Munawwar Hassan, head of the Jamaat-i-Islami, has outraged many Pakistanis by calling TTP leader Hakeemullah Mehsud, who was droned to death last week in the badlands of Waziristan, a “shaheed” or martyr. Mr Mehsud was one of the world’s most wanted and dangerous terrorists, with a combined head-money of over Rs 50 crores for ordering the cold-blooded murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children, along with a couple of thousand soldiers.
The government’s response, as articulated by Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, the interior minister, has been mealy-mouthed, although Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister, has belatedly tried to make amends. Worse, Imran Khan, leader of the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaf, has tried to dog or confuse the issue by hiding behind countless “ifs” and “buts”. Worst, the media has taken perverse delight in sowing massive confusion by reading various shades of grey in a patently black and white matter.
All this has provoked the ISPR, the “spokesorgan” of the Pakistan Army, to issue a terse statement reprimanding Mr Hassan for equating the heroic sacrifices of the martyred soldiers with the criminal deeds of their executioner. Mr Hassan has responded by criticizing the ISPR for “meddling in politics”. This is ironic. The Jamaat-i-Islami has been an integral element of the Mullah-Military Alliance since the time of General Zia ul Haq. Indeed, on the countless occasions that the ISPR has “intervened” in politics during civilian rule in the past, directly or indirectly, there has nary ever been a squeak out of the JI. But now that the boot is on the other foot, the JI is acting wounded and self-righteous.
Moving forward, it seems that the government and opposition are still weak-kneed, indecisive and confused. Chaudhry Nisar’s much-flaunted peace offensive has now been revealed to be a non-starter in the first place and all his talk of it being sabotaged by the drone strike to be a cunning smokescreen. The so-called three-member committee that was tasked by Chaudhry Nisar to nudge the TTP into a dialogue was whistling in the dark without any positive or encouraging signal from the TTP when the drone fell on Mr Mehsud. The PTI, in the meanwhile, still remains in party political– as opposed to national —interest mode. It is now banking on reaping political dividends from provoking people on to the streets to disrupt NATA supply lines after Moharram.
Tragically, only the TTP is thinking in a clear-headed and strategic manner. It has elected Maulana Fazlullah as its leader. This is a warning that, instead of suing for peace-negotiations that demonstrate confusion and weakness, the TTP will launch a relentless counter attack across the settled areas of Pakistan that shows its resolve and strength. Incredibly enough, the PMLN government and party are hunkering down for the TTP onslaught in Punjab instead of seizing the opportunity provided by the death of Mr Mehsud to launch a now-or-never military attack on its strongholds in the tribal areas. It seems as if elementary anti-terrorist logic – there is no personal or collective security against suicide bomber squads except that provided by preemptive strikes against them based on good Intel — has escaped the great movers and shakers in Islamabad who say they are equipped with lethal rapid-deployment forces and sweeping laws for preventive detention and summary conviction.
Meanwhile, disregarding the wretched hand wringing in some houses of power on the issue of combating the “existential” threat of terrorism, the clock is ticking away for two powerful personalities in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, leading to much hand-rubbing in other corridors of power. The army chief, General Ashfaq Kayani, is retiring on 29 Nov and the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftiklhar Mohd Chaudhry, on 11th December. Since their successors will hardly be in a position to call the shots in the same fashion, this moment presents a great opportunity to establish the writ of the civilian executive over the military and also to bring the judicial pendulum to an equilibrium point.
Both initiatives are necessary to stop the slide of Pakistan from a failing to a failed state. Both require courageous, visionary, selfless and efficient leadership in the ruling party and patient, mature, responsible and intelligent leadership in the opposition. This is, after all, a national moment of reckoning where truth (about where we went wrong and where we want to go) and reconciliation (between the military and civilians and among the civilians) have to pave the way forward to a viable state and civil society.
Unfortunately, if truth be told, the prospects of all that happening are not terribly bright. There is no concrete sign that the government or the opposition realizes the gravity of the situation even as each pays lip service to it. The tragedy is that some local and foreign forces are already smacking their lips in anticipation of the coming crisis of governance and national power.
Mr Sethi in his last line predicts that some foreign powers are waiting to take advantage of coming crisis. Pl be assured that India will not fish in troubled water. we have our problems. 2014 is going to be a critical year for India. That is the time the American cattle leaving for home. Neither Pakistan nor India is getting ready to face the chain of unrest that is waiting around the corner.
with the speed with which Nawaz is working, it will be absolutely impossible for any prospect of solving problems in time.. He is very shaky in shaking hands with India. But bent upon surrendering to handful of bearded dictators who are feasting on the blood of Pakistan. why
he wants to negotiate. what are the points for negotiations. will Nawaz agree to the imposition of Sharia rule. will he stop Malalas from going to school. will he stop polio vaccination. will he stop from modernizing education. will he stop women becoming doctors. will he revert to street corner executions by stone throwing . will he agree to throw away Americans. will he stop accepting doles from them. will he stop students from wearing jeans. will there be freedom in university syllabus. will love marriages be permitted. will he stop trading with India . will he cancel all VISAS . will he make Imran as the president of Pakistan. Not even god, but, only Taliban will know what type of Pakistan they want.
If one has to rule according to stone age stipulations, where is the need for political parties, elections, elected government, ministers, opposition benches. scrap them. courts and judges . you can save money.
Army disobeyed elected govt right from 1947. will they now take orders from Taliban. can Nawaz and his able minsters visualize all these
There can be no political solutions with the thief s. tell the civilians to vacate. Beg the Americans to send more drones one per week. fumigate entire waziristan. Let army occupy all vantage points. block good and bad Talibans ( a myth ) from mixing. Do not allow Nawaz to spend time like Zardari who enjoyed five years of paid holiday with all perks
Nawaz knows what is good for Pakistan. But he is more worried about his chair than fulfilling dream of its forefathers, and the poor innocent voiceless people of pakistan
Najam Sethi’s cry in the wilderness also falls on deaf ears of the government as well as the opposition. Not that they don’t realize the implications of what Mr Sethi is trying to hammer. They do understand. But the bleak side of the matter is that they keep the petty political interests of their parties before the national interest. History is replete with such junctures in the lives of nations when mediocrity prevails and manages state affairs.
At this stage army too does not appear to be focused on the concept of national interest any longer. The less important procedural issues to be addressed after the impending change in the army’s command are being given preference over the concept of national interest.
To me the writing on the wall is quite clear that things will progressively deteriorate and so to say, we must brace for pretty bad times ahead.
What Munawar Hussein said is something a majority of Pakistanis think. A Muslim is killed by a non Muslim, so it is anevil act. Majority are obsessed with this mentality. One of the worst storms has hit Philippines and i do not see any reporting by Pakistani media. Reason? It is a non Muslim country. We like to travel to non Muslim countries, wish to settle there, get their aid, but giving help to such people? No thank you. Such hypocrisy is unparalleled. No wonder Pakistan is a failing state. Get ready for more shocks.
“Courageous, visionary, selfless and efficient leadership” -For sure all these qualities are far from the wildest imagination of Nawaz Sharif who can’t even talk or think properly –an ample proof he has already given on his recent visits to all the important capitals and in meeting with foreign dignitaries. Only a genuine, true & sincere national leadership can lead Pakistan out of this grave situation..It is very surprising that political analyst like Najam Sethi are unaware of the capabilities of Nawaz Sharif !
Finally bad men departed but this is Pakistan where terrorist & bad guys are heroes.
I hope US soon do drones in Punjab & Baluchistan kill all bacteria.
america is going to take advantage of the coming crises or in other words america had made all this conpiracy that they droned hakeem ullah mehsud in waziristan at the juncture when pakistan was going to initialize the dialoge process along with TTP. america, in simple words wants to capture our chemicals weapons like in syria.
will the GHQ, judiciary and the government and opposition take cue from these golden lines?
the advise is accepted by those who are sincere and committed.
sadly i find these two lacking in pakistan since its independence.