Confrontational politics only beneficial to anti state elements

Pakistan has urged the United Nations to implement its resolutions on Kashmir and stop India from unprovoked shelling along the Line of Control and Working Boundary. PM’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz in a telephonic conversation with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sought an effective role of UN to stop ceasefire viiolaltions which is continued till today. So far innocent citizens have been martyred while numerous houses were damaged due to the Indian firing along side working boundary and LoC. Pakistan has also conveyed to the UNSG the situation could further aggravate if New Delhi did not stopped unprovoked firing along side the working boundary and LoC. A UN Military Observer Group visited the affected areas along side the Pakistani borders to assess the damages and see the ground realities. The UN Group was denied access to Indian side of borders. The UN observer group was supposed to prepare a detailed report which was later submitted to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki Mon. But due to non-cooperative attitude on the part of Indian authority, the report was not prepared. Pakistan has once again approach the UNSG asking him to stop unprovoked firing by the Indian army.
The Indian unprovoked firing comes at a time when the country is faced with multiple challenges such as recovering from flood devastation, operation Zarb-e-Azab aimed at purging country’s soil from terrorists once for all and ongoing political confrontation. The rulers as well politicians either sitting inside or outside parliament had a great deal of responsibility to shun their petty differences and forge unity which is the only way dealing with the challenges.
The floods played havoc in the Punjab, AJK and Sindh to some extent. Over 360 people lost their lives while irreparable damages were caused to the standing crops and public property.
Armed forces have launched operation Zarb Azab to flush out the terrorists from NWA with firm resolve to achieve the desired goals. The security forces have given a 36 hours deadline to the extremists in Khyber Agency giving them choice either to surrender or face full-fledged military operation.
The issue of internally displaced people ( IDPs) is also being dealt by the government and Pakistan army as these people are also facing hardship and are deserve help. The extremism, terrorism had badly damaged the country’s economy as over 10 lac IDPs are totally depending on the government to live with dignity.
Masses had been passing through an ordeal for the last many months and the apathy of the government, agitating parties and some seasonal politicians was most unfortunate and indeed unforgiving at a time when the country is passing through very crucial time. Anti state and anti democratic forces are once again out there to create anarchy , causing damages to already shamble economy and fanning hatred among masses to destablise the country. It is evident from the facts that there seems no end to target killing. Rangers have been given extra powers and assisting police in maintaining law and order but despite the arrest of some target killers, the bloodshed continue unabated while the most of the killers remain at large.
The ongoing political confrontation between the protesting parties and the government continued. Ruling party, protesting parties even those parliamentary parties’ leaders who were striving hard to save the system, now appeared to be working on their own agenda i.e. promoting their party’s interest. PM Nawaz Sharif had announced that he would not resign at any cost. The crisis has once again reached at peak. The PTI has approached Supreme Court seeking disqualification of the Prime Minister who according to Imran Khan lied on the floor of assembly arguing that he has violated article 62, 63.
The government keeps blaming PTI and PAT leaders for damaging the country’s economy. Both the protesting parties are being blamed for the cancellation of Chinese President’s historical visit. The visit has been postponed and efforts are on from both sides to reschedule President Xi visit. That means Islamabad still enjoys the support of time-tested friend. The government must demonstrate more flexibility when it comes to dealing with political rivals. If ruling party is demonstrating maximum restraints despite repeated ceasefire violations of LoC and working boundary by the Indian forces, then it must continue efforts to address the genuine grievances of political parties.
Under the prevailing circumstances, the ruling party and other political parties must keep the national interest supreme. The character assassination policy, blaming each others for the wrongdoings would only help anti state elements that are bound to destablise Pakistan. The killing of eight labourers in Lasbella and robbery incident at Abdul Sattar Edhi’s home speaks volume about the credibility of those sitting on the helm of affairs. These latest incidents are not ordinary crimes but seem to be part of well-conceived plans of anti state elements to destabilize the country.

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Political uproar: What’s in the offing?

The government seems totally paralyzed in dealing with the multiple challenges the country is faced with. The law and order situation is getting from bad to worst again across the country. The incumbent government had failed to fulfill the promises it made to the general public. The loadshedding, gas shortage, sky-rocketing prices of items of basic commodities, ever rising menace of terrorism coupled with unemployment are the major issues which has badly damaged the credibility of the ruling party. PM and his teams went abroad to muster up world leaders’ support for Pakistani products easy access to European countries and convince foreign governments as well private sector to invest in Pakistan but ironically could not achieved the desire results. So far Pakistan has failed to attract foreign investors or receiving any significant aid from any major country that used to claim all out support to steer the country out of financial crises. Only IMF and World Bank are extending loans to Islamabad but on “their terms and conditions”.
After coming to power, the PM keeps claiming that he would end corruption, nepotism, terrorism and put an end to electricity crisis but unfortunately he could not live up to his words. The ruling party failed to take PPP to the task for plundering the national wealth. Not a single PPP’s leader or those corrupt practicees whose deeds are no secret to masses, instead of languishing in jails are enjoying all the perks and privileges. Nepotism has also touched new heights as one can see the “Blued eyed” persons being appointed heads of state institutions. Some of them even do not have the experience to run the day to day affairs what to say about appointments on merit. The law and order situation has again gone from bad to worst. Killing of eight labourers, robbery at world’s most renowned social activist, Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi speaks volume about government credibility. It was very sad to notice that from PM to most of our national leaders failed to even express their sympthies with Edhi sahib as nobody bothered to even contact him on phone what to say about visiting his home. PM, CM Puunjab Shahbaz Sharif and their ministers remained busy in politics of confrontation. Kh Saad who is also among some ministers acting “More Loyal than the King” keeps alleging PTI and PAT sit-ins were meant to stop Chinese Investment in the country. On Monday he disclosed India attracted investment worth 20 billion dollars from China. He said that Chinese president did not arrive in the country due to security issues developed from the political sit-ins. In other words he has admitted that ruling party has lost its grips when it comes providing security to high profile personality such as Chinese President Xi.
The incumbent government is accusing PTI and PAT for its failure to fulfill the promises it made to the common men. They have projected Imran Khan and Dr Qadri a danger to foreign investors, terming them fundamentalists. Before the sit-ins, the government was also facing hardship to convince the foreigners to invest in Pakistan. The foreign investors do want to invest but due to deteriorating law and order situation, sharp rise in corruption and appointments of some persons on key posts having “dubious credentials” barred foreign investors to come to Pakistan.
Instead of busy in character assassination, the government should have stay focused in wiping out terrorism, putting an end to corruption by holding across the board accountability etc. etc the ruling party deviated from the very stance and turned its guns on their opponents. The ruling party keeps claiming that PM can not be forced to resign at the whims of ‘few thousands’ people and could complete its tenure. The Prime Minister on Sunday has again told that general polls would be held in 2018. Keeping in view the processions being held by the protesting parties i.e. PTI, PAT, PPP and Jamaat-e- Islami, it would be hard to rule out the possibility of mid-term polls being expected to be held next year. PTI and PAT are striving hard to bring the ruling party on its knees and are not giving any space to PML-N to regain public’s confidence. The incumbent government did try on is level best to control the law and order situation but could not fulfill the promises it made with the common man.
The government not only failed on domestic front but it also remained unsuccessful on external front. Unprovoked firing by the Indian forces, shelling from Iran and Afghanistan are ample proof of failed foreign policy. The problems rulers are facing today are due to its own failure in fulfilling the promises it made to the people. The government seems to have not learned the lesson from its past mistakes. It is the dire need of the hour to revisit the domestic as well foreign policy based on purely in the best interests of the country.

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Dual standard of UN, world community and the Kashmir issue

DG ISPR Major General Asim Bajwa said on Wednesday Pakistan wants peace on its borders, but is ready to respond to any form of aggression from its neighbours. While talking to media men he said, “We do not want to disrupt peace but if the other side resorts to aggression then it will be responded accordingly.” While Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was of strong opinion thatPakistan wants to cultivate cordial relations with all the countries in the region. Our armed forces are fighting courageously in North Waziristan against the terrorists and giving sacrifices to ensure a peaceful and secure Pakistan.”
The military as well the government statements were in response to continued unprovoked firing and shelling across the LoC and the Working Boundary. Indian forces on Wednesday once again resorted to unprovoked firing and shelling at Charwah Sector,
targeting Bajra Garhi, Charwah, Domala, Tulsipur, Gor, Baghiari. So far 13 innocent and unarmed civilians have including women and 9-month-old boy embraced martyrdom due to the ceasefire violations by the Indian forces. People living alongside the working boundaries have left their homes to save their lives.
Islamabad has told New Delhi it believes dialogues are only way to resolve Kashmir issue despite the fact that our armed forces are fully capable to deal with any adversity at borders. Islamabad made it clear to Indians not to consider its desire for peace as weakness. Pakistan armed forces are fully capable to thwart any aggression but always demonstrated maximum restraints. Islamabad wants resolution of Kashmir issue as per the aspirations of the Kashmiri people while Indian leadership not only refused to accommodate Kashmir’s leadership in the dialogue process but keep insisting occupied Kashmir as integral part of India.
One can easily differentiate the Indian approach towards resolution of the core issue of Kashmir through negotiations. Narendra Modi since assuming the office continuesly claiming that Pakistan has been taught a “befitting lesson” with the Army “shutting their mouth”, alleging they will not dare to repeat it again. Ironically, Modi not only accused Islamabad of violating the ceasefire but also assured those living close to the border with Pakistan that the Indian government will act promptly to provide adequate compensation to them. Even the Congress Party is criticizing Narendra Modi for escalating tension alongside Pakistan borders but what appeared to be part of election campaign, Mode continued singing anti-Pakistan songs to win the elections
The UN and rest of the world community remained silent over the Indians’ inhuman and cowardly acts against the Pakistani civilians. The United Nations secretary general Ban Ki Moon who have great responsibility on his shoulder also busy in lip-servicing as he hasn’t approached the Indian leadership to stop ceasefire violations. He has failed miserably in convening emergency session of United Nations Security Council to discuss the issue despite repeated requested made by the Pakistan for taking notice of this unprovoked Indian aggression. Whereas Pakistan has made every possible effort to resume the dialogue process with India but later keeps canceling the resumption of dialogues on one or the other pretext.
Making mockery of UN’ resolutions should be a matter of concern for the UNSC but it never took the issue seriously. The J&K valley has been illegally occupied by the Indian forces since 1948. Pakistan has raised the issue in United Nations which not only termed it as “Disputed territory” but also called Indian to resolve the issue through negotiations acceptable to all. But India never accepted the Kashmirs disputed territory and sent over 7 lac fifty thousands troops to suppress the Kashmiri people struggle for getting rid of foreign occupation.
Pakistan considers Kashmir as its jugular vein but despite unprovoked violations of the Indian security forces, Islamabad demonstrated maximum restraints and only responded to the situation to avoid civilian casualties. Pakistan had always raised the just cause of Kashmiris on national and international level but the world community failed to live up to its commitments.
But New Delhi must not forget that Pakistan armed forces are fully capable to respond to any aggression with full might when it comes to defending the country against any aggression and safeguard the territorial integrity of Pakistan. Modi must have to understand that negotiation is the only way to resolve the issue. Instead of relying on its military might, Modi should demonstrate maturity and sincerity and stop blame-game and point scoring. All conspiracies against Pakistan could be foiled if an active foreign policy was adopted and that Pakistan had the potential to meet all internal and external challenges related to economy, terrorism and foreign aggression. The UN has failed miserably to resolve the issue and being dictated by Washington that has the present centre of global politics. Pakistan must not depend on UN, Washington or any other country for the resolution of core issue of Kashmir. There is a dire need to send a clear message to Indians as well the world community that enough is enough.

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Quetta under attack

It is not the first Quetta, the provincial capital of the largest province of Pakistan; Baluchistan is under attack by the terrorists. Hundreds of thousands have migrated to other provinces or have left the country to get refuge abroad, but menace of terrorism is not being control despite of counter-terrorism strategies by the law enforcing agencies.
On Thursday, at least twelve people were killed in three incidents of terrorism. Unidentified armed men killed eight members of the ethnic Hazara community and injured six others in the Hazar Ganji area of the city. A study revealed couple of weeks before by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Balochistan chapter showed that the violence has driven as many as 200,000 Hazaras to relocate to other major cities of Pakistan or move abroad.
In another terrorist incident, At least two people were killed and dozens injured when a suspected suicide bomber detonated his explosives outside a Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) rally in Quetta. JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman remained unhurt in the attack, which targeted his bullet-proof vehicle. Blast took place as thousands of JUI-F supporters left the venue at the end of the rally, which was held in honour of Mufti Mehmood at the Sadiq Shaheed stadium. The bomber blew himself up when he failed to climb the vehicle and was stopped by JUI workers. UI-F chief Fazlur Rehman said that the blast targeted his vehicle as he was departing from the venue of the rally. He said that he and his colleagues survived the attack as they were riding in a bullet-proof vehicle. The blast on Thursday was the third incident of terrorism of the day in Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province which is plagued by a nationalist insurgency and extremist militancy. Banned militant group Jundallah has claimed responsibility for the attack. The leader of JUI F remained safe because of his bullet-proof vehicle but what the government is doing for the security of the people who do not have the luxury of bullet-proof vehicles? Would they keep suffering? Would their grievances ever be redressed or they would keep rendering their lives for the reason they are not aware with? It seems that our law enforcing agencies have miserably failed to provide the security to the common people.
 In the third attack of terrorism of the day, two people were killed and 12 were injured in an explosion that took place on Qambrani road as unidentified gunmen opened fire in the area following the explosion which was heard far and wide. The target of the attack was said to be a vehicle of the Frontier Corps (FC). The blast was followed by intense firing and panic spread in the area and, people were confined to their homes and shops. It was not the first incident of violence on the same road. Militants in recent days have intensified attacks against security forces and national installations in Balochistan, plagued by an insurgency and growing sectarian killings for more than a decade.
 Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while taking notice of the incidents, directed the security agencies to ensure the arrests of the culprits. The premier ordered that swift and stern action is taken to bring the perpetrators to justice. The prime minister moreover directed the interior secretary to file an official report following a thorough investigation of the incident. But this is not the first time authorities ensured the rapid arrest of the culprits, they have pledges the same again and again but failed to do so. Shutter-down strike was observed in most parts of Quetta city, Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch arrived to condole victims at the Combined Military Hospital to express solidarity with the protesters at Alamdar Road. It is the time that incumbent federal and provincial government should make it their top priority to provide the security to the people as security of lives is the top most duty of the state, prior to the health and education and other facilities.
Hundreds of innocent people of Hazara community have been killed in last few years. It has happened number of times that the families who lost their loved ones refused to bury the dead bodies in a protest against the silence of the government to provide them security, they have staged the sit-ins, after the pledges of the high-ups of the government they buried the dead bodies that the terrorism would be arrested soon. But these pledges remained the tall claims of the law making authorities and despite claiming the responsibilities of the attacks by the banned outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and Jindullah, none of the terrorist was brought to justice. It seems that authorities are playing with the emotions of the innocent people or trying to test their patience.

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Hour of need: Local government elections

It seems that politicians are not willing to hold local body election in the country, the issue of local government elections has been delayed for years with the pretext of one to another lame excuses. It is ironic that Supreme Court of the country is pushing for the local body elections but the politicians don’t seem in the mood to do so. Just to make sure that the provincial governments of Sindh and Punjab hold local government elections in time, the Supreme Court (SC) has given another reminder to both the provinces to take it on a serious note.

This trend has to be changed that for every positive act, someone has to push us with force to do it. We are, as a nation not learning the lesson to fulfill our responsibilities. We are setting wrong trends; it is the time politicians must show some seriousness for the devolution of power by organizing the local body elections, which would provide the rights to the common people to redress their grievances on their own. A mayor has stakes to serve his people locally, because the he would understand the problems of people in a better way and would try level best to solve them to get votes to return to office. The court has sternly asked the ECP to complete its job in 45 days. Punjab government would take one more week to pass the Punjab Local government Amendment bill but taking advantage Sindh government has passed the Sindh Local Government Amendment Bill 2014. In the case of Punjab and Sindh, completion of the legislative process is the first step to organise local body elections. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is planning to organise local bodies elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in three phases. The elections will be held in last week of March 2015. Election Commission would start the process of preparing voter lists next month. After which, the election schedule for KPK would be announced in January next year. Around 120 million ballot papers and one million nomination papers will be printed. It would be great that electronic electoral system would be used in the election in KPK.

Although, Election Commission of Pakistan has requested the court to give it five months to conduct local government elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but court eliminated the request and ordered to ECP and also to the provincial government to submit their progress report within a month. It is mandatory for the provincial governments to conduct local government election, article 140 directs it. Punitive actions can be taken against the provincial governments if they would be found using the delaying tactics for not fulfilling the constitutional requirement.  

Considering the inefficiency of the politicians, it seems that laws are made to be violated. Matter of local body elections is not an exception. If there could have been genuine democratic tends implemented, the Supreme Court would not have had to intervene to force the provinces to conduct local bodies polls. It seems that taste of power is more delicious than respect for the rule of law or the constitution; the courts were left with no option but to intervene and force our prevaricating rulers to do the necessary acts they were supposed to do. It is amazing that on the one hand, politicians keep defending the democracy in the country for the progress of the nation but on the other side they are not willing to give the rights to the people at the grass root level by dissolving the right of power, which is the soul of true democracy. Supreme Court has been intervening time and again but politicians seem not willing to fulfill their responsibilities to the people whose votes have sent them to parliament.

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A good gesture for minorities

In the past decade all the country was facing the menace of terrorism as minorities were also became the victim of extremism. As the country is eradicating the terrorist elements from all parts, it is a good gesture that political parties showing their wishes to the Hindu community on the eve of Diwali the Festival of Lights. Sindh provincial government of Pakistan Peoples Party announced public holiday for the minorities to celebrate the Diwali. On Friday Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf also organized an event in Sindh, Umerkot for the Hindu community in the celebrations of Diwali. Keeping in mind the miserable condition of religious minorities living in the country, the demand is not as off-beat as it might appear at first glance. When it comes to discrimination against our minorities, both at the social and political level, Pakistan probably high on the list as mostly minority groups has not been harassed or threatened by the prevalent extremist mindset of society. Under these miserable circumstances, it is a good act doing some positive discrimination and announcing this festival as a public holiday, if not for the whole country then at least for the Hindu community. Steps like this would enhance the image of the country in the world.

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Violence begets violence

(Rizwan Haider)

Political uncertainty is on the rise, speculations are the center of talks regarding the ongoing political turmoil and its outcome. What would be the climax of Azadi March of Pakistan Tehree-e-Insaf and Revolution March of Pakistan Awami Tehreek. Either the government would show some flexibility over the harsh demands of protesters or it would end up tightening the screws of oppositions. Would the government crumble or survive? In the sacred month of August, Pakistan came into being, is passing through a chaos all around. Mishandling the reservations of other political parties by the incumbent government provided the reasons to the small waves of protests to become very high tides which could sweep away the elected government.

More than a year has passed, but demand of PTI for the recounting and verification of thumb impression of four constituencies was not met; now they are on the streets with bigger demands. Putting a glance in the political history of the country, we would end up that Nawaz Sharif was one of the trend settlers of long marches, on the death anniversary of dictator Zia-ul-Haq on 17th August, 1989; he headed towards the capital with at least 1000 buses of participants to reach at the grave of Zia-ul-Haq, with hidden agenda of political point scoring. Premier of the time, late Benazir Bhutto after negotiations passed the order to let the Nawaz Sharif and his followers enter into the capital and no hurdles were placed on the way of the long march. In 2009, Nawaz Sharif cleverly took over the leadership of the lawyers’ movement, and started the long march from Lahore, threatening PPP government in the center. His long march hardly crossed the Lahore, when he was delivered the message that his demands were met and he called off the march. Considering the historic facts, incumbent government should also show some flexibility and should confer the green signal to the participants of Azadi March and Revolution March to enter into the capital. Situation could be worst if the option of using force applied, incident of killing a dozen workers of PAT in Lahore added fuel to the fires being lighted by the opposition parties. The Model Town carnage provided the real strength to PAT Chief. It was a national tragedy which could have been avoided. The real culprits behind the carnage have not been brought to justice till now thus leaving more excuses for the PAT to continue their protests. Extreme statements have been issued by the Chief of PAT and PTI. Dr Qadri revealed that the government has issued orders of his assassination calling already angry activists not to spare Sharif family and ministers in case if he got killed. Similar statements were issued by Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf that if he would be eliminated by any means by the government then his activists must not spare the Shareef brothers.

Considering the facts any further aggression by the authorities would be a disaster for the government, democracy and ultimately for the stability of the country. Cities are being brought to a standstill because of the threat of demonstrations, containers placed on entry and exit points, fuel shortages created to ensure people could not travel. On the one hand, pictures are being floated that women and old people were fled like mice and scuttled out from under containers, on the other, scuffles between the protesters and law enforcement agencies. A democratic government must not take away the right of freedom of speech and expression, right of peaceful demonstration. Democratic government should not feel that they can act as they please and that there is no one to curtail them? How do they believe that they have the right to use state power to curtail the freedom of association and the peaceful right to protest? Present government should follow the footsteps of PPP government, the way they handled the sit-in of PAT in the winter of 2013, they were allowed to protest in the capital and a stage came Qadri was anxiously looking for the safe passage to end the sit-in.

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