
war. Two Lebanese religious figures were also charged over the twin car bombs
that exploded on August 23 outside mosques in Tripoli, killing 45 people.
Yemen: On 21st August, assailants shot dead intelligence chief of the
southern Yemeni city of Aden and his nephew. Official statement did not give
any details on the circumstances of the incident. On 25 th August, a powerful
blast ripped through a bus carrying Yemeni air force personnel to their base on
Sanaa, killing one person and wounding 25. A security official had earlier put
the death toll at six. Security forces foiled an attack by a would-be suicide
bomber on an English language school once linked to the US embassy in Sanaa.
The assailant was caught after he hurled a grenade that failed to explode
On 27th August, al-Qaeda in Yemen denied US allegations it is plotting
massive attacks that prompted the closure of Western missions in the country
this month. The network also denied reports confirmed by Yemens President
that US intelligence services had intercepted a conversation between al-Qaeda
chief Ayman al-Zawahiri and Nasser al-Wuhayshi, head of the Yemen-based alQaeda in the Arabian Peninsula.
On 30th August, a drone strike killed an al-Qaeda leader in Yemen. The
early morning strike on a vehicle traveling in Manasseh village in the southern
province of Bayda killed Qaeed al-Dhahab and two other men. Dhahab was
killed just hours after his marriage.
Africa
Nigeria: On 19th August, army said that the leader of Islamist extremist
group Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, may have died following a gunshot
wound from a clash with soldiers. According to the statement, Shekau, declared
a global terrorist by the US government, was shot on June 30 during a clash
401
402
403
Islamist prisoners were also killed in an exchange of fire with Egyptian police
outside Abu Zaabal prison, north of Cairo. Police arrested 48 Islamist leaders
the government, however, dismissed reports that it could ban the Muslim
Brotherhood.
In Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami staged a protest demonstration in front of the
Parliament House to show solidarity with supporters of deposed Egyptian
President Mohamed Mursi. Addressing the demonstrators Syed Munawar
Hassan said that the West was conspiring against the Islamic movements in
Arab countries but, according to him, such negative tactics to suppress this
uprising would fail.
Next day, militants killed 25 Egypt policemen in the deadliest attack of its
kind in years. Militants fired rocket-propelled grenades at two buses carrying
police in the Sinai Peninsula just hours after Egypts military chief vowed a
forceful response to violence roiling the country.
German Chancellor Merkel had suggested a freeze on arms supplies and
her Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle expressed shock over a terror attack
in the Sinai border region. Amnesty International Monday denounced the utter
carnage in Egypt, after clashes between security forces and supporters of ousted
president Mohamed Morsi killed hundreds across the country in the past week.
Meanwhile, the European Unions 28 foreign ministers are to hold
emergency talks Wednesday to review the blocs relations with Egypt. A
decision to convene the meeting was agreed by senior diplomats from EU
member states who gathered for a first round of emergency talks. At stake is
nearly five billion euros ($6.7 billion) in loans and grants promised by the
worlds top aid donor to Egypt for 2012-2013. It includes one billion euros from
the EU with the rest from European banks, the EIB and EBRD.
Turkey accused the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and its
Turkish secretary general of remaining indifferent to the bloodshed in Egypt. I
would say I resign because I couldnt accept the stance of an Islamic
organization whose name carries the word Islam in the face of such brutality,
Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said in televised remarks.
Israel and the West must support Egypts army, an Israeli official said
after 24 Egyptian policemen were killed in an attack in the Sinai. In another
development, Saudi Arabia said Arab and Islamic countries will step in to help
Egypt if Western nations cut aid packages to Cairo over a crackdown on
Islamists.
On 20th August, Egypts government pressed its relentless campaign
against the Muslim Brotherhood, dealing a major new blow to the Islamist
group by arresting its chief. Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie is to
be held for 15 days on allegations of having incited the murder of protesters.
404
Badie had been in hiding since July 10 when a warrant was issued for his arrest
over accusations he incited the deaths of protesters outside the Brotherhoods
headquarters in late June.
Despite its disarray, the Brotherhood moved quickly to name Mahmoud
Ezzat, a hawkish deputy in the organization, as interim supreme guide. Badies
detention raises fears of new violence in Egypt. Meanwhile, former president
Hosni Mubarak won conditional release in the third of four cases against him,
but remained in detention on the last case.
Mahmoud Ezzat has been jailed multiple times, and is often referred to as
the organizations iron man. Compared to Badie, Ezzat is a hawk, said Karim
Bitar, research director at the Institute for International and Strategic Relations.
It could be a signal, showing we can respond to authoritarianism with more
authoritarianism, he said. In any case, its a sign that this is not the time of the
moderates in Egypt, he added.
Next day, an Egyptian court ordered ex-president Hosni Mubarak freed
while he stands trial for corruption and killing protesters. There was no
indication of whether a release was imminent. The decision, however, added a
volatile new element to the political turmoil that has gripped Egypt since Morsi
was ousted.
Last year, Mubarak was convicted of complicity in the deaths of some of
the 850 people killed in the 2011 uprising that overthrew him, as well as on
charges of corruption. He was sentenced to life in prison, but an appeals court
ordered a retrial on technicalities should he be freed, he still faces those charges
and his next hearing is scheduled for August 25.
On 22nd August, Hosni Mubarak was transferred from prison to house
arrest at a military hospital. The former strongman was flown by medical
helicopter to a military hospital, where he will remain under house arrest as he
stands trial on corruption and murder charges. In other circumstances, the 85year-old's removal from prison might have caused shockwaves in the country.
But with Egypt mired in a deadly conflict between the military-installed
government and Islamists, Mubarak's transfer took place amid little fanfare or
protest.
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch condemned the government for
failing to protect churches, but also the Brotherhood for failing to halt
incitement against Christians. Violence has also targeted police and soldiers,
including two who were killed in a drive-by shooting near the Suez Canal town
of Ismailia.
On 25th August, an Egyptian court adjourned the trial of three jailed
Muslim Brotherhood leaders because of their absence, with the judge ordering
they be present for the next session in October. The Brotherhood defendants,
405
including supreme guide Mohamed Badie and two deputies, were not brought to
court because police feared protesters could attack the trucks transporting them
to prison.
Badie is the first Brotherhood supreme guide to be arrested by Egyptian
authorities since 1981. Three other Brotherhood members are standing trial with
the leaders, accused of carrying out the murders on June 30. And 29 others are
also facing charges including intimidating citizens in relation to the same
incident, which came as millions of Egyptians took to the streets to protest
against Morsi's rule on June 30.
At the same time, toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak appeared in a separate
court for his first hearing since he was released from jail to house arrest. He still
faces an array of charges, including complicity in the deaths of some 850 people
killed in the 2011 uprising against him, and corruption. The court adjourned till
September 14, after creating three specialized committees to sift through
evidence.
On 28th August, the interim prime minister said, reversing his previous
stated view, said Egypt should not ban the Muslim Brotherhood or exclude it
from politics after the armys overthrow of President Mohammed Mursi. The
apparent about-turn fueled speculation that the military-installed government
may now seek a political settlement to the crisis, but also coincided with a new
call for protests by Mursis supporters.
The government has portrayed its attack on the Brotherhood as a fight
against terrorism, and Beblawi said ordinary citizens were afraid of
reconciliation with people who use force. There has been no sign from the
Brotherhood, most of whose leaders are now in jail or on the run that it wants to
engage with the army establishment that bulldozed it out.
Next day, supporters of Egypts deposed president Mohamed Morsi
vowed more rallies and called for marches as police arrested another senior
Islamist in an ongoing crackdown on Morsi loyalists. The call for further
protests came as the interior ministry announced the arrest of Muslim
Brotherhood politician, Mohamed al-Beltagi in a village outside Cairo.
Elsewhere in Egypt, police arrested 28 Islamists, the official MENA news
agency reported.
On 30th August, thousands of supporters of Egypt's Mohamed Morsi
marched through districts of Cairo and other cities to demand his reinstatement,
ignoring warnings that security forces would open fire if protests turned violent.
After a relative lull following the arrests of many Muslim Brotherhood leaders,
the Friday rallies were the movement's biggest show of defiance since clashes
two weeks ago in which hundreds of protesters were killed.
406
A Health Ministry official in Port Said, on the Suez Canal, said one
protester had been killed and 21 injured in clashes between supporters and
opponents of Morsi. The only reported clash between protesters and security
forces was outside a mosque in Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo.
Next day, one of al Qaeda's most militant affiliates has called on
Egyptians to take up arms against their army, saying a bloody crackdown on
Islamist protesters showed peaceful methods were futile, according to statement
posted on Internet. Scores of Egyptian security forces have been killed in a
series of attacks by suspected militants mostly in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula
since Mohamed Morsi was deposed.
There is nothing more right in God's religion (Islam) than those who
speak of the infidelity, reneging on Islam and abandonment of religion, and call
for the necessity to fight these armies, foremost of which is the Egyptian army,
said Abu Mohammed al-Adnani, spokesman for the Islamic State in Iraq and the
Levant (ISIL), according to the Arabic recording.
The Egyptian army is part and a mere copy of these armies which are
seeking in a deadly effort to prevent God's laws from being adopted and trying
hard to consecrate the principles of secularism and man-made laws, he said.
Mounting insecurity in Sinai worries the United States because the area is next
to Israel and the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip, as well as the Suez Canal.
Adnani lashed out at the Brotherhood and the smaller, Salafist al-Nour
party, saying they have been co-opted to non-violence and what he called the
futile secular approach to power through elections and democracy, which he
said had left Muslim Brotherhood members either in jail, dead or fugitives.
Meanwhile, Egypt's foreign ministry accused Gaza's Hamas rulers of
raiding an Egyptian cultural centre in the Palestinian enclave and detaining
several Egyptians. The foreign ministry strongly condemns and denounces this
irresponsible act and demands their release, it said of the Egyptians it claimed
Hamas arrested.
Yesterday, five civilians died in clashes when opponents and supporters
of Mohamed Morsi clashed in several cities. Three were killed in clashes in the
Giza district in Cairo, one in the canal city of Port Said and one in the Nile
Delta province of Sharqiya. Separately, the interior ministry said two policemen
were killed in militant attacks in North Sinai.
Sudan: On 20th August, a top army commander in the troubled new
nation of South Sudan was arrested over a string of alleged human rights
violations. General James Otong Riek was a commander in the eastern state of
Jonglei, the scene of heavy fighting last month between rival ethnic groups. The
army said he had been implicated in several reports and complaints of killings.
Over 100,000 people were affected during the July fighting, when thousands of
407
gunmen from the Lou Nuer tribe in northern Jonglei marched south towards
Pibor, an area of their rivals, the Murle.
408
VIEWS
Syria
Syrian conflict worsens: After an estimated 500 to 1,300 people died in
gas attacks in Syria on Wednesday, the UN Security Council called an
emergency meeting in New York, that called for a detailed investigation by the
U.N. inspection team led by Ake Sellstrom. Despite allegations by opposition
forces within the country, Syrian Information Minister Omran Zoabi claimed
that all accusations of chemical warfare by Assads regime were illogical and
fabricated. Activists reported that shells and rockets fell upon civilian
residences in rebel-held Damascus at 3AM while most of the casualties were
women and children.
409
There is indeed a method to this madness, and much of the chaos in Syria
is perpetuated by a deep misunderstanding of its politics and history. The
opposition forces claim that the alleged use of chemical warfare by Assad
against civilians in the rebelling majority cities is only to crush resistance
against the regime. This, they claim, should prove to those sitting on the fence
that neutrality in Syrias case results in more bloodshed.
However, Assads supporters counter-argue that any kind of chemical
warfare on civilians would contradict the actual progress made between the
civilians and the regime on political grounds, not through brute military force.
In fact, Assads staunch supporter, Russia, backed the government by viewing
the situation as rebel provocation.
Regardless of the botched narrative on Syria, one must think of the
average Syrian civilian entangled in the gruesomely debilitating conflict. With
more than 70,000 killed and at least 1,000,000 external refugees in surrounding
countries and a population consisting of Arabs, Kurds and Armenians of Sunni,
Alawite and Druze religious backgrounds, Syrias conflict is complicated by
religious and sectarian rifts.
The United Nations and Obamas collectively ambiguous silence only
worsens the situation after initially arming the rebel forces on ground.
According to latest figures from human rights groups and the United Nation, an
average of 166 Syrians are killed every day. Neutrality and passivity are not
acceptable options.
There are too many interveners and too many strategic interests at stake
in Syria which inherently renders the on-ground process of empowerment
impossible and violently attacked. There is an immediate need for honest
support from those who genuinely wish to empower the people of the country. If
the international community is sincerely supportive of a peaceful Syria, the
demands from the people are clear and so are benefits of a negotiated transition.
Only an indigenous movement, without foreign interests, can alleviate Syrias
terrible war. (Editorial, TheNation 23rd August)
War in the name of peace: The stage is finally set for an imperial
military intervention in Syria. After last weeks attack near Damascus involving
chemical weapons, Obamas convenient red line, US naval forces have started
closing in on the targeted country. If recent history is anything to go by, facts
will not matter in the end; whether it was the Syrian government that used the
chemical weapons or the sponsored rebel militants out to bring it down. We can
safely trust the sophisticated propaganda machine of the empire to lay the crime
comfortably at the door of the Assad regime. After all, the regime-change
ending of the gory drama had been written much before any use of chemical
weapons even before Obama declared it the red line.
410
Why else would the US, along with its NATO allies and middle eastern
proxies, prop up the militants and groom them, arm them and fund them, give
them logistical support and legitimacy? Certainly not for the sake of democracy,
as the militant extremists do not believe in the concept. In fact, by strengthening
the militant factions of the Syrian opposition, the US and its partners in the
unforgivable crime against Syrians have made it impossible for the Assad
regime to come to some agreement with non-violent groups struggling for
democratic reforms. Certainly not for any humanitarian reason, as the violence
unleashed by these sponsored rebels has resulted in unprecedented human
suffering for the Syrian society.
We have seen the US establishment go to any lengths to achieve its
strategic objectives, which is essentially another name for forwarding the
interests of imperial capitalism. Large-scale death of innocent civilians and
widespread destruction in targeted countries caused by a direct military
intervention has never deterred it from pursuing its greedy designs
The tamed mainstream Western media parrots what it is told, reinforcing
the patently false narrative spun by the empire and its cash-driven think tanks.
In fact, the same propensity to go around in circles within the framework
prescribed by the empire is glaring even in the Pakistani media. Seems like the
US efforts to cultivate the Pakistani media since it surfaced as a pro-people
independent power centre during the rule-of-law movement has paid dividends.
The result is that an impression has been created that the Syrian government is
killing its citizens, and the rebels, when they are not being passed off as those
resisting the tyrannical Assad dictatorship, are held equally responsible for the
woes of the Syrian people; not less not more.
The garb of promoting democracy and human rights behind which the US
and its partners regularly hide while fomenting militancy and engineering civil
wars in targeted countries, a garb wearing thin and tattered by recent operations,
is still treated with deference. The glaring contradictions are seldom questioned;
the silence on part of the torchbearer of civilized values over assaults on
democracy and human rights in Egypt, Israel and Middle Eastern kingdoms
toeing the line. The aftermath of the empires most recent interventions in
Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya is never considered a valid starting point to
decipher its tall claims. The state of democracy and civil rights in the United
States are not brought to the discussion table.
It seems we live in a world thats been turned on its head. Obama who has
presided over some of the worst war crimes, who approves illegal killings by
drones every Tuesday, who is responsible for expanding the war in Afghanistan,
starting one in Libya and bracing up to start another one in Syria, won the Nobel
Peace Prize and has not been stripped of it despite his love for violence and
bloodshed. The standard global prescription for raising taxes entails taxing the
411
poor and easing the burden on the rich. The US and its partners, who have
unleashed a war on terror on the world, are seen blatantly supporting and
sponsoring terrorists in the Middle East and elsewhere. Western governments
that espouse freedom of expression and transparency are ruthless in their war
against whistle-blowers, who have uncovered gory details about their
unconstitutional and criminal conduct.
How long will the reign of falsehood continue? How many innocent lives
must be snuffed out and how many peaceful cities must be destroyed in the
name of humanity, peace and democracy, before this madness comes to an end?
How many regimes must change before the leaders of our world wake up to the
evil of imperialism and the human suffering it causes? It is late already and too
many people have unnecessarily suffered at its hand. But without a challenge,
the naked emperor struts around killing more and more people, turning more
cities to ruin, empowering and arming barbarians. The least we can do to turn
the tide is to declare that he is naked. (Jalees Hazir, TheNation 26th August)
Syrias fate in question: After last weeks chemical weapon attacks, a
senior Obama administration official claimed that there was very little doubt
that President Bashar al-Assad had utilized chemical warfare against Syrian
civilians including women and children within rebel-held cities.
With the US and UK united in their condemnation of allegedly statesanctioned violence within Syria, while forgetful of their own arming of rebels
on ground, one cannot help but experience dj vu; the deployment of such
righteous rhetoric is similar, if not identical, to Bush and Blairs censuring of
Iraqi and Afghan governments.
It was only in 1988 when the United States decided to assist Saddam
Hussein with chemical weapons, including lethal nerve agents such sarin and
mustard gas, to combat the growing strategic challenge emanating from Iran.
The United States trend of equipping strategic friends embroiled in war
is nothing new; it has occurred in Guatemala, Congo, South Vietnam and Chile
among others. This collective international amnesia tends to remain oblivious of
former US interference in foreign conflicts and its reprobate consequences for
human life; Iraq and Afghanistan are only two recent examples from Americas
jingoistic interventionist history.
The purpose of highlighting Americas military interventionist past is to
understand the brutal redundancy of diving head-on into a conflict that received,
ironically enough, foreign assistance from international partners with interests
within the country. In this flaming picture, the least protected and most affected
is the civilians under constant attack. The inspection team under the guidance of
the United Nations would do a commendable lot by revealing the sites of
chemical attacks as well as those who actually do possess it rebels or regime
so that the world may know who the real culprit is. We all know too well the
412
Why America cannot live without wars: By one count, the United
States has fought some 70 wars since its birth 234 years ago; at least 10 of them
major conflicts. We like war...we are good at it! the great, insightful comedian
George Carlin said some two decades ago, during the first Gulf War. We are
not good at anything else anymore...cant build a decent car or a television,
cant give good education to the kids or health care to the old, but we can bomb
the shit of out any country...
Similar sentiments have been echoed more recently. Americas economy
is a war economy. Not a manufacturing economy. Not an agricultural economy.
Nor a service economy. Not even a consumer economy, business pundit Paul
Farrell wrote this during Iraq War. Deep inside we love war. We want war.
Need it. Relish it. Thrive on war. War is in our genes, deep in our DNA. War
excites our economic brain. War drives our entrepreneurial spirit. War thrills the
American soul. Oh just admit it, we have a love affair with war.
And so, America will be off to another (limited) war shortly. (Chidanand
Rajghatta for Times of India, republished in TheNation 30th August)
Syrian blues: After the engineering in Iraq, Libya and Egypt, the West
considers Syria as the major hurdle to their designs of placing Israel as the
policeman of the region. Iran with its influence over Shia Muslims, Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq and Hezbollah would be next. Within this game plan, the Arab
monarchies see an opportunity to retain their control through autocratic rule.
The current model for stability in the region is divisive. A house divided within
is what suits Western economies and democracies.
Within the Arab Crescent, there are three countries with doubtful
chemical weapon facilities. Israel has signed and not ratified the chemical
weapons convention. It also has an undeclared nuclear strike capability and
remains the most protected Western ally in the region. Egypt and Syria have not
signed the treaty. Syria has a known chemical weapons programme built with
the assistance of USSR and German, French and British pharmaceutical
companies. Iraq had the tacit approval of USA to develop and use chemical
weapons against Iran, a time that Syria used to build its weapons.
Notwithstanding historical complicity, a selective case is now being made to
punish Syria.
US domination of global affairs has gone beyond a point of restoring
equilibrium after the cold war. If the crises persist or escalate, the world will
move into a new phase of rivalry. President Obamas red line on the use of
chemical weapons in Syria has been crossed. It is yet to be determined who did
it? Was it the Syrian government? Was it an element within the army who acted
at their own? Or were it the non-state actors under foreign influence edged on to
shape an environment for US air strikes. Someone has called it President
414
Obamas bluff, and the world and United Nations need to investigate and move
cautiously before another intervention takes place.
The lessons of Spanish-American war, Zimmerman Telegram, Berlin
airlift, Gulf of Tonkin, Grenada, Panama, Yugoslavia, Iraqi war crimes in
Kuwait, sexed up Iraq dossiers and Osamas complicity with Afghan Taliban
should not be lost on the US Congress.
Already, Britain has been forced to consider non-military options through
its Parliament pending the UN investigation. It is to be seen if US decides to go
solo or is restrained from its punitive strikes by Congress in the interim.
A regime change in Syria 2013 on the heels of Serbia, Iraq, Libya and
Egypt will create a new wave of anarchy with a revulsion against autocratic
monarchies and USA through populist sentiment, the strongest dimension of
strategy. Iran will be the obvious beneficiary, but so would the benefits spread to
South and Central Asia. In the larger scheme of things, it is more important to
contain the sources of proxies that transcend international borders than decimate
a dictatorship in Syria, which exercises a healthy pluralism in the Islamic
world. (Samson Simon Sharaf, TheNation 31st August)
Syrian blues: After the engineering in Iraq, Libya and Egypt, the West
considers Syria as the major hurdle to their designs of placing Israel as the
policeman of the region. Iran with its influence over Shia Muslims, Lebanon,
Syria, Iraq and Hezbollah would be next. Within this game plan, the Arab
monarchies see an opportunity to retain their control through autocratic rule.
The current model for stability in the region is divisive. A house divided within
is what suits Western economies and democracies.
Within the Arab Crescent, there are three countries with doubtful
chemical weapon facilities. Israel has signed and not ratified the chemical
weapons convention. It also has an undeclared nuclear strike capability and
remains the most protected Western ally in the region. Egypt and Syria have not
signed the treaty. Syria has a known chemical weapons programme built with
the assistance of USSR and German, French and British pharmaceutical
companies. Iraq had the tacit approval of USA to develop and use chemical
weapons against Iran, a time that Syria used to build its weapons.
Notwithstanding historical complicity, a selective case is now being made to
punish Syria.
US domination of global affairs has gone beyond a point of restoring
equilibrium after the cold war. If the crises persist or escalate, the world will
move into a new phase of rivalry. President Obamas red line on the use of
chemical weapons in Syria has been crossed. It is yet to be determined who did
it? Was it the Syrian government? Was it an element within the army who acted
at their own? Or were it the non-state actors under foreign influence edged on to
shape an environment for US air strikes. Someone has called it President
415
Obamas bluff, and the world and United Nations need to investigate and move
cautiously before another intervention takes place.
The lessons of Spanish-American war, Zimmerman Telegram, Berlin
airlift, Gulf of Tonkin, Grenada, Panama, Yugoslavia, Iraqi war crimes in
Kuwait, sexed up Iraq dossiers and Osamas complicity with Afghan Taliban
should not be lost on the US Congress.
Already, Britain has been forced to consider non-military options through
its Parliament pending the UN investigation. It is to be seen if US decides to go
solo or is restrained from its punitive strikes by Congress in the interim.
A regime change in Syria 2013 on the heels of Serbia, Iraq, Libya and
Egypt will create a new wave of anarchy with a revulsion against autocratic
monarchies and USA through populist sentiment, the strongest dimension of
strategy. Iran will be the obvious beneficiary, but so would the benefits spread to
South and Central Asia. In the larger scheme of things, it is more important to
contain the sources of proxies that transcend international borders than decimate
a dictatorship in Syria, which exercises a healthy pluralism in the Islamic
world. (Samson Simon Sharaf, TheNation 31st August)
Contradictions, irony, stalk Obama in Syria war: To hear him tell it,
no one is more tired of war than Barack Obama yet the US president is
warning that combat fatigue must not get in the way of a new US military
escapade in the Middle East.
Ironies abound as Obama contemplates US air strikes on Syria, an
operation that will show how a president's early ideas about wielding power can
be reshaped by the dilemmas of office.
Once, candidate Obama chastised George W Bush for a cowboy foreign
policy, an imperial presidency, and for alienating allies and eking America into
war with cooked intelligence.
But on the cusp of striking Syria, Obama wants Americans to again take
on trust intelligence on weapons of mass destruction, despite the CIA's
credibility being poisoned by its botched slam dunk case for war in Iraq.
After once promising to go to war only with an international coalition and
with backing from Congress, Obama stands almost alone, dumped by America's
closest ally Britain, and is snubbing the UN and bucking public opinion.
Connoisseurs of incongruity may also note that Obama's main military
ally in the Syrian adventure figures to be France, the target of endless bile from
Americans when it rejected Bush's invitation to help invade Iraq.
Obama has spent two years trying to keep out of Syria, to spare his nation
a new Middle East quagmire but is now being accused of rushing to war
after the administration declared that a UN team inspection team's mission there
416
States must protect their own populations from genocide, war crimes,
ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity, while, simultaneously, the
international community has an obligation to help states prevent such
crimes.
Where there is strong evidence of these crimes and a state cannot or will
not stop them, the international community should exhaust all peaceful
means in seeking to bring the atrocity to an end.
If all that is done, and fails, the international community can use military
force.
peaceful means of stopping it have been exhausted and that targeted military
action could achieve the twin goals of ending the atrocity and protecting the
civilian population. (Dr Farooq Hassan, TheNation 1st September.)
Syria, and then...: The US is again on the verge of launching yet
another act of military aggression against an Arab and Muslim country. Military
aggression is the worst international crime possible. The UN Charter states its
existential purpose is to forever ban this scourge. The Nuremburg Tribunal
observed that the crime of military aggression entailed the evil of every
international crime.
To many observers the military option has become the lead card, the
default position and comparative advantage of American diplomacy, especially
since the end of the Cold War and 9/11. War, of course, has been the standard
behaviour of hegemons all over the world and throughout history. But given the
inter-dependence of the contemporary world and its challenges, the evergrowing human capacity for multi-dimensional global destruction, and the
enduring and pathological political legacies of the illegitimate use of force, the
US which sees itself as a moral champion in the search for a better world has
tragically, become a prime mover towards a dysfunctional and non-sustainable
world community. Billions of lives, as a result, will be blighted over the coming
decades.
The use of chemicals and other weapons of mass destruction against
civilians is a crime that ranks amongst the very worst. What is the US record
with regard to their use? What about the US use of napalm, Agent Orange, etc in
Vietnam and Cambodia? Depleted uranium shells, etc. in Iraq and Afghanistan?
The nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki without even a suggestion of
remorse or an apology? What was the US response to Saddam Hussains use of
chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds during its conflict with Iran?
They were all consistent with its current stand that whatever the UN
investigation on the recent use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians
might conclude, and no matter if the UN Security Council fails to specifically
authorize the use of military force against the Syrian regime, the US may
legitimately use military force if US intelligence alone suggests a strong
probability that the Syrian regime was the perpetrator of this heinous crime.
Hans Blix who headed a similar UN team that found no evidence with
respect to suspected nuclear weapons in Iraq was similarly ignored and reviled
by the US government before it launched its military aggression which,
according to Lancet, has resulted in more than a million estimated fatalities
amongst Iraqis and effectively destroyed their political community, possibly
forever. Blix has recently reiterated that the US has no right to assume the role
of world policeman.
420
growing. It saps the confidence of hegemons and elites. However, it can only
become a real threat if it becomes active.
Accordingly, the hegemons and their cohorts (who comprise global
corporate capitalism and its state terrorism) are determined to nip any budding
signs of informed and organized opinion on behalf of the priorities of ordinary
people. It must never be allowed to effectively communicate the possibility of
independence and liberty from internal and external hegemons.
Fanatics, who have their dreams, wherewith they weave a paradise for a
sect must be enlisted in this war. Murderous and uninformed passion in the
name of the sacred must be unleashed against any emerging forces of reason,
knowledge and justice before it is too late. But the people of the region, despite
setbacks, are beginning to signal that it is already too late for the hegemons and
their co-opted elites even though the battle is barely joined.
This is the significance of Syria, as it is of Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan,
Iran, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Africa. There are local horror stories of human
beings, communities and histories devastated and exterminated by a ruthless
and implacable power. But there is a greater power. And it is not just the Divine.
It is the mundane potential of active and informed public opinion among the
peoples of the west and the rising east, complementing that of the victim
peoples of targeted countries.
It has been well said that the US is not the only superpower today. There
is another American public opinion, which scares the hell out of the one
percent movers and shakers. It is yet to wise up to those who would prefer it to
remain a docile spectator rather than an active participant in American national
decision-making. But the unending and cumulative economic, political and
security costs of the one percent policies of the US and the west cannot forever
be explained away by their apparatchiks and experts of academia and the
media.
Once American, western and global grassroots opinion realizes that onepercent strategies victimize their own masses as well as peoples in faraway
places a platform for global, regional, national and sub-national struggle for a
better and safer world can begin to be provided. It is only in such a context that
all the struggles against the injustice of the mighty can take on a hopeful
aspect. (Ashraf Jehangir Qazi, The News 1st September)
Egypt
US decline seen in Egypt: In the aftermath of Morsis ouster, three
issues were widely debated, namely: the coup instigated by the US and executed
422
by General el-Sisi, the failure of political Islam during Morsis tenure in office
and what it means for the region, and the dismal failure of the Tamarod
movement in particular and the opposition in general to articulate a thoughtprovoking vision in the post-Morsi era. As for those who subscribe to the notion
that remnants of the Mubarak regime can do better than the Brotherhood or the
opposition, they are equally mistaken. There is another topic, however, that has
got a brief mention the waning of American influence in Egypt.
Ever since Gamal Abdel Nasser rose to the forefront of Egyptian politics
in the 1950s, Americas political fortunes in the Middle East changed for the
better. The US was for the first time able to use Egypts reputation as a gateway
to the Arab world to spread its political tentacles in places that were considered
off limits and regarded as bastions of political intrigue reserved for the British
It was not until the huge protests against Mubarak in 2011 that Americas
hegemony in Egypt began to waiver. The political awakening of the middle
class and their zeal to rule by Islam forced America to rethink its political
calculus; Washington was eventually forced to cut a deal with the Muslim
Brotherhood in exchange for the protection of American interests and stability
for its rule. Morsi and the Brotherhood were integrated with the parts of
Mubaraks old regime and the new political configuration worked under the
watchful eye of the army
America sensing Morsis sagging popularity switched sides a few
months prior to his dismissal joined forces with the military, and galvanized
the opposition into a mass civil disobedience movement. Eventually, Morsi was
removed via a coup, which the US refused to call a coup, and America was back
to square one.
America is now stuck with vestiges of Mubaraks defunct regime and is
trying its best not to acknowledge the coup. Leaving aside the intellectual
gymnastics, it is faced with a hostile Egyptian public (according to Pew Global
Attitudes Project in May 2013 only 16 percent of Egyptians had a favourable
view of the US one can only imagine what the figure is now), discredited
Nasserite politicians, angry Brotherhood supporters, and an army that is quickly
losing face amongst ordinary Egyptians.
If America was somehow able to cobble together a government consisting
of Mubarak misfits, neoliberal technocrats, peppered with novices like
Mohamed El Baradei or similar personalities, then one is compelled to ask
what will become of Egypt? Well! One has to look no further than Americas
handiwork in putting together governments in Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and
Pakistan. Its litany of failures in these countries is quite conspicuous. Americas
ability to rule is precarious at best, anti-American sentiments are widespread,
and its credibility is almost next to nothing. Washingtons record in attempting
to fashion governments elsewhere like Libya, Syria and Somalia is far worse.
423
With such a dismal track record, the situation in Egypt will not improve
and is likely to descend into chaos, and join the ranks of Americas political
failures. In sum, America is no longer the superpower it used to be, and it is
rapidly losing primacy and legitimacy in the Muslim world. Could Egypt prove
to be the straw that broke the superpowers back? Time will tell. But already
some are forecasting a steep decline. This is what Spectator Magazine had to
say about US influence: American influence is now so vanquished that Obama
has surrendered almost all of its international leverage. (Abid Mustafa,
TheNation 20th August)
International commission for Egypt: The regime has no democratic
legitimacy and should not be supported by the international community and
there should be consensus of international community regarding condemnation
of the coup and military takeover. The military rule should not be supported by
any state for his strategic and economic interests. America has not officially
condemned the coup so far and the autocratic rulers of Saudi Arabia and UAE
have supported the military takeover and even these killings which reflect their
fear from real democracy in Middle East .Their step has been widely
condemned and sparked anger on social media throughout the world. UN and
OIC are still directionless although situation demands that they should take a
strong stand and should support the democracy and democratic forces in Egypt.
Broader international understanding is needed to feel the helplessness of
the victims. Unfortunately Courts of Egypt are supporting this coup and
bloodshed and are unable to deliver justice to the victims. Victims have no
option to achieve justice in Egypt and this is a real challenge for international
conscience and American endless claim of love for democracy, tolerance,
human rights and freedom of Expression. Symbolic condemnation is not a
substitute for these brutalities. Effective and immediate measures are needed to
address this human catastrophe. We should understand the pain and sufferings
of the families whose dareones have been taken away or brutally tortured. An
indiscriminate slaughter, massacre of innocent men, women and children,
cannot be justified in any way, shape or form. These are crimes against
humanity and must be ended. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, PM of Turkey has rightly
said, Those who stay mute in the face of the latest developments in Egypt are
approving the massacres by their silence and sinking in the blood thats flowing
in the country.
An immediate step is needed to give justice to the victims by the
international community with consensus which will give rise and strengthen the
concept of global and international justice. This step will also give a hope to
these helpless victims facing state terrorism. In this way a strong message will
be delivered by the international community that military leaders with blood on
hands are also accountable, no matter how powerful they are. An international
commission of inquiry to investigate reports of violations of international
424
human rights law, killings and torture by the military and security agencies of
Egypt can be formed by the UN Security Council. Full and impartial
investigation is needed to fix the responsibility and exact number of mass
killings; torture and forced disappearances must come before the world. Those
responsible must be brought to justice and removed from political stage to bring
peace in Egypt and the military coup must come to an end. (Allah Bakhsh
Leghari, TheNation 20th August)
The massacre in Egypt: As an ambitious general, Sisi is not new in the
fray. His actions are quite obvious and tantamount to acute disrespect of human
intelligence across the globe if he believes that people cannot see through his
intentions. His thoughts and actions in the name of democracy have intrinsic
flaw and each day since his taking over the power, new light was shed on his
intentions. However, this mindless massacre of innocent people has sealed his
fate. He has found inglorious distinction as a butcher of innocent people. His
name is equated with General Reginald-Dyer, Pol Pot, Nicholas II, Josef Stalin,
Adolf Hitler, Yakubu Gowon, Lenin and Ho Chi Minh.
Interim Deputy President of Egypt, Mohamed Mustafa El Baradei,
generally considered as a toady of the West, has resigned protesting the military
crackdown. However, can he absolve himself of the responsibility? He cannot
remove the innocent blood of thousands of innocent Egyptians off his hands like
Shakespeare's Macbeth after the murder of Duncan:
Will all great Neptunes ocean
wash this blood,
Clean from my hand? No, this my
hand will rather
The multitudinous seas incarnadine,
Making the green one red (II:2).
Nobel Laureate El Baradei, rightfully considered as the enemy within,
stands among them who have turned red the blue waters of the Mediterranean.
History is witness that people, who have innocent blood on their hands and
conscience, are judged even posthumously and most often they taste the fruit of
their crops in their lives. Shakespeare again points this fact through Macbeth's
soliloquy in Act 1 Scene VII very well:
But here, upon this bank and
shoal of time,
We'd jump the life to come.
But in these cases
We still have judgment here;
425
426
Egyptians, and much of the world, watched in horror as the military and
police stormed into the camps, torched tents while people were still sleeping
inside them, and killed and maimed indiscriminately. Since then other
massacres have been perpetrated in various parts of the country. Mosques were
attacked to flush out protesters seeking refuge inside them, while evidence is
emerging that some churches were torched in an attempt to implicate the
Muslim Brotherhood and allied Islamists and thus justify the crackdown on
them.
Crimes against humanity previously unheard of are being perpetrated in a
systemic fashion with the aim of terrorizing the entire population into
submission to the new coup authorities. What remains of press and TV channels
is under the absolute control of those in power and their task is to justify their
brutality.
Yet, despite all this, the people of Egypt remain defiant. The past few
days have proven beyond doubt that nothing the coup authorities do will
extinguish the struggle for freedom and dignity. Rallies continue to be organized
in support of legitimacy and democracy across the country. The more people
die, the more people take to the streets.
The coup leaders and their media seek to convince local as well as
international public opinion that they are fighting terrorism and that what they
are doing is justifiable. Such terrorism, they claim, is led or incited by the
Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood is committed to peaceful
protests and has pledged never to resort to violence in response to the violence
perpetrated against it by the coup authorities. We believe that our peacefulness
is a more powerful weapon than all the killing machines employed by the army
or the police.
The worst terrorism that exists in Egypt today is that perpetrated against
the people by the coup alliance, which conspired with the aid of Arab
monarchies in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan, fully supported and
lobbied for by Israel and with complicity of the United States of America and its
western allies, in order to kill the Egyptian dream and undermine the Arab
spring.
State institutions in Egypt, including the army, the police and the
judiciary, have been hijacked and turned into tools of oppression. Those who
willingly or knowingly participate in this project are hereby warned that they
will one day, sooner or later, be brought to justice. I appeal to army and police
officers and soldiers to rid themselves of the military uniform and go home.
The Egyptian people have decided to be true to their humanity and
conscience. They are determined to rise up to defend their country against
dictatorship and tyranny. They aim for a free and prosperous future for their
children.
428
For the sake of Egypt, we will continue to take to the streets across the
country peacefully to declare this coup null and void. General Abdel Fattah elSisi is pushing the country to an unprecedented level of chaos and state violence
but we will not give him a chance to turn our beloved Egypt into another Syria,
or to escape questioning about his crimes.
I address world conscience and public opinion. I appeal to world
humanitarian and human rights organizations. I appeal to the international
delegations that came to see us in Rabaa and who testified that we were
completely peaceful, to stand for democracy and expose these war crimes.
The sacrifices made so far by the defenders of legitimacy have been made
in order to put an end to the military rule that humiliated the Egyptians and
persecuted them for more than 60 years. We made these sacrifices in order for
Egypt to become a true democratic civil state in which human dignity is
sanctified and human rights respected.
These sacrifices will continue until the Egyptian dream comes true. The
counter-revolution will be defeated and the great Egyptian revolution will
prevail. (Muhammad al-Baltaji far Guardian, republished in TheNation 22 nd
August)
A tale of two militaries: The situation seems to involve two separate
crises, with Pakistan having to face an external crisis, and Egypt an internal, but
one commonality is that both involve the two strongest militaries of the Muslim
world, and, that too, at a time when the battle lines between the regime and the
Islamists are hardening in Syria, where the regime is using chemical weapons
Both militaries have tried to win over the USA, even though it backed
Israel, and now India. Egypt turned at first to the USSR, but after its collapse to
the USA. It seems as if the Egyptian and Pakistani militaries cannot oppose the
wishes of the people, especially where the USA is concerned.
It is worth noting that the terrorism card is being played in both countries,
though only in Egypt by the military. While India is blaming the LoC
confrontation on terrorists committing atrocities, the Egyptian army is accusing
its opponents of being terrorists. However, judging by the failure of US media
to jump to the bait, the charges do not seem to have provoked much interest.
There has not been any concern about the threat posed to Pakistan in
Egypt; perhaps, the Egyptians are more concerned about the events in their own
country. However, the Indian sabre-rattling has not been so intense as to drive
all awareness of the massacre in Egypt away. The Jamaat-i-Islami, which has
been chuffed by Morsis win, has been adversely affected by his overthrow. The
Jamaat has for a long time seen the Ikhwan as a sort of equivalent to it, as
Muslim party that has taken the democratic route to power. Morsis success was
important to the Jamaat, as a symbol of what could be achieved by participation,
429
430
In recent days, overt signs of piety have become all it takes to attract
suspicion from security forces at Cairo checkpoints and vigilantes looking to
attack Islamists.
I was in a shared taxi headed to the morgue, transporting the body of my
friend who was killed in the demonstrations, said Badr. I was stopped by
members of a vigilante group because I had a beard, added the 29-year-old,
who said he was not loyal to any political organization. The only thing that
saved me was the fact that I was transporting a dead body.
And so in a small, dusty salon, he shaved his facial hair, because life has
become safer without a beard.
The ouster of Morsi, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, has set off
something of a witch hunt against those perceived as being his supporters. The
campaign has been fed by domestic media, which has broadcast around-theclock images of bearded gunmen allegedly firing at security forces during
demonstrations.
One video, showing a bearded man with a jihadist flag attacking young
men after they were thrown off the roof of an apartment block in Alexandria has
exacerbated the frenzy.
Local media and the government have also loudly labeled the Muslim
Brotherhood wholesale as terrorists.
So-called popular committees neighbourhood militias have made
life even worse, giving vigilantes the chance to wreak havoc, particularly in
Cairo after a night-time curfew was implemented.
The beard and women's full-face veil, or niqab, are often characteristics
of religious Muslims, but have become conflated with support for the Muslim
Brotherhood.
Certain Brotherhood leaders sought to promote the wearing of the face
veil during Morsi's turbulent year-long presidency. But now such religious
symbols have become a liability (Haitham el-Tabei, TheNation 23rd August)
'Next generation' of Qaeda being born: Egypt's bloody crackdown on
the Muslim Brotherhood has been a gift to al-Qaeda that will help it attract fresh
followers and open a new front in the Middle East, experts say.
The repression of the Muslim Brotherhood and the ouster of Islamist
president Mohamed Morsi could see a new generation of radicals joining the
movement founded by Osama bin Laden, they say. There are fears that the
bloody crushing of peaceful demonstrations will encourage an Islamist minority
convinced of the futility of the political process to turn to violence, said
Jean-Pierre Filiu, a Middle East expert at Sciences Po university in Paris.
431
The Egyptian military will then have nourished the very terrorism it is
claiming to fight. Egypt, the most populous Arab country, has already proven
fertile ground for radicalism. Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri is Egyptian, as
was Mohammed Atta, the top hijacker in the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Egyptian authorities have arrested Zawahiri's brother Mohamed for supporting
Morsi, and the al-Qaeda chief has repeatedly called on supporters to take up
arms against the country's army-installed interim government.
In Zawahiri's view, Egyptians should follow the path of Mohammed Atta
and resort to terror against the near enemy, the Egyptian army, and the far
enemy, America, which has armed and trained Egypt's military, Bruce Riedel, a
former CIA analyst now at the Brookings Institute, wrote recently.
The future of global jihad is being defined in Egypt this summer. The
next generation of al-Qaeda is being born, he said.
Even before the Egyptian security forces broke up two pro-Morsi protest
camps in Cairo, unleashing violence that has killed more than 1,000 people in
the past week, radical groups were taking to the Internet to call for an armed
struggle in Egypt. On July 5 a new group calling itself Ansar al-Sharia in
Egypt announced its formation, saying a war against Islam has been declared
in Egypt and calling on supporters to prepare by obtaining arms and training.
Somalia's Shebab group has also called on Muslims in Egypt to take up
arms. O' Muslim Brotherhood fear Allah! Shebab wore on its Twitter page this
week. Forget the calls of democracy pick up arms and defend yourselves
against the butchers who are intent on killing you en masse. Alain Chouet, a
former chief at France's DGSE foreign intelligence service, said the outlook in
Egypt was grim.
Both sides are incapable of negotiating, he said. They will cede no
ground, because ceding ground is a sign of weakness. Experts said the restive
Sinai Peninsula, where militants have escalated attacks since Morsi's overthrow
on July 3, was the perfect incubator for al-Qaeda bases.
Bordering Israel and the Gaza Strip, the Sinai has for years been a hotbed
of smuggling and militant attacks. This week militants killed 25 policemen,
firing rocket-propelled grenades at two buses carrying the police, in the
deadliest attack of its kind in years. The running of the Sinai as a military zone
by military governors has contributed significantly to embedding jihadist
networks in the Bedouin tribes, said Sciences Po's Filiu.
The maintaining of the blockade on Gaza is also feeding a mafia-style
economy that is benefiting jihadist networks and arms traffickers, he said. And
the bloodbath that the Egyptian military has plunged the country into will
contribute to feeding the potential jihadist threat in the region.
432
Riedel of the Brookings Institute said the Sinai was an attractive base for
al-Qaeda because it offered the cover of a remote area and the support of the
native Bedouin population, which is deeply alienated from the army and
Cairo.
The coup d'etat in Cairo and the bloodshed since then has validated alQaeda's narrative more powerfully than any event in the last two decades, he
wrote. This summer's events in Cairo will become central points in al-Qaeda's
narrative for years to come. (Michel Moutot, TheNation 23rd August)
From bad to worse: As Egypt's political crisis deepens, the rest of the
world is growing increasingly concerned about the prospect that Egypt might
fall into a civil war, repeating the fate of Syria. Some analysts even suggest that
the country might become a target of international "interference". Given Egypt's
clout in the region's political and economic arena, should any of these scenarios
come true, it would be a heavy blow to a region that is being rocked by the
crisis in Syria.
While it might be early to worry about international interference in Egypt,
the ongoing turbulence in Egypt is affecting relations with countries such as the
US and Turkey. Their reactions toward Egypt's turmoil have been eye-catching
and have had repercussions in international relations.
Among all the international reactions, those of the US are most
noteworthy as the superpower has for years provided direct military assistance
to Egypt in a bid to sustain its influence in the country and the region at large.
But the US has been under great pressure to review the annual $1.23 billion in
military assistance and about $241 million in economic aid to Egypt, which has
remained a close US ally for three decades until the toppling of Mubarak. On
Tuesday, Washington seemed to take a harder line toward Egypt's militarybacked government, stressing that its bloody crackdown on protesters could
influence the USA's aid to Cairo.
Given that many of the region's woes, those of Egypt's and Syria's
included, have borne the hallmark of USA's trumpeting of democratization in
the region, Washington should reflect on its Middle East policy. There is no
denying the fact that after a breeze of Western-style democracy swept across the
region, the US now appears utterly unprepared to shoulder any responsibility for
the crises that have ensued.
Hence, political forces in Egypt should remain sober-minded toward the
US role. They are responsible for the future of their country, and more
bloodshed and violence will only weaken its political and economic fabric
further and make it more vulnerable to international interference.
The pro- and anti-Muslim Brotherhood forces should show the utmost
restraint and avoid large-scale clashes. The transitional government should start
433
434
REVIEW
436
About a decade ago, Iraq was invaded on the pretext that the erratic
dictator, Saddam Hussain possessed weapons of mass destruction. No weapons
of mass destruction were found after toppling of Saddam and occupation of Iraq
by the American and British forces. The failure to recover was not because of
the lack of search, but due to the fact that Saddam never had such weapons.
During the invasion and occupation of Iraq the Crusaders had
indiscriminately fired ammunition in which depleted uranium was used. Due to
the radiation produced because of this prohibited ammunition Iraqi population
faced health hazards, especially the pregnant women giving birth to deformed
babies. The ratio of such births has been alarmingly high.
Once the problem was reported by media, an investigating team was sent
to Iraq. The team spent weeks in inspecting the sites and submitted its findings,
which were never made public. The reason for not making the report public was
quite obvious; the Crusaders never wanted that the war crimes committed by
them should see the light of the day.
Notwithstanding the report, Iraqis know it well as to what has been done
to them and their generations to come. They know all about the mother of all
lies about weapons of mass destruction. Today the same mother, is about to give
birth to yet another Devil in Syria.
The use of chemical weapons in Syrian civil war in suburbs of Damascus
has provided a pretext for military intervention. The US, leader of the Crusades
of this century, is all set to unleash its destructive power, despite defection of
the main European ally and some other dissentions. It is because the gains are
multiple and quite tempting.
The disagreement of Britain over use of force against Syria in any case is
no big deal; not as big as it is being blown up by the media in this part of the
world. The commentators tend to forget that the European powers still abide by
the rules of pre-World War II colonial days. The respect the right of other
powers over certain areas and Syria has been under French influence.
Destruction of Syria will make the Zionist state of Israel safer. The
Crusaders will be able to pre-empt al-Qaeda emerging as victorious in the
ongoing conflict and will be in position to install a complaint regime of its
choice. They will be able to lay another oil pipeline from Iraq to Turkey through
Syria to eliminate circuitous route of the Gulf and Suez Canal. Iran will be
further isolated. Above all, in yet another Muslim country the bloodshed will be
perpetuated.
The most unfortunate aspect of this impending tragedy is that the rulers in
Muslim world stand divided when their countries are being destroyed
piecemeal. Turkey and Saudi Arabia stand with Neurons of the US and Zionists
437
of Israel and Iran is siding with Syria. That creates clear impression of ShiaSunni conflict for which the Neocons have been working relentlessly.
From this it is not difficult to infer about the double standards followed
by the so-called leaders of Shias and Sunnis; Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iran
supports Shiite majority rule in Bahrain but acts to the contrary in the context of
Syria. Saudi Arabia does exactly the opposite and in addition rewards General
Sisi for killing thousands of Muslims in the month of Ramazan inside the
mosques.
All three of these leaders of Islamic world and many others know well the
designs of the Crusaders related to destruction of Islamic states one by one.
They also understand that one day it will be their turn; and instead of stopping it
from happening each one of them prefers to buy as many days as it can. They
cant see that when it is happening in Syria and Egypt the National Salvation
Front of Tunisia is already being supported for toppling Islamist regime. They
will soon apply the doctrine that enabled them to get rid of Mursi in Egypt.
1st September, 2013
NEWS
Power politics: On 19th August, Sindh Assembly passed a new Sindh
Local Government Bill 2013 into law with majority. Two opposition parties
PML-N and PML-F supported the ruling PPP in smooth passage of the bill
from provincial legislature, while MQM and PTI opposed it when it was
presented by Law Minister.
The ruling PPP said the new bill was in the best interest of the people of
Sindh, under which local government elections would be conducted on partybasis, but MQM announced to challenge it in courts, claiming that it was against
the sprit of Article 140-A of constitution as administrative, fiscal and political
authority has not been devolved to the third tier of the governments.
Altaf Hussain rejected the Sindh Local Government Act 2013. He
condemned the PPPs move of hurrying the bill through the Sindh Assembly.
During a telephonic speech, Altaf said that the PPP wanted rural-urban and
Sindh-non-Sindhi division in the province with the approval of the bill, which
he said was tantamount to imposing British Raj.
The ECP decided not to postpone the by-elections in any of the 42
constituencies scheduled for August 22, and to deploy military troops at the
4,526 polling stations identified as being under security threats. The
Commission has also revised the by-polls polling scheme to identify 882 more
polling stations as highly sensitive and sensitive while reducing the number of
polling stations from 7,622 to 7,606.
439
The decision has been taken keeping in view the recommendations from
the security agencies as well as the relocation of certain polling stations.
Moreover, the 16 polling stations have been abolished in Balochistan and
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to floods-damages. Moreover, the ECP has rejected
the requests from the Ministry of Defence and Balochistan Government for the
postponement of the by-polls in two constituencies, one each in KP (Dera Ismail
Khan) and Balochistan (Jhal Magsi).
Next day, the ECP on the reported insistence of military authorities,
postponed the by-elections in NA-25, Dera Ismail Khan-cum-Tank, only a day
after it had dismissed a related request from the ministry of defence. Reportedly
GHQ conveyed to the ECP that security threats in NA-25 were grave and the
military was not to be blamed in case of occurrence of any untoward incident.
All the 308 polling stations in NA-25 had been marked as highly
sensitive. The constituency has over 366,550 voters. The actual contest in the
said constituency is seen between Amjad Mehmood, the son of Maulana Fazlur-Rehman, and PTIs Dawar Kundi. Reacting to the ECPs decision, Fazl
strongly criticized the postponement of by-polls in NA-25, saying his party did
not accept this decision.
Imran Khan strongly criticized the ruling PML-N, saying it has
completely failed to honour even a single promise it had made to the masses
during its election campaign. The PTI chief said Nawaz League's claim of
having broken the begging bowl had stood exposed as it had approached the
IMF for more loans.
Imran accused the Punjab administration of backing PML-N candidates
in the coming by-elections. He also alleged the current government was making
all-out efforts to rig the by-elections. Khan said the Punjab government was
openly supporting PML-N's candidates. He also alleged that wherever he
wished to go and address the masses for the election purpose, he was not
allowed. In addition, the Punjab government was creating obstacles in his
rallies, but his party would foil their designs and win the by-elections.
Sajid Zia reported that for the first time in the history provinces are going
to have different systems of the local bodies in the country. Excepting
Balochistan where framing of the local bodies law is just at the incipient stage,
rest of the three provinces have either adopted or are in the process of finalizing
the basic democratic setups which were previously not known to the country.
The respective governments of PML-N in Punjab, PPP in Sindh and the PTI
government in Khyber PK cherish the local government systems which suit
their political ends more than consolidating the federation through uniformity
and likeness of the LG system.
Under Article 140 of the Constitution, establishment of the local
government is mandatory to devolve political, administrative and the financial
440
authority to grassroots level to enable the people to get their problems solved
through their own elected representatives. Under the 18 th Constitutional
Amendment, read with Charter of Democracy of 2006, local representatives
were given wide powers to deal with the problems of the masses while
parliamentarians were required to concentrate on the legislative matters more
than indulging in the public dealing.
This objective could be achieved well if all the provinces follow the same
pattern to set the basic structure of the LG system which today is non-existent.
Legal experts opine LG systems evolved on different patterns are bound to
entail constitutional and legal complications in addition to producing centrifugal
effect. It would create problems not only for the federal government but would
also have negative political impact and problems in developing and cementing
ties among the provinces.
On 21st August, PTI issued a white paper over what it called massive
rigging in the May 11 general elections. Unveiling the 2000-page white paper
to newsmen, Imran Khan declared the elections 2013 were massively rigged. He
said his party accepted the results for the sake of democracy; otherwise the
whole country would have come to streets on a strike call given by PTI.
The purpose behind my press conference is not to upset the democratic
process but to ensure that corrupt practices were not repeated in future. The
people of Pakistan would lose faith in the whole democratic process, if rigging
continued, Khan added. He said the voters came out to cast votes in the 2013
elections despite serious security risks throughout the country, but were
frustrated to see the results. It is for the first time in history that all parties,
including Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz complained about vote-rigging. The
PTI chairman said a record 400 complaints had been lodged about irregularities
in the elections 2013.
In one of the constituencies Sarghoda, the number of registered voter was
3,000 but Nawaz Sharif somewhat managed to get 8,000 votes. Jahangir Tareen
had been winning according to the results being displayed on media screens, but
after some time he was declared a loser, he said. Khan said the results issued by
polling staff and the announced by returning officers were different.
Referring to the victory speech by Nawaz Sharif after polling and partial
announcement of partial results, Khan said PML-N chief was in fact directing
some people that he wanted a thumping majority. When Nawaz said he wanted
to go to come to power with a heavy mandate, he was giving a message to
someone, Khan said.
Ex-town Nazim Jehangira and a leader of the ruling PTI from Nowshera,
Mumlikat Khan, was gunned down by unidentified men in district Nowshera.
Khan was on his way home when attackers opened fire on his vehicle. He was
441
driving alone and stopped at a speed breaker near Jehangira Chowk, when the
attackers opened fire.
PTI-led Opposition in the Punjab Assembly announced to unveil its
protest demonstration plan on August 23 against the passage of the Local
Government Bill (LG Bill). The joint Opposition led by PTI, which walked out
from the Assembly session convened to give approval to the Local Government
Bill, announced to unmask its province-wise protest demonstration schedule
against the Bill during an All Parties Conference (APC) held in a local hotel.
Next day, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) grabbed
the lions share of seats in the by-elections held in 41 constituencies generally
in a peaceful and transparent manner, but marked with some big upsets. the PTI
lost two of its vital seats of National Assembly that were vacated by party chief
Imran Khan. The spree of upsets did not spare the N-League either that lost
three seats in the Punjab Assembly considered as the ruling partys home
ground. Two of these seats were vacated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and
Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa.
The overall, unofficial NA results suggest that PML-N won five seats,
PPP won two seats, PTI three and ANP, MQM and PKMAP each won a seat.
By-polls on Punjab Assembly seats were a PML-N show where it got 12 of total
15 seats. In Sindh Assembly, the MQM got three seats while PPP won one seat.
In the KPK, ANP and JUI-F got one seat each while two independent candidates
won a seat each. In Balochistan, the PML-N was in the lead on two while an
independent candidate was leading on one.
Taking exception to the verified reports of intimidating the women not to
cast votes in two NA constituencies, the Peshawar High Court ordered repolling at 18 polling stations of the said constituencies. The two constituencies
are NA-5 Nowshera and NA-27 Lakki Marwat. Allegedly, the workers of JUI-F
stopped the women from casting votes in a bid to restrict the vote bank of their
rivals who were reportedly in winning positions.
According to sources, security forces foiled a major terror bid by
recovering a bomb near a polling station. They said the security forces searched
a polling station set up in a high school in NA-262 constituency of Chaman and
recovered explosive material planted along the schools wall. Voting in the area
was delayed as bomb disposal squad (BDS) was called to defuse the bomb. The
BDS reached the spot and defused the bomb.
At least 40 workers of Pakistan Muslim League Functional (PML-F) were
arrested on arms displaying charges in NA-235. Workers of PML-F candidate
Khuda Bakhash were arrested outside the polling station of Jam Nawaz Ali, NA
235 Sanghar, when they reached the polling station along with arms.
442
443
determined to pursue the agenda of change but also to fight against the status
quo forces.
He stated that nobody was asking PML-N leaders about the payment of
Rs.500 billion of circular debt and how the construction of Nandi Pur project
increased from Rs.30 billion to 50 billion. Pakistan must talk with India on
equal basis but unfortunately the incumbent government adopted submissive
way, Hashmi added.
An Election Tribunal in Lahore has accepted for hearing PTI candidate
Hamid Khans application against alleged rigging in the general elections at
NA-125 Lahore. The Tribunal has summoned all the candidates including
Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq.
On 28th August, the ECP ordered recounting of votes in PP-150, Lahore.
The order came two days after the PTI staged protests outside the Punjab
Assembly and blocked the Mall Road Lahore against the alleged rigging during
the by-elections. The acting Chief Election Commissioner took suo moto notice
of the protests and summoned all the candidates of the constituency. After
hearing everyones point of view, Justice Jilani directed recounting in all polling
stations of the constituency within three days.
The Lahore High Court issued notices to the ECP and PTI chairman
Imran Khan on a writ petition challenging ECPs order allowing Khan to seek
permission from retuning officer NA-122 to inspect election record. National
assembly speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq was declared returned candidate from the
constituency in May 11 general elections. Later Khan filed an application before
the ECP for public inspection of election record and the commission had
allowed the application and also directed the applicant (Khan) to make another
application for examination of documents before the returning officer
concerned.
The Peshawar High Court granted an interim bail to ANP veteran leader
and newly elected MNA Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and his nephew Haroon Bilour
in a case entailing terrorism charges. They had been charged with terrorism,
undue influence, ransacking and obstructing public servants to discharge duty at
the women polling station in Sheikhabad locality in NA-1 during by-election on
August 22.
After securing the interim bail, Ghulam Bilour told reporters that the PTIled provincial government had lodged the terrorism case. He said it was strange
that they were charged with terrorism as neither firing nor blast had taken place
at the women polling station. He alleged PTI workers tried to disturb the
electoral process when they feared the defeat of their partys candidate.
Next day, Imran Khan warned the quarters concerned of leading a
massive campaign against the alleged electoral foul play if the party failed to
445
get justice. Addressing the party leaders and workers in Samanabad (NA-122)
here, he asked them to be ready for a major drive. He made this announcement
under a strong pressure from an old guard who desires restoring the aggressive
posture of the party, which led it to grab its first major political success at
Minar-e-Pakistan.
Imran questioned why National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq,
who got elected from NA-122, filed a writ petition in the LHC against the
Election Tribunal order for public inspection of the election record and ballot
papers if he didnt commit any foul play during the May 11 General Elections.
He said, The judiciary has taken notice of his remarks but why it is not taking
action against those who have hijacked the public mandate through
undemocratic practices.
The PTI chairman appealed to the Supreme Court that it should not
restrict itself only to four constituencies but it should also look into the matter of
rigging in other constituencies through thumb impression verification of the
ballots. Well accept the apex court verdict whether it is in our favour or
against us, he added.
Showing apparent lack of interest in the submission of their assets details,
an essential prerequisite for the allotment of electoral symbols, only 57 political
parties out of the total 230 registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan
(ECP) submitted their statements of accounts by the expiry date. PTI happens to
be the only mainstream national party that did not submit its assets details and
sought a month's time in this regard.
On 30th August, former chief minister Syed Ghaus Ali Shah resigned as
Sindh PML-N president for allegedly being ignored by the party leadership.
Before leaving for Umra, he resigned from the partys provincial headship as
Nawaz Sharif ignored him while taking important decisions like nomination of
Mamnoon Hussain as the president of the country. He would announce his
future line of action on his return.
446
447
seemed helpless against any sponsor and private owner of the RPPs, as it has
yet to recover more than Rs20 billion from powerful owners and defaulters of
RPPs. According to details, 12 cases regarding RPPs were referred by the SC to
the NAB for probe but after passing almost 18 months the bureau could only
file one interim reference in accountability court against nine accused of RPPs.
The NAB investigators are investigating on 12 different RPPs projects on
different locations, while these plants were owned by different sponsors and
owners, the sources revealed. More than 50 individuals and officials of different
distribution companies, ministries and PEPCO are placed on exit control list
(ECL) to avoid their escape from Pakistan.
The KPK government announced to establish an independent
Accountability Commission aimed at eradicating corruption in the province by
tightening noose around the corrupt government officials. KPK Minister for
Information said the PTI central and provincial leadership had decided to give
practical shape to party manifesto by eradicating the menace of rampant
corruption and Easy Load like illegal trend in government departments.
The inquiry committee of the Interior Ministry probing the August 15
standoff in the capital city, in its final report absolved the two senior police
officers of ICT, IGP and SSP from all charges of any negligence and
inefficiency. The three-member committee in its final report had failed to fix
specific responsibility on any senior police officer of Islamabad as well as highups of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration and has generally held
police department responsible for the whole mess.
Interior Minister came under fire by the Opposition members in the
Senate for his changing statements about August 15 gunman episode in
Islamabad which they believed had caused enormous confusion. The Upper
House that met with Deputy Chairman in the chair took up the issue through an
adjournment motion by Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Aitzaz Ahsan
and Mian Raza Rabbani.
Mian Raza Rabbani from PPPP who initiated discussion raised 17
questions about the episode said that the incident had not only exposed the
administrative chaos but also exposed the chaos in the government and its
inefficiency. He was of the view that situation had become more serious after
the Interior Minister changed his statements thrice which had added confusion
about the entire incident including the credentials of the gunman Sikander and
the authorities supervising the action.
Paying glowing tributes to Zamurad Khan, Senator Bangash from ANP
believed that apathy of the government established that 10 people like the
gunman Sikander can comfortably take over the Presidency and Prime Minister
House at their will. It was a State failure, he said, recommending 'Sitara-e-
448
Jurrat' for Zamurad Khan for brining to end the drama by putting up his life at
risk.
Former Interior Minister Rehman Malik called for bringing to end the
blame game between the government and the Opposition for rooting out the
menace of terrorism and demanded a House Committee to evolve a meaningful
strategy. He pointed out that disbanded Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was involved in
sectarian killings.
On 21st August, turning the table on the PPPP-led opposition in the Senate
on Wednesday, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said those who are
criticizing PML-N government on handling of Malik Sikander saga of August
15, must justify their own five-year performance first. Nisar while concluding
hot discussion on PPPP moved adjournment motion in the Upper House,
reminded the Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan of his party government's failure
in devising any policy on counter terrorism.
He said he was astonished the way PPPP-led opposition in the Senate
have described the episode as failure of Pakistan State and accused the
opponents of deliberately distorting facts to create chaos and achieve selfish
ends. People here have created a fuss over and over about how Zamurad Khan
is being turned into a controversial figure, said Nisar. But we didn't do that. In
fact, he hails from my area and I've always spoken about him like a friend.
Who, then, is making controversial? Nisar brought out a bundle of documents
detailing major security failures during the 13 years in which opposition parties
had stayed in power, specially mentioning the attacks at the GHQ, Salmaan
Taseer and the assassination of Minister for Minorities.
Commenting on probe of the Islamabad incident, he said that some useful
information has been obtained from Sikander. Without naming anyone, Nisar
said there were some other people involved in the Jinnah Avenue spectacle.
Rejecting rumours that the Islamabad stand-off was a security failure, Nisar said
that contrary to how the incident was portrayed, Islamabad was not paralyzed
because of one man with a gun.
Nisar said that despite all of Zamurad Khan's bravery, what he did was
wrong and uncalled for, and he should not be hailed as a hero. The government
is neither with Zamurad Khan nor with the other one [Sikander]. We're with the
constitution, law and those who uphold it, he added. He said he would inform
the House about the outcome of the investigation being conducted into the
incident.
The staff members of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences have
protested against the threatening behaviour of law enforcement agencies
officials who forcefully and without permission accessed Sikander for
investigation in the wee hours. Executive Director Mehmood Jamal has
449
conveyed the resentment and the complaints of the staff to the highest
authorities to take notice of the incident.
Special Anti-Terrorism Court, Islamabad remanded Akhtar, an accused
allegedly involved in Islamabad standoff case, into physical custody of police
for two days. Akhtar is accused of providing weapons to Sikander, main accused
of Islamabad standoff. During interrogation, Sikander had disclosed to have
bought weapons from Akhtar in Pasrur.
On 22nd August, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition Syed
Khursheed Shah agreed to come up with fresh names to fill the slot of Chairman
NAB and would be meeting again soon for the purpose. The decision in this
connection was made when Prime Minister visited the residence of Leader of
Opposition to offer Fateha for his sister who had died in the recent past.
On 24th August, PTI issued a show-cause notice to an MPA from PK-25
Mardan-3 over alleged corruption charges. The provincial leadership has issued
the notice to MPA Obaid Khan Mayar after receiving complaints of corruption
against him. The notice was issued on the orders of PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
On 26th August, Special Anti-Terrorism Court extended physical remand
of Kanwal, wife of armed man Sikandar who created mess for hours in front of
the Parliament House on August 15, for two more days. ATC Judge gave the
physical custody of the accused after police requested that they still needed the
custody of Kanwal to complete the investigations of the incident.
The Investigation Officer (IO) of the case Inspector Abdul Rehman
informed the court that police had yet to complete its investigations since the
accused Kanwal was not cooperating with them in the interrogations and she
was continuously changing her statements and stance. He stated that the accused
was well aware of the planning of her husband Malik Sikandar and was fully
cooperating with him during the dramatic standoff.
An FIR under anti-terror law was registered against the News Bureau
staff of ARY TV channel on the request to information ministry of Balochistan
for showing a documentary on the eve of Independence Day about attack on
Ziarat Residency. The FIR was lodged taking cover of the remarks of the judges
during hearing of the case of missing persons.
Next day, Journalists boycotted Balochistan Assemblys proceedings in
protest over the FIR lodged under the anti-terrorism act against an ARY TV. Led
by Balochistan Union of Journalists President, the journalists demanded that the
case, registered by Quetta police against the televisions bureau chief and top
management, be withdrawn.
The chief minister told the House he had dropped the case against the
television, saying, The government and its allies believe in dignity of the
judiciary and freedom of the press. We will never take such steps that could be
450
harmful for the judiciary and the media. Baloch insinuated he was not aware of
the issue, and said, Yesterday when I was heading the cabinet session I
received a call from Aitzaz Ahsan who asked me that my government has
launched an FIR against a private television under the anti-terrorism act.
He said it was a question for him because being the chief executive of the
province he was unaware of it. This all happened due to misunderstanding, the
chief minister said as he apologized to the management of the news channel. He
also said that an inquiry had been ordered to fix the responsibility.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Pervaiz Rashid said he has
spoken to the Balochistan chief minister and discussed the issue. He said the
CM will send related documentation to him soon. Information Minister also
visited media gallery in the Parliament and held discussions with media
representatives. After the assurance of the minister media ended boycott of the
parliamentary proceedings.
On 1st September, it was reported that due to non-cooperation of Sikander
police are likely to apply polygraph test to ascertain truth. The police officers
investigating the case have reported to their bosses that Malik Sikander was not
cooperating with the investigation team despite the fact that doctors have
pronounced him mentally fit. Islamabad police have already applied polygraph
test on Sikanders wife who is co-accused in the case.
Judiciary: On 20th August, the Supreme Court was told that the federal
government had decided to privatize Lakhra Power Plant, ignoring the fact that
the litigation about it is pending in the apex court and the plant has been leased
out for 20 years to a private company. During the proceedings counsel for
Habibullah Energy Limited said that the legal consultant of the Privatization
Commission informed him that a decision has been taken to privatize two
Gencos, including Lakhra Power Plant, and two Discos.
The court directed Acting Secretary Ministry of Water and Power
Saifullah Chattha to put up a statement in writing so that they may incorporate
his stand in the instant order. Coal fired Power Plant, based in Lakhra coalfield,
Dadu District of Sindh, has three units, each installed capacity is 50 MW. But
the plant presently has been producing only 30 MW. In 2006 it was leased out to
M/s Associated Power Generation Company Limited for 20 years.
Labour Union of the plant and M/s Habibullah Energy after the
agreement moved the Sindh High Court, which gave decision in favour of
Associated Group. The Labour Union and M/s Habibullah filed the appeals
against SHC order in the Supreme Court, which is still pending.
Hearing the case, the bench summoned the Water and Power Secretary.
He appearing before the bench stated that the summaries, presented before the
Court, upon that PM took decision he sent to the prime minister. When the
451
bench inquired; Whether he shared that information with the AAG or with
counsel appearing for Wapda. He candidly conceded that these facts were not
brought into their notice.
The court directed him to put up a statement in writing so that they may
incorporate his stand in the instant order. The chairman NEPRA as per the
bench direction calculated the price of bids offered by the appellants and the
respondents. According to him the electricity from the plant to NTDC could be
sold at Rs6.50. The case was adjourned till 21st August 2013.
Next day, the Supreme Court set aside the deal between M/s Associated
Power Generation Company and Water and Power Development Authority
(Wapda) regarding lease of Lakhra Power Plant for 20 years. The court ruled:
The transaction is not sustainable being non-transparent, includes irregularities,
illegalities, omissions and commissions and violates the relevant rules and
precedents set forth by the superior courts.
The court directed the federal government to conduct an inquiry to fix the
civil and criminal liabilities upon the persons/beneficiaries, responsible for the
deal, in accordance with the law. Coal-fired power plant, based in Lakhra
coalfield, Dadu district of Sindh, which has three units each with installed
capacity of 50MW, was leased out to M/s Associated Power Generation
Company for 20 years in 2006 without following the rules.
On 26th August, the Supreme Court directed the father of Kamran Faisal
to submit a written statement based on evidence regarding the murder of his
sons death within two weeks. Kamran Faisal, an Assistant Director of NAB
was investigating Rs22 billion RPPs scam when he was found hanging from a
ceiling fan in his official residence.
Prosecutor General NAB KK Agha argued that Abdul Hameed, father of
Kamran Faisal, claimed that he has enough evidence about the murder of his
son; however, so far he has not supplied evidence to police, which were
investigating the case, and repeatedly changing his statements. The court
inquired from Aftab Bajwa, counsel for Abdul Hameed, why his client was not
providing evidence to police. The learned counsel replied that the police have
not given them six DNA reports out of 15. He said Kamran Faisal a day before
his death had submitted a report pertaining to the RPPs in the apex court, adding
that report contained the names of former Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.
He said they did not accept the FIR registered by the NAB about the
murder of Kamran Faisal, as the police were investigating the aspect of suicide
only, while they have evidence to prove that it was not the suicide but the
murder. The bench asked him that by now he should have submitted the
evidences before the court. Bajwa requested the bench to give him some time to
do the needful. The court upon his request adjourned the hearing for two weeks.
452
Next day, Imran Khan filed a new reply in the Supreme Court in
contempt of court case clarifying and defending his earlier stance. According to
the Supreme Court cause list a bench headed by Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali
has been constituted to hear the case as the bench headed by Chief Justice
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry is not available in Islamabad.
On 28th August, the Supreme Court discharged the contempt of court
notice against PTI Chief Imran Khan for his critical remarks against the
judiciary. A three-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Anwar
Zaheer Jamali heard the contempt of court case for using the word Sharamnak
(shameful) with reference to the judiciary during a news conference.
Attorney General Munir A Malik while appearing before the court
submitted that this is not the case of disobedience of the order of the court,
adding that the dignity of the court is still alive. He further submitted that if
anyone makes any allegations against the Supreme Court, people would not
believe it. Later, the court after hearing Imran Khan and learned Attorney
General, discharged the contempt notice, issued to Imran Khan and disposed of
the matter.
On 30th August, the Supreme Court issued notices to the federation and
the AGP on a petition seeking President Zardari should not be allowed to leave
the country on expiry of his term, as he willfully concealed sensitive
information about Abbottabad incident from the armed forces. Shahid Orakzai
in his application said: There are possibilities that President Zardari after
expiry of his term would depart from Pakistan in September and the reasons for
his probable exit may be read in the NRO case.
Orakzai had filed the petition regarding the matter in 2011, but the SC
Registrar office returned it with objections. When Orakzai after removing the
objections again filed it the office clubbed it with Mian Nawaz Sharifs petition
regarding memo scam. It is worth mentioning that Orakzai again filed a petition
last week and now filed an application for early hearing, which the SC office
fixed it before a three-member bench.
The petitioner stated in application, The incumbent President was
accused of willfully concealing sensitive information from the Armed Forces
about the CIAs swoop in Abbottabad. Orakzai stated that at the time of
Abbottabad Operation, Farahnaz Isphani, wife of Hussain Haqqani, was special
assistant to President Zardari.
It said that the SC office was brushing aside information, which had
direct bearing on the security of Pakistan. The Office, seemingly, does not
prefer such information to be known to the Supreme Court. Under the
Constitution, sensitive information relating to national security cant be brushed
aside or concealed from the security forces, the applicant asserted.
453
Orakzai said his petition about an inquiry conducted into the conduct of
ex-ambassador Hussain Haqqani in the Aiwan-e-Sadr had no common question
of law with petitions filed by Mian Nawaz Sharif and party men. As such he did
not need the audience of 9-judges as his petition could be ruled by only two
judges. A three-member bench after briefly hearing Shahid Orakzai issued
notices to the federation and the attorney general and adjourned the case till
September 3.
NAB obtained 12 days physical remand of former chairman OGRA
Tauqir Sadiq here from an accountability court. The accountability court granted
physical remand of Tauqir Sadiq, prime accused of OGRA multibillion rupees
scam and ordered to produce Tauqir before the court on September 10.
454
455
Economy: On 19th August, in his first address to the nation since the
general elections, Prime Minister said the power crisis could not be resolved
immediately as new projects will require several years before they start
generation. I am confident the power crisis will be overcome in five years, he
said. He thanked the Chinese government for its interest in resolving Pakistans
power crisis. He also thanked the people for expressing their confidence in him.
The PM said billions of rupees were spent on the Nadipur Power Project
but some individuals stopped it, ruining machinery worth of billions. We now
have to spend an additional Rs36 billion to reinitiate this project. He further
said that Neelum-Jhelum project was supposed to be completed in six years. But
this project too was plagued by corruption and mismanagement, and its cost has
now risen by Rs200 billion. I have directed that this project should be
completed by 2013, he revealed.
He said he has spent two months evaluating and formulating a plan to
deal with the power crisis, as the circular-debt issue was a deterrent for power
houses to generate to power to their full capacity. He said 1,700MW have now
been added to the national grid after the circular-debt issue is resolved. Ill be
satisfied when Pakistan produces more electricity than the demand, he said,
adding electricity and gas theft is also a major reason for the load shedding.
On 21st August, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority approved Rs3,000
hike in the security deposit for domestic consumers, on the request of stateowned gas utilities SNGPL and SSGCL, enabling them to collect around Rs14
456
billion from the consumers within six months. Similarly, the regulatory
authority has also imposed Rs371 reconnection fee on domestic gas
connections.
On 23rd August, the government increased gas price for captive power
plants by Rs85/mmbtu, however it has decided to maintain the price at current
level for domestic, commercial, industrial and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
consumers. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Petroleum
Minister and attended by SNGPL, SSGCL and OGRA.
A senior official at the petroleum ministry, on the condition of anonymity,
said miseries of inflation-stricken masses are likely to increase with the start of
September. The estimation made so far by the Ogra about the future oil prices
has revealed that per litre price of petrol is expected to go up by Rs3 and highspeed diesel (HSD) by Rs2.40. Kerosene oil is likely to be increased up to
Rs3.15 while light diesel oil (LDO) could shoot up by Rs1.80. And per-litre
price of high-octane is expected to be raised by Rs4 per litre.
Chairing a meeting on Kashgar to Gwadar Economic Corridor, the prime
minister said, The location of Gwadar is strategic and it has full potential to
become a free port. It is my opinion to give Gwadar a special status and special
rules and regulations can be formulated for this purpose. Nawaz Sharif said
both Pakistan and China were taking keen interest in this mega project. He
declared this project future of the country and added that out of world's six
billion population, this region housed three billion and the project would prove
beneficial for the whole region.
He said the Gwadar Port will help reduce the time needed for
transportation for Chinese exports from 16 to 4 days, besides reducing the cost
considerably. He added the existing motorways can be handed over to the
private sector to generate around Rs250 billion annually that will help fund
construction of new roads. The prime minister directed that the existing and the
new motorways be linked with the highways to improve connectivity.
The chairman NHA in his briefing said Pakistan owing to its geo-strategic
location could provide linkages with the Central Asian Republics, the Gulf
countries and China. He said there was a proposal to have a new alignment of
Khunjrab-Gwadar Road so as to create linkages with new areas and generate
economic opportunities.
He told that the distances would be reduced by construction of bridges
and tunnels along the Karakoram Highway. It was estimated that the distance of
the Karakoram Highway could be shortened by 150-km through its
improvement. The meeting was also informed that a 15-km long tunnel could be
built near Babusar Top at a height of 11,500 feet.
457
458
VIEWS
Power politics
The serpent that devours itself! You must have heard of the snake that
eats itself. Self-destruction is the nature of this beast. It is within its own
intrinsic sense of revolt and transitory character that it destroys itself out of the
fear of its own venom. It hurts its own existence because of the poison it carries
within itself that precipitates self-destructiveness. Human, social, and political
organizations tend to behave similarly in many ways.
It is claimed by the traditional political ruling elite in Pakistan that
democracy has been saved in this country whatever that means. But the vital
questions that need to be asked are: will this saved democracy save Pakistan?
Will it lift Pakistan and its common citizens out of poverty, unprecedented
deprivations, hunger, fear, illiteracy, lack of security, lawlessness, and lack of
personal safety? Will it restore peace and stability and pull this nation out of an
ever-expanding crisis of political economic mismanagement? Will this saved
democracy be a democracy by the people, for the people, of the people?
It appears that the Pakistani rightwing, pro-West, business-friendly ruling
elite have been promoting self-mythologizing to claim legitimacy of their rule
over this nation. Now, they have added the mantra that democracy has been
saved by their sheer efforts and determination. And it is only their brand of
saved democracy, which can resolve all national problems. The facts,
however, are quite contrary: the 2008-2013 democratic regime did not deliver a
thing to the nation; in fact, it widened the socio-economic gap between the
haves and have-nots, brought upon the masses unprecedented economic
hardships, increased levels of corruption, promoted intra-state institutional
conflicts, weakened Pakistans diplomatic standing in the comity of nations,
carried out a foreign policy detrimental to national self-interests, and so on and
so forth. Is the post-May 11, 2013, democratic set-up likely to serve the
common citizens interests any better?
A current perspective on the post-Tahrir Square revolution in Egypts
political history might be relevant and extremely instructive for the Pakistani
saved democracy jialas and mutwalas, and their cherished leadership. A
democratically-elected government in Egypt has been overthrown by a military
coup and it is obvious that a divided nation is split equally in supporting the
deposed democratic regime as well as championing the new structure of power
backed by the powerful Egyptian army
What has happened to democratic Egypt can certainly happen in Pakistan
as well. Be mindful, a sizeable proportion of the population in the country
would most likely support a similar change out of a desperate disappointment
with the democratic regimes failed mandate and incapability in political-
459
two of the three seats its Chairman Imran Khan vacated, including in what is
accounted his home set, that of Mianwali.
This would indicate that the party does depend on its leaders personal
appeal, even though it preaches the end of personalized politics. It would also
indicate that the PTIs performance in KPK has not really changed perceptions,
especially since it is worth noting that it lost one of Mr Khans seats there.
However, the PML(N) should not be too happy about the PTIs failures,
not with its own to worry about. Though it won 12 of 16 Punjab Assembly seats,
its losses included seats vacated by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and former
Governor Zulfiqar Khosa; the loss by Khosas son Hisamuddin to the PTIs
Ahmed Ali Dreshak.
It should not take too much comfort from its wins, which may well owe
more to the ruling factor than the party might be willing to admit. Even if this
was not a factor, the general election is so near that the seats won may express
more than a chance given to the government rather than any comment on its
performance.
That the by-elections have been successfully conducted is a tribute to the
resilience of Pakistani democracy. It should be remembered that they were held
despite the vacancy in the office of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC),
created by the resignation over the presidential election of the CEC who had
conducted the general election which had led to these by-elections.
Those elected could not take part in the legislative work required for the
local body polls, except the Balochistan Assembly, which still has to pass a
local body law, and to which three members were elected on Thursday. Then
local body polls, the only ones left for the completion of this cycle of the
democratic process can be held. (Editorial, TheNation 24th August)
The right to protest: Political parties are well within their right to
assemble and rally their voice against a cause in a peaceful way, but by the same
token if that is a democratic right, democracy demands from them that they do it
in a lawful way only. PTI workers ought to have known that a court order was in
place which they would be breaching if they went on to set up a protest camp.
And so when they went ahead, they ran right into Punjab Police, whose
thuggish style of herding the protestors in prison vans as though they were
hoodlums and goons further compounded the situation. Some of PTI workers
came to blows with the policeman in quite a drama to the public and the TV
audience.
PTI leaders maintain they have with them the proof of rigging, which
should give them all the more reason to go to law, present it to a magistrate so
as to pursue the case. And even though one of the party activists has already
461
presented that evidence to the returning officer, and even though the petition has
been rejected, the ECP can yet be called in.
In Pakistan as with some other countries alike, the general lot of
politicians do not easily concede defeat without kicking up a fuss. When a
candidate loses, some excuse or some explanation is almost always trumped up;
in our case, where the MPs and traits such as feudal upbringing or use of
coercion to suppress discontent etc go together, the losing party is quick to lay
the blame on rigging. But after all rigging has been quite common particularly
in the past when the Election Commission was not so independent as it seems at
present, which is why the excuse is so much in currency. The general reaction
hence will be to point to foul play, even in cases where transparency is
observed.
PTI is a party led by a charismatic leader who commands a good deal of
respect. It is for the party to decide which course is best to take; but while it can
go to the ECP and can also get people to assemble on streets and squares where
there is no ban on gathering too much strife or street power is not going to sit
well with the voters who have given their verdict with their vote. (Editorial,
TheNation 27th August)
Governance
But where is the beef? The tragic cycle of Pakistans political
mismanagement continues unabated. Let us examine this countrys and its
unfortunate peoples recent history, both during a military rule followed by a socalled democratic dispensation.
Here are some facts And now it appears that Islamabad, the post-May
11, 2013, democracy in Pakistan, is hell-bent on giving pure commercial and
trade solutions to the nations societal and developmental problems.
Amazingly and ironically, grandiose developmental plans and projects are
falling out of the sky in a grandiose style. There is a project for a bullet train
that travels 120+km/hour. Then there is the Khunjerab to Karachi Motorway.
Gwadar is being identified as the new free port, irrespective of its political
consequences on this countrys future. Plans are in the works to buy electricity
from India without a proper assessment of the political fallouts of such an
agreement. Privatization programmes are being discussed for major national
commercial institutions. Peace with India is a top priority and Pakistans stated
position on Kashmir, which is based on the UN Security Council resolution, is
being debated and projected in a suspect manner. It appears that Islamabads
nascent democracy is way out of its depth at this moment.
The fact of the matter is that on a national priority scale, the bullet train
can wait. So can the plans for new motorways. Gwadar can wait to become a
free port and India can wait to sell electricity, gain the most favourite nation
462
status and embrace a one-sided peace plan with Pakistan, and so on and so forth.
In fact, there is no urgency for most of the massive grandiose commercial plans
and projects envisioned by the Islamabad democracy.
What cannot wait any longer and needs to be addressed on an urgent
basis is the growing deprivations of the Pakistani citizens, the rising levels of
poverty, the ever-widening socio-economic gaps in society, the threats to public
safety, the lack of essential educational and health services and the prevailing
general perception among common citizens that political leadership in this
country is apathetic to their plight that in itself is the fundamental cause of
tearing the nation from within.
No wonder then, one is tempted to ask: Where is the beef in Islamabads
conception of democracy?! (Dr Haider Mehdi, TheNation 30th August)
Judiciary
Case dismissed: The contempt of court case against Imran Khan, which
could so easily have boiled over into a full-fledged drama no different to the
ones we have seen before, is finally over However, something we need to pay
attention to are the courts observations that if insults and abuses were hurled at
the courts in this manner, the culture of building respect for institutions will be
undermined. The contempt case stems from a press conference in July, during
which the PTI chief had termed judicial behaviour during the conduct of the
May 11 election sharamnak or shameful. Imran has consistently said he had
no intention of being disrespectful or abusive to the judiciary, that his remark
was directed towards Returning Officers and other polling officials and that the
word used was not a form of abuse anyway. This may be convincing to Khan or
his supporters but not to many others and the court understandably rejected this
argument, first turning away a brief rejoinder submitted through the counsel for
Imran and then a 21-page reply on Wednesday, in which detailed discussion was
made as to the context in which the word that caused the court ire was used, and
what the intentions were. A simple apology from Imran would have ended the
matter and saved court time. Perhaps from the case he can take home a lesson
regarding greater caution in the choice of phraseology used and also of the
merits of conceding a mistake. Indeed this is something many of our politicians
can learn from.
Khan needs to realize a few other things as well. His constant refrain of
him and his party having made more sacrifices for the judiciary than any other
party was not in good taste and gives the impression that it was a favour done
to the judges or is a cause for them to interpret his latest statements about the
court in that light. This path has been trodden by other parties like the PPP and
the ANP before, when they were in power and developed similar problems with
the judiciary. Like all half-truths, such statements do no good at all or expose
our leaders to be political opportunists. But, all is well that ends well. Imran
463
Taming military
Let justice take its course: Interestingly, Benazir and I were in London
with her son Bilawal shortly before her ill-fated return to Pakistan. I asked her
about the assassination of another Pakistani leader I had known well and
admired, President Ziaul Haq. She dismissed my question and said: Well never
know who killed him but who cares? He is dead and gone.
Ironically, her murder may also remain a permanent mystery. I find it
hard to believe that Musharraf orchestrated Bhuttos death despite the fact that
she had outfoxed this not very bright general. The discredited Musharraf
seemed destined to be a powerless figurehead, while the US-backed Benazir
resumed leading Pakistan.
Musharraf may have ordered the deaths of many tribal and religious
militants. Also, he had too eagerly allowed the US military to occupy parts of
his country and involve it in the Afghan conflict. But it is difficult to imagine
that Mush ordered the killing of the wildly popular Bhutto when an
assassination could easily have failed and backfired. Such a plot would have
exposed him to the anger of his patron, the US, which had been promoting a
Bhutto-Musharraf duumvirate.
Though I dont see Musharraf guilty of murder, he seems open to charges
of treason for overthrowing the government of Nawaz Sharif and opening
Pakistan to foreign domination. However, his cronies and supporters in Punjab
should fall under suspicion, as Benazir asserted. The idea that she was killed by
tribal militants from Waziristan lacks credibility. A UN investigation found that
Benazirs murder could have been prevented had the government (i.e.
Musharraf) provided proper security.
Nevertheless, Musharraf has a lot to pay for, including the killing of the
most prominent Balochi tribal chief. The US drone campaign that now ravages
Pakistan was approved by him. It seems that some of generals are outraged by
the trial of one of their own, but this time they should allow what passes for
justice in Pakistan to take its course. That would be a final gift from Benazir.
(Eric S Margolis, TheNation 28th August)
464
REVIEW
In an impressive, logical and convincing reply to the criticism of
Sikander Episode, the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan answered all
questions raised by the Senators sitting on Opposition benches. While doing that
he tried to put the critics to shame, including the so-called stalwarts of PPP like
Raza Rabbani and Aitzaz Ahsan; but putting the shameless to shame is not an
easy task.
The nation, however, wants to know about Sikander because of many
rumours about his activities in Dubai. They also want to know about the
pictures in which he is seen with children of Zardari and with former PPP MNA
and minister from Sialkot, Firdous Ashiq Awan.
The results of by-elections have many lessons for the leaders of the PTI,
an emerging political force in the country. The evil of rigging during polls
continues which demands a concerted effort for reforms to ensure free and fair
elections. PTI has been the most aggrieved party, yet its leadership has failed to
organize result-oriented protests.
The by-polls indicated that all political parties joined hands against the
candidates of PTI, making it clear that status quo forces would go to any extent
to defeat PTI. The party has to remain steadfast against this odd. The party must
also establish an organization for bringing its supporters to polling stations.
Nothing should be taken for granted on the day that comes once in five years.
The Supreme Court discharged the contempt notice that was issued to
Imran Khan on 28th August. The apex court seemed to have bitten more than it
could chew and swallow. In three weeks, the better sense prevailed and the
Chief Justice wisely withdrew from the bench allowing his colleagues to bring
the case to prudent ending.
On the last day of the period under review, the Nawaz regime showed its
determination to fill the coffers that were left empty by its partner in Charter of
Democracy. The government increased prices of petroleum products adding
to the miseries of the people. This could prove the proverbial straw for the
camel.
2nd September, 2013
465
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 26th August, Pakistan reaffirmed its strong and sincere
support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan. At a joint press conference
with President Karzai after holding an exclusive and delegation level talks here
at Prime Ministers House, Premier Sharif said, We believe these initiatives
offer rich dividends to Afghanistan, Pakistan and the region.
We believe this is imperative for turning the tide of conflict and
instability that has engulfed this region for decades, he said. We wish the
Afghan people well in the security and political transitions currently underway,
he said and mentioned that the year 2014 was crucial for Afghanistan and the
region.
466
President Karzai talking on the occasion said he had great hopes and
expectations from Pakistan. Karzai asked Pakistan to help arrange peace talks
between his government and Taliban insurgents, and called for a joint campaign
against extremism in both countries. He acknowledged that the continued
menace of terrorism was a primary concern for people in Pakistan, where
thousands have been killed in the last decade, as well as in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced that the two sides, in the
meeting of their finance ministers, had agreed on several projects on
communications, power and railway. These included early completion of
Torkham-Jalalabad additional carriageway and initiation of other highway
projects, besides early implementation of CASA 1000 and development of a
joint hydel power project on Kunar River. The two sides also agreed on
establishment of rail links to connect Torkham and Jalalabad as well as Chaman
to Spin Bolduk.
United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon announced the
appointment of Pakistans Lieutenant General Maqsood Ahmed as the military
adviser for the organizations peacekeeping operations. Lt Gen Maqsood Ahmed
has been a Corps Commander in Pakistan Army. Among his other military
appointments, he had served a UN peacekeeping tour of duty in Democratic
Republic of Congo in 2005 and 2006. He has replaced Senegals Lieutenant
General Babacar Gaye, whose tour of duty ended on 8 July 2013.
Next day, four militants and two soldiers were killed during an attack on
the security forces camp in South Waziristan Agency. Four armed militants,
including a suicide bomber, had tried to enter the security forces camp in
Sararogha area of South Waziristan, but the on-duty troops foiled their attack
and killed them.
A police constable was wounded in a bomb blast near Ghaznikhel Police
Station. Constable Dilwar was searching for something on the roof of a
residential quarter near the police station building when he noticed a hand
grenade and tried to remove it from there but it exploded.
Reportedly, the federal cabinet meeting tomorrow would take up an
important agenda, including signing two proposed conventions; Council of
Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons and the InterAmerican Convention on Transfer of Criminals Abroad. The first one has 64
signatories and the second one has 17 signatories.
It is likely that the federal cabinet would also give approval to send a
request to the US government for the repatriation of Dr Aafia on attaining
accession to this convention. The Foreign Office would write to the secretary
general of the Council of Europe Convention to become member after the
approval of the cabinet. FO clarified that US could not demand any wanted
467
prisoner from Pakistan who was not a US citizen after Pakistan would become
signatory of any convention.
An EU human rights delegation warned Pakistan that resuming
executions would be seen as a major setback as the European parliament
considers the countrys application for preferential trade status. The government
of Nawaz Sharif had scrapped a five-year moratorium on the death penalty in
June in a bid to crack down on criminals and Islamist militants in the violencetorn country.
Hangings were due to resume last week until a temporary stay was
ordered following objections from the president and rights groups. European
officials are visiting to assess the human rights situation as the bloc considers
whether to grant Pakistan access to the so-called GSP-plus scheme of
preferential trade tariffs.
While international human rights watchdogs and the United Nations
continue to urge Pakistan to do away with the death penalty, the countrys
security apparatus comprising military and civilian security and law
enforcement agencies sounds vocal in categorically opposing capital
punishments abolition or even its suspension. This has much to do with
thousands of high-profile militants involved in terrorism being on the death row.
On 28th August, the federal cabinet in its meeting in Islamabad approved
the signing of the Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of sentenced
persons. The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. On
attaining accession to this convention the US government will be requested
under the relevant provisions for the repatriation of Dr Aafia presently
undergoing imprisonment in a US jail. The prime minister directed the interior
minister to fast track the process of the signing of the convention.
Next day, unidentified gunmen attempted to assassinate MNA Sheikh
Rashid Ahmed when he was on his way back home in Rawalpindi in his car
after participating in a local TV channel talk show in Islamabad. According to
police, the gunmen who were supposed to be well aware of travel plan of AML
President and MNA Sheikh Rashid started indiscriminate firing at his car when
he reached near the Shakarpurian area in the jurisdiction of Aapara police
station. One bullet hit his car but he was unhurt.
Armed men gunned down a former Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Raza
Khan who was nominated in the killing of five Chechens. Armed men riding a
motorbike opened indiscriminate firing at the vehicle of Raza in Kharotabad
area of Quetta. He died on the spot and the attackers managed to flee from the
scene.
The Commissioner of Peshawar has set aside the decision of the Assistant
Political Agent of Khyber agency and ordered the retrial of Dr Shakil Afridi. He
468
was awarded 33-year jail term for having links with terrorists. The appeal, filed
by Afridis brother Jamil through lawyers, said the allegations were false,
concocted and without foundation.
The Foreign Office said the United States has not yet approached
Pakistan for the transfer of Dr Shakil Afridi. Referring to the approval by the
federal cabinet the signing of Council of Europe Convention on the transfer of
sentenced persons to facilitate the repatriation of Dr Aafia Siddiqui, the
spokesman said the government is making sincere effort to transfer Dr Siddiqui,
to complete her sentence in Pakistan.
In a meeting with Prime Minister, JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman urged the
government to review the foreign policy and to disassociate the country from
US-led war on terror. Fazal, who led a delegation to the Prime Minister House,
reiterated his offer to facilitate a peace deal with the banned TTP.
On 30th August, Islamabad police registered a case under section 324/427
PPC on the complaint of Sheikh Rashid Ahmad and started investigation.
Rashid reported to Aabpara police station late last night that he came under
attack, however he escaped assassination bid. He was coming back to his house
located in Rawalpindi after attending a talk show of a local TV channel when
his car was hit by a bullet.
A senior government official confirmed that the dialogue process between
the government and TTP has been initiated and the move has started paying
off. Talking to BBC the official said that the government had been doing its
homework prior to the start of dialogues. Similarly, the TTP has also
confirmed the initial contacts between them and the government of Pakistan.
On the persistent demand of the opposition to take the parliament into
confidence over vital foreign policy issues, Adviser to Prime Minister on
Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz made a policy statement on
the state of ties with India, Afghanistan, the US and the government stance on
Syria crisis.
Aziz said the US has been an unreliable partner because it warms up to
Pakistan when it needs us but when their purpose is served, they start giving
cold response. On drone attacks, he said, PM Nawaz during his US visit next
month will ask Obama Administration to stop these strikes.
Speaking on Pak-US relations Aziz said, Our government successfully
made US Secretary of State John Kerry to believe that Pak-US relations could
not be seen through the Afghan lens. He said the two countries have formed six
working groups for better relations and we expect strategic dialogue next year.
Our priority of relations with US is trade, not aid.
About Afghan president's visit to Pakistan, he said it has taken bilateral
relations to warmth and he mentioned that Pakistan will have role in
469
471
Next day, two people were killed and two others wounded in separate
firing incidents in different towns of Balochistan, while security forces carried
out a targeted operation in Pishin, recovering three kidnapees. Armed men
opened fire at Kechi Baig area of Sariab locality in Quetta, killing one person.
In another incident, a Punjab bound-truck driver was killed and two others were
wounded in Bolan district.
Chief Justice said the issue of missing persons was very serious, which
was earning bad name to the country. Evidences are available against the FC
and secret agencies in missing persons cases, the CJ remarked and questioned
the competency of the security agencies.
Additional Advocate General presented a report on the Balochistan law
and order and made mention of the recovery of mutilated bodies from Karachi
on which the CJ expressed his displeasure and observed, Whosoever is doing
this is spoiling the countrys image and not serving the province.
Balochistan Chief Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad told the
court that he along with the IG police had visited Karachi a few days back and
had taken up the issue with the Sindh government. On the request of the
attorney general, the court gave two weeks to security agencies for progress in
the case of missing persons and observed there were evidences that the FC and
security agencies had picked up 70 persons. The court ordered production of all
the persons.
On 30th August, an alleged attacker was gunned down while another
managed to escape unhurt in a retaliatory firing by Frontier Corps in Mand area
of Kech district. Two suspects on motorcycle were signaled to stop at Gowak
check-post, but they did not. When fleeing suspects were chased they opened
fire on the FC personnel who also retaliated, killing one of the suspects.
Next day, Frontier Corps claimed to have killed seven alleged militants
and wounded 11 others after a clash with them in Mand area of Kech district of
Balochistan. Banned outfit Baloch Liberation Front claimed it had partially
damaged two helicopters of security forces during the gun battle.
The Afghan Consulate official, who had gone missing about a month ago,
reached his home in Quetta safe and sound. Meanwhile, unidentified miscreants
attacked Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Sardar Akhtar Mengals
Quetta residence with hand grenades late nigh; no causality was reported.
On 1st September, a check post of security forces was attacked with
rockets in Barkhan while security forces seized explosives in Mastung and
Subatpur districts of Balochistan. In Mastung, unknown people had planted
explosives which were timely defused. Similarly, unidentified people had
planted landmine at roadside in Subatpur district.
472
473
474
ANP Sindh general secretary Bashir Jan said that police raided and
arrested dozens of their workers from different areas of the city. He said that
police have arrested a 70-year-old worker and booked a few of them in fake
cases. The MQM also claimed that scores of its workers and leaders were
picked up from different areas of the port city without any criminal charges.
Farooq Sattar expressed his fear that arrested MQM workers could be
killed in extra judiciary action. Talking to media persons outside Parliament
building after walkout from the National Assembly session, Sattar said that
innocent people were picked up by security forces. Sattar feared hell be next.
MQM chief Altaf Hussain condemned the arrest of MQM activists during
operation of police and Rangers in Karachi. He warned that PPP government in
Sindh will be responsible if it does not stop carnage against MQM. Talking to
the MQM coordination committee via telephone at Nine-Zero, he said it was
surprising that the terrorist involved in the killing of police officers were
released. He demanded the Federal Interior Minister for proper investigation.
The Supreme Court held the federal government equally responsible for
deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi, with the chief justice noting
that when the provincial government didnt act to improve the situation, the
federal interior ministry also didnt do the needful.
During the hearing of implementation case of SCs earlier verdict on
security situation in the port city, Sindh Advocate General elaborated that 20
APCs were requested for the province from the federal ministry, but ministry
refused to issue NOC. Chief Justice demanded a reason for the refusal and
stated that the case has been pending for the last five months, indicating that the
federal ministry was uninterested in the matter.
Attorney General submitted the federal governments report over the law
and order situation in the city, stating that Karachi faces numerous dangers
primarily due to the rapid increase in the citys population. Terrorism,
sectarianism, ethnic and political killings are some of the large impediments to
law and order in the city, the report said.
The report calls for action against members of the Muhajir Republican
Army and avoiding operation in Lyari. If the need arises, there can be a ban
placed on pillion riding and use of mobile phones in this troubled area. The
AGP informed the apex court that after the passage of the 18 th amendment the
federal government was cautious.
The Chief Justice asked DIG South District if he is willing to bring peace
in the city, where people are losing their lives. Admitting that he is powerless,
DIG South District Ameer Sheikh offered to surrender before the court in
Karachi law and order case. The DIG told the court that policemen who had
475
taken part in the 1992 operation had been targeted and killed. He said the police
are terrified and he cannot provide any outcome in such a situation.
Chief Justice told the DIG to work bravely and inform the court if there
were any hurdles or political interference in the police affairs. Addressing Sindh
IGP, the Chief Justice said, If you cannot do anything, let us know. We will tell
the federation to appoint capable officers. We ourselves think that Sindh IGP
may be a victim of expediency and is giving a bad name to the system.
The court rejected the report presented by Sindh IGP and chief secretary.
Chief Justice remarked that if the report was accepted it would mean that there
had been no killings in Karachi. He added that drugs, smuggled goods and
weapons were being supplied throughout Pakistan via Karachi port. Peace will
not be restored until institutions are neutral, he said.
The Chief Justice asked what intelligence agencies were doing if entire
containers of weapons were disappearing from the Karachi port. Addressing the
chief secretary, the CJ said he did not write to the federation about preventing
arms and weapons from entering through the port. Arms are not pouring down
from the skies and going into the earth in Karachi... Ammunitions earlier caught
in Balochistan were also linked to Karachi. Around 19,000 containers
containing weapons are missing and being used in the province, he said. The
court issued a notice to customs chief collector and asked him to appear before
the court.
The CJ criticized holding of press conferences and remarked that the
parties have started politics as soon as the SC bench arrived in the city to hear
the case. While having an argument with the advocate general, the CJ said that
if anyone is interested in earning credit, then one should fulfill ones duties first.
He, then, asked the advocate general about Citizens-Police Liaison
Committee (CPLC) and inquired about its head and trainers. The advocate
general apprised the bench that CPLC is an effective institution to solve
kidnapping for ransom cases. He said that Ahmed Chinoy is the head and it
works under Sindh governor. Responding to this, the CJ said it meant that police
department is not capable of undertaking this job.
The government informed the National Assembly that a targeted cleanup
operation led by Sindh Chief Minister will essentially be conducted in Karachi
against the criminals. The PML-N government's intention to launch an
operation was broadly endorsed by the House but MQM members expressed
their concerns on it and staged a protest walkout against the overnight arrests of
its workers.
Nisar stressed that there was need of a targeted operation in Karachi and
the team captain would be Sindh chief minister with all administrative powers
in his hand. Time has come to put money where the mouth is... It is not the
476
time for point scoring as there is need of a targeted operation against criminals,
extortionists and kidnappers, Nisar said. The minister said that grand consensus
would be evolved before taking any action in Karachi, and he suggested
forming a monitoring committee under the supervision of Sindh CM to watch
the working of the operation.
Ch Nisar also dispelled the impression that Rangers have failed to
perform, saying why opposition parties did not raise such concerns when they
were in power. He also argued that it would be disrespect to the mandate of
Sindh government if Karachi is handed over to Army.
About the concerns raised by PPP and MQM senior lawmakers, Ch Nisar
said the arrested person in Karachi would be dealt according to the law. The
lawmakers from both treasury and opposition parties including PPP, PTI, JI,
JUI-F supported the government decision to launch targeted operation in
Karachi.
On 30th August, at least 10 people were gunned down in various incidents
of violence In Karachi. The victims included two activists of MQM killed in
separate attacks in Orangi Town. A doctor was shot dead in Paposh Nagar. A
Lyari gangster was shot dead near Lasbella. Tension spilled over in Defence
area after unidentified persons threw a hand grenade on the residence of local
jeweller in Phase-V.
The Supreme Court issued a detailed verdict in Karachi law and order
implementation case, formation a one-member fact-finding commission to look
into the issue of arms smuggling into the country in shipping containers and
theft of duty at Karachis seaports. The commission comprises Former Customs
Member Ramzan Bhatti, who would consult customs authorities, director
generals of Pakistan coast guards and maritime security agency and present a
report based on workable proposals within seven days.
The commission would ascertain as to who was/were responsible for
allowing seafaring vessels and motorboats loaded with illegal weapons berth at
Karachi Port. The commission would also probe the reports that a shipload of
guns and ammo arrived at the Karachi port during the tenure of former minister
for ports and shipping.
The top court also sought suggestions for corrective measures,
appropriate lawful action, and strict penalization to halt this influx of firearms
that were subsequently used to perpetrate organized violent crime. The court
ordered Nadra to complete the task of weapons registration in the shortest
possible time.
The bench observed that control of movement of weapons is one of the
most important aspects to control law and order situation and ensure peace. The
bench said that Karachi was full of arms and ammunition and despite lapse of
477
two years; no headway has been made by law enforcing agencies to recover
illegal weapons.
During hearing, DG Sindh Rangers Maj-Gen Rizwan Akhtar informed the
court that around 19,000 shipping containers containing weapons and vehicles
had gone missing during the tenure of the former minister for ports and
shipping. The issue came into limelight some years ago and the same weapons
were now being used in Karachi and the city is burning due to it.
Rizwan said that the weapons were taken to the tribal areas and then
brought back to the port city. He said that National and Super highways and
Hub routes were used in their transportation. He said there were hundreds of
routes between Sindh and Balochistan where there were several security checkposts but no law enforcement personnel to man them.
The Rangers DG also told the court that 78 per cent of the illegal
weapons being used in Karachi were foreign-manufactured. He said these
included AK-47s and German and American 9mm pistols, which were mainly
used in targeted killings and other heinous crimes in the city. He said that
illegally smuggled weapons, previously of the US military troops in
Afghanistan, were also recovered in Waziristan when he was serving in the
restive tribal region.
Rizwan said different agencies are investigating the smuggling and
trafficking of arms and ammunition but he pointed to the lack of proper
monitoring at the ports. He said that there was need for better scanners as
properly scanning thousands of containers was a tough task. Chief collector
customs informed the court that due to lack of recourses like manpower and
funds they were unable to control smuggling of arms and ammunition.
Regarding the difficulties of effectively implementing security in
Karachi, the CJ ordered that the proper installation of CCTV cameras in
different parts of the city be completed as soon as possible. After being assured
by the Sindh and Federal government, the bench adjourned proceedings until
September 18, ordering the Advocate General and the Attorney General to
submit their progress reports at the next hearing.
In response to the concerns raised in National Assembly by MQM MNA
Khawaja Sohail Mansur about Mohajir Republic Army, Interior Minister told
the House that the report submitted to the Supreme Court (SC) was of
administrative nature and was not of the kind to be submitted in the SC. Nisar
said he had written to the Supreme Court (SC) to withdraw it.
Pakistan Navy launched an internal probe under the direct supervision of
one of its top bosses into the reported involvement of Navy personnel in the
kidnappings for ransom and extortion activities in Karachi. The Director
General Naval Intelligence is leading the investigation under the command of
478
Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Administration). The probe would also cover
allegations involving the killing of a low-ranking Navy official at the hands of
Naval Police and NI at the NHQ Islamabad last year.
A media report had revealed involvement of three Naval Intelligence
personnel including two assistant directors in the kidnapping of a trader from
Karachi. The kidnappers had demanded a ransom of five million rupees for the
trader's release. One of the abductors was nabbed after being shot by a police
officer when he was receiving the ransom amount. Two of the three accused NI
personnel are identified in the report as Assistant Director Ishfaq and Sepoy
Dilpazir Akhtar while another reported assistant director remained unidentified.
A delegation of the ruling PML-N led by Federal Religious Affairs
Minister Sardar Muhammad Yousaf met with Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali
Shah at the CM Secretariat in Karachi. The delegation offered all out political
support of the party and technical support of federal government to maintain
peace in the city.
Imran Khan strongly opposed military operation in Karachi and termed it
harmful for peace and stability in the country. Imran said, Peace should be
restored in the commercial and financial hub of the country (Karachi) by using
police. The PTI chairman said military personnel were fighting against
terrorism in the tribal areas and Balochistan and it will be inappropriate to
engage the military in Karachi too.
Next day, at least 11 people were killed in various incidents of violence.
The interior ministry officially withdrew the report about existence of Muhajir
Republican Army that was submitted to the Supreme Court. Senior Joint
Secretary and spokesman of the interior ministry confirmed that the portion of
that report had been officially withdrawn.
MQM leader and former ports and shipping minister, Babar Ghauri ruled
out possibility of 19,000 missing containers and his alleged involvement in this
connection. Talking to media at Quaid-e-Azam International Airport in Karachi,
he said he wanted to say nothing about the container missing case as the DG
Rangers spokesman had already denied that no such report was presented in the
Supreme Court during the Karachi law and order case.
On 1st September, the Jamaat-e-Islamis former lawmakers demanded the
government to take immediate notice of the revelation done by the DG Rangers
in connection with NATO containers. They said the official had informed the
apex court that thousands of containers loaded with latest arms and ammunition
were not sent to Afghanistan, but instead of returned from Balochistan and KPK
and opened in Karachi under supervision of the then Minister for Ports and
Shipping.
479
The JI former legislators were of the view that the statement of the DG
Rangers was quite enough to unveil the reality of the entire law and order
situation in Karachi, adding that the said statement was an eye-opener for the
government. They also demanded to make public the reports of fire incidents in
Shipping Corporation Building.
481
Next day, Indian troops continued unprovoked firing and shelling in the
forward Kahuta Sectors Nezapir Keerni area along the Line of Control and
injured a civilian in the early hours. The Pakistani troops, in retaliation, opened
fire. Both the countries continue to blame each other for violating the ceasefire
agreement.
On 29th August, India announced the arrest of Yasin Bhatkal, one of the
nation's most-wanted men and the alleged co-founder of militant group the
Indian Mujahideen, blamed for killing hundreds in a string of attacks. Bhatkal,
who is believed to be in his 30s, was arrested near the porous border with Nepal
and is in police custody in the northern state of Bihar.
The banned Indian Mujahideen came to public attention in November
2007 following serial blasts in Uttar Pradesh state. It is accused of a number of
attacks since including in Mumbai, Bangalore, New Delhi and Pune. The group
is thought to head a network of home-grown militant groups. His arrest is
another success for the Indian security forces following the detention earlier this
month of alleged top militant A Karim Tunda, whom India considers to be a
senior member of the LeT.
Next day, Indian police and troops killed five suspected militants in an
overnight gun battle in a forested area of northern Kashmir, triggering anti-India
protests by local residents. Police and an army contingent began a joint
operation around midnight near the Najwan forests, 35 kilometres north of
Srinagar.
The group of militants was leaving one forest area for another when we
intercepted and challenged them. All the five were killed in the ensuing
firefight, superintendent of police said. He claimed all five rebels had come
from Azad Kashmir around a year earlier and belonged to Hizbul Mujahideen.
Sartaj Aziz said Pakistan undertook several steps to defuse the tension.
However India has not reciprocated Pakistan's peaceful overtures. Sharing the
figure, he said that in recent LoC violations as many as 11 people including
eight army personnel have been martyred and 31 injured.
He regretted the contradictions in India's viewpoint and said India
repeatedly claimed that Kashmir is a bilateral issue despite the numerous UN
resolutions to settle the issue according to aspirations of Kashmiri people. Even
if Pakistan tried to resolve the issue bilaterally, what was the progress? Is it not
responsibility of international community to pay heed to these problems? They
need to understand ground realities between the two nuclear powers of the
region, he said.
On 31st August, indiscriminate firing by Indian Border Security Forces on
Sialkot bordering villages created panic and harassment among the local people
in Bajwat Sector of Sialkot Working Boundary. Two civilians were hurt in
482
indiscriminate firing which continued for half an hour. The Indian forces also
tried to target Chenab Rangers check post.
An eight-member panel of Pakistani lawyers will leave for India to crossexamine the witnesses of Mumbai attack case. Special Prosecutor of FIA
informed the Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Atiq-ur-Rehman about the schedule of
Pakistani judicial commission regarding the visit to India.
On 1st September, India invited Pakistan for talks on four controversial
hydel power projects with a capacity to generate more than 2000MW of energy
that it is building on Chenab River. New Delhi has sent a letter to Pakistan
proposing September 21-25 for talks, which is said to be the result of back
channel diplomacy between special envoys of prime ministers of the two
countries.
VIEWS
Pakistan
President Karzai in Islamabad: In an attempt to patch relations
between the two countries, Karzai reached Islamabad today to begin peace talks
and move forward the mutual agenda of both states. This is President's first visit
since the new government has taken power in Pakistan
Reports have revealed that this visit was made possible by Sartaj Aziz
who reminded the Afghan government about the benefits of having a
neighboring ally fighting the same war as them. In a public statement, both
Nawaz and Karzai reiterated their commitment to the cause and of helping each
other with a problem that affects both countries adversely. Nawaz on the other
hand, will not only have security in mind, but will also be concerned about the
trade routes that lie between the two countries.
This round of talks, although short in nature, may go on to have a very
instrumental impact on any future dealings between the two countries. For
Afghanistan, this will be seen as a renewal of commitment from Pakistan to
assist in future endeavors, whereas for Pakistan, Karzais visit implies that he is
ready to end the potentially hostile dialogue going back and forth between the
two countries.
Both countries must realize that the need of the hour is to stand together
and attempt to end this war that is costing both countries more than they can
afford and to safeguard their citizens from future threats of the like. (Editorial,
TheNation 27th August)
Aafia and Shakil Afridi: It appears to be the fashion that every time a
new government takes office, or a politician ascends a recently vacated post, the
rescue of Aafia Siddiqui is one of the causes they seek to champion to
483
statement through the Attorney General apprised the court of the measures it has
chalked out; the court was informed that intelligence agencies stand ready to
offer whatever assistance is asked of them. Also there is this Muhajir
Republication Army unheard of as of now seen by the federal agencies
report as a terrorist organization disturbing Karachis peace. This could be a
case of another outfit taking on a new name.
In the light of all this evidence, it has become more than obvious that the
spot where trouble comes is none other than some of our political parties and
their battle for supremacy. The role of police also comes into renewed scrutiny
since now when the suspects will be captured, they will be kept in lockups,
which given the politicization of the force means, they will most probably be
released. Already senior police officials are making no secret of forces
helplessness in fighting the crime in any way. The criminals cannot be arrested
because they have bosses more powerful than the police, they say.
One partys hero is another partys terrorist. When notorious goons like
Ajmal Pahari who himself confessed to gunning down close to a hundred people
in the city, are patronized by a political party, what can one say. Likewise, other
camps that are blaming the backers of Ajmal Pehari have been sheltering crooks
and thugs in their ranks as well. For instance it just took one blood-filled day of
May 12 to demonstrate how strongly this factor has been at play.
Chaudhry Nisars is a workable strategy when he said that Rangers
action within the province will be led by the Chief Minister Sindh, who he said
will be the team captain, something that should allay fears of MQM leader
Farooq Sattar who seems quite upset at the prospect. Peace must be achieved
and the culprits and their criminal patronisers crushed, no matter who carries
out the operation. Violence has spread to such an extent that we see all the
major political parties in the province relying, patronizing or condoning the use
of gun in one way or the other. Any targeted action must be free of pressure and
aimed at miscreants, regardless of the group they belong to. (Editorial,
TheNation 31st August)
Where the rot lies: Rangers is confident that it can single-handedly do
the job in Karachi, a case that makes the need for army redundant but it has also
explained to the Supreme Court, as well as the Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar
that first it should have the freedom from political meddling. In Thursdays
action that seems to be a step in right direction more than 100 suspects
belonging to various political parties were arrested. The federal government in a
statement through the Attorney General apprised the court of the measures it has
chalked out; the court was informed that intelligence agencies stand ready to
offer whatever assistance is asked of them. Also there is this Muhajir
Republication Army unheard of as of now seen by the federal agencies
485
486
Security check posts, with no men to man them, scanners that don't work,
closed circuit cameras that record static, almost every aspect of the details
emerging show not only disrepair and technical breakdowns, but are
symptomatic of a larger malady: the utter disinterest in getting the job done at
the cost of possible personal gain.
The best of intentions fail, the clearest of laws are worthless, the highest
of reimbursements will not satisfy if personal integrity is continuously put up
for sale.
Weapons distributed between Karachi and the tribal areas have been used
to devastating effect, and have been the subject of intense debate, as to their
origins. If an inquiry that reaches unbiased conclusions can be conducted, it
would not only help lay to rest many conspiracy theories, but also make clear
that terrorist networks do not have the wherewithal to act alone, but rely on
greed and corrupt elements in the state to aid in the accomplishment of their
nefarious goals. (Editorial, TheNation 1st September)
To Karachi with love: The governments announcement to finally catch
the bull of Karachis many woes by its horns coincided with the resumption of
the Supreme Court hearings regarding the implementation of its 2011 order in
the Karachi Law & Order case. The directives of the apex court in that order
could have contributed towards bringing the restive situation in the city under
control but, as in so many other cases, they were largely ignored by the previous
government. The interior ministers statement that his government would
incorporate these directives in its policy for Karachi is reassuring.
In his press conference, the minister rejected the MQM call to hand over
Karachi to the army, something that the party had aggressively opposed as part
of the Sindh coalition until recently. He indicated that the operation will be led
by the Sindh Chief Minister with federal agencies and resources at his disposal
and suggested the formation of a committee comprising representatives of other
political parties as well as businessmen and media persons from the city to
oversee the operation so that it doesnt become a victim of political wrangling.
It sounds like a good plan and hopefully the cabinet meeting that is expected to
finalize it next week will not dither in its resolve to carry it out.
The bit about consensus among political parties is bound to get tricky
Another problem that is bound to crop up as the operation unfolds is its evenhandedness. The PPP Sindh government that is to lead the operation is known to
patronize its share of armed gangs in the city
There are other hurdles in the way of sorting out the mess in Karachi, like
weak laws and the capacity and criminalization of law enforcing agencies, but
the patronage and protection of criminal mafias by assorted political players has
undoubtedly been the biggest stumbling block in the quest for peace in the city.
An operation invested with the political will to rise above these entrenched
488
vested interests could overcome the other hurdles including the sheer scale of
the sprawling city, the infusion of large quantities of arms and years of neglect
that it has suffered.
When Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chairs the special meeting of the
federal cabinet next week to review the law and order situation in Karachi, the
citizens of not only Karachi but the entire country expect him to show the
needed resolve and political will to tackle the many headed monster. The Sindh
Governor, Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, DG Rangers, DG ISI, DG IB and
MQMs Farooq Sattar have also been invited to the meeting. It is high time that
these powerful stakeholders be mindful of what is at stake, and contribute
positively towards finalizing the strategy to save Karachi.
Despite the bad hand that has been dealt to Pakistans premier city, its
energy and dynamism is remarkable. Its brave and hardworking citizens refuse
to be cowed down by the breakdown of governance and insecurity that hangs
over their city like an incessant threat. The resilience and enterprise of its
diverse population is indomitable. Truly a mini-Pakistan, people from all over
the country have made it their home and you see them going about their many
businesses on its many busy roads stretching for long miles. Despite the
overdose of identity politics imposed upon them, you see them working and
transacting with each other regardless of ethnicity or race.
For years, governments have taken a lot from Karachi and given little in
return, abandoning its citizens to fend for themselves, whether it is basic civic
amenities such as water and sanitation or their fundamental rights such as
protection of life, liberty and property. Political parties of every hue who claim
to champion their cause have done little more than fight for their turf flashing
this card of divisive identity or that. Those sitting atop its treasure of resources,
the federal and Sindh governments, the largest political party of the city, MQM,
or other parties that represent it to a smaller degree, owe it to the 20 million
souls living in Karachi to give them the respect that they truly deserve, to put
the citizens of Karachi before their political calculus and petty feuds for pelf
and control.
Despite all its troubles, Karachi is still an amazingly productive city,
pulsating with immense possibilities far greater than what its situation allows.
Give it peace and see it skyrocket to its rightful place as one of the greatest
metropolises of the world. (Jalees Hazir, TheNation 2nd September)
Afghanistan
Can Karzai be trusted: The Afghan President Hamid Karzai, who is in
Pakistan for the first time after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs government has
come into power, has decided to extend his visit for a day, an indicator of the
welcome progress being made in the latest round of talks.
489
The two leaders, joined by their desire for peace talks with the Taliban, sit
in Murree, in a quest to renew the previously hostile relationship between the
two countries.
Karzai, who has been critical of Pakistans role in the security situation that
threatens Afghanistan, seeks reassurance on the issue of negotiations with the
Afghan Taliban. Recognizing the common threat faced by both countries, the
PM has assured the President of his support, should the talks take place with the
Taliban. A collective approach to deal with the security crisis pervading the
region makes much more sense in contrast with the in coherent and isolating
policies of the past.
Another significant item on the agenda is the release of the Taliban
commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, currently being held at an unknown
location in Pakistan. He was arrested as a result of a joint operation conducted
by the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) and the Central Intelligence Agency
(CIA) in February 2010.
Karzai believes that the release of the former deputy of Mullah Mohammed
Omer is instrumental to the success of negotiations with the Afghan Taliban.
The latest reports suggest that the government is seriously considering the
release of Mullah Baradar and it is only a matter of time before it is formally
announced. This displays the federal governments willingness to facilitate, as
much as possible, the negotiation process in Afghanistan.
The talks are taking place at a time when the PM is trying to shape a
national consensus and a strategy to hold talks with the Tehreek e Taliban
Pakistan (TTP). In statements made after the meeting of the Defense Committee
of the Cabinet (DCC) held in Islamabad on Thursday, Sharif made it clear that
the dialogue with the Taliban would be based on a pre-condition that the
extremist group lay down its arms before entering the peace process.
Contrary to that, the Information Minister Pervez Rasheed has said today
that if the Taliban disarm themselves as a result of the negotiations, it will not
be viewed as an unwelcome development.
The Prime Minster, while faced with the tremendous task of neutralizing
the extremist faction, must protect the interests of Pakistan when dealing with
the Afghan President, and also, ensure consistency between him and the rest of
his cabinet. A united front is crucial to the present and the future of the country.
(Editorial, TheNation 28th August.)
A deadly triangle: William Dalrymple in a Brookings Institution essay,
entitled A Deadly Triangle: Afghanistan, Pakistan and India, makes the telltale
observation: The hostility between India and Pakistan lies at the heart of the
current war in Afghanistan. He opens the essay with an account of an attack on
guest houses in Kabul where some Indian army officers were residing. They
490
were deputed to train women cadets recruited for the Afghan National Army.
Later on, the basis of the strategic partnership agreement between India and
Afghanistan, i.e. the training of Afghan Army personnel, has been entrusted to
Indian military experts, on a large-scale.
Dalrymples essay is quite an eye-opener as besides other observations, it
reveals the deep inroads made by the Indians into the Afghan economy and
society. Some of the insights from his essay are: To defend themselves,
Pakistani planners long ago developed a doctrine of strategic depth. The idea
had its origins in the debacle of 1971...India crushingly defeated Pakistan in
their third war... The porous border offers a route by which Pakistani leaders,
troops and other assets, including its nuclear weapons, could retreat to the
northwest in the case of an Indian invasion. For the idea to work, it is essential
that the Afghan government be a close ally of Pakistan The President of postTaliban Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, hated Pakistan with a passion, in part
because he believed that the ISI had helped assassinate his father in 1999. At the
same time, he felt a strong emotional bond with India, where he had gone to
university in Simla With Karzai in office, India seized the opportunity to
increase its political and economic influence in Afghanistan, opening four
regional consulates, and providing substantial reconstruction assistance totaling
(more than $2 billion).
The existential threat posed by India (to Pakistan) has taken precedence
over all other geopolitical and economic goals. The fear of being squeezed in an
Indian nutcracker is so great that it has led the ISI to take steps that put
Pakistans own internal security at risk (even annoying USA). For much of the
last decade, the ISI has sought to restore the Taliban to power so that it can oust
Karzai and his Indian friends.
Pakistan watchers are unanimous that while Kayani is mindful of the
Taliban threat in his own country, his burning obsession is still Indias presence
in Afghanistan. There is an Indo-Pak proxy war Mutual antipathy to Pakistan
quickly brought India and Afghanistan together as natural allies. (India
supported the Northern Alliance.) In 2001, India built a hospital at their airbase
in Tajikistan so that there would be a place to which they could ferry wounded
Tajik soldiers for treatment.
India has built roads linking Afghanistan with Iran so that Afghanistans
trade can reach the Persian Gulf at the Port of Chabahar. India has donated or
helped to build electrical power plants, health facilities for children and
amputees, 400 buses and 200 minibuses, and a fleet of aircraft for Ariana
Afghan Airlines. India has also been involved in constructing power lines,
digging wells, running sanitation projects and using solar energy to light up
villages, while Indian telecommunications personnel have built digitized
telecommunications networks in 11 provinces. One thousand Afghan students a
491
year have been offered scholarships to Indian universities. India has also played
a key role in the construction of a new Afghan Parliament in Kabul at a cost of
$25 million. All this led to India becoming enormously popular in Afghanistan.
Many (Pakistanis) have come to believe India is using its Afghan
consulates to foment insurgency in Balochistan. A former Indian Consul
General in Kandahar privately admitted to me that he had met with Balochi
leaders at his consulate therehe hinted to me that RAW personnel were
present among the staff at Kandahar and Jalalabad consulates.
The continuation of clashes between India and Pakistan in and over
Afghanistan after the US withdrawal is dangerous for all countries in the region
and for the world.
What is certain, though, is that the future will be brighter for all three
countries caught in a deadly triangle of mutual mistrust and competition if India
and Pakistan can come to see the instability of Afghanistan as a common
challenge to be jointly managed, rather than as a battlefield on which to
continue or, worse, escalate their long and bitter feud.
Dalrymples essay, indeed, offers a lot of food for thought.
The post-2014 Afghanistan is bound to be a formidable challenge for
Pakistan. Now is the time to examine all aspects of the emerging scenarios and
come to a clear-eyed understanding of Islamabads role and responsibilities.
It will be advisable to hold extensive consultations with China about the
future of Afghanistan. It is already deeply involved in a number of mineral
projects in the war-torn country. Its interest and involvement in the Afghan
affairs is bound to increase exponentially with the passage of time. It is equally
important to keep in view Indias plans and projects in Afghanistan, while
preparing a 2020 strategic perspective plan. (Inayatullah, TheNation 31st
August)
India
The Sindhurakshak accident: On the eve of Indias Independence Day,
against the backdrop of the proclamations of a number of naval achievements,
like the reactor of its first nuclear submarine Arihant going critical, the
indigenously-built aircraft carrier Vikrant commencing sea trials, Vikramaditya
beginning air trials after the completion of sea trials and the acquiring of Kievclass aircraft carrier from Russia, a serious accident marred the revelry.
At 11:53pm on the night between August 13 and 14, the orange ball of
flame that lit the skyline of Mumbai harbour and soon dominated TV screens all
over the world was Indias Kilo-class submarine, Sindhurakshak, which
exploded after a major accident, claiming 18 precious lives comprising 15
sailors and three officers
492
493
shudder, as the entire region would be exposed to the perils of nuclear radiation
affecting all forms of life. (S M Hali, TheNation 27th August)
Aman ki Nirasha: In the absence of Aman ki Bhasha, the much
touted Aman ki Asha is doomed to remain Aman ki Nirasha. What
precipitates this situation is Indias continued obsession to keep Pakistan under
relentless pressure by blaming it for everything that goes wrong on its own side
of the border or across the Line of Control in disputed Kashmir. This has been a
familiar narrative that India has been using against Pakistan since 9/11, taking
advantage of the global anti-terror sentiment and our own rulers apologetic
postures in the face of Indias sinister campaign
Peace in South Asia will remain elusive as long as Kashmir remains
under Indian occupation. The world must know that there is but one fair, just,
legal and moral solution to Kashmir, which was provided by the United Nations,
and which both India and Pakistan mutually accepted in UN Security Council
resolutions. There can be no compromise on this issue. On other issues, we
cannot ignore Indias illegality in Siachen and its ongoing water terrorism in
Occupied Kashmir by building dams and reservoirs on Pakistani rivers in
violation of the Indus Waters Treaty.
Unfortunately, the post-independence generation in our country, including
the ruling hierarchy, has no idea what it means to be an independent state. They
dont even understand that the peace they want will never come by giving up on
our supreme national causes. Those who mistakenly believe that trade with
India on its own terms will bring prosperity to Pakistan just need to look at
other countries in Indias periphery that opened their markets without any levelplaying field, and are left today with no industrial potential of their own.
But at the moment, our own domestic security crisis as well as economic
situation, not relationship with India, should be the top priority for the
government. One can understand Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs desire for
peace with India, but to negotiate an honourable peace, our own country must
first be at peace with itself. His foremost challenge is to restore his
governments own writ in the country. (Shamshad Ahmad, TheNation 27 th
August)
This is a lame tango: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is not relenting in
his unheeded peace overtures to India. In an interview to Londons Daily
Telegraph, he again made a passionate call for an end to what he sees as a
crippling arms race between South Asias two traditionally-estranged, and
nuclear-capable, neighbours
Nawaz Sharifs passion for peace is understandable. His track record
shows that he genuinely wants the two countries to live like good neighbours by
resolving their long-outstanding disputes and devoting their energies and
resources to the socio-economic wellbeing of their people. This is also what the
494
people on both sides of the border would want. But unfortunately, for their
entire independent statehood, both India and Pakistan have remained in conflict
mode. Their economic and social challenges continue to be compounded by
their unresolved disputes.
The world must understand that a one-sided approach will never work. It
always takes two to tango. Nawaz Sharif is saying only what he has been saying
before. He should remember what he said in his televised address to the nation
on May 28, 1998 after ordering Pakistans five nuclear tests in response to those
by India: Today, we have settled a score and have carried out five successful
nuclear tests. As any self-respecting nation, we had no choice left for us. Our
hand was forced by the present Indian leadership's reckless actions. We could
not ignore the magnitude of the threat... These weapons are to deter aggression,
whether nuclear or conventional.
Nawaz Sharifs last major initiative as prime minister in 1999 was the
proposal for India-Pakistan mutual arms control in the form of a Strategic
Restraint Regime (SRR) involving three interlocking elements, ie (a) conflict
resolution; (b) nuclear and missile restraint; and (c) conventional balance which
means strategic, not numerical, balance. The nuclear restraint element called for
non-acquisition or deployment of Anti-Ballistic Systems which would serve as a
real arms limitation measure and also go a long way in promoting nuclear and
conventional stabilization in the region.
India never accepted the proposal and is not even ready to discuss it,
citing extra-regional concerns although its force potential overwhelmingly
remains Pakistan-specific. We in fact have a history of initiatives taken to keep
our region free of nuclear weapons. Since the negotiations for the NPT began,
every single non-proliferation initiative came from Pakistan seeking to establish
an equitable and non-discriminatory regime in South Asia which India never
accepted and the complacent world just ignored.
We never challenged the non-proliferation regime when the NPT was
being finalized in 1968. In fact, we supported its objectives. We did not sign the
treaty because India refused to do so and was adamantly pursuing an ambitious
nuclear-weapon programme. Our apprehensions were not unfounded. Within
four years of the NPTs coming into force in 1970, India carried out its first
nuclear explosion in 1974 which ironically was hailed by the west as Smiling
Buddha.
The same year, Pakistan under then Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
launched a major diplomatic campaign to prevent nuclear proliferation in our
region and presented a series of proposals to spare our region from the spectre
of nuclear conflict. These included a nuclear weapons-free zone in South Asia,
joint renunciation of acquisition or manufacture of nuclear weapons, mutual
inspection of nuclear facilities, simultaneous adherence to the NPT and IAEA
495
safeguards on nuclear facilities, bilateral nuclear test ban and a missile-free zone
in South Asia.
For the next 24 years, Pakistans security indeed its very survival and
existence faced a double jeopardy. On the one hand, with overt and covert
support of the major powers, India continued its nuclear weapon programme
disguised by deceit, posing a direct threat to Pakistans security and survival. On
the other, we faced sanctions imposed by our friends and allies in the name of
nuclear non-proliferation which even denied us the means of a conventional
defence
India has been seeking to keep Pakistan in the dock by implicating it in
every act of terrorism on its soil, in particular the Mumbai incident. What it
ignores is the fact known the world over that Pakistan is the victim, not the
perpetrator of terrorism. Instead of making it an issue between them, both
countries should treat terrorism as a common threat and collaborate in
combating it. Surely, it is also in both sides interest to avert an arms race.
Moving swiftly toward a strategic-restraint regime, with nuclear and
conventional restraint measures is the only answer.
But again, as long as India doesnt come out of its nay bind, there is no
point in begging for dialogue. A dignified pause is needed. Instead, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharif should be focusing more on his domestic perils
including the bane of terrorism. Perhaps, amelioration of the situation on this
front at home might redress some of the India-Pakistan irritants as well.
(Shamshad Ahmad, The News 29th August)
REVIEW
For a change, MQM demanded that the port city should be handed over to
Army for restoring law and order. This change in MQMs stance about Army
has been necessitated since rise in killings of its activist in targeted shot-outs
and losing monopoly of extortions. As long as partys gangsters were killing
more political opponents and collecting plenty of bathha, this wisdom never
dawned upon the party leadership.
Most of the political parties rightly opposed deployment of Army in
Karachi especially the PPP which is ruling the province. The PPP government
launched an operation to counter the proposal of MQM and arrested dozens of
suspects most of whom belonged to MQM. Upon this the MQM cried about
discrimination and victimization.
Meanwhile, during the proceedings of the Supreme Court in the case of
law and order situation in Karachi, there was talk of Mohajir Republican Army.
MQM leaders dubbed it as concoction of evil minds like the one about
496
Jinnahpur. The federal government, which has new-found love for MQM,
retreated by withdrawing the report from court about Mohajir Republican Army.
Nawaz Sharif sincerely desires to restore peace in Karachi as his plans for
achieving economic goals cannot be implemented without peace there. But his
government in Islamabad is hampered because Sindh is ruled by PPP. Therefore,
peace in Karachi could remain elusive for want of consensus.
Another hurdle in restoration of peace will be the inability of the judicial
system to award speedy punishments to criminals hauled up during operation.
The moratorium imposed on capital punishment under pressure from EU by
trade-crazy Nawaz regime to get preferential trade status will have its
implications not only for Karachi but entire country.
Nawas Sharif, who likes to spend last days of Ramazan in Makka and
Madina, should know that this moratorium is a step, perhaps a leap, towards
de-Islamization; one of the goals of the ongoing Crusades. Capital punishment
is an important part of Islamic penal code. The EU will never threaten to stop
oil trade with Arabs on this count.
3rd September, 2013
PART ONE
The poetical works included in the last volume urge Muslim Ummah as
whole to strive for resurrection of Islam. Allamah Iqbal focused on Hindi
Muslims in his Urdu poetry and in Persian poetry the entire Ummah was
addressed; occasionally naming Iranians, Turks, Arabs, Syrians, Egyptians and
others.
There are two ethnic communities to whom the poet talked to in some
detail; i.e. Afghans and Kashmiris. In addition, out of three generations of his
time, or any given time, he devoted his affectionate attention to the youth upon
which the future of a nation is dependent. This volume contains poetical works
addressing these three categories of the Ummah.
First, the Afghans with which Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent have
geographical, historical, religious, ethnic and other links. In fact, most Muslims
of the Subcontinent embraced Islam because of the religious preachers who
came from Afghanistan, or traveled through that country from the lands beyond.
The Afghans addressed by Allamah inhabit either side of the Durand
Line. To begin with three poems from Bal-e-Jibril are reproduced which are
translated by V G Kiernan, except the second. In the first poem, the poet
addresses an Afghan leader.
NADIR SHAH OF AFGHANISTAN
Hazoor-e-Haq sey chala ley kay loulouey lala; woh abr jiss sey rug-e-gul hai
misl-e-taar-e-nafas. (Loulouey lala: Chamakdar moti.)
Laden with pearls departed from the presence-hall of God that cloud that makes
the pulse of life stir in the rose-bud's vein.
Bahisht raah mein deikhha tuo ho gaya bitaab; ajab moqam hai, ji chahta hai
jaon barus.
And on its way saw Paradise, and trembled with desire that on such exquisite
abode it might descend in rain.
Sada bahisht sey aaeyi keh montazir hai tera; Herat-o-Kabul-o-Ghazni ka
sabzah-e-naurus. (Sabzah-e-naurus: Lehlahata sabzah.)
498
A voice sounded from Paradise: 'They wait for you afar, Kabul and Ghazni and
Herat, and their new-springing grass;
Sarishk-e-deidah-e-Nadir beh dagh-e-lalah fishan; chonan keh aatish-e-oo
ra digar farou nah nishan.
[Nadir Shah Afghan kay ansoon ko lalay kay dagh per iss tarah chhirrak dey
keh pher iss dagh ki aag kabhi bojhney nah paaey.]
Scatter the tear from Nadir's eye on the poppy's burning scar, that never more
may be put out the poppy's glowing fire!
THE LAST TESTAMENT OF KHUSH-HAL KHAN KHATTAK
Khush-hal Khan Khattak ki Wasiyat
Mohabat mojhey onn jawanon sey hai; sitaron peh jo daaltey hein kamand.
The youth to whom the stars are not out of bounds are the ones I love indeed:
Mughal sey kissi tarah kum-ter naheen; Qohistan ka yeh bachah-e-arjumand.
(Qohistan: Afghanistan ka eik paharri ilaqah.)
In no way is this child of the mountains inferior to the Mughal.
Kahon tojh sey ay hum-nashin dil ki baat; woh madfan hai khoshhal Khan ko
pasand.
May I tell you my secret, O Comrade: Khush-hal Khan would much like that his
burial place be far from the reaches;
499
Orra kar nah laey jahan baad-e-koh; Mughal shahsawaron ki gard-esamand. (Gard-e-samand: Dourrtey hoay ghhorron ki orraeyi hoeyi gard.)
Of the dust blown by the Mughal cavalry, carried by the mountain wind.
(Translated by Naim Siddiqui/Editors)
-
-
1862
Khushhal Khan Khattak Pashtu zoban ka mashoor watan dost shaer thha jiss
ney Afghanistan ko Moghalon sey azad karaney kay leay sarhad kay Afghani
qabaeyl ki eik jamiyat qaim ki. Qabaeyl mein sirf Afridiyuon ney aakhari
dum takk saath diya. Oss ki taqribun eik suo nazmon ka Angraizi tarjamah
1862 mein London mein shaia hoa thha.
Khushhal Khan Khattak was a famous Pashtu nationalist poet, who mobilized
the tribes and formed a coalition to fight for freedom of Afghanistan frm
Moghal emporers. Omly Afridis remained with him till last. About one hundred
poems of his were translated in to English and published in London in 1862.
THE TARTAR'S DREAM
Tatari ka khwab
Riddaey Deen-o-millat parah parah; qabaey molak-o-doulat chaak der chaak.
(Ridda: Chadar.)
500
The Church's mantle and the creed in shreds the robe of State and nation torn
and tattered.
Mera aiman tuo hai baqi wlaikan; nah khha jaaey kaheen shoaley ko
khashaak.
I cling to faith-but may its spark not soon lie quenched under these rubbishheaps thick-scattered!
Hawaey tund ki moujon mein mehsoor; Samarqand-o-Bokhara ki kaff-e-khak.
Bokhara's humble dust and Samarkand's the turbulent billows of many winds
have battered.
Bagirda gird khod chundankeh beinam; bila angushtari-o-mun naginam.
[Apney ird gird jahan takk nigah jaati hai, mojhey yehi nazar ata hai keh
aafitein aur balaein eik angothhi ki hasiyat rakhhti hein aur meyri hasiyat iss
angothhi mein naginay ki hai.]
A gem set in a ring of misery that circles me on every side, am I.
Yakayak hill gaeyi khak-e-Samarqand; othha Taimoor ki torbat sey ekk noor.
Suddenly quivered the dust of Samarkand, and from an ancient tomb a light
shone, pure;
' '
Shafaq aamaiz thhi oss ki safidi; sada aaeyi keh mien hon rooh-e-Taimoor.
As the first gleam of daybreak, and a voice was heard: 'I am the spirit of Timur!
Agar mehsoor hein mardan-e-Tatar; naheen Allah ki taqdir mehsoor.
Chains may hold fast the men of Tartary, but God's firm purposes no bonds
endure:
501
Taqaza zindagi ka kaya yehi hai; keh Turani ho Turani sey mehjoor?
Is this what life holds that Turania's peoples all hope in one another must
abjure?
*
*
Khodi ra soz-o-taabey deigarey deh; jahah ra inqilabey deigarey deh.
[Apni khodi mein tazah hararat aur naeyi tabb-o-taab paida karo; aisa karo
gay tuo iss dunya mein inqilab barpa kar sakko gay. *Yeh shear maaloom
naheen kiss ka hai, Nasiruddin Toosi ney ghalibun Sharaa-e-Isharaat mein
issey naqal kiya hai.]
Call in the soul of man a new fire to birth! Of cry a new revolution over the
earth!
*The poet of this verse is not known; Nasiruddin Toosi had quoted this in
Sharaa-e-Isharaat.
In Zarb-e-Kalim, talks to Afghan people through Mihrab Gul Afghan; an
imaginary name. The poet thinks that mountaineers and nomads are more
appreciative of the beauties of Nature than those dwelling in plains. The poet
thinks that these Highlanders and Bedouins are very hard-working and
industrious, because they have to derive their sustenance, either from rocky or
barren terrain, or from sandy deserts full of dunes. These toils and hardships
make them hardy and brave, which is borne out in present times by the Afghans
observed Syed Akbar Ali Shah.
At that time they were locked in a life and death struggle with a
neighbouring super power (British) for the protection of their homes and
hearths. Nearly three years have elapsed and the invaders have not gained any
foot-bold in the country. The Afghans will sooner or later authenticate the poet's
conception about their love of freedom and Selfhood. Today, for the last 12
years they are fighting for the same against 40 countries led by the
contemporary Super power. All poems are translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah,
except where indicated otherwise.
Mihrab Gul Afghan is an imaginary name reflecting close affiliation of
Afghans and the Mosque; just as in Punjab a person having fondness for
spending time in a Mosque is affectionately called Masita.
502
!
Meyrey kohistan! Tojhey chhorr kay jaon kahan; teyri chattanon mein hai
meyrey abb-o-jadd ki khak. (Abb-o-jadd: Abao-o-ijdad.)
How can I quit this mountain land, where my sires are interred in rocks; my
exile from this land so dear, is full of anguish, pain and shocks?
Roz-e-azal sey hai tou manzil-e-shaheen-o-charkh; lalah-o-gul sey tehi,
naghmah-e-bulbul sey pak. (Charkh: Eik qisam ka shikari parindah.)
From Eternal Dawn you are abode of kestrel, hawk and birds of prey: There
rose and tulip do not grow, nor Warbles nightingale so gay.
Teyrey kham-o-paich mein meyri bahisht-e-barein; khak teri anbarin, aab tera
taab naak. (Anbarin: Anbar ki tarah khoshbo-dar; anbar eik khas qisam ki
khoshbo.)
Your paths that twist and turn on bills give Eden's pleasure to my sight your clay
emits an ember smell; your sparkling streams look bright in light.
Baz nah ho-ga kabhi bandah-e-kobak-o-hamam; hifz-e-badan kay leay rooh ko
kar don halaak. (Kobak-o-hamam: Chakor aur kabootar.)
The kingly hawk can hot become a thrall to pheasant or a dove; how can a man
destroy his soul for his clay-born body's love?
!
Ay merey faqr-e-ghayoor! Faislah teyra hai kaya; khilaat-e-Angraiz ya
pairhan-e-chaak chaak. (Khilaat: Badshahon ka atta kardah izazi labas.)
O zealous Faqr, let me know what is your verdict and firm intent: Would you
prefer the British robe, or your shirt, thread-bare, torn and rent?
*****(2)*****
503
Haqiqat-e-azli hai raqabat-e-aqwaam; nigah-e-pir-e-falak mein nah mien aziz,
nah tou.
The discord that prevails among the nations is an eternal truth: This old and
tyrant whirling dome for none of us has any ruth.
Khodi mein doob, zamaney sey na-ummeid nah ho; keh iss ka zakhm hai dar
pardah ihtimaam-e-rafoo.
Dive into the abyss of Self and do not yield before despair the wounds that:
world on you inflicts is secret means of their repair.
Rehey ga tou he jahah mein yaganah-o-yakta; otar gaya jo terey dil mein la
sharik laho. (Yaganah-o-yakta: Dosron sey monfarid aur mokhtalif. La sharik
laho: Alla Taala ka koeyi sharik naheen.)
If this truth that God has no peer sinks down in inner part of heart; you shall
excel in grandeur all, in world affairs shall play great part.
*****(3)*****
Teri doa sey qaza tuo badal naheen sakti; magar hai iss sey yeh momkin keh
tou badal jaaey. (Qaza: Taqdir.)
Your prayers can't avert decrees of Fate at all. Your Self can change, but none
knows what else may befall.
Teri khodi mein agar inqilab ho piada; ajab naheen hai keh yeh char soo badal
jaaey.
If some tremendous change, if human self e'er shines, it gains perfection's
height, gets free of world's confines.
504
Teri doa hai keh ho teyri aarzoo pori; meri doa hai teri aarzoo badal badal
jaaey.
You beg your God to grant your cherished end and goal, I pray my God to
change your wish entire and whole.
*****(4)*****
Kaya charkh-e-kajj ruo, kaya mehar, kaya maah; sabb raahro hein wamandahe-rah. (Charakh-e-kajj ruo: Tairrha chalney wala aasman. Wamandah-e-rah:
Thhaka hara.)
The Sun, the Moon and Sphere all go astray, are vagrants who still straggle on
the way.
Karrka Sikandar bijli ki manind; tojh ko khabar hai ay murg-e-naagah.
Alexander fell on world like thunder clap, but death soon caught him in its
deadly trap.
Nadir ney looti dilli ki doulat; ekk zarb-e-shamshir, afsanah-e-kotah.
King Nadir plundered Delhi's hoarded wealth, whereas his Chiefs put him to
sword by stealth.
!
Afghan baqi, kohsar baqi; al-hokm-o-lillah! Al-molk-o-lillah.
The Afghans and their hills e'en now remain; authority and the country belong
to Allah.
505
Hajat sey majboor mardan-e-azad; karti hai hajat sheron ko roobah. (Roobah:
Loomarri.)
Free heroes are compelled by wont and need, these change a lion bold to fox
indeed.
Mehram khodi sey jiss dum hoa faqr; tou bhi shehanshah, mein bhi
shehanshah.
When Faqr with Self gets free and frank, both you and I attain the regal rank.
Quomon ki taqdir woh mard-e-dervaish; jiss ney nah dhondi sultan ki
dargah.
That Darvesh can build up a nation's fate who never tries to seek the royal gate.
*****(5)*****
Yeh madrassh yeh khheil yeh ghoghaey rawaro; iss aish-e-farawan mein hai
her lehzah ghum-e-nau.
In school the noise of games, debates, great stir and animation prevail; this
abundant joy e'ery moment breeds new griefs and naught else can avail.
Ilm naheen, zehar hai ahrar kay haq mein woh; jis ilm ka hasil hai jahan mein
duo kaff jao. (Duo kaff jao: Duo mothhi jao.)
For men of free and noble birth such knowledge is a venom dread, which makes
them earn some barley corn to fill their bellies with its bread.
506
Nadan adab-o-falsafah koeyi cheez naheen; asbab-e-honar kay leay lazim hai
tug-o-duo. (Tug-o-duo: Koshish, mehnat.)
O fool, great wisdom and book lore have not much worth nor carry weight: To
learn a useful art one must put in much strife and struggle great.
Fitrat kay nawameis peh ghalib hai honarmand; shaam oss ki hai manind-esehar-e-sahib-e-pertou. (Nawameis: Namoos ki jamaa; morad hai qanoon,
qaiday.)
A man of skill controls the working of Nature, his nights are brighter than
mornings.
Woh sahib-e-fun chahey tuo fun ki barkat sey; tappkay badan-e-mehar sey
shabnam ki tarah zou (roshni).
If such a craftsman likes, with ease, by dint of skill and magic art, like dew, can
make from mass of Sun, the rays of light proceed and dart.
*****(6)*****
Jo alam-e-eijad mein hai sahib-e-eijad; her dour mein karta hai tawaf oss ka
zamanah. (Alam-e-eijad: Dunya.)
In world, if man contrives a thing much sound, the men of every period make
his round.
Taqlid sey nakarah nah kar apni khodi ko; kar oss ki hifazat keh yeh gohar hai
yaganah. (Taqlid: Pairavi karna.)
Don't spoil your Self by blind pursuit. Take care of precious gem that has no
suit.
Iss quom ko tajdid ka paigham mobarak; hai jiss kay tasawar mein faqat bazme-shabanah. (Tajdid: Niya aur tazah karna.)
507
That nation is welcome to have new ways, which has no thought save revels
night and days.
Mojhey dar hai keh yeh aawazah-e-tajdid laikan; Mashriq mein hai taqlid-eFarangi ka bahanah.
Assumption of new modes this fact betrays, pretext is sought to follow Frankish
ways.
*****(7)*****
!
Rumi badley, Shaami badley, badla Hindustan; tou bhi ay farzand-e-kohistan!
Apni khodi pehchan, O ghafil Afghan.
The Romans, Syrians, Hindus too have changed and made a great advance; O
son of hills, discern your Self and sharpness of your Self enhance. O Afghan
unaware, of your self take much care.
Mousam achha, paani waafer, matti bhi zarkhaiz; jiss ney apna khheit nah
seincha, woh kaisa dehqan; apni khodi pehchan, O ghafil Afghan.
If weather is fine, water quite enough and terrain fertile and plain, but peasant
does not water fields, he is odd and can nothing gain. O Afghan unaware, of
your self take much care.
Onchi jiss ki lehar naheen hai, woh kaisa darya; jiss ki hawain tund naheen
hein, woh kaisa toofan; apni khodi pehchan, O ghafil Afghan.
508
That river has no weight at all whose billows do not swell and rise that tempest
is too weak and low, whose gales by fury don't surprise. O Afghan unaware, of
your Self take much care.
Dhond kay apni khak mein jiss ney paya apna aap; oss bandey ki dehqani per
sultani qurban; apni khodi pehchan, O ghafil Afghan.
A person, who stire up and down his clay, to Self can find a clue: Kings who
possess vast, mighty states, can be ransomed for peasant true. O Afghan
unaware, of your self take much care.
Teyri bey ilmi ney rakhh li hai bey ilmon ki laaj; alam-e-faazal baich rehey
hein apna Deen aiman; apni khodi pehchan, O ghafil Afghan.
Self-respect of unlettered men your ignorance has saved from harm though
scholars and savants sell their Faith to keep their bellies warm. O Afghan
unaware, of your self have much care.
*****(8)*****
Zaagh kehta hai nehayat badnuma hein teyrey per; shaprak kehti hai tojh ko
kor chashm-o-bey honar.
(Zaagh: Kawwa. Shaprak: Chamgadarr. Kor chashm: Andha-pun.)
The crow says, In your wings no charm I find. The bat says, You have no
craft, are blind.
!
Laikan ay shahbaz! Yeh morghan-e-sehra kay achhoot; hein fazaey neilgon
kay paich-o-kham sey bey khabar.
O hawk, these low-caste birds of vast expanse, of azure heaven's twists and
turns haven't sense.
509
Inn ko kaya maaloom oss taer kay ahwal-o-moqam; rooh hai jiss ki dum-epervaaz sar ta pa nazar.
They can't know states and rank of hawk aright, whose soul grows sight entire
at time of flight.
*****(9)*****
Ishq tiynat mein frou mayah naheen misl-e-hawus; per-e-shahbaz sey momkin
naheen pervaaz-e-magas. (Magas: Makhhi.)
Love's bent of mind is not so mean and low like that of vicious greed: How can
the hopping fly compete with regal hawk in flight or speed?
Yon bhi dastoor-e-gulistan ko badal saktey hein; keh nashiman ho anadil peh
garan misl-e-qafas. (Anadil: Andaleeb (bulbul) ki jamaa.)
To bring about a change in laws of park with ease one can engage and for the
nightingale can make the nest as irksome as the cage.
Safar amadah naheen montazir-e-bang-e-raheel; hai kahan qaflah-e-mouj ko
perwaey jaras. (Raheel: Kooch. Jaras: Ghhinti.)
If some one is about to set on journey that is hard and long, he does not wait for
herald's sound, like waves that flow without ding dong.
Garchih maktab ka jawan zindah nazar ata hai; mordah hai, maang kay laya
hai Farangi sey nafas.
Though college youth appears alive, yet he is in the throes of death: He has no
thoughts to call his own and lives on borrowed Frankish breath.
Perwarash dil ki agar mud-e-nazar hai tojh ko; mard-e-Momin ki nigah-eghalat andaz hai bus. (Ghalat andaz: Bey jaaney boojhey parrney waali nazar.)
510
If you e'er keep before your sight the nature of your inmost heart a casual glance
of Saintly Guide with much ease can perform this part.
*****(10)*****
Wohi jawan hai qabilay ki aankhh ka tara; shabab jiss ka hai bey dagh, zarab
hai kaari.
That youth is held in high esteem by all the members of his tribe, whose prime
of life is pure and chaste, dread blows to him we can ascribe.
Agar ho jung tuo sheraan-e-ghaab sey barrh kar; agar ho solah tuo raana
ghazal-e-Tatari. (Ghaab: Jungle. Raana: Dil ko moh leyney wala khoobsurat.)
In days of war he can surpass tile ferocious lions of the wood when peace
prevails in every place, like Tartar deer is fine and good.
Ajab naheen hai agar oss ka soz hai hamah soz; keh neistan kay leay bus hai
eik chingari. (Neistan: Sarkandon ka jungle.)
There is no wonder, if his glow may set the things around afire to burn the bed
of reeds one spark is 'nough that from the flame does spire.
Khoda ney oss ko diya hai shakoh-e-sultani keh oss kay faqr mein hai Haiderio-Karrari. (Karrar: Bar bar hamlah karney wala.)
God Mighty has endowed him with a monarch's grandeur, pomp and show his
brand of Faqr has virtues such that shone on Haider's valorous brow.
Nigah-e-kum sey nah deikhh oss ki bey kullahi ko; yeh bey kullah hai
sarmayah-e-kullah daari.
Do not look down upon the youth, if his head is devoid of gear: This lad can
claim close kinship with those kings who crowns on heads do wear.
*****(11)*****
511
Jiss kay pertuo sey munawwar rehi teyri shabb-e-dosh; pher bhi ho sakta hai
roshan woh chiragh-e-khamosh. (Shabb-e-dosh: Gozri hoeyi raat.)
The same lamp that illumed your yesternight, though gone out, once again may
get alight.
Mard-e-bey houslah karta hai zamaney ka gillah; bandah-e-hur ka leay nishtare-taqdir hai nosh.
A courageless man can 'gainst Time bewail, whereas the free Fate's stings, like
honey hail.
Naheen hungamah-e-paikaar kay laiq woh jawan; jo hoa nalah-e-morghaan-esehar sey mudhosh. (Nalah-e-morghaan-e-sehar: Sobh sawairey bolney waaley
parindon ki awaaz.)
That youth for noise of wars can not be fit, who hearing wail of birds at morn
loses wit.
Mojh ko darr hai keh hai tiflanah tabiyat teyri; aur ayyar hein Europe kay
shakar-parah farosh. (Shakar-parah: Eik qisam ki mathhaeyi.)
I fear that you have childish bent of heart, those selling sweets in West are full
of art.
*****(12)*****
La-deeni-o-Lateini, kis paich mein oljha tou; daroo hai zaeefon ka la ghalib
illa Hoo. (La ghalib illa Hoo: Allah kay sawaey aur koeyi ghalib naheen.)
In maze of Latin script and sin, your bearings, no doubt, you have lost belief
that none has might save God, is cure for weak that acts so fast.
512
Siyaad-e-maani ko Europe sey hai noummeid; dilkash hai faza, laikan bey
naafah tamam aahoo. (Bey naafah tamam aahoo: Taman hiran baghair moshk
kay hein.)
A man who likes to hunt the facts must quit all hopes of West, is clear its
atmosphere is full of charm, but one can't find musk-yielding deer.
Bey ashk-e-sehar gahi taqwim-e-khodi moshkil; yeh lalah-e-paikani khoster hai
kinaar-e-joo. (Taqwim: Qiyam, mazbooti. Lalah-e-paikani: Yahan morad hai
khodi. Kinaar-e-joo: Nadi kay kinaarey; morad hai sehar gahi kay ansoo.)
The self of man derives much strength from tears he sheds at early morn much
good that tulip, like the dart, the marge of some brook may adorn.
Siyaad hai kafir ka, nakhchir hai Momin ka; yeh deir-e-kohan yaani
bottkhanah-e-rung-o-boo.
This idol-house of hue and scent, or fane so ancient, old and hoar hunts hose
who don't believe in God, on Muslims has effect no more.
Ay sheikh, ameeron ko masjid sey nikalwa dey; hai onn ki namazon sey
mihrab torsh aabroo. (Torsh aabroo: Naraz, khafa.)
O Shaikh, get all the rich expelled from precincts of the Holy mosque
For niche of mosque is angry with them all for their much impious task.
*****(13)*****
Mojh ko tuo yeh dunya nazar aati hai digargon; maaloom nahenn deikhhti hai
teyri nazar kaya.
To me upset appears the Cosmos old, but I do not know what your eyes behold.
513
Her seinay mein ekk sobh-e-qiyamat hai namodaar; afkaar jawanon kay hoay
zir-o-zabr kaya!
In breasts the morn of Last Day comes to view. Old thoughts of youth have been
replaced by new.
Kar sakti hai bey maarkah jeinay ki talafi; Pir-e-Haram teyri monajaat-esehar kaya?
Your hymns at morn can't make amends for Life, O Elder of the shrine, without
much strife.
Momkin naheen takhliq-e-khodi khanqahon sey; iss shoalah-e-num khordah
sey tootey ga sharar kaya! (Shoalah-e-num khordah: Aisi lakrri ka jalna jo
geili ho.)
The Shrines no strength to Self e'er can impart, because no sparks from wet
flame can depart.
*****(14)*****
Bey juraat-e-rindanah her ishq hai roobahi; bazoo hai qawi jiss ka, woh ishq
Yadd-al-lahi. (Yadd-al-lahi: Allah ka haath; morad hai aisa ishq jiss mein
Momin ka haath Allah ka haath bun jata hai.)
Without a toper's courage, Love consists of naught save trick and guile; a man,
whose Love of God is great, has brawny arms and is agile.
!
Jo sakhti-e-manzil ko saman-e-safar samjhey; ay waaey tun aasani! Napiad
hai woh raahi.
Alas the love of case and rest among the pilgrims seems profound; a man, who
journey's toils may deem, as steed and food, is nowhere found.
Wahshat nah samajh oss ko ay mard-e-maidani; kohsar ki khalwat hai taalime-khod agahi.
514
O men of plains do not think that I teach the beastly mode and art the lonely
desert arid the mounts the man Self knowledge can impart.
Dunya hai rawayati, oqba hai monajaati; dar baaz duo alam ra, ein ast
shehanshahi. (Dar baaz duo alam ra: Duono dunyaon ko chhorr dey. Ein ast:
Yeh hai.)
This world observes traditions old, in world to come mere hymns can serve;
forge both worlds and stick to God, if kingly grandeur you wish to deserve.
*****(15)*****
Adam ka zamir oss ki haqiqat peh hai shahid; moshkil naheen ay salik reh-eilm-faqiri.
O pilgrim, who tread mystic path, your goal with case you can attain man's
conscience can bear out this fact that Faqr's high rank isn't hard to gain.
Foulaad kahan rehta hai shamshir kay laiq; piada ho agar oss ki tabiyat mein
hariri. (Harir: Raisham; morad narmi.)
The steel can never make or forge a sharp and sturdy sword at all if steel is
smooth and soft, like silk, such toys, true sword one can not call.
Khod-dar nah ho faqr tuo hai qehar-e-Elahi; ho sahib-e-ghairat
tamheed-e-amiri.
tuo hai
If Faqr possesses no self esteem, it means God Mighty's ire and wrath if respect
for Self keeps in view, to riches great it paves the path.
!
Afrang z-khod bey khabrat kard wagarnah; ay bandah-e-Momin! Tou
bashirim, tou naziri. (Afrang z-khod bey khabrat kard: Angraiz ney tojhey
apney aap sey biganah kar diya hai. Bashiri: Khosh khabri sonaney wala.
Naziri: Draaney wala.)
515
The Franks have made you oblivious to Self, otherwise O Believer True, you
are the bearer of happy news, and warn the sinners 'gainst their due.
*****(16)*****
Quomon kay leay mout hai markaz sey jodaeyi; ho sahib-e-markaz tuo khodi
kaya hai? Khodaeyi.
The nations suffer death from centre if they part; if they have centre strong,
Godhead it can impart.
Jo faqr hoa talkhi-e-douran ka gillahmand; oss faqr mein baqi hai abhi booey
gadaeyi.
Such Faqr which has a plaint against the toils of life has beggar's wont and
mode and can't bear worldly strife.
Iss dour mein bhi mard-e-Khoda ko hai mayassar; jo mojazah parbat ko bana
sakta hai raeyi. (Parbat: Paharr.)
A godly man even now by wondrous act, can chancre to tiny mustard seed a
lofty mountain range.
Dar maarkah-e-bey soz tou zouqey natwan yaaft; ay bandah-e-Momin tou
kojaeyi, tou kojaeyi.
[Ay aiman waaley bandey! Tou kahan hai? Teyrey soz aur teyri hararat kay
baghair jung-o-jadal mein koeyi lazzat naheen paeyi jaati.]
In fight without your heat no zeal or zest is found: Where are you godly man,
take part in combat's round.
Khurshid sra pardah-e-Mashriq sey nikal kar pehna merey kohsar ko malboose-hinnaeyi.
(Malboos: Labas. Hinnaeyi: Mehndi-rung, sorkh.)
516
O Sun, arise from East and sail upon my view give all the mountain range a
crimson tinge and hue.
*****(17)*****
Aag oss ki phhonk deyti hai barna-o-pir ko; lakhhon mein eik bhi ho agar
sahib-e-yaqin. (Barna-o-pir: Jawan aur bhoorrey.)
'Mong Muslim men, if one on firm belief has hold, his glance can set afire all,
whether young or old.
Hota hai koh-o-dasht mein piada kabhi kabhi; woh mard jiss ka faqr khazaf ko
karey nagin. (Koh-o-dasht: Khazaf: Aisi seipi jiss mein moti nah ho.)
Off and on men are born in waste or mountain range, who by their dint of Faqr
pot-sherd to bezel change.
Tou apni sarnawisht abb apney qalm sey likhh; khali rakhhi hai khamah-e-Haq
ney teri jabein.
You can build up your luck, if courage you can show: For God has written
naught with His pen on your brow.
Yeh neilgon faza jissey kehtey hein aasman; himmat ho per kosha tuo haqiqat
mein kochh naheen.
This azure vast expanse that goes by name of sky if one has wings for flight, in
fact, is not so high.
Balaey sar raha tuo hai naam oss ka aasman; zir-e-per agaya tuo yehi
aasman, zamin.
It is sky if it is above your head; if it is under your wings, it becomes earth.
517
*****(18)*****
Yeh noktah khoob kaha Sher Shah Suri ney; keh imtiaz qabaeyl tamam-ter
khwari.
Sher Shah explained this point with so much grace, distinction of tribes leads to
much disgrace.
Aziz hai onnhein naam Waziri-o-Mehsood; abhi yeh khilaat Afghaniyat sey
hein aari. (Waziri-o-Mehsood: Duo Afghan qabilay jo aaj kal secular dunya
kay leay dard-e-sar banney hoay hein.)
The names of various tribes to them are dear, the robe of Afghaniat don't like to
wear.
Hazar parah hai kohsar ki Mosilmani; keh her qabilah hai apney botton ka
zonnari.* (*Qabeyl ko ummat per tarjih deyney ko bott parasti kaha hai.)
Their Islam is to pieces and fragments torn, like pagans, girdles by them still are
worn.
Wohi Haram hai, wohi eitibar-e-Laat-o-Manat; Khoda nasib karey tojh ko
zarbat-e-kaari.
They worship and adore their idols old, may God help them deaf blows much
bold.
*****(19)*****
Nigah woh naheen jo sorkh-o-zard pehchaney; nigah woh hai keh mohtaj-emehar-o-mah naheen.
That glance can not be termed as true which draws; a line 'twixt red and pale
that sight is true which does not like the light of Sun or Moon to 'vail.
518
!
Farang sey bohat aagay hai manzil-e-Momin; qadam othha! Yeh moqam
intihaey rah naheen.
The aim and goal of Muslim true is far beyond the bounds of West; take longer
steps and walk space, as this site is not meant for rest.
Khholey hein sabb kay leay gharibon kay maey khaney; aloom-e-tazah ki
sarmastiyan gonah naheen.
The marts that sell the wine in West always keep their doors ajar: The rapture
caused by knowledge new is removed from sin much afar.
''
Issi saroor mein poshidah mout bhi hai teri; terey badan mein agar soz-e-la
ilah naheen.
If your frame is bereft or heat which words, No god but He impart, then bear
in mind this well-known fact. Your soul from body may depart.
Sonnein gay meyri sada khanzadgan-e-kabir? Galim posh hon mein sahib-ekullah naheen. (Khanzadgan-e-kabir: Barrey khandanon kay farzand. Galim
posh: Godrri pehney hoey.)
The sons of Khans, who own high rank, shall listen to my humble sound though
I am dressed in rags and sack and wear no cap or turban round.
*****(20)*****
Fitrat kay maqasad karta hai nigahbani; ya bandah-e-sehraeyi ya mard-ekohistani.
One who resides in desert waste or person born on mountains steep can keep a
watch on aims and ends that Nature in its view does keep.
519
Dunya mein mohasab hai tehzeeb-e-fason-gar ka; hai oss ki faqiri mein
sarmayah-e-sultani.
He draws no line 'twixt fair and foul of culture, whose spell makes you sleep his
Faqr possesses the wealth of kings, who coffers full of God do as keep.
Yeh hosn-o-latafat kiyuon? Woh qowwat-o-shoukat kiyuon? Bulbul-echamanistani, shahbaz-e-biyabani.
O warbler of this earthly mead, why are your songs so sweet and fair wherefore,
desert hawk, you own, such grandeur great and daring rare?
Ay sheikh bohat achhi maktab ki faza laikan; banti hai biyaban mein Farooqio-Salmani.
O Shaikh, no doubt, the climate of your school is so much pure and chaste but
men, like Salman and Farooq, are brought up in some desert waste.
Sadiyuon mein kaheen piada hota hai harif oss ka; talwar hai taizi mein sehbae-Mosilmani. (Sehba-e-Mosilmani: Islam ki sharab.)
The fire that Muslim Faith bestows is as sharp as the sword of steel, but after
thousand years is born its match, who mighty blows can deal.
A poetical work from Payam-e-Mashriq, which is dedicated to King
Amanullah, is reproduced at the end of this part..
DEDICATORY EPISTLE
AFGHANISTAN
TO
KING
AMANULLAH
KHAN
OF
Paishkash bahazoor Ale-Hazrat Amir Amanaullah Khan farmanrawaey
Doulat-e-Mostaqilah Afghanistan Khold-Allah molkho wa jalalahho.
Ay amir-e-kaamgar, ay sheharyar; naujawan-o-misl-e-piraan-e-pokhtah kaar.
520
[Ay sheharyar! Ay khosh nasib amir! Omar mein naujawan aur piron ki
manind pokhtah kaar.]
Successful head of a great monarchy, youthful in years, old in sagacity.
Chashm-e-tou iz pardagi-haey mehram ast; dil miyan-e-seinahat jaam-eJam ast.
[Teyri ankhh chhopay hoay raazon sey ashna hai. Teyra dil jaam-e-Jam ki
manind hai (iss per her cheez ayan hai).]
Inspired practitioner of the royal art, possessor of the wisdom of the heart.
Azm-e-tou paindah choon kohsar-e-tou; hazm-e-tou aasan konad doshwar-etou.
[Teyra azm teyrey (molk kay) paharron ki manind mazboot hai; teyrey istiqlal
kay bais tojh per her moshkal asaan hai.]
With a will as strong as your mountain walls, and constant circumspection that
forestalls.
Himmat-e-tou choon khiyal-e-mun boland; millat-e-sadd parah ra shirazahbund.
[Teyri himmat meyrey fikr ki manind boland hai; yeh himmat sadd parah millat
ko mothid kar sakti hai.]
All risks, ambition as high as my thought, and organizing power that has
brought.
Hadiyah az shehanshahan daari bassey; laal-o-yaqoot garan daari bassey.
[Teyrey pass padshahon kay (diay hoay) kaeyi tohfay hein; tou bohat sey
laal-o-yaqoot rakhhta hai.]
Together feuding tribes, you have untold gifts made to you by kings silver and
gold, rubies and jewels.
521
Ta mera ramz-e-hayat aamokhtand; aatishey dar paikaram afrokhtand.
[Choonkeh mojhey zindagi ka raaz sikhhaya gaya hai aur meyrey paikar mein
aag roshan ki gaeyi hai.]
Ever since I found out lifes mystery, it is as if a fire blazed inside me.
Yakk nawaey seinah-taab aawordah-um; ishq ra ehad-e-shabab aawordahum
[(Iss leay) mien eik aisi nawa ley kar aya hon jo seinay ko roshan kar dey;
mien ishq kay leay ehad-e-shabab wapas laya hon.]
My song is a flame of that inner fire a song of passion sung on wisdoms lyre.
Pir-e-Maghrib, shaer-e-Al-Maanvi; aan qatil-e-shaiwah-haey Pehlavi.
[Woh Shaer-e-Almanvi jo ehl-e-Maghrib ka ustaad hai; woh jo Farsi shaeri ka
fidaeyi hai.]
That Western sage, that bard of Germany, that ardent lover of things Pahlavi.
Bost naqsh shahidan-e-shokh-o-chung; daad Mashriq ra slaamey az Farang.
[Oss ney apney kalam mein shokh-o-shung mehboobon kay naqsh sabt kiay
hein aur Europe ki taraf sey Mashriq ko salam bhaija.]
Saluted the East with his great Divan, that tribute to the poets of Iran and
veritable picture gallery of vignettes, all in Persian imagery.
Dar khwabash goftah-um paigham-e-Sharq; maahtabey raikhtum ber shaame-Sharq.
522
[Mien ney oss kay jawab mein Payam-e-Mashriq likhha hai (aur oss sey) goya
Mashriq ki shaam (-e-zawal) per chandni bakhhair di hai.]
To that salute this book is a reply, this gleam of moonlight in the Eastern sky.
Ta shanasaey khodam khod bein neim; ba tou goeym oo keh bawud-o-mun
keim.
[Mien khod bein (maghraar) naheen, han, apney aap ko pehchanta zaroor
hon; mien aap ko batata hon keh woh kon thha aur mien kaya hon.]
Without deluding myself, I will dare to tell you how the two of us compare.
Oo z-Afrangi jawanaan misl-e-barq; shoalah-e-mun az dum piraan-eSharq.
[Woh Europe kay onn naujawanon sey thha jo barq ki manind chamkay,
meyrey andar jo shoalah hai woh piraan-e-Mashriq kay faiz sey hai.]
His was the vital spark of the young West; mine has been wrung from the Easts
aged breast.
Oo chaman zaadey chaman pervardaheyi; mun dameidum az zamin-emordaheyi.
[Woh chaman mein paida hoa aur chaman he ney oss ki pervarish ki; aur mien
mordah zamin sey othha.]
A flourishing spring garden gave him birth; I am a product of a long dead earth.
Oo cho bulbul dar chaman fardos gosh; mun basehra choon jaras garam
kharosh.
[Oss ki awaz chaman mein bulbul ki tarah fardos-e-gosh thhi mien sehra mein
jaras ki manind sargarm-e-kharosh hon.]
He was a nightingale that filled with song an orchard; I am but a desert gong, a
signal for the caravan to start.
523
Her duo khanjar sobh khand aeinah-faam; oo barahnah mun hanooz andar
niyam.
[Hum duonon khanjar hein, sobh ki tarah roshan aur aeinah ki tarah
chamakdar; woh brahnah hai aur mien abhi takk niyam mein hon.]
Two daggers, morning-lustred, mirror-bright; he naked; I still sheathed,
concealed from sight.
Her duo gohar arjumand-o-taab-dar; zadaheyi daryaey napiada kaar.
[Hum duonon qimati chamakdar moti hein, jo (hayat) kay darya-e-bikaran
sey paida hoay hein.]
Two pearls, both precious, both unmatched, are we, both from the depths of an
unfathomed sea.
Oo z-shokhi dar teh-e-qolzam tapeid; ta gariban sadaf ra ber dareid.
[Woh shokhi sey samandar ki the mein tarrpa, yahan takk keh oss ney sadaf ka
gariban phharr diya.]
He burst out of the mother-of-pearls womb, for he could rest no longer in that
tomb.
Mun beh aaghosh-e-sadaf taabam habooz; dar zamir-e-behar nayabam
hanooz.
[Mien abhi takk sadaf kay andar paich (-o-taab) khha raha hon; mien abhi
takk behar (-e-hayat) kay zamir mein nayab (poshidah) hon.]
But I, who still am lying shell-enshrined, have yet to be astir in the seas mind.
524
Aashnaey mun z-mun biganah raft; az khomastanam tehi paimanah raft.
[Meyra jaan-ney wala bhi mojhey jaaney baghair chala gaya, oss ney (bhi)
meyrey sharab khaney sey apna paimanah por nah kiya.]
No one around me knows me properly: They go away with empty cups from my
wine-fount.
Mun shakoh-e-Khosravi oo ra dehum; takht-e-Kisra zir-e-paey oo nehum.
[Mien ossey Khosarwanah shaan deyta hon, mien oss kay paon kay neichey
Kisra ka takht bichhata hon.]
I offer them a royal state, with Chosroes throne for use as their foot-mat.
Oo hadis-e-dilbari khwahad z-mun; rung-o-aab-e-shaeri khwahad z-mun.
[Woh mojh sey dilbari ki baat chahta hai, woh mojh sey (rawaiti) shaeri ki
chamak aur rung talab karta hai.]
But they want fairy tales of love from me, the gaudy trappings of mere poesy.
Kum nazar bitaabi-e-janam nadeid; aashkaaram deid-o-penhanam nadeid.
[Kum nazar ney meyri jan ke bitaabi ko nah deikhha, oss ney sirf meyra zahir
deikhha meyrey androon ko nah deikhha.]
They are so purblind that they only see my outside, not the fervid soul in me.
Fitrat-e-mun ishq ra dar ber garift; sohbat-e-khashaak-o-aatish dar garift.
[Meyri fitrat ney ishq ko apney andar samo liya hai, mien ney tinkay aur aag
duonpn ko apney andar akathha kar liya hai.]
I have made Love my very beings law: in me can live together fire and straw.
525
Haq ramooz-e-molk-o-Deen ber mun kashood; naqsh-e-ghair az pardahechashmam rabood.
[Allah Taala ney mojh per molk aur Deen kay ramooz monkashif kiay hein,
aur meyri ankhh per sey ghair Allah ka pardah hata diya hai.]
The truths of statecraft and religion both God has revealed to me; so I am loth to
turn to any other guide.
Burg-e-gul rungin z-mazmoon-e-mun ast; misraa-e-mun qatrah-e-khoon-emun ast.
[Phhool ki patti meyrey mazmoon sey rungin hai, meyrey her shear ka misraa
meyrey khoon ka qatrah hai.]
From my imagination do the flowers come by their hues. Each line of verse that
I compose is a drop of my rich hearts blood that flows from my pens point.
Ta napindaari sakhon diwangist; dar kamal-e-ein janoon farzangist.
[Ta-keh tou yeh goman nah karey keh shaeri devangi hai, (mien ney yeh saabit
kar diya hai keh) iss janoon ka kamal danaeyi hai.]
Do not think poetry is merely madness; if this madness be complete, then
wisdom is its name.
Az honar sarmayah daram kardah-und; dar diyar-e-Hind khwaram kardahund.
[Mojhey honar (sakhon) ka sarmayah atta kar kay sar-zamin-e-Hind mein
khawar kiya gaya hai.]
Alas! Vouchsafed this gift, I am condemned to pass my days in exile in this
joyless land, this India;
Lalah-o-gul az nawaim bey nasib; taeram dar gulistan-e-khod gharib.
526
[(Yahan kay) lalah-o-gul meyri nawa sey bey nasib hein, mien aisa parindah
hon jo apney gulistan kay andar ajnabi hai.]
Where none can understand the things I sing of like a nightingale with not a
tulip, not a rose to hail its song a nightingale singing alone in some deserted
place, sad and forlorn.
Buskeh gadroon siflah-o-doon perwar ast; waaey ber mardey keh sahib-ejohar ast.
[Aasman onnhi ki perwarish karta hai, jo razil aur kum zarf hon, (oss shakhs ki
qismat per) afsos hai jissey koeyi johar atta kiya gaya ho.]
So mean is fortune that it favours fools. woe to the gifted, who defy its rules!
Deidaheyi ay Khosro kiywan janab; aftab-e-ma touraat bil-hijab.
[Ay boland martabat badshah tou ney deikhha hai keh hamara aaftab pardey
mein chhop choka hai, (Millat-e-Islamiah zawal ka shikar hai).]
You see, O king, the Muslims sun dimmed by the darkling clouds that overhang
the sky:
ABatha dar dasht-e-khwaish az rah raft; az dum-e-oo soz-e-illalah raft.
[Batha ka rehney wala apney he sehra mein raah gom kiay hoay hai, oss kay
dum sey illallah ka soz khatam ho choka hai.]
The Arab in his desert gone astray; the way of godliness no more his way.
Misariyan aftadah dar gardaab-e-Neil; sost rug Toraniyan zzand peil.
[Ehl-e-Misar Neil kay gardaab mein parrey hein, aflas-zadah Turaani bhi
kamzor parr chkkey hein.]
The Egyptian in the whirlpool of the Nile; and the Turanian slow-pulsed and
senile.
527
Ishq ra aein-e-Salmani namanad; khak-e-Iran manad-o-Irani namanad.
[Ishq kay andar Salman Farsi ka andaz nah raha, Iran ki sar-zamin reh gaeyi
magar Irani khatam ho gaya.]
No one left like that ardent soul, Salman; his creed of Love now alien to Iran:
Soz-o-saaz-e-zindagi raft az gillash; aan kohan aatish fasordah andar dilash.
[Iss ki matti (badan) mein soz-o-saaz-e-zindagi naheen raha, oss kay dil kay
andar ki poraani aag afsordah ho choki hai.]
Which has lost all its fervour, all its zest, the old fire all cold ashes in its breast.
Moslim-e-Hindi shikam ra bandaheyi; khod faroshey dil z-Deen ber
kandaheyi.
[Hindi Mosilman sirf pait ka ghulam hai, oss ney apney aap ko baich diya hai
aur Deen sey bergashtah khater ho choka hai.]
The Indian Muslim unconcerned about all save his belly, sunk in listless doubt.
Dar Mosilman
namanad.
shan-e-mehboobi
namanad;
Khalid-e-Farooq-o-Ayubi
Ay tera Fitrat zamir-e-pak daad; az ghum-e-Deen seinah-e-sadd chaak daad.
528
[Tojhey Allah Taala ney pakeezah sarisht atta farmaeyi hai, teyra seinah Deen
kay ghum sey chaak chaak hai.]
God has endowed you with a feeling heart that bleeds to see the Muslims thus
distraught.
Tazah kon aein-e-Siddiq-o-Umar; choon saba ber lalah-e-sehra gozar.
[(Apni hakoomat sey pher ) Hazrat Siddiq (R.A.) aur Hazrat Omar (R.A.) ka
andaz tazah kar; sehra mein khhilay hoay lalah per sey baad-e-saba ki manind
gozar ja (apney awam ko tar-o-tazgi atta kar).]
Across this wilderness pass like a breeze of spring; blow back Siddiqs and
Umars days.
Millat-e-awarah-e-koh-o-daman; dar rug-e-oo khoon-e-sheraan mouj-zan.
[Millat (-Afghaniyah) jo paharron aur wadiyuon mein bikhhri hoeyi hai, oss
ki rugon mein sheron ka khoon moujzan hai.]
This race of mountain-dwellers, the Afghans, the blood of lions flowing in their
veins;
Zirak-o-rooein tun-o-roshan jabein; chashm-oo choon jorrah-e-baazan taiz
bein.
[Yeh loug samajhdar, qavi badan aur roshan jabin hein. inn ki ankhh nar baaz
ki tarah taiz nigah hai.]
Industrious, brave, intelligent and wise, with the look of the eagle in their eyes:
Qismat-e-khod az jahan na-yaaftah; kokab-e-taqdir-e-oo na-taaftah.
[Magar onnhon ney dunya sey apna (pora) hissah naheen paya; onn ki taqdir
ka sitarah abhi chamka naheen.]
Have not, alas, fulfilled their destiny: Their star has not yet risen in the sky.
529
Jan-e-tou ber mehnat-e-peham saboor; kosh dar tehzeeb-e-Afghan-eghayyoor.
[Teyri jan mein saai-e-paihum por istiqlal moujood hai, inn ghayoor
Afghaniyuon ki tarbiyat kay leay koshish kar.]
O you, for whom no labour is too great, spare no endeavour to ameliorate your
people;
Ta z-Siddiqaan-e-ein Ummat shawi; beher Deen sarmayah-e-qowwat shawi.
[Ta-keh tou iss ummat kay Siddiqin mein sey ho jaaey, aur Deen kay leay
sarmayah-e-qowwat bunney.]
So that you may add your name to those of men who worked for Islams fame.
Zindagi jehad ast-o-istehqaaq neist; joz beh ilm-e-anfos-o-aafaq neist.
[Zindagi jadd-o-jehud hai iss per kissi ko koeyi istihqaaq naheen, zindagi sirf
Anfos aur Aafaq kay ilm per moshtamil hai.]
Life is a struggle, not beseeching rights; and knowledge is the arms with which
one fights.
Goft hikmat ra Khoda khair-e-kaseer; her koja ein khaiz ra beini bagir.
[Allah Taala ney hekmat ko khair-e-kaseer farmaya hai (Hazoor S.A.W. ka
irshaad hai) keh jahan se hekmat millay ossey ley lo.]
530
God ranked it with the good things that abound and said it must be grasped,
wherever found.
Syed-e-kol Sahib-e-umm-al-Kitaab; pardigi-ha ber zamirash bey hijab.
[Aap (S.A.W.) moujodaat kay sardar aur Sahib-e-Ummol Kitab hein, Aap
(S.A.W.) kay zamir per saarey raaz waa hein.)
The one to whom the Quran was revealed, from whom no aspect of truth was
concealed:
Garchih ain Zaat ra bey pardah deid; Rabb-e-zidni az zoban-e-oo chakeid.
[Agarchih Hazoor-e-Akram (S.A.W.) ney Zaat-e-Baari Taala ko bilkol bey
pardah deikhha; pher bhi Aap (S.A.W.) ki zoban per Rabb-e-zidni ilma kay
alfaaz they.]
Beheld the Essence itself with his eye; and yet God, teach me still more was
his cry.
Ilm-e-ashia Ilm-al-ismasti; hum Asaa-o-hum Yadd-e-baizsti.
[Ilm-e-ashiya he ilm-e-asmaa ki tafseer hai; yehi Asaa hai aur yehi Yadd-ebaiza.]
Knowledge of things is Adams gift from God, the shining palm of Moses and
his rod.
Ilm-e-ashia daad Maghrib ra farogh; hikmat-e-oo mast mi-bundad z-dogh.
[Ilm-e-ashia he sey Europe ney traqi hasil ki hai; woh apni hekmat kay zariay
chhachh sey panir bana leytey hein.]
The secret of the greatness of the West, the source of all that it has of the best.
531
Ilm-o-doulat nazm-e-kaar millat ast; Ilm-o-doulat eitibar-e-millat ast.
[Karobar-e-millat ka nazm ilm-o-doulat per mabni hai, ilm-o-doulat he sey
quom ka waqar hai.]
Knowledge and wealth make nations sound and strong, and thus enable them to
get along.
Aan yakkey az seinah-e-ahrar gir; waan digar az seinah-e-kohsar gir.
[Ilm seinah-e-ahrar sey hasil kar aur doulat seinah-e-kohsar sey.]
For knowledge cultivate your peoples minds; for wealth exploit your mineral
finds.
Doshnah-zun dar paikar-e-kainat; dar shikam daarad gohar choon Somnat.
[Iss kainat kay paikar mein khunjar ghhonp, yeh Somnat ki manind apney
shikam mein bohat sey gohar rakhhti hai.]
Go, plunge a dagger into your lands bowels; like Somnats idol it is full of
jewels.
Laal-e-naab andar badakhshan tou hust; barq-e-Seina dar qohistan tou
hust.
[Teyrey Badakhshan kay andar qimati laal hein, aur teyrey qohistan mein
Seina ki barq hai.]
In it do rubies of Badakhshan lie; in its hills is the thunder of Sinai.
532
Ay bassa Adam keh Iblisi konad; ay bassa Shaitan keh Idrisi konad.
[Bohat sey insan hein jo Iblis ka kaam kartey hein, aur bohat sey Shaitan hein
jo Idrisi labas mein nazar aatey hein.]
Many an Adam acts like an Iblis; many an Iblis acts like an Idris:
Rung-e-oo nairung-o-bood-e-oo namood; andaroon-e-oo cho dagh-e-lalah
dood.
[Aisey shakhs ka rung nairung (Talism) hai aur oss ka hona nah hona hai, oss
kay andar gul-e-lalah ka dagh naheen balkeh keinay ka dhonwa hai.]
With false pretences that cheat simple folk, his tulip-heart a lamp that is all
smoke.
Pakbaz-o-Kaabatain-e-oo daghal; reyman-o-ghadar-o-nifaaq andar baghal.
[(Bazahar) woh pakbaz hai magar woh faraib ka khheil khheilta hai, oss ki
baghal mein makkari, ghaddari aur nifaq hai.]
Deceitful, with a show of piety, his heart full of hate and hypocrisy.
Dar nigar ay Khosro sahib-e-nazar; neist her sungay keh mi-taabad gohar.
[Ay sahib-e-nazar badshah! Samajh ley keh her chamakney wala pathar moti
naheen.]
O king, be careful in assessing them, not every stone that glitters is a gem.
Morshid-e-Rumi hakim-e-pak zaad; sirr-e-murg-o-zindagi ber ma koshaad.
533
[Morshid Rumi (R.A.) ney jo danaey pak fitrat hein, hum per mout aur zindagi
ka raaz zahar kar diya hai.]
The sage of Rum, of blessed memory, has thus summed up why nations live or
die:
Her hallak ummat paishin keh bood; z-aankeh ber jandal goman bordand
ood. Rumi.
[(Yaani yeh keh) pehli quomon ki halakat ka sabab yeh thha keh onnhon ney
pathhar ko ood samajh liya.]
The end of no past nation has been good which could not tell a stone from aloewood. Rumi
Sarwari dar Deen-e-ma khidmatgaari ast; adal-e-Farooqi-o-faqr-e-Haidari
ast.
[Hamarey Deen mein padshahi khidmat gari hai, yeh Farooqi adal aur Haidari
faqr sey ibarat hai.]
A king in Islam is Gods servitor a selfless Ali or a just Umar.
Dar hajoom-e-kaar-haey molk-o-Deen; ba dil-e-khod yakk nafas khalwat
gazin.
[Hakoomat aur Deen kay moamlaat kay hajoom mein, kabhi eik lamah kay
leay apney dil kay saathh bhi khalwat ikhtiyar kar.]
Among your multifarious tasks of state give yourself time to think and
contemplate.
Her keh yakk dum dar kamin-e-khod nashast; haich nakhchir az kamand-eoo najast.
[Jo shakhs eik lamah kay leay apni ghhaat mein bhaithhta hai (apna mahasbah
karta hai) oss ki kamand sey koeyi shikar bach kay naheen ja sakta.]
The ambusher of self can never lose a quarry: quarries fall into his noose.
534
Dar qabaey Khosrovi dervaish zei; deidah-e-bidaar-o-Khoda andaish zei.
[Padshahi kay labas mein dervaish ki tarah zindagi basar kar; raaton ko jag
aur her dum Allah Taala ko yaad rakhh.]
In royal robes live like an anchorite: Eyes wide awake, but thought of God
hugged tight.
Qaid-e-Millat shehanshah-e-moraad; taigh-oo ra barq-o-tunder khanah zaad.
[Shahenshah Morad jo Quaid-e-Millat thha, barq aur karrak jiss ki talwar kay
ghulam thhey.]
That soldier-king, the Emperor Murad, whose lightning-spouting sword kept his
foes awed.
Hum faqiray hum sheh-e-gardoon furay; Ardsheray ba rawaan Buzaray.
[Woh faqir bhi thha aur boland waqar padshah bhi; Ardsher ki manind thha
magar oss ki rooh Hazrat Abuzar Ghaffari ki sei thhi.]
An Ardeshir with an Abu Dharrs soul, played both a kings role and a hermits
role.
Gharq boodash dar zarrah bala-o-dosh; dar miyan-e-seinah dil moeinah
posh.
[Woh sar sey kandhon takk zarah-posh rehta, magar oss kay seinah kay andar
dil khirqah-posh thha.]
His breast wore armour for his soldiers part, but in it dwelt a hairshirt-wearers
heart.
Aan Mosilmanan keh miri kardah-und; dar shehanshahi faqiri kardah-und.
535
[Mosilmanon ney iss tarah hakoomat ki hai keh woh shahenshahi mein bhi
faqir manash rehey.]
All Muslim rulers who were truly great led hermits lives despite their royal
state.
Dar amarat faqr ra afzoodah-und; misl-e-Salman dar Madin boodah-und.
[Onnhon ney apni amarat kay dauran faqr mein azafah kiya; woh iss tarah
zindagi basar kartey rehey jiss tarah Salman Farsi (R.A.) Madin mein rehey.]
Asceticism was their way of life; to cultivate it was their constant strife. They
lived as Salman lived in Ctesiphon.
Hokmaraney bood-o-saamaney nadaasht; dast-e-oo joz taigh-o-Quraaney
nadaasht.
[Woh hokmaran thhey magar onn kay pass koeyi saman nah thha, woh Quran
Pak aur talwar kay allawah apney pass kochh naheen rakhhtey thhey.]
The ruler he who did not care to don the robes of royalty and who abhorred all
outfit save the Quran and the sword.
Her keh ishq-e-Mostafa samaan-e-oost; behar-o-ber dar goshah-e-damaane-oost.
[Jiss kay pass Janab Rasool-e-Pak (S.A.W.) ki mohabat ka saman hai, oss kay
daman kay pallo mein behar-o-ber bundhey hoay hein.]
Armed with love of Muhammad (S.A.W.), one commands complete dominion
over seas and lands.
Soz-e-Siddiq-o-Ali az Haq talab; zarraheyi ishq-e-Nabi (S.A.W.) az Haq talab.
[Allah Taala sey Hazrat Siddiq aur Hazrat Ali ka soz talab kar, Hazoor-eAkram (S.A.W.) kay ishq ka zarrah maang (issi ishq sey yeh soz-o-saaz hasil hoga.]
Ask God to grant you some small part of that love for Muhammad which the
heart of Siddiq and of Ali bore:
536
Z-aankeh Millat ra hayat az ishq-e-oost; burg-o-saaz-e-kainat az ishq-eoost.
[Millat-e-Islamiyah ki zindagi ka daar-o-madaar Hazoor-e-Akram (S.A.W.) ki
mohabat per hai, yehi ishq kainat ka saaz-o-saman hai.]
Because, the life of the Islamic people draws its sustenance from it and it, in
fact, is that which keeps the universe intact.
Jalwah-e-bey pardah-e-oo wa-namood; johar-e-penhan keh bood andar
wajood.
[Hazoor (S.A.W.) kay jalwah-e-bey pardah (tashrif aawari) sey woh johar-epenhan jo wajood-e-kainat kay andar thha zahar hoa.]
It was Muhammad whose epiphany laid bare the essence of Reality.
Rooh ra joz ishq-e-oo aaram neist; ishq-e-oo rozeist, kora shaam neist.
[Aap (S.A.W.) ki mohabat kay baghair rooh ko taskin Hasil naheen hoti; Aap
(S.A.W.) ka ishq aisa roz (-e-roshan) hai jiss per shaam ka gozar naheen.]
My soul has no peace but in love of him a light in me that never can get dim.
Khaiz-o-andar gardish awar jaam-e-ishq; dar qohistan tazah kon paigham-eishq.
[Othh aur ishq-e-Rasool-e-Pak (S.A.W.) kay jaam ko gardish mein la; Qohistan
kay andar az sar-e-nau ishq ka paigham aam kar.]
Arise and make the cup of Love go round, and in your hills make songs of Love
resound.
(Translated by M. Hadi Husain)
4th September, 2013
537
SYRIAN SARIN
The debate on use of Sarin, a lethal nerve gas that killed about 1400
people in suburbs of Damascus, divided the world opinion into two camps.
There has been consensus that it has been used, but as far as fixing the
responsibility as to who used it, there was distinct division.
The camp led by Barkat Hussain Obama, as reknowned diplomat Akram
Zaki preferred to call the US President, held Bashar al-Assad responsible even
before the UN investigators finalized their report. The camp led by Putin ruled
out the possibility of Syrian forces using the nerve gas and instead blamed the
rebels for it.
Meanwhile, the Saudi-led Arab Sheikhs assured the US that they would
bear the expenses of punitive military action against Syria for which, as if as
result of a magic band, most of the US naval fleet was in position in the vicinity
of Syria soon after the use of Sarin gas. However, the Russian stance seemed to
have caused some fear of God in Obamas heart. The extent of that fear will be
known on September 10 when Obama will make his intentions public.
NEWS
Far East
Myanmar: On 5th September, a court in Myanmar jailed a Muslim
teenager for seven years for the attempted rape of a Buddhist woman that
triggered recent religious unrest. Hundreds of people were left homeless after
about 1,000 anti-Muslim rioters tore through villages in Kanbalu, in the
northwest region of Sagaing, on August 24. The rampage started after a mob
surrounded a police station to demand the suspect be handed over after he
allegedly tried to rape a 25-year-old Buddhist woman.
Middle East
Iraq: On 1st September, clashes and explosions in a camp housing Iranian
exiles with the group claiming Iraqi troops killed more than 50 of their
members, charges officials steadfastly denied. Officials and the group offered
wildly different accounts of the unrest, though, none of which could be
independently confirmed. But the United Nations said it was trying to establish
538
what took place and Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki formed a committee to probe
the unrest.
Next day, attacks in Baghdad and mostly Sunni areas of Iraq killed 13
people, including eight in a coordinated attack on the home of an anti-Qaeda
militia chief. The Turkish consul in Mosul and a top criminal judge in executed
dictator Saddam Hussein's home town were also caught in bomb attacks.
Day's deadliest attack was against the west Baghdad home of Wissam alHardan, who was appointed earlier this year by Prime Minister Maliki to lead
the Sahwa, a collection of Sunni tribal militias. Two suicide bombers blew
themselves up outside Hardan's home, followed by a car bomb that went off as
emergency responders arrived at the scene. In all, eight people were killed and
14 were wounded, including Hardan.
On 3rd September, a wave of coordinated car bombs ripped through
Baghdad, killed 50 people. Eleven car bombs went off in predominantly-Shiite
neighbourhoods, killing at least 40 people and wounding more than 100. The
blasts hit a range of civilian targets, from an ice cream shop in the central
district of Karrada to a popular market in the northern neighbourhood of
Maamal.
Another car bomb went off near a Shiite mosque in eastern Baghdad. A
vehicle rigged with explosives in Talbiyah, in the north, was detonated near a
crowded wholesale fruit and vegetable market. No group immediately claimed
responsibility, but Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda carry out coordinated
attacks targeting the Shiite Muslim majority who they regard as apostates.
Next day, attacks around Baghdad and north Iraq left 33 people dead,
including 18 members of a Shia family killed by militants. The violence struck
towns on the outskirts of Baghdad as well as predominantly Sunni cities in the
north of the country, with the deadliest attack occurring south of the capital.
Authorities claimed arresting an alleged senior aide to Izzat al-Duri, the highestranking member of executed dictator Saddam Husseins regime still on the run.
On 7th September, Iraq ordered Iranian exiles to move from a camp where
52 of their members were killed a week ago. Baghdad opened a probe into the
events surrounding the deaths of the members of the Peoples Mujahedeen
Organization of Iran, at Camp Ashraf in Diyala Province, but accounts of the
unrest still differ markedly. The United Nations and Western governments have
condemned the bloodshed, but have been careful not to assign blame.
Palestine: On 3rd September, Israeli police detained a firebrand ArabIsraeli Islamist preacher for questioning over incitement against the Jewish
state. He was on his way to Jerusalem to give a news conference at Al-Aqsa
when he was arrested. The preacher heads the radical wing of the Islamic
Movement in Israel and is no stranger to run-ins with the authorities.
539
Syria: On 1st September, John Kerry claimed that United States has new
evidence showing that Damascus used the nerve gas sarin against its own
people. Kerry said on talk shows that the US has received hair and blood
samples that have tested positive for signatures of sarin, a deadly nerve agent
first developed in Germany in the 1930s.
The secretary of state spoke a day after President Barack Obama, wilting
under domestic and international pressures, backed away from what looked like
an imminent military action against Syria, saying his administration would seek
Congressional endorsement before hitting the Middle East country. Kerry
predicted that Congress would not turn its back on its obligation to uphold
international norms against the use of chemical weapons.
Obama will be relatively confident of winning a vote in the Democratcontrolled Senate. Influential Republican Senator John McCain has also argued
for military action, but wants it to go further and topple Assad to end a brutal
war which has claimed more than 100,000 lives.
Speaking in Cairo on Sunday, Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal
urged Arab countries to back calls by the Syrian opposition for strikes on the
Damascus regime. Arab states must echo demands by the legitimate
representatives of the Syrian people for help from the international community
to put an end to the bloodbath in Syria, he said, referring to the opposition.
Pope Francis called for the world to unite in a day of fasting and prayer
for Syria and said God and history would judge anyone using chemical
weapons. May the cry for peace enter the hearts of everyone so that they may
all lay down their weapons, the pope told thousands of pilgrims at the Vatican.
Next day, US and French governments intensified their campaigns at
home to win over sceptical lawmakers to back military action against Syria.
NATO chief said he has seen evidence and was convinced that Syrian
authorities used powerful sarin gas in August 21 attack.
China, which has warned against rushing to pre-judge the results of a UN
probe into the claims, said it had been briefed by the US about evidence. But
Russia said it was totally unconvinced by the evidence presented. Russia also
sent a reconnaissance vessel from its Black Sea fleet to the coast off Syria, as
the American USS Nimitz aircraft carrier moved toward the Red Sea. The US
Navy has deployed an amphibious transport ship to the Mediterranean, where
five destroyers are already in place for possible missile strikes on Syria.
Syria asked the United Nations to prevent any aggression and Iran told
the UN it was prepared to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis in the ally
country. Syrian army remained on alert, even though the threat of an imminent
US-led strike has receded after Obama decided to ask Congress for approval.
540
541
Assad denies deploying poison gas that killed hundreds of civilians last
month. His enemies were dismayed by Obamas decision to seek congressional
approval. The presence in rebel ranks of Islamist militants, some of them close
to al-Qaeda, has made Western leaders wary, while at the same time the
undoubted and apparently accelerating human cost of the conflict has
brought pressure to intervene.
While Obamas wait for Congress to return from its summer recess seems
to rule out Western military action this week, Israeli forces training in the
Mediterranean with the US navy set nerves on edge in Damascus with a missile
test that triggered an alert from Assads ally Russia. When Moscow raised the
alarm morning that its forces had detected the launch of two ballistic objects in
the Mediterranean, thoughts of a surprise strike on Syria pushed oil prices
higher on world markets and must have put the troops operating Syrias
Russian-equipped air defence system on alert. The jitters reflected nervousness
within Syria and further afield since West pledged retribution for the use of
chemical weapons.
Next day, Barack Obama urged world support for punitive strikes against
Syria for its alleged use of chemical weapons. Obama said in Stockholm that the
world had set a red line for Syria and it could not now remain silent in the face
of the regimes alleged strike on Damascus suburbs with chemical weapons. I
didnt set a red line. The world set a red line, Obama said, referring to
international rules banning the use of chemical weapons, even in case of war.
My credibility is not on the line, Obama said in remarks after arriving in
Sweden for a two-day visit. The international communitys credibility is on the
line and America and Congresss credibility is on the line because we give lip
service to the notion that these international norms are important, he said.
Obamas trip will also take him to the G20 summit in Russias Saint
Petersburg, where he is expected to rally support for, or at least acceptance of,
moves to punish Syrias President Bashar al-Assad for an alleged deadly gas
attack. Obama will hold meetings on the sidelines of G20 with French
President, as well as the leaders of China and Japan.
Meanwhile, President Barack Obamas plan to conduct punishing military
strikes on Syria passed its first congressional hurdle. The Senate Foreign
Relations Committee passed an amended resolution 10-7, with one senator
voting present, that authorizes US military intervention with a 90-day deadline
and bars US boots on the ground for combat purposes.
Arab nations have offered to help pay for any US military intervention in
Syria, John Kerry told lawmakers in Washington as he sought support for
missile strikes. With respect to Arab countries offering to bear the cost and to
assist, the answer is profoundly yes, they have. That offer is on the table, Kerry
said.
542
with him than with Obama over the possibility and legitimacy of armed
intervention. Military action would have a negative impact on the global
economy, especially on the oil price it will cause a hike in the oil price,
Chinese Vice Finance Minister told a briefing.
The Pope urged the leaders to lay aside the futile pursuit of a military
solution. He has also invited the 1.2 billion Roman Catholics and people of
other faiths to join him in a day of prayer and fasting on Saturday to end the
civil war. European Union leaders described the August 21 attack near
Damascus, which killed an estimated 1,400 people, as abhorrent but added:
There is no military solution to the Syrian conflict.
Putin, Assads most important ally, was isolated on Syria at a Group of
Eight meeting in June, the last big meeting of world powers. He could now turn
the tables on Obama, who recently likened him to a bored kid in the back of the
classroom. Only France, which is preparing to join US military action, rallied
behind Obama.
Putin says rebel forces may have carried out the poison gas attack and
that any military strike without Security Council approval would violate
international law, a view which is now increasingly openly being supported by
others. Putins press secretary portrayed the camp of supporters of a strike on
Syria as divided and said: It is impossible to say that very many states support
the idea of a military operation.
With the White House pushing Congress to approve military strikes on
Syria, US ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power said she could see
no way to seek Security Council approval for action against President Bashar alAssad because of Russias blocking. Amid mounting tensions between
Washington and Moscow, Power said Russias protection of Assad has put the
whole Security Council system of handling international crises under strain.
Next day, US President Barack Obama and Russian counterpart Vladimir
Putin failed to end their bitter dispute over US plans for military action in Syria,
on the sidelines of G20 summit. The United States signaled that it has given up
on securing Moscows support at the UN on the crisis, as Putin reiterated a
warning that it would be outside the law to attack without the UNs blessing.
We spoke sitting down...it was a constructive, meaningful, cordial
conversation, Putin said after his previously unscheduled talks with Obama.
Each of us kept with our own opinion, he said. The split among leaders of the
worlds top emerging and developed countries over the issue was symbolized in
a statement supported by 11 states at the G20 calling for a strong international
response to the chemical attack.
Meanwhile, Washington prepared the ground for possible strikes,
evacuating non-essential embassy staff from Beirut and urging Americans to
544
avoid all travel to Lebanon as well as southern Turkey. The Russian foreign
ministry strongly warned the United States against targeting Syrias chemical
arsenal in any attacks.
Obama, who will address the US nation on September 10, was now
seeking support from Congress for military action, a process he admitted he
always knew was going to be a heavy lift. Earlier, Ben Rhodes, Obamas
deputy national security advisor for strategic communications said: We cant
have an endless process at the UN Security Council that doesnt lead to
anything.
UN chief Ban Ki-moon also warned that military strikes could spark
further sectarian violence in the country which he said is suffering from a
humanitarian crisis unprecedented in recent history. I must warn that illconsidered military action could cause serious and tragic consequences, and
with an increased threat of further sectarian violence, Ban said.
Meanwhile, a Russian warship carrying special cargo will be dispatched
toward Syria, a navy source said, as the Kremlin beefs up its presence in the
region ahead of possible US strikes against the Damascus regime. The large
landing ship Nikolai Filchenkov will leave the Ukrainian port city of Sevastopol
for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk, from where it will head to
Syrias coast.
On 7th September, President Barack Obama again assured war-weary
Americans that the nation will not become bogged down in another Middle East
conflict amid widespread opposition to his move. But we are the United States
of America. We cannot turn a blind eye to images like the ones we've seen out
of Syria. Obama's remarks come just hours after he returned from the G20
Summit in St. Petersburg.
Political observers noted that the outrage that Obama and John Kerry
expressed over nerve gas attack they blamed on the Syrian regime, an action
that crossed the presidents red line, hasnt brought a groundswell of support
from lawmakers and the U.S. public. Russia and China say they are unswayed
by the US assertions blaming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for the attack
that killed more than 1,400 people near Damascus.
Obama now faces a timeline that may delay until next month after the
seven-day opening of general debate at the United Nations General Assembly in
New York that starts September 24 an attack that he has said would be
limited in duration and scope to punish the Syrian government and to reinforce
an international norm against heinous acts.
According to a Washington Post survey, 224 of the current 433 House
members were either no or leaning no on military action. A large number,
184, were undecided, with just 25 backing a strike. US Secretary of State John
545
Kerry has traveled to Europe to bolster support for military action. In France, so
far the sole EU nation determined to join a US-led strike, the latest public
opinion poll showed 68 percent of people opposed to military action in war-torn
Syria, an increase of nine percentage points since late August.
Yemen: On 4th September, five Saudis accused of belonging to al-Qaeda
and of plotting attacks went on trial in a Yemeni court set up for terrorism cases.
The five men face charges of plotting in association with an armed group
belonging to al-Qaeda to carry out criminal acts against members of the armed
and security forces in Yemen. They are also on trial for forging identity
documents to obtain passports that enable them to visit Sudan and then Syria.
Africa
Nigeria: On 7th September, Nigerian army said it had tracked down and
killed 50 members of Boko Haram, days after the rebels sect was blamed for
killing 20 villagers in raids in its northeastern stronghold. Troops pursued the
terrorists to their camps and with air support about 50 terrorists were killed in a
shoot-out, army spokesman told in Borno state capital Maiduguri.
Egypt: On 2nd September, an Egyptian judicial panel advised a court to
dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood as a legally registered non-governmental
organization, posing a legal challenge to the group as the army-backed
government presses a crackdown. The case brought by Brotherhood opponents
is seeking the dissolution of the NGO registered by the movement in March.
The court hearing the case set its next session for November 12.
A Cairo court also ordered that an Islamist television channel , Al-Hafez
be closed permanently. Meanwhile, an improvised bomb exploded at a police
station in downtown Cairo, wounding two workers. Three people on a
motorcycle hurled a homemade hand grenade at the police station. There was no
immediate claim of responsibility.
Al-Hafez and some of its presenters have often been accused by Copts
and liberals of using harsh language about them in its reports. The channel was
among several other Islamist networks to be taken temporarily off the air soon
after the July 3. Several human rights organizations in Egypt have said that
holding the inciter accountable is mandatory, but the closure of channels is a
form of collective punishment, which constitutes a violation of media freedom.
Next day, an Egyptian military court sentenced 11 members of the
Muslim Brotherhood to life in prison after accusing them of aggression against
the army in the city of Suez last month. In the first such sentencing, the military
court also sentenced 45 Brotherhood members to five years in jail and acquitted
eight others.
The Islamists were accused of shooting and using violence against the
army in Suez on August 14 following a military crackdown on Morsis
546
supporters in Cairo. The military court delivered the verdict after holding two
hearings against the accused on August 24 and 26. The military had also
accused the defendants of carrying guns and throwing Molotovs at soldiers.
Meanwhile, Egyptian troops sealed off roads leading to Cairos Rabaa alAdawiya Square ahead of Islamist marches. Military vehicles were stationed at
entrances to the northern Cairo square, a symbol for supporters of deposed
Islamist president Mohamed Morsi after the August 14 crackdown.
Yesterday, the Anti-Coup Alliance which is led by Morsis Muslim
Brotherhood, said the demonstrations would be held under the slogan: The
coup is terrorism. These demonstrations and other activities are aimed at
achieving the return of Morsi, it said. But the alliances ability to mobilize
supporters has greatly waned because of sweeping arrests of the Brotherhoods
top leaders.
Egypt military helicopters killed eight militants and wounded 15 others in
intensive air strikes in the Sinai Peninsula, where the army has been battling a
semi-insurgency. The strikes near the Rafah crossing into the Gaza Strip were
ongoing; the target was militants using the area bordering the Palestinian
territory as a hideout.
Egyptian security forces also destroyed some 20 houses along the border
with Gaza, in what the Palestinian enclaves Islamist Hamas rulers fear is an
effort to build a buffer zone to isolate them. We reject any concept of building
a buffer zone. Buffer zones should not be built between brothers and between
friendly countries, said Ehab al-Ghsain, spokesman for the Hamas.
On 5th September, Egypts Interior Minister survived a bomb attack on his
convoy. A car bomb struck the ministers convoy near his home in the Nasr City
area, in the first such attack in Cairo in years. The attack, which comes as the
security forces press a clampdown on loyalists of ousted president Mohamed
Morsi, has sparked fears of a resurgence of the Islamist militant assaults that
plagued Egypt in the 1990s.
An Islamist coalition headed by Morsis Muslim Brotherhood denounced
the bombing. The bombing should be condemned irrespective of the
perpetrators, the Anti-Coup Alliance said, citing one of its senior members. The
Muslim Brotherhood and allied groups have said they are committed to peaceful
protests, but analysts said rogue Islamists could start a campaign of bombings
and attacks.
Next day, it was reported that Egypt was expected to announce soon
whether or not to dissolve an NGO linked to the Muslim Brotherhood operates
as a front for the Islamist group. The NGO has been accused of involvement in
several illegal activities. Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of Mohamed
Morsi turned out for protests in Cairo after Friday prayers, despite a sustained
547
VIEWS
Syria
Syria: legal basis for taking action (Part-II): British Prime Minister
David Cameron was forced into backing off on his choice to join US and French
plans to punish Syria for a chemical weapon attack. Only two days ago, on 28
August, 2013, Prime Minister David Camerons plans for an imminent military
strike on Syria were in disarray, after a revolt by lawmakers warning him to
heed the lessons of Iraq.
After imploring the world not to stand idly by over Syrias suspected use
of chemical weapons, Cameron was forced into an awkward backing down
position on the next day, on 29th August, when the opposition Labour party and
lawmakers in his own party said they wanted more evidence before voting for
military action. As such on Thursday, 30th August, Camerons government
published legal advice it had been given which it said showed it was legally
entitled to take military action against Syria even if the United Nations Security
Council blocked such action.
548
wishes. The motion that were putting forward...reflects the Prime Ministers
recognition of the deep concerns in this country about what happened over
Iraq, said Foreign Secretary William Hague.
Britain is to send six RAF Typhoon air-to-air interceptor jets to its
Akrotiri base in Cyprus Thursday, the Ministry of Defense said. Cyprus is just
62 miles from the Syrian coast. Britain also has warships in the Mediterranean.
But the question still needs a considered response: what good will come
out of a limited war against Syria? I have yet to see a single competent analysis
that all this will change anything in drastic manner on the ground realities that
currently exist there.
Perhaps realizing all this the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has
sought more time for inspectors to complete their work, a step that could delay
any strike as allies would be unlikely to attack with UN weapons inspectors on
the ground. More or less similarly Labours Miliband said. One of the most
important lessons of Iraq is to give the United Nations the proper chance to do
its work and I believe if we had tried to make that decision today on military
action we wouldnt have been giving the United Nations the proper time to do
that work.
I therefore do not think that there exists a genuine case of war in Syria on
this account alone. (Dr Farooq Hassan, TheNation 2nd September)
Going to Congress: Obamas best Syria decision: Did Obama have to
do this because when Prime Minister David Cameron went to Parliament he
lost? Ive argued that he did: it removed the idea that any military action would
be a sort of no-jury-could-convict-me, anyone-would-do-it response to an attack
that consent could be assumed.
This may be the first sensible step that Obama has taken in the Syrian
crisis, and may prove to be one of the better ones of his Presidencyeven if he
loses the vote, as could happen. Politically, he may have just saved his second
term from being consumed by Benghazi-like recriminations and spared himself
Congressional mendacity about what they all might have done.
Obama is certainly taking a risk, but thats what the Presidency should be,
and this one is worth it. The worst outcomes would involve either Congress or
the President dodging this moment and its meaning. Congress might do so by
constructing some legislative monstrosity, as it did during the debt-ceiling crisis
that relies on a complicated series of mechanisms that assure nothing except
that whatever happens is Obamas fault or too-sweeping powers. And the most
disastrous thing that Obama could do is not admitting that hes lost if he does,
and bombing anyway. Perhaps its too optimistic to say that his decision might
be what keeps some future President, our country, and who knows what other
nation and people from the sort of tragedy that destroys cities. But it will
550
certainly help, in an area where the world needs all the help it can get. And that
makes this a morally important moment for the President as well. (Amy
Davidson for New Yorker, republished in TheNation 2nd September)
Obamas clueless ME policy: The quandary in which the US finds itself
in the Middle East is reflected by its handling of the Syrian crisis. Ideally,
foreign governments in the region or outside should have avoided interference
in the internal conflict in Syria. The fact that this conflict is being fought along
sectarian lines has the potential to unleash forces which would further divide,
destabilize and weaken the Arab and the Muslim world. So the regional
countries should have supported initiatives to facilitate negotiations and a
peaceful settlement among the various parties to the Syrian conflict. They have
instead fuelled the conflict through supply of weapons, volunteers and funds.
The extra-regional powers including the US and some of the West European
countries have joined hands with Assads opponents ostensibly on humanitarian
grounds but actually to get rid of a ruler who is allied with Iran and Russia and
who is seen as a potential threat by Israel.
These developments have presented the US with serious policy
dilemmas. For instance, Washington was initially content with the supply of
weapons to Assads opponents by various parties till it learnt that some al-Qaeda
affiliated elements had joined them. Now questions are being increasingly asked
in the US about this policy. The US support to Assads opponents was based
apparently on humanitarian considerations and the need to support a transition
to democracy in Syria. This is, however, in marked contrast with the way in
which the US has gone along with the toppling of a democratically-elected
President in Egypt just because he had Islamist leanings and the massacres of
the Egyptian people by the Egyptian generals. This would not endear America
in the Arab world.
President Obamas decision to hit Syrian government targets without a
supportive UN Security Council resolution in response to the alleged use of
chemical weapons by the Assad regime against its opponents reflects the
continuation of the policy of unilateralism. Even the requested authorization by
the US Congress wouldnt make these military strikes admissible in
international law. Obama claims that they are necessary to enforce international
norms. This however is a slippery path. If the US is able to get away with such
unilateralism, it would set a dangerous precedent with disastrous consequences
for international law and politics. Instead the US should engage Russia, China
and other concerned parties in serious negotiations on issues relating to Syria
with a view to finding a peaceful solution within the framework of the UN
Security Council.
In short, the US lacks the political, economic and military power to
impose its views and preferences on the rest of the world. It would have to
551
552
isolated Serbia after a 78-day air bombardment and the threat of a NATO land
invasion.
If all-out war is not feasible, could peace come by negotiation? Here
America and Britain's stance has been hypocritical, publicly supporting peace
talks while offering only surrender terms to the Assad government at a time
when it controls most of Syria. This was largely the result of a miscalculation by
world leaders in 2011-12 whereby they underestimated the staying power of the
Assad government. Its collapse was gleefully predicted, a role for Assad in
Syria's political transition ruled out, while Iran, an important player, was to be
excluded. A peace conference so out of keeping with the real balance of power
is not going to stop any wars. But bringing Iran in would undermine the US,
European and Israeli effort to isolate it over its development of nuclear power.
The US would effectively have to recognize Tehran as a regional power, which
would infuriate the Israelis and the Gulf monarchies.
Even then, peace would not come easily, if at all. The best interim
solution could be a UN-monitored ceasefire as briefly occurred under the Kofi
Annan plan in 2012. All sides are dependent on outside backers, and even those
who most want to fight need weapons, ammunition and money. Heavy pressure
could be put on them to agree to a peace conference and a temporary ceasefire.
This would be a Lebanese-style truce unsatisfactory but better than fullscale war. A peace conference on this basis could be the political and diplomatic
counterpart to the limited US military strike President Obama is contemplating.
In practice there has been a stalemate in most of Syria for the last year. If the
Syrian army did use poison gas, it shows it does not have the strength to retake
even the inner rebel-held suburbs of Damascus. It is better therefore for the
battle lines to be frozen under some form of UN supervision. Long-term
solutions will only begin to be feasible when Syrians are no longer at the mercy
of what Northern Ireland politicians used to call the politics of the last
atrocity. (Patrick Cockburn for Independent, republished in TheNation 3 rd
September)
Striking Syria: Illegal, immoral, dangerous: If I were very optimistic,
Id say that President Obama is hoping that Congress will follow the example of
the British parliament, and vote against his proposed military strike on Syria. It
would let him off the hook he could avoid an illegal, dangerous, immoral
military assault and say its Congress fault.
But unfortunately, I dont think that much optimism is warranted.
Obamas speech not least his dismissal of any time pressure, announcing that
his commanders have reassured him that their preparations to fire on command
are not time-bound gives opponents of greater US intervention in Syria a
week or more to mobilize, to build opposition in Congress and in the public, and
to continue fighting against this new danger. As the president accurately
553
described it, some things are more important than partisan politics. For war
opponents in Congress, especially President Obamas progressive supporters,
keeping that in mind is going to be difficult but crucial.
Obama said he will seek Congressional authorization for a military
strike on Syria. He said he believes US policy is stronger if the president and
Congress are united, but made clear his belief that he has the authority to strike
without congressional support. Thats the bottom line. The first question
shouted by the press as he left the White House rose garden was will you still
attack if Congress votes no? He didnt answer.
There is little question that the Obama administration was blindsided by
the British parliaments vote against the prime ministers proposal to endorse
war. They were prepared to go to war without United Nations authorization, but
were counting on the UK as the core partner in a new iteration of a Bush-style
coalition of the willing. Then NATO made clear it would not participate, and
the Arab League refused to endorse a military strike. France may
Illegal
However frustrated US presidents may be with the UN Security Councils
occasional refusal to give in to their pressure, the law is clear. The United
Nations Charter, the fundamental core of international law, may be vague about
a lot of things. But it is unequivocal about when military force is legal, and
when it isnt. Only two things make an act of war legal: immediate self-defence,
which clearly is not the case for the US The horrific reality of chemical
weapons devastated Syrian, not American lives. This is not self-defence.
The other is if the Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the UN
Charter, authorizes the use of force in response to a threat to international peace
and security. Thats the authorization President Obama knows he cannot get certainly Russia and China would veto, but right now a British veto would
certainly be a possibility if Cameron wanted to respond to his public. And its
not at all clear a US resolution to use force would even get the nine necessary
votes of the 15 Council members. The US is thoroughly isolated internationally.
The problem for President Obama is he still is determined to use military
force, despite the requirements of international law. He says he doesnt need
that authority that maybe hell use the 1999 Kosovo precedent to go around
the Security Council. The problem, of course, is that the 1999 US-NATO assault
on Serbia and Kosovo was illegal faced with a sure Russian veto, Bill Clinton
simply announced he would not ask for Council permission. Instead, he would
get permission from the NATO high command.
But aside from the hammer-and-nail problem (if youre a hammer,
everything looks like a nail; if youre NATO military leaders looking for relegitimization, everything looks like it needs a military solution), nothing in
554
international law allows NATO to substitute for the Security Council. The
Charter was specifically designed to make it difficult to get authorization for
military force its whole raison detre is to stand against the scourge of war. So
any new decision to go to use military force without Council authority means
that use of force is illegal.
Right now, in Syria, that means that members of Congress have the
chance to prevent another illegal US war. If Congress should approve it, likely
for political or partisan reasons that have nothing to do with Syria, their vote
would mean direct complicity in an illegal and immoral war.
Immoral
Pentagon officials have confirmed what logic tells us all: every use of
military force threatens civilian lives. More than 100,000 Syrians have been
killed in this civil war so far, and hundreds more were killed in what appears to
be (remember, we still dont know for sure) a chemical strike last week US
cruise missile strikes wont bring any of them back, and more important, wont
protect any Syrian civilians from further threat. To the contrary, low-ranking
conscript troops and civilians are almost certain to be injured or killed. Reports
out of Syria indicate military offices and more being moved into populated
areas that shouldnt come as a surprise given the nature of the Syrian regime.
But the knowledge makes those contemplating military force even more
culpable.
Dangerous
A US military strike on Syria will increase levels of violence and
instability inside the country, in the region, and around the world. Inside Syria,
aside from immediate casualties and damage to the already shattered country,
reports are already coming in of thousands of Syrian refugees returning from
Lebanon to stand with their government when the country is under attack. It
could lead to greater support to the brutal regime in Damascus. In Kosovo, more
Kosovars were forcibly expelled from their homes by the Serbian regime after
the NATO bombing began than had happened before it started; Syrian civilians
could face similar retaliation from the government.
What should the US do?
First thing, stop this false dichotomy of its either military force or
nothing. The use of chemical weapons is a war crime, it is indeed what
Secretary Kerry called a moral obscenity. Whoever used such a weapon
should be held accountable. So what do we do about it?
555
556
the possibility of a new dialogue with Iran that was opened by the victory of the
moderate President Hassan Rouhani in the June elections.
One of the grave problems of the Syrian civil war for US policy has been
that it has risked entangling the United States even more deeply in an antiIranian (and historically at least, anti-Russian) alliance.
This alliance sits badly with Americas own secular and democratic
values, with Americas commitment to a legitimate government in Iraq and with
Americas hopes for progress in the Muslim world.
The sponsorship of extremism by some of these states poses a threat to
American security, and their pathological hatred for the majority sect has
contributed to deepening the Middle Easts disastrous sectarian divides.
Using Moscow to develop new relations with Iran is, therefore, necessary
not only for a resolution of the Iranian nuclear issue and (eventually) of the
Syrian conflict, but also in the long run for the restoration of basic stability in
the Middle East.
And it should be noted that while Russia has preserved good relations
with Iran, it has also on occasion been prepared to be tough with that country.
The intensified UN sanctions eventually agreed to by Russia and China had a
severe effect on the Iranian economy and seems to have contributed
significantly to Hassan Rouhanis victory in Irans elections.
Of course, a Syrian peace settlement will be terribly difficult to achieve,
and will probably not be achievable until both sides have fought themselves into
a state of exhaustion.
Nonetheless, the basic contours of any long-term settlement are already
clear, as is the need for Iranian and Russian participation. While sending a
strong military signal to Damascus and other regimes to never again use
chemical weapons, Washington should at the same time intensify attempts to lay
the diplomatic basis for this eventual settlement. (Anayol Lieven for Khaleej
Times., republished in TheNation 5th September)
US Syria strike could derail Iran presidents master plan: When
considering their response to any strike on Syria, Iranian leaders must weigh the
costs and benefits of backing Assad, versus the advantage to be gained from a
possible detente with the United States, the prospect of a nuclear deal and the
easing of sanctions.
So far, Irans response to the chemical weapons attack suggests
disagreement within the corridors of power in Tehran.
A chorus of Revolutionary Guards commanders have issued daily dire
warnings that US strikes on Syria would result in a conflict engulfing the whole
558
559
recent LoC firing by India indicates that the matter is far from over. The Syrian
crisis itself has changed from the tail-end of the Arab Spring to the spectacle of
the USA apparently wracked by self-doubt. The crisis in Egypt has slipped from
the foreground. The question of the Rohingyas of Burma remains unresolved.
The US-Iran problem has not even been papered over. There is no attention
being paid to Iran, which is laboring under unjust sanctions, and has just had a
new President inaugurated.
Also, the USA is to leave Afghanistan next year, having left Iraq already.
It is as if any intervention would be a prelude to once again establishing a large
military presence in the Muslim world. It must be remembered that Syria does
not contain any physical resources, as did Iraq (oil) or Afghanistan (minerals, as
well as being a route into the hydrocarbon-rich Central Asia). Syria is about
Israeli security, and the USA will only invade if such an invasion promotes that
security, not over the use of chemical weapons. After all, Syria is not a signatory
to the Chemical Weapons Convention, and the USA has lived with that for so
many years. The USA also protected Iraq when it used chemical weapons
against Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, as well as against its own people. The
USA was also then opposed to Iran, but now it is as equally loud in its
condemnation as Iran is in defending the use of chemical weapons. It is almost
as if the USA does not treat chemical weapons as all that serious, and is willing
to use them purely as a tool of national policy.
Is President Obama trying to seek a way out for himself by his reference
to Congress? It cannot escape notice that his reference only came after the UK
saw a parliamentary resolution supporting military defeated despite the
governments support. The UK then decided not to join the USA, and only
Frances President Franois Hollande announced support. However, after the
USA announced it would seek congressional approval, he too announced his
government would seek parliamentary approval. Especially with the British
example already there, it is difficult to see either US Congress or French
Parliament giving a go-ahead. It is also difficult to see the USA taking action
nonetheless, even the essentially token one of bombing suspected chemical
warfare bases. Obama and his Secretary of State, John Kerry, have been
engaged in brave talk about not being bound by a vote, but that is just brave talk
and part of the perennial American constitutional debate about how far the
President can go as Commander-in-chief, when it is Congress that has a
monopoly over declaring war. However, practically, it is not possible to see
them defying a vote. That would mean that the USA will not intervene, and
Bashar will get away with gassing his own people. (M A Nuazi, TheNation 6 th
September)
Syria, Obama: Wrong time, wrong place, wrong plan, wrong man:
Twelve years of war. A sense that were snake-bit in the Mideast. Iraq and
Afghanistan didnt go well, Libya is lawless. In Egypt, we threw over a friend
561
of 30 years to embrace the future. The future held the Muslim Brotherhood,
unrest and a military coup. Americans have grown more hard-eyed-more
bottom-line and realistic, less romantic about foreign endeavors, and more
concerned about an America whose culture and infrastructure seem to be
crumbling around them.
The administration has no discernible strategy. A small, limited strike will
look merely symbolic, a face-saving measure. A strong, broad strike opens the
possibility of civil war and a victory for those as bad or worse than a dictator.
And time has already passed. Assad has had a chance to plan his response, and
do us the kind of damage to which we would have to respond.
There is the issue of US credibility. We speak of this constantly and in
public, which has the effect of reducing its power. If we bomb Syria, will the
world say, Oh, how credible America is! or will they say, They just bombed
people because they think they have to prove theyre credible?
We are, and everyone knows we are, the most militarily powerful and
technologically able nation on earth. And at the end of the day America is
America. We dont have to bow to the claim that if we dont attack Syria we are
over as a great power.
Are North Korea and Iran watching? Sure. Theyll always be watching.
And no, they wont say, Huh, that settles it, if America didnt move against
Syria theyll never move against us. All our worries are over. In fact their
worries, and ours, will continue.
Sometimes it shows strength to hold your fire. All my life people have
been saying weve got to demonstrate our credibility that if we, and the world,
dont know we are powerful by now we, and they, will never know.
Finally, this president showed determination and guts in getting Osama
bin Laden. But a Syria strike may become full-scale war. Is Barack Obama a
war president? On Syria he has done nothing to inspire confidence. Up to the
moment of decision, and even past it, he has seemed ambivalent, confused,
unaware of the implications of his words and stands. From the red line
comment to the shot across the bow, from the White House leaks about the
nature and limits of a planned strike to the presidents recent, desperate
inclusion of Congress, he has seemed consistently over his head. I have been
thinking of the iconic image of American military leadership, Emanuel Leutzes
painting Washington Crossing the Delaware. There Washington stands, sturdy
and resolute, looking toward the enemy on the opposite shore. If you imagine
Mr. Obama in that moment he is turned, gesturing toward those in the back. Its
not my fault were in this boat! Thats what I didnt set a red line and My
credibility is not at stake sounded like. And looked like. (Peggy Noonan for
Wall Street Journal, republished in TheNation 7th September)
562
563
The successive defeats have forced the oppressors of the world to shift
the strategic pivot of aggression, to the Asia Pacific, to contain and curb, the
rising power of China, with the help of the coalition of the willing India,
Japan, South Korea and Australia. The New Strategy propounds limited
surgical military operation to help exploit the internal weaknesses of the Muslim
countries, such as sectarian divide and the political conflict between the
secularists and the moderate Muslims.
The conflict between the secularists and the moderates manifests itself
with varying degree of intensity in different countries, such as Turkey, Egypt,
Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The elected government of the moderates
in Egypt was dismissed and the secularists have come to power with the
blessings of USA.
Similarly an attempt was made to bring about regime change in Turkey,
but failed. Iraq is bleeding under an intense Shia-Sunni divide. Bangladesh is
secular and a political ban has been imposed on Jamat-e-Islami, raising the level
of conflict to a high pitch. Pakistan is seething under the Shia-Sunni divide; the
conflict between the secularists and the moderates and the dangerous rupture of
the Sunni majority into Deobandis and Brelvis. In short, the country is ripe for
change under the new American Strategy. The US has already expanded its
activities in Pakistan through Black Water and the Black Budget, now is
expected to deliver, which only means one thing. The mistrust now exceeds the
trust Hussain Haqqani.
In Syria, internal conflict has been aggravated by external forces. Syria
with a Sunni majority has entered into a defense pact with Iran and maintains
close links with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The coalition of the willing of Iran,
Syria and Lebanon is posing threat to Israel. In 2006 Israel attempted to defeat
Hezbollah, but failed. Syria now is the target, where US is threatening to launch
a surgical strike, using mainly rockets and high altitude precision bombing, to
degrade Syrian command and control system, the army units and the air force
capable of staging a chemical weapons attack. In short, the limited attack is
meant to degrade the Syrian armed forces, who have gained an upper hand over
the rebels, and the rebels desperately need US support to regain balance.
The US Senator Norman Pollock, comments: Obamas congenital
militarism is really nihilism, with a smiling face. He seeks approval by
Congress for strike on Syria. Obama craves for war, because America must
prove its power a geopolitical posture of global hegemony. Syria is a
convenient chip in the poker game of asserting that global supremacy.
The sectarian divide in Syria has become contagious and has expanded
the conflict in the Middle East. Iran, Iraq, Hezbollah and Russia are in full
support of Syria, while the Sunni countries of the region Saudi Arabia, Turkey,
Egypt and GCC stand behind USA, threatening military action against Syria
564
without UN Security Council nod. The US Congress has yet to authorize Obama
to wage this war. The public opinion there is against this war, because the
President does not have the power under the constitution to unilaterally wage a
war in a situation that does not pose any threat to national security.
The US also does not have the advantage of the Coalition of the willing
they enjoyed in their war against Afghanistan and Iraq. What then is the real
motive of Obama to initiate action for this war? The unpredictable is what
President Putin likened Obama, to a monkey with a hand grenade. President
Putin has also questioned: It makes no sense for the Syrian government troops
to carry out such a devastating attack while they were winning and on the
offensive. In such conditions, to give a trump card to those who are calling for
foreign military intervention is foolish nonsense. In fact the chemical attack
came from amongst the rebels, as a provocation who wanted to draw in the
United States.
How Russia will react, in support of Syria is the moot question. Russians
warships are already there, joined by the spy ship. Supply of weapon and
equipment will be accelerated because Russia doesnt want to be cheated as in
case of Libya. It may not intervene militarily, but would be making noises in
support of Syria. Putin is a strong leader that raised Russia up, off its knees and
that he will never dance to the American tune. Russia may in fact sit back and
observe as America would get into another terrible Middle East War, whose
credibility and image in the Middle East have taken a real beating. They will be
bogged down there than ever before, along with the recognition, that there are
limits to US power. A.D. Miller.
The US threat of war is also aimed at Iran, who is being demonized for
the last several decades, instilling fear in the minds of the Sunni countries of the
region, who have purchased military hardware worth about two hundred billion
dollars from USA, to fight the Iranian threat. The Sunnis have already
intervened in Bahrain using American weapons and now, a full-fledged Greek
Tragedy is being enacted in Syria. The acts of diplomacy and military
intimidation have been so very artfully synchronized with the objectives of the
New Strategy to achieve the purpose of bleeding the Muslim world, at their own
hands and at their own expense. (Mirza Aslam Beg, TheNation 8th September)
REVIEW
During the week US President Obama struggled to muster support for his
plans to punish Syrian President. By the end of his visit to Russia to attend G-20
summit he must have observed with some embarrassment that majority of the
world opinion was against his ambition to become a global policeman and a
judge.
565
This created a false impression about withering unity of the Crusaders. The
reality is that differences are superficial as these pertain to the modus operandi
rather than the goals of their holy war. The real exposure relates to the deep
rooted divide in Muslim world.
This is Shia-Sunni divide which exists in Islamic Ummah since centuries,
and the Neocons have been able to exploit to the best of their advantage. This is
what had been planned right at the start of the ongoing Crusaders. They can
claim the credit of this though more than that this is matter of shame for those
who claim to be the leaders of Muslims.
The disunity of the Ummah is so pronounced that no enemy of Muslims
would let go unexploited. This will be done without bothering to answer two
basic questions: Who used the Sarin gas and who supplied it to the user? The
fact will be known only after force has been used against Syria as it happened in
the case of WMDs of Saddam Hussain in Iraq.
In spite of the opposition to use of force from Russia, China, Iran and
Hezbollah, the US seemed inclined to towards indirect use of force for the facesaving. Russian leader has rightly likened Obama, to a monkey with a hand
grenade. One may add that monkey has the safety pin in his teeth. In case the
monkey hurled the grenade, what will be the reaction of Russia, Iran and
Hezbollah? This will be known only after that unfortunate mishap.
8th September, 2013
566
EVOLVING STRATEGY
As has been said in a previous article the civil and military leadership in
Pakistan, having fought war on terror for twelve years, was still not clear
about their strategy to defeat this menace. The seed of this confusion was
sown the day rather the night Musharraf decided to be with the US and
abandon Afghan Taliban.
Gradually the involvement kept escalating as successive governments
agreed to act as mercenaries and earn much needed dollars; allowed
Americans to transgress Pakistans territorial sovereignty and finally started
owning the war as its own. As consequence of shifting stance and strategy
Pakistan today is afflicted with all types of militancy in addition to mother of all
terror wars; the so-called Americas global war on terror.
Nawaz Sharif accorded priority to evolving strategy for fighting forces
that have ruined the peace of Karachi. He spent two days in the mega city and
decided to give free hand to the Rangers and appointed Chief Minister Qaim
Ali Shah as captain of the team tasked to eliminate the gangs involved in the
turf war irrespective of their political affiliations and backings.
Soon after that the federal government contacted various political leaders
for holding the much awaited All Parties Conference in Islamabad on 9th
September, a day after the period under review. But, while the federal
government worked for the conference to evolve strategy for the war that is now
affectionately called our war, the Sindh government had started tying the free
hand of Rangers by imposing restrictions on their operations.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 2nd September, the federal police registered another case
against Musharraf on the charge of Ghazi Abdur Rashid and his mothers
murder in the Lal Masjid military operation. After registration of this murder
case, the number of cases against Musharraf reached four. These are judges
detention, Benazir Bhutto assassination, Akbar Bugtis murder and Ghazi Abdur
Rashid and his mothers murder cases.
Next day, Malala Yousafzai said books were the weapons to defeat
terrorism as she officially opened Birminghams new library. She opened the
futuristic-state-of-the art library where she told a crowd of 300 people that by
educating minds, hearts and souls she believed global peace could be
achieved.
On 4th September, Maj-Gen Humayun told media that 104 militants have
been killed and 84 injured in security forces operation in Maidan area of Tirah
567
Valley of Khyber Agency. Security forces completed the operation which lasted
for 22 days. He said eight troops, including a Lt Col embraced martyrdom. He
said 98 villages were cleared and the repatriation of the displaced people will
start soon.
Rejecting an appeal against the Lahore High Courts October 27, 2009,
decision of dismissing a petition against US drone attacks, the Supreme Court
declared that interference by the courts in such matters would be violation of the
fundamental principle of the Constitution which envisaged trichotomy of
powers among legislature, executive and judiciary.
A two-member bench ruled that the issue raised in the constitutional
petition of Wukala Mahaz was related to foreign policy, defence and security of
the country. Such issues do not fall within the judicial domain for interference
under Article 199 of the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, said the
two-page order of the apex court.
Next day, at least 17 people, including 12 girl students, sustained injuries
when a bomb planted near a school exploded in the Bannu city. The incident
happened when students of a Government Girls Primary School were on way
back to their homes. The bomb disposal squad said that some 5kg explosive
material had been used in the blast. There was no immediate claim of
responsibility.
A militant was killed while another apprehended by local residents after
an exchange of fire at Kotka Molagan in Bannu district. Three militants
belonged to North Waziristan Agency were spotted by the local residents and
supporters of JUI-F local leader Taimour Shah when they were allegedly
planting explosive devices near the residence of JUI-F leader in the limits of
Saddar Police Station.
Unidentified gunmen on a motorbike fired at a NATO supply truck at
Karkhano Market in Peshawar and wounded three people. The assailants hurled
hand-grenade and opened fire at a container. Traffic of NATO containers at PakAfghan border was suspended.
Islamabad police arrested a key suspect in 'foiled terrorism bid' and
shifted him to undisclosed location for further interrogation. The accused is one
of the main operatives of LeT, a banned militant organization and wanted to
assassinate former dictator Pervez Musharraf. Law enforcement agencies have
already arrested 11 suspects who wanted to bomb Pervez Musharraf's house in
Chak Shahzad.
Police said they had arrested an alleged mastermind of an attack that
killed 10 foreign trekkers in June at a base camp in the Himalayas. The June 22
attack was the deadliest assault on foreigners in the nuclear-armed country for a
decade and was claimed by a purported new faction of Taliban.
568
A source among insurgents on the ground said the dead from Fridays
drone attack also included a 32-year-old Al-Qaeda commander who was an
expert in explosives, and identified him as Zubir al Muzi, an Egyptian national.
Three Jordanians and two local fighters were also killed, he said.
Seven people, including five police personnel, were injured in a bomb
blast near Peshawar's Hashtnagri Police Station. The explosive materials were
fixed in a motorcycle, which was parked inside the police station. They said the
motorcycle was taken into custody for having incomplete registration 15
minutes before it blew up.
Chief Justice of Pakistan remarked a death convict can neither be released
on bail on medical grounds nor can his sentence be commuted to life
imprisonment. He further remarked that the apex court had rejected the petition
of a death convict who had undergone open heart surgery. He gave these
remarks while heading a 3-member bench of the Supreme Court (SC) during the
hearing of a petition seeking conversion of capital punishment of a death
convict, Ashiq Hussain, into life imprisonment on medical grounds.
Meanwhile, the authority of President of Pakistan to condone death
sentence was challenged in the Supreme Court. Petitioner Mehmood Akhtar
Naqvi advocate filed a petition, praying to the Supreme Court to nullify the
authority of the president to condone the death sentence.
Next day, Foreign Office announced that seven Afghan Taliban leaders
were being released in order to further facilitate the Afghan reconciliation
process. An official statement said: In order to further facilitate the Afghan
reconciliation process, Pakistan is releasing seven Taliban detainees, namely
Mansoor Dadullah, Said Wali, Abdul Manan, Karim Agha, Sher Afzal, Gul
Muhammad and Muhammad Zai. Last year Pakistan released 26 Taliban
prisoners. This year, 25 Taliban prisoners have already been released and
including these seven, the number reaches 32.
The announcement followed last months trip by Afghan President Karzai
to Pakistan, where he sought the handover of some Afghan insurgents as part of
the stalled peace process. Both Karzai and the United States want Pakistan to
hand the insurgents directly to the Afghan authorities, but seven Taliban were
simply allowed to walk out of their cells into Pakistan.
Afghanistan, however, believes Pakistan is playing a double game,
making public pronouncements about peace while allowing militants to take
refuge in safe havens on its soil. Pakistan denies the charge, saying it has
sacrificed more than any other country in the fight against militancy. It
acknowledges that it has contacts with the Taliban but says it has no influence
over them.
570
Prime Minister expressed the resolve to restore peace all over the country
and rooting out terrorism which he said was essential to economic progress and
attracting forging investment to the country. In a meeting decisions were taken
on the strategy and agenda of APC which also included talks with Taliban for
the sake of incorporating it as a point in the National Security Policy after a
broad based consensus at the APC.
The all-party conference reportedly will also discuss drone attacks. The
meeting decided that DGs of ISI and IB will brief participants of the APC on the
national security, conspiracies against the country and the terrorism issues. They
will also respond to the queries. A meeting of PTI Chairman Imran Khan and
KPK chief minister with the prime minister and the military authorities will be
held before the APC.
Both the government and army were on the same page on peace talks
however the meeting also took into account the initiatives taken in this regard in
the past so that the factors which frustrate the peace overtures could be avoided.
It was also discussed that the division of Taliban in different groups and how the
efforts of peace through negotiations could be successful as such.
In Islamabad, law-enforcement agencies foiled another attempt to
assassinate former president Pervez Musharraf and arrested seven suspects. The
suspects belonged to a banned militant organization Lashker-e-Jhangvi (LeJ).
The intelligence agencies facilitated police to arrest them. Police carried out a
search operation in a house located at Gulshan-e-Kashmir, G-15, and recovered
detonators, Kalashnikovs, pistols, hand grenades, spy instruments, toys filled
with explosives, remote-controlled devices, and a wireless set from the house.
Former Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited Maulana Samiul Haq
in Nowshera and requested him to play his role in recovery of his son. Ali
Haider Gilani was taken captive on May 2 this year during an election campaign
in Multan. Interacting with reporters, Samiul Haq said Ali Gilani's recovery was
not that difficult, but there had been some obstacles and demands involved in it.
He said he would play his role in recovery of former premiers son.
On 8th September, Imran Khan while unveiling his partys four-point
proposals for the proposed All Parties Conference (APC) said, Pakistan should
quit the US war on terror, initiate talks with the Taliban, launch no operation
against the fighters engaged in dialogue and adopt reconciliation policy to
handle the issue of terrorism. The PTI chief once again demanded a closed-door
meeting with the prime minister, the army chief and the interior minister before
the APC to convey his reservations over the shadowy war on terror.
Insurgency: On 3rd September, unidentified armed men riding a
motorbike opened indiscriminate firing on a NATO container in Mastung
district injuring the driver. In another incident, two people were injured in
571
572
573
574
575
while all such steps will be visible through targeted actions against the
criminals.
Ch Nisar said that government accepts the mandate of the ruling PPP and
MQM and other parties, so it wants to go with consensus. He added that Qaim
Ali Shah is an elected CM and constitutionally he is the chief executive of the
province, so we all should accept his authority in decisions about the province.
The minister said that Rangers had expressed their concerns that
criminals manage to get free when they are arrest and handed over to the police.
He said their concerns have been addressed by granting them powers to arrest as
well as prosecute and investigate the criminals. He asserted that provincial
autonomy was not affected with these powers to the Rangers.
Nisar said that government is implementing the verdict of the Supreme
Court in law and order case of Karachi, adding that apex court will be
approached regarding legal complications for some powers for the rangers. He
said the government will also take action and dismantle the militant wings of
political parties in the Karachi as per the apex court verdict.
The minister said that one police station in each district of the Karachi
will be declared as focal station, where rangers, police and other security
agencies will interrogate the criminals. Declaring unregistered SIMs of the cell
phones as base for crimes in the city, the interior minister said that currently at
least 4 million unregistered SIMs were active in the city and the cellular
companies have been directed to immediately deactivate all these SIMs.
A senior official of the interior ministry said that according to the
proposed plan prepared by Sindh home department, the operation will most
probably be launched in Lyari Town and Sohrab Goth and then expanded to
Manghopir, Orangi Town, Korangi, Landhi, Ranchore Lines and Ittehad Town.
The Rangers and police will be given special powers to conduct search
operations in any house, mosque or madrasa, he added.
Military command met to take into account a bulk of security issues. In a
reflection of the armys perspective on the Karachi issue, the generals are said to
have put the weight behind its paramilitary force, the Sindh Rangers, to be
assigned the central role in setting the things straight in security-wise everchallenging cosmopolitan city.
Meanwhile, operation threats have not deterred target killers who
claimed 16 more lives in various ethnic and sectarian incidents in the city. The
Rangers entered the notorious town of the city, Shah Baigh Lane, Baghdadi,
Lyari. The gangsters opened fire on them. As result of the gun fight, three
gangsters and a Rangers jawan were killed.
Extra contingent of Rangers reached the area upon receiving a tip-off
about the presence of Lyaris notorious gangster, Jabbar alias Jengu, one of the
576
577
578
Iran: On 6th September, one of the European Union's top courts annulled
Friday an EU asset freeze imposed on seven Iranian banks and other companies
for their alleged involvement in the country's contested nuclear programme. The
European Tribunal, second only to the European Court of Justice, said the EU
579
had variously failed to prove or properly consider the evidence when imposing
sanctions.
But it said its action would not have immediate effect and the sanctions
will remain in place for two months and 10 days pending an EU appeal against
its findings. During this period, the EU can also adjust its case and formulate
new sanctions, a statement added. At the same time, the Tribunal ruled in favour
of the EU in a case over sanctions imposed in December 2011 on EuropaischeIranische Handelsbank.
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran wants to
allay concerns over its nuclear programme, suspected of hiding efforts to build
an atomic bomb, and resolve the impasse with world powers. Perhaps most
significantly, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi,
said separately Tehran could conceivably agree to allowing the IAEA to conduct
snap inspections of its facilities.
While Rowhani expressed a desire to sort out the nuclear impasse, he has
said Iran will not abandon its undeniable rights, including enrichment. Salehi
said he understood international concerns, and that Iran was ready to allay them
using every treaty, regulation and mechanism at the international level.
The IAEA wants Iran to grant access to sites, documents and scientists
involved in Tehran's alleged efforts to develop atomic weapons, which the
agency suspects mostly took place before 2003 but are possibly still ongoing.
Iran says the IAEA's findings are based on faulty intelligence from foreign spy
agencies such as the CIA and Israel's Mossad intelligence it complains it has
not even been allowed to see.
worst enemy of Pakistan which could not see Pakistan on the path of
development. He said that India wanted to make Pakistan deserted by waging
water war and constructing dams on water flow towards the country.
Next day, the Indian army said it has killed five suspected rebels in
northern Kashmir. Rebel leaders on the Pakistan side recently threatened an
unprecedented surge in attacks on Indian targets as battle-hardened fighters
from Afghanistan prepare to target the region. The suspected militants were
infiltrating from Pakistan-administered Kashmir into Tangdhar, northwest of
Srinagar, when they were killed.
On 8th September, hundreds of troops were deployed to quell deadly riots
and clashes between Hindus and Muslims sparked by the killing of three
villagers who had objected when a young woman was being harassed in
northern India. Police said 19 people were killed, including an Indian broadcast
journalist, a police photographer and several people who succumbed to injuries
received a day earlier when the two groups set upon each other with guns and
knives in Kawal village, in Uttar Pradesh.
The violence quickly spread to neighbouring villages in Muzaffarnagar
district. Curfew was imposed in three riot-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar as the
situation remained tense. Soldiers were going door to door to search for
weapons. A state of high alert was declared for the entire state of Uttar Pradesh.
VIEWS
Pakistan
Talking to the Taliban: There has been a flurry of movements in the last
week towards peace talks but they are engulfed in the fog of uncertainty. On
August 31, the Information Minister disclosed to the media that the government
has held several rounds of secret talks with the banned TTP and its associated
militant groups. Coincidently, the revelation came two days after Jamiat Ulemai-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, assured Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif of his every possible assistance in negotiating a peace deal with
the outlawed militant group and has been tipped to be appointed as the chairman
of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Foreign Affairs.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman, a veteran politician is not above extracting the
proverbial pound of flesh but that is for the government to decide.
Interestingly, the Interior Minister was quick to deny any clandestine
moves to parley with the TTP and has promised transparency.
The TTP, which comprises a motley crowd ranging from former religious
scholars and students to stark criminals is also divided on the issue of talks with
the government. Hakimullah Mehsuds spokesperson has already rejected
581
reports about talks with the federal government, stating that there was no way
TTP would dissociate from al-Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, a precondition
by the government for talks, while two of its spokesmen have been removed for
expressing their enthusiasm towards peace talks.
The government has already lost some of its bargaining chips after the
TTP freed 35 of its battle-hardened combatants by storming the Central Prison
at Dera Ismail Khan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on July 29.
Perhaps it would be prudent for the government to solicit the services of
Maulana Sami-ul-Haq, a renowned religious scholar, sometimes referred to as
the father of the Taliban. Currently he is the chancellor of Dar-ul-Uloom
Haqqania, a Deobandi Islamic seminary, the alma mater of several Taliban
leaders. The erudite scholar is respected by Taliban leaders on both sides of the
divide as their teacher and former mentor. President Karzai, during his latest
visit to Islamabad, sought Pakistans help in bringing the Taliban to the
negotiating table. With the Army and the Civilian dispensation being on the
same page with respect to talking to the Taliban, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq may
play an important role to convince Afghan and Pakistani Taliban to shed
militancy and sit at the dialogue table in the name of humanity and restoring
peace in the region. (S M Hali, TheNation 3rd September)
Friend or foe? Except for the marvelous hypocrisy with which
extrajudicial killings are totted over by the agency that operates drone attacks
with impunity, there is nothing amusing in the Washington Post report detailing
extensive US concerns about Pakistan. The contents of the leaked top-secret US
intelligence files serve as dire warning of a rising trust deficit haunting the PakUS relationship, and the serious reasons behind it.
Rising Islamist militancy, its permeation into the armed forces, rogue
officers all of it sends alarm bells ringing when referenced to a nuclear power.
The fact that it makes even informed Pakistanis, let alone the American CIA,
shift uncomfortably in their seats is the real problem here. Everyone remembers
the pack of army officers jailed in connection with Hizb-ut-Tehreer links. The
fact that the GHQ was attacked with such boldness in 2009 gave rise to
suspicions of inside intelligence provided to terrorists. Mehran base was the
same. And these were the fears echoed in Pakistan. They have left much
broader resonance on a jittery and vigilant United States.
It has emerged that the US broadened its surveillance in Pakistan not on
its own, but also employing the help of tens of millions of dollars worth of
payments to Pakistani intelligence officers, who were in effect committing the
same treason as Shakil Afridi. The report reveals intense surveillance of
potential chemical and biological lab sites in Pakistan, in addition to efforts
aimed to assess the loyalties and hostile influences over counter-terrorism
recruitments made by the CIA.
582
The US and Pakistan are allies in the war on terror and such a high level
of distrust on the part of the US has its roots in past experiences, present turmoil
and future concerns. The US has been critical of Pakistans double game in
Afghanistan, doubting the states resolve in eradicating safe havens for Afghan
Taliban in its North Western territory. The presence of Osama Bin Laden in a
heavily militarized town of Pakistan, before being taken out in a secret
operation by the US, only strengthened the USs perception of viewing Pakistan
as a country which cannot be trusted. The fact that OBLs hideout was in the
immediate vicinity of the Pakistan Military Academy was an uncomfortable
example of how Pakistan is always somehow so close, and yet so far from a win
on mutually defined goals. Was Pakistan's security apparatus incompetent or
complicit? Is it unwise to trust them?
The concerns of the US with regards to Pakistans nuclear arsenal are not
new. AQ Khan, feted locally as a hero, is infamous for his participation in a
nuclear proliferation scandal that ensured that Pakistan is blacklisted for the
foreseeable future from anything which has so much as a whisper of the word
'nuclear' about it. Civil nuclear technology deal with the US? Forget it. Nuclear
fuels from Australia? You must be joking.
It is not a secret that Pakistan faces serious challenges. The onslaught
from militant extremists has killed thousands and been confronted by hesitant
leaders breaking one record of indecision and fecklessness after the other,
creating more room for dubious activities to go unnoticed and unchecked.
Moreover, the attacks on the militarys General Headquarter in Rawalpindi and
PNS Mehran base in Karachi, show that complicit or not, incompetence
definitely can't be ruled out. If they can't look after their own in the heart of
major cities, what guarantee is there that secret nuclear storage areas are still
secret, or for that matter, safe from similar attack?
The traditional response was received from Pakistani authorities, tersely
informing the world that everything was as it should be, and the concern was
unwarranted and not appreciated. Well and good, but wishing away GHQ,
Abbottabad and Mehran base won't make the world any less concerned about
what is really going on in the country. Reports of plots floated for consideration,
regarding the chilling targeting of a widely recognized military critic and human
rights lawyer add to the worry. The plans may not have been authorized or even
approved, but the fact that they existed is a concern in itself.
The US, despite its aggressive surveillance, is still unaware of the
location and the method of movement of Pakistans nuclear warheads. This is
the only thing to be taken with credit in the report; it is in the interest of
Pakistan to maintain the secrecy of the countrys nuclear warheads. There is no
reason to act otherwise. But we must own up to the series of public
583
embarrassments that have made a laughing stock of our security and given us a
place on the nuisance list.
However, to rid the US of its fear of Islamists taking control of Pakistans
nuclear arsenal and other concerns, rational or irrational, serious efforts need to
be made from both sides to clear the smoke that surrounds the fragile
relationship. A revival of trust, assuming it ever existed, can only occur if the
two countries review their policies that manage the vital bilateral relationship.
(Editorial, TheNation 5th September)
Rangers in Karachi: After days of when, how, and who would conduct
it, the dubious prize of the Karachi operation goes to the Rangers. A list of 400
or so notoriously bad eggs has been drawn up by Rangers and IB. Assurances
have been given that these well-known troublemakers would have been
apprehended long ago, had local politicians not thrown a spanner in the works.
Hold off the sympathizers and we'll make the arrests in a month, they say. These
few score on the hit list, most of whom have been persona non grata for much
longer than the last five years, have already gone into hiding, or left the country.
This does not mean that an operation will have no effect at all; routine security
in Karachi may improve, but only temporarily.
The problem in Karachi is a failure of capacity in administrative and
policing spheres from years of neglect. This is not a one-time mess that any
operation, conducted by any law enforcement agency can clean up. After the
operation, there may be a few weeks, maybe even months of calm. But slowly,
the same old maladies that were only suppressed, not cured, will resurface:
violent turf wars, extortion, unemployment rising, crime resurging. Will that
then be the time for yet another operation? An operation may be necessary, but
unless those responsible for governance are ready to take advantage of the
momentum created, they will find themselves back at square, one in a few short
months.
The choice of Rangers to take the lead is also revealing. If Rangers are
tasked with the solution, they have surely escaped suspicion of being part of the
problem. The force has been an uncomfortable fixture on the Karachi landscape
for years now. Opposed by its detractors as an outsider, surprisingly, its
unpopularity does not derive solely from occasional extreme heavy-handedness.
The very fact that the Rangers have not managed much in the last few years
ought to have earned them a relatively benign reputation. Why the acrimony,
then? Well, the lads have a bit of a when in Rome problem. The force has
blended into the Karachi landscape in the worst of ways. The cadres of the force
have fallen victim to the same temptations, the same bad habits that they were
originally sent to quell. With additional legislation being hurriedly drawn up to
grant extra investigation powers to Rangers, questions will not arise where the
Rangers come down hard, but when they don't. Who they spare in the process,
584
withdrawal, and that is essential for a negotiated peace in the region after
foreign troops leave. The militants last freed disappeared in Pakistan, and
remain here. There has been no evidence to confirm that they chose to return to
Afghanistan, even after the Karzai government's lobbying for their incarceration
to end. In Pakistan, their influence has not been benign, and is a source of
constant concern, with militant influences coalescing and growing ever more
powerful.
Now that seven more prisoners have been given their freedom, with no
reported guarantees to ensure they return to Afghanistan, one can only wonder
why there are no questions being raised about their ultimate destination. Our
neighbours would surely prefer their extradition directly to Afghanistan, given
the fact that they would not have to resort to relying on the goodwill of the
prisoners to return to initiate dialogue, with a government they see as a puppet
controlled by the US.
Another mystifying issue is how Pakistan has been historically so adept at
catching and incarcerating so many Afghan Taliban terrorists, but is completely
aloof with regards to the location of various TTP leaders that are a constant
threat to the security of this country. Maybe if they tried hard enough and
caught some of those elements involved in the war on this side of the border,
having a few bargaining chips in hand would give the government the upper
hand in initiating the dialogue process it has shown such a stubborn insistence
to pursue. As it stands, the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan will
embolden their sympathizers waging war against Pakistan. With the chances of
the Taliban coming to a power-sharing understanding in Kabul increasing it
appears, with Pakistan's active help we must consider what this will mean for
our own security. Peace and stability in Afghanistan is greatly to be desired. A
Taliban stronghold, encouraging mayhem in Pakistan, is not. (Editorial,
TheNation 9th September)
REVIEW
The PML-N governments decision to tackle militancy in Karachi on
priority is wise for the simple reason that this is primarily home-grown evil
courtesy the politicians involvement in money-related crimes. The decision not
to involve Army and instead preferring Rangers-led action is even wiser.
However, there have been some acts or neglects which should have been
avoided. In no operation the target is fore-warned and given more than a week
to adopt evasive measures including moving to safer places away from the area
where they are to be hunted. In addition, nothing has been done to remove legal
hurdles that come in the way of speedy trial and punishment of criminals that
would be apprehended by the Rangers
586
PTI was deliberately ignored by the government despite this party having
the second largest mandate in the city. Interior Minister did not care inviting
someone to represent the party and instead an MNA of the PML-N was told at
the last minute to ask PTI to send someone to represent the party.
Indeed, the Nawaz government is keen to eradicate militancy from
Pakistan; however it is reluctant to deviate from the beaten track. Nawaz
favours administering the same old medicine, yet hopes it would cure the
chronic ailment only because he is more sincere than others.
9th September, 2013
587
NEWS
Far East
Philippines: On 12th September, Philippines security forces punched into
the Santa Catalina district of Zamboanga city, where thousands of people have
fled four days of fighting, as the neighbourhood went up in flames. At least
1,500 soldiers, backed by police, have surrounded six mainly Muslim
communities on Zamboangas outskirts where about 180 MNLF members were
hiding out since they launched their attack on September 9.
The MNLF attack was ordered by its founder Nur Misuari, who has
recently renewed a call for independence, 17 years after the group signed a
peace treaty that won self-rule for the Muslim minority in the largely Catholic
Asian nation. Zamboanga Mayor Maria Isabelle said she contacted Misuari by
telephone after three days of trying, and asked him to call off the siege.
Troops were also battling gunmen who attacked army positions on nearby
Basilan Island, killing a pro-government militiaman and wounding four
members of the government forces and a civilian. A local resident was also
missing as soldiers repulsed an attempt by about 150 rebels to capture Lamitan
city, Basilans main Christian enclave.
A soldier killed in a firefight with the rebels in Zamboanga and a village
watchman who was mistaken for a guerrilla and shot dead by the security forces
yesterday, were among the other fresh fatalities. About 13,000 people fled to a
sports complex, as aid agencies called for access for those still trapped.
588
Mainland Asia
Russia: On 9th September, unknown assailants shot dead a Russian
diplomat in the capital of the breakaway Georgian region of Abkhazia, also
seriously injuring his wife. Local law enforcement agencies launched an
investigation into the killing, which was aimed at undermining the strategic and
brotherly relation between Moscow and Sukhumi, the Russian-backed
territorys foreign ministry said in a statement.
Abkhazia along with another Georgian separatist region South Ossetia
is recognized only by Russia and a few far-flung states. Russia which for a
brief war with Georgia in 2008 over South Ossetia has thousands of troops
stationed in Abkhazia; a situation condemned by the Georgian government as a
de-facto occupation.
Middle East
Iraq: On 8th September, an al-Qaeda group claimed a series of car bombs
targeting Shiites in Baghdad last week and renewed violence killed seven
people. North of Baghdad a suicide bomber to blew himself up; two people
were killed, including a policeman, and seven others were wounded. In
Samarra, three anti-al-Qaeda Sunni militiamen, known as the Sahwa, were shot
dead. Gunmen also attacked a checkpoint in northern Nineveh Province, killing
589
a policeman. On 10th September, three car bombs in and around Baquba killed
10 people.
On 11th September, a suicide bombing against a Shiite mosque left at least
30 people dead and 55 others were wounded in the bloodshed, and locals
exacted a grim revenge on one man suspected of being a second attacker in the
mosque bombing. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack
against the Tamimi mosque.
Violence elsewhere in the country killed nine people, including four in
the restive northern province of Nineveh in three separate attacks. In Mosul, a
magnetic sticky bomb attached to a car killed another person. Two attacks in
and around the city of Kirkuk left two dead, including a senior security official.
A sticky bomb killed one person in south Baghdad, and another died in a
roadside bombing in a town on the capital's southern outskirts, while a gunman
on a motorcycle killed a Sunni imam near the southern port city of Basra.
Next day, a spate of attacks across Iraq killed seven people, including
three who died when a suicide car bomber struck as recruits were leaving a
military base. At least one soldier was among three people killed by the car
bombing, in the parking lot of a military base in the northern city of Kirkuk.
Another soldier died and two were hurt when a roadside bomb blasted their
convoy near the town of Baiji, north of Baghdad.
On 13th September, two roadside bombs went off outside the Al-Salam
mosque, a Sunni place of worship in the confessionally mixed city of Baquba, at
around midday as Sunnis and Shias left after a joint prayer session. Thirty
people were killed and 24 wounded in the twin explosions. Another bombing
targeted Friday prayers at a mosque in the town of Khanaqin, also in Diyala,
killing one person, and a car bomb at a market north of Baquba wounded five.
In the restive northern province of Nineveh, a shooting and a bombing killed a
soldier and a municipal official.
Next day, a suicide bomber blew himself in the town of Baashiqah, just
outside the main northern city of Mosul, killing 26 people and wounding 46. He
targeted the funeral for a member of the Shabak minority who had died of
natural causes. The 30,000-strong Shabak community mostly lives near the
Turkish border. They speak a distinct language and largely follow a faith that is
a blend of Shiite Islam and local beliefs, and are frequently targeted in attacks
by Sunni militants linked to al-Qaeda.
Palestine: On 8th September, John Kerry said in Paris that Israel and the
Palestinians are determined to push forward with peace talks. Despite tough
decisions that have to be made and despite pressure that exists on both
sides...both the Palestinians and Israelis have remained steadfast in their
commitment to continuing the talks, Kerry said after a meeting with Arab
League officials.
590
591
Syrian leader said on Face The Nation news programme that Assad denied he
had anything to do with the attack and he denied that he knew in fact.
Next day, the United States will look at a Russian proposal to put Syrian
chemical weapons under international control. We'll have to take a hard look at
the Russian statement...so we understand exactly what the Russians are
proposing here, State Department spokeswoman said, after US Secretary of
State and Russian Foreign Minister discussed Syria's chemical weapons in a
phone call. Clearly we have some serious skepticism, she said.
A US official pointed out that there is no mechanism to implement what
the Russians are proposing. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical
Weapons is the only body that has monitoring power over chemical arms, the
official noted. But the OPCW only has jurisdiction over signatories of the
Chemical Weapons Convention, of which Syria is not a member.
Foreign Minister Lavrov said he had already conveyed the idea to Syrian
Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem at talks in Moscow. Moualem, who spoke
to reporters through an interpreter after Russia expressed hope the proposal
could avert military strikes against Syria, accepted the Russian proposal.
In response to questions about the Russian proposal, UN SecretaryGeneral said that he may ask the Security Council to demand Syria move its
chemical arms stocks to Syrian sites where they can be safely stored and
destroyed. He also urged Damascus to become a party to the OPCW, which is
the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
The American public strongly opposes a US military intervention in
Syria, despite a majority believing that President Bashar al-Assad's regime
gassed its own people, a poll showed. Almost six in 10 of the 1,022 adults
questioned 59 percent said Congress should not pass a resolution
authorizing even limited military action against Syria.
On 10th September, a Russian plan for Syrias chemical weapons to be put
under international control sparked immediate disputes over resolutions at the
United Nations. The UK, US and France want a timetable and consequences of
failure spelt out, and Washington has warned it will not fall for stalling tactics.
Syria has said it accepts the Russian proposal on its chemical stockpile.
Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem said that Damascus was willing to become a
party to the Chemical Weapons Convention. A UN Security Council meeting on
Syria planned for 2000 GMT on Tuesday was postponed at the request of
Russia, which had called the talks.
Russia will send the United States details of its proposal to secure Syrias
chemical weapons stockpile. The details would come during the course of the
day, Kerry said, shortly after talking with Russian Foreign Minister by
592
telephone. But he insisted that any plan must lay out consequences if it turns
out to be a delaying tactic to avoid US military action.
White House said it will want to take a hard look at the Russian
proposal. Obama expressed pessimism about Congress approving a military
strike against Syria, telling NBC News in an interview I wouldnt say Im
confident about the measure passing. Former secretary of State Hillary Clinton
said Syria surrendering chemical stockpiles would be an important step to
averting a US military strike, but it cant be an excuse for delay or obstruction
by the Bashar Assad regime.
United Nations Secretary-General urged Syria to immediately agree to
transfer chemical weapons and chemical precursors to a safe place within the
country for international destruction. Ban said he would urge the Security
Council to demand an immediate chemical weapons transfer if UN inspectors
determine such weapons were used in an attack on August 21.
Next day, Obama, facing tough opposition to a strike against Syria in
Congress and throughout the country, told the nation he was exploring a
Russian diplomatic plan to end a chemical weapons dispute in Syria, but
reserves the right to take military action if necessary.
In his nationally televised speech from the White House, Obama also
said: He wanted to talk to the country about Syria, why it matters and where we
go from here. He resisted any intervention in Syrias civil war for months until
Assads government used chemical weapons. Use of these banned weapons
increase the possibility of other chemical attacks in other parts of the world,
perhaps even the United States.
He added: A lack of action would erode prohibitions on other weapons of
mass destruction, including nuclear weapons. I know that after the terrible toll
of Iraq and Afghanistan, the idea of any military action, no matter how limited,
is not going to be popular, but any action in Syria would be specifically
targeted on its chemical weapons programmes. Syria does not have the ability to
retaliate against the United States. Americans should review videos of the Aug
21 chemical weapons attack now posted on the White House website,
particularly the pictures of dead and dying children.
Obamas speech capped a flurry of diplomatic activity, as American,
British and French officials spoke with Russian counterparts about their idea to
have Syria turn over their chemical weapons to international control for
dismantling. So far, they are at odds on the details. Russian President said he
would only support a Syrian turnover if the Obama Administration renounced
the possible use of force against President Bashar al-Assads government.
Obama declined to do that.
593
Envoys from the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council
Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States were to meet in New
York to try an evolve an acceptable resolution that would have Syria place its
chemical weapons under international control. They are meeting to try and
overcome an impasse over a draft resolution presented by France yesterday over
which Russia, an ally of Syria, raised strong objections.
Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said he hoped that a US
promise to pursue diplomacy to remove the threat of chemical weapons in Syria
was serious. I am hopeful that the United States new attitude to Syria is
serious and not a game with the media. For weeks they have threatened war
against the people of this region for the benefit of the Zionists (Israel), he said
during a public address.
China welcomed Syria's promise to renounce chemical weapons and give
up its nerve gas arsenal, as fears of a US-led strike against Assad's regime
receded. We welcome the recent statements by the Syrian government, foreign
ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. We
hope all relevant sides can grasp this opportunity to solve the Syria problem
through diplomatic and political means, he added.
Citing ongoing incidents of murder, rape, torture, widespread attacks on
civilians and hostage-taking committed by Syrian forces and anti-Government
armed groups, a UN appointed human rights probe reported that the
perpetrators of these violations and crimes, on all sides, act in defiance of
international law. They do not fear accountability.
On 12th September, Syria sent a letter to the United Nations stating its
intention to join the chemical weapons treaty which bans the production,
stockpiling and use of the deadly weapons. The letter arrived at UN
headquarters soon after Syria announced that it was prepared to sign the
international treaty it long has rejected. The Chemical Weapons Convention
requires all parties to the treaty to declare and destroy whatever chemical
weapons they may possess.
Earlier, President Bashar al-Assad vowed to hand over Syrias chemical
weapons. Speaking to Russian television, Assad said Syria would place its
chemical weapons under foreign control in line with Moscows proposal. US
threats have not affected the decision, he said, adding that Syria planned to file
documents to the United Nations to sign an agreement on chemical arms.
Speaking in Geneva, John Kerry said Washington is not prepared to trust
the word of the Syrian regime alone that it will rid itself of chemical weapons.
He warned it was also up to Russians to show that they could deliver on the
promise of the moment. But Kerry highlighted that the US and Russia still
disagreed on who carried out a suspected sarin gas attack.
594
Kerry told Lavrov that the United States was serious as you are,
engaging in substantive meaningful negotiations. Together we will test the
Assad regimes commitment to follow through on its promises. Lavrov, who
addressed the press first, said: The solution of this problem makes unnecessary
any strikes on Syria.
Russian President took his plea against a military strike in Syria over
chemical weapons use to the US public, calling for caution and warning that
military action would unleash a new wave of terrorism. The potential strike
by the United States against Syria, despite strong opposition from many
countries and major political and religious leaders, including the pope, will
result in more innocent victims and escalation, potentially spreading the conflict
far beyond Syrias borders, Putin said.
Next day, Washington and Moscow said that they hoped talks on
dismantling Syrias chemical arsenal would open the door to wider peace
efforts. As the two met in Geneva, US Secretary of State said he and Russian
counterpart would meet again later this month probably around September 28
to try to set a date for a long-delayed peace conference.
Much of the way forward will obviously depend on the capacity to have
success here in the next day, hours, days, on the subject of the chemical
weapons, Kerry told reporters after meeting with Lavrov and the United
Nations-Arab League envoy to Syria, Lakhdar Brahimi. Lavrov said he also
hoped a basically abandoned peace plan first agreed in Geneva in June last
year would be revived.
Kerry and Lavrov are being joined in Geneva by large teams of weapons
experts, with specialists warning that any programme to dismantle Syrias
reported 1,000 tonnes of chemical weapons would be extremely complicated.
Russia has not revealed many details of its plan, but Russian media reports say
it calls for a four-step process for the weapons handover.
Meanwhile, the United Nations asked Syria for more information about
its application to join the chemical weapons convention, holding up accession.
We are in touch with the Syrian government about their application. We are
trying to obtain some further information so that the accession process can be
completed, said a UN spokesman.
President Vladimir Putin won the support of Iran and China at a regional
summit on Russias initiative for Syria to hand over its chemical weapons,
which he said had proved the serious intentions of the Damascus regime. Putin
attended the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in
Kyrgyzstan a day after President Bashar al-Assad said he supported the Russian
plan.
595
Africa
Libya: On 11th September, a car bomb damaged a Libyan foreign
ministry building in Benghazi, causing no casualties on the first anniversary of
the attack on the US consulate in the countrys second largest city. Two years
after the revolt that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is riven along regional
and tribal lines and dogged by armed violence, leaving the central government
struggling to curb the clout of rival militias and radical Islamists.
Egypt: On 8th September, former presidential candidate and opposition
leader Amr Mussa was elected head of Egypts 50-member panel that has been
tasked with drawing up a new Constitution. The panel was named a week ago
by interim president Adly Mansour to draw up a revised Constitution. Mussa
easily held off a challenge by influential lawyer Sameh Ashur, garnering 30
votes against Ashurs 16, with two abstentions and two absentees.
Mussa heads the National Salvation Front along with former UN nuclear
watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei and leftist Hamdeen Sabbahi, who like
Mussa ran against Morsi for the presidency last June. The panel comprises 50
figures drawn from a wide array of political strands. However Morsis Muslim
Brotherhood has refused to take part.
The army said nine radical Islamists were killed yesterday in north Sinai
when it launched an air and ground offensive in which nine suspects were also
arrested and three arms caches destroyed. The army has killed around 100
Islamists in Sinai over the past two months when violence surged and the
militants killed 58 policemen, 21 soldiers and 17 civilians in the region.
Egypts state prosecutor said that Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide
Mohamed Badie would stand trial in a second case over clashes in which
several demonstrators were killed. Among those to be tried with him are senior
Brotherhood member Mohammed al-Beltagui, Essam al-Erian, deputy head of
its political wing the Freedom and Justice Party, firebrand preacher Safwat
Hegazy and Morsis supplies minister Bassem Ouda. Badies first trial, on
allegations of having incited the murder of anti-Morsi protesters, is due to
resume on October 29.
On 11th September, twin car bomb blasts targeting Egypts army killed at
least six soldiers in the restive Sinai Peninsula, where the military is battling the
597
598
599
VIEWS
Syria:
A power on the ebb? President Obamas decision to attack Syria is yet
another monumental disaster in the making and raises many questions. Does the
US have the right to unilaterally go about judging and punishing nations as it
deems fit? How has it allocated this right and power to itself? Who will apply
the checks and balances? If it wants to wield this power then can it do so justly?
Will it ever apply the same standards to other international disputes like
Kashmir and Palestine and resolve them too?
The US has always been guilty of selective morality; and as a great sage
said that was worse than no morality at all! The issues of Mossadaq of Iran,
FIS of Algeria and the Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt come readily to mind
where the US toppled or blocked democratically elected leaders and parties
from gaining power just because they did not subscribe to its view of the world.
President Obama has many compulsions to deal with, some even
contradictory. If he weakens or topples the Asaad regime then it indirectly
600
strengthens the rebels and the Free Syria Army which has been massively
infiltrated by international terrorists in particular al-Qaeda. They portend a
bigger threat for US interests in the region and Israel in particular. President
Obama cannot condone or ignore the chemical attacks either. The US
intelligence has determined that they were carried out by the Syrian Defense
Forces. Other sources especially President Putin vehemently differ, though. If
President Asaad is not taken to task on the chemical attacks then President
Obama would find it even more difficult to tackle Iran or North Korea or other
similar delinquents who may threaten US and Israeli interests sometime in the
future!
Ironically, the US does not find itself in a (moral) position to carry out a
complete meaningful operation in Syria. A short, sharp and intense air-missile
campaign may allow the US to vent its anger but is unlikely to achieve much. It
is not likely to modify President Assads conduct or force him to back off. He
will simply hunker down and try to live through the barrages that crash all
around him. However, such a strategic bombing campaign will definitely create
a priceless precedent for President Obama to follow in case he decides to take
action against Iran and all others it deems in violation of international norms, in
future.
The US must realize the limits of its powers. Its policies based on
selective morality have severely compromised its credibility. Even its loyal
allies like the UK and Germany now find it difficult to stand by its unjustifiable
policies and unilateralism. Russia and China have more or less made the UN
and UNSC redundant for it because of their Vetoes. The US, on the other hand,
does not feel obliged to consider the UN a factor as it goes about single
mindedly pursuing its own national interests. Such a policy negates the very
raison detre of the UN and deals a serious blow to the stability and balance of
the international order. The US must help bring sanity back to the international
order, rehabilitate the UN and help it take charge of all conflict resolution
initiatives.
Waning powers and influence, unjust causes and unjust wars, reluctant
allies and policies devoid of moral and ethical paradigms have brought the US
to this crossroads.
Either the US will have to modify its approach to world affairs and
subject it to a moral and ethical examination, or the world will return to the
more balanced and secure multipolar global order of yore! (Imran Malik,
TheNation 9th September)
Syria: March to disaster: Look at current events in Syria in this
historical light rather than all the indignation over chemical weapons in Syria.
Besides, given that the weird Japanese cult, Aum Shinrikyo, managed to
601
produce home-made Sarin ( I just barley missed its attack on Tokyos subway),
how do we know who really made Syrias gas?
Far more important, the US Congress has become seriously corrupted by
special interest money and thats putting it gently. How else did all the Wall
Street bankers escape punishment for their egregious financial frauds and theft?
Now, other wealthy special interest in America are beating the war drums
and pulling the strings of their legislators. Israel is pushing the US hard to
destroy its old foe Syria which would remove the last Arab state capable of
offering even modest military resistance to Israel.
So it seems likely the upcoming Congressional vote may approve a
limited war. But remember mission creep from Vietnam days? Previous
estimates of a so-called limited air campaign against Iran called for over 3,200
targets to be hit repeatedly.
And who will rule Syria after President Bashar Assad is deposed or
killed? Todays Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan hardly offer a promising example
of Washington-guided democracy.
Washington is still trying to figure out what happened to Herzegovina
its not ready for Syrias maddening complexity. In fact, Id wager that most
members of the US Congress could not find Syria on a map. Ordinary taxpaying
Americans, polls show, are totally against yet another jolly little war that has no
sense to it, no exit strategy, and that offers only mayhem and confusion.
But the US chariot of the Juggernaut just jeeps rolling along. (Eric S
Margolis, TheNation 9th September)
A workable initiative: On Monday, Syrias Foreign Minister Walid alMoallem issued an official statement acknowledging that the government does
indeed possess chemical weapons but had not used them on civilians. In
addition to this statement, Al-Moallem welcomed main ally Russias proposal to
place Syrian chemical weapons under international control
Syrias acceptance to place its chemical weaponry under scrutiny should
be viewed as a turn taken in the right direction, as it indicates the regimes
willingness to cooperate with the international community and its growing
concerns about civil war. However, one should remember that the agreement
shown by the Syrian government does not vindicate its past actions against
Syrian citizens including women and children and other non-combatants. It only
reveals how terribly convoluted the situation in Syria is. In 2013 alone, more
than 70,000 Syrians have been killed in the ongoing war. The death toll keeps
increasing.
This decision also leads us to view the role of rebel forces in Syria
critically. As locals in Ghouta have claimed, the rebel corps often receive armed
602
support from foreign sources, including the United States and Saudi Arabia.
Procuring ammunition from foreign sources that undoubtedly maintain their
own multiple agendas in this war, the rebel forces openly exhibit extremist
currents that only harm innocent civilians crushed between an oppressive
monarchy and a reckless insurgent movement.
The agreement shown by Syria and Russia to place chemical weapons
under international control is viewed by the West with trite cynicism. In all of
his six major broadcast interviews, Obamas reaction to the new development
can be collectively described as unconvinced. Conscious of receiving little
support from Democrats and Republicans, and with reluctant lawmakers
scowling at his military strike plans, Obama said that follow-up to any deal was
necessary, but he was open to Syria and Russias offer. Ultimately, the Syrian
regimes openness to surrender its chemical weapons to international control is
a positive step to deter Western intervention that would result in more casualties
and even more chaos. But this doesn't mean Bashar can be let off the hook for
the crimes against his own people. (Editorial, TheNation 11th September)
Implications of Syrian war: Even before the Arab spring revolution,
anti-Americanism was rife not only in the Arab countries but also in the wider
Muslim world. Since then anti-Americanism has reached an all-time high and
there is no evidence to suggest that it will subside anytime soon. On the
contrary, American military intervention in Syria will only exacerbate such
sentiments. This is dangerous not only for America but also for West's
relationship with the Islamic world. These negative sentiments form the basis
for intellectual and political awakening in the Muslim world. It forces Muslims
to explore ways on how to become intellectually and politically independent of
American hegemony and perpetual Western interference.
Another factor closely related to negative American sentiments is
America's duplicity over the application of its ideology in the Islamic world. For
instance, why does America ignore the 100,000 or so civilians killed at the
hands of Assad by conventional means but raises a huge hue and cry when he
kills 1429 Syrians but this time through chemical weapons. Likewise why does
America choose to stand by General Sisi and allow him to use American
weapons to kill over a thousand Egyptians and not interveneSisi is only gently
reprimanded
The combination of anti-American sentiments and America's ideological
duplicity has invigorated Muslim minds to view political Islam rather than
liberal democracy as a panacea to their problems. The confidence amongst
Muslims in liberal democracy and Western solutions has been further
diminished by the sustained economic crisis in the West and the revolt against
capitalist policies stretching from Europe to Brazil. Neither have the false
Islamic pretenders such as Ennahda, Muslim brotherhood and others have
603
604
masses from establishing their state the Caliphate. (Abid Mustafa, TheNation
11th September)
Kerry on Syria: how a gaffe could stop a war: For Russia, whose
foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, seized on Kerry's rhetorical flourish and turned
it into an initiative, there is a double benefit. First, Vladimir Putin gets to pose
as the global statesman who stayed the hand of the mighty American
hyperpower. Second, Russia has its own reasons for wanting to see Syria's toxic
arsenal put beyond use. Moscow has long worried about such weaponry falling
into opposition jihadist hands should Assad fall. Spiriting it out of Syria
dampens that danger. (Tehran is said to support the latest Russian plan for
similar reasons.)
Above all, though, the scheme is a life-raft for an American president
who looked to be drowning Amid the current relief, two points are worth
stressing. First, though hardcore anti-interventionists will not be keen to admit
it, this breakthrough if that's what it proves to be only came about because
of the threat of US force. It will be very hard to pretend that Assad would have
agreed to such a move under any other circumstances; Russia did not propose it
until it suspected American missiles were on the way. For all the opposition
Obama's threatened action has generated at home and abroad, that fact surely
deserves to be recognized.
Second, there is no reason this initiative should end with the
decommissioning of chemical weapons. If the US and Russia can make this
scheme work, why can't they work together not just to prevent killing by poison
gas but on a diplomatic solution that will end all the killing in Syria? If Iran is,
even tacitly, brought into the circle on this process, why not keep that country
involved in the wider political negotiation that is surely the only way this
conflict will ever end?
Out of a moment of extreme crisis has come an opportunity. Now it's up
to all sides to seize it with both hands. (Jonathan Freedland for Guardian,
republished in TheNation 11th September)
Centre stage Syria: In the US Congress, the majority in the House of
Representatives are currently expressing antipathy on bombing Syria. It has
impelled Obama to pause and publicly voice his preference for a diplomatic
option.
In a signal that he is now stepping back from the brink, Obama indicated
that Syria is not a direct, imminent threat and told PBS-TV news on
September 9: I was elected to end wars, not start them.
The proposed attack on Syria, according to the New York Times, would
mean, in effect: an attack inside the territory of a sovereign country, without its
consent, without a self-defense rationale and without the authorization of the
605
606
never really done despite arming themselves for decades with some of the
worlds biggest defense budgets
The source close to Gulf governments said one big reason the monarchs
had hoped for Western air strikes was that this would help level the military
playing field without flooding Syria with the sort of heavy weaponry that would
be hard to deal with after the war.
Syrian rebels are still counting on Gulf support, even as international
diplomacy is expected to shift towards promoting a peace conference in
Switzerland to follow on an inconclusive meeting in Geneva last year
Khashoggi, the Saudi news station director, said the lack of help from the
West was proof that the Gulf States need to develop the capability to act
militarily on their own.
The message from the West is clear: we are not interested in your
problems, your sectarian divisions, your infighting, your Arab Spring struggles,
he said.
But few think the issue is going to wean the Saudis and other Gulf States
from their dependence on the United States to provide security, which limits
their ability to act alone.
You hear a lot of talk about not being able to rely on the US But when it
comes down to it, they continue to insist that it should be the US that takes
action, said Robert Jordan, Washingtons ambassador to Riyadh from 2001-03.
We still have a lot more in common than separates us. Theres still a very
strong convergence of national interests in resolving this crisis and we will
continue to work together even though we dont see it exactly the same way,
said Jordan. (Angus McDowall and Amena Bakr for Reuters, TheNation 13 th
September)
Engaging Syria: Policy is all about cost-benefit analysis and trade-offs.
In international relations, countries exercise their choices across the entire
spectrum of policy beginning from engagement to disengagement to outright
conflict. These involve cooperation, persuasion, dissuasion, threat, sanctions,
UN Charters and agreements, military diplomacy, force projection, blockades
and use of force. In this entire matrix, diplomacy does not cease and must lead
to limited successes to avoid a conflict and restore the peace that is equilibrium.
Within the comity of nations, each country has its own matrix of stability
and likely to clash with neighbours and global powers over it. In a unipolar
world driven by a 21st Century American activism, countries at the receiving
end enjoy limited options to exercise sovereignty in the real sense. This
leverages what Hans Morgenthau terms, smaller powers working within the
dynamics of bigger powers is curtailed by unipolarity, globalization,
607
transcending economies and floating nature of militant threats. Till such time
the world does not revert to a multi polar system, nation-states inimical to US
policies will continue to face the types of pressures Syria is passing through.
The purpose of this statement is not to defend or praise the autocratic regime in
Syria, but rather to underline the need of a more equitable equilibrium in
international politics.
Democratic revenge what Capitol Hill calls bringing democracy to the
world on the heels of a crumbling communist philosophy has been a sour
dream. It provided USA the option of projecting its global reach powered by its
Mahan Doctrine to every nook and corner of the world. Many larger countries
in Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe broke into new nation states on ethnic and
religious bases. It has resulted in American global reach into every sinew of the
target countries. Those that showed some degree of flair and resistance were
flattened by regime change operations. Behind these operations were teams of
intelligence operatives, tied aid and trade, non-governmental organisations,
special purpose think tanks and select expatriates. In countries like Egypt, Saudi
Arabia, Gulf States, Africa and Pakistan, military and intelligence diplomacy
play a parallel role in achieving objectives.
USA lacks similar paraphernalia in Syria. So the support of expatriates,
dissidents and Sunni militants mixed with enlightened moderates form the
major pincer to bring down Assad. Backing of any country that has an issue
with Syria is the name of the game.
The case of Syria is different. USA has not exhausted all available
options in engaging Syria. For regime change in Syria, time is of essence to
USA. Buoyed by regime changes in Iraq, Pakistan, Libya, Yemen, Egypt and
Africa, Syria is refusing to succumb and time is running out for USA and its
proxies.
It follows that the issue for USA is of a political and not moral nature.
USAs full support to oligarchies in Saudi Arabia and Gulf States deprives it of
the high moral pedestal to rub Assads nose in the hot sand. Neither is it a case
of human rights, equality and liberty. Had it been so, then USA is morally
compelled to pressurize oligarchies that are its allies. These regimes have poor
human right records, impose draconian laws and exploit imported manpower
akin to bonded labour. Their economic success is managed by western
multinationals and corporations which mean that USA will exercise a flexible
conscience. As written earlier, political economy in the region has been played
in a manner that any downfall would create international economic crises. So it
is only the lesser ones on whom the axe must fall.
Syria under a dictatorship had maintained its distance from the forces of
modernity whilst strengthening relations with Russia, Iran and factions in
Lebanon and Palestine. At the same time, it provided a social welfare
608
programme to its people that provided them world class education, health care
and freedom of religious practice. The regime used its cultural and religious
heritage to connect with people world over including Hezbollah and Shite
connections. In the nature of politics and state preservation, Syria therefore,
remain within its right and options to hedge its defences against Israel and the
militant Sunni onslaught being perpetuated by Saudi Arabia and Gulf States.
Consequently, with limited options available to both sides, building
bridges of engagement assumes more importance. Diplomacy working towards
peace must be given a chance.
A few days ago when the war drums were getting louder with each
statement of US Secretary of State John Kerry, the author had opined on twitter
that the most honourable and win-win option for all belligerents could be an
initiative seized by President Assad. First, the Syrian President will have to hold
an inquiry, fix blame and punish those in his regime who could have used
chemical weapons at their own initiative. Thereafter he should follow it up by
his announcement to sign the Chemical Weapons Convention. It was also
recommended that Israel and Egypt should also be persuaded to do likewise.
Within 24 hours came the Russian intervention followed by President Assads
announcement to comply. Consequently, the entire scenario and dynamics have
changed.
With these developments in full fury, President Obama appeared out of
sorts trying to justify punitive strikes in Syria through remote control. What
would he target? Hit chemical weapon stockpiles that on destruction would
wreak havoc and bring human misery; bomb all presidential palaces and offices
to Stone Age; or destroy some significant military installations? His urgency
sounded like a pleading and a confession that US State Department, Pentagon
and CIA had lost its plot in midst of un-challenged global domination. It
betrayed the reality that US political thought was self-centred and therefore
vulnerable to self-destruction. The only allies who support these strikes are
equally self-destructive Islamic monarchies.
Given the latest events, the initiative has been seized by Russia and Syria.
Military strikes will be counterproductive and trigger a wave of anti-Saudi and
anti-Gulf sentiments in the entire Muslim world. International economics could
go through a tail spin and so could the big oil companies, finance houses,
multinationals and bourses. The reaction may not be immediate but will
gradually come under its own dynamics. USAs construct of Syria will be
temporary.
While there is no doubt that Syria repeatedly called the US bluffs and
crossed the red lines, USA may have also gone beyond a point of restoring
international equilibrium. The best option is to give international diplomacy a
609
chance and build relations with Syria on its strengths. (Samson Simon Sharaf,
TheNation 14th September)
The end of US exceptionalism: In all the long history of American
presidential addresses, has there been an odder one than this? With the solemn
grandeur appropriate to a declaration of war, President Obama informed the
American people Tuesday night that a congressional vote on military action had
been postponed because Russia was brokering a diplomatic initiative that might
or might not put Syrias chemical weapons under international control. A
Gettysburg Address this wasnt.
There will be many more turns on the road to Damascus, but the politics
of these weeks since the criminal use of chemical weapons in Syria on Aug. 21
already tell us a lot about the United States. First and foremost, they tell us what
Obama acknowledged in his televised address, quoting the words of a letter sent
him by a veteran: This nation is sick and tired of war.
Yes, the shadow of being misled by Colin Powell (of all people) about the
intelligence on Saddam Husseins weapons of mass destruction hangs over this
debate, as over European ones. But thats not the main point for most
Americans. According to a New York Times/CBS poll this week, 75% of
Americans think the Syrian government probably did use chemical weapons
against Syrian civilians and still theyre overwhelmingly against the US
military response that Obama advocated.
Every one of the countless members of Congress that Ive seen
interviewed on 24/7 cable news has acknowledged this, be they Republican or
Democrat, for or against striking Syria. Only three or four out of at least 1,000
constituents hes talked to favour military action, reports Rep Elijah E
Cummings of Maryland, a Democrat and Obama supporter. Sen Rand Paul of
Kentucky, a rising star of the Republican Party, says his phone calls are 100 to
1 against war
I am writing this column on the 12th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist
attacks that launched the United States into that decade of war justifiably in
the immediate response to al-Qaeda in Afghanistan, unjustifiably and
disastrously in Iraq. This is a very different America now. Maybe after some
years spent putting its own house in order, it will come back as for all its
many faults and hypocrisies the indispensable anchor of some kind of liberal
international order. But given not just its structural domestic problems but above
all the changing global power constellation around it, I somehow doubt it.
To the many critics and downright enemies of America, in Europe and
around the globe, I say only this: If you didnt like that old world in which the
United States regularly intervened, just see how you like the new one in which
it does not. (Timothy Garton Ash, TheNation 14th September)
610
Another jolly little war: Lets face some hard facts about the vicious
conflict in Syria. If the US directly attacks Syria, the real cause will not be the
recent chemical attacks. What are 300 or so dead in a 2-year old war fuelled by
the western powers that has so far killed over 100,000?
Chemical weapons are horrible. So are bullets, shells, bombs, cluster
bombs, fuel-air explosive, white phosphorus, and napalm. All wars are crime
writ large.
We dont yet know if the recent chemical massacre in Damascus was a
real chemical attack using Sarin nerve gas, a rebel provocation, an industrial
accident, or an attack by rogue Syrian army units? After Iraq, we cant trust
western intelligence and so-called evidence.
This is not even the main issue at hand though it makes an excellent
pretext for outside powers to intervene.
The Syrian conflict is a proxy war being waged against Iran by the United
States, conservative Arab oil producers, and three former Mideast colonial
powers, Britain, France and Turkey who are seeking to restore their domination
in the region. Israel, hoping to isolate Hezbollah and cement its annexation of
Syrias Golan Heights, cheers from the sidelines. Syria and Hezbollah are Irans
only Arab friends.
The US and allies ignited the anti-Assad uprising two years ago, using the
underground Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and imported jihadis. But Assads
forces, with some limited help from Russia, Iran and Lebanons Hezbollah, held
on and are now beating the US-backed rebels.
Back in 1990, I was in Baghdad covering the lead-up to the first US war
against Iraq. I found four British scientific technicians who told me and
showed documents that they had been sent by Her Majestys government to
help Iraqs biowarfare programs.
The four scientists were stationed at Salman Pak laboratories to
manufacture four types of germ weapons for Iraq for use against Iran, including
anthrax and q-fever. The feeder stocks for the germ weapons came from a US
lab in Maryland; their export was okd by Washington. I repeatedly reported on
this grim discovery.
During the long, bloody Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), the US, Britain, Italy
and Germany exported chemical weapons plants and raw material to Iraq that
produced Sarin nerve gas and burning mustard gas. Many thousands of Iranian
soldiers were killed, horribly burned or blinded by these western-supplied
weapons.
611
So a little less western moral outrage, please, particularly from the Brits
whose own sainted Winston Churchill authorized the use of poison gas against
rebellious Iraqi and Afghan tribesmen.
Lets also recall how North Vietnam was drenched with the toxic Agent
Orange, how the resisting Iraq city of Falluja was showered by white
phosphorous, how Iraq was permanently contaminated by radioactive depleted
uranium. These foul weapons also kill babies.
At least many Americans seem to have learned caution from the
campaign of neocon lies that led them into the 2003 Iraq invasion, one of the
biggest disasters and shames in US history. Even some usually bellicose
Republicans are urging the Nobel Peace prize winner in the White House and
his entourage of bloodthirsty liberals to slow his rush to war and consult
Congress.
More tellingly, Gen. Colin Powell, who disgraced himself before the
world by parroting the Bush administrations lies about Iraq now also urges
caution over Syria.
Powell is right. The US has lost its last two crusades in Afghanistan and
Iraq. The US has no strategic interests in Syria beyond an obsession to
overthrow Irans disobedient government.
Washingtons Syrian misadventure threatens to put the US on a very
perilous collision course with Russia, Syrias close ally. So far, Russia has
sought a diplomatic solution, but its most unwise to push tough Vladimir Putin
too hard. Syria is as close to Russia as northern Mexico is to the United States.
Courting even the remote threat of a possible nuclear confrontation with
Russia just to overthrow President Assad, a former US ally, is the height of
irresponsibility. (Eric S Margolis, TheNation 16th September)
Egypt
Egypt out of focus but in critical state: While the focus of international
attention has shifted to Syria, interest in Egypt is on the wane.
The Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) has tabled a sevenpoint agenda urging an inclusive political dialogue within Egypt and necessary
support by the European Union, the US and international institutions for a
genuine social, economic and political structural reform not only in Egypt but
also in the region
The Arab NGO proposes a seven-point approach for resolving in a
credible and effective manner what it calls a dangerous crisis for Egyptian and
Arab civil society organisations:
First: Putting an end to violence.
612
Muslims
We, the blind, deaf, mute people! Imagine the enormity of our ruling
elites misconceptions. The US and its allies in the last 15 years have militarily
intervened 9 times in the Islamic world killing over an estimated one million
Muslims. Ironically, our ruling class continues to insist that our hostile national
political attitude towards our friends (the US and its western allies) is the
result of our extremist political and religious views. Dont they understand the
cause-effect relationship between perception-building and cross-national
projection of political conduct?
613
While our national leadership continues dreaming (and insists that we,
too, dream with them) what the nation has in reality are nightmares of the lethal
fire of drone attacks killing Pakistani citizens as well as a covert US program to
neutralize this nations nuclear assets. It has been revealed that a major portion
of the $52.6 billion US intelligence arsenal is intensively focused on the
surveillance of Pakistans nuclear arms (cited in a recent report based on
documents provided to the Washington Post by former intelligence contractor
Edward Snowden).
The irony and irrationality of our ruling elites political conduct is that
they are still determined to do business as usual with the US. Gideon Polya, in a
recent article, has meticulously listed the US military invasion of 70 nations and
establishing political control over 191 governments since 1776. Are we
expecting a major transformation of political behavior in a nations concept of
global politics suddenly just because Obama once said, Yes, we can? How
elusive and unrealistic an expectation can we possibly nourish in the context of
this prevailing scenario? Indeed, it is ludicrous to entertain such a possibility, is
it not?
Another problematic factor in the political conduct of Pakistans ruling
elite has been its lack of vision for Pakistans position in the contemporary
evolving dynamics in the political arena of world politics, particularly the
events surrounding Islamic nations. Historically, Pakistani leadership has been
held back by its absolute compliance to the dictates of our friends in exchange
for financial handouts. This political behavior must change now: For instance, it
is generally believed that Pakistans top leadership in Islamabad has an
extremely close and cordial relationship with the Saudi monarchy. It is an
opportune moment for the Pakistani leadership to initiate a fresh initiative of
diplomatic engagement with the Saudi kingdom on the basis of equality and a
mutually instructive and constructive relationship between the two nations:
Setting aside the historical complacent attitude by the Pakistani rulers, the
Saudis should be advised to reject its present religious orthodoxy in exchange
for greater stability among Islamic nations, promoting peace, prosperity and
solidarity all over the Muslim world. It is common knowledge that, historically,
Medina has tolerated and, indeed, cultivated Islams global diversity of belief
and practice in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis ought to undertake this leading role
once again the Pakistani leadership should tell the Saudis so.
Pakistans incumbent leadership should make a forceful diplomatic
initiative to bring Saudi Arabia and Iran closer to each other, and through the
OIC, guarantee Saudi and other Gulf countries sovereignty, stability, and
security while promoting the principle of non-intervention in the national affairs
of other Islamic nations. It is time for Pakistan to take a leading role in bringing
all Islamic nations on the same page and help turn the Islamic bloc into a
powerful player in present-day global politics.
614
Indeed, it is a most arduous task. But then, who said that political
correctness is a bed of roses? So far, there has been a lack of vision and an
acute shortage and deficit of political correctness in the political behavior of
Pakistans leadership.
Let us hope that Professor Mashkoor Hussain Yad turns out to be wrong
in his poetic eloquence.
Or will we face the music as our enemies are knocking at our door with
a US-led western push for a New World Order? (Dr Haider Mehdi, TheNation
12th September)
Europe
France moves to toughen ban on religion in schools: France on
Monday unveiled a new charter designed to reinforce rules banning religion
from schools which have been a recurring cause of tension with Muslims and
other faiths.
The Charter for Secularity in School, is to be displayed in poster form
in every state-funded school in the country in a move pioneered by the Socialist
government's education minister, Vincent Peillon.
The 15-point statement contains nothing new in legal terms.
Instead, Peillon says, it represents an attempt to promote better
understanding, and more consistent enforcement, of long-established principles
which have their roots in the anti-clericalism of the French revolution and the
country's 1905 law enforcing a strict separation of church and state.
Peillon's initiative was greeted coolly by leaders of France's five million
Muslims, some of whom see the aggressive promotion of secularity as an
assault on their culture and traditions.
Recent years have seen a string of legal disputes arising from the
exclusion from school of girls wearing headscarves in defiance of a 2004 law
which prohibits the wearing of ostentatious religious symbols.
Dalil Boubakeur, the chairman of the French Muslim Council, said the
charter's emphasis on that law and to the equality of girls and boys amounted to
allusions to Islam which would trigger concern in the community.
Ninety percent of Muslims are going to have the feeling they are being
targeted by this charter, Boubakeur told AFP.
That interpretation was rejected by Peillon. Secularity is about the
equality of everyone in the Republic. There are those who think it is all about
banning things. In fact it was what allows us to live together freely.
The charter starts out by emphasizing that France respects all faiths and
that the state is neutral in regard to them.
615
REVIEW
President Obama was quite impatient to punish yet another defiant Muslim
ruler, but Russian President came in the way. This has a lesson to be learnt by
those who rule Islamic world: Had the Muslim rulers been united the Crusaders
would have dared not perpetrating death and destruction for the last twelve
years.
Some observers may say that Russian President tried to block Obamas
way to protect his countrys regional interests, but the matter is not as simple as
that. Few factors have encouraged Putin to do what he did in opposing the US
military strikes against Syria.
The factor that merits mention first of all is the resilience of Syrian
President. The second factor has been the decision of Iran to stand with virtually
isolated Bashar al-Assad. Pakistan surprised many by taking unexpected stand
to oppose US strikes against Syria.
The lesson to be learnt from this is that had leaders of Muslim world shown
some unity in the last twelve years, the death and destruction that the Crusaders
perpetrated could have been avoided to a great extent. But the rulers who are
blinded by the desire to prolong their rule are not like to learn this lesson.
15th September, 2013
617
Nadir Afghan sheh-e-dervaish khoo; rehmat-e-Haq ber rawaan-e-oo.
[Nadir Shah Wali-e-Afghanistan dervaish-khoo padshah thha; oss ki rooh-ePak per Allah Taala ki rehmat ho.]
Nadir, the Afghan monarch, meek in the spirit like a dervesh, blessings of God
on his noble soul;
Kar-e-millat mohkam az tadbir-e-oo; hafiz Deen-e-Mobin shamshir-e-oo.
[Oss ki tadbir sey millat kay moamlaat ko istihkaam hasil hoa; oss ki talwar ney
Deen-e-Mobin ki hifazat ki.]
Affairs of the nation sound by his sagacity, his sword protector of the luminous
Faith;
Chon Abuzar khod godaz andar namaz; zarbatash hungaam-kein khara
godaz.
[Abu Zar Ghaffari (R.A.) ki tarah onn ki namaz mein khashoa-o-khazoa thha
magar bawaqt-e-jihad onn ki namaz ki tarah (onn ki tarah talwar) pathar
shagaf thhi.]
Like Abu Dhar melting himself in prayer, his blow in fight shattering rocks.
618
Ehad-e-Siddiq (R.A.) az jamalash tazah shod; ehad-e-Farooq (R.A.) az
jalalsh tazah shod.
[Onn kay jamal sey ehad-e-Siddiq (R.A.) ki yaad tazah hoeyi aur onn kay jalal
sey ehad-e-Farooq (R.A.) ki.]
The time of Siddiq was renewed by his grace. The days of Farooq made afresh
by his glory.
Az ghum-e-Deen dar dilash choon lalah dagh; dar shabby-e-Khawar wajoode-oo chiragh.
[Onn kay dil mein gul-e-lalah ki manind Deen (ki mohabat) ka dagh moujood
thha; Aisia ki taarik raat mein onn ka wajood chiragh ki haisiyat rakhhta hai.]
Bearer of anguish for the Faith like a tulip, in the night of the East his person a
lamp;
Dar nigahash musti-e-arbab-e-zouq; johar-e-janash sarapa jazb-o-shouq.
[Onn ki nigah mein arbab-e-zouq ki musti thhi; jazb-o-shouq onn ki jan ka
johar thha.]
In his sight the ecstasy of inspired men, the essence of his life charged with
fervour.
Khosravi shamshir-o-dervaishi nigah; her duo gohar az moheet-e-la ilah.
[Onn ki talwar Khosrovanah aur nigah dervaishanah thhi aur yeh duonon moti
onnhein la ilah kay behar sey millay thhey.]
Kingship, a sword, and darveshism, the inner sight, both these are pearls from
the sea of La Ilah!
619
Ein duo qowwat az wajood-e-Momin ast; ein qayam-o-aan sajood-e-Momin
ast.
[Yeh duonon qowwatein Momin kay wajood sey qaim hein shahi ka taaloq
qayam sey aur faqr ka sajdey sey.]
Both these powers spring from a believers self, one is the Qayam and the other
prostration.
Faqr-o-soz-o-dard-o-dagh-o-aarzoo ast; faqr ra dar khoon tapeidan aabroo
ast.
[Faqr soz, dard, dagh aur aarzoo sey marakkib hai apney khoon mein tarrapna
faqr ki aabroo hai.]
Faqr is all feling, pain, scalds and aspiration; its glory lies in rolling in blood.
Faqr-e-Nadir aakhar andar khoon tapeid; aafrin ber faqr aan mard-eshaheed.
[Nadir Shah ka faqr aakher apney khoon mein tarrpa; oss mardey shaheed kay
faqr per aafrin sadd aafrin.]
Felicitations without end to the Faqr of this martyr.
Ay saba! Ay reh-e-naward-e-taizgam; dar tawwaf-e-marqadash narmak
kharam.
[Ay saba! Ay taizgaam mosafir oss kay marqad ka tawwaf kartey waqt zara
ahistah chal.]
620
O breeze, O traveler with high speed; my winged Hermes, blow softly in going
round his grave;
Shah dar khwab ast pa ahistah neh; ghonchah ra ahistah-ter bakosha girah.
[Padshah sou gaya hai, ahistah paon rakhh; ghonchah ki girah bhi aahistagi
sey khhol.]
The King is asleep, lay your feet softly, open the knot of the bud even more
gently.
Az hazoor-e-oo mera farmaan raseid; aankeh jan-e-tazah dar khakam
dameid.
[Oss ki taraf sey mojhey farman pohncha aur oss farman ney meyrey badan
mein naeyi rooh phhonk di.]
I received a message from his glorious self, which infused new life in me. It ran:
Sokhtam az garmi-e-awaz-e-tou; ay khosh aan quomay keh daadand raaz-etou.
[Hum teyri awaz ki garmi sey sokhtah hein kaya khosh qismat hai woh quom
jiss ney teyra raaz pa liya.]
I was burnt sere O! By your fiery lay, how happy the nation which knows your
intent.
Az ghum-e-tou millat-e-ma aashnast; mi-shinasam ein nawa-ha az kojast
[Millat-e-Afghaniyah bhi teyrey ghum sey aashna hai; hum jantey hein keh yeh
naghmay kahan sey othh rehey hein.]
Our nation knows well your heart-ache, we know from where these notes arise.
621
Yakk zaman dar kohsar-e-ma darakhsh; ishq ra baaz aan tabb-o-taabey beh
bakhsh.
[Hamarey kohsar mein bhi kochh arsey kay leay chamak aur ishq ko dobarah
wohi tabb-o-taab atta kar.]
Shine awhile on our mountains; grant once again the same burning fever.
Ta koja dar bund-ha baashi aseer; tou Kalimi rah-e-Sinaiy bagir.
[Tou kabb takk bunhanon mein moqiyyad rehey ga; tou Kalim hai Wadi-eSeina ki raah ikhtiyar kar.]
How long will you remain bound in chains? You are a Moses, take to the path of
Sinai.
Taey namoodam bagh-o-ragh-o-dasht-o-dar; choon saba bagozashtam az
koh-o-kamar.
[Mein ney bagh, wadi aur dasht-o-dar taey kiay; aur saba ki manind koh-okamar per sey gozar gaya.]
I passed over gardens and villas, plains and terrains, barren and dry, stopping
over hills and mountains like the breeze.
Khyber az mardaan-e-Haq biganah neist; dar dil-e-oo sadd hazar afsanah
eist.
[Khayber Allah Taala kay bundon sey na-ashna naheen hai; oss kay dil mein
hazaron daastanein mehfooz hein.]
622
Khayhar is not unfamiliar with godly men; its breast is full of thousand stories.
Jadah kum deidam azo paichidah-ter; ya deh gardad dar kham-e-paichash
nazar.
[Iss sey ziyadah paichidah rastah mien ney kum he deikhha hai; iss kay kham-opaich mein nazar ghhabra jaati hai.]
I have seldom seen paths more intricate and criss cross, the sight gets lost in
their winding courses.
Sabzah dar damaan-e-kohsar majooey; az zamirash ber niyabad rung-obooey.
[Oss kay paharron kay daman mein sabzah nah dhond; oss kay zamir kay
andar sey rung-o-boo paida naheen hota.]
Seek not grass in its barren crags; colour and scent arise not from its core.
Sar zaminay kobak-e-oo shaheen mazaj; aahooey oo geerad az sheraan
khiraj.
[Yeh aisi sarzamin hai jahan ka chakor shaheen ka mazaaj rakhhta hai aur
jahan ka heran sheron sey khiraj wasool karta hai.]
It is a land whose partridges have the temper of a hawk;
Dar fazaish jurrah bazaan taiz chung; larzah ber tun az naheeb shan-echung.
[Oss ki faza mein aisey taiz punjon waaley nar baaz hein jinn ki haibat sey
cheeton per bhi larzah taari ho jata hai.]
In its clime white fierce falcons with sharp talons, the leopard starts trembling
by their fear.
623
Fur-e-bazaan neist dar perwaz-e-shan; az tadrawaan pust-ter pervaaz-e-shan.
[Onn ki perwaz mein baazon ki sei shaan naheen; balkeh onn ki perwaz
chirriyuon sey bhi pust hai.]
No majesty of falcons in its peoples flight, which is less even than that of
pheasants.
Aah quomay bey tabb-o-taab-e-hayat; rozgarish bey nasib az wardaat.
[Afsos oss quom per jo zindagi ki tabb-o-taab sey tehi hai; aur jiss kay shabb-oroz naey kaarnamon sey binasib hein.]
Alas! This nation without the glow of life! Its time is devoid of happenings;
Aan yakkey andar sajood ein dar qayam; kaarobarish choon salaat-e-bey
imam.
[Koeyi sajdey mein parra hai aur koeyi qayam mein khharra hai; onn kay
moamlaat bey jamaat namaz ki tarah hein.]
One is lying prostrate and the other standing up, its condition is just like a
prayer without an Imam.
!
Raiz Riz az sung-e-oo meina-e-oo; Aah! Az imroz bey farad-e-oo.
[Oss quom ki meina oss kay pathhar he sey raizah raizah hai; afsos oss kay
haal per jis ka koeyi mostaqbil naheen.]
Its flask shattered to pieces by its own stone; Alas! This parlous state a today
without the morrow.
624
The first after Tamhid tiltled Khatab beh aqwam-e-sarhad has been
included in last chapter of Volume-I. The next poem is reproduced below.
THE TRAVELER ENTERS KABUL AND VISITS MAUSOLEUM OF TH
E LATE MARTYR KING
Mosafir warid mishawad beh shehar-e-Kabul-o-hazir mishawad bahazoor-eAalihazrat Shaheed
[Mosafir Shehar-e-Kabul mein warid hota hai aur Ameer Nadir Shah ki
khidmat mein haazri deyta hai.]
Shehar-e-Kabul khitah-e-Jannat nazir; aab-e-haiwan az rug-e-takash bagir.
[Shehar-e-Kabul! Khitah-e-jannat nazir hai; wahan angooron kay rus sey
aab-e-hayat hasil kar.]
The city of Kabul; its clime resembling paradise. You get the Water of Life from
the vein of its grapes;
Chashm-e-Saib az sawadash sormah chein; roshan-o-paindah baad aan
sarzamin.
[Saib ki ankhh ney oss shehar kay hosan sey roshani hasil ki; (Allah Taala)
oss sarzamin ko roshan-o-paindah rakhhein.]
The eye of poet acquires collyrium from its precincts. (Allah may keep) this
land bright for ever.
Dar zalaam-e-shabb saman zaarash nigar; ber bisaat-e-sabzah mi-ghultad
sehar.
[Raat ki taarikiyuon mein oss ka saman-zaar deikhh; (yuon maaloom hota
hai) jaisey sabzay ki bisaat per sobh lout pout ho rehi ho.]
Observe its jesamine beds in the darkness of night. You would say as if the
dawn lolls on the carpet of its grass.
625
Aab-e-oo boraaq-o-khakash taabnak; zindah az mouj-e-nasimash, mordah
khak.
[Oss ka paani shafaf aur khak chamakdar hai; oss ki nasim ki mouj sey mordah
zamin zindah ho jaati hai.]
Its water so glittering and earth radiant, the dead earth springs into life with its
pleasant draughts.
Nayad andar harf-e-sout-e-asrar-e-oo; aaftaban-e-khoftah dar kohsar-e-oo.
[Oss kay asrar alfaaz-o-awaz mein naheen samatey; oss kay kohsar mein kaeyi
aaftab khwabidah hein.]
Its excellence cannot fall into the grasp of words; expressions, suns upon suns
lapped in sleep in its mountains;
Saaknanash siar chashm-o-khosh gohar; misl-e-taigh az johar-e-khod bey
khabar.
[Wahan kay rehney waaley siar chashm aur sharif-un-nafas hein; laikan
talwar ki manind apney johar sey bikhabar hein.]
Its inhabitants complacent and genial unware of their mettle like a sword.
Qasr-e-sultani keh naamash Dilkoshast; zairaan ra gard-e-raahash
kimiyast.
[Shahi mehal jiss ka naam Dilkosha hai; oss kay rastey ki gard zaireen kay
leay kimiya hai.]
626
The royal palace named Dilkusha (Heart-Ease). The dust on its way is like
alchemy for those who come to it.
Shah ra deidum aan kaakh-e-boland; paish-e-sultaney faqirey dardmand.
[Mien ney oss boland mehal (kay baasi) sey molaqaat ki; wahein yeh dardmand
faqir Sultan ki khidmat mein hazir hoa.]
I met the king in his Ifty place-a poor faqir in the presence of a monarch.
Kholq-e-oo aqleem-e-dilha ra kashood; rasm-o-aein-o-malook aanja nabood.
[Padshah ka kholq dilon kay leay bais-e-kashood thha; wahan padshahon
kay rasoom-o-adaab nah thhey.]
His courteous nature opened wide the partals of hearts, nothing in the way of
ways and formalities of kings.
Mun hazoor-e-aan sheh wala gohar; bey nawa mardey beh darbar-e-Umar
(R.A.)
[Mien oss sheh wala gohar kay hazoor yuon thha jaisey Hazarat Farooq-eAzam kay darbar mein koeyi bey nawa shakhs.]
This humble one in the presence of that noble king was like an insignificant
person in the court of Umar the great Caliph.
Janam az soz-e-kalamash dar godaaz; dast-e-oo boseidam az raah-e-niaz.
[Oss kay kaam kay soz sey meyra qalb godaz ho gaya; mien ney niazmandi sey
oss kay haath ko bosah diya.]
My heart melt with the warmth of his hand, I kissed his hand out of humility.
Paadshahey khosh kalam-o-sadah posh; sakht kosh-o-narm khooey-o-garm
josh.
627
[Woh sadah labas aur khosh kalam badshah; sakht kosh, narm-khoo aur garam
josh thha.]
A king pleasant of speech and plainly clad, hard in striving, mild of nature and
warm-hearted.
Sidq-o-ikhlaas az nigahash aashkar; Deen-o-doulat az wajoodash ostawar.
[Oss ki nigah sey sidq-o-ikhlaas zahir thhey oss ka wajood Deen-o-dunya kay
istihkaam ka bais thha.]
Sincerity and frankness apparent from his locks. Both Faith and realm firm in
his person.
Khaki-o-az Nooriyan pakeezah-ter; az moqam-e-faqr-o-shahi bakhabar.
[Thha woh khaki magar farishton sey ziyadah pakeezah; woh faqr-o-shahi
duonon moqamaat sey bakhabar thha.]
Of earth earthly but purer than angels luminous; cognisant of both modesty and
kingship.
Dar nigahash rozgar-e-Sharq-o-Gharb; hekmat-e-oo raazdar-e-Sharq-oGharb.
[Mashriq-o-Maghrib (duonon) kay halat per oss ki nigah thhi; oss ki danaeyi
Mashriq-o-Maghrib duonon ki (siyasat) kay raaz jaanti thhi.]
In his sight the affairs of both East and West; his sagacity knowing their secrets
alike.
Sheharyarey choon hakimaan noktahdan; raazdan-e-mud-o-jazar-e-imtaan.
[Yeh padshah falsafiyuon ki tarah noktahdan aur quomon kay arooj-o-zawal
kay (asbab) sey bakhabar thha.]
A king knowing subtle matters well like a sage knowing the causes of rise and
fall of nations.
628
Goft az aan aatish keh daari dar badan; mun tera danam aziz khwaishtan.
[Oss ney (mojh) sey kaha keh tou apney badan mein jo aag rakhhta hai oss ki
wajah sey mien tojhey apna aziz samajhta hon.]
He said with the fire that you have in mind, I hold you as dear as my own son.
Her keh oo ra az mohabat rung-o-boost; dar nigahum Hashim-o-Mehmoode-oost.
[Jiss kay andar mohabat ki rung-o-boo moujood hai; meyri nigah mein wohi
Hashim-o-Mehmood (Nadir Shah ka bhai) hai.]
Anyone who bears scent and hue of love is like Hashim and Mahmud in my
eyes.
Dar hazoor aan Mosilman-e-karim; hadiyah aawurdam z-Quraan-e-Azim.
[Mien ney oss moazaz Mosilman ki khidmat mein Quraan-e-Karim ka hadiyah
paish kiya.]
I presented a copy of the glorious Quran to this noble Muslim as a gift.
Goftam ein sarmayah-e-ehl-e-Haq ast; dar zamir-e-oo hayat-e-motliq ast.
[Mien ney kaha yeh kitab ehl-e-Haq ka sarmayah hai; hayat-e-motliq (asbabo-wasail sey bey niaz) issi mein hai.]
I said this is the whole and sole substance of men and God; it contains the very
essence of life in all its absoluteness.
629
Andaro her ibtida ra intiha ast; Haider az nairvey oo Khyber koshast.
[Iss kay andar her ibtida ki intiha hai; Haider-e-Karar (R.A.) issi ki badoulat
Faateh-e-Khyber hoay.]
Therein is the endpoint of all beginnings. By virtue of it, Haider threw open the
gate of Khaiber.
Nashah-e-harfam bakhoon-e-oo daweid; danah danah ashk az chashmash
chakeid.
[Meyrey alfaaz ka nashah oss kay khoon mein dourr gaya; oss ki ankhh sey
qatrah qatrah ansoo tappkaney lagay.]
The intensity of my words ran into his blood and tears upon tears trickled from
his eyes in serried train.
Goft Nadir dar jahan bey charah bood; az ghum-e-Deen-o-watan aawarah
bood.
[Oss ney kaha Nadir dunya mein bey yaar madadgar thha (ghum-e-Deen-owatan mein ghultan rehta thha.]
He said, I, Nadir, was a helpless one bewildered because of the sad plight of the
Faith and homeland;
Koh-o-dasht az iztirabam bey khabar; az ghuman-e-bey hisabam bey khabar,
[Paharr-o-jungle meyrey iztiraab-o-ghum-e-bey hisab sey bey khabar thhey.]
Hills arid tracts were unaware of my perturbation, ignorant of my boundless
sorrows.
Nalah ba-baang-e-hazar amaikhtam; ashk ba jooey bahar amaikhtam.
630
[Mien ney apni fariyad ko bang-e-hazar aur apney askon ko jooey bahar sey
amaikhtah kiya.]
I raised cries with the note of the nightingale mixing my tears with the stream
aflow in spring.
Ghair Quraan ghumgosar mun nabood; qowwatash her baab ra ber mun
kashood.
[Sawaey Quraan Pak kay aur meyra koeyi ghumgosar nah thha; pher oss ki
qowwat sey mojh per kamiyabi ka her darwazah khhol gaya.]
I had no solace except that of the Quran; it powers opened all doors to me.
Goftgooey khosrovey wala nazzad; baaz ba mun jazbah-e-sarshar daad.
[Oss boland nasab padshah ki goftgoo ney mojhey duobarah jazbay sey sarshar
kar diya.]
The words of that king of high lineage caused again an upsurge in me.
Waqt-e-asr aamad sadaey salaat; aan keh Momin ra konad pak az jehaat.
[Asr ka waqt hoa aur azan ki awaz aeyi; namaz woh cheez hai jo Momin ko
jehaat ki hadood sey boland-ter kar deyti hai.]
The call of noon prayer arose awhile which rids a believer of all limits.
Intihaey ashiqaan soz-o-godaz; kardam andar iqtidaey oo namaz.
[Ishq ki intiha soz-o-godaz hai; mien ney oss kay pichhay namaz ada ki.]
The climax of ardent love is nothing but intense feeling, so I performed the
prayer in his lead.
Raaz-haey aan qayam-o-aan sajood; joz beh bazm-e-mehraman natwaan
kashood.
631
[Oss namaz kay qiyam-o-sajood kay raaz sirf apnon he ki bazm mein biyan
kiay ja sakktey hein.]
The secret of that standing and prostrating cannot be told except to thode who
are close associates.
AT THE TOMB OF THE HEAVEN-RESTING EMPEROR BABUR
Ber Mazar-e-Shahenshah Babur Khold Ashiyani.
[Shahenshah Babur Khold Ashiyani kay Mazar per.]
Biya keh saaz-e-Farang az nawa ber aftaad ast; daroon-e-pardah-e-oo
naghmah neist fariyad ast.
[Othh keh saaz-e-Farang naghmon kay baghair parra hai; abb oss saaz kay
pardah kay andar naghmah naheen, fariyad hai.]
Come, for the harp of the West has fallen out of tune. There is no note in its
chords but only a wail.
Zamanah kohnah bottaan ra hazar bar aarast; mun az Haram nagozashtam
keh pokhtah boniyad ast.
[Zamaney ney hazar-ha poraney botton ko aarastah kar keh paish kiya;
(magar) mien ney Haram ko naheen chhorra, kiyuonkeh yeh pokhtah boniyad
hai.]
Time has thousand times adorned old idols; I have not swerved from the Harem
because it has a firm foundation.
Darafsh Millat-e-Usmaniyan dobarah boland; chih goeymat keh beh
Taimooriyan chih aftaad ast.
[Usmaniyuon ka jhanda duobarah boland hoa; tojhey kaya bataon keh
Taimooriyuon per kaya aftaad aan parri.]
The banner of the Ottomans has risen high again, I know not what has befallen
the Timurids.
632
Khosha nasib keh khak-e-tou aarmeid ein-ja; keh ein zamin z-talism-eFarang azad ast.
[Tou kaisa khosh nasib hai keh teyra jasad-e-khaki oss sarzamin mein aaram
kar raha hai jo Farangiyuon kay talism sey azad hai.]
How happy that your body has found rest here. For this land is free from the
witchcraft of the West.
Hazar martabah Kabul niko-ter az Dilli ast; keh aan ajowazah-e-aroos hazar
damaad damaad ast.
[Kabul Dilli sey hazaar bar behtar hai; kiyuonkeh woh borrhiya hazaron ki
dolhan bani.]
Kabul is thousand times better than Delhi which has been the bride of so many
bridegrooms.
Daroon-e-deidah nigah daaram ashk-e-khoonein ra; keh mun faqiram-o-ein
doulat-e-Khodadad ast.
[Mien apni ankhh mein khoonein ansoo sanbhaley hoay hon; kiyuonkeh
mien faqir hon aur mojhey doulat-e-Khodadad hasil hai.]
I preserve the bloody tears in my eyes because I am a poor faqir and this is Godgiven wealth.
Agarchih Pir-e-Haram wird-e-la ilah daarad; koja nigah keh borindah-ter zpoulaad ast.
[Agarchih Pir-e-Haram la ilah ka wird rakhhta hai; (magar) woh nigah kahan
jo talwar sey taiz-ter ho.]
Although the High Priest of the Harem keeps reciting LA ILAH; where is the
glance sharper than a steel blade?
VISITING GHAZNI AND OFFERING REVERENCE TO HAKIM
SANAI
633
Safar beh Ghazni-o-Ziarat-e-Mazar-e-Hakin Sanai.
[Ghazni ka Safar aur Hakim Sanai kay Mazar ki ziarat.]
Az nawaz shehai sultan-e-shaheed; sobh-o-shaamam, sobh-o-shaam roz-eEid.
[Sultan Shaheed (Nadir Shah) ki nawazishaat ki wajah sey meyrey sobh-oshaam Eid ki sobh-o-shaam ki tarah gozar rehey thhey.]
By the favour of the martyred King, my mornings and evenings were as
pleasant as those of Eid.
Noktah sanj Khawaraan Hindi faqir; mihmaan khosro-kaiwan sarir.
[Yeh Hindi faqir jo Mashriq kay ramooz paish karta hai; boland martbat
badshah ka mehman thha.]
Bar of the East, the Indian faqir, was guest unto that monarch with Saturn as
throne.
Ta z-shehar-e-khosrovi kardam safar; shod safar ber mun sobak-ter az
hazzar.
[Yahan takk keh mien ney shehar-e-shah (Kabul) sey iss tarah safar kiya keh
safar meyrey leay qayam sey ziyadah aasan thha.]
Ever since I moved from the royal city, travelling became lighter for me than
sojourn.
Seinah bakoshadam beh aan baadey keh par; lalah rast az faiz-e-oo dar
kohsar.
[Mien ney oss hawa kay leay apna seinah khhola; jiss kay faiz sey kol kohsar
mein lalah kay phhool khhilay thhey.]
634
I opened my breast to the breeze by which tulips had sprung up the past year in
the mountains.
Aah! Ghazni aan harim-e-ilm-o-fun; marghazar-e-sher mardan-e-kohan.
[Aah woh ghazni kabhi ilm-o-fun ka markaz aur qadeen sher mardon ka
marghazar thha.]
Alas! Ghazni, the home of learning and art, the hunting ground of lion-hunters
of yore;
Doulat-e-Mehmood ra zeba aroos; az hina-bandaan oo danaey toos.
[Jo sultanat-e-Mehmood ki khoobsurat dulhan (daar-ul-khilafah) thha; Firdausi
oss ki zeb-o-zaaeenat mein azafah ka bais bana.]
A beautiful bride of Mahmuds realm, of whose henna-dyed adorners one was
the Sage of Tus.
Khoftah dar khakash Hakim Ghaznavi; az nawaey oo dil-e-mardan qawwi.
[Oss ki khak mein woh dana (sanai) soya parra hai; jiss kay naghmon sey
mardon kay dil qawi hoay.]
In it resting in eternal sleep the Ghaznavid sage too by whose voice the hearts of
men grew strong.
Aan Hakim-e-ghaib, aan sahib-e-moqam; Turk josh Rumi az zikarash
tamam.
[Woh hakim-e-ghaib, woh sahib-e-moqam; jiss kay afkaar ney Rumi (R.A.) kay
neim pokhtah jazb ki takmeel ki.]
That seer of the unseen, man of high station by whose iteration Rumis passion
rose to a climax.
635
Oo niqab az chehra aiman kashood; fikr-e-mun taqdir-e-Momin wa-namood.
[Oss ney aiman kay chehray sey niqab othhaya; meyrey fikr ney Mosilman ki
taqdir (mostaqbil) sey pardah hutaya.]
He raised the veil from the face of Faith and my thought indicated the destiny of
a believer.
Her duo ra az hekmat-e-Quraan sabaq; oo z-Haq goeyad mun az mardan-eHaq.
[Hum duonon ney Quraan Pak ki hekmat sey faiz paya; woh Allah Taala ki
baat karta hai aur mien ehl-e-Allah ki.]
Both learnt their lesson from Quranic Wisdom. He speaks of God while I speak
of godly folk.
Dar fazaey marqad-e-oo sokhtam; ta mataa-e-nalaheyi andokhtam.
[Oss kay marqad ki faza ki hararat ney mojhey jala diya; tabb mien ney foghan
ki mataa jamaa ki.]
I felt afire in the tombs atmosphere to such an extent that I became apprized of
a cry.
Goftam ay beinindah-e-asrar-e-jahan; ber tou roshan ein jahan-o-aan jahan.
[Mien ney oss sey kaha: Ay jan kay asrar deikhhney waaley! Tojh per duonon
jahan ayan hein.]
I said to him O you seer of the secrets of life, both this world and the other
luminous to you;
636
Asr-e-ma waraftah-e-aab-o-gill ast; ehl-e-Haq ra moshkil andar moshkil ast.
[Hamara zamanah maadiyat per muftoon hai; ehl-e-Haq moshkil dar moshkil
mein parrey hein.]
Our age is infatuated by material things symbolised by water and clay, which
raises problems without end for those godly.
Momin az Afrangiyan deid aanchih deid; fitnah-ha andar Haram aamad
padeid.
[Mosilman ney Angraizon kay haathon deikhha jo deikhha; onn ki wajah sey
Haram kay andar fitnay othh khharray hoay.]
Leave aside what the believers suffered at the hands of Western nations,
there have sprung up so many mischiefs in the Harem even.
Ta nigah-e-oo adab az dil nakhord; chashm-e-oo ra jalwah-e-Afrang bord.
[Chonkeh Mosilman ki nigah (kaifiyat-e-) qalb sey tarbiyat yaftah nah thhi; iss
leay oss ki ankhh jalwah-e-Afrang sey chondhiya gaeyi.]
Since the believers sight was not disciplined by the heart, the glamour of the
West bewitched his eyes.
Ay hakim-e-ghaib, imam-e-arifaan; pokhtah az faiz-e-tou khaam arifaan.
[Ay hakin-e-ghaib! Ay imam-e-arifaan! Teyrey faiz sey khaam arifon ney
pokhtagi paeyi.]
O you seer of the hidden, leader of the knowing once, by whose beneficence the
rawness of the seers became mature;
Aanchih andar pardah-e-ghaib ast goey; boo-keh aab-e-raftah baaz ayad
bajooey.
637
[Jo kochh pardah-e-ghaib mein hai, woh bataiay; ho sakta hai keh gozra hoa
paani pher nadi mein wapas aa-jaey (Islam kay duor-e-raftah ki taraf asharah
hai).]
Whatever is there hidden behind the veil, let me know; may he the wave once
past should come back in the stream.
SANAIS SPIRIT SPEAKS FROM HEAVEN
Rooh-e-Hakim Sanai az Bahisht-e-barein Jawab ni-deadd.
[Hakim Sanai ki rooh Bahisht-e-barein sey Jawab Deyti Hai.]
Az daan-e-khair-o-shar gashtam z-faqr; zindah-o-sahib-e-nazargashtam zfaqr.
[Faqr ney mojhey khair-o-shar kay raaz sey agah aur zindah-o-sahib-e-nazar
kar diya.]
I came to know the knower of good and bad by continence, I became alive and
deep of sight by sublimation.
Yaani aan faqirey keh danad rah ra; beinad az noor-e-khodi Allah ra.
[Yaani woh faqr jo raah sey bakhabar hai aur noor-e-khodi sey Allah Taala ko
deikhhta hai.]
I mean that austerity which knows the way and beholds God with the light of
the self.
Androon-e-khwaish joeyad la ilah; dar teh-e-shamshir goeyad la ilah.
[Jo la ilah ko apney andar talash karta hai; jo shamshir kay nichay bhi la ilah
kehta hai.]
It seeks La Ila, within itself, uttering it beneath the sword.
638
Fikr-e-jan kon choon zanaan ber tun matun; humcho mardan goey dar
maidan fagan.
[Rooh ki fikr kar, auraton ki tarah badan per naazan nah ho; balkeh mardon
ki tarah maidan mein geind phhaink (mard-e-maidan bun).]
Think of the inside and spin not around your body like women. Fling the ball on
the ground like men.
Sultanat andar jahan-e-aab-o-gill; qimat-e-oo qatraheyi az khoon-e-dil.
[Iss maadi dunya mein sultanat ki qimat sirf khoon-e-dil ka eik qatrah hai.]
Rulership in this world of water and clay is bought by one drop of blood of the
heart.
Mominan zir-e-sepeher-e-lajaward; zindah az ishq undo ney az khwab-okhord.
[Iss neilay aasman kay neichay Momin sonay aur khhaney sey naheen, balkeh
ishq sey zindah hien.]
Believers under this azure sky live by ardour and regaling.
Mi-nadani ishq-o-musti az kojast? Ein shoa-e-aaftab-e-Mustafa(S.A.W.) ast.
[Kaya tou naheen janta keh ishq-o-musti kahan sey hasil hoti hai? (bey
Khabar) yeh aaftab-e-Mustafa (S.A.W.) ki shoa hai.]
Know you not where from ardour and ecstasy arise? These are but rays shot
from the sun of the Prophet.
Zindaheyi ta soz-e-oo dar jan-e-tust; ein nigahdarindah-e-aiman-e-tust.
[Jabb takk iss ka soz teyri jan mein moujood hai; tou zindah hai, ishq-o-musti
he teyrey aiman ki mohafiz hai.]
You are alive so long as there is spirit in you. It is this that safeguards your faith.
639
Dil z-Deen sarchashmah-e-her qowwat ast; Deen hamah az moajzaat-esohbat ast.
[Deen he sey dil her qowwat ka sarchashmah hai aur Deen mardan-e-Haq
Taala ki sohbat kay moajzaat sey hai.]
The art is the fountainhead of all power by the faith and faith is a miracle of
miracles of espirit de corps.
Deen majoo andar kotb ay bey khabar; ilm-o-hekmat az kotb, Deen az nazar.
[Ay bey khabar! Deen kitabon mein nah dhond, kitabon sey ilm-o-hekmat
milti hai, magar Deen ehl-e-Haq ki nazar sey hasil hota hai.]
Seek not faith in books, O you ignorant one! Knowledge and wisdom come
from books but faith arises from the heart.
Bu Ali danindah-e-aab-o-gill ast; bey khabar az khastagihaey dil ast.
[Bu Ali Sina aab-o-gill sey bakhabar hai; woh dil kay soz sey waqif naheen.]
Bu Ali Sina knows only mere elements of the body; he knows not the ailments
of the heart.
Naish-e-nosh Bu Ali Sina behal; charah saazihaey dil az ehl-e-dil.
[Bu Ali Sina kay nishtar aur dawaiyan chhorr; dil ki shafa kay leay ehl-e-dil ka
daman thhaam.]
Cast away the sweet and bitter of Bu Ali, the cure of the heart lies with the men
of heart.
640
Mustafa (S.A.W.) behar ast-o-mouj-e-oo boland; khaiz-o-ein darya bajooey
khwaish bund,
[Hazoor-e-Akram (S.A.W.) woh behar hein jiss ki moujein boland hein, othh aur
iss behar (kay faizan) ko apni nadi mein samait ley.]
The Prophet is an ocean with surging waves, arise and enclose this river in your
channel.
Muddatey ber sahilash paichidaheyi; lotmah-haey mouj-e-oo nadeidaheyi.
[Tou eik modat takk iss samander kay sahil sey wabastah raha; magar tou ney
iss ki moujon kay thhapairrey naheen khhaey.]
You have for years twined around its shore, but not seen the buffets of its
lashing waves.
Yakk zaman khod ra beh darya dar fagan; ta rawaan-e-raftah baaz ayad
batun.
[Kochh modat kay leay apney aap ko iss samandar mein daal dey ta-keh teyri
gaeyi hoeyi jan duobarah teyrey badan mein wapas aa-jaey.]
Fling yourself in the river for a while so that the departed spirit should come
back to the body.
Ay Mosilman joz barah-e-Haq maro; naummeid az rehmat-e-aamey mashuo.
[Ay Mosilman! sirf Allah Taala ki raah per chal; aur Oss ki rehmat-e-aam sey
na-ummeid nah ho.]
O Muslims, tread not any path save that of God and despair not of His general
mercy.
Pardah bagozar aashkaaraeyi gazein; ta balarzzad az sajood-e-tou zamin.
[Pardah chhorr aur apney aap ka azhar kar; ta-keh teyrey sajday sey zamin
hanp othhay.]
641
Leave off seclusion and seek manifestation, so that the earth should quake by
your prostration.
Dosh deidam fitrat-e-bitaab ra; rooh aan hungamah-e-asbab ra.
[Kall mien ney fitrat-e-bey taab yaani hungamah-e-asbab ki rooh ko deikhha.]
I saw restless Nature the other day, that moving spirit of all that happens;
Chashm-e-oo ber zasht-o-khoob kainat; dar nigah-e-oo ghiyoob-e-kainat.
[Oss ki nazar kainat kay khoob-o-nakhoob per hai; kainat kay poshidah amoor
oss per roshan hein.]
Her eyes riveted on the good and bad of the universe; the hidden things
unfolded to her sight.
Dast-e-oo ba aab-o-khak andar staiz; aan beham paiwastah-o-ein raiz raiz.
[Oss kay haath aab-o-khak mein ghultan they; woh kissi ko jorrti aur kissi ko
raizah raizah kar deyti.]
(Her hands were in mudd and water; busy making some and breahing other.]
Goftamash dar jostjooey keisti? Dar talash-e-tar-o-pooey keisti?
[Mien ney poochha tou kis ki jostajoo mein hai? Kis kay taar-o-poo talash kar
rehi hai?]
I asked her what are you searching? In search of whose warp and woof?
Goft az hokam-e-Khodaey zuolmanan; Adamey nau saazam az khak-ekohan.
[Oss ney kaha: Mien Khoda-e-Zulmanann kay hokam sey porani matti sey niya
insan bana rehi hon.]
She said: By the order of the gracious Lord, I am fashioning out a new Adam
from the old earth.
642
Mosht-e-khakey ra basadd rung aazmood; pey beh pey tabeid-o-sanjeid-ofazood.
[Oss ney mosht-e-khak ko suo tarah sey azmaya; ossey bar bar aag di, drost
kiya aur ossey barrhaya.]
She examined a pinch of dust in a hundred ways, turning over and over again,
weighed and added to it.
Aakher oo ra aab-o-rung lalah daad; la ilah andar zamir-e-oo nehaad.
[Bil-aakhar ossey gul-e-lalah ka aab-o-rung diya pher oss kay zamir kay andar
la ilah rakhh diya.]
At last she imparted the hue and lustre of a tulip and cast La Ilah in its core.
Baash ta beini bahar-e-deigarey; az bahar-e-paastan rungin-terey.
[Intizar kar ta-keh tou Islam ki eik aur bahar deikhhey; aisi bahar jo gozashtah
bahar sey ziyadah rungin ho.]
Wait till you see another spring arise, more iridescent than the one bygone.
Her zaman tadbir-ha daarad raqib; ta nagiri az bahar khod nasib.
[Doshman her lamah sazishon mein masroof hai; ta-keh tou apni bahar sey
behrah andoz nah ho sakkey.]
Every time your antagonist resorts to machinations so that you should not come
by this vegetating season.
Ber daroon-e-shakh-e-gul daaram nazar; ghonchah-ha ra deidah-um andar
safar.
[Magar mien shakh-e-gul kay andar deikhh raha hon; wahan mojhey kaliyan
bannti nazar aeyi hein.]
I keep my eyes on the inside of the rose branch, and have seen a stir therein.
643
Lalah ra dar wadi-o-koh-o-daman; az dameidan baaz natawaan daashtan.
[Lalah ko wadiyuon, paharron aur maidanon mein; khhilney sey rouka
naheen ja sakta.]
We cannot prevent the tulips from blooming in the meadows, values, mountains.
Bashanood mardey keh sahib-e-jostajoost; naghmaheyi ra koo hanooz andar
gulost.
[Sahib-e-jostajoo mard woh naghamah bhi sonn leyta hai; jo abhi moghanni
kay gullay mein hota hai.]
A man of sensitive type can hear the note that is still in the throat.
AT THE TOMB OF SULTAN MAHMUD
Ber Mazar-e-Sultan Mehmood Alih-ru-Rehmah.
[Sultan Mehmood Alih-ru-Rehmah kay Mazar per.]
!
Khaizad az dil nalah-ha bey ikhtiyar; aah! Ann shehray keh einja bood paar.
[(Moujoodah Ghazni ko deikhh kar) dil sey bey ikhtiyar faryad othhti hai; aah!
Woh shehar jo kall yahan abad thha.]
Cries arise from my heart in spite of all restraint, Alas! That city we had in the
times past.
Aan diyar-o-khakh-o-koo veranah eist; aan shakoh-o-faal-o-fur afsanah eist.
[Woh shehar aur woh mehalaat aur sarrkein abb veranah mein tabdil ho choki
hein; Ghazni ki woh shan-o-shoukat abb afsanah bun choki hai.]
That city, those palaces, streets are all in ruin, that glory, splendour,
magnificence a mere tale now.
644
Gonbadey, dar toufe-oo charkh-e-barein; turbat-e-Sultan Mehmood ast ein.
[Yeh gonbad, aasman jiss ka tawwaf kar raha hai; yeh Sultan Mehmood (R.A.)
ka mazar hai.]
The cupola, circumambulated by the lofty sky, this is the grave of Sultan
Mahmud.
Aankeh choon koodakey labb az kausar bashist; goft dar gehwarah naam-eoo nakhast.
[Jiss ney bachpan kausar sey apney labb ter kiay; jiss ney gehwarah mein sabb
sey pehley Hazoor (S.A.W.) ka naam liya.]
He whose name a babe when weaned of mothers milk, first pronounced in the
cradle.
Barq-e-sozaan taigh-e-bey zanhaar-e-oo; dasht-o-dar larzindah az yalghar-eoo.
[Oss ki talwar bey panah barq sozan thhi; oss ki yalghar sey dasht-o-dar per
larzah taari ho jata thha.]
A consuming lightning his unsparing sword; lands and climes aquiver on his
onslaught.
Zir-e-gardoon ayatollah raitash; Qodsiyan Quraan sara ber turbash.
[Aasman kay nichay iss ka jhanda Ayatullah thha; iss ki qabar per farishtay
talawat-e-Quraan Pak kartey hein.]
Under the sky his flag a sign of God, angels reciting the Quran on his grave.
Shokhi-e-fikram mera az mun rabood; ta naboodam dar jahan dir-o-zood.
645
[Juraat-e-fikr kay bais mein apney aap mein nah raha; iss jahan aur iss kay
waqt sey mawara chala gaya.]
My nimble fancy took me off from myself so that I did not remain in this world
of late and soon.
Rokh namood az seinah-im aan aaftab; pardagi-ha az faroghash bey hijab.
[Meyrey seinay sey woh aaftab namoodar hoa; jis ki roshni sey saarey parday
door ho gaey.]
That sun arose in my breast by the effulgence of which the hidden became
manifest.
Mehar-e-gardoon az jalalash dar rakoa; az shoaash dosh mi-gardad taloa.
[Oss kay jalal kay saamney aasman ka sooraj rakoa mein jhok gaya; oss ki
shoa sey gozra hoa zamanah saamney aa-gaya.]
The sun on high prostrates before whose splendour; from his rays the past rises
up.
Warhidum az jahan chashm-o-gosh; faash choon imroz deidam sobh dosh.
[Mien hawas ki iss dunya sey azad ho gaya; mien ney maazi ki sobh ko aaj ki
manind (apney saamney) deikhha.]
I was rid of this world of eyes and ears so that I clearly saw the past morning
like today.
Shehar-e-Ghaznein yakk bahisht-e-rung-o-boo; aabjoo-ha naghmah khwan
dar kakh-o-koo.
[Mien ney oss Ghazni ko deikhha jo bahisht-e-rung-o-boo thha; jiss kay kaakho-koo mein nadiyan naghmah khwan thhein.]
The city of Ghazna, a paradise of colour and hue, with streams to aflow trilling
out songs in the palaces and common streets.
646
Qasr-haey oo qitaar andar qitaar; aasman ba qabah-haish humkinar.
[Oss kay mehal qatar andar qatar thhey; oss kay gonbad aasman sey baatein
kartey thhey.]
Its palaces ranged row upon row, the sky grazing with its cupolas.
Noktah sunj-e-Toos ra deidam babazm; lashkar-e-Mehmood ra deidam beh
razm.
[Mien ney shaer-e-Toos (Firdousi) ko bazm mein aur Mehmood ko maidan-ejung mein deikhha.]
I daw the bard of Tus in The royal assembly and the army of Mahmud in the
battlefield.
Rooh siar-e-alam asrar kard; ta mera shoridaheyi bidaar kard.
[Meyri rooh ney alam-e-asrar ki siar ki; yahan takk keh eik shoridah sar ney
mojhey bidaar kar diya.]
My spirit strolled in the world of secrets till a frenzied one woke me up.
Aan hamah moshtaqi-o-soz-o-saroor; dar sakhon choon rind-e-bey perwa
jasoor.
[Woh shoridah jo sar ta pa ishtiaq aur soz-o-saroor thha; baat kehney mein
rind-s-bey perva ki tarah juraatmand thha.]
That fervour, that intensity and poignancy of his, speaking like an audacious
voluptuary.
Tokham-e-ashkay andar aan veranah kaasht; goftgoo-ha ba-Khodaey
khwaish daasht.
[Woh iss veraney mein apney aansosn kay daney bota thha aur apney Khodaey
Zul-Jalal sey mehav-e-goftgoo thha.]
647
He sowed the seed of a tear in that wilderness. He was having a colloquy with
God.
Ta naboodam bey khabar az raaz-e-oo; sokhtam az garmi-e-awaz-e-oo.
[Choonkeh mien oss kay raaz sey bey khabar thha; iss leay oss ki awaz ki garmi
ney mojhey jala diya.]
Since I was not unaware of this secret, I was all afire with his voices heat.
SUPPLICATION OF A FRENZIED ONE
Monajat-e-Mard-e-Shoridah dar Veranah-e-Ghazni.
[Veranah-e-Ghazni Mein Mard-e-Shoridah ki Monajat.]
Lalah behar yakk shoa-e-aaftab; daarad andar shakh chandein paich-otaab.
[Gul-e-lalah eik shoaa-e-aaftab kay leay shakh kay andar kitnay paich-o-taab
khhata hai.]
The tulip for getting just ray of the sun has such curvetings within a branch.
Chon bahar-e-oo ra konad oriyan-o-faash; goeydash joz yakk nafas einja
mabaash.
[Laikan jabb bahar ossey zahar kar deyti hai tou kehti hai keh eik lamah sey
ziyadah tou ney yahan naheen rehna.]
When the spring brings it out in the open, it tells it to stay here for not more
than a moment.
Her duo aamad yakdigar ra saaz-o-burg; mun nadanam zindagi khosh-ter
keh murg.
[Yeh duonon eik dosdarey kay leay saaz-o-saman hein; mien naheen janta keh
zindagi ziyadah khosh-ter hai yam out.]
648
Both life and death furnish gear to each other, I know not whether one is better
than the other.
Zindagi peham mosaaf-e-naish-o-nosh; rung-o-num-e-imroz ra az khoon-edosh.
[Zibdagi khoob-o-nakhoob ki mosalsal kashmakash ka maidan hai; haal ki
zaib-o-aataish mazi kay khoon sey hai.]
Life is a perpetual strife between the unpleasant and pleasant.Todays hue and
freshness spring from yesterdays blood.
Al-amaan az makr-e-ayaam al-amaan; al-amaan az sobh-o-az shaam alamaan.
[Al-amaan porkaari ayam sey al-amaan; ayam ki sobh sey al-amaan ayam ki
shaam sey al-amaan.]
Alack this machination of morn and eve, alack!
Ay Khoda ay naqshbund jan-o-tun; ba tou ein shoridah daarad yakk sakhon.
[Ay Khoda, ay rabt-e-jan-o-tun qaim karney waaley yeh shoridah Aap sey eik
shikayat rakhhta hai.]
O God, the contriver of body and soul, this frenzied one has to say a word to
You.
Fitnah-ha beinam darin deir-e-kohan; fitnah-ha dar khalwat-o-dar
anjuman.
[Mien iss poraney bottkadah (dunya) ki khalwat-o-anjuman mein kaeyi fitney
deikhhta hon.]
I saw mischief in this old abode; there are mischiefs there within and without.
Alam az taqdir-e-tou aamad padeid; ya khodey deigar oo ra aafrid.
649
[Yeh jahan Aap ki taqdir sey wajood mein aya hai ya kissi aur Khoda ney issey
paida kiya hai.]
Did this world come into existence with Your device, or some other deity
created it?
Zaharash solah-o-safa batan sataiz; ehl-e-dil ra shishah-e-dil raiz raiz.
[Iss ka zahar amn-o-ikhlaas hai laikan iss kay batin mein adawat hai; sahib-edil lougon kay qaloob iss sey paash paash hein.]
Its inside all peace but the outside all strife. The hearts of sentient ones all
shattered to pieces.
Sidq-o-akhlaas-o-safa, baqi namanad; aan qadh bashakast-o-aan saqi
mamanad.
[Sachaeyi, naik niyati, safaey dil baaqi naheen; woh jaam toot choka hai aur
woh saqi baqi naheen.]
There is no trace of sincerity and purity! Broken is the jar and the saqi no more!
Chashm-e-tou ber lalah rooiyan-e-Farang; Adam az afsoonashan bey aab-orung.
[Aap ki nazar Farangiyuon kay sorkh chehron per hai; haankeh noa-eAdam onn kay fraib sey aab-o-rung kho choki hai.]
Your eye is on the tulip-faced ones of the West; man is bereft of freshness by
whose sorcery?
Az keh geerad rabt-o-zabt ein kainat? ay Shaheed-e-ashwah-e-Laat-oManaat?
[Ay Farangi botton kay naaz-o-ada per mafton; kainat ka nizam kis kay haath
mein hai?]
By what does this universe acquire order? O you infatuated by the charm of
idols?
650
Mard-e-Haq aan bandah-e-roshan nafas; nayab tou dar jahan-e-oo bood-obus.
[Mard-e-Haq jo roshan zamir bandah hai; kainat nein Aap ka naib (khalifah)
sirf wohi thha.]
The godly man with luminous spirit, was alone Your vicegerent in this world.
Oo beh bund noqrah-o-farzand-o-zann; gar tawaani, Somnaat-e-oo shikin.
[Woh doulat, aulaad aur azwaaj kay bundhan mein griftar hai; agar ho sakta
hai tuo Aap oss kay Somnaat ko torr dein.]
He is bound fast in the love of silver, kith and kin. Shatter this idol-house if you
can.
Ein Mosilman az prastaraan keist; dar garibanash yakkey hungamah neist.
[Yeh Mosilman kis kay prastaron mein sey hai keh iss kay griban mein eik
hungamah bhi naheen.]
This Muslim whom does he worship? Theres not the least tumult in his soul.
Seinahash bey soz-o-janash bey kharosh; oo Srafil ast-o-Soor-e-oo khamosh.
[Oss ka seinah bey soz hai aur iss ki jan mein koeyi josh-o-kharosh naheen hai;
woh Israfil hai laikan oss ka Soor khamosh hai.]
His breast without feeling and spirit without any elamour; he is an Israfil whose
trumpet is dumb.
Qalb-e-oo na-mohkam-o-janash nazzund; dar jahan kalaey oo na-arjumand.
[Oss ka qalb aiman ki pokhtagi sey khali hai aur woh afsordah khatir hai;
dunya mein oss ka saaz-o-saman bey qimat hai.]
His heart is unstable and soul palsied; his stuff is of no worth in this world.
651
Dar mosaaf-e-zindagani bey sabaat; daarad andar aastein Laat-o-Manaat.
[Zindagi kay maidan-e-jung mein woh saabit qadam naheen hai (chonkeh)
woh apni aastin kay andar Laat-o-Manaat rakhhta hai.]
Infirm in the battle of life, bearing idols in his sleeves.
Murg ra choon kafiraan danad halak; aatish-e-oo kum baha manind-e-khak.
[Woh kafiron ki tarah mout ko zindagi khatam kar deyney waali samajhta hai;
oss ki aag khak ki manind bey qimat hai.]
Like the infidels he regards death as mortal. His fire is of little worth like dust.
Shoalaheyi az khak-e-oo baaz aafrin; aan talab aan jostajoo baaz aafrin.
[Oss ki khak sey duobarah shoalah paida kijiay; aur oss ki woh talab aur
jostajoo wapas laiay.]
Raise again a flame from his inert clay that very urge to search and search once
more.
Baaz jazb-e-andaroon oo ra badeh; aan janoon-e-zuofanoon oo ra badeh.
[Ossey pher wohi jazb-e-andaron aur janoon-e-zou fanoon atta farmaiay.]
Grant him again that inner verve, that very manifold zest and zeal.
Sharq ra kon az wajoodash ostwaar; sobh-e-farda az gribanash beraar.
[Oss kay wajood sey Mashriq ko ostwaar kar dijiay; oss kay gribaan sey aaney
waaley kal ki sobh namoodar kijiay.]
Make the East firm by his self; bring out a new morn from his cellar;
652
Ber Mazar-e-Hazrat Ahnad Shah Baba Alih-ru-Rehmah Mosass-e-Millat-eAfghaniyah.
[Millat-e-Afghaniyah kay Baabi Hazrat Ahmad Shah Abdali Rehmahullah Alih
kay mazar per.]
Turbat-e-aan Khosro roshan zamir; az zamirash millatey surat pazir.
[Yeh oss roshan zamir padshah ki qabar hai jiss kay zamir kay andar sey eik
naeyi millat ney tashkil paeyi.]
The grave of that enlightened king from whose self a nation arose;
Gonbad-e-oo ra Haram danad sepeher; ba farogh az touf-e-pp seimaey
mehar.
[Oss kay mazar kay gonbad ko aasman Haram samajhta hai aur oss kay tawwaf
sey sooraj ki paishani roshani paati hai.]
Its dome is regarded as a sanctuary by the sky, sooraj oss ki chamak sey roshni
pata hai.
Misl-e-faateh aan amir-e-saff shikin; sikkaheyi zadd hum beh aqleem-esakhon.
[Oss amir-e-saff shikin ney bhi Sultan Muhammad Faateh ki manind aqleem-esakhon mein bhi apna sikkah jamaya thha.]
653
Like Fateh, conquerer of Constantinople, this stalwart fighter struck coins in the
realm of poetry even;
Millatey ra daad zouq-e-jostajoo; Qodsiyan tasbih khwan ber khak-e-oo.
[Oss ney Millat-e-Afghaniyah kay andar (azmat ki) jostajoo ka zouq paida kiya;
oss ki khak-e-mazar per farishtay tasbih khwan hein.]
He reignited the urge to seek (greatness) in Afghans; angels invoke blessings on
his grave.
Az dil-o-dast gohar raizey keh daasht; sultanat-ha bord-o-bey perwa
gozaasht.
[Gohar paash dil-e-dost rakhhney ki wajah sey oss ney Hind ki kaeyi
hakoomatin fatah kein; magar bey niazi kay bais inn per qabzah nah kiya.]
By the munificent heart and pearl-scattering hand he had, he acquired realms
and gave them away without taking any thought.
Noktah sunj-o-arif-o-shamshir zann; rooh-e-pakash ba mun aamad dar
sakhon.
[Oss noktah sunj, arif-o-shamshirzun ki pak rooh ney meyrey saath goftagoo ki.]
A connoisseur, a seer and wielder of the sword, his soul fell into talk with me.
Goft mi-daanam moqam-e-tou kojast; naghmah-e-tou khakiyan ra kimiyast.
[Oss ney kaha mein janta hon keh teyra moqam kaya hai; teyri shaeri noa-eAdam kay leay kimiya hai.]
He said: I know where you stand, your high station; your song is alchemy for
denizens of the earth.
Khisht-o-sung az faiz-e-tou daraey dil; roshan az goftar-e-tou seinay dil
654
[Woh insan jo eint pathhar ki manind they teyrey faiz sey sahib-e-dil hoay tuo
ney apni shaeri sey dil ki Wadi-e-Seina ko tajali-gah bana diya.]
Stocks and stones acquire a heart from your bounty; the Sinai of the heart is
bright with your speech.
Paish-e-ma ay aashnaey kooey dost; yakk nafas banashin keh daari booey
dost.
[Tou jo kooey mehboob ka aashna hai eik lamah kay leay meyrey pass baithh
kiyuonkeh tojh sey dost ki khoshboo aati hai.]
O you knower of the Friends street, come to me, and stay awhile, for you hear
the smell of the beloved.
Ay khosh aan koo az khodi aeinah saakht; wandar aan aeinah alam ra
shanaakht.
[Khosh nasib hai woh shakhs jiss ney apni khodi ko aeinah banaya aur oss
aeinah kay andar jahan ko deikhha aur pehchana.]
Happy he who made the self his mirror and in that recognised the world.
Pir gardeid ein zamin-o-ein sepeher; maah kor az kor chashmi-haey mehar.
[Yeh zamin aur yeh aasman boorrhey ho chokay hein; sooraj kay a.ndhey pun
sey chand bhi andha ho choka hai.]
This earth and the sky have grown old, the moon has become blind because of
the indifference of the sun.
Garmi-e-hungamaheyi mi-bayadash; ya nakhastin rung-o-boo baaz ayadash.
[Iss jahan ko eik naey hungamay ki zaroorat hai ta-keh Islam kay dour-eawwal ka rung-o-boo pher wapas aaey.]
There is need of the heat of commotion now so that the pristine hue and scent
should come back.
655
Bundah-e-Momin Srafili konad; bang-e-oo ber kohnah ra berhum zanad.
[Takeh bandah-e-Momin Hazrat Israfil sa kaam karey aur oss ki Bang-e-Soor
her kohnah ko darhum berhum kar dey.]
A true believer acts like Israfil whose trumpet shatters every thing old.
Ay tera Haq daad jan-e-nashakeib; tou z-sar-e-molk-o-Deen daari nasib.
[Ay woh shakhs jissey Haq Taala ney jan-e-biqarar atta ki hai; tou molk-oDeen kay raaz sey bakhabar hai.]
O you whom God has granted a restless spirit, you know the secrets of rulership
and Faith;
Faash go ba por-e-Nadir faash goey; batin-e-khod ra beh zahar faash goey.
[Tou Nadir Shah kay baitey sey khhol kar baat kar; apney baatin ko Zahir
(Shah) per faash kar.]
Tell, O tell the son of Nadir patently; disclose what is in your mind to Zahir
unreservedly.
TALK WITH THE KING OF ISLAM, ZAHIR SHAH MAY GOD
BLESS HIM WITH HELP
Khatab beh Padshah-e-Islam Aale-Hazarat Zahir Shah Ayudallah
banasraho.
[Khatab beh Padshah-e-Islam Zahir Shah.]
Ay qabaey paadshahi ber tou rast; sayah-e-tou khak-e-ma ra kimiyast.
656
[Tojh peh qabaey padshahi phhabti hai; teyra sayah hamari khak kay leay
kimiya ka asar rakhhta hai.]
O you on whom the robe of kingship fits well, your shadow is like alchemy for
our dust.
Khosrovi ra az wajood-e-tou ayyar; sitwat-e-tou molk-o-doulat ra hissar.
[Teyrey wajood sey padshahat ki qadr-o-qimat hai; teyri sitwat molk-o-Deen
kay leay qilah hai.]
Your self a standard for rulership; your majesty a fortress for the realm and
state.
Az tou ay sarmayah-e-fatah-o-zafar; takht-e-Ahmad Shah ra shaaney digar.
[Ay sarmayah-e-fatah-o-zafar teyri wajah sey Ahmad Shah Abdali kay takht ki
shan aur ho gaeyi hai.]
Through you, O the wherewithal of Victory. Ahmad Shahs throne has acquired
new glory.
Seinah-ha bey mehar-e-tou veranah beh; az dil-o-az aarzoo biganah beh.
[Woh seinay jo teyri mohabat sey khali hein; agar veraan aur dil-o-aarzoo sey
na-aashna ho jaein tuo behtar hein.]
Let the breasts without your love be barren; bereft of heart and aspiration.
Aabgoon taighey keh daarey dar kamar; neim shabb az taab-e-oo gardad
sehar.
[Yeh chamakdar talwar jo teyri kamar sey bundhi hai; iss ki chamak sey nisf
shabb sobh mein tabdil ho jaati hai.]
The bright sword you wear round your waist.even midnight turns into morning
with its sheen.
657
Niak midanam keh taigh-e-Nadir ast; mun chih goeyam batan-e-oo zahir ast.
[Mien khoob janta hon keh yeh Nadir Shah ki talwar hai; mien ney kaya kehna
hai oss ka baatin he zahir hai.]
I know well this rare sword is that of Nadir, what shall I say, its nature is
evident.
Harf-e-shouq aawurdah-um az mun pazir; az faqirey ramz-e-sultani bagir.
[Mien tumharey leay shouq-o-mohabat ki baat laya hon issey qabool kar iss
faqir sey padshahat kay raaz seikhh.]
I have brought a word of love, accept it from me; learn from a faqir the secret of
kingship.
Ay nigah-e-tou z-shaheen taiz-ter; gird-e-ein molk-e-Khodadadey nigar.
[Teyri nigah shaheeh sey ziyadah taiz hai; iss molk-e-Khodadad kay irdgird
deikhh.]
O you whose sight is sharper than that of a falcon, look at the God-given land.
Ein keh mi-beinam az taqdir keist; cheist aan cheezay keh mi-baeist-o-neist.
[Jo kochh hum deikhh rehey hein kis ki taqdir hai? Woh kaya cheez hai jo honi
chahiay magar naheen hai?]
What we see is by whose dispensation? What is it that ought to be but is not?
Roz-o-shabb aeinah-e-tadbir-e-mast; roz-o-shabb aeinah-e-taqdir-e-mast.
[Roz-o-shabb hamari tadbir aur taqdir ka aeinah hein.]
Days and nights are a reflection of our endeavours; these are the mirror of our
destiny.
658
Ba tou goeyam ay jawan sakht kosh; cheist farada? Dokhtar-e-imroz-o-dosh.
[Ay jawan-e-sakhon kosh mein tojh sey kehta hon, mostaqbil kaya hai? Mazi
aur haal ki baiti.]
I tell you, O stubborn young man, what is the future? Daughter of the past and
present.
Her keh khod ra sahib-e-imroz kard; gird-e-oo gardad sepeher gard gard.
[Jiss ney imroz per grift nazboot rakhhi; aasman oss kay gird gardish karta hai
(taqdir oss kay motabiq bun jaati hai).]
Whoever mastered his present; the sky fold upon fold revolves around him?
Oo jahan-e-rung-o-boo ra aabroost; dosh azo, imroz azo, farad azost.
[Wohi jahan-e-rung-o-boo (kainat) ki aabroo hai; mazi bhi ossi ka hai, haal bhi
ossi ka aur mostaqbil bhi.]
He is the glory of the world of hue and scent, the day gone by, today and
morrow, all are his.
Mard-e-Haq sarmayah-e-roz-o-shabb ast; z-aankeh oo taqdir-e-khod ra
kokab ast.
[Mard-e-Haq roz-o-shabb ka hasil hai kiyuonkeh woh khod apni taqdir ka
sitarah hai.]
A votary of God is the soul and substance of day and night because he is the star
governing his destiny.
Bandah-e-sahib-e-nazar pir-e-ummam; chashm-e-oo beinaey taqdir-eummam.
[Sahib-e-nazar bandah ummaton ka qaid hota hai; oss ki ankhh ummaton ki
taqdir ko deikhhti hai.]
659
A discerning person, chief of the nation, his vision is blessed with ability to
foresee future of the nation.
Az nigahash taiz-ter shamshir neist; ma hamah nakhchir, oo nakhchir neist.
[Talwar oss ki nigah sey ziyadah taiz naheen; hum sabb shikar hein woh shikar
naheen.]
No sword is sharper than his sight; we are all quarries but he is not.
Larzah az andaishah-e-aan pokhtah kaar; hadisaat andar batoon-e-rozgar.
[Oss pokhtah kaar kay fikr sey woh hadisaat jo abhi zamaney kay batan mein
hein larzatey hein.]
By the thought of this seasoned one events quake in the womb of time.
Choon pidar ehl-e-honar ra dost daar; bundah-e-sahib-e-nazar ra dost daar.
[Apney baap ki manind ehl-e-daanish aur sahib-e-nazar afraad sey dosti
rakhh.]
Accomplished men be friend like you father, and these who have a deep insight.
Humcho aan khold aashiyan bidaar zei; sakht kosh-o-por dum-o-karrar zei.
[Apney khold ashiyan baap ki manind, bidaar, sakht kosh, por dum aur karrar
reh kar zindagi basar kar.]
Like that departed one be wide awake, striving hard, spirited and intrepid.
Mi-shinasi maani-e-kirdar cheist? ein moqamey az moqamaat-e-Ali (R.A.)
ast.
[Kaya tou samajhta hai keh karrar kay maani kaya hein? Yeh Hazrat Ali (R.A.)
kay mratib sey eik martbah hai.]
Do you know what is meant by Karrar (knight veteran)? It is one of the high
stations of Ali.
660
Imtaan ra dar jahan bey sabaat; neist momkin joz beh karrarey hayat.
[Iss jahan-e-bey sabaat kay andar quomon kay leay karrari (pey beh pey zarb
lagaey) baghair zindah rehna momkin naheen.]
For nations in this ephemeral world, life is not possible without this
indispensable sterling quality.
Sargozasht-e-aal-e-Usman ra nigar; az faraib-e-ghariban khoonein jigar.
[Aal-e-Usman (Turkon) ki sargozasht deikhh; woh Maghribiyuon kay lagaey
hoay zakhm sey khonein jigar hein.]
Look at the annals of the Ottomans who leped at the bled hands of the
Europeans.
Ta z-karrari nasibay daashtand; dar jahan, deigar ilm afrashtand.
[Jabb takk onn kay andar karrari zindah rehi; onhon ney jahan mein aur
andaz ka jhanda garra.]
Since they possessed material spirit, they flew their banner in the world once
more.
Moslim-e-Hindi chira maidan gozaasht? himmat-e-oo booey karari nadasht.
[Hindi Mosilman kiyuon maidan chhorr gaya? Iss leay keh oss ki himmat
karrari ki khoobi nah rakhhti thhi.]
Why did the Musulmans of India lose ground? Their mettle lacked the stimulus
of fighting spirit.
Mosht-e-khakash aanchonaan gardeidah sard; garmi-e-awaz-e-mun kaarey
nakard.
[Oss ki mosht-e-khak iss hadd takk sard ho gaeyi keh meyri awaz ki garmi ney
bhi oss per kochh asar nah kiya.]
661
Their pinch of dust waxed so cold that my fiery muse bore no effect on them.
Zikr-o-fikr Nadiri dar khoon-e-tust; qahiri-o-dilbiri dar khoon-e-tust.
[Nadir Shah ka zikr-o-fikr aur dilbari kay saath qahiri teyrey khoon mein hai.]
The spirit and though of Nadir are in your blood. Sternness with geniality
pervades you.
Ay farogh-e-deidah-e-barna-o-pir; sarkar az Hashim-oMehmood gir.
[Tou jawanon aur boorrhon ki aankhhon ki roshni hai; Hashim-o-Mehmood
sey moamlaat seikhh.]
O you the lustre of the eyes of young and old, learn the knack of handling things
from Hashim and Mahmud;
Hum az aan marday keh andar koh-o-dasht; Haq z-taigh-e-oo boland awaz
gasht.
[Aur oss shakhs sey bhi jiss ki talwar ney koh-o-dasht mein awaz-e-Haq boland
ki.]
And also from that man with whom the voice of truth rang aloud in hills and
plains
Roz-ha, shabb-ha tapeidan mitawaan; asr-e-deigar aafridan mitawaan.
[Raaton aur dinnon kay douraan tarrap kay eik niya zamanah takhliq kiya ja
sakta hai.]
We can be restless day and night and create a new age.
Sadd jahan baqi ast dar Quraan hanooz; andar ayatash yakkey khod ra
basoz.
[Quraan Pak mein abhi sainkarron jahan baqi hein; zara iss ki ayaat kay soz
sey garmi hasil kar.]
662
There are a hundred worlds still in the Quran, burn yourself a little in the
flames of its verses.
Baaz Afghan ra az aan sozay badeh; asr-e-oo ra sobh-e-nau rozay badeh.
[Pher iss soz ka kochh hissah Afghaniyuon ko dey aur onn kay asr ko Jashane-Nauroz ki sobh bana dey.]
Give again the Afghans a new fiery spirit; give their time a New Years Day.
Millatey gom gazshtah-e-koh-o-kamar; az jabeenash deidah-um cheezay
digar.
[Yeh millat jo paharron aur wadiyuon mein gom gashtah hai; mien ney oss ki
jabein mein kochh deikhha hai.]
A nation lost in hills and cliffs. I have observed a new thing in its forehead.
Z-aankeh bood andar dil-e-mun soz-o-dard; Haq z-taqdirash mera agah
kard.
[Choonkeh meyrey dil mein soz-o-dard hai; iss leay Haq Taala ney mojhey
Afghaniyuon ki taqdir sey agah farmaya hai.]
Since there was an intense feeling in me, God has made me aware of its destiny.
Karobarash ra niko sanjeidah-um; aanchih penhaan ast paida deidah-um.
[Mien ney onn kay moamlaat ko khoob jancha hai; mien ney woh bhi deikhha
hai jo dosaron ki nazar sey penhan hai.]
I have carefully scanned its affairs and perceived clearly what is hidden.
Mard-e-maidan zindah az Allah Host; zir-e-paey oo jahan-e-char soost.
[Mard-e-maidan Allah Hoo sey zindah hai; aur yeh jahan-e-charsoo oss kay
paon kay neichay hai.]
663
A man out in the field remains alive with Allah-hu, under his feet lies the world
of four directions.
Bandaheyi ko dil baghair Allah nabost; mitawaan sung az zojaj shakast.
[Woh bandah jo ghair Allah sey dil naheen lagata; oss ka shishah pathhar ko
torr sakta hai.]
A person who does not bind himself to other-than-God, can break a stone with
his glass.
Oo nagunjad dar jahan-e-choon-o-chund; tohmat-e-sahil beh ein darya
mabund.
[Woh iss jahan-e-choon-o-chund (asbaab) mein naheen smata; woh darya ki
tarah azad hai, oss per sahil ki tohmat naheen lagaeyi ja sakti.]
He cannot he contained in this limited world of what and how much.
Brand not this river by calling it a bank.
Chon z-rooey khwaish ber geerad hijab; oo hisaabst oo sawaabst-e-oo
azaab.
[Jabb woh apney chehray sey pardah othhata hai tou wohi hisab hai wohi
swab, whi azaab (woh qiyamat bun jata hai).]
When this masterly person removes the veil from his face, he is himself the
reckoning, the reward, the chastisement.
Burg-o-saaz-e-ma kitab-o-hekmat ast; ein duo qowwat eitibar-e-millat ast.
[Kitab-o-hekmat he hamara sarmayah hai; onnhi duo qowwaton ka daar-omadar hai.]
Our whole and sole is the Book and its wisdom; both these powers form the
glory of the millat.
Aan fatohaat-e-jahan-e-zouq-o-shouq; ein fatohaat-e-jahan-e-tehat-o-fouq.
664
[Eik sey jahan-e-zouq-o-shouq (roohaniyat) kay inaamat hein dosari sey maadi
dunya ki taskhir hai.]
The Book spells the victories of the world of ardent inspiration, this, the
Wisdom, determines the success of this world of above and below.
Her duo inaam-e-Kodaey La Yazaal; Mominaan ra aan jamal ast ain jalal.
[Duonon Khodaey La Yazaal kay inaamat hein; Mominon kay leay eik jamal
hai dosra jalal.]
Both are the bounties of the eternal God; for believers one is all grace and the
other majesty.
Hekmat-e-ashaya Farangi zaad neist; asal-e-oo joz lazzat-e-eijad neist.
[Ashiya ki maahiyat janenay ka aghaz Farangiyuon sey naheen hoa; oss ki
boniyad sirf naeyi dariyaft ki lazzat hai.]
The knowledge of things is not European in origin; its root is the zest for
invention.
Naik agar beini Mosilman zadah ast; ein gohar az dast-e-ma aftadah ast.
[Agar tou ghour sey deikhhay, tou yeh cheez Mosilmanon ki paida kardah hai;
yeh woh moti hai jo hamarey haath sey gira.]
If you see well, it owes its existence to the Muslims; this pearl has fallen from
our hands.
Choon Arab andar Aroopa per koshaad; ilm-o-hekmat ra bana-e-deigar
nehaad.
[Jabb Arabon ney Europe kay andar kishwar koshaeyi ki; tuo onnhon ney
wahan naey andaz sey ilm-o-hekmat ki boniyad rakhhi.]
When the Arabs spread their wings in the West, they laid a new foundation for
learning and knowledge.
665
Ein pari az shishah-e-islaaf-e-mast; baaz siadash kon keh oo az Qaaf-emast.
[Iss pari ka taaloq hamarey aba-o-ijdaad kay shishay sey hai; tou issey
duobarah shikar kar kiyuonkeh yeh hamarey Koh Qaaf ki pari hai.]
This fairy sprang from the glass of our ancestors; win her again because she
hailed from our Caucasia.
Laikan az tehzeeb la-Deenay graiz; z-aankeh oo ba ehl-e-Haq daarad sataiz.
[Magar (Farangiyuon ki) la-Deen tehzeeb sey bach kiyuokeh woh ehl-e-Haq
kay saath doshmani rakhhti hai.]
But get away from a faithless civilization because it is at war with men of God.
Fitnah-ha ein fitnah pardaaz aawurd; Laat-o-Uzza dar Haram baz aawurd.
[Iss fitnah perdaaz (Maghribi tehzeeb) ney kaeyi fitnay paida kiay hein; yeh
Haram mein Laat-o-Manaat ko duobarah ley aaeyi hai.]
This mischief-monger brings forth mischiefs, bringing back the idols Lat and
Uzza to the Kaaba.
Az fasoonash deidah-e-dil na-baseer; rooh az bey aabi-e-oo tishnah meer.
[Oss kay jadoo sey dil ki ankhhein undhi ho jaati hein; oss ki bey aabi sey rooh
piyasi mur jaati hai.]
By its sorcery the eye of the heart is made blind; the spirit dies of thirst for lack
of water.
666
Lazzat-e-bitaabi az dil mi-bord; balkeh dil z-ein paikar-e-gill mi-bord.
[Yeh dil sey bey taabi ki lazzat chhein leyti hai; balkeh matti kay iss badan sey
dil ko nikaal leyti hai.]
It takes away the joy of restlessness of the heart, nay, the heart itself from the
body!
Kohanah dozdi gharat-e-oo bermila ast; lalah mi-nalad keh dagh-e-mun
kojast.
[Yeh kohnah mashq chor hai bermila gharat-gari karti hai; yeh gul-e-lalah ka
dagh bhi chora leyti hai; aur woh kehta reh jata hai keh meyra dagh kahan
gaya.]
An old thief, it loots with open hands, the tulip wails where is my dot?
Haq nasib-e-tou konad zouq-e-hazoor; baaz goeym aanchih goftam dar
Zabur.
[Allah Taala tojhey zouq-e-hazoori nasib farmaein; mien ney jo kochh Zabure-Ajam mein kaha hai, duobarah kehta hon.]
Let God grant you the zest for I tell you again what I said in the Zubur.
Mordan-o-zeistan ay noktah rus; ein hamah az eitbaraat ast-o-bus.
[Ay noktah rus murna aur jeina yeh sirf eitibaraat sey hai (inn ki hasiyat azaafi
hai).]
Living and dying, O discerning one, are but arbitrary categories;
Mard-e-kar soz-e-nawa ra mordah; lazzat-e-saut-o-sada ra mordah.
[Bora shakhs nawa kay soz aur saut-o-sada ki lazzat kay eitibar sey mordah
hai.]
A deaf person is dead in respect of sound, knowing not what it means.
667
Paish-e-chungay must-o-masroor ast kor; paish-e-rungay zindah dar gor ast
kor.
[Andha shakhs raag sey must-o-nasroor hota hai; laikan rung kay saamney woh
bawajood zindah honay kay mordah hai.]
He is senseless to sound. A blind man goes into ecstacy on hearing a harp, but
he is as good as dead before colour.
Rooh ba-Haq zindah-o-paindah ast; vernah ein ra mordah, aan ra zindah ast.
[Rooh Allah Taala kay saath taaloq kay eitibar sey zindah-o-paindah hai;
vernah koffar ki rooh mordah aur sahib-e-aiman ki zindah hai.]
The spirit is alive and endures with God; otherwise it is dead for this and living
for that.
Ankeh Hye la Yamoot aamad Haq ast; zeistan ba Haq hayat-e-motliq ast.
[Yeh jo Quraan Pak mein Allah Taala ki shan mein Hye-o-Layamoot aya hai
Haq hai kiyupnkeh Allah Taala kay saath zindah rehna he hayat-e-motliq pa
leyna hai.]
He who is living without death is God; to live with God is life absolute.
Her keh bey Haq zeist joz mordar neist; garchih kas dar matam-e-oo zaar
neist.
[Jo Allah Taala kay saath taaloq kay baghair zindagi basar karta hai, woh
mordar hai; agarchih koeyi oss ki mout per maatam naheen karta (loug ossey
zindah he samajhtey hein).]
He who lives without God is nothing but a corpse, although no one laments him.
Ber khor az Quraan agar khwahi sabaat; dar zamirash deidah-um aab-ehayat.
668
[Agar tou sabaat chahta hai tuo Quraan Pak sey hasil kar; mien ney oss kay
baatin mein aab-e-hayat deikhha hai.]
Benefit from the Quran if you want to endure, I have seen the Water of Life
therein.
Mi-dehud ma ra payam-e-la takhaff; mi-risanad ber moqam-e-la takhaff,
[Woh humein la-takhaf (nah dar) ka paigham he naheen deytra balkeh oss
moqam takk bhi pohncha deyta hai.]
It gives the message of Fear Not, and takes us to this very end-point.
Qowwat-e-sultan-o-mir az la ilah; haibat-e-mard-e-faqir az la ilah.
[Padshahon ki qowwat bhi la ilah sey hai; aur mard-e-faqir ki haibat bhi issi
sey hai.]
The power of the kings and chiefs arises from La Ilha; the awe of Faqir arises
from it.
Ta duo taigh la-o-illa daashtaim; masawa Allah ra nishan nagozashtaim.
[Jabb takk hum la-o-illa ki duo talwarein rakhhtey hein; hum ghair Allah ka
nishan mita sakktey hein.]
So long as we had the sword of La and Ilah, we left no trace of other-than-God.
Khawaraan az shoalah-e-mun roshan ast; ay khonak mardey keh dar asr-emun ast.
[Mashriq meyrey shoaley sey roshan hai; mobarik hai woh shakhs jo meyrey
dour mein zindah hai.]
The East is bright with my flame; happy he who lives in my age.
Az tabb-o-taabam nasib-e-khod bagir; baad azein naiad cho mun mard-efaqir.
669
[Meyrey tabb-o-taab sey apna hisah ley ley; iss kay baad mojh jaisa mard-efaqir naheen aaey ga.]
Have your share from my flaming self, for no faqir like me will come forth after
me!
Gohar-e-daryaey
goftah-um.
Quraan
softah-um;
sharah-e-ramz-e-sibghat-ullah
[Mien ney Quraan kay samandar sey moti nikaal kar onnhein (apney kalaam)
mein proya hai; mein ney Allah Taala kay rung kay raaz ki sharah biyan ki
hai.]
I have strung the pearls of the Quran and explained the meaning of divine
Colour.
Ba Mosilmanan ghumay bakhshidah-um; kohnah shakhey ra numay
bakhshidah-um.
[Mien ney Mosilman ko niya ehsaas diya hai; mien ney oss porani shakh ko
numi di hai.]
I have imparted a feeling into the Muslims, providing moisture to an old branch.
Ishq-e-mun az zindagi daarad soragh; aql az sehbaey mun roshan ayagh.
[Meyra ishq zindagi kay maani biyan karta hai; meyri sharab sey aql ka jaam
roshan hai.]
My passion has the mark of life; the intellect acquires lustre from my wine.
Noktah-haey khatar afrozi keh goft? Ba Mosilman harf-e-por sozay keh
goft?
[Dilon ko roshan kar deyney waaley nokaat kis ney biyan kiay? Mosilman sey
por soz baat kiss ney kehi?]
Who has explained secrets that enlighten the hearts? Who has said moving
words to the Muslims?
670
Humcho naey naalidam andar koh-o-dasht; ta moqam-e-khwaish ber mun
faash Gasht.
[Mien baansari ki tarah paharron aur junglon mein rota raha hon tabb
kaheen ja kar mojh per meyra moqam wazih hoa.]
I cried like a flute in hills and plains until my position became clear to me.
Harf-e-shouq aamokhtam wa sokhtam; aatish-e-afsordah baaz afrokhtam.
[Mien Mosilmanon ko shouq (mohabat) ki baat sikhhaeyi aur onnhein soz-eishq sey garmaya; mien ney ishq ki bojhi hoeyi aag ko duobarah roshan kar
diya.]
I learnt the word of passion and became afire; I lighted again the extinguished
fire.
Ba mun aah-e-sobhgahay daadah-un; sitwat-e-kohay beh kaahey daadahund.
[Mojhey aah-e-sehar-gahi atta hoeyi hai; iss kaah ko koh ki sitwat di gaeyi hai.]
I have been given a sigh of the morning, granting the might of a mountain to a
straw.
Daaram andar seinah noor-e-la ilah; dar sharab-e-mun saroor-e-la ilah.
[Mien apney seinay mein la ilah ka noor rakhhta hon; meyri shaeri ki sharab
mein la ilah ka saroor hai.]
I bear the light of La Ilah in my breast, my wine ows its bracing effect to it.
Fikr-e-mun gardoon mayassar az faiz-e-oost; jooey sahil napazir az faiz-eoost.
[Issi kay faiz sey meyra fikr falak paima hai; issi kay faiz sey meyri nadi napaida kinar hai.]
671
Pas bagir az baadah-e-mun yakk duo jaam; ta drakhshi misl-e-taigh bey
niyam.
[Tou bhi meyri sharab sey eik duo jaam ley ley ta-keh tou taigh-e-bey niyam ki
tarah chamak othhey.]
Therefore take one or two cups from my brew; so that you should shine like an
unsheathed sword.
17th September, 2013
672
BATTLE OF INTELLECTUALS
No sooner the All Parties Conference decided that military operation
should be the last option to eradicate terrorism in Pakistan, a different kind of
battle ensued. The observers, analysts, experts and intellectuals for and against
the dialogue joined the battle with all the knowledge they have at their
disposal.
The forces for peace talks received a major setback when General Officer
Commanding 17 Division was martyred along with a Lt Col and a L/Nk as they
were coming back after visiting border posts in Upper Dir. The pro-military
operation, most of whom are embedded moderates argued for unleashing of the
full military might at the disposal of Pakistani state.
The Dir incident certainly added to the concerns of the civil and military
leadership, especially after it had been promptly owned by the TTP, but they
remained determined not to be distracted from the course of dialogue. But on
the last day of the period under review suicide bombing at a Church in
Peshawar seemed to have delivered yet another blow to the cause of pro-talks
forces, especially the PTI.
Meanwhile, Rangers-led operation in Karachi under captaincy started
petering out because of politically motivated interference. The Government of
Pakistan released the top Afghan Taliban Mullah Baradar with the hope of
giving boast to peace talks on either side of the Durand Line. In the context of
India, the regime stayed the course to win over hearts and minds of eastern
neighbours.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 9th September, at an All Parties Conference (APC)
convened by Prime Minister, the political and military leadership of the country
termed the military operation to quell terrorism as last and bad option and
unanimously recommended initiation of dialogue with militants to bring peace
and tranquility. They also called for taking up the drones issue at the UN.
The APC participants were given a detailed briefing by the prime
minister, the interior minister, the army chief and the ISI director general
regarding the internal and regional security situation. The resolution did not
give detailed mechanism for talks with militants, it however said that respect to
the local customs, values and religious beliefs should be the guiding principles.
The participants reaffirmed their complete trust in the armed forces and
assured them of full support. The APC also endorsed the fresh initiative of
federal government in aid of Sindh government to bring peace to Karachi and it
673
also put its weight behind the Balochistan government to initiate dialogue with
estranged Baloch to bring them back into the national mainstream.
The APC said it was a matter of great regret that immense sufferings and
sacrifices of the people of Pakistan had not received due recognition from the
international community. They prayed for the martyrs and extended sympathies
to the bereaved families, besides asking the federal and provincial governments
to provide all possible assistance for the rehabilitation of terrorism victims,
including internally displaced persons.
The APC in its resolution condemned the continued drone attacks by US.
We are unanimous that use of drones is not only a continued violation of our
territorial integrity but also detrimental to our resolve and efforts of eliminating
extremism and terrorism from our country. The government should consider the
possibility of taking the drone issue to the United Nations as drone attacks are a
violation of international law, said the resolution.
Although the APC participants welcomed government initiative of
dialogue but they said instead of just coming up with announcement of dialogue
with militants, they should have discussed the modus operandi with them. They
said that in all the previous APCs and in-camera sessions of parliament the
thrust was on giving peace a chance but later all those initiatives flopped
because the parameters and mode of implementation were not fully defined.
In its preliminary and informal response to the development, the banned
Tehrik-e-Taliban welcomed the offer of peace talks, calling it a positive step.
Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the umbrella militant organization, which
is responsible for most attacks on the state and the citizens, said that meeting of
TTPs central council has been called to discuss the governments offer.
Before the APC, PTI chief Imran Khan met with the PM and the army
chief. Interior Minister Ch Nisar and the ISI DG were also present. Imran
presented his proposals and apprised the participants of his reservations on
addressing the problem of terrorism. He said the issue was primarily the result
of drone strikes and peace cannot be achieved unless these strikes are stopped.
Later at the APC, Imran urged the government not to use the options of
dialogue and operation at the same time if it wished to root out the terrorism and
militancy. Using the option of dialogue and military operation simultaneously
would not be a statesman-like decision. We must realize that this is not our war
which we are fighting, he said in his address. He also urged for adopting a clear
policy against US missile strikes.
Reportedly, the government has, in principle, agreed to quit the US-led
war on terror to concede one of the major demands of the PTI chief Imran
Khan. Since the government was also part of the decisions made in the APC, it
674
seems certain now that Pakistan would soon be coming out of the US-led war,
but only to implement its own strategy to counter the insurgency.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Syed Munawwar Hassan expressed satisfaction
over the APC declaration and said it is in line with the nations sentiments and a
milestone for the countrys sovereignty and solidarity. In a statement, he
expressed hope that the government would take the APCs unanimous resolution
as a starting point of its strategy and make use of best options to implement its
decisions. He was sure the fresh resolution would not meet the same fate faced
by the previous resolutions on the issue.
Meanwhile, at least 5 tribesmen were killed while 2 were severely injured
in an incident of firing by unknown persons in Taji Kalle area of Bannu district
during a Jirga. Two miscreants were killed and seven people including two
security personnel were injured in a firing exchange and hand grenade attack
here in Kohat. In Khyber Agency three volunteers of peace Lashkar were killed
in a clash with terrorists in Shlobar area of Bara Tehsil. Terrorists also
kidnapped five volunteers of Peace Lashkar.
Next day, Pakistan announced it will release key Taliban leader Mullah
Abdul Ghani Baradar at an appropriate time to help facilitate reconciliation
process in Afghanistan. Sartaj Aziz, advisor to the prime minister on national
security and foreign affairs, confirmed that he is likely to be released when
Prime Minister will be in New York to attend the UN General Assembly
session.
Aziz said Baradar would not be handed over to the government in
Afghanistan, but it was important to make sure the released Taliban prisoners
had a chance to establish contact with their leadership on the ground to persuade
them to be part of peace talks an idea he said Karzai had agreed to.
He said the Pakistan government was keen to use its contacts with
insurgent groups to prepare the ground for peace talks but said it was up to
Afghanistan to come up with solutions. I think our basic purpose is to persuade
them to talk to Afghans. We cant speak on their behalf. We have no solutions to
suggest, formulas to suggest. We just want to bring them together, Aziz said.
James Dobbins, the US special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan
praised Pakistans newly elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for seeking
more meaningful dialogue with Afghan President Hamid Karzai and
supporting reconciliation in Afghanistan. This seems to be a genuine desire. I
think its somewhat accelerated since the new government came into office, he
said.
Briefing the media persons on APC and on the law and order situation in
Karachi during a press conference, interior minister said TTP and other militant
675
groups had so far made no demands to the government to undergo a peace deal
and the first interaction from both sides would determine the demands.
What the government will offer to the militant groups, it will be decided
after the demands would come, he said, adding, that the original offer of peace
talks had come from TTP after general elections. He said the procedure and the
modus operandi to initiate peace dialogue with the militant groups was ready
with the government as it had completed home work. Nisar, however, refused to
share the same with media.
The minister said decision to hold dialogue had neither been made to woo
any international force nor to clear the way of military operation but it had been
made on the will of the political leadership. He said TTPs positive response to
dialogue offer was a good omen. Nisar said APC had issued the joint declaration
with complete consensus of all parliamentary parties that participated in the
moot.
Imran Khan advised the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
to tax NATO supply, impose strict financial discipline, and explore new revenue
generation avenues. He said that financial health of the province is poor and so
is the economic situation, therefore, the provincial government should take steps
for the revenue generation so that the province could stand on its own feet.
On 11th September, it was reported that armed forces of Pakistan and
Taliban militants exchanged prisoners as a confidence-building measure ahead
of possible peace talks. The exchange included six militants of TTP and two
Frontier Corps soldiers in the Shawal area of the South Waziristan. The
militants were subsequently taken to North Waziristan.
The release occurred on September 9 only days after Pakistans main
political parties endorsed peace negotiations with the Taliban and their allies as
the best way to end a decade-long insurgency that has killed thousands of
people. Militants fired in the air with joy when their colleagues were freed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Army rejected a news report regarding swap of six TTP
militants with two Frontier Corps soldiers.
The intelligence agencies widened their operation and picked up several
suspected militants following the arrest of a key al-Qaeda operative from a
Punjab University hostel a week ago. The suspected militant, yet to be
identified, is said to be a leading al-Qaeda member. Reportedly, the militant
arrested from Punjab University is said to be the close relative of a top al-Qaeda
commander.
Next day, security forces arrested key accused of Chilas and Nanga
Parbat tragedies in a raid on Kohistan. Hamidullah was arrested from Kohistan
over charge of killing two army officers and a policeman on August 6. The
accused had also masterminded killings of ten foreign tourists at Nanga Parbat
676
base camp in Diamer. Gilgit-Baltistan chief secretary said the accused was a
former chief of a banned outfit, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Chilas chapter.
A NATO supply truck was set on fire by unknown militants in the Zakha
Khel area of tehsil Landi kotal, Khyber Agency. NATO supply truck with an
ISAF armour vehicle developed some technical faults and parked on the PakAfghan Road and last night some unknown militants set the truck on fire and
disappeared from the scene.
Rejecting that Islamabad and Washington had a tacit understating on
drone attacks in Pakistan; Foreign Office spokesman said preparations are
underway to take up the issue in the UN General Assembly session beginning
later this month. We are doing our homework to raise the US drone strikes
issue at the United Nations as per the recommendations of the All Parties
Conference (APC) hosted by the government, spokesman told the weekly press
briefing.
Ambassador Zamir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the
UN in Geneva, said Pakistan had suffered heavy loss of lives of innocent
civilians apart from widespread social and economic costs due to the drone
strikes. While addressing the opening session of the 24 th Human Rights Council,
he said that in recent years, there had been severe human rights violations across
the globe, as a result of indiscriminate use of force in the context of counterterrorism efforts such as illegal detentions, renditions, and extrajudicial killings
including through use of drone attacks, said a press release.
Senior Pakistani Taliban commanders opened discussions on how to
respond to an invitation from the government on talks to end an insurgency.
Leaders in the TTP are expected to continue consultations for several days at an
undisclosed location in the semi-autonomous northwest along the Afghan
border.
TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who was previously reportedly against
holding talks with the authorities, is chairing the consultations, two Taliban
commanders told AFP. We are discussing the overall situation and the
governments offer. We will soon inform the media about our decisions, TTP
spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said.
On 13th September, unknown miscreants fired rockets on a cement factory
situated near Darra Pezu at night. The attack caused panic and fear in the area
prompting the local police to rush to the factory. One of the rockets hit a
building in the factory and damaged it partially but it did not cause any loss of
human life.
Nine tankers carrying fuel supply for NATO forces stationed in
Afghanistan were destroyed and a driver killed by militants in Kalat district.
Police said militants armed with rockets and guns attacked over two dozen oil
677
tankers parked by the roadside before a hotel in Hajika area of Surab Tehsil. A
huge fire broke out and engulfed a long queue of tankers, nearby shops and the
hotel.
The Chief Justice of Peshawar High Court took suo motu notice of the
sale of unregistered mobile SIMs in open markets and sought written replies
from the concerned quarters. Taking notice of the easily availability of illegal
unregistered mobile SIMs, Justice Dost Muhammad Khan observed that
vegetable is difficult to purchase but SIMs are easily purchasable.
The chief justice while issuing notices to Chairman PTA, Secretary
Interior, Chief Secretary KPK, Attorney General, Advocate General and Chief
Executive of all mobile companies with direction to submit written reply on this
issue. The chief justice said that PTA and federal government are not ready to
take any action against unregistered SIMs. He said that open sale of illegal and
unregistered SIMs is a serious threat for security of the country because such
SIMs are wrongly used.
Maulana Fazlur Rahman feared that undermining talks option with TTP
will not help efforts aimed at ending terrorism in the country. Maulana, in a
statement, also called for respecting the All Parties Conferences consensus on
talks with Taliban. Some quarters are not happy with the decision but they have
to respect the military and political leaderships agreement on holding talks with
the militants, if they believed on democratic decision making process, he said.
Next day, Taliban militants released eight employees of Gomal Zam Dam
project. Sub-Divisional Officer, Sub Engineer, four security personnel and two
others were kidnapped on August 15, 2012, while traveling to Tank from the
dam site in South Waziristan. The release took place after successful
negotiations between a tribal Jirga and the militants. A Taliban spokesman said
the eight men were released as a goodwill gesture from the militants.
A bomb explosion killed two members of a pro-government militia and
wounded four others during an archaeological dig in a tribal district on the
Afghanistan border. The incident took place in the mountainous area of Darra,
30 kilometres northeast of Khar, the main town of Bajaur.
On 15th September, Maj-Gen Sanaullah Khan and Lt-Col Touseef were
killed in this tribal area close to the Afghan border when their vehicle hit a
powerful landmine in Upper Dir which also killed another soldier and injured
two others. The TTP claimed responsibility for the major attack saying they
have not yet signed any truce with the government.
TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that the bomb attack was carried
out by its Swat chapter. Talking to senior journalist Saleem Safi from an
undisclosed location, he said that the militant outfit had called a meeting of its
678
Shura (central decision making body) to consider Islamabads talks offer. But he
said the government had not made any formal contact with the militants so far.
The TTP spokesman set troop pullout from insurgency stricken areas and
the release of jailed insurgents for holding negotiations. He alleged that
following talks in the past, the government betrayed the militants and they were
therefore wary of entering into any agreement with the incumbent setup this
time around.
The Taliban said last year that they would only consider talks if the
government imposed strict Islamic law and went to war with old enemy India.
But Sharifs government, which came to power this year, has made improving
ties with neighbouring India a priority. Whatever the Taliban demand, the
killing of a major general and other officers will make it more difficult for the
government to pursue talks with the militants.
There was no immediate reaction from the military leadership, but civil
and military authorities believed it to be a handiwork of TTPs absconding
commander Maulvi Fazlullah from Swat and his associates who are using safe
heavens in Afghanistans border provinces Kunar and Nurristan for staging
attacks in Pakistan. They say that the group of Fazlullah, who escaped the
military operation in Swat and Malakand along with his close associates few
years ago, was still capable to challenge the writ of the government in Upper
Dir.
Prime Minister phoned COAS and conveyed to him his heartfelt
condolences over the martyrdom of senior army officers. The Prime Minister
said that Pakistan Army had made countless sacrifices for the defence of the
nation and in fighting the scourge of terrorism. He said such incidents could not
deter the morale of armed forces.
The KPK government had announced yesterday that withdrawal of troops
from Malakand division would begin next month and the civil administration
would take over control of the area. The announcement came at a time when the
federal government is preparing to launch peace talks with the banned TTP in
the light of decisions of an all-party conference.
Separately, two roadside bomb attacks in Miranshah, the main town in
North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan, killed two soldiers and
wounded four others. Militants targeted a security forces vehicle through remote
controlled bomb at Mirali Road when it was heading towards Bannu.
In Bannu, Taliban militants ambushed a convoy of tribal police, killing
two of them and wounding four others. Two blasts also occurred in Jamrud
tehsil of Khyber Agency; however, no loss of life was reported. The explosions
took place near the residences of a NATO containers contractor in Ghaziza area
and one NGO personnel in Ghundi area. The houses were damaged partially.
679
680
should be put but these must be within the framework of the Constitution. He
expressed his heartfelt sympathies with families of martyrs of Dir incident.
On 17th September, Prime Minister said that Afghan President had
requested Pakistan to release Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar as he thought it was
essential to bring the Taliban leadership to the negotiating table. However, we
are working on modalities and it was not decided who Baradar would be handed
over to. We are also taking into consideration latest developments and ground
realities before taking a final decision in this regard, Nawaz said.
Prime Minister Erdogan said there was a tripartite arrangement among
Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan through which efforts for a lasting peace in
the war-torn Islamic state were being pursued. He said terrorist elements were
crossing over to Pakistan, Iran and some other countries, and it had to be
stopped at all costs. He said Turkey, as a member of NATO, would provide full
support to Afghanistan and his troops would stay in Afghanistan as long as
required.
Observing that militants could stage a comeback and the decision should
not be taken in haste, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) asked the KPK
government to consult the federation and the army before it proceeds with its
decision to pull troops out from Malakand Division. The chief justice further
remarked that the army had been deployed to maintain peace and there would
be no harm if it would stay longer for the same purpose.
Punjab University Vice Chancellor said that the Islami Jamiat Talba had
sheltered the al-Qaeda operative arrested from the varsity hostel on September
14. The VC was of the view that the alleged terrorist stayed at Hostel No 1s
Room No 237. He said the university administration could get rid of the illegal
elements residing in the PU hostels if the law enforcement agencies cooperated.
The VC said that about 7,000 students were residing in the 26 hostels and
no such incident took place in the varsity except the recent arrest. He said that
about 75 FIRs had been lodged against the miscreants during last three years,
but no one took action against them. If police arrest any miscreant, his backers
manage to get him free, he lamented.
The Pakistani Taliban insisted they are still at war with government
troops because peace talks have yet to start and the military is still launching
multiple offensives against them. The announcement came two days after two
senior military officers were killed by a Taliban bomb in KPK. War is
continuing, it was started by the government and they will have to stop it,
Shahidullah Shahid, main spokesman for the TTP told AFP.
Next day, two terrorists were killed and two personnel of security forces
were injured in an exchange of fire in North Waziristan Agency. The clash took
place in Datakhel Tehsil when armed militants stormed the Khar Qamar
681
682
present. The number of extremist groups has doubled since the last list drawn
during the last PPP tenure that had 23 such outfits.
Ambassador Masood Khan told the 15-nation Council during a discussion
on the situation in Afghanistan that drone strikes infringe our sovereignty,
violate international law, including international human rights and humanitarian
law, cause civilian casualties and are detrimental to the combined efforts to fight
terrorism. Noting that Ban Ki-moon had called attention to the adverse
consequences of the use of armed drones, Ambassador said, We call for
cessation of drone strikes. Urgent and intense dialogue can help resolve this
issue.
Next day, a tribal leader was killed and three others injured in firing by
unknown militants in Jalozai Camp of Nowshera. The militants on motorcycles
sped away from the scene after committing the crime. In Islamabad, Nawaz
Sharif held a meeting with COAS and DG ISI and discussed initiation of
dialogue with militants. The meeting reviewed the wish list of Taliban for peace
parleys in the backdrop of the Upper Dir. The Premier was quite disturbed over
the attack and considered it a severe blow to the peace initiative. Army Chief
and the DG ISI were also angry over the killing of their men even after the
announcement of peace initiative by the government. However, they still
supported giving peace a chance.
It was the consensus view of the three that would meet the reasonable
demands of the Taliban for peace in the country. However, all of them agreed
that some of the demands put forth by the TTP were unreasonable and could not
be met at this stage. Talibans demand of withdrawal of armed forces was
considered as absurd and impracticable by the military leadership as in that case
who would defend the countrys border with war-torn Afghanistan.
Pakistan announced that the detained top Taliban Commander Mullah
Abdul Ghani Baradar would be set free tomorrow but due to security
considerations did not indicate the time or location of his release. Notably,
announcement of the much-awaited and speculated release of Baradar comes
just ahead of Prime Minister's visit to the US. The Afghan peace and
reconciliation process will be a key point of discussion at the UNGA session.
For now, Baradar will not be able to travel outside Pakistan. Under the
UN Taliban Sanctions Regime there is ban on international travel of Taliban
leaders. A country holding Taliban in custody cannot allow them to travel
abroad on release without formal permission from the relevant UN Security
Council Committee. And, Pakistan has no intentions at this stage to initiate such
a process or approach the UN committee in this regard.
On 21st September, security forces killed 12 terrorists after they ambushed
a group of 20 terrorists near Pak-Afghan border in Dir District. A patrolling
683
party of security forces killed the terrorists during an hour-long gun battle. Two
soldiers were also injured in the incident.
The COAS visited the headquarters of two infantry divisions in Swat and
Malakand Division and reportedly gave final nod to an upcoming targeted
military action against the terrorists; almost a week after an army general was
killed in a terror hit in Upper Dir district. The move is clearly linked to the
killing of GOC 17 Infantry Division.
Pakistan freed former Taliban second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani
Baradar to help facilitate reconciliation process in Afghanistan with the hope his
release makes tangible contribution to the peace in the whole region. Despite all
the secrecy about his release and whereabouts, well-placed government sources
claimed that Taliban leader has been released but they declined to share details.
Baradars release brings to 34 the number of Taliban detainees that
Pakistan has freed for the last year. The Afghan government, which had been
demanding his release, welcomed Foreign Offices announcement in this regard.
Mullah Baradar was the right-hand man of Taliban supreme commander Mullah
Omar and the most senior member of the Taliban held after US-led troops
invaded Afghanistan.
Serious differences between various factions of the Taliban over the
utility and need of talks between them and the Pakistan government, and some
powerful elements efforts to sabotage the initiative to restore peace to the
Islamic republic are the major hurdles because of which negotiations between
the militia and the government could not start so far. This is the viewpoint of
Javed Ibrahim Paracha, a former MNA, who is trying to make the two parties sit
across the table to bring the killings to an end.
Asked to comment on the TTP spokesmans statement that attacks on
military officials would continue, Mr Paracha said unless talks were started,
such a stance was quite understandable. Before the talks start, he said, the
Taliban and the government would have to agree to a ceasefire. Meanwhile,
some constitutional experts are of the view that accepting the Talibans demand
about the withdrawal of troops from FATA or release of the Taliban prisoners
would amount to surrendering Pakistans sovereignty.
Next day, a twin suicide bombing killed more than 80 people and injured
140 others at a church service in Peshawar in one of the deadliest attacks on
Christians in the country. Two suicide bombers entered inside the All Saints
Church and detonated their explosive jackets at the conclusion of a service
when hundreds of worshippers were coming out to get a free meal of rice on the
front lawn. At the time of the blasts around 400 worshipers were present at the
church, which is commonly known as Pakistan Church.
684
685
686
Imran Khan said that playing with the lives of innocent people and
politicking over the tragic incident to damage public properties is a shameful
act. Imran condemned the attack on innocent worshippers in the church and said
that elements involved in this heinous crime are not humans. He said that it was
second major attack after Mina Bazar bomb blast where hundreds of people
were killed.
He added that those who did not bring peace in five years, then how are
they criticizing the government. Today some elements were making politics
over the dead bodies of the victims and provoked people to defame PTI
government in the province. Whenever environment becomes conducive for
talks with Taliban, some elements try to put hurdles through bomb blasts and
drone attacks, Imran said.
Meanwhile, unknown assailants gunned down a local leader of ANP in
Buner district. Anwar Khan was killed when unidentified men fired at him and
fled the scene. ANP central leadership condemned the murder of its leader and
demanded the arrest of the culprits. ANP parliamentary leader said the incident
had confirmed the failure of the federal and provincial governments.
At least five persons including a commander of defunct organization,
Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) were killed, when an explosive device exploded inside the
center of LI, went off in Nala area of tehsil Bara, sub-division of Khyber
Agency. Two Khasadar troops were shot dead in two separate incidents which
took place in Shahkas and Tedi Bazaar of Tehsil Jamrud of Khyber Agency.
US drones fired four missiles at two houses in Shawal area of North
Waziristan Agency. The two compounds were completely destroyed, leaving
seven of the occupants dead. There was no immediate information about the
identity of those injured. Pakistan strongly condemned US drone strike.
At least one person was killed and another injured when a suspected
mortar shell fired from Afghanistan landed in a residential area in North
Waziristan. The victim was a civilian who succumbed to his wounds suffered in
the explosion at his house in Saidgi.
Insurgency: On 9th September, three policemen were killed when
unknown assailants attacked a security check-post in Kashmor district, located
adjacent to Sui area of Balochistan. On 12 th September, in Panjgur district,
unidentified armed men killed two religious scholars near Iran border.
Separately, an unidentified person killed a man and injured his son in Musa
Colony of Quetta.
Three labourers belonging to Punjab were shot dead in Gwadar port city
of Balochistan. Unidentified gunmen stormed a crushing plant and took captive
three labourers and a contractor. They took the captives 15 kilometres away to
687
Suntsar area and killed three of them; the contractor, a resident of South
Waziristan, was still in the captivity of his captors.
On 13th September, Security personnel killed a man for putting up
resistance and wounded a passer-by in Quetta. Balochistan Chief Minister Dr
Abdul Malik Baloch meanwhile took a notice of the incident and ordered an
inquiry. One man was killed and two others injured in two separate incidents of
firing and landmine blast in Harnai and Subatpur town of Balochistan.
A complete shutter-down strike was observed in Panjgur district against
the killing of two sons of a religious scholar. All shops, markets and business
establishments remained closed in Panjgur city while traffic plying on the roads
was also thin as compared to normal days. Next day, two policemen, an
assistant sub-inspector and a head constable, were gunned down in Khuzdar
district, while in another incident of violence a seminary student was killed in
Mastung district.
On 16th September, Chief Justice of Pakistan said that peace in
Balochistan cannot be restored unless the borders are fenced and protected. Our
neighboring countries have been working to fence their side of border, but we
have left our porous borders open for the smuggling of weapons, which is main
cause of the grim law and order situation in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
and Karachi, remarked the chief justice.
Expressing serious annoyance over non-recovery of missing persons
while hearing the deteriorating law and order in Balochistan, the chief justice
said there was no respect for the judiciary and if this attitude was not changed
they would leave. Once again summoning the Frontier Corps inspector general
to appear before the court, the apex court regretted that despite lapse of three
years the missing persons had not been recovered.
On 18th September, two people were gunned down in a sectarian targeted
killing incident in the provincial capital. The banned organization, Jaish-ulIslam, has claimed responsibility for the killings. Next day, at least ten people
were injured as some miscreants attacked Balochistan Constabulary Lines with
a hand-grenade in Sariab area, Quetta. The attackers managed to escape
following the attack. No group has claimed responsibility of the attack.
On 20th September, at least five security personnel were wounded in a
roadside bomb blast in Machh area of district Bolan. Frontier Corps convoy was
on its way from Quetta to Sibi when it was hit by a roadside bomb near Bibi
Nani area of Machh. The Sibi Scouts Commandant remained safe in the attack.
On 22nd September, at least 23 people, including five children were wounded in
a bomb blast in Sibi town. The blast occurred near a crowded meat market at
Nishtar Road when the explosives planted in a motorbike went off. No group
claimed responsibility for the blast.
688
Turf War: On 10th September, two policemen and a worker of the MQM
were among nine people killed in separate incidents of violence in the city.
Meanwhile, Rangers claimed to have killed an alleged criminal and arrested
many others in targeted operation against the target killers, extortionists and
other criminals. Police claimed to have apprehended 148 alleged criminals,
including 23 absconders, 40 others under Arms Ordinance, 22 under Narcotics
Ordinance, four under Terrorism Act and three alleged extortionists.
On 11th September, a shutdown was observed in Karachi and in some
areas of Hyderabad as well parts of interior Sindh following the arrest of a
former provincial MQM legislator. Altaf Hussain condemned the arrest of
Nadeem Hashmi, claiming that Sindh government was conducting one-sided
action against MQM leaders and activists.
In a statement issued from MQMs London secretariat, Altaf asked
provincial government to explain reasons and tell under which laws the former
MPA was taken into custody. Altaf said he had always advised his party workers
to remain calm and patient and appealed for the same today. He termed the
ongoing targeted operation in Karachi a replay of 1992.
Hashmi was arrested over murder of two policemen in Karachis North
Nazimabad area and was subsequently shifted to Pirabad Police Station. He is
accused of firing on a police mobile in Haideri area earlier the same day in
which policemen Iqbal Arif and Muhammad Ali were killed.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff
General Ashfaq Parvaiz Kayani met on Wednesday and discussed the measures
taken by federal government to bring normalcy to the troubled areas of country,
particularly the port city of Karachi. They agreed that operation in Karachi
should be across the board and free of any political pressure.
An emergency session of the MQMs Rabita (coordination) Committee
was held at the partys London and Karachi headquarters to decide the course of
action over the arrest of party members. Meanwhile, tension engulfed the city as
markets, businesses, shops and fuel stations shut down in several areas. Public
transport and traffic remained sparse on roads as Karachi Transport Ittehad
declared that buses would remain off the roads.
The All Private School Management Association announced a closure of
all private schools in Karachi. Academic and administrative activities at the
Sindh Madrasatul Islam, Karachi University and Federal Urdu University too
stood suspended and all exams scheduled for the day were postponed.
Two persons were killed in separate incidents of violence in Malir and
Abul Hassan Ispahani Road areas. A vehicle was torched near Nasir Jump area
in Korangi locality. Another vehicle was set on fire near Rabia City in Gulistani-Jauhar area whereas a truck was set alight near Two-Minute Chowrangi area.
689
who had split from the party, was stabbed to death near his house in London
town of Edgware.
The MQM leader these days is mostly at home, in a redbrick suburban
house in Edgware protected by high walls, security cameras and a contingent of
former British soldiers he has hired as bodyguards. From there, he holds court,
addressing his faraway followers in a vigorous, sometimes maniacal style,
punctuated by jabbing gestures and hectoring outbursts. Occasionally he bursts
into a song, or tears
In Karachi, his overwhelmingly middle-class party is fronted by sharply
dressed, well-spoken men and a good number of women and it has won a
reputation for efficient City administration. But beneath the surface, its mandate
is backed by armed gangs involved in racketeering, abduction and the targeted
killings of ethnic and political rivals, the Times said, citing the police and
diplomats.
Other major Pakistani parties indulge in similar behaviour, but the MQM
frequently brings the most muscle to the fight An American diplomatic cable
from 2008 titled Gangs of Karachi, which was published by WikiLeaks, cited
estimates that the party had an active militia of 10,000 gunmen, with an
additional 25,000 in reserve a larger force, the dispatch notes, than the city
police.
Many journalists who have criticized the party have been beaten, or
worse, driving most of the news media in Karachi to tread lightly, according to
the dispatch. In the West, the party has avoided critical attention partly because
it has cast itself as an enemy of Islamist militancy, the Times said. In 2001,
Altaf Hussain wrote a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair of Britain, offering to
help Britain set up a spy network against the Taliban.
Critics of the party have frequently questioned the role of British officials
in facilitating its unusual system of governance, it said. But Britain is not the
only node of Altaf Hussains international support network. Through the
Pakistani Diaspora, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement has active branches as far
afield as the United States, Canada and even South Africa, which has become an
important financial hub and a haven for the groups enforcers, the Times said,
citing Pakistani investigators.
Two police interrogation reports obtained by The New York Times cite
militants from the movement who say they traveled to South Africa in between
carrying out political assassinations in Karachi. One of those men, Teddy
Qamar, confessed to 58 killings between 2006 and 2012, the police say.
Altaf Hussain has receded from public view during the recent furor.
There have been rumours about mounting health problems, which Altaf
Hussains aides deny. But he cannot return to Pakistan, they state because the
691
Taliban could kill him. Then there are the legal threats: over the years, dozens
of murder charges have been lodged against Altaf Hussain in Pakistan, the
dispatch said, noting that some have been quashed in court.
Next day, Interior Minister contacted Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad in
Dubai on phone and talked to him on the targeted operation. Ebad, who is in
Dubai on a private visit, apprised Nisar about MQMs reservations about the
targeted operation while the minister assured the governor that his partys
reservations in this regard would be addressed at the earliest.
Ebad told the minister that he had not resigned yet but the option of his
resignation was on the table. The interior minister later talked to Senator Babar
Ghauri and took him into confidence on the matter of operation. Ghauri
complained that the federal government had not constituted a committee as
announced by it to monitor and oversee the affairs of the targeted operation.
Nisar also talked Sindh Chief Minister and both agreed to continue the
targeted operation in Karachi. The CM apprised him of the situation after the
killing of a jail officer in Malir. A superintendent of Juvenile Prison was gunned
down in the jurisdictions of Model Colony police station. Three more people
were killed in separate incidents of violence. Nisar and Qaim showed
confidence in the cooperation between Karachi police and Rangers.
Around 30 suspects were detained during targeted raids conducted by
Rangers in various areas of the metropolis, including Ancholi Society, Lasi
Goth, Micasa apartment in Old Sabzi Mandi area, Pakhtunabad, Lasbella
Chowrangi, Garden and Gulbahar localities. Political workers were also among
the detainees who were believed to be involved in target killings.
On 16th September, two cops and an activist of MQM were gunned down
in various incidents of target killing in the city. City Police Chief said that
Liaquatabad Police, during a raid, had arrested four members of outlawed
Lashker-e-Jhangvi. Police had also recovered the bomb-making material from
their possession and the literature. The arrested members are trained and they
were sending the youth to Waziristan for training purposes.
Rangers claimed to have arrested three close aids of notorious Lyari
gangsters chief Noor Muhammad aka Baba Ladla and recovered huge cache of
ammunition in a targeted operation. According to Rangers, the raids were
conducted on the main hideouts of Lyari gangs located at Lyari Maternity Road,
Slaughter Yard Road, Dubai Chowk and hideouts of Jasim Golden, Baba Ladla
and Ustaad Taju.
During the operation, 14 criminals, including a target killer and three
extortionists affiliated with a political party were arrested. Separately, Police
raided various localities and apprehended 13 suspects and recovered four TT
pistols, a Kalashnikov and drugs from their possession.
692
avoid arrest in targeted operation against them by police and Rangers. They
were spending holidays, said Police.
In an effort to put a control on crime and terrorism through conviction,
the Sindh Assembly passed Sindh Witness Protection Bill 2013 into law
unanimously; aiming to give protection to witnesses to enable them to give
evidence in criminal proceedings. With the passage of the law, Sindh became
the first province in the country having a witness protection programme, under
which witnesses are allowed to conceal his/her identity by wearing mask,
changing voice and appearance during trial or examination of criminal
proceedings in court of law.
The new law suggests measures to protect the witness including
relocating the witness, providing accommodation for the witness, providing
reasonable financial assistance to the witness whenever practicable for
obtaining means of livelihood, as well as providing compensation to the legal
heirs if protected person was killed due to his/her participation in the
programme and making special arrangements for the security of the witness for
reasonable period of time.
Next day, at least three people were killed and 13 others wounded in a
grenade attack inside an imambargah in Landhi area of Karachi. Police claimed
to have arrested 120 criminals in 96 raids conducted in various localities of the
metropolis and seized 54 weapons in targeted operation continued in the City.
Frontier Corps arrested at least 12 suspects including ten Lyari gangsters,
recovering huge cache of weapons from them in a Hub area.
The Anti Terrorist Court released PPP leader Maqbool Lehri in a case of
explosives recovered from his warehouse. ATC Judge Tariq Anwar Kasi ordered
to release Lehri on bail on furnishing surety bonds of Rs1 million. Security
forces had arrested Lehri after recovering over 100,000 kg explosives from his
warehouse.
Interior Minister said that the federal government is in consultation with
the provincial government and other political parties almost on a daily basis.
Almost 10 per cent work has been done, he said, adding that this action was
not only limited to Karachi as criminals were also arrested from other parts of
the country. Nisar said that this process was started with a joint policy.
Whosoever will try to create hurdles will be exposed before the nation, he
warned.
He said the first phase would be completed in a couple of days. In the
second phase, process will be further enhanced, and the third stage will be most
important, he informed. About the Muhajir Republican Army, he said that it has
no connection with the MQM. It has connection somewhere else, he said,
without elaborating. Nisar further said that the Rangers have conducted 400 and
694
police over 1,000 operations in Karachi. Around 250 persons have fled from
Karachi to North Waziristan, he said.
A bench headed by Chief Justice resumed hearing of the implementation
suo moto on Karachi unrest verdict at Karachi Registry where government
officials submitted reports pertaining to progress on various cases. The CJP said
that police officers, who took part in Karachi operations of 1992 and 1996, were
killed one by one. The IG police should tell the court where their killers are? In
this situation, no one comes forward to be a witness. The murder of witnesses is
not possible without the nexus of police and influential people. He said that
despite clear court orders, Sindh government could not arrest the killers of
journalist Wali Khan Babar. Instead, the witnesses of his murder were killed one
by one, he added.
The chief justice scolded the IG Sindh and said for Gods sake! Do
something to save the country. Only the cosmetic measures are taken so far.
The CJP said that arms are pouring into Karachi from India, Israel and Russia,
besides the NATO and US arms coming into the city. He said that the law
enforcers should recover the illegal arms at all cost, even if they will have to
impose curfew in the city. He hailed Sindh Assemblys legislation of the
protection of witnesses.
The SC ordered to make public a report prepared by a senior customs
official Ramzan Bhatti regarding smuggling of arms and ammunition as well as
evasion of duty on different items at Karachi port. The report said that there are
39 possible sea routes through which a launch or boat can be used for
smuggling while seven of these routes are totally unguarded. It said that
intelligence officials have denied smuggling through sea routes.
MQMs Babar Ghouri had requested the court that he be allowed to
become party in the case after the report accused him of connivance in the
alleged arms smuggling issue. The hearing was later adjourned until tomorrow.
This hearing is first since early September when the Federal Cabinet decided to
launch a targeted operation in the metropolis spearheaded by the Rangers.
On 20th September, the federal cabinet approved a draft of amendments to
anti-terrorism laws in an effort to further empower law enforcement agencies
for better handling of terror-related cases. The bill promises more powers for the
Rangers and protection of witnesses in terrorism cases. The amendments seek to
aid security forces and law enforcement agencies by providing them special
prosecution powers in cases related to terrorism.
The amendments suggest that witnesses and prosecutors in cases related
to terrorism should also be provided security, and that intelligence and security
agencies can be requested to provide support during the interrogation of
terrorism suspects. The bill also includes an amendment that necessitates swift
proceedings in terrorism cases and allows for suspects in such cases to be held
695
in custody for 90 days before being presented in court under the Anti-Terrorism
Act.
The Supreme Court ordered Karachi police to immediately arrest over
33,000 criminals absconding in the City and to start a campaign for recovery of
illegal arms. After two days of hearing of the Karachi law and order
implementation case, a bench headed by Chief Justice ordered immediate arrest
of criminals wanted in various crimes.
In its interim order, the bench also ordered authorities to start a campaign
for recovery of illegal arms in the City. The court also ordered police to present
details about arrests made so far in the on-going targeted action in Karachi.
Moreover, the court sought details about slain police officers who were involved
in the 1992 and 1996 Karachi action.
According to the statistics presented in the report by Prosecutor General,
there are over 110,000 absconders in Sindh out of which 33,665 are in Karachi.
Moreover, there are pending cases of 1,486 absconders in the anti-terrorism
court. Justice Khilji remarked how citizens can remain safe in a City when there
are 33,000 absconders present.
On the occasion, the CJ inquired about the absconders who took
advantage of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). The Prosecutor
General Sindh told the bench that there are total 12,734 accused who availed the
NRO. The CJ then asked about the accused who were freed during 2008-2013
as their cases were disposed of as A-class. Replying to this, the Prosecutor
General told that there were total 17,961 cases that were disposed of as A-class.
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry then remarked that in the presence of so
many absconders in his area, no SHO could remain eligible. He said that it is
only the absconders who are spoiling peace in the City. Justice Jawwad
remarked that releasing the accused involved in serious crimes on parole is
equivalent to give them the license to commit more crimes. He said that crime
rate in Karachi is 66 per cent as compared to the crime rate in other cities which
is 34 per cent.
Police booked MQM leader and Member National Assembly, Nabeel
Gabool in the murder case of Zafar Baloch, leader of defunct Amman
Committee. Police registered a case against Nabeel Gabool and four other
unidentified gunmen. Gabool was nominated in the FIR by the complainant and
the arrest of Gabool has become mandatory after the FIR.
Afghanistan: On 11th September, according to a press release, the firstever two-day dialogue between Senate Standing Committee on Defence and
Defence Production of Pakistan and Defence, Internal Security and Local
Administration Committee of Meshrano Jirga of Afghan Parliament took place
in Kabul. They dialogue focused on issues including security and the defence
696
697
created some hope. Himself a former nuclear negotiator, Rowhani has handed
responsibility for future talks to the foreign ministry under the US-educated
moderate Mohammad Javad Zarif.
A new round of talks between Iran and the IAEA is set for September 27
and a meeting with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council
plus Germany (the P5+1 or E3+3), the first since April, is expected soon. Zarif
said that Tehran wanted to remove any ambiguity about its nuclear work.
On 16th September, Iran's new atomic energy chief pledged increased
cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog, delivering a conciliatory message
ahead of talks between the two sides this month over Tehran's disputed atomic
activities. Ali Akbar Salehi also said Iran was optimistic about the outcome of
broader diplomatic negotiations with major powers.
At the annual IAEA member state meeting, the United States accused Iran
of continuing to take provocative actions in its nuclear programme, probably
referring to the further expansion of its uranium enrichment programme. Iran
says it is enriching uranium only for civilian energy and medicine, denying any
aim to acquire nuclear weapons.
On 19th September, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that his
government wont build any nuclear weapons, as speculation grew here that
President Barack Obama may hold direct talks with the new Iranian leader on
the margins of the UN General Assembly. In an interview in Tehran with NBC
News Rouhani, who has struck a moderate tone, reiterated Irans stance that
under no circumstances would we seek any weapons of mass destruction,
including nuclear weapons, nor will we ever.
We have never pursued or sought a nuclear bomb, and we are not going
to do so, he said. We solely are looking for peaceful nuclear technology. In
its nuclear program, this government enters with full power and has complete
authority, Rouhani said. The problem wont be from our side. We have
sufficient political latitude to solve this problem.
699
Next day, India rejected September 11 date proposed by Pakistan for the
visit of its Judicial Commission to record statements of witnesses and concerned
officials into Mumbai attack. The Pakistani Commission is to cross-examine the
witnesses in the Mumbai attack case. Now, both countries will have to look at a
fresh, mutually convenient date.
On 13th September, top diplomats of Pakistan and India agreed in Kyrgyz
capital Bishkek that their respective prime ministers would meet on the
sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in an effort to resume the
bilateral dialogue process. Both sides also agreed to respect the 2003 ceasefire
agreement to reduce tension on Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir and to
strengthen existing mechanisms to make them more effective for this purpose.
Prime Ministers Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj
Aziz had two sessions with his Indian counterpart Salman Khurshid on the
margins of the SCO summit in Bishkek. They agreed to finalize the agenda of
the proposed September 29 meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and
his Indian counterpart in New York through diplomatic channels.
Indias main opposition named hardline Hindu nationalist Narendra Modi
as its prime ministerial candidate for next years elections, overriding doubts in
the party about his polarizing character. I seek the blessings of millions of
Indians to join our effort to steer the country out of these perilous days, Modi
said in his first comments, declining to take questions from waiting journalists.
On 15th September, BJPs prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief
Minister Narendra Modi told Pakistan to shun its anti-India attitude and stop
backing terrorism against India. In his first rally after being chosen the prime
ministerial candidate of Indians main opposition party, Modi told a massive
rally of ex-soldiers in Haryana that promoting gun culture had done Pakistan no
good over the last 60 years.
The rulers in Pakistan should resolve that they will not allow terrorists to
(operate) in Pakistan for 10 years, will not protect terrorists, will not allow its
soil to be the breeding ground for terrorists. I can say with authority that if this
happens, Pakistan will see the progress that it has not seen in the last 60 years
(since it got independence), he said.
Modi said Pakistan had converted India into a war zone through its war
mindset and support for terrorism. Earlier, the war used to take place on the
border. But when you (Pakistan) could not defeat the Indian army, you started
going for killing innocent citizens. Killing innocents through cross-border
terrorism is neither going to help Pakistan nor India I want to tell the rulers
whether it is of Bangladesh, India or Pakistan: if we have to fight, we should
fight against poverty, illiteracy and other ills.
700
701
VIEWS
Pakistan
Going round in circles: For the third time now, an All Parties
Conference has reinvented the square wheel. Talk with the Taliban, give peace a
chance, its not their manifesto, its the drones! All the while turning the other
cheek to neither acknowledging nor admitting that the agenda of the Taliban and
their allied extremist groups is to impose their own conservative and closeted
brand of Islam on the diversified and multi-cultural Diaspora that has been the
tradition of this land.
Once again, a vague set of resolutions has emerged, which evoke a sense
of nostalgia and denial, more than the urgency and seriousness that is required.
Navel-gazing over the lack of international recognition Pakistan has received
for the role it has played in the Afghan war is a diversionary tactic to deflect the
peoples attention from the fact that the Pakistani state has left the field wide
open for all manner of anti-state extremists to consolidate their hold and wreak
havoc.
Where the agenda of terrorists is to dismantle the Pakistani state, and
impose a theocracy, what is the possible aim of the negotiations that are to be
held with them? If Afghanistan is cited as a precedent for negotiating with the
Taliban and their ilk, how do any of the parties present at the APC explain the
fact that in Afghanistan the Taliban are negotiating for a share in government? Is
the Pakistani government prepared to draw up another disastrous Swat
agreement? The Taliban may be a good fit for Afghanistan, but for Pakistanis
they are not.
The time spent on negotiations will only delay what ultimately has to be
done: the state will have to take military action against extremist elements who
obey neither its laws, nor accept its legitimacy and hold large tracts of land and
entire populations hostage to their enforced agenda. Mian Nawaz and his
government have the mandate; and if this APC demonstrated anything, it was
that the other parties dont want to have to deal with the headache. All
confidence has been reposed in the Prime Minister, to do what he sees fit.
The disclaimer that this is the last chance for talks is a minor
concession to leave room for a plan B, should talks be unsuccessful. Whether
the TTP will take this warning in consideration depends very much on how
serious it thinks the government is in following up this threat. And at the
moment it is worrying that not a single member of the APC seems to have been
prepared to acknowledge that if talks fail, Pakistan doesnt have a plan.
(Editorial, TheNation 10th September)
702
Guns and roses: Ch. Nisar Ali Khans press conference, after the APC
on the worsening security situation, has raised more questions than it has
answered. Apart from the over-simplistic explanation for the cause of terrorism
in the country; blaming the blowback from 9/11 and a dictators decision to
conduct an Army Operation in FATA in 2004, the Interior Minister was also
found to be unusually careful with his words, mindful of the consequences they
may have.
To views that strong steps should be taken against the militants, playing
to the TTP, Mr Khan refrained from answering the question directly and instead,
insisted that the victims of drone attacks should not be ignored. He said he had
no knowledge of the conditions the TTP may put forward should the talks take
place.
However, the Father of the Taliban, Maulana Sami-ul-Haq has given
some indications. The TTP, following its manifesto, will demand Islamization
of the political system and the state to separate itself from the war on terror. The
murder of thousands of Pakistani citizens in suicide bombings and target
killings greatly discredits the notion that this is a US imposed war, against
them, and not a fight for maintaining our uniquely Pakistani way of life. Also,
the constitution provides already that no law in contradiction to Islam and its
teachings can be passed by the Parliament, it is an Islamic republic what more
could possibly be needed?
Mr Khan assured the country that the decision to negotiate was homemade and no foreign interference occurred throughout the process. If this is the
states wish, what does it have to offer the TTP? And while he pointed out that
previous efforts for talks were sabotaged, there was neither a mention of
several peace deals which were violated by the militants every single time, nor a
single reference to a strategy which guarantees that future arrangements will not
share the same fate.
Mr Khan declared that there were two options to choose from: fight or
negotiate. And, a joint decision had been made that talks with the extremist
factions are in the interest of the country.
While making this statement, he is accepting responsibility that this time
around, it is the democratic leadership which is calling the shots, and that will
have to shoulder the blame should things not go according to plan. The military
has reiterated its desire to support the decisions made by the elected
representatives. It is a welcome development, but the responsibility of any
failure in the future will rest on the government itself, and no one else. Worth
considering investing in a safety net, Mr Minister. (Editorial, TheNation 12 th
September)
Karachi in flames: Altaf Hussain and his party have raised their voices
in concern, as MQMs ex-MPA Nadeem Hashmi was arrested in relation to the
703
704
All and sundry must support the government decision And courts,
media, general masses, civil society, intellectuals and political parties must lend
an unflinching support to the government action in Karachi. It has to be
mentioned that the MQM had supported the decision for launching operation
against criminals, mafias and extortionists, but never expected action against
criminals in the MQM.
However, the question is why the MQM has been opposing military
action in the past, and why it deemed it appropriate to demand military action in
Karachi at this point in time when military was already fighting the menace of
terrorism in FATA and settled areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa?
The reasons abound. Firstly, the MQM leadership seems to have lost
control over its militants, as they now operate independently and do not want to
share the booty with the party. Secondly, investigation is being carried out
against Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain by London
Metropolitan Police on charges of money laundering and provocation to torture
and life threats to his opponents. Earlier in June, as part of their investigation
into the Imran Farooq murder case Scotland Yard had raided Altaf Hussains
house in London. British government is very sensitive on money-laundering
after 9/11 events, which is a very serious offence in Britain. The UK police are
investigating the murder of Dr. Imran Farooq case on multiple lines including
the one that Dr. Farooq was in discussions with his colleagues and members of
the public to start his own independent political career.
The way the New Scotland Yard is moving this time, Altaf Hussain seems
to be in real soup. To add to his embarrassment, UK High Commissioner to
Pakistan had said: Under British laws promoting hatred and violence is liable
to punishment and Altaf Hussains statements must be taken seriously.
Finally, despite MQM having won its traditional seats, the decline in
votes is reflective of the fact that it is losing popularity in Sindh. Anyhow, the
MQM has been part of almost every government after 1988, be it elected
government or military dictatorship. Of course, after a military rule, it is always
a change of dress from the khaki to civilian robes, but the power dispensation
stays elitist, privileged and autocratic, with a few hangers-on getting into this
exclusive club by hanging on to coat-tails of the dynasts and their henchmen.
The people remain denied and deprived; however the MQM continued to get its
share of the cake. This time round, MQM leaderships shenanigans would not
work, as the PML-N being the single largest party does not need MQMs
support. (Mohammad Jamil, TheNation 13th September)
Peace talks with Taliban: The APC offer for peace dialogue has already
evoked a positive response. We welcome the unanimous decision of the All
Parties Conference about the peace talks with the Taliban. It is a satisfactory
development and we too are ready to hold a meaningful dialogue with the
705
also been attacked in Bannu and Waziristan. TTP has accepted the responsibility
of these attacks. It has only reinforced the assessment by the DG ISI.
The APC called for a result-oriented and peaceful dialogue process to
eliminate extremism from the country. Political leaders admitted that the
situation has continued to deteriorate over the last several years and past efforts
to control terrorist and extremist elements have not yielded the desired results.
Broader contour of the strategy incorporates a carrot-and-stick approach,
whereby action would be taken against the groups which refuse to be part of the
peace process. It has been agreed to seek the cooperation of religious-political
parties to facilitate talks with various Taliban groups. Here a caution is due,
these parties have their own rivalries and agendas, therefore dealing through
them should confine to accomplishing initial contacts, and from then on the
government should exercise control over the process.
Historically, dialogue with the militants of the kind has always been a
complicated process, beset with stumbling blocks. String pullers of the militants
who extend them support and protection during the militancy phase may not
have stakes in negotiations, they may like to continue militancy until their
ultimate agenda is fulfilled. Therefore, both the government and the TTP need
to make deliberate efforts to steer clear of detractors. (K Iqbal, TheNation 16 th
September)
Counterinsurgency: the missing strategy: During last twelve years, we
undertook numerous peace initiatives, giving legitimacy and space to militants,
without gaining any significant strategic advantage. Sarargorah, Shakai and
Malakand accords are examples of agreements that failed, because peace
impedes the designs and ambitions of insurgents.
Relying solely, on military operation will not produce the desired results
either, as US think tank RAND stated, in one of its reports, Pakistans
operations against militants have been deeply affected by the capabilities and
political will of its national security agencies that at times, struggled to clear and
hold territory, as well as to secure local support in FATA.
What we need to deflate insurgency, is to deprive it, from the element
inflating it. Great Chinese Leader, Mao Zedong said that relationship between
insurgents and host population is like fish in water. As fish cannot live without
water, similarly, insurgents cannot thrive without the sympathy and support of
local population.
Therefore, our counterinsurgency measures should be population centric.
As a first step, we need to eliminate and flush out militants, through a military
operation. Secondly, we need to improve our policing capability in the region.
According to an American study, How terrorist groups end, police and
707
711
712
ensure that all loose ends before a contemplated withdrawal are tied. Till such
time these constitutional gaps are not covered, the government will be
constrained in making a template of objective oriented graduated negotiations
and concessions. Cognizant of the enormity, the government is looking for
expediencies and postponing the logical.
Pakistan cannot have a withdrawal from its own territories just because
USA is contemplating one in 2014. Terrorism is not merely linked to US
presence in Afghanistan but also to proliferation of militant organizations and
sectarian outfits created to meet the ends of short term appeasement policies for
military and economic gratifications. This malaise spreads beyond the usual anti
US rhetoric to sectarian hate, intolerance, crime and foreign control. As written
in Indecision in Conflict handling of over 69 militant organizations with more
than half with foreign connections will not be easy. The narratives based on
divisions within Islam reinforced by geopolitics, traditional Arab-Persian rivalry
and historical overhang of competing caliphates and monarchies are being
superimposed on Pakistan inasmuch they are in Iraq, Egypt and Syria. While the
whole world looks at Pakistan to provide a negotiated settlement in Afghanistan,
the government of Pakistan is seeking the intervention of the Saudi King to help
facilitate the internal peace initiative. KSA is not the only country that exercises
influence over militants in Pakistan. Besides the usual western punching bags,
countries like Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Oman, India and Afghanistan also have their
hands full. It cannot get worse.
There is an urgent requirement to study the profiles of these 69 groups,
their organizations, domestic support, foreign linkages, sources of funding and
sanctuaries inside/outside Pakistan. This may take months before a working
negotiation strategy can be formulated. A half blank template will serve no
meaningful purpose till such time its framework and modalities are not
legislated and approved by the Parliament. The legal implications of this policy
will thenceforth not remain confined to TTP organizations but also similar
outfits that perpetuate violence with diverse objectives. If not politically, legal
jurisprudence will demand that all organizations and non-state actors are treated
even handed. After each amnesty the governments constitutional obligation to
protect the lives of its citizens will weigh heavier.
At the same time, the chosen conflict zone seems to be shifting to
Karachi, a metropolitan city under siege of terrorists, extortionists, mafias,
armed wings of political parties, sectarian killers and criminals of every
description. Though these operations are being conducted by civilian LEAs, a
time may come when military intervention will be inevitable. Isolating Karachi
from the larger context of terrorism will be counterproductive and yield
negative results. Would an armistice with TTP also apply to the cities and urban
centres of Pakistan and restrain the LEAs from entering No Go Areas. If it does,
then the entire Karachi operation will be in a limbo. Come winters in
713
of the Durand Line and blocking off all inter-agency movements in FATA) and
domestic levels and brought under relentless and synchronized multidimensional pressures. Once weakened sufficiently then the APC should have
been convened and its political and moral might employed from a position of
genuine strength.
Regardless of the Talibans response the government would have been in
a win-win position. Were they to agree to negotiate then the government would
have done so from a position of unassailable strength. Were they to choose not
to submit then the APC could have authorized the government to bring down
the full force of all the elements of Pakistans power onto them without wasting
any time. That would have been a national effort in the truest sense of the term.
As of now, the Taliban will not accept defeat or concede; and Pakistan
will not let them succeed or secede. A stalemate and perpetuation of the status
quo is the least desirable outcome for both sides. One side will have to give way
at some stage.
And Pakistan cannot afford to be that side!
Perhaps a reappraisal of the policy is in order. (Imran Khan, TheNation
22 September)
nd
Afghanistan
Beyond the 2014 crossbar: At least till now, other than the scheduled
2014 military withdrawal, Washington doesnt seem to have any dialogue
strategy, much less a peace plan to end the Afghan war that in the first instance
was a wrong war to start. It forced Taliban out of power but never defeated
them. Twelve years later, it is looking for a strategic stalemate in which it can
withdraw but not entirely. It will leave behind a certain size of military presence
as a training-cum-counterterrorism mission. But those familiar with Afghan
history know what it means for any foreign presence on its soil, no matter under
what arrangement or nomenclature.
716
717
can hope for. Facing short timelines and intractable obstacles, the military has
slowly weaned itself off the gung-ho ideals it originally held and defined its
expectations down.
When an Afghan official is found to be corrupt and fleecing his
constituents, the answer is not to arrest or fire himtheres no faith in the justice
system, and who knows whether his replacement wouldnt be worsebut to
encourage him to steal less and practice a more honest graft. When Afghan
police units refuse to pursue the insurgent forces that operate in their area but at
least man their check points, that too is considered Afghan good enough.
The Afghan forces, unsurprisingly, take the long view. They know we are
leaving soon, and where they see themselves outnumbered many seek
accommodation with the Taliban as a means of self-preservation. The upshot
has been that some areas once rid of Taliban forces have been ceded back to
them after the Afghan army took over responsibility.
Most troubling has been the attacks by uniformed members of the Afghan
forces against their American counterparts. This violence, called Green on
Blue or insider attacks, has become a regular feature of the war and strikes at
the heart of the U.S. strategy. The pall of suspicion aroused by the Green on
Blue attacks can become poisonous in an environment where American service
members are tasked not only with training but also often living and fighting
alongside their Afghan partners.
Few people inside the country believe that Karzais government or the
administration that will take its place in Kabul have the power to govern very
far outside the capital. If present-day Afghanistan can be said to resemble any
Western political formation, it would be federalism, though even that is a
stretch, as the countrys provincial and regional leaders often see the power
within their own strongholds sharply curtailed by the warlords, tribal chiefs, and
Taliban shadow government that are present almost everywhere to some degree.
A mention of Iraq these days invokes a moral about the United States for
many Americans. Iraq as a nation unto itself fails in the popular imagination; it
exists now as lesson to us about ourselves.
We risk reducing Afghanistan, a country still in the grip of war where
American soldiers and their NATO and Afghan allies are risking their lives
every day, to the same self-serving allegory. (Jacob Siegel for Daily Beast,
republished in TheNation 17th September)
REVIEW
The death of GOC 17 Division in road-side bombing in Upper Dir had
negative impact on governments plan to hold talks with Pakistani Taliban. This
718
could be exactly the intention of those who planted the improvised explosive
device, but governments response was positive as it remained steadfast on
giving peace talks a chance.
It is quite obvious that this was an act of militants which operate from the
safe heavens located on the other side of the moon. These are the sanctuaries
located on borders of Afghanistans provinces of in Nuristan and Kunar where
the fugitive militants from Swat, Dir and Bajaur are lodged and logistically
supported by Karzai regime and its crusading guests.
It must also be remembered that the TTP, which owned the attack, has
over the years become a network of militants of all sorts. To begin with TTP
comprised Pakistani tribesmen that supported Afghan Taliban. Presently, there
are about five dozen militant groups under TTPs umbrella; all pursuing
different goals and motivated for varying causes.
To begin with TTP Jehadis fought along side Afghan Taliban. Pakistan
Armys entry into tribal areas and later military operations in districts of
Malakand Division and adjoining tribal agencies gave birth to anti-Pakistan
groups. Lal Masjid Operation and killing of innocent people in US drone attacks
added to the ever increasing list of aggrieved revengeful militants.
The occupation forces in Afghanistan established links with many of
these militant groups for pressurizing Pakistan to do what it is told. India
performed the pivotal role in sponsoring, funding and training of groups which
became the willing partners. This funding attracted more groups, mostly
criminals in need of refuge and money.
Most analysts, however, still treat TTP as a cohesive entity operating
under tight command and control of the known leaders and striving to achieve
stated goals. Analysts too are an array of experts like TTP operatives. The
embedded lot is not prepared to concede that some groups are sponsored by
American, Afghanistan and Indian.
These experts defy the simple logic. If Americans can buy Pakistani
rulers; military or civil, Musharraf, Zardari or Nawaz; to do anything they want,
why cant they use the same Greenbacks to buy those who are in dire need of
money. Loyalties of many militant groups have been purchased and they operate
on command of these foreign investors. These groups, on the behest of their
foreign sponsors, will go all out to sabotage any attempt at peaceful resolution
of the ongoing conflict.
While the debate on talks with militants kept heating up, the Rangers-led
operation in Karachi appeared to be making no significant impact except that
all the criminal gangs of political parties dispersed across Pakistan and some
even fled to Far East and Gulf States. The operation too was labeled as
politically biased by the main stakeholder in Karachi the MQM.
719
It all began with the arrest of a former MPA of MQM. Then Governor
Sindh, Dr Ishrat quietly slipping away to Dubai amid hue and cry raised by
MQM over biased operation by Rangers. Federal Interior Minister, following
the footsteps of his predecessor, wasted no time in contacting him and
promising to address reservations of his party. Ishrat obliged him by telling that
he has not resigned so far.
Pakiistanis find nothing new in the narrative of this political romance.
This drama has been enacted several times in the past. PPP too joined in when
Pir Mazhar got released the suspects involved in kidnapping for ransom. After
killing of Zafar Baloch and registration of FIR against Nabeel Gabool the ante
has been raised further.
Most of the problems faced by MQM are because of the mindset of its
leaders that compels them to consider themselves as mohajirs instead of
believing that they are resident citizens of Pakistan. All their apprehensions and
fears and resultant problems would vanish the moment they stop thinking,
behaving and acting as aliens or mohajirs.
In their present mindset they are carried away and tend to ignore what
Pakistan has given to them in socio-economic and political terms. Have they
been in India, most of them would have been down-trodden third rate citizens of
Bharat! They, therefore, should try to be law abiding citizens of Pakistan rather
than resorting to mafia of a foreign based Don who is living a luxurious life
because of the contributions and donations extorted from poor Pakistanis.
At the end a few words about the suicide bombing in a Church in
Peshawar provided an opportunity to the civilized world to indulge in
Pakistan-bashing. In Pakistan their like-minded enlightened moderates hurried
to take on PTI which has been critical of the ongoing war on terror. The real
grudge of parties like ANP, JUI-F and MQM was, however was not due to loss
of innocent lives but due to losing political ground to PTI; so politics and
bloodshed went along side by side.
23rd September, 2013
REPLICATING RAYMOND
720
PTI candidate Mehar Wajid challenged the results of PP-150 and he again
lost in recounting of votes completed on 4th September. Next day, PTI was
further embarrassed when Secretary ECP rejected the White Paper prepared by
PTI on rigging of polls. Towards the end of period under review, Imrans party
regained some lost pride by winning Tanks NA-25 seat, defeating son of Fazlur-Rehman.
Another consolation for the PTI came from the NADRA which carried
out the check of thumb impressions of the voters in NA-258 on instructions of
an election tribunal. Out of more than thirty thousand votes cast and checked
only about three thousand thumb impressions on ballot papers were found valid
less than ten percent.
On 8th September, Zardari became the first democratically elected
president in the countrys history to complete his full term in office. Before
departing from the Presidency, he vowed that the PPP would provide all-out
support to the PML-N and Nawaz commended Zardari for the role he played to
save democracy. After completing the tenure, Zardari preferred to move into
newly-built villa in Lahore, guarded by Sindh Police.
The Supreme Court kept grumbling over non-compliance of its orders
regarding appointment of NAB Chairman. PML-N and PPP showed no urgency
for appointing the most important official for the accountability process. Some
observers noted that Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition are in search of
another Fakhru Bhai.
Flouting of Supreme Courts orders by all the provinces about local
bodies elections was no different. The judges, however, went all out in taming
the security forces. In the case of missing persons the apex court ordered to
hand over three officers of FC, namely Major Saif, Major Abdul Waheed
Multani and Major Moheen to investigators.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the nation over the week-end to
announce Rs20 billion package to empower youth. He left the masses
wondering as he did not say a word about burning issues of price hike and
terrorism. The observers noted that the package was aimed at drawing the youth
away from Imran Khans PTI.
The most shocking event of the period was when the nation saw another
Raymond Davis in the making. On 9th September, the drop scene of Shahzeb
Khans murder case, which remained in limelight for months, came when his
father, mother and sister filed an affidavit in the SHC stating that they have
pardoned the accused. Once again Islamic laws were used to serve the vested
interests.
NEWS
721
722
723
subject matter of the White Paper is sub-judice in the election tribunals and
commission would only respond in broad terms.
In an implied reference to the allegations regarding polling day, Ishtiak
Khan said the polling takes place under the supervision of the districts returning
officers, returning officers and presiding officers with the assistance of the
polling staff engaged from the provincial and the federal governments. No
officer/official of the Election Commission of Pakistan plays any direct role in
this exercise and they only assist the DROs/ROs where required.
On 6th September, Dr Shireen Mazari, expressed shock at the statement of
member ECP Justice (Retd) Riaz Kiyani in which he referred to Chairman PTI
Imran Khans electoral charges as irreconcilable lies. The language itself is
unbecoming of someone holding such a senior responsible position. However,
what is worse is his accusation since clearly he has not taken the trouble to go
through the PTI White Paper on Electoral rigging with 2,500 pages of
documentary evidence plus video evidence as well.
The set of this White Paper was sent to the ECP almost two weeks ago
and it was hoped that the members would go through it to rectify things for the
future. But it seems it was too close to the truth to be comfortable for Justice
(Retd) Kiyani. For example, while most of the provincial secretaries were
changed in Punjab by the Election Commission of Pakistan/Interim Punjab
government, the Punjab Secretary (Schools) and the Home Secretary, who had
been appointed by the previous Punjab government, were not changed.
It is evident from the names and offices of the presiding officers that a
large number of the presiding officers were employees of the Punjab Education
Department and were under the direct supervision, control and instructions of,
inter alia, the Secretary (Schools) who clearly owed his appointment and loyalty
to the PML-N government.
Justice (Retd) Riaz Kiyani was more of a representative of PML-N than a
member of the Election Commission. He was himself witness to the
irregularities and rigging by PML-N candidates and workers, but did nothing to
stop these. He seemed to be fully complicit in the election rigging in the Punjab.
It was extremely unfair of ECP to allow a Member of the ECP from a certain
province to supervise elections in that province particularly when he was a
nominee of the political party that had its government in that province. In this
context, a few examples from the many that exist can be cited to show the bias
and mala fide intentions of Justice Kiyani during and immediately after polling
day, 11 May.
Clearly, Kiyani should re-examine his own behaviour during and after
polling day, as well as diligently go through the PTI White Paper on rigging
before advising Chairman Khan to exercise restraint and calling PTIs welldocumented rigging charges as lies. Such absurd statements by a member of the
724
ECP are unbecoming especially since even the PMLN in Parliament conceded
to forming a committee on rigging thereby conceding that wrongdoing had
taken place.
On 8th September, Zardari became the first democratically elected
president in the countrys history to complete his full term in office. He was
treated to an honour guard from the armed forces and shook hands with staff
before leaving the presidential palace. Never popular and always shrouded in
controversy, Zardari once jailed for 11 years for alleged corruption is now
likely to split his time between Pakistan and Dubai.
Complete term of Zardari is marred by controversies and political
cataclysms. During most of his term, he remained engaged with an intimidating
judiciary and a powerful army. It was believed that Zardari will never return to
office succumbing to pressure from army and judiciary when Memogate scandal
broke out. This scandal was all about a purported letter written by Pakistans
envoy in Washington to US authorities seeking help against army top brass.
Husain Haqqani, Pakistans ambassador to Washington and a close ally of
Zardari lost his post in Washington, while President suffered nervous
breakdown and was admitted to a Dubai hospital where he spent several days.
Relations between Zardari and army fell to their bottom ebb after US
Navy SEALS carried out Abbottabad operation to eliminate Osama bin Laden.
It was believed (from the contours of Memogate) that President Zardari knew
about American plans and played his role in facilitations.
Money laundering cases registered during second tenure of Mian Nawaz
Sharif continued to haunt him throughout his tenure. The Supreme Court
constantly pursued government to get the cases reactivated by writing a letter to
Swiss authorities in this regard. Yousaf Raza Gilani had to relinquish
premiership for not complying with the court orders.
Zardari said on Saturday that he has no ambitions to run for any political
office in future. He further added that he will reorganize PPP after stepping out
of office. Zardari, who later arrived at his newly-built villa in Lahore, told party
workers that he would further strengthen democracy by re-organizing his party.
I want to set up new traditions. We have strengthened democracy; we have
empowered women by appointing them as speaker and the foreign minister. We
will further strengthen democracy by cooperating with our opponents, he said.
Next day, Pakistans new President Mamnoon Hussain took office, who is
a respected businessman from Karachi but with no political powerbase of his
own. A short oath-taking ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Sadr was attended by
members of the federal cabinet, chief ministers, provincial governors, former
presidents and prime ministers, judges, the services chiefs, diplomats and senior
officials.
725
A symbolic yet significant aspect of the ceremony was that this time four,
instead of usual two chairs, were placed on the dais one each for new
president Mamnoon, outgoing president Asif Ali Zardari, PM Nawaz Sharif and
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry signifying the progress of
democracy and the parliamentary system in the country. Zardari warmly shook
hands with the new president and prime minister and felicitated them.
President Mamnoon Hussain said he will take constitutional position to
maintain good and friendly relations between the federation and the provinces.
Mamnoon said law and order in the country particularly in Karachi is major
challenge for the government. However he expressed the confidence that the
government will succeed to cope with the challenge and bring peace in the
country which is vital for socio-economic growth.
The Lahore High Court Chief Justice observed that the Punjab
government was using delaying tactics as far as holding of local bodies
elections is concerned. Chief Justice observed this during the proceedings on a
petition against inordinate delay in holding LB elections in the province. He
gave the Punjab government last opportunity to file its reply and stance in
response to the petition.
On 10th September, the ECP chose November 3 as a tentative date for the
much-delayed local government elections in the cantonment localities after the
Ministry of Defence has finally moved for the promulgation of a presidential
ordinance on LG polls. The defence ministry has sent a related summary to the
Ministry of Law and Justice to be put up before the newly sworn in President
Mamnoon Hussain for approval.
PTI moved a petition in the Lahore High Court challenging newly
promulgated Punjab Local Bodies polls law for holding election on non-party
basis. The petition has been moved by PTI Punjab President Ijaz Chaudhry. The
petitioner stated that this law was passed by turning down a series of
amendments for party-based elections and Provincial Assembly could not pass a
law for holding non-party based polls as it was in violation of the Constitution.
Next day, another writ petition was moved in the Lahore High Court
demanding to annul Local Government Act, 2013 by declaring it as violation of
Constitution of Pakistan. Many petitions are already pending before Chief
Justice Umar Ata Bandial wherein some sections of the act especially Local
Bodies elections in Punjab on non-party basis has been challenged.
On 15th September, Imran Khan asserted the people would see a clear
difference between KPK and other provinces within the next six months, saying
his party led-provincial government was working on public welfare-oriented
legislations. In his address to a huge public rally held in connection with by-poll
to a Dera-cum-Tank constituency in Panyala area of Dera Ismail Khan district,
726
727
hearing at its Quetta registry. The apex court had ordered all the provincial
governments to submit the schedule of local bodies polls until September 15.
The Supreme Court gave the deadline of September 23 to all the four
provinces to announce schedule for local bodies elections. The deadline was
given by the apex court while hearing a petition on the local bodies elections.
The advocate generals of the three provinces and counsel for the Balochistan
government, Shahid Hamid, appeared before the court.
Next day, feeling the heat of political setbacks at the hands of PTI, one
after another, JUI-F moved the ECP alleging foul play in one of the National
Assembly constituencies it has lost in the by-polls. The poll authority has taken
up the matter for hearing on September 25 and has directed the district returning
officer to probe the issue and submit a related report before the hearing date. It
also served notices to all the contestants from the particular constituency.
On 21st September, Prime Minister announced Rs20 billion youth
assistance and development programme saying that it is time to make the youth
of this country self-reliant through affordable education, soft loans and skillbased training. The programme comprises six schemes: Micro Interest Free
Loans Scheme, Small Business Loans Scheme, Youth Training Scheme, Youth
Skill Development Scheme, Fee Assistance Scheme and PMs Scheme for
Laptops Provision.
In his televised address to the nation, Premier Sharif said, I am sure that
a self-reliant and prosperous youth will prove as a vanguard in the nations
journey towards national integrity, prosperity and sovereignty. He said that the
youth of all the four provinces, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan could benefit
from these development programmes.
near Chiniot. The truck collided with the van coming from Islamabad to
Chiniot. After the collision, the CNG cylinder of the van exploded.
Next day, Imran Khan launched special enrolment campaign in Peshawar
and announced to provide extra funds to 29,000 schools of the province and
vowed to eliminate culture of the class-based education system in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwah. Well not compromise on education and in case of shortage of
funds, Ill go on special campaign to foreign countries to collect funds from
Pakistani brothers to educate our next generation, he said.
The government is committed to improve the academic environment of
public sector schools by providing free textbooks to students as an incentive.
Yet, there are 1.5 million out-of-school children in the province which is
alarming for the policy makers. The government has decided to launch an
effective enrolment campaign, attracting maximum number of such children in
order to ensure 100 per cent universal primary education in the coming years.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government tabled 'Right to Information Bill'
in the provincial assembly while the opposition members walked out from the
proceedings in protest against ignoring their demand by the government
regarding the District Development Advisory Committee (DDAC).
On 11th September, villagers in Islamabad suburbs bricked to death two
policemen after they reportedly shot dead an alleged drug peddler. The incident
took place in the wee hours in village Dora that lies in Tarnol Police
jurisdiction. ASI Ramzan and constable Ansar Abbas of Ramna Police Station
raided a house in the village and questioned a resident about the presence of
drug dealers. ASI Ramzan shot at an alleged drug peddler named Nadeem after
he exchanged hot words with them. Nadeem succumbed to injuries prompting
the villagers to get hold of the policemen and informer Muhammad Hayat.
On 15th September, an official of NAB said, We have received some
telephonic complaints by some of the witnesses who told that Tauqir threatened
us of dire consequences and said soon he will be out of the jail. The accused has
telephonic facility in Adiala Jail which is really surprising.
During 67 days of NAB custody, the accused was provided a cushion
from the high-ups of the bureau and the legal course of interrogation and
investigation was hampered silently as after receiving the second physical
remand of the principal accused, a special SOP was issued by cronies and
sympathizers of Tauqir and the team interrogating the accused was denied direct
access to the accused.
The accused was being encouraged silently by cronies working in the
premises of NAB and the issuance of this special SOP was meant to deny the
direct access of investigation team who obtained the physical custody and
remand of Tauqir by the accountability court. The investigation team was
729
authorized to interrogate the accused directly but in this special case NAB highups barred the direct access to the accused.
On 18th September, the Council of Islamic Ideological (CII), met with
Maulana Muhammad Sheerani in the chair, upheld the Blasphemy Act as valid
and legal but declared misuse of the law totally un-Islamic and equally
blasphemous. Keeping in view the suggestions of human rights activists and
civil society members, the Council of Ideology has decided to fix the same
penalty for the person who falsely accuses of blasphemy as the accused.
Maulana Ashrafi said the proposed amendment would ensure that nobody dares
to use religion to settle personal scores. The amendment, he said, will also
silence critics of the blasphemy laws.
The CII had 21 points on its agenda for its current session but it could
take up only few items during the meeting. The controversy related to using
DNA tests as evidence in rape cases drew heated debate. The council left the
matter of DNA evidence for the courts; rejecting the generally prevalent
impression that it had rejected use of DNA tests in rape cases altogether.
The council observed that its recommendations had been misjudged and
misquoted on issues relating to Hudood and Qisas (blood money) as well. Issues
of printing of Quranic verses in newspapers as well as Women Protection Bill
2006 were also considered. Members of the CII had consensus over making the
CII a subordinate institution of law ministry rather than placing it under the
religious affairs ministry.
Next day, Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) has rejected the Women
Rights Act 2006 declaring it controversial and against Quran and Sunnah.
Council stated, Act made on the will of NGOs is unacceptable and is being
rejected. Recommendations in this regard will be sent to federal government
soon.
The lawyers said they would challenge the amendments being proposed
by the CII in blasphemy laws, and termed it as a malicious attempt to remove
the blasphemy laws in the country. Khatm-e-Nabuwat Lawyers Pakistan
(KNLP) organized a meeting where scores of lawyers condemned the
amendments proposed the CII. They said blasphemy laws are not misused as
there is a strong judicial system in the country.
730
731
732
733
had filed a list of army and intelligence agencies officers, including Col
Jehangir Akhtar, Col Habibullah, Brig Mansoor Saeed Shiekh, Lt Gen Nusrat
Naeem, Lt Gen Shafqaat Ahmad and Lt Gen Nadeem Taj, so they may be cross
examined in enforced disappearance of her husband, Masood Janjua. Amina has
also included the name of former AGP Malik Abdul Qayyum for crossexamining in her husband's case.
In response to the Supreme Court's September 11 order, Defence of
Human Rights Chairperson Amina Masood Janjua submitted a list of military
and intelligence persons to be cross examined, in disappearance of Masood
Janjua, who has been missing since July 30, 2005. She requested the SC to
prosecute the culprits who had tried to cheat the court by producing a fake
affidavit and also accept the statement of Dr Imran Munir given to the joint
investigation team once and for all.
On 18th September, the Apex Court issued notices to authorities
concerned failing to cooperate with the court on the issue of missing persons
and ordered to hand over three officers of FC, namely Major Saif, Major Abdul
Waheed Multani and Major Moheen to investigation institutions for their failure
to cooperate with the court. A bench hearing a petition filed by President
Balochistan High Court Bar Association on lawlessness in Balochistan. The
court also asked the authorities concerned for compilation of the lists of missing
persons after screening them out.
CJ unequivocally remarked that Secretary Defence, IG FC and IG Police
were not cooperating with the court regarding the cases of missing persons and
added that the performance of the CID police is also unsatisfactory. Chairman
FBR also appeared before the court and presented a report regarding the
smuggling across the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman. Chairman FBR said that
Customs alone could not do anything upon which CJ expressed his displeasure
and remarked, Close your institution then.
In Islamabad, the Supreme Court sought reply from federation and
Balochistan government in response to appeal of Pervez Musharraf against
Balochistan High Court order that rejected his post arrest bail plea in the killing
of Nawab Akbar Bugti. Ibrahim Satti, Counsel for Pervez Musharraf, had
challenged Balochistan High Court decision on July 30.
Next day, Islamabad High Court issued notice to Pervez Musharraf in a
writ petition seeking registration of second FIR against him and former DG
Intelligence Bureau (IB) Ejaz Shah in the matter of a suicide blast at the
entrance of District Courts, F-8 Markaz, in July 2007. Justice Shaukat Aziz
Siddiqui issued these notices in the writ petition of a former protocol officer of
Benazir Bhutto who was seeking courts directions to register a second FIR.
734
735
737
738
VIEWS
Governance
PML-Ns 100 days: It is indeed odd to find that all these three months,
we have not had an ambassador in Washington. Why this delay? Such lethargic
approach to an important foreign affairs matter reflects a serious deficiency at
the Prime Ministers level. It is also time that a new NAB chief is put in place.
Three areas where the new government has not done well are: One,
providing relief to the people particularly the poor and the lower middle classes.
Increase in the electricity rates (despite some concession to the poorest of the
poor) and in the prices of petrol, diesel and kerosene oil have evoked sharp
protests as higher prices of these essentials items also drive up the cost of other
commodities and services. If such increase cannot be avoided, the public should
be taken into confidence and educated regarding the necessity of such enhanced
burdens.
Two, inordinate delay in addressing the unpardonable problems relating
to the badly managed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) which together eat up
almost 500 billion rupees every year. Even the chief executives have not yet
been replaced.
Three, there is need for demonstration of transparency in whatever
government does. For instance there has been talk about the Rs480 billion paid
to clear the circular debt. Critics have been wondering where the money came
from and how and to whom it was given. There has been speculations about the
parties concerned and their relationships with the PML-N top leaders. The
detractors have also been making oblique remarks about the steep increase in
the Nandipur power project and who have been or would be the beneficiaries of
such add-ups. It would help dispel speculation about implied collusions if the
concerned government functionaries come out with detailed facts and figures
along with the requisite explanations.
Such transparency has become all the more necessary because of an
aggressive open and often overly critical media especially the TV channels
which frequently go overboard in dishing out accusations and even holding
740
Supreme Court vowed action and politicians issued condemnation but at the
end of the day, nothing changed.
The culprits must be caught, if it takes combing the city with a fine
toothcomb to do it. Their guilt must be established beyond doubt, through a fair
trial. DNA evidence, so foolishly reviled by religious councils, must be used
without apology and without fear. Once guilt is established, advocating for
leniency in this case is not an option. Only by making extraordinary examples
of these inhuman brutes, will justice be served. Find them, and hang them. This
is not for revenge, or motivated by bloodlust, or religiously inspired. Quite
simply, there is no place in the world of our children, for people like this.
(Editorial, TheNation 16th September)
Judiciary
Shahzeb case closed: It was only last year, in December, that Shahzeb
Khan was gunned down by Shahrukh Jatoi Shahzebs case is not an exception
in Pakistan; many lose their life to petty feuds. Privileged members of society
walk free and fearlessly after committing violation after violation of basic civil
rights. His case, however, garnered support from all walks of life mainly due to
the fact that he had intended to protect his sister from the harassment she had
received from Jatois friends servant, Ghulam Murtaza Lashari. It was in the
gallantry of his act of defence that Shahzeb won hearts all over the country.
With images of Jatoi grinning triumphantly after his sudden acquittal,
societal confidence in the countrys courts falters tremendously. Regardless of
what Shahzebs parents considered while opting for Diyat, the discontent
remains that justice has not been delivered. Once again, it is proven that money
talks. Not only does money talk, it flashes a victory sign after walking away
from murder. (Editorial, TheNation 11th September)
Economy
Beware of international assistance: The government has signed
another suicidal contract with the IMF, promising continued obedience to the
diktat of the dollar empire. Why is it so difficult for the ruling PML-N to act
upon its 2013 election campaign pledge that it would break the begging bowl?
Have the new managers of our economy so much as even seriously considered
breaking the bowl of poisonous brews pressed against our lips and poured down
our throats in the guise of helpful assistance?
A large section of the very vocal and very resourceful elitist intelligentsia
spends overtime in convincing us of our helplessness. Dominating the discourse
in the media, these so-called intellectuals exaggerate the dependence of Pakistan
on international assistance and tell us that without the loans and aid, our country
would collapse. They would like us to believe that we are a dying patient who
could not survive without the oxygen of foreign assistance. With their interests,
742
elitist credentials and careers enmeshed with the dollar empire, they bind our
minds in the chains of slavery and are quick to deride any assertion of
independence or sovereignty as emotional ghairat. They would like us to sink
deeper and deeper in the quicksand of dependence and the resulting suicidal
obedience.
This lobby of opinion leaders might be the most ardent lawyers of the
empire in our midst but they are not the only ones. Whether it is political leaders
or the military top brass, the bureaucrats or business leaders, the ngo-wallahs or
clerics, we seem to have developed a very high level of tolerance for foreign
assistance and seem oblivious of all that it brings. Our government depends on
an IMF injection to balance the budget and the peanuts of USAID for
development. The military requires the coalition support fund to counter
terrorists. The NGOs need donors to fund its projects. Even the religious
institutions get foreign assistance for spreading the message of God.
It would be silly to think that all this assistance doesnt come with a cost
or that those assisting us have any altruistic reasons to help us. By opening our
doors to these tainted funds we provide leverage to foreign players to meddle in
our internal affairs, buy loyalties of our citizens and even shape our societies in
ways that suit them. The cacophony of donor-driven voices is designed to
confuse our national priorities and create a distractionary discourse aimed at
taking us further from any solutions. The fragmentation and divisions caused by
various shades of foreign-assisted projects and programs is a constant hurdle in
the evolution of a national narrative.
There is a need to end the inflow of the inherently two-faced foreign
assistance in whatever garb it comes. And since the Nawaz government says
that it will fix the country by fixing the economy, perhaps it should have started
by saying no to the IMF. After outsourcing economic planning to the IMF, there
is little it could do on that count. Besides, the more important question remains:
Is it even thinking on those lines? Or was all the brave talk about breaking the
begging bowl just a popular slogan that it raised without meaning it? (Jalees
Hazir, TheNation 10th September)
De-Islamization
Schools face moral policing: It is an unfortunate testament of the times,
that the least well-informed and most intellectually unsound have started to
dictate the future course of education for our younger generation. Starting with
the host's personal experiences of parenting, and quickly turning into a
lynching of a private school, a television personality on Tuesday made every
effort to portray modern classrooms as dens of lasciviousness, rather than places
of learning. Offended that impressionable young minds were being taught
obscene subjects, such as the reproductive process in science, the show would
743
have been comical, had the hosts indignation not been designed to inspire
perceived offence. And successfully done so.
Moving on to a series of calls, overwrought parents were invited to chime
in with their troubled opinions. The subject under fire for this segment was
Comparative Religion. While these parents took the opportunity to obfuscate,
protest and generally express their disdain for the new course, they were swift to
point out that they themselves were entirely respectful of faiths other than Islam
apparently, as long as they werent being taught to their children.
If one is to attempt to parse the meaning of the show hosts complaints
fairly, it would appear that he insists on religious education being imparted
without fail in private schools, as a course subject. Each student to study their
own religion, and no other. Well and good. But what of religious texts sprinkled
in compulsory history and literature textbooks that are not necessarily pertinent
to schoolchildren not of the Muslim faith? Is their right to a religious education
in keeping with their beliefs not be protected? Had the host championed the
restriction of religious education to only religious textbooks, perhaps he might
have made more sense. Perhaps.
The second complaint, that the content of Science books, printed by the
Cambridge school system; and in particular, the chapter about reproduction, was
not suitable for children of that age, could also have been made with more
grace, and with less plainly evidenced intention to cause mischief. It is worth
asking what makes the host an authority on age-appropriate education? Why
should a Cambridge experts assessment of the capability of a sixth-grader be
questioned by a person with no experience in the field of education? Inciting
fear that a scientific study of human biology is somehow the path to moral
decreptitude can only be interpreted as a pitiful indictment of the talk-show
hosts own state of mind. The implication that teaching Comparative Religion
will undermine the moral fabric of society is an incorrect and irresponsible
stoking of deeply sensitive religious sentiment. The hosts supercilious advice to
the Principal of the school in question, Dont try to live on an island, ought to
be correctly interpreted as intimidation, and action taken against it as an
incitement to violence.
The hosts protests inspired more by a desire to titillate than anything
else, have woefully been found worthy of inspection by the Punjab Education
Minister. Pandering to an audience whose misdirected emotions have been
deliberately riled Rana Mashoods statement that obscene content would be
removed from the syllabus only reflects his ignorance of the issue. One
wonders if the Minister has perused the books in question. It would be
particularly worrying if the Punjab Education Ministers delicate constitution
was unable to tolerate lessons found appropriate for an eleven year old.
744
The Chief Minister Punjab must step in, and stop this juvenile moral
superiority contest, and instruct his ministers to be less susceptible to
suggestion, by talk-show hosts who sell holy water sherbet on the side. Moral
policing being imparted on television, and making its effect felt in the classroom
with the government's help, is an ignoble prize for the PMLN to have won. The
quality of political talent hosted by the party also comes into question, seeing
the blusterous response by Rana Mashood to blatant provocation from a source
of dubious professional credibility. (Editorial, TheNation 22nd September)
REVIEW
Making use of the Islamic penal code, the rich and the powerful forces
seemed well poised to produce yet another Raymond Davis. The latest
Raymond, when comes out of the production line, will be completely
indigenous production of which those in power in Pakistan can feel proud of.
In the case of earlier Raymond, John Kerry was the man who pressurized
the civil and military leadership of Pakistan for his release, who had been let
loose in Pakistan by CIA and had killed two Pakistanis in broad day light in
Lahore. The regime had tasked the then DG ISI to find a way out to do what
Kerry wanted.
DG ISI decided to exploit Islamic law of Diyat to secure freedom of
Raymond Davis as tribute to the Statute of Liberty. The US must have been
taken into confidence before ISI operatives were unleashed to coerce the family
members to accept compensation for those who had been murdered by
Raymond.
The families of the two victims were categorically told that if they did not
accept the offer they would get nothing as Raymond would be freed by the
government in any case. They were successfully convinced to accept the
Diyat, which ironically was not paid by Raymond or his country but by the
Pakistani government through ISI.
It was quite intriguing that the US accepted application of Islamic law
when one of the goals of its ongoing Crusades is de-Islamization of Islamic
world. A deeper look would reveal that by accepting the release of Raymond
under Islamic law, the US got both the interests served without investing
anything.
The US secured the freedom of its killer agent without paying a penny. At
the same time it got the Islamic conjunctions ridiculed by those who claim to be
the followers of this great religion. It was so because the law of Diyat was not
applied out of free will of the family members of the deceased. Without their
free-will application of this law was illegal.
745
746
TERROR IN PESHAWAR
Two more terror attacks were carried out in Peshawar following the
deadly attack on a Church in Kohati Gate. Three attacks claimed more than
hundred and fifty lives and wounded about three hundred people. These attacks
brought Imran Khan in the focus and his critics and political opponents cursed
him far more than those who had carried out these horrendous attacks.
Far far away from Peshawar, on the other side of the globe Pakistani and
Indian Prime Ministers addressed the UN General Assembly annual session.
Nawaz Sharif reiterated his desire to resolve disputes with India to have
cordial relations with Pakistans eastern neighbour. Two days later, his Indian
counterpart responded by calling Pakistan as epicentre of terrorism and
Kashmir as integral part of India. On 2w9th September, Nawaz Sharifs long
standing ambition of meeting Manmohan Singh was fulfilled.
In the same arena, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani spoke softly in his
maiden address at the world body. Later, he had telephonic conversation with
Obama; the first even between two Presidents in last 34 years. But, on his return
he was received on Tehran with eggs and a shoe thrown at his car for his
telephone call to Great Satan.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 23rd September, a man was killed and another injured in
a landmine blast in Lower Dir. the incident took place in Takora area of Jandol.
In Pishin, at least six persons, including three policemen, were killed at Saranan
Road when a police van was hit by a roadside bomb. The TTP claimed
responsibility of the attack.
Angry Christians protested across Pakistan to vent their anger at the
authorities and demand better protection after double suicide bombing at All
Saints Church in Peshawar. Protesters blocked highways and other transport
arteries and indulged in firing, ransacking and violence in several cities injuring
dozens of people. In a statement, Churches of Pakistan appealed the protesters
to remain peaceful during protests.
A faction linked to the Pakistani Taliban had claimed the attack but the
main spokesman for the umbrella TTP said they were not responsible. We
havent done this nor do we attack innocent people, Shahidullah Shahid, the
spokesman said. It was an attempt to sabotage the atmosphere of the proposed
peace talks.
Speaking in London, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the government
was unable to proceed further with talks in the wake of the church attack.
747
Reportedly, the government was mulling massive action against terrorists across
the country as it has decided to go to any extent for eradication of terrorism.
Nasir Durrani replaced Ihsan Ghani as Inspector General Police (Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa, a day after the deadly bombings at a church. Secretary
Establishment Division had forwarded a summary to the Prime Minister in this
effect, in which the names of three officers had been nominated for the post of
IG KP police.
The National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution condemning
inhumane terrorist attack on a church in Peshawar, expressing solidarity with
the Christian community, sympathies with the bereaved families and prayers for
the early recovery of the injured. The Sindh Assembly also condemned the
attack.
JUI-F chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the twin suicide attacks as a
conspiracy to sabotage peace talks with Taliban. He said the attack occurred at a
time when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was to present Pakistans stance on
drone attacks in the United Nations. The JUI-F chief said the Peshawar attack
has lost the PMs viewpoint weight over the issue he was going to highlight in
the UN.
Chairman PTI Imran Khan reiterated that nothing could justify the killing
of even one innocent human being. The act of terror against the Christian
community in Peshawar was an act of terror against all Pakistanis. Nothing
justifies the targeting of innocent people and their places of worship. This is
against the spirit of Islam and the Covenant of Muhammad (PBUH), he added.
Imran said if peace is given a chance then it is essential to isolate those
who are dedicated to an agenda of violence and carrying out terror attacks
against innocent people. He said the dialogue should be held with those who are
prepared to have a ceasefire and peace talks must be within the ambit of the
Constitution.
Next day, at least two people were killed and three sustained injuries
when mortar shells fired from Afghanistan hit a border village in North
Waziristan Agency. Six shells fired from the eastern Afghan province of Khost
landed in Bange Dar village in Tehsil Ghulam Khan.
TTP denied any link with Jundullah, the group that claimed responsibility
of the Peshawar Church attack. TTP spokesman said the name of the Taliban
offshoot is Jundul Hafsa, however, it had not claimed responsibility of the
attack. He said that the group that claimed the attack is Jundullah, adding, this
group has no links with the Taliban or any Mujahideen group.
Addressing a joint press conference along with his British counterpart
Theresa at the Punjab House, the interior minister said they would review the
situation at the government level once the prime minister returned from abroad
748
later this week. The minister said the church attacks and killing of army officials
were condemnable, but the decision to hold talks with the militant groups was
made with consensus at the APC and it was according to the prevailing
circumstances. A single event could not change the policy; we are in touch with
different political parties and change in policy would be done at a right time,
the minister said.
Nisar said Pakistan was facing serious crises, but would see a transition
with the withdrawal of NATO troops from Afghanistan. British Home Secretary
Theresa May condemned the Peshawar church attacks and acknowledged the
sacrifices of Pakistan in the war on terror. She stressed that her country would
continue to work jointly with Pakistan to counter the menace of terrorism.
President Obama, in a wide-ranging address to the UN General Assembly,
said his administration had confined drone stocks to specific circumstances and
would conclude Afghan war next year. Obama also referred to the loss of 100
Pakistanis in Peshawar church bombings as he saw continuing militant threats
to international peace and security.
On 25th September, at least three people were killed and six others
wounded in a well-coordinated attack on the construction site for a dam in
Mohmand Agency. Unidentified militants, who targeted the construction site for
Gandao Ghalanai dam in Halimzai tehsil late last night, also took two labourers
captive. According to witnesses, before leaving the attackers exploded the site,
torched vehicles, labour camps and machinery. In Bannu district, at least five
militants were killed as security forces repulsed an attack on a check-post in
Bannu district while one soldier was also injured in the attack.
The government and the Taliban are interested in holding talks to bring an
end to the killings and there is no difference between them on this issue, said
Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid. He said elements opposed to the talks
were only those who were not part of the all-party conference held on the
subject on September 9. The minister said the APC had mandated the
government to hold talks with the Taliban.
Imran Khan called on the government to declare a ceasefire and allow
Taliban to open a political office in the country to facilitate the dialogue
process. On the one hand there were talks about negotiations, but on the other
hand the war was still going on, he said as he questioned how it would be
possible to move ahead with the decisions made by the fourth all-party
conference. He opined the government should announce a ceasefire and discuss
the points of peace talks likely to be held with Taliban.
Next day, John Kerry conveyed invitation of President Obama to Prime
Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif at his hotel suite. Two leaders will meet
next month at the White House on October 23. The White House said Prime
Minister Sharifs visit will highlight the importance and resilience of the US749
750
itself. The PM also reiterated Pakistans support for the Palestinian people and
for a recent agreement for Syrian chemical weapons under international control.
Next day, Pakistani Taliban refused to lay down their weapons and accept
the Constitution as asked by Prime Minister. The TTP said Mr Sharif has no
authority to hold talks and reiterated its demand for the army to pull out from
tribal areas, release of its prisoners and an end to US drone strikes.
On 29th September, at least 40 persons, including 18 members of a single
family, were killed and 100 others were injured in a powerful car bomb blast in
front of Madina Hotel in the main Qissa Khwani Bazar. The blast damaged 28
shops, two pickups, one car, four rickshaws and seven motorcycles. The exact
target of the blast could not be established. It was the most powerful blast
among the last three attacks carried out in Peshawar.
Red alert was declared in Peshawar. A heavy contingent of police rushed
to the blast site to cordon off the area. Police took the vehicle used for the blast
into their control for investigation. Additional inspector general of Bomb
Disposal Squad said it was a high-intensity remote-controlled blast for which a
vehicle, carrying 225kg explosives, was used.
Hundreds of shopkeepers of Qissa Khwani Bazar staged a protest,
demanding protection of their lives and properties. They said the government
which could not protect the masses had no right to rule. Imran Khan strongly
condemned the blast and assured the nation, especially the people of KPK, that
the culprits would be punished. Chief Minister also condemned the bomb blast
and expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious human lives.
MNA Ghulam Ahmad Bilour visited the blast site and condemned the
brutal act of terrorism. He said militants were targeting innocent citizens, but
the PTI chairman was demanding an office for them. The KPK Minister for
Information said that durable peace in the region, particularly in the province, is
the ultimate goal, which is being negotiated through a political process.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman asked the government to constitute a judicial
commission to look into the matter of a sudden surge in terror incidents in KPK,
which according to him, is a bid to sabotage peace efforts. To expose the
elements involved in these heinous acts, a judicial commission is a must. He
said that invisible lobbies are out to foil peace initiatives and that is why they
have started blasts. Fazl said that such incidents of terrorism should not affect
the talks process.
In North Waziristan Agency, at least four suspected militants were killed
in a US drone attack. A US unmanned aircraft fired two missiles at a house
suspected of being a militant hideout in the Dargah Mandi area of Miranshah
just when blast in Qissa Khwani Bazaar took place. Pakistan condemned the US
drone strike.
751
752
753
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen shot by the Taliban for championing
girls education, stood by world leaders and called for books not guns. All the
countries which are suffering from terrorism should send books to Afghanistan
instead of sending weapons or tanks, she pleaded.
This is my dream to see every child to be educated, Malala told the
gathering at the first anniversary of the Global Education First initiative at the
United Nations in New York. According to the United Nations, some 57 million
children of elementary school age around the world are denied an education,
and 52 per cent of them are girls.
Next day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his address to the United
Nations General Assembly told world leaders that he welcomed President
Karzai in Islamabad last month and we reaffirmed our shared goal of a
peaceful, stable and united Afghanistan. I reassured him that we do not wish to
interfere in Afghanistans internal affairs; nor do we have any favourites in that
country. Pakistan encourages United Nations efforts for the stabilization of
Afghanistan and a manifestation of our solidarity with the Afghan people has
been our willingness to host millions of Afghan refugees for many decades...
We will work together for regional and economic cooperation.
754
today at the General Assembly, he said. To this end, equal footing, mutual
respect and the recognized principles of international law should govern the
interactions, he said. Of course, we expect to hear a consistent voice from
Washington.
On the human tragedy of Syria, he said there is no military solution,
called for a quick end to the killing of the innocent, condemning any use of
chemical weapons but welcome Syrias acceptance of the Chemical Weapons
Convention. He deplored terrorism and the killing of innocent people as the
ultimate inhumanity of extremism and violence.
Terrorism is a violent scourge and knows no country or national borders.
But, the violence and extreme actions such as the use of drones against innocent
people in the name of combating terrorism should also be condemned, he said,
also condemning the criminal assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists.
Next day, Hassan Rouhani called on Israel to admit it has a nuclear bomb
ahead of a landmark meeting between Iranian and western foreign ministers.
Rouhani also said he believed a deal could be struck with the international
community on his countrys nuclear drive within three to six months. The
Iranian president spoke at a UN nuclear disarmament conference just before
Irans Foreign Minister was to hold talks with John Kerry and ministers from
Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia.
On 27th September, US President Barack Obama and Iran's President
Hassan Rouhani spoke by phone in the historic first direct contact between
leaders of their two nations since the Islamic revolution of 1979. The call, which
came after the two leaders failed to have a meeting at the UN General Assembly
in New York, provided dramatic evidence of an unprecedented opening in
relations between the Islamic Republic and a foe it has reviled as the Great
Satan.
The two of us discussed our ongoing efforts to reach an agreement over
Iran's nuclear program, Obama said. Obama said he told Rouhani that he
believed a resolution was possible to the dispute over Iran's uranium
enrichment program, which the West believes is a covert effort to produce
nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.
Next day, a shoe was thrown at President Hassan Rouhanis motorcade as
he arrived home to a mixed reception after his historic call with Barack Obama.
His 15-minute conversation with the leader of a country long derided as the
Great Satan was too much for some hardliners. Nearly 60 gathered outside
Tehrans Mehrabad Airport, chanting Death to America and Death to Israel as
his motorcade passed. They were outnumbered by 200 to 300 supporters of the
president chanting Thank you Rouhani, who were separated from the
protesters by police.
755
756
757
758
VIEWS
Pakistan
Reining in the terrorists: By all accounts, the TTP is not an entity like a
disciplined communist party with a centralized command but more of a concept
that is constantly given flesh by the TTP spokesman, brought to life by the
media that faithfully reports his propaganda and made more important by the
governments timid indulgence. Cleverly projected as a loose conglomerate of
various factions, it is not even that. There are serious divisions, leadership issues
and turf wars among these factions and they could be hardly bunched together
under the TTP umbrella.
While the TTP says it is driven by its devious rhetoric disguised as Islam,
some groups are only interested in maintaining their control of areas for
unhindered continuation of their criminal activities. Some are in it for revenge
759
and some for money. To club all of them together and to think that the TTP
spokesman speaks for all of them is rather simplistic if not downright nave.
A fictitious TTP monolith dominates the discussion in the media that goes
around in circles mouthing the same misleading discourse on terrorism that also
informs government policy. The external linkages are brushed under the carpet
despite clear indications that many militant groups are being supported by
foreign agencies ala Syria. The TTPs terrorist activities, its targets and its
extremist sectarian rhetoric, carry the signature of the empire and, dialogue or
no dialogue; it will continue to hurtle along the same violent path chosen for it
by those who fund it.
There is also the problem of what the TTP wants. The terrorist outfit
believes in imposing its demented brand of Islam on everyone through violence.
It considers every other interpretation of Islam as kufr and believes in killing
those who subscribe to these different interpretations as well as minorities. It
does not believe in democracy and the right of women to education and does not
mind nipping these evils in the bud by killing election candidates and blowing
up schools. What is there to discuss with a mindset like that? Will a person
whose language is violence understand anything else? While trying to win over
the disgruntled and misled tribesman is a good idea, there is no alternative to
devising a comprehensive strategy to isolate and defeat the hardcore terrorists.
The government cannot afford to treat something that is so crucial to
Pakistans future in a slipshod manner. It must get out of the shadow of US
interest and policy, see the problem with its own eyes and define the problem
within a framework that rests on the ground, a framework that is not suspended
in the vacuum of a deceptive narrative steeped in meaningless jargon and fancy
terms that are used to obfuscate the problem so that it is never sorted out.
Building the TTP as a player in Pakistani polity is a way to ensure that
our problems multiply and swathes of our territory are gripped by lawlessness
so that they could be used to foment further mayhem through funded agents of
violence. This model has been replicated in many parts of the world by the
empire and its friends in the Middle East.
It is imperative to understand the problem of terrorism in Pakistan more
deeply rather than getting on the devious US bandwagon that only serve to
secure its imperial interests in Afghanistan post 2014. Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif must shed off this lackadaisical attitude and put his act together. (Jalees
Hazir, TheNation 23rd September.)
Why talking to the Taliban is absurd: As a matter of fact, the track
record of talks with the Taliban is replete with utter disappointments the
Taliban have almost always reneged on the agreements and by far the worst
instance is that of the Swat deal. Ironically, despite having enough empirical and
historical evidence, the government-led APC found a rather simple remedy to a
760
rather complex problem, i.e., parleys. There is no denying the fact that
negotiations is ideally the best tool to defeat the menace; however, history of
asymmetric warfare take the example of Ireland or Srilanka tells, and
renowned military and war strategists confirm, that negotiations as a strategy
in guerrilla warfare can bring dividends only when the state is in a stronger
position. On the contrary, evidently, such an equation is far from reality in this
case. Therefore, calling for negotiations without attaining a superior position
seems to be rather myopic and the developing scenario in the shape of the
Talibans aggressive steps and statements bear out the argument. Therefore,
Islamabad must not rely on negotiations as the sole option.
Instead, in the first place, there is an urgent need of a clear and
comprehensive national counterterrorism strategy which should be based on
two principles. First, deterrence and compellence strategies should be employed
to bring the terrorists on the negotiation table. Second, when the terrorists
morale gets bog down, only then move forward towards negotiations, though
keeping the former strategy in place simultaneously. It is rather perplexing that
in spite of making announcements that such a strategy is being worked upon
and will be presented in the APC, the government has, ironically, been unable to
come up with any such document in the APC.
Given the fast emerging adverse scenario, it is high time the government
took a hardline stance in dealing with the terrorists without giving them the
opportunity to play havoc by launching attacks with impunity. (Syed Gohar
Altaf, TheNation 24th September)
APC and game-spoilers: The All Parties Conference (APC) organized
by the current political dispensation at Islamabad, reposed its confidence in the
government to take commerce dialogue with the miscreants. This is a bold step
to bring relief to the people of Pakistan, including civilians and members of the
law enforcing agencies (LEAs), who have paid dearly with their lives for the
past twelve years. It is the prime responsibility of the elected government to
adopt measures to stem the rot and stop the grim reaper death from taking a
further toll. The essence of democracy stipulates consensus amongst all political
parties to endorse a decision empowering the government to engage the
perpetrators of terrorism into dialogue while retaining the option of the use of
force.
Such an intrepid plan should have been appreciated by the Occident but
instead, the plan has been targeted with derision. Two articles, appearing in
Britains leading daily Daily Telegraph and USAs New York Times, which
may not be representatives of their respective governments, but are reputed to
articulate the pulse of 10 Downing Street and Capitol Hill respectively, have
expressed dismay and discontent at the outcome of the APC
761
Indeed the APC blamed the NATO operations in Afghanistan and the
incessant drone attacks causing the reign of terror currently prevalent in
Pakistan; however, can the GOPs detractors deny that the genesis of the
problem lies in both the causes mentioned above? Even the UN Secretary
General ban Ki Moon has taken cognizance of the use of drone attacks to be in
violation of international law and breach of sovereignty of Pakistana country
touted as an ally and not a target of war.
Our critics have lamented the lack of clarity in the modus operandi of
Pakistans resolve to talk to the enemy. Would they care to explain, which
country lays down all its cards on the table, especially with a dubious and
faceless adversary? Even before the process could begin, a Major General, a
Lieutenant Colonel and eighty Christians have been surreptitiously targeted in
separate attacks. Apparently some forces want to nip the proposed peace talks in
the bud.
Turning back a few pages from recent events, we note that, when the
PML-N had announced in its election campaign that it would not refrain from
indulging in peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the second
in command of the outlawed organization, who had welcomed the peace talks,
was successfully targeted and eliminated. The focus of the TTP was also shifted
to foreigners in Pakistan; miscreants killed ten international mountaineers near
Nanga Parbat. These odious attacks coupled with the cynicism on display by
sections of the western media depicts that some quarters do not want peace to
return to Pakistan. Alleging that one group or the other is a hand maiden of the
ISI or suggesting that the Army and the government are not on the same page on
the APC implicating that the Army laid down pre-conditions for talks, is a ploy
that game spoilers use. Let the people of Pakistan, who have elected their
representative parliamentarians in free and fair elections, be the masters of their
own fate and decide their destiny. (S M Hali, TheNation 25th September)
No rationale for talks: Imran Khan must consider that todays warfare
has changed considerably since World War II, even though they carpet-bombed
and wiped out entire cities at the time. Much of the world has been experiencing
a state of war since 9/11 an ongoing low-intensity World War III, as some
astrologers put it. Theyre worse than ever. Theres more guerrilla warfare; far
more targeting of civilians. No fixed dates for starting an offensive, and
generally preceded by propaganda and false flag operations all so much
cheaper and more effective than all-out war.
How often has it happened that the Taliban have agreed to peace talks
only to be followed by another gruesome attack. Imran Khan complains that
there is some quarter that deliberately throws a spanner in the works. He is
right. But his thinking should proceed its logical end. Peace isnt their objective
but simply making us believe that it is.
762
Of course he and the PM may keep reiterating a desire for peace, but not
by letting our guard down. The very fact that suicide bombers were used in
Peshawar against an uninvolved minority shows bad intent. They could have
been misguided, brainwashed fanatics, or they could have been victimized in an
equal measure: trapped by their poverty into being pawns of religious groups
to do Gods work. Or because terrorists give them a choice between
volunteering to become suicide bombers or having their families massacred
along with themselves.
Is the Prime Minister to blame for our present plight? No, although he
may be faulted for unfortunate decisions. For that matter, its not the KP
governments fault either unless, as reported, they failed to heed intelligence
warnings of an imminent attack.
Why do some leaders like Bush and Obama indulge in war-mongering
like its a career opportunity just like Bush the senior, Reagan, Johnson, and
others whose names have faded.
Robert Green, who writes on war history and strategy, notes (or quotes)
that: People will always try to take from you in negotiation what they could not
get from you in battle or direct confrontation. They will even use appeals to
fairness and morality as a cover to advance their position. Do not be taken in:
negotiation is about maneuvering for power or placement, and you must always
put yourself in the kind of strong position that makes it impossible for the other
side to nibble away at you during your talks. Before and during negotiations,
you must keep advancing, creating relentless pressure and compelling the other
side to settle on your terms. The more you take, the more you can give back in
meaningless concessions
Thats not what weve been seeing on our side, although the Taliban seem
to have got the idea. (Najma Sadeque, TheNation 25th September)
On a slippery slope: Thanks to the internecine battle and rivalry
between Gen V K Singh and current Indian Army chief General Bikram Singh,
which made this revelation possible. There remains no doubt that terrorist
strikes against Navys Mehran and PAFs Kamra bases, in which few of our
strategic airborne warning assets like American supplied P3-C Orions and a
Swedish Saab aircraft got destroyed, were the work of TSD in coordination with
their local agents.
Pakistanis should beware of vested anti-dialogue elements within country
desperate to declare the peace talks a non starter even when these have yet to
commence
The TTP spokesmans denial of any involvement in the Peshawar church
tragedy should be taken with a pinch of salt because we must never forget this is
the same outfit that has killed hundreds and thousands of innocent Pakistanis
763
and would do everything for the purpose of deception. The government as well
as TTP should make public their negotiating teams as well as interlocutors for
the peace talks as early as possible. The nation should be kept informed about
the back channel results as well as ground rules of the dialogue process.
The road to peace with Pakistani Taliban may be long and arduous. It will
be a bumpy ride, not a smooth one. There will be successes and failures, hopes
and frustrations that are typical of such difficult and complex negotiations.
The use of military force remains the last resort till all political/dialogue
options are exhausted. The TTP must realize that the states might is
unchallengeable and that even after twelve years of waging war against the
state, it failed to impose its ideology or weaken the will of the people. The ball
is now in the TTPs court. (Farooq Hameed Khan, TheNation 26th September)
Enough is enough: Pakistan at present has a commander in chief of its
armed forces that represents a martial tribe and the credentials of General
Ashfaq Pervez Kayani as a blue blooded Rajput will come under a scanner in
case he fails to effectively deal and eliminate this menace once and for all. The
general is heading an army of jawans and officers whose commitment with the
motherland is beyond any doubt and as a unit they can be extremely effective.
Already questions have been asked as to why the army is playing a
waiting game after sustaining such great losses both in men and material and
what stops them to inflict a fatal blow on these subversive elements. In case
there is a lack of resources one is sure that the people of this country would be
more than willing to contribute their share so that there is no scarcity of
instruments required by the Pakistani army to crush the militants. Sadly the
Americans have refused to provide equipment that could have eliminated this
menace long ago.
The west continues to pay lip service. However, this does not mean that
this carnage should continue due to lack of resources and therefore urgent
attention must be paid to this problem by the government. As far as political
leadership is concerned they should rally behind the armed forces and provide
them with the support that is essential to defeat these extremist elements.
Another Rajput Rana Shamim Ahmed Khan who is now a member of the
national assembly could provide the political wisdom and strategy that is
required by the PML-N government to tackle this cancerous problem.
You can hear politicians talking in different languages: the inexperienced
Imran Khan has even gone to the extent of describing the church tragedy as a
conspiracy hatched by the enemies of this country. This means that the leader of
PTI continues to soft pedal the issue and has not come out forcefully enough to
condemn Tehreek-i-Taliban for committing murderous acts. Leaders of Jamat-iIslami and JUI continue to double-talk: they condemn as well as talk of
appeasing these elements. Similarly PPP has also failed to condemn these acts
764
in a befitting manner. The Prime Minister while condemning these acts of the
Taliban failed to spell out the strategy his government intends to follow after
these two murderous attacks committed by the extremists. The militants would
only be correct to assess that by killing people they could exert more pressure
on the federal government and therefore could be in a position to bargain on
better terms and conditions in case they sit across a negotiating table. It is
expected that the government will not blink first and will initiate certain visible
actions which will not only deter the militants but also teach them a lesson that
negotiations and acts of terrorism cannot go together. The government of
Pakistan, which presently has unprecedented political support must crush
terrorists with all it strength and clarity of purpose. (Azam Khalil, TheNation
27th September)
Not just sectarianism: The government should not have had either the
Dir or the Peshawar blasts to force it to pay attention to its primary duty,
maintaining law and order. This is a basic governmental function, irrespective of
whether it is Islamic or not, democratic or not, provincial or federal. It should
not be considered insignificant that this was the first attack on the Christian
community, after the USA decided that its withdrawal required talks with the
Taliban. Its reaction, of launching a drone attack, will not have helped matters.
It is perhaps not a paradox that the NWFP has a government which is not just
against drone strikes, but also wants to talk with the militants. The PTI will have
to deal with the fact that the peace of its province is under attack from the very
people it wants to talk to.
If indeed there are dissensions within the militants about whether or not
to talk that will only add to a question that has already been recognized: who
does the government talk to? That is related to the query about the agenda, and
to the one about how to avoid the sort of breakdown the past has seen, but is
quite a separate problem. At the same time, the people killed in Peshawar on
Sunday also serve as a grisly reminder that Pakistan does not have just a
sectarian problem, as shown in another provincial capital, Quetta, by the
massacres there of Hazaras, but a communal one as well. It must not be ignored
that the sectarian and communal flames are being fanned by the same militants
in both cases. It also should not be ignored that such actions merely promote the
kind of militancy that is alien to what has so far been a peaceable community,
which has not made any sort of waves. There will possibly be no talks with the
militants, which at least a group within them seem to wish to avoid. If that is the
case, there may well be some further actions ahead. However, after the military
and the Christian community, what or who will be the next target? (M A Niazi,
TheNation 27th September)
Dialogue but with whom? These recent acts of terrorism have provoked
a huge wave of anger in the country and some quarters are demanding that the
dialogue offer with the Taliban should be withdrawn forthwith. In response to
765
this anger, some pro-Taliban parties are arguing that these recent attacks were
carried out by some fringe groups and not the Taliban. They are also claiming
that there are nearly 25 groups within the Taliban and some of them are still not
in favour of talks, thus the possibility of their involvement. This argument
throws the whole question of talks into deep complication: if the Taliban is not a
unified body and lacks the ability to control other militant groups, would it be
fruitful to talk to it? Should we talk to the Taliban or these fringe yet powerful
groups or both?
There are some politicians in the country who maintain that the issue can
be resolved by holding dialogues and some even suggest that the militants
should be allowed to open an office for this purpose thereby recognizing them
as a legitimate stakeholder.
It is a dangerous idea. A country has its own well-defined stakeholders:
armed forces, police, bureaucracy, economists, major political parties, ethnic
and religious etc. These stakeholders play positive and constructive roles in the
process of nation-building thereby strengthening the country. On the other hand
there are elements that work for weakening the country by engaging in
destructive activities. It is these non-stakeholders that are commonly termed as
anti-state actors or anti-state elements.
Those who claim to be the most patriotic people in Pakistan but consider
these non-state actors as the integral part of the state seek to legitimize what is
patently illegitimate. We all want peace in the country and we all want to see the
country emerging as a modern democracy among the comity of nations. We all
recognize the importance of holding dialogues for resolving issues but I would
like to put a question to leaders, scholars and academicians. Dialogue but with
whom? (Altaf Hussain, TheNation 28th September)
Keep it up Mr Khan: Unfortunately, the short-sighted and myopic civil
society couldnt see what the farsighted Taliban Khan, err, I mean Kaptan Khan
did. As a matter of fact all genuine liberals are a part of Imran Khans Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaaf and, apart from Asad Umar, none of them has voiced concerns
over Mr. Khans statement. Only fake liberals are censuring the Great Khan on
social media for his demand for an office for the Taliban. But there is nothing to
worry about those foul-mouthed liberals because Khans social media warriors
will take good care of them. We, the Pakistanis, must not act like thankless
goofs and should thank our lucky stars that we now have a leader whose
message of change is resonating across the length and breadth of Pakistan.
Though yours truly cant match the sagacity of Imran Khan but I strongly
feel that the TTPs office in Pakistan will turn out to be a step in the right
direction and it will usher a new era of peace and prosperity in the region. Not
only will it help curtail the increasing unemployment by creating new job
opportunities but also reduce the growing population which leads to
766
unemployment, by blasting a few. Killing two birds with one stone, something
an ordinary man would have not even thought about!
Every time a drone strike takes place on Pakistani soil, the Taliban
officials, not terrorists, will scare the hell out of Americans by carrying out a
suicide bombing on the same soil. Telephone calls claiming responsibility for an
attack will now be a thing of the past. In order to treat all media outlets equally,
the Taliban spokesman will now be holding a press briefing at the organizations
office after every attack and thus no news channel would be able to take the
credit of breaking the news first. Lack of breaking news would inevitably lead
to lesser sensation.
In addition, the Talibans office would be needing security due to the
fears of a retaliatory attack by the survivors of a suicide bombing on the holy
office. The same office can also be hit by a US drone. Imran Khan might have
to ask the federal government to deploy paramilitary/military personnel to save
the sacred office from a ground attack. And to protect the office from a possible
drone strike, Imran Khan could call on the federal government to order the Air
Chief to strike down the drones flying anywhere near the sacred office. After all
its the responsibility of the state of Pakistan to safeguard its own people from
any aggression, be it internal or external.
In addition, to make the environment more conducive for the proposed
peace talks, Imran Khan should appeal the TTP to get registered with the
Election Commission of Pakistan so that certain political parties can do
something else than acting as their political front.
In a bid to remove mystifications about the Taliban, Imran Khan might
have to call on the PEMRA to issue a license to the TTP to operate its own
television channel given that the Taliban are righteous and pious Muslims and
they might not want to watch channels airing news bulletins featuring female
anchorpersons without any scarf. Moreover, such a channel will help in
conveying the Talibans view point to the masses without any depravity. The
Taliban will also be allowed to air videos of different suicide bombings,
beheading ceremonies and similar stuff.
A Taliban office in the country will also help in creating a soft image of
Pakistan in the international community that was badly distorted by, a CIA
agent, Malala Yousafzai who made her way to London, after surviving a staged
attack in Swat, to malign the angelic Taliban.
The TTP office will also keep a record of its members operating in and
out of Pakistan since a few of them have been exported to Syria to fight
alongside the rebel forces to oust Bashar al-Assads from power. In case a
branch office is needed in Syria, Imran Khan can always call on the federal
government again to help them in setting up one. After all they are our own
people and to facilitate them is our first and foremost duty.
767
So what if the TTP set pre-conditions for the peace talks, killed a Major
General, Lieutenant Colonel, other army personnel and 85 Christians in the
immediate aftermath of the APC, held on September 9, which set new national
record of appeasing our own people. All in all, Imran Khans demand of a
TTP office in Pakistan speaks volumes about his unparalleled prudence and
consummate level-headedness. Haters will hate but Khan will scintillate. Keep
it up Mr. Khan. (Ali Salman Alvi, TheNation 29th September)
Raid that killed OBL was all a fabrication: A Pulitzer Prize-winning
journalist says that the official account of the raid which killed Osama Bin
Laden in 2011 is one big lie.
Seymour Hersh, 76, said that not one word of the Obama
Administrations narrative on what happened is true.
In an interview, Hersh savages the US media for failing to challenge the
White House on a whole host of issues, from NSA spying, to drone attacks, to
aggression against Syria. He said the Navy Seal raid that supposedly resulted in
the death of the al-Qaeda terror leader, Hersh said, not one word of it is true.
According to Hersh who first gained worldwide recognition in 1969 for
exposing the My Lai Massacre and its cover-up during the Vietnam War, for
which he received the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting the
problem is that the US media is allowing the Obama Administration to get away
with lying. Its pathetic. They are more than obsequious, they are afraid to pick
on this guy [Obama].
The White House has refused to publicly release images of Bin Ladens
body, fueling suspicion they are withholding information. Although the White
House said the corpse was immediately buried at sea within 24 hours of his
death in line with Islamic tradition, it quickly emerged that this was not standard
practice.
It has also been suggested that the White House has changed its story
multiple times, according to infowars.com.
They initially claimed that pictures from the situation room show
Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Hilary Clinton and the rest of the security
team watching the raid live, when in fact there was a blackout on the feed.
Neighbours close to the Pakistani compound in Abbottabad also said they
had never seen Bin Laden in the area. Hersh said the American press spends so
much more time carrying water for Obama than I ever thought they would.
In his opinion, the solution would be to shut down news networks like
NBC and ABC and fire 90 per cent of mainstream editors and replace them with
real journalists who are not afraid to speak truth to power.
768
The republics in trouble, we lie about everything, lying has become the
staple, he said. (Marie-louise Olson for Daily Mail, republished in TheNation
30th September)
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, Pakistan & Taliban: Taliban have specified their broad
demands: establishment of an independent Islamic system i.e. any future system
in Afghanistan should be based on Islamic Republic and not a secular system;
participation of all Afghans in the emerging developments, Taliban are also
accepting the reality that Afghanistan belongs to all and not just to Pushtoons.
However, they have threatened to strongly resist if Tajik or Uzbek minority is
imposed upon Pushtoon majority. Taliban have also accepted modern education
system for equipping the young generation with both religious and modern
studies.
America has also agreed to accept some key demands of Taliban like:
release of all Taliban leaders and other prisoners, closure of notorious
Guantanamo and Bagram prisons, accept Taliban as the main party of
Afghanistan, lifting of UN sanctions on Taliban, end of all operations against
Taliban and acceptance of a ceasefire before the start of formal talks. The
leadership of Taliban has particularly demanded withdrawal of all charges
against the key Taliban leaders.
In an associated development when the two-day dialogue between
parliamentary committees on defence from Pakistan and Afghanistan ended in
Kabul, a joint declaration said that both delegations agreed on enhancing
defence cooperation along with agreeing to develop bilateral cooperation
between the two countries armed forces and security agencies
Pakistani delegation returned with the impression that 20,000 NATO
troops are likely to stay in Afghanistan on nine military bases after 2014 and
that Kabul and Washington are about to sign an agreement in this regard within
the next two months. Moreover, besides the soldiers around 100,000 or so
American and other foreign nationals who are engaged in various security and
other related responsibilities will also stay back in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
This impression seems misplaced. All western sources point towards a much
smaller military footprint after 2014. Moreover, overwhelming opinion is in
favour of signing the bilateral agreement with Karzais successor; so that the
new government owns and honours any such arrangement. Insistence by the
Americans to sign an agreement with Karzai could jeopardize the ongoing
political process. Firstly, a majority of Afghans may not turn-up for voting, and
secondly Taliban may walk away from negotiations.
According to Afghan Interior Minister Umer Daudzai, police deaths have
doubled since NATO troops handed over security responsibility to local troops.
769
770
facilities. The runway was further extended. This access offers immediate
strategic depth in the region to India.
The second place of Indian foothold is the Farkhor Air Base; a military
air base located near the town of Farkhor in Tajikistan, 130 kilometers south
east of the capital Dushanbe. In 1996-97, the Research and Analysis Wing
(RAW) started negotiations with Tajikistan to use the Farkhor Airbase to
transport high-altitude military supplies to the Afghan Northern Alliance,
service their helicopters and gather intelligence. At that time, India operated a
military hospital in the Farkhor region. Since Pakistan does not allow India
overland access to Afghanistan, India has had to channel its goods to
Afghanistan through Farkhor. The IAF airlifts supplies to Ayni, which are then
transported to Farkhor and onward to Afghanistan by road. More important,
aircrafts taking off from Farkhor could be over the Pakistani skies within
minutes.
The disclosure of representative of the Tajikistan interior ministry to the
news agency AFP on September 21, 2013 that police in Tajikistan have arrested
10 people suspected of planning a series of attacks to destabilize the country
ahead of the presidential polls mostly young men who received training in
Pakistan, is rather amusing in this backdrop.
Without question, the forward policy by India in Central Asia is viewed
very uneasily by both Islamabad and Beijing. America should logically be in
favor of Indias assessment of the situation as Indias rise in the region
effectively checks Chinese and Russian influence. Americans cannot afford to
be strategically out of the region. Russia on the other hand is moving in as a
major regional player once again. It is willing to execute the Pakistan-Iran gas
pipeline project, ignoring the US sanctions on Iran. This will be done in view of
the new Russian policy to look towards South Asia. Lest we forget: a road was
built by the Indian engineers from the Chahbahar port leading to Dilaram for
onward linkage across Oxus, thus creating and giving an alternative transit route
to Afghanistan. The first Tripartite Agreement was executed between India, Iran
and Russia and the second one between India, Iran and Afghanistan-a brilliant
move by a consummate player on the chessboard.
These combined steps places India in a strong position for the new great
game that is emerging with a changed political landscape in Afghanistan.
Islamabad fears; and for good reason that an India and Tajikstan nexus will lead
to an infiltration via Afghanistan, using an unprotected western flank that will
encircle Pakistan, cutting off oxygen. What Pakistan must do; is to redraw its
foreign policy. The ground realities are changing. Time is rolling; Mr Prime
Minister. (Yasmeen Aftab Ali, TheNation 24th September)
771
India
A change of mood in India: A part of the editorial of the Indian Express
(of September 26) merits to be reproduced to indicate the changing attitude in
India: A peaceful equilibrium with Pakistan has been one of Manmohan
Singh's avowed priorities... Yet, if past experience is a guide, the UPA's will can
dissolve dramatically in the face of a few belligerent opposition voices and
angry TV anchors. Several times in the last year alone, the prime minister set
aside his resolve after the opposition and parts of the media raised the pitch on
Pakistan. In August, after an ambush on Indian soldiers at the Line of Control,
the government did a miserable flip-flop on the nature of the aggression and
who was responsible. In January, after another border incident, the government
broke with the convention that the bilateral dialogue was kept separate from
such events, with the prime minister himself saying that business-as-usual was
untenable. Sports teams and business delegations were sent back to Pakistan.
Led by the same jingoistic din, the UPA bequeathed a state funeral on Sarabjit
Singh, even though he had been convicted of espionage and terrorism there.
This time, the PM must not pander to the irresponsible chorus. He must be
mindful of the imprint he wants to leave on foreign policy, not the fleeting
opinions of prime-time TV.
An excerpt from an article written in The Hindu (newspaper) by a former
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Mr. Satyabrata Pal reflects the mind of
thinking and concerned Indians: It is important to stress, therefore, that talking
to Pakistan does not mean that we are soft on it. Trying to make peace with
Pakistan is not a sign of weakness. The government that comes to power after
the next election will do the same. It too will try to make peace with Pakistan. If
it does not, it will be abdicating its responsibility and charting a course that
diverges so completely from its predecessors that it is unlikely to get broad,
political support. It is a given that if the Prime Ministers agree to meet at the
U.N. General Assembly, there will be outrages at the LoC or in India, to torpedo
the meeting. If the Prime Ministers do agree on the next steps, the provocations
will increase. We can certainly urge the government of Pakistan to stop these,
but should know that, realistically, they currently cannot. We must nevertheless
persevere so that they eventually can.
It is good that Pakistan has officially and unequivocally condemned the
Jammu attacks.
Mention may, here; be made of a number of influential Indians from the
political and economic fields, these days, visiting Pakistan, one after the other.
One may refer to the participation of Mani Shanker Ayer and other well-placed
Indians in the Pakistani TV talk shows as well as visits of the parliamentarians
and businessmen to Islamabad and Lahore.
773
While welcoming the change of mood in India, Nawaz Sharif has to tread
the path carefully. Considering the euphoric statements he made soon after
taking over his office as well as Indian short-term and long-term plans and
designs, he would be well-advised to act prudently with a view to safeguarding
Pakistans national interests. (Inayatullah, TheNation 28th September)
REVIEW
In his briefing to the party leaders attending the APC, DG ISI informed
them that there are about five dozen militant groups having about 120,000
fighters in their networks. The goals of these groups are divergent and so are the
causes of their motivation. Many of these are funded and trained by foreign
agencies.
Keeping the above ground realities in view the intellectuals of all kinds
the so-called, the pseudo and the genuine should ponder and draw their own
conclusions so that their views reflect some sanity. While doing that, it must be
remembered that these militants are irregular fighters, or guerrilla fighters.
Father of guerilla warfare said that the people of a nation to guerilla
fighters are like the water to fish. The fish cannot survive without water. The
fact that such a large school of fish is swimming safe and sound in the sea called
Pakistan means that these militants enjoy public sympathies; otherwise they
would have been thrown out of water.
Having understood this point, they should consult the experts of counterguerilla warfare to know as to how many soldiers are needed to hunt one
guerilla fighter. Then, work out the size of security forces needed for
eliminating the above quoted number of militants. It would far exceed the
present strength of security forces even after granting that many of these
militants operate from other side of the borders.
TTP is a loosely used terminology for militants operating inside Pakistan.
They cannot be equated with Afghan Taliban despite the fact that TTP leaders
claim to be their allies or supporters. Most of these groups are in fact mustered
by CIA and RAW as counterweight to Afghan Taliban.
Afghan Taliban fight only against foreign forces in occupation of their
homeland and TTP-affiliated groups on the other hand operate inside Pakistan
on the concocted pretexts. Pakistan is blamed by the US and its allies for
supporting Afghan Taliban on the basis of past record, but TTP is actually
supported by the US and India today.
The question arises; why then the government should hold talks with the
groups which perpetrate terror across Pakistan? The reason is very obvious for
774
those who want to view the issue rationally. Even if a few hundred militants are
won over it would be great success.
But this does not seem to be happening as politicians have yet to learn
rising above petty politics when Pakistan faces grave security threats. They are
busy in mud-slinging and point-scoring rather than coming out with sincere
solutions to end the bloodletting that has been going on for more than a decade.
It has been glaringly evident of late, as after every terror attack anti-PTI forces
lashed out at Imran Khan and ANP has been in the lead.
Intriguingly, on 29th September, Ghulam Ahmed Bilour was at the site
minutes after the tragic terror attack Qissa Khwani Bazar, Peshawar. Bilours
have been undoubtedly quite caring about their political domain of Peshawar,
but to be at the site so soon after the bomb blast was quite mind boggling.
Imrans suggestion about establishment of an office of Taliban to facilitate
direct contacts drew bitter criticism. It was used as pretext to equate him with
Taliban even by those observers who met Bal Thakeray dressed in clothes of
favourite colour of that anti-Pakistan Hindu extremist.
Media mouths unleashed the onslaught against the unanimously passed
resolution that preferred dialogue was a clear attempt at barking out the APC for
deferring the military option. The manner in which they did it in unison, the
voice of the APC appeared to have drowned.
30th September, 2013
775
Mulla-zadah Zaighum Laulaabi Kashmiri ka biaz
From the Note Book of MuIlah Zada Zaighum Laulaabi of Kashmir
*****(1)*****
Pani terey chashmon ka tarrapta hoa seimaab; morghan-e-sehar teyri fazaon
mein hein bitaab; ay Waadi-e-Laulaab.* (*Kashmir ki eik mashoor Wadi)
Thy fonts quick silver bewails with grace. The birds at dawn are restive in thy
space. O Valley of Laulaabs Grace.
776
Gar sahib-e-hungamah nah ho menber-o-mehrab; Deen bandah-e-Momin kay
leay mout hai ya khwab; ay Waadi-e-Laulaab.
When the pulpit and the niche cease to re-create Resurrections, faith then is
dead or a mere dream, for thee, me and for all. O Valley of Laulaab!
Hein saaz peh mouqoof nawa-haey jigar soz; dheilay hon agar taar tuo bey
kaar hai mizraab; ay Waadi-e- Laulaab.
On harp thus depend the heart rending moons. If the wries are loose, no quill
makes the tones. O Valley of Laulaabs Groans.
Mulla ki nazar-e-noor farasat sey hai khali; bey soz hai maeykhanah-e-Sufi ki
maey-e-naab; ay Waadi-e-Laulaab.
The Mullahs glance lacks the insights sense; the pure wine of Sufi lacks booze
and trance. O Valley of Laulaab Hence.
Bidaar hon dil jiss ki foghan-e-sehari sey; iss quom mein modat sey woh
dervaish hai nayab; ay Waadi-e-Laulaab.
Who wakes up the hearts from the morning wails, to see such Dervesh for long
my sense fails. O Valley of Laulaab Tales.
*****(2)*****
Mout hai ekk sakht-ter jiss ka ghulami hai naam; mukr-o-fun-e-khwajgi kaash
samajhta ghulam. (Mukr-o-fun-e-khwajgi: Aaqaon kay faraib.)
777
The death is a stone whose name is bondage, the kingship tricks alas, could
know this page.
Sharaa-e-malokanah mein jiddat-e-ehkaam deikhh; Soor ka ghogha halal,
Hashar ki lazzat haraam. (Sharaa-e-malokanah: Badshahon kay qawanin
Jiddat: Niya-pun. Soor ka ghogha halal: Morad hai hokam milney per akathhey
hona halal hai. Hashar ki lazzat haraam: Morad hai Hashar ki tarah hisab kitab
aur jaza-o-saza haraam hai.)
In the kingship laws see a novice bill, which bids the Horns noise, but bans
doomsday thrill.
Ay keh ghulami sey hair rooh teri mozmahil; seinah-e-bey soz mein dhond khodi
ka moqam. (Mozmahil: Kumzor, natwaan.)
The bondage has made thy soul so weak, in a flameless heart, the place of self
seek.
*****(3)*****
Aaj woh Kashmir hai mehkoom-o-majboor-o-faqir; kal jissey ehl-e-nazar
kehtey thhey Iran-e-Saghir. (Iran-e-Saghir: Chhota Iran.)
Being slave, weak and poor, hark the Kashmir calls, whom a sharp sighted
calld Persia Small.
Seinah-e-aflaak sey othhti hai aah-e-soznaak; mard-e-Haq hota hai jabb
maroob-e-sultan-o-amir.
From sky their raises a sigh of grief, when a trueman is gagged by a tyrant chief.
Keh raha hai dastan bidardi-e-ayam ki; koh kay daman mein woh ghum
khanah-e-dehqan-e-pir. (Ghum khanah-e-dehqan-e-pir: Bhhorrey kissan ka
ghhar.)
778
Of ruthless times she is telling a tale, from dales of hills, of peasants sad and
pale.
Aah yeh quom-e-najib-o-charb dast-o-tar damagh; hai kahan roz-e-makafaat
ay Khodaey dir-gir? (Quom-e-najib: Sharif, aseel. Charb dast: Haathon sey
nafis kaam karney waaley, honarmand. Tar damagh: Zahin. Roz-e-makafaat:
Badley ka dinn. Khodaey dir-gir: Dir sey garift karney wala Khoda.)
So famed in skill Oh this noble race where is thy avenge O Lord of each base?
*****(4)*****
Garam ho jata hai jabb mehkoom quomon ka lahoo; thharthharata hai jahane-chaar sooey-o-rung-o-boo.
When the blood of nations from pride is glow, it shakes the four nooks of
worlds pomp and show.
Pak hota hai zun-o-takhmin sey insan ka zamir; karta hai her rah ko roshan
chiragh-e-aarzoo. (Zun-o-takhmin: Shak aur andazah. Chiragh-e-aarzoo:
Khwahish ka diya.)
When conscience of man is free of views own, each path is lucent with wills
lamp alone.
Woh poraney chaak jinn ko aql sei sakti naheen; ishq seita hai onnhein bey
sozan-o-tar-e-rafoo. (Chaak: Phhata hona. Bey sozan-o-tar-e-rafoo: Sooeyi aur
dhagay ka baghair.)
Old Schism whom wisdom cant sew or stitch; the love knits those sans needle
and stitch.
Zarbat-e-peham sey ho jata hai akhar paash paash; Hakimiyat ka bott-esangin dil-o-aeinah-roo. (Zarbat-e-peham: Lagatar chot lagana. Paash paash:
Tokrrey tokrrey. Sangin dil: Sakht dil, pathhar dil. Aeinah-roo: Khoobsurat,
hosein.)
779
It breaks into pieces from constant blows, a stone heart goddess whom the
kingship bows.
*****(5)*****
Dorraj ki perwaaz mein hai shoukat-e-shaheen; hairat mein hai siyaad, yeh
shaheen hai keh dorraj. (Dorraj: Teetar.)
In quails flight looks the hawks grandeur and grace, the hunter knows not, of
quail or hawks face.
Her quom kay afkaar mein piada hai talatam; Mashriq mein hai fardaey
qiyamat ki namood aaj. (Talatam: Toghiyani. Fardaey qiyamat: Kal aaney
waali qiyamat. Namood: Zahoor.)
In each race thought see a flood and storm, in East see the future dooms day
form.
Fitrat kay taqazon sey hoa hashar peh majboor; woh mordah keh thha Bang-eSarafil ka mohtaj. (Hashar: Jabb morday dobarah zindah hon gay.)
The nature forced him to bring a great doom, like dead he needed the Seraphs
horn zoom.
*****(6)*****
Rindon ko bhi maaloom hein Sufi kay kamalat; her chund keh mashoor
naheen onn kay karamat.
The wonders of Sufis are known to sots too, may not be famous their miracles
new.
Khod giri-o-khod daari-o-gul bang-e-ann-al-Haq; azad ho salik tuo hein yeh
oss kay moqamat. (Gul bang: Khoshgawar. Ann-al-Haq: Mien Haq hon. Salik:
Mosafir. Moqamat: Tasawwuf ki rah ki manzilein.).
780
The self hold, self respect and Im God Cry. If seeker is free, these are his
ranks high.
Mehkoom ho salik tuo yehi oss ka hamah oost; khod mordah-o-khod marqad-okhod murg-e-mafajat. (Hamah oost: Sabb kochh wohi hai. Marqad: Qabar.
Murg-e-mafajat: Naghani mout.)
If seeker is slave, each thing* his Lord, hes dead, hes grave and sudden deaths
chord.
(*Each thing is God and God is each thing is the belief of heathens. This is
called pantheism or Hamaost every where is He)
*****(7)*****
Nikal kar khanqahon sey ada kar rasm-e-Shabbiri; keh faqr-e-khanqahi hai
faqat andoh-o-dil giri. (Rasm-e-Shabbiri: Woh rasm jo Hazrat imam Hussain
(R.A.) ney Karbala mein ada ki. Faqr-e-khanqahi: Morad hai moujodah pirimoridi. Faqat andoh-o-dil giri: Sirf runj-o-milal.)
Get out from tombs, revive rites of Hussain, the content of tombs is sigh and
sobs tan.
Terey Deen-o-adab sey aa-rehi hai booey rahbani; yehi hai murney waali
ummaton ka alam-e-piri. (Booey rahbani: Tark-e-dunya ki boo.)
Thy faith and gabs gift has the hermits scent, for dying nations it is old age
bent.
Shiateen-e-malookiyat ki aankhhon mein hai woh jadoo; keh khod nakhchir
kay dil mein ho piada zouq-e-nakhchiri. (Zouq-e-nakhchiri: Shikar ho jaaney ki
chahat.)
The Satans of kings have magic in eye; that hunt likes to be a hunt by and by.
781
Chih bey perwa gozashtand az nawaey sobhgah-e-mun; keh bord aan shoro-musti az seih chashmaan-e-Kashmiri.
[Meyri sobh kay waqt ki awaz sey ehl-e-Kashmir iss tarah bey perwah ho kar
gozrey hein keh jaisey onn ki siyah aankhhon sey koeyi woh shor-o-musti ley
gaya ho jiss sey woh doosaron per jadoo kar saktey thhey. Morad yeh hai keh
yehi Kashmiri jo aaj ghulami aur bey busi ki zindagi basar kar rehey hein kabhi
azad aur zindagi kay her shoabey mein sarfraz thhey.]
They paid no heed to my midnight sigh; he took all the booze from Kashmirs
eye.
*****(8)*****
Samjha lahoo ki boond agar tou ossey tuo khair; dil Adami ka hai faqat ekk
jazbah-e-boland.
Well if you took it a drop of blood, the heart of man is but a high verves flood.
Gardish meh-o-sitarah ki hai nagwar ossey; dil aap apney shaam-o-sehar ka
hai naqshbund (naqshah bananey wala).
To Sun and Moon changes he would thus hate, the heart itself paints his morn
and eves fate.
Jiss khak kay zamir mein hai aatish-e-chanar; momkin naheen keh sard ho woh
khak-e-arjumand.
The heart in whose conscience burns the oaks fire, you can not cool down that
noble hearts fire.
*****(9)*****
Khhola jabb chaman mein kotab khanah-e-gul; nah kaam aya Mullah ko ilm-ekitabi. (Kotab khanah-e-gul: Bagh ko phholon ki kitabon kay ghhar sey
tashbih di hai.)
Opened when in garden the Rose bookshop, the books knowledge then to
Mullah was flop.
782
Matanat shikin thhi hawaey bahaaran; ghazal khwan hoa pirak-e-Andarabi.
(Matanat: Sinjidgi. Pirak-e-Andarabi: Andarab Wast Asia mein Balkh kay pass
eik qasbah hai jahan kay kochh loug hijrat kar kay Kashmir mein abad hoay.
Yeh loug ilm-o-adab aur hasb nasb kay eitibar sey mumtaz janey jaatey hein.)
The vernal tide changed all the grave mood, which moved Indrabi to Odes
making mood.
Kaha lalah-e-aatishin perhun ney; keh asrar-e-jan ki hon mien bey hijabi.
(Lalah-e-aatishin perhun: Sorkh labas pehnay hoay lalah ka phhool. (Asrar-ejan: Zindagi ka bhiad. Bey hijabi: Bey pardagi; morad hai zindagi kay bhiad
ka zahir ho jana.)
A poppy said then dressed in fiery robe, to secrets of the soul I would now
probe.
Samajhta hai jo mout khwab-e-lehud ko; nehan oss ki taamir mein hai
kharabi. (Khwab-e-lehud: Qabar ki neind. Nehan: Chhopi hoeyi.)
Who takes the death as a dream of grave, in his build up lies a fault so grave.
Naheen zindagi silsilah-e-roz-o-shabb ka; naheen zindagi musti-o-neim khwabi.
The life means not the link of night and day, neither life a booze or drowsiness
way.
Hayat ast dar aatish-e-khod tapeidan; khosh aan dum keh ein noktah ra
bazyabi.
[Zindagi apni aag mein tarrapney ka naam hai, mobarak ho teyrey leay woh
lamah jabb tou iss barik baat ko pher sey samajh ley; morad hai apney andar
ishq ka jazbah piada kar.)
The life means burning in selfs own flame. How lucky who knew the pith of
this game.
783
Agar z-aatish-e-dil shararey bagiri; tawan kard zir-e-falak aaftabi.
[Agar tou dill ki aag sey eik chingari hasil kar ley yaani apney andar aisa dil
piada kar ley jiss mein ishq ki aag ho aur oss aag sey ghair Allah kay khas-okhashaak ko jala kar apney dil mein Allah ko basa ley tuo mein yaqin dilata
hon keh too aasman kay neichey yaani dunya mein aftab taloa kar sakta hai
khod bhi roshan ho sakta hai aur ehl-e-jahan ko bhi roshni dey sakta hai.]
From his hearts fire if he takes a spark, he can change the whole worlds
gloom and dark.
*****(10)*****
Azad ki rug sakht hai manind-e-rug-e-sung; mehkoom ki rug-e-naram hai
manind-e-rug-e-taak.
A free mans veins are hard like the stones veins, the veins of ruled are soft like
veins of soft canes.
Mehkoom ka dil mordah-o-afsordah-o-noummeid; azad ka dil zindah-o-por sozo-tarabnaak (khoshi sey bhara hoa).
A slaves heart is dead, sad and hopeless hence, the frees heart alive with
flames of joys sense.
Azad ki doulat dil-e-roshan, nafas garam; mehkoom ka sarmayah faqat deidahe-numnaak.
(Deidah-e-numnaak: Aansoo bhari ankhhein.)
A lucent heart, free mans wealth and verves worm, the wealth of ruled just a
weeping eyes form.
Mehkoom hai biganah-e-akhlas-o-marawwat; her chund keh mantiq ki dalilon
mein hai chalak.
(Akhlas: Khaloos. Marawwat: Achha salook.)
784
Momkin naheen mehkoom ho azad ka humdosh; woh bandah-e-aflaak hai, yeh
khwajah-e-aflaak. (Humdosh: Brabar. Bandah-e-aflaak: Aasmanon ka ghulam.
Khwajah-e-aflaak: Aasmanon ka aaqa.)
A ruled can not make with free man a tie, this is slave of sky, hes master of sky.
*****(11)*****
Tamam arif-o-aami khodi sey biganah; koeyi yeh bataey yeh masjid hai keh
maeykhanah. (Arif: Khoda ki pehchan karney wala. Aami: Aam loug.)
All mystics and common to self know not, is this mosque O Lord or pub of the
sot.
Yeh raaz hum sey chhopaya hai mir waiz ney; keh khod Haram hai Chiragh-eHaram ka perwanah. (Mir waiz: Barra waaz karney wala. Chiragh-e-Haram:
Haram ka chiragh; morad hai Allah Taala sey mohabat karney wala
Mosilman.)
The chief Waiz kept it out of our sight, that Harem is the moth of Harems light.
Talism-e-bey khabri, kaafiri-o-deendari; hadis-e-Sheikh-o-Brahman fasoon-oafasanah. (Fasoon-o-afasanah: Khiyali kahani.)
The charms of paganism or faiths whole flame: The Sheikh and Pundit tales,
the fictions game.
Nasib-e-khitah ho Ya-Rabb woh bandah-e-dervaish; keh jiss kay faqr mein
andaz hon Kalimanah.
A boon for the land was the Dervish great, like Moses his faqr had all the fine
traits.
785
Chhopey reheen gay zamaney ki ankhh sey kabb takk; gohar hein aab-eWullar* kay tamam yakk danah. (*Kashmir ki mashhoor jheel.)
How long the world hides the gifts of his make, I mean the precious pearls of
Woolers Lake.
*****(12)*****
Digargon jahan onn kay zor-e-amal sey; barrey maarkey zindah quomon
ney maarey. (Digargon: Tabdili ki taraf gaamzan.)
The whole world shook from actions they played, to live nations owe the events
they made.
Monajim ki taqwim-e-farda hai baatil; girey aasman sey poraney sitarey.
(Monajim: Sitaron ka ilm janenay wala. Taqwim: Sitaron kay ilm ki kitab.)
They wronged all views which a foreteller told; from the sky fell down like sun
the stars old.
Zamir-e-jahan iss qadar aatishin hai; keh darya ki moujon sey tootey sitarey.
(Aatishin: Aag sey bhara.)
The conscience of world is a fire untold, from waves of river broke stars of
fame old.
Zamin ko fraghat naheen zalzalon sey; numayan hein fitrat kay barik
asharey.
No rest the earth takes from these earthquakes, how clear are hints which the
nature makes.
786
Hamalah kay chashmey obaltey hein kabb takk; Khizar sochta hai Wullar kay
kinarey.
How long the fonts boil at this mountain flanks, the Khizr thus broods over the
Woolers banks (The Khizr is thinking at the Woolers bank).
*****(13)*****
Nishan yehi hai zamaney mein zindah quomon ka; keh sobh-o-shaam badalti
hein onn ki taqdirin.
A sign of live nation this is the Age, from morn to eve changes their fortunes
page. (The Age: It means the World)
Kamal-e-sidq-o-marawwat hai zindagi onn ki; moaf karti hai fitrat bhi onn ki
taqseerin. (Kamal-e-sidq-o-marawwat: Sachaeyi aur hosn-e-salook ki intiha.
Taqseerin: Ghulatiyan. kotahiyan.)
A model of virtues and courtesies call, the nature forgives their sins and faults
all.
Qalandaranah adaein; Sikandaranah jalal; yeh ummatein hein jahan mein
brahnah shamshirin.
With Alecs grandeur, and remits prude, the nations in world are swords-butnude. (Prude: Prudeness or saucy style of a hermit)
Khodi sey mard-e-khod agah ka jamal-o-jalal; keh yeh kitab hai, baqi tamam
tafseerin. (Mard-e-khod agah: Apni pehchan kar chokney wala Adami.)
From this Ego gets his grandeur a glaze, as this is the book, the rest a new
phrase.
787
Hakim meyri nawaon ka raaz kaya jaaney; waraaey aql hein ehl-e-janon ki
tadbirin. (Waraaey aql: Aql sey bala; samajh nah aaney waali.)
A sage may not know my wails hidden sign; thus yonder to wits are the mad
mens lines.
*****(14)*****
Chih kafiranah qomar-e-hayat mi-bazi; keh ba zamanah basaazi bakhod nasaazi.
[(Ay Mosilman) tou zindagi ka jooa kis kafiranah andaz mein kheil raha hai;
tou zamaney kay saath tuo bana raha hai laikan apney saath bana kay naheen
rakhhta.]
How a heathen like, you play the lifes game, you go with the world, to world,
you cant tame.
Digar bamadrassa-haey Haram nami beinam; dil-e-Junaid-o-nigah-eGhazali-o-Razi.
[Eik waqt thha keh Mosilmanon mein Junaid Baghdadi jaisey Sufi, Ghazali aur
Razi jaisey falsafi aur hakim piada hotay thhey; jo Mosilmanon mein Islam ki
rooh phhonktey rehetey thhey.)
No face I see in school of harem hence; with Junaids heart, Zali-o-Razis
glance.
Bahokm-e-Mufti-e-Azam keh fitrat-e-azlist; badeen-e-saawah haraam ast
kaar-e-shahbazi.
[Qodrat kay barrey mein mufti ka yeh fatwa hai keh qodrat kay qawanin mein
azal sey (hamaishah sey) yeh baat moujood hai keh mamolah kay zaabtah-ehayat mein shahbaz kay sey kaam ikhtiyar karna haraam aur najaiz hai.)
788
The Grand Mufti says, this is natures way, in deen of finch banned the hawks
hold say!
Haman faqih-e-azal goft jorrah-e-shaheen ra; ba-asman garavi ba zamin
nah pervaazi.
[(Jiss tarah qawanin-e-qodrat kay Mufti ka yeh fatwa hai keh mamolah sey baz
kay shikar kay taur per piada kiya gaya hai) issi tarah qodrat ki fiqah mein
(qawanin ki kitab mein) azal kay faqih ney yeh baat bhi likhh di hai keh aala
darjah kay baz ka kaam sirf aasmanon per orrtey rehna aur faza mein
parindon ka shikar karna hai nah keh zamin per otar kar onn ka shikar karna
ya gidhon ki tarah aa-kar mordar khhana.)
The great Jurist said to hawk in mirth. You fly along skies, why not along earth.
Manam keh tobah nakardam z-faash goeyi-ha; z-beim-e-ein keh basultan
konand ghummazi.
[Mien ney iss dar sey keh loug badshah-e-waqt sey meyri choghli khhain gay
saaf saaf aur khhol kar Haq ki baat kehna naheen chhorri aur jaabaron aur
zalimon kay saamney kalmah-e-haq kehney sey garaiz naheen kiya; bawajood
keh lougon ney mojh sey kaha keh sachaeyi ka yeh rawiyah ikhtiyar nah karo
laikan mien baz naheen aya aur apni shaeri mein bharpoor andaz sey aur bey
khouf ho kar Mosilman ko baatil qowwat kay khalaf dutt jaaney kay leay kehta
raha.]
Since I have vowed not to speak lie, I may back bite to king, there I dont fly.
Badast-e-ma nah Samarqand-o-ney Bokhara eist; doa bago z-faqiran beh
Turk-e-Shirazi.
[(Hafiz Shirazi ney eik shear mein kaha thha keh agar Shiraz ka Turk
(maashooq) meyrey dil ko qabzay mein kar ley tuo mein oss kay siyah til kay
badley mein ossey Samarqand aur Bokhara shehar bakhsh don ga ya oss kay
sadqay mein khairat kar don ga,) Iqbal ney iss shear sey yeh mazmoon nikala
hai keh agarchih meyrey haath mein Samarqand aur Bokhara jaisey shehar
naheen hein magar mien tuo oss kay haq mein sirf doa kar sakta hon (yahan
Iqbal ka maashooq Mosilman hai)]
I have no Smarkand-o-Bukhara in hand, please pray for me to poet of this land
(poet of Shiraz).
789
*****(15)*****
Zamir-e-Maghrib hai tajiranah, zamir-e-Mashriq hai rahibanah; wahan
digargon hai lehzah lehzah, yahan badalta naheen zamanah.
A trade, Wests conscience, hermitage; in East, there changes world quick,
here changes world least.
Kinar-e-darya Khizar ney mojh sey kaha beh andaz-e-meharmanah; Sikandari
ho, qalandari ho, yeh sabb tariqey hein saheranah. (Beh andaz-e-meharmanah:
Dostanah tariqay sey. Saheranah: Jadoogari andaz.)
The Khizr said me once with a confidence, a king or poors way all a magic
hence.
Harif apna samajh rehey hein mojhey khodiyan-e-khanqihi; Onnhein yeh dar
hai keh meyrey nalon sey shaq nah ho sung-e-aastanah. (Harif: Mud-emoqabil, doshman. Khodiyan-e-khanqihi: Morad hai pir. Shaq nah ho sung-eaastanah: Shaq kay maani tootna; morad hai maqbarey tehus nehus nah ho
jaein.)
Lords of hermitage, to me a rival take, their tomb stone they fear, my wails may
not break.
Ghulam quomon kay ilm-o-irfan ki hai yehi ramz aashkara; zamin agar tung
hai tuo kaya hai, fazaey gardon hai be karanah. (Ilm-o-irfan: Zahiri aur batni
ilm. Ramz aashkara: Saaf saamney aaney wala bhaid. Gardon hai be karanah:
Aasman baghair kinarey kay hai.)
A slave nations gnosis gives a clear sign, if this earth is tight, the vast skies are
mine.
Khabar naheen kaya hai naam iss ka, khoda faraibi keh khod faraibi; amal sey
farigh hoa Mosilman bana kay taqdir ka bahana. (Khoda faraibi: Khod ko
dhokah deyna. Khod faraibi: Apney aap ko dhoka deyna.)
790
Does he dupes God or dupes his self alone, when he left practice to fates plea
he owns.
Meri aseeri peh shakh-e-gul ney yeh keh kay siyaad ko rolaya; keh aissey
porsoz naghmah khwan ka garan nah thha mojh peh ashiyanah. (Porsoz
naghmah khwan: Jiss kay naghmon mein soz ho. Garan: Bhari.)
The rose put the hunter in weeping trance, from such flamed poet I felt no load
hence.
*****(16)*****
Hajat naheen ay khitah-e-gul sharah-o-biyan ki; tasweer hamarey dil per
khon ki hai lalah. (Khitah-e-gul: Phholon ka alaqah.)
O land of flowers! No need to tell more, our hearts colour is poppy, full of gore.
Taqdir hai ekk naam mokafaat-e-amal ka; deytey hein yeh paigham khodayane-Hamalah. (Mokafaat-e-amal: Amal ka badlah. Khodayan-e-Hamalah:
Hamaliyah kay aaqa.)
We gave to fate a name for tit for tat, from Lord of Himala we heard this Pratt.
Sarma ki hawaon mein hai oriyan badan oss ka; deyta hai honar jiss ka
ameeron ko doshalah. (Oriyan: Nanga. Doshalah: Ooni chadar, kambal.)
In winds of winter, she is nude in form, whose skill gives the wealthy a cloak so
warm.
Ummeid nah rakhh doulat-e-dunya sey wafa ki; rum oss ki tabiyat mein hai
manind-e-ghazalah (hiran).
With the wealth of this world keep a faith not, like gazelle she runs and takes
fast trot.
*****(17)*****
791
Khod agahi ney sikhhla di hai jiss ko tun framoshi; haraam aaeyi hai oss marde-mojahid per zirah poshi.
Whom selfs ken taught to keep his being away, on that fighter banned the chain
armour way.
*****(18)*****
Aan azam-e-boland aawar, aan soz-e-jigar aawar; shamshir-e-pidar khwahi
bazooey pidar aawar.
[Agar tum apney baap ki talwar chahtey ho tuo apney baap ka sa mazboot
bazoo boland aradah aur hararat-e-jigar bhi piada karo.]
Get a higher will and a burning heart, if dads sword you wish get his arms art.
*****(19)*****
Gharib-e-shehar hon mien, sonn tuo ley meri faryaad; keh teyrey seinay mein
bhi hon qiyamatein abad.
To this poor man of town pay special heed, who craves great ferments for thy
bosoms feed.
Meri nawaey ghum aalood hai mataa-e-aziz; jahan mein aam naheen doulate-dil-e-nashaad. (Nawaey ghum aalood: Ghum sey bhari awaaz. Mataa-eaziz: Qimati doulat. Dil-e-nashaad: Ghum zadah dil.)
My woeful tone thus, a great wealth to soul, a woeful hearts wealth, not a
common dole.
Gillah hai mojh ko zamaney ki kor zouqi sey; samajhta hai meri mehnat ko
mehnat-e-Farhad. (Kor zouqi: Zouq ka andha-pun.)
I have a right grievance on worlds taste blind, who took my loves labour of
Farhads kind.
792
:
Sadaey taishah keh ber sung mi-khord digar ast; khabar bagir keh aawaz-etaishah-o-jigar ast.
[Woh awaaz jo hathorrey kay pathhar per parrney sey nikalti hai aur hai aur jo
jigar per parrney sey nikalti hai aur hai.]
(Yeh shear Mirza Jan-e-janan Mazhar Alih rehmat kay mashhoor biaz
Kharitah jawar mein hai.)
On stone the axe sound, totally apart! Listen! That was sound of axe and the
heart!
(Note the great depth of thought in this Persian couplet of Mirza Mazhar Jan
Janan of Delhi which Iqbal has quoted here. With this axe Farhad wanted to dig
a canal from a mountain of Persia to win his lady love who was a Princess of
that land. In that labour (of love) his whole blood of heart and soul is involved.)
At the end, three poems from Payam-e-Mashriq are reproduced; all of
which are translated by M. Hadi Husain.
SAKINAMA
Saqi Namah
Khosha rozgaarey khosha nau baharey; najoom peran rast az marghzarey.
[Kaya zamanah hai aur kaya mousam-e-bahaar; sabzah-zaar sey sitaron
jaisey phhool ogg rehey hein.]
O what a happy season this! O what a joyous time! The meadows are starspangled with fresh flowers in springs prime.
793
Napaichad nigah joz keh dar lalah-o-gul; naghaltad hawa joz keh ber
sabzah-zaarey.
[Jidhar nigah othhti hai, lalah-o-gul nazar aatey hein; jidhar hawa jaati hai
saamney sabzah-zaar phhaila hoa hai.]
Of roses and of tulips what a riot meets the eye! The breezes frolicsomely roll
on miles of greenery.
Labb-e-joo khod araeyi ghonchah deidi; chih zeba nigaarey chih aeinah
daarey.
[Nadi kay kinarey ghonchay ki khod-aaraeyi deikhhi? Kaya khoobsurat
mehboob hai aur oss kay saamney kaisa aeinah hai!]
Have you seen mirrored in the stream the self-admiring bud? What fascinating
beauty and what unabashed self-pride!
Chih shirin nawaey chih dilkash sadaey; keh mi-ayad az khalwat-eshakhsaarey.
[Shakhsaaron kay andar sey kaya meithhi nawaein aur kay dilkash sadaein aarehi hein.]
O what a mellifluous song, in what a lovely tune, from some bird hidden in a
tree, singing as if alone!
Beh tun jan bajan aarzoo zindah gardad; z-aawaey saarey z-bang-ehazarey.
[Saar ki aawaz aur bulbul ki sada sey badan kay andar jan aur jan kay andar
aarzoo zindah ho-gaeyi hai.]
794
The starling and the nightingale with song resuscitate the spirit in the body and
old longings in the spirit.
Nawa-haey morgh-e-boland ashiyaney; dar aamaikht ba naghmah-e-jooeybaarey.
[Morgh-e-boland aashiyan ki aawazein, nadi kay naghmon kay saathh humaahung hein.]
From high-perched nests up in the trees the songsters warblings seem to
cascade down and mingle with the babblings of the stream.
Tou goeyi keh Yazdan Bahisht-e-barein ra; nehaad ast dar daaman-ekohsaarey.
[Yuon nazar ata hai keh Allah Taala ney Bahisht-e-barein ko daman-e-kohsar
mein rakhh diya hai.]
You would think God had graciously sent down His Paradise and placed it at a
mountains foot for human ears and eyes.
Keh ta rehmatash adami zaadgan ra; raha saazad az mehnat-e-intizaarey.
[Yuon maaloom hota hai keh Oss ki rehmat ney Adam ki aulaad ko intizar (-eBahisht) ki kolfat sey bacha liya hai.]
To hear and see, in order to spare man the long suspense and agony of waiting
till hes ready to go hence.
Chih khwaham darein gulistan gar nakhwaham; sharabey, kitabey, rababey
nigarey.
[Iss gulistan mein iss kay sawaey aur kaya aarzoo ho sakti hai; keh sharab ho,
kitab ho, rabab ho. mehboob ho.]
What better things could I wish for in such a pleasure-garden than wine, a book,
a lute and ah! A fair companion?
795
Beh saghar farou raiz aabey keh jan ra; farozad cho noorey basozad cho
naarey.
[Meyrey saaghar mein woh sharab daal jo meyri jan ko noor ki tarah chamka
dey aur naar ki tarah jala dey.]
Come pour into my empty glass the stuff which has no name, which lights the
soul up like a lamp and burns it like a flame.
Shaqaiq baroyaan z-khak nazzandum; bahishtey farou chein beh mosht-eghobarey.
[Meyri khak-e-ghumgein sey gul-e-lalah ogaa; meyri mosht-e-ghobar sey
bahisht paida kar.]
I pray to you make tulips grow from my exhausted clay and build a paradise
from dust now mouldering away.
Nabeini keh az Kashghar ta beh Kashan; haman yakk nawa balad az her
diyarey.
[Kaya tou naheen deikhhta keh Kashghar sey Kashan takk; her shehar sey eik
he aawaz othh rehi hai.]
O dont you know that east and west, from Kashghar to Kashan, there is going
up one grand song replete with lifes elan?
Z-chashm ummam raikht aan ashk-naabey; keh taseer-e-oo gul damanad zkhaarey.
[Ummaton ki ankhh sey aisey ansoo beh rehey hein; ken onn ki taseer
kanton kay andar sey phhool khhila rehi hai.]
796
The peoples eye has shed at last that purest of all tears whose magic can
compel the rose to grow on prickly pears.
Kashiri keh ba bandagi kho gariftah; bottey mi-trashad z-sung-e-mazarey.
[Kashmiri jo ghulami ka aadi ho kar sung-e-mazar sey bott trashta hai.]
But oh! This poor Kashmiri who, in slavery born and bred, is busy carving idols
from the tombstones of the dead.
Zamirash tehi
sharamsarey.
az
khiyal-e-bolandey;
khodi
nashanasaey
z-khod
[Oss ka zamir afkaar-e-boland sey khali hai; woh khodi sey mehroom aur apney
aap sey khajal hai.]
His mind is blank and quite devoid of any higher thought; so ignorant of his
own self and by self-shame distraught!
Baraisham qaba khwajah az mehnat-e-oo; nasib-e-tunash jamah-e-tartarey.
[Oss ki mehnat kay natijah mein sarmayah-dar raishmi qaba pehnay hoay hai
magar Kashmiri kay badan per jamah tar tar hai.]
His master goes clad in fine silk, all woven with his sweat; but tatters, patches,
rags and shreds are all his bodys lot.
Nah dar deidah-e-oo farogh-e-nigahey; nah dar seinah-e-oo dil-e-biqararey.
[Nah oss ki ankhh mein baseerat ki chamak hai aur nay oss kay seinay mein
omangon bhara dil hai.]
There is not in his eye the light of vision that reveals, nor does there in his
bosom beat the living heart that feels.
Az aan maey fashan qatraheyi bar Kashiri; keh khakistrash aafrinad
shararey.
797
[(Saqi-e-mehvash!) Iss sharab ka eik qatrah Kashmiri per gira; ta-keh oss ki
raakhh sey sharar paida ho.]
Come pour a drop upon him of your soul-enkindling wine, and from his
smouldering ashes make a spark leap up and shine.
KASHMIR
Rakht beh Kashmer kosha koh-o-til-o-daman nigar; sabzah-e-jahan jahan
bein lalah chaman chaman nigar.
[Kashmir ka safar ikhtiyar kar aur paharr, teilay aur wadiyuan deikhh; her
taraf ooga hoa sabzah aur her chaman mein khhila hoa lalah deikhh.]
Repair to Kashmirs land and see hills, meadows, pastures, wealds. See miles on
miles of greenery and endless tulip-fields.
Baad-e-bahaar mouj mouj morgh-e-bahaar fouj fouj, salsal-osaar zouj zouj
ber sar-e-narvan nigar.
[Baad-e-bahaar ki moujein deikhh; taeraan-e-bahaar kay peray kay peray
deikhh; Naarvan kay drakht per qomriyuon aur faakhtaon kay jhond kay
jhond deikhh.]
Whiff after whiff spring breezes blow, and hosts of birds of spring the thrush,
the quail, the dove all go from place to place and sing.
Ta nafatad beh zeenatash chashm-e-sepeher fitnah baaz; bostah beh
chehrah-e-zamin borqa-e-nastran nigar.
[Deikhh! Zamin ney apna chehrah nastran kay borqa mein chhopa liya hai; takeh oss ki zeenat per aasman-e-fitnah baaz ki nazar nah parrey (ossey nazar
nah lug jaaey).]
To hide it from the jealous sky the earth veils its fair face behind a complex
tracery of shrubs that interlace.
798
Lalah z-khak ber dameid mouj beh aabjoo tapeid; khak-e-sharar sharar
babein aab-e-shikin shikin nigar.
[Deikhh khak sey gul-e-lalah othha (goya) khak kay andar shararey chamkay;
nadi kay andar mouj tarrpi, jiss sey paani per shiknein parr gaein.]
The tulips burst forth from the earth; the waves leap up in streams. Look at the
sparks the dust puts forth and the waves silver seams.
Zakhmah beh taar saaz zun baadah basaatgin baraiz; qaflah-e-bahaar ra
anjuman anjuman nigar.
[Mizraab sey taar-e-saaz chhairr, jaam mein sharab daal; deikhh, bahaar ka
qaflah her anjuman mein (derah daaley) hai.]
Come bring your lute and strike its strings, and fill your cup with wine, and let
there be gay gatherings to greet springs caravan.
Dokhtarkey Brahminey lalah rokhey saman barrey; chashm barooey oo
kosha baaz bakhwaishtan nigar.
[Lalah rokh aur seimein badan dokhtrak-e-Brahmin kay chehray ki taraf nazar
othha pher apney andar nigah daal.]
Look at that highborn Brahmin maid, lily-limbed, tulip-faced, look at her and
feel yourself fade into someone low-placed.
GHANI KASHMIRI
Ghani aan sakhongoey bulbul safir; nawa sunj-e-Kashmir-e-maino nazir.
[Ghani jo geet gaaney mein bulbul ki missal thha; jo jannat nazir Kashmir ka
shaer thha.]
That nightingale of poetry, Ghani, who sang in Kashmirs paradisal land;
799
Cho andar sara bood dar bostah daasht; cho raft az sara takhtah ra waa
gozaasht.
[Jabb woh ghhar kay andar hota tuo darwazah bund rakhhta; jabb ghhar sey
baaher jata tuo darwazah khhola chhorr jata.]
Used, while at home, to shut up all the doors, but leave them open while away
from home.
Yakkey goftash ay shaer-e-dil rassey; ajab darad az kaar-e-tou her kassey.
[Kissi ney oss sey kaha keh ay shaer-e-dil roba; teyrey iss kaam sey her koeyi
hairan hai.]
Somebody questioned him concerning this. O charming bard, he said, Why
do you do this strange thing, which nobody understands the meaning of?
Beh pasakh chih khosh goft mard-e-faqir; faqir-o-beh aqleem maani-e-amir.
[Oss mard-e-faqir ney kaya khoob jawab diya; woh jo zaaher mein faqir magar
sultanat-e-maani ka ameer thha.]
Ghani, who had no wealth except his gift of poetry, replied:
Z-mun aanchih deidand yaraan rawast; darein khanah joz mun mataaey
kojast.
[Jo kochh lougon ney mojhey kartey hoay deikhha hai woh seheih hai;
kiyuonkeh iss ghhar mein meyrey sawaey aur koeyi samaan naheen.]
What people see me doing is quite right. There is nothing of any value in my
house except myself.
Ghani ta nashinad beh kashanah-ush; mataaey garaney ast dar khanah-ush.
[Jabb takk Ghani apney ghhar mein baithha hota hai; wahan qimati samaan
moujood hota hai.]
When I am in, the house is to be guarded like a treasure-house.
800
Cho aan mehfil afroz dar khanah neist; tehi-ter azein haich kashanah neist.
[Jabb woh majlis-ara ghhar mein naheen hota; tuo makan bilkol khali reh jata
hai.]
When I am out, it is an empty place, which nobody would care to walk into.
1st October, 2013
BITING TO BARKING
The acceptance of Russian proposal in which Syria consented for
destruction of its chemical weapons under international supervision has made
United States European allies busy at least till August next year. The 19member OPCW team that arrived in Damascus faced a daunting task, as Syria is
understood to have more than 1,000 tonnes of the nerve agent sarin, mustard gas
and other banned arms at dozens of sites.
801
This has, however, put the United States at peace at least for the time being
which like a rabies-affected dog had been on biting spree since 9/11. Such sick
beasts are unlikely to recover, yet the treatment meted out by Putin has turned
the US from biting to barking mode at least for the time being.
In Syrian neighbourhood, Iraq kept suffering from terror attacks almost on
daily basis. Elsewhere, the Crusades against Muslims waged directly or through
proxy went on unabated. In Myanmar, Buddhist perpetrated death and
destruction in Muslim areas. In Bangladesh, the courts kept dispensing death
sentences to Islamists. Sisi performed similar task in Egypt.
NEWS
Far East
Myanmar: On 30th September, terrified Muslims hid in their homes in
northwest Myanmar after armed police dispersed a Buddhist mob that torched
houses and surrounded a mosque in the latest outbreak of sectarian tension. The
situation in the town of Thandwe was precarious after police restored order by
firing shots in the air to break up the mob late yesterday.
On 1st October, anti-Muslim riots shook western Myanmar with a mob of
hundreds setting homes ablaze and stabbing a 94-year-old woman to death, as
President Thein Sein made a rare visit to the region. Unrest began rippling
through rural areas near the town of Thandwe in the early morning, with a mob
of 800 ethnic Rakhine Buddhists from nearby villages descending on one
settlement.
They burned about 18 houses. Several more homes were burned in another
village, as security forces fired warning shots to disperse two opposing groups
of Buddhists and Muslims that had formed near the police station. Military
presence has been increased in the Thandwe area, which Thein Sein is due to
visit.
The International Crisis Group think-tank warned that unless there is an
effective government response and change in societal attitudes, the violence
could spread and jeopardize the countrys transition. ICGs Asia programme
director said: Those who are spreading messages of intolerance and hatred
must not go unchallenged. Otherwise, this issue could come to define the new
Myanmar, tarnishing its international image and threatening the success of its
transition away from decades of authoritarianism.
Next day, terrified women and children hid in forests and police patrolled
tense villages in western Myanmar, following sectarian clashes which left five
Muslims dead and prompted international alarm. Around 800 Buddhist rioters
swept through one village yesterday burning homes and attacking Muslims.
802
Four Buddhists were injured in the fighting and a fifth was missing, while 59
houses and a mosque have been torched.
On 3rd October, President Thein Sein met local residents and hoteliers in
the flashpoint town of Thandwe but did not venture into outlying villages,
before returning to the capital Naypyidaw. The Myanmar leader was on his first
visit to Rakhine since a wave of religious violence erupted there last year,
leaving dozens dead and tens of thousands homeless. Six people were arrested
after several days of tensions spilled into bloodshed in the western state of
Rakhine.
Bangladesh: On 17th September, the Supreme Court sentenced a senior
Islamist leader to death for mass murder, toughening the punishment originally
handed down by the countrys war crimes tribunal and sparking fresh violence.
Abdul Quader Molla, 65, the fourth-highest leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party,
had been given a life sentence by Bangladeshs International Crimes Tribunal.
Mollas life sentence had sparked protests and widespread riots and there
was fresh unrest as he was sentenced, with Jamaat supporters torching vehicles
in the southeastern port city of Chittagong. The protesters rioted, torching a
police van and a private car and police fired rubber bullets and tear gas. There
were also sporadic clashes in the capital Dhaka and several other cities and
towns.
Next day, one person was killed in Bangladesh as violent protests erupted
across the country after a court sentenced a senior Islamist leader to death for
mass murder. A rickshaw driver died after being hit with stones during a protest
in southern Bangladesh by supporters of the countrys largest Islamist party.
Elsewhere, brick-throwing demonstrators battled with police who retaliated
with rubber bullets and tear gas, officers said.
Protesters also threw small, home-made bombs at police in the capital
Dhaka and in the southwestern city of Khulna during small street rallies. Police
said security was tight in the capital with thousands of police and paramilitary
border guards patrolling the streets. Schools, shops and many offices were
closed on the first day of the 48-hour strike.
On 19th September, police opened fire on opposition activists, killing one
Jamaat activist, on the second day of a nationwide strike over the death sentence
given to a senior Islamist leader for mass murder. The shooting occurred in the
western town of Mujibnagar where 1,200 stick-wielding supporters of the
countrys largest Islamist party were blocking a motorway during protests over
sentence. At least 10 people were also injured, five protesters and five officers.
On 1st October, a court sentenced to death a top opposition MP for
genocide, the first lawmaker to be convicted of war crimes during the 1971 war
of independence. Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a leader of the main opposition
803
Mainland Asia
Russia: On 16th September, a suicide bomber driving a car full of
explosives killed three policemen in Russia's Chechnya region as he tried to ram
his car into a police station. The driver tried to speed into a police station in the
town of Sernovodsk, 30 miles west of capital of Groznyy, but was prevented
from doing so when guard raised barriers, at which point the bomber set off his
explosives.
On 23rd September, a suicide bomber killed two people and injured around
20 outside a police station in Russias North Caucasus region of Dagestan. The
regional Interior Ministry spokesman said six police officers were injured, one
of whom was in critical condition.
On 3rd October, the European Court of Human Rights ordered Russia to pay
1.2 million euros ($1.6 million) to the families of 18 people killed when it
bombed a Chechen village in 2000. The court ruled in favour of 13 residents of
Aslanbek-Sheripovo, a village in the southern Russian republic which has
fought two brutal separatist wars with Russia since 1994.
Middle East
804
Iraq: On 15th September, attacks across Iraq, including more than a dozen
car bombs, killed at least 46 people while the head of Baghdads provincial
council escaped an assassination attempt on his convoy. Militants struck in more
than a dozen towns and cities, with at least 17 car bombs, which also wounded
more than people. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the
violence.
The deadliest violence was in and around the city of Hilla, the
predominantly Shiite capital of Babil, where four car bombs killed 19 people. In
Baghdad, a car bomb hit the convoy of Riyadh al-Adhadh, chief of the
provincial council and a Sunni lawmaker from the party of the national
parliament speaker. Adhadh was unharmed but two others, including one of his
bodyguards, were killed and four people were wounded.
Another car bombing at a market on the outskirts of the southern port city
of Basra killed three people and wounded 15 others. Attacks in Yusifiyah,
Karbala, Nasiriyah, Kut, Suweirah and Hafriyah left nine people dead, while
shootings and bombings in and around the northern and western cities of Abu
Ghraib, Baquba, Sharqat, Kirkuk and Mosul killed 10 more.
On 20th September, two bombs tore through worshippers gathering for
prayers at a mosque in Iraq, killing 18 people. The bombs, which hit the Musab
bin Omair mosque near Samarra, also wounded 21 people. The blasts came a
day after the bodies of 10 young men who had been shot dead were found in
Baghdad.
Elsewhere in the country, mortar rounds killed a young girl west of
Samarra and wounded two members of her family. And gunmen kidnapped and
killed a soldier in the northern province of Kirkuk, while a roadside bomb north
of the city of Baquba killed one person and wounded three.
Next day, bombs targeting Shiite mourners in Baghdad killed at least 57
people, as another 12 people, among them 10 security forces members, died
elsewhere in Iraq. In the deadliest incident, two bombings struck near a funeral
tent in Sadr City, a Shiite area of north Baghdad, in which 120 people were
wounded.
Ten Iraqi security forces members died in other attacks. Five suicide
bombers wearing SWAT uniforms attacked a police base in Baiji in the morning,
while most of its forces were out on a mission, killing four police. Police killed
one of the bombers, who were on foot, but the others managed to detonate their
explosives inside the base.
In the northern province of Nineveh, gunmen killed two prison guards, a
soldier and one of the governors guards, while a roadside bomb killed two
more soldiers. In Kirkuk Province, gunmen kidnapped a local official, who was
later found dead.
805
806
807
808
809
810
complete control of Azaz. They are in control of the towns entrances, said Abu
Ahmad, an activist inside the town.
While Assad pursued his media counterattack, the five UN Security
Council powers held new talks on a resolution backing the Russia-US plan to
destroy the chemical weapons. Western nations, which said they are not looking
for an immediate threat of force against Assad, could seek a Security Council
vote this weekend if Russia agrees.
Next day, Syria began supplying details of its chemical arsenal; the Haguebased group tasked with dismantling the arms said it has received an initial
report. Damascus had to supply details of its arsenal, in line with a US-Russian
plan that helped prevent military action on regime targets. Meanwhile, the
Security Councils five permanent members wrangled over the text of the
resolution in a bid to find common ground.
Syrian rebels agreed a truce with the fighters belong to Qaeda factions after
clashes for a key border town, as a senior official said Damascus wanted a
ceasefire in Syrias wider conflict. After the latest round of a war-within-a-war
between foes of the Syrian regime, the opposition National Coalition accused
al-Qaeda front group the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) of violating
the principles of the revolution.
The rival groups also undertook to free detainees captured in the fighting
and to immediately return any looted goods. Any future problems would be put
to an arbitration committee. Tensions had spiraled between some mainstream
rebel groups and ISIS in recent months, especially in northern Syria, where the
opposition controls vast swathes of territory. The deployment of jihadists on the
battlefield has deterred Western governments from providing the rebels with
more than non-lethal assistance for fear that any weapons supplied might fall
into the hands of extremists.
On 23rd September, Syrian President accused foreign nations of giving
orders to terrorists battling his government's forces in an interview with
China's state CCTV broadcast. He spoke as UN Security Council members were
negotiating a resolution on how to respond if Syria fails to fulfill an
international deal to eliminate its chemical weapons arsenal.
Assad acknowledged the chemical weapons arsenal was big, and said it
was manufactured in the 1980s and 1990s to counter Israel. Meanwhile, Russian
President Putin called any possible foreign military intervention against Syria a
form of aggression that would rattle the entire region and contravene
international law.
Next day, UN Secretary-General appealed to major powers to stop sending
weapons to all sides in Syria, as he opened the annual General Assembly
811
summit. I appeal to all states to stop fueling the bloodshed and to end the arms
flows to all parties, Ban told world leaders.
The UN chief also called on Syrian President and the opposition and all
those I this hall with influence over them to work immediately to arrange a
second Geneva conference aimed at reaching a political solution. Military
victory is an illusion. The only answer is a political settlement, he said.
The United States and its Security Council allies Britain and France blame
Assads forces for the attack. Russia has said there is evidence indicating rebels
were behind other alleged chemical attacks in Syria. It has called for
investigation of all such claims and the consideration of more sources of
evidence about the August 21 attack.
President Obama called on the Security Council to pass a strong
resolution that would impose consequences on Syria if it fails to turn over its
chemical weapons. The American threat of military action against Syria, Obama
said, had set in motion diplomatic efforts with Russia to take over and
eventually destroy Syrian weapons.
On 25th September, UN inspectors returned to Syria to pursue a probe into
alleged poison gas attacks, as Russia and the West wrangled over how to
eliminate President Bashar al-Assads banned chemical weapons. Inspectors are
expected to examine the alleged use of chemical weapons some 14 times.
Further complicating the situation for the international community, 13 key
Syrian Islamist groups said they did not recognize any foreign-based opposition
group, including the main Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition. The groups
include members of the main rebel Free Syrian Army and more radical Islamists
such as the al-Qaeda-affiliated Al-Nusra Front.
More than 100 senior officers of the Free Syrian Army have signed a
petition urging a boycott of any peace conference on their country if Iran is
involved. The statement condemned once more the criminal regime of Assad
and any conference which will open any path other than the toppling of the
regime. It accused Tehran of being a serious part of the problem.
Ban Ki-moon pressed the major powers to overcome differences on the
Syria war amid troubled talks on a UN Security Council resolution on Syrias
chemical arms. Ban hosted a lunch with the foreign ministers of the United
States, Russia, China, Britain and France to put across his message.
Next day, Syrian President said in an interview that he is committed to a
deal to hand over chemical weapons. He saw no obstacles to a plan under
which Damascus will relinquish its chemical arms. On the ground, an Iraqi
woman was killed when a mortar round hit the Iraqi consulate in Damascus.
812
At the UN, where the General Assembly, nations pledged new aid to deal
with the fallout from the 30-month conflict. Britain pledged an extra 100
million pounds ($160 million) to the humanitarian effort, a day after
Washington announced $340 million in humanitarian aid for Syrians, bringing
its contribution to $1.3 billion.
On 28th September, the UN Security Council unanimously passed a
resolution ordering the destruction of Syrias chemical weapons and
condemning a murderous poison gas attack in Damascus. The major powers
overcame a prolonged deadlock to approve the first council resolution on the
conflict. UN leader Ban Ki-moon, who called the resolution the first hopeful
news on Syria in a long time, said he hopes to convene a peace conference in
mid-November.
The plan calls for Syrias estimated 1,000 tonnes of chemical weapons to
be put under international control by mid-2014. International experts are
expected to start work in Syria to meet the tight deadline next week. Britain and
China offered to finance to the disarmament operation. Should the regime fail
to act, there will be consequences, John Kerry warned the 15-member council
after the vote sealing a US-Russian agreement.
Russia, Assads main ally, has rejected any suggestion of sanctions or
military force against Assad. It has already used its veto power as a permanent
Security Council member to block three Western-drafted resolutions on Syria.
Russian Foreign said that the council would take actions which are
commensurate with the violations, which will have to be proven 100 percent.
The resolution also applies to the Syrian opposition, Lavrov said.
The UN Charter can authorize the use of sanctions or military force, but
new action would require a new vote, said Russia would likely oppose any use
of force against its ally. Russia also rebuffed calls by Britain and France for the
Ghouta attack to be referred to the International Criminal Court.
The EU would provide forceful support in the case of non-compliance,
Ashton said in a statement. Meanwhile in Syria, a car bomb north of Damascus
detonated, killing at least 30 people. Eleven more deaths were reported in a
government air raid, highlighting the continued slaughter in Syrias longrunning civil war.
Next day, in the latest violence, an air raid hit a high school in the northern
rebel-held city of Raqa killing 16 people, including 10 students, as troops
battled rebels on several fronts. Video footage posted online by the Syrian
Observatory for Human Rights showed carnage at the high school bombed in
Raqa, including mangled bodies, one lying under schoolbooks. Its authenticity
could not immediately be verified.
813
Raqa, the only provincial capital in rebel hands, was captured from
government forces in March and is now largely controlled by al-Qaeda loyalists
of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. It lies in the Euphrates valley 160
kilometres east of the Aleppo. The air strike came after rebels overnight
attacked army positions in Nasseriya al-Qalamun north of Damascus, killing at
least 19 soldiers and wounding 60.
Rebels also seized a swathe of land linking the southern Daraa province to
the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights after four days of fierce fighting which left
26 regime soldiers and several rebels dead. Jordan protested to Syria that a shell
from the fighting fell on its northern town of Ramtha.
Syria will comply with a UN resolution to destroy its chemical arsenal,
President Bashar al-Assad said, as weapons experts prepared to head to
Damascus to begin the task. The operation to destroy Syrias chemical arsenal,
which Ban has called daunting, will be one of the biggest and most dangerous
of its kind.
Meanwhile, the bodies of 14 pro-regime militiamen killed in Zamalka east
of Damascus were transported to their native city of Homs. The army said it
killed a large number of rebels in Nashabiyeh, north of the capital. The
Observatory updated its toll to 34 for a Friday car bombing at a mosque in
Rankus north of the capital. Among the casualties were four children, it said.
On 1st October, a disarmament team arrived in Damascus to begin the task
of cataloguing the countrys arsenal of chemical weapons ahead of its
destruction. The inspectors from The Hague-based Organization traveled by
road from Lebanon. The arsenal is believed to include more than 1,000 tonnes
of sarin, mustard gas and other banned chemicals stored at an estimated 45 sites.
Meanwhile, a patriotic Russian group called for President Vladimir Putin to
be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his Syria diplomacy, claiming he was
more deserving of the award than laureate US President Obama. A group that
lists senior Russian officials among its members announced at a news
conference that it had written to the Nobel Prize committee backing Putin for
the prize.
Next day, the UN Security Council called on the Syrian government to give
unhindered access to hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped in the
countrys conflict. A statement drawn up by Australia and Luxembourg, which
includes a call for cross-border humanitarian operations, is the councils second
major united decision on the war in less than a week.
UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos has been pressing the Security
Council for several months to act on the growing crisis. Amos said after the
statement was agreed that it meant more effective work could be done but that
humanitarian workers in Syria have to be protected.
814
Africa
Nigeria: On 18th September, it was reported that a military strike on a Boko
Haram camp in Nigerias restive northeast last week left about 150 Islamists and
16 soldiers dead. The armys claim of a major offensive against the Islamist
insurgents on September 12 came after local media reported that Boko Haram
had ambushed a group of soldiers in the same area, killing 40 and leaving
dozens of others missing.
On 20th September, Nigeria's military sent reinforcements to northeastern
town of Benisheik after Boko Haram activists stormed the area, burnt dozens of
homes and slaughtered at least 87 people. The insurgents came disguised in
military uniforms during the attack two days ago. They set up roadblocks and
816
opened fire on scores of motorists and travelers who had tried to pass through,
leaving some corpses scattered on the roadside after the assault.
Speaking to AFP, army spokesman said the police were overwhelmed by
the attack, but did not comment on reports that military personnel ran out of
ammunition and were forced to abandon Benisheik as the insurgents attacked.
The military has insisted that a four-month-old offensive in the northeast has put
Boko Haram in disarray, but the recent spate of violence suggests otherwise.
On 29th September, Boko Haram gunmen opened fire in a college
dormitory in northeast Nigeria as the students slept, killing at least 40 people.
All of the dead were said to have been students of the College of Agriculture in
the town of Gujba, 30 kilometres from Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state.
Yobe has seen a spate of attacks on schools and universities, all blamed on Boko
Haram.
The defence ministry has said that an offensive launched against Boko
Haram in mid-May has decimated the group and scattered their fighters across
remote parts of the northeast, the insurgents traditional stronghold. While many
of the recent attacks have occurred in more remote areas, often targeting
defenceless civilians, unchecked killing has cast doubt on the success of
militarys campaign.
Tunisia: On 28th September, Islamist-led government agreed to resign after
negotiations that could start next week with secular opponents to form a
caretaker administration and prepare for new elections. The talks aim to end
weeks of crisis involving the Islamist-led coalition government and secular
opposition parties that threatened to derail Tunisias transition to democracy.
Tunisias powerful UGTT labour union, mediating between the two sides,
proposed the ruling Islamist Ennahda party agree to three weeks of negotiations,
after which it would step down and make way for an independent transitional
administration and set a date for parliamentary and presidential elections.
The dialogue will start on Monday or Tuesday, Lotfi Zitoun, an Ennahda
party official, said. Ennahda has accepted the plan without conditions to get the
country out of the political crisis. The UGTT confirmed the agreement and
called on both sides to set a time to begin talks next week.
On 5th October, Tunisias political rivals agreed on a timetable for Islamistled ruling coalition to quit and be replaced by a government of independents,
aiming to end a festering political crisis. The Islamist Ennahda party and
opposition groups in the country that gave birth to the Arab Spring signed a
roadmap aimed at creating a new government within three weeks.
Libya: On 19th September, Moamer Gaddafis son made a rare court
appearance in a case highlighting the post-rebellion wrangle between Libyas
regional authorities and the Tripoli government. Seif al-Islam Gaddafi stood
817
briefly in the dock before a judge adjourned his case in the western town of
Zintan, where he has been in the custody of ex-rebels since his capture.
Former rebels in control of the town had refused to hand him over to attend
a simultaneous pre-trial hearing before judicial authorities in the capital Tripoli.
Prosecutor general said he had ordered Seifs transfer to Tripoli to face charges
there, the latest of several attempts to negotiate his transfer to the control of the
state authorities. Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
have both urged the immediate handover of Seif al-Islam and ex-intelligence
chief Abdullah Senussi to the International Criminal Court to face war crimes
charges, despite Tripolis insistence on trying him first.
On 3rd October, two assailants were killed when protesters attacked
Russias embassy in Tripoli, while denying Moscows claims that it had
evacuated the embassy on his request. Foreign Minister Mohamed Abdelaziz
had urged embassy staff not to spend the night in the compound for fear of a
second attack.
Moscow summoned a Libyan diplomat over the unrest, and Russian
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke by phone to Abdelaziz, demanding that
Tripoli guarantee the protection of Russian nationals and embassy property.
Earlier all embassy staff and their family members crossed safely into Tunis.
On 5th October, gunmen killed at least 12-15 Libyan soldiers in an attack on
a checkpoint near the city of Bani Walid, a former stronghold of supporters of
Muammar Gaddafi. The ambush was carried out on the road between Bani
Walid and the town of Tarhouna, where the army had a checkpoint.
Egypt: On 17th September, an Egyptian court ordered the freezing of assets
of senior leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood as part of a crackdown on Islamists
by the army-backed authorities. Among those facing sanctions are Brotherhood
general guide Mohammed Badie, his two deputies Khairat al-Shater and Rashad
Bayoumi, as well as Salafist leader Hazem Abu Ismail and preacher Safwat
Higazi. The five are currently detained, accused of inciting the murder of
protesters opposed to Mohamed Morsi.
Around 15 Islamist politicians have already had their assets frozen as part
of the crackdown that has fractured the organizational structure of the
Brotherhood. Meanwhile, Egypts army-backed authorities arrested the
spokesman of the Muslim Brotherhood, the latest member of the Islamist
organization to be jailed since a July 3 coup.
On 19th September, a police general was killed when Egyptian security
forces stormed a village on the outskirts of Cairo in the latest crackdown on the
pro-Morsi activists. Military and police vehicles surrounded Kerdassah in the
shadow of the Giza pyramids after dawn, as police Special Forces deployed to
818
confront terrorists in the village. Giza security chief Nabil Farrag was killed in
clashes as 65 people were arrested in the operation.
Operation came days after a similar raid on the central Egyptian town of
Delga in Minya Province, which was held by hardline Islamists for more than a
month. Since the Islamists takeover there, three churches were torched, dozens
of Christian homes burned and two Copts killed, said rights groups.
On 20th September, security forces hunted down militants in a village near
Cairo amid a lull in clashes with gunmen, as Egyptian state media praised the
liberation of Islamist bastion Kerdassah. A police general was shot dead when
security forces stormed the village near the Giza pyramids yesterday in the
latest crackdown on Islamist supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
On 23rd September, an Egyptian court banned the Muslim Brotherhood
from operating and ordered its assets seized. The court also banned any
institution branching out from or belonging to the Brotherhood, possibly
restricting the movement's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party. The
ruling ratchets up an intensifying crackdown on the Brotherhood.
The court ruled that a government committee should be created to manage
the Brotherhood's seized assets. The ruling may be appealed and overturned by
a higher court. The Brotherhood slammed the ban, saying it was part of a
sustained campaign against the movement. The junta is trying to silence
anyone who opposes them. Dissolution verdict is politically motivated and part
of a continuous crackdown, it said.
On 25th September, security forces shut down the headquarters of the
Muslim Brotherhood newspaper in Cairo after raiding it and confiscating
material. Raid on Al-Hurriya Wal Adalas offices came a day after a Cairo court
banned the Brotherhood and ordered its assets seized, delivering a vital blow to
the movement of deposed president Mohamed Morsi.
On 4th October, five people were killed in clashes as supporters of
Mohamed Mursi took to the streets of Cairo and other cities to demand the end
of army-backed rule. The marches were the most ambitious attempt by the
Muslim Brotherhood to press its demands since August 14. Four people were
shot dead in clashes in the southern city of Assuit.
Thousands of protesters headed toward the site of a former Brotherhood
protest camp in northeast Cairo which was crushed by security forces in August.
By late afternoon, protesters had retreated from the area. Fighting also erupted
in Egypts second city of Alexandria and two Nile Delta cities.
Two Egyptian soldiers were killed by masked gunmen in a drive-by
shooting morning on a road near the Suez Canal city of Ismailia. Fears are
growing that an Islamist insurgency will take hold beyond the Sinai, which
819
borders Israel and the Gaza Strip. A Sinai-based group claimed responsibility
for a failed suicide bombing attack on the interior minister in Cairo last month.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton held talks in Cairo
with top government officials, Sisi, and two Brotherhood politicians and urged
both sides to pursue reconciliation. There was no sign either side was prepared
to heed her call.
Sudan: On 26th September, fresh rioting erupted in Sudan as protests
sparked by a government decision to scrap fuel subsidies raged into a fourth day
and medics reported an overall toll of 29 people killed. Rioting erupted in the
Inqaz district south of Khartoum where some 3,000 people marched on the main
road, burned tyres and hurled stones at passing cars. Police responded with tear
gas and rubber bullets.
Protesters tried to torch a tourism ministry building in southern Khartoum.
Khartoum governor warned on state television overnight that the government
will strike with an iron fist against those who damage public property.
Outlaws were blamed for being behind the violence.
Oil prices at the pump have shot up to 20.80 Sudanese pounds ($4.71) a
gallon from 12.50 pounds ($2.83), and diesel has risen from 8.50 pounds a
gallon to 13.90 pounds. Khartoum lost billions of dollars in oil receipts when
South Sudan gained independence two years ago, taking with it about 75
percent of the formerly united countrys crude production.
Next day, Sudanese poured into the streets after Friday prayers on fifth day
of demonstrations against fuel price hikes that have seen dozens shot dead and
calls for the governments overthrow. The price hikes have sparked the largest
protests of Omar al-Bashirs 24-year rule, as young activists have invoked
chants from the Arab Spring to call for the presidents downfall and security
forces have been accused of gunning down more than 50 people.
On 28th September, demonstrators called President Omar al-Bashir a
killer, the sixth day of protests sparked by fuel price hikes in a nation already
burdened by economic pain and war. Protest occurred after thousands of
mourners walked through the streets of the wealthy Mansheeya neighbourhood
escorting an ambulance carrying Mudathirs body. Mudathir, a pharmacologist,
belonged to a family that is prominent in business and politics. He was killed by
a bullet to the heart while he demonstrated.
Somalia: On 21st September, masked gunmen stormed a packed up-market
shopping mall in Nairobi, killing 30 people and wounding dozens more in a
massacre claimed by Somalia's al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels. The rebels said
the carnage was in direct retaliation for Kenya's military intervention in
Somalia, where African Union troops are battling the Islamists.
820
The Mujahideen entered Westgate Mall today at around noon and are still
inside the mall, fighting the Kenyan Kuffar (infidels) inside their own turf, the
group said on Twitter. Security forces claimed: The attackers numbering
around 10 have been isolated and are pinned down in an area on one of the
floors. The rest of the mall seems to be secure.
Shebab on numerous occasions warned the Kenyan government that failure
to remove its forces from Somalia would have severe consequences. The
Kenyan government, however, turned a deaf ear to our repeated warnings and
continued to massacre innocent Muslims in Somalia Shebab said on Twitter.
The mall is popular with the large expatriate community living in the
residential neighbourhoods around it, including with foreign staff from the
United Nations, which has its third largest global centre nearby. Security
agencies have regularly included the Westgate shopping centre on lists of sites
they feared could be targeted by al-Qaeda-linked groups.
Next day, Kenyan troops backed by Israeli agents battled to end a siege in
an up-market shopping mall and free hostages held by Somali militants in an
attack that has killed at least 59 people. Sporadic gunfire rang out as Kenyan
security officials said they were trying to kill or capture the remaining attackers
and end the 28-hour-long bloodbath at the Westgate mall.
The Israeli foreign ministry refused to confirm or deny its forces were
involved. Somalias al-Qaeda-inspired Shebab rebels said the carnage at the part
Israeli-owned complex was in retaliation for Kenyas military intervention in
Somalia. Interior Minister said there were still between 10 to 15 gunmen in the
sprawling multi-storey complex but it was not clear how many people were still
being held.
Among the dead were three Britons, two French citizens, two Canadians
including a diplomat, a Chinese woman, two Indians and a South Korean. Also
killed was Ghanaian poet and former UN envoy Kofi Awoonor, 78, while his
son was injured. The attack, the worst in Nairobi since an Al-Qaeda bombing at
the US embassy killed more than 200 people in 1998, was condemned by world
powers and the United Nations.
Kenyan police, troops and Special Forces then moved in and went shop-toshop. Foreign security agents from Israel as well as the United States and
Britain were also seen at the complex throughout the drama. A reporter said
she saw at least 20 people rescued from a toy shop, some of them were children
taken away on stretchers.
On 23rd September, Kenyan security forces battled with Somali gunmen
inside Nairobi shopping mall as huge explosions and a barrage of heavy gunfire
echoed out of the complex. Thick black smoke billowed for several hours from
the Westgate mall as Kenyan officials said the more than two-day-long siege
821
in which the gunmen have massacred at least 62 people and taken dozens more
hostages was close to being resolved.
The Kenyan Red Cross, which lowered an earlier toll after correcting for
double-counting, said at least 63 people were recorded missing, thought to
include hostages as well as those possibly killed or still hiding. Around 200
people were wounded. Two gunmen were also killed in the fighting.
Kenyan army chief Julius Karangi said the gunmen were of different
nationalities. Many foreign fighters, including Somalis with dual nationalities,
are members of the Shebab force. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta vowed that
the attackers will not get away with their despicable and beastly acts.
Israeli interests in Kenya have come under attack before, and the Westgate
mall popular with well-to-do Kenyans, diplomats, UN workers and other
expatriates has long been seen as a potential target. World powers condemned
the chilling attack. US President called Kenyatta offering support to bring the
perpetrators of the attack to justice.
Next day, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that a four-day
siege by Islamist gunmen of a Nairobi shopping mall was over, with the
immense loss of 61 civilians and six members of the security forces. We have
ashamed and defeated our attackers, that part of our task is completed,
Kenyatta said and announced three days of national mourning.
On 4th October, four Kenyans were killed during riots in port city of
Mombasa in protests sparked by the killing of a Muslim cleric. Riots broke out
after unknown gunmen assassinated a popular Muslim preacher and his three
companions in a drive-by shooting late yesterday. Slain cleric Sheikh Ibrahim
Ismail was viewed as the successor to Aboud Rogo Mohammed, who was
accused of links to Somalia's Shebab insurgents.
Kenya's national crisis centre said three people died of stab wounds, adding
to a man killed by gunfire earlier in the day and seven more people were
wounded. A Salvation Army church was torched, but firemen later brought the
blaze under control. One person was shot dead as paramilitary police moved
towards a mosque.
Next day, foreign Special Forces staged a nighttime sea and air attack on a
key base of Somalias al-Qaeda-linked Shebab. Islamist commanders in the
southern Somali port of Barawe said commandos presumed to be from a
Western nation rappelled from a helicopter as they tried to storm a house
belonging to a senior Shebab commander. The assault came two weeks after
Shebab gunmen attacked Kenyas Westgate shopping mall, killing 67 people in
a four-day siege.
The enemy of Allah tried to surprise the mujahedeen commanders with a
night attack using a military helicopter, but they were taught a lesson and they
822
have failed, the Shebab commander in the seaside town told AFP. Our
mujahedeen fighters inside the house fought back and the cowards ran away,
he added.
Shebab spokesman Abdulaziz Abu Musab said attackers also stormed the
beach by boat. The bungled operation was carried out by white people, who
came with two small boats from a larger ship out at sea...one Shebab guard was
killed, but reinforcements soon came and the foreigners fled, he said.
In January, elite French forces staged an overnight operation involving
some 50 troops and at least five helicopters in southern Somalia in a failed bid
to rescue a captured intelligence officer held by Shebab forces. Last year, US
Navy SEALs flying at least six military helicopters swooped into northern
Somalia to rescue two aid workers held by pirates. US drones are reported to
regularly fly over Somalia, carrying out occasional missile strikes.
824
VIEWS
Bangladesh
A travesty of justice in Bangladesh: It was a feat unprecedented in the
history of the judiciary in Bangladesh that a prisoner sentenced to death during
an appeal to the highest court was then stripped of his right to appeal the very
same sentence. But defying logic and all manner of common sense, the
country's Supreme Court on Wednesday increased the sentence on Abdul
Quader Mollah, a senior member of the biggest Islamic party in the country, the
Jamaat-e-Islami, to the death penalty for allegedly committing crimes against
humanity during the 1971 war.
The Bangladeshi International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) (dubbed
international but in fact a domestic court) had sentenced the veteran politician
to life imprisonment on February 5, 2013, for crimes against humanity.
Following due course of the law, both the defence and prosecution
appealed that sentence to the Supreme Court. The appellate division dismissed
appeals from Mollah's lawyers against his conviction on five counts of crimes
against humanity, and in an unusual move increased the punishment to the death
penalty in line with the prosecution's appeal.
Mollah's lawyer Abdur Razzak said the defence would file a petition for a
review, but Attorney General Mahbube Alam said a review was not an option
under the constitution. This decision over which the accused now has no
further right of appeal or review is in clear breach of international law,
Mollah's international legal team said in a statement
Coupled with the glaring flaws in the trial of Abdul Quader Mollah and the
other accused at the ICT trials, and the fact that the almost all defendants are
members of the opposition parties Jamaat and Bangladesh Nationalist Party
825
(BNP), the conviction that the trials are politically motivated is only bound to
get stronger
The law as it stood at the time of conviction did not permit any prosecution
appeal for a higher sentence. In an unprecedented move, the ruling party made
the move to amend the associated law to allow the prosecution to appeal.
The amendment was passed following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's
remarkable statement in parliament, as a result of mass demonstrations on the
streets of Dhaka that the tribunal judges should listen to the sentiment of the
people.
As experts noted in regard to the final judgment, the appellate division
focused on building on previous convictions, as the court upheld unanimously
that his acquittal on one charge (charge No. 4) should be reversed and should
stand as a conviction, and most significantly that, by a majority, the sentence on
charge No. 6 (the murder of a family), should be changed from life
imprisonment to the death penalty
Abbas Faiz, Amnesty International's Bangladesh Researcher, was telling in
his concern when he said, This is the first known case of a prisoner sentenced
to death directly by the highest court in Bangladesh. It is also the first known
death sentence in Bangladesh with no right of appeal.
Amnesty International's concerns are genuine. The imposition of the death
sentence without the possibility of appeal is incompatible with Bangladesh's
obligations under international human rights law. Not only does such a sentence
defy human rights laws, but it also needs to be taken into cognizance that one
human rights violation does not cancel out another.
The grounds for conviction of such nature were weak from the very
moment clear evidence emerged of the government meddling in the matters of
the tribunal back in 2012. In retrospect, few can turn back and say they
witnessed a fair trial. Few can say that they witnessed anything more than a
political vendetta. (Mohannad Hossain for Asia Times Online, republished in
TheNation 21st September)
Syria
An anchorless world: The United States, through its secretary of state
and president respectively, promises an unbelievably small military response
to the gassing of hundreds of Syrian children by President Bashar Al Assad,
then vows that the United States military doesnt do pinpricks, and then backs
away. Britain abandons its closest ally at crunch time.
The European Union is divided, Germany silent, France left dangling, and
NATO an absentee. If there are other pillars of the trans-Atlantic alliance, do let
me know.
826
827
global security, and then declares America is not the worlds policeman the
sight of all this has marked a moment when America signaled an inward turn
that leaves the world anchorless (Roger Cohen for Khaleej Times,
republished in TheNation 18th September)
Tackling chemical weapons in Syria: Getting rid of chemical weapons in
conflict ridden Syria will be a complex undertaking, with the devil in the
details. The political, legal, technical and financial aspects have to be put in the
frame. Issues of access, safety, accounting and destruction will pose major
problems for the OPCW inspectors. Negotiations in the Security Council and
President Assads latest interview to an American TV network stating that at
least one year will be needed for the destruction of stocks and asking for the
probable billion dollars required for that purpose bear this out.
The upside is that hopefully a deterrent is put in place to spare the Syrian
people of at least further such atrocities. The logic of starting a war to end
another may be further eroded and more reliance given to resolving issues by
dialogue. A principled position held by a number of countries including Pakistan
which is presently playing its traditional active and responsible role in the
Security Council as a non Permanent Member for its seventh such term. It
would be optimistic to think a WMD free Middle East zone is any closer, but
the two remaining CWC holdouts in the region, Israel and Egypt would now be
under pressure to become parties and have less reason not to do so with Syria
out of the chemical weapons equation. (Tariq Osman Hyder, TheNation 21 st
September)
A dialogue that worked: When it appeared that there might be an attack
from the West before the United Nations inspectors could finish their job, Putin
took matters into his own hands by publishing an opinion piece in The New
York Times where he called into question the views of Obama and urged the
American people to support a diplomatic solution.
At the end of a tension-filled week, it was the power of dialogue that won
out of the power of Western military might. Assads government agreed to give
up its chemical weapons stockpiles voluntarily rather than by force. This
represents a monumental victory for peace through dialogue, but only time will
tell if this tactic will be truly successful.
The Syrians have promised to disclose all of their chemical weapons
facilities and surrender the weapons to the UN by mid-2014, but no one knows
if the Assad regime will follow through.
Though the situation in Syria is still tense, UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki
Moon and his team, Obama and Putin can rest knowing they used dialogue and
diplomacy to prevent the possibility of yet another US-Russian proxy war in
arguably the most dangerous part of this planet. (Frank-Jurgen Richter for
Khaleej Times, republished in TheNation 3rd October)
828
Russian-made weapons are also killing innocent civilians and thus breed more
jihadis.
While the Kremlin has long decided on its goals, the White House has so
far demonstrated only two aims: It wants to see Bashar go and is reluctant to
become involved militarily. Sensing this, Russia has sought to engage the US on
Syrias chemical disarmament and a wider political settlement of the crisis.
These are less about Syria than about achieving Putins most far-reaching, even
improbable goal in foreign affairs: Restoring equality to the US-Russia
relationship.
The US is unlikely to accept Moscow as a peer, but Russia will not settle
for less, making even US-Russia cooperation a hard-fought act. Today, Syria is
a mere playground in this bigger game. (Dmitri Trenin for Gulf News,
republished in TheNation 5th October)
Counterproductive silence: Lodging their dissatisfaction with an
apparent setback on policies regarding Syria among other countries, Saudi
Arabia canceled a turn to speak at the United Nations General Assembly
meeting. While refusing to submit a written statement for the meeting, Saudi
officials claimed that the decision to opt out was mainly motivated by a desire
to protest what they deemed as international inaction toward the situation in
Syria. Additionally, Saudi ire was also inspired by the lack of progress in the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict, something that has been ignored recently at the U.N.
because of the stir created by Syria.
In essence, the Saudi decision to remain absent from this global forum is
unhelpful as they limit themselves to an empty symbolical gesture of
dissatisfaction.
Where Palestine would have benefited from every additional voice raised
in favour of its full-member status at the UN, the politics of boycott adopted by
Saudi Arabia is entirely at odds with the expressed desire to see action on issues
concerning Muslim states. In the case of Palestine, the Organization of the
Islamic Conference has also failed to offer a solution, or even hold a meaningful
debate; areas of conflict such as Palestine, Burma, Kashmir and more have been
completely ignored by even the OIC. If anything, Saudi Arabia's first and
foremost critique should be of the utterly ineffective OIC, and its total apathy
and lack of effect in the Muslim world, where the politics of exploitation,
displacement, abuse and war has become a norm.
Furthermore, Saudi Arabias concern for Syria is less than humanitarian
and more sectarian if one takes an honest and unabashed view of the policy
inspiring it. With an aggressively pro-military action stance, Saudi Arabia has
even offered to finance an operation. Its silence at the UN is a protest over
military action not being taken quickly enough where the rest of the world
pleads for a political, negotiated end to the conflict. In addition to this, the
830
funding of the reckless rebels in Syria by Saudi Arabia and the United States
points toward a darker and more sinister reality of the Syrian civil war being
manipulated by external key players.
Saudis absence at the United Nations meeting only reinforces the
unfortunate truth that leaders of the Muslim world are at a loss to understand
and apply solutions for themselves, yet lament both Western action and inaction
in equal measure. By simply proving the skeptics right, Saudis boycott is
counterproductive and will achieve nothing. Perhaps one should leave a word
with officials that political change for the betterment of a people is rendered
through diligent and honest action, not petulant silence. (Editorial, TheNation
6th October)
Europe
Rise above the veil of misinformation about Muslims: When it comes
to Muslim-related issues we, in Britain, do things differently. We do not ban the
face veil which is worn by some Muslim women, like they do in France and
Belgium, and we do not ban mosque minarets like they do in Switzerland.
However, we sometimes have a nasty habit of over-cooking the egg when
it comes to dealing with Muslim-related issues. Sections of our media and
political elites can initiate free-fall discussions that focus disproportionately on
our Muslim citizens and their lifestyles; they often create a national hype and
debate it on and on until something else comes up. One of the issues is the face
veil.
In recent years, the first debate on this issue was initiated by none other
than Labours senior Muslim-friendly politician, Jack Straw, in October 2006,
when he wrote in his local newspaper, the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, that
he would prefer Muslim women not to wear veils at his Blackburn constituency
surgeries. His comments got widespread national publicity
Personally, I do not want to add anything new to this debate; none within
my extended or immediate family wears the face veil. My own view is that it is
a womans choice according to her understanding of religion, public modesty
and human dignity. In a choice-based society people need to accommodate
others. In the public arena a good understanding is needed among people for
better civil interaction between employees and employers, students and
teachers, service providers and recipients. And unlike on other occasions, I
agree with our senior politicians that it is a professional issue, it should be a
womans choice and it is un-British to think of banning it in public.
Dress is our external symbol and in public life one has to care about our
collective security; we have to look after our own as well as others safety. For a
religious person, ones inner spirituality is as, if not more, important as external
manifestation. Now that enough has been said on this, are we in a position to
831
avoid storms in our tea cups and rise above the veil issue by slaying the
mythical dragons of misinformation about Muslims in our midst? (Muhammad
Abdul Bari for Aljazeera, republished in TheNation 25th September)
REVIEW
Putins stand on Syria has in no way ended the sufferings of Syrian people,
but has certainly put the mad dog of global village on leash, if not shot. Some
observers term it only a temporary relief and others refuse to call it relief at all.
According to them it is a case of seat adjustment between the US and Russia.
Allamah Iqbal had equated this adjustment with settlement between kafanchors.
The butchery called Iraq established by Bush and his Neocons in Syrias
neighbourhood has been working overtime. Its managing director, Noori alMaliki has been supervising its functioning to the entire satisfaction of his
masters. Saudi and other Arab rulers never raised hue and cry over the
slaughtering that has been going on there.
Far away in the east, Hosina Wajid ruling Bangladesh has been
encouraged by the Muslim worlds apathy over award of death sentences to the
leaders of Jamaat Islami for crimes which her regime assumes that they might
have committed more than four decades ago. During the period under review
her judiciary sentenced Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a leader of the main
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), to death. He was in fact
studying in Punjab University during the period in which has been accused of
committing war crimes.
The militancy in Somalia spilled over to Kenya. This was ought to happen
as Kenya have been main participant in military intervention in its troubled
neighbouring country. The attack on shopping mall by six armed men may be
the beginning of the militancy in Kenya.
6th October, 2013
Karachi experienced only marginal relief after across the board raids conducted
by Rangers and Police.
Concurrently, Altaf Hussain and other MQM kept crying over
discriminatory nature of Rangers-led operation. Amid all this tensions in
Pakistan, the Malala fans were disappointed over award of Nobel Prize to
OPCW instead of the young lady. They, in their excitement, forgot that
destruction of Israel-related weapons takes precedence over all other noble
deeds.
The government found some consolation as most of these attacks were
not claimed by the TTP. The government, however, despite having host of
intelligence agencies failed to establish as to who were behind these attacks. If it
was known, then the rulers were reluctant to name them publicly. The
government has so far made no direct contact with militants for talks.
The task of implementing the APC resolution regarding talks with the
militants appeared to have been left to the religious leaders. They started with
begging the militants for ceasefire and then seemed to have disappeared through
back door, the favourite channel of Indo-Pak diplomacy in which there is lot of
hustle without any breakthrough.
India said that the time has not come for dialogue with Pakistan in view
of the tension along Line of Control. The matter of defusing tension has been
left to military leadership of either side. Reportedly, about two dozen Kashmiri
freedom fighters in Kiran Sector have been troubling Indian occupation forces
during the period.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 30th September, talking to the media after arriving in
London from New York, the Nawaz Sharif said the strategy would be revised
regarding Taliban talks after his return to Pakistan. He said terrorism is being
promoted in Pakistan from abroad. Taliban have disowned the latest blast in
Qissa Khwani bazaar in Peshawar.
Meanwhile, Sartaj Aziz ruled out the suggestion for a Taliban office, saying
they do not need any office as the government is to hold talks with them inside
the country. He said there were various places where meetings could be held for
peace talks. He said it was difficult to overcome suicide blasts occurring in the
country, adding there were many groups of Taliban in Pakistan.
The KPK Assemblys special session was convened following a request
from the opposition. Nighat Orakzai showed the clothes of a baby girl, saying
the body could not be found from the blast scene. Moreover, she told the house
833
that the doctors of Lady Reading Hospital didnt allow her to enter the hospital
to see the victims of the Peshawar blast. She alleged the condition of the
patients was very bad as there were no beds and medicines in the hospital.
PTIs minority member, Soran Singh, interrupted her speech and claimed
the opposition parties were responsible for protest in Peshawar after the Church
blast. He said the opposition parties were using the blast for political point
scoring, which was not good. He accused certain parties of provoking the
minority members over the church blast.
Where were the politicians during the last five years, who are now
provoking people against the PTI government; Singh alleged, adding peace
would come through dialogue, not war. Enraged Nighat aggressively
approached Soran Singh gesturing him angrily for a fight. Later, the government
and opposition members resolved the issue and the atmosphere of the Assembly
became normal.
In Peshawar, red alert was declared in the provincial capital while tough
security arrangements have been made to avert major sabotage activities. Police
have been directed to increase number of check posts and keep vigilant watch
over miscreant elements. Heavy contingent of security forces have been
deployed at the entry points of Peshawar.
Prominent ulema from Deoband school of thought urged the government
and TTP to declare ceasefire in the name of Allah Almighty and his messenger
(PBUH). In a joint statement issued after a meeting, held with Maulana
Salimullah Khan in the chair, the ulema called upon both the parties to halt the
armed action until the outcome of peace negotiations.
At least four suspected militants were killed when a US drone targeted a
compound in North Waziristan Agency in the wee hours. The unmanned US
drone fired at least two missiles at a compound allegedly being used by
militants in Datta Khel area of Miranshah. Pakistan strongly condemned the US
drone strike.
On 1st October, the government formally established contacts with the
Taliban leadership through ulema from Wafaq-ul-Madaris and those
commanding respect in various Taliban factions operating in the countrys
restive tribal areas. The modus operandi of the dialogue would shape up in the
coming days.
A delegation of ulema had a detailed meeting with Federal Interior and
some other key persons having a vital role in the whole process and discussed
the key issues on which the foundation of peace parleys would be laid. The
ulema are playing an intermediary role to have input from both sides and then in
the light of the suggestions and proposals would devise some baseline for the
834
peace initiative, and the two sides would follow basic guidelines for a formal
contact.
Initially both the sides would be asked to stop operations against each other
and then these ulema would sift the workable demands and devise a mechanism
for bringing normalcy to the troubled areas. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
remained in constant touch with Interior Minister despite his hectic schedule in
the US.
TTP welcomed an appeal for ceasefire made by Wifaqul Madaris ulema.
The spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said the Tehrik would follow the suit, if the
government decided a ceasefire prior to talks. Shahid also thanked PTI
Chairman Imran Khan for his proposal to allow the TTP to open a political
office. However, he added that the militia didnt need such an office in Pakistan.
In an interview with a private TV channel, PTI Chairman Imran Khan said
that if the Taliban refuse to obey the Constitution and the Parliament action will
be taken against them. He said the Army and the political parties were on the
same page to hold talks with the Taliban. He said top priority should be given to
holding talks with the Taliban with the use of force as a last option.
KPK Assembly through a unanimous resolution urged the federal
government to ensure implementation of the decisions of APC especially
holding talks with Taliban. Besides, it condemned in strong words the constant
blasts, killing of innocent people and extended support to the Christian
community.
Chief of his own faction of Muslim League Ejazul Haq said that the PMLN government seemed confused on the dialogue with Taliban and stressed the
need for evolving a negotiations mechanism without any delay to save the peace
initiative agreed upon in the All Parties Conference. He also pointed out the lack
of coordination between the security agencies operating at federal and
provincial level and said that to make the dialogue with Taliban a success all the
stakeholders and departments dealing with the law and order situation should be
on one page.
Next day, a militant was killed and a security personal sustained injuries
when unknown miscreants attacked Bajaur levies post in Sheikh Kali area.
Unidentified militants fired several rockets and mortars at the post. No one has
taken responsibility of the attack while the administration has initiated
investigation.
TTP spokesman told AFP any ceasefire must include an end to US drone
attacks in the tribal areas, which have been targeting suspected Taliban and alQaeda militants since 2004. The TTPs demand added a new challenge to the
already bleak prospects for talks, hit hard by three attacks in a week in
Peshawar.
835
Peshawar High Court directed the PTA to stop roaming facility of the
cellular companies of Afghanistan in Pakistan within 15 days, as it is helping
the criminals and terrorists in their activities. The court also issued bailable
arrest warrants for the chief executives and general managers of all the cellular
service providers operating in Pakistan for non-compliance with the court order
to appear and explain their position about issuance of illegal SIMs by their
companies in thousands.
The PTA regional director Kamran Gandapur submitted that under
international agreements roaming facility was given to cellular companies in
Afghanistan. However, he did not satisfy the court over the activation of about
one million Afghan SIMs in KPK and FATA.
Local franchiser of one cellular company informed the bench that the
company had given him a target of issuance of 1,200 SIMs, but he could hardly
sell 250 SIMs. He said that the company then took the remaining SIMs from
him and sold it through illegal ways in the open market.
On 3rd October, at least 17 people were killed and 22 others injured in an
attack by Taliban on a pro-government militia commander in Buland Khel areas
of Orakzai Agency. Mullah Nabi Hanfi, who leads an anti-Taliban militia, was
wounded in the attack by TTP men but survived.
At around 6am a suicide bomber rammed a pick-up vehicle into the
compound of Hanfi. This was followed by gun assault by two other attackers
who were killed in the shootout by Hanfis men. Apart from the three attackers,
12 men of Hanfi group and two women were killed in the explosions and gun
battle. The compound of Hanfi was destroyed while nearby houses were also
damaged.
Mullah Nabi Hanfi had developed differences with TTP chief Hakimullah
Mehsud and formed his own group in 2009. He lives in the Spin Tal region of
Hangu district, bordering North Waziristan, considered a hub of Taliban
militants. Since parting ways, both groups have frequently targeted each other.
It was the fifth attacks on Hanfi, who survived a similar attack on his
headquarters last year that killed 10 people.
Imran Khan said that the federal government should take up the issue of
drone attacks in the UN Security Council as per its promised in the APC.
Talking to the media after PTI core committee meeting, Imran said that the
federal government should hold dialogue with the Taliban otherwise the
situation would further aggravate in future. He said in case both parties agreed
on ceasefire then drone attacks would derail this process.
He said that many of these groups were funded by enemies of Pakistan. We
are convinced that some forces are determined to sabotage the dialogue and
836
peace process and these should be thwarted. He said that military operation is
always a last option when all means are failed in this regard.
The clerics belonging to the Sunni sect religious-political parties
unanimously urged the government to hold talks with the Taliban willing to
accept the Constitution of Pakistan. Otherwise, they said, there is no need to
bow before the rebels. The clerics demanded the government to ensure law and
order in the country by enforcing the Constitution with letter and spirit and
taking all the stakeholders into confidence.
Next day, two policemen sustained injuries when a roadside planted bomb
targeted a police van in the outskirts of Peshawar. The police van was on routine
patrolling when a bomb planted at roadside near Tajabad Graveyard exploded.
A meeting of military and civilian leadership of the country suspected
involvement of foreign hand in recent terrorist incidents, particularly those
occurring in Peshawar, indicating that spy agencies have so far failed to even
find credible leads on these incidents. There was no official word on the
meeting chaired by Prime Minister and attended by Interior Minister, Chief of
Army Staff General Kayani and director generals of ISI and MI.
However, informed sources said the participants took stock of countrys
overall security and government strategy to engage Taliban in peace talks in the
light of the decisions of APC. The meeting also reviewed the ongoing-targeted
operation in Karachi and expressed firm resolve that criminals would be tracked
down across the board without any political pressure and consideration.
On 5th October, security forces arrested 12 members of al-Qaeda from
Islamabad and different cities of central Punjab. The held terrorists belonged to
operational wing of al-Qaeda and have been involved in dozens of terror
activities in Rawalpindi, Islamabad and central Punjab since 2002.
Police claimed this network was involved in attacks on Manawan Police
Training Centre and FIA office in Lahore; Denmark Embassy and a foreign
restaurant in Islamabad; NATO terminal and POF Wah Cantt. The same group
was involved in murder of Shahbaz Bhatti and FIA Prosecutor Zulfiqar.
The arrests of al-Qaeda members started after security agencies busted a
high-tech exchange way in Green Town area of Lahore last month. The
exchange was being operated by al-Qaeda network and had links with
international terrorists. Later, Islamabad police seized an explosive-laden van
form Bara Kahu area and also arrested two brothers Hammad Adil and Kamran
Adil from Islamabad who were active members of al-Qaeda.
Three people two alleged kidnappers and one Anti-Terrorism Force
(ATF) man were killed while another official sustained injuries in a firing
incident in the Gulistan area, near Afghan border. The ATF, backed by other
law-enforcement agencies, had raided a house in the Killi Karez area of
837
Gulistan for the recovery of the kidnapped heart specialist, Dr Abdul Munaaf
Tareen, armed men opened fire on them. Dr Munaaf Tareen could not be
recovered in the operation.
Next day, a roadside bomb killed three soldiers and wounded at least seven
others when a military vehicle on a routine patrol hit an IED on BannuMiranshah road about 15 kilometres west of Bannu. A little known militant
organization, Ansarul Islam Mujahideen, claimed responsibility for the attack.
TTP spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said that they are willing to hold talks
with the government but would never accept the dialogue process under
Pakistans constitution. Pakistans constitution carries agenda of the secular
nations, he added. He said no talks have been started with the Pakistan
government so far, adding the government had not even nominated its team in
this connection.
Shahid said they were ready for the peace talks but the government did not
seem to be serious. The government would have to announce unilateral
ceasefire if it is serious about talks, he said adding that the government seemed
helpless as it could not convince the US to stop the ongoing drone attacks in
tribal areas. It was difficult to hold talks with powerless rulers, he said.
Shahid said the aim of the TTP was to defend Muslims all over the world
and the outfit was not involved in killing of Pakistani citizens. A third force,
working for enemies of Islam, was involved in the attacks on the Pakistani
cities, he said. He said they have not planned to attack Pakistans nuclear
installations.
Talking about Malala Yousafzai, he said she was targeted because of her
anti-Islam propaganda and not because of going to school. Well target Malala
again if we get an opportunity, he said adding the secular forces, who are
exploiting Malala, dont even bother to remember the female students killed in
Jamia Hafsa during an operation.
About PTI chief, Shahid said Imran is also part of the secular system and if
he was serious about talks with Taliban he should quit the path of western
democracy. Shahid said some people have been making sincere efforts for peace
talks for the last so many years and the TTP valued these people.
Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Nisar Ali Khan said that the
governments priority was to root out terrorism through dialogue. He said that
the government appreciated the efforts of the countrys religious leaders and
Ulema for seeking a permanent solution of the terrorism issue and would extend
them full support in this regard. Nisar said that the dialogue process had full
backing of the military leadership.
On 7th October, a pressure cooker bomb hit a police van protecting a polio
vaccination team, killing two people. The attack took place on the third and last
838
839
840
intelligence network, he said, urging the provinces to also take practical steps in
this regard. he said this as he talked with the affected families of recent blasts in
Peshawar and later with media persons at Governor House Peshawar.
On the advice of Prime Minister President Mamnoon Hussain made a
number of amendments through an Ordinance in Anti-Terrorist Act 1997 to
grant more leverage to the law-enforcement agencies while dealing terrorism
related cases. The fresh amendments in the Anti-Terrorist Act 1997 provide a
foolproof mechanism for the witnesses and prosecution protection and also
allowed the electronic devices related evidence in such cases.
On 11th October, a suicide bomber drove a car filled with explosives into a
military convoy, killing at least two soldiers and wounded two others. The
bomber crashed his white Toyota Corolla into a vehicle traveling in a military
convoy in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal district.
A private TV channel reporter was shot dead by some unknown persons in
his native village Warana, Tehsil Takht-e-Nusrati of district Karak. Some
unknown armed persons opened firing on a local journalist Ayub Khan Khattak
and killed him on the spot. The accused after committing the crime fled the
scene.
Friends and supporters of Malala Yousafzai in Pakistan voiced
disappointment as she missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize, but the Tailban said
they were delighted at the news. The 16-year-old was hotly tipped to win the
Nobel, but instead the Nobel committee honoured the Organization for the
Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for its work to rid the world of
chemical arms.
Sartaj Aziz said visit of Prime Minister to Washington would focus on
discussions on bilateral issues, future of Pak-US relations and the regional
situation. He made these remarks while talking to newsmen here at Foreign
Office, after inaugurating the newly constructed Consular Section.
Next day, Malala Yousafzai said that she had raised the issue of American
drone strikes in Pakistans tribal areas during a meeting with President Barack
Obama at the White House on October 11. She said, I also expressed my
concerns that drone attacks are fuelling terrorism. Innocent victims are killed in
these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people.
General Kayani dismissed the notion that military operations failure had
forced the state to seek dialogue with the militants. We should remember those
days when armed gangs were just a hundred kilometres from Islamabad. When
Mingoras Sabz Chowk used to be known as Bloody Chowk. When
infrastructure and the entire society had gone in the hands of criminal gangs
who thought they were this countrys custodians, he referred to the living
841
842
had been given that the FC troops are hampering the supplies of relief goods to
the earthquake affected people which is not true.
On 2nd October, two soldiers of Pakistan Army were killed and three others
wounded in a remote-controlled blast in the earthquake-stricken Awaran district.
The incident occurred in the Jalwar area when the soldiers were carrying relief
goods for the earthquake victims. The banned Baloch Liberation Front (BLF)
claimed responsibility for the attack. Army units came under fire in five
separate incidents throughout the day.
Awaran is one of highly sensitive districts of Balochistan and the
hometown of BLFs guerrilla commander, Dr Allah Nazar. The Awaran district
was severely hit by 7.8-magnitude earthquake on September 24. The personnel
of Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps as well as the provincial government are
carrying out relief activities in different tehsils of the Awaran district.
On 4th October, unidentified assailants shot dead a student in Nawa Killi
area, while director of an NGO was kidnapped near Joint Road, Quetta.
Following the incident, a large number of relatives of the deceased got
infuriated and staged a protest. They blocked the main road by erecting
barricades and pelted vehicles with stones.
Next day, the Frontier Corps recovered huge cache of explosive material
and drugs during various raids in the province. According to details, the FC
carried out a search operation in Tai Mat and Toba areas of Dera Bugti. During
the operation, the FC personnel recovered 20kg explosive material from a house
at Tal Mat. The FC also recovered three rockets and as many bombs of 40mm as
well as two bombs of 75RR from Toba.
Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani said that evidence regarding
involvement of India in Balochistan unrest had been presented to New Delhi
and it should move ahead for dialogue process rather than indulging in bale
game. Talking to reporters after attending a meeting of the Senate Standing
Committee on Foreign Affairs, foreign secretary said that Prime Minister had
raised this issue with Indian Premier in their New York meeting.
Earlier, Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Haji
Adeel while chairing a meeting of the committee at Parliament House remarked
PM Nawaz Sharif would be summoned in the next meeting in his official
capacity for holding the charge of Minister for Foreign Affairs. He said foreign
ministry had become a tug of war between PMs Adviser on Foreign Affairs
Sartaj Aziz and Special Assistant to PM on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.
Foreign Office has been divided into two parts, one held by Mr Aziz and the
other by Mr Fatemi, he said, adding that Pakistans foreign missions abroad had
become inactive due to the same reason.
843
844
hit parts of the province. Women were particularly fearful and live in perpetual
intimidation by extremist forces.
The mission held meetings with representatives of the new political
administration and a cross-section of society amid high hopes that the
government would have the authority, commitment, representative character and
sincerity of purpose to deal with the problems that the province had long
suffered from. Apart from assessing the overall human rights situation in the
province, the mission examined the terrorist attack on students of a womens
university in Quetta, the subsequent attack at a hospital where the casualties
were taken and the bombing at Quaid-e-Azam Residency in Ziarat.
On the occasion of the report launch, the HRCP Executive Council
expressed concerns over reports of poor relief in Awaran and lack of access and
demanded that the situation must be remedied without delay. The mission
received conflicting reports that the pattern of terrorist attacks in the recent past
indicated some operational coordination between sectarian militant groups and
Baloch insurgents. HRCP was not in a position to verify the claim but
demanded that such allegations must be taken seriously, investigated fully and if
any evidence of such collaboration was found that must be made public.
Turf War: On 30th September, at least 15 people were killed in various
violent incidents in the city. The worst brutal incident of target killing claimed
the lives of Abdul Shakoor and his two sons at Jhat Pat Market, Lyari. The
victims had a Halwa Puri stall where six armed men riding a motorcycle came
and showered bullets on them.
On 1st October, the Rangers arrested a number of criminals, associated with
a political party, including the alleged killer of senior advocate Naimat Ali
Randhawa. The Rangers also claimed to have recovered highly prohibited
Indian military weapons from MQMs sector office in Qauidabad. The
statement said it had proved presence of criminals and anti-state elements in
political parties.
Its not our tradition to stoop so low in our conduct. Looting of office
equipment and other items and graffiti must have been done by the criminals
within the folds of the political party. This kind of tactics will not deter the
Rangers from fighting crime and terrorism in the city and we pledge to provide
peace to all Karachiites, the Rangers spokesman said.
Earlier, the Rangers conducted a targeted raid at MQMs sector office in
Qauidabad and arrested a target killer associated with a political group. On his
information, further raids were carried out in Landhi No 5. During these raids,
14 criminals associated with another rival political group, including two
notorious target killers, Shamim alias Goli and Sajid Hussain, were arrested
while a large quantity of Indian-made and other weapons were recovered. The
845
846
Next day, bandits looted a university bus and deprived the students, on
board, of valuables. This was the third similar incident occurred in a month as
earlier around 100 students of University of Karachi and Jinnah University for
Women were deprived of their valuables when some armed culprits intercepted
their buses at Banaras flyover and at Main University Road.
MQM while ruling out the Sindh governments proposal of banning
internet telephony applications has termed the ongoing targeted operation,
victimization of Karachiites. MQM leader of the opposition in the Sindh
Assembly, Faisal Sabzwari deplored the increase of the armed robberies in
students buses.
In a joint venture of Karachi and Lahore police, arrested two more
notorious Lyari gangsters from Lahore. The suspects were identified as Sattar
Khazri Baloch and Azizullah. According to reports, they had escaped to Lahore
following the ongoing targeted raids and operations in Karachi against the
criminals.
In Karachi, law enforcement agencies claimed to have arrested at least 250
suspects, including target killers and extortionists belonging to different
political parties and Lyari gangsters in targeted operation continue in the
metropolis. Meanwhile, a local leader of the ANP was gunned down while
another escaped a bomb attack in Orangi Town.
On 6th October, an MQM worker succumbed to a target killing incident
while three alleged criminals including a couple of Lyari gangsters were gunned
down in two separate encounters with Rangers and Police in the city. Two
gangsters identified as Shahzad and Shakir Ali alias Shakir Dada were killed in
an encounter within the premises of Lyari Police Station.
Next day, a senior doctor of Orangi Towns Qatar Hospital was among
three people were gunned down in separate incidents of target killing in the city.
Meanwhile, Government of Sindh imposed ban on collection of sacrificial
animals hides during the three days of Eidul Azha.
Law enforcement agencies claimed to have killed three criminals in two
separate encounters in Korangi and Gulshan-e-Iqbal localities. Two Lyari
gangsters were killed and three managed to escape during an alleged encounter
within the jurisdictions of Korangi Industrial Area. They also claimed to have
arrested 22 alleged hardened criminals during targeted operation drive.
On 8th October, heavy contingent of Rangers cordoned off the MQMs
headquarter Nine Zero. They made videos through multi storey buildings but no
arrest had been made. Rangers cordoned off the Block 8; Azizabad where MQM
headquarter is located. Rangers removed the barriers of various lanes erected
for the security of Nine Zero. Rangers termed the raid as routine patrolling.
848
Next day, a Station House Officer and the Station Investigation Officer
were gunned down in the jurisdictions of Sir Syed Police station. Police officers
were sitting at a tea shop when some gunmen riding a motorbike came and
targeted both the cops and escaped. Meanwhile, at least eight people were
gunned down in separate incidents of target killing.
On 10th October, four people were killed in two separate incidents of firing
in Pishin and Panjgour districts of Balochistan. In the first incident, unknown
armed men opened firing in Pishin, killing two persons. In the second incident,
two persons, including a trader were killed in Garamkan area of Panjgour a
bordering district near, Iran border.
On 12th October, at least four people were killed in separate incidents of
violence in the city. Meanwhile, over 161 criminal elements were booked during
the ongoing targeted operation. Police claimed to have conducted 111 raids
across the city while made some eight encounters to arrest 161 criminals,
terrorists, extortionists and accused persons involved in various sort of crimes.
Sindh Rangers, contributing along with the police in the operation, have
arrested 13 accused persons in a raid conducted at the hideout of Ustad Tajju,
notorious Lyari gangster, at Khadda Market, Lyari and recovered weapons,
including SMGs. On the other side, Rangers had also conducted targeted raids
various localities of Karachi. Next day, a woman was killed and at least six
people were injured after unknown assailants lobbed a hand-grenade at a clinic
in Muzaffarabad Colony, Landhi. At least three people were killed in other
incidents of violence.
849
The US wants the freedom to conduct military operations, night raids and
house searches, Faizi said. According to them, there are 75 al-Qaeda operatives
in Afghanistan, which is very strange as this agreement will be for 10 years to
have the right to conduct military operations anywhere in the country.
Unilaterally having the right to conduct military operations is in no way
acceptable for Afghans.
Next day, the man said to be responsible for bringing al Qaeda to
Afghanistan announced he was running for president, a move likely to be
greeted with apprehension by the international community. Today I nominate
myself in order to serve my countrymen and my nation I want to stand
alongside the true servants of Afghanistan, Abdul Rassoul Sayyaf told Reuters
minutes before he registered at the offices of Kabuls Independent Election
Commission.
Western diplomats have previously told Reuters of their concerns regarding
Sayyafs nomination, given his deeply conservative views regarding womens
rights and social freedoms, and his deep ties to militant Islam. Next year,
millions of Afghans will vote in what is being hailed as the most important
election since the United States-led war against the Afghan Taliban began 12
years ago.
Taliban commanders refused to meet their former chief in Peshawar
because he was accompanied by Pakistani security agents, dealing a blow to
attempts to resume Afghan peace talks. It was unclear who Baradar wanted to
meet and how long he would stay in Peshawar. Two Pakistani security officials
confirmed Baradar was in Peshawar for preliminary discussions about the peace
process. Officially talks have yet to start and there is still hope that formal
discussions on the future of Afghanistan will resume once Baradar has left
Pakistan.
On 5th October, after getting party's nod to accept Afghan President's
invitation, Maulana Fazlur Rehman agreed to cooperate with Kabul for
engaging Afghan Taliban into peace talks. The Maulana will soon visit
Afghanistan on special invitation of Karzai and help him engage Afghan Taliban
in peace talks, JUI-F sources said.
Hamid Karzai, in upcoming meeting, may request Fazl to use his influence
to arrange talks with Taliban to resolve plethora of issues. Karzai, in this regard,
has invited Fazl to visit Afghanistan and invitation has already been sent to
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry. This invitation has come forth after Pakistan's
move to release Mullah Baradar as part of its role to facilitate Afghan
reconciliation process.
Next day, four soldiers belonging to the NATO-led force in Afghanistan
were killed by insurgents during an operation, while a fifth was shot dead by a
850
security guard over the weekend in the country's south. Details of the operation
in which four soldiers were killed were not released.
Germany handed over command of its northern Kunduz camp to Afghan
security forces, a milestone in the drawdown from a more than decade-long
military deployment. Defence Minister and Foreign Minister traveled to
Kunduz, via the German headquarters at Mazar-i-Sharif, on an unannounced
visit for the handover ceremony. Around 4,000 German soldiers are now in
northern Afghanistan as part of ISAF, the ISAF, including about 900 still in
Kunduz.
On 8th October, a security deal to allow some US troops to stay in
Afghanistan to fight al-Qaeda was at risk of collapse after President Hamid
Karzai said he was prepared to walk away from negotiations. Karzai said he
refused to be rushed into signing the deal, and would first seek approval from a
traditional grand assembly to be convened in a months time.
The agreement has to suit Afghanistans interests and purposes. If it
doesnt suit us and if it doesnt suit them, then naturally we will go separate
ways, Karzai said in a BBC interview in Kabul. According to the Afghan
government, talks ground to a halt over US demands for the right to conduct
unilateral military operations after 2014, and on how the US would pledge to
protect Afghanistan.
On 10th October, the last major deployment of British troops to Afghanistan
began, ahead of the withdrawal next year of Western forces. Some 6,000 British
troops will deploy to Helmand in southern Afghanistan in stages over the next
six weeks, a ministry spokesman said. Their main role will be to train Afghan
security forces as well as pack up equipment, a ministry spokesman said.
Asfandyar Wali Khan met with President Karzai. Ghuam Jelani Popal,
Ambassador Maaroofi, Zalmy Khalilzad, ANP leader Afrasiab Khattak were
also present on the occasion. Afghan President briefed the ANP leaders on
different transitions that are going on in Afghanistan. He said Afghanistan
security forces have already taken over the responsibilities of the security of
their motherland and they are capable of facing any situation after US
withdrawal from Afghanistan.
Next day, it was reported that US troops were holding a senior Pakistani
Taliban commander. Latif Mehsud was arrested by American forces as he was
driving along a main highway in eastern Logar provinces district of
Mohammad Agha. Mehsud has served as a senior deputy to Pakistani Taliban
leader Hakimullah Mehsud.
The Pakistani Taliban confirmed the capture, but claimed Mehsud was
seized by the Afghan army at the Ghulam Khan border crossing in the eastern
851
852
Next day, John Kerry and Hamid Karzai reached preliminary agreement on
a bilateral security pact that now depends on the approval of Afghanistans tribal
leaders. The pact, announced jointly by Kerry and Karzai after two days of talks
in Kabul, would keep some US forces in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of
most foreign troops by the end of next year.
The draft includes a US demand to retain legal jurisdiction over its troops
who stay on in Afghanistan, which would give them immunity from Afghan
law. Karzai opposes that and said the question could not be decided by his
government. Instead, a Loya Jirga, or an assembly of elders, leaders and other
influential people, will consider the demand and decide whether to accept it.
Karzai said the recent US snatching of a senior Pakistani Taliban
commander on Afghan soil was an example of the kind of action that
Afghanistan wanted to avoid. Our discussion today in particular has been
focused on making sure that through the bilateral security agreement such
violations are not repeated, he said.
Taliban leader Mullah Omar warned an agreement between Washington
and Kabul on maintaining a US military presence in Afghanistan after 2014
would have serious consequences. The invaders and their allies should
understand (the signature) of the strategic agreement would have serious
consequences for them. Mullah Omar said in a statement posted on a Taliban
website. The rebel leader also warned the US the maintenance of its bases on
Afghan soil will never be accepted and armed jihad will continue against
them with more momentum.
853
At the White House meeting, Netanyahu said it was vital that Iran fully
dismantles its military nuclear programme. He urged Obama to keep US
sanctions in place throughout negotiations between Iran and the major powers
over its nuclear programme. Zarif said that Netanyahu was the most isolated
man at the UN as he prepared to give his General Assembly speech.
Next day, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said that those who sacrificed
their lives for the motherland would not be forgotten. He was speaking at a
special ceremony organized by Pakistan Army at Gayari Sector in Siachen to
pay tributes to the martyrs of avalanche which struck a military base and buried
129 soldiers and 11 civilians under snow last year.
General Kayani said that some experts had earlier recommended Gayari to
be declared as collective grave of the martyrs. He said that 133 bodies of the
martyrs, out of 140 buried in an avalanche a year ago, have so far been
recovered. He lauded the untiring efforts dedication and devotion of the troops
who succeeded in accomplishing this difficult task. The army chief said the
entire nation stands by the armed forces in performing their sacred obligation of
defence of the country.
Meanwhile, the military denied Indian accusations of Pakistani soldiers
being involved in a reported clash on the Indian side of the Line of Control
(LoC). An Indian Army commander had alleged that Pakistani troops might be
involved in an ongoing gun battle near the disputed border. Pakistan Army
rejected the allegation.
On 3rd October, a senior US official said that the United States plans to
keep up its sanctions regime against Iran, even as it seeks a diplomatic solution
over Tehrans suspect nuclear program. We have been clear that only concrete
and verifiable steps can offer a path to sanctions relief, Undersecretary of State
for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told lawmakers.
Next day, Pakistan could face tough US sanctions if it goes ahead with the
multi-billion Iran-Pak gas pipeline, a top US diplomat warned. The Obama
Administration is having discussions in this regard with Pakistan, Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs told lawmakers at a Congressional
hearing.
On 5th October, Irans supreme leader backed President Hassan Rouhanis
overtures to the West but criticized some aspects of a UN visit during which he
spoke with US counterpart Barack Obama. The American president, meanwhile,
said the Islamic republic was a year or more away from acquiring a nuclear
bomb, in a sign of discord with Israel.
Rouhani has vowed to take a more constructive approach to the talks in a
bid to win relief from crippling US and European Union sanctions on Irans oil
and banking sectors. Representatives of Iran and the six powers are to meet in
854
Geneva later this month to seek ways to jump-start decade-old negotiations that
were put on hold in April ahead of the presidential election in which Rouhani
won a surprise first-round victory.
Next day, Iran arrested four people suspected of attempting to sabotage one
of its nuclear plants. Atomic Energy Organization chief Ali Akbar Salehi said:
Some time ago, we uncovered sabotage activities by several people at a nuclear
plant. We let them continue their activities so that we could gather more
intelligence. We arrested them at the appropriate moment and their interrogation
is ongoing.
In August last year, saboteurs blew up power lines supplying Irans
underground uranium enrichment plant at Fardo outside the central city of Qom.
In 2010, a US cyber-attack, reportedly carried out in collaboration with Israel,
hit Irans nuclear facilities. The Stuxnet virus was tailored specifically to target
uranium enrichment facilities.
India: On 3rd October, Sartaj Aziz and visiting British Minister of State at
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi called for the
resolution of Kashmir dispute on priority basis to ensure peace and stability in
the region. Sayeeda Warsi emphasized the need to resolve the Kashmir issue to
ensure peace and stability in the region.
Next day, Pakistani authorities accused the Indian army of cross-border
shelling that killed a toddler and wounded five other civilians in Azad Kashmir.
Three women and two men were also injured in the cross-border shelling in
village of Rud Karthar on the Line of Control in Kotli district.
On 6th October, two civilians sustained injuries as Indian forces continued
unprovoked firing in the Battal sector at the Line of Control. The Pakistan Army
retaliated the firing which silenced the Indian guns. Earlier, the Indian army
claimed to have killed seven militants in their side of the disputed Kashmir.
Pakistans High Commissioner to India Salman Bashir described as
baseless Indian media reports on infiltrations and called for the two neighbours
to address their respective concerns through dialogue instead of whipping up
frenzy. He called for leaving the issue to be addressed by the military authorities
rather than pointing fingers. He also found fault with the way the Indian media,
especially news channels, was focusing on so-called incursions and
infiltrations.
On 8th October, an elderly woman was grievously injured in an unprovoked
firing by the Indian troops across the Line of Control in Nikayal Sector. On 10 th
October, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that India is unlikely to be granted
Most Favoured Nation [MFN] status before 2014 Lok Sabha elections and
resumption of composite dialogue. Dar told a Washington audience that
Islamabad had to put on hold grant of MFN status to India in view of public
855
VIEWS
Pakistan
Baloch resistance to military aid: A historical rift resurfaces from the
rubble in Balochistan where an earthquake killed 400 people and affected at
least 300,000 last Tuesday. As soon as the Pakistani government and armed
forces reached the jolted area, they were met with resistance and even hostility
from local liberation groups and ordinary village dwellers. In several cases,
helicopters carrying relief equipment for earthquake victims were shot at by
what the army describes anti-state militants. Unarmed rural civilians of Teertaj
themselves told reporters on the ground that they want nothing from the army
even if it includes aid for the wounded and displaced. This is only a brief
glimpse into Balochistans resentment against the state for years of neglect.
Baloch representatives have stated reasonable and understandable demands
before the government of Pakistan on many occasions, but their exigencies
remain unnoticed. Operations by paramilitary troops, namely the Frontier
Corps, continue within Balochistan. Further disintegrating the already volatile
relationship between the average citizen and the state is the neglected case of
missing people in Pakistan. A considerable number of people displaced by force
hail from the turbulent province of Baluchistan. Despite suffering human loss
856
and displacement of both natural and political kinds the Baloch resistance to
life-saving military aid in the face of a deadly earthquake only demonstrates the
chasm inflicted by a festering conflict. Assurances, suo moto notices, political
slogans, all have come to naught and the average Baloch is no better off than
before. The new arrangement under the NFC award has also failed to be of
benefit to the average Baloch, with corrupt politicians pocketing much of the
cash meant for public uplift. The fact that even at a time of such tragedy and
trial, help meant for young and old is being turned away is a sad reminder of the
hurt and desolation the Baloch are feeling. The democratic government at the
center, and at the provincial level must make their presence felt. If the civilian
government fails to address the complaints of the Baloch, there is no else in
Pakistan who can. The rejection of aid after the earthquake must be heeded as a
dire warning. (Editorial, TheNation 3rd October)
A bleak picture: It is amusing to see Imran Khans article pushing for
talks, published on the same day as the initiation of the negotiation process.
Maybe someone should keep him in the loop. The government reports that first
contact has been made. The TTP has made rivers of blood flow through the
streets of this country, and the state draws the conclusion that negotiation is the
only way this can be prevented. One can disagree, but doing that will achieve
naught, as it appears despite repeated protestations from all and sundry, the
option of dialogue will be pursued.
However, whether or not this process is viable, or the best course of action,
can be questioned. To begin with, among the many demands that the TTP has
made over the course of their relationship with Pakistan, cries of rewriting the
constitution in accordance with their warped version of the Shariah, and going
to war with the rest of the civilized world have been heard aplenty. They have
basically said that they will not stop killing innocents until their demands are
met. This is not a problem of a few not getting a political voice in the country,
or adequate representation, this is a politically organized pressure group holding
the entire country hostage until their demands are met.
If the negotiation process does succeed, the TTP, in exchange for laying
down their arms will ask for something. A louder voice or room to play in KPK
is probably on the cards. If that is the price to pay for the end to the violence, it
is too high. Because the Talibans demands will not stop there. Their ambitions
were not limited to Afghanistan before, and they will not be limited to KPK
now. The government needs to draw a line, for they will not be able to do so
later. If a presence in FATA is tolerable, are they also agreed to an officially
sanctioned Taliban presence in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad? For in the
Talibans mind, there will be nothing off-limits once they are accommodated
politically in one part of Pakistan.
857
If Mr Sharif has a vision of the country as a Taliban state after the next ten
years, that was certainly not what he described during his election campaigning.
Mr Khan has never denied his vision of a Pakistan with a politically
accommodated Taliban presence, but only now are we learning to take him at
face value. One can simply hope that the Prime Minister tempers Mr Imran
Khans boundless enthusiasm for the Taliban with some semblance of a national
security policy which deals with this internal threat to our existence. So far, Mr
Sharifs insistence on believing denials of responsibility about the Peshawar All
Saints attack, are leaving many in doubt as to whether his own understanding of
the Taliban is any sounder than Mr Khans. (Editorial, TheNation 3rd October)
A beleaguered government: PML-N started well by successfully
bringing all political parties on one platform arriving at a unanimous decision to
hold talks with the Taliban. Even the army chief went along with the proposed
course of action. But inaction, delay and drift have messed up this historically
agreed initiative. No concrete steps were taken to implement the decision.
Ferocious violence on the part of the militants raged on. Senior military officers
were killed. Peshawar was hit thrice and an attack outside a church saw scores
of Christians killed. This disastrous failure to act has spawned confusion all
around. Those who opposed the resources to talks for peace have been
vociferously vocal about the folly of having a dialogue with perpetrators of
murders and mayhem.
If Nawaz Sharif doesnt move fast enough to open the negotiations, the
consensus earlier reached will stand destroyed and there will be disarray and
disorder. Why not commission a team consisting of Imran Khan, Chaudhry
Nisar Ali Khan, Lt. General (retd) Hamid Gul, Ayaz Wazir and Maulana Fazalur-Rehman to meet the TTP high command and work out the terms of
engagement without delay. A serious attempt to wrest peace out of a rapidly
deteriorating situation must be made most urgently. In case this sincere and
serious effort fails and the Taliban do not respond positively, let another allparties meeting be held to chart out an alternative course in consultation with
the COAS.
Nawaz Sharif heads a beleaguered government which is surrounded and
cornered from all sides, beset as it is with unresolved economic and law and
order challenges. He was hailed as a chastened politician who was beginning to
act like a statesman. His failure to stop the wave of terrorism swirling all
around, is bound to land his government into serious trouble. (Inayatullah,
TheNation 5th October)
What has to be, has to be: There has been a spate of criticism, by a
particular lobby in Pakistan, of PAC decision for dialogue with the Taliban for
peace. In the same context, I would particularly refer to the comments made by
Najam Sethi, in his article titled, (Fight for Survival or Yield to Destructive
858
859
tribals to govern Afghanistan. That is more true even now, when kings have
been replaced by popular leaders.
I am surprised at the out-burst of Najam Sethi, whom I have known for
some time. He opted for Pakistan in 1963, not as a naturalized citizen, and soon
established himself as a reputable journalist and writer, having revolutionary
ideas. What happened between him and Nawaz Sharif later on, I dont know,
because he was arrested on May 8, 1998 along with Hussain Haqqani for anti
state activities, and there were strong protests by the American Senate and the
Indian Congress, and Nawaz Sharif was forced to release them within a few
days. Mr. Hussain Haqqanis credentials have since been established by the
Memogate Scandal, and he prefers to live in exile, whereas, Mr. Najam Sethi
has won the confidence of Mr. Nawaz Sharif, who appointed him as caretaker
Chief Minister of Punjab and now he is heading the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Why this sudden disenchantment with Nawaz Sharif on holding the APC,
seeking peace with the Taliban of Pakistan, is rather amusing.
It is our tradition that in a family of grown-up children, if a member rebels
for some reason, the family elders get together to settle the issue through advice
and loving passion. We do not try to break the arms and legs of the rebel
member, or beat him to submission. That is exactly what the political elders of
the APC have done for the Taliban, showing patience and forbearance, to
forgive and forget our angry young men and to bring them back into the family
fold.
In fact Najam Sethi is promoting the American agenda of imposing a two
front war on Pakistan, thus rejecting Quaid-e-Azams vision of entrusting the
responsibility of guarding our north-western frontiers to the tribals, who have
done it admirably, till we hit them in 2005. Since then our borders remain
infested with spies and scoundrels, carrying out all kinds of terror acts in
Pakistan from across the borders. And behind all this misery is the evil of
occupation of Afghanistan, by foreign troops, now humbled and defeated. They
are on the retreat, and the draw-down will bring peace in Afghanistan,
supporting the peace initiatives of our political leadership. The search for peace
now is an unstoppable phenomenon, as Quaid-e-Azam once exhorted the nation
to win Pakistan: What has to be, has to be. This was his judgment for the
direction he gave in the past, the nation has now chosen to find peace for
Pakistan. (General Mirza Aslam Beg, TheNation 8th October)
Western praise could get Malala killed: Whos a bigger threat to Malala
Yousafzai, the Taliban or starstruck Westerners?
Malala, of course, is the 16-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot in the
head by a Taliban gunman on Oct 9, 2012, because of her outspoken support for
educating girls in Pakistan and her criticism of the fundamentalist group. She is
also in the running for the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced Friday.
860
Now recovered from her wounds and living with her family in Britain,
Malala continues to speak out. And that has earned her renewed enmity from the
Taliban. As The Times Carol J. Williams reported Monday:
A Taliban spokesman, Shahidullah Shahid, told news agencies in Pakistan
that Malala was shot for defaming Islam, not for her outspoken support for
girls education, and that the group would try to attack her again. She is not a
brave girl and has no courage, Agence France-Presse quoted Shahid as
warning. We will target her again and attack whenever we have a chance.
Certainly, targeting 16-year-old girls for death simply for expressing
support for educating girls is despicable. No modern civilized society should
tolerate such sentiments. But these are not idle threats. The Taliban mean what
they say. Malalas high profile, her refusal to back down in the face of such
threats, could very well get her killed.
How hard must it be for a teenage girl to be living under such a cloud?
In the New York Times on Monday, reporter Adam B Ellick recounts his
role in forging Malala, hero of the West.
I met Malala in 2009, when she was determined to defy the odds and
become a doctor. I spent six months making two documentaries about her life
that helped bring her brave campaign to the world, transforming her into a
public figure. After the Taliban tried to silence her, the New York Times wove
the footage together into a single, 32-minute documentary.
Since the attack last October, I have at times struggled with a question
journalists often confront: By giving her a platform, did I inadvertently play a
role in her shooting? I wanted to understand how this all unfolded so I began
combing through nearly 20 hours of unseen footage of the family long before
they were coached by publicists, and before they had signed multimillion-dollar
book and movie deals.
While my original documentary tells the story of Malalas struggle for
education in the face of the Taliban, this back story also raises some sobering
and difficult questions. Malala was a brave young girl, advocating for a better
future for all girls in her country, but was it fair for her to fight so publicly in
such a dangerous environment? Or was she thrust into the limelight by adults
captivated by the power of a child staring down the Taliban?
Perhaps no one can answer those questions. But if Malala is awarded the
Nobel Peace Prize on Friday, how much more of a target will she become?
We in the West love her story of courage, of recovery, her willingness to
speak out in a way that fits with our worldview. But in many ways shes still a
child. She has, hopefully, a full life ahead of her.
861
So maybe we should temper our respect for her with a little soberness, a
little common sense and plenty of regard for her safety. (Paul Whitefield for
The LA Times, republished TheNation 9th October)
Master manipulator: Hakimullah Mehsud continued the tradition of
triumphantly mocking the government, by insisting that it send its
representatives to him, where he would dictate conditions for talks, on his own
turf. As video of Hakimullah frolicking at the edge of a river, tossing
companions into the river, and enjoying a leisurely afternoon lunch surfaced,
bomb blasts in three provincial capitals were reported one after the other.
Alongside Hakimullahs protestations of being opposed to harming Muslim
lives and properties, the attacks continue relentlessly.
If he is to be believed which is not just inadvisable but given his politics
and ideology, also impossible he has no control over the militants carrying out
these attacks. However, even if taken at face value by proponents of talks, it
presents no reason to negotiate with him and his faction. Considering that the
BBC was able to find him, surely the Pakistan army and intelligence services
can manage it as well. With a $5 million bounty on his head, they would be
richer for it too. Seems like a fair bargain.
But the government does not wish to find Hakimullah Mehsud and deal
with him despite having the capacity to. The fear that the blowback would be
focused on Punjab is what is holding Mr Sharif back from doing what he knows
must be done. The militants are not respectful of Mr Sharifs fear, though. Their
assault has arrived in the form of unprovoked attack, and not reprisal. Whether
Mr Sharif has the appetite to fight it or not the war has begun. With attacks in
Karachi, Peshawar and Lahore, does the Prime Minister need further incentive
to initiate military action?
While we bury our dead, Hakimullah continues a life of undisturbed
leisure. The fact that he is free, living in security, and is unsought by the
government, is an insult to the ordinary citizens losing their lives day after day
to the battle the state refuses to face. Mr Sharif, act now. Or all will be lost.
(Editorial, TheNation 11th October)
Malala Inc: global operation surrounds Pakistani girl: Pakistani
schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai has become a formidable force for rights in the year
since the Taliban shot her, but an equally formidable public relations operation
has helped her spread her message
One of the worlds biggest public relations firms, Edelman, has a team
working on her behalf while politicians, journalists and book publishers are
making her into something of a global brand
A spokesman for Edelman told AFP it was carrying out the work on a
pro-bono basis and now had a team of five people supporting Malala.
862
Edelman said its role primarily involves providing a press office function
for Malala and helping to advise the family on how to engage with the huge
media and public interest in Malalas campaign.
There is now a two-month waiting list for an interview with Malala, the
firm said.
The global spotlight has provoked a backlash in parts of Pakistani society,
with some accusing Malala of acting as a puppet of the West while the Taliban
have renewed the threat to her life.
Elsewhere there have also been concerns at the level of public exposure.
It could be a burden. Imposing that on a child might not be ethical, said
Tilman Brueck, the head of Stockholm peace research institute SIPRI. Malala
herself insists the circus around her has not affected her personality. My world
has changed but I have not, she says in her autobiography I Am Malala.
(Danny Kemp. TheNation 12th October)
Afghanistan
Afghan impasse raises prospect of total US withdrawal: The United
States and Afghanistan have reached an impasse in their talks over the role that
American forces will play here beyond next year, officials from both countries
say, raising the distinct possibility of a total withdrawal an outcome that the
Pentagons top military commanders dismissed just months ago.
American officials say they are preparing to suspend negotiations absent a
breakthrough in the coming weeks, and a senior administration official said talk
of resuming them with President Hamid Karzais successor, who will be chosen
in elections set for next April, is, frankly, not very likely.
The time to conclude for us is now, the administration official said on
Friday. In the absence of a deal, this fall, we are going to have to make plans
for the future accordingly.
The impasse, after a year of talks, has increased the prospect of what the
Americans call the zero option complete withdrawal when the NATO
combat mission concludes at the end of 2014. That is precisely the outcome
they hoped to avoid in Afghanistan, after having engaged in a similarly
problematic withdrawal from Iraq two years ago.
Moreover, a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan could be far costlier
than it was in Iraq. It would force European powers to pull their forces as well,
risking a dangerous collapse in confidence among Afghans and giving a boost to
the Taliban, which remain a potent threat.
It could also jeopardize vital aid commitments. Afghanistan is decades
away from self-sufficiency it currently covers only about 20 percent of its own
bills, with the rest paid by the United States and its allies
863
867
Iran
An accord on nukes: In the August issue of the New York Review of
Books, three top US diplomats and academics, Thomas Pickering, William
Luers and Jim Walsh, backed by two former presidential national security
advisors, Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski, suggested what realistic
first steps for making a deal should be: The US would accept Irans peaceful
nuclear programme... Iran would agree to limit its 20 per cent enrichment
programme and not to stockpile such material or, alternatively, end
enrichment in return for a guaranteed supply of fuel elements [perhaps from its
friend, Russia]. Iran would also agree not to separate plutonium, which could be
used for an implosion bomb. In addition, Iran would open up all its facilities to
greater and more frequent oversight by the UNs International Atomic Energy
Agency. The US would agree to a process for the step-by-step lifting of all the
UN sanctions in response to further progress.
This sounds right, although I do think some lifting of the sanctions should
begin now as a goodwill gesture, after all similar sanctions used against the Iraq
868
India
Exchanging pleasantries: The much-anticipated meeting of Sharif and
Singh finally took place on Sunday, with expectant eyes waiting for the results
of what is supposed to be Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs keystone in foreign
policy. As expected however, there was not enough substance in what was said,
and the discussion generally skimmed over aspects of the relationship that both
countries were likely to address, once they engage in proper communication.
Given the pre-meeting confrontations that took place, added to both speeches
made by the PM and his counterpart, it was pretty clear to all parties as to what
interests would dictate the future relationship.
Both sides came out of the meeting with positive feelings, mild though
they were. Without too much fanfare, Menon and Jillani, the two regents in
this duel between the two premieres, separately briefed the press on the issues
that were brought up and their optimism regarding this first encounter. Jammu
and Kashmir, Balochistan, Siachin, Sir Creek and the age-old water issues were
discussed, along with the terrorism threat, the 2008 Mumbai case and the recent
LoC skirmishes.
On the last issue, both countries tasked their DGMOs to improve the
situation. Some may see this as a positive step, but in truth its merely an
administrative detail. With regards to the Mumbai attacks, Sharif tried to placate
Singh with the usual work in progress response. Both countries recognize
that, being neighbours, they both suffer from the effects of terrorism and India
wanted Pakistan to clarify its stance on the threat. Pakistan also believes that
India has connections to the Balochistan instability and wanted Singh to give
assurances on that count. The other issues have now become a part of history in
the relationship between the two, and it its a good thing that both agree that
these need to be solved in order to move forward and build a mutually
beneficial relationship.
Critics of the process have accused Nawaz of starting the process on the
back foot, with the recent bashing Pakistan has received over terrorism, but it
seems he has kept his nerve and initiated the dialogue. Singh also faces similar
criticism from his country, where hardliners claim that Pakistan is only hatching
yet another evil plan to somehow destabilize the regime. The points made in the
869
meeting were not the important factor here, instead the meeting itself indicates
both countries are finally entering a potentially positive future, where a mature
relationship might not be out of the question, regardless of the opposition they
face from those that see an advantage in maintaining the volatile attitudes. The
fact that the meeting took place and both parties ignored the hostility, may be a
sign of good things to come. (Editorial, TheNation 1st October)
Islamabads myopic view of New Delhi! Self-denial of fundamental
ground realities and a humiliating illusionistic perceptive, largely induced by
US pressures and its unending demands, has become a political and morally
bankrupt dilemma for Pakistans foreign policy establishment in Islamabad in
its political discourse towards India. Islamabad wants the warm embrace of an
everlasting political romance with New Delhi, a non-realistic dream in itself,
without realizing that it takes two to tango. How long are we going to act as
imbeciles chasing a mirage that only exists in the imaginativeness of our own
minds eye?
Who would not want to live in friendship and peace with ones neighbors?
But what if the neighbor throws bricks at your rooftop every day? St.
Augustines tale of a pirate is instructive in this context: In the City of God, St.
Augustine tells the story of a pirate captured by Alexander the Great. The
Emperor angrily demanded of him, How dare you molest the seas to which the
pirate replied, How dare you molest the whole world? Because I do it with a
small boat, I am called a pirate and a thief. You, with a great navy, molest the
world and are called an emperor. St. Augustine thought the pirates answer was
elegant and excellent. (Quoted by Noam Chomsky in Pirates and Emperors)
Metaphorically speaking, the fact of the matter is that India is big; it ought
to behave like a Big Brother but it does not. Pakistan is small and it ought to
act as a respectful sibling consistent with the Subcontinents culture of tolerance
and peaceful co-existence. But Big Brothers belligerence, self-centeredness
and all the pie is mine attitude has turned the sibling into a rowdy rebel. For
the last six decades the rebel has been demanding Big Brothers wholehearted loving and fair attention that the Big Brother is incapable of giving
because of its intrinsic, genetic and historical cognitive development. It claims
that the entire playing field is its domain irrespective of the siblings legitimate
rights and fairness expected of Big Brothers moral conduct.
It is in the context of this mindset that the concept of Akund Bahrat lives
on in Indian minds even today. So let us not, on the urgings of others, indulge in
self-denial: India and Pakistan are two neighbors in emotional, strategic and
psychological warfare, throwing bricks at each other for the last six decades
and will continue to do for the foreseeable future. Let us face facts, come to
terms with historical realities and call a spade a spade.
870
I have already written in one of my previous articles some time ago that a
full-scale or a limited war between Pakistan and India is not a possibility
anymore. We are both nuclear powers. Nuclear deterrence and mutual
destruction is a guarantee against an all-out war. India will not venture,
irrespectively of its rhetoric as psychological warfare, into a limited military
conflict because it knows Pakistan has superiority in tactical small-range
nuclear military hardware that could inflict humiliation on any of its enemys
adventures. So what are Indias options: covert actions to destabilize Pakistan
internally if it wishes to choose so Ironically, it is doing so at the moment? So
what are Pakistans options?
Islamabad needs to ensure Pakistans military input in its foreign policy
initiative towards India. It needs to strengthen the ISI role as a powerful
counter-insurgency instrument of its foreign-policy-making process. Islamabad
needs to go on a global diplomatic offensive to highlight Indian covert activities
within Pakistan and its state terrorism in held Kashmir. My argument here is not
to suggest a total diplomatic or political disengagement with India or a political
discourse leading to an escalation of conflict between two nations. What I am
saying here is hold the bull by its horns and then go forward in pursuit of goals
common to the interests of both nations. Be realistic in your approach stop
being illusionistic, be determined, be firm do whatever is necessary without
being complacent to others demands and dictates. Islamabad needs to follow an
independent foreign policy (I am aware of the domestic problematics in this
respect but that is a separate issue to be addressed intensively).
It is worth noting that the incumbent Pakistani Prime Minister has not
always been so conceptually and strategically narrow-minded, at least
rhetorically, on this particular issue. In 1997, Nawaz Sharif was able to bring
Pak-Indian relationships to an equitable balance-of-power level. Now Islamabad
wants to inspire a total pro-Pakistan strategic response from India without
realizing and acknowledging the fact that this is not the strategic foreign policy
vision of India in 2013.
Todays India is demanding regional hegemony in partnership with the US
and is claiming global eminence as a regional super-power. It is not 1997 that
was a long time ago.
New ground realities demand new approaches to our relationship with
India. Are we willing to be a satellite state to Indian hegemony?
So far, Islamabads myopic view of New Delhi appears to be in that
direction! Will the Pakistani nation accept it? I do not think so do you? (Dr
Haider Mehdi, TheNation 3rd October)
Talking to a lame-duck: The writing is on the wall. The UPA coalition
government in India is in no position to negotiate on any issue with the
Pakistani government and therefore the meeting was just a photo opportunity
872
that was utilized by both Dr Manmohan Singh and Mian Nawaz Sharif. Nothing
of substance came out of the meeting between the two Prime Ministers that was
held in New York. There has been a frenzied demand by the Indian media and
the BJP demanding the Indian Prime Minister to cancel his meeting with the
Pakistani Prime Minister due to the issue of terrorism and tensions on the line of
control
The BJP on its part was playing the communal card very effectively and
was being supported by the Hindu extremist parties like RSS and Shiv Sehna
who have once again drummed up the issue of Babri mosque and Ram mandir
to play with the emotions of the Hindu majority of that country. The BJP has
during its election rallies launched virulent attacks against Pakistan whipping up
hysteria with the support of several media outlets in India who regularly receive
funds from Indian intelligence agencies and therefore tow their line as and when
required by the Indian establishment. While the meeting that was insisted by the
Pakistani side could have helped the Congress party to win support during the
coming election, their chances of re-election to the corridors of power are very
slim and the chances of Mr Narendra Modi, a fanatic Hindu who supervised the
massacre of Muslims in Gujrat being its Chief Minister could emerge as the
front runner for the job of Indian Prime Minister. While it would be prudent for
the Pakistani government to engage the BJP in constructive dialogue, ignoring
the election rhetoric of that party. It would then become easier for the
government of Pakistan to do business with the next government in India.
However, if a weak coalition government emerges in our neighbouring country,
it will become very difficult for both the countries to achieve any meaningful
progress especially on contentious issues that remain unresolved between India
and Pakistan.
The American government could have played a role by nudging India to
the negotiating table with a clear cut agenda so that this troubled region could
hope for peace. One hopes that the issues raised by both the Prime Minister
during their meeting in New York would receive the attention they deserve by
the two respective governments and that once the Indian general elections are
over, a peace process with honesty of purpose could begin so that the everyday
lives of the common people in both India and Pakistan could improve. While
Pakistan has initiated several confidence building measures designed to support
the peace process, the Indian government has due to their domestic political
compulsions and their traditional hypocrisy failed to make any sincere effort
that could bring peace and prosperity in an entire region. (Azam Khalil,
TheNation 4th October)
Much ado about nothing? It should be noted that Pakistan would like
good relations with India, based on a solving of all outstanding problems.
However, the Indian political scene offers little hope. On the one hand there is
Congress, which has been against Pakistan since its inception, and which was at
873
the helm during all of Indias wars against Pakistan. On the other is the BJP,
which attacks Congress for being too soft on Pakistan. Add to this a Sikh Prime
Minister and a Muslim Foreign Minister (not to forget an Italian party chief),
and you will have an Indian team which is more interested in covering itself
against BJP noises of a sell-out than of making progress with Pakistan.
Another important dimension is that Singh is noted as an economic
reformer, not as a diplomat, with his main claim to fame before becoming PM
being as Finance Minister in the 1990s. The BJP has thus put up another
supposedly good economic manager as its standard-bearer, based on his
performance as Gujarat Chief Minister since he took office. However, Modi
also presided over anti-Muslim riots in 2002 that add to his patriotic credentials,
and lend point to his anti-Pakistan rhetoric. Whether or not the Indian electorate
realizes it, there is a policy consensus on Pakistan. However, the area on which
the competition is taking place, the economy, which has begun to sputter, should
indicate that the government will have a relatively freer hand in dealing with
Pakistan. At the same time, it is this sputtering which has tempted Congress to
fight the election on an anti-Pakistan platform, on which the BJP is also willing
to meet it. In his desire for good relations, Mian Nawaz may be overestimating
the strength of the Indian business lobby, which wants good relations with
Pakistan so that it can penetrate its markets.
It is not as if Mian Nawaz is new to dealing with Indian Prime Ministers.
Manmohan is actually the fourth he has had as a counterpart. He must not need
telling that the traditional stubbornness has been shown once again. One reason
why Pakistan might have seemed apologetic is because India has shown its
characteristic wish to establish a regional hegemony by trying to control the
agenda, and have it reflect only its concerns. Pakistan must not let a desire for
goodwill allow anyone to ride over its sovereignty. (M A Niazi, TheNation 4 th
October)
VK Singhs covert operations: Former Indian Army Chief (2010-2012),
General Vijay Kumar Singhs admission of operating the TSD (Technical
Services Division) and the surreptitious use of Secret Service (SS) funds to
bribe Jammu & Kashmir Minister of Agriculture Ghulam Hasan Mir to engineer
a change in the State Government, have created a furor amongst the politicians
of Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and embarrassed the Indian Army. More
importantly, his frank admissions have confirmed this scribe and numerous
other analysts comments for years that the Indian Army, under the influence of
Hindu extremist groups, is calling the shots and has been machinating to
destabilize Pakistan. This is contrary to Indian claims of being the worlds
largest democracy.
874
IOKs National Conference leadership has been asserting that the 2010
violence in the state was orchestrated by General VK Singh during his tenure as
Indian Army Chief and he is culpable for the prevailing state of morass in IOK.
VK Singh revealed on a local TV Channel that the Indian Army doles out
cash to those political figures in IOK who help the Indian Federal Government
in maintaining stability in the state and keeping it under unyielding Indian
control. VK Singh revealed that Indian Army has a mechanism to provide
money to selected leaders in Jammu & Kashmir but failed to explain as to
where such money was exactly spent. Reacting to the confession, National
Conference has demanded a probe by either the judiciary or Central Bureau of
Investigation (CBI) into the SS funds scam.
The disclosure by the Indian Army Chief corroborates Indias coercive
tactics to keep Kashmir illegitimately under its rule. To fulfill its hegemonic
design, both carrot and stick policies are being used. Draconian laws like the
Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) wreak havoc on the hapless
Kashmiris while corrupt politicians are bribed to enforce a farcical calm and
sabotage the freedom struggle. Simultaneously, Pakistan is falsely blamed for
cross border terrorism to maintain pressure on Indias arch rival.
A senior Indian TDS official has confessed that the outfit was disbanded on
the plea that it started spying on the members of Indian Defence Ministry. In
fact its disbandment was ordered as professionals employed in the TDS have
found signs of involvement of Indian Defence Ministry in terrorism and violent
acts of sabotage.
For Pakistan, the expos confirms age-old suspicion that Indian Military
Intelligence UnitTDShas been illegally operating inside Pakistan for which
India owes an explanation to Pakistan. It is imperative that our Foreign Office
seek an explanation from the Indian Government, asking it to clarify its position
and extend an apology to Pakistani public for putting their lives and property at
risk.
General VK Singh has appeared in public sharing the dais with Narendra
Modi, hardliner BJP leader. Indian whistleblower Tehelka.com had presented
'irrefutable' evidence that the killings of Muslims post-Godhra train carnage in
Gujarat was 'not a spontaneous swell of anger but a genocide' planned and
executed by top functionaries of the Sangh Parivar and state authorities 'with the
sanction' of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the nominee for the slot
of Prime Minister if BJP comes to power in the forthcoming general elections.
It must be remembered that various acts of terrorism targeting Muslims in
India like the attack on the Malegaon mosque, along with explosions at Ajmer's
Sufi shrine, Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid, an explosion in Delhi's Jamia Masjid,
bombing of Samjhota Express (killing 60 Pakistanis) and an explosion in
Gujarat are linked to a terror campaign of Abhinav Bharat, a group of ultra875
REVIEW
Anti-dialogue forces the sponsored militant groups and embedded media
houses increased the pressure on the government to abandon the idea of
negotiated solution to the ongoing militancy in Pakistan. The militants of that
category intensified attacks in and around Peshawar, the power seat of PTI the
leader of which has been vehemently opposing military operation over dialogue.
The militants then escalated their attacks to all the four provincial capitals
on 10th October to send the message to all the like-minded of Imran Khan. The
message was quickly picked up by the media intellectuals working over-time for
initiation of military operation.
Meanwhile, Hakimullah Mehsud, in his interview to BBC, denied
involvement in recent terror attacks, but reiterated his demands of ending drone
attacks and release of prisoners. He went on to blame the government of
Pakistan for doing nothing for meaningful dialogue. He accused government of
leaving the matter to media, adding that he and his network cannot pursue
dialogue through this uncanny way.
Earlier, Mulla Baradar was released to facilitate dialogue with Afghans
led by Mulla Omar fighting against the foreign forces that have occupied their
homeland. Pakistani intelligence agents have been following him on his heels
hampering him in establishing the contacts with his boss and comrades. This
may compromise the purpose of his release i.e. to facilitate dialogue with
Taliban.
The puppet Karzai has been showing for more nerves as compared to his
Pakistani counterparts, while negotiating a deal with the US for post 2014
876
scenario. He has still not agreed to allow the left-over occupation forces to
operate in Afghanistan at their will and have immunity as well..
Singh-Sharif meeting on the other side of globe has done little in defusing
the tensions along Line of Control in Kashmir. Indian military leadership has
been in belligerent mood and continued violating ceasefire truce almost on daily
basis, killing and wounding innocent civilians; forcing even the Quiet General
to speak.
Couple of days after shaking hand with Manmohan Singh in Obama-land,
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had also seen foreign hand in terror attacks in
Pakistan On his way back to Pakistan, he vowed to expose the external
elements behind terrorism. So far he has shied away from revealing that.
14th October, 2013
POLLS CREDIBILITY
The checking of thumb impressions of voters in two National Assembly
constituencies of Karachi won by the candidates of PML-N and MQM exposed
the credibility of the May 11 polls. The exposure, however, failed to cause any
877
NEWS
Power politics: On 25th September, a bench of the Lahore High Court
sought assistance of Attorney General on petitions of PPP, PTI and others
challenging Punjab Local Government Law 2013. The bench directed the AGP
to appear in person and assist the court over the matter. The court adjourned the
further hearing for October 8.
Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial heading the bench remarked that the
Supreme Court had issued order regarding Local Bodies elections. At this the
PPPs counsel Sardar Latif Khosa submitted that the Supreme Court has only
directed the government to hold elections but the issue of party less or party
based elections is to be decided by the Lahore High Court.
Next day, the Supreme Court directed the provinces to hold local bodies
(LB) elections after Muharram, warning that if polls are further delayed, it
might order revival of the old LB laws and holding of election under the old
system. During the proceedings, the CJP remarked that everyone (provincial
governments and Islamabad Capital Territory authority) was giving different
date for local bodies elections.
The chief justice said they could not allow anyone to make constitution
ineffective. The Additional Attorney General and the Advocate Generals of all
the provinces were directed to file replies and then, the court said, it would
examine any other option to enforce the constitutional provisions, particularly
Article 140A. The court also asked the learned counsels to provide the details
about old LB polls of their respective provinces. On the requests of the AAG
and the advocate generals the chief justice adjourned the hearing until October
1.
878
On 30th September, the ECP has decided to inform the apex court about not
holding the Local Bodies election this year as the provincial governments have
not yet provided them with the rules and new delimitation of constituencies.
Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah has said that work regarding
new delimitations in Sindh will be completed in one month.
The Supreme Court has disqualified PML-N MPA from PP-81 Jhang,
Iftikhar Ahmed Khan in fake degree case. Supreme Court had called Iftikhar to
give personal appearance and he appeared in court along with his counsel
Akram Sheikh. The court gave him some lines of English language for reading
which he failed to read, on this court disqualified him due to holding of fake
degree.
On 2nd October, the Supreme Court directed the provincial governments,
Islamabad Capital Territory and the ECP that in compliance of its order hold
Local Government elections soon. If the Article 140A is not enforced then the
consequences would follow, the chief justice stated. Article 140A (1) of the
Constitution says; Each Province shall, by law, establish a local government
system and devolve political, administrative and financial responsibility and
authority to the elected representatives of the local governments.
On 7th October, the Nadra submitted its report of thumbprint verification
for NA-256 (Karachi) to the Election Tribunal, which revealed massive rigging.
MQM candidate Iqbal Muhammad Khan had won the seat. Out of 84,748 votes
checked in the constituency 11,343 ballot papers contained invalid CNIC
numbers which were never issued by the registration authority. Fake voting was
observed in three different polling stations and about 791 votes were found not
registered in the constituency.
Report further said there are 5,839 duplicate votes while a resident of
Gulistan-e-Johar Block-13 namely Shakir Zaheer holding CNIC (422015796395-3) had cast seven votes. No thumb impressions were found on 314
ballot papers. The report said Nadra was sent 8, 4748 ballots for the verification
out of which 6,815 were successfully authenticated and 57,642 carrying poor
quality of the thumb impression were not matched by the Nadra system. About
1,950 ballots CNIC numbers did not match with CNIC mentioned on the
counterfoils.
PTI`s Zubair Khan had challenged the poll results in Election Tribunal. ET
ordered Nadra for verification of voters thumb impressions on ballot papers and
PTI candidate submitted the amount of about Rs 900,000 in this regard as the
Nadra has placed a charge of Rs 10 on the verification of each ballot paper.
PTIs candidate Sheikh Khurrum Shahzad won by-elections for provincial
assembly constituency PP-72. By-elections were held as PML-N MPA Khawaja
Muhammad Islam was disqualified in a fake degree case. The PTIs candidate
took 23,972 votes and won the by-elections while PML-N candidate Khawaja
879
Liaquat, the brother of ex-MPA Khawaja Islam, took 18,256 votes. PPP
candidate and city president Rana Mushtaq stood third.
It merits mentioning here that PP-72 is the first constituency won by PTI in
Faisalabad out of the 11 national and 22 provincial assembly seats in Faisalabad
city district, and this is also the first constituency lost by PML-N in Faisalabad
as all other national and provincial assembly seats are with the PML-N.
Next day, Imran Khan said, We have accepted the election results and not
rigging. He said if they are not provided justice, they would launch massive
campaign against the May 11 election rigging. Imran asked the Chief Justice of
Pakistan to look into the matter of electoral rigging and set a precedent for other
constituencies by probing into the rigging issue of four constituencies identified
by the PTI.
On 9th October, the Nadra Chairman appeared along with Election
Commission Secretary at a joint press conference. Both urged the media and
political parties to wait for the judgments of election petitions by Election
Tribunals and do not jump to conclusions. In a damage-control bid, Nadra
Chairman said that magnetic ink was not used during May 11 general elections
in NA-256 and NA-258 constituencies; hence they were unable to verify votes.
His comments came a couple of days after revelations were made that a Nadra
report exposed massive rigging in NA-256 Karachi.
He said no result should be drawn from the Nadra report as the case was
still pending in the court. The Nadra chairman said that it was the ECPs
responsibility to procure magnetic ink for the voting process. He said that ink
samples provided in December and January were rejected, adding that sample
which was sent in September last year was approved.
The ECP secretary said that the system had started working and the world
had applauded ECP system. He said that for the first time voter lists containing
photographs of voters were used and thumb impressions of voters were affixed
on the ballot papers for subsequent verification. He said the system has started
bearing fruit and hoped that this would ensure more fairness of electoral process
in future.
Next day, the chief of Pakistans premier scientific body rejected the
allegations of his department providing allegedly substandard magnetic ink used
in general polls leveled by the poll authority. We are ready to have our
magnetic ink tested at any scientific forum, lab or research facility to prove that
we prepare one of the best and lab-tested magnetic inks, said Pakistan Council
for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) chairman.
His response came a day after the ECP had accused the PCSIR of
providing substandard ink used in the May 11 General Elections. Is it even
possible that some votes were verifiable and some were not if the magnetic ink
880
was substandard? Does this make any sense? Had that ink been substandard, not
a single vote would have been verified, Parvez referred to the detection of
unverified votes in NA-256 and NA-258.
We are just surprised to know that PCSIR is being dragged into the
controversy. As I said, had the magnetic ink been substandard, not a single vote
would have been verified. Its beyond comprehension how some votes could be
readable and some not if the magnetic ink lacked the desired standard.
The political parties, especially the PTI, have categorically slammed the
ECP for its failure to act against what it describes as unprecedented poll rigging
on May 11. The partys 2500-page White Paper pinpoints hundreds of instances
of the poll rigging along with documentary evidence. Former ECP secretary
Kanwar Dilshad, who has publicly termed this years general elections as
greatest fraud in Pakistans history, says that the detection of unverified votes
in the two constituencies is just a tip of the iceberg.
On 11th October, the Ministry of Science and Technology constituted a
three-member committee to probe into the allegations regarding allegedly
substandard ink/magnetic inkpads supplied to the ECP during the general
elections 2013. The committee is to prepare its findings by November 1. The
development followed a meeting held in Karachi between the senior officials of
the ECP and Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR).
Next day, former secretary ECP Kanwar Dilshad said that the detection of
thousands of fake votes in two National Assembly constituencies of Karachi has
greatly challenged the credibility of May 11 general elections. He has demanded
of the ECP to conduct an impartial and speedy probe to find out the number of
fake votes in all the electoral constituencies across Pakistan.
Dilshad demanded of the NADRA and ECP not to charge a single penny
from candidates who wanted thumb impression verification in their
constituencies. From the two Karachi constituencies, it becomes crystal clear
that there could be thousands of bogus votes in every constituency. It is the
candidates right to go for thumb impression verification. Why charge them, he
questioned.
The Returning Officers (ROs) are directly responsible for this fiasco. They
have direct role in rigging the elections on the behest of political parties and
adding insult to injury, the ECP machinery could not stop them. It is a shameful
episode in our history. The public mandate was never ridiculed the way it was,
on May 11, he added.
Governance: On 2nd October, it was reported that the two new nominees
for the appointment of chairman NAB were also involved in the illegal
appointments of former chairman and member gas of OGRA. Abdul Rauf
Chaudhary, former secretary cabinet, was involved in illegal appointment of
881
former member gas OGRA and the second nominee Shaukat Durrani was
member of the selection committee for the selection of Tauqir Sadiq, former
chairman OGRA. Next day, the meeting scheduled for October 4 between Prime
Minister and Leader of Opposition in National Assembly was postponed due to
hectic engagements of PM. They were to finalize the name of chairman NAB.
On 8th October, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader agreed on Chaudhry
Qamar Zaman to be head of the NAB. NAB has been rudderless for over three
months since the ouster of its previous chief. Progress on several key cases,
including those related to PPP bigwig Asif Zardari and Ns president Nawaz
Sharif, has been in a limbo ever since. Some had viewed the delay in reaching a
consensus on a nominee as a way to delay investigations.
Zaman, who has been holding the slot of federal interior secretary since
2009 and is set to retire on February 20 next year, is known for his competence
and neutrality. Since he is quite straightforward, he had remained in hot waters
for some time during PPPs previous government. Zaman had also worked as
education secretary.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf spokesperson Dr Shireen Mazari rejected Zaman
as NAB chairman, branding him as a stooge in the hands of the two leading
parties. She rejected Khursheed Shahs claim that her party had been contacted
about the matter. No contact was made whatsoever. She said they would utilize
all legal and constitutional means to oppose this appointment what she called
mukmuka (a deal) between two major political players in the Parliament.
Next day, on the advice of Prime Minister, President Mamnoon signed the
summary for the appointment of Ch Qamar Zaman as NAB Chairman. The
prime minister called on the president wherein host of matters came under
discussion and the summary for the appointment of Ch Qamar Zaman was also
signed by the latter. A formal notification in this connection would be issued in
a couple of days by law ministry.
On 10th October, Law Ministry issued a notification for the formal
appointment of Qamar Zaman Chaudhry as the new Chairman of the NAB.
Meanwhile, PTI believed that the appointment of new Chairman NAB was the
result of a deal between the two major political parties PPP and PML-N, Central
Secretary Information PTI Shireen Mazari issued a statement explaining why
the new NAB chief designate is highly unsuited to this position.
Mazari pointed out that the manner in which this appointment was done
was neither in keeping with the spirit of the National Accountability Ordinance
(NAO) 1999 nor completely legal. The NAO, 1999 as it stands today states that
a person shall not be appointed as Chairman NAB unless he is a retired chief
justice or a judge of the Supreme Court or a chief justice of a High Court, or he
is a retired officer of the armed forces of Pakistan equivalent to the rank of a
882
883
such polls in KPK. The court appreciated the Sindh governments efforts to
hold the LB polls earliest. The hearing was adjourned till 26th September.
On 25th September, the Supreme Court declared the appointment of Air
Marshal (r) Khalid Chaudhry as DG CAA illegal, void ab initio and without any
legal authority. The government was directed to appoint the new DG CAA by
following relevant laws and principles of transparency.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice, after hearing the arguments of all the
parties regarding delay in the construction of New Benazir Bhutto International
Airport and the appointment of DG CAA, announced the short order; the
reasons will be spelt out later. It involves illegality, corruption and corrupt
practices and the delay is due to the illegal deeds, omission and commission of
consultant Louis Berger and all the other persons responsible for preparing the
design and awarding contract to contractors, the order said.
The airport was to be completed with Rs35 billion by December 2011. Due
to the delay, its cost has exceeded Rs73 billion and it may further escalate to Rs
90 billion. The court ordered the federal government to take all the necessary
steps to ensure the completion of the project as early as possible.
Earlier, the Civil Aviation Division secretary said that the selection of the
project site was faulty and to date there was no water for the project. Initially, it
was planned that water would be supplied from the nearby Shahpur Dam is
without enough water and is located at a distance of 21 kilometers. The PC-1 of
the project was approved at all levels without a design and other essential
components, he added. The court rejected his statement and said they were
aware of these facts.
On 27th September, the Supreme Court accepting the plea of PTA granted
more time for completion of the 3G spectrum auction and licences in a
transparent manner till October 14. During the proceedings, Deputy Attorney
General (DAG) for Pakistan Imran-ul-Haq produced copies of PTA members
appointment notifications before the bench and sought more time to initiate the
process of 3G spectrum auction and licences. The court adjourned hearing till
October 14.
On 2nd October, the Supreme Court declared the agreement between the
DHA and the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) null and void. The court
headed by Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry while deciding a suo
moto case pertaining to the ETPB land of billions of rupees sold for peanuts
also ordered for initiating criminal proceedings against ETPB Chairman and
others, adding that FIA should soon complete the investigation.
The Chief Justice had taken suo moto notice on a letter sent by members of
Sikh community stating therein that Chairman ETPB had been selling the
evacuee property especially attached to their worship places. We are of the
884
satisfied that the offender has genuinely repented and seeks forgiveness of Allah
for the Qatl-i-amd (murder by intention) committed by him.
He asked whether an admission of Qatl-i-amd, as determined by the trial or
appellate court together with a plea expressing repentance and remorse and
seeking the forgiveness of Allah, should be an integral part of any application
for waiver or compounding, as the case may be. Whether when application for
waiver or compounding is made, the court should cause the offender to be
produced before it and record his admission that he did commit Qatl-i-amd, that
he is penitent and remorseful, and that he seeks the forgiveness of Allah.
He asked whether, when application for waiver or compounding is made
before the trial has commenced or concluded, the court may convict an offender
on the basis of his admission that he has committed Qatl-i-amd, which
admission must accompany the application for waiver or compounding as the
case may be, and the court may also record such other evidence as it may deem
fit to adjudge whether the principle of fasad-fil-arz (mischief on earth) is
attracted.
Whether the injunction of the Holy Quran, as set out in Surah al-Maidah
verses 32, means that any Qatl-i-amd committed by an offender is Qatl-i-amd of
the people of Pakistan. Whether the court and the state/government [as Wali
(heir and guardian) of the people of Pakistan] have, keeping in view Surah alMaidah verses 32 and 33, Surah al-Anam verse Ayat 151 and also Article 9 of
the Constitution, a religious, constitutional and legal duty to ensure punishment
of every Qatl-i-amd under either Sec 302(b) PPC or Sec 302(c) PPC or Sec 311
PPC notwithstanding any waiver or compounding by the Wali of the victim.
Whether the concept/explanation of fasad-fil-arz as set out in S 311 PPC
includes within its ambit cases in which the Qatl-i-amd is accompanied by
commission of other offences such as dacoity, robbery, gang rape, rape, child
molestation, terrorist acts, etc, cases in which the Qatl-i-amd is committed in a
manner that terrorizes the community e.g. through use of automatic weapons,
and cases in which an offender shows no penitence or remorse and rather
glories in the Qatl-i-amd committed by him.
Whether the satisfaction of the court that a Wali is waiving or
compounding his right of Qisas voluntarily and without duress requires the
court to inquire: whether the Wali or a relative has been detained or kidnapped
by the relatives of the offender. Whether there has been any other harassment of
the Wali or a relative by the relatives of the offender; whether any political or
other outside pressures have been brought to bear on the Wali; whether the
waiver or compounding will promote the well-being of the Wali in financial and
societal terms; whether the Wali is convinced that the offender has repented and
genuinely seeks the forgiveness of Allah; whether the Wali has had the benefit
886
of proper help and guidance from legal and other advisors, and any other
relevant considerations in the peculiar facts and circumstances of each case.
The Supreme Court declared the illegal promotion of 80 BS-20 to 21
officers as null and void and ordered the government to undertake an exercise to
outline the objective criteria for promotion to make the civil servant an honest
officer and free from political pressure. The PPP-led government during the last
month of its tenure made the out-of-turn promotions of senior bureaucrats,
which were challenged by noted columnist Orya Maqbool Jan, a petitioner.
The Sindh High Court accepted former president Asif Ali Zardari's request
for security as he feared that his life was in danger. Zardari's lawyer, Senator
Farooq Naek had submitted a petition in the SHC, making the Sindh chief
secretary, Rangers and federal government respondents. The petition maintained
that former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, the late wife of Asif Ali Zardari,
was killed and he feared the same for himself. The petition stated that the
former president faced threats from the Taliban.
The SHC has allowed the Zardari to keep a bullet proof vehicle and private
guards on his own expense. Speaking to media, Naek said the former president
did not want to burden the national exchequer for his security. According to
BBC, the former president seeks 100 arms licences from government over
security concerns.
On 8th October, Swiss authorities conveyed to Pakistan that the request of
the PML-N government to reopen the pending graft cases against former
president Zardari cannot be entertained as the cases are time-barred. In their
latest response, the Swiss authorities reiterated that the time to re-open graft
cases worth $60 million against Zardari had passed. Interestingly, the Swiss
response came the day the PML-N and the PPP agreed on a NAB chief
nominee.
Islamabad police booked a prominent and respected lawyer of Supreme
Court Salman Akram Raja under the Telegraph Act, for allegedly threatening
Justice Jawad S Khawaja of Supreme Court of Pakistan through a mobile text
message. Assistant Registrar Supreme Court Ijaz Ahmed reported to the
Secretariat police station, 7th October, that Salman Akram Raja advocate on July
27, 2013 had allegedly threatened senior judge of Supreme Court Justice Jawad
S Khawja by sending a mobile text message on cell phone.
On 11th October, in the light of Supreme Court judgment regarding NRO,
an accountability court reopened six references against Zardari, who does not
enjoy legal immunity anymore. Taking a suo motu notice, Islamabad
Accountability Court (AC)-1 judge Bashir Ahmed ordered reopening of six
pending NAB references against the former president and directed Prosecutor
General Accountability (PGA) and Zardari to respond within two weeks.
887
These references had been deferred and put on hold on 28 January 2010 as
Zardari upon his being elected head of the state enjoyed constitutional immunity
under Article 248 of the constitution. The references against the former
president include those regarding SGS, Cotechna, ARY, polo ground and Ursus
tractors.
888
Akbar Bugti assassination case. A petition was moved in Islamabad High Court
by Haroon Rashid son of Ghazi Abdul Rashid for placing former military ruler
on the exit control list to prevent his passage abroad.
Reportedly, the government was worried about the security threats to
former president Pervez Musharraf and as he had refused to leave the country
even after getting bail in the last pending case against him on Thursday, the
government was left with no choice but to implicate him in another case so that
the extraordinary security provided to him at his Chak Shahzad farmhouse
could be justified. Otherwise after getting bail in all the pending cases
Musharraf lose the entitlement of high-profile security given to him while in
state custody.
A bench headed by Chief Justice heard the case of enforced disappearance
of Masood Janjua, the husband of Amina Masood Janjua. The Court directed
Additional Attorney General to himself procure the affidavits of six military and
intelligence officers, which should be duly attested by the Secretary Ministry of
Defence. Amna had submitted the list of 11 army officers including former
President General Pervez Musharaf, Brigadier Javed Iqbal Cheema, Brigadier
Javed Iqbal Lodhi, Col Jehangir Akhtar, Col Habibullah, Brigadier Mansoor
Saeed Sheikh, Lt General Nusrat Naeem, Lt General Shafqat Ahmed and Lt
General Nadeem Taj.
On 11th October, a local court sent former military ruler Pervez Musharraf
to jail on fourteen days judicial remand in Ghazi Abdul Rashid murder case.
The court also accepted another application seeking exemption for Musharrafs
appearance before the court in the case on security grounds.
Taming, linking the militarys support to strengthening the democratic
process with mutual trust between the state institutions, army chief warned that
insult and clash of institutions could weaken the country. It is essential that
military command keep playing its role for strengthening democracy in Pakistan
but it would only be possible with enhancing mutual trust between the state
institutions, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani said
while addressing a cadets passing out ceremony in Abbottabad.
The relationship between the state institutions is not exemplary anywhere
(in the world). It is marked with mistakes, the way theyve been made in
Pakistan. The society has a pivotal role to identify these mistakes through
constructive criticism but insulting the institutions in the name of criticism only
ends up weakening the country, he said. Due criticism is justified but insulting
(the institutions) should always be avoided, General Kayani said.
General Kayanis statement came conspicuously a day after the Supreme
Court had served contempt notice to Defence Secretary Lieutenant General (r)
Asif Yasin Malik, one of Kayanis trusted aides and a former corps commander,
890
for not complying with the court orders and resorting to delaying tactics in
conducting the local government elections in the cantonment boards.
Denying any pressure whatsoever from Army or from another quarter in
the cases against former military dictator General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf,
Nisar Ali Khan made it clear that his (Musharrafs) name was on the Exit
Control List and would remain on the list until asked for removal by the apex
judiciary. He said that the major hurdle in the FIA probe into the high treason
case against Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf was his arrest in other cases and the
moment he was released in these cases on bail, the FIA would engage him in the
investigation into the case.
Pervez Musharraf filed his bail plea in a case related to the murder of
former Lal Masjid cleric Ghazi Abdul Rashid and his mother Sahiba Khatoon.
The counsel for Musharraf, submitted the application in district and sessions
court on the behalf of former president to get bail for him in the murder case.
891
The PML-N, which had made tall claims of making Pakistan an Asian
Tiger, is now setting aside all its promises, saying that harsh monetary policies
are a necessity of the time. The government says it has inherited a dilapidated
economy and IMF loan was essential to save the country from defaulting.
The power tariff jolt comes ahead of Eidul Azha so it is bound to be even
more painful for the already heavily burdened people. The common man and the
salaried class would find it even more difficult to manage their home budget. As
the electronic media broke the news of new power tariff increase, people from
different walks of life expressed their strong resentment over it terming it
another cruel act of the present government.
The government, to rub salt into peoples wounds, also increased prices of
petroleum products with effect from today. Petrol price has gone up by Rs4.12
per litre, kerosene by Rs2.14, diesel (HSD) by Rs4.69, light diesel by Rs2.83
and high octane blended component (HOBC) by Rs5.57. With this massive
hike, the new per litre price of petrol would be Rs113.25, HSD Rs116.95, LDO
Rs101.24, kerosene Rs108.13 and HOBC Rs143.90.
Rejecting the unprecedented hike in power tariff terming it a callous act of
the government with serious implications for the people already reeling under
the impact of inflation, the opposition parties have announced to launch
countrywide protests to force the government to take back its decision.
The PPP and the PTI announced to launch countrywide protests from
tomorrow. Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah
said that he would raise the issue in the Parliament along with other parties to
agitate the issue. The PTI Punjab President Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhry and General
Secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid strongly condemned the government for hike in
prices of electricity, saying it would make life of the ordinary citizen even more
difficult.
PML-Q Information Secretary Kamil Ali Agha said his party rejected the
recent hike in electricity and POL prices and demanded its withdrawal. JI chief
Syed Munawar Hasan and Secretary General Liaquat Baloch said the electricity
and POL price hike proved that the PML-N election manifesto was pack of lies.
On 1st October, Taking immediate notice of the massive hike in power tariff
for domestic and agriculture consumers, the Supreme Court directed the federal
government to submit the notification authorizing such a drastic step that is set
to burden the common man further. Chief Justice directed Additional AG, who
appeared for the federation, to submit the notification tomorrow. The CJ said:
If the notification has been issued without a lawful authority, they (the court)
would pass an order.
National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Chairman Khawaja
Muhammad Naeem told the bench that only Nepra had the authority to
892
determine power tariff. He added that after August 5 the authority had not
determined any new tariff of electricity, but the government itself decided to
increase power tariff on September 30.
The Nepra chairman told the court that the revenue requirement for power
generation for year 2013-14 was Rs985 billion, but now after the devaluation of
Pak currency it would be Rs1.3 trillion. He said the circular debt had been paid,
but recovery of Rs441 billion from power defaulters, including Azad Jammu
and Kashmir (Rs24 billion), provinces (Rs74 billion) and Fata (Rs20 billion),
had yet to be made. He added Rs259 billion were due from the private sectors.
Next day, the government informed the Supreme Court that it will review
its decision to hike the power tariff for the domestic and agriculture consumers.
Heading a three-judge bench hearing a suo moto case regarding the recent
debilitating increase in electricity tariff, Chief Justice questioned the rationale
for September 30 notification that effected up to 72.6 percent surge in power
tariff for domestic consumers.
The chief justice asked Federal Minister Khawaja Asif to withdraw the
notification, or the court will pass a judicial order. He said the apex courts
intervention would not make a good impression and that the courts notice
should not be considered adversarial. Justice Chaudhry asked the minister to sit
down with the attorney general and take a decision and inform the court after
the break. But Khawaja Asif sought time till October 4 to submit the statement.
The chief justice inquired about the government policy to recover
outstanding amount Rs441 billion. He said if the government had controlled the
power pilferage, the circular debt could have been reduced. The CJ remarked
that controlling the power theft is responsibility of the provincial governments.
The chief justice said the law-abiding and honest consumers pay their bills
regularly but there are some elements that are not paying and it is because of
them that the majority is suffering.
Nepra Chairman informed the court that Lesco is the most efficient
distribution company regarding collection and upward payment of bills, but
recovery is very poor in Sukkar region of Sindh. The chief justice said the tariff
hike should not be across the board as it enhances the miseries of the lawabiding citizens. He said with the hike of tariff the line losses and pilferage also
increase. The Nepra chief said that theft and line losses are converted to debt.
The court adjourned the case until October 4.
The government which continued lambasting the former PPP regime for
borrowing foreign loans in its era has planned to get $8.336 billion foreign loans
during the current financial year 2013-2014. Though the much-trumpeted
mantra of putting burden on the masses by taking loans echoed even after the
PPP era, the government now has reached the stage to exercise the same
hateful practice by taking huge loans.
893
It is revealed that Pakistan would receive $ 2.779 billion from ADB, World
Bank, Islamic Development Bank, OPEC and others during the present financial
year. Similarly, the debt inflow worth $1.812 billion would come from the US,
the UK, Canada and China. Pakistan would receive $2.21 billion from IMF and
$500 million from Euro bond. Similarly, the country would receive additional
$532 million from Islamic Development Bank and $500 million from
commercial banks. Thus, the total debt inflow would stand at$ 8.336 billion
during the current financial year.
On 3rd October, the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCoP) decided to
initiate process of privatization of public sector entities including Pakistan
International Airlines (PIA) and Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) as committed with
the IMF. The government decided to privatize 31 public sector entities (PSEs)
during the current financial year 2013-14 mainly included banking, petroleum
and energy sector companies.
The decision came in a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatization
(CCoP) that was held under the Chairmanship of Senator. Ishaq Dar, Minister
for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization. Pakistan
had agreed with IMF for privatization of PSEs for $6.7 billion loan programme
under extended funds facility (EFF). Pakistan was supposed to develop and
approve a reform strategy for public 30 sector enterprises (PSEs) out of the 65
short-listed firms for privatization, according to the IMF documents. Therefore,
CCoP decided to privatize 31 public sector entities.
Next day, the AGP, along with minister and secretary for water and power,
appeared before a bench headed by Chief Justice, who asked the AGP to
withdraw the September 30 notification itself because if the court ordered to do
so then the government will have to pay the balance. To avoid further
embarrassment, the government withdrew the notification and also filed a
petition in the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority for the
reconsideration of power tariff.
Khawaja Asif told the court, The government is cognizant of the facts that
the people have given them mandate and have lot of expectation from us, but at
the moment it would be difficult to provide electricity on cheap rate. It is only
possible if the power plants are run on coal or gas, he added. He also said all
over the world the power plants are run either on the gas or coal.
Regarding bypassing in tariff determination, the chief justice asked Kh Asif
that in the Rental Power Plants (RPP) case you had said the government itself
couldnt determine tariff. But now when you are in the power then how the
government could determine the power tariff. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said
that the government cant raise even a single penny without lawful authority.
The attorney general contended that the practice has been going on since 1998.
The chief justice remarked, Then close down the regulatory bodies.
894
About line-losses, the chief justice remarked that it is not more than 7% in
the world, but in Pakistan, it is as much as 65%. The Nepra chairman informed
that line losses of Multan region are 15%, Kesco 38% while they are only 9% in
Gujranwala, Lahore and Islamabad zones. To ascertain the outcome of the
policy statement/decision made by the government, the bench adjourned the
hearing of the case for two weeks.
The FBR imposed two percent additional general sales tax (GST) on
household electronics, gas appliances, biscuits, confectionary items, chocolates,
toffees and candies that would increase the prices of these commodities in the
country. According to the notification, the FBR has imposed two percent
additional GST on more than 40 commodities which are already paying 17
percent general sales tax.
On 8th October, the ruling PML-N made yet another shocking disclosure
that CNG stations in the Punjab Province and federal capital would remain
closed for three months, November 2013 to January 2014. Federal Minister for
Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi announced the gas
suspension plan in a move that has been apparently initiated to propitiate an
efficient gas load management plan, moved by the state-owned gas utilities.
On 10th October, the government, after snubbed by the apex court, got the
same decision reviewed and endorsed by the relevant regulatory body under
which the domestic consumers will face 72-176 per cent hike in power tariff.
Water and Power Ministry is all set to issue notification to this effect tomorrow.
The federal government had to withdraw its notification of the latest power
tariff hike last week as the apex court observed that it was not routed through
Nepra (National Electric Power Regulatory Authority).
Next day, the water and power ministry issued a notification, announcing a
40-176 percent hike in the tariff of domestic and agri power consumers, to be
effective across the country from October 1. According to the notification, the
tariff for domestic or lifeline power consumers using up to 50 units a month has
not been changed as it has been kept at Rs2/unit. Similarly, tariff for power
consumers using 1-100 units/month has been fixed at Rs5.79, while tariff for
101-200 units has been maintained at Rs8.11/unit.
But the huge number of people who consume 201 to 300 units per month
will have to pay at the rate of Rs14/unit. Also, the tariff has been upped to Rs16
per unit on consumption of 301 to 700 units and the tariff for above700 units per
month has been directly increased to Rs18/unit. The government has allowed
only one-slab benefit when consumption moves into the higher slab of above
200 units per month.
895
VIEWS
Power politics
Rigging in NA-256: When the results for NA-256 (Karachi) came in from
the National Database Registration Authority, the suspicions of those who
already viewed the national voting system as incompetent and dishonest, were
simply proven right. The result revealed a massive deal of rigging when the
reports of the thumbprint verification of NA-256 were shown. Despite the great
amount of rigging, the results were taken as authentic and transparent, and
MQM candidate Iqbal Muhammad Khan won the seat. According to the
report, 84,748 votes were cast in the constituency on May 11 while a whopping
11,343 ballot papers consisted of invalid Computerized National Identity Card
numbers. Those numbers were never issued by the registration authority.
The report further stated that 5,839 duplicate votes were found while one
voter cast his vote seven times. Furthermore, 314 ballot papers did not contain
thumb impressions to begin with. About 6,000 votes were successfully
authenticated but 57,642 votes carried poor quality of thumbprints which
rendered their accuracy questionable. In addition to this mess, 1,950 ballots
CNIC numbers did not match with the CNIC mentioned on the counterfoil.
These details bear mentioning due to the fact that rival party PTI in NA-256
lodged its complaint and distrust prior to the election itself; PTI members stated
that they already sensed insincerity in the system and would not be surprised if
the results were unfair.
PTI chairman Imran Khan addressed a press conference on Tuesday and
said, Democracy will not prevail until and unless free and fair elections are
carried out. Dictators carry out such elections. How can people involved in the
rigging become clean in the Assembly? Political contentions between various
parties aside, Khans reservations are not only relevant to other constituencies
896
throughout Pakistan, but also important in the general process of elections that
is viewed as a redundant by most citizens.
Negligence shown by polling officers and staff in verifying votes as well as
corruption during election season is nothing new in Pakistan; NA-256s case is
not the first, and it may not be the last, unfortunately. The massive irregularities
and violations of election laws detected by NADRA should compel the
government to hold a re-election in the same constituency so that the mandate
of the people can be protected from nefarious agendas. Such instances of
dishonesty only discourages healthy citizenship and participation in national
politics. Let this be an opportunity to set things straight. (Editorial, TheNation
9th October)
Governance
The struggle for a Naya Pakistan! How can we live, without our
lives? John Steinbeck: The Grapes of Wrath.
There was a time when millions of Muslims in the Indian sub-continent
struggled to liberate themselves from an occupation of a colonial power to live
their own lives, in their own homeland with dignity, independence, selfreliance, mutual self-respect, tolerance and co-existence, liberty, freedom and
prosperity in a fair and just classless society of their dreams (separate from a
Hindu class society and British Raj colonial mindset). Over 60 years later, the
same people and their younger generations are still struggling for their lost
dreams: They are asking the same old question How can we live, without our
lives? because, it appears, this nation has been colonized by its own native
masters since the so-called independence.
There can be no substitute for frankness: 2013 Pakistan is far worse off
than in the era of its colonial past. Then we had true justification for our plight,
our backwardness and cultural-economic destruction. But how do we explain
our own disasters, contradictions, crises, political-economic failures, cultural
degradation, social disintegration, erosion of mutual tolerance and co-existence,
violence at all levels of society, flawed foreign policy and domestic policy
planning, poor education and health infra-structures, increasing poverty levels,
inter-province
disequilibrium
and
inequalities,
deprived
citizens,
environmentally deteriorating urban centers, rising youth unemployment, the
lack of technological achievement, failures in scientific development and
innovation, our less-than-credible public sector management skills, growing
moral-ethical dilemmas over our ever-expanding corruption culture which is
eroding the foundations of this nation. So where do we go from here? Who do
we blame for our endless tragedies? How can we live, without our lives?
897
What has been happening for decades in Pakistan is the abuse of the
fundamental concept on which the genesis of this nation was based at the
hands of its own political elites and native masters.
Now we have a manta (and in some specific procedural terms a reality) of a
saved democracy. The incumbent PML-N leadership in Islamabad claims that
it will give a Naya Pakistan to this nation in its current tenure of political
power. The vital questions are: Can it? Will it succeed in its public mandate of a
social welfare society/state as envisioned in the original ideological concept of
Pakistan? Will the PML-N deliver a Naya Pakistan to its citizens? Will the
PML-N leadership heal the nations wounds inflicted on it by its own native
masters? Let us examine some realistic problematics that the PML-N
leadership will have to deal with immediately and perhaps with considerable
difficulties
Let me identify, for the PML-N leaderships benefit, Pakistans major
issues: It is the ever-increasing wedge between the majority of have-nots and a
very small minority of haves who also have timelessly controlled the countrys
political power for their personal economic gains and profits. It is the prevailing
political-economic system that is decimating the very foundations of this nation.
My question to the PML-N leadership is: Are you going to challenge this burntout and farsooda system? And if so, how? The PML-N needs to deliver
substantial political discourse specifically dealing with the eradication of
growing poverty in this nation. It is an extremely serious business and requires a
pro-active political ideology-cum-actions that the PML-N management team
has yet to offer.
Hence, there is a need to dismantle the PML-Ns current political
management and induct a fresh group of professional experts in Islamabad to
jumpstart the already failing strategic political-economic-foreign policy
management approach of the present government.
Leading political and social scientists contend that bankers, traders,
industrial entrepreneurs, the civil bureaucracy and the military establishment
cannot resolve the basic issues of a class-divided society such as present-day
Pakistan. The empowerment of people at all levels and de-centralization of
political structures are the key elements to democratic transformation and
governance. How can the PML-Ns traditional political managers, who have
conceptualized political power in a different frame of mind, fit into a new role
fundamentally alien to them?
On another level of political management, the exclusiveness in the national
decision making process and an absolute power vested in a single powerful
identity will not serve the interests of this nation. Has the PML-N leadership
considered an alternate political culture in the corridors of power in Islamabad?
In the much talked about politics of reconciliation and in serving the interests
898
Taming military
General Kayanis retirement: Its over. General Kayani is on his way
out. All the rumours, reports, and accounts of a new job in uniform, out of
uniform, in-between uniforms all of them stand discredited. Announcing that
he will stand retired at the end of his term on the 29th of November, General
Kayani has cast himself in the role of a COAS who has resisted the temptation
to stretch himself further than the bounds of reason would allow. Credit where
credit is due, we have had many previous Chiefs who have not been content
with ending their careers as just a decorated General.
PM Sharif will also breathe a sigh of relief after this proclamation for two
reasons. Firstly, because he has already incurred the wrath of one misguided
COAS and been ousted by the army from his last tenure as Prime Minister.
Secondly, his lack of comment on the issue when rumors were rife regarding
another extension, meant that he was still unsure of whether or not to grant the
speculated request. His answer it seems is redundant, now that the General has
decided of his own volition and Mr Sharif has been spared from the difficult
decision of having to extend the tenure to appease anyone, or to deny the
appeal, which might have caused affront.
From the bureaucracy to the military, this country is full of officials who
would jump at the chance to negate the functions of the state structure if it
served their interests. General Kayani is to be commended for recognizing the
fact that no one is irreplaceable and that the structure needs to be upheld at all
costs. Added to that, the hierarchical system works on the basis of promotions
and chain of command. Simply put, there are many waiting in line to take
General Kayanis place, and it would have been unfair to them had he been
asked to stay.
One only wishes the announcement had come from the civilian government
in the shape of the Prime Ministers announcement, thanking Gen. Kayani for
his service to the nation, naming his successor and laying to rest rumours of an
extension, or a new job designation. While General Kayanis statement is
entirely welcome and he has earned respect for himself for what he has done,
899
the fact that it seems to have been taken by the government as a pleasant
surprise is of note. Ultimately, the COASs statement said what the Prime
Minister should have: General Kayani will stand retired on November 29.
However, we can all thank our stars that this is one of the rare instances in
Pakistans history, when an army chief is retiring having stayed within the
bounds of his constitutional role, without making a speech on PTV prefaced by
Meray aziz hamwatano (Editorial, TheNation 8th October)
Lack of intelligence: The secret is out and the world is watching.
Whispers and reserved gestures have now given way to direct allegations. On
Monday, the three-member bench of the Supreme Court while hearing the
missing persons case, made it explicitly clear that it could not turn a blind eye
towards the unhelpful role of the intelligence agencies. The court was
unequivocal about the involvement of agencies in the disappearances of
hundreds of citizens, and insisted on bringing the rampant extra-judicial
activities to immediate halt. However, this is not the first instance of tonguelashing by the court. Regretfully, the drill has become all too familiar now.
Courts, human rights organizations and even parliamentarians have time and
again raised serious concerns over enforced disappearances but, to no avail.
Whats worse is that the ongoing proceedings give the impression that
people are living in the Wild West, and there is no elected government in the
country. And if there is one, which is becoming increasingly hard to believe, it
is hopelessly silent on the unlawful murder and abduction of its citizens. Will
the heavily mandated third-term Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, tell the nation
what exactly his government is doing to curb this menace? The facts present a
clear answer: absolutely nothing. It is about time that the perpetrators face the
music. The country can no more afford to be made the laughing stock of the
whole world. The problem is simple, and the solution is available.
Lack of accountability of any institution will naturally lead to undesirable,
and in this case in particular, horrific results. The intelligence agencies are no
exception. No one even knows who they answer to, assuming that they do so in
the first place. Some speculate its the interior ministry, others claim that the
defense ministry is in charge, but either way, the ultimate responsibility lies
with the PM. Clinging to the defense portfolio alone is not enough, sir. A lot
more will have to give. The truth is that the agencies are out of line. Their
work has made it abundantly clear that they have no regard for the law as well
as its officers. With irrefutable evidence implicating them in the disappearance
of several civilians, they have maintained a poker face throughout, and refused
to acknowledge the rule of law. The PM should reel them in, make them
answerable for their actions as everyone must be and devise an effective
mechanism which shuts the doors for such adventurism and dispensation of
arbitrary justice in the future. Traitor, murderer or a pickpocket, everyone
deserves to have their day in court. (Editorial, TheNation 9th October)
900
Economy
Prices up, economy down: The fact that Pakistan is in dire need of
economic reform is uncontestable. Its constantly deteriorating economy has
forced government after government to look towards international institutions
for help. The new PML-N government is no exception. Despite its tall claims
of implementing a self-sufficient and an aid-free policy during elections, it
expectedly finds itself at the mercy of loans from the IMF. But, the loans are
always accompanied with strict conditions. The recent unprecedented price hike
in power tariffs, in accordance of the written agreement with the IMF, is a good
example.
The record 40-210% increase in electricity prices, coupled with further rise
in petroleum prices, has naturally resulted in severe criticism from the
politicians, traders and the wider public. Never failing to seize an opportunity to
help humanity, the SC has also taken notice of the issue. The PML-N has the
perfect scenario in place to create the illusion of being a courageous
government, taking hard decisions in the face of serious opposition and
challenges. However, that is not so.
Reform is necessary, but in what shape and form it takes place is equally
important. Ambitions are disastrous if uninformed of ground realities. The
people of Pakistan are barely surviving. Their modest way of life is fast
becoming a luxury they cannot afford. An average Pakistani finds himself
having to choose from education for the children or bread for the family. The
rupee is at a record low against the dollar. Inflation, which was at 5.9% in June,
is now at 7.4% and expected to rise further. And when all this is going on, to
focus primarily on one sector alone by rapidly increasing prices, does not make
any sense.
Its hard to believe that suddenly withdrawing subsidies from power tariffs
was the best available option. It would make a lot more sense if the
governments efforts are more diversified. A collaborated effort in all avenues
will ensure better and lasting results, without putting unbearable burden on the
masses. If the aim is to achieve stability and growth, the current policy will
prove counter-productive. An environment in which businesses are encouraged
to grow is what Pakistan needs. The rise in tariffs will ensure an increase in the
costs of businesses; bad for entrepreneurs and worse for workers who rely on
them for employment.
Courage is to implement the VAT. It is to introduce the agriculture tax,
despite vested interests. It is to hold accountable habitual tax evaders, no matter
what their political affiliation. This, what the PML-N has done, is just good old
poor decision making. (Editorial, TheNation 3rd October)
901
Bitter pills and common men: We are being told once again that we must
swallow an assortment of bitter pills, that all this is for the better and one day
we will taste the fruits of these unpopular measures. The problem is that the
fruits keep dangling somewhere in the future while one bitter pill after another
is shoved down our throats. Many common men and women have been driven
to suicide or crime due to these bitter pills and many more have been brought to
a point where one more pill would push them over the edge. Can we ask them to
find comfort in the fruits that theyd taste one day?
The other day I started talking to three young men collecting garbage from
my colony. They were the perfect example of the common man our leaders
keep talking about. They told me that they report to work at 6 am and finish
around 6 pm. They have to push a rickety cart that takes double the effort to
move because it has not been repaired for years despite many requests to the
administration of the colony. They sort out the garbage without gloves. And
how much do they get for their labour? What they told me made me wish Id
not started talking to them because it sits heavy on my chest even now, days
after our brief conversation.
For twelve hours of labour, six days a week, they take home Rs 4,000
every month. If you think that is bad, consider this. Their salary has not been
raised for six or seven years when it increased from Rs 3,500 to Rs 4,000. These
are the common men who must swallow the bitter pills, who must not lose the
nerve and keep dreaming of the fruits dangling somewhere in the future. But
how long must they, and millions of other common men like them, wait? How
many pills will they be able to swallow before they snap, commit a crime or
suicide?
Our leaders and their creditors live in a bubble of numbers that is not meant
to be pierced by the common man. The common men and women sneak in
unnoticed to clean their homes and cook for them, grow food for them in farms
and work in their factories, drive them around and attend their jalsas. And when
some alms are thrown their way, whether through the Benazir Income Support
Program or in the form of a laptop or moped, they are supposed to double over
with gratitude.
The common men and women are supposed to get all excited about the
infrastructure development and the boon that it will bring, a boon that is
endlessly around the corner. They must be patient and cut corners from their
moth-eaten budgets while all the wonderful plans devised by those in charge of
their destinies mature. They must wait while our leaders create the surplus to
give them some relief.
These common men and women are in the speeches of our leaders but not
on their minds. For if they were, our leaders would think twice before asking
902
them to swallow another bitter pill even a small one. (Jalees Hazir, TheNation
7th October)
Goodbye CNG: With petroleum prices at a record high, and CNG to be
unavailable very soon, the people seem to be running out of viable options.
Own a vehicle which runs on CNG? No problem. Just keep it parked for three
months, or use petrol and diesel instead. Cant afford to? No worries. There is a
reason why God made buses and bicycles. Also, please stop whining about the
unavoidable increase in public transport tariffs. Something is better than
nothing. No one knows that better than the middle (assuming such a thing
exists anymore) and salaried classes.
If the PML-N government doesnt wish to further add to the miseries of the
masses, it must act fast. Such temporary measures are not worth the candle to
counter a permanent problem. When asked about the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline,
Minister Abbasi, revealed that the government had asked Iran for assistance of
$2 billion to construct the long-delayed section of the pipeline. Thats
reassuring. Not the first time Pakistan is completely depending on another
country to deal with its own short-comings. Heres a suggestion: cut down on
the unbelievable expense of the PM House, Governor Houses, CM Houses,
laptop schemes, VIP protocols, etc and maybe, just maybe, the country will not
be broke all the time. Pakistan desperately needs gas. For that, it must construct
the pipeline. Without it, this madness is bound to become an annual occurrence,
which the people simply cannot suffer through anymore. (Editorial, TheNation
1oth October)
REVIEW
The second report of NADRA after verification of voters through
checking of thumb impressions exposed the purpose for which two main
political parties (PPP and PML-N) had collected a bunch of oldies to form
Election Commission of Pakistan. They certainly came up to the expectations of
the appointing authorities.
These oldies brain stormed and came out with brilliant ideas about making
the polls free and fair. But, at execution stage they literally made mess of their
own ideas. They failed in implementing, especially those regarding procurement
and provision of right paper for ballots and magnetic ink for thumb impressions.
The ECP and its appointing authorities kept claiming that May 11 polls
were so free and fair that even the foreign observers applauded their credibility.
They should have been embarrassed when NADRA carried out check of thumb
impressions in two National Assembly constituencies, revealing that proper ink
and paper were not used for ballot papers. But, the ECP has been trying to
pressurize the NADRA chief since then.
903
904
HOUSE IN ORDER
During the period under review, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Mian
Nawaz Sharif went to the far far land carrying heavy mandate on his shoulders.
The people back home expected that he would seek redress to many wrongs that
have been committed against them in Americas ongoing holy war. In
Washington, he met Obama and claimed to have discussed all his problems with
the host.
The joint statement issued after the visit, however, did not have any clear
prescription for the problems faced by the guest. Nawaz somehow had got the
message that the remedy of his problems has to begin with setting his house in
order. To get this simple and very obvious advice or rebuff going all the way to
White House must have been certainly too expensive and tiresome.
This advice he and his fellow Pakistanis have been already getting more
frequently than needed from the regional bully, Dr Manmohan Singh and his
team. Even the puppet President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai has been
advising the same; therefore, the logic of going to other side of the globe was
difficult to comprehend.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 14th October, TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud has said that
there should be no pre-conditions for holding peace talks from either side. In a
statement issued from Waziristan, the TTP chief said that it would be premature
to present any conditions before engaging in the proposed dialogue.
Hakimullah Mehsud further said that if the government wants the TTP to
declare a ceasefire, it (government) would first have to have the drone strikes
stopped.
Next day, the political and military top brass discussed the overall security
situation of the country, the Prime Ministers upcoming US visit and progress
on the dialogue initiative with Taliban. The high-level meeting, chaired by
Prime Minister, was attended by General Kayani, DG ISI, Interior Minister,
Sartaj Aziz, Tariq Fatami and other officials. The COAS and DG ISI had
separate meetings with the Prime Minister and discussed with him matters
purely relating to the armed forces, particularly the top military appointments.
The political and military leadership were on the same page regarding the
negative impact of US drone attacks and it was decided that the PM would
forcefully take up this issue with the US president during his upcoming visit.
The military leadership expressed grave concern over the unabated terrorist
905
attacks by Taliban, even after showing of the olive branch by the government.
The PM, however, supported continuity of the peace initiative.
The matter of Afghanistans intelligence agencys involvement in the recent
spate of terrorist activities also came under discussion. It was decided that the
matter would be taken up with Afghan President after securing more evidence in
this connection. Information minister said time was required to create
atmosphere conducive to negotiations and establish contacts with various
groups of militants.
On 16th October, at least 10 people including KPK Law Minister Israrullah
Gandapur were killed and over 30 others injured when a suicide bomber struck
a gathering. The bomber entered the residence of Gandapur in the Kolachi area
and detonated his explosive-rigged vest. The people had gathered at his
residence to greet the minister on Eid-ul-Azha.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, President Manmoon Hussain, PTI chairman
Imran Khan and ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan condemned the attack. Imran
Khan directed the provincial government to launch an investigation and take
action against those involved.
Next day, Chief Minister KPK, Pervez Khattak said that in case the
proposed dialogue failed to produce a solution, some other option will have to
be dug out. The Chief Minister was presiding over a special meeting at the
outset of which, flowers were placed on the vacant seat of Law Minister,
Israrullah Gandapur, who was assassinated in a suicide attack.
Earlier, talking to media persons Pervez Khattak said that simultaneous
mention of peace talks and fight was beyond his understanding. He regretted
that despite the fact that participants across the board endorsed peace talks at the
All Parties Conference, peace could not be restored to KPK Province.
On 18th October, the Foreign Office spokesperson said: The upcoming
visit of the Prime Minister will afford an opportunity to highlight the priorities
of the government for economic development of Pakistan, discuss measures to
strengthen bilateral cooperation and enhance trade and investment and share his
vision about peace and stability in our region. The agenda of the visit was
finalized at a high-level meeting chaired by the PM that brought top civilmilitary leadership together.
The PTI-led KPK government, which lost a third lawmaker to terrorism on
Eid day, urged the federal government to fast track the peace talks with the
militants and decided to establish an anti-terrorism task force to fight out the
menace in this most terror-stricken part of the country. Chief Minister presided
over a special cabinet meeting that termed the suicide attack on minister
Israrullah Gandapur a conspiracy to sabotage the peace process initiated by
government.
906
The provincial government noted that it could not afford leaving the people
at the mercy of terrorists and therefore it decided to immediately take on those
militant elements who were trying to subvert the dialogue with the Taliban by
perpetrating terrorism at the behest of foreign powers. The cabinet showed
firm commitment to deal with an iron hand with those who were putting hurdles
in the sincere efforts of restoring peace.
The provincial cabinet also approved establishment of an anti-terrorism
task force which would be led by the Inspector General of Police and comprise
members of all intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including police,
Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary. The cabinet conceded to increasing
the numerical strength of police force and demanded the federal government to
repatriate the Frontier Constabulary platoons back to the province.
Malala met with Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Malala
presented Queen a copy of her recently published autobiography I Am Malala
telling her that it was a great honour for her to be there. During the meeting,
Malala discussed the importance of education for every child. Malala Yousafzai
now resides in Birmingham after receiving treatment for her bullet wound.
Next day, the United States sees Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs visit as an
opportunity to broaden and deepen its relationship with Pakistan in preparation
of the pull out of most combat forces and military equipment from Afghanistan
next year, for which it needs Islamabad's cooperation. In an obvious bid to
improve the atmosphere for the visit, the US has reportedly decided to release
more than $1.6 billion in military and economic aid to Pakistan that was
suspended when relations between the two countries were at an all-time low
following the unilateral raid that killed Osama bin Laden and US air strikes
against Pakistani soldiers.
State Department officials said the money would start reaching Pakistan in
2014 but take several years to disburse fully. They said the renewal of aid
wasnt determined by any single event. But they noted a confluence of signs of
greater cooperation, from Pakistans improved commitment to stamping out
explosives manufacturing to its recent counter terror offensive in areas
bordering Afghanistan that have served as a primary sanctuary for the Taliban.
Imran Khan said that the federal government is failed to initiate talks with
Taliban and as a result the KPK is bearing the brunt. Those who support war on
their own soil and describe us as coward, should also tell us that what has been
gained from the alien war fought for the last nine years, Imran Khan said while
talking to the media in Dera Ismail Khan after offering prayers for the departed
soul of Israrullah Gandapur. The PTI chief also informed that the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa government chalked out a new comprehensive security plan and
will be operationalized soon to protect the lives and properties of masses.
907
The Punjabi Taliban leader said talks could not be held through the media
or talk shows. He said the Taliban would present their demands only if the
government showed seriousness. However, he said the media was presenting
conditions for the talks from its side which was even against ethics and
principles of journalism. He said Taliban would take the nation into confidence
after talks.
Moavia said Junood-e-Hafsa was established after the Lal Masjid
operation. He said Maulana Abdur Rasheed Ghazi raised his voice against
vulgarity and obscenity, but the then government under the US pressure
launched an operation and caused massive bloodshed, which became the reason
for formation of Junood-e-Hafsa.
He remarked the Taliban were not for sale and did not receive aid from any
agency. He questioned the silence of the civil and military leadership over
Kashmir and construction of Indian dams, adding India was their enemy number
one. He said if the government gave them route, they would show their fighting
capabilities in New Delhi. If India attacked Pakistan, his group would not side
with the Pakistan government or the army, but would defend their homes with
the help of Pakistani people, he said.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that efforts were being made to sabotage the
process of negotiations with Taliban. Talking to newsmen in Lahore the JUI-F
chief said the government should take practical measures for talks with Taliban.
He said negotiations with Taliban should not be held through the media.
The KPK government launched a grand operation against illegal Afghan
refugees across the province. All arrangements have been made to deport illegal
Afghans from the country in the light of decisions of the provincial cabinet
under eyeing the threat of terrorism.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif flew into Washington to begin a four-day
official visit during which he will have talks with President Obama and other
administration officials. On arrival at Andrews Air Force Base outside
Washington in a special plane, the prime minister was greeted by US officials,
including US Ambassador to Pakistan Richard Olson, US Civilian Aid
Coordinator Ambassador Robin Raphel, Director Pakistan Affairs at the State
Department Jonathan Ward and others.
On 22nd October, tow FC personnel were injured after three mortar shells
fired from Afghanistan side landed near their check post in Bajaur Agency. The
incident took place in Sarakai area of Bajaur Agency. It was not the first time
that rockets have been fired from across the border.
The UU denied drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere infringed
international law and said it did all it could to avoid civilian casualties. The
comments followed the publication of reports on the US drone war by two
909
human rights groups. We are reviewing these reports carefully, White House
spokesman said.
Earlier Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch unveiled reports
detailing civilian casualties in a number of US operations in Pakistan and
Yemen. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are jointly calling on
the US Congress to fully investigate the cases the two organizations have
documented as well as other potentially unlawful strikes, and to disclose any
evidence of human rights violations to the public. Those responsible for
unlawful killings should be appropriately disciplined or prosecuted. The groups
called on Obama to provide a full legal rationale for targeted killings in Yemen
and elsewhere.
Diplomats noted that the timing of the report's release puts perhaps the
most sensitive issue in US-Pakistan relations in the spotlight as the two leaders
meet. US Officials also said the Obama-Nawaz meeting would focus on
bilateral relationship, including energy, economy, terrorism and extremism.
Imran Khan demanded that the government should manage to stop the
drone attacks while implementing the APC mandate. Khan said that the PTI felt
vindicated again with the publication of the Amnesty International Report on
drones, titled: Will I be Next: US Drone Strikes in Pakistan. The report
pointed out that the USA must be held accountable for drone killings in
Pakistan.
Khursheed Shah said that to restore peace in the country, the government
should immediately complete process for holding talks with militants. Despite
the fact the government has fully been authorized to initiate talks with militants
but no practical step has so far been taken in this regard. Military leadership has
also clearly stated they would respect whatever decision was taken by the
civilian leadership, he remarked.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif urged the United States to end drone attacks
as Amnesty International warned that civilian-killing strikes could constitute
war crimes. Sharif, who will meet President Barack Obama, called for warmer
ties with the United States and offered Pakistans assistance in Afghanistan as
US forces prepare to withdraw next year. But Sharif said that the unmanned
strikes represented a major irritant in relations.
Next day, President Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed
their conviction that an enduring Pak-US partnership is vital to regional and
international security and they recognized their shared interest in Pakistans
economic growth and development, regional stability, and mutually determined
measures to counter terrorism. In a joint statement, the two leaders said their
partnership was based on the principles of respect for sovereignty and
territorial integrity. They said their discussion focused on regarding energy,
economy, education and terrorism.
910
Speaking next to Obama in the Oval Office, Sharif said he brought up the
issue of drones (which are widely unpopular in his country) during our meeting,
emphasizing the need for an end to such strikes and the president assured him
of considering the issue seriously. Obama did not mention drones when
addressing reporters and did not give any concrete assurance on this count. He
however did say they need to find a constructive way that respects Pakistans
sovereignty, while addressing concerns for both sides.
We want to do everything we can to support Pakistan, the US leader
added. He said they discussed US support in fulfilling Pakistans goals for
energy and infrastructure projects. The US President said that his country
wanted to initiate new trade projects with Pakistan. About cooperation against
terrorism and extremism, Obama acknowledged it is a challenge and isnt
easy. He said he and Sharif discussed security and how they can better
cooperate.
Obama also tried to reassure Pakistan on the status of Afghanistan, where
US combat forces plan to withdraw next year. He said he was confident of a
solution that is good for Afghanistan, but also helps protect Pakistan over the
long term. Obama said his country and Pakistan are committed to working in
concert against terrorism, as the two countries suffered terribly at the hand of
terrorists in past.
After the joint media talk, PM Sharif spoke to the media separately, and
said that they also discussed Dr Aafias case. President Obama took up the
issue of Shakil Afridi, Sharif added. The PM said that they also discussed
Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the progress on the trial of the Mumbai attack (26/11)
accused. A 2,500-word joint statement issued by the White House after the oneon-one meeting did not mention drone attacks, referring only to a need to
respect sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Earlier, a group of top US Congressmen urged Nawaz Sharif to release Dr
Shakil Afridi. I specifically pressed the prime minister to release Dr Shakil
Afridi and encouraged him to ensure that his nation is, in fact, a responsible and
effective partner in countering terrorism, proliferation and extremism in the
region, Congressman Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, said.
Reacting to the demand of Ed Royce, Jalil Abbas Jilani said Pakistan had
told the US that Shakil Afridi had been involved in criminal activities and had
violated law of the land. Speaking at a press briefing, he said Afridi was not a
hero and was facing cases in courts. While responding to questions regarding
release of Afridi, he said the courts would decide his fate. Jilani said Pakistan
had banned Lashkar-e-Taiba and action against Hafiz Saeed could be taken on
availability of evidences.
911
912
key bilateral relationship and that the visit was marked by warmth, breadth and
honesty in fulsome discussions.
Pakistan also raised the issue of Afghan soil being used against it, the
official said. I think the Pakistani concern is mostly the use of Afghan territory
by both India and Afghanistan for that matter, the official said. It is a sort of
reverse sanctuary, the official remarked. We made clear that we are against the
use of proxies, that we oppose cross-border militancy that this (opposition) is
something in the interest of all countries in the region. And we are
communicating that message to all of the countries.
There is no discussion going on between Pakistan and US regarding return
of two prisoners, including Aafia Siddiqui, said the spokesperson of US
embassy in Pakistan. The spokesperson said that there is no extradition treaty
between Pakistan and the US. It is for Pakistan to decide about such a treaty.
Replying to a question about Dr Shakil Afridi, she said that US will raise
the issue at a high-level meeting with Pakistani leadership. She further said that
Secretary of State John Kerry raised the issue with Islamabad administration on
August 1, 2013. The US stance on the case is clear. The US considers the
treatment meted out to Afridi unjust and unwarranted.
Nawaz Sharif while talking to reporters after his arrival in London said,
Hopefully soon the drone issue will be resolved according to the wishes of the
people of Pakistan. He said there would be progress on the matter definitely, as
drones violate Pakistan's territorial integrity and sovereignty. He said that he
raised the issue of drone strikes inside Pakistan in his meeting with Obama,
saying these attacks are against the country's sovereignty and must come to an
end.
To a question about Dr Aafia Siddiqui and Dr Shakeel Afridi, the PM said
the US did raise its concerns, as did Pakistan. Need of the hour is that we
should understand each other's concerns and then they should be addressed
accordingly. He further said, I think now we have started this process of
dialogue, and you must have heard what Obama said. I think his views were
quite positive.
Javaid-ur-Rahman reported that the main opposition parties played down
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs meeting with US President Barack Obama.
Some labelled it as a political gimmick to satisfy the domestic audience on key
issues while others termed it a mere photo opportunity and courtesy call.
On 25th October, Police in Karachi claimed to have arrested an activist of
al-Qaeda who was involved in an attack on ISI office. Addressing the press
conference, SSP South said the Baloch Colony Police on a tip-off conducted a
raid on the hideout of a terrorist group and arrested an activist of al-Qaeda,
913
Sheikh Adil Azeem. The police had also recovered a Kalashnikov and two hand
grenades from his possession.
Next day, Masood Khan, Pakistans permanent representative to the UN,
said Pakistan never approved American drone strikes on its territory. He added
that the use of drones is counterproductive in the war on terror because they kill,
injure and psychologically scare civilians and incite militants to retaliate.
Two UN experts, in their reports presented to the Third Social,
Humanitarian and Cultural Committee, called for greater transparency on part
of the United States in the use of the weapons. UN reports said targeted drone
strikes are permissible only in imminent self-defence in the midst of an armed
conflict. But the reports said there was no international consensus on whether
the US war on terrorism was an armed conflict. Among those critical of the US
drone policy were Brazil, China and Venezuela as they berated the Obama
Administration for its intensive use of drone strikes.
Prime Minister sought the help of political parties to support the
government in the passage of Protection of Pakistan Ordinance 2013 from the
parliament. In a letter addressed to the heads of all political parties Nawaz
Sharif said that the proposed legislation is meant to give a strong message to
organized crime and anti-state elements regarding the will and determination of
the state and the people to face and eliminate all challenges to the national
integrity and sovereignty.
Interior Minister briefed Prime Minister about the backdoor channel
discussions and preliminary contact established with TTP, as well as some
militant groups illustrated willingness to sit with the government. The Interior
minister also informed the PM about initial demands of this small group to start
appropriate talks. The prime minister was also briefed on dialogue with
different Pakistani Taliban groups, governments policy against drone attacks,
law and order situation in Karachi, Balochistan and other areas along with the
situation at the Line of Control (LoC).
Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, in recently written a
letter to PM urged him to come up with the progress on the decisions of this
Septembers APC. Shah, facing a looming threat by PTI and affiliates who want
to de-seat him as the opposition leader for alleged failure to come up with a
formidable opposition, has through the said letter asked the government to
speedily implement the decisions of APC.
On 27th October, two soldiers were killed and eight others injured in two
separate bomb explosions in North Waziristan Agency. Seven out of nine
landmines planted by terrorists at Chashma Pul area of Miranshah were defused
by the bomb disposal squad. However, two of them exploded, killing one
soldier and injuring five others. In another incident, an improvised explosive
914
device planted along a roadside went off when a military convoy was passing
the area and as a result one soldier was killed and three others injured.
Insurgency: On 14th October, a Station House Officer was killed in
Khuzdar town. SHO was on his way to police station when armed men riding a
motorbike opened indiscriminate fire at him. The assailants fled from the scene
after committing the crime. No group claimed responsibility for the murder.
Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed accused the United States
and India of trying to hamper efforts to help victims of Pakistan's earthquake.
Their aim is to hamper the relief work of our charity Falah-e-Insaniyat
Foundation in the quake-stricken Balochistan, that's why they are trying to stop
our funding, Saeed told newsmen.
The long running issue of formation of provincial cabinet was finally
resolved when eleven members of Balochistan Assembly took oath as provincial
ministers. Five members of PML-N and 3 members each from PKMAP and
National Party took oath as ministers.
Next day, at least 15 people, including three personnel of Balochistan
Constabulary (BC), were wounded when armed men attacked BCs truck with a
hand grenade in the outskirts of Quetta. A spokesman for banned outfit Lashkare-Balochistan, calling from some unspecified location, claimed responsibility
for the hand grenade attack. In Panjgour district, a bullet-riddled dead body was
found from an isolated area of Khudabadan.
On 16th October, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and its
functionaries continued relief operation even during the Eid holidays to ensure
that quake-hit people could also be included in celebrations of this auspicious
religious festival. NDMA has made food and other essential items available in
Awaran district enough for at least two months.
On 18th October, three people, including a prayer leader, were shot dead in
three separate firing incidents in Kech and Gwadar districts while militants fired
rockets in Awaran district. Meanwhile, doctors in Balochistan continued the
hunger strike on Eidul Azha to protest against the non-recovery of cardiologist
Dr Munaf Tareen.
Next day, women of Baloch National Movement (BNM) demonstrated
against the security forces, accusing them of having bombed human settlements
in the earthquake-affected areas of Mashkay in Awaran district. About a dozen
women gathered outside the Quetta Press Club, holding placards inscribed with
slogans Stop military operation in Mashkay and Stop bombing human
settlements. They also shouted slogans demanding international humanitarian
organizations to intervene in the matter.
Maheen Baloch, a BNM leader, said security forces bombed three towns in
Mashkay as a result of which dozens of people, including women and children,
915
were martyred. The security forces have taken away everything from the
houses, she alleged. She said the federal government was not allowing
international aid organizations to operate in Awaran to conceal the brutalities
committed by the security forces.
On 20th October, three people were killed, including a woman, and eight
others wounded in firing and landmine blasts in different towns of Balochistan.
A shutter-down strike was observed in Baloch-dominated parts of Balochistan
against the military operation in earthquake-stricken Awaran district. The
Baloch National Front an alliance of different Baloch hardliner nationalist
parties and student organizations had given the strike call.
DG ISPR said that security forces are committed to the relief operation
only, despite repeated attacks by miscreants on troops busy in aid work in
Awaran and Mushkey. However, security forces have exercised utmost restraint
despite having loss of six soldiers to Improvised Explosive Device (IED)
attacks and another 12 soldiers injured, he said in a statement. He said that there
is no military operation in Awaran and Mushkey as being propagated by
miscreants.
Meanwhile, according to latest data released by the NDMA, around sixteen
thousand tents have been distributed in quake-hit areas of Balochistan, he
added. Other items include about twenty-eight thousand blankets, more than
nineteen thousand plastic mats; over twenty-three thousand mosquito nets,
nearly forty-two thousand mineral water bottles and other items have been
distributed.
Once again offering talks to Baloch separatists and militant religious
groups, Balochistan Chief Minister said the provincial government wanted
peace in the province. The issue of Balochistan needs urgent attention of rulers
to sort out an amicable solution for it as it is being internationalized more and
more with each passing day as evident from European parliamentarians
discussing the situation in this restive part of Pakistan at European Parliament in
Belgium the other day.
During the event in Belgium, Ryzsard Czarnecki, an MEP from Poland,
spoke about Balochistans potential riches from its natural resources and
lamented the fact that Balochistan remains one of the poorest and least
developed regions, with alarmingly high rates of infant mortality and illiteracy.
Balochistan government spokesman Buledi said the European countries should
come forward against backwardness and poverty, and talk with the government.
Next day, a blast hit Jaffar Express near Dera Murad Jamali, killing seven
passengers and injuring at least 16 others besides damaging three coaches. The
device, apparently planted on the railway track, exploded when the train
approached a station in Naseerabad district. The bomb destroyed one and
derailed four bogies of passenger train disrupting train service from Quetta to
916
917
The family members of the Baloch missing persons kicked off a long
march from Quetta to Karachi. The long-march is organized by Voice for
Baloch Missing Persons is aimed at drawing the attention of national and
international organizations to the plight of the missing persons. On the other
hand, the Baloch Human Rights Organizations also extended its support for the
long-march and announced to participate in it.
Turf War: On 14th October, at least 100 suspects were nabbed in targeted
operation in the city. 4 Meanwhile, four people were killed in various incidents
of violence. Shahi Syed was not satisfied with the ongoing operation in Karachi
as, according to him, people were being arrested and released on whims rather
than solid proofs. On 19th October, a policeman was gunned down and another
critically wounded in Sharafi Goth area while 16 suspects were apprehended
from Lyari during targeted operation in the city.
Next day, at least 152 suspects, among them assassins and gangsters, were
rounded up in ongoing targeted operation in Karachi. A spokesperson for
Rangers said the arrested persons included nine hardened criminals who were
arrested in raids and snap checking near Lucky Star and Board Office,
Chowrangi. Weapons were also seized from them.
On 22nd October, law enforcement agencies claimed arresting over 30
hardened criminals, including target killers and recovered huge cache of
weapons in various raids. Meanwhile, two accused persons allegedly involved
in the murder of a cop were gunned down in a fake encounter within the
jurisdictions of Sharifi Goth police station.
Next day, operation continued in the city while police claimed to have
arrested a killer involved in dozen cases of target killing. The arrested accused
was identified as Imran alias Japani, however, his companion who has yet to be
identified was managed to escape. The accused was affiliated with a political
party.
A gangster and a security guard were gunned down in separate incidents of
violence. Meanwhile, Rangers recovered five M-16 rifles and two machineguns
from a graveyard in North Karachi. The weapons belonged to NATO forces and
were recovered on the information provided by the arrested killers.
On 24th October, a boy died and another got injured in a low intensity blast
in timber market in old city area. Gang war resumed in Lyari which left three
dead and wounded four others during an exchange of fire between the gangs of
Uzair Baloch and Noor Muhammad aka Baba Ladla. The dispute between
Baloch and Ladla flared up when Ladla narrowly escaped a bomb blast took
place outside the Lyari football ground.
Next day, a former union council Nazim was among six people gunned
down in separate incidents of target killing. Robbers looted over Rs4.4 million
918
Next day, the organizers of an assembly of tribal elders said the future of
US troops in Afghanistan after 2014 will be decided by the elders in late
November, setting a date for the verdict on a long-delayed bilateral deal held up
by disputes over key provisions. A draft pact known as the Bilateral Security
Agreement (BSA) was hammered out in Kabul last weekend by US Secretary of
State John Kerry. But he left without a final deal as Afghan President Hamid
Karzai said only the assembly, the Loya Jirga, had the authority to decide
contentious issues.
On 19th October, Pakistan and India agreed to hold a meeting between the
director general military operations (DGMOs) to explore the ways for keeping
the ceasefire agreement intact. Indian External Affairs Minister said the
prevailing tension on the LoC was a serious issue and needed to be resolved at
the earliest possible and the DGMOs of the two countries will hold talks soon.
India charged 33 men aboard an armed ship operated by a US maritime
security firm for failing to produce papers authorizing it to carry weapons in
Indian waters. The captain and the chief engineer were not among those
arrested. The crew has been charged with illegal procurement of diesel and
possession of arms and ammunitions without required documentation.
Next day, an Afghan army Special Forces commander has defected to an
insurgent group allied with the Taliban in a Humvee truck packed with his
teams guns and high-tech equipment. Monsif Khan, who raided the supplies of
his 20-man team in Kunars capital Asadabad over the Eidul Azha holiday, is
the first Special Forces commander to switch sides, joining the Hezb-e-Islami
organization.
According to German news agency DPA, the German military pulled all of
its troops out of the Afghan province of Kunduz a decade after forces arrived
there. The move represents an important step in NATOs withdrawal from the
country. We can all be very proud of what our soldiers achieved in Kunduz up
to the last moment they were there, Major General Jrg Vollmer said.
On 21st October, Afghanistan refused to release Pakistani prisoners
languishing in various jails of the country. Afghan Presidential spokesperson in
a statement said that President Hamid Karzai had made no assurance to release
Pakistani prisoners. He said that Afghan President has rejected demand of
release of Pakistani prisoners. It merits mentioning that JUI chief Maulana
Fazlur Rehman upon his return from a trip to Afghanistan had told media that
Afghan President had assured him that all Pakistani prisoners would be
released.
Next day, Afghanistan and the United States have not yet agreed on several
issues in a bilateral security pact, raising the prospect that Washington may yet
pull out all of its troops next year unless differences are ironed out. Two years
920
ago, the United States ended its military mission in Iraq with a similar zero
option outcome after the failure of talks with Baghdad.
US officials are increasingly impatient to conclude the deal because they
need time to implement plans for 2015. Washington wanted it done by the
summer and most recently set an October 31 deadline, but there is now no
chance of a deal until late November. A senior US strategist in Kabul working
on plans for 2015 said every month that passes will make it harder to get the
troops and funding requested in time. That said, as long as the BSA was passed
by the Loya Jirga at the end of November, the time-frame would still be
manageable.
Maulana Fazalur Rahman said that the US should acknowledge the efforts
of Pakistan in pushing Afghan reconciliation process in the past. He said that the
US should not confine itself to ensuring peaceful presidential elections in
Afghanistan but instead meaningfully renegade the Afghan Taliban. He said that
the JUI is the first political party to call for internal Afghan reconciliation as
such all stakeholders in Afghanistan should work for this goal.
On 23rd October, the US Vice-President, Joe Biden, underscored the need to
combat terrorism and violent extremism as he met Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz
reiterated Pakistans commitment to facilitate an Afghan-led and Afghan-owned
peace process. Both leaders agreed on the need to further strengthen
coordination and cooperation among Pakistan, the US and Afghanistan to
ensure success of the reconciliation process.
On 26th October, a gunfight broke out between Afghan and foreign soldiers
on the outskirts of the capital Kabul, killing at least one Afghan serviceman and
injuring a number of other soldiers. There was an argument between an Afghan
and foreign soldier inside a military base where they opened fire on each other.
Afghanistan mulled demanding an explanation from Pakistan on the
whereabouts of a former Taliban second-in-command when the leaders of both
countries meet next week to discuss how to end years of insurgency. The
whereabouts of Mullah Baradar has been the source of intense speculation since
Pakistan announced his release on September 20. Some say he is still kept in a
safe house and is closely watched by his Pakistani handlers.
Next day, a roadside bomb blast killed at least 18 civilians, mostly women,
as they were heading to a wedding party in Ghazni Province. The Taliban did
not immediately claim responsibility, although it usually denies having a hand
in attacks that kill civilians. The local government said, however, it believed the
insurgency was to blame.
NATO officials confirmed the shooting at the British-run Afghan National
Army Officer Academy, which has been set up to produce a new generation of
professional military leaders as the Afghan army takes on the Taliban. The
921
Afghan soldier was killed and two international soldiers received minor injuries
in the shooting yesterday.
924
of the continued Indian reign of terror and violence unleashed against the
innocent Kashmiris with ulterior motives to suppress their voice of freedom.
A man was grievously injured as a result of unprovoked shelling by Indian
troops from across the Line of Control on various forward villages in Nikayal
Sector in Kotli district in AJK. India opened fire when the people of Jammu and
Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control as well as rest of the world are
observing Black Day against the Indian invasion of Jammu and Kashmir.
India and Russia held joint military exercises in the deserts of Rajasthan,
near the Pakistani border. The manoeuvres were named Exercise GangNeva,
from the River Ganges of India and the River Neva of Russia. Russian soldiers
used T-72 tanks and infantry combat vehicles, also known as the BMP, which
were originally made in Russia and currently used by the Indian Army. Exercise
GangNeva, saw both Indian and Russian mechanized troops capture a notional
rebel strong point by fire assault of attack helicopters, tanks and BMPs.
Meanwhile, as part of preparations to meet challenges from China and
Pakistan, India is planning to lay 14 strategic railway lines close to borders with
these two countries to help in easier and faster movement of troops. The railway
lines are besides 73 roads being constructed along the Line of Actual Control
(LAC) with China. The railway lines have been planned in Occupied Kashmir,
Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Rajasthan.
Of the 73 roads with a total length of 3812 km, laying of 61 roads covering
3,404 km have been assigned to Border Roads Organization (BRO). 27 of the
61 roads are being constructed in Arunachal Pradesh, 12 in Held Kashmir, 14 in
Uttarakhand, five in Himachal Pradesh and three in Sikkim. The infrastructure
development is being carried out as China has made strides in this regard and
India is lagging much behind.
India handed over to Pakistan five key documents running into nearly 600
pages for use in the 26/11 case in that country to proceed against seven key
accused. The documents include the true copy of the Indian Supreme Court
judgment of the Mumbai attack case, deposition by two doctors who conducted
the postmortem of slain nine terrorists and the chief investigating officer who
probed the case and summons to the witnesses.
The two other documents are proceedings of the Pakistan Judicial
Commission, which visited Mumbai last month, before additional chief
metropolitan magistrate and application for producing the recovered articles
from terrorist by the senior public prosecutor from Pakistan, before the
additional chief metropolitan magistrate.
New Delhi had said it was incumbent on Pakistan to present the evidence
in 26/11 attacks as the planning, training of the terrorists responsible for the
strikes and also the financing was done in that country and therefore, 99 per
925
cent of evidence will be available there. Pakistan Foreign Office had said that it
requires more evidence to move ahead in the Mumbai attack case in that
country.
VIEWS
Pakistan
BJPs last ditch maneuvers: BJP is desperate to woo Hindu voters to its
cause of attaining victory in the forthcoming Indian elections. Since it has little
to show in the realm of development during its last tenure of government (19982004) and was rejected by the voters, this time around, it is appealing to the
Hindu voters sense of patriotism by whipping up anti-Pakistan and anti-Muslim
sentiments through false flag operations.
Extremist Hindus have even recruited fanatics in the Indian military to
support their anti-Pakistan/anti-Muslim machinations Despite the BJPs last
ditch maneuver to convince PM Manmohan Singh to refrain from holding talks
with his counterpart, Manmohan Singh, who had received the news of the
brazen attacks in Frankfurt, enroute to UNGA and having an inkling of the
identity of the real perpetrators of the crime, condemned the attack but refused
to name Pakistan being responsible for them.
Earlier, the BJP had used its other Hindutva counterparts of the Sangh
Parivar like RSS, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and like
minded cliques of Indian Armed Forces to escalate border tension along LoC in
IOK, in an attempt to sabotage the prospects of a meeting between the two
Prime Ministers.
Due to the pressure exerted by BJP and its co-conspirators, Manmohan
Singh initially delayed his commitment of meeting with Nawaz Sharif on the
side lines of UNGA and BJP was hopeful that the Indian Premier will succumb
to its demands, but he ultimately preferred to follow the righteous path and met
his Pakistani counterpart in a meaningful dialogue. This forced the hand of BJP.
In its frustration, it orchestrated terrorist attacks against Indian troops again,
pinning the blame for the attacks on Pakistan. Meanwhile it portrayed Dr.
Manmohan Singh as weak, presenting Narendra Singh Modi, BJPs hardliner
candidate for the Prime Ministers slot as one who would sort out Pakistan and
Muslims, if elected to power.
Pakistans High Commission in India gave timely rebuttal to Indian media
and BJPs allegations stating that Pakistan was not involved in these attacks and
that it was itself the victim of terrorism. The recent attack in Swat, claiming the
lives of senior Army Officers and the heinous assault on Peshawar Church is
ample evidence of it.
926
non-state actors. He should assure Obama that such intrusion shall be put down
with an iron hand. (Inayatullah, TheNation 19th October)
Pakistan & cresent: My hypothesis that Pakistans internal terrorism has
international linkages continues to pass testability. Profiling of terrorism
indicates external linkages and hence the futility of a negotiated settlement
without addressing the international sponsors. It had been written that as dates
of US led withdrawal from Afghanistan get closer, the trajectories of violence in
the region will move to more bloodshed and emergence of warlordism. Hamid
Karzai of Afghanistan is doing just that. He appears desperate to wrest control
of TTP inasmuch as Pakistan exercises leverage over Afghan Taliban. The
recent visits of an ANP delegation to Afghanistan and Maulana Fazalur
Rehmans meeting with Hamid Karzai reinforce this policy.
Hamid Karzai with whatever allies he may find appears to be turning
against Pakistan. The recent surge in terrorism in Pakistan is a reflection of
these battle lines from Nanga Parbat to Sukkur, Dera Ismail Khan to Peshawar
and simultaneous attacks in the four provincial capitals. Earlier this month, US
forces interdicted an Afghan Government convoy escorting Latif Mehsud, the
second in command of TTP and captured him for plotting of a bomb attack on
Times Square. In another related event, Afghan Taliban attacked TTPs
FazalUllahs hideout in Kunar, Afghanistan. A day after the governor of Logar
Province Arsala Jamal was killed in Afghanistan; Pakistan lost its Provincial
Law Minister Israr Ullah Gandapur in Dera Ismail Khan in an apparent quid pro
quo.
Contours of a new battle line are emerging and political parties in Pakistan
eager for peace need to beware. They need to realize that they are hanging on a
precipice with unsure footholds. They lack the wherewithal of working through
this maze by relying on a single interlocutor.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf despite its nonviolent stance, having lost three
legislatures to violence has to tread with caution and circumspection. Political
romanticism and idealism must make way for well informed and imaginative
pragmatism over issues of militancy. Its leadership has to take an international
view of the dynamics and place itself at an enviable position where it matters.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an island of security, prosperity and social reforms in a
melting Pakistan must remain its top agenda.
Pakistans tough grind will continue and exasperate if Pakistan does not
make a full blown effort at differentiating friends from foes, friends disguised as
enemies, spoilers, plethora of self-styled revisionists and fly by night reformers.
As new battle lines emerge, so does an effort by these so-called intellectuals in
reinventing nationalism and formulating conflicting narratives to further subvert
the nation? There is no room for a Turkish, Egyptian or a Saudi Model. If
928
Pakistan reasserts itself, it has the potential of becoming a viable actor within
this equilibrium. (Samson Simon Sharaf, TheNation 19th October)
Nawaz Sharif goes to Washington: At the conclusion of his upcoming
meeting with President Obama in Washington, Prime Minister Sharif can expect
a lonely walk back to his waiting limousine. The President would not be bidding
him farewell from the White House portico in a spirit of bonhomie, as he did to
the Indian Prime Minister a month ago.
Irrespective of the recent faint realization of the necessity of cooperation
over Afghanistans future by both the US and Pakistan, their bilateral
relationship remains bedeviled by mutual mistrust at the core, and the two sides
are increasingly motivated by differing security and strategic calculations.
Significantly, the Obama administration would conveniently brush aside
the Prime Ministers plea to review its policy of CIA operated drone strikes in
Pakistans tribal areas
From the standpoint of the US, these strikes have weakened al-Qaeda
without remotely putting any American lives at risk. They have also
successfully eliminated Afghan Taliban who pose a threat to US forces in
Afghanistan and have decapitated the leadership of the TTP network, which
besides targeting US personnel in Afghanistan and Pakistan is credibly linked to
the attempted bombing of New York Citys Times Square by Faisal Shahzad in
2010. That the TTP has laid down cessation of drone strikes as a precondition
for its talks with the government is in fact a telling measure of the success of
these strikes in disrupting its activities.
Unless Pakistan provides an equally effective and viable alternative to
these strikes and demonstrates a strong resolve to eliminating non-state actors
abusing its sovereignty and threatening global security, the Obama
administration will not consider parting with its weapon of choice in blunting
the capabilities of al-Qaeda, Afghan Taliban and the TTP.
If anything, Pakistans present march of folly of pursuing talks with the
TTP fortifies American justifications for these strikes. The states appeasement
of the TTP adds heft to the American argument that Pakistans sovereignty is
violable due to its unwillingness to eliminate non-state actors operating on its
territory. In the current circumstances, the US feels that relying on Pakistan to
unilaterally eliminate global terrorist threats emanating from its soil is no
different from asking the fox to guard the hen house
Given the Pakistani states ill-advised and meek embrace of the TTP in
addition to the absence of a coherent and well-coordinated counterterrorism
policy, the Prime Ministers plea to the Obama administration to review its
drone policy in Pakistan is destined to remain a nonstarter from the American
perspective.
929
930
responsible for the massacre of innocent civilians: behind bars, not in the
middle. (Editorial, TheNation 24th October)
Its complicated: Its amusing to see scores of people disappointed with
the outcome of the Nawaz-Obama meeting. What were they hoping for? That
the PM will emerge victorious from the White House, with a briefcase full of
US-aid, having sealed the deal for Afia Siddiquis return to her motherland, and
a piece of paper signed by Mr Obama himself, which would ideally say: My
bad.
Its necessary to manage expectations with changing times. A sense of
entitlement alone is never sufficient in order to achieve desired objectives. Apart
from those who are completely devoid of any understanding of the current
perception of Pakistan, and the countrys recent performance in various arenas,
the fact that the visit wasnt absolutely disastrous is considered by the rest to be
its greatest success.
The PM told the media that he raised concerns over the US drone program
in Pakistan, and sought assurance over an end to the recurring strikes. However,
the US President refrained from offering any assurances on the matter. Perhaps,
as a favour to the head of his countrys strategic partner, he did make the effort
to pay lip-service by saying that there is a need to find a constructive method
which respects Pakistans sovereignty. Another way of telling everyone that
no number of reports by humanitarian organizations, or requests by the present
or previous PMs would deter the US from continuing its controversial policy.
For every demand that was made by the PM, the President had an effective
counter. The request for the transfer for Dr Afia Siddiqui was parleyed with the
release of Dr Shakil Afridi; an unfair comparison, indeed. The request by
Pakistan has been extended over humanitarian grounds, concerning her
deteriorating health. The aim is to reunite Ms Siddiqui with her family. On the
other hand, Dr Shakil Afridi has been labeled as a hero by the US, and it is in
this capacity, he will most likely be received in the country he spied for, if
handed over. Afridi was not a hero, responded newly appointed Ambassador
to the US, Jalil Abbas Jilani, making it clear the violator of the Hippocratic oath
will serve his sentence in Pakistan. Still recovering from the hangover of his
meeting with Indian PM Manmohan Singh, President Obama raised the issue of
JuD and the freedom it enjoyed in Pakistan, despite several calls of taking it to
task for its alleged involvement in the Mumbai 2008 attack. Its unlikely that
just because it is desired by India and the US, any action will be taken at home.
If it was China that had made the request, however, Mr Hafiz Saeed could have
waved his freedom goodbye.
The PM insisted that we have to put our house in order, making him the
second man in the room with the same opinion about his country. While the
choice of words could have been better, the sentiment is much appreciated. But,
931
words alone will not suffice. The PM must utilize the wonderful opportunity he
has been granted for a third time, and take serious steps which illustrate that his
words do not just amount to empty rhetoric, but a well-founded realization,
prompting decisive action. (Editorial, TheNation 25th October)
A secret agreement authorizing drone strikes: The Obama
administration's aggressive drone program in Pakistan came under renewed
attack this week, with Amnesty International suggesting that the United States is
engaged in war crimes and visiting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif describing the
strikes as a "major irritant" in relations.
But what is obscured by the public dispute is that there has been, since the
administrations of George W. Bush and Pervez Musharraf, a secret agreement in
place by which Pakistani military and intelligence authorities have approved
many of the strikes, U.S. and Pakistani officials say
Even so the Obama administration, jolted by new waves of antiAmericanism in Pakistan and the Arab world in reaction to the drone strikes, has
been engaged in an intense internal debate over how to narrow the program. The
administration believes it has removed most of core al-Qaida from its central
home in Pakistan, and at the same time it's no longer quite as clear that
associated groups or individuals will seek to target the U.S. homeland or U.S.
interests the way bin Laden did.
Among those expected to influence this effort anew is Jeh Johnson,
Obama's nominee to succeed Janet Napolitano as Homeland Security secretary.
Administration officials point to a speech that Johnson, then the Pentagon's
general counsel, gave in November 2012 setting legal standards for the drone
war and laying out criteria for curtailing and even ending it. Johnson said there
will come a tipping pointat which so many of the leaders and operatives of alQaida and its affiliates have been killed or captured, and the group is no longer
able to attempt or launch a strategic attack against the United States, such that
al-Qaida as we know it, the organization that our Congress authorized the
military to pursue in 2001, has been effectively destroyed. The war would then
be expected to end and with it, much of the drone program, Johnson
suggested.
Meanwhile, however, the Amnesty International report on Pakistan
concluded that the strikes have resulted in unlawful killings that may constitute
extrajudicial executions or war crimes.
Sharif, who is seeking to repair relations with Washington, was somewhat
more circumspect in a speech in Washington on Tuesday, noting that Pakistan's
political parties have declared that the use of drones is not only a continued
violation of our territorial integrity, but also detrimental to our resolve and
efforts at eliminating terrorism from our country.
932
He did not mention the secret protocol authorizing the use of drones within
his country's borders. (Michael Hirsh for The Atlantic, republished in
TheNation 25th October)
Please tell me, Obama, why US drone killed my mother: The last time I
saw my mother, Momina Bibi, was the evening before Eidul Azha. She was
preparing my childrens clothing and showing them how to make swaiyaan, a
traditional sweet made of milk. She always used to say: the joy of Eid is the
excitement it brings to the children.
Last year, she never had that experience. The next day, October 24, 2012,
she was dead, killed by a US drone that rained fire down upon her as she tended
her garden.
Nobody has ever told me why my mother was targeted that day. The media
reported that the attack was on a car, but there is no road alongside my mothers
house. Several reported the attack was on a house. But the missiles hit a nearby
field, not a house. All reported that five militants were killed. Only one person
was killed a 65-year-old grandmother of nine.
My three children 13-year-old Zubair, nine-year-old Nabila and fiveyear-old Asma were playing nearby when their grandmother was killed. All of
them were injured and rushed to hospitals. Were these children the militants
the news reports spoke of? Or perhaps, it was my brothers children? They, too,
were there. They are aged three, seven, 12, 14, 15 and 17 years old. The eldest
four had just returned from a day at school, not long before the missile struck.
But the United States and its citizens probably do not know this. No one
ever asked us who was killed or injured that day. Not the United States or my
own government. Nobody has come to investigate nor has anyone been held
accountable. Quite simply, nobody seems to care.
I care, though. And so does my family and my community. We want to
understand why a 65-year-old grandmother posed a threat to one of the most
powerful countries in the world. We want to understand how nine children,
some playing in the field, some just returned from school, could possibly have
threatened the safety of those living a continent and an ocean away.
Most importantly, we want to understand why President Obama, when
asked whom drones are killing, says they are killing terrorists. My mother was
not a terrorist. My children are not terrorists. Nobody in our family is a terrorist.
My mother was a midwife, the only midwife in our village. She delivered
hundreds of babies in our community. Now families have no one to help them.
And my father? He is a retired school principal. He spent his life educating
children, something that my community needs far more than bombs. Bombs
933
create only hatred in the hearts of people. And that hatred and anger breeds
more terrorism. But education education can help a country prosper.
I, too, am a teacher. I was teaching in my local primary school on the day
my mother was killed. I came home to find not the joys of Eid, but my children
in the hospital and a coffin containing only pieces of my mother.
Our family has not been the same since that drone strike. Our home has
turned into hell. The small children scream in the night and cannot sleep. They
cry until dawn.
Several of the children have had to have multiple surgeries. This has cost
money we no longer have, since the missiles also killed our livestock. We have
been forced to borrow from friends; money we cannot repay. We then use the
money to pay a doctor, a doctor who removes from the childrens bodies the
metal gifts the US gave them that day.
Drone strikes are not like other battles where innocent people are
accidentally killed. Drone strikes target people before they kill them. The
United States decides to kill someone, a person they only know from a video. A
person who is not given a chance to say I am not a terrorist. The US chose to
kill my mother.
Several US congressmen invited me to come to Washington, DC to share
my story with members of Congress. I hope by telling my story, America may
finally begin to understand the true impact of its drone program and who is on
the other end of drone strikes.
I want Americans to know about my mother. And I hope, maybe, I might
get an answer to just one question: why? (Rafiq-ur-Rehman, TheNation 26 th
October)
Rafiq ur Rehman is a citizen of Pakistan who lives in Tabbi, North
Waziristan. He is represented by Reprieve, a UK-based legal charity, and its
Pakistani partner, the Foundation for Fundamental Rights, and has been invited
by members of Congress to visit the US and share his story. His story, and the
story of his mothers death, feature in Robert Greenwalds and Brave New
Foundations upcoming documentary, Unmanned: Americas Drone Wars.
Guardian
Ally not friend: Perhaps the message from the White House is wrapped in
incompetence and misunderstood zeal. US Press statement by the Americans
were carefully crafted as were the leaks. President Obama was articulate in his
choice of words. Yet the nature and drift of talks were compromised by the
Pakistani Prime Minister during his press conference reading from notes. His
position as a minion in the high profile meeting had more to do with his
personality disorders than the nature of tough talks. This negative demeanour
reinforced the perception that rather than a meaningful dialogue in assisting
934
Pakistan in its most difficult challenges, President Obama had handed over a
long list of dos and donts to a country that cannot take its daily meals without
the big brothers approval. This is a foreign policy capitulation that Pakistan
will endure for a long time.
It appears that historic predispositions, faulty advice and confrontationist
attitude have lured the present government into a wider fault-line and instability.
Eradication of terrorism with a lesser priority for socio-economic development
means that Pakistan validates US accusations against Pakistan. In schoolboy
parlance, there is no leave or goodies till the homework is done and checked.
Despite international isolation, domestic waves and frequency of militancy
continue to grow amid a chant of negotiating peace with an invisible and
perpetually morphing threat. Analysts and opinion makers harbingered on an
opportunity are widening the cracks to pot holes. An environment is being
shaped for a final entrenchment.
For the past six years, through sponsored seminars and workshops backed
by a vitriolic and tabloid media, there is an attempt at dubbing Civil-Military
Relations in Pakistan as the mother of all evils. Though I agree that the higher
direction of state management must always come from the Prime Minister who
represents the Parliament, it is also incumbent on civilians to leave no blank
spaces for instruments of statecraft to exploit. Pakistan's prime issue is not
Civil-Military Relations but the dysfunctionalism right at the top. When a
country cannot enunciate its National Interests on a time continuum directly
related to National Power; with well-defined and articulated roles for each
instrument of statecraft, what else could you expect other than adhocism during
the Prime Ministers visit to USA. The eagerness of the Prime Minster to undo
the wrongs done in the past is a dangerous assertion. Confrontation with the
defence establishment will add a new element to Pakistans instability.
At the same time, Pakistanis need to comprehend and realize that the
economic down turn is manipulated and not endemic. The national power of
Pakistan in its aggregate is way beyond a rapidly devaluing currency, dwindling
exchequer and diminishing energy resources. Pakistans worth is much more
than the few billions it receives in tranches with strings. Pakistanis also need to
beware that any further instability will lead to more bloodshed and disunity.
It is now the duty of the Pakistani intelligentsia and media to steer the
debate in the right direction. Dysfunctionalism within the state and opportunist
constitutionalism should be the top priorities for awareness that Pakistan lacks a
narrative of higher direction and elucidation of its national interests. Once this is
put right, the longevity of civil-military relations will automatically fall in its
slot. (Samson Simon Sharaf, TheNation 26th October)
Nawaz Obama encounter: Watching Nawaz and Obama speak to the
media after their meeting in the White House, one gained the impression that
935
top leaders of the two countries were keen to develop a positive and
constructive relationship. This feeling is also reflected in the Joint Statement
issued after the meeting. Note the way it begins: At the invitation of President
Obama, Prime Minister Sharif paid an official visit to Washington from October
20 to 23, 2013, marking the commitment of both Leaders to strengthen U.S.Pakistan relations and advance shared interests in a stable, secure, and
prosperous Pakistan and regionPresident Obama and Prime Minister Sharif
held wide-ranging discussions at the White House today about the importance
of a U.S.-Pakistan partnership built on a foundation of mutual interest and
respect. President Obama conveyed appreciation for Pakistans internal and
regional security challenges and affirmed that a peaceful, prosperous, and
democratic Pakistan was an essential partner for the United States in the
advancement of shared goals of peace, security, and socio-economic
development in South Asia.
A careful reading of this Statement however provides little evidence of any
substantial steps emanating from the meeting to fulfill the wish to build up a
close and concrete partnership.
A welcome move relates to the resumption of the so-called US-Pakistan
Strategic Dialogue and the formation of five working groups including: Law
Enforcement and Counterterrorism; Economics and Finance; Energy; Security,
Strategic Stability, Non-Proliferation; and the Defence Consultative Group
The Joint Statement stressed improvement in India-Pakistan relations.
President Obama welcomed the recent engagement between the prime ministers
of India and Pakistan and hoped that there would be a sustained dialogue
leading to the resolution of all territorial and other disputes through peaceful
means.
To arrive at a realistic understanding of the engagement between the two
leaders one must identify perceptions of the two countries about their core
interests. This is how a leading American journalist, Michael Kugelman in his
latest column in New York sums up the American interests: the United State
largely perceives Pakistan through the lens of its twelve-year long military
intervention in Afghanistan, so its relations with Pakistan are dominated by
security concerns: sanctuaries for militants in the tribal areas, near the Afghan
border; the safety of Pakistan based NATO supply routes and Pakistans
influence over the Taliban in Afghanistan.
For the last many years, India has launched an international propaganda
campaign demonizing Pakistan as the epicenter of terrorism. All that Nawaz
Sharif was able to secure from Manmohan Singh was a stinging denunciation of
Pakistan reiterated in the latters meeting with President Obama and in his
address at the United Nations General Assembly. Even the promise of the
ceasefire on the Line of Control has not been kept and every other day high936
Afghanistan
937
Iran
Carrots or sticks for Iran? Today, Israel has no serious enemies in the
Arab world: Egypt has been bought off; Iraq and Syria destroyed. Saudi Arabia
is in secret alliance with Israel. The only nation that can hope to challenge
Israels increasingly dominant role in the Mideast is Iran. That puts Israel, Iran
and Saudi Arabia in a three-way competition for regional hegemony.
If Iran is kept isolated and assaulted by trade sanctions, electronic attack,
sabotage and ethnic subversion in its Arab and Azeri regions, Iran will very
likely continue its slow but steady development of nuclear breakout capability
meaning being able to assemble nuclear components into a warhead and deliver
them on fairly short notice.
A deal limiting Tehrans breakout capability would seem the best recourse.
My own long-standing proposal is the Margolis Plan: let Iran and Israel to
inspect one-anothers nuclear facilities.
But that, of course, wont happen because Israel wont admit it has nuclear
weapons, a fairy tale backed by all US administrations. How about the US,
China, Russia, France and Britain opening their nuclear plants for inspection?
Add India and Pakistan to this list.
While what appear to be fruitful talks progress in Geneva, powerful special
interests in America are trying to thwart any agreement with Iran. The US
Congress, profoundly corrupted by political donations, is moving to impose
new, draconian sanctions on Iran while Israels rightists and their allies in the
939
US media thunder about the alleged dangers from Iran. The Republican Party
leads the call for harsher sanctions on Iran.
President Barack Obama knows that any deal with Iran must be struck
before the next US presidential season gets under way, otherwise it will fail.
Irans new leadership, led by President Hassan Rouhani, clearly wants a
deal. The nationalist pride Iranians feel for their so far civilian nuclear program
cannot outweigh the damage and pain of crushing sanctions. However, as in the
past, the US-led western powers may keep moving the goalposts ever farther
from a lasting agreement.
If theres a deal with Iran over nuclear power, can pressure for a deal over
Palestine be far behind? (Eric Margolis, TheNation 23rd October)
India
India & Pakistan: Some reflections: Let us attempt to construct a
paradigm of mutual coexistence between India and Pakistan based on historical
realities rather than political slogans, rhetorical nationalistic sentiments and
religious symbolism all viewed and presented to the general public in
manipulated form.
First: Let us all admit that Hindu culture and religion is centuries old. Its
philosophical, spiritual, artistic and scientific contributions have had
enlightened impacts on Indus-Ganga civilization. Hindu civilization is preIslamic. It has survived for centuries and it will continue to survive, no matter
how much the die-hard anti-Hindu fundamentalists desire its demise.
But let us acknowledge, with the same spirit of openness and tolerance that
the Islamic civilization is the culmination of all religious philosophical thoughts
and its 1400 years of history has had a paramount global impact on human
civilization. Islamic civilizations philosophical, spiritual, artistic and scientific,
architectural, mathematical, astronomical and medical contributions have had a
revolutionary effect on humanitys spiritual and material advancements in the
recent past history
Second: Hinduism ideologically does not preach or believe in a classless,
modern egalitarian concept. Religiously, it is a class-based society. On the other
hand, Islamic political thought and ideology is entirely focused on the creation
of a welfare state based on the equality of all a classless society.
However, the fact of the matter is that Muslims are very often in
contradiction with the ethical political values that Islam is supposed to be
celebrating. Pakistan in particular, since its inception, has been driven to a class
society gradually reaching the epitome of it
Third: Let us admit that Indian democracy is a functional, forward-moving
political force squarely established in that country. Pakistani democracy, on the
940
other hand, has been driving the nation backwards into a client-state, dependent
on foreign assistance, foreign intervention in its domestic and foreign affairs,
foreign dictates, and socio-economic disasters, political crises and leadership
failures in policy planning and nation-building parameters. In India, in spite of
its relative success with democracy, the majority of the masses remain
economically and socially disenfranchised, while in Pakistan, the
marginalization and deprivations of the common citizens seems to have become
an enterprise of the so-called democratic leadership and saved democracy.
Perhaps Pakistani saved democracy can learn a lesson or two from the Indian
practical and forward-moving democracy. Perhaps the two democracies can
acknowledge the massive poverty of its masses and admit that egalitarian
societies in both nations are a remote possibility as of now.
Could a new paradigm of mutual coexistence between the two neighbors be
built on the mutuality of shared ideas on the creation and development of
egalitarian societies in both nations? After all, India cannot deny the fact that
poverty, illiteracy, rural backwardness and social in-cohesion are all part of its
larger existential reality. In Pakistan, these elements of social and economic
backwardness are too obvious to be mentioned.
Manmohan Singhs India is in an intense political romance with the US
seeking a role that a new bride deserves of a loving groom. Nawaz Sharifs (and
successive Pakistani military and civilian rulers) Pakistan is hanging around in
the loop like an orphan calling for attention that an orphaned child demands.
Both are dependent on the intensity and assumed perceptual strength of their
relationships. Both are respectively unaware that some romances fail and
orphans are generally disowned. Both are willfully in self-denial that the US is a
dog-eat-dog world where loyalty is paid well while disloyalty is punished
harshly and severely. The fact is that the worlds of political romance and
political orphanage are themselves fractured existences where permanence is
only a conditional reality.
Would it not be more appropriate for Indian alive democracy and Pakistani
saved democracy to work towards an acceptance of their diverse historical
realities, acknowledge their ideological differences, reconcile to the idea of
mutual coexistence based on respect for each others faith and historical
contributions to human civilization, and join hands in the creation of ideas for
the development of egalitarian societies in both countries?
India has to stop playing the new bride to the US. Pakistan will have to
abandon its orphanage act. We do not have to be bed-partners, but India and
Pakistan can help each other as good neighbors that is an acquired state of
mind. And that is what will matter most at the end.
India cannot be the regional and global dominant power that the US wants
it to be it is an abstract idea in itself hindered by Indias massive poverty and
941
whose time has not come and will not come for an indefinite period in the
future.
Pakistan and other regional powers will not accept Indian political and
economic domination that is simply a logical foregone conclusion, given the
state of global political realities of the present time.
And I will eagerly wait for my Indian readers reactions to this writing.
Have a good day! (Dr Haider Mehdi, TheNation 24th October)
REVIEW
The much awaited Nawaz-Obama meeting was held on 23rd October.
According to Nawaz, he focused on four Es during the meeting, i.e., economy,
energy, education and extremism. Obama, however, made no such claims and
instead he reiterated the old demand of do more, this time for change not using
the words of mouth but through movement of his eyebrows.
This method of communication was so effective that even the Turnip from
Raiwind read it clearly. The receipt of the message was not acknowledged
through two-and-a-half thousand words of joint statement, but instead it was
done by Nawaz soon after the meeting by saying: We have to put our house in
order.
There was no mention of drone attacks and Kashmir in the lengthy joint
statement. The omission of Kashmir caught the eye in view of the fact that apart
from Sharif Brothers, most of the members of federal cabinet are of Kashmiri
descent. Omission of drone attacks generated heated debate though the issue has
least of the ambiguities, what so ever.
It is historical reality that the great tabla-nawaz of our times, Musharraf
had explicitly allowed the drone strikes inside Pakistan. Since then the attacks
have continued with varying frequency attaining the peak during the rule of
NRO-installed Zardari regime. The civil and military leadership has been
consenting to it till today, while verbally opposing with a view to pacifying the
public sentiment.
Overall worth of the outcome of the meeting could be ascertained with its
comparison with Manmohan Singhs visit last month. In that meeting the two
leaders talked on issues like strategic partnership, defence production and
nuclear technology and while sitting with Nawaz, Obama talked of DaalKeema. In turn Nawaz read out points jotted down on paper. God knows who
wrote those points as he was finding it difficult to read those. This episode alone
was enough to tell the nature of Pak-US relationship.
There is yet another indicator in the opening paragraph of the joint
statement for realization of which five working groups have been once again
942
revived. It said that the two leaders wanted stable, secure and prosperous
Pakistan. Some observers rightly noted that this indirectly conveyed US
administrations viewpoint that Pakistan is unstable, insecure and economically
wrecked and Nawaz endorsed this view.
Yet another indicator was that the US lawmakers declared Shakil Afirdi as
their national hero and urged his release and his repatriation to the US. At the
same time Obama sought explanation from Nawaz for not taking any legal
action against Hafiz Saeed so far, as demanded by India, for his involvement in
Mumbai attack..
On way back home, Nawaz told the media reporters that he has secured the
US backing for talks with TTP. So, it is Washington which decides as to whom
Islamabad shall talk and with whom it wont.
During the period, Malala Yousafzai kept receiving the kind attention of
the so-called civilized world. She is an innocent teenage school girl who caught
the eye of BBC during military operation in Swat after the rise of militancy in
that beautiful valley. Pages of her so-called diary, written or dictated by her
father, were broadcast regularly by the BBC. The focus of these broadcasts was
that Islamist forces were against education, especially female education.
Her father is known die-hard red-capper of ANP. In KPK, his party faces
political opposition from religious parties only. He turned his Malala into Gul
Makai to defame Islamists and the leadership of his party ruling the province
at that time provided him the backing he needed.
Taliban took these write-ups as defamation or demonizing campaign and
reacted by attacking and injuring her seriously and result of that she was
evacuated to Britain for medical treatment. Since that day, she has been virtually
held hostage by the West, not through use of force or any coercion but because
of their generosity shown in showering honours and awards on her.
The young lady is too innocent to understand the evil designs of the West
for exploiting her earnest desire for education for all. She, perhaps, is also not
fully aware of the evil intent behind all the honours and awards of bestowed
upon her so generously by different institutions.
Whether she knows or not the real motives of the special treatment meted
out to her, her father has been certainly enjoying every bit of it. The idea of
writing the so-called biography, most probably, was also conceived by her
genius father and he chose the right person to co-author the book: I am Malala.
The western intellectuals like Christina Lamb have always on the look out
for opportunities to defame and demonize Islam and its followers. The contents
of the book reveal that she grabbed the opportunity with her both hands and
included such events in the book which have nothing to do with Malala. Lamb
availed the chance only to spit venom against followers of Islam.
943
She vented her feelings of hatred for Afghan Taliban fighting against the
illegal occupation of their country by the Crusaders. The man who is leading the
resistance against occupation forces has been preferred to be addressed as oneeyed Mulla. She also brought in Ahmad Rushdie, whose very name might have
been news for Malala,
All this has been to portray followers of Islam as obscurantist that shun
enlightenment, freedom of expression, and are intolerant and so on. They
discourage education and Malala certainly ignored in her rhetoric that Islam
stresses upon acquisition of knowledge irrespective of gender.
Malala might not be knowing that when the British, her hosts today,
colonized the Indian Subcontinent the literacy rate in Muslims was more than
ninety percent. And, when they left in middle of the last century, that ratio had
slumped to mere 14 percent. Furthermore, sixty-six years later, despite the
negligence on the part of the rulers, the female students in Pakistan excel in
higher education.
The young lady might also have not been informed about the Iraqi girl who
was teased daily by US soldiers when she went to school. When the girl told her
father he stopped her from going to school. The soldiers of education loving
civilized world did not like that. They barged into her house and raped her.
Malala will take sometime to understand that she is now a captive of her
fathers lust for fame and monetary aspect of all the honours and awards. He too
has inadvertently walked into the trap that has been weaved by Christina Lamb
and her civilized world for him and his daughter Malala. The doors for the
return of father and daughter to their homeland perhaps have been shut.
28th October, 2013
INQILAB
EDUCATING YOUTH
944
PART ONE
When Allamah said his famous line zara num ho tuo yeh matti bohat
zarkhaiz hai saqi, he certainly had the younger generation in his mind. He may
also have had the older generation in his mind, salinity-affected and
waterlogged landscape seldom requires additional moisture.
It was probably for this reason that he devoted much of his God-gifted
talent time and in adding num to the uncultivated landscape. He not only
sprinkled the moisture over the fertile soil, but also toiled in tilling it and
sowed the best of seeds he possessed.
But before that, when he himself was a young man, he wrote some poems
for the youth-in-waiting; the children. If youth represents the fertile land of a
millat, the children are like virgin soil. Allamah endeavoured to claim this soil
for cultivation. What he cultivated can be seen from the poems reproduced from
his book Bang-e-Dara. All these have been translated by M.A.K.Khalil.
THE AGE OF INFANCY
The first poem about children is about the age of infancy. An infant is the
symbol of the Truth and the beauty of the creation of God, wrote the translator.
Seen in that context, an infant is a source of learning for the grown up rather
than a pupil of his elders, yet the yearning for learning is bestowed upon him by
God even at that age.
Ehad-e-Tifali
Thhey diyar-e-nau zamin-o-aasman mayrey leay; wosaat-e-aaghosh-e-maader
ekk jahan meyrey leay.
(Diyar-e-nau: Niya shehar. Aaghosh-e-maader: Man ki goad.)
The earth and sky were unknown worlds to me; only the expanse of mother's
bosom was a world to me.
Thhi her ekk jonbash nishan-e-lotf-e-jan meyrey leay; harf-e-bey matlab thhi
khod meyri zoban meyrey leay.
945
Every movement was a symbol of life's pleasure to me; my own speech was like
a meaningless word to me.
Dour-e-tifali mein agar koeyi rolata thha mojhey; shorish-e-zinjir-e-dar mein
lotf ata thha mojhey.
During infancy's pain if somebody made me cry; the noise of the door chain
would comfort me.
!
Takktey rehna haaey! Woh pehron talak sooey qamar; woh phhattey baadal
mein bey awaz-e-pa oss ka safar. (Awaz-e-pa: Paon ki aahut.)
Oh! How I stared at the moon for long hours staring at its silent journey among
broken clouds.
Poochhna reh reh kay iss kay koh-o-sehra ki khabar; aur woh hairat darogh-emaslihat aamaiz per.
(Drogh-e-maslihat aamaiz: Achha natija paida karney wala jhhoot.)
I would ask repeatedly about its mountains and plains and how surprised would
I be at that prudent lie.
Ankhh waqf-e-deid thhi, labb maeyl-e-goftar thha; dil nah thha goya meyra,
sarapa zouq-e-istafsaar thha.
(Waqf-e-deid: Deikhhney mein masroof.)
My eye was devoted to seeing, my lip was prone to speak; my heart was no less
than inquisitiveness personified.
-
946
Ekk dinn kissi makhhi sey yeh kehney laga makrra; iss rah sey hota hai gozar
roz tumhara.
One day a spider said to a fly: Though you pass this way daily.
Laikan meyri kotiya ki nah jaagi kabhi qismat; bhooley sey kabhi tum ney
yahan paon nah rakhha. (Kotiya: Jhonparri)
My hut has never been honoured by you by making a chance visit inside by you.
Ghairon sey nah miliay tou koeyi baat naheen hai; apnon sey magar
chahiay yuon khhainch kay nah rehna.
Though depriving strangers of a visit does not matter; evading the near and dear
ones does not look good.
Aao jo meyrey ghhar mein tuo izzat hai yeh meyri; woh saamney seirrhi hai jo
manzoor ho ana.
My house will be honoured by a visit by you; a ladder is before you if you
decide to step in.
!
Makhhi ney sonni baat jo makkarrey ki tuo boli; hazrat! Kissi nadaan ko dijiay
ga yeh dhoka.
Hearing this the fly said to the spider: Sire, you should entice some simpleton
thus:
Iss jaal mein makhhi kabhi aaney ki naheen hai; jo aap ki seirrhi peh charrha,
pher naheen otra.
This fly would never be pulled into your net, whoever climbed your net could
never step down.
947
!
Makkarrey ney kaha waah! Faraibi mojhey samjhey; tum saa koeyi nadaan
zamaney mein nah ho ga.
The spider said: How strange, you consider me a cheat, I have never seen a
simpleton like you in the world.
Manzoor tumhari mojhey khatar thhi vagarnah; kochh faidah apna tuo mera
iss mein naheen thha.
I only wanted to entertain you. I had no personal gain in view.
Orrti hoeyi aaeyi ho Khoda jaaney kahan sey; thhehro jo merey ghhar mein
tuo hai iss mein bora kaya.
You have come flying from some unknown distant place; resting for a while in
my house would not harm you.
Iss ghhar mein kaeyi tum ko dikhhaney ki hein cheezein; bahar sey nazar ata
hai chhoti sei yeh kotiya.
Many things in this house are worth your seeing; though apparently a humble
hut you are seeing.
Lutkay hoay darwazey peh bareek hein parday; diwaaron ko aeinon sey hai
mien ney sajaya.
Dainty drapes are hanging from the doors and I have decorated the walls with
mirrors.
948
Mehmanon kay araam ko hazir hein bachhoney; her shakhs ko saaman yeh
mayassr naheen hota.
Beddings are available for guests comforts; not to everyones lot do fall these
comforts.
Makhhi ney kaha khair, yeh sabb thheik hai laikan; mien aap kay ghhar aaon,
yeh ummeid nah rakhhna.
The fly said: All this may very well be, but do not expect me to enter your
house.
Inn naram bachhoney sey Khoda mojh ko bachaey; suo jaaey koeyi inn peh
tuo pher othh naheen sakta.
May God protect me from these soft beds; once asleep in them getting up again
is impossible.
Makkarrey ney kaha dil mein sonni baat jo oss ki; phhanson issey kiss tarah
yeh kumbakht hai dana.
The spider spoke to itself on hearing this talk: How to trap it? This wretched
fellow is clever.
Suo kaam khoshamad sey nikaltey hein jahan mein; deikhho jissey dunya mein
khoshamad ka hai banda.
Many desires are fulfilled with flattery in the world; all in the world are
enslaved with flattery.
Yeh soch kay makhhi sey kaha oss ney barri-bi; Allah ney bakhsha hai barra
aap ko rotba.
Thinking this the spider spoke to the fly thus! Madam, God has bestowed great
honours on you!
949
Hoti hai ossey aap ki surat sey mohabat; ho jiss ney kabhi eik nazar aap ko
deikhha.
Everyone loves your beautiful face; even if someone sees you for the first time.
Ankhhein hein keh heeray ki chamkati hoeyi kuniyan; sar aap ka Allah ney
kalghi sey sajaya.
Your eyes look like clusters of glittering diamonds. God has adorned your
beautiful head with a plume.
Yeh hosn, yeh poshaak, yeh khoobi, yeh safaeyi; pher oss peh qiyamat hai yeh
orrtay hoay gana.
This beauty, this dress, this elegance, this neatness! And all this is very much
enhanced by singing in flight.
Makhhi ney sonni jabb yeh khoshamad tuo paseiji; boli keh naheen aap sey
mojh ko koeyi khhatka.
The fly was touched by this flattery and spoke: I do not fear you any more.
Inkaar ki aadat ko samajhti hon bora mien; sachh yeh hai keh dil torrna achha
naheen hota.
I hate the habit of declining requests; disappointing somebody is bad indeed.
Yeh baat kehi aur orri apni jagah sey; pass aaeyi tuo makkarrey ney ochhal kar
ossey pakrra.
Saying this it flew from its place when it got close the spider snapped it.
950
Bhooka thha kaeyi roz sey aab haathh jo aaeyi; araam sey ghhar baithh kay
makhhi ko orraya (khhaya).
The spider had been starving for many days. The fly provided a good leisurely
meal.
Koeyi paharr yeh kehta thha ekk gulehri sey; tojhey ho sharam tuo paani mein
jaa kay doob murrey.
A mountain was saying this to a squirrel: Commit suicide if you have selfrespect.
Zara sei cheez hai, iss per gharoor, kaya kehna; yeh aql aur yeh samajh, yeh
shaoor, kaya kehna.
You are insignificant, still so arrogant, how strange! You are neither wise, nor
intelligent! Not even shrewd!
Khoda ki shaan hai nacheez cheez bun baithhi; jo bey shaoor hon yuon batamiz bun baithhein.
It is strange when the insignificant pose as important! When the stupid ones like
you pose as intelligent!
Teri bisaat hai kaya meyri shaan kay aagay; zamin hai pust
meri aan baan kay aagay.
951
Jo baat mojh mien hai, tojh ko woh hai nasib kahan; bhala paharr kahan
janwar gharib kahan.
The grandeur of mine does not fall to your lot; the poor animal cannot equal the
great mountain!
Kaha yeh sonn kay gulehri ney, monh sanbhaal zara; yeh kachi baatein hein
dil sey innhein nikaal zara.
On hearing this, the squirrel said: Hold your tongue! These are immature
thoughts; expel them from your heart!
Jo mien barri naheen teyri tarah tuo kaya perva; naheen hai tou bhi tuo aakhir
meri tarah chhota.
I do not care if I am not large like you! You are not a pretty little thing like me.
Her eik cheez sey paida Khoda ki qodrat hai; koeyi barra, koeyi chhota, yeh
Oss ki hekmat hai.
Everything shows the Omni-potence of God; some large, some small, is the
wisdom of God.
Barra jahan mein tojh ko bana diya Oss ney; mojhey drakht peh charrhna
sikhha diya Oss ney.
He has created you large in the world and He has taught me climbing large
trees.
Qadam othhaney ki taqat naheen zara tojh mein; neri barraeyi hai, khoobi hai
aur kaya tojh mein.
952
You are unable to walk a single step. Only large size! What other greatness have
you?
Jo tou barra hai tuo mojh saa honar dikhha mojh ko; yeh chhaliya he zara torr
kar dikhha mojh ko.
If you are large show me some of the skills I have; show me how you break this
beetle nut as I can.
Naheem hai cheez nakammi koeyi zamaney mein; koeyi bora naheen qodrat kay
karkhaney mein.
Nothing is useless in this world. Nothing is bad in God's creation.
Ekk chirahgah hari bhari thhi kaheen; thhi sarapa bahaar jiss ki zamin.
There was a verdant pasture somewhere, whose land was the very picture of
beauty.
Kaya saman oss bahaar ka ho biyan; her taraf saaf nadiyan thhein rawan.
How can the beauty of that elegance be described? Brooks of sparkling water
were running on every side.
953
Thhey anaron kay bey shomar drakht; aur peepal kay sayahdar drakht.
Many were the pomegranate trees and so were the shady papal* trees. (*A large
shady tree of the Indian sub-continent.)
Thhandi thhandi hawaein aati thhein; taeron ki sadaein aati
thhein.
Cool breeze flowed everywhere; Birds were singing everywhere.
Kissi nadi kay pass ekk bakri; chartey chartey kaheen sey aa-nikali,
A goat arrived at a brook's bank from somewhere. It came browsing from
somewhere in the nearby land.
Jabb thhehar kar idhar odhar deikhha; pass ekk gaaey ko
khharrey paya.
As she stopped and looked around, she noticed a cow standing
by.
Pehley jhok kar ossey salam kiya; pher saliqay sey yuon kalam kiya.
The goat first presented her compliments to the cow, then respectfully started
this conversation.
!
Kiyuon barri-bi! Mizaj kaisey hein? Gaaey boli khair achhey
hein.
How are you! Madam Cow? The cow replied, Not too well.
954
Katt rehi hai bori bhali apni; hai mosibat mein zindagi apni.
My life is a mere existence. My life is a complete agony.
Jan per aa-bani hai, kaya kehiay; apni qismat bori hai, kaya
kehiay.
My life is in danger, what can I say? My luck is bad, what can I
say?
Deikhhti hon Khoda ki shan ko mein; ro rehi hon boron ki jan
ko mein.
I am surprised at the state of affairs. I am cursing the evil
people.
Zor chalta naheen gharibon ka; paish aya likhha nasibon ka.
The poor ones like us are powerless; misfortunes surround the
ones like us.
Adami sey koeyi bhala nah karey; oss sey pala parrey, Khoda nah karey.
None should nicely deal with Man. May God protect us from Man!
Doodh kum don tuo borrbarrata hai; hon jo dobli tuo baich
khhata hai.
He murmurs if my milk declines; he sells me if my weight
declines.
Hathkandon sey ghulam karta hai; kin faraibon sey raam karta hai.
He subdues us with cleverness! Alluring, he always subjugates us!
955
Oss kay bachon ko paalti hon mien; doodh sey jan daalti hon mein.
I nurse his children with milk. I give them new life with milk.
!
Badlay naiki kay yeh boraeyi hai; meyrey Allah! teri dohaeyi hai.
My goodness is repaid with evil. My prayer to God is for mercy!
Sonn kay bakkri ka yeh maajra sara; boli, aisa gilah naheen achha.
Having heard the cow's story like this, the goat replied: This complaint is
unjust.
Baat sachi hai bey maza lagti; mien kahon gi magar Khoda
lagti.
Though truth is always bitter; I shall speak what is fair.
Yeh charageh, yeh thhandi thhandi hawa; yeh hari ghhas aur yeh saya.
This pasture and this cool breeze; this green grass and this shade.
Aisi khoshiyan humein nasib kahan; yeh kahan, bey zoban
gharib kahan.
Such comforts were beyond our lot! They were a far cry for us
speechless poor!
Yeh mazay Adami kay dum sey hein; lotf saarey ossi kay dum
sey hein.
956
Oss kay dum sey hai apni aabadi; qiad hum ko bhali, keh
aazadi.
We derive all our prosperity from him. What is better for us,
freedom or bondage to him?
Suo tarah ka hai bunon mein khhatka; wan ki gozaran sey
bachaey Khoda.
Hundreds of dangers lurk in the wilderness. May God protect us
from the wilderness!
Hum peh ehsaan hai barra oss ka; hum ko zeba naheen gila oss ka.
We are heavily indebted to him; unjust is our complaint against him.
Qadar aaram ki agar samjho; Adami ka kabhi gilah nah karo.
If you appreciate the life's comforts; you would never complain against Man.
Gaaey sonn kar yeh baat sharmaeyi; Adami kay gilay sey
pachhtaeyi.
Hearing all this the cow felt embarrassed. She was sorry for
complaining against Man.
Dil mein parkhha bhala bora oss ney; aur kochh soch kar kaha oss ney.
She mused over the good and the bad and thoughtfully she said this:
957
Yuon tuo chhoti hai zaat bakkri ki; dil ko lagti hai baat bakkri ki.
Small though is the body of the goat; convincing is the advice of the goat!
SYMPATHY
Humdardi Makhoz
Tehni peh kissi shajar ki tanha; bulbul thha koeyi odaas baithha.
Perched on the branch of a tree was a nightingale sad and lonely.
Kehta thha keh raat sar peh aaeyi; orrney chogney mein dinn gozara.
The night has drawn near, he was thinking; I passed the day in flying around
and feeding.
Pohanchon kis tarah aashiyan takk; her cheez peh chha gaya
andhaira.
How can I reach up to the nest; darkness has enveloped
everything?
Sonn kar bulbul ki aah-o-zaari; jugnu koeyi pass he sey bola:
Hearing the nightingale wailing thus; a glow-worm lurking nearby spoke thus:
Hazir hon madad ko jan-o-dil sey; keirra hon agarchih mein zara sa.
With my heart and soul ready to help I am; though only an insignificant insect I
am.
Kaya ghum hai jo raat hai andhairi; mien raah mein roshani karon ga.
958
Never mind if the night is dark; I shall shed light if the way is dark.
Allah ney di hai mojh ko mashaal; chamka kay mojhey diya
banaya.
God has bestowed a torch on me. He has given a shining lamp
to me.
Hein loug wohi jahan mein achhey; aatey hein jo kaam dosaron kay.
The good in the world only those are; ready to be useful to others who are.
A MOTHER'S DREAM
The moral of this apologue is that a Muslim should be patient and
persevering in all adversity and loss.
Man ka khwab Makhoz
Mien soeyi jo ekk shabb tuo deikhha yeh khwab; barrha aur jiss sey mera
iztirab.
As I slept one night I saw this dream, which further increased my vexation.
Yeh deikhha keh mien ja rehi hon kaheen; andhaira hai aur raah milti naheen.
I dreamt I was going somewhere on the way; dark it was and impossible to find
the way.
Larzta thha dar sey mera baal baal; qadam ka thha dehshat sey othhna mohaal.
Trembling all over with fear I was, difficult to take even a step with fear was.
Jo kochh hoslah pa kay aagay barrhi; tuo deikhha qatar eik larrkon ki thhi.
959
With some courage as I forward moved, I saw some boys as lined in nice array.
Zamurad sei poshaak pehney hoay; diay sabb kay hathhon mein jaltay hoay.
Dressed in emerald-like raiment they were, carrying lighted lamps in their hands
they were.
Woh chop chaap thhey aagey peichhay rawan; Khoda jaaney jana thha onn
ko kahan.
They were going quietly behind each other; no one knew where they were to go.
Issi soch mein thhi keh meyra pisar; mojhey oss jamaat mein aya nazar.
Involved in this thought was I, when in this troupe my son saw I.
Woh peichhay thha aur taiz chalta nah thha; diya oss kay hathhon mein jalta
nah thha.
He was walking at the back, and was not walking fast. The lamp he had in his
hand was not lighted.
Kaha mien pehchan kar, meyri jan; mojhey chhorr kar aa-gaey tum kahan.
Recognizing him I said O My dear! Where have you come leaving me there?
Jodaeyi mein rehti hon mein bey qarar; paroti hon her roz ashkon kay haar.
Restless due to separation I am; weeping every day for ever I am.
Nah perva humari zara tum ney ki; gaey chhorr, achhi wafa tum ney ki.
You did not care even a little for me! What loyalty you showed, you left me!
960
Jo buchay ney deikhha mera paich-o-taab; diya oss ney monh phair kar yuon
jawab.
As the child saw the distress in me, he replied thus; turning around to me.
Rolati hai tojh ko jodaeyi meri; naheen iss mein kochh bhalaeyi meri.
The separation from me makes you cry, not least little good does this to me.
Yeh keh kar woh kochh dir takk chopp raha; diya pher dikhha kar yeh kehney
laga.
He remained quiet for a while after talking; showing me the lamp then he
started talking.
Samajhti hai tou ho gaya kaya issey? Terey ansoon ney bojhaya issey.
Do you understand what happened to this? Your tears have extinguished this!
Ata hai yaad mojh ko gozra hoa zamanah; woh bagh ki bahaarein woh sabb ka
chehchahna.
I am constantly reminded of the bygone times, those garden's springs, those
chorus of chimes.
961
Azadiyan kahan woh abb apney ghhonslay ki apni khoshi sey aana apni
khoshi sey jana.
Gone are the freedoms of our own nests where we could come and go at our
own pleasure.
Lagti hai chot dil per, ata hai yaad jiss dum; shabnam kay
ansoon per kaliyuon ka moskarana.
My heart aches the moment I think of the buds' smile at the
dew's tears.
Woh piyari piyari surat, woh kaamni sei mourat; aabad jiss kay dum sey thha
meyra aashiyanah.
That beautiful figure, that Kaminis* form, which source of happiness in my
nest did form.
(*It is a small tropical flowering tree with beautiful slender shape and white
fragrant flowers. It is commonly grown in the gardens of the India-PakistanBangladesh region.)
Aati naheen sadaein oss ki merey qafas mein; hoti meri rehaeyi ay kaash
meyrey bus mein.
I do not hear those lovely sounds in my cage now! May it happen that my
freedom be in my own hands now!
Kaya bud-nasib hon mien ghhar ko taras raha hon; saathi tuo
hein watan mein, mien qiad mein parra hon.
How unfortunate I am, tantalized for my abode I am? My
companions are in the home-land, in the prison I am!
962
Aaeyi bahaar kaliyan phholon ki huns rehi hein; mien iss andhairey ghhar
mein qismat ko ro raha hon.
Spring has arrived, the flower buds are laughing on my misfortune in this dark
house I am wailing.
!
Iss qiad ka Elahi! Dokhhrra kissey sonaon; dar hai yeheen
qafas mein mien ghum sey mur nah jaon.
O God! To whom should I relate my tale of woe? I fear lest I die
in this cage with this woe!
Jabb sey chaman chhota hai, yeh haal ho gaya hai; dil ghum ko khha raha hai,
ghum dil ko khha raha hai.
Since separation from the garden the condition of my heart is such; my heart is
waxing the grief, my grief is waxing the heart.*
(*This expression in Urdu denotes extreme anguish.)
Gana ossey samajh kar khosh hon nah sonnaney waaley; dokhhey hoay dilon
ki faryaad yeh sada hai.
O Listeners, considering this music do not be happy; this call is the wailing of
my wounded heart.
Azad mojh ko kar dey, O qiad karney waaley; mein bey zoban hon qiadi, tou
chhorr kar doa ley.
O the one who confined me make me free; a silent prisoner I am, earn my
blessings free
963
Tifal-e-Sheer khwar
Mien ney chaaqo tojh sey chheina hai tuo challata hai tou; meharban hon
mien, mojhey nameharban samjha hai tou.
You scream as I snatch away the knife from you; do you consider me unkind
though I am kind to you?
!
Pher parra roay ga ay nauwarid-e-aqlim-e-ghum; chobh nah jaaey deikhhna!
Bareek hai nok-e-qalam.
(Nauwarid-e-aqlim-e-ghum: Ghum ki dunya mein niya niya aaney wala.)
O Newcomer of this sorrowful land, you will scream. Beware! The pen's point
is sharp, the prick may hurt you.
!
Aah! Kiyuon dokhh deyney waali shaey sey tojh ko piyar hai;
khheil iss kaghaz kay tokarrey sey, yeh bey azaar hai.
Ah! Why fond of the troublesome things are you? This piece of
paper is harmless, play with it.
Geind hai teyri kahan, cheini ki billi hai kidhar? Woh zara sa janwar toota hoa
hai jiss ka sar.
Where is your ball? Where is your China cat? Where is that small animal with
broken head?
Teyra aeinah thha azad-e-ghobar-e-aarzoo; ankhh khholtey he chamak othha
sharar-e-aarzoo. (Azad-e-ghobar-e-aarzoo; Aarzoo ki gard sey azad.)
Your mirror had been free of want's dust cloud; with eye's opening has been
flashed the want's spark.
964
Haath ki jonbash mein, tarz-e-deid mein poshidah hai; teyri surat aarzoo bhi
teyri nauzaidah hai. (Nauzaidah: Jo naeyi naeyi paida hoeyi ho.)
In your hand's movement, in your looks is hidden; your want also is newly born
just like you.
Zindagani hai teri azad-e-qiad-e-imtiaz; teyri aankhhon per hovaida hai
magar qodrat ka raaz. (Qiad-e-imtiaz: Tamiz ki pabandi sey azad. Hovaida:
Zahir.)
Your life is free of the discretion's restrictions, but the secret of Nature is
displayed in your eyes.
Jabb kissi shaey per bigarr kar mojh sey, challata hai tou; kaya tamasha hai
raddi kaghaz sey mun jata hai tou.
When being annoyed at something with me you scream: What is the matter a
mere scrap of paper you accept.
!
Aah! Iss aadat mein hun-aahung hon mien bhi tera; tou talawwan aashna,
mien bhi talawwan aashna. (Talawwan aashna: Jiss ka mazaaj eik halat per
qaim nah rehey.)
Ah! In this habit I am also concordant with you; you love fidgetiness and I also
love fidgetiness.
Aarzi lazzat ka shaidaeyi hon, challata hon mien; jald aa-jata hai ghossah,
jald mun jata hon mien.
I am the lover of ephemeral pleasures, I cry. I soon become angry, I soon calm
down.
Meyri aankhhon ko lobha leyta hai hosn-e-zahiri; kum naheen
kochh teyri nadaani sey nadaani meri.
965
Teyri surat gaah giriyan gaah khandan mien bhi hon; deikhhney ko
naujawan hon, tifal-e-nadan mien bhi hon.
I am also now crying now laughing like you; outwardly I am elderly, I am also
simply a baby.
Sar-e-shaam eik morgh naghmah paira; kissi tehni peh baithha gaa raha thha.
(Naghmah paira: Gaaney wala.)
Early in the evening a song bird sitting on a branch was singing.
Chamakti cheez ekk deikhhi zamin per; orra taer ossey jugnu samajh kar.
It saw a glowing object on the ground; considering it a fire-fly flew down to it.
Kaha jugnu ney O morgh-e-nawa raiz; nah kar bey kas peh manqaar-e-hawus
taiz.
(Nawa raiz: Raag barsaney wala. Manqar-e-hawus: Lalich ki chonch.)
The fire-fly said to the singing bird: O singing bird, do not kill a helpless
creature.
966
Tojhey jiss ney chehak, gul ko mehak di; Ossi Allah ney mojh ko chamak di.
Who gave chirping to you, and fragrance to the rose; the same God gave the
glittering light to me.
Libaas-e-noor mein mastoor hon mein; patungon kay jahan ka toor hon
mein. (Mastoor: Chhopa hoa.)
I am clad in the apparel of light. I am the Toor of the insects' world.
Chehak teyri bahisht-e-gosh agar hai; chamak meyri bhi firdous-e-nazar hai.
(Bahisht-e-gosh: Kaanon ki jannat yaani dilkash. Firdous-e-nazar: Morad hai
bohat khoobsurat.)
If your chirping is the ear's pleasure; my brightness also is the sight's pleasure.
Paron ko meyrey Qodrat ney zia di; tojhey Oss ney sadaey dil-roba di.
(Zia: Chamak.)
Nature has given light to my wings; it has given fascinating voice to you.
Teri manqar ko gaana sikhhaya; mojhey gulzaar ki mishaal di.
He taught singing to your beak; He made me the torch of the garden.
Chamak bakhshi mojhey, aawaz tojh ko; diya hai soz mojh ko, saaz tojh ko.
He bestowed glitter upon me, voice upon you; conferred warmth upon me and
music upon you.
Mokhalif saaz ka hota naheen soz; jahan mein saaz ka hai hum-nashin soz.
967
Qayam-e-bazm-e-husti hai onnhi sey; zahoor-e-oaj-o-pusti hai onnhi sey.
The assembly of existence is based on these alone. All the world's
manifestations are through these alone.
Hum aahungi sey hai mehfil jahan ki; issi sey hai bahaar iss bostan ki.
The world's assembly is based on harmony alone. The bloom of this garden is
based on this alone.
THE CHILD'S INVOCATION
The chapter ends with a wish and prayer for the children, which
is widely taught to and memorized by the children in this part of the world.
Bachay ki doa
Labb peh aati hai doa bun kay tamanna meyri; zindagi shamaa ki surat ho
Khodaya meyri.
My longing comes to my lips as supplication of mine. O God! May like the
candle be the life of mine!
Door dunya ka merey dum sey andhaira ho jaaey; her jagah meyrey
chamakney sey ojala ho jaaey.
May the world's darkness disappear through the life of mine! May every place
light up with the sparkling light of mine!
Ho merey dum sey yuonhi meyrey watan ki zeenat; jiss tarah phhool sey hoti
hai chaman ki zeenat.
968
Zindagi ho meri pervaney ki surat Ya-Rabb; ilm ki shamaa sey ho mojh ko
mohabat Ya-Rabb.
May my life like that of the moth be, O Lord! May I love the lamp of
knowledge, O Lord!
Ho mera kaam gharibon ki hamayat karna; dardmandon sey zaifon sey
mohabat karna.
May supportive of the poor my life's way be! May loving the old, the suffering
my way be!
!
Merey Allah! Boraeyi sey bachana mojh ko; naik jo raah ho oss reh peh
chalana mojh ko.
O God! Protect me from the evil ways; show me the path leading to the good
ways!
The mention of Allamahs poetical works for children is far from
complete without the poems he wrote and recited in public gatherings organized
for fund-raising for the orphans. The poet decided not to include those poems in
any of the books published by him. These were omitted for the reasons best
known to Allamah; possibly it was because the poems were written for a
specific purpose and he had seen that being fulfilled spontaneously to his entire
satisfaction.
29th November, 2013
969
GLOBAL STRONGMAN
Americas mission of regime change in Syria was spoiled by Putin and as
consequence of that he snatched the Number One position of the global
strongman pushing Obama to second slot. The mission itself was cut to size
limiting it to the process of destroying the arsenal of chemical weapons that
Bashar Al-Assad had piled up over the years.
Putins diplomatic coup had also added insult to injury by causing mistrust
between Yanks and their Bedouin partners. Saudi rulers refused to accept the
seat on UN Security Council aster blaming the world body for discriminatory
approach in tackling the issues faced by the world. The US needed to mend
fences with their otherwise time-tested faithful.
In the neighbourhood of Syria the Iraqi butchery continued working overtime while remaining on auto-slaughter mode. On the other side of Suez Canal
the US and Saudi backed General Sisi maintained the pressure on supporters of
Muslim Brotherhood.
.
NEWS
Far East
Myanmar: On 6th October, Police arrested 44 people in connection with
anti-Muslim violence in western Myanmar. Days of tensions in the town of
Thandwe in restive Rakhine State turned into bloodshed on October 4, with a
970
971
Next day, Police opened fire at protesters on a remote island, killing two
and bringing to 20 the death toll in demonstrations aimed at forcing the premier
to make way for a caretaker government ahead of elections. Police fired rifles
after hundreds of protesters from the country's largest Islamic party, a key ally
of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), attacked them on
Kutubdia Island in the Bay of Bengal with rocks and sticks.
Amid mounting tensions over the spiraling political violence, a court in
Dhaka has postponed its Wednesday's verdict on 823 soldiers accused of
massacring scores of top army officers in a mass mutiny in 2009 soon after
Hasina came to power. While no senior officers were implicated in the 2009
mutiny, the uprising fueled the sense that many in the military were opposed to
Hasina.
Mainland Asia
China: On 9th October, China arrested 139 people in Xinjiang for allegedly
spreading jihad, state-run media said, as it warned of growing religious
extremism in the far western region, home to Muslim Uighurs. Another 256
people had been punished for spreading online rumours.
On 30th October, China arrested five suspected militants after a vehicle had
burst into flames on Beijings Tiananmen Square on October 28 in what police
called a terrorist attack. Authorities also moved to tighten security in the restive
far western, energy-rich region of Xinjiang, where the suspects are from.
Former President Zardari condemned the reported terrorist attack in Beijing.
Next day, members of the Uighur community said discrimination against
them is widespread and they fear yet more suspicion in the wake of an attack in
Tiananmen Square. Its always the case in Xinjiang that when something
happens elsewhere the police tighten restrictions on travel and things like that,
said Ablikim, a student at a university in Beijing who would only give his first
name.
Russia: On 18th October, two people were killed when a bomb exploded
outside a village mosque in the Russian Caucasus region of Kabardino-Balkaria.
Russias Investigative Committee named the preliminary cause of the explosion
as the two dead blowing themselves up. It said the explosion took place at the
gates of the villages graveyard close to the mosque.
On 21st October, a female suicide bomber attacked a bus in southern
Russia, killing at least six people in the deadliest such blast outside the volatile
North Caucasus region in nearly three years. The attack, which investigators
blamed on a 30-year-old woman from Dagestan, the North Caucasus Province
at the centre of an insurgency, also wounded 28 people, of whom eight were in
critical condition.
972
She had been the wife of Dmitry Sokolov, a man from the Moscow suburbs
who joined an insurgent group in Dagestan last year. The two met online.
Asiyalova then moved to Moscow to marry Sokolov, 20, ten years her junior. In
July 2012, his parents put out a missing persons alert for him when he failed to
come home from Arabic classes. Sokolov is an explosives expert.
Next day, an explosion at military training site in western Russia killed six
airborne troops and left two more injured. President Vladimir Putin accused
foreign rivals of using radical Islam to weaken Russia and appealed to Muslim
clerics to help reduce tensions after a deadly suicide bombing and nationalist
riots. The comments were delivered in the mainly Muslim region of
Bashkortostan and underlined Kremlin concerns that ethnic or religious tensions
could threaten the unity of the Russian state.
Middle East
Iraq: On 6th October, a suicide bomber drove a truck packed with
explosives into the playground of a primary school in northern Iraq and blew
himself up, killing 14 children and their headmaster. Another suicide bomber
attacked a group of Shias on their way to visit a shrine in Baghdad, killing at
least 14 people and wounding more than 30. No group immediately claimed
responsibility for either bombing.
Relations between Islams two main denominations have come under
added strain from the conflict in Syria, which has drawn Sunnis and Shias from
Iraq and the wider Middle East into a sectarian proxy war. Earlier this year, al
Qaedas Syrian and Iraqi wings merged to form the Islamic State of Iraq and the
Levant, which has claimed responsibility for attacks on both sides of the border.
Next day, eight car bombs and two roadside bombs exploded in eight areas
in and around Baghdad, killing at least 21 people and wounding at least 98.
Other attacks targeted Iraqi security forces, killing eight. In the city of Fallujah,
a bombing against an army patrol followed by an attack by gunmen on a
checkpoint killed two soldiers and wounded six.
On 13th October, more than a dozen bombs exploded in Iraq, killing at least
nine people and wounding more than 70 others. Ten car bombs and three
roadside bombs hit eight different areas of Iraq, seven of them south of
Baghdad. In the deadliest single attack, a car bomb exploded near a bus station
in the city of Kut, killing four people and wounding 15.
On 15th October, a bomb ripped through a crowd of worshippers as they left
a Sunni mosque, killing 12 people. Three children, a policeman and an army
officer were among the dead from the blast in the northern city of Kirkuk, which
also wounded 26 people.
On 17th October, seven car bombs exploded in Baghdad province, killing at
least 24 people. Two of the bombs exploded on Sinaa Street in central Baghdad,
973
two more in Husseiniyah near the city, and one each in Baghdad Jadida and
Maamal in the capital's east and Dura in its south.
On 20th October, a roadside blast followed by a suicide bombing at a cafe
in the Iraqi capital killed at least 34 people. The blasts in the Shiite-majority
area of Al-Amil in south Baghdad also wounded at least 50 people. Meanwhile,
eight suicide bombers targeted police and local officials in Rawa, northwest of
Baghdad, killing six people in the second major attack.
Next day, a suicide bomber detonated explosives at the entrance of the
police headquarters in Fallujah, while a second struck the nearby electricity
department headquarters. Militants then hit the police headquarters from three
sides with gunfire, mortar rounds and rocket-propelled grenades, entered the
electricity department building, and fired on police with sniper rifles, killing
two police, including a major, and wounding four others.
On 23rd October, gunmen and suicide bombers driving explosives-rigged
vehicles killed 25 police and three civilians in a series of coordinated attacks in
Iraqs Anbar Province overnight. The attacks also wounded a total of 26 police.
A suicide bomber detonated a tanker truck loaded with explosives at a police
checkpoint east of the town, while militants armed with heavy weapons struck
the police station in Rutba itself and another bomber detonated a vehicle at a
police checkpoint to its west.
On 27th October, ten bombings mainly targeting Shia-majority areas of
Baghdad Province killed at least 41 people, while 24 died in other attacks in
Iraq. The 10 blasts, which hit nine different areas in and around Baghdad, also
wounded more than 110 people. One of the worst-hit neighbourhoods was
Shaab in north Baghdad, where two car bombs exploded in a commercial area,
killing at least eight people and wounding at least 18.
Blasts also struck the areas of Bayaa, Baladiyat, Mashtal, Hurriyah and
Dura in Baghdad, and Saba al-Bur, Nahrawan and Tarmiyah near the capital.
The Mashtal blast hit a bus station while bombs in Bayaa, Dura, Saba al-Bur
and Tarmiyah targeted commercial areas. And south of Baghdad, three mortar
rounds struck houses in the Shia-majority Jaara area, killing at least three people
and wounding at least eight.
In the northern city of Mosul, a car bomb targeting soldiers waiting outside
a bank to collect their wages killed at least 14 people, among them three
soldiers, and wounded more than 30 people. Unknown gunmen also shot dead
two soldiers and a civilian in two separate attacks in Mosul, while a car bomb
exploded near an army checkpoint in the city, killing a woman and wounding
eight people.
And gunmen killed two Shia civilians in the Muqdadiyah area, northeast of
the city of Baquba, while a tribal leader was killed by a magnetic sticky bomb
974
on his vehicle in the same area. Analysts say the level of violence rose sharply
after security forces stormed a Sunni protest camp in northern Iraq in April,
sparking clashes in which dozens died.
On 31st October, four car bombs north of Baghdad killed 12 people, while
attacks elsewhere in Iraq left seven dead. The deadliest attack, twin car bombs
in a residential area in Tuz Khurmatu, killed seven people and wounded 42
others. Three of the dead were from the same family. Tuz Khurmatu is a
majority Kurdish town which lies in a disputed area of northern Iraq.
On 1st November, President Obama welcomed Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri
al-Maliki to the White House, as sectarian violence in the country hit its
deadliest peak since April 2008. The Oval Office talks took place nearly two
years after the last American troops left Iraq following an eight-year occupation
and as a wave of al-Qaeda attacks sows terror in the Iraqi Shiite community.
General David Petraeus, who led the troop surge credited by some with
quelling the last sectarian explosion in Iraq, warned in a Foreign Policy article
that the situation was now so dire that the past sacrifices of US troops could be
squandered. Maliki, blamed by some Iraq watchers in Washington for
marginalizing Sunnis and for sinking a well of sectarian anger for extremists to
exploit, is blunt about the challenge.
Maliki has a wish list of US military hardware, including attack helicopters
to go with already ordered fighter jets to help his ill-equipped military battle
insurgents. There is a certain irony in his request given the failure of Iraqi and
US negotiators to agree legal immunity for US troops that would have allowed a
residual American force to stay behind in Iraq.
Palestine: On 6th October, Police arrested 14 Jewish Israeli youths from
Jerusalem on suspicion of carrying out a series of attacks targeting Arab Israelis.
Micky Rosenfeld told AFP that the minors aged between 13 and 16, attended
yeshivot religious Jewish seminaries. Rosenfeld said the attacks were believed
to be in revenge for terror attacks on Jewish Israelis, and the police Twitter
account alleged that the youths had acted as a gang.
On 13th October, Israel froze shipments of building materials to the Gaza
Strip after discovering an alleged terror tunnel into the Jewish state from the
adjoining territory. Last month Israel had permitted delivery of cement and steel
for use by the private sector into the Gaza Strip for the first time since 2007.
On 22nd October, Israeli troops killed a Palestinian said to be behind the
2012 bombing of a Tel Aviv bus. The man was killed as troops stormed an area
between the West Bank villages of Bilin and Kufr Nemeh, 10 kilometres
northwest of Ramallah, sparking a gunfight which ended at a cave. Israeli Army
confirmed the incident, naming the dead man as Mohammed Assi.
975
976
977
On 10th October, Arab League and the OIC called on all warring factions to
be committed to a complete ceasefire and all acts of violence and killing of all
kinds for the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Meanwhile, Syrian air raids on rebel
positions in the northern Aleppo and southern Daraa provinces killed 30 people.
Fighting has raged in Syrias onetime commercial hub of Aleppo, where
President Bashar al-Assads regime and rebels have battled street by street for
neighbourhoods and supply routes. The raids by planes and helicopters killed 16
people, including a woman and two children in the village of Sfire to the east of
the city. The village is controlled by Islamist groups, including the Al-Qaedaaffiliated Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
At another front close to Damascus, fierce fighting broke out pitting
government troops backed by the Lebanese Hezbollah and pro-regime
militiamen against rebels in Bueida and Dyebiye near Sayyeda Zeinab, site of a
revered Shiite shrine. Fighting has been under way for months in the area,
where Shiite Hezbollah fighters have long been deployed to assist regime forces
and protect the shrine.
Next day, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or
OPCW, became the surprise winner of this years Peace Prize. The Norwegian
Nobel Committee made the award for the Hague-based groups extensive
efforts to eliminate chemical weapons. OPCW bet the favourite Malala
Yousafzai, the Pakistani teen schoolgirl.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch said that Syrian opposition
fighters committed war crimes in an August 4 assault, killing nearly two
hundred civilians as the rebels began a large-scale offensive to take back
government-controlled areas in Latakia Province. The armed wing of the main
opposition coalition that is openly supported by the United States, Britain,
France and Sunni Muslim Gulf States played a majpr role in the offensive.
Meanwhile, Russia on Friday accused Syrian rebels of receiving chemical
weapons training in lawless regions of Afghanistan and planning attacks on the
territory of Iraq. Not so long ago, information emerged that third countries
have been illegally using regions of Afghanistan not under Kabuls control to
train rebels to fight against the Syrian regime, including by training them in the
use of deadly chemical substances, Russian Foreign Minister told reporters.
On 12th October, the UN Security Council has approved the joint UN
mission with the global chemical weapons watchdog to oversee the destruction
of Syrias stockpiles and production facilities. Accordingly, up to 100 experts
from UN and Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
will be deployed in a multi-phase operation to carry out last months Council
resolution on eliminating Syrias chemical weapons, scheduled for completion
by 30 June, 2014.
978
979
next month. British Foreign Secretary said the London meeting had urged the
Syrian National Coalition the main opposition umbrella group to commit
itself fully to the so-called Geneva 2 talks. The London talks grouped Britain,
Egypt, France, Germany, Italy, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the
UAE and the US, together with Syrian opposition leaders.
The Syrian Government was fully cooperating with the destruction of its
chemical weapons programme, the head of the joint mission of the Organization
for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations said.
Inspections so far have been conducted at 17 sites. At 14 of these sites, the
inspectors carried out activities related to the destruction of critical equipment
to make the facilities inoperable.
On 24th October, troops captured key town of Hteitit al-Turkman southeast
of Damascus as they sought to tighten the noose around suburbs struck by
chemical weapons in August. The Syrian opposition meanwhile said it would
meet on November 9 to decide whether to attend a Geneva peace conference
that the United Nations is trying to convene in parallel with chemical
disarmament efforts.
Elsewhere in Syria, Kurdish fighters battled with jihadists for several hours
as they advanced on a border crossing with Iraq held by the Islamic State of Iraq
and the Levant, an al-Qaeda affiliate that operates in both countries. And in the
central city of Homs a car bomb killed at least one person and wounded 43.
Next day, a car bomb explosion killed at least 20 people and wounded
more than 30 near a mosque in the Damascus Province town of Suq Wadi
Barada. The town is under rebel control and ringed by troops loyal to the
regime. The car exploded while the terrorists were packing it with explosives
near the Osama Bin Zeid mosque. Elsewhere, at least 24 rebels were killed in an
army ambush in Otaybeh, east of Damascus.
On 26th October, fierce clashes raged after Syrian Kurds seized from
militants Al-Yaarubia border crossing on the Iraqi border, a key supply route for
weapons. Fighters from both sides were killed in the border clashes, which
came a day after Syrias regime and its opponents traded blame for a car bomb
attack on a mosque that left dozens dead.
Rebels battling to oust President Bashar al-Assad have increasingly turned
their guns on each other in the past few months, with jihadists fighting the
mainstream Free Syrian Army in the north, where the insurgents control vast
swathes of territory. The seizure of the border post would be another blow for
the Islamists. State television said yesterday that Al-Nusra leader Abu
Mohammed al-Jawlani had been killed, but the Al-Qaeda-linked group said he
was in good health.
980
981
spokesman Chartier said in The Hague. The weapons and agents remain at their
respective sites; were not yet at the stage of moving them.
On 1st November, it was reported that Israel bombed a Syrian base at
Latakia. The reported air strike carried out two days ago was the first on Syria
since a US-Russian accord on chemical weapons averted punitive US military
action last month. Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television said Israel had targeted a
shipment of surface-to-surface missiles destined for Hezbollah. A US official
confirmed there was an Israeli strike but gave no details.
The international Syria envoy said there could be no peace talks without
the opposition. Syrias opposition has refused to attend unless President Bashar
al-Assads resignation is on the table a demand rejected by Damascus and
powerful rebel groups have warned that participants would be considered
traitors.
Meanwhile, Turkey and Iran said they had common concerns about the
increasingly sectarian nature of Syrias civil war, signaling a thaw in a key
Middle Eastern relationship strained by stark differences over the conflict.
Iranian Foreign Minister, who held talks with Turkish President Abdullah Gul in
Istanbul and was due to meet Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan later in Ankara,
echoed the comments, saying that sectarian unrest posed an even greater risk
than the use of chemical weapons.
Lebanon: On 27th October, two people died in clashes and another two
were killed yesterday in the northern port city of Tripoli and scores more were
wounded, including 16 in the past two days alone. The death toll from a week of
clashes in Lebanon between supporters and opponents of Syrias regime rose to
13. Sunni and Alawite gunmen have been fighting since October 21 in the Bab
al-Tebbaneh and Jabal Mohsen districts of Tripoli.
Bahrain: On 7th October, a Bahraini court jailed nine Shias for life after
convicting them of making bombs for terrorist purposes and for their alleged
involvement in a 2011 attack. Four of the defendants were in court for the
verdict and the remaining five, tried in absentia, were handed a 10 additional
years in jail for failing to hand themselves in. The attack damaged several cars
but caused no casualties. This ruling is the fifth tough sentence handed to Shias
since last month.
Saudi Arabia: On 14th October, Sheikh Abdulaziz al-Sheikh, the Grand
Mufti of the Kaaba, urged Muslims to avoid divisions, chaos and sectarianism,
without explicitly speaking of the turmoil unleashed by the Arab Spring. Hell is
the final abode for those who spill the blood of an innocent human, the cleric,
who heads Saudi Arabias highest religious body, said in Hajj Sermon to the
Muslim world.
982
Islam does not allow terrorism at any cost. Islam condemns all violence
and terrorism plaguing the world today. Muslims should demonstrate a love for
peace and unity, he said. Your nation is a trust with you. You must safeguard
its security, stability and resources, said Abdulaziz al-Sheikh. You should
know that you are targeted by your enemy... who wants to spread chaos among
you ... Its time to confront this.
He did not speak specifically of Syria, where Sunni-led rebels backed by
Saudi Arabia are at war with a regime led by Alawites an offshoot of Shia
Islam and closely allied with Iran and Hezbollah. But the cleric recalled the
Islamic prohibition of killing and aggression, while insisting there is no
salvation or happiness for the Muslim nation without adhering to the teachings
of the religion.
The top cleric said Muslims throughout the world were going through a
difficult time, and stressed that the global economic crisis could be controlled if
the Islamic economic system was adopted. Muslims should support the
community by investing in their businesses, he urged.
On 18th October, Saudi Arabia turned down membership in the United
Nations Security Council, accusing the powerful body of double-standards a
day after it won a seat on it. Saudi Arabia...has no other option but to turn down
Security Council membership until it is reformed and given the means to
accomplish its duties and assume its responsibilities in preserving the world's
peace and security, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement.
Russia criticized Saudi Arabia for rejecting membership of the UN Security
Council, slamming the kingdom's strange argument that the body had failed
over the Syrian conflict. Russian foreign ministry statement said: In this way,
Saudi Arabia has excluded itself from collective work within the Security
Council to support international peace and security.
Diplomats in the Middle East have said that Putin rejected a proposal from
Prince Bandar for Moscow to abandon its support for Assad in exchange for a
huge arms order from Riyadh worth $15 billion. Putin rejected the proposals;
however the Kremlin later denied that the two men had discussed military
cooperation or any deals.
On 22nd October, Saudi Arabias intelligence chief has said the kingdom
will make a major shift in relations with the United States in protest at its
perceived inaction over the Syria war and its overtures to Iran. Prince Bandar
bin Sultan told European diplomats that Washington had failed to act effectively
on the Syrian crisis and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, was growing closer to
Tehran, and had failed to back Saudi support for Bahrain when it crushed an
anti-government revolt in 2011. It was not immediately clear if Prince Bandars
reported statements had the full backing of King Abdullah.
983
On 29th October, Saudi Arabia's grand mufti urged young Saudis to refrain
from fighting in Syria. The kingdom has backed the rebels battling President
Bashar al-Assad, publicly calling on the world powers to enable Syrians to
protect themselves, but is wary that fighters could return home ready to wage
war on their own dynastic rulers.
This is all wrong, it's not obligatory, Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh said,
in reference to Saudi men joining a civil war that is now in well into its third
year. These are feuding factions and one should not go there. I do not advise
one to go there... Going to a land that you do not know and without experience,
you will be a burden to them, what they want from you is your prayer.
Yemen: On 6th October, gunmen shot dead the German ambassadors
bodyguard in Sanaa as others kidnapped a Sierra Leonean working for the
United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF). Gunmen in a vehicle opened fire at
the bodyguard as he was leaving a store in the southern Hada district. An earlier
report said the ambassador herself had been the target of a failed kidnap
attempt.
Next day, the United Nations told its staff in Yemen to stay home, a day
after gunmen shot dead a German embassy security guard. International
humanitarian organizations have also advised staff to limit their movements.
The German security guard was gunned down in Hadda district. No one has
claimed responsibility.
On 18th October, a suicide car bomber killed six soldiers and wounded six
others in an attack on a military command centre in southern Yemen's Abyan
Province. The attack in the district of Ahwar on 111th Brigade, seriously
wounded the commander of the brigade.
Africa
Nigeria: On 20th October, Boko Haram gunmen dressed in military
uniform killed 19 people near the Nigerian border with Cameroon in the restive
northeast where the Islamists have carried out deadly attacks. the motorcycleriding gunmen armed blocked the highway near the town of Logumani,
shooting and hacking to death motorists and burning three trucks.
On 28th October, thirty-five bodies in military uniform were brought to a
morgue in Nigerias restive northeast after a coordinated assault by Boko Haram
targeting the security forces. An army officer based in the central city of Jos said
20 soldiers had been admitted at a hospital there, suffering from gunshot
wounds sustained in the battle against Boko Haram in Damaturu.
Nigerias sweeping offensive against Boko Haram has entered its fifth
month and the military has described the group as being in disarray and no
longer capable of attacking major population centres. But the success of the
operation remains unclear and the attack in Damaturu, apparently carried out by
984
985
electronic crimes and calling for violence via electronic media, after posting
the death threat last year.
Tunisia: On 19th October, Tunisian forces killed nine terrorists and seized
two tonnes of explosives in the north of the country where policemen died this
week in a jihadist attack. The suspected terrorists were killed in the Mount
Taouyer area of the Beja region. Troops had captured a member of the group
during the military operation to hunt down a cell of some 20 suspected jihadists
blamed for killing of the policemen.
On 30th October, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the Tunisian tourist
resort of Sousse, the first such assault since 2002 in a country now battling
militants empowered by chaos in neighbouring Libya. Police foiled another
attack when they arrested a would-be suicide bomber at former President Habib
Bourguibas tomb in the seaside town of Monastir. No group has claimed
responsibility for the attacks.
Libya: On 6th October, a group of US commandoes in Libya captured a
man suspected of taking part in the 1998 American Embassy bombings in east
Africa. The CIA and FBI, said it had captured Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai, a
militant known as Abu Anas al-Libi who was on the FBI most wanted list with a
$5 million reward.
Al-Libi, the al-Qaeda leader captured in Tripoli, was wanted in connection
with the bombings 15 years ago of American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.
In 2000, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges that he was involved
in planning the embassy attacks. Meanwhile, Libyas interim government
demanded an explanation from the US for what it called the kidnapping of a
Libyan citizen.
Next day, John Kerry insisted the capture of an alleged al-Qaeda operative
in Libya in a US raid was legal, after Tripoli demanded answers about the
kidnap. With respect to Abu Anas al-Libi, he is a key al-Qaeda figure, and he
is a legal and an appropriate target for the US military, Kerry told reporters on
the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in
Indonesia.
When asked whether the United States had informed Libya before the raid,
Kerry refused to say. We dont get into the specifics of our communications
with a foreign government on any kind of operation of this kind, he said. His
defence of the operation came after Libya on Sunday demanded an explanation
from Washington for the kidnap.
On 8th October, Libyas government summoned US ambassador Deborah
Jones to seek clarification over the capture by American Special Forces of an
alleged al-Qaeda operative in Tripoli. Tripoli has said it was not informed in
advance of the raid, when Libi was snatched in broad daylight from his car in
986
987
they would escalate their protests by trying to rally in the symbolic Tahrir
Square. Security forces guarded entrances to the square, frisking people arriving
for the anniversary celebrations.
Next day, suspected militants killed nine people in attacks. In south Sinai, a
car bomb explosion outside provincial police headquarters killed three
policemen and gunmen shot dead six soldiers near the Suez Canal city of
Ismailiya. Assailants firing rocket propelled grenades also damaged a satellite
communication dish in Cairo that routes international calls. At least 51 people
were killed the previous day in clashes, mostly in Cairo.
Police, joined by civilians opposed to the Islamists, fired tear gas and shots
at the protesters when they tried to reach Tahrir Square in central Cairo. Police
say the Islamist protesters used firearms in the clashes. The renewed violence
appeared aimed at frustrating plans by the military-installed government to
move ahead three months after Morsis overthrow by the military.
On 8th October, Egypts cabinet ordered authorities to remove the Muslim
Brotherhood from the list of approved non-governmental organizations
following a judicial order. The move comes after an Egyptian court last month
banned the Muslim Brotherhood from operating and ordered its assets seized.
Next day, it was reported that the United States was planning to cut back
much of its military aid to Egypt. The decision, which is expected to be
announced soon, will hold up the delivery of several types of military
hardware to the Egyptian military, including tanks, helicopters and fighter jets.
But it will not affect aid for counterterrorism operations or for border security
issues involving the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza.
On 19th October, at least four soldiers were wounded when a car bomb
exploded near an army intelligence building in Ismailia. Another un-detonated
car bomb was found while security personnel were sweeping the area. The force
of the blast caused part of the military intelligence building's wall to collapse.
Next day, security forces fired bird shot and teargas to prevent supporters
of Mohamed Morsi from marching to the site of a protest camp that was
destroyed two months ago. The crowd threw rocks at riot police stationed
outside the gates of the university. Brotherhood supporters say they will keep
protesting until the army-backed government falls. But demonstrations are far
smaller than the ones that immediately followed Morsis downfall.
On 29th October, three judges presiding in the trial of Muslim Brotherhood
chief Mohamed Badie and his aides withdrew from the proceedings, citing
reasons of conscience. Their decision to step down comes just days before a
Cairo court begins prosecuting ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on
November 4 in a separate trial.
988
989
aimed at preventing an alleged terror plot involving the use of guns. Police said
they were still searching six premises and two vehicles.
On 16th October, arsonists attacked a mosque in Poland during the Muslim
Eid al-Adha holiday amid tensions over a nationwide ban on halal animal
slaughter and protests by animal rights activists. We have launched an
investigation to determine the motives and identify the perpetrators,
spokeswoman for regional prosecutors in the Baltic port city of Gdansk said.
On 21st October, a Ukrainian student with a hatred of non-whites admitted
murdering a Muslim grandfather. Pavlo Lapshyn, 25, pleaded guilty in court to
stabbing 82-year-old Mohammed Saleem to death as he walked home from a
mosque in the central English city of Birmingham in April. Lapshyn, a
postgraduate student from the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk, also
admitted plotting to cause explosions at mosques in three towns in central
England.
On 24th October, German and French leaders Angela Merkel and Francois
Hollande bluntly demanded Washington to provide an explanation. Germany
summoned the US ambassador amid outrage over suspicion that Washington
tapped Chancellor Angela Merkels mobile phone, as she faced allegations she
had naively played down the NSA spying scandal.
Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle demanded after a brief meeting at his
office with US envoy John B. Emerson that Washington should provide straight
answers on the allegations immediately, saying the health of the relationship
was at stake. For us, spying on close friends and partners is totally
unacceptable. This undermines trust and this can harm our friendship, he told
reporters. We need the truth now.
Merkel on the eve of the summit called President Obama demanding
answers, warning that proof of snooping on her phone would be considered a
breach of trust. In the wake of Snowdens revelations about the National
Security Agencys activities, several important allies have complained about US
covert surveillance.
Next day, the widening scandal over US spying on its friends and allies put
the fight against terrorism centre stage as EU leaders called for a new
understanding with Washington on intelligence gathering. At the close of a
summit overshadowed by the spying row, all 28 EU leaders stressed that
intelligence gathering is a vital element in the fight against terrorism.
They noted the close relationship between Europe and the USA and the
value of that partnership. But this must be based on respect and trust, a lack
of which could prejudice the necessary cooperation in the field of intelligence
gathering, they said. Spying between friends, thats just not done, Merkel
said.
990
991
992
A man was charged with planting at least two dry ice bombs at the main
Los Angeles airport, and could face up to six years in jail, police said. Airport
employee Dicarlo Bennett, who police say set off the devices as a prank rather
than anything more sinister, pleaded not guilty to two counts of possessing a
destructive device in a public place.
VIEWS
Myanmar
Are invisible forces orchestrating Myanmar's anti-Muslim violence?
There's no smoking gun in all this, but the evolution of the conflict that began
in Sittwe last June between the people of Rakhine and Rohingya suggests
something beyond a localized tussle for ethnic or religious dominance.
Importantly, the latest attacks in Thandwe were directed at Kaman Muslims,
while the vast majority of the violence to hit Rakhine state since June last year
has targeted the Rohingya, who are distinct from the Kaman. While the Kaman
had until then lived peacefully in the state, the Rohingya were long seen by
Rakhine as illegal Bengali immigrants, and their presence there considered an
existential threat to the Buddhist population. Campaigns of violence against the
Rohingya were therefore justified in the eyes of many Rakhine as a means of
defending the land and preserving Buddhism.
That narrative shifted somewhat when violence broke out in Meiktila in
central Myanmar in March this year. Meiktila has a Muslim population, but they
are not Rohingya, as is the case in Lashio in Shan state, Oakkan in Yangon
division and Hpakant in Kachin state, where subsequent deadly attacks on
Muslims took place. Rather than an issue confined to one ethnic minority in
western Myanmar, it has escalated to a campaign against Muslims in general.
As Myanmar academic Maung Zarni noted in a recent email, not every
bout of inter-ethnic violence is state orchestrated. Genuine local grievances can
and do result in fits of rage. But, says Zarni, there is a history of manufactured
ethno-religious mobilization aimed at destabilizing the order in Burma since
the British time, something that independence hero General Aung San had
warned of following the departure of the colonial power
It's a pattern that has played out across the country, across disparate ethnic
states such as the Shan, Kachin and Rakhine. In Kachin state, anti-Muslim
violence is a new phenomenon. Yet the only common thread that unites these
ethnic groups' nationalism is a resistance to Burman, and not Muslim, designs
on their states. There are few other obvious synapses that bridge these vast
ideological and geographical divides, and across which this anti-Muslim
sentiment could pass with such speed. How then has this violent reaction to the
presence of Muslims? The anti-Chinese riots of the 1960s and 1970s followed
993
major influxes of Chinese into Myanmar, and were in part a reaction to local
fears that jobs were going to immigrants. This pretext for the violence cannot be
applied in the same way to Muslims.
Some of the tactics seen in the anti-Muslim violence are similar to those
used by the junta, with the "outsider" mobs reminiscent of the plain-clothed
civilian militias like Swan Arr Shin, which were used so effectively by the
generals to stir up violence and confuse allegiances during peaceful protests.
Factor in the numerous reports of police inaction, and even instructions not to
intervene until well into the second day of violence in Meiktila, and the picture
grows murkier.
Rather than being a case of either/or, what may have occurred is a synthesis
between two major interests those of an embattled military-political elite with
willing collaborators in the Sangha and in Rakhine political parties, and those of
a civilian population indoctrinated to consider Muslims as lesser or noncitizens.
One feeds the other and together work in perfect harmony: military or
political leaders looking for a pretext to reassert control in a rapidly evolving
country would see the undercurrent of anti-Muslim attitudes in Myanmar
society as a classic divide and rule opportunity help manufacture a threat, and
jump in to save the day. It serves as both a PR coup in the face of domestic
criticism of the security state in Myanmar, and helps split and weaken society
again a boon for the military. This tactic certainly has historical precedence in
Myanmar, and may well have been reinvigorated by a military that today has
much to lose from democratic reform. (Francis Wade for Aljazeera, republished
in TheNation 1oth October)
Saudi Arabia
US-Saudi relations worsen: The strange thing about the crackup in USSaudi relations is that it has been on the way for more than two years, like a
slow-motion car wreck, but nobody in Riyadh or Washington has done anything
decisive to avert it.
Saudi King Abdullah privately voiced his frustration with US policy in a
lunch in Riyadh Monday with King Abdullah of Jordan and Crown Prince
Mohammed bin Zayed of the UAE, according to a knowledgeable Arab official.
The Saudi monarch is convinced the US is unreliable, this official said. I
dont see a genuine desire to fix it on either side, he added.
The Saudis pique, in turn, has reinforced the White Houses frustration
that Riyadh is an ungrateful and sometimes petulant ally. When Secretary of
State John Kerry was in the region a few weeks ago, he asked to visit Bandar.
The Saudi prince is said to have responded that he was on his way out of the
994
kingdom, but that Kerry could meet him at the airport. This response struck US
officials as high-handed.
Saudi Arabia obviously wants attention, but whats surprising is the White
Houses inability to convey the desired reassurances over the past two years.
The problem was clear in the fall of 2011, when I was told by Saudi officials in
Riyadh that they increasingly regarded the US as unreliable and would look
elsewhere for their security. Obamas reaction to these reports was to be peeved
that the Saudis didnt recognize all that the US was doing to help their security,
behind the scenes. The president was right on the facts but wrong on the
atmospherics.
The bad feeling that developed after Mubaraks ouster deepened month by
month: The US supported Morsis election as president; opposed a crackdown
by the monarchy in Bahrain against Shias protesters; cut aid to the Egyptian
military after it toppled Morsi and crushed the Brotherhood; promised covert
aid to the Syrian rebels it never delivered; threatened to bomb Syria and then
allied with Russia, instead; and finally embarked on a diplomatic opening to
Iran, Saudi Arabias deadly rival in the Gulf.
The policies were upsetting; but the deeper damage resulted from the Saudi
feeling that they were being ignored and even, in their minds, double crossed.
In the traditional Gulf societies, any such sense of betrayal can do lasting
damage, yet the administration let the problems fester
For much of the past two years, the closest thing the US had to a back
channel with Saudi Arabia was Tom Donilon, the national security adviser until
last June. He traveled to the kingdom occasionally to pass private messages to
Abdullah; those meetings didnt heal the wounds, but they at least staunched the
bleeding. But Susan Rice, Donilons successor, has not played a similar
bridging role.
The US administration lack of communication with the Saudis and other
Arab allies is mystifying at a time when the US is exploring new policy
initiatives, such as working with the Russians on dismantling chemical weapons
in Syria and negotiating a possible nuclear deal with Iran. Those US policy
initiatives are sound, in the view of many analysts (including me), but they
worry the Saudis and others-making close consultation all the more important.
(David Ignatius for Washington Post, republished in TheNation 25th October)
The US-Saudi royal rumble: Assuming that the Saudi-US relationship is
really heading off course, what could go wrong this time? Here are seven
nightmare scenarios that should keep officials in the State Department and
Pentagon up at night.
1. Saudi Arabia uses the oil weapon. The kingdom could cut back its
production, which has been boosted to over 10 million barrels/day at
995
996
Palestinian peace deal. Palestine was the top reason given in the official Saudi
statement rejecting the UN Security Council seat.
If Saudi Arabia truly feels that the prospect for a negotiated settlement is
irreparably stalled, it could quietly empower violent forces in the West Bank
that could launch attacks against Israeli forces and settlers fatally wounding
the current mediation efforts led by Secretary of State John Kerry.
6. Riyadh boosts the military-led regime in Egypt. The House of Saud has
already turned into one of Egypts primary patrons, pledging $5 billion in
assistance immediately after the military toppled former President Mohamed
Morsy. Such support has allowed Egypts new rulers to ignore Washingtons
threats that it would cut off aid due to the governments violent crackdown on
protesters.
By deepening its support, Saudi Arabia could further undermine
Washingtons attempt to steer Cairo back toward democratic rule.
7. Saudi Arabia presses for an Islamic seat on the UNSC. The kingdom
has long voiced its discontent for the way power is doled out in the worlds
most important security body. The leaders of the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation, a bloc of 57 member states designed to represent Muslim issues in
global affairs, have called for such an Islamic seat.
The United States and other veto-wielding countries, of course, can be
counted on to oppose any effort that would diminish their power in the Security
Council. But even if the Saudi plan fails, the kingdom could depict US
opposition as anti-Islamic. Such an effort would wreck Americas image in the
Middle East, and provide dangerous fodder for Sunni extremists already hostile
to the United States.
Washington insiders will no doubt see any of these potential Saudi policies
as self-defeating. However, it would be a mistake to ignore Riyadhs frustration:
While Washington thinks it can call the Saudis bluff; top officials in the
kingdom also appear to believe that the United States is bluffing about its
commitment to a range of decisions antagonistic to Saudi interests. The big
difference is that the tension in the relationship is the No. 1 priority in Saudi
Arabia but is way down near the bottom of the Obama administrations list of
concerns. (Simon Henderson for Foreign Policy, republished in TheNation 3 rd
November)
Egypt
The real force behind Egypts revolution of the state: In Hosni
Mubaraks final days in office in 2011, the worlds gaze focused on Cairo,
where hundreds of thousands of protesters demanded the resignation of one of
the Arab worlds longest serving autocrats.
997
998
helped collect signatures for the petition, helped distribute the petitions, signed
the petition themselves, and joined the protests. They are Egyptians like us and
we were all upset by the Brotherhood and their horrible rule, said a 23-year-old
woman in the Tamarud movement who asked not to be named.
For the Interior Ministry, Tamarud offered a chance to avenge Wadi elNatroun; the reversal of fortunes has been remarkable. The state security force,
both feared and despised during Mubaraks 30-year rule, has not only regained
control of the country two and half years after losing power, but has won broad
public support by staging one of the fiercest crackdowns on the Muslim
Brotherhood in years.
The interior minister openly speaks of restoring the kind of security seen
under Mubarak. A renewed confidence permeates the police force, whose
reputation for brutality helped fuel the 2011 uprising. Egyptians now lionize the
police. Television stations praise the Interior Ministry and the army, depicting
them as heroes and saviours of the country.
The Interior Ministrys most dreaded unit, the Political Security Unit, has
been revived to deal with the Brotherhood. Under Mubarak, officers in that
department were notorious for treating citizens with a heavy hand and intruding
into their lives. When activists broke into the agencys premises shortly after
Mubarak was forced to quit on February 11, 2011, they found and posted online
documents, videos and pictures of what they described as a torture chamber
with a blood-stained floor and equipped with chains.
The Interior Ministry has apologized for violations in the past and has
said they will not be repeated. Key to the turnaround has been the Interior
Ministrys ability to forge much closer ties to the army, the most powerful and
respected institution in Egypt. It was a tactic that began almost as soon as
Mubarak stepped down.
FUMING SILENTLY
Weeks after Mubarak was overthrown, the Interior Ministry called a
meeting at the police academy in Cairo. The gathering, headed by the interior
minister and senior security officials, was the first in a series that discussed how
to handle the Brotherhood, according to two policemen who attended some of
the gatherings.
Thousands of mid- and lower-ranking officers were angry and said they
could not serve under a president they regarded as a terrorist. Senior officers
tried to calm them, arguing that the men needed to wait for the right moment to
move against Morsi. We tried to reassure them but the message did not get
through, said a senior police official. They just fumed silently.
999
The senior state security officer told Reuters there were no explicit orders
to disobey Morsi but that a large number of officers decided they would not be
tools for the Brotherhood.
I worked during Morsis time. I never failed to show up at any mission.
This included securing his convoys. Yet I never felt I was doing it from the
heart, said one major in state security. It was hard to feel that you are doing a
national job for your country while what you are really doing was securing a
terrorist.
Resentment grew when Morsi pardoned 17 Islamists held since the 1990s
for attacks on soldiers and policemen. One of the militants had killed dozens of
policemen in an attack in the Sinai. None of them publicly denied the charges or
even commented on them.
Morsis decision last November to grant himself sweeping powers
triggered a wave of public protest. On December 5, protesters rallied in front of
the Ittihadiya, the main presidential palace in Cairo. As the crowd grew, Morsi
ordered security forces to disperse them. They refused. A senior security officer
said there was no explicit order to disobey Morsi but they all acted according to
their conscience.
DOWN, DOWN
Pressure from the Interior Ministry on Sisi and the military grew, helped by
the emergence in May of the Tamarud.
At first the group was not taken seriously. But as it gathered signatures,
Egyptians who had lost faith in Morsi took notice, including Interior Ministry
officials. Some of those officials and police officers helped collect signatures
and joined the protests.
Of course we joined and helped the movement, as we are Egyptians like
them and everyone else. Everyone saw that the whole Morsi phenomena is not
working for Egypt and everyone from his place did what they can to remove
this man and group, said a security official.
There were no complaints of the type of whipping or electrocution seen in
Mubaraks days. But Brotherhood members say the current crackdown is more
intense. The pressure never subsides. None of my Brotherhood colleagues
sleep at the same place for too long and neither do I, said Waleed Ali, a lawyer
who acts for the Brotherhood. (Asma Alsharif and Yasmine Saleh, TheNation
11th October)
America
Ben Franklin was right about the NSA: In 1975, I was invited to join
the US Senates Church Committee that was formed after the Watergate
1000
scandals. Its goal was to investigate massive illegalities committed by the CIA,
National Security Agency and FBI.
As a then staunch Republican, and having worked on President Nixons
reelection campaign developing Mideast policy, I declined.
With the wisdom of hindsight, I should have joined the investigation.
Senator Frank Church warned: If this government ever became a tyrant, if
a dictator ever took charge in this country, the technological capacity that the
intelligence community has given the government could enable it to impose
total tyranny, and there would be no way to fight back because the most careful
effort to combine together in resistance to the government, no matter how
privately it was done, is within the reach of the government to know.
The Church Committee revealed Washingtons role in the assassinations of
foreign leaders, CIA collaboration with the Mafia, wide scale subversion around
the globe, mail and phone intercepts, spying on Americans by the US Army and
intelligence services, collusion with right-wing terrorist groups like Gladio, and
much, much more.
Edward Snowdens revelations of NSA malfeasance have done much the
same thing today. Both Church and Snowden were branded traitors by rightwing
zealots and flag-wavers. Government security agencies were reined in for
decades. But its now clear they are not only back to their old tricks, but are out
of control.
The gigantic rock lifted by the courageous Snowden revealed the chilling
global reach of US electronic domination and intrusion.
Take operation Stateroom. NSA reportedly used the embassies and
consulates of Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand to spy on Asian
targets. This was part of the Five Eyes system in which Anglo-Saxon
intelligence agencies act as subsidiaries of US intelligence.
One reason we have so far heard little about NSA spying against these
nations is that they spy on their own citizens using NSA technology, then pass
the data to Big Brother in the US.
It seems that data on US citizens hoovered up by NSA is also routinely
passed to Israels intelligence services, a double violation of US law. Israel has
long tapped into the US communications networks and even, it is alleged, the
White House phone system installed by an Israeli electronic firm.
Sen. Churchs prescient warning was made 38 years ago when electronic
were still in their infancy, compared to todays high-tech gear. Not only do we
see US intelligence agencies again spying on their own citizens, but a total
failure in controlling them by their ostensible masters, the US Congress and
White House.
1001
Clearly, neither Congress nor the president know whats going on behind
CIA and NSAs wall of secrecy not to mention the 14 other US intelligence
agencies.
The cowardly acceptance by Congress of the evil Patriot Act has removed
any reins from intelligence/security, allowing them to spy on everyone, anytime,
anywhere by simply invoking the magical mantra, terrorism.
There was little difference between Americas post-9/11 hysteria that
produced the Patriot Act and Germanys frenzy after the burning down of the
Reichstag in 1933, an act that opened the way to Hitlers dictatorship. In both
cases, civil rights were swept away supposedly to fight terrorism. President
George W. Bush doubled the size and budget of Americas Intelligence State.
Americas intelligence establishment has been trying to excuse its
malfeasance by the old everyone else does it adage. Untrue. No other nation
we know of so thoroughly sifts through the worlds communications, bugs 35
key leaders, targets individuals for assassination by CIA drones or US special
forces and stores every word its citizens ever sent. No other case where the spy
agencies are so uncontrolled. Besides, the US, which claims exceptionalism,
should be setting a good example.
We should hold Congress almost as liable. Its members have been too busy
using insider information to make money in the market, and too busy bootlicking donors to do their job of supervision. They should all be fired, starting
with intelligence committee chair, Diane Feinstein and the chief Republic dolt,
Mike Rogers.
Ben Franklin, that great thinker and sage, put it perfectly when he said that
government (read spy agencies) is like fire a useful tool, but a terrible master.
(Eric S Margolis, TheNation 3rd November)
REVIEW
Stooges of the US in Saudi Arabia were hurt over Obamas backing out
from military strikes against Alawite regime in Syria. They vented their anger
by rejecting the seat on UN Security Council arguing that the world body
follows double-standards. The Saudis too suffer from double vision regarding
double-standards of the UNSC. They never saw double-standards in the
context of Palestinians, Kashmiris and other Muslims around the globe.
The West clamped sanctions on media coverage of the news from Syria,
as reports about bloodshed could further annoy the time-tested Saudi friends.
The dependent media in this part of the world suffered from the black out
because it is completely dependent on the West for all the news from Syria.
1002
BETRAYAL AGAIN
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif returned from Washington with the mission
of setting the house in order, but stayed in Pakistan for about a day only. He
then went to England to meet David Cameron and Hamid Karzai, both of whom
are believed to be well versed with the know-how of setting the house in order.
He was still in London spending some time with his son, when on 1 st
November; CIA operated drones launched two missile attacks in Miranshah area
of North Waziristan. One of these attacks was launched in the wee hours and the
other after sunset. The chief of TTP Hakimullah Mehsud was killed along with
his two deputies. As news about his killing took time to be confirmed, Pakistani
media reported that he was killed in second attack, but US official sources said
it happened during first attack past midnight.
Pakistan strongly condemned the US drone strike. Foreign Office
spokesperson, while Foreign Minister-cum-Prime Minister was still in England,
in an oft repeated meaningless statement, said that these strikes were a violation
1003
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 29th October, survivors of American drone strikes spoke to
members of the US Congress, and called for an end to killing civilians with
weaponized unmanned aerial vehicles. Rafiqur Rehman; his son Zubair (12);
and daughter Nabila (9) told a packed room in the Rayburn House Office
Building that Momina Bibi, who perished on October 24, 2012 while working
in a field near their home in North Waziristan.
Congressman Alan Grayson, a Democrat, invited Rafiq to speak in
Washington about the strike last October that killed his 67-year-old mother who,
he said, was recognized around the region as a midwife, not a militant.
Regardless, a weaponries CIA drone executed Momina in front of her
grandchildren. The US has not formally acknowledged the attack, nor taken
responsibility.
Nobody has ever told me why my mother was targeted that day, Rafiq
said during the morning panel. Only one person was killed that day. A mom,
grandma, a midwife. The string that holds the pearls together. That is what my
mother was, Rafiq said in an emotionally chocked voice. Since her death, the
string has been broken and life has not been the same. We feel alone and we feel
lost.
Speaking before members of Congress, Rafiq thanked Congressman
Grayson for the invitation and said it was reassuring that some members of the
US government were willing to try and shed light on a gruesome operation
rarely acknowledged publicly in Washington. If he has the opportunity to meet
President Barack Obama, Rafiq said, he will ask him to find a peaceful end to
the war in my country, and end these drones.
Rafiq said he has seen people living peacefully in the United States and
wants a similar peaceful environment in North Waziristan and dreams that his
children would be able to complete their education and help rebuild Pakistan.
We can achieve peace through education, he said. The US and Pakistan should
work together to resolve the problem, he said. I am a teacher my job is to
educate, said Rafiq. But how can I teach this? How can I teach what I dont
understand?
Rafiqs 12-year-old son, Zubair, told Grayson and the few congressional
colleagues that joined him on the Hill that he was with his grandmother last year
1004
when she was killed shortly after the buzzing of a drone was heard hovering
above them. As I helped my grandma in the field, I could see and hear drone
overhead but wasnt worried because were not militants, Zubair said. I no
longer like blue skies. In fact, I prefer gray skies. When sky brightens, drones
return and we live in fear. We used to love to play outside. But now people are
afraid to leave their houses so we dont play very often, the boy added.
Zubairs sister, Nabila, was picking okra in a field with her grandmother at
the time of the attack. She testified that she heard the noise from above.
Everything was dark and I couldnt see anything, but I heard a scream...I was
very scared and all I could think of doing was just run, she said.
They were joined at the hearing by Robert Greenwald, a filmmaker who
has been working in Pakistan over the past several months on a project related
to the ongoing US drone strikes. Testifying on his own behalf, Greenwald
suggested that the ongoing operations waged by the US as an alleged counterterrorism operation are breeding anti-American sentiment at a rate that makes
Qaeda jealous.
Yes, there are 100 or 200 fanatics, but now you have 800,000 people in
this area who hate the US because of this policy, Greenwald said. Greenwald
added that the research hes seen indicated that 178 children have been killed in
Pakistan by US drone strikes. Weve gone from being the most popular country
among Pakistani to, according to the polling Ive seen, the least popular,
Grayson said. And if you ask people why, the reason is this programme.
Congressman Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat, said at the hearing that she
would bring up the witnesses plight with the White House. Grayson said that
friends of the military industrial complex in Washington would likely keep a
full discussion from occurring immediately in Washington, adding that I dont
expect to see a formal hearing conducted on this subject anytime soon.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Afghan President Karzai and British Prime
Minister David Cameron held trilateral meeting at the Downing Street and
discussed economic cooperation and the Afghan-led peace process to which
they all reaffirmed their continuing commitment. The trio discussed Afghanistan
and Pakistans shared interest in advancing regional peace, stability and
prosperity, besides Pakistan-Afghanistan intelligence sharing.
The meeting, at British PMs residence, continued for three hours. PM
Nawaz was assisted by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Adviser on National
security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, while the Afghan President was
assisted by his adviser Rangin Dadfar Spanta. The leaders also reviewed
progress on the decisions taken during the last trilateral meeting.
In an interview with a TV channel in London, PM Nawaz asked the
Pakistani Taliban to join peace talks with his government and become part of
1005
the political process. Nawaz said his government wants peace in Pakistan and
the region. He said he had tasked Interior Minister Ch Nisar to pursue talks with
Taliban.
Interior Minister Ch Nisar said homework into proposed talks with the
Taliban has been completed after consultations with stakeholders. He said the
dialogue process with the Taliban is expected to be launched soon. He was
speaking to participants of National Management Course. He said National
Counter Terrorism Authority is being restored as basic authority of antiterrorism.
Next day, at least five soldiers were killed and four sustained injuries when
an improvised explosive device exploded in South Waziristan Agency. the
roadside bomb planted by militants went off at village Zatrai; two soldiers
embraced martyrdom at the scene while three of the four others seriously
wounded later succumbed to their injuries. There were no immediate claims of
responsibility for either attack.
The Senate saw repeated interruptions and walkouts over civilian casualties
in the US drone strikes. The unremitting stand-off between the treasury and
opposition over the issue forced Chairman Syed Nayyar Hussain Bukhari to
adjourn the House. The controversy started during the Question Hour when
Senator Zahid sought clarification from the Interior Minister about official
figures unveiled by him regarding the number of casualties caused by the US
drones.
The minister had told the House that more than 2,160 suspected terrorists
were killed in 317 drone strikes in the past five years while only 67 innocent
civilians have died in these attacks. All the opposition parties in the House
supported Zahid Khans point of view, forcing the minister to give categorical
assurance to the opposition members that he would recheck the figures given to
him by the defence ministry and would inform the House accordingly; but
opposition was not satisfied.
Nisar got furious with PPP Senator Mian Raza Rabbani while he was
contesting the official figures, which forced the entire opposition to stage
walkout over what they described as un-parliamentary behaviour of the
minister. The treasury benches remained unmoved and showed indifference to
oppositions walkout but after almost one and half hour, Leader of House Raja
Zafarul Haq along with Rialways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique went after the
opposition members and brought them back.
A local court reserved its verdict on the bail plea of Pervez Musharraf in
Ghazi Abdur Rashid murder case. During the hearing, Ilyas Siddiqui, the
counsel representing Musharraf, contended that the former president had no
direct link with the Lal Masjid operation. He argued that the then Islamabad
1006
deputy commissioner sent a requisition to call the army since people were being
abducted while 11 army men were also killed in the operation.
The counsel for the complainant, Wajihullah advocate, sought adjournment
of hearing for some days, saying he intended to produce some witnesses and
videos before the police. However, the judge said this court would decide only
the bail matter and he should approach the trial court if he wanted to record
statement of witnesses. Later, the court reserved the decision and adjourned the
matter till November 1.
On 31st October, Police claimed arresting 18 suspects over the killing of 10
foreign climbers in the Himalayas in June, but warned that others remain at
large. The officer leading the investigation said only four of those held are
believed to have been directly involved in the killings at the foot of Nanga
Parbat.
Nawaz Sharif told British Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg in London
that the dialogue with the Pakistani Taliban has been started as they cannot bear
any more loss of precious lives. The PM also expressed the hope the talks will
progress within the constitutional framework of Pakistan.
Federal Interior Minister separately said in Islamabad that the broader
contours of the agenda of negotiations with the Taliban had been drawn and the
dialogue process set in motion. He said the details of the talks agenda would be
finalized in consultation with the political parties and the representatives of
various Taliban factions.
Syed Munawwar Hassan criticized Interior Ministers statement in the
Senate regarding number of casualties caused by drone attacks, and said the
minister was acting as the spokesman of White House instead of Pakistan. The
JI chief said the total deaths caused by drones was estimated far above 4,000
and even according to leading western Human Rights bodies, more than 98 per
cent of those killed were civilians while the ratio of the militants killed was
below two per cent. This belied the figures given by the Interior Minister in the
upper house putting the civilian deaths at 67 only, he added.
The Senate was adjourned for lack of quorum amid a standoff between the
treasury and opposition over casualties in terrorism-related incidents.
Meanwhile, a consultative meeting of the PPP, PML-Q and ANP was held at the
Senate House where the opposition parties decided to boycott the proceedings
until Monday over what they had earlier called the interior minister's improper
and un-parliamentary behaviour.
Reacting to tapping of phone calls of Pakistani citizens by the United
States, the Foreign Office spokesperson told the weekly press briefing: The
issue [of bugging of phone calls] was taken up with the US authorities in June
1007
this year. It is in the process of being taken care of as we are still in touch with
them.
Strongly condemning mornings drone attacks in Miranshah, the Foreign
Office spokesperson said these strikes were a violation of Pakistan's sovereignty
and territorial integrity. Pakistan has consistently maintained that drone strikes
are counter-productive, entail loss of innocent civilian lives and have human
rights and humanitarian implications.
Imran Khan said they will block the NATO supply line if the US
administration tried to disrupt talks process with Tehrik Taliban Pakistan by
using drone attacks. He also said that KPK government will hold talks with TTP
if the federal government would not, or if it failed to hold result-oriented
dialogue. He issued this warning while addressing a press conference at
Opposition Leaders secretariat in Punjab Assembly.
Peshawar High Court Chief Justice questioned the legal grounds for the
release of senior Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. Justice
Dost Muhammad Khan made these remarks during the hearing of the missing
persons case. He said such a decision cannot be taken without a court order,
adding that neither the prime minister nor the president has the authority to
order the release of such a high-profile criminal.
On 1st November, Hakimullah Mehsud was killed along with at least six
others in a US drone hit near Miranshah, dealing a major blow to the militant
network and apparently sabotaging the government efforts to initiate dialogue
with the largest terrorist organization of the country. With $5 million US bounty
on his head, Hakimullah was killed when a pilot-less drone fired four missiles at
his vehicle and a compound in Danda Darpa Khel, a village about 5 km from
Miranshah, headquarters of North Waziristan Agency. Reportedly, Qari Walayat
Mehsud, a first cousin of Hakimullah, has been elected as interim chief of TTP.
Said Khalid alias Sajna and Fazallulahs names will be considered later.
The others killed in the attack included Hakimullahs deputy Abdullah
Behar, his bodyguard Tariq Mehsud, driver Abdullah Mehsud and an uncle.
Mehsud was reportedly there to attend a gathering of 25 Taliban leaders to
discuss the government's offer of talks. The Pakistani government did not
officially confirm the killing of Mehsud, but it condemned the drone strike.
Federal Interior Minister termed the US drone strike that killed the TTP
commander an attempt to sabotage the government's plan to hold talks. The
attack has severely damaged expected talks with the Taliban. We condemn it. I
am in touch with the prime minister to sort out ways to control the damage,
said Nisar.
A three-member government team was ready to leave for Waziristan to
negotiate with the TTP to negotiate a peace deal with Taliban, but it was stopped
1008
1009
The federal minister said dialogue with the Taliban was the only right path
that can improve the situation, adding that Pakistan made the decision to
negotiate on its own and not at the asking of any foreign power. He added that
the All Parties Conferences decision of negotiations was not made to pave the
way for any military operation.
Ch Nisar said that all the political parties leaders are satisfied after a
detailed briefing on the related issues and tomorrow we will seek advice from
all political leaders on this issue. He said that they have taken all the political
parties leaders into the confidence and briefed them regarding the negotiation
process. They all were very satisfied and this consultation process will
continue, he said.
Earlier, the Foreign Office issued a press statement saying it has summoned
the US Ambassador Richard Olson to protest over the drone strike which led to
death of Hakimullah Mehsud and spoiled governments efforts to launch a peace
dialogue with the militants. In accordance with our publicly stated, consistent
policy, Pakistan has condemned drone strikes whenever they have taken place,
including the two recent drone attacks that took place on Thursday and Friday.
The statement said, in order to register concerns.
The PTI announced to move to block NATO supplies through KhyberPakhtunkhwa and introduce resolutions in the National, Sindh and Punjab
assemblies for this purpose. Imran Khan invited all the political forces to
participate in an all parties conference (APC) called by them to support their
blockade decision.
Syed Munawar Hasan and Hafiz Muhammad Saeed asked the government
to immediately start dialogue with the banned outfit and the drones should be
shot down if the US challenges Pakistans sovereignty again along with
blocking NATO supplies. Ijazul Haq and Gen Hameed Gul said recent drone
strike was not launched for the first time as whenever government had started a
dialogue the US sabotaged the process. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour said that the US
is a main hurdle in peace talks with Taliban, as it doesnt want peace in
Pakistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman hinted that the talks process could be delayed for
few days due to recent drone attacks, which caused killing of five people,
including Hakimullah Mehsud. He added that the enemies of peace and
reconciliation should not be allowed to succeed. The JUI-F chief was of the
view that drone attack has undermined the efforts of peace.
Fresh high-alert was sounded across the country after the killing of TTP
chief. In addition to the intelligence agencies, the security and paramilitary
forces were put on high alert to fend off revenge attacks. The governments in all
the four provinces were strictly directed to intensify the security of religious
1010
scholars, leading politicians and top officials because of the anticipated backlash
by TTP.
The decision to appoint a new TTP chief was not yet taken and Majlis-eShura will choose the new chief within two to three days, TTP spokesman
Maulana Azam Tariq said. Talking to media on phone from an unknown
location, Tariq said an appropriate and capable person would be nominated as
the TTP chief. He said formal decision in this regard would be taken within next
two to three days.
The Afghan Taliban described the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud as a big
loss and urged Islamabad to prevent any further US drone strikes. The Islamic
Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this terror act by America and
describes the martyrdom of Mullah Hakimullah Mehsud as a big loss, the
Taliban said in a statement. America cannot create a vacuum or achieve their
evil goals by martyring mujahideen.
Two NATO tankers were set on fire in Mastung. Some unidentified people
intercepted the tankers in Dasht area at gunpoint and later set them on fire. The
assailants then fled from the scene. No loss of life was reported in the attack. On
3rd November, at least six people including two alleged attackers were killed and
two others injured in a hand-grenade attack on a tribal jirga in Orakzai Agency.
TTP ruled out the possibility of holding dialogue with the Pakistan
government, saying talks with the 'US slaves' were no longer possible. The
(Pakistan) government has given us the present of Hakimullah Mehsuds dead
body, said Shahidullah Shahid. He said the selection of Hakimullahs successor
will be made in the next couple of days.
Asmatullah Shaheen Bhittani, the head of the supreme shura, has been
appointed as temporary head of the TTP, Shahid said. Until now Khan Syed
alias Sajna is said to be the frontrunner in the race for headship while Umar
Khalid Khurasani, Mullah Fazlullah and Ghalib Mehsud are prominent
contenders for the position. Interstingly, Bhittani too has been touted as a
potential permanent replacement. He is a leader of TTPs South Waziristan
chapter as well as head of the central Shura who was close to Mehsud.
The US shrugged off responsibility for scuttling Pakistani government's
planned peace talks with the Taliban after an American drone strike killed
Hakimullah Mehsud, insisting that Washington has a shared interest in ending
extremist violence in the region. More broadly, the US and Pakistan continue to
have a vital, shared strategic interest in ending extremist violence so as to build
a more prosperous, stable and peaceful region, he said.
A US lawmaker whose committee oversees the intelligence community
also defended the drone strike that killed Taliban chief and said it would help
keep American troops safe. Representative Mike Rogers said the slain militant,
1011
Hakimullah Mehsud, was a bad guy who was connected to attacks against
Pakistani soldiers and to the Taliban in Afghanistan, which has forced closures
of many schools for girls.
Shahbaz said that if the US wants elimination of terrorism in true sense it
would have to support the strategy of Pakistan. He said American attitude was
hampering the serious efforts aimed at maintenance of peace and was indirectly
encouraging terrorism. The CM said that he had expressed reservations over the
US aid just because of the drone attacks and the overall American behaviour.
He disclosed that while talking to a high level American official, he termed
the drone attacks insulting to Pakistans autonomy and sovereignty. The US
official was a bit surprised at his remarks. After a few days, during a meeting,
he assured that the US would not carry out any drone attacks during the
dialogue process to be initiated by the Pakistan government. He lamented that
this top level guarantee was not honoured even.
JUI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said that his party will offer unconditional
support to PTI decision on NATO supplies blockade. There is a dire need for
another All Parties Conference (APC) in the aftermath of the killing, he said.
The drone attacks have changed the situation and the dialogue with Taliban has
been affected.
Central Ameer of JUI-S Maulan Samiul Haq said that government was not
sincere in holding meaningful talks with Taliban and the incumbent rulers are
just deceiving the masses in the name of peace talks. He alleged the PML-N top
notch and the Interior Minister are all in hand in glove with the US President
Obama and his Administration and were just deceiving the people.
He was not much upbeat about the prospects of any peace talks with
Taliban after the incident and alleged that the rulers were pushing the country
into fire and were only interested to protect and promote their pity personal
interest. He advised PTI Chief Imran Khan to announce the long march and
people from every corner of the country will join him against the US drone
strikes as well as in blocking the NATO supplies.
Syed Munawar Hassan said that he was not expecting any strong stand on
part of Mian Nawaz Sharif-led government which according to him is like a
slave to US. JI made it loud and clear that it was beyond the capacity of Mian
Nawaz Sharif government to take some strong and principled stand on drone
attacks.
Criticizing the rulers, who according to him, were giving the indication that
blockade of NATO supplies would have little bearing on America and said that
the blockade of NATO supplies would have direct impact on America and its
strategic interests in Afghanistan particularly when they were planning exit
strategy from the war-torn country.
1012
1013
The Karachi police chief stated that targeted operations were carried out in
the city to curb the violence and street crime. He told the court that over 5,000
cases had been registered since the police operation began. The Sindh advocate
general told the court that a campaign was launched in the city to recover illegal
arms as a result of which peace returned to the city.
The CJP appreciated police and Rangers action in Karachi. He, however,
said the Sindh government's claims stood in sharp contrast to media reports.
What's going on in Lyari? Is it still a no-go area? Are the citizens in Lyari
enjoying rights under Article 9? What steps were taken to get rid of illegal
arms? the CJP questioned the advocate general.
On 30th October, the Sindh government filed a police performance report
on the Karachi operation in the Karachi Registry of the Supreme Court (SC)
during the hearing of implementation of the apex court verdict in the violence
case. As per the report, overall 6,840 accused were arrested during the operation
from September 5 to October 27. The police and CID conducted 4,857 and 339
raids respectively, while 359 encounters took place with criminals during which
scores of culprits were arrested. In addition, 41 outlaws were killed.
Those arrested during the operation included 97 in murder and target
killing cases, 688 in terrorism, 37 in extortion of money, 30 in kidnapping of
ransom, 476 in robberies and 1308 in illegal arms and narcotics cases while
2,359 were absconders. The report said the pre-operation situation reflected that
330 persons were killed in target killings, 10 in robberies, 33 over personal
enmity and 17 in bomb blasts from July, 21, 2013, to September, 4, 2013.
The police, coast guards, Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and customs are
involved in drug smuggling, Chief Justice remarked during a hearing of the
Karachi law and order case at the Supreme Court Karachi. Everyone is a mafia.
They are only making money, he said, adding no one cares about Karachi and
its general public. The chief justice ordered DG ANF to visit Kala Pul and see
what was going on there. He also said the ANF DG was not doing his work
properly.
When questioned about cleansing Karachi of illegal arms, the attorney
general said the security forces had asked people to voluntarily hand over their
weapons to nearby police stations, but now door-to-door checking would take
place. The Supreme Court on October 29 had rebuked the federal government
for not taking steps to control the smuggling of arms, ammunitions and drugs as
well as tax evasions on imports.
On the call of various Sindh nationalist parties, a shutter-down strike was
observed across the province against the alleged action on their activists and
yesterdays crackers blasts. However, four more cracker attacks rocked Dadu,
but no loss was reported in the cracker blasts. JSMM and other nationalist
1014
parties had given strike call to protest against the unwarranted arrest and
killings.
Next day, the Supreme Court of Pakistan, expressing its reservations,
rejected a report submitted by Attorney General Munir A Malik on the
smuggling of arms and drugs in the country. Chief Justice also showed anger
with the FBR chairman for not mentioning the actions taken so far. He remarked
that a customs appraising officer gets the job by bribing Rs2.5 million. He said:
Suspend the irresponsible officials if they are not doing their duties. The CJP
said even an army general is scared of naming Yousuf Goth.
Meanwhile, a report submitted by the Sindh government in the Supreme
Court said more than 250,000 weapons and over 80 million bullets were sold in
Karachi in five years. According to the report, submitted by the Sindh chief
secretary about the arms licences and sale of weapons during the five years, 183
shops were dealing in arms and ammunition in the city.
On 1st November, seven people including a policeman were killed in
various incidents, while law enforcers claimed to have arrested 87 suspects
during targeted operations. Separately, Pakistan Coast Guards seized huge
quantity of hashish from the general area Shadi Kaur Pasni (Balochistan). This
consignment of hashish was planned to be transported abroad using boats in
coming days.
The Supreme Court issued an interim order in Karachi law and order
implementation case and ordered Customs officials to investigate the matter of
missing 19,000 containers. The court also ordered the authorities concerned to
investigate about weapons coming into the port city through legal ways. Chief
Justice remarked that drug business was running under the nose of ANF
Director General Maj-Gen Zafar Abbas, and he bashed the officer over his
misconduct.
The order outlined a two phase investigation process. The first was to
investigate weapons dealers and determine what weapons were ordered by
them, for what purpose. The second was to investigate what licensed gun
owners are using their weapons for, to determine where and when each bullet
they purchase was used.
It is responsibility of Customs to see for what purpose the legal arms are
being brought into Karachi, the bench said. Police and Rangers should also
investigate it in second phase and conduct door to door checking of legally
imported arms and take action against the license holders if they have
committed any violations. They must also check for what purpose the licensed
holders purchased the bullets and where did they use them, the court added.
In his written report filed to the court, ANF DG laid out a plan of action for
the operation and indicated the affected areas of the metropolis Sohrab Goth,
1015
Banaras and Lyari affirming that the force would go to any extent to cleanse
the city of drugs. The bench expressed its satisfaction over the new action plan.
The CJP said in his remarks, Thank God, work is being done now!... We just
want the rule of law, and nothing else. Next day, four people, including two
bandits, were killed, while 137 suspects were rounded up in parts of the Karachi
metropolis.
1016
Afghan Taliban, it said. Both Afghan and American officials said the Afghan
plan to aid the Pakistan Taliban was in its preliminary stages when Mehsud was
seized by American forces, the report said, adding but they agree on little else.
On 30th October, Afghan negotiators seeking peace with the Taliban will
soon travel to Pakistan for their first meeting with key militant commander
Mullah Baradar. Afghan President Karzai said in a statement that a deal had
been reached after talks in London with Pakistani Prime Minister. Tariq Fatemi
said there is growing recognition that the problem of extremism and terrorism is
neither confined to a single country nor can be tackled by a single country.
On 1st November, at least nine people including children were wounded in
a bomb blast at a wedding party in northern Afghanistan. No group claimed
responsibility for the attack. Gawhar Khan Babur, district governor of Baghlane-Markazi said two of the wounded were in a critical condition.
Iran: On 29th October, Iranian security forces killed in a fresh clash four
members of an extremist rebel group behind an attack that left 14 Iranian border
guards dead. We clashed with Jaish-ul Adl and killed four of them, the Fars
news agency quoted commander of Iran's border guards, as saying. He did not
say when or where the new clash took place.
Next day, Irans oil minister told reporters that contract for supplying gas
to Pakistan is likely to be annulled. Given the current conditions, we do not
have hope for exporting gas to Pakistan, Zanganeh said. Under the contract,
Iran is supposed to export 21.5 million cubic meters of gas per day to Pakistan
from next year. Early in October, Pakistani Petroleum Minister had said
preparatory work was complete, but they had asked Iran to provide $2b for the
construction work. Federal Minister for Information said that Iran-Pakistan Gas
Pipeline Project remains intact and both the countries are working on it.
At least two Pakistani nationals were reportedly wounded when Iranian
border security force opened fire on them in Panjgour district, a bordering area
with the neighbouring country. The incident took place in Kallari area of tehsil
Proom in Panjgour district when Iranian border security forces reportedly made
intrusion into Pakistani territory and opened indiscriminate fire.
1017
VIEWS
Pakistan
Another wake-up call: A report published in The New York Times has
revealed that the US Special Forces raided an Afghan convoy headed to Kabul,
last month. The convoy was escorting a senior TTP commander, Lateef Mehsud,
who had been approached by Afghan intelligence in an attempt to form an
alliance with the terrorist organization, currently engaged in a violent onslaught
against Pakistans government, security forces and citizens
It is hoped that the story serves as a wake-up call for Pakistan, and forces it
to re-evaluate its policy with regards to Afghanistan. It was naively believed
that assistance against the Soviets during the war, and the historical role in the
accommodation and welfare of millions of Afghan refugees, would permanently
reserve Pakistans position in the good books of its neighbour. Clearly, the truth
is far from it. In the post-US withdrawal scenario, Pakistan is most likely to find
a hostile neighbour; more than willing to use proxies to achieve desired
objectives. If the Afghans are operating on the principle that enemy of my
enemy is my friend, it has become exceedingly pertinent to eradicate the
nuisance at home. The proponents of peace talks must also take a lesson or two
from the story. The revelation that the TTP is open to conspiring with foreign
powers against Pakistan destroys the narrative that it comprises of simpleminded, pious, disenchanted Pakistan-loving fellow countrymen as Mr Imran
Khan would have everyone believe. They are terrorists, only loyal to their own
twisted agenda, and ready to shake hands with anyone as long as it suits them.
The tolerance for the TTP is severely costing Pakistan, and now providing
outsiders with fruitful opportunities to franchise their own sinister activities. So,
what to do then? The answer is clearer than ever before: Unite, and put full
force behind a decisive military action which rids the country of this menace
which threatens our present and the future, and propagates everything that we
loathe. (Editorial, TheNation 30th October)
Where is justice? On Tuesday, the son and grandchildren of the 67-yearold midwife from North Waziristan who was killed in a US drone strike Rafiq
ur Rehman and his two children, Nabila and Zubair gave a heartbreaking
testimony before the Congress. Mr. Rafiqs mother, Momina Bibi, was
gathering okra in the fields when a drone was overheard and appeared out of the
1018
blue sky, killing Momina Bibi on the spot. Mr. Rafiqs son, Zubair, gave
testimony and described how horrific the outcome was; his grandmother had
succumbed to her injuries before she could receive medical aid at the hospital.
In his haunting and poignant words, Zubair told the lawmakers that initially the
drone did not cause apprehension in him because, Why would I worry? Neither
my grandmother nor I were militants.
The fact is, however, a growing number of innocent Pakistanis have
become drone casualties as evident in various human rights reports emanating
from international organizations and journalist investigation studies such as The
Bureau of Investigative Journalism and Code Pinks reports. As Nabila, Momina
Bibis 9-year-old granddaughter, said: Due to the US drone strikes in Pakistan,
many residents of North Waziristan, particularly children, are afraid of entering
open and public spaces and attending schools. Not only does it affect their
physical and emotional wellbeing but it has intimidated locals from access to
education. Furthermore, without any choice, locals have been driven to revenge
and animosity against the US due to losing their loved ones to drone strikes.
In their ending statement, the Rehman family requested the government of
United States to view victims of its ongoing war on terror as equal human
beings, not mere statistics and collateral damage. If the United States wishes to
eradicate terrorism, it should acknowledge its very own mass violations of
human rights throughout the world instead of turning a blind eye and deaf ear to
its expanding violence. (Editorial, TheNation 31st October)
What sovereignty? Owing to the lack of transparency and murky
decision-making which plagues the process, the exact number of casualties
resulting from US drones strikes in Pakistan continues to perplex observers.
With newspapers and news channels dedicating considerable ink and air-time,
the US drone programme is one of the most aggressively debated issues in the
country. If there is anything worth mentioning that has come out of this
otherwise fruitless discussion, it is the unveiling of the inherent flaws
entrenched in the bizarre political culture of this country, its lamentable shortsightedness and its baffling inability to adopt an intelligent approach towards
the gravest of matters.
It is a well-established fact that the drone strikes were initiated by the US
only after Pakistans explicit permission. In an interview to CNN earlier this
year, Pervez Musharraf-the head of the country when the strikes started came
clean about his governments secret deal with the US. Clearly, Mr Musharraf
was not mindful of the consequences the programme would have in the
following years, and his governments helplessness in the face of a guest who
has overstayed his welcome. The leaders continued to fan the debate to
appease public sentiment, while secretly approving of the strikes as long as
they get the right people. But, being lied to by self-imposed messiahs and
1019
representatives is nothing new for the Pakistani public. The real issue lies
elsewhere.
In this matter, Pakistan can make no pretence of retaining sovereignty, and
the same applies for those areas where the government is unable to impose its
writ. It is this very weakness which has served as a pretext for the justification
of drone strikes within the countrys territory. Ironically, this home-grown
terrorism that kills more Pakistani citizens than anyone else is seen as a global
threat, and so down descend the drones to take care of what Pakistan is
hesitant to touch. To demand from others to halt their activities which they
reckon to be crucial for global and national security, while taking no steps to
counter the constantly deteriorating security situation, is utterly
incomprehensible. The intrusion will not stop until or unless, Pakistan
demonstrates that there is a responsible government in the country, capable of
dealing with its own problems. The lack of confidence prevalent in the
international community will not lessen as long as the country stays hopelessly
idle in the face of annihilation. If the people at the top genuinely care about the
security and sovereignty of their country, they will have to take decisive action
against militants which openly challenge the government on a daily basis, and
attract drones. It is fairly easy to be complacent with others doing your dirty
laundry, but the way ahead is paved with hard decisions. It is hoped that the
democratic leadership can turn its head around, and finds the courage to call a
spade a spade. (Editorial, TheNation 1st November)
Were calling the shots: For some reason, there is a strong perception in
the country that the western powers are against dialogue between Pakistan and
TTP. But, in reality, such is not the case. In this regard, the leaders are no more
enlightened than the general public. Perhaps, this is why PM Nawaz Sharif felt
the need to present his plans and win over his counterpart, PM David
Cameron, in UK. The international community has raised serious concerns over
Pakistans consistently deteriorating security situation. The inability of the
government to take concrete measures to counter the insurgency has further
contributed to the nervousness of onlookers. However, that is not to suggest that
they insist on a particular roadmap for Pakistan to follow. Contrary to popular
belief, Pakistan has been given full freedom to adopt any policy which it deems
most suitable to resolve matters.
Talks or military action, it is Pakistans decision to take at the end of the
day. Therefore, there is no requirement of a stamp of approval by the leaders of
the land of the free, or the former colonial masters, to decide the fate of the
inhabitants of the land of the pure. Pakistan is at the centre stage, and for now,
the world is satisfied to play its role as a mere spectator. Agreed that they are
interested in the story, and especially how the drama ends, but there should be
no doubt that it is Pakistan itself writing the script.
1020
If the PM and the rest of political leadership believes that a nod from David
Cameron somehow adds to the validity of the peace-talks proposal, they are
seriously mistaken. The endorsement is not necessarily for the modus operandi
of the government, rather for its right to make such choices, no matter how
misguided they may be. And, misguided they are indeed. Instead of striving to
provide reassurances to foreign powers, it would be considerably wiser for the
government to let its actions do the talking. The objective is simple, and more
importantly, common. The state must establish its writ, and take back its
territory from militants who use it for their sinister activities, and openly defy
all laws and conventions of the land. Be it government officials, army personnel
or ordinary citizens, neither have been exempted from their violent campaign. If
nothing else, the unacceptable and impractical pre-conditions set by TTP, are an
excellent indicator to predict the failure of peace-talks with an inflexible nonstate entity. To think that the terrorists will simply roll over and surrender
everything that they have acquired by force is extreme foolishness, to say the
least. There is absolutely nothing that the state can offer in exchange, nor should
it. The survival of the country depends on the acceptance of the reality; decisive
action is inevitable. (Editorial, TheNation 2nd November)
A word to Mr Nawaz Sharif: Nawaz Sharif should hold a press
conference or make an announcement in the National Assembly, spelling out
details of the contacts established with the PTI and the agreed terms of
engagement. Interior Ministers briefing of the political parties about taking up
of talks with the Taliban leaders, is not good enough. Delay has not only
damaged the PML-N credibility, it has also let terror attacks continue, adding to
civilian and military casualties and destruction of property. How can there be
progress in the economic and social spheres, if there is a widespread fear of
bomb blasts and suicide strikes in Peshawar, Quetta, Lahore and other places?
It is most unfortunate that the Interior Minister, the other day, came up, in
the Senate, with certain unacceptable figures of civilian casualties caused by the
drone strikes. Both New York Times and Washington Post have found it
surprising and in sharp variance to the earlier Pakistan governments figure of
at least 400 (as against 67 indicated by the minister). The Minister has
obviously been misinformed and even if he corrects himself, a lot of damage to
Pakistans case against the drones, has already been done.
The news about the demise of the Iran-Pakistan pipeline too is
disconcerting. This certainly amounts to compromising our national interests,
under pressure. Nawaz Sharif must ensure expeditious implementation of this
project. (Inayatullah, TheNation 2nd November)
Malala and Nabila: worlds apart: On October 24, 2012, a Predator
drone flying over North Waziristan came upon eight-year-old Nabila Rehman,
1021
her siblings, and their grandmother as they worked in a field beside their village
home.
Her grandmother, Momina Bibi, was teaching the children how to pick
okra as the family prepared for the coming Eid holiday. However on this day the
terrible event would occur that would forever alter the course of this familys
life. In the sky the children suddenly heard the distinctive buzzing sound
emitted by the CIA-operated drones a familiar sound to those in the rural
Pakistani villages which are stalked by them 24 hours a day followed by two
loud clicks. The unmanned aircraft released its deadly payload onto the Abdul
Rehmans family, and in an instant the lives of these children were transformed
into a nightmare of pain, confusion and terror. Seven children were wounded,
and Nabilas grandmother was killed before her eyes, an act for which no
apology, explanation or justification has ever been given.
This past week Nabila, her schoolteacher father, and her 12-year-old
brother traveled to Washington DC to tell their story and to seek answers about
the events of that day. However, despite overcoming incredible obstacles in
order to travel from their remote village to the United States, Nabila and her
family were roundly ignored. At the Congressional hearing where they gave
testimony, only five out of 430 representatives showed up
It is useful to contrast the American response to Nabila Rehman with that
of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who was nearly assassinated by the Pakistani
Taliban. While Malala was feted by Western media figures, politicians and civic
leaders for her heroism, Nabila has become simply another one of the millions
of nameless, faceless people who have had their lives destroyed over the past
decade of American wars. The reason for this glaring discrepancy is obvious.
Since Malala was a victim of the Taliban, she, despite her protestations, was
seen as a potential tool of political propaganda to be utilized by war advocates.
She could be used as the human face of their effort, a symbol of the purported
decency of their cause, the type of little girl on behalf of whom the United
States and its allies can say they have been unleashing such incredible
bloodshed. Tellingly, many of those who took up her name and image as a
symbol of the justness of American military action in the Muslim world did not
even care enough to listen to her own words or feelings about the subject.
As described by the Washington Posts Max Fisher: Western fawning over
Malala has become less about her efforts to improve conditions for girls in
Pakistan, or certainly about the struggles of millions of girls in Pakistan, and
more about our own desire to make ourselves feel warm and fuzzy with a
celebrity and an easy message. Its a way of letting ourselves off the hook,
convincing ourselves that its simple matter of good guys vs bad guys, that
were on the right side and that everything is okay.
1022
But where does Nabila fit into this picture? If extrajudicial killings, drone
strikes and torture are in fact all part of a just-cause associated with the
liberation of the people of Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere, where is the
sympathy or even simple recognition for the devastation this war has caused to
countless little girls such as her? The answer is clear: The only people to be
recognized for their suffering in this conflict are those who fall victim to the
enemy. Malala for her struggles was to be made the face of the American war
effort against her own will if necessary while innumerable little girls such as
Nabila will continue to be terrorized and murdered as part of this war without
end. There will be no celebrity appearances or awards ceremonies for Nabila. At
her testimony almost no one even bothered to attend.
But if they had attended, they wouldve heard a nine-year-old girl asking
the questions which millions of other innocent people who have had their lives
thrown into chaos over the past decade have been asking: When I hear that they
are going after people who have done wrong to America, then what have I done
wrong to them? What did my grandmother do wrong to them? I didnt do
anything wrong. (Murtaza Hussain for Aljazeera, republished in TheNation 2nd
November)
The end: Hakimullah Mehsud, the chief of TTP a militant organization
fighting against the Pakistani state, and declared wanted, with Rs 5 crore head
money - was killed in a US drone strike along with four others near a town in
Miranshah, North Waziristan, on Friday. His predecessor, Baitullah Mehsud,
and his deputy, Wali-ur-Rehman, were also killed in drone strikes on different
occasions. The reaction to the news from key political figures of the country
give the confounding impression that a peace-loving, patriotic Pakistani has
been killed, and not a terrorist responsible for the murder of government
officials, army personnel and thousands of innocent civilians.
Interior Minister, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, issued a statement accusing the US of
a conspiracy to sabotage the peace talks. PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, took it a
step further by urging the federal government to block NATO supplies in
retaliation to drone strikes. Other politicians issued similar statements
expressing concerns over the serious implications the incident is likely to have
on peace talks and the security situation of the country. What peace talks? And
what security situation?
Since the federal governments offer of peace talks, did the militants, for a
single day, halt their bloody campaign against the country? Did they lay down
their weapons to give peace a chance? Are their pre-conditions of withdrawing
security forces from the troubled regions, and release of convicted fellow
militants from jails implementable, or even agreeable? Did a single statement
given by Hakimullah Mehsud suggest that he was willing to abandon his
mission of implementing Sharia by force? If the answer to even one of the
1023
leadership. Let the formidable military of Pakistan take action and take the fight
to them, to those who are gearing up to launch a series of attacks on us. An
enemy of the state and its people was killed on Friday. The rest of his colleagues
must surrender, or meet the same fate. (Editorial, TheNation 3rd November)
Are drones the casus belli of terrorism? Is it a deliberate effort to force
a change in Pakistans strategic direction in the GWOT? Or is a continuation of
the status quo in the APR in US interest?
Are the drone strikes then the real casus belli of terrorism? Does the center
of gravity of the terrorism issue lie in the drones and their strikes? Will all acts
of terrorism cease along with the drone strikes? Will terrorism become any less
murderous and devastating thereafter? Will the loosely allied Taliban-TTP
Combine lay down its arms, give up its struggle and submit meekly to the law
and the Constitution of Pakistan then? Will there be a compatible quid pro quo
from the Taliban-TTP Combine? If not, then why this frenzied focus and
hyperbole about the drones alone? Why are we losing focus on the larger
picture? Are we not doing exactly what they want us to do? Bring the deadly
drone strikes to an unconditional end!
The TTP appear to be dictating terms to the Pakistan Government. Earlier
they demanded that the Armed Forces of Pakistan ought to vacate and cede the
FATA to them and free all their prisoners as pre-conditions to negotiations. Then
they added the cessation of drone strikes to this gradually expanding list. What
next, then?
A cessation of drone strikes would greatly strengthen their negotiating
position and expand their strategic reach immediately and immensely. It would
also grant them greater freedom to assemble, train, move and operate; freedoms
they desperately crave for. That will have massive strategic implications for
Pakistan and the GWOT and will exponentially increase the levels of violence
within the country and the region.
The issue must only be decided through professionally conducted strategic
appraisals and assessments and not by emotions, political sloganeering and
media debates. Factors other than credible and sensible political and military
ones appear to be holding sway at the moment. The Pakistan Government is
steadily losing its grip on the issue while the Taliban-TTP Combine appears to
be consolidating itself and gradually moving into advantageous positions prior
to the negotiations if and whenever they are held!
Pakistan needs to have a reality check and a realistic rather than idealistic
approach to the issue. Thus far it has been hampered by a perplexing lack of a
credible National Security Policy (NSP) and the consequent counter terrorism
(CT) and counter insurgency (COIN) strategies. This lack of an NSP, a well
enunciated strategic direction, and compatible operational plans to achieve it
has caused all efforts to combat terrorism go haywire. This has caused the
1025
priorities to be misplaced with halting the drone strikes becoming the sole focus
of attention rather than defeating the overall scourge of terrorism. Then pursuing
negotiations with the terrorists without having maneuvered into an
unambiguous and unassailable position of strength is beyond comprehension.
The Governments actions on these two counts are contradictory, self-defeating
and are likely to bring to naught its efforts to win the war on terror. It is already
a victim of its own ill-considered rhetoric and the pressures generated by some
political parties.
The Pakistan Government needs to revisit the priorities it has assigned to
various aspects of the GWOT. It must sequence its actions correctly. It must
create the desired strategic environment, ascertain and then maintain strategic
direction to win the battle against terrorism. It must have an all-encompassing
and comprehensive NSP. This should then lead to logical conclusions, CT and
COIN strategies and operational plans to deal with issues like the drones,
negotiations et al. And these plans should then be implemented in a coherent,
focused and clearly defined manner.
Defeating terrorism also requires correct prioritization of objectives, clarity
of thought and action, a deep understanding and insight into the issue and an
iron political and military will to execute it. Cessation or otherwise of drone
strikes must emerge and be a part of the overall strategy to combating terrorism;
it must never dictate it. The same must apply to the policy of negotiations. They
must be broached from a position of unassailable strength only. These must
result in political and military dividends for Pakistan.
Nothing short of that will work. (Imran Malik, TheNation 3rd November)
Who tipped off US about Hakimullahs presence? Who tipped off
about Hakimullah Mehsuds whereabouts to help eliminate Pakistans
presumably biggest enemy in Fridays drone attack makes a tricky puzzle that
may well be solved only in the times to come.
Whether it was an infighting between the militant factions embedded with
the quest for grabbing the reigns of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) or a preemptive move from the hostile militant groups to settle old scores or a coveted
intelligence plan executed with mutual coordination between the security
apparatuses of Islamabad and Washington that resulted in the elimination of
TTP chief in a couple of latest predator strikes in North Waziristan Agency
(NWA) remains to be determined in due course of time.
The vibes from security establishment suggest a linkage between
Hakimullahs elimination and the deep-rooted rage that certain Taliban factions
held against his style of ruling the terrorist umbrella organization. The tribal
politicians, however, offer a counter-narrative.
1026
The progress on peace talks, the official said, encouraged the TTP
commanders not to stay underground, which helped in tracking them down
through surveillance. The peace talks hype well served as a tactical move for
CIA. The TTP commanders believed they had a respite from drones, for the
time being, at least. This encouraged them to move around (in NWA), which
brought them under the intelligence radar.
Asked if the Pakistans intelligence agencies had tipped off about
Hakimullahs presence in Dande Darpa Khel (NWA) where he was killed, the
official said, They (US) have a great deal of self-reliant surveillance system
that acts as back up to the surgical strikes, in addition to their partial
dependency on our intelligence coordinates. Every surgical strike does not
necessarily have to be the product of mutual intelligence coordination, although,
we are often in the loop, the official said while hinting that the last two attacks
did not come out of blue.
A former general recalls the recent statements from Pakistans Chief of
Army Staff (COAS) General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani to establish that the military
establishment was not very happy with the flexibility the political leadership
was showing to make peace with the militants amid no let up in militant
violence. This could be really a factor in explaining Hakimullahs killing just
ahead of peace talks, the general, who also desired to stay anonymous, stated.
Addressing a cadets passing out ceremony in Abbottabad last month,
General Kayani had said, Terrorism is a big challenge for us and the national
leadership has opted to give dialogue process a chance to tackle it. Pakistan
Army supports this initiative...But its very important that this process brings
unity and not division among the nation.... The use of force is a last option but if
required, Pakistan Army is fully capable of doing that.
Earlier in September, he had said in a statement, It is understandable to
give peace a chance through a political process but no one should have any
misgivings that we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their terms.
Army has the ability and the will to take the fight to the terrorists. (Sikander
Shaheen, TheNation 3rd November)
A popular drone strike: Paradox & implications? Hakimullah
Mehsuds death in Danday Darpakhel by US hellfire missiles on 1st Nov, 2013,
is clearly the first palpably popular use of drone strike by CIA. However there is
an equally fierce and shrill reaction from the government, media and political
stakeholders. This paradox needs understanding to make sense.
Never since the death of Baitullah Mehsud in Aug 2009 there has been a
drone strike that has clearly split the Pakistani public opinion. Generally
speaking: the deep-seated suspicions in which Pakistani public, media, civil
servants, army officers and politicians view US intentions, and the role of CIA,
in the region (Pakistan, Afghanistan & India) have dominated the discussion
1028
about drone strikes. So drones have not been seen as precision weapons against
inaccessible enemies of state but as part of a larger US design about which
there is no clarity But there are other interesting implications, which we need
to understand.
First, Nawaz government has been caught with its pants down. It is obvious
that either the Nawaz and team have been slapped on full face by the Obama
administration or they themselves were on board with the Americans in some
fresh thinking and are now doing the usual song and dance for the
consumption of public, media and the opposition especially PTI that was
driving the agenda of APC. The killing opportunity for opposition is huge since
the Nawaz government had gone on front foot painting an extraordinarily rosy
picture of their discussions in Washington on the issue of drone strikes
Second, this creates a cocktail of political opportunities and huge strategic
risks for Imran Khan and PTI. PTIs base with almost 80% of that located in
Punjab is young, impressionable, nationalistic and generally speaking more
educated and politically aware of any other large mass grouping in Pakistan.
They have been traumatized and extremely upset about the impotence of
the Pakistani state in face of TTPs savagery especially after the killing of
GOC Swat and the attacks on All Saints Church and its outfall for the national
image. Imrans appeal to his turbulent base is his promise to buy peace through
negotiations, he emerged as the defining leader of APC, kept intact the faith of
his supporters even after the recent savagery by TTP and his argument shared
by most politicians, media and public is that continuing drone strikes will
make the peace impossible; and it was with this fear in mind that Imran had
been threatening blockade of NATO supplies if drone strikes interfered with
peace talks. But to the supporters of Imran Khan the news and the visual
imagination of Hakimullah Mehsud and its hated lieutenants groaning in blood
and flesh is also hugely satisfying even if by an American drone. Imran is now
caught between his promise, audacity of his threat and the need to act wisely
within the political theatre to save his leadership. The next few days will be
equally crucial for him. (Moeed Pirzada, TheNation 4th November)
Driving ourselves crazy: In the reaction to Hakimullah Mehsud's death
lies an indication of how there is no way to win hearts and minds in Pakistan.
And it's all thanks to those shaping the popular rhetoric on the issue. Take a bow
Choudhary Nisar, Imran Khan, and assorted other politicians of various shades
of political opinion. For the sake of defending themselves against retaliatory
attacks, or because it would grate against a manipulated popular understanding
of the war on terror, or because they genuinely believe that Hakimullah and his
ilk ought to be adopted into the fold...for some reason, the TTP head's death has
been conveyed to be a national tragedy. Choudhary Nisar is livid, and has
announced a review of US-Pakistan relations, over the death of a man on whose
1029
head his own ministry had a reward of Rs 5 crore until the day he was killed in a
drone strike.
The opposition to drones is logical and just, but to confuse it with the
opposition to the death of a declared terrorist is to do the nation the ultimate
disservice. Ideally, the strike that killed him would have been one orchestrated
by the Pakistani army. That it was not, has only served to provide justification to
those who claim the war on terror is not our own.
There is also the question of the sudden interest in Hakimullah as a target
by the drone campaign and it's operators. The question of timing strikes
Choudhary Nisar as a conspiracy, but there is another explanation, that this may
be indication of a revival of the relationship between the Pakistani and
American intelligence agencies. This relationship has been historically murky,
and seldom subject to civilian oversight, especially in Pakistan.
Insistence on talks has been a favourite crutch of this and previous
governments. But what is publicly professed as a panacea, is privately disowned
as wishful thinking. Having convinced the people and themselves that there is a
chance for Pakistan to be a modern, progressive state as the result of talks with
such elements, politicians have opted for complete denial of the fact that is
fundamentally impossible. To insist on trying to adopt a regressive ideology as a
measure for peace is to deny that this would fundamentally change the nature of
society to an intolerant, unjust, regressive state. And it is in the refusal to
understand this that politicians are undermining any possibility of peace or
progress in Pakistan. Drones are utterly condemnable as a violation of
sovereignty. Just as much as the TTP, an anti-Pakistan terrorist organization that
this nation must not embrace into its fold. (Editorial, TheNation 4th November)
Taming the terrorists: The debate sparked off in the media by the killing
of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike misses the most important point:
who should decide about Pakistans counter-terrorism strategy? Is it not the
prerogative of the government of Pakistan? Even if we are not satisfied by how
the PML-N government is going about it, does it make any sense to argue for
letting a criminal, and waning, super power determine the direction of
something so crucial for our future?
Whether talking to the TTP is a good idea or not is not the issue here.
Personally, Id tend to agree with those who argue that there is little room for
discussion with a terrorist organization that has killed thousands of Pakistani
citizens and espouses a violent and warped sectarian ideology. The terrorist
groups under the TTP umbrella should be dealt with an iron hand. At the same
time, for it to be effective, the decisions about the when and how of such a
crackdown must be taken by the government of Pakistan in close consultation
with the security establishment that is expected to execute it. It cant be left to
the whims of a two-faced global badmash.
1030
The criticism that the PML-N government has been sluggish and
hopelessly inept at devising a comprehensive counter-terrorism policy is also
valid. It has so far appeared to be more interested in appeasing the masters that
pay its bills; bending over backwards to facilitate the dialogue process for
Afghan transition rather than focusing on catching the raging bull in its frontyard by the horns. For months it seemed in a state of paralysis. And when it
finally moved, it convened yet another All Parties Conference to garner for
itself the crutches of national consensus and a license for talks. Even after that,
there was more talk about talks rather than any real movement in that
direction
According to the Federal Interior Minister, the TTP chief was killed a day
before a government team was scheduled to meet him to start the much-touted
and much-delayed dialogue. Hes also disclosed that the government had asked
the US to hold its drone killings while the dialogue was underway. Critics of the
government say that this is all hogwash and the governments dialogue initiative
was going nowhere. In either case, the recent drone strike has taken away the
pressure on the government to show results. The criticism of its lackadaisical
approach was mounting and it was expected that it would have had to either win
over some TTP factions or reconsider the dialogue option. It can now blame the
US for staying in a limbo.
One could take a positive view of the turn of events as well, but only if the
government takes concrete actions to justify its hard talk about reviewing PakUS relations. Has the government really woken up to the deceptive games the
US-led war machine is playing under the garb of war on terror and is it serious
in its resolve to change the servile course it had embarked upon since assuming
office? Or is the present outburst meant for public consumption, thundering
about breaking free from the US stranglehold while the business goes on as
usual?
Although it was clear as daylight even before the recent drone attack, the
fallacy of cooperation between the two countries to counter terrorism should
now be conclusively laid to rest. It is obviously a one-way street that can only
lead to disastrous consequences for Pakistan. The US imperial interests in
Afghanistan spell trouble with a capital T for Pakistan and the region, and the
US is clearly only interested in a cooperation that exclusively furthers those
interests with nothing in it for Pakistan except some imaginary carrots.
Whether Hakimullah Mehsud was evil incarnate or someone willing to
accept the writ of the state is not the point here. If killing by US drones could
end terrorism in Pakistan, it would have ended long time ago as the global
badmash has been at it for years. The point is that for our counter-terrorism
strategy to be effective, it is the Pakistani leadership that must take control of it.
If the government feels that it must give peace a chance, it has every right to
1031
explore that option, though not endlessly. It must also start hanging the
convicted terrorists on death row so that those it is talking to understand clearly
the constitutional framework. In any case, whether we talk to them or send them
to hell in a military operation, the US must not be allowed to meddle in the
process. (Jalees Hazir, TheNation 4th November)
What after Hakimullah: Timing rather than their effects made the recent
event sensational. Earlier on also, a number of leading figures of TPP have been
eliminated through drone attacks, these include: Nek Muhammad, Baitullah
Mehsud, Qari Hussain, Ilyas Kashmiri, Maulvi Nazir, Waliur Rehman Mehsud
etc. Most of these commanders were killed when they showed inclination to
enter into negotiations with Pakistan. HUM also met a similar fate. In fact,
every time Pakistan is close to find out a negotiated settlement of the militancy
issue, and attempts to tame the disgruntled Taliban through parleys, the process
is sabotaged by the drone strikes.
Decapitation or the strategy of killing top commanders of terrorist groups is
quite important from the counter-terrorism standpoint. But considering the loose
structure, vague ideology and motivation of the TTP, this strategy may not
work. Organizations like the TTP are never short on leadership; hence killing of
HUM may not affect the TTPs continuity in carrying out attacks. A close aide
of HUM Khan Said alias Sajnaa is likely to takeover as the Ameer (Chief) of
TTP. There could be a violent backlash in the form of reprisal attacks in various
parts of the country. If the group stages large-scale attacks, it would be an
indicator of its strength and viability. Failure to do so would indicate a decline
leading to its gradual fizzling out.
In the short term, the prospect of talks would seem to have diminished. But
as time passes by, factionalism may increase inside the TTP and the Punjabi
Taliban, led by Asmatullah Muawiyah, could gain further strength. Muawiyah
had welcomed the offer of peace talks by the government without Hakimullahs
prior consent, prompting the latter to expel him from TTP ranks; later HUM
reconciled. Intelligence estimates indicate that TTP factions in favour of talks
outnumber those opposed to parleys. Hakimullahs elimination may further
factionalize TTP, most of which ultimately may agree to hold talks.
Hakimullahs death may be a setback for peace in the immediate future.
However, in the long run, it may be an opportunity in the form of operational
degradation of the TTP.
Despite governments rhetoric, the incident is not likely to cause any
significant degradation in Pak-US relations. Probably there would be nothing
beyond usual noises because there are not many rungs below the present status
of Pak-US bilateral relations, at least at the public level. America would also not
take any radical pressuring measures like cut in the flow of economic aid,
because this may result in entrapping of NATO/ISAF forces in Afghanistan far
1032
beyond 2014. While at the same time, the US may not oblige Pakistan by
ending drone strikes, at least for the time being. In all probability drone strikes
and the dialogue would move in tandem, one step forward and two backwards!
(K Iqbal, TheNation 4th November)
India
Living in coexistence with India! An Important Note: I urge the
Pakistani foreign policy establishment in Islamabad to study/review this article
as the basis of a paradigm shift in the PML-N leadership approach to Indo-Pak
relations rather than consider it a brusque criticism of Nawaz Sharifs
government. The fact of the matter is that historically Indias political-military
posture towards Pakistan has been belligerent and lately it is diplomatically
outright hostile and aggressive. Pakistan needs to devise a diplomatic military
discourse for engagement with India to correct the prevailing imbalance.
The Pakistani Prime Ministers current strategic approach towards India
Let Us Be Friends On Your Terms is flawed. First, it is purely and exclusively
a personalized view of how Pakistan should engage with India. The PMs
claim that he has a public mandate to befriend India as he wishes is obviously
a misunderstood and misguided notion. Pakistanis, as a whole, would want an
Indo-Pak engagement on the basis of equality
Second: Islamabads foreign policy establishments current diplomatic
discourse towards India is completely devoid of Realpolitik parameters. In a
nation-state system, a neighboring country is not offered an a la carte political
menu on a single-track one-way diplomatic channel. It is imperative that longrange national interests take precedent over short-term political trade based on
vested interests
Third: It is imperative to completely comprehend an adversarys historical
political conduct. Islamabads current strategic approach towards India fails in
fully conceptualizing this important factor. For record purposes, let us mention
some of Indias past political behavior
The question is, given the history of Indias political-military conduct, how
has the PML-N leadership and its foreign policy establishment concluded that
India is now prepared to establish far reaching and permanently stable cordial
political-military relations with Sharifs Pakistan for an everlasting peaceful
coexistence with its neighbors? Indeed, Sharifs foreign policy managers are
politically incorrect in making such irrational assumptions. The interesting and
ironic thing is that recent evidence suggests volumes of contradictions to the
said presumptions of Sharifs Indian affairs experts who seem to have
conveniently set aside the ground realities of contemporary Indian politicalmilitary behavior.
1033
REVIEW
What happened during Nawaz Sharifs visit to Washington has been
covered in the last article of this series. The trip to other side of the globe was
bound to fall well short of expectations of the people of Pakistan as he had not
taken all the political forces into confidence before leaving.
His two aides on foreign affairs who accompanied him had also not done
their home-work. This could be judged from that one of the Prime Ministers
advisors, Fatemi when asked about Dr Aafia Siddiqui, he was not sure of her
citizenship. This showed the concern of the advisor, especially in view of the
fact that her repatriation to Pakistan was one of major agenda points of his boss.
From Washington Nawaz hopped in Pakistan and then jumped to land in
London. He was there when about a week after his meeting with President
Obama Hakimullah Mehsud was killed in drone-launched missile strike. Before
his departure to Washington an aide and close relation of the deceased, Latif
Mehsud was snatched by US forces in an ambush of an Afghan Army convoy.
Both the incidents occurring in quick succession aroused the curiosity of
observers who are now busy in drawing varying inferences.
1035
While drawing any conclusions from these important incidents one must
ponder about the timings of these two. The whereabouts of both were known to
the US since long as especially Hakimullah has been on the radar since he
carried out an attack on a CIA base in Khost in which more CIA operators were
killed than in any operation in decade long occupation of Afghanistan.
Both could have been taken out by the US any time earlier. But, they did it
only after having inkling that TTP is most probably serious about patching up
with the Government of Pakistan. If their bilateral dialogue could have
produced even a ceasefire that would have been against the interests of the US
occupation forces in Afghanistan as TTP could have then home on to them.
The drone strikes of Friday carried a message for Nawaz Sharif. He was
intelligent enough to understand Obamas viewpoint during the meeting of the
two and had told the media that everything has to start with setting the own
house in order. The missile strikes were practical demonstration of setting the
house in order.
The message is clear: forget about the peace talks and do what the US has
been demanding for years. War, not the peace is what the US has been
demanding and that has become ominous. Nawaz government lacks the courage
to say no to America and due to that TTP will not be inclined to hold talks.
They must be thinking that Islamabad has once again cheated them in the
name of dialogue. They will not reflect upon their own record of betrayals,
including the killing of Colonel Imam, who was shot dead by Hakimullah
personally. Those who live by betrayal must die by betrayal.
Ignoring this reality altogether, the Taliban must be fuming in anger.
Therefore, the death of Hakimullah will prompt revenge attacks by the Taliban
across Pakistan stirring tensions further in the already volatile country. The
military leadership may have felt relieved over Hakimullahs elimination, but
they must alert their outfits to be ready for more bloodshed.
The killing of Hakimullah will weaken the TTP but only temporarily. The
past experience tells that after each of such killings the militants emerged
stronger and perpetrated death and destruction almost unhindered. Hakimullah
was undoubtedly ruthless militant commander and if he is succeeded by
Fazallulah the worst will come in the coming days and weeks. Even Khalid
Sajna wont come with lollypops in his hands.
Meanwhile, Nawaz regime will work over-time pleading not guilty and the
secular forces will wait for a while before once again demanding military action
against militants. The calls of rightists like Imran Khan for blocking NATO
supplies have already gone un-heard what to talk of shooting down the drones.
The reality that confused rulers and militant rebels are being used by their
common enemies is not likely to dawn upon both of them. It is unfortunate that
1036
both of them get funding and war munitions from their enemies directly or
indirectly. None will be given sufficient to defeat the other but enough to sustain
the turmoil. Therefore, they are likely to continue serving the cause of the
Crusaders.
4th November, 2013
DREAM OF LG
The Supreme Court at last prevailed upon all the four provincial
governments and Election Commission of Pakistan to hold Local Bodies
elections before the end of this year. The ECP after resisting pressure from the
apex court, finally issued the schedule for three provinces, but elections are not
likely to be held as planned for want of printing of the requisite ballot papers
and preparation of appropriate ink for thumb impressions. Moreover, the LG
laws passed by respective provincial assemblies have been challenged in the
courts.
Media reported a move to replace the friendly Leader of Opposition Syed
Khursheed Shah with belligerent Sheikh Rashid. Soon after the report, PTI
leadership held a meeting and decided to the contrary and nominated Imarn
Khan as Leader of Opposition. Meanwhile, Imran Khan challenged the
appointment of Qamar Zaman as Chairman NAB.
The PPP launched its Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in active politics.
He challenged all the political rivals and vowed to wipe them. He unveiled his
1037
plans to hunt the tiger (PML-N) and cut the kite (MQM) in the next general
elections. The PPP chief promised to rescue KPK people from tsunami, while
terming Imran as Buzdil Khan.
The price hike kept spiraling upward during the period, especially the
prices of POL products, electricity and gas. The increase in prices of the former
two commodities pinched the farmers very hard. However, the increase in
electricity price by NEPRA has been challenged in the court and the decision is
awaited.
NEWS
Power politics: On 14th October, the Supreme Court asked all the four
provincial governments to come up with a clear-cut stance and date on holding
Local Bodies elections, while hearing a constitutional petition against nonholding of Local Governments elections in the country. During the hearing, the
CJP showed annoyance over inordinate delay on the part of provincial
governments and said nobody would be allowed to violate the Constitution and
law.
An Election Tribunal fined National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq
with Rs 5000 over his failure to submit a reply on a plea moved by Tehrik-iInsaaf Chairman Imran Khan seeking vote recount in Lahore's NA-122. The
tribunal was irked at Ayaz Sadiq's failure to respond despite a number of notices
issued to him in this regard. The hearing was adjourned to October 22.
On 17th October, addressing the party workers in Naudero house, Zardari
said: If Nawaz Sharif took positive steps, Pakistan Peoples Party will extend
complete backing to them in the Senate. However, he added that some other
course of action will be looked at in case the incumbent government failed to
address the challenges.
Next day, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari vowed to wipe out
political rivals in the next general elections in 2018. Sleeves rolled up, the scion
of Benazir Bhutto and former President Asif Ali Zardari said the PPP will rescue
KPK people from tsunami (of the PTI). The Lion (election symbol of PML-N)
will be hunted and the Kite (election symbol of MQM) will be cut, Bilawal
said in a style peculiar to his late grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Bilawal was
addressing a gathering of the party workers on the 6th anniversary of the Karsaz
tragedy.
PTI seemed optimistic that it would soon secure support of PML-Q and
MQM to replace Syed Khursheed Shah as Leader of Opposition in the National
Assembly. Negotiations with PML-Q were at a final stage while contacts with
MQM would be established during the forthcoming National Assembly session.
1038
On 21st October, tables were turned on the ECP as the provinces moved fast
to hold local government elections in the near future. The Punjab and Sindh
governments officially informed the Supreme Court that they had completed the
constituencies' delimitation for LG polls and it was now up to the ECP to make
arrangements in this connection. The scenario, keeping in view the recent past
whereby the commission kept on passing the buck on provinces for delaying
tactics in holding the LG polls, has drastically changed against the poll
authority.
The ECP is to suspend the parliamentary memberships of 40 lawmakers
who have not submitted their statements of assets and liabilities. Under the
Representation of the People Act (RoPA) 1976, the lawmakers were required to
submit their financial statements by September 30. This deadline was revised
till October 15 and again extended until October 21. By Monday evening, 10
KPK MPAs, 9 Sindh MPAs, 8 Punjab MPAs, an MPA from Balochistan, nine
MNAs and three senators did not submit their assets and liabilities statements.
Criticizing the ECP in failing to expedite process of holding Local
Government elections across Pakistan, Chief Justice said, It appears as if the
ECP is creating hurdles in holding the local bodies polls. Representing the
Election Commission, DG Election said notifications regarding new
delimitation had not been received from provinces therefore the ECP was
unable to hold elections in time. Upon which the chief justice said the ECP
should hold the elections under prevailing systems in provinces which have
failed to submit due notifications.
PTI vowed to give tough time to MQM, challenging further three
constituencies where MQM candidates were announced victorious. PTI
challenged the results of National Assembly seat NA-252 of Karachi where
MQM was announced victorious in general elections. It also filed appeals for
reviewing the results of NA-251 and NA-239 in the election commission
tribunal.
Next day, the ECP put off an important meeting on the local government
elections, on the reported pretext of pending preparations of the provinces on
LG polls and administrative reshuffle at top bureaucracy at the centre and a
province. The fresh date of the meeting was been decided. The ECPs postponed
meeting was to be chaired by Acting Chief Election Commissioner Justice
Tassaduq Hussain Jillani.
The postponement came a day after the two provinces, Punjab and Sindh,
had informed the Supreme Court that they were ready to hold the LG elections
and it was up to the electoral body to announce the polls schedule. In response,
the ECP had cited some legal complications involving the issue. This had
attracted the apex courts displeasure to observe that it was not the ECPs job to
deal with the legal issues when the SC was dealing with them. The court had
1039
verbally instructed the poll authority to make arrangements for holding the LG
elections.
Meanwhile, the poll authority suspended the parliamentary memberships of
26 legislators who had not submitted their assets details. The prominent among
these lawmakers are Sindhs Excise and Taxation Minister Mukesh Kumar
Chawala, MPA, and Senators Faisal Raza Abidi and Mustafa Kamal. The ECP
had suspended the memberships of 154 lawmakers last year and 231 legislators
in 2011 that were reinstated upon filing wealth details.
On 23rd October, the election commission expressed inability to hold the
elections this year citing a number of reasons. Appearing on behalf of ECP,
lawyer Akram Sheikh informed the court that the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) needed 2-3 months for examining compatibility of electoral
rolls with the delimitation and at least 30 days for the printing of ballot papers
and appointment of Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers.
Next day, it was reported that Mian Mehmood-ur-Rasheed who is holding
the position of Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader was under fire even among
the party circles for striking an alleged deal with ruling party of Punjab to obtain
personal benefits. He had become focus of criticism after the promotion and
posting of his brother Hamid Rasheed on an important position in Lahore
Development Authority a few days back under an alleged secret deal between
Mehmood and the provincial government.
He claimed that Raja Riazs accusations were a pack of lies and in fact PPP
leaders Press conference was aimed at PTIs November 1 protest call on the
instructions of the PML-N. However, the matter of allegations against
Mehmood would be taken up in partys upcoming core committee meeting to be
chaired by Imran Khan.
On 25th October, the Supreme Court directed the election commission to
hold Local Government elections in Balochistan, Sindh and Punjab on the dates
announced by provinces. Sindh has committed to hold LG polls on November
27, while the Punjab and Balochistan has given December 7 date for the
elections. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad Capital Territory have still
not completed the prerequisites in this regard, forcing Justice Jawwad S
Khawaja to remarked, The frontrunner is lagging behind others.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) two days ago, through
advocate Akram Sheikh, had filed a Civil Miscellaneous Application (CMA),
expressing some reservations to hold LG elections this year. Hearing the case of
LG polls, the court observed that after 18th Amendment the establishment of
local government system became the responsibility of the provinces under
Article 140A of the constitution. Each province under the said article has to
establish an LG system and to devolve political, administrative, financial
responsibility and autonomy to the elected representatives of the local
1040
government. The Clause 2 of the said article put the responsibility on the ECP to
conduct the LG elections.
The ECP formally launched the preparations for the local government
elections with the cancellation of weekly holidays of the entire electoral
machinery deputed across the country and upcoming announcement of the LG
polls schedule for the three provinces, in pursuance of a court order. In addition,
KPK unofficially prescribed the tentative date of December 28 for the ECP to
hold LG elections.
The Lahore High Court directed the Punjab government to come up with
advance counter arguments after the petitioners counsels concluded their
arguments on set of petitions against non-party polls in the province under new
Local Government Law. A LHC division bench hearing the case adjourned
further proceedings till October 28.
Top carders of MQM, including Sindh Governor Ishratul Ebad Khan
reached Dubai to chalk out strategy for the upcoming local bodies elections in
Sindh and consider joining PPP government in the province before the polls,
besides considering the ways to avert the heat it is facing due to the ongoing
targeted operation in Karachi.
On the other hand, despite the tacit support of MQM, PTI could not clinch
any deal to jointly move a no-confidence motion against Leader of Opposition
in the National Assembly. The PTI however could retake the issue in the coming
days due to PPP's alleged ignoring its opposition partners on different issues.
During the meeting in Dubai Zardari conveyed a message to the MQM
leadership and invited MQM again to join the provincial government. Both
leaders decided that all issues between the two parties would be resolved
through dialogue. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah also called on the
governor twice before his departure to Dubai on the direction of Zardari to
discuss the MQMs reservation regarding the targeted operation and
delimitation in Sindh before the upcoming local bodies elections.
Next day, core committee of PTI in a meeting held in federal capital
decided not to nominate Sheikh Rashid as opposition leader and nominated
Imarn Khan for the same slot. The meeting also decided to challenge the
appointment of chairman NAB as the committee said, the PPP and PML-N
nexus has been proved with the appointment of NAB chief which happened
under the give and take agreement.
On 28th October, ECP finalized the schedule in Sindh, Punjab and
Balochistan. Sindh gave its readiness for holding the local government elections
on November 27 and Punjab and Balochistan on December 7. The polls
schedule would be put up for formal approval by Acting Chief Election
Commissioner, after a final discussion between the ECP and the provinces. KPK
1041
which has yet to pass the LG law is said to have unofficially communicated to
the ECP to hold the LG elections on December 28.
For Sindh LG polls, nominations will be submitted on November 5.
Objections to the nominations will be received on November 6 and scrutiny of
the papers will be held on November 7-8. Election symbols for the LB polls in
Sindh will be allotted on November 13 and results will be announced on
December 3.
In Punjab and Balochistan, nominations will be received by November 810. Objections to nominations will be received by 11-12 November, while the
scrutiny phase will be held on 13-15 November. Appeals against rejection of
nomination papers will be heard on 16-18 November while the papers can be
withdrawn by November 22.
MQM challenged the Sindh Local Government Act 2013, terming it against
the spirit of the Constitution. In this regard, Farooq Sattar along with Senator
Farrukh Naseem filed a petition in the Supreme Court Karachi registry. MQM
has prayed to the court to declare this Act void or order amendments in various
articles of it such as giving control of education and transport to local
governments.
Former senior leader of ANP Senator Azam Khan Hoti alleged that partys
top leadership sold Pakhtuns blood to the US during their rule in KPK. The
allegation was rejected by the ANP. During a news conference in Peshawar,
Azam Hoti alleged that Asfandyar Wali Khan and Afrasiab Khattak took
approximately $35 million from the United States as part of a secret agreement.
Before the last general elections in 2008, the two ANP leaders had
disappeared for ten days in the US and their mobile phones remained switched
off during that time, Hoti claimed. He alleged that a former member of national
assembly and Pakistani-born US citizen Nasimur Rehman helped finalize the
agreement between American authorities and Asfandyar Wali.
Nasim first held a meeting with Asfandyar and then met with Begum
Naseem Wali, he said, adding that a cheque was also handed over to Afrasiab
Khattak which belonged to an account of a bank of an Arab country. The secret
deal was made to safeguard interests of the US at the expanse of Pakhtuns
blood, in Pakhtuns dominated areas, he further alleged.
Azam Hoti, who is father of the former KP chief minister Ameer Haider
Hoti and brother-in-law of Asfandyar, said he had no proof for these allegations
but he was tabling these facts keeping the ground realities into consideration.
He said that normally such pacts do not have any official or written record.
Senator Hoti said that in the meanwhile MNA Nasimur Rahman had also
met him along with a Pakistani origin US citizen, who informed about the
meeting in the US. He said he was told that the deal was also linked to Taliban
1042
and a Gulf State had also been played a role in it. On return from America, a
meeting of partys think tanks had been convened in which party leaders were
apprised of their visit and matters pertaining to the security, development and
prosperity of Pakhtuns living in KPK and FATA were discussed, he said.
They (Asfand and Afrasyab) termed the visit quite successful. But soon
after that meeting both the persons disappeared from the political scene for
some time and then kept mum over the vital security issue, Hoti added. He
alleged that Asfandyar was responsible for the killing of over 800 innocent party
workers.
Referring to a statement of ANP senior leader Ghulam Bilour, he said,
these people try to paint such important political issues as family disputes and
personal enmities to mislead the public. ANP central spokesman Senator Zahid
Khan expressed deep concern over the baseless statement of Azam Khan Hoti
and said that a unanimous stance of the party would be presented to media in
few days.
KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak requested the Supreme Court of
Pakistan to take notice of the corruption done by the ANP and particularly of
that $35 million allegedly taken by its top leadership from the US as part of a
secret deal. Moreover, he said that the ANPs previous government was the hub
of corruption and sold jobs, took bribes and awarded contracts after getting
commission. Besides, the previous provincial government has looted the
province with both hands, Khattak alleged.
Disqualifying Sumaira Malik as a member of National Assembly in a fake
degree case for life, the Supreme Court directed the ECP to proceed against her
in accordance with law. The judgment, authored by Chief Justice, declared the
notification of March 1, 2008, declaring Sumaira Malik as a returned candidate
from NA-69 (Khushab-I) in the general elections held on 18-2-2008 void.
The judgment noted: On account of such qualification she would not be
entitled to contest election in future as well and if she does contest election and
is declared successful, the Election Commission shall be bound to de-notify
her She had obtained a BA degree by way of impersonation and, depending
upon the same educational qualification as it is normally disclosed by
candidates in their nominations papers, she proved herself not to be a truthful
person.
Next day, Ameer Hairder Khan Hoti rebuffed the allegations leveled by his
father Senator Azam Khan Hoti against the partys leadership and said, It is
nothing more than a family dispute. Actually my father politicized this nonpolitical rather a family dispute for the sake of personal grudges. Haider Hoti
alleged while speaking at a press conference at Peshawar Press Club.
1043
must decline resolutely to act in a case involving his own interest, including
those of persons whom he regards and treats as near relatives and close friends.
President of Pakistan has been prayed to refer two orders of the Supreme Court
in the Rs40 billion Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) scam to the
Supreme Judicial Council for a formal inquiry into the conduct of a top judge of
the apex court.
The president was informed through the letter that the court on August 1
had ordered for the release of the frozen bank accounts of Eden Housing Ltd.
after the company deposited more than Rs970 million with the SC Registrar. At
the same time, however, the company was directed to deposit the remaining
Rs900 million before the next date of hearing (August 28). The company on
August 28 told the court that four of its properties bought by EOBI had not been
released and therefore it needed more time for depositing the balance. The
president was informed that Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry
hearing the case in question hosted a private dinner at his official residence in
Judges Colony on 2-10-2013 for the same Limited Company which,
reciprocally, invited the family of the judge to a luncheon at Islamabads Sarena
Hotel the next day to celebrate the engagement of its Chief Executive Officer
who is still a respondent before the Supreme Court. However, none of the five
other judges is officially informed of the new relationship between the judge
and the respondent Limited Company which is still to deposit Rs900 million.
The letter said that while the bridal dress could be readily picked from
boutiques, but finalizing a marriage proposal does take some time. It may
involve some prudence if not jurisprudence. When did the Limited Company
approach the judge is the key question, the letter noted. The new relationship,
beyond any doubt, has been formalized during the pendency, it added.
The president was informed that though the State, under Article 35 of the
Constitution is policy bound to defend every marriage but not the marriage of
convenience that derails justice. How would the other parties feel when a
prudent party clinches a prized relationship with a judge well before the
judgment, Shahid Orakzai questioned in his letter.
The Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) approached the Lahore High Court
Rawalpindi Bench to get cancel the bail of PML-N stalwart and ex-MNA
Muhammad Hanif Abbasi in Ephedrine smuggling case. The LHC Rawalpindi
Bench accepted the plea, filed by the ANF investigators through their counsel,
setting October 22, for hearing the force application.
On 21st October, the Supreme Court rejected Shahrukh Jatois appeal to
remove sections of Anti-Terrorism laws in the Shahzeb Khan murder case. It
was stated in the petition that the incident took place due to personal dispute,
thus, the case does not come under anti-terrorism section. The court expressed
dissatisfaction and upheld decision of the Sindh High Court.
1045
Next day, the Supreme Court expressed grave concern over the nonappointment of Chairman PIA. The federal government in light of the Supreme
Court order had hired a firm for the appointment of PIA chairman, that have
selected three candidates, but out them two are foreign nationals. The court said
that when the parliamentarians could be disqualified for having dual nationality
then how the PIA chairman could be a foreign national as so many security
issues attached with the post. The chief justice said that they have passed a
judgment on matter and the PM Advisor on Civil Aviation had to quit his post
due to dual nationality.
The chief justice said that it was coming out in media that the federal
government has a plan to privatize PIA under the deal with IMF. He inquired
whether the government with the approval of Council of Common Interests can
privatize it. The CJP said: Deliberately attempts are being made to run down
the PIA so that it could be sold to a single bidder at a throwaway price. The
court on the request of the deputy attorney general adjourned the case for 10
days.
On 31st October, Kamran Murtaza of Asma Jahangir-led Independent
Group was elected president of Supreme Court Bar Association in the election
for the year 2013-14. Murtaza secured total 1,032 votes against his main rival,
Amanullah Kanrani of Professional Group of Hamid Khan, who obtained 874
votes. The third candidate for the presidents slot, Rab Nawaz Raja, bagged a
total of 58 votes from all polling stations.
of various petitions, which demanded Musharraf be tried under high treason for
imposing emergency in the country on November 3, 2007.
Next day, the Supreme Court refused to hear the Military Intelligence
counsel in enforced disappearance of Tasif Ali and asked the additional attorney
general if the MI is not the federation department then give in writing afterward
the court would hear the agency counsel. The court rejected Additional Attorney
Generals prayer and directed him to clarify the federation position.
Wife of Tasif Ali, claimed that Major Haider of the Military Intelligence
took away her husband last year and since then she had no information about
him. Dr Aslam, father-in-law of the missing man had informed the court that he
personally met with Major Haider, who used to deal in timber with Tasif but got
annoyed over a business dispute.
On 25th October, the Supreme Court decided to indict the Defence
Secretary on November 4 for repeatedly flouting the court orders regarding
holding of Local Government elections in the cantonments. The court on
October 11, 2013 had issued contempt of court notice to Secretary Defence LtGen (r) Asif Yasin Malik for not holding the LG polls. The incumbent defence
secretary twice had given undertakings about holding of LG elections in the
cantonments.
Attorney General Munir A Malik, who was acting as prosecutor general in
the case, tried to save the skin of the secretary by saying the prime minister has
constituted a committee for the amendment of old law. He said the committee
has completed its work but the Headquarter Service has some reservation on the
amended law. When the chief justice remarked that Mr Yasin flouted the court
order despite giving undertaking, the AG said: The undertaking given to court
must be honoured and there is no exception to it.
The court observed that the process of the election has been suspended for
the last 14 years or so, on one pretext or the other, from time to time by pressing
into service the provision of section 14(1)(b) of the Cantonments Act, 1924. The
bench adjourned the case until November 4 passing an order that the charges
will be framed against the defence secretary on the next hearing.
1048
PTI demanded that government should stop gas and electricity theft as
Shahbaz Sharif during the election campaign declared that Rs300 billion was
being lost to electricity theft and Rs600 billion to tax evasion. The PTI also
demanded that the government should bring back looted money from foreign
countries where new laws allow for this.
On 2nd November, Health Ministry proposed 18 percent across the board
hike in the drugs prices, in a summary sent to the Prime Minister Secretariat.
Regulation and Coordination will allow an increase in medicine prices by 1.5
percent per annum since 2001 to date. The decision has been taken on the
demand of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and Pharma
Bureau, the representative bodies of local and multinational drug manufacturers,
which had demanded 50 percent price increase.
VIEWS
Power politics
EVMs are it for 2018: Even though the EC of Pakistan says it is
developing the machines I do not think we should just sit back and wake up in
2018 when there may be some excuse or the other as to why they could not be
ready in time. Pakistan, with its proven capability of bundles of talent should
get to work now, with a passion, to make it happen. Just as the Shell company
provides a chance to all the Engineering Universities here to get its students to
compete in the annual Shell Eco-marathon and present their fuel-efficient
vehicles to the world, we should, somehow, engage the same universities for
this project. We just need to decide how the funding and modalities are to be
arranged. As compared to other countries of the world which usually send out 2
or 3 teams at most to the Eco-marathon, Pakistan has the highest number of
teams who want to compete in this event, which again points to the keenness of
our minds, given an opportunity.
If this came to pass Naeem Sadiq visualizes it thus, a customized
electronic voting machine in every booth; a simple tablet-based touch-screen
device (possibly an I pad), with a camera, integrated with a chip card reader and
biometric finger print device. All one would need to do is insert the chip CNIC
and provide finger prints to prove identity (no network connectivity needed to
1049
Judiciary
The legacy of Chief Justice: The unrelenting campaign against the
independent judiciary seems to have kicked up again, and the target this time is
not only the Chief Justice of Pakistan who is due to retire in a few weeks but
also several other senior judges of the Supreme Court who are expected to carry
forward his legacy. Obviously, the determined detractors of independent
judiciary dont want that to happen. The question is: what is the legacy that they
are so afraid of and so eager to dismantle?
While no individual or institution should be above accountability or
criticism, the campaign against the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court, which
was initiated even before their restoration, is something else. It is not based on
facts or guided by any desire for improvement in the system but is fuelled by
false and petty accusations and an intense hatred for all that the Chief Justice
stands for. The fastidious nit-picking and malicious mud-raking is designed to
obscure his truly monumental achievements.
The Supreme Court under the Chief Justice has been hard to swallow for an
incestuous and elitist power structure where everyone is used to sleeping with
everyone else to promote personal interests. Whether they are political or
military, business or bureaucratic, the elites of all hues are used to their abovethe-law status and do not like to be held accountable for their abuse of power
and corruption
1050
1051
Economy
Why our economic managers are failing? The story of consistent follies
does not end here. Whether it is the policy announcements on privatization or
the matter of increasing the tax to GDP ratio through prudence rather than
coercion or unleashing transparent cum good corporate governance in the
country or forming private-public partnerships to help improve backyard
security impediments or striking a balance between industrialization and carbon
emissions or finding true equilibrium between private sector freedom and
regulators oversight, the policy makers have failed to impress.
Pakistans domestic economy remains shackled by its own rigidities and
straitjacketed by bureaucracy, tradition and overregulation. In addition the
investors - who are the real drivers of growth and employment face increasing
operational challenges ranging from security, corruption, nepotism, rapidly
rising cost of production, draconian regulations and superficially high
valuations, which mean that market returns no longer justify the risks in the near
term. It is this anomaly that the economic managers should strive to correct.
What they need to remember is that the turnaround in the Pak economy can only
come about through its own people and they should be concentrating on
highlighting reforms and working on innovative solutions that allow investors to
find operational efficiencies and generate returns instead of fighting the system.
(Dr Kamal Monnoo, TheNation 30th October)
REVIEW
Despite the Supreme Court orders and ECPs pretensions to hold Local
Governments elections, these are likely to be delay till next year for want of
balloting material. In case the exercise of holding polls is rushed, the dream of
holding free and fair polls will remain elusive thus adding fuel to the already
raging fire of allegations of rigging.
As regards the leader of opposition, those had engineered the results of
general elections they were quite mindful of this aspect and it was ensured that
the PTI did not get the required seats in National Assembly to claim this
important slot in the system. Yet, PTI got sufficient number of seats but
faltered in not patching up with other parties soon after the polls. The attempt to
snatch that position from PPP is quite difficult.
Imran Khan should have avoided reacting to the remarks of Bilawal who is
neither Bhutto nor Zardari though he claims to be two-in-one. If reaction was
considered essential for some reasons best known to PTI, the response to
1052
remarks of Buzdil Khan should have been left to second-tier of party leadership.
He should be careful in future as politicians favourite game of calling names is
likely to gain momentum in the wake of killing of Hakimullah.
5th November, 2013
1053
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 4th November, the National Assembly on the first day of its
6th Session witnessed unity between treasury and opposition benches as
government clearly expressed its resolve to continue its efforts for dialogue with
the Taliban. Imran Khan softened somewhat his stance on blocking the NATO
supplies giving the PML-N federal government an opportunity to act. But he
warned that his partys KPK government will block the supplies on its own, if
the central government failed in resolving the drone strikes issue by November
20.
PTI chief said it was a defining moment for Pakistan so all the political
parties should express unity to face this challenge. Our nation wants peace...
There is need for adopting a united stance, he said, adding that they have been
condemning strikes for nine years but mere condemnation will never bring any
change. He said he was ready to reconcile with everyone including Fazlur
Rehman for the good of the nation.
Imran asked those in favour of military operation that what they would do
if that option failed to bear fruit. Imran paid a tribute to interior minister for his
effort for peace dialogue. However, he expressed his displeasure asking why
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his recent visit did not press the US for
stopping drone strikes. It should have been top priority of his visit agenda, he
said. PTI chief raised a volley of questions about the timing of killing of
Hakimullah Mehsud.
Earlier, Interior Minister in his policy statement said that the government
wants to keep the dialogue process alive. He informed that a three-member
Ulema delegation was ready to go for talks with Taliban but US attack
sabotaged it. PML-N government, he said, would continue its efforts for peace
in the same manner in consultations with all parties.
The KPK Assembly unanimously passed a resolution asking Prime
Minister to take practical steps to ensure halt to drone strikes and bring forward
suggestions for blocking the NATO supplies by November 20; otherwise, it
would be justified in taking its own line of action after the passage of the
deadline. The resolution, jointly drafted by treasury and opposition benches,
was moved by Provincial Information Minister, after the chair relaxed the
relevant rules, and the legislators supported the resolution with a yes when the
Speaker put if for voice vote.
The resolution said that the parliament through unanimous resolutions in
2008 and 2011 had underlined importance of holding negotiations but more than
350 drone attacks were made during this period, which promoted terrorism and
pushed Pakistan towards economic deterioration and worsened law and order
1054
situation. Moreover, the resolution said that all the political parties and national
leadership in a convention at Islamabad and later in tribal Loya Jirga had
supported holding peace talks.
After the passage of the resolution, ANPs parliamentary leader Sardar
Hussian Babak while talking to media persons said that despite calling KPK
Assembly meeting by the government, the PTI itself was too much confused
how to deal with the situation emerged after the emotional statement by Imran
Khan that his government in the province will stop NATO supplies come what
may. But, it was obvious that the PTI government had backtracked from its
earlier stance on NATO supply.
A high-level meeting of the PTI Punjab carried a resolution against the US
drone attacks on Pakistanis soil and for raising voice on the floor of the Punjab
Assembly to have NATO supplies halted. Opposition leader also submitted an
adjournment motion in the Punjab Assembly Secretariat for taking up the issue
of drone attacks and NATO supplies on the next session of the Assembly. On the
same subject, PML-Q MPA Amir Sultana Cheema also filed a motion.
The treasury benches in Sindh Assembly while creating hurdles in the way
of PTI and PML-N have avoided tabling the resolution against the drone
attacks, managing the Speaker to prorogue the session for indefinite period.
Before prorogation order read out by the Speaker Agha Siraj Durani, lawmakers
from the PTI and PML-N stood up and urged the chair to allow them as they
wanted to move a resolution against the drone attacks.
PTIs Hafeezuddin in his media talk came down hard on the PPP and
MQM, alleging that both the parties and the Speaker Sindh Assembly sabotaged
his resolution against the drone attacks. PTIs lawmaker in his proposed
resolution said drone attacks were violation of sovereignty and territorial
integrity of Pakistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that situation demands convening of another
All Parties Conference. Talking to newsmen outside Parliament House in
Islamabad he said future strategy following drone strikes by the United States
should be decided by the political parties through consensus. The decisions
taken by the APC have become ineffective now after the missile strike, which
killed Hakimullah Mehsud, he opined.
Syed Munawar Hasan impressed upon the government to shrug off US
slavery and go ahead with the implementation of the APCs decisions. In a
written statement, he said that the government should announce stoppage of
NATO supplies in order to save the country from turmoil. If the government
allowed the NATO supplies against the will of the nation, there would be chaos
and disorder all over the country.
1055
Munawar said the government would have to explain why the drone attack
took place at a time when the both sides were prepared for dialogue and an
atmosphere of confidence was required. Was any intelligence passed to the US
from our side, he asked. This was because Washington had repeatedly claimed
that the drone attacks were made with Pakistans cooperation, he added.
Provincial Minister for Law & Local Government, Rana Sanaullah said
that the statements Imran Khan and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly
regarding opening of Talibans office in Pakistan and stopping NATO supplies
respectively are highly lamentable, unconstitutional and unwise. He said that
Imran Khans thinking is still childish despite being 62 years age.
NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen urged Pakistan to keep open supply
lines to NATO forces in Afghanistan despite anger over a US drone strike that
killed the Pakistani Taliban leader. He declined to comment on the drone strike
that killed Mehsud but appeared to lend support to US actions, saying terrorism
constitutes a threat to the whole region. He said he believed the Pakistani
authorities, including the government and the military, realized it was in
Islamabad's interest to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, John Kerry defended the drone strike that killed the Pakistani
Taliban leader but added that Washington was sensitive to any Pakistani
concerns, after Islamabad denounced the attack as a blow to peace talks. Kerry
said: We intend to continue to work together with them (Pakistanis) through the
strategic dialogue that we have established in order to work through these kinds
of challenges.
White House spokesman said regarding the killing of Mehsud There
inevitably will be some tensions and occasional misunderstandings between our
two countries... We hope to continue to make progress in the relationship, and
we continue to seek ways for our countries to cooperate on the entire range of
shared interests that we have, from economic to security issues.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif warned peace could not be achieved by
unleashing senseless force, in his first public speech since a US drone strike
killed Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud. Addressing the officers and jawans
who participated in the fourth Azam-e-Nau exercise in Cholistan desert, Sharif
said: My government is firmly resolved to bringing the cycle of bloodshed and
violence to an end. But it cannot be done overnight, nor can it be done by
unleashing senseless force against our citizens, without first making every effort
to bring the misguided and confused elements of society, back to the
mainstream.
The prime minister stressed complete unity amongst all stakeholders to
tackle the challenge. He said in this regard it was vital that the political parties,
military, and civil society were on the same page, so as to create an enabling
environment necessary to tackle this menace. He mentioned that in this regard
1056
1057
Taking the floor, Leader of Opposition Syed Khursheed Shah said they
would fully support the government in its efforts for peace dialogue, but it
should set a proper direction to resolve this complicated matter. If the prime
minister does not attend the session on this important occasion, it will give the
impression that he is not aware of emotions of the people, Shah said in an
emotional tone.
The PPP leader said the government had created much hype about this
drone strike and now it was its responsibility to give proper direction for future
course of action. He said there was a dire need for unity to show the world that
Pakistanis were an honourable nation and were capable of defending their
sovereignty.
Taking part in the NA debate, PTIs Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the
opposition was anxiously waiting for the future strategy of the government.
The future strategy of the government is evident from seriousness of the
treasury members, he said, indicating to the empty government benches.
Farooq Sattar stressed the need for national consensus to deal with a matter
as important as peace dialogues. About a resolution against drone attacks, the
MQM lawmaker remarked that talks with Taliban should not be linked with
drone strikes as it could create a split in the House. If this kind of resolution is
passed, it will be tantamount to endorsing Talibans stance, he added.
The most noticed point of the day was Maulana Fazlur Rehmans remarks
on the NA floor that anyone killed by the US, even if it is a dog, is a martyr. His
comments created a frenzy of discussions across the country and beyond. He
said the National Assembly and the Senate should adopt a unanimous policy to
tackle terrorism in the country. He also said the people still wanted peace
negotiations, so the process of negotiations should not stop.
Chief Sheikh Rashid sought the names of three ulema who were about to
go for negotiations with Taliban. He criticized the government for not taking the
nation into confidence about its future strategy on the critical situation arising
due to the US drone strike that killed Hakimullah Mehsud. Sahibzada
Muhammad Yaqoob from Jamaat-e-Islami, on his turn, asked the government to
demand the US to halt drone attacks.
Jamshed Dasti, in his aggressive tone, said foreign elements were involved
in terrorism as they were not in favour of restoration of peace in the country.
Our leaders are not brave enough to handle the situation, he said, adding even
the US was meddling in the matter of appointment of chief of the army staff.
American print and electronic media expressed surprise over the way
Pakistan has reacted to the drone attack on Taliban leader Hakimullah Mehsud,
stating that instead of expressing a feeling of relief over the death of a terrorist
1058
who has so much Pakistani blood on his hand; he is being turned into a sort of
martyr.
The New York Time wrote: In life, Hakimullah Mehsud, the leader of the
Pakistani Taliban, was public enemy no. 1: a ruthless figure who devoted his
career to bloodshed and mayhem, whom Pakistani pundits occasionally accused
of being a pawn of Indian, or even American intelligence. But after his death, it
seems, Pakistani hearts have grown fonder.
At United Nations Headquarters in New York, a spokesman for UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon offered no comments on the killing of
Hakimullah Mehsud that has escalated tensions between Pakistan and the
United States. Responding to a question, the President of UN Security Council
for November, LIU Jieyi of China, said if Pakistan raises the issue of the drone
attack, the 15-member could discuss it.
Punjab police claimed to have foiled a terror bid in Faisalabad by arresting
five alleged Taliban terrorists and recovering a huge quantity of arms from their
possession. The CPO said that suspects belonged to Qari Imran group of Taliban
and were plotting terror attacks on Muharram processions.
On 6th November, the Senate saw two parallel sessions, unprecedented in
history of the Upper House one by the members of government parties and
other by the boycotting PPP-led opposition parties, as mark of protest against
alleged misconduct of Interior Minister. The House, shortly after it resumed,
was informed by Leader of the House Raja Zafarul Haq about the progress
being made by a parliamentary committee to reconcile with the boycotting
opposition.
He said the committee held a couple of meetings with opposition members
but they have decided to carry on their protest. He said treasury benches were
still making efforts to bring the annoyed opposition back and hopefully
something positive would come out.
On the other hand, the PPP-led opposition parties held their own session
outside the Parliament House following a controversy over the number of
causalities in the terror related incidents in KPK Province. Speaking at the
session, PPP Senator Raza Rabbani said that 32 members are present in the
session and therefore the quorum is complete. Afrasiyab Khatak spoke to the
lawmakers and claimed that US missile strikes are being carried out with
government consent. We should expel foreign militants from the tribal areas
before initiating a campaign against the missile attacks, he suggested.
PML-Ns State Minister for Water and Power Abid Sher Ali came outside
to persuade the opposition lawmakers to end their protest, but chants of Shame,
Shame compelled him to retreat immediately. The opposition members later
adjourned their protest until next day. Abid Sher Ali said that by holding the so-
1059
1060
1061
out Hakimullah whenever they wanted. I think the timing was to sabotage the
peace process.
The Difa-e-Pakistan Council held country-wide protests against the
ongoing US drone strikes in Pakistani territory. Various protest rallies,
conferences and collective gatherings of Juma prayer were held in Lahore,
Gujranwala, Islamabad, Peshawar, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Quetta and
other cities of the country.
A large number of the people took part in the rallies, demonstrating against
the brutal killings of innocent Pakistanis in the drone attacks. They chanted
slogans against America, India and Afghanistan-based NATO forces. Ulema,
during their Juma sermons, condemned the US drone strikes in which hundreds
of innocent people have been killed so far in tribal areas. Condemnation
resolutions were also passed, informing people about conspiracies being
hatched by anti Islam forces.
DPC leaders Maulana Samiul Haq, Hafiz Muhammed Saeed, Syed
Munawwar Hassan, General Hameed Gul, Maulana Muhammed Ahmed
Ludhyanvi, Ejazul Haq, Hafiz Abadur Rehman Makki and others urged the
masses to get united against the anti-Islam forces, as mere raising slogans is
insufficient. They demanded PM Nawaz Sharif to order to shoot down the US
drones and stop NATO supply, as he has watched the Pak Armys capability of
doing so during military exercises a couple of days ago.
The data compiled by Pakistan's security establishment on the occurrences
of drone strikes in the northwestern belt appears to have been marked with stark
contradictions, with the related figures prepared by Army colliding with that of
the Ministry of Defence (MoD). Not only does the ministry's data on the drone
strikes mismatch with the ministry's previous findings, it also fails to tally with
the military's figures on the drone hits. Moreover, the data on the drone attacks
compiled by an independent research centre gives a different account altogether.
The treasury in the Senate took a sigh of relief when the House was
prorogued sine die while the protesting opposition parties called off their
boycott on the persuasion of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. The opposition parties,
including PPP, ANP, PML-Q and BNP-Awami, agreed to end their protest on
the assurance that the government would review the controversial facts and
figures presented in the House last week.
Next day, unidentified armed men shot dead a school watchman in Salarzai
tehsil of Bajaur Agency at night. The members of village defence committee
and people of the area reached the spot soon after the incident but the assailants
had escaped the site of incident successfully. No group has so for claimed
responsibility.
1062
1063
alleged militants were killed and two security personnel were injured in a gun
battle in Mand tehsil of Kech District.
Prime Minister appealed to Baloch militants to lay down arms and play a
constructive role for the prosperity of the country, during his visit to quakeravaged Awaran district of the restive province. Balochistan Chief Minister
welcomed the Primer. Addressing to the local tribal notables, Nawaz Sharif
expressed solidarity with earthquake affectees and expressed sorrow over the
loss of precious lives. He said that relief and rehabilitation work was continuing
in the area in which provincial government and Pak Armys services were
praise-worthy.
Turf War: On 4th November, Army Chief lauded the efforts of Rangers and
police in restoring peace to Karachi. The statement came after his visit to
Pakistan Rangers Sindh Headquarters where he was briefed on the operational
and administrative aspects of Pakistan Rangers Sindh with special reference to
the current operation against criminals and anti-social elements in Karachi.
Next day, at least 16 people, including five religious activists, were killed
in a fresh wave of ethno-sectarian violence in Karachi. In the worst incident,
unidentified gunmen shot dead five religious activists belonging to the
Deobandi movement. The victims were two clerics, a prayer caller and two
activists of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat.
City Police Chief has termed sectarian killing a conspiracy ahead of
Muharram-ul-Haram. In a press conference held at Central Police Office, he
said the killers who want to flare up the sectarian violence in the City would be
arrested in near future. He said the culprits were first targeted a sect and later
targeted the rival group to provoke sectarian violence.
Scores of people staged sit-in at three places in the City to protest against
the targeted murders of four Shias and a Zuljanah. They were raising slogans
against terrorist groups, including outlawed Sipah-e-Sahaba, Lashkar-e-Jhangvi
and Taliban. They also lambasted the United States and Zionist regime of Israel
for using these terrorist outfits as their proxies.
On 7th November, five people were killed as gang war began in different
areas of Lyari following the killing of brother-in-law of notorious Lyari gangster
Baba Ladla. Police believed as many as three operatives of Baba Ladla gang
were killed including Babas brother-in-law Gull Hassan who was found dead
near Bihar Colony a day earlier.
Next day, the prime minister visited Karachi and chaired a meeting at
Rangers Headquarters to review the law and order situation in the city. He said
the operation will continue till the arrest of the last criminal in the commercial
hub of the country. He also held meetings with partys leaders from Sindh, a
three-member team of MQM, and representatives of business community and
1064
journalists. In his media talk at Governor House, the PM termed the ongoing
targeted operation in the city as successful and praised Sindh Chief Minister,
Governor, police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies for their efforts
to bring peace to the port city. On 9 th November, at least six people, including a
gangster and a cop were killed in separate incidents.
Sectarian Militancy: On 9th November, protests were held in Gujranwala
after three people were killed in separate incidents of firing at Imambargahs. A
prayer leader of an Imambargah in Shahrukh Colony was killed while he was in
the middle of recitation, while two worshippers were killed in the morning in
firing at a Mominpur area Imambargah. RPO admitted that no police official
was on duty at both the Imambargahs.
1065
1066
sequencing of relief from economic sanctions sought by Tehran. Kerry had said
there were some very important issues on the table that are unresolved.
Iran spelled out one major bone of contention that Western powers should
consider easing oil and banking sanctions during the first phase of any deal. The
powers have offered Iran access to Iranian funds frozen abroad for many years
but ruled out any broad dilution of the overall sanctions regime in the early
stages of an agreement.
Negotiators have limited political room to manoeuvre as there is hard-line
resistance to any rapprochement in Tehran especially among its elite
Revolutionary Guards and conservative Shiite clerics and in the U.S.
Congress. Israels complaints could make it more difficult for President Barack
Obama to sell any eventual deal to U.S. lawmakers.
An Iranian lawmaker asked Pakistan to put in place rigorous border
controls. If the government of Pakistan does not pay attention to Irans demands
on strict border control, it should expect to see Iranian drones in its skies in
pursuit of terrorists, warned Ahmad Bakhshayesh, weeks after armed bandits
killed 14 Iranian border guards in an ambush near the border with Pakistan and
fled into the country after the deadly attack.
Iran also said it is ready to renegotiate price of its gas supplies to Pakistan.
Price for gas to Pakistan is not fixed, and hence we can talk with them
(Pakistani officials) about price of our gas supplies, Managing-Director of
National Iranian Gas Company Hamid Reza Araqi was quoted as having said in
a Fars News Agency report.
On 10th November, President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran will not
abandon its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment. There are red lines
that must not be crossed, Rouhani told the conservative-dominated parliament.
The rights of the Iranian nation and our national interests are a red line. So are
nuclear rights under the framework of international regulations, which include
enrichment on Iranian soil, he said.
VIEWS
Pakistan
Buried with the enemy: Interior Minister, Ch Nisar Ali Khan, announced
that Pakistan will review all aspects of its relationship with US. How
unfortunate to see a record eight-time member Parliament, who should really
know better by now, to issue a statement which paints Pakistan as country
which is prompted to review relationships with an ally, over the death of a
common enemy. And not just an ordinary foe, but a notorious terrorist leading a
bloody campaign against the state till the very last day, until he was killed in a
US drone strike. It is hoped that, unlike his interior minister, PM Nawaz Sharif
is not as keen to undo the progress (if any) that he made during his visit to the
US.
PTI Chairman, Imran Khan, is right when he claims that he now
understands politics in Pakistan better than he ever did. His new-found ability to
reply to criticism with a revised aggressive tone, allegations of foreign funds
being pumped into media with the sinister aim to derail the peace-process, and
a general detestation for the fake liberals, clearly illustrates that the former
cricketer has indeed come a long way. Jamaat-e-Islami Chief, Syed Munawar
Hassan, forever dispelling all doubts over the question that whether he will ever
fill late Qazi Hussain Ahmeds shoes, declared Hakimullah Mehsud to be a
martyr, only because he was killed by an infidel drone strike. Who knew that
the most effective way to wash the blood of thousands of innocents from ones
hands and, guarantee a safe passage to heaven is to be targeted by an unmanned
drone.
The stand against drone strikes is understandable and justified and must
and will continue. However, that does not mean that the drone program is the
focal point of all prevalent issues, it's consequences in specific cases painted
with one brush, and then, recklessly connected to all that is wrong in the
country. Stop pandering to manipulated public sentiment. Do what needs to be
done. It is exactly what is discussed as the only viable option in private
meetings, and discredited in public: a decisive military action against the selfavowed enemies of the state. (Editorial, TheNation 5th November)
1068
1069
The US does not want peace, a furious Imran Khan said while talking to
reporters. He named several Pakistani Taliban leaders killed by drones in the
past. They always kill everyone we negotiate with.
Upon hearing this, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hurriedly
reiterated that he would not negotiate with Pakistan. Meanwhile, key
government official have urged the state to start a peace process with their
spouses.
The Talibans own reaction was balanced. According to Article 8(2)(b)(i)
of the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, intentionally
directing attacks against civilians is a war crime, a militant commander told a
group of reporters blindfolded and taken to an unknown location. We will
launch a global awareness campaign against the Barack Obama administrations
gross violation of international laws. One liberal reporter asked if the law
applied to civilians who took part in hostilities by directly aiding combatants
belonging to one party in an armed conflict. Arguably, it is legal to kill such
civilians, the commander said. In order to explain the application of the
provision, he accused the reporter of being an American spy and killed him.
(Harris bin Munawar, TheNation 5th November)
Friendly fire: The fact is that an elected government has the right to
frame and implement policies which it deems suitable for its national interests.
One can disagree, even protest, but in no situation, is it justified to deny a
democratic government its right to make such choices. The issue is not whether
a terrorist was killed or not. Its a lot more than just that. No one is mourning
Hakimullahs death. Hes history. Heres the real problem: During the APC, a
decision to give negotiations a chance was reached by the political leadership.
This paper has time and again criticized the faulty logic behind the proposed
plan, and highlighted various factors which guarantee its failure. However, that
does not, and should not mean that the government can be coerced, influenced,
or sabotaged, in order to deviate it from the path it chooses to take. Mr Nisar Ali
Khan claims he had informed the US that the Pakistani government was on the
verge of initiating peace-talks with the militants. And, requested that the process
be given a fair chance, as no one has more at stake than the state and citizens of
Pakistan. Knowing that, the US still intervened, and with a drone strike, not just
killed a militant, but also violated the governments right to implement its
policy. In all likelihood, the plan would have failed on its own. But now, the
pro-talks camp can rightly raise hue and cry for not giving peace a chance.
And, this is why, when the people of the country ought to be chanting good
riddance, they are yelling anti-US slogans instead. The poor timing has
massively contributed to the confusion, as anti-drone and pro-TTP sentiment
has entwined in an indistinguishable manner, which is extremely regrettable and
counter-productive.
1070
outsource nearly the entire American military supply chain into the hands of
private contractors close to the Pakistani military.
The decision to hide and obscure such details was born of a desire to
control the precarious narrative of the war at home. Insecure Pakistani leaders
always feared that details of the cooperation would destabilize their already
shaky regimes. Likewise, Mr Bush and Mr Obama likely thought that publicly
acknowledging the compromises theyd made to win Pakistans support might
make them appear weak. Keeping their citizens in the dark, leaders in both
nations seemed to think, would keep the cooperation simple.
The result has been quite the opposite. The stark disconnect between reality
and rhetoric now makes both governments pronouncements sound absurd.
There have been more than 300 American drone strikes in a remote corner of
Pakistan. And while Islamabad continues to denounce these strikes, Pakistani
citizens see thousands of trucks carrying huge shipping containers on the
highways every day, bringing supplies to the American military in Afghanistan.
Likewise, Americans have learned that billions of dollars in aid is still flowing
to Pakistan, despite the fact that Osama bin Laden was living a mile away from
Pakistans main military academy for years.
The resulting confusion is making Americans and Pakistanis hate each
other. A Pew Research Center poll in July found that America is more disliked
in Pakistan than anywhere else. A Gallup poll a few months earlier found that
the countries most disliked by Americans are Pakistan, Iran and North Korea.
The lies that were meant to hold Pakistan and America together in a time of
war are now imperiling the alliance they were meant to protect.
The two countries have been geopolitical allies since Pakistan appeared on
the map in 1947. In the interest of preserving this long-term relationship, which
will remain vital to both countries long after the American troops withdraw
from Afghanistan, the details of the agreements between Pakistan and America
must be made public. In the end, Americans and Pakistanis want the same thing
- the truth, for once, from their leaders.
Shahan Mufti is the author of The Faithful Scribe: A Story of Islam,
Pakistan, Family, and War. (Shahan Mufti for New York Times, republished in
TheNation 6th November)
Flawed strategies wont work anymore: According to media reports,
Latifullah Mehsud second in command of the TTP captured by the NATO-ISAF
forces in Afghanistan last month confessed during the interrogation that KabulDelhi nexus was harbouring safe heavens across the Durand line and using
them for subversive and terrorist activities within Pakistan. He is further
reported to have told his interrogators that the recent attack on Major General
Sanaullah Khan and others in Dir, suicide attack on a church in Peshawar, bomb
1072
blast in Qissa Khawani bazaar and assault on the provincial secretariat were
masterminded by the same nexus and executed through local militants. It is
noteworthy that Latifullah Mehsud before his arrest had met key figures in
Kabul and Chief of Afghan intelligence and was being escorted by the Afghan
Army when he was picked up.
Karzai government has all along been accusing ISI of controlling the
Taliban and obstructing process of reconciliation in Afghanistan while India
also has been persistent in pointing an accusing finger towards Pakistan for
supporting acts of terrorism within India through non-state actors. So they had a
cause for getting back at their supposed common enemy.
Both of them also have been propagating against Pakistan at the
international level. Indian Prime Minister in his address to the UN General
Assembly accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism to the neighbouring
countries. President Obama in a recent meeting with Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif also broached the subject and demanded action against the banned
outfits.
The revelations by Latifullah Mehsud and confirmed by the top command
of the NATO-ISAF do provide Pakistan with an irrefutable evidence of the
dangers within our territory.
Pakistan has been making sincere and relentless efforts in nudging Afghanled and Afghan-owned solution to the Afghan conundrum. It has released a
number of Taliban leaders including Mullah Baradar to assist and promote
dialogue between Taliban and Karzai government. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
vowed to assist Afghan reconciliation during a trilateral meeting with Hamid
Karzai and British Prime Minister David Cameron in London recently and also
urged the Taliban to become part of the peace process
It is also a proven fact that India is very much involved in fomenting
insurgency in Balochistan and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in a
meeting with the former Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani at Sherm ul Shaikh
in Egypt did accept this reality and subsequently had to face harsh criticism by
the Indian opposition and media for this alleged groveling act towards Pakistan
when he returned home. Casting doubts on Pakistans sincerity in pursuing
peace in the region, when it is the biggest victim of terrorism is unfair. (Malik
Muhammad Ashraf, TheNation 6th November)
Dancing with the wolves: At last the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman,
Imran Khan, has taken a definite policy stance against the continuation of the
US drone attacks on Pakistani territory and against its citizens. In a National
Assembly speech on Monday, Khan categorically set the November 20th date for
the PML-N government to resolve the drone strike issue: (But) if drone strikes
continued then we will block NATO supplies after November 20 and go to the
UN Security Council, warned the PTI Chairperson.
1073
The vital questions in todays Pakistan are: How long will we continue to
dance with the wolves in the killing of our citizens and decimating peace,
stability and political tranquility in this country? How long will our successive
governments let the Americans decide on our political options, foreign policy
directions, domestic policies discourse and be complacent to the US demands to
serve their implicit ideological (anti-communism, anti-Islam, pro-corporate
capitalism interests) and global policy objectives? How long will the people of
Pakistan allow their own ruling class and political leadership to keep lying to
them on vital national issues? How long will our ruling class secretive
diplomacy with the US and its allies continue unabated to the detrimental
impacts on this nations potentials? When will we take control of our own
destiny? When will we be independent, self-reliant, self-confident and selfdirected in our policy decision-making process?
Enough is enough! The time has arrived for less rhetoric and more action
more determination to resolve our issues as we feel fit and in our national
interests. The time has arrived to stop taking dictates from Washington, London,
Paris and Bonn or play to the tunes of the Western powers on our relationship
with New Delhi and how we decide to deal and engage with the Taliban to bring
peace to our country. It is unfortunate that the incumbent Pakistani Prime
Minister did not go to Washington last month with a single item agenda
demanding that the Obama Administration decide to immediately cease drone
strikes on Pakistani territory.
The so-called Pakistani liberals and the American apologists need not
continue the debate on the legitimacy of drone strikes. That debate sets aside the
real problem and puts a spin on the issue. The core and central issue is that the
US drone warfare against Pakistan has decimated and torn away this nations
social-economic-political-psychological and cultural edifice, and we need now
to restore it and resolve the issue. Drone strikes are an act of war against a
historical ally, an independent and sovereign nation, and as such are blatant
violations of the UN Charter, international humanitarian laws and fall within the
category of war crimes. Now let us move forward from this stated position and
universally credible view to resolving the said conflict with one of the worlds
most powerful countries. Pakistan will need strategic in-depth understanding of
American political behavior and how to deal with it. Added to this will have to
be a fundamental change in Islamabads political discourse towards Washington
and London, in particular, and the rest of Western Europe in general.\
This columnist has already written 4 articles on US drone warfare against
Pakistan with explicit strategic political policy directions to confront and engage
the US in managing a fundamental change in American political behavior
towards Pakistan and the modus operandi of our response to continued US
belligerence.
1074
1075
might also explain the states eagerness to begin negotiations, and the militants
reluctance. The state is negotiating for two reasons. The first is to ensure a safe
exit for US forces from Afghanistan. The second is stop the terror attacks that
have bedeviled the entire country. However, it is not yet apparent what the
militants want in return. That would perhaps depend on who the state talks to. If
there is that much lack of clarity about who represents the militants, it is also
more likely than not that any agreement reached would break down because
many militants would not accept the results. However, the primary aim of the
militants would appear to be to achieve state power. Therefore talks would not
be counted as a success by the pro-militant audience until they come out with an
agreement by the government on how to hand over power, and on how the
modalities are to be settled.
The governments problem is that it cannot make any such concession even
if it wanted to, which it doesnt. After all, achieving office has been a hard
struggle, and is not to be thrown away, even if it could. After all, government
supporters are there because they believe it can solve their problems, not
negotiate away the basis by which they brought it to office.
However, there are also indications that the US has over-reached itself. By
killing Hakimullah Mehsud, it may have pushed Pakistan beyond its limits. The
drone attacks were being condemned for violating Pakistani sovereignty, and
now the US has taken action that can be seen as preventing Pakistan from
talking to its own citizens. Hakimullah Mehsud may have been guilty of
fighting Americans, but even an American court has not tried him. His killing
was thus an executive decision, and thus a violation of one of the principles the
US is supposedly fighting the War on Terror: the separation of powers. Apart
from violating that, the US is also guilty of failing to conduct relations with
Pakistan as between two equal nations.
One reason for Pakistani ire against the Obama administration, both among
the public and within government, has been the sheer contempt with which it is
behaving towards Pakistan. However, one reason for this is that the US has done
so before with Pakistan and got away with it, mainly because those who built
their careers on anti-Americanism later turned towards it. There is no reason
why it should think differently now. (M A Niazi, TheNation 8th November)
The choice has been made: After the death of Hakimullah Meshud in a
drone strike earlier this month, TTP has appointed its new chief Fazlullah has
strongly opposed talks with Pakistan, and instead, insisted on fighting the state,
and eliminating all that stands in the way of his mission of implementing a
twisted version of Sharia. If his appointment alone wasnt enough to free the
government of its delusions, in its first announcement after electing the new
chief, the TTP Shuras outright rejection of any possibility of talks with the
government ought to achieve the seemingly impossible. It is highly unlikely that
1077
the Pakistan Army will share the governments enthusiasm in jumping off the
cliff this time. Will the government ask the military to support talks, and simply
write off the atrocities committed against soldiers and citizens by a terrorist who
isnt even willing to negotiate to begin with? We can only hope not. Fazlullahs
election also dismisses the narrative that the current security situation is simply
a local/tribal matter. Fazlullah is not a native tribal, and is not even in Pakistan.
Hamid Karzais government must refrain from conspiring with the TTP, and cooperate with Pakistan, if the idea of a stable and peaceful future carries any
appeal.
Mr Prime Minister, Mr Imran Khan, and the rest of the political leadership,
make no mistake, the TTP has made its intentions clear again. No more
ambiguity, no more denial, no more delay. Let us not bury our heads in the sand
as the enemy beats war drums and charges towards us. We can fight back. We
must. (Editorial, TheNation 9th November)
Dust after the drone: Hakimullah Mehsuds death, reiterates more US
imperial outreach in Pakistan than imaginable. State Department finds it
impractical to shift drone operations to Pentagon as an unattainable goal with
remarks that reality has set in. This means more covert strikes that bypass
Pentagon and Pakistan.
There is now a new chessboard of instability. The burning issue of the
legality of drone strikes in Pakistan is eclipsed with the argument that it killed
Pakistans most wanted enemy. Sovereignty aside, a large segment of the
Pakistani sentiment terms it positive. Notwithstanding peace, instability in
Pakistan remains a plank of pliability, a thesis I floated over a decade ago. The
so called war will eat into Pakistan like maggots
The government resigned the significance of John Kerrys visit with
demands of eliminating militant havens to distant memory. The Prime Minister
and Interior Minister failed to convince USA. It appears that some verbal
agreements were reached on high profile side-lines during the Prime Ministers
visit to USA. Figures on civilian casualties were deliberately fudged to provide
grace to the detested symbol of imperial outreach. Why did the government give
away valuable information and persist with a mission doomed to failure?
In a world wrapped in NSAs surveillance, even a whisper with
interlocutors is bugged. The government and TTP set respective echelons in
motion under watchful eyes. The processes warranted a fail-safe execution
whose absence became the crucial missing link. CIA was watching every move.
Wading in alligator infested waters and ignorant of the world of
intelligence intrigues, this was a grievous fault that Chaudary Nisar played
truly to a Shakespearean tragedy. The government rushed into negotiations
neither comprehending the cobweb of widow spiders nor the pathology of
1078
1079
1080
Now that Mehsud is gone, the United States goal should be to drive a
wedge between Islamabad and the Pakistani Taliban, deeper than the one
between the United States and Pakistan. Judging by the shrill protests from
Islamabad, this will not be easy. It is not, however, likely to be accomplished by
waiting for the crisis to blow over. Instead, US military and intelligence officers
should approach their Pakistani counterparts with a plan to press their military
advantage against the Taliban during its period of disarray. Although they may
be rebuffed at first, Islamabad might soon reconsider if the Taliban directs its
retaliatory fire against the Pakistani state, especially in Sharifs home base of
Punjab, as it has in the past. Then, in once again recognizing the need to
confront a common enemy, Washington and Islamabad may find themselves
allies of convenience, if hardly friends and that would mean scoring a far
greater victory than Mehsuds death. (Daniel S Markey for Washington Post,
republished in TheNation 9th November)
Wilful laziness: Conceded that the task of preparing the ground for
engaging the Taliban leadership was highly sensitive and complicated and that
there were quite a large number of groups to be contacted. The impression,
however, remains that the urgency calling for expeditiously moving ahead was
in short supply. (This crucial exercise was being watched not only by various
political and other elements within the country including many who were
opposed to the envisaged talks but also the rest of the world and especially
Afghanistan, USA and Indiawith the continuing disturbing factor of the drone
strikes infuriating the Taliban and adding to the anti-American sentiment of the
people of Pakistan.)
The fact of the matter is that the delay spread over many weeks has
resulted in weakening the momentum generated by the united resolve of the
political parties to enter into talks with the Taliban and hammer out mutually
acceptable terms of engagement.
Time indeed was of the essence, knowing that powerful inimical forces
were working hard to sabotage the initiative. Sections of our own media both
print and electronic were also vociferously projecting the undesirability and
futility of holding talks with so called killers and miscreants. Much ammunition
was further provided by Talibans continuing attacks on security personnel and
civilians.
One appreciates the Interior Ministers determined endeavours to make
progress in spite of the odds faced by him but in view of a highly volatile and
increasingly unhelpful surrounding situation, the talks should have been taken
up within a matter of three or four weeks.
Prime Minister too should have been a little more actively engaged in
ensuring that this most difficult task was undertaken with commensurate speed
and vigour.
1081
With USA unmoved by the pleas put forward by the Prime Minister during
his visit to Washington, the drone-strike killing of the Taliban chief has added to
the daunting challenge faced by the government. The selection of the new Amir
of TTP (Fazlullah) will make the job of contacts with the militants enormously
problematic. PTIs threat to block the NATO container supplies is bound to
compound the emerging complications. The furore, created by the PPP over
Interior Ministers (incorrect) reply to the Assembly question about the number
of civilian casualties because of drone strikes and his subsequent remarks does
not augur well for the continuation of the united political stand on opening a
dialogue with the Taliban. (Inayatullah, TheNation 9th November)
A not-so-wise move: In a decision announced by All Pakistan Private
Schools Federation President Mirza Kashif, Malala Yousufzais recent book I
am Malala will be banned in all schools across the country due to its
controversial content. In order to justify the decision, Mr. Kashif stated that the
reason behind the ban is to avoid any confusion that the book may cause for
students. It bears mentioning that the decision was taken by the private school
owners; the government remained neutral toward the development.
Furthermore, Mr. Kashif said that the book had little to do with the curriculum
in schools and therefore should not be included in the syllabus.
Mr. Kashifs objections about Malalas opinions, regarding the need to
maintain freedom of speech for Salman Rushdie, and her criticism of deliberate
misinterpretation of Islamic laws is misplaced and counterproductive; if
anything, Malalas voice would be a source of social and educational guidance
for many students throughout Pakistan. Any kind of intellectual debate in favour
or opposing her various stances ought to be meted out in civilized fashion
without resorting to polemical tirades against the young girl.
The banning of her book does little to improve education within the
country; whether it is private or public schools, the curricula and the mode with
which content is imparted is less than optimal. By censoring or completely
striking out the option of reading her book in curricular or extra-curricular
activities, local schools will only limit the extent of knowledge and opinions
students should be aware of. No one from All Pakistan Private Schools
Federation is required to endorse every single postulate and perspective stated
within Malala Yousafzais book. A healthy society is indicated by its diversity of
opinions where mutual understanding enables an assortment of views to be
aired. Restricting or, worse, erasing views altogether only leads to regression
and more regression. (Editorial, TheNation 10th November)
REVIEW
1082
the fact that they had been brought there by the US during Soviet occupation of
Afghanistan.
If their analogy is accepted, many other countries should be allowed to
carry out raids inside Pakistan. If Chechens are present, Russia has the right to
carry out military operations. Similarly, Central Asian Republics should do the
same due to reported presence of Uzbeks and others. Arabs too can invoke this
right. China cannot be denied merely because it is a friend of Pakistan. Above
all, the Indians should be formally invited by these pragmatic secular forces to
carry out military operations against suspected training centers of anti-India
militants.
On 7th November, Mullah Radio of Swat repute, Fazlullah was nominated
as successor of Hakimullah Mehsud by the TTP shore. The worst fear
mentioned in the review of last article materialized. TTP now has a ruthless
chief who is boiling in revenge since he fled from Swat after military operation
and took refuge in Kunar, Afghanistan.
It must be recalled that he was allowed to slip across the Durand Line by
the occupation forces in Afghanistan, primarily the US troops. Before Swat
operation, Pakistan Army had asked the US forces to exercise vigilance along
the border crossing points, but its ally quietly vacated the border posts quoting
difficulties in maintaining those.
After crossing the border, Fazlullah established his base in northern Kunar.
The US forces turned their face saying that they could not see on the other side
of the moon and encouraged the puppet Karzai regime to establish contacts
with Fazlullahs network. His close contacts with Governor Kunar have been
confirmed.
One in contact with the Karzai government, obviously has contacts with
Karzais string pullers; CIA and RAW. So, Axis of Evil, Washington, New Delhi
and Kabul have a man of their likings commanding Pakistani militants. He can
be pressurized by those who provide him a safe heaven inside Afghanistan.
The militants of Fazlullah were involved in most of the terror attacks
carried out after APC decided to hold peace talks with TTP, out of which the
killing of General Niazi was very important. His attacks provided strength to the
argument against talks with the militants making the peace process a non starter.
The elimination of Hakimullah has brought a marked transformation in the
make-up of the TTPs leadership. Pakistan had fixed head-money for
Hakimullah and Fazlullah, but the US has laid no head-money for the latter.
New TTP chief is not a wanted man by the US, so it would like to have him
there where he has been formally installed by TTP shura. He could be a game
changer.
1084
His appointment means that for the first time the TTP will have a nonMehsud commander. His deputy also hails from Swabi. His objectives are
glaringly anti Pakistan and have almost nothing to do with the occupation forces
in Afghanistan. Therefore, he will solely focus on Pakistan and TTPs links with
Haqqani Group are likely to fade.
In this context the reported attack on him by Afghan Taliban must be kept
in mind. Because of that attack, he must be harbouring a grudge against Mullah
Omar as well. These new realities suit the US, Indian and Afghan interests and
the trio must be itching to bleed Pakistan at will.
The first statement issued after Fazlullahs appointment confirmed the
above apprehensions. He ruled out talks with Government of Pakistan accusing
it for the murder of Hakimullah. He also vowed to extend his operations to
Punjab to take revenge from the home province of the incumbent regime in
Islamabad.
Therefore, more bloodshed awaits Pakistanis in their faces whether they are
prepared for it or not. There has been many factors that have led them to this
dire situation, out of which the sluggish approach towards peace talks and timid
stand on drone strikes during Prime Ministers visit to Washington have played
key role. This enabled Pakistans strategic partner to weave the same web
around it, for which, the partner has been blaming it; the web of double game.
It is the same partner that has honoured Malala like no other Pakistani has
ever been honoured since the creation of this country. And, Fazlullah, whose
men had attacked her, has been allowed to have safe heavens in Afghanistan,
despite the fact that he has vowed to attack her again. All this has been done in a
manner as if to teach Pakistani leaders how to play the double game.
The question is that after having been appointed as TTP chief, will he shift
to North Waziristan or stay in the safe heaven on the other side of the moon?
Most likely, he will prefer to stay in Kunar where his backers and the target
areas are easily accessible because of the links he has established.
If things go the way the backers of Fazlullah have planned and he himself
wants to do to quench his thirst of revenge; what will be the reaction of Afghan
Taliban, especially the Haqqani Group. On the other hand, Pakistan Army must
be put on high alert and at the same time enhance its links with Afghan Taliban;
irrespective of the fact that it has any plans to launch an operation or not.
As Pakistanis wait for all that is there in the store to materialize, it must be
said to conclude that by virtue of elimination of Hakimullah and resultant
appointment of Fazlullah as TTP chief, Obama the Terminator has turned the
tables or reversed the fronts on Pakistan. All out confrontation with Fazlullahled network of militants has become ominous and this will be a deadly
encounter in which the extent of collateral damage could be enormous.
1085
The drone strike on the night between 1st and 2nd November has been a
visible victory for the US and their willing partners in Pakistan. The civilized,
enlightened and moderate secular forces which had been persistently urging for
more bloodshed through military action are rejoicing as they feel that they have
defeated the obscurantist and militant religious forces which had opted for
peace process.
18th November, 2013
INQILAB
EDUCATING YOUTH
PART TWO
A lot is said about youth now a day. The hype was at its climax before the
general elections, 2013. Pakistans political leaders did that not out of any
serious concern for their well being. They only endeavoured to win over hearts
and minds so that the youth casts votes in favour of these leaders.
One party has been fooling the people with slogan of roti, kapra aur
makan and recently seduced youth with a programme called wasilah-e-rozgar.
Another has been doling out lap-tops. A new political entity tried to rally the
youth as tsunami and ride over it to enter corridors of power.
The well being of the youth has no place in their scheme of things.
Political leaders exploit the youth for their political interests. Iqbal had no such
vested interest; his sole aim was to educate the youth for better future of Millate-Islamiyah as could be seen from his poetical works meant for the youth. This
chapter begins with poems from Bang-e-Dara which have been translated by
M.A.K.Khalil.
1086
Auron ka hai payam aur, meyra payam aur hai; ishq kay dardmand ka tarz-ekalam aur hai.
(Auron: Morad hai ehl-e-danish. Payam: Morad hai ishq ka paigham.)
The message of others is different, my message is different; the style of address
of the one afflicted with Love is different.
Taer-e-zir-e-daam kay naaley tou sonn chokkay ho tum; yeh bhi sonno keh
nalah-e-taer-e-baam aur hai.
(Taer-e-zir-e-daam: Jaal mein phhansa parindah; morad hai qiadi; ghulam.
Taer-e-baam: Chhatt peh baithha parindah; morad hai azad.)
You have heard the laments of the bird under the net; also listen to the laments
of the bird on the roof tops which are different.
Aati thhi koh sey sada raaz-e-hayat hai ishq; kehta thha moor-e-natawan lotfe-kharam aur hai.
(Moor-e-natawan: Kumzor chewnti. Lotf-e-kharam: Chaltey rehney ka
mazah.)
Call was coming from the mount, Lifes secret is peace; the frail ant was
saying The pleasure of struggle is different.
1087
Jazb-e-Haram sey hai farogh-e-anjuman-e-Hijaz ka; iss ka moqam aur hai, oss
ka nizam aur hai.
(Jazb-e-Haram: Morad hai ishq-e-Rasool (S.A.W.). Farogh-e-anjuman-e-Hijaz:
Millat-e-Islamiyah ka tabb-o-taab.)
The glory of Hijaz assemblage is based on Harams Love: The station of this is
different, the system of that is different!
Mout hai aish-e-jaavidan, zouq-e-talab agar nah ho; gardish-e-Adami hai aur;
gardish-e-jaam aur hai.
Eternal luxury is death if there is no Longing for Search: Mans revolving is
different; wine-cups revolving is different.
Shamaa-e-sehar yeh keh gaeyi soz hai zindagi ka saaz; ghumkadah-e-namood
mein shart-e-dawaam aur hai.
(Soz: Morad hai ishq. Ghumkadah-e-namood: Morad hai yeh dunya.)
The dawns candle left the message that burning is lifes secret; in the lifes
sorrowful abode the condition for eternity is different.
Baadah hai neim-rus abhi, shouq hai na-rasa abhi; rehney duo khom kay sar
peh tum khisht-e-Kalisa abhi.
(Na-rasa: Na-pokhtah. Khom: Sharab ka matka. Khisht: Eint.)
The wine is still half-mature, Love is unsuccessful still: Leave the churchs
brick on the pitchers mouth still.
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
ADDRESSED TO THE YOUTH OF ISLAM
This is one of the poems expressing Allamahs pain spiritual deterioration
of the Muslim world. As the youth are the future hope of a nation the poem is
addressed to them in the hope that it would rouse them from deep slumber.
However, only one aspect of the problem has been stated in this poem, i.e.
1088
the Ummahs distancing itself from Islamic literature and the heritage of their
ancestors.
Khitab beh Jawanaan-e-Islam
Kabhi ay naujawan Muslim! Tadabbar bhi kiya tou ney; woh kaya gardon
thha tuo jiss ka hai ekk toota hoa tara.
O Muslim youth! Have you ever used your prudence; what was that sky of
which you are a fallen star?
Tojhey oss quom ney pala hai aaghosh-e-mohabt mein; kochal dala thha jiss
ney paon mein taj-e-sar-e-Dara.
That nation has nurtured you its lap of love, whose feet had trampled the crown
of Daras head.
Tamaddan aafrein khallaq aein-e-jahan daari; woh sehra-e-Arab yaani shotar
baanon ka gehwarah.
(Tamaddan aafrein: Tehzeeb paida karney wala. Khallaq aein-e-jahan daari:
Hakoomat kay asool wazah karney wala.)
Civilizations formulator, creator of rules of world government was that desert
of Arabia; that is the cradle of camel drivers.
''''
Saman al-Faqru fakhri (Faqr meyra fakhar hai) ka raha shaan-e-amarat
mein; ba-abb-o-rung-o-khaal-o-khat chih hajat rooey zeba ra.
[Iss leay keh khoobsurat chehra rung, nasal aur samaan-e-araish ka mohtaaj
naheen hota.]
Al Faqru fakhris state* even in glory of authority existed. Why would the
beautiful face need beautifying and cosmetics?**
(This is a famous Hadith of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). It means Faqr is my
pride. It is difficult to translate Faqr correctly into English. Nevertheless its
correct comprehension is necessary to understand this Hadith as well as this
1089
Gadaeyi mein bhi woh Allah waaley thhey ghayoor itnay; keh monaam ko
gada kay darr sey bakhshash ka nah thha yara. (Monaam: Doulatmand.)
Even in poverty those men of God were so high-minded that the rich could not
avoid charity for beggars fear.
Gharz mien kaya kahon tojh sey keh woh sehra nashin kaya thhey; jahan giro-jahan daar-o-jahan baan-o-jahan aara.
In short what should I tell you what those wanderers in wilderness were? They
were world conquerors, world rulers, world administrators, and world adorners.
Agarchih chahon tuo naqshah khhainch kar alfaaz mein rakhh don; magar
teyrey takhiyal sey fazon-ter hai woh nazarah. (Fazon-ter: Ziyadah.)
If I wish to present their picture in words I can, but that scene is beyond the
comprehension of your imagination.
Tojhey aaba sey apney koeyi nisbat ho naheen sakti; keh tou goftar woh kirdar;
tou saabat woh siyarah.
You cannot have any relationship with your ancestors; you are talk, they were
action, you are stars, they were planets.
Ganwa di hum ney jo aslaaf sey miraas paeyi thhi; suriya sey zamin per
aasman ney hum ko dey maara.
We have wasted the heritage obtained from our ancestors. The sky has thrown
us down from the Thurayyah * to the earth.
1090
Hakoomat ka tou kaya rona keh woh ekk aarzi shaey hai; naheen dunya kay
aein-e-Moslim sey koeyi chara.
Why should we cry for suzerainty, as it was temporary there is no escape from
the worlds established principles.
Magar woh ilm kay moti, kitabein apney aaba ki; jo dekhhein onn ko Europe
mein tuo dil hota hai seipara.
But those pearls of wisdom, those books of our ancestors; by seeing them in
Europe the heart is rent asunder.
Ghani roz-siyah Pir-e-Kinaan ra tamasha kon; keh noor deidah-ush roshan
konad chashm-e-Zulikha ra.
[Ghani Pir-e-Kinaan, yaani Hazrat Yaqoob (A.S.) kay nasib ka tamasha
deikhh; keh onn ki ankhhon ka noor (Hazrat Yuosuf A.S.) Zulikha ki
aankhhon ko roshan kar raha hai. (Yeh shear Ghani Kashmiri ka hai)]
O Ghani *! Witness the dark day of the saint of Kinaan,** because the light of
his eyes brightens Zulaikhahs eyes.
(*Mullah Muhammad Tahir Ghani Kashmtri (d. 1668): He is a Persian poet of
Kashmir and is considered to be high ranking. He was a Sufi and lived in
Kashmir all his life, except for a short period in central India. **Allusion to
Yusuf A.S. for whom see the Holy Quran, Surah 12)
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
EDUCATION AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
This short poem is based on a verse of Tahmasp Quli Baig, Mullah Arshi
Yazdi. A son was born to him who was ugly. He produced a verse ex-tempore
which appears as the last verse of this poem. Allamah Iqbal has used it to
convey the message that modern education cannot fulfill our needs.
Consequently, we should sow new seed.
Taalim aur oss Kay Nitaij
1091
()
Khosh tuo hein hum bhi jawanon ki traqi sey magar; labb-e-khandan* sey
nikal jaati hai faryaad bhi saath saath. (*Moskaratey hont.)
Though we also are happy with the progress of the young, but some complaint
from the happy lips also comes with it.
Hum samajhtey thhey keh laaey gi fraghat taalim; kaya khabar thhi keh chala
aaey ga ilhaad bhi saath.
(Ilhaad: Deen sey pherna.)
We had thought education would bring economic freedom; we did not know
that atheism would also come with it.
Ghhar mein Pervaiz kay Shirin tuo hoeyi jalwah numa; ley kay aaeyi hai
magar taishah-e-Farhad bhi saath.
Though Shirin did honour Parviz with her presence, but she brought the ax
of Farhad also with her.
Tokhm-e-deigar bakaff aaraim-o-bakaaraim z-nau; kaanchih kashtaim zkhajlat natawan kard daro.
[Abb humein kaheen sey niya beij lana chahiay aur ossey kaasht karna
chahiay; iss leay keh jo beij pehley kaasht kiya thha oss ki fasal kaatna baise-nadamat bun gaya hai. (Yeh shear Irani shaer Mulla Arshi ka hai)]
Let us take the seed afresh in our hand and use it anew; we are ashamed to reap
what would come out from whatever we sowed.
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
1092
Tehzeeb-e-Hazir
Hararat hai bala ki baadah-e-tehzeeb-e-hazir mein; bharrak othha bhabooka
bun kay Moslim ka tun-e-khaki.
(Baadah-e-tehzeeb-e-hazir: Moujoodah tehzeeb ki sharab. Bhabooka bun kay:
Shoala bun kar.)
Extremely excessive is the heat of current civilizations wine; the clay body of
the Muslim has exploded into flames.
Kiya zarrey ko jugnu dey kay taab-e-mostaar oss ney; koeyi deikhhey tuo
shokhi aaftab-e-jalwah farma ki.
(Taab-e-mostaar: Maangi hoeyi roshni; Aarzi chamak.)
It made the speck into fire-fly by giving it borrowed light; just look at what the
trickery of the splendid sun is.
Naey andaz paaey naujawanon ki tabiyat ney; yeh raanaeyi, yeh bidaari,
yeh aazadi, yeh bibaaki.
The nature of the young generation has found new ways: This beauty, this
alertness, this freedom, this fearlessness.
Taghiyyar aa-gaya aisa tadabbar mein, takhiyyal mein; hansi samajhi gaeyi
gulshan mein ghonchon ki jigar chaaki.
1093
Such a change has come about in planning and thought; bursting of the gardens
flower-buds in Love is considered trivial.
Kiya gom tazah pervaazon ney apna ashiyan laikan; manazir dilkosha dikhhla
gaeyi saahir ki chalaki. (Saahir: Jadoogar.)
The newly flying birds have lost their nests but a pretty sight has been shown by
magicians cunningness.
Hayat-e-tazah apney saath laaeyi lazzatein kaya kaya; raqabat, khod faroshi,
na-shakibaeyi, hawusnaaki,
The new life brought with it ever changing pleasures: Rivalry, selling
conscience, impatience, greed.
Frogh-e-shamaa-e-nau sey bazm-e-Moslim jugmaga othhi; magar kehti hai
pevanon sey meyri kohnah idraaki (pokhtah samajh).
Muslims assembly is glittering with the new candles light, but my old time
wisdom is saying this to the moths:
!
Tuo ay pervanah! Ein garmi z-shamaa-e-mehfilay daari; cho mun dar
aatish-e-khod soz agar soz-e-dilley daari.
[Ay pervaney tou ney yeh garmi mehfil ki shamaa sey lee hai; agar dil mein soz
hai tuo meyri tarah apni aag mein jalna seikhh.]
O moth! You have derived this warmth from the assemblys candle: Burn in
your own fire like me if you have the warmth of the heart.
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
GHAZAL: Part-III
***** (5) *****
This short ghazal conveys the message of activism to the Muslim youth
to whom it is primarily addressed.
1094
Pher baad-e-bahaar aaeyi, Iqbal ghazal khwan ho; ghonchah hai agar gul ho,
gul hai tuo gulistan ho.
The spring breeze is flowing again start singing, O Iqbal; if you are a bud be the
flower, if a flower the garden become.
Tou khak ki mothhi hai, ajza ki hararat sey; berhum ho, parishan ho, wosaat
mein biyaban ho.
You are a handful of dust, with the warmth of the components wander around,
scatter about and wilderness in extent become.
Tou jina-e-mohabat hai, qimat hai gran teyri; kum mayah hein soudagar, iss
deis mein arzan ho.
(Kum mayah: Gharib; kum maal waaley.)
You belong to the essence of Love; you are invaluable; the purchasers are
indigent, low priced in this country become.
Kiyuon saaz kay perday mein mastoor ho laey teyri; tou naghmah-e-rungein
hai, her gosh peh oriyan ho.
Why should your tunes be veiled in the guitars frets? You are an ornamented
song, evident to every ear become.
!
Ay rehro-e-farzanah! Rastey mein agar teyrey; gulshan hai tuo shabnam ho,
sehra hai tuo toofan ho.
(Rehro-e-farzanah: Aqlmand mosafir.)
O wise traveler! If in your path you encounter the garden become dew, if
wilderness the storm become.
1095
Saaman ki mohabat mein mozmar hai tun aasani; maqsad hai manzil, gharatgar-e-saaman ho.
Indulgence is concealed in the love of opulence; if you aim at the destination,
destroyer of opulence become.
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
HUMOROUS POEM
***** (3) *****
Shaikh sahib bhi tuo perday kay koeyi haami naheen; moft mein kaalij kay
larrkay onn sey budzan ho gaaey.
The Shaikh also is not a supporter of womens seclusion; the college boys
unnecessarily suspicious of him became.
Waaz mein farma diya kal aap ney yeh saaf saaf: Pardah aakhir kis sey ho
jabb mard he zann ho gaaey.
He clearly stated in the sermon yesterday: From whom would women be
secluded if men women became
(Humorous reference to the clean-shaved faces adopted by men in the Indian
Sub-continent following Lord Curzon. The word used in the original is zan,
which is the Persian word for woman. There is a pun in zan and Curzon.)
[Translated by M.A.K.Khalil]
Four poems have been reproduced from Bal-e-Jibril. Two of these are
addressed to youth through the name of his son Javed Iqbal and all these have
been translated by Naim Siddiqui.
TO JAVID
Javid kay Naam
Khudi kay saaz mein hai omar-e-javidan ka soraagh; Khudi kay soz sey roshan
hein ummaton kay chiragh.
1096
Yeh eik baat keh Adam hai sahib-e-maqsood; hazaar goonah farogh-o-hazaar
goonah faragh.
This one thing that Adam is not without the purpose: A manifold life, a manifold
leisure!
Hoeyi nah zaagh mein paida boland perwaazi; kharab kar gaeyi shaheen
bachey ko sohbat-e-zaagh.
arth-bound crows cannot aspire to the cagles flights, but they corrupt the
eagles lofty, noble habits.
Haya naheen hai zamaney ki ankhh mein baqi; Khoda karey keh jawani teri
rehey bey dagh.
May God make thee a virtuous, blameless youth; thou livest in an age deprived
of decency.
Thheher sakka nah kissi khanqah mein Iqbal; keh hai zarif-o-khosh andaish-oshagoftah damagh.
Iqbal was not at ease in a monastery, for he is bright, and sprightly, and full of
wit.
[Translated by Naim Siddiqui]
TO A YOUNG MAN
Eik Naujawan kay Naam
Terey sofay hein Afrangi, terey qaalin hein Irani; lahoo mojh ko rolaati hai
jawanon ki tun aasani.
1097
Thy sofas are from Europe, thy carpets from Iran; this slothful opulence evokes
my sigh of pity.
Amarat kaya, shakoh-e-Khosrovi bhi ho tuo kaya hasil; nah zor-e-Haideri tojh
mein, nah istaghnaey Salmani.
(Istaghnaey Salmani: Hazrat Salman (R.A.) jaisi bey niazi aur her qisam
mohtaji sey bala.)
In vain if thou possessest Khusroes imperial pomp, if thou dost not possess
prowess or contentment.
Nah dhoondh iss cheez ko tehzeeb-e-hazir ki tajali mein; keh paya mien ney
istaghna mein miraaj-e-Mosilmani.
Seek not thy joy or greatness in the glitter of Western life, for in contentment
lies a Muslims joy and greatness.
Oqabi rooh jabb bidaar hoti hai jawanon mein; nazar aati hai iss ko apni
manzil aasmanon mein.
When an eagles spirit awakens in youthful hearts, it sees its luminous goal
beyond the starry heavens.
Nah ho noumeid, noumeidi zawal-e-ilm-o-irfan hai; ummeid-e-mard-e-Momin
hai Khoda kay raazdanon mein.
Despair not, for despair is the decline of knowledge and gnosis: the Hope of a
Believer is among the confidants of God.
Naheen teyra nashiman qisr-e-sultani kay gonbud per; tou shaheen hai, basera
kar paharron ki chattanon mein.
Thy abode is not on the dome of a royal palace; thou art an eagle and shouldst
live on the rocks of mountains.
[Translated by Naim Siddiqui]
1098
AN ADVICE
Nasihat
Bachah-e-shaheen sey kehta thha oqab-e-saalkhordah; ay teyrey shehpar peh
aasan riffat-e-charkh-e-barein. (Saalkhordah: Boorrha.)
An eagle, advanced in years, advised an eaglet thus: O thou, whose wings may
one day aspire to the heavens above.
Hai shabab apney lahoo ki aag mein jalney ka naam; sakht koshi sey hai talakh
zindagani angabein. (Talakh: Karrwa. Angabein: Shihad, meethha.)
Be consumed in the fire of thy own youthful blood; endurance sweetens all the
sourness of life.
Jo kabootar per jhapatney mein maza hai ay pisar! Woh maza shaid kabootar
kay lahoo mein bhi naheen.
More pleasure there is in pouncing upon thy prey, than in sucking the blood
from its vanquished stillness.
[Translated by Naim Siddiqui]
TO JAVID
London mein oss kay haath ka likhha hoa pehla khat aaney per.
On Receiving His First Letter from London.
Diyar-e-ishq mein apna moqam paida kar; niya zamanah, naey sobh-o-shaam
paida kar.
1099
Create a place for thyself in the world of love; create a new age, new days, and
new nights.
Khoda agar dil-e-fitrat shanas dey tojh ko; sakoot-e-lalah-o-gul sey kalam
paida kar.
If God grant thee an eye for natures beauty, converse with the silence of
flowers; respond to their love.
Othha nah shishah garaan-e-Farang kay ehsan; safal-e-Hind sey meina-ojaam paida kar.
Do not be beholden to the Wests artisans; seek thy sustenance in what thy land
affords.
Mien shakh-e-taak hon, meyri ghazal hai meyra samar; merey samar sey
maey-e-lalah-faam paida kar.
My ghazal is the essence of my life-blood; create thy elixir of life out of this
essence.
Mera tariq ameeri naheen, faqiri hai; khudi nah baich, gharibi mein naam
paida kar.
My way of life is poverty, not the pursuit of wealth; barter not thy Selfhood; win
a name in adversity.
The Book Zarb-e-Kalim has a chapter titled education and upbringing
(Taalim-o-Tarbiyat). Though education and upbringing of human beings are not
restricted to a particular age of an individual; yet the words Taalim-o-Tarbiyat
are commonly used in the context of young. In view of that, this chapter is
reproduced here-under except some poems included in other volumes; but
before that a poem from an earlier chapter of the book. All poems are translated
by Syed Akbar Ali Shah, except where indicated otherwise.
PHILOSOPHY
Falsafah
1100
Afkaar jawanon kay khafi hon keh jali hon; poshidah naheen mard-eqalandar ki nazar sey.
The thoughts of young both masked and plain from Qalandar's eyes can't hid,
remain.
Maaloom hein mojh ko terey ahwaal keh mien bhi; moddat hoeyi gozra thha
issi rahgozar sey.
I know your states for I too crost, these tracts in times which now are past.
Alfaaz kay paichon mein olajhtey naheen dana; ghawwas ko matlab hai sadaf
sey keh gohar sey.
The wise 'bout words do not quarrel, he heeds not shell who seeks the pearl.
Paida hai faqat halqah-e-arbab-e-janon mein; woh aql keh paa jaati hai
shoaley ko sharar sey.
Men crazed with Love of God possess wit that from spark the flame can guess.
Jiss maani-e-paichidah ki tasdiq karey dil; qimat mein bohat barrh kay hai
tabindah gohar sey.
An import complex confirmed by heart is precious more than gems in mart.
Ya mordah hai ya nizaa ki halat mein gariftar; jo falsafah likhha nah gaya
khoon-e-jigar sey.
As good as dead is science and art, which take not birth from bleeding heart.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
1101
()
Spinoza: nazar hayat peh rakhhta hai mard-e-danishmand; hayat kaya hai,
hazoor-o-saroor-o-noor-o-wajood.
Spinoza: On life is fixed tile gaze of persons bright, what is life? Presence;
being, joy and light.
()
) (
Plato: Nigah mout peh rakhhta hai mard-e-danishmand; hayat hai shabb-etarik mein sharar ki namood.
1102
Hayat-o-mout naheen iltefaat kay laiq; faqat khudi hai khudi ki nigah ka
maqsood.
Riaz Manzil (Doulatkadah Sir Rass Masood) Bhopal mein likhhey gaey.
Plato: A wise man knows that 'fore death he must bow, in pitch dark night, life,
ike spark, soon loses glow.
Both life and death deserve not any heed the Self of man is Ego's goal and need.
(Written at Riaz Manzil, residence of Sir Rass Masood, Bhopal.)
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
MAN OF PRESENT AGE
Zamanah-e-Hazir ka Insaan
Dhoondhney wala sitaron ki gozargahon ka; apney afkaar ki dunya mein
safar kar nah saka.
Though man aspires to find the track of stars that roam in sky and tread Alas!
Man has completely failed to map the world of mind or head.
Apni hekmat kay kham-o-paich mein oljha aisa; aaj takk faislah-e-nafaa-ozarar kar nah saka.
In intricacies of his thought he is embroiled; is clear and plain, so he is not as
yet aware of what is loss and what is gain.
1103
Jiss ney sooraj ki shoaon ko gariftar kiya; zindagi ki shabb-e-tarik sehar kar
nah saka.
Man has harnessed rays of the Sun, much gain from them he has drawn, but he
can not transform the dark and dismal night of life to dawn.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
AWARENESS
Agahi
Nazar sepeher peh rakhhta hai jo sitarah shanas; naheen hai apni khudi kay
moqam sey agah.
He, who predicts the fate of man, and keeps his gaze e'er; fixed on sky, such
man is unaware of fact that rank of Self is very high.
Khudi ko jiss ney falak sey boland-ter deikhha; wohi hai momlikat-e-sobh-oshaam sey agah.
Those who perceive this fact so clear that dome of sky that spins around, has not
the height as Self of man. 'Bout world have formed an opinion sound.
Wohi nigah kay nakhoob-o-khoob sey mehram; wohi hai dil kay halal-o-haraam
sey agah.
They are aware of all those things that charm and repel the human sight to them
alone this fact is known what blackens heart, what renders bright.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
WESTERN CULTURE
Maghribi Tehzeeb
1104
Fasaad-e-qalb-o-nazar hai Farang ki tehzeeb; keh rooh iss madniyat ki reh
sakki nah afif.
Rehey nah rooh mein pakeezgi tuo hai napiad; zamir-e-pak-o-khiyal-e-bolando-zouq-e-latif. (Afif: Pakeezah, pakdaman.)
The culture that prevails in West corrupts the heart and gaze of man, its soil is
full or stains and spots that at leisure one can scan.
If soul of man becomes defiled, of conscience clean it gets bereft. It soon
forgets high aims and ends; no taste refined in it is left.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
OPEN SECRETS
Asrar-e-Piada
Iss quom ko shamshir ki haajat naheen rehti; ho jiss kay jawanon ki khudi
surat-e-foulad.
(Asrar-e-piada: Khholay hoay bhaid.)
A nation whose youth are endowed with Self as strong and hard as steel: No
need of piercing swords in war such people brave can ever feel.
Nacheez jahan-e-meh-o-parvin terey aagay; woh alam-e-majboor hai, tuo
alam-e-azad.
The world of Pleiades and the Moon by natural laws is chained and bound;
whereas the world in which you dwell owns insight, will and mind much sound.
Moujon ki tapash kaya hai, faqat zouq talab hai; penhan jo sadaf mein hai,
woh doulat hai khoda-daad.
What do the quivering waves imply, save enormous zeal and zest for quest?
What lies concealed in mother shell is gift of God Who knows it best.
1105
Shaheen kabhi pervaaz sey thhak kar naheen girta; por dum hai agar tou tuo
naheen khatrah-e-aftaad.
(Por dum: Unthhak. Khatrah-e-aftaad: Gir jaaney ka khatrah.)
The hawk is never tired of flight, does not drop gasping on the ground; if
unwearied it remains on wings, from hunters' dread is safe and sound.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
THE TESTAMENT OF TIPU SULTAN
Sultan Tipu ki Wasiyat
Tou reh naward-e-shouq hai, manzil nah kar qabool; Laila bhi humnashin ho
tou mehmal nah kar qabool.
If you traverse the road of love, don't yearn to seek repose or rest; if Laila be
your companion close that litter shun with great contempt.
Ay jooey aab barrh kay ho darya-e-tund-o-taiz; sahil tojhey atta ho tuo sahil
nah kar qabool.
(Jooey aab: Nadi.)
O steamlet, onward flow and get transformed to torrent strong and deep, if bank
is e'er on you bestowed, abstain, flow on with mighty sweep.
Khhoaya nah ja sanam kadah-e-kainat mein; mehfil godaz! Garmi-e-mehfil nah
kar qabool.
Don't lose your bearings in this world, because with idols it is full: The
assemblage here can cast a spell, disdain, or strings of heart shall pull.
Sobh-e-azal mojh sey kaha Jibril ney; jo aql ka ghulam ho, woh dil nah kar
qabool.
1106
Baatil duoeyi pasand hai, Haa la-sharik hai; shirkat-e-mianah-e-Haq-o-baatil
nah kar qabool.
Untruth conceals in various masks, but Truth and God are both unique. There
can't be pool 'twixt good and bad, this fact is known from times antique.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
AWAKENING
Bidaari
Jiss bandah-e-haq bein ki khudi ho gaeyi bidaar; shamshir ki manind hai
borindah-o-borraq.
(Borindah-o-borraq: Kaatdar aur chamakdar.)
A man with true belief, whose Self attentive grows like sturdy sword of steel,
can cut and sheen it shows.
Ossi ki nigah-e-shokh peh hoti hai namoodar; her zarrey mein poshidah hai jo
qowwat-e-ishraq.
(Qowwat-e-ishraq: Roshan hona, taloo hona.)
The urge to shine and grow, within the mote concealed; 'fore his eyes sharp and
keen is with much haste revealed.
Iss mard-e-Khoda sey koeyi nisbat naheen tojh ko; tou bandah-e-aafaq hai, woh
sahib-e-aafaq.
You have no link or bond with men of godly brand, you are a slave to world, on
world he holds command.
1107
Tojh mein abhi paida naheen sahil ki talab bhi; woh paki-e-fitrat sey hoa
mehram-e-aamaq.
(Aamaq: Gehraiyan; amiq ki jamaa.)
So far you have not formed for coast a love or taste: He knows the depths full
well, by dint of nature chaste.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
UPBRINGING OF SELFHOOD
Khudi ki Tarbiyat
Free thinking can bring 'bout the ruin of those whose thoughts are low and
mean: They don't possess the mode and style of though (that may be chaste and
clean.
If thoughts are raw and immature no good accrues to man in least: The utmost.
that such thoughts can do is change of wan to state of beast.
THE LIFE OF SELFHOOD
Khudi ki Azadi
Khudi ho zindah tuo hai faqr bhi shehnshahi; naheen hai Sanjar-o-Toghral sey
kum shakoh-e-faqr.
(Shakoh: Shan-o-shoukat.)
Faqr is as exalted as a king if Self of man has vital flame: The lofty rank of true
Faqir isn't less than Sanjar and Tughral's fame.
Khudi ho zindah tuo darya-e-bey karan payab; khudi ho zindah tuo kohsar
perniyan-o-harir.
(Perniyan: Eik qissam ka phhooldar raishmi kaprra. Harir: Raisham.)
On foot we can cross the bundless sea, if Self is active and can tread over
mountain range and feel as if not stones, but carpet soft is spread.
Nahang-e-zindah hai apney moheet mein azad; nahang-e-mordah ko mouj-esaraab bhi zinjir.
A crocodile that is full or verve in its own suburbs is quite free if dead, e'en
billows or mirage for it, like chains and fetters be.
GOVERNMENT
Hakoomat
1109
Hai moridon ko tuo haq baat gawara laikan; Shaikh-o-Mulla ko bori lagti hai
dervaish ki baat.
My talk makes Shaikh and Mullah show undue, though disciples can put tip
with is true.
Quom kay haath sey jata hai mataa-e-kirdar; behus mein ata hai jabb falsafahe-Zaat-o-Sifaat.
That race is soon deprived of glorious deeds, for talk on Being and Attributes
hatred breeds.
Garchih iss deir-e-kohan ka hai yeh dastoor-e-qadim; keh naheen maeykadaho-saqi-o-meina ko sabaat.
This cosmos old is wrought in such a cast that tavern, Saqi and flask don't for
e'er last.
) (
Qismat-e-baadah nagar haq hai ossi millat ka; angabin jiss kay jawanon ko
hai talkhaab-e-hayat.
(Angabin: Shehad. Talkhaab: Karrwa.)
That nation has the right to luck in life whose youth for honey take worldly
blows and strife.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
INDIAN SCHOOL
Hindi Maktab
Iqbal! Yahan naam nah ley ilm-e-khudi ka; mouzon naheen maktab kay leay
aisey moqalat.
(Moqalat: Aqwaal ki batein.)
1110
About the Self here have no talk, O bard, because with schools such sermons
don't accord.
Behtar hai keh bicharey mamolon ki nazar sey; poshidah rehein baaz kay
ehwal-o-moqamat.
Much good that birds that chirp may not descry, the modes of hawk, its state
and rank so high:
Azad ki ekk aan hai mehkoom ka ekk saal; kis darjah gran-siar hein mehkoom
kay auqaat. (Gran-siar: Sost raftar.)
A free man's breath can match a subject year, how slowly moves the time of
serfs is clear!
Azad ka her lehzah payam-e-abdiyat; mehkoom ka her lehzah naeyi murg-emofajaat.
(Abdiyat: Hamaishgi. Murg-e-mofajaat: Naghaani mout.)
The free perform such deeds in span of breath, but slaves are every instant
prone to sudden death.
Azad ka andaishah haqiqat sey munawwar; mehkoom ka andaishah gariftar-ekhorafaat.
(Khorafaat: Khorafah eik Arab thha jo jhoot bolta thha; lehazah khorafaat ka
matlab hai laghv baatein.)
The thoughts of persons free with truth are lit, but thoughts of slaves do not own
sense a bit.
Mehkoom ko piron ki karamaat ka sauda; hai bandah-e-azad khod ekk zindah
karamaat.
A slave has craze for marvels wrought by Guides: Himself a wonder 'live, his
memory fresh abides.
1111
Mehkoom kay haq mein hai yehi tarbiyat achhi; mousiqi-o-surat gari-o-ilm-enabataat.
This is the training that befits them well, painting, music and science of plants
as well.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
UPBRINGING
Tarbiyat
Zindagi kochh aur shaey hai, ilm hai kochh aur shaey; zindagi soz-e-jigar hai,
ilm hai soz-e-damagh.
Existence and knowledge both are poles apart, life burns the soul, whereas lore
makes it smart.
Ilm mein doulat bhi hai, qodrat bhi hai, lazzat bhi hai; eik moshkil hai keh
haath ata naheen apna soraagh.
Joy, wealth and power all, to lore are due, how irksome that to Self it yields no
clue.
Ehl-e-danish aam hein, kumyaab hein ehl-e-nazar; kaya taajob hai keh khali
reh gaya teyra ayyagh.
(Ayyagh: Piyalah.)
No dearth of lettered men, ah few! Provide the bowl with wine of gnosis like
True Guide.
Shaikh-e-maktab kay tariqon sey koshaad-e-dil kahan; kis tarah kibriyat sey
roshan ho bijli ka chiragh.
1112
(Kibreet: Gandhak; aaj kal Arabi aur Farsi mein diya salai ko bhi kehtey hein.)
The ways of teachers don't expand the heart, match stick can't light to electric
lamp impart.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
Jahan khudi ka bhi hai sahib faraz-o-nashaib; yahan bhi maarkah-ara hai
khoob sey nakhoob.
(Faraz-o-nashaib: Bolandi aur pusti.)
The Realm of Self has its ups and downs, even here, the Fair and Foul exchange
their frowns.
Namood jiss ki faraz-e-khudi sey ho, woh jamil; jo ho nashaib mein paida,
qabih-o-namehboob. (Qabih: Bora.)
If Self has reached the height, its acts are fine, debased, its deeds as good one
can't define.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
DEATH OF THE EGO
Murg-e-Khudi
1113
Khudi ki mout sey Maghrib ka andaron bey noor; khudi ki mout sey Mashriq
hai mobtalaey jozaam. (Jozaam: Kourrh ki bimaari.)
Devoid the West of inner light, her soul is struck with deadly blight: the loss
of Self has made the East a leper, for germs befitting feast.
Khudi ki mout sey rooh-e-Arab hai bey tabb-o-taab; badan Iraq-o-Ajam ka hai
bey arooq-o-azaam.
(Arooq: Arq ki jamaa, yaani rugein. Azaam: Azm ki jamaa, yaani hadiyan.)
The Arabs have lost their former zeal, their souls are shrunk, they can not feel:
Iraq and Persia are bereft of bones and veins and naught is left.
Khudi ki mout sey Hindi shikastah baalon per; qafas hai halal aur ashiyanah
haraam.
(Shikastah baal: Tootey peron wala.)
The Self of Indians is extinct, by pinions cleft is made distinct for they are
pleased with prison life, to break the bars they wage no strife.
Khudi ki mout sey Pir-e-Haram hoa majboor; keh baich khhaey Mosilman ka
jama-e-ehraam.
(Jama-e-ehraam: Hajiyuon kay unsilley kaprray.)
Demise of Self has made divine, who keeps a watch on Holy Shrine, to sell the
robes that pilgrims don, on sale proceeds he lives upon.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
HONOURED GUEST
Mehman-e-Aziz
1114
Por hai afkaar sey inn madrassey waalon ka zamir; khoob-o-nakhoob ki iss
dour mein hai kis ko tamiz.
Chahiy khanah-e-dil ki koeyi manzil khali; shaid aajaey kaheen sey koeyi
mehman-e-aziz.
The minds of, those who go to school, in thoughts quite fresh and new are clad
Alas! There are such people few who draw a line 'twixt good and bad.
Perhaps some luminous thought may flash across the inmost part of heart for
such inspiring thoughts one must set some recess in heart apart.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
MODERN AGE
Asr-e-Hazir
Pokhtah afkaar kahan dhondney jaey koeyi; iss zamaney ki hawa rakhhti hai
her cheez ko khaam.
Where from a man can find ripe thoughts in present age? The weather of this
park no ripeness can presage.
Madrassah aql ko azad tuo karta hai magar; chhorr jata hai khiyalat ko bey
rabt-o-nizam.
The seats of learning give the mind of pupils scope but leave the thoughts of
youth unlinked by thread or rope.
Mordah la-Deeni afkaar sey Afrang mein ishq; aql bey rabti-e-afkaar sey
Mashriq mein ghulam.
The love of God is dead by unbelief 'mong Franks through lack of link in
thoughts, East shackles wears on shanks.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
1115
THE STUDENT
Talib-e-Ilm
Khoda tojhey kissi toofan sey ashna kar dey; keh teyrey behar ki moujon mein
iztirab naheen.
Tojhey kitab sey momkin naheen faragh keh tou; kitab khwan hai magar sahibe-kitab naheen.
May God acquaint you with some gale your tides no stir at all exhale: Respite
from books you do not get, but Book Revealed too soon forget.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
EXAMINATION
Imtihaan
Kaha paharr ki nadi ney sung-raizey sey; fatadgi-o-sarafgandagi teri miraj.
(Fatadgi: Eik jagah parrey rehna, aajzi. Sarafgandagi: Sar jhokana.)
Thus mountain stream to pebble spake: This lowly state for height you take.
Tera yeh haal keh pamaal-o-dardmand hai tou; meri yeh shan keh darya bhi hai
mera mohtaj.
You are tread upon and suffer deal, how nice! My need the rivers feel.
Jahan mein tou kissi diwaar sey nah takkraya; kissey khabar keh tou hai sunge-kharah ya keh zojaj.
(Sung-e-kharah: Eik qism ka sakht pathhar. Zojaj: Shishah.)
You never clashed against a wall, don't know, a stone or glass to call.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
1116
THE SCHOOL
Madrassah
Asr-e-hazir malk-ul-mout hai teyra, jiss ney; qabz ki hai rooh teri dey kay
tojhey fikr-e-maash.
Tile present age, your constant foe, like Ezrail has snatched your soul you have
imbibed much care and grief pursuit of wealth your only goal.
Dil larzta hai harifanah kashakash sey tera; zindagi mout hai, khho deyti hai
jabb zouq-e-kharash.
(Zouq-e-kharash: Taklif bardasht karney ki lazzat.)
When faced by rivals strong and brave: your heart beats fast and shakes with
fear: Such life is naught but Death, in fact, when blows of life you can not.
Iss janon sey tojhey taalim ney biganah kiya; jo yeh kehta thha khird sey keh
bahaney nah tarash.
The knowledge that this age imparts hs made forget you craze and zest, which
bade the mind to keep away from pretexts that on truth didn't rest.
Faiz-e-fitrat ney tojhey deidah shaheen bakhsha; jiss mein rakhh di hai ghulami
ney nigah khafash.
(Khafash: Chamgadarr.)
With free hand Nature has bestowed on you the eyes of hawk so keen; but
bondage has replaced them with the eyes, of bat, devoid of sheen.
Madrassey ney teri aankhhon sey chhopaya jinn ko; Khalwat-e-koh-obiyaban mein woh asrar hein faash.
1117
The things on which schools throw no light and keep them from your eyes
concealed, go to retreats of mount and waste and get them by some Guide
revealed.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
NEITZCHE
Hakim Neitzshe
' '
Harif noktah-e-Towhid ho saka nah hakim; nigah chahiay asrar-e-la ilah kay
leay.
The subtle point that God is one, the German sage could not perceive clear sight
and mind are both a must, so that this point one may conceive.
Khadang seinah-e-gardon hai oss ka fikr-e-boland; kamand oss ka takhiyal hai
mehr-o-meh kay leay.
(Khadang: Teer.)
The flights of fancy, like a dart, can hit the dome of azure sky. He casts his
noose on moon and sun that seem so far above and high.
Agarchih pak hai teenat mein rahabi oss ki; taras rehi hai magar lazzat-egonah kay leay.
Although his natural bent of mind from stains and blemish is quite free his soul
this dormant fact betrays, he yearns for life replete with spree.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
TEACHERS
Asatzah
If you desire to breed such ruby which is red, don't beg light of sun that from
course has fled.
Dunya hai rawaiyat kay phhandon mein gariftar; kaya madrassah, kaya
madrassey waalon ki tug-o-duo.
The world is trapped by traditions old and hoar, preceptors helpless quite, can
do no more.
Kar saktey thhey jo apney zamaney ki imamat; woh kohnah damagh apney
zamaney kay hein pairo.
Those who deserved to lead the modern age have worn out brains and others
hold the stage.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
RELIGION AND EDUCATION
Deen-o-Taalim
Mojh ko maaloom hein piraan-e-Haram kay andaz; ho nah akhlas tuo daawae-nazar laaf-o-gazaaf.
(Laaf-o-gazaaf: Laaf zanni.)
I know the modes of those who guide the creed, though lacking truth, of vision
boast, indeed.
Aur yeh ehl-e-Kalisa ka nizam-e-taalim; eik sazish hai faqat Deen-omarawwat kay khalaf.
The teaching that the English have devised 'gainst Faith and ties has great
intrigue contrived:
1119
Iss ki taqdir mein mehkoomi-o-mazloomi hai; quom jo kar nah saki apni khudi
sey insaaf.
That race is doomed to bondage and much pain, which justice for its Ego can't
attain.
Fitrat afraad sey aghmaaz bhi kar leyti hai; kabhi karti naheen millat kay
gonahon ko moaaf. (Aghmaaz: Chashm poshi.)
The faults of one man Nature can reprieve, but groups for crimes no par don can
receive.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
TO JAVID
Javid sey
*****(1)*****
Gharatgar-e-Deen hai yeh zamanah; hai iss ki nehaad kafiranah.
The present age destroys the faith and creed, like pagans has a bent of mind
indeed.
Darbar-e-shenshehi sey khoshter; mardan-e-Khoda ka aastanah.
The threshold of a Saint is higher far than court of worldly king or mighty Czar.
Laikan yeh dour-e-sahiri hai; andaz hein sabb kay jadooanah.
It is a period full or magic art, with spell so strong all play their part.
Sarchashmah-e-zindagi hoa khoshk; baqi hai kahan maey shabanah.
The fount and source of life is parched and dry, no more the wine of gnosis can
supply:
1120
Khali onn sey hoa dabastan; thhi jinn ki nigah taziyanah.
The Shrines are empty of such saintly folk, whose glance good manners taught
with single stroke.
Jiss ghhar ka magar chiragh hai tou; hai oss ka mazaq arifanah.
The house, your presence illumes like a lamp, has mystic trend in veins and
bears its stamp.
''
Johar mein ho la ilah tuo kaya khouf; taalim ho go Farangiyanah.
If essence of God's Oneness be in heart, the lore or Franks can cause no harm or
smart.
Shakh-e-gul per chehak wlaikan; kar apni khudi mein aashiyanah.
On rose twigs chirp, for Ion. there do not rest, in Selfhood you must seek your
home and nest
Woh behar hai Adami keh jiss ka; her qatrah hai behar-e-bikaranah.
A man is ocean that is vast and free, its every drop is' like the boundless sea.
Dehqan agar nah ho tun aasan; her danah hai sadd hazaar danah.
If peasant is not charmed with life of ease, a seed can yield a thousand-fold
increase.
Ghafil manashin neh waqt baazist; waqt honar ast-o-kaarsazist.
1121
[Ghafil nah baithh, yeh khheil kood ka waqt naheen, Khoda ney insan ko
zindagi bikaar zaia karney kay leay atta naheen ki; zaroori hai keh ilm-ohonar seikhha jaaey aur kochh kar kay deikhhaya jaey.]
I don't sit like sluggards and indulge in play; it is time for your craft and skill's
display.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
*****(2)*****
Seinay mein agar nah ho dil garam; reh jaati hai zindagi mein khami.
If heart with love of God is not replete, the life of man remains quite
incomplete.
Nakhchir agar ho zirak-o-chust; aati naheen kaam kohnah daami.
(Zirak: Dana, aqlmand. Kohnah daami: Jaal bachhaney ka porana tajrobah,)
If quarry is wise acute and bold, it can not be trapped by hunters old.
Hai aab-e-hayat issi jahan mein; shart iss kay leay hai tishnah kaami.
(Tishnah kaami: Piyas, morad hai talab.)
The Fount of Life in wordly life is found, provided you have a thirst quite true
and soud.
Ghairat hai tariqat-e-haqiqi; ghairat sey hai faqr ki tamami.
(Tariqat-e-haqiqi: Haqiqi rastah. Tamami: Kamal.)
Your envy for Faith is mystic course indeed, for growth of Faqr a lot of zeal you
need.
!
Ay jan-e-pidar! Naheen hai momkin; shaheen sey tadroo ki ghulami.
My darling son, I see no chance at all that hawk will like to turn a pheasant's
thrall.
1122
Nayab naheen mataa-e-goftar; sadd Anwari-o-hazaar Jami.
There is no dearth of goods, called verse or, rhyme; there are hundreds of poets
much sublime.
Hai meyri bisaat kaya jahan mein; bus eik foghan zir-e-baami.
(Zir-e-baami: Chhatt kay neichay.)
My reach and might in world is this alone that 'neath the roof I cry, complain
and groan.
Ekk sidq-e-moqal hai keh jiss sey; mein chashm-e-jahan mein hon garami.
(Sidq-e-moqal: Haq goeyi, raast goftari. Garami: Ba-izzat.)
In speaking truth, I am much hold and frank, in eyes of men I hold a lofty rank.
Allah ki dain hai, jissey dey; miraas naheen boland naami. (Boland naami:
Naamwari, shorat.)
A son can riot acquire his Sire's renown, unless His grace by Mighty Lord is
shown.
Apney noor-e-nazar sey kaya khoob farmatey hein Hazrat Nizami.
(Noor-e-nazar: Morad hai farzand.)
Nizami, the poet great of Persian tongue, gave counsel wise to son who still was
young:
Jaaey keh bazorg bayadat bood; farzandi-e-mun nadaardat sood.
[Jahan tojhey bazorgi ka darjah hasil hona chahiy, wahan meyri farzandi sey
tojhey koeyi faidah nah pohnchey ga (bazorgi her insan ko apney amal-okirdar per mouqoof hai, yeh doosray ki nisbat sey hasil naheen hoti).]
1123
On occasions where your greatness must prevail your lineage there won't be of
much avail.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
*****(3)*****
Momin peh gran hein yeh shabb-o-roz; Deen-o-doulat qomarbazi.
The days and nights a Muslim's toils enhance both creed and rule are like a
game of chance.
Napiad hai bandah-e-amal must; baqi hai faqat nafas drazi.
Men drunk with zeal for deeds nowhere are found, the rest are fond of talk with
idle sound.
Himmat ho agar tuo dhond woh faqr; jiss faqr ki asal hai Hijazi.
If you have courage great and ample force: Seek such Faqr which in Hejaz has
its source.
Iss faqr sey Adami mein piada; Allah ki shan-e-biniazi.
This brand of Faqr such virtues great can grant that make man, like God, free
from every want.
Kanjashk-o-hamam kay leay mout; hai iss ka moqam shahbazi. (Kanjashk-ohamam: Chirriya aur kabootar.)
His hawk-like status can spread general death of sparrows, pigeons all in single
breath.
Roshan iss sey khird ki ankhhein; bey sormah Bu Ali-o-Razi.
1124
The glance of mind by its means burns and blazes' without collyrium begged
from Avicenna and Rhazes.
Hasil iss ka shakoh-e-Mehmood; fitrat mein agar nah ho Ayazi. (Shakoh: Shano-shoukat.)
If temper of Ayaz is free from every slavish trend, like Mahmud can win
grandeur which hasn't end.
Teyri dunya ka yeh Srafil; rakhhta naheen zouq-e-ney nawwazi.
Your world's Sarafil has neither taste no zeal, he can't blow trumpet nor can skill
reveal.
Hai oss ki nigah alam aashob; darpardah tamam karsazi.
Its glance a world-wide tumult can inspire, in obscure mode sets right the things
entire.
Yeh faqr-e-ghayoor jiss ney paya; bey taigh-o-sanan hai mard-e-ghazi.
A warrior who can this jealous Faqr attain, without sword and lance great
conquests he can gain.
Momin ki issi mein hai amiri; Allah sey maang yeh faqiri.
It sets the Faithful free from need and want, beg God that such Faqr to you e
may grant.
[Translated by Syed Akbar Ali Shah]
Four poems from the Persian book Payam-e-Mashriq are reproduced;
except the first poem rest are translated by M. Hadi Husain.
THE FALCONS ADVICE TO ITS YOUNGSTER
Pund-e-baz Ba-bachah-e-Khaish
1125
Tou daani keh bazaan z-yakk johar-und; dil-e-sher darund-o-mosht-eperund.
[Tou janta hai keh saarey baaz eik johar sey hein; onn ka dil sher ka hai waisey
mosht-e-per nazar aatey hein.]
You know that in essence all falcons are one; a mere handful of feathers, but
with the heart of a lion.
Niko shaiwah-o-pokhtah tadbir baash; jasoor-o-ghayoor-o-kalan gir baash.
[Tojhey chahiay keh achhi adaat aur pokhtah tadbir ikhtiar karey; juraatmand, ghairat-mand aur barra shikar karney wala ho.]
Conduct yourself well and let your strategy be well considered; be daring,
maintain your dignity, and hunt big game.
Miyamaiz ba kobak-o-tourung-o-saaz; magar einkeh daari hawaey shikar.
[Teetar, tiliar aur tuorung (sehraeyi parindah) sey mail jol nah rakhh; sawaey
oss kay keh onnhein shikar karna maqsood ho.]
Do not mix with partridges, pheasants, and starlings; unless you want them as
prey.
Chih quomey frau mayah-e-tarasnaak; konad pak manqar-e-khod ra beh
khak.
[Yeh kaisey kaminay aur darpok parindey hein; jo apni chonch sey matti
khhood kar khoraak talash kartey hein.]
What a lowly, fearful lot they are: They wipe their beaks clean with dusts!
Shod aan bashah nakhchir-e-khwaish; keh girad z-siad-e-khod aein-okaish.
[Woh bashah (shikari parindah) khod apney shikar ka shikar ho jata hai; jo oss
kay sey tuor tariqay ikhtiyar kar leyta hai.]
1126
A falcon that copies the ways of his prey becomes prey himself.
Basa shikrah aftadah ber rooey khak; shod az sohbat-e-danah chinaan
halaak.
[Bohat sey shikray jo zamin per chaltey phertay hein; woh chirriyuon ki sohbat
sey halak ho jaatey hein.]
Many a predator, descending to earth, has perished on associating with graineaters.
Nigah daar khod ra-o-khorsand zei; dalir-o-darosht-o-tunomand zei.
[Khod-dar bun aur khosh reh; dalairi, daroshti aur tunomandi ikhtiyar kar.]
Guard yourself and live the life of one of good cheer, brave, robust and rugged.
Tun-e-naram-o-nazok beh tihov godaaz; rug-e-sakht chon shakh-e-ahoo
biyar.
[Narm-o-nazok badan tihov kay leay rehney dey; tou apni rug (-e-badan) hiran
kay seing ki manind mazboot rakhh.]
Let the quail have his soft and delicate body; grow a vein hard as a deers horn.
Nasib-e-jahan aanchih az khurmi ast; z-sungini-o-mehnat-o-pordumi ast.
[Dunya mein jitni mosarrat moujood hai woh sakht koshi, mehnat aur boland
himmati (ki barkat) sey hai.]
All the joy in the world comes from hardship, toil, and fullness of breath.
Chih khosh goft farzand-e-khod ra oqaab; keh yakk qatrah-e-khoon beh-ter
az laal-e-naab.
1127
[Oqaab ney apney baitey sey kaya khoob kaha; khoon ka eik qatrah qimati laal
sey behtar hai.]
What fine advice it was that the eagle gave its son: A single drop of blood is
better than the purest wine!
Majoo anjuman misl-e-aahoo-o-maish; beh khalwat gara chon niyakaan-ekhwaish.
[Hirnon aur bhairron ki tarah groh nah bana; apney barron ki manind
khalwat ikhtiyar kar.]
Do not seek out company like the deer or sheep, but go into seclusion as your
ancestors did.
Chonin yaad daram z-bazaan-e-pir; nashiman bashakh darakhtey magir.
[Mojhey bhoorrey baazon ki baat yaad hai; keh darakht ki shakh per apna
nashiman nah bana.]
I remember the old falcons advice: Do not make your nest on the branch of a
tree.
Kanamey nagiraim dar bagh-o-kisht; keh daaraim dar koh-o-sehra bahisht.
[Hum bagh ya phholwari mein ghhar naheen banatey; hamarey leay koh-osehra (he) bahisht hein.]
We do not make nests in a garden or a field we have our own paradise in
mountains and deserts.
Z-rooey zamin danah cheidan khatast; keh pehnaey gardoon Khoda daade-mast.
[Zamin per sey danah chogna ghalati hai; humein Allah Taala ney gardon ki
wosaat atta ki hai.]
We regard picking up grain from the ground as an error, for God has given us
the vastness of the skies.
1128
Najibay keh pa ber zamin soodah ast; z-morgh-e-sara siflah-ter boodah ast.
[Woh (najib-ut-tarfain baaz) jo zamin per paon ghhaseet-ta hai; woh
ghharailoo parindon sey bhi ziyadah kaminah hai.]
If a bird of noble stock scrapes his feet on the ground, he becomes more
despicable than a house bird.
Pey shahbazaan bisaat ast sung; keh ber sung raftan konad taiz chung.
[Shahbazon kay chalney phernay ki jagah pathhar (paharr) hein; keh
patharon sey punjay taiz hotay hein.]
The kingly falcon uses rocks like a carpet walking on them sharpens his claws.
Tou az zard chashmaan sehrasti; beh gohar cho seimorgh walasti.
[Tou sehra ka zard chashm hai, teyri asal seimorgh ki manind boland-ter hai.]
You are one of the yellow-eyed of the desert, and, like the simurgh, are of noble
nature;
Jawaney asilay keh dar roz-e-jung; bord mardamak ra z-chashm-e-palang.
[Tou khaas nasal ka jawan hai jo maidan-e-jung mein sher ki ankhh nikaal
leyta hai.]
You are that noble youth who, on the day of battle, plucks out the pupil of the
tigers eye.
Beh pervaaz-e-tou sitwat-e-nooriyaan; beh rug-haey tou khoon Kafooriyan.
[Teyri pervaaz mein farishton ki shan hai; teyri rugon mein Kafooriyuon ka
khoon hai.]
You fly with the majesty of angels, and in your veins is the blood of the kafuri
falcon.
1129
Teh-e-charakh girdandah-e-kozz posht; bakhor aanchih giri z-naram-odarosht.
[Khamidah kamar bhhorrey aasman kay neichey; jo rookhhi sookhhi mil jaaey
khha ley.]
Under this humpbacked, revolving sky eat what you catch, whether it is soft or
hard:
Z-dast-e-kassey toamah-e-khod magir; niko baash-o-pand-e-nikoyan pazir.
[Magar kissi kay haath sey loqmah nah ley; naik reh aur naikon ki nasihat
qabool kar.]
Do not take food from the hand of another; be good and take advice from the
good.
(Translated by Mustansir Mir)
VANITY
Kibr-o-Naz
Gostakh mi-saraeyi-o-bibaak mi-ravi; her saal shokh deidah-o-awarah-ter zpar.
[Tou gostakhi sey gaati aur bey baaki sey chalti hai; her saal pehlay sey
ziyadah shokh chashm aur awarah hoti jaati hai.]
You talk so impudently and you walk so saucily, and ever bolder are your gait
and glances than before.
1130
Shayan doodman-e-kohistaniyan naey; khod ra magoey dokhtarak abr-ekohsar.
[Tou kohistan mein rehney walon kay khandan ki shan kay shayan naheen;
apney aap ko abr-e-kohsar ki baiti nah kaha kar.]
You are not fit to be a member of our family; so never claim to be a creature
whom the mountain bore.
Gardindah-o-fatindah-o-ghultindaheyi bakhak; rah digar bagir-o-baro sooey
marghazar.
[Tou khak per girti, ghhoomti aur lout pout hoti hai; dosari raah ikhtiar kar aur
marghazar ki janib chal.]
You roam and roll and tumble like an urchin in the dust. Go to the felds and
plains and let us hear of you no more.
Goft aab-e-joo chonin sakhon-e-dil shikin magoey; ber khwaishtan manaazo-nehaal mani makaar.
[Nadi ney kaha aisi dil shikin baatein nah kar; apney aap per fakhar kar (apney
andar) takabbar ka darakht nah ogaa.]
The stream replied, O do not speak such hurtful words to me. Do not be so
proud and, what is more, do not be a boor.
Mun mirawum keh dar khor ein doodman-e-neim; tou khwaish ra az mehr-edarakhshan nigah dar.
[Mien tuo jaa rehi hon kiyuon ken iss khandan kay shayan naheen; tou apney
aap ko aaftab-e-darakhshan sey bachana.]
I go because the mountain household is too high for me; but you be careful lest
the sun should melt you to the core.
[Translated by M. Hadi Husain]
THE TULIP
1131
Lalah
Aan shoalah-um keh sobh-e-azal dar kinar-e-ishq; paish az namood bulbulo-pervanah mi-tapeid.
[Mien woh shoalah hon jo sobh-e-azal ishq kay pehloo mein, bulbul-opervanah kay zahar honay sey pehlay jall raha thha.]
I am the flame which on creations dawn was kindled in loves heart before the
nightingale and the moth came to play their sacrificial part.
Afzoontaram z-mehar-o-baher zarrah tun zannam; gardoon sharar-ekhwaish z-taab-e-mun aafrid.
[Agarchih mien aaftab sey barrh kar hon laikan her zarrey ko bardaasht karta
hon; aasman ney apney sharar (chand sitarey) meyri roshni sey paida kiay
hein.]
I am far bigger than the sun, and pour into each atoms core a potion of my
light: I lend my spark to everyone, and it was I who made the heavens so bright.
Dar seinah-e-chaman cho nafas kardam aashiyan; yakk shakh-e-nazok az
teh-e-khakam cho num kashid.
[Jabb mien ney seinah-e-chaman mein eik lamah kay leay ashiyan banaya; aur
meyri shakh kay andar sey numi hasil ki.]
Residing like its life-breath in the gardens breast, in pristine rest, I was drawn
up into its bosom by a tree-stem, delicate and thin, as sap that rises up towards
the sky.
Sozam rabood-o-goft yakkey dar barum baist; laikan dil-e-sitam zadah-emun niyarmeid.
1132
[Tuo khak ney meyra soz chheina aur kaha keh thhorri deir kay leay meyrey
pehloo mein reh; laikan meyrey dil-e-sitam-zadah ney wahan araam karna
gawara nah kiya.]
It quenched my inner fire and, wanting to beguile me, it said, Stay awhile, and
dont go out into the day; but my hearts long-repressed desire could brook no
more delay.
Dar tungnaey shakh bassey paich-o-taab-e-khord; ta joharam beh jalwageh-e-rung-o-boo raseid.
[Meyrey dil ney shakh ki tungi kay andar bohat paich-o-taab khhaey; tabb
kaheen ja-kar meyra johar rung-o-boo ki jalwah-gah takk pohncha.]
I writhed and writhed within the tree, encaged, enraged, until the essence of my
being found its way to summits of the ecstasy of self-display.
Shabnam barah-e-mun gohar-e-aabdar raikht; khundeid sobh-o-baad-e-saba
gird-e-mun wazeid.
[Shabnam ney meyrey rastey mein qimati moti lotaey; sobh hansi aur baad-esaba meyrey gird chalna shoro hoeyi.]
With its pearls of the purest water dew bestrewed my way, as if to say, O what
a glorious birth! The morning laughed its brightest hue: the breezes blew in
hymeneal mirth.
Bulbul z-gul shoneid keh sozam raboodah-und; naalid-o-goft jaamah-e-husti
garan kharid.
[Bulbul ney gulab kay phhool sey sona keh meyra soz chhin gaya hai; tuo woh
roya aur kaha: oss ney labas-e-wajood barra mehnga kharida hai.]
The nightingale heard from the rose that I had thrown away my own primordial
consuming flame. It said, because this crowned its woes, He paid a heavy price
to thrive. For shame!
Wa-kardah seinah mannat-e-khorshid mi-kasham; aya bood keh baaz ber
angaizud aatisham?
1133
[Abb mien seinah khhol kar aaftab ka ehsan othha raha hon; ho sakta hai keh
woh meyri aag dobarah roshan kar dey.]
I now stand by my breast rent open to the suns effulgence so that it may set
ablaze again the fire of my prenatal days.
[Translated by M. Hadi Husain]
ALAMGIRS LETTER
Namah-e-Alamgir
Beh yakkey az farzandanash keh doa-e-murg-e-pidar mikard.
[Apney baiton mein sey eik kay naam jo baap kay murney ki doa kiya karta
hai.]
To one of his sons who used to pray for the fathers death.
Nadaani keh Yazdan deirinah bood; bassey deid-o-sanjeid-o-bost-o-kashood.
[Kaya tou naheen janta keh Allah Taala bohat qadim hein; onnhon ney bohat
kochh deikhha jancha aur kaeyi moamlaat ko khatam kiya ya soljhaya.]
Do you know that to punish and reward has been from old the business of the
Lord?
Z-ma seinah chaakan ein tirah khak; shoneid ast sadd nalah-e-dardnaak.
[Onnhon ney iss tirah khak (dunya) kay moseebat zadgaan kay bohat nalahhaey dardnaak sonnay.]
He has heard many anguishing laments from this benighted planets residents,
Bassey humcho Shabbir dar khoon nashist; nah yakk nalah az seinah-e-Oo
gosast.
[Kaeyi Shabbir (R.A.) ki manind khoon mein naha gaey magar Allah Taala
kay seinay sey koeyi nalah boland nah hoa.]
1134
But did a cry escape His lips? Oh no. Like Shabbir He has seen streams of
blood flow.
Nah az giriyah-e-pir-e-Kinaan tapeid; na az dard-e-Ayub aabey kashid.
[Nah woh Hazrat Yaqoob (A.S.) ki giriyah-o-zaari sey mataasir hoey nah
onnhon ney Ayub (A.S.) kay dard sey aah bhari.]
While Jacob wept, He looked on unimpressed; and by Jobs wailing He was not
distressed.
Mapindar aan kohnah nakhchir gir; badaam doaey tou gardad aseer.
[Yeh goman nah rakhh keh woh porana shikari; teyri doa kay daam mein
phhns jaaey ga.]
Do not think that you ever can ensnare that seasoned Hunter with your foolish
prayer.
[Translated by M. Hadi Husain]
At the end six ghazals from the Persian book Zabur-e-Ajam are
reproduced.
GHAZLEIN - PART TWO
*****(57)*****
Choon chiragh-e-lalah sozam dar khiyaban-e-shoma; ay jawanaan Ajam jane-mun-o-jan-e-shoma.
[Ay jawanaan-e-Ajam! Mien apni aur tumhari jan ko khiyaban mein charagh-elalah ki tarah jala raha hon.]
Like a tulips flame I burn in your presence as I turn; by my life, and yours, I
swear youth of Persia ever fair!
Ghotah-ha zadd dar zamir-e-zindagi andaish-um; ta badast aawordah-um
afkaar penhan-e-shoma.
1135
Mehr-o-meh deidum nigaham berter az pervin gozasht; raikhtam tarah-eHaram dar Kafiristan-e-shoma.
[Mien ney mehr-o-meh ko deikhha pher meyri nigah pervin sey bhi oopar nikal
gaeyi; tabb kaheen ja kar mien ney tumharey kofaristan mein Haram ki buniyad
rakhhi.]
Sun and moon I gazed on these far beyond the Pleiades, and rebuilt a
sanctuary in your infidelity.
Ta sananash taiz-ter gardad frau paichidmash; shoalaheyi aashoftah bood
andar biyaban-e-shoma.
[Tumharey biyaban mein shoalah bikhhra hoa thha; mien ney oss ki zoban taiz
kar kay ossey tumharey dillon mein bhar diya hai.]
I have twisted well the blade till its edge was sharper made; pale the gleam and
lusterless wasted in your wilderness.
Fikr-e-runginam konad nazar tehi dastaan-e-Sharq; parah-e-laaley keh
daaram az badakhshan-e-shoma.
[Woh laal ka tokrra jo mein ney tumharey Badakhshan (qadeem Islami aloom)
sey hasil kiya; ossey mien ney fikr-e-rungin ki surat khali haath Mashriqiyuon
ki nazar kar diya hai.]
My thoughts images dispense to the Orients indigence the bright ruby that I
gain from your mines of Badakhshan.
1136
Halqaah gird-e-mun zanid ay paikaraan-e-aab-o-gill; aatishey dar seinah
daaram az niyakaan-e-shoma.
[Ay matti kay botto! Meyrey pas aao; mien apney dil mein tumharey bazorgon
ki aag sanbhaley hoay hon. (Ishq sey matti ki taswiron mein soz dum-badum)]
Make a ring about me now; in my breast a fires aglow that your forebears lit
one day, things of water and of clay.
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(58)*****
Dum-e-mera sift-e-baad-e-faroudeen kardand; giyah ra z-sarashkam cho
yasmin kardand.
[Meyrey sans ko baad-e-bahaaran ki sift atta hoeyi hai; aur meyrey annsoon
ney giyah ko chanbaili bana diya hai.]
Soft my breath doth pass soft as April airs; Jasmine-sweet the grass springeth
from my tears.
Namood-e-lalah-e-sehra nashin z-khoonabam; chonankeh baadah-e-laaley
beh saatgin kardand.
[Lalah-e-sehraeyi ka sorkh rung meyrey khoon ki wajah sey hai; kiyuonkeh
meyra piyalah maey sorkh sey bhar diy gaya hai.]
Desert tulip glows with the blood I shed as in beaker shews wine all ruby-red.
1137
Boland bal chonanam keh ber sepeher-e-barein; hazaar bar mera nooriyan
kamein kardand.
[Mien iss qadar boland baz hon keh; farishtey kaeyi bar meyri ghaat mein
baithhey hein.]
Soareth so my flight oer the highest sphere that the souls of light seek to trap
me there.
Frogh-e-Adam-e-khaki z-tazah karihast; meh-o-sitarah konand aanchih
paish azein kardand.
[Adam-e-khaki ki shan nit naey kaamon sey hai; iss kay beraks meh-o-sitarah
wohi kartey hein jo peheley sey kartey aaey hein.]
Labours ever new make mans dust to glow; moon and star still do as long time
ago.
Chiragh-e-khwaish ber afrokhtam keh dast-e-Kalim; darein zamanah nehan
zir-e-aastin kardand.
[Mien ney apna chiragh iss leay jalaya hai kiyuonkeh iss zamaney mein yadde-baiza aastein mein chhopa diya gaya hai.]
My selfs lamp I lit, now that Moses hand men have hidden it neath the
wristlet-band.
Dar aa-basajdah-o-yaari Kosrovaan matlab; keh roz faqr-e-naikaan ma
chonein kardand.
[Allah Taala ki janab mein sar basjood ho aur padshahon sey madad nah
maang; hamarey bazorg moshkil waqt mein yehi kartey thhey.]
Come, O come to prayer; court no princes door: so our fathers were when the
world was poor.
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(59)*****
1138
Shonidah-um sakhon shaer-o-faqih-o-hakim; agarchih nakhal-e-boland ast
burg-o-ber nadehad.
[Mien ney shaeron, faqihon aur falsafiyuon ki baatein sonni hein; agarchih
onn ka drakht boland hai (shohrat bohat hai) magar oss drakht kay pattey hein
nah woh phhal deyta hai.]
To bard and scholar listened I, philosopher to boot; although their palm is proud
and high, it yields nor leaf nor fruit.
Tajaliay keh baroo-e-pir-e-Deir mi-naazad; hazaar shabb dehad-o-taab-eyakk sehar nadehad.
[Jiss tajali per Pir-e-Deir ko itna naaz hai; woh hazaar-ha shabb tuo paida
karti hai magar eik sobh naheen la sakti.]
The gleam that hoary acolyte so prides himself upon reveals a thousand shades
of night, but never glow of dawn.
Hum az Khoda gillah daaram keh ber zoban narasad; mataa-e-dil bord-oYousufey beh ber nadehad.
[Mojhey Khoda sey bhi shikayat hai jo mein zoban takk naheen la sakta; Oss
ney meyrey dil ki mataa ley li magar meyrey pehlo ko mehboob atta naheen
kiya.]
I have a charge gainst God to lay that still I keep concealed; he takes my
precious heart away, and Joseph does not yield.
1139
Nah dar Haram nah beh bottkhanah yabam aan saqi; keh shoalah shoalah
babakhshad sharar sharar nadehad.
[Mojhey woh saqi nah Haram mein nazar aya hai, nah bottkhaney mein; jo ishq
ki aag shararon ki surat nah dey balkeh shoalon ki surat atta karey.]
Neither in idol-house nor shrine that saki I can find to grant, no embers fitful
shine, but splendour unconfined.
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(60)*****
Darein sehra gozar aftaad shaid caravaney ra; pas az modat shoneidam
naghmah-haey saarbaney ra.
Agar yakk Yousuf az zindan-e-Faroaney baroon ayad; bagharat mitawaan
daadan mataa-e-caravaney ra.
[Barri modat keh baad mien saarban ka naghmey sonn raha hon; shaid iss
sehra sey koeyi carvaan gozar raha hai.
Agar Faroan kay qiad khaney sey eik Yousuf bahar aa jaey; tuo oss per
carvaan ka saara maal-o-mataa qorban kiya ja sakta hai.]
It chanced within the desert nigh a caravan was passing by, and presently there
reached my ear the leaders carol, loud and clear.
If from some Pharaohs dark redoubt a Joseph might at last come out, open for
all to plunder lies a caravan of merchandise.
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(61)*****
Tera nadaan ummeid ghumgosaari-ha z-Afarang ast; dil-e-shaheen nasozad
behar aan morghey keh dar chung ast.
[Ay nadaan tou hakiman-e-Farang sey hamdardi ki tawaqo rakhhta hai;
(tojhey maaloom hona chahiay keh) shaheen ka dil oss parinday kay leay
kabhi naheen paseijta jo oss kay punjay mein ho.]
1140
Fool! Is there then such hope in thee of winning Europes sympathy? The falcon
grieves not overmuch about the bird thats in his clutch.
Pashiman shau agar laaley z-miraas-e-pidar khwahi; koja aish-e-baroon
aawordan laaley keh dar sung ast.
[Agar tojhey apney baap ki miraas mein laal mil jaaey tuo yeh koeyi fakhar ki
baat naheen; pathhar sey laal nikaalney mein jo lotf hai woh aur hai.]
Shame on thee, only to desire rubies bequeathed thee by thy sire! Is there not
one delight alone to win thee rubies from the stone.
Sakhon az bood-o-nabood jahan ba-mun chih mi-goeyi; mun ein daanam keh
mun hustam nadanam ein chih nairung ast.
[Jahan ki hust-o-neist kay baarey mein mojh sey kaya baat karta hai; mien tuo
itna janta hon keh mien hon, mien naheen janta yeh talism-e-kainat kaya hai.]
Speak not about the world to me, if it be not or if it be; I only know that I am I,
the world-illusion let go by.
Darein maeykhanah her meina z-beim-e-mohtasib larzad; magar yakk
shishah-e-aashiq keh azoey larzah ber sung ast.
[Iss maeykhaney mein her sorahi mohtisab kay khouf sey larzah ber-andaam
hai; magar aashiq ka paimanah keh ossey deikhh kar pathar per larzah taari ho
jata hai.]
Trembles each tavern-glass with fear because the officer is here, except one
lovers bowl doth make the very stones with dread to shake.
Khudi ra pardah mi-goeyi bago mun ba tou ein goeyam; mazun ein pardah ra
chaakey keh damaan-e-nigah tung ast.
[Tou khudi ko pardah kehta hai, bishak keh, magar mien tojh sey kehta hon;
(khabardar) iss pardey ko chaak nah karna kiyuokeh damaan-e-nigah tung hai
(nigah ossey deikhhney ki taab naheen la sakkey gi).]
1141
Sayst thou that veiled the selfhood is? Say on; but let me tell thee this tear not
this veil into a shred; narrows the vision in the head.
Kohan shaakhey keh zir-e-sayah-e-oo per ber aawordey; cho burgash raikht
azoey aashiyan bardashtan nang ast.
[Woh porana drakht jiss kay saaey kay neichay tou ney per-o-baal nikaaley;
aaj agar oss kay pattey gir chokkey hein, tuo oss sey aashiyanah othha leyna
bais-e-nung hai (Paiwastah reh shajar sey ummeid-e-bahaar rakhh).]
The ancient bough, beneath whose shade thy little sprouting wings were laid,
were it into shame to move at last thy nest, when all its leaves are cast?
Ghazal aan go keh fitrat saaz khod ra pardah girdanad; chih ayad z-aan
ghazal khwaney keh ba fitrat humahung ast.
[Ghazal aisi kaeh keh fitrat apney saaz ko tojh sey hum-ahung karey; aisi
ghazal sey kaya hasil jo fitrat sey hum-ahung ho.]
Call that a song, which Nature brings to serve as music for her strings; what use
is in the minstrelsy that all with Nature doth agree?
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
*****(62)*****
Bagozar az Khawar-o-afsooni-e-Afrang mashau; keh nirzad beh jooey einhamah direinah-e-nau.
[Mashriq sey gozar ja aur Maghrib sey mas-hoor nah ho; kiyuonkeh onn kay
qadim-o-jadid (aloom) ki qimat duo jao kay brabar bhi naheen.]
Eschew the West, and do not be bewitched by Europes wizardry; not worth
barley, in my view, is all her ancient and her new.
Choon per-e-kaah keh dar rehgozar baad aftaad; raft Eskandar-o-Dara-oQobad-o-Khosro.
[Sikander, Dara, Kaiqobad aur Khosro; oss per-e-kaah ki manind hein jo
rahgozar mein parra ho.]
1142
Mighty Darius, Iskandar, Khusrau and Kaikobad all are a blade of grass upon
the way swept by a passing wind, to-day.
Zindagani anjuman aara-o-nigahdar khod ast; ay dar qaflaheyi bey hamah
shau ba hamah ruo.
[Zindagi anjuman-ara bhi hai aur khodaar bhi; ay qaflay kay saath chalney
waaley sabb kay saath bhi chal aur sabb sey bey niaz bhi reh (Shamaa mehfil
ki tarah sabb sey joda, sabb ka rafiq).]
Life is the self to beautify, to guard the self right jealously; upon a caravan thou
art fare on with all, but go apart!
Tou farozindah-ter az mehr-e-munir aamadaheyi; anchih zei keh baher
zarrah rasani pertau.
[Tou mehr-e-munir sey ziyadah chamakdar hai; iss tarah zindagi basar kar keh
her zarrah takk apni roshni pohanchaey.]
Radiant thou camest from the sky, far brighter than the sun on high; so live, that
every mote may be illumined by thy brilliancy.
Aan naginay keh tou ba Ahrimanan baakhtaheyi; hum Jibril Aminay
natawan kard girou.
[Woh qimati naginah jo tou ney Shaitanon ko haar diya hai, ossey tou Jibril
Amin kay pass bhi girvi naheen rakhha ja sakta.]
Thou hast not spared thy precious ring idly to Ahriman to fling to pledge the
which it were not well even to trusty Gabriel.
1143
The tavern is ashamed, because so narrow is become our glass; a beaker take,
and prudently drink wine and then be off with thee!
(Translated by A.J. Arberry)
All that has been included in this chapter is just a fraction of Allamah
Iqbals endeavours to educate youth. He has said a lot on this subject and mostly
addressing the youth through his son Javed Iqbal. In fact, the book titled Javed
Namah is dedicated to youth; the last poem of which is the final word on the
subject.
12th November, 2013
DEVILS DEVICE
TTP leaders and the Government of Pakistan were still busy condemning
the killing of Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike in North Waziristan
when the US (anti) terror operators struck again. This time Nasiruddin Haqqani
son of Jalaluddin Haqqani was shot dead in suburbs of Islamabad which
exposed helplessness of the Sharif regime.
While the PTI threatened to block NATO supplies and Interior Minister
ordered a probe into transportation of Nasiruddin Haqqanis dead body to
Miranshah, the enemies of Pakistan delivered right-left combination. In
Rawalpindi, unknown miscreants burnt a mosque, a madrassah and a cloth
market with the intention of flaring-up sectarian violence and few days later
carried out drone-launched missile strike at a madrassah near Hangu which is
located outside FATA.
On 22nd November, the non-Shia population held rallies across Pakistan to
protest the tragic loss of lives and property in Rawalpindi. All protests ended
peacefully with the warning that their non-violence should not be taken as
weakness. Next day, Imran Khan led PTIs sit-in in Peshawar to protest drone
strike and he announced blockade of NATO supplies through KPK. Similarly,
1144
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 11th November, unidentified gunmen shot dead Nasiruddin
Haqqani, the chief fundraiser of Haqqani Network, near the federal capital. Two
motorbike riders chased Nasiruddins car and intercepted it in Bahara Kaho
area, on the northeastern edge of the city. The attackers sprayed bullets at the
vehicle, resulting in his on the spot death. Police high-ups suspended Bahara
Kaho Police Station House Officer (SHO) for negligence of duty. But
interestingly, no FIR of the incident was registered in the police station.
Haqqani group is one of the most feared militant factions of Taliban
fighting US-led forces in Afghanistan. Nasiruddin was a son of network founder
Jalaluddin Haqqani and elder brother of Sirajuddin Haqqani the current head
of the 2,000-strong group. His murder in Islamabad is sure to embarrass the
Pakistani authorities which have long been rejecting US claims that the Haqqani
Network was operating from North Waziristan. Also, the high profile killing
comes just a day after a show of strength on the city streets by Islamabad Police,
which claimed it was fully capable of keeping the militants off the capital limits.
Nasiruddin received seven bullets in head, neck and lungs that resulted in
his on the spot death. But, he was not taken to hospital for autopsy because his
companions took the body to some unknown location before arrival of the
police. I can confirm that Nasiruddin Haqqani, 36, was shot dead in Islamabad
on Sunday night. At least four gunmen opened fire on him, a senior Afghan
Taliban source from the Haqqani network told a foreign news agency.
Nasiruddins body has been taken to Miranshah, the main town of North
Waziristan, for burial.
Born in Nika district of Afghanistan in 1972, Nasiruddin played an
important role in establishing and strengthening Haqqani Network along with
his father. His death is essentially a great shock for Afghan Taliban. It comes on
the heels of the killing of Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone
strike.
1145
Munawar Hasan against the army. On coming Friday, the clerics belonging to
Sunni sect will deliver sermon on the subject of Islamic Concept of
Martyrdom in about 250,000 mosques across the country.
Liaquat Baloch termed issuance of a Press release by ISPR against head of
a political party (JI chief) as violation of the countrys Constitution. Talking to
media men after addressing a seminar at Mansoora, the JI Secretary General
said that the Armed Forces and the ISPR had no right to serve notice to the head
of a political party or to issue a Press release in presence of a political
government. He said there were no two opinions in regard to the martyrdom of
military personnel.
Jamaat-i- Islami senior leader Dr. Farid Ahmed Paracha has contradicted
the reports appearing in a section of the Press that the high level JI meeting held
at Mansoora had termed Syed Munawar Hasans statement as his personal
opinion and that the JI chief while clarifying his statement had offered to resign.
Meanwhile, an official of Khasadar force sustained injuries when a
roadside remote control explosive device planted by unknown militants went off
in Paind Khel area of tehsil Landikotal, sub-division of Khyber Agency. NATO
supply vehicles were supposed to be targeted in the blast, an administration
official said. T
On 13th November, at least three militants were killed and four personnel of
Khasadar Force sustained injuries in separate gun and bomb attacks in district
Bannu and Khyber Agency. In Bannu, a group of heavily armed militants
attacked on Sheikh Landak police check-post at mid-night with rockets and
sophisticated weapons. Police retaliated and the firing between militants and
police lasted for hours. In Khyber Agency, two troops of Khasadar Force got
injured in an IED blast planted by militants near their post in Gariza area of
tehsil Jamrud.
Jamaat-i-Islami dispatched a letter to the prime minister after approval of
its chief Syed Munawar Hasan. The letter was posted to the PM House,
Islamabad as well as Jati Umra and H-Block Model Town, Lahore. The JI had
decided to write a letter to the PM regarding ISPRs press statement demanding
explanation from Jamaat chief on his statement calling TTP chief Hakimullah
Mehsud as a martyr a couple of days ago.
The letter said, JI despite having respect of Pakistan, Pak Army and its
sacrifices think that all state institutions including army should work in their
limits set by the Constitution. The masses, judiciary and media have tried to
restrict the state institutions after a long struggle. The ISPRs direct statement
against a religious and political party appears beyond the jurisdiction. On the
other hand, the esteemed institution never questioned regarding irregularities,
corruption, exploitation by various elements and persons in the country.
1148
The JI has been condemning the war on terror and US and NATO attack
on Afghanistan from the day first and thinks that NATO forces withdrawal from
the region was necessary for the establishment of peace. The JI stance is
according to the resolution of the parliament, the letter added. The JI thinks that
the drone attack which killed the TTP chief was an attack on the unanimous
stance of the nation as the attack sabotaged the peace process through dialogue.
It further reads, We are proud of sacrifices of our army for defence of the
country. However, military and civil establishment should announce to end the
announced and hidden agreements with US The JI has always condemned the
terrorism and terms it as un-Islamic. However, every segment of society
condemned the drone attack which claimed the life of Hakimullah Mehsud.
We, through your good office, want to draw the attention of the nation,
ulema and media towards the real issue. All issues faced by the country are
linked with the establishment of the peace. In this regard, no pressure should be
taken on the national unanimous stance for talks with Taliban. The JI considers
its duty to extend support to all stakeholders including army and government for
this purpose, the letter concluded.
Next day, two bodies, riddled with bullets, were recovered from Chaman. A
chit found near the bodies identified the two dead as Muhammad Usman and
Farhad Kabuli of Panjohai district of Afghanistans Kandahar Province. They
both worked for the Afghan police, the official said, citing contents of the
handbill. He said the chit warned that anyone working for the Afghan force
would meet the same fate.
Meanwhile, Frontier Corps foiled a possible terrorist attack by arresting
two accused persons in Qila Abdullah district near Pak-Afghan border and
seizing a huge stash of arms and ammunition, a suicide vest, six improvised
explosive devices, nine bundles of prima cards and so on. Identity and
nationality of the accused were not disclosed to the media. On 15 th November,
Interior Minister ordered probe into killing of Nasiruddin Haqqani.
On 16th November, a police constable was killed and six others injured
when a roadside bomb exploded on Dera-Kulachi Road. A police truck was on
its way to DI Khan from Kulachi when an improvised explosive device went off
on Muddi road some four kilometers from Kulachi. In Peshawar, at least two
persons, including a policeman, sustained injuries in a remote-controlled bomb
blast near a police mobile van in Badhber area.
The Tehrik Taliban Pakistan and the Haqqani Network face the same
enemy and there are no differences between the two entities, TTP spokesman
Shahidullah Shahid was reported to have said in a statement. He also said that
there was no fight going on in the TTP over offices. Fazlullah enjoyed support
of the Mehsuds as well the Taliban of the settled areas.
1149
1150
1151
1152
1153
by Pakistan? Someone in authority had better answer that question before it's
too late, the ex-official wrote for FOX News.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved
new policy framework to regulate activities of non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) in Pakistan, more than two years after Dr Shakeel Afridi facilitated the
US forces to raid the OBL compound in Abbottabad. The ECC, which met
under the chair of Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, approved a draft policy
framework for regulation of organizations receiving foreign contributions.
Under the policy framework, the MOUs with international nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) will be signed for a period up to five year.
They will have to maintain a full disclosure of their activities, their respective
areas of work, source of their funding and use of funds. The draft policy
envisages that the government encourages philanthropic activities and shall not
restrict any INGO from working in Pakistan in case of any calamity, but they
will have to carry on with their work after bringing their activities into the
knowledge of the government and with its approval.
On 22nd November, two children sustained injuries when mortar shells fired
by militants from Kunar Province of Afghanistan hit a border village in
Nawagai tehsil of Bajaur Agency. The officials said that one of the mortars
round hit the house of a local tribesman and as a result two children were
wounded critically.
Twin blast ripped through Incholi Society of Karachi late night, killing nine
people and wounding over 25 others. The first blast occurred at main Incholi
Street at Hussain Pan Shop where scores of people were gathered at a tea stall.
The second bomb exploded with the gape of few yards away from the first one.
TTP owned responsibility.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said, We do not have double standards on
drone strikes. He said that in an apparent response to PTI chief Imran Khans
allegation that central government was following a dual policy on US drone
attacks. Even the US knows that the present government does not have double
standards. Drone attacks are unacceptable for Pakistan, the PM remarked.
Differences among senior members of Federal Cabinet over US drone
attacks emerged, with Interior Minister Chaudhry questioning how the
premiers Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz had believed American
assurances that there would be no strikes during talks with militants. Nisar
questioning the sincerity of US towards Pakistan remarked how Pakistan could
consider US as friend after the latest strike.
To lodge strong protest against US drone strike on a religious seminary in
Hangu district, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged a protest demonstration in Peshawar,
asking the federal government to take steps for stopping drone strikes. The
1154
1155
Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that when Imran was talking about drones, no
one listened to him. Now even the UN secretary general says that drone strikes
are in violation of international laws. They call it war crimes, he said. Javed
Hashmi said PTI had decided to stop NATO supplies come what may and we
will not budge an inch from this stand.
Liaquat Baloch asked government to shoot down the American drones. He
announced that JI would also block NATO trucks in Karachi tomorrow. He said
JI would also record a strong protest against drones in Lahore in December.
Baloch said they would not allow Nawaz to rule the country if the federal
government tried to destabilize KPK government.
Sheikh Rasheed said: We are being killed by dengue, hepatitis,
tuberculosis, electricity, gas, inflation as well as drones. He continued saying
that today democracy is threatened by democracy. Countrys economy has
suffered the most and has almost been destroyed. He said that a gang of seven
is ruling the country.
Federal Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid slated Pakistan Tahrik-e-Insaf
for adopting dual policy under the garb of protest against the US drone attacks,
saying that their rally in Peshawar was nothing more than a farce. The minister
said that PTI government accepts US dollars in aid but Imran wants to block
NATO supplies through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
\
Meanwhile, in Khyber Agency militants kidnapped 11 teachers carrying
out a polio vaccination campaign for schoolchildren from Sepah area of tehsil
Bara. Agency Surgeon confirmed the incident and said local teachers had been
assigned the duty of polio immunization in the anti-polio campaign.
On 24th November, five people including two students and two soldiers
were killed in three bomb explosions in different agencies of FATA. Three
people, including two students, were killed and one other got injured in two
separate explosions in Kurram Agency. At least two security personnel were
killed and five others sustained injuries in a bomb blast in Mir Ali area of North
Waziristan. Militants threw the dead body of a kidnapped police official on the
road in the same area earlier in the day. The official had been kidnapped from
Bannu district a few days ago. No group immediately claimed responsibility for
the killings.
Two operatives of TTP were killed in a shootout, while two policemen
were wounded when a police mobile came under a bomb attack in Karachi. TTP
operatives Abdullah and Wahabullah were killed in an encounter in Baldia
Town. The two terrorists had been charged with killing at least 16 police
officials and four police informers in SITE area.
The PTI along with its coalition partners started blocking NATO supplies
via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Club-wielding activists forcibly searched trucks for
1156
NATO supplies but there was no NATO traffic being a holiday. However, the
protesters stopped nine trucks carrying goods and edibles under Afghan transit
trade at different places. They broke open truck containers to check their
contents. Several persons were injured in a scuffle at Ring Road Peshawar.
Spokesman Ashtiaq Urmar said the blockade would be continued till
halting of drone strikes. When asked how many containers so far have been
stopped by PTI workers, the spokesman said that due to Sunday, no container
had come to pass through this route while the main supply from Karachis Port
Qasim have also been stopped due to bomb blast at Torkham border.
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan charged the ruling party and all the
politicians with cowardice, stating they were powerless to stand up for
sovereignty of the country, incompetent to stop brazen US drone strikes. He
demanded Interior Minister to tender an apology over his wrong figures about
civilian casualties from drone strikes and PML-N leader Sartaj Aziz for holding
out a void assurance that the US would not spoil peace talks with the Taliban.
Hasan said Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar shamelessly presented false
statistics about civilian casualties from drone strikes in the Nation Assembly. He
also pulled up top PML-N leader Sartaj Aziz for giving out a false assurance
that US would not strike during dialogue with the Taliban. As Jamaat chiefs
address to a protest rally progressed, thousands of marchers, who had set off for
Tibet Centre from Quaid-e-Azams mausoleum, kept chanting stop NATO
supply routes.
Federal Minister for Information Senator Pervaiz Rashid said that PTI chief
Imran Khans politics over NATO supplies was an attempt to isolate Pakistan
from rest of the world. He termed the PTI Chairman Imran Khans demands
regarding closure of NATO supplies unrealistic that would not serve the cause
of Pakistan. He said Imran Khan spoke for Taliban while his sword was for the
US.
Altaf Hussain said that Pakistan's rulers, patriotic political and religious
parties, and notables of all schools of thought will have to distinguish between
friends and enemies of humanity. He said that they have to unite against the
beasts who were killing innocent people belonging to all schools of thoughts.
He said that religious and political parties who support these enemies of
humanity and did not condemn their brutal acts were also enemies of humanity
too.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman termed the sit-in of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf a
drama and alleged that Imran Khan was sabotaging the consensus of All Parties
Conference for negotiations with the Taliban. He added that peace tribal Jirga
formed by his party is acceptable to all schools of thought and all in APC posed
trust in the jirga but one drone attack changed the scenario. He claimed that they
also came to know the federal government has no alternative to the tribal Jirga.
1157
The JUI-F chief claimed that PTI was propagating Western culture in the
province and has given the education, health and developmental projects in the
hands of NGOs. He added when Imran was spreading the Western civilization
in the country then he must say (he is) the Western agent.
Insurgency: On 14th November, unidentified people had installed an
explosive device in Shah Ghazai locality of Awaran which went off and
wounded three persons. On 16th November, at least three people, including a
policeman, were killed and a child wounded in separate incidents of violence in
Khuzdar and Quetta, while a dead body was recovered in Dera Bugti.
On 17th November, Iranian security forces fired several mortar shells which
landed in different parts of Mashkel town that spread panic and fear among the
residents. However, there was no loss of life in the mortar attack. A few days
ago Iranian helicopters had violated Pakistani airspace in the same Washuk
district and remained inside Pakistan for several minutes.
Meanwhile, a naib tehsildar was shot dead in Kharan town while six
customs officials, including an inspector were abducted from Jiwani, a coastal
town. Naib tehsildar Kharan, Liaquat Jan, was on his way to Kharan city when
men equipped with arms intercepted his vehicle and opened indiscriminate fire.
Next day, scores of residents of Mashkel Town took out a rally and
observed shutter-down strike, protesting against the Iranian border forces for
attacking the area with mortars. Meanwhile, three bodies were discovered in
Josak area, on the outskirts of Turbat in Kech district.
On 20th November, at least two people were killed and five others wounded
in three back-to-back bomb blasts in Quetta. Two blasts occurred on Sirki Road
and the third one on Moti Ram Road. Baloch United Army claimed
responsibility. Meanwhile, shutter-down strike was observed in various Balochdominated towns to mark the sixth death anniversary of Baloch nationalist
leader Nawabzada Balach Marri, son of veteran Baloch leader Nawab Khair
Bakhsh Marri.
Next day, at least five people including police and security personnel were
killed and 23 others wounded in a powerful bomb blast in Quetta. Unidentified
people had fitted explosives with a motorbike and parked it at Sirki Road. The
bomb exploded as a vehicle of Frontier Corps (FC) approached. Three security
personnel, a policeman and a scavenger were killed on the spot. Banned outfit
United Baloch Army (UBA) claimed responsibility.
In another incident, three people were wounded in a bomb blast in
Chaman. The explosives were planted with a motorbike which was parked at
Eidgha Chowk. Meanwhile, two dead bodies were discovered from Grog area in
Nal tehsil of Khuzdar. A Balochistan National Party (BNP) spokesperson said
1158
the victims were their activists and they had been targeted because of partys
political views.
Two unidentified dead bodies were also recovered from Panjgour district.
In another incident, unidentified armed men riding a motorbike hurled a hand
grenade in Turbat town of Kech district that killed two persons who are said to
be labourers hailing from Gilgit Baltistan. Three women were wounded in a
landmine blast in Dera Bugti.
After 700 gruelling kilometres of walking across scorched, arid plains,
some two dozen women from Balochistan are nearing the end of their march to
seek justice for missing loved ones. For nearly a month they have walked for
brothers, sons and husbands who have disappeared, allegedly at the hands of
security services.
On 23rd November, security forces killed two attackers during a search
operation in Sibi while a local leader of BNP-Mengal was kidnapped from
Nushki. Security forces were carrying out a search operation in Gori area of
Sibi, some 18 kilometers from Lehri, when armed men opened indiscriminate
fire on them. Next day, two people were killed in armed attacks in Quetta and
Pasni.
Turf War: On 16th November, three persons were killed in Lyari gang war.
Next day, law enforcers killed four gangsters in Lyari, but have been unable to
defuse tension between rival groups in the restive town. The gangsters were
killed in an encounter near Dubai Chowk. This area had been dominated by
notorious gangster Noor Muhammad aka Baba Ladlas group.
Meanwhile, scores of protesters including women and children gathered at
Maripur Road and staged a protest against gangsters and demanded law
enforcers to establish peace in the troubled town. A man was shot dead inside a
school in MPR Colony. Separately, a man was killed and two others were
wounded in a firing incident in a Chowrangi area and a tortured body of an
unknown man was found from the vicinity of Shah Latif Town.
On 18th November, seven people, including two policemen lost their lives
while an inspector was wounded in separate incidents of violence. Next day,
three dead bodies were found from different areas of the City. On 20 th
November, two women were among five people killed in the city.
Sectarian Militancy: On 11th November, at least two persons were injured
in an attack on Muharram procession in Surjani area of Karachi when some
unknown miscreants attacked, opened fire and pelted with stones on participants
of the procession. Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen condemned the attacks on
Azadari procession.
On 13th November, three TTP militants and a Ranger were killed in an
encounter Landhi, where TTP operatives were chalking out a strategy to carry
1159
1161
cleric will be gagged, but police later showed flexibility and let him speak to a
procession. This breach of commitment resulted in violent reaction.
Punjab Chief Minister ordered judicial inquiry into the tragic clash of
Rawalpindi. The chief minister said strict action would be taken as per law
against those involved in the violence. He requested the Lahore High Court
chief justice to name a senior judge of the court to hold a judicial inquiry into
the incident so that responsibility could be fixed and the culprits awarded
deterrent punishment.
The religious parties of the country announced to observe November 22
(Friday) as a protest day and also three days mourning starting from today.
These factions in their separately held meetings also appealed Chief Justice of
Pakistan to take notice of these clashes and asked the government to confine all
these religious meetings and Ashura processions to its worship places.
On the other hand, the government side, apart from holding meetings to
review law and order situation in the country with special reference to
Rawalpindi incident, also contacted religio-political parties to discuss the postviolence situation. Minister for Interior made a telephonic contact with Maulana
Fazlur Rahman and Maulana Samiul Haq to discuss the post-violence situation
in the city.
Sheikh Rashid said the bloody sectarian clashes in Rawalpindi were mainly
due to the feeble security arrangements made by the district administration and
the provincial government. The fire of sectarianism should be put off at the
earlier stage or else it would grip the whole country, cautioned Rashid, while
holding a press conference at Lal Haveli.
Imran Khan expressed his grave concern over the incitement to sectarian
violence that is spreading across the country. He appealed to the people of
Pakistan to ensure that the nefarious designs of hate mongers and enemies of
Islam and Pakistan are thwarted by a show of unity across the land. Those who
are spreading this message of hatred amongst Muslims are clearly enemies of
Islam and Pakistan.
Maulana Fazlur Rehman appealed to all religious scholars of different
thoughts to maintain calm and avoid giving in to provocation of miscreants. He
held a series of meetings with religious scholars, including a delegation of Darul
Aloom Ul Quaran Raja Bazaar to deliberate on ways to defuse the situation.
On 17th November, Punjab Chief Minister constituted a high-level factfinding committee on the tragic Rawalpindi riots to nail the real culprits.
Headed by former Chairman Chief Ministers Inspection Team, Najam Saeed,
the committee has been powered to point out any administrative or security
lapse that led to the tragedy. It would also identify those responsible for
1162
dereliction of duty or laxity, and propose measures for checking such incidents
in future.
Earlier in the day, the CM held a meeting with prominent ulema in
Rawalpindi to enlist their support against sectarianism. Assuring the ulema
delegation of early completion of inquiries and arrest of culprits, Shahbaz Sharif
warned that history will never forgive the ulema if any damage was caused to
Pakistan by sectarian prejudices. The CM said that ulema will have to cooperate
and use their collective wisdom for unity, harmony and peace.
Lahore High Court Chief Justice constituted a one-man judicial
commission to probe the Rawalpindi incident. Justice Mamoonur Rasheed
Sheikh is head of the commission and mandated to investigate any government
official as he deemed necessary for an impartial inquiry. He would start the job
from tomorrow and submit report within 30 days to the Punjab government,
which had requested the constitution of the commission.
The government allowed the delegation of ulema to offer funeral prayers
for three riot victims in Liaquat Bagh. The funeral was held under a strict
security cover by Pakistan Army, police and other law-enforcement agencies.
The funeral prayer was led by Maulana Samiul Haq, and attended by scores of
seminary students and people from different schools of thought. Rawalpindi
administration decided to lift the curfew in the city from tomorrow.
A team of Ulema led by Islamic Ideological Council Chairman Allama
Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi was scheduled to have talks with the government in
Lahore. At the Civil Secretariat, the government team comprising provincial
ministers Rana Mashood Ahmad Khan, Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman and
some junior officials turned up to participate in the negotiations. But the ulema
refused to hold talks with them in the absence of Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif.
Multan remained in the grip of panic as Army and police troops patrolled
affected areas throughout the day to avert any Saturday-like situation. The
district administration also imposed section 144 PPC and banned gathering of
more than two persons. While in Bahawalnagar, more than 60 persons were
arrested on charges of ransacking public property and rioting in Chishtian
besides the presence of Army and Rangers averted the possibility of holding any
protest.
Next day, violence erupted in Kohat when a protest rally, led by the Sunni
Muslim organization Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jamat (ASWJ), to protest against
Rawalpindi incident turned violent after it was fired upon by unidentified
persons near an Imambargah. The two dead were identified as policeman Noor
Mohammad and a passer-by Khair Rehman, while four persons were injured.
However, curfew in Hangu, which caught fire from the Kohat incident, was
lifted after two hours. Curfew was also lifted in the most affected city of
1163
Rawalpindi. The situation remains tense in the garrison city and Rawalpindi
administration said that section 144 would remain imposed while the army
would also remain on standby.
Protestors shut several markets in Rawalpindi after lifting of the curfew.
Traders, of Madiana Market and other markets of Raja Bazaar, who were in the
forefront demanded compensation for the damage to their properties in Fridays
incident. Hundreds of other people also joined the protests to demand
immediate action against the culprits.
Minister Sanaullah said the damage assessment committee would submit
its report to the government within 48 hours so that timely financial assistance
could be provided to the affected traders. Addressing a news conference, the
minister said the provincial government would also bear expenses of the
seminarys reconstruction.
On 19th November, unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle killed a
university director along with his driver in an apparent sectarian attack in
Gujrat. Syed Shabbir Hussain Shah was on his way to the campus when the
attackers sprayed his car with bullets and sped off. The police confirmed that
Shah belonged to the Shia sect.
Punjab government made the Regional Police Officer (RPO) Officer on
Special Duty while removed City Police Officer (CPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana
and SSP (Security) Dar Ali Khattak from their offices on account of showing
sheer negligence during security duty of Ashura procession and directed them to
report to Central Police Office, Lahore. The government also shuffled SP CIA
Chaudhry Muhammad Hanif and appointed him as SP Rawal Division whereas
SP Syed Jamat Ali Shah Bukhari as SP CIA.
Kohat Police arrested 15 accused involved in firing incident, fire-raising
and provocative speeches, and also recovered huge quantity of arms and
ammunitions from their possession. Three different cases were also registered
against them. Meanwhile IGP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa directed the Kohat Police
to get footage of the incident and with its help ensure early arrest of the
remaining accused.
Around 400 unidentified people were booked over different charges,
including terrorism, in Chishtian incident. FIR No 839/13, on November 15,
U/S 295-A,436,148,149 and 7-8TA were registered by city Chishtian Police.
Meanwhile, DPO Bahawalnagar said that situation was completely under
control.
Next day, Prime Minister directed the authorities concerned to fix
responsibility for criminal negligence by carrying out fair and neutral
investigation into the Rawalpindi incident. Chairing a high-level meeting on law
and order at he took strong exception of the role of police in the Rawalpindi
1164
incident. He said the police should have taken preemptive action to forestall the
incident.
During the meeting, the IG Punjab police gave a detailed briefing on the
incident and admitted the failure on part of the local police authorities. He
briefed the meeting that the Rawalpindi incident resulted in the killing of 11
people and injuries to 56 others. He added all deaths occurred due to firearms
and refuted claims from some quarters about missing persons in the incident.
On 22nd November, thousands of religious scholars, traders, politicians and
people from different walks of life offered the Juma prayers at the site of the
damaged Darul Uloom Taleem-ul-Quran, Raja Bazaar, amid a tight security
cover provided by Pakistan Army, Rangers, police and other law-enforcement
agencies. The Friday sermon was delivered by Maulana Ashraf Ali. The
gathering was organized on the call of Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia.
Addressing the mammoth gathering, Maulana said ulema and seminary
students remained peaceful today and even on the day of the Rawalpindi
tragedy despite the collateral damage caused by the miscreants by burning the
mosque, the seminary and the market. But the government should not take our
silence as our weakness and ban all mourning processions forever. These
processions are actually the main reason for clash in the city, he said. He
demanded the government bring all the culprits involved in burning of the
seminary and killing of the innocent students to justice.
On the occasion, the provincial government had tightened security by
deputing army troops, Rangers and police to avert any untoward incident as
Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia and religious parties were staging protest against
the Rawalpindi incident in various parts of the city. Police sealed various main
roads and streets leading to Darul Uloom Taleem-ul-Quran, Raja Bazaar,
Faizabad intersection and several other roads with barbwires, hand-pushed carts
and containers.
The unscheduled load shedding at the time of Juma prayers annoyed the
seminary management as its representatives snubbed DCO Sajid Zafar for not
asking Wapda to restore electricity supply. Rangers did not allow live coverage
of the protest by media persons. A clash-like situation was averted by police
between two religious groups at Imambargah Shaheedan-e-Karbala when a rally
of JASWJ turned violent after stones were pelted from inside the Imambargah.
Various religious parties took to the streets to condemn the Rawalpindi
incident, terming it an attempt to ignite sectarian violence and dismantle the
countrys social fabric. The participants asked the government to unmask the
real go-getters behind the tragedy, besides announcing compensation for the
victim families and traders whose shops were burned to ashes. They said that
the madrassa students who had gone missing on the day of incident should be
recovered; otherwise, they would continue their protests.
1165
1166
On 16th November, President Karzai called on the Taliban and their allies to
join an assembly on a security pact that could allow some US troops to stay in
the country after 2014. Around 2,500 tribal elders and civil leaders are expected
to take part in an assembly known as a loya jirga on 21 st November, to decide
whether to accept the draft Bilateral Security Agreement between Afghanistan
and the US.
Jirga will decide the contentious issues, including a US demand to retain
legal jurisdiction over its troops in Afghanistan, which would give them
immunity from Afghan law. The request emerged as the main sticking point
after Kerrys visit. The Taliban and Hezb-e-Islami, a Taliban affiliate, have
refused to send members to jirga calling it legalizing the US occupation.
On 18th November, seven schoolchildren were killed and three wounded by
a roadside bomb in southeastern Afghanistan. The bomb was planted on the side
of a main road in the Khairkot district of Paktika Province, and exploded when
the children stepped on it while playing.
According to Afghan government sources and Taliban internal statistics
quoted in a special report to the UN Security Council, between 10,000 and
12,000 rebels are thought to have been killed, captured or wounded. Deaths and
injuries among the Afghan police and army have also soared in the last year. A
UN official said the number of Taliban losses was a threefold increase on the
figure for the same period last year.
The US-led NATO alliance has long refused to publish information about
the number of Taliban fighters it believes have died on the battlefield. The
report, by the committee in charge of the UNs list of senior members of the
Taliban subject to international sanctions, says Afghan army and police have
performed well in the past 12 months, even succeeding in taking back some
Taliban-controlled territory.
Next day, it was reported that six Pakistani detainees have been released
from US custody at Bagram Prison in Afghanistan and repatriated to Pakistan
last week, according to a letter submitted by the US Department of Justice (DoJ)
in a US Court of Appeal. The letter was provided to the lawyers at Justice
Project Pakistan (JPP) on 18 November, 2013.
Afghanistan agreed to the framework of a security pact with the United
States days ahead of a national gathering to debate the future of the US military
presence in the country. But the U.S. State Department said some final issues
still had to be settled before a final text was ready. We are not there yet, a
spokeswoman said
On 20th November, an Afghan district police chief was killed in an ambush
by militants in the Province of Helmand. Tooryalai Khan, police chief of
Helmands Marjah district, was leading an operation against Taliban insurgents
1167
in the area when he was ambushed early in the morning. Khan was appointed in
the district six months ago.
The day-long second round of China-Pakistan-Russia Trilateral Dialogue
on Afghanistan concluded in Islamabad with the note that situation in
Afghanistan, particularly in the run-up to 2014, had important bearing on
regional peace and stability. They agreed to enhance mutual consultations and
cooperation on the developments in this regard. The three parties reaffirmed
their support for an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation
process and underlined the importance of intensified efforts in that direction.
Next day, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the United States has become a
constant threat for the entire region, after making an announcement about
prolonging its presence in Afghanistan till 2024. In his views during a dialogue
organized at South Asian Free Media Association, Fazl said peace could not be
established until the Americans left the region.
He was of the view that heads of all the neighboring countries should think
about regional peace and stability. He said it was quite strange that 25,000
American soldiers came to Afghanistan to fight 35 al-Qaeda members, and
established nine military bases across that country. He asserted that such a huge
number of troops had not come to eradicate terrorism, but to pose a threat to
regional peace.
President of Afghanistan Karzai said that peace in Afghanistan is in the
hands of Americans and Pakistanis. He told the consultative Loya Jirga
(national meeting of tribal elders) in Kabul that he had received a letter from his
American counterpart President Barack Obama, promising respect for
Afghanistans sovereignty and protection of the US troops staying in the
country after 2014.
Karzai told the Jirga that China, India and Russia were supportive of the
security deal with the US, despite their differences with Washington on other
issues, adding that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey also overtly back the deal
that is stoutly opposed by Iran. Karzai gave his backing to the proposed security
pact with the United States that will see up to 15,000 foreign troops stay in the
war-torn country. But he said it would not be signed until after next years
election.
Karzai urged the 2,500 delegates to consider Afghanistans future
prosperity as they made their decision, saying the deal gave the country a
chance to move on after more than 30 years of war. This agreement provides us
a transitional period to reach stability in the next ten years ahead of us, he said.
The deal will see 10,000-15,000 foreign troops remain in Afghanistan after
NATO pulls out the bulk of its forces by the end of 2014, Karzai said. But he
stressed that not all would be American, saying there would be troops from
1168
other NATO countries and some other Muslim nations. America does not
trust me and I do not trust them. I have had struggles with them and they have
spread propaganda against me, he said.
On 23rd November, at least seven people have been killed in a US
assassination drone strike in eastern Afghanistan. The deadly attack was carried
out in an area in Afghanistans eastern province of Nangarhar last night. The
attack completely destroyed a mosque. Meanwhile, the US officials warned
Afghan leaders that the failure to sign a new security pact this year with the
United States could jeopardize crucial aid to the war-torn country.
Next day, an Afghan grand assembly endorsed a crucial security agreement
allowing some US troops to stay on after 2014, although President Hamid
Karzai set conditions for signing the deal. The loya jirga gathering of about
2,500 chieftains, tribal elders and politicians overwhelmingly backed the pact
setting the terms for any US military presence beyond 2014, and urged Karzai
to sign it by the end of this year. Karzai did not explicitly address when the deal
would be signed, but said it would only go ahead under certain conditions.
Iran: On 11th November, John Kerry accused the Islamic Republic of Iran
of scuttling the latest efforts to end the deadlock. Speaking in Abu Dhabi, the
top US diplomat insisted a deal with Iran would protect Israel and Americas
Gulf allies, saying war should be the last resort and that no state has existing
right to enrich. Yesterday President Rouhani had said his government would
not abandon its nuclear rights, including uranium enrichment.
Next day, Iranian Foreign Minister rejected US Secretary of State John
Kerrys pinning of blame on Iran for the lack of a deal on its nuclear programme
last week, saying splits between Western powers prevented a breakthrough.
Responding to remarks by Kerry in Abu Dhabi, Zarif said that singling out Iran
only served to undermine confidence in the Geneva negotiations.
On 13th November, White House warned US lawmakers that tightening
sanctions on Iran could derail a diplomatic drive for a nuclear deal with Iran,
boxing America into a march to war. The remarks marked a significant
toughening of President Barack Obamas stance towards Congress on sanctions
as US prepared to resume high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with Iran later this
month.
On 24th November, Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in a
breakthrough deal that world powers claimed was the biggest step in decadelong efforts to deny Tehran an atomic bomb. Tehran boasted that the agreement,
which offers Iran limited sanctions relief, recognized its right to enrich uranium,
but Washington denied it made any such reference as differences remained after
the arduous Geneva talks. The six world powers involved in the marathon talks
however hailed the preliminary agreement.
1169
Under the deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN
Security Council plus Germany announced, Tehran will limit uranium
enrichment the area that raises most suspicions over Irans alleged nuclear
weapons drive to low levels. It will neutralize its entire stockpile of uranium
enriched to medium 20-per cent purities close to weapons-grade within six
months, Kerry said in Geneva, where he and other foreign ministers helped nail
down the deal.
Iran will also not add to its stockpile of low-enriched uranium, nor install
more centrifuges or commission the Arak reactor. UN atomic inspectors will
also have additional, unprecedented access, Kerry said. In exchange the deal
will afford the Islamic republic some $7 billion in sanctions relief and the
powers promised to impose no new embargo measures for six months if Tehran
sticks by the accord.
This represents limited, temporary, targeted, and reversible relief while
maintaining the vast bulk of our sanctions, including the oil, finance, and
banking sanctions architecture, the White House said. Hassan Rouhani, whose
election as Irans president in June raised hopes of a thaw with the West,
insisted Irans right to uranium enrichment on its soil was accepted in this
nuclear deal by world powers.
Isolated and angry with its ally the United States, Israel bitterly denounced
a bad nuclear deal between world powers and Tehran while repeating its threat
of military action against Iran. The hostile reaction came as the Jewish state saw
months of diplomatic efforts to persuade world powers not to provide sanctions
relief to Tehran being swept aside.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu charged that what was achieved in
Geneva is not a historic agreement but rather a historic mistake. Netanyahu's
office had earlier called it a bad agreement that gives Iran exactly what it
wanted a significant easing of sanctions and allows it to keep hold of the most
essential parts of its nuclear programme.
People in the Middle East will lose sleep over nuclear deal between global
powers and Iran, a Saudi foreign policy adviser said. At the time the adviser
spoke, Saudi Arabia had not officially responded to news of the deal under
which Western countries will ease sanctions in return for curbs on Iran's nuclear
program. Riyadh has frequently called for Washington to maintain a tough line
with Tehran.
1170
1171
VIEWS
Pakistan
A necessary and improper rebuke: The Jamaat-e-Islami lecturing the
Army on civilian supremacy is quiet a surprise! What provoked a passionate
performance by Mr Liauqat Baloch, in defence of his party Chief, Mr Munawar
Hassan, was nothing less than a stinging reprimand by the Pakistan Army
spokesperson; itself in response to Mr Hassans ill-considered remarks on who
does and does not qualify as a martyr.
In the confusion that followed the Hakimullahs killing, and the vexation at
the derailing of the enthusiastically marketed peace process, Mr Hassan may
have thought he was swinging for the fences, when he declared Mehsud to be a
martyr, and all 5,000-odd of the Pakistan security forces who died during the
supposed offence of fighting those of Mehsuds ilk, non-martyrs.
The other day, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif thundered against a
politician, who had caused grievous hurt, by his unguarded remarks on
martyrdom. In comparison, the ISPR press release pulled no punches, peppered
with phrases such as, politics of convenience, shuhada and their families need
no endorsement from Syed Munawar Hassan, misguided and self-serving
statements, demand an unconditional apology from Syed Munawar Hassan,
expected that Jamat-e-Islami should clearly state its party position on the
subject.
Instinctively, one is moved to rejoice by someone, anyone, delivering the
necessary put-down to the JI Chief. But, on observation, the fact that this putdown came from the Pakistan Army complete with a demand for an apology
makes one shift nervously in ones seat. Undoubtedly, the JI Chiefs remarks
are deserving only of disdain and Mr Balochs press conference full of
distraction and deliberate obfuscation, even more so but for the official
spokesperson of the Pakistan Army to demand an apology from an MNA is
inappropriate. It is a breach of discipline. Had the demand been voiced by the
Prime Minister, or better yet the Head of State, the President, it may perhaps
have been more seemly.
No one agrees with Mr Munawar Hassan; in fact, many are looking
wistfully to Bangladesh and its not for the 6% growth rate this time. But, the
Army must maintain a stiff upper lip, as is its constitutional requirement, when
it comes to addressing politicians. Unfortunately, the JI, which has long
undermined the cause of civilian supremacy over the military, is the
undeserving beneficiary of this principle in this case. Unmoved by the storm his
remarks have provoked, Mr Hassan maintains that his recent pontificating on
martyrdom is in accordance with Sharia Law. It might be best for us all to
1172
watch quietly from the sidelines, while Mr Hassan digs his party its own grave.
The ISPR press release was absolutely correct in one matter; the comments of
Mr Hassan deserve absolutely no response. And definitely not from the ISPR. If
the Army feels vexed by the JI Chiefs comments, a note to the Prime Minister
would be the route to take. And let the civilian Prime Minister handle it from
there. (Editorial, TheNation 12th November)
Living in fools paradise: Nawaz Sharifs appeal for the US intervention
in the resolution of the Kashmir dispute was rejected by both India and the US.
Instead, he had to listen to Obamas demands for action against Hafiz Saeed and
JuD. There was no progress on the issue of our access to civilian nuclear
technology. Nawaz Shrarifs request for the termination of drone attacks
similarly met a negative response from Obama. Instead, he had to undergo the
indignity of a calculated leak by the US government to the Washington Post
alleging that the drone attacks were carried out by the US in the past with the
connivance of our previous governments, thus, exposing their hypocrisy and
duplicity. On top of that, the US launched new drone attacks after Nawaz
Sharifs request to terminate them, just to show how little importance it attached
to it. One of these drone attacks, which killed Hakimullah Mehsud, has virtually
scuttled the process of dialogue with the TTP which was about to start as
recommended by the APC. The attack showed that there was a wide gulf
between the views of the two countries in fighting terrorism.
Even from the point of view of optics, the way Nawaz Sharif was shunted
around in Washington from pillar to post for several days before his audience
with Obama was pathetic. It showed the disdain with which the US authorities
handled his visit. In fact, considering the meager results of the visit and the
rebuff that Nawaz Sharif got from the Obama administration on several critical
issues, one wonders about the justification for undertaking the visit at this time.
Normally, visits at the Head of Government level should not be undertaken
when the certainty of significant positive results has not been ensured through
advance preparatory work at the Ministerial and senior official levels. Nawaz
Sharifs visit failed this important test.
An objective analysis of the Pakistan-US relationship before Nawaz
Sharifs visit would have shown the unlikelihood of significant progress in view
of the wide gulf between the views of the two countries on several strategic
issues relating to terrorism, Afghanistan, Pakistan-India relations, Iran and
China. Our excessive dependence on the US in many fields weakened our
bargaining position, precluding the possibility of satisfactory results. The fact
that the visit was undertaken nevertheless showed our leaderships chronic
tendency to live in fools paradise, our desperate economic situation, and the
serious energy crisis from which the country is suffering. It also reflects our
national trait to try to find solutions of our domestic problems through
1173
assistance from foreign capitals instead of relying upon our own efforts to put
our house in order.
Time has come for our political and military leaders, senior officials, and
the nation as a whole to come out of their dream-world. In the competition for
survival and progress in the comity of nations, there is no substitute for a
nations own efforts. The need of the hour, therefore, is constant hard work and
the application of our minds and energies to finding solutions of our national
problems. External assistance at best can play only a marginally helpful role.
The inclination to rely on external help for overcoming our problems has not
helped us in the past and is unlikely to help us in the future. In fact, our
excessive dependence on other countries gives a handle in their hands to prevent
us from acting in our best national interest. Look at the way in which the US has
opposed and prevented us so far from implementing the Iran-Pakistan gas
pipeline project which is in our best national interest (Javid Husain,
TheNation 12th November)
Plan B for terrorism strategy? The strategy of War on Terror needs
enduring structures, partnerships and a mix of tactics in order to defeat the
threat of terrorism. The strategy is not and cannot be interchanged with one
single tactic that is talking to Taliban. Should that not come to a pass; the
entire government comes to a grinding halt for want of another tactic. Not to
be confused with strategy please! On principle I do not oppose peace talks
unless they are on held from a position of respect and strength. Merely giving
lip service to the possibility of the talks without anything positive emerging on
ground from either side cannot be supported indefinitely.
I am reminded here of Sun Tzu; The Art of War, If you know the enemy
and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you
know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a
defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every
battle. (Yasmeen Aftab Ali, TheNation 12th November)
Forgotten in Bagram: On 23rd October 2013, Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif met with President Barack Obama to discuss, among other topics, illegal
and lethal drone strikes on Pakistani territory. While commendable, Prime
Minister Sharif must remember that drone strikes are not the only aspect of the
United States misguided counter-terrorism policy to affect Pakistani citizens.
The United States is currently holding over 40 Pakistani citizens in Bagram
Prison in Afghanistan, without charge, trial or access to a lawyer.
Hamidullah Khan is one of them. He is a 19 year old boy hailing from
Wazirisitan. When he was still a young boy his family moved to Karachi for
greater economic opportunities. Hamidullah has always been an excellent
student and dreamt of becoming a doctor. In July 2008, during the summer
holidays, his father sent him to his family home in Wazirisitan to collect their
1174
1175
handed over to Afghan authorities notorious for the horrific torture they inflict
on detainees.
In 12 years of lopsided bi-lateral relations between Pakistan and the United
States, rarely has the Pakistani government had the upper hand over its US
counterparts. In the black-hole that is Bagram Prison, the Pakistani government
has the legal and moral high-ground to demand the unconditional return of all
its citizens. It must conduct negotiations with US authorities at the highest level.
It must sign a repatriation agreement applicable to present and future detainees.
The agreement must guarantee Pakistani citizens will be repatriated in full
respect of their internationally and domestically protected human rights. Only
then will the balance of power be corrected in Pakistans favour. (Omran
Belhadi, TheNation 14th November)
Many questions remain unanswered: Despite extensive discussion with
the ruling political elite, a number of questions remained unanswered and
confusion about the trial and its expected outcome, ostensibly seemed vivid and
clear, shrouded into further confusion.
As it would be the first trial of the type under Article 6 in the country's
history, so it is not clear how this article would be applied and whether the
abettors and collaborators in the case would also meet the same fate of the
person directly involved in abrogating the constitution.
The first two clauses of Article 6 of the Constitution read; 1-Any person
who abrogates or subverts or suspends or holds in abeyance, or attempts or
conspires to abrogate or subvert or suspend or hold in abeyance, the
Constitution by use of force or show of force or by any other unconstitutional
means shall be guilty of high treason. 2-Any person aiding or abetting [or
collaborating] the acts mentioned in clause (1) shall likewise be guilty of high
treason.
The legal and constitutional experts while interpreting the first two clauses
of Article 6 said that it was clearly mentioned in these two clauses that the
abettors and collaborators of the person who had abrogated the constitution
would be guilty of high treason.
So in case of Musharraf all those who were consulted by him before
clamping the emergency order in the country were equally responsible for
subverting the constitution and if proven guilty would be guilty of some degree
of high treason.
The excerpt from the Proclamation of Emergency issued on November 3,
2007 by Musharraf before clamping the emergency consulted these persons;
And whereas the situation has been reviewed in meetings with the Prime
Minister, Governors of all four provinces, and with Chairman Joint Chiefs of
Staff Committee, Services Chiefs, Vice-Chief of Army Staff and Corps
1176
1177
soon after the bomb blasts in Quetta and Karachi was reflective of intrigues by
international hostile forces, especially RAW, which wish to destabilize Pakistan.
In 2007, bloody sectarian clashes took place in Parachinar near the
Afghanistan border in which 105 people were killed. In 2006, a bomb blast at a
grand gathering of Sunni Tehrik to celebrate Eid Milad-un-Nabi killed its
leaders. In 2006, 35 people were killed and more than 100 wounded in district
Hangu in suicide bombings on the Ashura procession and subsequent violence.
In 2004, 50 people were killed when a bomb exploded in an Ashura procession
in Quetta.
A redeeming feature is that great majority of Muslims have kept
themselves away from this conflict. However, religious scholars with divergent
views and religions need to play their role to foster tolerance and educate people
about the significance of interfaith and sectarian harmony for maintaining peace
and tranquility while leaders of the two sects need to proceed with great caution
to prevent the events from turning into a wider communal conflict
(Muhammad Jamil, TheNation 20th November)
Afghan endgame: A thorough strategic appraisal of the situation will
bring out certain areas for the Pakistan Government and its Armed Forces to
exploit.
Mullah Fazullahs foremost dilemma should be the location of his main
Base of Operations and his HQs? If he maintains these in Kunar-Nuristan to get
uninterrupted and intimate support from the Indo-Afghan/NDS-RAW Combine
then that would leave it too far away from the main battle fields in FATA and the
settled areas of Pakistan right up to Karachi. His Main Supply Routes would be
too long and subject to easy interdiction. He cannot shift it to Swat, his
erstwhile home territory, because of the Pakistan Armys presence there.
Furthermore, he would have lost much of his clout amongst the people there. He
might be forced to base himself in FATA; somewhere in North Waziristan,
Kurram, Orakzai, Khyber agencies etc. Here too he is likely to be viewed as an
outsider and would not be able to get the respect and unstinted intimate support
of the locals, especially from the Mehsud and Waziri tribes as Baitullah Mehsud
and Hakimullah Mehsud did. His (s)election is already causing fissures and
frictions within the ranks of the TTP; divided loyalties might lead to its
fracturing and dissipation.
Mullah Fazullahs elevation as the Ameer of the TTP might turn out to be
that critical turning point in this war that could eventually define his and the
TTPs future.
The Government of Pakistan must seize the opportunity and act boldly and
expeditiously now. It must desist from meekly beseeching the TTP for
negotiations or pleading for Mullah Omars benevolent intervention. It is a sure
sign of weakness. And the meek have yet to rule the world or even their own
1178
territories. Pakistan must never cede the stronger negotiating position to the
TTP, ever.
It must exploit the emerging fissures and not allow the TTP to settle down.
It could drive a wedge between the Mehsuds and Waziris on the one side and
the outsiders from Kunar-Nuristan-Swaton the other. It should divide and defeat
them piecemeal. Their links to and their logistics supply chain from the NDSRAW Combine needs to be severed immediately.
Pakistan must employ all elements of its national power to move into an
unambiguous and unassailable position of strength. Thereafter it may hold an
All Parties Conference and offer the TTP two choices - either to submit to the
writ of the Government or face the consolidated political and military might of a
unified and united nuclear Pakistan.
There is no other way out of this morass! (Imran Malik, TheNation 20 th
November)
Droning further and deeper: Prime Ministers Advisor on National
Security and Foreign Affairs, Mr Sartaj Aziz, claimed that the US has assured
Pakistan of halting drone attacks until the peace process with TTP is complete.
The statement made headlines, and was understandably received with much
skepticism. But even a pessimist couldnt have imagined just how soon Mr
Sartaj Aziz would be forced to eat his words, as the very next day, a US drone
strike targeted a seminary in Hangu district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK)
This is a major development and points to several issues: a drone strike
further penetrating into Pakistans territory a day after a statement by a seasoned
and reputedly responsible diplomat raises serious questions over the state of
US-Pak relationships. It is obvious that the federal governments efforts to
convince Washington have resulted in complete failure. The strike appears to
have taken PM Nawaz Sharifs government by surprise which is struggling to
contain the anger of the masses over its inability to disrupt the US drone
program in the country, and the vagueness that surrounds its security and
foreign policy. The federal government must answer where it stands on issues
with its strategic allies, and explain the communication breakdown which is
apparent from this recent development.
The incident is likely to narrow the rift that had appeared between the
Haqqani network and TTP, after the latter accused the former of providing
intelligence for the drone strike that killed Hakimullah Mehsud. It is alleged that
the murder of Nasiruddin Haqqani, in Islamabad, was in retaliation by TTP
against their traditional allies. Furthermore, the strike has given Mr Imran Khan
a timely opportunity to give the false impression of the severe security crisis in
Pakistan being drone-centric. It will also help his partys demand for the
blockage of NATO supplies until drone attacks cease to occur. Opposition to
drones is justified and must continue, but it would be nice to see the political
1179
1180
Afghanistan
1182
into mainstream economic activities. There is also a need to strengthen antidrug effort to prevent proliferation of drug trafficking through Pakistan. These
tasks cannot be accomplished single-handedly by Pakistan. Therefore,
negotiations on these issues should be initiated with the UN and other willing
donors for working out a comprehensive and economically sustainable plan of
action. (K Iqbal, TheNation 18th November)
Karzai seeks consensus: After much difficulty, and months of
deliberation, President Hamid Karzai, was finally able to present a 10-year USAfghan security pact before the Loya Jirga in Kabul, on Thursday. The
agreement will see 10,000-15,000 US forces personnel remain in Afghanistan
till 2024 as NATO troops withdraw from the country towards the end of 2014.
The deal is crucial for Afghanistans security in the future, considering the
Afghan National Armys serious limitations. It cannot fund its ongoing
operations or arrange logistics for itself. The pact seeks to enable US forces to
train, equip and assist security and military forces in Afghanistan. The wartorn country has much at stake in relation to the proposed deal, and as it appears
from his performance in front of the Loya Jirga, so does Mr Karzai.
The need for the Loya jirga to grant its stamp of approval was felt due to
the skepticism and reservations that surround the security pact in particular, and
US-Afghan relationships in general. Mr Karzai certainly doesnt intend to claim
absolute ownership of the pact, and is looking to share responsibility with jirga
members and the rest of the parliament to give the impression of reaching a
national decision. The US sought quick authorization of the pact, but to the
surprise of the Obama administration, Mr Karzai announced that despite the
endorsement by the Loya jirga, the final approval will be up to his successor.
The country will elect a new president in the elections scheduled for next April.
More political maneuvering followed, as Mr Karzai conveniently attempted to
put peace in Afghanistan in the hands of Pakistan and the US.
It must be conceded that Pakistans foreign policy with regards to
Afghanistan is a series of bad judgments which have never failed to translate
into grave consequences. Our obsession with strategic depth and patronage of
strategic assets has proven detrimental for both neighbours. The recent reports
of TTP enjoying Afghan governments support suggest that the grass isnt any
greener on the other side of the fence. Now, we have regrettably entered a titfor-tat phase; proxy for a proxy. But despite all this, it is in error to attribute the
sole responsibility of Afghanistans peace to Pakistans role. Mr Karzai must not
evade responsibility, and should realize that his government and his people have
a crucial job to perform. Afghans will decide their fate should they choose to do
so in the upcoming elections. Afghanistan requires serious efforts aimed
towards reconstruction and maintenance. The assistance from the international
community in terms of continued funding, technical support and military
1184
training holds critical value. Pakistan is part of the picture, not the face of the
entire album. (Editorial, TheNation 23rd November)
REVIEW
The statements of chiefs of two religio-political parties, Fazl and Munawar,
especially the one given by the latter, triggered a debate on the issue of
Shahadat. Pakistani intellectuals and TV anchors embroiled themselves in
aimless discussion, but in Sindh Assembly, the matter was pushed beyond
debate when on the behest of MQM a resolution was adopted condemning
Munawar for calling Hakimullah a Shaheed.
MQM also demanded that Jamaat-e-Islami should be banned as has been
done by Hasina in Bangladesh. MQMs concern and demand is not difficult to
understand. It is not for the love of Pakistan or Pakistan Army but because of
political rivalry with JI and PTI. However, to follow the precedence set by
Hasina the MQM may have to wait till it creates its own Bangladesh or
Altafistan. Incidentally, JI was the only political party that had stood by the
Army for the defence of East Pakistan.
TV anchors and vested interests at this critical juncture kept coaxing
politicians by asking leading questions to extract controversial statements to
keep their prime time shows firing on all cylinders. Political leaders, especially
those belonging to religio-political parties must guard against these Dengie
mosquitoes.
These debates distract them from the real issues. Munawar Hassan clearly
faltered in this context and got trapped. Ironically, the other leader, Fazlur
Rehman of JUI-F uttered far worse remarks on the issue that too voluntarily and
yet escaped the accountability by all, including the Army. It is to the credit of
Maulana that despite being burly he is swift like shifting sand in changing his
stance.
The issue of Shahadat will be decided by Allah on case to case basis on the
Day of Judgment. There are many sayings of the Prophet (S.A.W.) which make
it very clear that getting a favourable Divine verdict will not be so easy.
Therefore, these leaders must out-rightly refuse answering such questions
simply saying that they cannot give ruling on the issue that will be decided by
Allah.
Pakistan Armys concerns over Munawar calling Hakimullah a shaheed are
understandable as these have direct bearing on the morale of its rank and file. In
spite of that it would have been better to ignore the statement completely. When
dogs are termed as shaheeds, there is no wisdom in jumping into the
controversy.
1185
What has been achieved? In the heat of taking on JI the party was accused
of committing war crimes and thereby its opponents termed all Army soldiers as
war criminals. Many politicians even from Bhuttos PPP, who played key role in
dismembering Pakistan, accused JI of joining hands with the Army in
committing war crimes against Bengalis.
Army must also bear in mind, irrespective of the reasons and circumstances
that led it to jump on the side of the US, that this war is primarily against
followers of Islam and Bush was proud of calling it the Crusades. History has
yet to pass its judgment and when that comes Pakistan could be found on the
wrong side.
Army and its agencies have been providing intelligence to CIA for drone
attacks for killing terrorists and in the process many innocent lives have been
lost. Forget the recent controversy over figures in which the loss of only 67 lives
was shown; just recollect the number of students of a madrassa killed in
Damadola years ago and in attack on a jirga in North Waziristan soon after
resumption of NATO supplies which were stopped as consequence of Salalah
attack.
When bickering over the issue of Shaheeds was still on, the fund-raiser of
Haqqani Network, Nasiruddin Haqqani was killed in Islamabad. The news of
his killing was announced by radio Kabul just 25 minutes after the incident and
western media gave the news within two hours. On the other hand, the
authorities in Islamabad came to know after six hours.
The above timings of reporting make amply clear as to where Pakistan
stands in the ongoing war. What to talk of retaining initiative, which is so
important in any war, or even timely reaction, Pakistan is unable to catch up
with events taking place in quick succession. This is the reason that Interior
Minister of the regime ordered a probe to know how the dead body of
Nasiruddin reached Miranshah without his permission.
Couple of days later, the forces which have been working to ignite ShiaSunni conflict to destabilize Pakistan, struck in Rawalpindi. The efforts to
flare-up sectarian strife have been on for years as part of the Crusaders strategy
for bleeding the Muslims.
It has been going on in Yemen, Iraq, Bahrain and Syria and in Pakistan it
had not been of the desired intensity despite several attacks on Shia community.
This time the tables were turned to get desired result; the Shia participants in
mourning procession attacked a Sunni mosque, madrassa and affiliated cloth
market. Eleven people, mostly students were killed and property worth billions
was burnt.
There was an apparent change in the strategy; Ashura participants had
come prepared for self-defence and as they say the attack is the best defence. It
1186
was also evident from aggressive attitude of Shia Zakirs as was seen in
incidents in Rawalpindi, Chishtian, Multan and Kohat. They succeeded in
provoking the Sunnis, but enemy fell short of achieving its mission as Sunni
Ulema were able to restrict reaction to organizing country-wide protest rallies
only.
The Sunni religious leaders, however, warned that restraint should not be
taken as weakness. They almost unanimously demanded imposition of ban on
holding religious processions on roads and streets. Their demand is quite
rational and the National Assembly should seriously consider legislation in this
regard even if objected to by some religious leaders.
As Sunnis were protesting Rawalpindi incident, the US drone struck
again and killed another Haqqani leader in a madrassah in settled area near
Hangu. This seemed to be a planned straight punch into the face of Imran Khan
who has been vowing to stop NATO supplies through KPK.
The attack should have been embarrassing for the regime as only a day
earlier Sartaj Aziz had told the Senate that the US has assured not to launch
drone attack as long as Pakistan is working on dialogue with TTP. The old man
seemed to have been failed by his years of experience. He must have thought
that as there was no chance of peace dialogue in foreseeable future as new
Taliban leadership has ruled out talks and the US has a man of its choice as TTP
chief, so there could be no need of drone strike. However, the only man who felt
embarrassed in the government was Interior Minister; the rest took it in a
manly stride.
Next day, PTI, JI and Shaikh Rashid held a rally in Peshawar and blocked
NATO supplies, but rest of political leadership disapproved Imrans stance on
drone strikes. Most of the media channels and their wizards also termed it as a
futile exercise.
From the foregoing it can be seen that how divided Pakistan is on war
waged by the US using of Devils Device. This holy war now encompasses
various kinds of proxy wars waged from across its borders on either side. This
helps in understanding as to why Nawaz Sharif wanted visa-free travel between
India and Pakistan; appeasement in helplessness.
In Afghanistan, Karzai successfully wooed the Loya Jirga to approve the
security deal with the US which will allow presence of foreign troops in the
country after 2014. Karzai has been clever enough not to sign the deal
immediately, because he plans to have guarantees for continuation of his
influence after next years polls.
Iran too has struck a deal with 5+1 and that has been celebrated by
sanctions-struck Iranians. They have reasons to rejoice as Irans right to nuclear
technology has been accepted though enrichment grade has been limited to 20
1187
percent. The US too must be happy because the deal could help in taming the
Saudi rulers who had become obstinate of late.
25th November, 2013
SECTARIAN STRIFE
Month of November was the bloodiest in the ongoing sectarian war in Iraq
that had started after toppling of Saddam Hussein by the Crusaders. The
sectarian killings are being carried out in execution style that was introduced by
the special death squads inducted by the occupation forces. Both sides, Shias
and Sunnis, seemed to have learnt a lot from the US occupation forces.
Syria remained relatively calm since agreement on destruction of chemical
weapons held by the regime of Bashar Al-Asad. Syrian security forces have
been on the offensive during the period recapturing some strategically important
towns and the western media has deliberately curtailed the reporting about the
country.
Elsewhere in the region, the Saudis and Israelis, who were unhappy about
the US backing out from military action against Syria, have been annoyed
further by the deal between Iran and P5+1. Across the Suez Canal, the military
regime in Egypt has tightened its hold by introducing strict anti-demonstration
1188
laws in the country in addition to going ahead with trials of the leaders of
Muslim Brotherhood.
NEWS
Far East
Bangladesh: On 3rd November, a war crimes court sentenced a Britishbased Muslim leader and a US citizen to death in absentia for murder in the
latest ruling over atrocities during the 1971 war. London-based Chowdhury
Mueen-Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman Khan, from the United States, were found
guilty by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of 11 charges related to the
kidnap and slaughter of 18 intellectuals during the conflict.
The latest sentences are unlikely to trigger a backlash in the volatile
country since both men, aged in their 60s, left the country years ago. MueenUddin has held positions in a host of top Islamic organizations in Britain and
was involved in setting up the Muslim Council of Britain the countrys largest
umbrella group representing Muslims.
Next day, police fired live rounds at protesters in renewed clashes that
killed two people, as a fresh nationwide strike got under way to force the prime
minister to quit. Clashes erupted between hundreds of supporters of the main
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the ruling Awami League in
Patgram, some 300 kilometres north of the capital Dhaka.
At least 22 people have now been killed since the opposition began its
push, including strikes and street protests, last month to force Hasina to let an
interim administration organize the elections. In opposition protests late ahead
of the strike, activists threw home-made bombs in the industrial district of Savar
outside the capital, killing a rickshaw passenger.
On 5th November, a Bangladeshi court sentenced more than 150 soldiers to
death and jailed hundreds more, following a mass trial over a 2009 mutiny in
which scores of top officers were massacred. Some 823 soldiers plus 23
civilians appeared in a special court charged with murder, torture and other
offences over the mutiny, in which 74 people were shot, hacked to death or
burnt alive before their bodies were dumped in sewers or shallow graves.
A judge passed the death penalty on 152 of the soldiers, who looted
weapons and led the killing spree partly in anger that their longstanding pleas
for better pay and treatment were ignored. Another 161 soldiers plus some
civilians were sentenced to life in prison while 262 defendants were jailed for
up to 10 years, over the uprising that started at the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR)
headquarters in Dhaka and spread to other BDR bases.
1189
The judge acquitted another 271 people, prompting chaotic scenes in the
court. Many cheered and cried out Allahu Akbar! (God is great). Several of
those convicted screamed at the judge in anger, with one soldier crying out: I
am innocent. You will face Allahs wrath. I dont need a life term. Hang me,
hang me! another shouted.
Nearly 6,000 BDR soldiers, a paramilitary corps responsible for patrolling
the nations borders, have already been convicted by dozens of special courts
over the mutiny, whose victims included 54 top officers. The 823 soldiers were
singled out for prosecution in a civilian court for leading the mutiny at BDR
headquarters, after earlier being found guilty in military courts.
Next day, the United Nations human rights chief expressed alarm at the
death sentences handed out in Bangladesh to 152 paramilitary soldiers for their
role in a 2009 mutiny, following reports that they were tortured and their mass
trials fell short of human rights standards. High Commissioner for Human
Rights Navi Pillay urged the Government not to proceed with the death penalty,
particularly given concerns about the fairness of the trials.
Meenakshi Ganguly of the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW)
said her organization had documented the deaths of 47 soldiers taken into
custody after the mutiny. She said HRW activists had interviewed other suspects
who suffered permanent disabilities or developed psychological problems after
their interrogation by the army or the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).
Many of the accused did not know what they were charged with and didnt
have legal representation, Ganguly told AFP. They said RAB and army
officers who questioned them also tortured them in a bid to punish them even
before they were found guilty. Law Minister Ahmed rejected the allegations,
asking: Why would there be torture?
On 8th November, police arrested three key opposition officials after their
party called a fresh three-day strike in an effort to force Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina to resign and call elections under a caretaker government. The arrests
were part of a fresh crackdown on the opposition in which police also raided
houses of several other senior BNP officials.
On 11th November, cabinet ministers submitted their resignations to allow
Prime Minister Sheihk Hasina to form an all-party government to prepare for
polls, a plan rejected by the opposition which wants a neutral caretaker
government. The main opposition BNP and its 17 allies have said they will not
accept any government with Hasina in charge and are sticking to their demand
for a caretaker government to organize the elections.
On 26th November, opposition supporters blocked roads and ripped up
railway tracks in protests against elections announced for January, leaving seven
people dead and plunging the nation into fresh turmoil. The Bangladesh
1190
Nationalist Party (BNP) and its Islamist allies called a 48-hour nationwide
transport blockade to press their demand for a suspension of the January 5 poll
date. As clashes resumed, police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets and in
some cases live rounds. Train services were paralyzed. Protesters also detonated
home-made bombs.
Mainland Asia
China: On 3rd November, Communist Party expelled the military
commander of Xinjiang from its ranks after an attack in Beijing officially
blamed on members of the Uighur minority in the troubled northwest region.
General Peng Yong, who was named commander of the Xinjiang military region
in July 2011, was dismissed from his post as a member of the Standing
Committee of the Chinese Communist Party of Xinjiang.
On 6th November, a series of bombs packed with ball bearings exploded
outside a provincial headquarters of Chinas ruling Communist Party, killing at
least one person. Police and state media gave no possible motive for the blasts
in Taiyuan, capital of the northern province of Shanxi. Disgruntled citizens have
staged several incidents elsewhere in the country in recent years.
On 13th November, Chinas far-flung western region of Xinjiang is
demanding that lawyers guarantee family members dont wear burqas or grow
long beards. Lawyers in Turpan, an oasis city southeast of the regional capital,
Urumqi, have to sign a pledge denouncing extremism and participation in
illegal religious activities. Lawyers must commit to guaranteeing that family
members and relatives do not wear burqas, veils or participate in illegal
religious activities, and that young men do not grow long beards, the statement
said. While many Uighur women dress in much the same casual fashions as
other women in China, others have begun to wear full veils.
The demand comes after a car ploughed through bystanders on the edge of
Tiananmen Square in Beijing and burst into flames in late October, killing the
three people in the car and two bystanders. China called it a terrorist attack
carried out by the alleged militants from Xinjiang. But Uighur exiles, rights
groups and some experts have cast doubt on the official accounts.
On 17th November, eleven people were killed in an attack on a police
station in Xinjiang. Nine attackers and two auxiliary police officers were killed
in the incident in Serikbuya Township, near the historic Silk Road city of
Kashgar. Xinhua said the attackers were armed with knives and axes and that
two other police officers were also injured. The cause of the violence, however,
was disputed by a Xinjiang exile group, which claimed that Chinese security
personnel opened fire on protesting Uighurs.
Middle East
1191
the root causes of the unrest, particularly frustration within the Sunni Arab
minority, which complains of mistreatment by the Shia-led authorities.
On 25th November, attacks, including a market bombing and the
assassination of a former MP, killed 34 people as France offered to help combat
a surge in bloodshed ahead of elections. Attacks struck the capital and
predominantly Sunni Arab areas north of Baghdad that have borne the brunt of
the worsening unrest, which has killed more than 5,900 people this year.
Next day, Iraq announced the execution of 11 more convicted terrorists
amid surging violence just months before elections. The latest executions bring
to 162 the number of those put to death so far this year and as violence this
month killed more than 500 people as authorities grappled with the worst
bloodshed since 2008.
On 27th November, suicide bombings and other attacks killed 30 people in
Iraq and authorities found the bodies of 19 others shot dead in Baghdad. Four
suicide bombers successfully detonated their explosives, but the carnage could
have been much worse because security forces shot dead several would-be
suicide attackers.
Meanwhile, in two separate areas of the capital, police found the bodies of
14 men, all in their 20s or 30s, and all shot dead. Eight of the corpses were
found blindfolded in Dura neighbourhood, while six others had been dumped in
a canal in mostly Shuala. In the northern district of Hurriyah, a family of five
was shot dead in their home in a pre-dawn attack.
Next day, attacks in Iraq killed 25 people as 11 car bombs struck
nationwide from the northern hub of Mosul to Kut in the south. They cut down
civilians as well as security forces in a wide variety of incidents targeting
markets, bus stations, a funeral tent and the convoy of a top police official.
Babil province, south of Baghdad, suffered the lions share of the car bombs, as
a half-dozen struck provincial capital Hilla and nearby towns.
On 29th November, at least 51 people were killed across Iraq, most of
whom were kidnapped and shot dead with their corpses abandoned. Violence
struck in Baghdad and mostly Sunni Arab parts of the north and west, with
shootings and bombings targeting civilians. More than 6,000 people have been
killed this year.
But the most troubling of the bloodshed came early morning, when
authorities discovered the bodies of 18 men, including two tribal chiefs, four
policemen and an army major, dumped in farmland near the Sunni Arab town of
Tarmiyah, just north of Baghdad. All of them had been shot in the head and
chest, police and a medical source said.
Palestine: On 6th November, Suha, widow of Yasser Arafat said her
husband was poisoned to death in 2004 with radioactive polonium. She said that
1193
after receiving the results of Swiss forensic tests on her husband's corpse. We
are revealing a real crime, a political assassination, she told Reuters in Paris. A
team of experts had opened Arafat's grave in the West Bank city of Ramallah
last November, and took samples from his body to seek evidence of alleged
poisoning.
One of her lawyers said the Swiss institute's report, commissioned by Al
Jazeera, would be translated from English into French and handed over to the
three magistrates in the Paris suburb of Nanterre who are investigating the case.
Professor David Barclay, a British forensic scientist retained by Al Jazeera to
interpret the results of the Swiss tests, said the findings from Arafat's body
confirmed the earlier results from traces of bodily fluids on his underwear,
toothbrush and clothing. In my opinion, it is absolutely certain that the cause of
his illness was polonium poisoning, Barclay told Reuters.
What we have got is the smoking gun the thing that caused his illness
and was given to him with malice. The same radioactive substance was slipped
into a cup of tea in a London hotel to kill defecting Russian spy Alexander
Litvinenko in 2006. From his deathbed, Litvinenko accused Russian President
Vladimir Putin of ordering his murder. The British government refused to hold a
public inquiry into his death after ministers withheld some material which could
have shed light on Russia's suspected involvement.
Barclay said the type of polonium discovered in Arafat's body must have
been manufactured in a nuclear reactor. While many countries could have been
the source, someone in Arafat's immediate entourage must have slipped a
miniscule dose of the deadly isotope probably as a powder into his drink, food,
eye drops or toothpaste, he said. He was flown to Paris in a French government
plane but fell into a coma shortly after his arrival at the Percy military hospital
in the suburb of Clamart, where he died on November 11.
Some experts have questioned whether Arafat could have died of polonium
poisoning, pointing to a brief recovery during his illness that they said was not
consistent with radioactive exposure. They also noted he did not lose all his hair.
But Barclay said neither fact was inconsistent with the findings. Since polonium
loses 50 percent of its radioactivity every four months, the traces in Arafat's
corpse would have faded so far as to have become untraceable if the tests had
been conducted a couple of years later, the scientist said.
A tiny amount of polonium the size of a flake of dandruff would be
enough to kill 50 people if it was dissolved in water and they drank it, he
added. The Al Jazeera investigation was spearheaded by investigative journalist
Clayton Swisher, a former U.S. Secret Service bodyguard who became friendly
with Arafat and was suspicious of the manner of his death.
Hani al-Hassan, a former aide, said in 2003 that he had witnessed 13
assassination attempts on Arafat's life, dating back to his years on the run as
1194
PLO leader. Arafat claimed to have survived 40 attempts on his life. Arafat
narrowly escaped an Israeli air strike on his headquarters in Tunisia in 1985. He
had just gone out jogging when the bombers attacked, killing 73 people.
He escaped another attempt on his life when Israeli warplanes came close
to killing him during the 182 invasion of Beirut when they hit one of the
buildings they suspected he was using as his headquarters but he was not there.
In December 2001, Arafat was rushed to safety just before Israeli helicopters
bombarded his compound in Ramallah with rockets.
On 8th November, the Palestinians said Israel is the only suspect in the
assassination of Yasser Arafat, a day after Swiss experts said tests suggested he
was killed by polonium poisoning. Tawfiq Tirawi, head of the Palestinian
Authoritys inquiry into the death said: This is the crime of the 21st century.
On 25th November, Israeli authorities gave the go-ahead for the
construction of 829 new settler homes in the occupied West Bank. Palestinian
president Mahmud Abbas had warned that ongoing settlement building by Israel
in the Palestinian territories threatens the future of Middle East peace talks.
On 30th November, Israeli border police killed a Palestinian during a raid
aimed at netting illegal immigrants in a suburb of commercial capital Tel Aviv.
Israel requires that all Palestinians from the occupied territories apart from
annexed Arab east Jerusalem have permits to be in the country. The number of
permits issued has dwindled to a trickle since the second intifada, of 2000 to
2005.
Syria: On 4th November, Arab states formally endorsed proposed peace
talks to end the Syrian civil war that have been delayed by disputes between
world powers and divisions among the opposition. A final communiqu after an
emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers called on the opposition
swiftly to form a delegation under the leadership of the mainstream Syrian
National Coalition, to attend the Geneva 2 talks.
Syrias Foreign Ministry reiterated that it must be up to Syrians alone to
choose their leadership and political future without political interference.
Accusing Kerry of trying to derail the talks, it said in a statement he must
realize that the success of the Geneva conference depends on the will of the
Syria people themselves.
Next day, the UN-Arab League envoy to Syria met senior diplomats in
Geneva in a new push to prepare a long-delayed peace conference amid
persistent disagreement over who should take part. Hoping to build on the
momentum of a US-Russia accord to destroy Syrias chemical arsenal by mid2014, Lakhdar Brahimi has been criss-crossing the region to rally support for a
new international conference aimed at ending the Syria conflict.
1195
1196
earlier this year was executed last week. Last month, another Syrian lawmaker,
Mohanna Faisal, a Sunni, had been kidnapped by Islamist and jihadist
opposition fighters.
Next day, nine children were killed and 27 people wounded when mortar
rounds hit a school and a school bus in Damascus. Syrian state television said
five children were killed when terrorist targeted the St. John School with mortar
rounds. Rebel fighters arrayed in districts on the outskirts of the capital
regularly launch rockets and mortar rounds at central neighbourhoods, causing
damage and sometimes fatalities.
On 16th November, it was reported that thousands of Syrian refugees have
poured into Lebanon over the past two days as fighting between government
forces and rebels has flared near the border. The refugees were fleeing the
Qalamoun Mountains north of Damascus, a strategic border district with a
mixed Sunni Muslim and Christian population where both sides have been
massing forces.
After months of being largely spared the violence tearing other areas of the
country, parts of Qalamoun have faced nearly-daily shelling. The town in
adjacent Homs province is the site of a major weapons depot which the army
announced it had recaptured yesterday after weeks of fighting with the rebels.
Further north, troops pressed an offensive to consolidate their supply lines to the
battleground northern city of Aleppo.
On 18th November, Abdel Qader Saleh, the chief of the Syrian rebel Liwa
al-Tawhid Brigade, died of his wounds after a regime air strike last week. His
death is a blow to the opposition, particularly in the Aleppo area that Saleh
came from and fought in, where the Syrian regime has made a string of
advances in recent weeks. Saleh was considered one of the opposition's most
respected commanders.
Next day, it was reported that opposition fighters in Syria apparently
executed civilians and others in their custody during an offensive in the
Christian village of Sadad from October 21 to 28. Other civilians were also
killed unlawfully by opposition sniper fire, HRW said, adding civilians killed by
opposition shelling, as fighting between government and opposition forces in
the village continued, may have been killed unlawfully.
On 20th November, four suicide car bombs struck Syrian regime targets in
the Qalamoun region near Lebanon, killing at least seven soldiers. The attacks
by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and Al-Nusra Front, two AlQaeda-affiliated groups, came after rebels were driven out of nearby Qara
village. One explosion was at a checkpoint in Nabek and two suicide attacks in
front of the Bassel hospital in Deir Attiya.
1197
1198
Africa
Nigeria: On 13th November, the United States blacklisted Nigerias radical
Islamist Boko Haram network and an offshoot known as Ansaru as terror
groups, bowing to months of pressure to move against the militants. US officials
accuse Boko Haram of links to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, while Ansaru
is a splinter faction that earlier this year kidnapped and executed seven foreign
construction workers.
Libya: On 10th November, a string of attacks in eastern Libya killed a
public prosecutor and five members of the security forces in less than 24 hours.
Prosecutor Mohamed al-Naass was killed in the town of Derna yesterday when
an explosive device attached to his car detonated. Unidentified gunmen shot
dead two traffic policemen, Al-Jala hospital spokeswoman Fadia al-Barghathi
told AFP. In nearby Benghazi, gunmen driving past an army checkpoint shot
dead two Special Forces soldiers earlier.
On 15th November, at least 31 people were killed and 285 hurt in Tripoli
after a demonstration calling on unruly militias to leave the Libyan capital
turned violent. The militias are holdovers from the 2011 uprising and are a
powerful force in the increasingly lawless country. The government called for a
ceasefire after the demonstration turned into a deadly confrontation between
groups of gunmen.
1199
1200
working with Egypts interim rulers. On the eve of the opening of Morsis trial,
Kerry was in Cairo to shore up ties with a key ally and ensure it moves ahead on
plans to restore democracy. We are committed to work with and we will
continue our cooperation with the interim government, Kerry told a joint news
conference with Egyptian foreign minister, urging inclusive, free and fair
elections.
The United States is a friend of the people of Egypt, of the country of
Egypt, and we are a partner, he stressed. Kerry also played down Washingtons
suspension of part of its $1.5 billion in annual aid to Cairo, denying the decision
had been taken to punish Egypts military leaders and saying it is a very small
issue between us.
The New-York based group on Saturday charged that three weeks since
police used lethal force to break up protests of supporters of ousted president
Mohamed Morsi, the authorities have not yet questioned or said they intend to
question security forces about their use of firearms on that day. In dealing with
protest after protest, Egyptian security forces escalate quickly and without
warning to live ammunition, with deadly results, HRWs Joe Stork said in a
statement.
Next day, Egypts deposed president Mohamed Morsi appeared in court on
the first day of his trial for incitement to murder, rejecting its legitimacy and
demanding coup leaders be prosecuted. In his first public appearance since the
military toppled him in July, Morsi was indignant and outraged as he attended
the courtroom at a police academy in east Cairo. The trial was adjourned to
January 8.
The hearing lasted nearly three hours and the judge heard requests from the
defendants lawyers, who demanded to see all the case files and be allowed to
meet their clients privately. After that Morsi, who had been kept in secret
detention since July, was flown to the Borg al-Arab prison outside the second
city of Alexandria.
On 6th November, Muslim Brotherhood failed in an attempt to overturn a
court ruling banning it. A court in September had outlawed the Brotherhood
after the army overthrew President Mohamed Mursi. The case against his
Brotherhood was brought by a lawyer from the leftist Tagammu party, which
cited the need to protect Egyptians from violence.
On 11th November, two journalists working for an independent newspaper
were charged for defaming judges in an article published in 2012. Al-Masry
Al-Youms former managing editor Magdy Al-Gelaad and reporter Mohamed
Senhuri are to appear before a criminal court for publishing defamatory
information, after a complaint filed by the influential Judges Club.
1201
The Turkish premier had said: I applaud Mr Morsis stance against the
judiciary. I respect him. I have no respect for those who put him on trial. Morsi
is being tried on charges of inciting the killing of protesters during his turbulent
one-year rule but has told the court that he remains the countrys legitimate
president and does not recognize its authority.
On 26th November, police used water cannon to disperse the first
unauthorized protest staged in Cairo since the adoption of a law that regulates
demonstrations. Protesters were demanding the prosecution of those responsible
for the deaths of demonstrators in November 2011 when opponents of the then
military junta clashed with police in the capital.
Next day, the general prosecutor ordered the arrest of Ahmed Maher,
founder of the April 6 movement that spearheaded the 2011 revolt against
former president Hosni Mubarak, and Alaa Abdel Fattah, a prominent activist.
The two are accused of inciting protesters to hold demonstrations that broke the
protest law, the prosecution said.
Yesterdays demonstrations were held in Cairo in defiance of the new law
that requires organizers to seek prior permission for protests. The report added
that 24 other protesters who joined the demonstration had been ordered detained
for four days. Judiciary and other sources said about 60 protesters were
detained, including prominent activist Mona Seif, founder of a campaign against
military trials of civilians. She was held after joining a protest outside the Shura
Council, where Egypts new constitution is being drafted.
Somalia: On 9th November, Somalias president vowed he would not halt
efforts to restore peace and security to the country in the wake of a car bomb
attack in central Mogadishu by al-Qaeda-linked Shebab rebels. The huge blast
yesterday evening outside a top hotel in Somalias capital killed at least four
people, including a government official, and wounded 15.
On 19th November, at least 16 people were killed when Somalias Shebab
insurgents attacked a police station, with a suicide car bomber blasting open the
compound before commandos entered spraying gunfire. Bodies were strewn
around the blast site, the latest in a string of bombs and shootings in the central
Somali town of Beledweyne claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Shebab. Shebab
spokesman said that the insurgents had killed mainly Somalis but also some
Djiboutians, and called the attack a victory.
1203
On 27th November, a Paris appeal court upheld the right of a nursery to fire
a female employee who insisted on wearing an Islamic headscarf at work. The
ruling, which came as the European Court of Human Rights began deliberations
on an unrelated challenge to Frances so-called burqa ban, is the latest round of
a long-running legal battle which pitted Frances secular authorities against
sections of the countrys large Muslim minority.
In its ruling, the appeal court overturned a controversial March 2013
verdict that the Baby-Wolf kindergarten in the Paris suburbs had been guilty of
religious discrimination when it dismissed Fatima Afif in 2008. Afif was sacked
after telling her employer that, on her return to work following a five-year
maternity break, she wished to wear a headscarf at work.
Interior Minister Manuel Valls said recently the ban was a law against
practices that have nothing to do with our traditions and our values. Belgium
and some parts of Switzerland have followed Frances lead and similar bans are
being considered in Italy and The Netherlands. Under the French law, approved
in 2010 and implemented the following year, women wearing full-face veils can
be fined up to 150 euros ($203).
VIEWS
Israel
The murder of Yasser Arafat: In 2004, shortly after the mysterious death
of PLO leader Yasser Arafat, I wrote a column stating my strong belief that he
had been murdered by poison. I recalled Stalins favorite line, no man, no
problem.
Poison had been a favorite tool of the Soviet secret police since the 1920s.
Steps from KGB headquarters at the Lubyanka was the top secret laboratory
known as the kamera where scientists concocted new, complex poisons
designed to be very lethal but untraceable, or extremely hard to identify.
Numbers of Ukrainian nationalists were murdered by use of pens emitting
a vapor of quick-acting cyanide gas that left the victims appearing to have died
of heart attacks. Later, the kamera produced an even more lethal pellet filled
with the deadly castor-bean extract, ricin. A Bulgarian defector, Georgi Markov,
1204
died after a ricin pellet was jabbed into his leg in London, the famous umbrella
murder.
In 2009, Israeli agents of Mossad sprayed a poison liquid into the left ear of
Palestinian Hamas leader, Khaled Mashall. He only escaped death when Israel
was forced to provide an antidote. The US CIA had its own poison lab that was
revealed by the 1975 Church Committee investigation.
Two other poisonings made use of advanced toxins: In 2004, Ukrainian
presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko was poisoned with dioxin boosted with
other adjuvant to make it extremely difficult to trace and highly toxic.
Yuschenko survived thanks to German medical help, but was left terribly
disfigured.
Two years later in London, a former Russian intelligence agent Alexander
Litvinenko, was poisoned, the second use of polonium-210. He had become a
fierce critic of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Russian intelligence was widely
believed to have staged the gruesome attack as a warning to potential turncoats.
Last week, Swiss forensic scientists from the respected University of
Lausanne confirmed that both Arafats belongings and his recently exhumed
body were contaminated by radioactive polonium-210.
In spite of the lapse of four years since Arafats murder, the Swiss scientists
found in a 108-page report a high level of polonium at least eight times higher
than would be normally present. The always cautious Swiss said there was
moderate support for the claim Arafat had indeed been murdered. While he
had certainly been poisoned by polonium, they were unable to positively prove
the toxin had killed him, though his dose was well beyond lethal.
The Swiss report, originally commissioned by Arafats wife Suha and alJazeera, ignited a political fire storm. Palestinians have long accused Israel of
murdering Arafat. Israels intelligence service Mossad and warplanes have
killed over a score of senior PLO leaders in the past three decades. Many
attempts had been made by Israel on Arafats life.
Israel denies the murder, though some of its leaders have openly stated
their desire to liquidate Arafat. Israel is the only Mideast nation that can
produce polonium-210 in its reactors. Still, Israel insists it was not responsible,
though no tears were shed over Arafats death. Israel says the culprits were
Palestinian rivals.
Who benefited from Arafats death? Arafat had been bitterly resisting US
and Israeli efforts to impose a grossly unfair peace deal that would have broken
up the West Bank into little Arab tribal reservations. Once Arafat was out of the
way, the US and Israel swiftly installed a new, servile PLO leadership, headed
by a yes-man, Mahmoud Abbas, financed by the US and protected by CIA-run
police.
1205
At the time of his death, Arafat had been prisoner for two years in his West
Bank compound at Ramallah, surrounded by Israeli troops and tanks. A close
Palestinian aid must have secreted the poison in Arafats food. Other senior
Palestinians were also likely involved in the plot par for the course in the
Mideast. But a big finger of suspicion still points directly at the US and Israel.
France, which gave medical aid to the dying Arafat, obscured the cause of
death. Russia, also examined the Arafat evidence, is making contradictory
claims. Mahmoud Abbas government has tried to cover up the crime for years.
Even Arafats widow initially refused an autopsy for murky reasons.
If the murder of Arafat is confirmed, Israel may be hauled into the
International Criminal Court. The US will get ultimate blame. (Eric S Margolis,
TheNation 11th November)
Syria
Double the madness: The Middle East has been in turmoil for some time
now. Political instability, religious/sectarian tensions, territorial conflicts the
region has it all in abundance. Even the recent Arab spring, which some
believed would completely alter the landscape, failed to translate into a
sustainable, large-scale shift towards democratic governance and instead, added
its own set of problems to the mix. The ongoing civil war in Syria has yet again
exposed the sectarian/political divide in the region. On one hand stands the
Assad regime, supported by Russia, Lebanon and Iran. On the other, Salafist
rebel fighters, with USA, Saudi Arabia and Qatar providing funds and weapons
to overthrow Bashar-al-Asad. To counter them, Iran-backed Hezbollah has sent
thousands of its fighters to resist the uprising. This is how, the otherwise
unfathomable double suicide attack on the Iranian embassy in south Beirut
stronghold of Hezbollah begins to make sense. A jihadist organization linked to
Al-Qaeda (ally of US, KSA, Qatar in Syria) has proudly claimed responsibility
for the attack which killed at least 23 and injured over 140 people.
The resolve to overthrow Assads regime can be assessed by Saudi Arabias
announcement of revision of policy with regards to the US, upon Osama
administrations refusal to directly attack Syria, following accusations of use of
chemical weapons by the regime. The kingdom even offered to pay for the
military operation, and turned down its seat on the Security Council when its
wishes did not materialize, due to intense global pressures against the proposed
strike. Despite the killing of over 120,000 people during the current 33-month
Syrian civil war, neither is willing to reach a political solution. Everyone is
fighting everyone, and everybody wants everything. No compromise, no
sympathy, just persistent violence fuelled by sectarian differences and vested
interests. All countries involved claim Syria to be of crucial value to their
national interests and therefore find it justified to prolong the madness until
someone emerges decisively victorious. It has long been feared that the
1206
bloodshed in Syria will be difficult to contain and may spread to other parts of
the region. The bombing of the Iranian embassy indicates that the concern is
indeed legitimate. The spillover has started. It has the potential to strangulate
the entire region in chaos and terror. It is only hoped that such will not be the
case. The Middle East is yet to find its European Union. Its only hope for
salvation lies in understanding the significance of diplomacy, compromise and
farsightedness, to which bullets, guns, and bombs are never a viable substitute.
(Editorial, TheNation 21st November)
Saudi Arabia
What does Saudi Arabia want? Even before Western powers and Iran
agreed on a historic nuclear deal in Geneva over the weekend, Saudi Arabia saw
a troubled region. Since 2011, the Middle East has witnessed its most turbulent
phase in 25 years. The level of political instability and conflict rivals the period
between the Iranian revolution of 1979 and the Gulf War of 1991. It may even
surpass it. Today, satellite television and social media connect countries as never
before; the 2003 US-led invasion knocked Iraq out of the regions balance of
power, resulting in the long-term growth of Iranian power; and amid this
turmoil, regional powers fear, more than ever, that the United States is set on a
course of abandoning them for greener pastures in the Pacific.
This is the backdrop to Riyadhs foreign policy woes. In the foreground are
US-Iran talks of a scale unseen for 35 years. Saudi officials fear that, at best, the
US is not interested in curbing Iranian influence and, at worst, actively seeking
a return to the days of the Shah, with Iran serving as policeman of the Gulf at
the expense of the so-called Sunni Arab monarchies.
This weekends nuclear deal, the greatest breakthrough in the nuclear
dispute in a decade, is therefore feared to be merely the first step on the road to
a more uncertain and precarious era for the Saudi Kingdom. Saudis, according
to the Telegraph newspaper report, felt betrayed and lied to by their Western
allies. A senior advisor to the Saudi royal family has accused its Western allies
of deceiving the oil rich kingdom in striking the nuclear accord with Iran and
said Riyadh would follow an independent foreign policy. In an earlier statement
the Saudi government gave a cautious welcome to the Geneva nuclear deal.
Under these circumstances, the question going forward is; what are Saudi
Arabias options? Small countries with limited power must accept the world as
is. Global powers can re-shape it to their advantage. Riyadh clearly considers
itself to be in the latter category. Senior royals, including intelligence chief
Prince Bandar bin-Sultan, have promised a historic shift in Saudi foreign policy
to include a break with the US, a search for new allies, a willingness to act
independently, and a new assertiveness. One might call this the Kingdoms
Gaullist turn, akin to Frances 1966 decision to pull out of NATOs military
command. But is this a sound strategy?
1207
Security guarantees
Saudi Arabias biggest constraint is that no one, other than the US, can
guarantee the ultimate security of the Kingdom. The US retains not just 20,000
troops in the Middle East, and air and naval superiority over all regional
adversaries put together, but also a network of alliances and bases that enable it
to vastly ramp up its presence during a crisis.
For too long, particularly in the Arab world, there has been uncritical
acceptance of the myth that the US is leaving the region. This might be true in
light of the recent withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, but in
the broader context it is grossly misleading. The US presence is in fact far
greater today than it was for most of the 50 years following World War II. The
Obama administrations moderate shift in emphasis from the Atlantic to the
Pacific the so-called pivot to Asia does not change that.
Traditional major powers, like Russia, cannot compete with this ability to
deploy power, as the US did when the Kingdom felt threatened by Iraqs
invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Rising powers, like China and India, are probably
decades away from even considering such deployments. In this respect, the
balance of power in the Middle East has barely changed.
If Saudi Arabia is worried about the rise of Iran and the resurgence of
Iranian allies like Iraq, its choice is between reliance on the US or reliance on
itself. Consider, then, that the most advanced technology used by the Saudi
military is US-supplied, and so are the spare parts for it. Only in October at
the height of Riyadhs public pique at the US were details of a $6.8bn arms
deal revealed, covering advanced missiles of exactly the sort that Saudi Arabia
might need in case of a major regional war. Saudi Arabias public anger does
not, it would seem, extend to canceling these purchases. With an Iran deal
signed, defence cooperation is in fact likely to grow.
We should not forget that the US and Saudi Arabia are on the same page on
a number of issues. For instance, the US and Saudi Arabia worked closely
together to place a double agent inside the Yemen-based al-Qaeda in the
Arabian Peninsula, and so foiling last years bomb plot. In 2010, the US even
built a large drone base on Saudi territory to facilitate strikes in Yemen. Saudi
Arabia has no other counterterrorism partners with the same level of
capabilities.
Limited options
It does have other military suppliers, however. In the 1980s, when the US
Congress blocked the sale of F15 fighter aircraft to Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom
simply bought British Tornado fighter jets instead. Between 2005 and 2009, 42
percent of the Kingdoms arms came from Britain, against 40 percent from the
1208
US. It makes sense for Saudi Arabia to diversify its purchases, if only to secure
the best price.
But this doesnt buy it extra security or secure the policies it wants. If
anything, the UK has taken an even more cautious approach to Syria, a core
Saudi foreign policy interest, than the US, especially after the British parliament
voted in August against military action. The UK has also moved quickly to
upgrade diplomatic ties with the new government in Tehran.
France, another traditional arms dealer to the Gulf monarchies, has been
slightly more attentive to Saudi sensitivities. During the first round of nuclear
talks with Iran in early November, it imposed tougher terms than any of the
other five negotiating countries (some of which were reflected in the final
agreement). France is well placed to exploit Saudi discontent with the US, but
there are limits to how much a shrinking French military can really do for the
Kingdom.
Last month, Prince Bandar bin-Sultan threatened to work with France,
instead of the US, in support of Syrian rebels. But when the US called off
missile strikes against Bashar al-Assads regime in the summer, to Saudi
Arabias chagrin, it was France who, despite its earlier support, did not even
consider acting alone. And if sanctions on Iran are eventually lifted in a final
deal that might follow this six-month interim one, France will push its
companies into the Iranian market quicker than anyone.
Even more limited are the incipient Arab-Israeli contacts. Israel and Saudi
Arabia certainly have a converging view of Iranian influence and US
unreliability, but this relationship cannot go much beyond some cooperation on
intelligence. Recent reports that Saudi Arabia has promised to support an Israeli
strike on Iran with its own aircraft are unrealistic.
Some Saudi commentators, like royal adviser Nawaf Obaid, have written
that Saudi Arabia will look to its Arab allies in the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC). But this is problematic too. Early in the Arab Spring, Riyadh tried and
failed to bring the monarchies of Jordan and Morocco into the GCC. Saudi-led
efforts towards political union have also failed. The smaller Gulf nations do not
wish to give up their policy autonomy to Saudi Arabia, and some, like Qatar and
Oman, want to keep good relations with Tehran.
The GCC is making important progress in areas like missile defence, but its
constituent militaries still lack what is known as inter-operability, or the
capacity to work together on the battlefield like NATO nations. The GCC has a
proven ability to mount simple interventions, like its 2011 suppression of prodemocracy protests in Bahrain, but would struggle in a real war.
When we put all this together, it becomes clear that Saudi Arabias position
is no different to that of any other nation allied with a larger power: It fears
1209
abandonment, and tries to show its leverage by threatening to leave the alliance,
but it cannot. Of course, the Kingdom will continue to look for new friends, and
as it did in Bahrain deal with its own problems independently when it can.
But there are limits to what this can achieve, when only the US can guard
against the big threats. Saudi Arabia can flirt with other allies, but it will remain
wedded to the US for the foreseeable future. (Shashank Joshi for Aljazeera,
republished in TheNation 28th November)
America
Doctors complicit in torture at CIA, military prisons: Doctors and
nurses tasked with monitoring the health of terror suspects were complicit in
abuses committed at prisons run by the Pentagon and the CIA, an independent
report said Monday.
The Defence Department and the CIA demanded that the health care
personnel collaborate in intelligence gathering and security practices in a way
that inflicted severe harm on detainees in US custody, according to the twoyear study by the Institute of Medicine and the George Soros-funded Open
Society Foundations.
Medical professionals helped design, enable and participated in torture
and cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment of detainees, according to the
report.
Collaboration at US prisons in Afghanistan, Guantanamo and the Central
Intelligence Agency secret detention sites began after the September 11, 2001
terror attacks in the United States.
Its clear that in the name of national security, the military trumped (the
Hippocratic Oath), and physicians were transformed into agents of the military
and performed acts that were contrary to medical ethics and practice, said study
co-author Gerald Thomson, professor of medicine emeritus at Columbia
University.
The Hippocratic Oath is a commitment made by medical personnel to
practice their profession in an honest and ethical manner.
The report, conducted by two dozen military, ethics, medical, public health
and legal experts, calls on the US Senate Intelligence Committee to fully
investigate medical practices at the detention sites.
Co-author Leonard Rubenstein of Johns Hopkins University focused on
force-feeding on Guantanamo Bays hunger strikers, as well as CIA agents use
of harsh interrogation methods and simulated drowning known as waterboarding at secret sites.
Abuse of detainees and health professional participation in this practice is
not behind us as a country, he told AFP.
1210
The authors also urged the Pentagon and CIA to follow standards of
conduct that would let medical personnel adhere to their ethical principles so
they could later heal detainees they encounter. Both the CIA and the Pentagon
rejected the reports findings.
The report contains serious inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions, said
CIA public affairs chief Dean Boyd.
Its important to underscore that the CIA does not have any detainees in its
custody and President (Barack) Obama terminated the Rendition, Detention and
Interrogation Program by executive order in 2009, Boyd said.
Obama signed an executive order shortly after taking office in 2009 that
banned interrogation techniques used under his predecessor George W Bush and
that critics say amount to torture.
Although the president has not banned extraordinary rendition, new rules
prevent suspects from being tortured before they are transferred to a different
country for interrogation, trial or continued detention.
Obama also established a task force to review interrogation and transfer
policies and issue recommendations, but the groups 2009 report remains
classified.
At the Pentagon, spokesman Todd Breasseale said that none of the critics
of prisoner care have had actual access to the detainees, their medical records,
or the procedures at the Guantanamo detention camp.
According to Breasseale, Guantanamos doctors and nurses are
consummate professionals working under terrifically stressful conditions, far
from home and their families, and with patients who have been extraordinarily
violent.
The doctors and nurses routinely provide not only better medical care than
any of these detainees have ever known, but care on par with the very best of
the global medical profession, he said.
Allegations of medical personnel complicit in abuses are not new: in 2009,
the group Physicians for Human Rights said that doctors were directed to
monitor the CIAs interrogation techniques in an effort to improve their
effectiveness. (Chantal Valery, TheNation 5th November)
Preserved as evidence, Camp X-Ray holds dark memories: In January
2002 dozens of shackled men were taken to Camp X-Ray as shown in a
notorious photograph.
Shortly after dawn on a late-summer day more than a decade later, the sky
is streaked with pink. Welcome to Camp X-Ray, said Sgt Cody Stagner, a
military public-affairs official. He was addressing a group of journalists taking a
1211
tour of the place. It was a friendly greeting and jarring, given the history of the
camp.
More than a decade ago a defence department photograph showed a group
of men who had been captured in Afghanistan and taken to the prison. The
detainees are wearing goggles covered in black masking tape and surgical
masks, and their hands are secured in manacles. In bright sunlight, they are
kneeling before Americans.
The photograph sparked controversy around the world and became a
symbol of US President George W Bush's war on terror. Today the camp is
enclosed by steel fences, topped with concertina wire, and a sign that says: Off
limits trespassers will be prosecuted. Sections of the razor-sharp wire are
overgrown with vines.
A step on a wooden ladder of a guardhouse is missing. The door is chained
shut, and bugs swarm around it. Sgt Stagner pointed to a sign that said: Guard
Tower Five. That's the last remaining marking in the camp, he said.
The detainees were confined here from January to April 2002. At that point
they were moved to another part of Guantanamo, a facility known as Camp
Delta, and were placed in cells that were housed in sturdy buildings
Meanwhile Camp X-Ray looks much as it did when the detainees arrived
in 2002. It is protected under a court order preserved as evidence for any trial
that might come about, said Sgt Stagner as he walked along a worn path.
Liz Sevcenko, the director of the Guantanamo Public Memory Project,
said: It's been designated as a crime scene. There's a contest of whether what
happened there was criminal or not.
The detainees lived in open-air cages that measure 1.8m by 2.4m and are
made of corrugated metal roofs and wire mesh. Snakes slithered through the
wire mesh some menacing. At Guantanamo pythons grow to 10ft (3m).
For several hours a day the detainees were exposed to direct sunlight - at a
time when temperatures were more than 32C (90F). As Sgt Stagner walked past
the cages, a banana rat, a rodent that is related to the guinea pig, squeaked. Has
anyone ever escaped from here, a visitor asked.
Of course Harold and Kumar, said Sgt Stagner, making a joke about the
2008 movie Harold and Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay. They're the
only ones. Sgt Stagner's remark shows how things have changed. Back in 2002
few people were joking around about Camp X-Ray.
Near the cages where the detainees lived are five plywood huts that were
used for interrogations. Men from the Central Intelligence Agency and the
Federal Bureau of Investigation questioned the detainees in these rooms.
1212
Detainees wore red fluorescent jump suits. Some believed this meant that
they were condemned men awaiting execution, according to International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives. They spoke with the
detainees several days after they arrived.
The findings of the ICRC appear in a US defence department document
that was leaked to The Washington Post newspaper. Today the path that leads
from the detainees' cages to the interrogation huts is soft and spongy and
littered with bones from a deer. Inside one of the huts a chalk line is marked on
a door.
The huts evoke images of other places, some of them literary that have
fallen into disarray. Time stands still yet everything turns to dust, said Miss
Havisham in Great Expectations.
In the hut a fluorescent light, a long bulb encased in wood, is thick with
dust. There is a table and a small window. The walls are made of untreated
lumber, and they are spotted and worn. From the window you can see the Cuban
hills and lush vegetation. Back then air-conditioning units blocked the view. In
other ways, too, the detainees were cut off from the world. They knew almost
nothing about their surroundings. Detainees want to be told where they are,
said the ICRC representatives.
In 2002 three senior UK judges ruled in the case of Zumrati Juma, whose
son was held at Guantanamo, and described the prison as a legal black hole. At
the time journalists were not allowed to visit Camp X-Ray. Today they can see
the place. And officials say that it will remain the way it is until Guantanamo
is closed. (Tara Mckelvey for BBC, republished in TheNation 12th November)
REVIEW
The ongoing Crusades were aimed at punishing Muslims not only through
use of military force for invading their countries and toppling regimes, but also
making such arrangements that they continue bleeding for indefinite period. The
strategy for this was also not kept secret; they had planned to exploit Shia-Sunni
divide for this purpose.
This has worked in Iraq, perhaps to the full satisfaction of the Crusaders. In
the month of November more than six hundred Iraqis were killed which means
more than twenty lives were lost every day. Both sides Shias and Sunnis are
involved in perpetrating terror and both are suffering as well.
The sectarian conflict has also caused wide spread death and destruction in
neighbouring Syria. Lebanon and Yemen have had their share whereas Bahrain
and Eastern Saudi Arabia have the potential of sliding into the sectarian strife.
But, at the moment focus of the originators of the idea is on Pakistan where they
want to create Iraq-like sectarian tensions.
1213
Khawaja Asif perform that unpleasant duty. Secret hearing for identification of
the recovered persons was carried out by one-man commission and meanwhile,
the apex court issued a contempt notice to a serving General for not appearing
in the court.
Pakistans economy showed no signs of recovery. The Rupee maintained
downward slide against Dollar; foreign exchange reserves were exhausted;
higher rate of inflation caused price rise adding to the miseries of common man.
Nawaz Sharif could think of nothing more than the need to preserve his vote
bank for which he floated a BISP-like scheme wherein the youth will get loans
for establishing their own business enterprises.
NEWS
Power politics: On 4th November, the Supreme Court declined to
entertain ECPs request for not holding the local government elections in the
Punjab and Sindh this year. Chief Justice Iftikhar, heading a three-member
bench, told ECP Secretary: So far we have not received any application against
our order dated October 25, 2013, but even if it is filed we are not going to
accommodate you.
Attorney General Munir A Malik, on behalf of the ECP secretary, informed
that the local government (LG) polls in the Balochistan would be held on
December 7, but as far as the elections in the Punjab and Sindh are concerned
the logistics not lie with the ECP but with the Printing Corporation of Pakistan
instead.
The chief justice stated that under Article 218 of the constitution, the ECP
was bound to hold the elections. Justice Jawwad remarked: If the ECP was
facing the issue of non-availability of ink or paper then should the apex court
provide these things to the commission? The chief justice said the ECP was so
weak that it could not take action against the authorities that are not cooperating
with it.
About the LG polls in the Cantonment areas, the AG told that the defence
secretary had written to the prime minister as though the committee, constituted
to amend the LG polls in Cantonments, had approved the draft but GHQ had not
provided its input yet. The court was also told that the KPK has also legislated
the local government law. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.
Next day, the Supreme Court ordered the federal the government to
examine holding Local Government elections in the Cantonments and
Islamabad Capital Territory within seven days. The Secretary Defence was
directed to submit the report on or before November 11 about the compliance of
its orders. The court said if the reply is not satisfactory then the court would
pronounce an order.
1215
polls on party basis. Earlier, the Punjab cabinet approved draft of an ordinance,
following the Lahore High Court ruling against LG polls on non-party basis.
The most striking feature of the party-based LG elections would be
application of the defection clause of Article 63 of the Constitution. In case of
non-party elections, the absence of this provision was of immense advantage for
every party in power. In the past, the parties in power had been taking benefit of
mustering support of the elected representatives to its side through greed, threat
and influence.
Despite all difficulties, the party-based LG polls are going to lay the
foundation of a strong political system in the country and raise the power base
of those parties which in general elections lag behind or fail to be counted.
Hence the party-based polls are going to break cartel of the main parties and
take others to the mainstream.
Next day, the ECP decided to move Supreme Court for buying more time
for holding of local government elections in Punjab and Sindh as it faced host of
problems emanating out of operational hazards and apparently non-compliant
disposition of the federal and provincial governments. The commission also
took exception to the reshuffling of Sindh chief secretary and Printing
Corporation of Pakistan managing director without its permission and has asked
the government to suspend the related notifications.
PPP and ANP formed an alliance for local bodies elections, but urged the
Supreme Court to reconsider its decision about polls schedule in this situation of
uncertainty. The two parties would be contesting polls jointly for Karachi
constituencies, PPPs Patel announced during a news conference. Patel and
Syed Ghani met with advocate Altaf and other ANP leader at Mardan House.
On 11th November, the Supreme Court once again turned down the ECP
plea for extending time for holding of local government (LG) elections in Sindh
and Punjab. The ECP through advocate Akram Sheikh had filed a concise
statement, seeking more time from the court to hold LG polls in the two
provinces, expressing its inability to make necessary arrangements within the
scheduled time.
The statement said Sindh government request for holding of polls on
December 7, instead of November 27, will not help the holding of LG elections
in that province as the procurement of paper and printing of ballot papers would
not be possible even during the extended period. And, in pursuance of the
Lahore High Court order, the Punjab government now wanted elections on party
basis after the ECP had issued election schedule for that province on non-party
basis; therefore, the nomination forms which are scheduled to be received by
the ROs from Nov 11 need to be amended accordingly.
1217
Heading the bench hearing the case, Chief Justice said that it was not the
apex court but the provinces themselves which had given the dates and also sent
the written requests to the Commission for holding of polls. Referring to the
Sindh governments application, the chief justice said it was the responsibility
of the commission to hold elections and it has the authority to decide about that
request. He observed that the delay in the LG election caused a serious loss to
the country, as there are no local governments in the country for many years.
Sindh Assembly unanimously passed a resolution, demanding delay of at
least 90 days in holding the LG polls in the province. The lawmakers from all
political divide in Sindh Assembly delivered speeches in favour of
postponement of the local government polls for at least 90 days till March 2014.
Next day, the National Assembly passed a unanimous resolution seeking
more time for holding LG polls. The resolution, second in four days, moved by
PTI lawmaker Arif Alvi, demanded the ECP fix a practical date after ensuring
that all legal and administrative arrangements were in place.
The ECP filed a review petition in the Supreme Court against its decision
to reject the ECPs request seeking delay in the conduct of local government
elections in Sindh and Punjab provinces. The petition was filed after the
Registrar Supreme Court declared the concise statement of the ECP as not
entertainable on the grounds that the matter to the extent of local government
elections in a constitutional petition has already been disposed of on November
5.
On 13th November, the same three-judge SC bench, which had twice
rejected the pleas of the ECP to delay the polling dates, allowed the commission
to hold LG polls in Punjab and Sindh in January next year. The polls would now
be held on January 18, 2014 in Sindh, on January 30 in Punjab, and on any date
in February in KPK and cantonment boards. However, the polls in Balochistan
would be held as per the earlier fixed date December 7.
A senior ECP official wrote a letter to the SC registrar, explaining the
problems with holding elections on the earlier announced dates. The registrar
asked for a new schedule, which was duly supplied through a second letter. The
letter was then converted into a petition and the relaxation granted.
On 18th November, an election tribunal ordered verification of thumb
impressions on votes polled in NA-118 Lahore. The tribunal ordered Provincial
Election Commission to complete the process in one month and submit the
report by December 19. Earlier, the petitioner's counsel alleged that the rigging
was committed and requested that the votes be verified through thumb
impression. The respondent's counsel had denied the charges and pleaded for
dismissal of petition.
1218
Next day, ECP announced local government elections in Sindh and Punjab
would be held on January 18 and January 30, respectively. Earlier, the ECP
cancelled its schedule for LG polls in Punjab and Sindh and convened a meeting
to prepare a plan for holding the polls in January. According to the previous
schedule, LG polls in Sindh and Punjab were to be held on November 27 and
December 7, respectively.
On 28th November, Imran Khan escaped another incident of falling from a
stage in Lahore. Khan quickly got off the stage after it moved and part of it
broke down. The PTI chief remained safe in the incident. Khan had sustained
serious injuries on his head and back after falling from a lifter on May 7.
On 30th November, Justice Nasir-ul-Mulk took oath as acting Chief
Election Commissioner. Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Muhammad
Chaudhry administered oath to the new acting CEC at a ceremony held at
Supreme Court Lahore Registry. The ceremony was attended by SC judges,
LHC Chief Justice, LHC Judges and senior lawyers.
On 2nd December, rejecting two provinces request for further delay in local
government elections on account of pending preparations and security reasons,
the ECP announced holding the LG polls on the dates it had suggested before
the Supreme Court last month on January 30 and January 18 in Punjab and
Sindh respectively. Separately, the commission has registered nine new political
parties. The strength of the ECP-registered political parties now stands at 262.
An appeal was filed before the Supreme Court (Lahore registry)
challenging order of the Lahore High Court for party based elections of the
Local Bodies. Shabbir Ismail Advocate filed the appeal stating that the
impugned judgment suffers from various legal lacunae and does not address
complicated questions of interpretation of Constitutional provisions of first
impression which had been raised by the various respondents. Due to such
lacunae, the implementation of the judgment would lead to legal absurdities and
political-legal crisis, he said. Therefore, it is imperative for the court to rectify
the same, he added.
Next day, Altaf Hussain urged the government to impose a ban on Jamaati-Islami, accusing the party of having close ties with Taliban, al-Qaeda and
other militant groups. Altaf Hussain was addressing a general workers meeting
of MQM at Lal Qila Ground, Azizabad. He said that dozens of workers of
Jamaat-i-Islami and Islami Jamiat Talaba including a woman were arrested in
several high-profile cases of terrorism while at least seven workers of JI died in
drone strikes.
He said that law-enforcement agencies seem reluctant to arrest the militants
affiliated with Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT) and those who were picked up by the
LEAs have been released without being charged in the cases. Why not JI and
IJT were denounced and banned in Pakistan, Altaf raised the question?
1219
Altaf urged that government, Army and secret agencies to stop the
discriminatory action against the Muhajirs, otherwise, situation will not be
controlled even by the whole countrys Army. MQM is a patriotic organization
but it is considered like anti-State organization, he said. He urged that people
should understand the conspiracy and avoid being part of the hatred game.
Reacting to the MQM chiefs allegations, Jamaat-i-Islami spokesman Dr
Farid Ahmed Piracha has condemned the speech of Altaf Hussain against the JI
and termed it absurd and baseless. Commenting on the MQM chiefs
accusations against the JI and the Islami Jamiat e Talaba, Farid Piracha said
Altaf Hussain was a British national and was leveling baseless charges against
the JI from London.
The Islamabad High Court restored Tariq Malik as National Database
Registration Authority chairman, suspending an official notification about his
dismissal. In a notification released by the federal government on December 2,
Malik was removed as NADRA chief, and the then NADRA director general,
Zahid Hussain, was brought to the top position.
Earlier in the day, Babar Sattar submitted before the court that a NADRA
chairmans term length was three years and that his clients appointment was
just made on July 17, 2012. He stated he was terminated on December 2
through a letter that cited no reasons for his dismissal but just went on to say it
was according to the terms and condition. Malik was provided with no
opportunity of hearing, no show-cause, added the counsel.
Acting NADRA chairman retired brigadier Zahid Hussains lawyer, Shoaib
Shahin, accepted the court notices on behalf of his client, and sought some time
to file a reply. The court directed him to submit para-wise comments to the writ
petition, and deferred the case till December 11.
The PPP-led opposition in the Senate accused the ruling PML-N for
unexpected termination of Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik ostensibly in a
desperate effort to cover up the massive irregularities in May 11 elections in
NA-118 Lahore. Speaking on a point of order, several Senators from the
opposition benches blamed the Interior Minister for his late night action against
NADRA Chairman when he had refused to oblige the government to verify
thumb imprints of the constituent voters of NA-118 as per its wishes.
On 5th December, Chairman-designate Nadra, Brig (Rtd) Zahid Hussain
challenged the Islamabad High Court verdict, regarding the restoration of Tariq
Malik, in the Supreme Court. The Islamabad High Court had declared Zahid
Hussains appointment as null and void, restoring Tariq Malik as Nadra
chairman.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told the national assembly that interim
government and election commission are answerable for not using magnetic ink
1220
1221
1222
Imran Khan said his whole life is like an open book. He said PTI had
devised zero tolerance policy against corruption and the present government of
KPK would serve the masses honestly and justice. Federal Minister for
Information and Broadcasting said that the PML-N would not become part of
destabilizing any provincial government.
On 18th November, General Secretary Qaumi Watan Party and sacked
minister Bakht Baidar Khan filed defamation suite of one billion rupees against
Imran Khan for leveling corruption allegations against him. He stated that due
to his honesty, he won his seat of the provincial assembly and on the basis of his
character was rewarded this ministry but by leveling false allegation by PTI
Chairman damaged his political career.
On 26th November, NAB, after receiving copy of Supreme Court directives
in the NICL case, constituted a joint investigation team (JIT) to probe its
chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. Similarly, the Acting Chairman decided that
instead of the senior most DG of NAB, the person selected to oversee the
inquiry should not only be competent and experienced, but should also have had
no opportunity of interaction with the Chairman prior to his appointment in
NAB.
He assigned this task to Zahir Shah, DG (Operations) NAB HQs, to
oversee the two inquiries which involve the NAB Chairman. The JIT will
include an Investigation Officer of NAB who will be assisted by a highly
competent police officer and another member from the SECP. The acting
Chairman has instructed the DG (Ops) to ensure that the investigation is
concluded as expeditiously as possible.
Meanwhile, Accountability Court (AC)-1 Islamabad judge has restored all
NAB cases against former President Asif Zardari. The bench also instructed the
NAB to provide Zardari's counsel with copies of the references filed against
him. Zardari's lawyer Farooq H Naek told the court that his client could not
appear before court as he is not present in the country. The court granted onetime exemption to the former President from attending hearing, and again issued
a notice summoning Zardari to attend the next hearing.
On 2nd December, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami created a mess in the
city, descending on roads and torching public property in protest against a
police swoop to get vacated a hostel from Islami Jamiat-e-Tulaba (IJT) activists.
On the call of administration, police raided Punjab University hostels and
arrested 21 IJT students over resistance to evacuation. The administration was
vacating Hostel No 16 for accommodating girl students, as it is adjacent to other
hostel blocks housing the girls.
Next day, Islami Jamiat Tulbas 13 students, accused of attempted murder
and interfering with state affairs, were sent to jail on judicial remand. The
Model Town judicial magistrate granted physical remand to a student, handing
1223
him over to police to investigate the robbery offence. However, 8 students got
bail.
On 4th December, Imran Khan submitted petition in the Supreme Court
against appointment of NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry. The petition
was submitted by Hamid Khan and Waqar Rana advocate on the behalf of Imran
Khan, seeking to invalidate the appointment of NAB chairman. The petitioner
said that the records of Qamar Zaman remained controversial during his service
and a controversial man could not be appointed as the NAB chairman.
Next day, the Supreme Court, announcing judgment in distribution of funds
by ex-PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, ruled that the Constitution does not permit use
or allocation of funds to MNAs, MPAs or notables at the sole discretion of
prime minister or chief minister. If there is any practice of allocation of funds
to the MNAs/MPAs/notables at the sole discretion of prime minister/chief
minister, the same is illegal and unconstitutional. The government is bound to
establish procedure/criteria for governing allocation of such funds for this
purpose, the verdict said.
The judgment observed that national assembly, while giving assent to a
grant, which is to be utilized by the executive at its discretion, has to follow the
procedure provided in Articles 80 to 84 of the Constitution as well as the Rules
of Procedure, 2007. However, such discretionary grant cannot be spent at the
absolute discretion of the Executive and the discretion has to be exercised in a
structured manner.
The court decision also holds that though funds can be provided for
development schemes by way of supplementary grant or re-appropriation yet for
that purpose, procedure is provided in Articles 80 to 84 of the Constitution and
the rules or instructions in this regard which have to be followed strictly.
The court noted that according to order passed by the prime minister for
release of the funds under Peoples Works Programme-II during financial year
2012-13, it has been left at the discretion of the executing agency to use funds in
accordance with their departmental procedure or rules by fulfilling the codal
and legal formalities. It further observed that without prior feasibility
study/report or following Pepra Rules, amount allocated by the executive
agencies has been used, essentially in a non-transparent manner and Pepra rules
were not followed in all the schemes.
1224
chairmen of Nepra were appointed, out of them only 7 were full chairman,
while 8 were acting and 5 vice-chairmen.
The CJP lamented that the tradition of favouritism in high-level
appointments is still alive. Everything is being run through nepotism and junior
officers are being appointed on key posts, he added. The CJP also said that the
government promulgates the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance in 24 hours but
no legislation was done about Federal Service Tribunal, so it had been
ineffective since 2012.
Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja also pointed out that the acting chairmen are
looking after Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and Pakistan International
Airlines, and it has been disclosed now that Nepra is also being run by an acting
chairman. He said that acting chairman always felt insecure about his job;
therefore, he could not introduce a stable policy.
Next day, the Supreme Court expressed concern that why the PML-N led
federal government is showing weakness and relying on the apex court for the
implementation of NRO judgment. A bench headed by Chief Justice hearing the
non-implementation of its judgment on NRO case said that not reopening the
NRO case in Switzerland is the violation of the judgment. The chief justice
inquired from the attorney general whether the federal government had filed an
appeal. Munir A Malik said that the matter is closed as was time barred.
The chief justice then asked the attorney general what had happened about
the inquiry report. Whether it had been shelved, he further asked. The CJP
remarked that due to the conduct of the ex-law secretary the country has
suffered colossal loss but she was still in the service of the government of
Pakistan and the government was reluctant to take action against her. The
attorney general informed the court that the PM had constituted a committee to
probe the matter.
Prime Minister had constituted a two-member inquiry committee
comprising to investigate the missing record and documents regarding writing
letter to Swiss authorities for closing graft cases against President Zardari. The
committee found that former Secretary Law and Justice Yasmin Abbasey
directly responsible. The chief justice further asked should the court or the
administration would take action on it? The attorney general sought some to get
instruction. The hearing was adjourned till 18th November.
On 11th November, a division bench of Islamabad High Court annulled the
three-year sentence of former Ogra chairman Tauqir Sadiq awarded to him by
an accountability court for his alleged involvement in a multi-billion rupee
corruption case. The court issued the order after hearing the arguments of both
the sides but the refused to grant Tauqir bail in the corruption case.
1225
Another bench of Islamabad High Court suspended the verdict that had
declared amnesty scheme for smuggled vehicles as illegal. The division bench
passed the order in an intra-court appeal moved by Federal Board of Revenue.
In his verdict, Justice Siddiqui had directed the Federal Board of Revenue
(FBR) to seize all the 50,901 vehicles and auction them.
The Supreme Court sought a reply from the Federation over withdrawal of
subsidy on the power tariff. The bench headed by Chief Justice issued the
directives during the hearing of a suo-moto case regarding the prolonged power
loadshedding in the country. The court observed that Pakistan was a welfare
state and the government should not take such steps that could affect the interest
of general public. The court, while seeking new energy policy and details of the
subsidy provided by the government since 2006, adjourned hearing till
tomorrow.
On 22nd November, the Supreme Court ordered for registration of case
against incumbent NAB Chairman Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, Federal Tax
Ombudsman Abdur Rauf Chaudhry and others under NAB Ordinance for
creating hurdles and hampering investigation in National Insurance Company
Limited (NICL) scam. Besides them, the court found former commerce minister
Makhdoom Amin Fahim, ex-secretary Suleman Ghani, Establishment exsecretary Ismail Qureshi and Nargis Sethi involved in the illegal appointment of
Ayyaz Khan Niazi as NICL chairman and asked the NAB to investigate the
matter.
A bench headed by Chief Justice after hearing the arguments of all parties
last month had reserved judgment in suo moto action regarding violation of
Public Procurement Rules, 2004 in procurement of billions of rupees of
exchequer case by NICL. The 52-page judgment authored by the chief justice
said: They are liable to be dealt with under section 9(a)(vi) of the National
Accountability Ordinance, 1999 [as amended by National Accountability
Bureau (Amendment) Ordinance, 2002] on account of NICL scam pertaining to
Lahore and Karachi where allegedly offences of corruption and corrupt
practices have been committed.
The judgment also noted that the notification dated 18-4-12 regarding
transferring FIA ex-Additional Director Zafar Ahmed Qureshi, prima facie, also
involves former FIA DG Malik Muhammad Iqbal; former Interior Secretary
Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, former Establishment Secretary Abdul Rauf
Chaudhry, ex-PS to PM Khushood Akhtar Lashari and the then FIA Lahore
Director Waqar Haider as they created hurdles and hampered the smooth and
transparent investigation entrusted to Zafar Qureshi in NICL scam. The
judgment said that prima facie they are also required to be dealt with under
section 9(a)(vi) of NAO, 1999 as they wrongly exercised their authority to
1226
benefit Ayyaz Khan Niazi and others from public money, which has been looted
through non-transparent transaction from NICL.
The court said that FIA after transfer of Zafar Ahmed Qureshi failed to
retrieve the outstanding amounts which were frozen, but were illegally activated
without following the procedure, during the period he remained disassociated
from the investigation of the case w.e.f. 19-4-2011 to 13-8-2011. The court
ordered NAB chairman to have all these cases transferred on his file and
proceed in accordance with law, take necessary steps for the recovery of
outstanding amount and arrest Mohsin Habib Warraich, Amin Qasim Dada,
Khalid Anwar, etc., as early as possible.
The Supreme Court while issuing notice to IGP Islamabad Sikandar Hayat
ordered him to constitute a joint team to probe into Kamran Faisal murder case
in the light of forensic report and submit report in the curt within a week. This
order was issued by a three-member SC bench led by the Chief Justice of
Pakistan. Aftab Bajwa, counsel for family of Kamran Faisal, told the court that
as per forensic report Kamran had not committed suicide and he had been
killed, adding former Prime Minister Raja Pervez and former chairman NAB
are involved in his murder. Orders for initiation of action against these two
should be issued, he prayed.
On 26th November, a violent clash took place between Islamabad police
and members of bar associations of five districts of Punjab as the protesting
lawyers allegedly tried to enter the Supreme Court premises. Lawyers from
various districts of Punjab staged a protest outside the Supreme Court and
demanded establishment of Lahore High Court (LHC) benches in Gujranwala,
Dera Ghazi Khan, Sahiwal, Sargodha and Faisalabad divisions.
The clash among the police and the lawyers erupted when they tried to
enter the SC building. Police baton-charged and fired tear gas shells to disperse
the protesters as a result of which several lawyers and the Islamabad assistant
commissioner were injured. All the injured were shifted to Polyclinic Islamabad
where lawyers also scuffled with doctors.
Viewing the tense situation, the Lahore High Court assured the lawyers of
accepting their demand soon. The lawyers, then in the interest of their clients,
decided to work two days a week. Later, the Punjab cabinet took notice of the
situation and promised establishment of the benches after the general elections.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) announced a countrywide strike
and boycott of the courts tomorrow.
Next day, senior most judge of the Supreme Court Justice Tassaduq
Hussain Jillani would replace the incumbent Chief Justice, Justice Iftikhar
Muhammad Chaudhry upon his retirement on December 12. Prime Minister
Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has given his nod about appointment of Justice
1227
Jillani as new Chief Justice. The Law and Justice Division has started the
process and a notification in this connection is expected within few days.
On the call of Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), black coats across the country
boycotted courts against torture on lawyers outside the Supreme Court the other
day. The PBC and Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) also demanded
resignation of the Supreme Court registrar.
On 29th November, Chief Justice, in his address at National Law
Conference organized by High Court Bar Association Multan, said the increase
in population and publics increasing trust in the judiciary had enhanced the
number of lawsuits significantly. The government was asked last year to
increase the number of judges, but unfortunately this subject did not stand on
governments priority list.
He said the number of pending cases could be brought down to 35000 by
the end of December from 50,000, provided that lawyers refrained from calling
strikes. Besides ending pendency, improvement and reforms could also be
brought in the system if the bar and bench cooperated with each other, the
justice said. He asked representatives of the bars to uphold the practice of
holding seminars and conferences and come up with recommendations for
positive changes.
On 4th December, the Supreme Court ruled that the Implementation
Agreement between SSGCL and Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) was in
gross violation of the bidding process, as advertised and as set out in the tender
documents, including instructions to bidders. The FIA was directed to inquire
about the agreement, identifying all those responsible for the failings and point
out acts of criminal negligence, corruption or other offences.
The FIA was also directed to investigate any matter which may come to
light from examination of any documents and records during the course of
primary investigation, and submit its report within 30 days. Reportedly, NAB
ex-chairman Munir Hafeez, former Punjab Governor Gen (r) Khalid Maqbool,
former Interior Minister Lt-Gen (r) Moinud Din Haider, National Bank of
Pakistan ex-President Syed Ali Raza, Major (r) Ishtiaq Asif and Bushra Aitzaz
were the main beneficiaries of the JJVL.
All losses caused to and incurred by the state, SSGCL and the people as a
result of the bidding process and during the tenure of Implementation
Agreement are to be recovered from JJVL and all persons who had actively
participated and had made substantial decisions in the bidding process and
making of the implementation agreement must be held accountable, the court
said.
On 6th December, a bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice
announced reserved judgment in a suo moto case regarding Haj corruption in
1228
2010. The judgment ruled that strict measures should be adopted in future to
avoid such incidents of corruption in Haj arrangements, whereby not only the
pilgrims had been looted but also it had brought a bad name to the country.
The verdict ordered that the amount of Rs5000 each, charged by the Haj
tour operators from each Haji (Pilgrim) in excess of the actual amount be
refunded to them. The court further directed the FIA to probe into the matter in
depth and determine as to whether the extra amount charged by the authorities
has been reimbursed to the pilgrims or not.
The court also directed the federal government to expedite the matter of
extradition of Ahmed Faiz from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan and ensure his return
to Pakistan as early as possible by taking all the necessary steps required in this
regard, so that the accused may be placed before the authority of law.
The concerned authorities are also directed to complete investigation of
the cases within the shortest possible time and ensure completion of trials as
early as possible, says the judgment. The judgment further asked the
government to issue the guidelines for providing accommodation to the pilgrims
as well as transportation and other facilities during Haj.
On 12th November, the Supreme Court was moved for initiating contempt
proceedings against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, secretary interior, secretary
law & justice, Director General FIA and others for non-compliance of the apex
courts July 3 order. The federal government was directed to proceed as per its
undertaking given against former military dictator Pervez Musharraf under
Article 6 of the Constitution. Former president of Lahore High Court Bar
Association, Rawalpindi Bench, Sheikh Ahsan-ud-Din, filed the petition under
Article 204 of the Constitution.
Next day, the Supreme Court directed Secretary Ministry of Defence to
submit a report on 11 missing prisoners, allegedly picked up by the agencies
outside the Adiala Jail. They were allegedly involved in five cases including the
attack on plane of Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, attacks on Kamra and Hamza
Camps, GHQ and allegation for having suicidal jackets. Out of 11 prisoners 4
died in the custody.
During the proceedings, Section Officer Litigation FATA Secretariat,
Peshawar, appearing before the court, informed that the prisoners were in
different jails of KPK after being sentenced by the Assistant Political Agent,
Lower Orakzai under section 120 and 121 of Pakistan Penal Codes. He also
placed before the bench list of Adiala jail missing prisoners detained in the
Bannu and Haripur Jails. According to the list Shafiq-ur-Rehman, Gulraiz, and
Rashid are in Haripur jail and Dr. Niaz, Abdul Basit, Abdul Majid and
Muhammad Mazharul Haq detained in Bannu prison.
The chief justice questioned of what crime they were sentenced as the law
enforcement agencies had failed to prove the crimes, the CJP asked. How a
separate trial was conducted, he further asked. The court said that they had been
in the custody for the last seven years. Mohammad Irshad, representing ISI and
MI, had told the Court that Adiala Jail missing prisoners after their arrest from
operational areas were in the custody of law enforcement agencies and would be
dealt with under the Army Act and would face Field Court Marshal.
Asma Jahangir, representing one of the missing prisoners of Adiala Jail,
complained that the Internment Centres authorities were torturing the prisoners,
and declare detenue's death due to so-called heart attack, while the reasons of
their death was severe torture. The former president SCBA said human rights
condition in the Internment Centres was abysmal, adding the parallel judiciary
system is going on there. She further informed the court that the Internment
Centres authorities did not allow the families to meet with the detainees.
Attique-ur-Rehman, brother of Dr. Niaz, informed the court that two days
ago he went to Peshawar Jail to meet his brother, as he was initially detained
there. But the authorities told him that Dr. Niaz had been shifted to Bannu jail.
The court said the petitioner Tariq Asad had already completed its arguments
1230
and now they would pass a judgment on the matter. The hearing was adjourned
till November 20.
On 17th November, the federal government announced to try Pervez
Musharraf for high treason under Article 6 of the Constitution over imposing
emergency on November 3, 2007. Interior Minister said the government would
write a letter to the Chief Justice, requesting him to constitute a tribunal of
judges from three high courts to start proceedings against Musharraf for high
treason.
The government would also announce a special prosecutor tomorrow, he
said, adding Musharraf had committed crimes against the people of Pakistan
and the Constitution. Nobody, not even the prime minister, could pardon him.
The Supreme Court had referred the matter to the federal government to initiate
a high-treason case against him for holding the Constitution in abeyance twice.
Syed Munawar Hasan welcomed the governments decision to initiate the
trial of Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the Constitution. Commenting on
the announcement in this regard, he said although this was a belated move yet it
was welcome. He said this had been the unanimous demand of the nation who
wanted the former President to be made an example for violating the
Constitution and making it a US slave.
On 18th November, Chief Justice asked the Chief Justices of all High
Courts to nominate a judge of their respective court by November 19, out of
whom three judges will be included in the Special Court to be formed for the
treason trial of former military dictator Pervez Musharraf under Article 6 of the
Constitution. Earlier in the day, Interior Minister sent a letter to the Law
Ministry seeking initiation of treason proceedings against former military
dictator Pervez Musharraf.
The Supreme Court dismissed the intra-court appeal of Defence Secretary
Lt-Gen (r) Asif Yasin Malik with the direction to raise before the trial court the
objections that were argued before the appellate bench. A five-member bench,
headed by Justice Nasirul Mulk, said: We will not like to comment on the
objections raised before this court as the defence secretary still has an
opportunity to raise them before the trial court, so the ICA is dismissed.
Iftikhar Gilani, counsel for Asif Yasin, defending the incumbent secretary
before the five-judge bench, argued it was a question of law as Article 4 (2)(c)
of the Constitution says: No person shall be compelled to do that which the law
does not require him to do. He said it was beyond the powers of the secretary to
hold elections, adding his clients apology should have been accepted.
Next day, the treason case against Pervez Musharraf took a major stride
when the federal government notified names of three judges for the special
court. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved the names of three judges out of
1231
the five sent by the Supreme Court of Pakistan earlier in the day. The
announcement came hours after the Supreme Court forwarded the names of five
judges suitable to sit on the special court.
Justice Faisal Arab of Sindh High Court will head the special court with
Justice Yawar Ali and Justice Syeda Tahira Safdar of Lahore High Court and
Balochistan High Court, respectively, its members. On the question of
formation of a forum for the trial of former dictator Pervez Musharraf, the
jurists say the federal government adopted an indirect course instead of
pursuing a direct one. Whether the selection of the special court judges was the
prerogative of the chief justice of Pakistan or the government is a moot point.
In a rare coincidence four former generals were facing serious charges
these days, and police investigations or judicial proceedings against them may
implicate some more military or political figures in the times ahead. And the
likely conviction of some of them may have ramifications for the already
delicate civil-military relationship. The most important case is against Pervez
Musharraf. Mirza Aslam Beg and Asad Durrani are allegedly involved in
distribution of funds among political leaders to defeat the PPP in the 1990
elections. Asif Yasin Malik faces contempt of court charge.
On 20th November, Attorney General of Pakistan said solid evidence is
available for quick prosecution of Pervez Musharraf under article 6 of the
Constitution. He said the FIA will get the powers to arrest Pervez Musharraf as
soon as the government registers a private complaint for trial. The AGP
underlined that the special court could convict Pervez Musharraf and could
exonerate him too.
The investigator said that except for the Supreme Court order, the
investigators had nothing in their hand on the basis of which they could force
anyone to cooperate with the investigation team. However, he said they will be
in a position to investigate the case thoroughly after filing of private complaint
because if any person would not cooperate, he or she would be summoned or
issued warrants through the special court.
On 25th November, the federal government appointed Akram Sheikh, senior
advocate of Supreme Court, as special prosecutor to try former Army Chief
General (Retd) Pervez Musharraf in high treason case before the special court.
The law ministry issued notification regarding the appointment of Akram
Sheikh as special prosecutor in the case.
The Supreme Court was moved to issue contempt notices to the Defence
Secretary, Army Chief and others for not complying with the court orders in
connection with the recovery of a person who had gone missing last year. Abida
Malik, wife of Tausif Ali who had gone missing, moved a petition under Article
204 of the Constitution, making Lt Gen (retd) Asif Yasin, Secretary Ministry of
Defence, Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, Lt-Gen Rashid
1232
Mehmood, Chief of General Staff, and Lt Gen Mazhar Jamil, Military Secretary,
GHQ, Rawalpindi respondents.
Next day, a three-member bench of the Supreme Court observed that
sufficient evidence was available with the court to establish that 35 missing
persons were in army custody, hence the military authorities were bound to
produce them before the court. Chief Justice also observed that the army was
tarnishing its image by not producing the undeclared internees.
The bench ordered defence minister and the secretary to ensure production
of 35 undeclared internees (missing persons) on Nov 28 or appear in person
before the court to face the consequences. The chief justice passed this order
after the defence authorities failed to produce the alleged missing persons and
Secretary Defence did not appear.
On 28th November, Chief Justice ordered the IGFC Balochistan to appear
before the court at any cost tomorrow and produce missing persons, warning
that a case would be registered against him in case of non-appearance. A bench
headed by Chief Justice was hearing the missing persons case at SCs Karachi
Registry. Defence Minister Khwaja Asif, along with the attorney general and
Balochistan representative for missing persons Nasarullah Baloch appeared
before the court.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said he would meet the families of the
missing persons and take responsibility for resolving the matter. Asif said that
738 missing persons had been recovered in last four months and it would take
months not years to find the remaining ones. He tried to reassure the court that
government was determined to find out the whereabouts of the missing persons
and they will soon be recovered.
The chief justice remarked that federal and Balochistan government seem
helpless before the FC, adding it appears that the FC was running the
government affairs. The court giving one more day asked the defence minister
for producing missing persons before the court and adjourned the hearing.
On 29th November, a four member bench of the apex court headed by Chief
Justice heard the missing persons case at the Karachi registry. Counsel for FC
told the court that IGFC Major Gen Ejaz Shahid could not appear in the court
due to his engagements. Chief Justice Chaudhry asked the Deputy Attorney
General who the contempt of court notice should be issued to after the IGFC)
had failed to appear.
The DAG informed the court that they had tried to send the courts order to
the IGFC but there wasnt enough time. The court expressing annoyance over it
remarked, Tell us first of all when the missing persons will be produced in the
court. The DAG replied whosoever is holding these men should produce them
1233
in the court. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja remarked we had ordered these men be
produced at every cost.
On 2nd December, giving 24 hours for the recovery of 33 undeclared
detainees languishing in internment centre of FATA, the Supreme Court ordered
the defence minister to initiate legal proceedings against officers involved in
murder of two men who went missing and later died in agencys custody.
Attorney General Munir A Malik had informed the bench that two of the 35
missing persons had died. Chief Justice inquired about the cause of their death.
The additional secretary defence responded that the two detainees had died of
natural causes.
Chief Justice remarked, Thirty-five missing persons have not been
produced despite repeated court orders. Two missing persons have passed away.
Death in detention is murder Tell us how the death occurred. Postmortem of
both the dead bodies be conducted. Now the missing persons are being killed.
The situation has turned grave. Government too is keeping mum. Government
should recover 33 persons first and then make legislation; otherwise the law will
take its course.
The CJP further remarked, We want to protect the fundamental rights of
the citizens of this country. No one will be allowed to violate courts orders.
Khawaja Asif, who had been assigned the additional charge of defence minister
last week, appearing before the bench sought time to speak to the relevant
authority. The bench, however, told him that they had been hearing the case for
the last 21 months. The court directed the defence minister to ensure production
of 32 plus one (Yasin Shah) without any excuse tomorrow by 11:30 am or court
will consider him helpless. The chief justice asked the minister if he was
helpless, he should tell that in writing.
The CJP remarked, FIR be registered in respect of the persons who have
died. The CJP observed, You should get register cases as defence minister. Tell
the court about FIR and arrests till the Monday evening. If you fail to get the
case registered, it will hint at serious atrocities in the system.
The court noted that the army authorities had no right to retain them in
unlawful custody and were bound to produce them before the court of law. The
chief justice was annoyed over the letter written by Director (Legal) Defence
Ministry to the Attorney General for Pakistan through Secretary Law to
dissociate Additional Attorney General Tariq Khokhar as he had given
misstatement. The court ruled that an inquiry against the officer, who wrote a
letter to remove additional attorney general from the case, should also be
initiated.
According to the letter, the AAG had told the court that Yasin Shah and
others were kept in unauthorized detention and would be produced before the
court. The attorney general informed the bench: I stand by my Additional
1234
Attorney General and have told the ministry that if they dont trust the AAG
then they can appoint their own counsel. The chief justice ordered to produce
report of undeclared detainees in all internment centres. The hearing was
adjourned till tomorrow.
Next day, accepting the request of the attorney general, the Supreme Court
granted another two days to the Defence Ministry to produce the 30 undeclared
detainees. Attorney General, on behalf of the Defence Ministry, prayed to the
court to give a little time, saying: Definitely, progress will be made. The
chief justice warned the court would take action if the detainees were not
produced on December 5.
According to the Malakand Internment Centre superintendent, an army
officer took 35 persons, including Yasin Shah, from his custody in February
2012. The chief justice said: If the court can direct the prime minister to
implement its order, why not a direction can be issued to the chief of army
staff. Addressing Arif, the CJP said: Dont think we cant pass an order for the
recovery of the detainees, but we are showing restraint.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif discussed missing persons issue with
Defence Minister Kh Asif and new Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Raheel
Sharif in the backdrop of the repeated directions of the Supreme Court of
Pakistan. Though it was the courtesy call of Gen Raheel Sharif after assuming
the charge of his new assignment, important matters pertaining to the national
security, dialogue initiative with TTP and the burning issue of missing persons
were on the table. The PM wanted to resolve the missing persons issue as per
the apex courts satisfaction and directed the defence minister and the COAS to
fully comply.
The Supreme Court was informed that appearance of Inspector General
Frontier Constabulary (FC) before the Court in Balochistan missing persons
case would demoralize the security forces in the province. The FCs
representative Major Hafiz Muhammad Nadeem submitted a confidential reply
regarding the non-appearance of IG FC before the court.
A bench headed by Chief Justice expressing annoyance over the IG FCs
refusal to appear before the court, despite of two orders of court in this regard,
said why IG FC was not appearing before the court. Giving last warning to IG
FC, the bench has directed him to appear on December 5 otherwise contempt
proceedings would be initiated against him for non-compliance of the courts
order.
On 4th December, the new military chief visited countrys premier spy
agency headquarters reportedly vis--vis representing the armys perspective in
the apex court on case about missing persons. A brief military statement,
however, attempted to downplay the events significance saying the COAS was
given briefing on security issues during his visit to the ISI headquarters.
1235
The new military chief did not want confrontation with any state institution
and he would show compliance with the Supreme Courts directives on missing
persons. The general is said to have directed the ISI officials to find a way out
to deal with the issue. Following the fresh development, the officials hoped,
there might be a breakthrough in the undeclared judiciary-military standoff
prevalent for the last few days.
Next day, the Supreme Court once again showing restraint gave another
opportunity to the authorities to produce 30 remaining undeclared internees
tomorrow or be prepared for the consequences. Federal Defence on behalf of
the prime minister gave assurance about production of the prisoners. Tomorrow
we shall give good news. Not all but many internees would be produced, as
some have been freed, he told the bench after talking to Prime Minister.
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, however, categorically told
the minister to produce all the 30 detainees today, and warned they would not
compromise regarding the implementation of SC order. Allegedly an army
officer had taken away Yasin Shah and 34 other detainees from the custody of
Malakand Internment Centre superintendent in February 2012.
During the proceedings, Justice Chaudhry told Khawaja Asif that he was
involved in the case with the hope that he would play his role in resolving the
issue. The CJP further said to him that if he cannot offer any help, they would
summon someone else superior to him who could solve the problem. We will
not allow a parallel government to be run, the CJP remarked. He said if the
internees were criminals then the authorities must bring charges against them.
Acting defence secretary informed that the internees were not in the
custody of military. He said they had found some prisoners and they would like
to share the information with the court in-camera. The court reminded the acting
secretary that he himself had said in the last hearing that five detainees were at
the internment centres and asked him to trace the rest of the missing persons
with the help of those five persons. The chief justice said that it is courts duty
to save the internees lives. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.
The Supreme Court issued contempt of court notice to Balochistan Frontier
Constabulary Inspector General (FC IG) Major General Ijaz Shahid for
repeatedly ignoring orders to appear before the apex court in missing persons
case. The federal interior secretary was directed to serve the court notice to the
obstinate officer. The court also observed that despite its order, no missing
person was recovered by the Balochistan police and FC. The court said that
Shahid Hamid, who represented the government of Balochistan in the case
regarding the law and order situation, had submitted a report assuring the court
of early recovery of the missing persons in Balochistan.
The court observed it seemed that the IG FC is reluctant to appear before
the apex court because he has no reasonable explanation about the enforced
1236
1237
Ministry officials in whose presence it was recorded. Atta Ullah had told the
court that two army officers had taken away 35 prisoners from his custody.
The commission would hold in-camera meeting with the persons the
government would produce tomorrow. The court directed the minister to ensure
the attendance of one or two relatives of the 7 missing persons to verify their
identity. The chief justice said Justice Amir Hani and the AGP could crossexamine them, if needed. The Defence Ministry was also ordered to produce
Attaullah before the commission along with the lockup record.
The court also directed the ministry to provide information about the three
internees living in North and South Waziristan. Acting Defence Secretary said
the detainees were not into the custody of army. He said if they could not bring
back Taliban leader Fazlullah, how they could bring the internees from Kunar.
Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sindhu of Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench,
barred military authorities from proceeding against a naib subedar who went
missing in April 2011. The LHC judge also asked the military authorities to
implement the verdict of the military court, if any, till the final disposal of the
writ petition by the court. Justice Mazhar Iqbal Sindhu observed this while
hearing a writ petition filed by Col (r) Inam-ur-Raheem on behalf of Kalsoom
Bibi, the wife of missing Naib Subedar Ilyas of Pakistan Army.
Naib Subedar Ilyas who reached his age of superannuation on Aug 2012
while in detention was in a torture cell somewhere in Rawalpindi after the court
ordered the police to produce the accused before the court. Col (r) Inam-urRaheem advocate argued before the court that the three judges had heard the
case and issued notices to the military authorities, but not a single order was
implemented.
Next day, the federal government presented six undeclared internees and
their relatives amid tight security before the one-man commission, constituted
by Chief Justice. Justice Amir Hani Muslim held in-camera proceeding of the
commission and Attorney General on the direction of the court assisted the
honourable judge.
The law enforcement officials did not allow anyone, particularly the media
persons to interact with the internees or their relatives. They were brought in
police vehicles which were allowed to enter the apex court building. The faces
of the internees were covered to protect their identity.
1239
1240
VIEWS
Governance
Will Sheikh Rashid be the next Prime Minister? The questions that
every citizen of Pakistan are asking these days are: Is the PML-N regime in
Islamabad performing adequately to resolve this nations basic problematics? Is
it any different in its national political discourse from Zardaris 5 years of socalled democratic rule and Musharrafs dictatorship? Is the PML-N any
different in its national political economic policy approach from its
predecessors? Can the masses trust Sharifs regime any more than they could
Zardaris and Musharrafs regimes? Do the PML-N top managers have the
political capacities, management capabilities and visionary audacity to deal with
the most complex nature of this nations contemporary problems?
The problem with the PML-N is both of political style and conceptual
substance. Its top management invariably lacks the desired pragmatic political
professionalism and expertise needed to address complicated national issues. As
of today, there is virtually no economic policy, no political direction, no crisismanagement set up to deal with growing domestic and foreign policy
problematics on a daily basis. It is hard to recall any Pakistani top political
management which seems to be so detached from the ground political realities
and the consequences of its inaction to address peoples fundamental issues.
1241
1242
Taming military
1243
1244
media who deem themselves as spokespersons for the judiciary are expressing
themselves freely without being aware of the relevant laws and the political
ramifications that are likely to come out during the course of this trial. The
governments decision to try Pervez Musharraf for imposing emergency on
November 3rd, 2007 will answer only half of the question
The PML-N government and the three member judges court setup must
remember that when they conduct General Musharrafs trial, they will also be
subjects of trial because not only the entire country, but the entire international
community will attentively follow the proceedings. Already questions are being
raised about the resolution passed in parliament that endorsed the actions of the
former dictator and what about the decision taken by justice Irshad Hassan
Khan who validated the coup of 1999. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court at that
time besides validating the action of General Musharraf also empowered him to
amend the constitution which was never asked in the petition filed before the
justices. Simply translated, this would mean, that if a sin was committed by Mr
Pervez Musharraf, the judiciary of the time was with him. On the bench besides
other judges there was the most honorable present chief justice of the Supreme
Court, Mr Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry. What happens if General Pervez
Musharraf demands that all the judges who validated his illegal act of 1999
should be summoned in the present trial to answer some pertinent questions that
are bound to be raised by the three member tribunal instituted by the Federal
government.
The defense team would be well within its rights to demand that all the
Generals, the Prime Minister and his cabinet members who were a part of the
consultative process should be summoned. So that the special court is able to
dig deep and find out the real truth. If this happens, then nobody will be able to
put the lid back on the Pandoras Box and it may become impossible for the
government to put an end to certain information and evidence which could
result in the sapping of morale of different institutions in the country. In case
Musharraf is indeed tried alone it would smack of personal vendetta and would
defeat the very purpose of the trial which otherwise means that finally the
institution of democracy has become so powerful that it can call for
accountability of all those who err on the wrong side of the law. One therefore
expects, the government will tread very cautiously and at the same time the
three member special court will ensure that issues relating to the security of this
country are not raised in a way where it could damage national interest and
create despondency amongst the rank and file of the armed forces.
The media will also play a very important role during the course of this
trial and if some of the blokes who are already crying for blood are not reined in
by some code of conduct, the damage could come much earlier than expected
which will not be conducive for the democratic dispensation and may also
create a rift between important pillars of the government.
1245
One hopes that in the end prudence and sanity will prevail and no
irresponsible act would be done by any party which could further damage an
already tottering economy of Pakistan. It would have been much better if
another method could have been put in place where those who violated the
constitution by imposing martial law could be taken to task without creating the
stir that has already been created in this country. Mr Nawaz Sharif should
understand that he has already enough on his plate and the addition of this case
at this juncture at the present point in time was never going to be desirable
whatever the reasons the government may have up its sleeves. (Azam Khalil,
TheNation 22nd November)
Trial for high treason: The announcement of a trial of Gen (retd) Pervez
Musharraf for subversion of the Constitution by the Interior Minister has
revived the old debate of whether there should be a trial, but apart from that
eternal issue, opponents of a trial also argued that the announcement was timed
to coincide with the governments inaction, or at least delayed action, over the
Rawalpindi Ashura tragedy. The trial will now depend on the incoming Chief
Justice, rather than the new COAS, though the latter will determine whether the
Army will protect General Musharraf
This would not be the first trial of high officials in the Muslim world. The
Ergenekon trial concluded in Turkey only this year, in which flag officers of all
three services were convicted. Ergenekon was a secret organization which was
guilty of stirring unrest to carry out coups. It is perhaps not entirely a
coincidence that Musharraf is in the Turkish mould, having spent part of his
childhood there, and imitating its military not just in falling in with the US
regional agenda, but also regarding its secular outlook under the rubric of
enlightened moderation as not just correct, but also the path on which he was
destined to bring Pakistan.
The Supreme Court wants to operationalize Article 6 of the Constitution,
which declares any subversion, abrogation or suspension of the Constitution to
be high treason, punishable by death. Trial procedure was left to Parliament,
which duly passed the High Treason Act 1974. However, neither article nor act
were enough to stop two COASs from taking over, and the four men holding the
office between them and the one after Musharraf (the present incumbent) of
being suspected of hankering to take over. One reason for this may indeed have
been the failure of any authority to hold the first coup-maker accountable.
The paradox is that the military mind is very legalistic, and perhaps puts
legal authority on a higher pedestal than the average civilian. Yet the military
takes over, so far without fear of punishment. This legal issue was clear from
the time of the first takeover, by Ayub Khan in 1958, when the Supreme Court
ruled that legal authorities had a choice between leaving or obeying. (It is
perhaps no coincidence that Musharraf was commissioned under Ayubs
1246
Presidency). Though there is available to the defence the argument that when
the takeover occurred, Article 6 did not mention holding in abeyance the
Constitution, and he cannot be tried retroactively, he should also be aware that
court martial verdicts are determined in advance, with the presiding judge
finding out the wishes of the officer ordering the trial. Provided that appropriate
evidence is adduced by the prosecutors, no clever legal arguments are allowed
to get the accused off. However, civilian courts work differently, and issue
second imposition of Emergency of whether the constituted high treason, will
depend on just such legal arguments. (M A Niazi, TheNation 29th November)
Economy
Do more: Almost into its sixth month in power, the ruling dispensation
has apparently been unable to deliver the promised pie. Why the expectations
were so high was because the pumpkin was supposed to turn into the coach.
And since it has not over the past months, disappointment has unsettled many
and among them not surprisingly the Superior judiciary that has on its cap a
badge of courage for initiating suo moto notices around virtually every bump it
thought the executive was fumbling.
Wednesdays suo moto proceedings on electricity tariffs saw the central
government come in for a lot of flak, mainly over the way it has grappled with
the power crisis in general and the frequent increase in tariffs that have all come
down to snatching bread from the poor. Courts remarks that the ordinary
consumers are made to pay for the credit crunch resulting from electricity theft
contradicts claim that the net is being tightened around thieves and defaulters.
NEPRA was questioned particularly for pegging its own taxes to bills
without a formal nod from the parliament. NEPRA, it looks is starting to act up.
In the eyes of the Supreme Court, it seems, it is absolutely no better than an
entity that adds to the problems rather than solving them. Apparently how it
fixes prices, at whose behest exactly and why so frequently adds up to a
mystifying process that needs to be a little more transparent. Sadly the
perception builds that the central government doesnt know anything to do
about it.
Although, at the end of the day, it is very easy to say it is the governments
fault because that is where ultimately the buck stops, ultimately and definitely,
good work shows itself and even for a country battered by as many problems as
Pakistan does, one step at a time, however slow and steady can mark the
beginning of a journey that will eventually lead somewhere. Ridiculous
methods such as bringing in more and more power plants that run on oil will
guzzle billions and billions each year. And the worst thing about it is this
circular debt that is virtually unstoppable almost like clockwork.
1247
At the same time, reality is totally different for the masses. Caught up in a
vicious circle of eking out a bare existence they will curse their stars every time
the bills go up.
To work its way towards better days, the central government needs time as
much as it needs conviction in its abilities. And when it comes to rigging up the
broken energy edifice, it has to have the backing of the provincial governments
because obviously both are partners.
The way to go about the solution does not lie in writing off those who hold
the helm and certainly not at this juncture. It is simply in drawing up solutions.
Nobody would want to be turned down as no good. But at least as of now what
the government can and should do is to demonstrate it is on to the right track.
(Editorial, TheNation 8th November)
Pakistans economic risk: With more outflows than inflows, managing
the reserve position is critical. Having entered its sixth month in office, Prime
Minister Nawaz Sharifs government has to deal decisively with a number of
urgent economic challenges even as it has taken the necessary first steps to
stabilize the economy.
The most immediate vulnerability lies in the countrys external position.
Foreign exchange reserves have plunged to a critical low in the past two
months. This has resulted from a sharp rise in the current account deficit, with
the import bill surging, capital flows at a virtual standstill and continuing
external debt repayments, including to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Reserves have also depleted at an accelerated rate because the central bank
has been intervening in the inter-bank market to shore up the value of the
rupee Some analysts have critiqued the IMF programme design for not
anticipating that it would take time for reserves to build and that a period when
outflows could exceeded inflows (given the staggered nature of EFF
disbursements and time lag for financial resources to flow from other
multilateral agencies) could leave Pakistan in a precarious position.
That is true. The IMF may also have underestimated the balance of
payments gap. This is why the government has asked the Fund for additional
upfront money to help it tide over this fragile situation. But this still leaves the
government with the daunting task of managing a tight reserve position in the
next six months to meet liabilities and prevent panic in the market. This is
especially so as funding committed by other multilateral institutions and
bilateral partners, conditioned on the IMF deal, is not likely to kick in for
another few months. The government therefore has to deftly negotiate this
period and signal that it is proceeding according to a plan to address the balance
of payments problem and build reserves.
1248
REVIEW
The Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry became hyper active on
the eve of his retirement due on 11th December. He seemed to be trying to do
everything in the last few days, which he could not do in nearly a decade in the
office, to the utter disappointment of the masses who had expected him to
deliver justice.
He had pressed the provincial governments hard to hold local governments
elections before December, but failed to ensure compliance of his orders by any
of the four provinces. The ruling political parties managed to get the elections
delayed on one pretext or the other so that after retirement of the chief justice
they could hold polls at their convenience.
The elections in Baluchistan were, however, held on 7 th December which
were fairly peaceful against all the apprehensions. The independent candidates
won the majority of seats and ruling parties in the province also got their share,
but two political parties, PPP and PTI, were conspicuously missing from the
score sheet.
1249
Towards the end of his tenure the chief justice tried to fulfill his longstanding ambition of taming the Army for which he had obviously harboured a
grudge because of his sacking by Musharraf. He had quenched the thirst for
revenge by recommending actions against few Generals in two judgments
pertaining to dolling of funds to politicians for elections and lease of railway
land to Golf Course.
However, hunting retired Generals provided no thrill to the revengeseeker. Therefore, in last days in the office he at last caught a serving General
and served him a contempt notice for not appearing before him in the case of
missing persons. He also managed to recover and identify half a dozen missing
persons, but final settlement of the issue still remained elusive.
He also announced two judgments authored by him in cases of corruption,
i.e. Hajj corruption case and allotment of discretionary funds by Raja Rental
during last days of his premiership. In his judgments he spoke more like a head
of a commission rather than a judge recommending actions against several
people and punishing hardly any one. In short, he has disappointed the masses
in Pakistan.
9th December, 2013
and post thinning out of US troops in his country. The US made a counter-move
to neutralize him by announcing that the pact could be signed by Afghan
Security Chief.
In the wake of an agreement between Iran and P5+1 on nuclear issue, the
US Secretary of State, John Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister embarked upon
pacifying Arab Sheikhs of the region so that they do not panic and do something
silly. The analysts, however, noticed a possible shift in geo-strategic alliances in
the region in which a new nexus among US, India and Iran is likely to emerge to
contain Sunni-Muslims.
NEWS
Pakistan
Terror war: On 25th November, PTI requested the KPK IGP to nominate
the US and the CIA in Hangu drone strike FIR. Barrister Suleman Afridi
submitted a written request to KPK IGP Nasir Durrani, citing a statement of
Interior Minister Ch Nisar, a news story regarding the US drone strike in the
Washington Post and decisions of the Peshawar High Court. The IGP ordered
the investigation officer to probe the incident and take possible necessary
action.
KPK Senior Minister Sirajul Haq led a group of parliamentarians who
walked all the way to the US consulate in Peshawar to submit a four-page
memorandum protesting the Hangu drone strike and demanding an end to the
illegal attacks on Pakistani soil. The PTI and its coalition partners have decided
to hold a sit-in in front of the US Embassy, UN offices and Parliament House in
Islamabad soon.
PTI workers along with its coalition partners continued their sit-in against
drone attacks and blocked NATO supply at various points in KPK However,
they were allowing the vehicles traveling to Afghanistan under the Afghan
Transit Trade Agreement. The workers of PTI are doing duties in various shifts
and each union council has been assigned responsibilities to come for duty.
Imran Khan said it was ironic that the dollar-dependents declare anyone
who stands for dignity, self-respect and an independent Pakistan as anti-US and
pro-Taliban. In a Twitter message, Imran Khan said: For the enslaved minds
and dollar worshippers, anyone who wants peace and an end to this suicidal war
is pro-Taliban! In another Tweet, Khan said: We must unite to reject the
agendas of hate & violence.
The Lahore High Court summoned Secretary Interior to apprise about the
whereabouts of six Pakistani citizens repatriated from Bagram Internment Camp
Afghanistan by US authorities. The court had on previous hearing sought details
1251
of the released and repatriated detainees from the Interior Ministry, however, a
standing counsel sought more time for the purpose.
Next day, eleven polio workers abducted by unknown militants a couple of
days ago from Bara were released in Tirah Valley. Qasim Khan, who was
kidnapped said, We presented our case and told them that security forces forced
us to administer anti-polio drops to children, Qasim remarked. He said after the
approval of militants body, they were set free unconditionally.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers continued their protest and sit-in against
NATO supplies for the fourth consecutive day, stopping several containers of
NATO at Khairabad district Nowshera and Peshawar. Addressing on the
occasion PTI spokesman Ishtiaq Umar said that he salutes the sacrifices of PTI
workers, who despite number of activities spare their valuable time and join the
sit-in against NATO supplies and US drone attacks.
Imran Khan said the provincial government can neither shoot down drone
nor approach the UN Security Council directly for justice, therefore it decided
to ask the federal government to get aggression in the province stopped. Khan
said Interpol could be contacted after fixing of responsibility through
investigation. He said the KPK chief minister had written a letter to the PM with
the stance that his government could not protect NATO supply, adding that
article 148 of Constitution puts responsibility on the federation to protect its
units against any foreign aggression.
On 27th November, Pakistan called for immediate end to illegal US drone
strikes on its territory, after a UN committee unanimously adopted a resolution
that underscores need for an international agreement on legal questions
involving the use of remotely piloted aircraft. When armed drones kill
unarmed, innocent civilians, there is a clear breach of international law,
Ambassador Masood Khan said while explaining Pakistans position on the
draft approved by the General Assembly.
The PTI named the CIA's director and a man it said was the agency's chief
in Pakistan as murder suspects over a drone strike. The party has written to
police over last week's attack on a seminary linked to the feared Haqqani
militant network in Hangu district. The letter signed by PTI information
secretary Shireen Mazari asked Hangu police to name CIA director John
Brennan and a man they identified as the agency's Islamabad station chief as
suspects for murder and waging war against Pakistan.
Prime Minister finally made two top appointments by elevating Lt-Gen
Raheel Sharif as Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) and Lt-Gen Rashad
Mahmood as Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC). President
Mamnoon Hussain, who is also supreme commander of the armed forces, on the
advice of the prime minister notified the promotions.
1252
The United States said it looks forward to working with Gen Raheel Sharif,
new army chief of Pakistan. We worked closely with General Kayani on a
range of issues over the course of time in that position. As you know, he is
moving on, and we look forward to working with the new, his replacement,
State Department spokesperson told reporters at the daily press briefing.
The New York Times said the choice of Gen Raheel Sharif was due to the
resolve of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take experience and tradition into
account for the appointment. But in other ways the prime minister seemed to be
flexing his independence from a military command that until recent years had
run roughshod over civilian governments, the newspaper said.
Meanwhile, unknown persons torched a NATO oil tanker on way from
Karachi to Quetta near Baghbana. Levies sources said that no loss of life
occurred as the driver of the tanker remained safe, while the miscreants took to
their heels after setting the tanker on fire.
Next day, the JUI-F convened Tribal Jirga demanded the federal
government to reinitiate dialogue process with Taliban, create suitable
environment for its success and urged to take effective steps to end the US
drone attacks inside Pakistan. Talking to media persons after the tribal jirga,
Maulana Fazlur Rahman regretted that unfortunately no effective strategy of the
government was witnessed for peace.
Jamaat-e-Islami threatened the federal government with a million march
towards Islamabad if it failed to do concrete measures to stop drone strikes
inside Pakistan. KPK Senior Minister and JI Vice Ameer Siraj Ul-Haq also
demanded of the federal government to join hands with them (PTI & JI) to
block NATO supplies.
As many as 30 Muftis belonging to Sunni Ittehad Council (SIT) said in a
joint declaration that as per Sharia it is governments duty to shoot down drones
and stop NATO supplies to protect sovereignty of the country. The Muftis said
that government was bound by Sharia and Constitution to protect the
countrymen.
Ambiguity prevailed on diplomatic status of the US embassy official,
named as CIA station chief in Pakistan and accused of committing the gross
offences of murder and waging a war against Pakistan by PTI. His name along
with that of the CIA director was nominated by Dr Shirin Mazari for inclusion
in the already registered FIR No 555 at Thal police station in a drone attack on
Hangu madrassa last week.
On 29th November, at least three suspected militants were killed and two
others injured in an overnight US drone strike in Miranshah. Two drone
missiles struck a house in Chasma Pul village, killing three suspected militants.
1253
The attack came at a time when PTI has blocked NATO supply routes into
Afghanistan over drone strikes that have killed more civilians than terrorists.
Pakistan's military chief handed the reign of the country's largest armed
force to his successor at Farewell to Arms ceremony held at an army stadium.
The event culminated with the military's traditional 'stick handing' from General
Kayani to General Sharif. Known as 'quiet general' and 'silent soldier' in the
military circles, Gen Kayani spoke remarkably high of the resilience and resolve
of Pakistani people and soldiers.
General Raheel Sharif's elevation to the four-star general rank follows the
supercession of Lt-Gen Haroon Aslam who has proceeded on leave preparatory
to retirement (LPR). He did not show up at the Friday ceremony that was
attended by the corps commanders, principal staff officers (PSO), military
spymasters and the two-star generals as well as retired senior army officers.
On 30th November, a police escort was killed and another wounded when
militants attacked a polio vaccinators team on the outskirts of Peshawar. There
was no immediate claim about the responsibility for the attack. An explosion at
a filling station in Peshawars Gari Baghwanan area left a man wounded. An
exchange of fire between security personnel and militants in the afternoon left
three officials dead and two others wounded in Mohmand Agencys Baizai
tehsil.
Imran Khan reiterated that the federal government should take up the issue
of drone attacks in the UN Security Council as per its promise in All Parties
Conference. Imran criticized the federal government for failing to get the drone
strikes stopped, arguing these hits were fueling terrorism in the country.
Next day, an alliance of religio-political parties staged a show of power in
Lahore to press the government and military authorities for taking tougher
stance on American drones and the planned Indian wall at the LoC. Difa-ePakistan Council (DPC) announced launching of a countrywide movement for
stoppage of NATO supplies and prevention of construction of a wall by India
along the de facto border in Kashmir.
Addressing thousands of participants, gathered to vent their anger at the
authorities apparent double standards on the issue of US drone strikes, the
speakers also announced that they would convene a national jirga to ponder
upon the issues concerning the sovereignty of Pakistan. The participants of the
rally, holding banners and placards inscribed with the demand to end drone
strikes in Pakistani territory and chanting slogans against NATO and the US,
marched at The Mall from Neela Gunbad to Masjid e Shuhada, where a public
meeting was held.
The public meeting was presided over by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-S chief
Samiul Haq and addressed by Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed,
1254
Gen (r) Hameed Gul, former Prime Minister AJK Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan,
Fazalur Rehman Khalil, Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki, Ibtesam Elahi Zaheer,
Ameer Hamza, Abdul Raoof Farooqi and others. They said if the new leadership
of army, civilian rulers and politicians at large come on same page for defence
of the country, America would not dare carry out drone strikes in the country.
They were of the view that America, India and Israel wanted to divide Pakistani
nation along the sectarian lines.
The speakers demanded Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhary take
sou moto action against drone attacks. They alleged that government was
planning to handover the Jacobabad airbase to Americans again, but the nation
would not accept it. They said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should respect the
emotion of the masses and urged the PM, who visited Afghanistan, not to bow
down to President Karzai because he was a puppet in the hands of US.
In order to block NATO supplies to Afghanistan via KPK, activists and
workers of PTI and its allied parties continued their sit-in for the ninth
consecutive day on supplies route in four districts of the province. Besides, a
container carrying items for NATO forces was sent back from Khair Abad
Bridge in district Nowshera. The participating workers vowed that they would
actively attend the scheduled sit-in in front of the Parliament on December 5.
In Kohat, a sit-in was held at Jurma Chowk, while in Dera Ismail Khan,
PTI sit-in was also continued for the ninth consecutive day. The workers of the
PTIs allied parties JI and AJI also attended these sit-ins and vowed that these
protests and sit-ins would continue until drone strikes are stopped.
A 10-member delegation from Saudi Arabia, including some members of
the royal family, arrived in Lahore in the evening. No official word was
available about purpose of their visit. But given the composition of the
delegation, which includes a senior official of the Saudi Border Security Force,
it could be assumed that security related issues would come under discussion
with Pakistani authorities.
On 2nd December, the sit-in of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against NATO
supply entered into 10th connective day while police registered FIRs against
some of the PTI and Jamaat-e-Islami workers for breaking the locks of NATO
containers. The FIR was registered against PTI leader Tahir Raees and Jamaate-Islami leader Kashif Azam. The FIR was registered on the complaint of
drivers.
Next day, drones drama a term coined by Punjab Law Minister Rana
Sanaullah turned the House into a fish market during Punjab Assemblys
proceedings. The rumpus got underway when the speaker opened the House for
public interest resolutions. Moving forward, the opposition leader, Mehmoodur
Rasheed, urged the chair, deputy speaker to debate [out of turn] his resolution
1255
about drone attacks an issue directly linked to the countrys sovereignty. His
request was however turned down by the chair.
Upon this, Rasheed questioned how come the House ignored the resolution
about the drone strikes issue which was related to the national sovereignty and
integrity. A commotion set in when the treasury benches chanted, daramay bazi
band karo, after the law minister just had coined the term drones drama while
referring to the oppositions protest. The treasury MPs and law minister even
went on to call the opposition a Jewish lobby. Later, the opposition staged a
walkout, amid the treasurys slogan of run, run Jewish lobby run.
PTI chief speaking the workers said that his party is making all-out efforts
for bringing peace and stability to the country. He congratulated the PTI and its
coalition partners for successfully organizing protest and blocked the NATO
supplies lines via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stressed that peace is vital for
progress and development in the country. He viewed that KPK has been brought
to the verge of destruction. Rejecting the perception of receding tsunami and
workers protest against US drones strikes, he said that workers' zeal is still
intact and would not allow passing NATO containers from KPK till the halting
to missile attacks in tribal region of the Pakistan.
On 4th December, three persons including two personnel of Frontier Corps
and a passer-by woman got injured when a vehicle of security forces was
targeted with roadside improvised explosive device (IED), planted by unknown
militants, at Malik Shaga, Ghundi, in tehsil Jamrud of Khyber Agency.
Washington suspended ground shipments of NATO military equipment out
of Afghanistan through Pakistan to ensure safety of the truck drivers. We have
voluntarily halted US shipments of retrograde cargo through the Pakistan
Ground Line of Communication from Torkham Gate through Karachi, said
Pentagon spokesman in a statement.
Imran Khans party claimed a tactical success after the US military
suspended shipments of equipment out of Afghanistan via a key Pakistani route.
PTI spokeswoman Shirin Mazari hailed the Pentagons move as a tactical
success and said the protests would continue.
Next day, a policeman was killed in a hand grenade attack on a police
check post. Militants hurled hand grenades and used heavy weapons during
early morning on a police check-post in Mamishkhel area of Bannu. The
terrorists later fled the scene after retaliation by police. No group immediately
claimed responsibility for the attack.
To block NATO supplies via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, sit-ins continued for
the 13th consecutive day, while workers of PTI and its allied parties sent three
NATO containers back which were on way to Afghanistan. The workers of these
1256
protesting parties said that sin-ins and protest against the US drones would
continue until they were stopped.
Imran Khan, while issuing a terse warning to the ruling PML-N, stated the
federal government would face the same consequences, if the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa government was toppled. In his address to a sit-in of legislators
and PTI workers in one of the main squares in front of the Parliament House,
Khan reiterated his partys resolve that NATO/ISAF supply routes through
Khyber be suspended until the United States gave an assurance to stop drone
strikes in the Tribal Areas.
Khan urged the ruling PML-N to tell the people the truth and give up its
dual policies, which according to him, were the reason behind the US not giving
due respect to Pakistan. The PTI did not want a war with the US, but wanted to
protect the country from foreign aggression, he asserted.
Khan said he was proud of the KPK government and PTI's allies for taking
a bold stand against drone strikes. He also asked the rulers to distinguish
between friendship and slavery, saying just because they [PTI] had blocked
NATO supply lines, it was being said that Khan was making the US an enemy
of Pakistan.
Earlier, senior federal minister of Jamaat-e-Islami, Sirajul Haq, Pakistan
Awami Tehreek chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and PTI senior leaders Shah
Mahmood Qureshi and Makhdoom Javed Hashmi addressed the protesters.
Besides Chief Minister Pervez Khattak, members of PTI from the National
Assembly and provincial assembly as well as its coalition partners took part in
the protest.
Later, Imran Khan along with Pervez Khattak, Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and
other lawmakers made a march from D Chowk to the Parliament House, where
they handed over a plea against drone strikes and violation of the countrys
sovereignty to the National Assembly speaker in his chamber.
Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) Ameer and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami
(JUI-S) head Maulana Sami-ur-Rehman said that US drones have now started
targeting urban areas after targeting innocent people in tribal belt, which would
not be tolerated at any cost. He said this while talking to media after attending
the Wafaq-ul-Madaris Al-Arabia Central Shura.
The session was also attended by JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman
and others. The Muslim Ummah and Pakistan were moving towards destruction
because of sectarianism, said JUI-F Chief adding that a joint consensus over
Pindi tragedy has been emerged between Ulema of all schools of thought.
On 8th December, the kidnappers of the central leader of Awami National
Party (ANP) and chief of Kasi tribe, Arbab Abdul Zahir Kasi, have demanded
one billion rupees as ransom for his release. The supreme council of the tribe,
1257
however, has decided not to pay a single penny to kidnapers. Speaking on the
occasion, Arbab Muhammad Farooq Kasi said his father was kidnapped from
the bustling road of the city in broad day light, adding, We have adopted a
democratic and legal way and recorded our protest in this regard.
Some unknown assailants ambushed two NATO containers in Dhadar;
however, no loss of life was reported in the incident. According to Balochistan
Levies officials, two NATO containers were on their way to Afghanistan from
Karachi when a group of assailants on motorbikes opened fire at them.
US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will visit Pakistan tomorrow, as the
suspension of NATO shipments from Afghanistan via Pakistan due to anti-drone
protests was lifted. Hagel, who has been in Afghanistan since yesterday, will
meet with Prime Minister in the first visit by a US defence secretary to Pakistan
for nearly four years.
Insurgency: On 25th November, Balochistan Chief Minister strongly
condemned the border violation by Iranian security forces, and asked the federal
government to take up the issue with the neighbouring country. He expressed
these views during a news conference at the CM Secretariat. Next day, at least
seven people were killed and two others sustained injuries in two firing
incidents in Quetta and Mastung, while militants fired a rocket on a security
check-post in Panjgour.
On 27th November, Taliban militants gunned down and killed six people in
Afghanistan working on a government-backed literacy project in the northern
province of Faryab. They were traveling to observe a literacy project when the
Taliban stopped their car and shot them. The victims worked for a French aid
group involved in the project.
On 1st December, kidnapped cardiologist Dr Abdul Munaf Tareen reached
home here after remaining in captivity for about 75 days. He was kidnapped by
armed men from Quettas high security zone, Pishin Stop, on September 17
when he was on his way home. According to police, Dr Tareen was recovered
from Lasbela district, some 60 kilometers from Uthal city.
PMA Balochistan President Dr Sultan Tareen claimed that Rs50 million
were paid to kidnappers to secure the safe release of Dr Munaf Tareen. He
claimed that 31 doctors had been kidnapped and 18 doctors had become victim
of target killing in Balochistan during 5 years while most of the doctors were
released after payment of ransom. No doctor had been recovered with the efforts
of the government, he added.
Next day, two people, including one personnel of FC, were killed and five
others wounded in a landmine blast and firing incidents. Unknown armed men
attacked an FC checkpost at Godipul area of Lehri district with heavy weapons
and fled. Security personnel resorted to retaliatory firing and left for hot pursuit
1258
1259
cum-driver when armed motorcyclists intercepted his car near and sprayed
bullets on them.
Later, three members of a Tableeghi Jamaat were shot dead and two others
were wounded in a separate targeted killing in North Nazimabad. At least three
armed riders on a motorcycle opened indiscriminate fire outside the Farooq-eAzam Mosque located at North Nazimabad. Separately, a local leader of Ahle-eSunnat Wal Jamaat known as Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan Moulana Ishaq Umar
was wounded in an armed attack near Quaedabad Intersection. Similarly, a scout
of Payam-e-Wilayat was shot dead in an act of targeted killing.
On 5th December, Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah told the Punjab
Assembly that the Fact-Finding Committee formed by the Chief Minister to fix
responsibility for the Rawalpindi incident had found the RPO, CPO and seven
other police officials guilty of negligence. Responding to a call attention notice
by PTIs Arif Abbasi, he said that government had set up a high-level committee
comprising Chief Secretary Punjab, Home Secretary and IGP to afford an
opportunity to the accused officers to defend their position.
The Law Minister said that government had also set up a joint investigation
committee headed by an additional IGP, also comprising officials from the
sensitive agencies. The purpose behind the joint investigation was that nobody
is falsely implicated into the case while the responsible officers dont get scotfree, he added.
Meanwhile, during debate on law and order situation, Opposition Leader
Mahmudur Rashid said that 1350 incidents of crime were taking place in Punjab
on daily basis while 500 to 600 cases of blind murder are reported from Punjab
in a month. Taking an example of online registration of FIRs from KPK
province, he proposed that a cell be set up in every district for registration of
FIRs.
Next day, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat provincial chief Maulana Shamsur
Rehman Muavia was assassinated in a drive-by shooting near Ring Road
Lahore when he was on his way home after Friday prayers. ASWJ spokesman
said that Muavias driver and a passer-by were also wounded. The ASWJ, a
front for the banned Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, announced country-wide protests
against the targeted killing.
Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif strongly condemned the murder of religious
scholar. Taking notice of the murder of Maulana, he has sought report from
Inspector General Police Punjab. Meanwhile, ASWJ workers led by Maulana
Atta held a protest rally against the murder of their leader in Lahore. The
workers gathered at Aabpara Chowk and protested against killing of Maulana.
On 7th December, a large number of members of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat
(ASWJ) staged sit-ins and held protest demonstrations across the country
1261
ministers of the six Gulf Cooperation Council member states, which include
leading supporters of the rebels in Syria, also urged quick action to end the
conflict and expressed hope that a peace conference planned for January will
help lead to a settlement.
On 29th November, it was reported that key security matters, particularly
strengthening of border management, Pakistans role in Afghanistans
reconciliation process and enhancing economic cooperation will be the focus of
talks when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid Karzai
convene for consultations with their key aides in Kabul today. Prime Minister
Nawaz Sharif will be accompanied by his top foreign policy team, Sartaj Aziz,
Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani.
Next day, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Afghan President Hamid
Karzai reiterated their resolve to further deepen and broaden the Pak-Afghan
bilateral relationship in all spheres, and they pledged to enhance bilateral trade
to $5 billion by 2015. Sharif visiting Kabul said he supported Afghan efforts to
seek peace with the Taliban and would help negotiators meet former senior
insurgent commander Mullah Baradar.
The prime minister urged all the stakeholders in Afghanistan to join hands
for supporting the efforts aimed at establishing sustainable peace in the country.
He said his country desired a good-neighbourly relationship with Afghanistan.
The one-day visit was Sharifs first to Afghanistan since he took office in May
and came as Karzai is locked in a public dispute with Washington over a
security deal covering the role of US soldiers who remain in the country after
next year. Nawaz reportedly assured Karzai government that his country wont
interfere in the US security deal issue.
Nawaz Sharif hoped that others in the region would also work to reinforce
efforts for stabilization of Afghanistan. He urged the international community
that it must stay engaged to help Afghanistans reconstruction and economic
development. President Karzai said he desired to see Pakistan and Afghanistan
free of terrorism and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharifs visit would help strengthen
the bilateral ties.
He said Pakistan had enhanced its commitment of assistance for
reconstruction and socio-economic development in Afghanistan from $385
million to $500 million. The additional $115 million would be utilized to
complete ongoing projects and initiate new ones, he added. He said Pakistan
had also extended the stay of registered Afghan refugees up to December 2015.
On 1st December, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the presence of the United
States in Afghanistan is a threat to the regional peace and he called for a
consensus on issues directly concerning Pakistans sovereignty and stability.
The superpowers interference in regional issues were not in the interest of the
region, Rehman said as he gave a unity call to end American drone strikes.
1263
1264
1265
India: On 25th November, Pakistan equipped its own armed forces with
indigenously developed surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The
first fleet of drones namely Burraq and Shahpar was inducted in Pakistan
Army and Pakistan Air Force. The addition of these un-armed drones to the
inventory of armed forces is being termed as a landmark achievement by the
defence experts. In the future these UAVs can also be gainfully employed in
various socio-economic development projects.
Lawyers for seven Pakistanis involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the day
before the fifth anniversary of the assault that left 166 people dead, said the case
against them lacks evidence. Pakistan charged seven men in 2009 over the
attacks, but insisted it needs to gather more evidence in India before proceeding
further.
On 2nd December, Pakistans outgoing envoy to New Delhi said he saw
light at the end of the tunnel in diplomatic relations and predicted the
improvement would survive next years Indian elections. High Commissioner
Salman Bashir said calm had returned to the neighbours de facto border in
disputed Kashmir after a deadly flare-up earlier in the year and both sides were
committed to improving ties. Bashir refused to be drawn on the impact of a
Modi premiership, saying Pakistan would respect whatever is the decision of
the people of India.
Next day, Indian forces killed three suspects in Held Kashmir overnight
following a lengthy gun battle near the Line of Control. The three were killed
after heavy firing erupted between security forces and the attackers yesterday
afternoon at Handwara, a village in a forest 90 kilometres from Srinagar. Four
officers from the police special operations group were injured in the gun battle.
On 4th December, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said there was
no possibility of Pakistan winning any war against India in his lifetime. He
1266
VIEWS
Pakistan
Loud arguments, little effect: While PTI peoples power (thrust against
the drones) enters its third day, whether or not it will lead to actually taking the
UAVs off our skies is uncertain. Rivals are floating arguments that to suspend
the supplies only an executive order will suffice. But this isnt as easy as it
seems. Legions of PTI activists kept marching right up to the highway crossings
scuffling with the drivers. What we are seeing is a strategy looking to block
roads each day until nightfall when trucks pull up owing to security reasons.
The provincial government is led by PTI and will most certainly take and
follow its orders but blocking national highways is the federal governments
domain. It seems we are on the verge of a duel between the provincial and the
1267
federal government. Already horns seem to have been locked, given the
slanging match between PTI leaders and Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed,
for instance.
Meanwhile in the middle of this befuddlement and the opinion being
shaped and twisted to convenience, the people may be losing their attention
from the bigger danger which is the TTP and how Mullah Fazlullah may be
planning attacks during this time span. All it needs is a mass gathering
entertained by a leader with the slightest bit to charisma. And the problem
obviously gets worse because here we have Imran Khan who can surely wrap
the masses around his little finger.
The point being overlooked is how politicians and non-state actors alike are
jumping onto the PTI Drones bandwagon; some of these non-state actors
verging on being defined as terrorists themselves, and who shouldnt be on the
roads in the first place masquerading as Pakistans saviours. The campaign is
allowing Jamaat-e-Islamis Chief Munawar Hassan to wash off the stain of his
remarks over Hakimullahs killing. As part of this pattern, several sectarian
outfits are making a point that their righteous extremism holds the secret to
Pakistans salvation. And sadly the idea is selling as we see more and more
people turning up to block the roads.
No one will disagree with PTIs contention that Pakistan will be better off
without drones, but again we also need to own up to the reality that the
homeland will be far worse off in offering its soil as unholy hunting ground to
those who attract drones in the first place. (Editorial, TheNation 25 th
November)
Fazlullah return of the prodigal son: Mullah Fazlullah, born as Fazal
Hayat, has humble origins. He was a ski-lift operator, who abducted and later
married the daughter of Maulana Sufi Muhammad, the founder of Tehrik-eNifaz-e-Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TNSM), which was banned by the Government
of Pakistan. Not having received formal education, yet he stepped into Sufis
shoes after his arrest in January, 2002 and assumed leadership of the banned
TNSM and changed his own name to Fazlullah, to add credible religiosity to his
facade
Fazlullahs selection as the new head of TTP has little consequence and
only confirms his status as a non-state actor with power motives and an
insatiable agenda. Courage is not one of his virtues; he deserted his followers in
Swat when faced with the army crackdown. He has been resurrected through
generous funding and incessant supply of arms to launch terrorist attacks inside
Pakistan. His morals are also questionable because he targeted the women and
children in Swat and earned world condemnation for targeting Malala Yousafzai
and her schoolmates for their quest for education.
1268
1269
perhaps by using the forum of the United Nations. Similar action has been
recommended by parties like Jamat-e-Islami, JUI who have been indirectly
encouraged by statements of Pakistans Interior Minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali
Khan who in the first place had no business to touch a subject that is the domain
of foreign affairs. While the parties clamoring for a blockade of NATO supplies
may gain some adhoc support amongst the masses, yet in the long run these
political parties must understand that their present posture has every chance of
becoming counterproductive for them.
Another joker in Pakistani politics, Molvi Sami ul Haq has filed a contempt
of court petition against the Prime Minister and the ministry of interior on the
judgment passed by the Peshawar High Court. This judgment has several parts,
most of them are outside the jurisdiction of the honorable court but nonetheless
the government in its wisdom failed to file an appeal against the order which
could have decided the matter finally. Since no appeal has been filed, it has
provided an opportunity to crazy elements like Molvi Sami ul Haq to file this
contempt of court petition. These bunch of molvis want the government of
Pakistan to take some drastic actions including the shooting down of drones
flown by the American CIA without realizing the ensuing consequences not
only for Pakistans relations with an entire block of western countries but also
its effects on the economic situation in Pakistan. While Imran Khan has been
talking about Pakistans sovereignty being violated by the Americans which is
quite understandable at the same time, Imran Khan, Mr Munawar Hassan,
Maulana Fazal ur Rehman and Molvi Sami ul Haq have never explained the
presence of foreign terrorists who have been found hiding in different places
which again amounts to this countrys sovereignty being violated. The Tehreeke-Insaaf and others must study the case history of terrorism in Sri Lanka, Ireland
and elsewhere which will provide them with many lessons allowing them to
formulate better policies for their political parties. It is also strange that
Tehreek-e-Insaaf has leaders like Mr Shah Mehmud Qureshi, Javed Hashmi and
Dr Shireen Mizari who were expected to use their clout within the party and
provide it with a direction that could serve both the short term and long term
political objectives of Tehreek-e-Insaaf. However, keeping with his reputation
of being headstrong and rigid, it can be safely speculated, that Mr Imran Khan
overruled saner voices within his party and has chosen the perilous route of
confrontation that may create serious problems not only for himself but also for
the federal government.
In case it is a symbolic protest it could have still convey a strong message
to the Americans and the international community but in case the Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa government is also involved in the stoppage of supplies from and
to Afghanistan, it would become a different ball game that will be neither
desirable nor achievable for Imran Khans party and all those who are trying to
gain political mileage out of this high sounding rhetoric. The Prime Minister,
1270
Mian Nawaz Sharif should have intervened earlier to resolve this issue and the
continued delay by the PML-N government to intervene so that this issue does
not balloon out of control also speaks about the weakness of the Federal
government on the issue of terrorism. This situation cannot continue for long
because the army which has suffered so much for this country and its people are
expected to make up its mind very soon and go after the terrorists whole hog
leaving all talk of negotiating with terrorists who have laid down impossible
conditions for talks with the Pakistan government in tatters. This attitude will
not be tolerated and hence all the political statements which indirectly support
the Taliban will be torn to pieces sooner than expected by these night gems of
wisdom. Therefore prudence demands that the Prime Minister should initiate
measures and unite the country on this issue before it becomes too late for
everyone in Pakistan that may lead to unforeseen consequences. (Azam Khalil,
TheNation 29th November)
Descent into insanity: For an entire war of survival to be reduced to a
debate on the use of one tactical weapon, the Drone, and that too one of the
most precise weapons developed to date, is confounding to say the least.
Though this degeneration has unfolded in the public glare, the very absurdity of
a countrys complex existential struggle against being taken over by advancing
Islamist fascists reduced to being framed in terms of the use of Drones defies
belief. How it happened is apparent, but how it was allowed to happen remains
out of grasp, especially given the use of sometimes unverifiable information,
sometimes outright lies and propaganda, and most of the time illogical
arguments. Incredibly, this has been achieved almost single-handedly by Imran
Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), with Jamat-e-Islami (JI) and other
religious parties as helpful sidekicks.
Meanwhile, as the madness continues to unfold, the conduct of the ruling
party in government, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N),makes for a
study in mental disorders. It has lurched between descent into unimpaired
insanity, with its interior minister running around screeching at the US and the
CIA for Droning Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists (whilst these groups continue
to slaughter Pakistani citizens at will), and an appearance of profound mental
retardation, with its party chairman abstaining from saying anything that might
hurt the Talibans feelings. During bouts of fleeting reason, its ministers issue
dark warnings to Imran Khan of the dementedness of his and his partys
obstruction of thousands of cargo trucks en route through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
in the hope of blocking NATO supplies, in an effort to stop Drone strikes in the
country. With such muddled and bemusing activities, the PML-N has allowed
Imran Khans reductionist and irrational narrative to dictate the national
discourse on this issue.
It appears the PML-N government has completely washed its hands of its
duty to examine the wider problem and formulate a strategy to lead the country
1271
out of the worsening crisis. The only business in evidence is a wonton neglect of
recognition and articulation of fundamental issues at the root of this war. To
have allowed whether terrorists should be Droned or not to become the central
question, and not an analysis of the threat(s) posed to the country and its people
by Islamist insurgents, and not how best to defend against these threats, and not
developing and implementing a plan of action to this end, is a failure close to
criminal in nature.
The result is a spectacle of a deranged nation: at once on a rampage
obstructing cargo trucks protesting the killing of known foreign terrorists living
and working sans visas freely in Pakistan; heaping honours of martyrdom on
killers of its children; lodging FIRs against the US and the CIA for killing the
killers of its children; offering office spaces to domestic terrorists; accusing the
US of killing peace at targeting said domestic terrorists; threatening to shoot
down the only known salvation of innocent citizens of Pakistan a.k.a US
Drones. And as if the loony bin didnt look quite picture perfect, the CIA station
chief was ousted and the SHO of the local Hangu police station set upon him
and his boss in the U.S. At this juncture, one is almost tempted to steal the
contempt of the very same rabid horde to ask, Is this a country I want to save?
But temptation aside, save it one must. If from nothing else, then from the
bone chilling vision of an SHO of Thana Hangu chasing, and making the
subject of a police encounter the CIA station chief, then rushing off back to the
US embassy in Islamabad to stand in line for a visa in order to arrest his boss,
and finally setting out on the trail of the murder weapon to Afghanistan. If the
entire world is not convulsing at the idea of deploying an FIR and an SHO in a
war, even if the war were imagined against the US and not against the Islamist
insurgents, as asserted by lunatics blocking trucks and filing police reports, I
would eat my hat twice over.
To have let it come to this, where bedlam reins free, threatening to destroy
all? No discussion on the peoples way of life, their livelihoods, their freedoms,
their security? No recognition of the intent of the insurgents barbaric,
obscurantist, fascist objectives? No thought to the defence of the people? Is
radio silence to remain the response to the real questions? It is not for nothing
that being on top and doing nothing has come to be known as the Nawaz
Sharif Position.
But revisiting a tiny portion of how it was allowed to happen, the Nawaz
Sharif Position might provide a useful hint. And to be fair to him, whilst his
unparalleled stillness prompted the recognition of a new Position, leaders before
him are no strangers to the kind of inaction exhibited by him. A formal
declaration of being in a state of war as a result of the decade long assault on
Pakistan by the Islamists, none; the public taken into confidence and brought
onside, never; an honest ownership of the Drone attacks as only one weapon
1272
(perchance the most precise) in a wide range being used, nevermore; an attempt
at legalization of the use of Drones, God forbid. But allowing the shrieking
hyenas to get away unchallenged in their propaganda of innocent children
being massacred in Drone attacks, like the ones this week in Hangu, with
photographs from conflicts around the world, you bet. Towing their false
notions of sovereignty and lies about innocent children, oh absolutely. Making
steak-holders (sic) out of the Taliban, why not? Rare, or medium? Thoroughly
well done, please. Challenging the wild hoodlums breaking the law, threatening,
brawling and breaking into private property on the Peshawar ring road, nope.
And that is how it all came to pass the madness, the hysteria, the sheer
lost-in-a-jungle state of being of an entire nation: with an exemplary stillness on
part of the leadership, honoured with an alluring Position named after it. (Gul
Bukhari, TheNation 29th November)
Missing the point on drones: An endless debate on the question on US
Drone strikes on Pakistan in our TV talk-shows has been characterized more by
heat than light...
While Imrans courage and consistency merit recognition, PLM-Ns sharp
criticism of his proactive resort to obstruction of NATO supplies, needs to be
reviewed and tempered because of the complications which are bound to add to
the troubles of a country which is already beset with multiple crisis. Imran has
also a grouse about Nawaz Sharif not having raised the drone issue with the US
Administration forcefully during his visit to Washington.
Whatever be the justification which Washington dishes out in support of
the drone strikes (to hit its enemies) in Pakistan and its claims of hardly any
civilian casualties, in my view, Pakistan has failed to handle this issue astutely.
Why do I say so?
Let me spell out what Pakistan might have done and should do.
Just as the American Senators and Congressmen, off and on, visit Pakistan
to vigorously communicate their thinking and demands to top Pakistani civil
and military authorities, well briefed delegations of our MNAs and Senators
(from all major political parties) as also leading academic and legal luminaries
should have visited America to meet their counterparts and senior US
Administration officials. Teams of experienced and well informed men and
women including anchors, scholars and columnists too should have been sent to
USA and UK to project the case of Pakistan.
Part of the briefs prepared for these delegates should include Reports of the
Amnesty International (UK) and the Human Rights Watch (USA) which
consider the US drone strikes as war crimes and which have convincingly
questioned the legality and (unwarranted) killing of civilians, in Pakistan.
Relevant here is an excerpt of Amnesty Internationals world-wide appeal to
1273
Prevent Extrajudicial Killings with Drones and Other Weapons: Reject the
global war theory: Repeal the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force:
Follow the international humanitarian law: Release more information: Disclose
further legal and factual details about U.S. policy and practices for so-called
targeted killings, signature strikes: Uphold the rights of all people, not only
US citizens: Ensure justice and security with human rights.
The brief for the delegates should also have references to the UN Human
Rights Rapporteurs Report on the use of drone in Pakistan and the Resolution
passed by the United Nations General Assembly in November 2013 against
Drone use. The Resolution specifically aims at the use of drones and human
rights violations with an urgent stress on the legalities of drone use. In a
statement, the international bloc of nations said By that text, the General
Assembly would take note of the report of the Special Rapporteur on the
promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while
countering terrorism, which referred to the use of remotely piloted aircraft.
To conclude, serious and urgent steps must be taken to open peace talks
with the Taliban and as proposed, delegations immediately sent to USA to
persuade the American government (as well as Congressmen and Senators) to
stop or at least suspend the Drone Strikes during the course of the talks.
The matter should also be taken up at the United Nations in pursuance of
US General Assemblys recent Resolution on Drone Strikes. (Inayatullah, 30th
November)
Self-inflicted injuries: Pentagon spokesman, Mark Wright announced on
Tuesday evening that Washington has suspended ground shipments of NATO
military equipment out of Afghanistan through Pakistan to ensure safety of the
truck drivers. Heres how Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) achieved this tactical
success: people like simple explanations to complex problems. Its convenient.
There is no other reason that PTI Chairman, Imran Khans oversimplified drone
theory sells so easily. It suggests that the root of all terrorism in Pakistan is the
US-drone program. Sophisticated militias comprising of local and international
terrorists are in fact grieving victims of drone assaults. Their elaborate
manifestos revealing an extremist ideology, which justifies targeting citizens to
pressure the state into imposing their distorted version of Sharia law, is purely
accidental. They can kill anyone with impunity because they are justifiably
angry, and they are our people. Lets not ever talk about what really attracts
drones to FATA. Might it be the presence of notorious terrorists based in the
safe havens within the territory, who engage in cross-border terrorism? And,
isnt the presence of foreign terrorists also a breach of the countrys
sovereignty? Blasphemy! US drones kill innocents, e.g. Hakimullah Mehsud.
They then become full-time terrorists, and start killing Pakistanis. Much
simpler.
1274
It appears that all that matters to PTI is that we talk to the TTP, even if it
tells us twice a week that it doesnt want to. So, we have to get them to like us.
And, what better way to do it than by curbing the only tool of opposition they
face in the country; drones. And, how do we do that? We let loose party
supporters on NATO routes. Give them a free hand to stop trucks, conduct
searches and block roads. The police can only see, but not touch. Is it a mockery
of law? Yes. Setting a bad precedent of using street power to physically disrupt
state policy? Sure. But, thats fine. As long as the US is pressured into
suspending NATO supplies fearing the risk to the lives of the truck drivers.
But, has Pakistan gained anything from this blockade? If the objective is to
stop drone strikes, there is no certainty whether this move can or will achieve
that. And, even it does, so what? It will most definitely not eradicate terrorism
from the country, but only provide a breathing space to the militants. Also, it
must be kept in mind that Pakistan is a cheaper route for NATO supplies, but
not the only one. Comparatively less feasible, however, reliable alternatives are
available for supplying equipment. All that the world will see is Pakistans
irresponsible and unhelpful role at time when NATO troops near departure from
the region. No guarantee of halting of drones, massive loss in revenue,
detrimental impact on foreign relations; a tactical success. (Editorial,
TheNation 6th December)
Afghanistan
American follies in Afghanistan: I have recently finished reading two
books of direct relevance to post-9/11 Afghanistan. Cables from Kabul the
inside story of the Wests Afghanistan campaign has been written by Sherard
Cowper-Coles based primarily on his personal experience as the British
ambassador to Afghanistan from 2007 to 2009 and then as Britains special
representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan from February 2009 to September,
2010. The book is a damning criticism of the flawed strategy followed by the
US in Afghanistan after overthrowing the Taliban regime in 2001. The
dispensable nation written by Vali Nasr, an American scholar of high repute,
covers a wider canvass as it deals with a set of challenges confronting the US
foreign policy. But it also brings out the blunders that the US has committed in
handling the Afghanistan situation in the post-9/11 scenario, particularly by
neglecting diplomacy and a political settlement in Afghanistan.
By now there is a growing realization, at least among objective scholars of
international politics, that the US has pursued a flawed Afghanistan policy in
the aftermath of 9/11. To start with, one can question whether the US was
justified in attacking the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Of course, one must
condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attacks of 9/11. There is
also a general agreement that the attacks had been planned by al-Qaeda.
However, there is no evidence to prove that that the Taliban regime in
1275
Afghanistan at that time had anything to do with those attacks. Its only guilt was
to provide sanctuary to al-Qaedas leadership and its refusal to expel them from
Afghanistan after 9/11. Secondly, the US attack against the Taliban regime in
Afghanistan in October, 2001 was launched without any UN authorization.
So the decision to attack Afghanistan was that of the US and its allies
probably under article 51 of the UN Charter which affirms the inherent right of
individual or collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member
of the United Nations, until the Security Council has taken measures necessary
to maintain international peace and security. When historians debate the issue
sometime in the future, they would have to examine whether the US attack was
justifiable as a legitimate act of self-defence or whether it constituted an act of
disproportionate use of force in response to an admittedly monstrous
provocation. They would also have to examine whether there were other ways
of punishing the perpetrators and sponsors of those terrorist attacks short of an
all out war. Even Ambassador Sherard Cowper-Coles had to admit, Most
tragically, intervening in Afghanistan in such haste in 2001 may not have been
necessary. (p.290, Cables from Kabul)
From the political point of view, the defenders of the US attack on
Afghanistan in October 2001 would have to prove conclusively that the results
it achieved were worth the huge price in blood and treasure that the US, its
allies, and the people of Afghanistan have paid. According to some estimates,
the US has spent more than a trillion dollars on the war in Afghanistan besides
incurring casualties running into thousands of soldiers and causing enormous
loss of human lives and material damage in that country. What does the US have
to show for the huge price of its war in Afghanistan? Admittedly the top
leadership of al-Qaeda has been eliminated or greatly weakened in areas around
Pakistan-Afghanistan border. But al-Qaeda cells have sprouted in other regions
of the world. Perhaps a strategy with greater attention to its political elements
and less emphasis on the military might have produced better results. After all,
political grievances constitute the root cause of international terrorism in the
form of al-Qaeda. In view of the unhappy experiences of Britain and the Soviet
Union, the US decision to attack Afghanistan also ran in the face of the lessons
of history. After all, it was not without reason that Harold Macmillan had
counseled against any invasion of Afghanistan.
Even if one takes the position that the US attack on Afghanistan was
unavoidable because of the gravity of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, Washington
should have adopted a well-considered strategy to achieve realistic and clearly
stated aims. The initial US aims in Afghanistan were defeat and elimination of
al-Qaeda, the imposition of a government of its choice on the Afghan people,
and the rebuilding of Afghanistan in accordance with Washingtons preferences
and values. While the first objective was within the reach of the American
1276
power, the remaining two were far beyond its capabilities as the later events
clearly showed.
Under the Bonn Agreement, the US established a government in Kabul
which was dominated by the elements of the Northern Alliance, alienating not
only the Taliban but also most of the Pashtuns. Ambassador Cowper-Coles
points out in his book mentioned above that the Bonn settlement that had
followed (the Taliban defeat) had been a victors peace from which the
vanquished had been excluded; and that the constitution resulting from that
settlement could last as long as the West was prepared to stay in Afghanistan to
prop up the present disposition. (p.xxii)Thus, the US became a party to the
internal armed conflict in Afghanistan between the Pashtuns and the nonPashtuns which had been going on since the fall of the Najibullah regime in
April, 1992. This blunder on the part of the US fuelled the insurgency in
Afghanistan. Further, the Afghan society essentially is extremely conservative
and not yet ready to embrace the cultural and social values of the West.
Washingtons attempt to impose those values on the Afghan people further
strengthened the Taliban-led insurgency. There is no way to quell this
insurgency unless the US takes steps to remove the fundamental causes which
ignited it in the first place.
Besides aiming too high, the US adopted a flawed strategy to achieve its
goals in Afghanistan. Its strategy during the first decade after the fall of the
Taliban regime in Afghanistan placed exclusive reliance on military means and
gave short shrift to political aspects of the strategy. When that did not produce
the desired results, the US government and its military commanders found it
convenient to blame Pakistan for their failures instead of facing the reality of a
poorly crafted strategy. The reality, however, is that the insurgency in
Afghanistan can be overcome primarily through national reconciliation and a
political settlement among the various contending Afghan parties and not
through military means alone. The resultant settlement must, of course, enjoy
the endorsement of Irans neighbours, particularly Pakistan and Iran.
It appears that the American policy makers have finally realized the
mistakes of too ambitious goals and a flawed strategy to achieve them.
Therefore, since 2011 Washington has made some attempts to correct these
mistakes by down-scaling its aims in Afghanistan and encouraging the Afghan
parties including the Taliban to enter into a dialogue. This course correction was
necessitated by the war weariness of the American people, the enormous cost of
the military campaign in Afghanistan, American economic problems, and the
tenacity of the Taliban-led insurgency. The planned departure of most of the
American and other ISAF troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2014 has lent
an element of urgency to the proposed dialogue among the Afghan parties. It
remains to be seen whether the short time available before December 2014 will
1277
It would give Kabul little more than a month. For the US, it was neither
practical nor possible to delay the signing. There was an implied threat that a
failure would lead to the withdrawal of all troops, and no US aid to Afghanistan.
Roots of discord
The truth is that the US did not want a total withdrawal from Afghanistan,
but the brinkmanship between Kabul and Washington raised intriguing
questions. Why did President Karzai want to delay the signing until his
successor had assumed office after the April 2014 election? And why should the
US have viewed a four-month delay so calamitous for the agreement? After all,
the US is a country known for drawn-out legislative processes.
Karzai was the US preferred choice to lead Afghanistan after the Taliban
regimes overthrow in 2001, but their relations have deteriorated steadily,
especially under the Obama presidency. Accusations of corruption,
incompetence and nepotism against the Karzai administration abound, though
these ills afflict all sides in a clearly troubled partnership
The Afghanistan Times had earlier quoted Karzai as saying that the security
pact could only be signed when our elections are conducted, correctly and with
dignity. His spokesman underlined the need to secure the Loya Jirgas
approval. Afghan constitutions have come and gone with the countrys
upheavals. The customary role of tribal assemblies in approving a constitution,
resolving disputes and considering issues of national importance has remained
constant. The process may not be perfect, but in the absence of the tribal jirga,
legitimacy, in the eyes of many Afghans, is difficult to achieve.
Divergent imperatives
As Obama and Karzai both approach the end of their final term as
president, they are under competing political pressures. Obama, who is due to
leave the White House in January 2017, is a man in a hurry, at a time when
success is by no means certain in the latest Israeli-Palestinian talks, and
rapprochement with Iran has just started after more than three decades of cold
war, and tedious negotiations in recent months finally resulting in a historic, but
fragile, agreement on Tehrans nuclear programme.
Karzai, whose presidential term will end after the April 2014 election, has
personal as well as long-term considerations. In a distrustful relationship,
Karzais interest is in securing maximum cover for himself in the eyes of his
people; true national sovereignty; and freedom for the next Afghan president to
act. In essence, a legacy which, Karzai can argue was delivered at a time of
extreme national emergency. (Deepak Tripathi for Aljazeera, republished in
TheNation 26th November)
Karzai stands alone in high-stakes game with US: President Hamid
Karzais stubborn refusal to sign a pact that would keep thousands of US troops
1279
Nawaz Sharif, met with President Hamid Karzai, on a one-day visit to Kabul on
Friday. Although this is PM Sharifs first bilateral visit to Afghanistan since
resuming office in June, the two heads of state are meeting for the third time in
a short span of 6 months. This is a timely and encouraging trend, emerging at an
incredibly crucial period for the region, as NATO troops prepare to pullout by
2014. The PMs agenda for the meeting is extensive, and outlines the concerns
shared by both countries with regards to security, the reconciliation process in
Afghanistan, and economic challenges.
Fearing encirclement by India, Pakistans India-centric foreign policy
pushed the country to adopt an intrusive role in Afghanistan. Equating the
countrys survival with ensuring strategic depth in Afghanistan, the country
pursued its policy aggressively by providing patronage to the Afghan Taliban.
Resultantly, Pakistan is viewed with considerable skepticism in Afghan power
circles. The current attempts by Afghan intelligence to recruit the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) as a proxy in Pakistan, reveals the broken nature of the
relationship between the two neighbours. Many refuse to believe that the
Pakistani military has abandoned its pursuit of the counter-productive policy,
and therefore, confidence-building measures are a necessary step to reshape the
countrys image and demonstrate its revised policy. Indias interest in
Afghanistan in terms of investment in billions suggests that it too is following
its strategic compulsions in the war-torn country. However, that should not
automatically mean reliance on strategic assets in order to secure interests.
That narrow approach belongs to the past of miscalculations and blunders, and
has pushed the country towards endless chaos and now, isolation.
There is another way of doing things. Its called aligning interests. Its
always better to scratch one anothers back rather than stabbing it. Pakistan and
Afghanistan face similar challenges, and a policy which clearly defines
common issues, encompasses a mechanism to tackle them, and furthers mutual
interests of the two states is the only way forward. To ensure security, there
must be zero tolerance for terrorists. This includes eradicating safe havens
present within both countries, immediately withdrawing patronage from nonstate actors and nurturing a sustainable relationship with the elected leadership
across borders for a change. Pakistan must perform its vital role in the Afghan
reconciliation process with utmost responsibility, being mindful of long-term
consequences of its actions and resistant towards the temptation of short-term
gains. There are no permanent enemies and friends in inter-state relations, just
partners. And, a partnership indeed is the need of the hour. It is hoped that the
coming days see Afghanistan and Pakistan co-operating towards eliminating
terrorism, enhancing economic ties, and eventually discovering a way out of the
maze theyre lost in. (Editorial, TheNation 1st December)
Iran
1281
The Saudis are furious about whats going on. It seems many American
allies in the region have reasons to be annoyed, he said. Shifting alliances is
the best way to describe the situation. (John Davidson, TheNation 26 th
November)
US-Iran nu(un)clear deal: A nuclear Iran was always unacceptable to the
world at large and particularly the regional powers. A nuclear Iran would have
brought about another center of power in the region which would have
competed with nuclear Israel challenging its hegemony as a regional cop and
severely curtailing the strategic space, freedom of unopposed action and
advantage it commanded in the region. That would have impinged upon some of
the vital interests of the US-led west and been unacceptable to it and most Arab
states as well. It might have encouraged the likes of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and
Egypt to follow suit too.
So by forcing Irans hand the P5+1 has been able to maintain the
imbalanced strategic status quo in the GMER for the time being. It has created
the time and space it needs to fully dismantle Irans nuclear program. It has
managed to retain nuclear Israels dominance of the GMER and further secure
its own multidimensional interests too. A major threat has been distanced (in
time) from Israel if not totally removed.
However, Saudi Arabia and Israel both feel irked and badly let down by the
P5+1. Ironically, both have the same adversary but for clearly very different
reasons. Both feel that the P5+1 had Iran in its crosshairs and it should have
delivered the deathblow to its nuclear program. They feel that it has been let off
the hook, with the chances of its reviving its nuclear ambitions not totally
foreclosed.
Saudi Arabia has been stung twice in quick succession by the US and its
allies -.first in Syria and now in Iran. It clearly feels let down by the US. The
Saudi Arabia-Iran animosity is likely to get more serious with time. Similarly
Israel feels that Iran has been let off the hook. It too feels let down by the US.
So an intriguing scenario is evolving in the GMER. The conflicting Saudi
Arabia-Iran and the Israel-Iran animosities are likely to dominate events in the
GMER in the near future. Saudi Arabia may feel constrained to look beyond the
US for other sources of succor (China, Russia or even Pakistan?) particularly in
the wake of its two diplomatic setbacks in Syria and Iran.
Pakistan could actually play a vital role in bridging the gulf between the
two major Muslim states. It has very good relations with both and also has a
sizeable Shiite population. It is thus ideally located and positioned to do so. It
actually could help both friendly states avoid becoming victims of their
respective fiery rhetoric and the vagaries of US policies in the region. The
ineffective OIC actually could have played a singular role in defusing the feud
between the two and bringing them closer. United, these two Muslim states
1283
could become impregnable. Divided, they will allow outsiders to defeat them
piecemeal!
Pakistan has been a bit hasty in jumping to conclusions, too. It has been
overly optimistic about the early revival of the Iran Pakistan Gas Pipeline
Project. Similarly, the Chabahar-Herat link has been overplayed as an alternate
route for the US/NATO/ISAF to egress from the region or for India to carry out
its trade with Afghanistan and the CARs outflanking Pakistan. It is a poor and
uneconomic substitute to the Wagah-Torkham, Karachi Chaman and KarachiTorkham routes.
The geopolitical situation in the GMER is thus likely to remain dynamic,
evolving and uncertain. In the next six months Pakistan could actually play a
crucial role in shaping the future of the GMER if it has the foresight and
determination to do so! (Imran Malik, TheNation 4th December)
John Kerry The game changer! For the last several years the United
States had been seeking a respectable exit from Afghanistan, as the end game
was nearing in 2013-14. Various options were exercised to determine a suitable
course of action, but failed. It was John Kerry, a war veteran and an astute
diplomat, who in a short period of few months was able to strike a deal with
Iran on the nuclear issue, achieving consensus of all who mattered. The deal
promises a safe exit from Afghanistan and opens up opportunities for peace in
the region and a new world order, particularly after shifting of the Strategic
Pivot to the Asia Pacific, where a new coalition of the willing has been formed
to contain and curb the threat of rising economic and military power of China.
The US-Iran deal is a landmark development After the confirmation of
this deal, the US and NATO forces will find a safe exit through Iran. The
existing land and rail roads and the sea-ports of Bandar Abbas and Chabahar
will open up the trade-routes to Afghanistan and to the Central Asian region. It
will not, in any way minimize the importance of the existing routes through
Pakistan, particularly after the extension of the railways to Kashghar, that would
help achieve economic and social integration of the Central Asian region, which
has remained land locked by the colonial powers and the neo-colonials, who
occupied and ravaged this region, for their imperial designs.
After having fought two humiliating and expensive wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan, US does not want to be engaged in another war. The failure and
defeat of the past three decades, has degraded the status of US as a super power,
forcing the smaller powers, to adjust their priorities to suit their national
interests. Consequently, John Kerry is engaged in long protracted negotiations
with Iran, Syria and Palestine and for sure he will succeed. The emerging
coalition of US, India and Iran would therefore act as a counter-check on war
mongers, in a manner that Syria has been saved from such a catastrophe by
Russia. This is not an ordinary development as Russia has arrived as a global
1284
power on the Middle Eastern theatre reminiscent of the cold war period
balance of power phenomenon, which was lost in 1990s, and as a result the
Muslim World suffered, from aggression, at the hands of the non-Muslim
countries, causing death and destruction in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan,
Somalia, Lebanon, Palestine and Kashmir. The balance of power now emerging,
would check aggression and help the cause of peace in the world.
Israel is very much apprehensive of Iran emerging as a regional power and
would try its best to scuttle the deal so as to keep Iran in a box, isolated,
friendless and artificially weakened. However, American policy in the Middle
Eastern region is undergoing change for the better for Iran, as well as the
Palestinians cause.
US-Saudi relations also would undergo change, impacting the development
in Middle East and Egypt in particular at this period of meltdown in the region.
It could also help quell the existing Shia-Sunni conflict, which has caused
division, instability and bloodletting in the Muslim World.
America has released seven billion dollars, out of the frozen assets of Iran,
which is a healthy sign. Hopefully sanctions would be gradually eased-out, for
better relations with Iran. A friendly Iran could help US to find peace in
Afghanistan, because it holds considerable influence over the Northern
Alliance, and together with Pakistan, can help the Afghans to form a broadbased and stable government. The understanding with Iran can open many
doors. No settlement is possible in Afghanistan and Syria without Iranian
support. It is essential that the mistakes of the past, of keeping Afghanistan
destabilized, are not repeated.
Pakistan would stand to gain as Iran would be able to shake-off the quarter
of a century of coercion through embargos, sanctions and the induced war with
Iraq. In fact, Iranian gains would add to our strength and regional peace. The
US-Iran deal also vindicates Iranian assertion that their quest for nuclear energy
was only for peaceful purposes. Except for the assumptions and speculations of
some, no evidence has been found to the contrary.
The opening of the route through Iran would set a healthy and competitive
economic activity, for the region. In fact the parallel trade routes through Iran
and Pakistan would accelerate the process of opening up the landlocked region.
India would prefer the Iranian route. Thus Pakistan need not grant the MFN
status to India and transit trade facilities to Afghanistan. There is no denying the
fact, that our trade routes to Afghanistan are the shortest and with the opening of
the trade corridor to China, the connectivity with China and Central Asia would
be a blessing. Pakistan has to liberalize its trade with Afghanistan and Central
Asia, supported by trade and tariff rules to properly manage the expanding
trade.
1285
India
Great Wall on LoC: Pakistans efforts of pursuing peace have been
spurned by Indian leadership using various self created incidents as excuse for
scuttling the reconciliation process. Such antagonistic behaviour leaves no
option for Pakistan but to construe that India is not sincere in endorsing PakIndia peace process. Using the plea of plugging gaps along the Line of Control
(LoC), separating Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and Azad Jammu Kashmir
(AJK), India had erected a barbed wire topped electric fence, patrolled by
ferocious dogs and soldiers, besides mining the area; yet it continues blaming
Pakistan for launching terrorists across the LoC.
Economic Times of November 23, 2013 reveals that Indian authorities are
planning to construct a 10-meter high embankment along 198-km stretch of
LOC. The security wall will be higher and wider than both the Berlin Wall and
serpentine barrier being created by Israel. It will be 135 feet wide and will pass
through 118 villages of Districts Jammu, Kathua and Samba. Reportedly initial
work on the wall has started and revenue papers for designated land in 86
villages have been processed to get No Objection Certificate from the state
Government
Apparently, India has drawn inspiration from the reprehensible Israeli wall
coming up on West Bank and the Great Wall of Berlin that symbolized Cold
War, dividing a nation for over four and a half decades. Such a decision runs
contrary to all norms of justice and fair play, exposing Indias real visage of
hatemongering.
India remains oblivious to the United Nations recognition of Kashmir
being a disputed territory and the implication that it would be illegal to
construct such a Great Wall which would also widen the deep chasm between
the Kashmiris on both sides of the divide i.e. AJK and IOK. Among the
confidence building measures introduced by Pakistan under the composite
dialogue process, the softening of the LOC to enhance people to people contact
had brought relief to the Kashmiris but India wants to suppress any contact
between the populace.
1286
REVIEW
Imran Khans stand against US drone strikes and resultant blockade of
NATO supplies through KPK has thrown a cat among the pigeons. These
peace-loving pigeons think that their survival rests in not doing anything that
annoys the US and they have been fluttering around in panic since Imran has
raised his voice against US war crimes.
They want Imran to be restrained at all costs. Couple of days ago Maxims
cartoon in TheNation expressed their plight. Imran was standing with a placard
reading Stop Drones and in the background leaders of PPP, ANP and MQM
were standing holding placards reading Stop Imran.
Most of the Pakistani politicians and intellectuals believe that Pakistan
cannot survive without the good-will of the US. That good-will must be won
irrespective of the cost; may it be national pride, honour or respect. To them a
living beyghairat is better than the dead ghairatmand.
Therefore, with the help of embedded media, they are bent upon proving
Imran Khan wrong. They blame him for almost all the conceivable
consequences of stopping NATO supplies. He is accused of spoiling relations
with dozens of NATO countries whose troops are in illegal occupation of
Afghanistan; the relationship that have cost Pakistan so dearly in last decade in
terms of men and material.
Aftab Sherpao, whose party was recently shown the door from coalition
government in KPK, shamelessly talked of Dollars that were earned through
businesses of NATO supplies and drone strikes. He accused Punjabi Imran of
depriving the thousands of Pakhtun poor earning their bread from the business.
The enemies of Pakistan are working relentless to see the people of this
country killing each other as Iraqis are doing. The bloodshed through sectarian
armed conflict is their ultimate aim; however, the religious leaders across the
sectarian divide have not obliged them so far.
The security experts say sectarianism should be taken as a serious threat
and the government must deal with it strictly. Sectarian vulnerability should not
be allowed to create ferocity, unrest and disorder in the country. This entails
application of stringent measures and harsh control over sectarian groups to
avoid conflicts and spread of religious hatred. They also urged the authorities to
enforce law besides demonstrating inter-sect harmony and mutual respect.
1287
The rulers must listen to these wise suggestions given free. There is no
time for complacency and nothing could be left to chance. What is happening
across the Muslim world appears to be indigenous but there is lot that can be
attributed to trans-border factors. Only the rulers can guard against those.
Karzai went to Tehran to discuss certain unstated matters of mutual
interest leaving the visiting US Secretary of Defence in Kabul to decide the fate
of security deal with Afghan Security Chief. He has proved to be quite slippery
like a fish for their US mentors in his last days in power. But sooner or later he
will exhaust all his pretensions and will come to terms with them.
Media hype has been created over the nuclear deal Iran has struck with
P5+1. For the US, however, it is no more than a move for course-correction for
Arab rulers who had shown signs of going astray over Washingtons U-turn on
Syria. Having caused the desired correction the US can back out from the deal
any time accusing Iran of violating its terms. The past record of the Yanks is
proof that such a backing out is no big deal for them.
10th December, 2013
DALAIR KHAN
On 27th December, father Asif Zardari and his son Bilawal Zardari Bhutto
gathered at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh to observe the 6 th death anniversary of Benazir
Bhutto. Carefully groomed Bilawal, to look and sound like a Bhutto, once again
addressed Imran Khan as Buzdil Khan and threatened to hunt for Sher Khan,
the main opponent of the PPP. He stopped just short of calling himself Dalair
Khan.
His father, however, assured Nawaz Sharif (Sher Khan) of his support to
save the democracy which has been the most profitable occupation for
1288
NEWS
Power politics: On 9th December, the poll authority issued schedule for
local government (LG) elections for Punjab, to be held on January 30 next year.
According to the LG polls schedule, notice inviting nomination papers would be
issued on December 20, nomination papers shall be received from December
22-27, receipt of the nomination papers would be notified on December 28,
objection to the nomination papers would be received on December 29 and
scrutiny of nomination papers and publication of names of validly nominated
candidates would be done on December 30.
Appeals against acceptance or rejection of nomination papers would be
received on January 6-7, 2014, appeals would be disposed of on January 11,
application for withdrawal of candidature would be received on Jan 12, list of
contesting candidates along with allotted symbols would be published on
January 13, polling would be held on January 30 and election results would be
declared on February 2. The Code of Conduct for LG polls already issued for
Balochistan would be applicable to all the local elections.
The opposition in Punjab Assembly came up with an amendment seeking
conduct of local polls only under the judiciary. Expressing full faith and
confidence in the judiciary, Leader of the Opposition, Mahmoodur Rashid,
PPPs Khurrum Jehangir Wattoo and JIs parliamentary leader Dr Wasim Akhtar
1289
pleaded that elections held under the district administration would have no
credibility and the government would have to face criticism.
On 13th December, Islamabad High Court reserved its verdict in a petition
of Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik who had challenged the notification of his
dismissal issued by federal government on December 2. During the hearing, the
counsel representing the federation of Pakistan, Akram Sheikh, maintained
before the court that the former government had appointed Malik as chairman
NADRA by neglecting rules and procedure.
He informed the court that the initial appointment of Malik that was GM
Networks was made the same day when he had applied for the job. Moreover
Tariq Malik went on 117 foreign visits without the approval of the competent
authority. The counsel for federation added that Tariq Malik was getting Rs2.1
million monthly salary that is higher than the salary of the Chief Justice of
Pakistan.
The counsel for Tariq Malik told the court that Brigadier (R) Zahid Hussain
was in Karachi when he was appointed and he assumed the charge there. Shoaib
Shaheen advocate representing Brig Hussain told the court that Tariq Malik was
appointed as Chairman NADRA due to his association with the former PPP
government. He said that he was appointed and later on promoted in an
unprecedented manner. During the elections 2008, Malik was appointed as
information technology advisor, member of the central election monitoring cell
that was headed by Sardar Latif Khosa at that time.
Brig Hussain's counsel argued before the court that there was no
position/post of deputy chairman existed in NADRA and it was specifically
created to facilitate Tariq Malik. Brig Hussain further told the court that all this
happened in a span of three months from the date of Tariq Malik's joining.
Whereas his probation period was six months and he was still working as an
unconfirmed employee. Advocate Shaheen also told the court the appointment
of Tariq Malik in NADRA has been made without any advertisement and with
special salary packages.
Tariq Malik's counsel, Babar Sattar advocate counter argued that the
appointment of his client was made in accordance with the NADRA ordinance.
He added that the Ordinance does not lay down any procedural requirements for
the appointment of a chairman, however, Section 3(7) requires that the chairman
is to be an eminent professional of known integrity and competence with
substantial experience in the field of computer science, engineering, statistics,
demography, law, business management, finance, accounting, economics, civil
or military administration or the field of registration.
Babar Sattar told the court his client fulfills all criterions regarding
professional competence that is evident from his resume as his professional
excellence is duly recognized by many institutions and there were also awards
1290
bestowed upon him. Babar Sattar told the court that the summary of his client's
appointment clearly reveals that the exercise of authority in appointing the
petitioner as chairman was considered and reasoned exercise of authority and
discretion.
He added the summary also highlighted the dire need for continuity of
senior management hence the petitioner's appointment as chairman NADRA
was proposed and approval of the Prime Minister was solicited. After hearing
the arguments, Justice Noor-ul-Haq reserved the verdict and the court would
announce detailed judgment in this matter in a few days time.
On 15th December, Federal Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid
accused PTI chief Imran Khan of making attempts to derail democracy and
harm Pakistans relations with friendly countries. Instead of staging protest in
Lahore, Imran should concentrate on improving lives of the common people in
Peshawar, he asked the PTI chief while addressing a news conference.
Pervaiz also grilled the PTI chief for asking his party workers to start
making preparations for the general elections in August 2014. Terming the
statement anti-democratic, the minister alleged that Khan was conspiring
against the present political order which in his view must complete its stipulated
period to give democracy a chance to flourish.
PTI candidate Ikramullah Khan Gandapur unofficially won PK-67 Dera
Ismail Khan constituency of KPK Assembly by obtaining 27,210 votes in byelection. According to unofficial statistics, Ikram bagged 27,210 votes while his
closest opponent Fateh Ullah Mian Khel (Independent) obtained 15,818 votes.
The seat PK-67 had fallen vacant after former law minister Israrullah Khan
Gandapur was killed in a suicide bomb attack.
Farah Naz quitted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and joined Muttahida Qaumi
Movement over differences with the party leadership. Naz, who was PTIs
Sindh secretary finance, announced her decision in a press briefing at
Khursheed Begum Secretariat in Azizabad. Naz vowed she would spread the
ideology of MQM and its chief Altaf Hussain, saying now she had selected the
best platform for her political career.
Next day, MQM MPAs staged protest against the Sindh Local Government
Amendment Ordinance-2013. MQM parliamentary leader Sardar Ahmad while
addressing the MQM parliamentary committee meeting in Sindh Assembly
chamber showed concern over not bringing the Ordinance into assembly. He
said the SLG Amendment Ordinance was a black law through which rural and
urban population of the province would be divided. Talking to the media men,
he said the rights of the people of Sindh had been seized through the ordinance
while the amendments had already been effective from September 16.
1291
ECP. We have the documentary evidence supported by a letter from the interior
minister that clearly states that Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan was
the one who had requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to take
NADRA under its administrative control for three months.
Earlier, Nisar Ali Khan had said in the National Assembly that he never
floated any such proposal as putting NADRA under the ECPs administrative
control. It can be checked through my media briefing and public statements
that I only suggested to the ECP to have an oversight of the NADRAs
operational side related to thumb impression verification for three months. I
never said NADRA be put under ECP administrative control, Khan had said.
The habitual bossy attitude of Interior Minister provoked the two major
opposition parties, PTI and PPP, to boycott the National Assembly session
saying they would return to the House only when PML-N politician eats his
words. The minister provoked the strong reaction from the opposition when he
remarked that PTI has made a Tamasha (fuss) out of the issue of thumb
impression verification of votes cast in the general elections.
A major contradiction was also seen between the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP) and government's stance on the issue of use of magnetized ink
during the general elections when interior minister said that according to
government's initial inquiry the ink was not used at a number of polling stations
in many constituencies.
The minister also reiterated his accusation against the opposition that it was
hatching a conspiracy for mid-term polls that was refuted by the major
opposition parties. Initially, both the PTI and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
demanded that minister should take back his Tamasha remark as it was unparliamentary but when Nisar seemed not ready to eat his words, they boycotted
the sitting.
On 21st December, the opposition members in Sindh Assembly boycotted
the session and staged sit-in outside the assembly. As soon as the session began,
the opposition parties tried to pass a unanimous resolution against the local
government ordinance. The speaker didnt permit after which the opposition
stood and exchanged hot words with the government officials.
On 26th December, barely a few weeks after the ECP had rejected the two
provinces request seeking delay in the LG polls from January to March, the
senior ECP officials appeared before a parliamentary panel to categorically
admit their inability in holding the LG polls in Punjab and Sindh on January 30
and January 18. This has happened just a few days after the ECP had issued the
respective LG polls schedule for both the provinces.
On the other hand, the ECP wrote a letter to the heads of political parties
asking them to designate authorized leaders for the issuance of party tickets to
1293
the candidates for Punjab LG polls in respective areas. This amounts to highest
level of deception, hoodwinking and professional incompetence. Its high time
my friends at ECP stop playing games and learn to honour their commitments in
letter and spirit, commented former secretary ECP Kanwar Dilshad.
Next day, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pledged to take his mothers mission
forward, advising people to move ahead instead of holding on to the past.
Addressing the disappointed and disgruntled party workers and supporters,
Bilawal held out the pledge to bring the party back to its former self with the
help of his two sisters Asifa and Bakhtawar. The sisters plan to play active
roles in the party.
Bilawal alleged that the last elections were not transparent as the
establishment did not want to see PPP successful. He further said that Punjabi
establishment had gone against them and he, besides Altaf Hussain and
Asfandyar Wali, was forced to run electoral campaign through video link. He
however said his party would not allow derailing democracy and they were
supporting PM Nawaz Sharif in this regard.
Former president Zardari in his reconciliatory speech offered his
support to the government of PM Nawaz Sharif, saying he would not call for
any midterm elections or derail the democratic government. He said political
forces were being pitted against each other since the creation of Pakistan which
has harmed democracy.
Zardari said that a Billa (male-cat) has been trapped and now he should not
be released. He was referring to General (r) Pervez Musharraf. Since creation
of the country, a third force persuades democratic forces to fight with each other
and Billa comes and drinks all the milk amid clash of the democratic powers of
the country, he said. At least this Billa should not be allowed to escape, he
added.
Nadra Chairman Tariq Malik in a strong worded response to the show
cause notice of the interior ministry rejected all the allegations leveled against
him in the notice, what he called baseless and unfounded accusations. Interior
Ministry, some days back, had issued a four-page show cause notice to the
chairman. In a written reply to ministry of interior and addressed to secretary
interior, Tariq Malik refuted the charge of having three Pakistani passports and
maintained that he had one valid Pakistani passport, besides Canadian.
On foreign visits Malik denied ministrys claim of trips ranging from 100174. He stood by his earlier figures and rebutted ministrys figures. He said
some of the trips prior to joining Nadra had also been counted. Malik
maintained that competent authority approved all trips with NOCs on record.
Regarding his academic qualifications, he said his MSc degree in
Computer Science from QAU, sufficed to fulfill the eligibility criteria for
1294
1296
On 29th December, Prime Minister gave his go-ahead for the handover of
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) to the KPK government. Hours
after the prime ministers approval, KPK Chief Minister Pervez Khattak
welcomed the move but at the same time called it ridiculous and a whitewash
aimed at duping the masses.
In a handout issued by the CM Office, the chief minister demanded control
over KPKs entire power generation setup saying that mere handing over of
Pesco meant that the provincial government would just distribute electricity
bills and collect revenue for the federal government. The CM said that the PM
must keep in mind his stature and refrain from playing such tricks.
The CM said that instead of playing such a prank with the people of
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Centre must give the royalty of KPs 4,200MW
power, hand over control of dams and the whole production and distribution
system. He said the Centre must end Pescos losses before its handover and then
we will not let it run into loss again. The handout said, CM Khattak will soon
write a letter to the federal government in this regard.
The KPK CM said that instead of political point scoring, PM Nawaz should
cooperate with the provincial governments in solving the problems of the
people. He said KPK is very much part of the country and Centre must stop
treating the provinces like step brothers. Khattak said it looks as if Nawaz has
still not come out of the hegemonic mindset he had during his rule in 1988.
1297
regulations. The state is mandated to ensure that these laws, rules and
regulations are enforced, the outgoing CJP observed.
The executive functionaries often remained non-compliant. Justice
Chaudhry urged the judges not to let this non-compliance deter them in their
pursuit of justice. He said: In order to restore peace and normalcy in the
country, every single individual, including the judges, lawyers, law officers,
investigating and prosecuting agencies and litigants, are bound to play their
role. Without peace, there cannot be economic development and progress.
Justice retired Iftikhar urged that the courts focus on white collar crime
must continue. White collar crime is a particularly malevolent type of crime. Its
effects are wide-ranging and it affects the public at large because of the billions
that are sapped from the national exchequer. We have adjudicated on enormous
banking scams, the Haj corruption scandal, the LNG case and most recently the
NICL case to attempt to retrieve the looted money of the public.
A day before taking oath of office of Chief Justice of Pakistan, Justice
Tassaduq Hussain Jillani shared his thoughts as to how he wants to see the
Supreme Court function during his tenure. Addressing a Full Court Reference
held in the honour of outgoing Chief Justice, Justice Jillani said that many
people have shared with him a perception that the thin-line of distinction
between the requirements of Article 199 and 184(3) is being blurred.
There is need to consider and determine the limits and contours of
jurisdiction under Article 184(3) of the Constitution with a view to discourage
frivolous petitions and prevent the misuse of jurisdiction by vested interests.
The chief justice designate believed that good governance and the rule of law
have a symbiotic relationship.
Justice Jillani maintained that the Supreme Court on account of its mandate
under Article 184(3) and 187 of the Constitution may be called upon to fill the
gaps between the law and the social dynamics, but while doing so the court has
to defer to an equally important constitutional value of the tricotomy of powers
as also the canons of fair trial, particularly in view of Article 10A of the
Constitution.
Lauding the role of the outgoing chief justice for the independence of
judiciary, he said; Justice Chaudhry has transformed the Supreme Court of
Pakistan from a formal constitutional court to a Supreme Court with a Human
Rights face, in which the essence of constitutional interpretation is people
oriented (and the one) leading to a reconstruction of judicial power and
process. He said during the tenure of Justice Chaudhry the apex court has been
to root in constitutional democracy and root out military rule.
Executive Committee of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)
suspended membership of its Vice President Rana Naeem Sarwar for organizing
1298
a farewell dinner for the retired Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
The plea taken in the notice was that the Executive Committee of the bar with
majority of the members had already decided not to hold any farewell
dinner/lunch for the outgoing CJP due to torture on lawyers in Supreme Court
Islamabad building.
persons illegally. The order said the police, after filing an FIR could detain a
person, but no other agency could detain anyone forcibly without sharing their
whereabouts to relatives.
The court observed the stance of the defence secretary that the missing
persons were not into the custody of army proved incorrect. The order read: We
are not in agreement with the Ministry of Defence that the persons were not
illegally removed from the interment centre by the army authorities. Prima
facie, we can draw a conclusion that all the 35 undeclared internees were taken
away by army officials from Malakand Internment Centre.
The court ruled that enforced disappearances had been considered to be a
serious crime all over the world. It noted there were 721 cases of enforced
disappearances and asked the attorney general as to whether there was any law
empowering the army and law-enforcing agencies to detain any person. The
AGP replied that a bill to legislate a law regarding enforced disappearances
would be tabled in the current session of the National Assembly.
On 11th December, during proceedings, the acting inspector general of the
FC, Brigadier Khalid Naseem, appeared before the apex court in casual dress.
The court asked him about it and objected to his body language. The Supreme
Court detached the contempt notice against the IGFC from the missing persons
case, stating proceedings would be launched against him at an appropriate time.
The court ordered the interior secretary to issue notification for the
appointment of a new or acting IG FC within three days. The chief justice
ordered the government to clearly state when it could produce the missing
persons. The bench ordered action against the officials who were creating
hurdles in the case.
Earlier, the hearing began in a dramatic way when counsel for the IG FC
and former attorney general, Irfan Qadir, uttered harsh words in a charged
atmosphere when Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was hearing his last
case as the chief justice of Pakistan. Irfan Qadir said he couldnt produce his
client before the upcoming political star while referring to certain news items
published in the national press.
The CJP snubbed Qadir and asked him not to shout in the court. Justice
Chaudhry said the court could also suspend his licence upon which Qadir said
the court might suspend or even revoke his lisence. Qadir said the court should
take measures so that such stories are not published. The Justice Chaudhry said
he should not compel the court to take strict action against him.
The court, while reprimanding Irfan Qadir asked him to remain silent
otherwise his permanent licence could be revoked. Justice Jawwad remarked:
Dont respect us, but study 25 clauses of doing practice. We will bring each and
every word of yours on record and give results too. The courts are far above
1300
such phrases. If it is the way of defending your client, then we will adopt our
own way.
The CJP advised Irfan Qadir to see the SC rules. We have spent 24 years
in discipline. We cannot tolerate your attitude. Irfan Qadir said: you have
already made up your mind to take action against me. The AG intervened in the
matter, talked to Irfan Qadir and made him sit on his seat.
The CJP questioned how a person admitted to hospital can command FC.
The court said in its order: We have reached the conclusion that the interior
secretary should take the matter into his hands, talk to the authorities concerned
and resolve the matter of appointment of IG FC under Section 5. The hearing of
the case was adjourned till December 19.
Next day, the National Ex-Servicemen Society approached the Lahore
High Court with a petition against the trial of former military ruler Pervez
Musharraf by a special court for treason charges. The plea was filed by
Societys Punjab president and secretary general. The petitioners submitted that
all the alleged unconstitutional acts of Nov 3, 2007 were taken by Musharraf
being the then army chief; therefore, he could be exclusively tried by a military
court under Section 31 read with Section 59 of Pakistan Army Act.
On 13th December, a three-judge Special Court, constituted by the federal
government for the trial of former president Pervez Musharraf, summoned the
former military dictator on December 24. The FIA has written letter to SC
Registrar for recording the statements of the seven judges of the apex court who
were put to house arrest by Musharraf after imposition of Nov 3 Emergency.
The Registrar Office has so far not responded to the FIA letters.
On 20th December, lawyers for former president Pervez Musharraf said a
treason charge levied against him was politically motivated and that he would
face a show trial, urging the United Nations to intervene. The legal team also
called on the United States, Britain and Saudi Arabia to denounce Musharrafs
trial to repay their debt for his support in the US-led war on terror in the
wake of the 9/11 attacks.
Next day, General (r) Pervez Musharraf moved Islamabad High Court by
filing a writ petition in which he challenged his trial for high treason under
Article 6 in a special court. A bench of IHC, comprising Justice Riaz Ahmad
Khan, will take up the petition on December 23.
On 23rd December, Islamabad High Court turned down three different writ
petitions of General (r) Pervez Musharraf. Justice Riaz Ahmad Khan dismissed
the three writ petitions of Musharraf in which he had challenged his trial by a
special court, composition of the special court and appointment of Akram
Sheikh as a prosecutor in the treason case.
1301
1302
Sarwar, who is in Brussels for lobbying on this move, termed GSP status as
historic achievement as it would help to boost economy of the country.
On 16th December, after the federal governments refusal to allow a PTI
protest rally and sit-in on The Mall on December 22, the Punjab government
decided to confine the protesters either to Minar-e-Pakistan or Nasir Bagh. The
government had assigned various reasons like disturbance to the business
community, threat of terror attack, the law and order problem, disturbance to
daily public life and others while disallowing PTI to hold a rally on The Mall.
The district administration had been asked to take steps to address the
apprehensions which the people might face in case PTI staged its rally on The
Mall. Meanwhile, the PTI has expressed determination to carry forward the
protest rally as per its plan. The party is going to highlight the problems of price
hike, bad governance of PML-N at the Centre and in the Punjab and others and
wants to turn the rally into a big show of power to mobilize the masses in its
favour before embarking on campaign for local government elections.
Next day, there was uproar in the Lower House of Parliament from PPP
when Tahira Aurangzeb of the ruling PML-N said the construction of Kalabagh
Dam was indispensable for the future of the country, and there was no issue if it
was named as Kalabagh or something else. She ruled out the impression that
Khyber Pakhtunkhwas Nowshera district would down in waters due to the
construction of the water reservoir.
Ms Aurangzebs statement stirred up a storm within PPPs, with Shazia
Marri bluntly objecting to her remarks. However the speaker did not permit her
to interfere. Throwing weight behind his party member's suggestion, Bashir
Virk affirmed that Kalabagh Dam was the only water reservoir that could be
built in Pakistan.
Upon this, Mir Munawar Ali Talpur of PPP remarked that if someone had
to disintegrate Pakistan, then the proposed dam could be taken care of. Another
PPP lawmaker, Yousaf Talpur, said there was a feeling in the people of Sindh
that their province would be deprived of its due share as a result of the
construction of the controversial dam. This dam could only be constructed over
corpses of the people of Sindh, were the remarks made an irate Riaz Somroo of
PPP.
On his turn, PTIs Makhdoom Javed Hasmhi said the experts had rightly
predicted that next wars would be fought on water shares. He also recalled that
a dictator, Ayub Khan, had given India water shares of Pakistan through the
Indus Water Treaty and also supported the construction of Kalabagh Dam.
Taking the floor, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir
Baloch clarified that the manifesto of his party PML-N was clear in this context
that no dam could be constructed without consensus of all the provinces.
1303
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif broke ground on the $9.59 billion project last
month but officials have provided few details of how they plan to finance it.
On 26th December, Federal Minister for Water and Power said due to
annual de-silting and cleanliness of the canals, people would suffer load
shedding, but it would not be that protracted as they had in the past. He also
asked the people to bear electricity and gas load shedding till the end of
February next. He revealed over the last six years the government faced
Rs6,000 billion loss due to load shedding and flayed the PPP government for
jeopardizing the Nandipur power project just against the bribe of Rs100 million
and threw the nation to face the annual loss of Rs113 billion.
On 29th December, addressing an impressive protest rally against inflation
in Lahore at The Mall through video link from Canada, Dr Qadri slammed the
ruling PML-N for its business policies like black money whitening schemes
announced by Prime Minster a couple of weeks ago. He said that he wanted a
peaceful revolution in the country and wanted to make Pakistan according the
vision of Qauid-e-Azam.
The Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief also pledged to make 35
provinces in the country for devolution of powers after coming into power. He
said every division of the country would be made a province so the power and
authority could be decentralized. Qadri said he wanted true democracy in which
rulers would be held accountable. He said he would make the accountability
institutions above the rulers so they could hold them accountable.
Dr Tahirul Qadri said all educated and skilful people should be given
employment otherwise the government should give them Rs10,000
unemployment allowance. He said every homeless person should be given five
marla plot free of cost and easy installment loan for house construction. He
demanded free medical facility to the masses and reforming laws governing
agricultural land and fix maximum land holding limit to 50 acres per family. He
also said the peasants who turn barren tracts into fertile land should be give
ownership rights.
About tax reforms, the PAT chief said more tax should be imposed on the
privileged classes while the burden on the poor and middle class should be
minimized. The poor should also be exempted from all types of taxes, including
surcharges, in electricity, gas, water and telephone bills. Dr Qadri asked the
ruling elites to bring back their dollars and euros from foreign banks and use
this money to give maximum subsidy on essential commodities.
Congratulating the participants of the rally, he said, Todays show is a
starting point and the second round of such massive rallies will be the final
round which will bring the peaceful revolution in the country. He asked his
followers, party leaders and general masses to get ready for the revolution.
1305
VIEWS
Power politics:
Is Pakistani democracy a theatrical farce? The sanctity of human life is
not diminished because it is violated by a democracy. But our rulers would have
us believe otherwise to stifle criticisms, and, as the legendary public intellectual
Noam Chomsky would put it, to manufacture consent. Adel Safty,
distinguished Professor at the Siberian Academy of Public Administration,
Russia, and the author of the book, Might Over Right.
In so-called democratic Pakistan, as Noam Chomsky would put it,
manufacturing public consent by all means, fair and foul, appears to be the only
political discourse that is designed and orchestrated by its traditional ruling elite
to safeguard and promote their vested class interests. Dr. Haider Shah, who
teaches public policy in the UK and is a founding member of the Rationalist
Society of Pakistan, commented in a recent article that like emperors of the
bygone period, our political elite likes to be seen as benevolent distributors of
livelihood to the needy. While ordinary voters sacrificefor the cause of
democratic ideals, the fruit of hard labor is taken away many political leaders
(in Pakistan) are still frozen in the 1970s and 1990s. For the current decade of
the 21st century Pakistan they need a new model that is not based on feudal
loyalties and massive patronage but on clean governance and sensible economic
policies.
How many of Pakistans ruling elite, fatly paid TV talk show hosts,
influential journalists or wealthy media group owners, public policy managers
or crafty public-opinion maker gurus or pundits ever ask the common
citizens what they expect of the holy-cow called democracy in this country?
The frightfully deprived masses of this nation, whose suffering is
unprecedented, will say that they want quick fix solutions to their daily
problems. They will say that they want reasonably priced food on their dining
tables so that they can feed their children. They will say that they want
unadulterated food and medicine and health services that are available to every
segment of society. They will say that they want electricity in their homes, gas,
petrol and transport services available to all of them to run their daily lives.
They will say that they want to give their children education that is affordable.
1306
They will say that they want justice dispensed to local communities at their
doorsteps. They will say that they want honest and God-fearing judicial and
police officers providing solemnity, solicitude and solidarity to community life
all over the country. They will say that they want healthy communities, clean
and beautiful villages and spirited, energetic, creative and vivacious urban
centers. They will say that they want an end to rampant corruption, political,
economic and social oppression and they want a national emancipation from a
traditional corrupt and dysfunctional political culture and its manifested
political-economic structure. They will say that they want to be treated as
human-beings and not objects dispensable at the whims of a power-structure
that exploits and decimates human spirit. They will say that they would prefer a
dictatorship over a democracy that gives them starvation, indignity, physical and
non-physical misery. They will say that hunger, poverty and suicides are not
what they had hoped for in a democratic Pakistan.
They will tell you that they want a vibrant nation taking a leadership role in
creative arts, technological innovation, scientific development, medical research
and human resources development unprecedented in human history. They will
tell you that they want a moral-ethical society, tolerance for each other and a
quantum leap in societal development with socio-economic equilibrium and
respect for human dignity confirming and compatible with their social values,
faith and cultural heritage. They will tell you that they are a nation of poets,
fakirs, saints and qalandars and they want their heritage given back to them.
They will tell you that they are tired of political charades conducted on a
daily basis by their ruling so-called democratic leadership. They will tell you
that they abhor the visibly observable emerging national disintegration and
obviously failing national solidarity. They will tell you that they hate the lying,
hypocrisy, double-talk, behind-closed-doors hidden public and foreign
diplomacy conducted by their elected representatives. They will tell you that
they have lost trust in the prevailing system of public representation, and their
tolerance for existing public representatives is close to zero.
They will tell you that they are hopelessly dismayed and appalled on the
continuing and ever-expanding incompetence, inefficiency and organizational
incapabilities and inabilities of their national political managers: their nonperformance, non-execution, and undertaking short measures in setting national
political-economic and foreign policy discourse to put this nation on a roadmap
of gradual and continuing progress, development and self-reliance. They will
tell you that they want a change a virtual transformation of the existing
political-economic system and culture to a revolutionary renaissance compatible
with the modern-day needs of a progressive nation.
Indeed, a democracy cannot be wedded to orthodox ideas and spent and
worthless doctrines. A democracy ought to be a vibrant, self-correcting, self-
1307
1308
sacrifices that the PPP has the best chance to rekindle the flame that has burnt
out. But, it will take a lot more than just that. The ineffectiveness of the PPPs
emotionally overwrought election campaign bears testimony to the fact that
performance has no substitute.
Mr Bilawal also established himself as one of the very, very few leaders
from mainstream political parties to openly denounce terrorists, and discredit
the notion of peace talks. It was refreshing to witness a politician who is often
disregarded as immature show far more clarity on the issue of terrorism,
compared to most experienced players. As if being the head of the PPP alone
wasnt sufficient to warrant a serious threat to life, Mr Bilawal took the liberty
to describe militants as animals, who could only be engaged in negotiations if
they lay down their arms and accept constitutional supremacy. He rightly
pointed out that those who link the terror campaign in the country with drone
attacks are in the wrong, and the militants would surely continue to destroy and
kill even if the strikes halted. It is tragic that the hard but necessary stand
against militancy was taken by someone who just turned eligible to contest
elections. PM Nawaz Sharif and Mr Imran Khan, and their stance, or lack
thereof, on national issues, clearly demonstrates that age doesnt guarantee
wisdom or bravery.
It was interesting to observe Mr Bilawals slap and pat approach in
dealing with his rivals. While PM Sharif was reminded of his political roots,
he was assured that no co-operation would be extended to those who plotted to
derail the democratic government. Mr Khan came under heavy fire over his
apologetic views on TTP, but sympathies were extended over rigging against his
party in Punjab. Politics is fine, for what else is to be expected from politicians,
but terming privatization of national assets and the essential downsizing which
will follow, as some anti-people measure is inappropriate. And, so is offering
justifications for PPPs failure in the general elections. Mr Bilawal would do
well to take his own advice and move on. The past cannot be altered. It is the
present and the future which demands attention. (Editorial, TheNation 29 th
December)
Governance
Repeating the same mistakes: Given the recent embarrassment of the
NADRA case, one would have expected the government to follow protocol the
next time they sought the dismissal of a public official, but it seems that they
took the phrase if once you dont succeed, try again too literally. PML-N
should have realized that any future removal, even for the right reasons, would
now come under greater scrutiny because of their failure to justify the first
termination. The IHC had just made a ruling against the decision of the
government, and surely they noticed the outcry that rose as a result. The
1309
oppositions job was made all too easy, for their worst fears of the rigging that
they suspected took place in the May elections were all but confirmed.
The allegations against the PEMRA Chief seem to have more substance
than the ones leveled against Malik. The fact that he forwarded his own name as
one of the potential candidates in January this year, neglected to mention his
date of birth or that he was due to retire in two months are only some of the
charges leveled against him. Others include the cases of corruption with him as
a prime suspect and his dubious ties to Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and the rental
scams. Many suspect that Rashid Ahmads appointment was gifted to him by
the outgoing party in the interests of securing their hold over the media, which
might not be so baseless an accusation, considering the fact that the post was
left vacant for a year and a half with an acting chief in place, before the hasty
appointment of Ahmad in the beginning of this year, on the orders of the
Supreme Court.
There are grounds for investigation, however, the way the PML-N handled
this situation was a political faux pas that could easily have been avoided.
Whether or not Rashid Ahmad is corrupt is an issue that should not have been
decided unanimously by the Prime Minister and his closest confidants, but
should have been taken to the Parliament, and if that did not glean new insight,
arguing for his expulsion in the Supreme Court was the path that would have
been wise. However, it seems that the ruling party is not too keen on learning
from their mistakes, and will continue to get itself into troubles that it could
easily avoid, aided by their experiences from ruling on past occasions. The
people of Pakistan can only hope that practice makes perfect, and maybe one
day common sense will prevail and the state will follow procedures to uphold
the institutions they are the guardians of. (Editorial, TheNation 18th December)
Wake up, PML-N: A striking phenomenon of the post-election politics in
Pakistan is that the considerable good work done by the PML-N governments at
the Centre and in the Punjab has evoked little appreciation and in fact, most of it
has been obscured and even ignored. What is worse is that the media especially
TV channels, elements of the civil society and of course the opposition are
prone to finding faults in almost anything noteworthy
This brings us to the way appointments and dismissals of government
servants have been handled. The delays in the foreign office assignments and
changing of orders paint a picture of an inept administration. Not enough
thinking and planning is done while taking such decisions.
A few days ago there was a split in the National Assembly over the stand
taken by PML-N and some other parties about the execution of a Jamaat-iIslami leader in Bangladesh. A wise approach would have been to first debate
the issue in a Parliamentary Committee.
1310
The PML-N and PTI relationship and how the differences have assumed
alarming proportions needs to be analyzed and understood, It was good that
PLM(N) in an act of statesmanship, let PTI form the government in KPK.
Nawaz Sharif should have sustained this attitude in subsequent dealings with
Imran Khan. When he expressed the desire to stop the NATO supplies in KPK,
Nawaz Sharif might have invited him for a talk on the issue or had gone over to
meet him. A proper course could have been devised and agreed to, in the light of
all possible repercussions. Instead, the PML-N leaders started a vilification
campaign against Imran and his party taunting him for diverting attention from
the alleged failure of the PTI to fulfill its promises to the people. Imran has not
only stuck to the blockade of NATO supplies though KPK, he has moved ahead
to announce massive rallies of protest against the government for its failure to
reduce inflation and bring down prices (which has resulted in a considerable
increase in peoples misery).
We thus see that because of PML-Ns somewhat unwise handling of issues
relating to the opposition and an unprofessional approach to governance
matters, it has landed itself into a problematic state of affairs.
Further, may one ask the Prime Minister, with all the good work you have
been doing, day in and day out, in Pakistan and abroad, how do you explain
your prolonged absence from the parliament? Your presence could have
softened the possible damage done by PML-N stalwarts while articulating their
policies and performance.
As stewards of a zigzag democracy, the PML-N leadership can ill afford
the political pitfalls it is fast falling into, the rising confrontations between
government and the opposition with PTI and Tahir-ul-Qadri threatening to bring
masses to the streets, with PPP playing hide and seek and the Taliban and
extremists stepping up strikes. Immediate steps are needed to manage and
contain the worsening scenario. (Inayatullah, TheNation 21st December)
Pakistans political cauldron: There are whispers to the effect that
Federal Cabinet changes are in the offing. There are many guesses as to what
these changes are likely to be, but sources say that we may not have to wait very
long for the cat to come out of the bag. Another whisper doing the rounds is that
PML-N may try to delay the local body elections in Punjab, KPK and Sindh,
because it finds itself on a fairly unsteady footing with the electorate as a result
of disillusioned voters and the inability of the Government in alleviating issues
like inflation, CNG and load shedding. It is also being said that the Government
is awaiting funding from donors as this will be used to improve dollar parity and
launching of high profile development schemes to secure grass roots electoral
popularity.
Another whisper came our way from KPK, where Jamaat-e-Islami and PTI
are embroiled in a behind the scenes struggle to wrest control of the Local
1311
Government Department currently with JI. Sources say that this is because of
PTIs desire to delay the Local Body Elections in order to spruce up their act
and secure a victory. JI on the other hand can smell blood and want that the
polls be held without delay.
There are some quarters that are citing the verification of thumb prints case
as cause enough to unseat the Ruling Party and pave the way for a midterm
election. While I am in favor of using NADRA technology to ascertain the
veracity of controversial election results and unseating candidates on case to
case basis, the prospect of midterm polls may be a single point wish list.
Whatever our political cauldron may brew up, we are passing through a
critical period of democratic evolution. To be able to successfully negotiate a
passage, we need a sustained demonstration of maturity, tolerance and
selflessness from our political leadership, for anything to the contrary will be
irrevocably disastrous. (S TARIQ, TheNation 26th December)
The executive-judiciary story: Much has been said about the suo moto
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and confrontation between the executive and
the judiciary, with the bulk of our legal experts and opinion makers
consistently trying to paint the Supreme Court as the culprit in this tussle,
blaming its pro-active approach for creating obstruction in the way of smooth
functioning of the government in place. The discussion on the topic has
generally hovered around irrelevant details and technical nit-picking while not
much attention has been paid to what the fight has been all about.
Though a comprehensive reading of the related judgments is ideally
required to decipher the fault-lines around which the Supreme Court considered
it necessary to intervene in what has been traditionally considered the exclusive
domain of the executive, for those who might find it difficult to undertake the
extensive exercise, this judgment of a three-member bench of the Supreme
Court issued last Friday might prove useful in bringing clarity to the issue.
Authored by Justice Jawwad S. Khawaja, the judgment puts in perspective
not only the executive-corporate nexus but also demonstrates the pro-people
nature of the suo-moto jurisdiction exercised by the independent judiciary with
a gusto that ruffled the feathers of not only ministers, bureaucrats and rich
corporations but also our legal experts and opinion makers. It is no longer a
secret that our government officials speak more for personal and corporate
interests rather than for the people they represent. So what are the critics
objecting to the Supreme Courts intervention on behalf of these poor and
forgotten citizens essentially saying? That no one should watch out for them and
the judiciary should turn a blind eye to the flouting of their fundamental rights
granted by the Constitution?
The origin of the case could be traced back to a speech by the President of
the Tando Adam Bar Association, Abdul Hakeem Khoso Advocate made before
1312
Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry who was there to administer oath
to the office-bearers of the Bar. Mr Khoso said, Our district (Sanghar) has a
number of oil and gas fields and the oil and gas exploring companies are acting
in violation of law and the terms and conditions of the agreements which they
executed with the Government of Pakistan whereby they are bound to control
environmental pollution, provide jobs and gas facility to the local peopleand
spend specified amounts on infrastructureand the betterment of the people.
The speech was marked to the Human Rights Cell for a report, and subsequently
the matter was put up in Court as a petition under article 184 (3) of the
Constitution. Justice Khawaja deals with the matter with some detail in his
judgment:
The significance of Article 184 (3) of the Constitution in enforcing the
fundamental rights of the people all over Pakistan without the necessity of
having a petitioner from each district is evident from the present case. In the
ordinary course it would have been extremely difficult logistically and
financially for a public-spirited resident of District Sanghar to file and pursue
legal recourse in the Civil Courts or in constitutional Courts. Even if such
recourse had been taken it would have remained confined to issues relating to
District Sanghar. It is only on account of Article 184 (3) of the Constitution and
the willingness and ability of the Court to take notice suo moto that the entire
country spread over more than 105 Districts has been brought within the
compass of one initiative taken by a Taluka Bar Association and then positively
dealt by the Human Rights Cell of the Court and then in Court hearings. It
should be obvious from the facts of this case that conventional methods of
seeking legal redress can be grossly inadequate for people without sufficient
means, particularly when they may be pitted against more resourceful
individuals and corporate entities.
Obviously, there is more to the executive-judiciary story than what our
legal experts and opinion makers would have us believe. (Jalees Hazir,
TheNation 30th December)
Judiciary
Legacy of Justice Chaudhry: As Justice Chaudhry walked last week into
the twilight of his eventful career pronounced some far reaching verdicts with
dramatic speed which further boosted his public image.
In a span of one week the Court ordered senior military officers of FC in
Balochistan to appear before police for interrogation, issued contempt notice to
the IG, a serving major general, directed FIA to take action against PM Yousuf
Raza Gillani in the Haj case, forced military authorities to produce quite a few
1313
1314
1315
Economy
1316
1317
1318
weak laws and prosecution. Why is the European Union so concerned about
saving the lives of these terrorists that it is hunting and killing in so many
different places in partnership with its Uncle Sam and civilized cousins? Does
it really consider human life to be so sacred? Seems like the white man is not
done with telling us stories about its so-called burden?
Going by whats going on in the name of that burden for centuries, and
given the continued predatory role of this super-rich imperial clan in the
contemporary world, one can only treat all such compassionate claims with
more than a bit of suspicion. The philanthropic civilizing mission, re-labeled as
human rights and democracy these days, continues but it is a hard-sell in a
better informed world. The contradictions are too many and too glaring to
ignore and the smokescreen of fantastic stories, commissioned by the empire to
distract us, is growing too thin to mask its monumental crimes against humanity.
The narrative of the empire is full of fairy tales about a rosy future that can
only be realized if we put our destiny in the hands of its all-knowing magical
arms and agencies. It doesnt matter that those who have done it for decades are
worse off than before. The fuss over capital punishment is one such fairy tale
that ends with the same moral; obedience begets rewards. But thats not all.
There are scary tales too, complete with hordes of revolting monsters and
invincible knights in technologically advanced armours, wielding wondrous
weaponry. War on Terror is the current epic in this series, complete with its
stories about religious extremism and sectarianism. There are sad stories too,
about poverty in dark forbidding lands and cruelty of societies there.
Of course, there are people going around blowing themselves and
innocents up. After all, terrorism, sectarian strife, poverty and cruelty in our
world are not pieces of pure fiction. But the tales spun by the empire around
these themes are meant to blind us to the actual reality and the factors
underlying such grave problems. These imperial yarns are like cobwebs around
our eyes. Like bed-time stories, they are meant to put us to sleep so that the
emperor could rob us and kill our brothers and sisters with no resistance.
What makes these stories of the empire outrageous is the role of hero that
the empire ascribes to itself in all of them when, in fact, it is the villain in each
and every case. The empire, we are told, has nothing to do with breeding and
feeding the monsters, and steps in only to slay them in order to save the helpless
humanity when, in fact, the empire not only nurtures the monsters but also
creates them for the purpose of its stories. Remember the CIA-sponsored
Afghan mujahideen, the precursors of all shades of TTP? See the Syrian rebels
who are not Syrians? Would their menace be what it is, had the empire not
funded, trained and armed them? Are they spreading democracy and human
rights by beheading innocent people?
1319
REVIEW
1320
1321
MULTI_FACETED WAR
Daily killings by the dozens in Iraq have become a routine for the last few
months. On 28th December, security forces raided the home of a Sunni MP who
backed anti-government protesters, arresting him and sparking clashes that
killed his brother and five guards. Sunni MPs resigned in protest. In the wake of
this incident, al-Qaeda linked militants took over parts of two cities of Anbar
Province; Ramadi and Fallujah and more than 100 people were reported killed
in clashes.
Syria focused on rebels in Aleppo city, unleashing attacks using explosiveladen barrels over six districts. Washington condemned aerial assault on Aleppo
and in return Syria lashed out at the United States, describing it as a one-eyed
1322
NEWS
Far East
Philippines: On 20th December, gunmen opened fire outside Manila
international airport, killing four people including the mayor of a town in the
southern Philippines, where political violence is endemic. Ukol Talumpa, a
member of the political opposition, won a hotly contested election for mayor of
Labangan in last Mays elections, defeating the incumbent who is a political ally
of President Benigno Aquino.
Bangladesh: On 8th December, a court ordered prison authorities to hang
an Islamist leader months after he was sentenced to death, raising fears of a new
1323
wave of clashes in the unrest-plagued nation. Abdul Quader Molla, a key leader
of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was given the death penalty in September when the
Supreme Court toughened the life sentence originally handed down to him by
the International Crimes Tribunal, a domestic war crimes court.
Next day, two United Nations human rights experts urged the Bangladeshi
Government to halt the execution of Abdul Quader Mollah, a Jamaat-e-Islami
leader, whose death sentence could be carried out as early as tomorrow, amid
concerns that he did not receive a fair trial. Mollah was condemned to life
imprisonment by the Bangladesh International Crimes Tribunal; after the
Prosecution appealed the Tribunals decision to sentence him to life
imprisonment, the countrys Supreme Court sentenced Mollah to death.
The right of appeal is of particular importance in death penalty cases, the
Special Rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, Gabriela Knaul,
said. Anyone convicted of a crime has the right to have his or her conviction
and sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal, as laid down in the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to which Bangladesh is a party, she said
in a press statement. This provision is violated where a court of final instance
imposes a harsher sentence that cannot be reviewed.
On 10th December, Bangladeshs highest court halted the execution of a top
Islamist just 90 minutes before he was to become the first person executed for
war crimes committed during the countrys bloody independence fight. Supreme
Court chamber judge Syed Mahmud Hossain stopped the execution of Abdul
Quader Molla. The execution has been halted pending a hearing on
Wednesday, the registrar told AFP.
Next day, UN chief Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State John Kerry
called Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to stress the need for talks
with the opposition to resolve an election standoff. The phone calls stepped up
diplomatic pressure on Bangladeshi leaders to find a solution to the stalemate
amid a worsening of political violence that has left nearly 80 people since late
October.
On 12th December, Bangladesh hanged an Islamist leader known as the
Butcher of Mirpur, making him the first person to be put to death for
massacres committed during the bloody 1971 war of independence. Deputy
Law Minister Quamrul Islam announced the execution, saying Abdul Quader
Molla, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami party, was hanged by the neck at
10.01 pm in a jail in the capital Dhaka. Its an historic moment. Finally after
four decades, the victims of the genocides of 1971 liberation war have got some
justice, Islam told.
The hanging took place just hours after the Supreme Court dismissed
Mollas appeal for a final review of his death sentence, removing the last legal
obstacle to his execution. His wife and children were allowed a final meeting
1324
with him at the prison hours before the execution, and found him to be calm.
He told us that he is proud to be a martyr for the cause of the Islamic
movement in the country, Mollas son Hasan Jamil told after the meeting.
While there was no immediate violence at the prison, local media reported
that Islamists and opposition protesters armed with crude bombs and rocks
clashed with police in several cities shortly after the execution. Jamaat has
called the execution a political murder and warned of exacting revenge for
every drop of Mollas blood.
But in a sign of the sharp divide in Bangladesh, thousands of secular
protesters erupted in celebration as news of the execution came. They had been
camping at Shahbagh Square in Dhaka since Tuesday night, shouting slogans
including: Hang Quader Molla, hang war criminals. Molla was one of five
Islamists and other politicians sentenced to death by a domestic court known as
the International Crimes Tribunal.
Reacting tersely to the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh leader
Abdul Qadir Molla, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Munawar Hasan appealed to the
people to observe Friday as protest day against the Bangladesh government.
Funeral payers would also be offered in absentia for Abdul Molla in various
cities.
In their statements, Munawar Hasan and Liaquat Baloch called the
execution a cruel decision of a so-called war tribunal. They said Pakistani
rulers criminal silence on the issue was also condemnable. They said
Bangladeshi premier Sheikh Hasina Wajid could not perpetuate her regime
through such actions. The JI leaders said if Pakistani rulers wanted they could
have saved the innocent man by making public the agreements between former
premier Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Sheikh Mujeebur Rehman. They said it was
decided in the agreement that both the countries would not launch war cases
against each other.
Next day, Bangladesh was rocked by a new wave of deadly violence as
Islamist supporters went on the rampage to vent their fury at the execution of
one of their leaders for war crimes. Fears that the execution could spark further
unrest, in a country where political violence is intensifying in the build-up to
deeply divisive elections, were soon realized as the Islamists rioted in street
battles in towns and cities.
Three protesters were killed and two activists from the ruling Awami
League were hacked to death, with an Islamist becoming the latest fatality after
he was shot dead during clashes with ruling party activists in the southern town
of Sonaimuri. Jamaat activists firebombed train stations, set fire to businesses
and houses belonging to ruling party supporters and blockaded key highways.
1325
Violence also erupted near the country's largest mosque in Dhaka after
Friday prayers as Jamaat activists detonated crude bombs and torched at least a
dozen cars and vehicles. Police fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowds,
critically injuring a 12-year-old child, footage aired by private station Channel
24 showed. Activists also tried to burn the coastal village home of one of the
war crimes trial judges.
In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said
Bangladesh was passing through a very sensitive moment, urging all parties to
resolve their differences peacefully. We've long urged the authorities to assure
that trials are free, transparent and in accord with international standards, but
we've also urged all parties and their supporters to express their views
peacefully and again, to refrain from violence.
Neighbouring India which was an ally of the then East Pakistan in the
war did not join in the condemnation, saying the execution was the outcome
of internal judicial processes and laws of Bangladesh. The Bangladeshi
government, which has also rebuffed international pressure to delay the
elections scheduled for next month, was unrepentant about the decision to carry
out the execution of 65-year-old Molla.
The Jamaat-e-Islami observed country-wide protests in Pakistan,
condemning the hanging of Abdul Qadir Molla. Protest rallies were held in all
major cities including Lahore and Karachi, Multan, Quetta, Peshawar while
Mollas funeral prayer in absentia was also held at different places. The funeral
prayer held at Multan Road near Mansoora was led by JI chief Syed Munawwar
Hassan.
Hassan, in his address at Mansoora Mosque, said that for the last three
years, there was rule of tyranny and injustice in Bangladesh and those who were
loyal to Pakistan are being victimized. He said the JI had been pressing upon the
Pakistani rulers that the Bangladesh government be made to abide by the
Bhutto-Mujib pact under which Islamabad had recognized Dhaka. In case, the
Bangladesh government did not agree, Pakistan should have approached the
International Court of Justice.
However, he said, it was unfortunate that the authorities in Islamabad
remained totally indifferent to the matter and the people, who offered their lives
while fighting shoulder to shoulder with the Pakistan armed forces, were being
victimized for the last 42 years. He said it was shameful that the Pakistan
government described the conviction of Abdul Qadir Molla as an internal issue
of Bangladesh. He said on the other hand, the Bangladesh government was still
leveling serious allegations against the Pakistan Army but the rulers are not
ready to raise a voice against it.
Addressing the protest rally, JI Punjab chief Dr Wasim Akhtar said the US
policy makers, Indian Hindus and Zionists are happy over the hanging of Abdul
1326
Qadir and considered it as their success. However, he said the martyrdoms had
always raised the morale of Muslims and history of the Islamic movements was
full of sacrifices.
PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat condemned the Bangladesh governments
act of hanging religious leader Abdul Qadir Molla, and wondered over the
Pakistani rulers for being silent on the issue. The international laws have been
ignored as far as JI leader Abdul Qadir Mollas case is concerned, Shujaat said.
Federal Minister for Interior Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said there was no
doubt that political and religious leader Abdul Qadir Molla of Jamaat-e-Islami
was hanged in Bangladesh because of his loyalty and solidarity with Pakistan in
1971. Chaudhry Nisar expressed deep grief and concern over the incident of
execution of Abdul Qadir Mullah. Till the very end before creation of
Bangladesh, he remained supporter of a united Pakistan and today every
Pakistani was saddened and grieved on his death, the minister added.
Foreign Office spokesman said As a friendly country and fellow Saarc
member state, we are closely following the political developments as they
unfold in Bangladesh. We wish the brotherly people of Bangladesh well and
hope that spirit of reconciliation and an atmosphere, free of violence, will
prevail.
On 14th December, six people were killed across Bangladesh including
three protesters who were shot dead by police as Jamaat-e-Islami protesters
vented their fury at the execution of one of their leaders for war crimes. The
deadly clashes erupted two days after the government hanged Abdul Quader
Molla.
Police said they opened fire during clashes with thousands of rampaging
Jamaat protesters in the southern town of Companyganj, leaving three people
dead and dozens injured. Three other people including a Jamaat supporter and
two ruling party activists were killed in the northern town of Ramganj after
hundreds of protesters of Jamaat and its main ally the Bangladesh Nationalist
Party (BNP) attacked a convoy of ruling party member of parliament.
Next day, thirteen more people were killed in continuing protests sparked
by the execution of a top Islamist leader. Police said they opened fire after
Islamist supporters torched houses and fought street battles with them during a
third day of unrest. The deaths occurred as Islamist supporters enforced a
nationwide strike over the execution of Molla.
Twenty-five people are now known to have died and dozens more have
been injured in the clashes since Thursday between outraged Jamaat activists
and police and between the activists and supporters of the ruling Awami League.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned of strong action against the rioters,
saying We have shown enough patience. We will not tolerate any more.
1327
1328
Farmers nationwide have been forced to dump milk and produce has been
left rotting, with lorries unable to move them to towns and cities for sale,
industry groups say. Protesters have also torn up railway tracks, derailing trains
with occasionally fatal results. Police told AFP that an Islamist protester from
the Jamaat-e-Islami party died of bullet wounds in the capital Dhaka. Three
more people succumbed to injuries received earlier.
Bangladesh summoned Pakistans High Commissioner in Dhaka to lodge
its protest over the resolution adopted by the National Assembly of Pakistan
expressing concern over the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh leader
Abdul Quader Molla. Bangladesh Secretary (bilateral) Mustafa Kamal
conveyed the governments protest and handed the High Commissioner an
Aide Memoire.
On 18th December, a court sentenced eight students from the ruling party to
death for the brutal murder of a young Hindu that was captured live on
television in the capital. The special fast-track court found the Awami League
(AL) activists guilty of chasing down Biswajit Das, 24, and hacking him with
machetes while police stood by, in a crime that shocked the nation after its
airing on TV.
The banned TTP threatened to attack Bangladesh Embassy in Islamabad in
the wake of the killing of Abdul Qadir Molla, Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) leader in
Bangladesh, it was reliably learnt. Although security around Bangladesh foreign
mission in Pakistan has been enhanced manifold and the fresh security
directions have been issued to Ambassador of Bangladesh, yet law enforcement
agencies still feared a terrorist attack at BD mission.
On 26th December, Bangladeshs opposition accused authorities of placing
their leader under virtual house arrest, as tens of thousands of troops were
deployed across the country ahead of general elections next month. As two
more people were killed in the build-up to the January 5 poll, the main
opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) said police were barring anyone
from visiting their leader Khaleda Zia at her home in Dhaka.
The move comes after Zia, a two-time former premier and arch rival of
current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, called for supporters to stage a mass
march on the capital aimed at scuppering the polls. The BNP is one of 21
opposition parties which are boycotting the elections over Hasinas refusal to
stand aside and allow a neutral caretaker government to organize the contest.
The countrys largest Islamist party, Jamaat-e-Islami, has also been banned from
taking part.
On 28th December, police rounded up hundreds of opposition supporters, as
the capital was virtually cut off from the rest of the country a day before a mass
march aimed at derailing January 5 elections. Over 750 people have been
1329
1330
poll. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party called a 48-hour strike and urged voters
to stay away from the farcical election.
I call upon countrymen to fully boycott the disgraceful farce in the name
of election of January 5, BNP chief Begum Khaleda Zia, who has been under
what she calls virtual house arrest, said in a statement last night. The
government has denied that she is confined or under house arrest. The European
Union, a duty free market for nearly 60 per cent of Bangladeshs garment
exports, has refused to send election observers, as have the United States and
the Commonwealth, a grouping of 53 mainly former British colonies.
Mainland Asia
China: On 16th December, sixteen people were killed in a clash in Chinas
restive Xinjiang region, home to the mostly Muslim Uighur minority. Police
attempting to detain criminal suspects in Shufu county near the Silk Road city
of Kashgar, deep in far western China, were attacked by several thugs armed
with explosive devices and knives, reported the news portal run by the Xinjiang
government.
Two police officers were killed and 14 of the thugs shot dead yesterday
and that two criminal suspects were detained. But an overseas Uighur rights
group said police had broken into a house where members of the ethnic
minority were gathering and opened fire first. All 14 people killed by police
were Uighurs and two of them were minors.
On 24th December, it was reported that six Uighur women were among 16
people killed in a clash in Chinas restive Xinjiang region last wee,
contradicting Beijings version of events. The Munich-based World Uyghur
Congress and Radio Free Asia, which is funded by the US government, said that
police raided a house where an extended family was gathering.
World Uighur Congress spokesman Alim Seytoff, citing information from
two residents of Saybagh village, where the clash took place, said: It was a
massacre of a family who had gathered to prepare for the upcoming wedding of
one of their children. According to Radio Free Asia, one resident said that the
local police chief triggered the incident by lifting the veil of a woman during
the raid on the house. The dead included two police officers, with the other 14
all Uighurs.
On 30th December, eight attackers armed with knives and explosives were
killed during a terrorist attack on a police station in Chinas Xinjiang
according to authorities. One of the attackers was held in the clash in Shache
County, where mainly Muslim Uighurs are the largest ethnic group. Beijing
refers to what it calls ethnic separatism, religious extremism and terrorism as
the three evil forces.
1331
1332
toughly and consistently continue to fight against terrorists until their total
destruction, Putin said in his first public comments on the attacks.
Middle East
Iraq: On 2nd December, attacks near Baghdad and northern and western
Iraq killed 15 people. Shootings and bombings struck around Baghdad, as well
as in and around the northern cities of Mosul and Tuz Khurmatu; while a rare
double bombing in the Kurdish north left two senior security officers wounded.
Next day, attacks mostly targeting Sunni Arab areas of Baghdad as well as
northern and western Iraq killed at least 23 people. Shootings and bombings hit
west Baghdad, as well as the cities of Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, Baquba, Tikrit,
Samarra, Mosul and Tarmiyah. In the deadliest attack, twin roadside bombs
exploded near municipal offices in Tarmiyah, a town just north of Baghdad that
has seen multiple deadly attacks in recent weeks.
On 5th December, security forces early ended an hours-long siege at a mall
in the northern city of Kirkuk but not before militants killed nine people. The
attack on the mall yesterday in the oil rich ethnic tinderbox city, which involved
a car bomb and would-be suicide bombers, came amid a surge in unrest that has
claimed more than 6,200 lives this year.
On 8th December, a wave of bombings around Baghdad killed at least 35
people as surging violence spurs concerns Iraq is falling back into all-out
conflict. The blasts, including seven car bombs, were the latest in a months-long
rise in bloodshed that has forced the authorities to appeal for international help
just months before the country's first elections in four years.
Next day, a car bomb near a cafe in Iraq killed 11 people. The blast in
Buhruz, a Sunni-majority town in the religiously and ethnically mixed Diyala
province northeast of Baghdad, wounded another 22 people. A roadside bomb
also exploded near a market in the Besmaya area southeast of Baghdad, killing
at least two people and wounding at least eight.
On 13th December, gunmen shot dead 18 people most of them Iranians
who were working on a gas pipeline from Iran to Iraq northeast of Baghdad.
The attack near Baladruz killed 15 Iranians and three Iraqis, and wounded five
Iranians and two Iraqis. It took just eight days for this month's death toll to
surpass that for the entire month of December last year.
On 15th December, a series of bombings mainly targeting Shiite areas in
and around the Iraqi capital killed at least nine people. The three car bombs and
one roadside bomb also wounded at least 27 others. The deadliest attack hit the
Husseiniyah area near Baghdad, killing at least four people and wounding at
least 10. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the blasts.
1333
Next day, car bombs ripped through Shia pilgrims near Baghdad while
militants attacked a city council headquarters and a police station, as Iraq-wide
violence killed at least 66 people. The attacks on the city council and police
station in Salaheddin Province showed the impunity with which militants can
strike even targets that should be highly secure.
In the city of Tikrit, militants detonated a car bomb near the city council
headquarters and then occupied the building, with employees still inside. Iraqi
security forces surrounded the building, and then carried out an assault that
Counter-Terrorism Service spokesman said freed 40 people who were held
inside.
Gunmen also killed three soldiers guarding an oil pipeline near Tikrit,
while two oil protection police were killed and three wounded by a bomb south
of the northern city of Kirkuk. The second-deadliest attack was in the northern
city of Mosul, where militants gunned down 12 people on a bus. Five other car
bombs and a magnetic sticky bomb on a vehicle exploded in and around the
Iraqi capital, killing at least 17 people and wounding at least 43.
On 17th December, militants killed at least eight Shia pilgrims in Baghdad
Province. A suicide bomber detonated explosives among pilgrims walking south
of Baghdad, killing four, while militants in a car threw a hand grenade at
pilgrims in the capital, killing at least four others. The two attacks also wounded
at least 27 more people.
Next day, a suicide bomber detonated an explosives belt among Shia
pilgrims walking northeast of the Iraqi capital, one of several attacks that killed
a total of nine people. The bomber struck in the Khales area, killing five people
and wounding ten. A roadside bomb in the northern city of Mosul killed two
people and wounded two others, while gunmen killed two soldiers and wounded
two more in an attack on a checkpoint.
On 19th December, two suicide bombers detonated explosives belts among
pilgrims in Iraq, killing at least 41 people, while militants shot dead a family of
five, officials said. The deadliest attack hit the Dura area of south Baghdad,
where a bomber targeted pilgrims at a tent where they are served food and
drinks on their way to Karbala. The second suicide bomber struck pilgrims in
Yusifiyah, south of the Iraqi capital, killing eight people and wounding at least
32.
Next day, bombings, including two in a market and a third at a cemetery
where victims of the earlier attack were to be buried, killed 14 people. In Tuz
Khurmatu, north of Baghdad, two bombs exploded in a livestock market, killing
eight people and wounding 25. A roadside bomb killed two civilians in the
northern province of Kirkuk, while another blast in the city of Mosul killed a
policeman and wounded another.
1334
On 21st December, five senior Iraqi officers, including a major general, and
10 soldiers were killed in a raid on an al-Qaeda hideout in the west of the
country. Violence elsewhere killed five policemen, including the head of a
precinct in al-Sharqat district northwest of Baghdad, and wounded five others.
Major General Mohammed al-Karoui, who headed the army's 7th Division, was
leading an assault on a hideout of the al-Qaeda network in Sunni-majority
Anbar Province near the Syrian border.
The defence ministry said the operation was launched after reports that alQaeda militants had set up camps in the area to train militants in bomb-making.
Reconnaissance flights pinpointed targets which the air force then bombed,
ahead of the ground assault. Karoui's unit was tracking fleeing suspects when a
bomb exploded killing the major general, the other officers and the soldiers.
On 23rd December, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commenting on
allegations the United States had spied on Israel's leaders, said such activity was
unacceptable and had no place in the allies' close relationship. Documents
leaked Edward Snowden showed the NSA and its British counterpart GCHQ
had in 2009 targeted an email address listed as belonging to then-Israeli Prime
Minister Ehud Olmert and monitored emails of senior defence officials.
Next day, a bomb struck the acting Iraqi defence ministers convoy west of
Baghdad, wounding two of his guards. The roadside bomb hit Saadun alDulaimis convoy as it traveled between Fallujah and Ramadi also damaged one
of the vehicles. On 25th December, attacks, including bombs that exploded in a
market near a church in Baghdad, killed at least 44 people across Iraq. Two
roadside bombs exploded in a popular market in Dura, killing 35 people and
wounding 56; a mix of Muslims and Christians. The US embassy in Baghdad
issued a statement condemning attacks in Dura.
North of Baghdad, a bomb exploded under the bleachers at a football pitch,
killing four people, among them two police, and wounding 11. Another
bombing in south Baghdad killed at least one person and wounded at least three,
while gunmen killed three police near Tikrit and bombs on the road between
Kirkuk and Tuz Khurmatu killed one person and wounded seven.
On 28th December, Iraqi security forces raided the home of a Sunni MP
who backs anti-government protesters, arresting him and sparking clashes that
killed his brother and five guards. The raid on MP Ahmed al-Alwanis home in
Ramadi threatened to inflame widespread discontent among Iraqs minority
Sunni Arab community and could compound the rampant violence bedeviling
the country.
Next day, gunmen attacked an anti-Qaeda militia checkpoint west of the
Iraqi capital, killing at least four fighters. The attack on a Sahwa militia
checkpoint in the Abu Ghraib area also wounded at least three more fighters. In
1335
Baghdad itself, a roadside bomb exploded in the area, killing at least two people
and wounding six.
On 30th December, forty-four Iraqi MPs announced their resignation after
security forces demolished a Sunni anti-government protest site and detained a
lawmaker. The announcement was made at a televised news conference at
which the MPs also demanded the withdrawal of the army...and the release of
MP Ahmed al-Alwani, who was arrested during a raid yesterday.
On 1st January, 2014, militants freed more than 100 prisoners, clashed with
security forces and burned police stations in cities west of the Iraqi capital.
Gunmen attacked the headquarters in the city of Fallujah but gave the police a
chance to leave, which they took, after which the militants freed 101 prisoners
and stole weapons. In Ramadi, security forces clashed sporadically with
militants, who burned four police stations in the city.
Next day, Iraqi security forces and tribesmen battled al-Qaeda-linked
militants who seized parts of two cities after days of violence that erupted after
a year-old protest camp was removed. Militants took control of half of the city
of Fallujah and areas of Anbar provincial capital Ramadi farther west, but
security forces and armed tribesmen have begun to fight back.
Clashes began in the Ramadi area on December 30 as security forces tore
down an anti-government protest camp. The violence also spread to nearby
Fallujah, and security forces later withdrew from some areas of both cities in
Anbar Province. Militants had set up checkpoints, each manned by six to seven
people, in the centre and south of the city.
On 3rd January, 2014, more than 100 people were reported killed as Iraqi
police and tribesmen battled al-Qaeda-linked militants who took over parts of
two Anbar provincial cities. Parts of Ramadi and Fallujah have been held by
militants for days, harkening back to the years after the 2003 US-led invasion
when both cities were insurgent strongholds.
At least 32 civilians and 71 ISIL fighters died in the clashes, the officials
said, adding that they did not know how many police and tribesmen were killed.
Hundreds of gunmen, some of them carrying the black flags often flown by
jihadists, gathered at outdoor weekly Muslim prayers in central Fallujah. One of
them went to where the prayer leader had stood, and said: We announce that
Fallujah is an Islamic state and call you to stand by our side.
ISIL is the latest incarnation of an al-Qaeda affiliate that lost ground from
2006, as Sunni tribesmen and former insurgents allied with US troops against
jihadists in a process that began in Anbar and came to be known as the
Awakening. But the extremist group made a striking comeback following the
US withdrawal from Iraq and the outbreak of Syrias civil war in 2011.
1336
1337
1338
1339
Next day, President Bashar al-Assad of Syria said his country is being
confronted by a major offensive by Islamist extremists. The country is facing a
takfiri ideology, Assad said, using a term for Sunni Muslim extremists. This is
terrorism without limits, an international scourge that could strike anywhere and
anytime, he said.
On 24th December, Syria lashed out at the United States, describing it as a
one-eyed pirate. a day after Washington condemned President Bashar alAssads regime over its aerial assault on Aleppo. The White House is ignoring
the crimes committed by the terrorists, state news agency SANA said.
Next day, it was reported that 10-day air offensive by Syrias regime
against rebel areas of divided Aleppo city and nearby villages has killed more
than 400 people, including 117 children. The Syrian Observatory for Human
Rights said that the toll since December 15 from air strikes and a bombing
campaign using barrels packed with TNT stood at 410. Also among the dead
were 34 women, 30 rebel fighters and nine jihadists.
Rights groups blasted the regimes relentless air raids against Aleppo and
its dropping of massively destructive barrel bombs in civilian areas. Human
Rights Watch described the use of such weapons as indiscriminate and
therefore unlawful. The United States too has condemned the regimes aerial
assault on civilian areas of Aleppo, accusing the military of using barrel bombs
and SCUD missiles indiscriminately.
On 26th December, it was reported that the United States was now rushing
dozens of missiles and surveillance drones to help Iraqi forces combat violence
by a Qaeda-backed insurgency. The move follows an appeal for help in battling
the extremist group by the Iraqi Prime Minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki, who met
with President Barack Obama in Washington last month.
On 28th December, helicopters dropped TNT-packed barrels on a vegetable
market and next to a hospital in Syria's northern city Aleppo, killing at least 25
civilians including two children. The Observatory and activists in Aleppo say
President Bashar al-Assad's regime has waged a massive aerial offensive against
the city and nearby villages since December 15, killing more than 400 people,
mostly civilians.
On 31st December, at least 10 people, including two children, were killed in
Syrias northern city of Aleppo after a regime tank shell smashed into a bus. The
Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the shell hit a bus in the Tariq al-Bab
neighbourhood, adding that the toll could rise because a number of people had
been seriously wounded.
Lebanon: On 1st December, a sniper killed three men in Lebanons
northern city of Tripoli, bringing to nine the death toll in 24 hours of sectarian
clashes linked to the conflict in neighbouring Syria. A security source said the
1340
three men were in a truck when they were shot dead. Lebanese soldiers
deployed in the area to try to retrieve the bodies of the unidentified men.
On 4th December, a Hezbollah commander who fought in Syrias civil war
was shot dead outside his home in Lebanon in an attack which the group blamed
on Israel. Israel denied any role in the killing of Hassan al-Laqqis, who was shot
from close range by a silenced gun as he arrived home at around midnight in the
Hadath district of Beirut.
The attack bore the hallmarks of an Israeli operation, and analyst Charles
Lister of IHS Janes in London said it suggested an element of professionalism
and prior intelligence. But what is very clear is that it comes under the context
of Hezbollah and its role in Syria, he said. It was expected that Hezbollah
would blame Israel, but that is not necessarily the case.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah has blamed Saudi Arabia for
a twin suicide attack on the Iranian embassy in Beirut that killed 25 people last
month. The Abdullah Azzam Brigades, an al-Qaeda affiliate that claimed
responsibility for the attacks, has an emir and he is Saudi, and I am convinced
that it is linked to the Saudi intelligence services, which direct groups like this
one in several parts of the world, Nasrallah told Lebanese broadcaster OTV.
On 27th December, a huge car bomb rocked central Beirut, killing six
people including an influential member of a coalition opposed to the Syrian
regime, and leaving cars ablaze and buildings wrecked. State news agency NNA
said that Mohammad Chatah, died as he headed to a meeting in the city centre
of the March 14 coalition at the mansion of ex-prime minister Saad Hariri.
Dozens were injured in the blast.
On 29th December, Israeli military fired a barrage of shells into southern
Lebanon in retaliation after five Katyusha-style rockets were launched against
the Jewish state. The attacks struck uninhabited areas of both Israel and
Lebanon without causing any casualties or damage.
Next day, the Lebanese army used its air defence systems against Syrian
helicopters after they carried out a raid inside Lebanese territory. It was the first
time the Lebanese army has responded to Syrian attacks on its territory, which
have multiplied as the conflict in its eastern neighbour has intensified.
On 1st January, 2014, Lebanese troops claimed arresting the leader of the
al-Qaeda-linked group that claimed a double suicide bombing at the Iranian
embassy in Beirut in November. Majid al-Majid, the emir of the Abdullah
Azzam Brigades, was arrested by the intelligence services of the Lebanese
army in Beirut, Defence Minister said, without specifying when the arrest took
place.
Next day, a car bomb killed four people in southern Beirut, the fourth
attack to hit the Hezbollah bastion since the Shiite group announced its
1341
1342
Next day, nine people, including three soldiers, were killed when clashes
broke out in southeastern Yemens rugged Hadramawt region. The defence
ministry initially said the fighting erupted when al-Qaeda militants attacked an
army checkpoint, but the official SABA news agency later said it was a dispute
between soldiers and a group of tribesmen, six of whom were killed.
On 5th December, a series of attack on the defence ministry complex in
Sanaa killed at least 52 people. A suicide bomber rammed an explosives-packed
car into Yemens defence ministry, allowing gunmen to launch an assault on the
complex which left 52 people, including foreign doctors. According to a
statement carried by Saba state news agency, the committee said 167 more were
wounded in the brazen daylight assault, nine of them seriously.
Six doctors, including a Venezuelan and two from the Philippines, and
three Yemenis, along with five patients, including a judge, were among the
dead, medical sources said. They were at a hospital that lies within the
ministrys complex, which bore the brunt of the attack. The attack comes as
Defence Minister Mohammed Nasser is heading a military delegation on a visit
to the United States.
President Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi visited the hospital where his 90-year-old
brother, Ahmed, was apparently an in-patient. He ordered a round-the-clock
investigation into the attack. There are growing demands for the secession of the
formerly independent south, in addition to on-off fighting in the far north
between Shiite rebels and hard-line Sunnis.
On 7th December, investigators said that militants who carried out a brazen
day-light assault on the Yemeni defence ministry that killed 56 people were
mostly Saudis. The finding, in a preliminary report on the inquiry into
Thursdays attack, added credibility to a claim of responsibility by al-Qaeda in
the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which was formed from a merger of the jihadist
networks Saudi and Yemeni branches.
On 10th December, a Dutch couple kidnapped in Yemen six months ago
was freed in the capital Sanaa. The kidnappers freed the Dutch couple in an area
near the embassy of the Netherlands and they are in a good health condition,
Saba reported, without giving details.
On 12th December, several civilians were killed and others wounded in a
drone attack in southern Yemen in which a wedding party was struck. The
witnesses and a tribal source said the attack was carried out by a US drone and
targeted Qaifa, near the town of Radaa, but were unable to give specific casualty
figures.
On 21st December, several cities across south Yemen were virtually
paralyzed by a second day of confrontations between southern militants and
security forces in which 11 people were wounded. Armed clashes broke out in
1343
several cities, tension also spiked in the north of the country, where the Sunni
Islamist Al-Islah party accused Zaidi Shiite rebels known as Huthis of abducting
one of its members as fighting raged there. And in the eastern province of Marib
saboteurs blew up two sections of an oil pipeline, the third time this week, and
tribesmen attacked soldiers escorting technicians involved in repair work.
On 27th December, an army tank shelled a funeral tent erected by the
Southern Movement at a school in Yemen, killing 10 people among them
children and also wounded 16 people. Army tank had shelled the tent in Sanah,
south of the Yemeni capital in Daleh Province, in an attack linked to tension
between southerners and the political and military authorities.
Next day, tribesmen blew up a major oil pipeline in southeastern Yemen
operated by foreign companies, bringing production to a halt. Gunmen
belonging to an alliance of Hadramawt tribes blew up the oil pipeline linking
Masila oilfield to Al-Daba port in the town of Shah on the Gulf of Aden.
On 29th December, a court sentenced to death a Yemeni al-Qaeda suspect
for his role in a deadly attack on a security headquarters in Aden in 2011. The
same court handed nine other suspects sentences of between two and 10 years in
prison for belonging to al-Qaeda and attempting to assassinate President
Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi.
Next day, five soldiers and three militants were killed during an attack on
an army position in southern Yemen in which the assailants also abducted four
troops. The attack was carried out by southern secessionists, but secessionist
leaders denied the accusation. Southern Yemen is also home to an al-Qaeda
affiliate suspected of carrying out a string of attacks on security forces.
On 31st December, a suicide car bombing at the security headquarters in
Yemens southern city of Aden killed at least three soldiers in what appeared to
be an al-Qaeda attack. The car exploded as it rammed into the front gate of the
Aden security offices at dawn and several other soldiers were wounded in the
blast.
Africa
Nigeria: On 24th December, Nigerias military said it had killed at least 50
rebels fleeing towards Cameroon in a battle in which 15 of its own soldiers and
five civilians also died. Nigerian forces stepped up an offensive in the volatile
northeast in the past few days, after Boko Haram fighters armed with grenade
launchers and anti-aircraft guns had attacked army barracks in the town of
Bama.
Bangui: On 8th December, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said
that nearly 400 people were killed in the last three days in violence in the
Central African Republic capital Bangui, but that calm had returned. We have
counted 394 dead in the last three days. Calm has returned to Bangui even if
1344
there are still some abuses here and there, Fabius told France 3 television.
French troops poured into the impoverished landlocked country after President
Francois Hollande announced he was boosting a UN-mandated French force to
1,600 soldiers. There are a certain number of operations under way throughout
the country, and operations to disarm Seleka will begin, Fabius said, referring
to the mostly Muslim rebel fighters who were behind a coup in March.
On 9th December, French troops began disarming fighters in the Central
African Republic after a swell in sectarian violence that has claimed hundreds
of lives and terrified inhabitants. But Paris warned the task would be difficult as
former Seleka rebels who seized power in a March coup shed their combat gear
to avoid detection, and clashed sporadically with soldiers dispatched to quell
violence in the unstable country.
Announcing the beginning of the disarmament, the armys general staff
said the process was going smoothly for the moment, despite a brief shoot-out
in the morning between soldiers and armed men near the airport. French
Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius warned that the disarmament would not be an
easy task.
Djotodia, the first Muslim leader of the CAR, disbanded Seleka when he
took power, but while some militiamen remained loyal to him, others wreaked
havoc. Local Christians responded by forming vigilante groups and the
government was never able to assert its authority over the Christian-majority
country. Amnesty International has said that many involved in the latest
violence are child fighters recruited by the former rebels. It said some were
reportedly armed with axes and iron bars.
Next day, two French soldiers were killed in the Central African Republic
on the second day of an operation to disarm fighters sowing sectarian violence
in the country. The deaths come as the UN-mandated military operation there is
being expanded with US logistical help. The two paratroopers were fatally
wounded while conducting a night patrol late Monday in the capital Bangui.
On 13th December, it was reported that more than 600 people have been
killed in sectarian violence (religious violence between Christians and Muslims)
in the Central African Republic in the past week, including 27 Muslims killed
during the day in a western village. Some 159,000 people have fled their homes
in the capital.
On 20th December, heavy gunfire was reported for several hours at a
military base near the capital of strife-torn Central African Republic. The
military base at the Mpoko airport in the north of Bangui hosts French and
African Union troops that have been sent to the country under a UN mandate to
try and stop the chaos in the unstable country. The gunfire left some AU troops
wounded, but no French soldiers were wounded.
1345
The Central African Republic spiraled into chaos after a March coup in
which the mainly Muslim Seleka rebel group overthrew President Francois
Bozize. Rebel leader Michel Djotodia was installed as the first Muslim leader of
the majority Christian nation and disbanded the Seleka, but many rebels went
rogue, spreading terror which government forces could not stop.
On 26th December, six Chadian peacekeepers were killed in clashes in the
Central African Republic capital, where French troops were out in force a day
after heavy gunfire had resulted in panic in the city. The circumstances of the
Chadian deaths were not clear. The Chadian contingent of the African Union
peacekeeping force has been accused of siding with a mostly Muslim former
rebel group in the strife-torn majority Christian country.
Libya: On 4th December, Libya's General National Council assembly
(GNC) voted to make Sharia law the base for all legislation and for all state
institutions, a decision that may impact banking, criminal and financial law.
Islamic law is the source of legislation in Libya, the GNC said in a statement
after the vote. All state institutions need to comply with this. The immediate
scope of the decision was not clear, but a special committee would review all
existing laws to guarantee they comply with Sharia.
Next day, an American teacher was shot dead in Benghazi. The dead man
was a US citizen who taught at the citys international school. He was shot dead
as he was taking his morning jog in the central Al-Fwihet neighbourhood of the
city. In other violence in the city, two Libyan soldiers were shot dead in separate
incidents. A third soldier, who was attached to military intelligence, died when a
bomb placed under his vehicle blew up.
On 22nd December, a suicide bomber rammed an explosives-laden vehicle
into a security checkpoint outside eastern Libyas restive city of Benghazi
overnight, killing at least 13 people. The bombing also wounded three people,
leaving two of them in serious condition, and three other people were missing.
On December 20, the head of military intelligence in Benghazi was shot
dead during a visit to his family in nearby Derna. And a day before, a man was
killed in an explosion in his car in Tobruk, in the first attack of its kind in the
city close to the border with Egypt. Also, the head of a man who had been
kidnapped for ransom was found in Benghazi.
On 3rd January, 2014, Libyan troops found the bodies of a British man and
a New Zealand woman shot dead southwest of Tripoli. The area houses a major
gas complex run by Mellitah Oil and Gas, a joint enterprise of Italys ENI and
Libyas state-owned National Oil Company, which exports natural gas to Italy
through the Greenstream pipeline.
Egypt: On 1st December, Egypts constitution-drafting panel voted to retain
military trials for civilians in certain cases despite opposition from some secular
1346
activists and rights groups concerned over the armys wide-ranging powers. If
approved, the constitution would be submitted to a popular referendum early
next year, billed as the first stage in a democratic transition promised by the
military-installed authorities.
On 11th December, the trial of Egypts Muslim Brotherhood chief and his
deputies on charges related to protest deaths came to an abrupt end when the
judges walked out, citing chaos in the dock. The previous session on October 29
of the trial of Mohamed Badie and 34 co-defendants had also been halted when
the three presiding judges withdrew, citing reasons of conscience. On
Wednesday, a new panel of three judges appointed to hear the case recused
themselves after the accused Brotherhood members yelled anti-government
slogans from the dock.
On 19th December, Egyptian courts acquitted Ahmed Shafiq, a former
premier and presidential candidate, of corruption charges, paving the way for
his return more than a year after he fled abroad. The courts also acquitted the
two sons of ousted strongman Hosni Mubarak, whom he served under, Alaa and
Gamal, but they still face other corruption trials.
On 21st December, the prosecution said Mohamed Morsi and 132 others,
including members of Hamas, will stand trial for a prison break and the murder
of officers during the 2011 uprising. Almost 70 of the defendants are members
of Hamas and Hezbollah, the Palestinian and Lebanese militant groups, who
will be tried in absentia.
Next day, three leading Egyptian activists were sentenced to three years in
prison each in a case brought over their role in recent protests, escalating a
crackdown on dissent by the army-backed government. Ahmed Maher, Ahmed
Douma and Mohamed Adel are symbols of the protest movement that ignited
the historic 2011 uprising against President Hosni Mubarak. Each one was also
fined 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($7,200) by the court.
On 24th December, a powerful car bomb tore through an Egyptian police
headquarters, killing at least 15 people, in one of the worst attacks since the
army ousted president Mohamed Morsi. The interior ministry said 12 of the
dead were policemen, and medics said a civilian was killed in the blast.
Meanwhile, the United States denounced Egypts worsening climate for
peaceful protests, the day after three activists were jailed for organizing an
unauthorized march. The United States is deeply concerned about the
worsening climate for freedom of assembly and peaceful expression in Egypt,
State Department spokeswoman said in a statement.
Egyptian Prime Minister Hazem Beblawi declared the countrys Muslim
Brotherhood movement a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Beblawi has
declared the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, premiers
1347
1348
before police intervened to disperse the protests with tear gas and birdshot. The
protests came after an Islamist alliance backing Morsi called for demonstrations
ahead of a new hearing in Morsis trial.
One man was killed by birdshot to his chest in the Suez Canal city of
Ismailiya during clashes after weekly Muslim prayers and eight others,
including a police officer, were wounded. Another man was killed and three
were wounded in clashes in the city of Fayoum, southwest of Cairo. And in the
Mediterranean city of Alexandria, a third person was killed and at least 122
people were arrested around the country.
Protesters in Cairo torched a police vehicle using petrol bombs. In an
eastern neighbourhood of Cairo, police used tear gas against thousands of Morsi
supporters who burnt tyres and threw fireworks at security forces. Protesters
clashed with the police on a road along the Nile River and also inside the
suburb.
Next day, Qatar said a decision by Egypt to designate the Muslim
Brotherhood a terrorist group was a prelude to a shoot-to-kill policy against
demonstrators. Qatar was a firm supporter of Mohamed Mursi and ties with
Cairo have deteriorated since the army deposed him in July following mass
protests against his year-long rule. A Qatari Foreign Ministry statement said:
The decision to designate popular political movements as terrorist
organizations, and labeling peaceful demonstrations as terrorism, did not
succeed in stopping the peaceful protests.
Sudan: On 18th December, hundreds of people were reported killed and up
to 20,000 others have fled to UN bases in days of fierce fighting in South
Sudans army after an alleged coup bid. The United States ordered non-essential
embassy staff out of the country, the worlds youngest nation and awash with
guns after decades of war, amid fears of a descent into wider ethnic violence. In
the capital Juba, gunfire still rang out into the early hours of the morning.
Next day, South Sudan rebels battled government forces as days of fierce
fighting sparked fears of a descent into civil war, with countries in the region
scrambling to kick-start peace efforts. Rebelling troops loyal to fugitive former
vice president Riek Machar seized the town of Bor yesterday as fighting
continued in eastern Jonglei state following an alleged failed coup attempt
against South Sudan President Salva Kiir.
Aguer confirmed that some 450 people had been killed in Juba since battles
broke out late on Sunday, including around 100 soldiers, but added that troops
had restored calm in the capital. But Human Rights Watch said witnesses had
reported horrific cases of both soldiers and rebels executing people based on
their ethnicity, warning it could lead to revenge attacks and more violence.
1349
On 27th December, the top United Nations official in South Sudan said that
the first reinforcements to the UN peacekeeping mission in the strife-torn
country are expected to arrive within two days. I call upon the political leaders
of South Sudan to order their forces to lay down their arms and to give peace a
chance and to do so urgently, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moons Special
Representative told reporters from Juba, South Sudans capital.
The special representative voiced hope that the UN mission in South Sudan
(UNMISS) would begin to receive critical peacekeeping reinforcements of both
military hardware and personnel on the ground within the next 48 hours, as the
mission was overstretched to protect civilians in a conflict that was estimated to
have claimed well over 1,000 lives. But let me underline: all peacekeepers are
under the instruction to use force when civilians are under imminent threat.
Next day, it was reported that more than 63 thousand civilians had sought
refuge in United Nations bases in South Sudan as the UN peacekeeping mission
there moves to reinforce its strength with troops and helicopters in the face of a
conflict that has killed thousands and driven at least 122,000 others from their
homes in the past 12 days.
On 30th December, South Sudanese rebels allied to ex-vice president Riek
Machar sought to retake control of a key town, as hopes faded that an upcoming
ceasefire deadline will be met in the violence-wracked nation. United Nations
peacekeepers said they were concerned over claims that thousands of armed
youths from Machars Nuer tribe were readying to attack Bor, the capital of
Jonglei state.
International efforts have tried to stop two weeks of violence, believed to
have left thousands dead, from spiraling into all-out civil war. Ugandan
President, speaking after meeting with President Salva Kiir in Juba, warned that
Machar must comply with a ceasefire deal ending tomorrow or face action by
regional nations.
The conflict, fuelled by an old rivalry between Kiir and Machar, has fanned
ethnic differences between Kiirs Dinka group and Machars Nuer clan in the
country, which won independence from Sudan in 2011. Bloodshed has swept
across the nation, with fierce battles reported in strategic oil-producing areas
and grim reports of massacres, rapes and killings.
Regional leaders at the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development
(IGAD) have set December 31 as a deadline for face-to-face talks between Kiir
and Machar. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom also met with Kiir in
Juba. South Sudanese government spokesman Makuei told AFP: I really doubt
if we, the South Sudanese government, will be in a position to sit with Riek
Machar... He has not even respected the call by IGAD and the African Union to
agree to the cessation of hostilities.
1351
On 4th January, 2014, warring parties in South Sudan delayed direct peace
talks. While top leaders of the government and rebel teams have briefly met
directly, the rivals continued to hold separate talks with negotiators. No timeline
was set for the crucial face-to-face talks to begin, despite the teams having
already spent three days in the same luxury hotel in Ethiopias capital Addis
Ababa.
Thousands of people are feared to have been killed in the fighting since it
erupted on December 15. The army battled to wrest back control of the oil town
of Bor from rebels. There were reports of intense battles involving tanks and
artillery on the outskirts of Bor, a dusty strategic town that has already
exchanged hands three times since fighting began almost three weeks ago.
Somalia: On 27th December, at least eight people were killed in Mogadishu
when a remotely controlled bomb exploded in a busy restaurant in the capital.
Police suspected al-Qaeda-linked group al Shabaab of planting the bomb, but al
Shabaab did not immediately claim responsibility.
On 2nd January, 2014, al-Qaeda-linked Shebab said it carried out a twin
bombing of a hotel in Mogadishu that killed 11. This is the beginning of 2014,
Shebab spokesman Ali Mohamud Rage said in a New Year message, a day after
the hotel attacks. The fate of foreigners and local mercenaries will remain the
same until they leave the country...they will have no safe haven in Somalia.
The first car bomb exploded outside the Jazeera hotel, near the
international airport. It is one of the seaside capitals most upmarket and its
clientele includes Somali politicians and visiting foreign officials. The second
car bomb ripped through the blast scene as ambulances rushed in and Somali
soldiers were helping the wounded.
1352
On 16th December, the Pentagon said the United States had transferred two
Guantanamo detainees to Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number of inmates
remaining at the US prison in Cuba to 160. After a comprehensive review of
their cases, Saad Muhammad Husayn Qahtani and Hamood Abdulla Hamood
were designated for transfer by consensus of the six departments and agencies
comprising the task force, said a statement by Pentagon spokesman.
On 24th December, US prosecutors linked Osama bin Ladens son-in-law to
the 2001 shoe bomber plot and added two extra charges against the Kuwaiti,
who faces life behind bars if convicted. Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, 47, whose trial in
New York is scheduled to begin on February 3, was initially charged on one
count of conspiracy to kill Americans after his arrest last February.
On 2nd January, 2014, The Pennsylvania woman who called herself Jihad
Jane and a teenage accomplice from Maryland provided very significant
assistance to US authorities in several terrorism investigations but still remains
a threat to the public, prosecutors say in new court filings. Prosecutors said
Colleen LaRose, 50, should be sentenced to decades behind bars for her role in
a failed 2009 plot to kill Lars Vilks, a Swedish artist over blasphemy. After
years of delay, the American-born LaRose is expected to be sentenced on
January 6 in Philadelphia.
In a presentence filing this week, US authorities reiterated what they
declared when LaRoses arrest was made public in 2010 that her gender, blond
hair, Texas twang and green eyes make her case significant because she does not
fit the stereotype of an Islamic terrorist.
VIEWS
Bangladesh
Bangladesh executes JI leader: The International Tribunal Court (ICT)
was established in 2010, and immediately started hearing cases pertaining to
crimes against humanity. Mr Mollah is one of the several Islamist leaders tried
and convicted by the court. He was convicted on the following five charges:
complicity in murder for acting as the mastermind in the murder of a civilian
named Pallab. Complicity in murder as a crime against humanity for providing
moral support and encouragement to the gang of perpetrators responsible for the
murder of
The court had originally sentenced him to imprisonment for life. But, the
news was not well received by many in Bangladesh who took to the streets
demanding a death sentence for Mr Quader. Due to this, an amendment in the
law was made which allowed the prosecution to challenge the sentence, and so
they did. A death sentence was then announced which was followed by
celebrations and protests from different parts of the country. The overall mood
1353
in Bangladesh appears to be in favour of the ongoing trials, but there also exists
an imminent danger of escalation in violence and unrest, following the
execution of the man many remember as the butcher of Mirpur. It also stands
to question whether street protests ought to be allowed to influence a life
imprisonment sentence changing to a death penalty. (Editorial, TheNation 14th
December)
Divisive politics of Bangladesh: Given the fractured and vindictive
political climate in Bangladesh, the risks of new injustices occurring are very
real. Dramatic hanging of Abdul Quader Molla symbolizes two axioms about
gross miscarriage of justice: justice delayed is justice denied and justice
hurried is justice buried; both were operative in this case. Opening of cases
after over forty years of the alleged crime, enactment of law by the parliament
empowering government to appeal for enhancement of punishment and its
retrospect application to Mollas case, followed by his hanging of Molla within
hours of rejection of appeal speak volumes about the way in which political
expediency has overtaken the incumbent Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Appellate Court carried an upward review of the sentence and life
imprisonment was upped to death sentence. Later during review proceedings,
the Attorney General Alam told the court that there was no scope for a review
in war crimes cases. Chief Justice Muzammel Hossain promptly obliged and
dismissed Mollas appeal for a final review of his death sentence. Only three
defence witnesses were allowed to depose against thirty three prosecution
witnesses. Moreover, international observers were not allowed to witness the
trials. Appellate procedure was mysteriously short and Molla was executed in an
indecent haste.
After the creation of Bangladesh, Sheik Mujibur Rahman set up special
tribunals to try the collaborators. Several thousand cases were filed, but good
sense prevailed and Sheik Mujibur declared a general amnesty.
Hasina Sheikhs current tenure as Prime Minister has witnessed recurring
demonstrations calling for war criminals to be brought to justice. Earlier after
34 years of assassination of Sheikh Mujib, his assassins hanged. Khondaker
Mushtaq Ahmed, who took over as Bangladeshs president after Mujibs
assassination, had granted them immunity. General Ziaur Rehman, who later
became president, also confirmed the immunity
Indeed soon after creation of the tribunal, Hasina lost control over its
dynamics. The civil society of Bangladesh hijacked the cause with fierce
staging of pickets in the name of Shahbagh movement. Hasina finally fell
victim to mob mentality, and got consumed by the Genie she had created. While
fermenting and sustaining a politicized hype in favour of trials, she ignored that
equally powerful counter narrative to Shahbagh movement. If any proof of this
clash of values were needed, it came in the form of a hugely impressive counter1354
1355
been better served by granting an amnesty to anyone who was convicted while
seeking only to establish the truth. (K Iqbal, TheNation 16th December)
Resolutely supporting wrong: It appears that a large segment of the
political leadership is facing tremendous difficulty in coming to terms with
certain ground realities. Perhaps, all they require is a little assistance and so, it
shall be offered: East-Pakistan is no more. In its place, there exists an
independent, sovereign state, popularly known as Bangladesh. It is inhabited by
Bengalis. Not former or future Pakistanis, just Bengalis. Those who find the
facts stated above far too obvious and think that there is no need to reiterate the
unmistakable, are advised to take a brief look at the NA resolution passed by the
lower house of the Parliament against the execution of Jamaat-e-Islami
(Bangladesh) leader, Abdul Quader Mollah. Apparently, forty-four years are just
not enough for some to recover from a bad break-up.
While speaking on the issue in the National Assembly, Interior Minister,
Nisar Ali Khan, claimed that Mr Mollah was hanged for supporting Pakistan
and remained true to the cause of a united Pakistan till the very last day of life.
He further claimed that the nation was deeply saddened by the execution of the
veteran JI leader. False, all of it. Of course, it doesnt help that Bangladeshi PM,
Ms Wajid, is not immune to playing politics on the issue either, claiming that
there is no place in Bangladesh for supporters of Pakistan.
Although Mr Mollahs charge sheet is quite extensive, supporting
Pakistan during 1971 isnt listed as a crime anywhere. It does, however, contain
allegations of murder and rape of several men, women and children, and those
are precisely the heinous crimes he was tried for, convicted and executed. Being
a seasoned politician, Mr Nisar is surely aware that there are far better ways
than torturing and killing dissenters to express patriotism and struggling for
unity. Secondly, if in Mr Nisars infinite wisdom, it is a matter of pride for a
Bangladeshi national to seek a united Pakistan till his last breath, what opinion
does he hold for a Pakistani citizen who seeks a united India? Thirdly, Pakistan
has no right poking its nose in the internal matters of another country. The
ongoing trials in Bangladesh are the fulfillment of the election promise of its
PM, Sheikh Hasina Wajid. Let us not forget that a life imprisonment sentence
failed to satisfy by the Bangladeshi populace, who took to the streets demanding
a death sentence instead. But, even if that was not the case, it is none of
Pakistans business. Their aggressors, their victims and their decisions. Just
because we are not interested in taking our criminals to task, doesnt necessarily
mean that the rest of the world must act with the same callousness.
Bangladesh has already recorded its protest with the Pakistans High
Commissioner and demanded the resolution be withdrawn. The nation is not in
favour of portraying convicted murderers and rapists as heroes of the cause.
Stop embarrassing us. (Editorial, TheNation 19th December)
1356
Sudan
How the violence in South Sudan is drying up Africas future in oil:
South Sudans latest troubles hearken back to the Sudanese civil war which
began in the 1980s and which also chased away international oil companies. But
its especially important today, simply because the promise of massive oil
reserves off the West Coast of Africa, as well as in countries such as Kenya and
Uganda, have sparked a wave of enthusiasm for Africas energy future that
could well collide with a darker reality.
More oil and gas discoveries have been made in East Africa in the last
couple of years than anywhere else, Ernst & Young recently noted. Huge oil
finds off the coast of West Africa have fueled the hopes of Gulf of Guinea
countries of a sudden windfall. Recent oil discoveries in Kenya have that
country, and some international firms, dreaming of turning Mombasa into an
oil-export hub. Uganda is bullish on its own prospects for oil production after a
series of promising wells drilled by British firm Tullow Oil. Africas oily
enthusiasm extends to such unlikely outposts as Ethiopia and the Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
But turning that oil promise into reality faces plenty of daunting
challenges, as underscored by the violence in South Sudan over the last week.
Security looms largest, because it is a precondition both to develop the oil itself
and also to build the pipelines, roads, and rail lines the region needs to make
energy development a reality. But cronyism, weak laws, poor governance,
corruption, and domestic politics can combine to scuttle hopes of a quick
energy-fired economic bonanza.
There is a myth that many oil companies and policy makers subscribe to,
which is that economic interests will trump everything else. What gets
discounted, is that in some places in Africa, there is a different calculus. Tribal
animosities, personal animosities, political grudges all those weigh a lot
heavier, and there are a lot of people willing to cut off their noses to spite their
faces, said the Atlantic Councils Pham.
Security has always been a challenge for oil operations in Africa, as in
plenty of other regions. Nigerias battle with MEND dates back almost a
decade; the terror attacks one year ago against oil and gas operations in Algeria
spooked many foreign firms. Iraqi output has suffered over the last decade from
terrorist attacks, and even Saudi Arabias oil operations have faced sporadic
threats from al Qaeda. But Africas ability to tackle its security and governance
challenges matters more today, because international oil companies have more
options than they used to.
1357
Most notably, the Americas have become an energy powerhouse in the last
half-decade. The United States is on the verge of topping Saudi oil production.
Canada is tapping massive reserves of oil sands. Mexico is finally opening its
energy sector to foreign investment after more than 70 years. Brazil has a
bounty of promising offshore oil resources, and Argentina has, on paper, more
shale resources than the US.
While South Sudan is particularly problematic, other potential energy
players have their own issues. The Democratic Republic of Congo doesnt offer
legal security for investors. Kenya is digesting a new constitution. And Uganda
faces its own set of challenges, including an aging leadership.
I think there is a lot of nuance that could be added to the Africa rising
story. Overall, Im an optimist, but its not going to be an even ride, said Pham.
Some countries will get their acts together and speed ahead, but others who
may have the exact same endowments geologically may lag considerably
behind because of the political risk involved. (Keith Johnson for Foreign
Policy, republished in TheNation 25th December)
Europe
This isnt feminism, Its Islamophobia: As a person who writes about
womens issues, I am constantly being told that Islam is the greatest threat to
gender equality in this or any other country mostly by white men, who always
know best. This has been an extraordinary year for feminism, but from the
Rochdale grooming case to interminable debates over whether traditional
Islamic dress is empowering or otherwise, the rhetoric and language of
feminism has been co-opted by Islamophobes, who could not care less about
women of any creed or colour.
The recent blanket coverage of the gender segregation on campus story
was a textbook case. This month Student Rights, a pressure group not run by
students, released a report vastly exaggerating a suggestion by the universities
of the UK that male and female students might be asked to sit separately in
some lectures led by Islamic guest speakers. Many Asian womens groups and
individual Muslim feminists joined the subsequent protests, sometimes taking
personal risks to do so. Unfortunately, rightwing commentators and tabloids
seized upon the issue to imply that Islamic extremists are taking over the
British academy.
Never mind that it wasnt strictly true, the non-controversy spread to every
level of government. Labour MP Chuka Umunna declared: A future Labour
government would not allow or tolerate segregation in our universities. Even
the prime minister stepped into the debate, saying the proposed guidelines,
which have since been withdrawn, were not the right approach. The elite all1358
male Oxford club of which both he and the chancellor were members was
presumably the perfect approach.
I have spent weary weeks being asked to condemn this policy of gender
segregation by Islamic extremists, despite the fact that no such policy exists.
Of course, I condemn all sexism within the academy. I condemn segregated
drinking societies and the under-representation of women at the top levels of
academia. I condemn rape culture on campus, tradition like seal clubbing, and
slut dropping where male students are encouraged to sexually humiliate their
female classmates. If Ive enough breath left, Ill condemn the suggestion that
guest lecturers be allowed a segregated audience for religious reasons.
Structural sexism does take place every day in our universities, as it does in
our offices, shops and homes and we should oppose it everywhere. But
demanding that feminists of every race and faith drop all our campaigns and
stand against radical Islam sounds more and more like white patriarchy trying
to make excuses for itself: If you think were bad, just look at these guys.
Its the dishonesty that angers me most. Its the hypocrisy of men claiming
to stand for womens rights while appropriating our language of liberation to
serve their own small-minded agenda. Far-right groups like the English Defence
League and the British National party rush to condemn crimes against women
committed by Muslim men, while fielding candidates who make claims like
women are like gongs they need to be struck regularly.
Some of their members tell me that since they are standing against the
sexism of Muslim barbarians, as a feminist I should be on their side. When I
disagree, I am invariably informed I deserve be shipped to Afghanistan and
stoned to death.
Horror stories about Muslim misogyny have long been used by western
patriarchs to justify imperialism abroad and sexism at home. The Guardians
Katharine Viner reminds us about Lord Cromer, the British consul general in
Egypt from 1883. Cromer believed the Egyptians were morally and culturally
inferior in their treatment of women and that they should be persuaded or
forced to become civilized by disposing of the veil.
And what did this forward-thinking, feminist-sounding veil-burner do
when he got home to Britain? asks Viner. He founded and presided over the
Mens League for Opposing Womens Suffrage, which tried, by any means
possible, to stop women getting the vote. Colonial patriarchs like Cromer
wanted merely to replace eastern misogyny with western misogyny. More than
a century later, the same logic is used to imply that misogyny only matters when
it isnt being done by white men.
I am not writing here on behalf of Muslim women, who can and do speak
for themselves, and not all in one voice. I am writing this as a white feminist
1359
REVIEW
The ongoing GWOT (global war on terror) is multi-faceted and each of its
facets is bloody. The events of last one month, or any of the months since its
start for that matter, stand testimony to its bloodiness. All prongs of the war
effort converge on to perpetration of death and destruction in Muslim lands.
In spite of widespread destruction it has been ensured that the arteries
carrying the life-giving crude oil to the civilized world are not choked even
temporarily. These have to be kept open for the reason that these perform
double role; drain resources of Islamic lands and sustain the economies of
developed world.
While ensuring annihilation of the Muslims and sustaining of development
of civilized world; three basic aims of the Crusades have not been forgotten.
The achievement of demilitarization, denuclearization and de-Islamization are
in sight more than ever before. A lot has been said in this context in previous
articles but this review has been restricted the happenings in Bangladesh.
The UN Secretary General as well as the US President contacted Shaikh
Hasina about the trial of Abdul Qadir Molla. What they discussed with the lady
ruling will never be known exactly. However, the manner in which Mollas
execution was expedited after these telephone calls was enough for those who
like pondering over such matters.
Did they discuss merits and demerits of capital punishment as some
delegates from the EU had done in Islamabad and having done that they had
warned that lifting of ban on capital punishment could jeopardize Pakistans
ambitions requiring eligibility for GSP Plus status. It does not seem to be the
case, as the lady rushed to hang the Molla after these telephone calls.
1360
Did they discuss the legal aspects of the trial? These leaders were not
competent to discuss that and those who are well-conversant with the law had
already termed the trial wanting in many counts. The manner, in which Hasina
hurried to hang Molla, showed that she had been encouraged rather than
discouraged by the telephone calls. This inference is contrary to the purpose of
telephone calls reported in the media.
Then what could be the reason that the lady ruling a country that enjoys
special status for exporting its textile goods to Europe did not hesitate in
implementing the death sentence. This status remained in place despite the poor
working conditions of the labour employed in the industry that has been
mainstay of its exports. In the recent past hundreds of women working in a
garment factory were burnt alive near Dhaka.
The lady seemed confident that Europe and the US, which are waging the
ongoing Crusades, would not mind killing of a Muslim extremists of any kind
through any action. Instead it may be quietly commended; why? If further
disintegration of Pakistan is on the cards as visualized by many observers, then
Mollas execution fits well in the scheme of things.
If that be so, some more executions could be expected, which will serve as
warning to those who want to stand with Pakistan Army to defend territorial and
ideological frontiers of the country that came into being in the name of Islam.
Salim Safi of Geo TV had put it across in unambiguous terms during his
programme with Liaqat Baloch of JI on 14th December.
He did not mince his words in asking Liaqat Baloch that why JI decided to
jump in a war that was being fought between Pakistan Army and Mokti Bahini
of Mujeebs Awami Party. His question clearly implied that in future when
Pakistan Army faces such situation, the people of Pakistan should remain
neutral if do not side with those who want to harm the country. What a
shameful argument?
4th January, 2014
1361