A Pakistanis Point of View

CommandEleven
Paper
May 2015
 A Pakistanis Point of View

2015, CommandEleven. All rights reserved.

For more information about receiving this, or other CommandEleven analysis

documents, please visit http://www.commandeleven.com/.

REPORT AUTHORS

A Pakistanis Point of View was researched, compiled and written by Khalid

Muhammad, Director General.

ABOUT COMMANDELEVEN

CommandEleven is a research organization focused on Pakistans national

security aspects and enhancing global understanding and collaboration
opportunities for the nation.

Founded in 2015, CommandEleven provides situational awareness to facilitate a

better understanding of the key dynamics that effect Pakistan from a national
security perspective, especially in relation to terrorism, insurgencies and
extremism.

CommandEleven seeks to inform and guide public policy and decision makers in
government, business and military through a rigorous program of publications,
conferences, digital medias, policy briefings and recommendations.

Visit http://commandeleven.com for more information or contact

info@commandeleven.com.
2
A CommandEleven Paper

A great deal of hue and cry has been made about the perceived judicial
persecution of Shoaib Shaikh, the courtroom catwalk of Ayyan Ali and the lack of
action against others who have committed similar, or even worse, crimes. Yes, I
am pointing the finger squarely at the illustrious politicians that grace the
corridors of power in our country.

But why are we surprised?

Weve seen these showcase arrests in the past. Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari
were arrested during Nawazs government in 1997, locked in a comfortable jail cell
at Karachi Central Jail, much like the comforts that Ayyan is enjoying at Adiyala
Jail in Rawalpindi. We have seen the media storms before when politicians have
been arrested. It all ends with a quiet handshake and the case disappears into the
file room of the accountability court, never to be seen again. Meanwhile, the
accused boards a flight out of the country with all their assets in hand to enjoy
their lives and our money somewhere else.

The judicial system of Pakistan is a mockery of the word justice. It is the best
example of a banana republic that we have as a population. In what country of the
world does an elected parliament pass an amendment to the Constitution
refusing to accept any judge that has taken an oath under a Provisional
Constitutional Order (PCO), while all its judges are PCO judges? Did we see a
single judge offer to step down of their own accord when the amendment was
passed? Did a single politician or elected official demand their resignation? Was
the amendment only for future judiciaries?

In what world does a Parliament strike down the amendments to the Constitution
by one dictator, while allowing other amendments from previous dictators to
stand untouched? Or for that matter, initiates a foolhardy exercise of a treason
case against a single person for an act that took multitudes of people to
accomplish? Yes, I am referring to the amendments and imposition of the
emergency by former President Pervez Musharraf.

Have we forgotten that Article 6 of the Constitution says all collaborators and
facilitators are guilty of treason? Better question, have you ever read the
Constitution of Pakistan and understood your rights under that sacred
document?

We all remember Khurshid Shah beating the table in the joint session of the
National Assembly when the wolves were at the gates - They can burn down the
buildings. They can tear down the National Assembly, but we will not allow them
to touch one word in our constitution.

An impassioned speech from someone who sits among those who regularly
violate the document they claim to hold so dear, sacred and precious.

And therein lies the problem.

We have long heard the phrase - Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts
absolutely - but I would dare to say that not one of you reading this have ever
understood the implications to the fiefdom that is Pakistan.
We are the peasants that serve the various Lords of the manor. Our hard work to
earn a salary is taken in direct and indirect taxes to feed, clothe and protect the

3
 A Pakistanis Point of View

Lords. Elite police units, trained through the acquisition of foreign loans which our
great grandchildren will be repaying, are used to protect the manors and palaces
of the Lords. The state bows to the Lords and the only resistance for decades has
been the armed forces, who refuse to take a knee to the pretenders to the
throne. The media dances before us telling us tales of the great and wonderful
things that are being done in our names, for our benefit, and with our blood, but at
the end of the day, there is still nothing new, nothing improved and nothing
delivered. But the Lords have their new vehicles to take them to their private jets
to be flown out of the fiefdom until it is time to return in glory and splendor.

You doubt me.

Lets break it down.

During the musical chairs of democracy in the 1990s, we saw one government
dismissed on corruption charges, only to have another come to power to face the
same refrain two years later. From 1988 to 1999, Pakistan saw how the halls of
power were used against the political parties to lock them in jail cells, force them
to appear in courtrooms, and waste taxpayer monies on show trials and security
with no result in the end.

How many politicians were convicted of corruption in Pakistans courts during

that time?

We learned phrases like political victimization and vendetta politics during this
time. Those phrases have been fed to us everyday since by political workers, the
media, bureaucrats, judges and military officials standing in the dock, as a steady
diet of manure to cover up the crimes they committed. If they can confuse us
enough, well forget for the time being what they did, until the media decides to
remind us so we can get angry and protest on the streets.

We all screamed bloody murder when the dictator Musharraf offered all the
political criminals the National Reconciliation Order (NRO) to set aside the cases
and allow them to return to Pakistan, without fear of arrest for any of the crimes
they knowingly committed. The deposed Chief Justice and the Supreme Court
moved quickly to announce the law as a black law and struck it down, promising
once they were restored, they would bring them all to book.

They were restored to their respective benches, yet the cases still gather dust,
undecided to this day. It leaves you to wonder if part of the restoration deal that
was reached between the PPP government and the Lawyers Movement included
a stipulation that the NRO cases would not be touched, or would be decided in
favor of the politicians, not the state.

They were given another chance to take all the politicians from a few
Conservative parties down with the Asghar Khan case decision, where the
Supreme Court found the former Chief of Army Staff, Aslam Beg, and Director
General - ISI, Asad Durrani, along with a number of politicians were guilty of
manipulating the elections during the 1990s to defeat Benazir Bhuttos Pakistan
Peoples Party. That decision was quickly swept under the rug with a media storm
of interviews decrying the facts that money had been paid, and all the guilty
continue to walk free.

4
A CommandEleven Paper

Wait, manipulating an election isnt that what the judicial commission is looking
into now?

Just like the JIT, the Judicial Commission will find that the anointed political party
is not guilty of any wrongdoing. It was all the returning officers fault. There will be
nationwide protests, fake resignations from the government and in the end,
elections will be held on schedule, because they must protect their own interests.
If a government were to be elected that actually upheld the Constitution of
Pakistan, everyone would be running for the hills to get out before they were
locked in dark holes for the rest of their lives.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

For the last 7 years, we have watched Pakistan struggle to pull its head above
water, drowning in international debt with nothing to show for the dollars, pounds,
riyals and euros that have flowed into the country since 2008. We still suffer with
electricity load shedding, and have added natural gas shortages for good
measure. Corruption is still rampant and terrorists have become emboldened
against the state. All while the honorable court watches, unwilling to bring anyone
to justice. As a matter of fact, they have rubber stamped the current government
with the Joint Investigation Tribunals report holding Shahbaz Sharif, Rana
Sanaullah and senior police officers blameless for the Model Town murders, only
to have glimpses of it repeated in Dasra with 3 lawyers being shot by the police. I
wont even talk about the police highhandedness that plagues the entire Punjab
province. Lets not open that Pandoras box today.

But lets ask did you expect any different? Did you honestly think that the JIT
was going to return a different decision against the party that stormed the
Supreme Court during their last term in power to avoid appearing before the
bench on a contempt case?

You would have to be living in a cave to believe that the narrative isnt already
being crafted in the highest levels of the government and media to make sure
that Shoaib Shaikh and Ayyan Ali walk away scot free for their crimes. We are
already hearing the chorus and orchestra warming up. Its a conspiracy by other
channel owners to stop a new channel from being launched. She didnt know that
she was committing a crime. Sure, they were caught red-handed, the evidence is
stacking up against them, but we all know how Pakistans judicial process works.

The only people that ever go to jail in this country are those without power or
influence. And if we are to believe the rumors, Axact is backed by strong players in
the establishment and underworld and Ayyan is a prized companion of former
President Asif Ali Zardari. Why else do you think there is such a media offensive
going on repeatedly mentioning names of other channels, telephone records
being released associating the location of the calls with a prestigious location in
Clifton, Karachi. Forget what the evidence proves. We dont care about proof in
Pakistan. Everyone in power is innocent because they are the target of a
conspiracy from someone.

Ill even go one step further with an incident from 27 May, 2015. Ikram ul Haq, a
judge on the Bannu bench of the Peshawar High Court, after having his vehicle
stopped at an Army security checkpost and asked to prove his identity, a process
that took all of 45 seconds to a minute. However, his Lordship (not my word, its in

5
 A Pakistanis Point of View

the court order) got out of his car and told the soldier - you go and fight on the
border if a blast had occurred, well be the sufferer I dont want to talk to you,
Ill talk to your commander. He then left his car and escort at the entry gate,
blocking Cantt Road, and walked to his courtroom. He issued the summons to the
Commander to appear and clarify the situation.

The latest on this case is that only the District Commissioner appeared in his
Lordships courtroom, drawing more anger and the following orders:

Contempt of court
All of the named individuals, including the Commander, must appear in court,
otherwise they should be arrested
Army operations are illegal in settled areas
Portion of Bannu Cantt security to be handed over to the police

Now, lets be clear. Pakistan is in a state of war currently and Bannu is very close
to the Taliban held areas. Second, there are security protocols that must be
followed by everyone, no matter who you think you are. Third, if army operations
are illegal in settled areas, does that mean that the terrorists can find safe haven
in urban cities and strike at will? Fourth, Cantt areas are army controlled areas.
Security cannot be handed over to the police. It doesnt matter which city you are
in, if you are entering a Cantt area, you will be stopped and checked.

I cant get over the fact that he was so offended at being treated like a common
citizen.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

And we are absolutely corrupted into believing that these people are the saviors
of Pakistan, over and over again.

6
A CommandEleven Paper

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As Director General of CommandEleven, Khalid Muhammad takes over 26 years of
international experience to guide and drive his team to deliver accurate, reliable
and actionable analysis for private organizations, institutions, government policy
and media outlets. He provides tactical and comprehensive analysis into terrorist
and extremist groups operating in the Indian sub-continent and Middle East,
including recruitment, financing, operations and warfare strategies. His experience
and vision guide the growth and expansion of CommandEleven into new
opportunities.

ABOUT COMMANDELEVEN
CommandEleven is a research organization focused on Pakistans national
security aspects and enhancing global understanding and collaboration
opportunities for the nation.
Founded in 2015, CommandEleven provides situational awareness to facilitate a
better understanding of the key dynamics that effect Pakistan from a national
security perspective, especially in relation to terrorism, insurgencies and
extremism.
CommandEleven seeks to inform and guide public policy and decision makers in
government, business and military through a rigorous program of publications,
conferences, digital medias, policy briefings and recommendations.
Visit http://commandeleven.com for more information or contact
info@commandeleven.com.