FRUSTRATION INVOKES HOPE
Notwithstanding vindication of Imran Khan’s claim that his Oct 30 Minar-i-Pakistan rally would be a political “Tsunami”, his rather brash prediction about Dec 25 at the Quaid’s Mazar being much bigger evoked skepticism. Conventional wisdom did not think a rally on the scale of Lahore possible, after all Karachi is generally considered “MQM territory”! With Pashtuns expected in large numbers, Quaid Mazar’s proximity to the Mohajir community’s heartland of Jacob Lines (and other adjacent areas) created a potential flashpoint. Displaying political sagacity rare in Pakistan, MQM unequivocally indicated they would not be averse to the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) event. With the Mausoleum of the great leader who delivered Pakistan to its people lighted in the background, Imran Khan promised the massive crowd to take back the country from the looters who have ruled since and return it to the people.
Given the political ramifications and security perceptions thereof, both on a political and personal basis it was very brave of Imran to attempt the event in the first place. Consider the determination of those who came in their hundreds of thousands, emulating Lahore entire families from across the broad spectrum of society paid no heed to the threat perception and/or physical discomfort. As the catalyst for the seething and widespread frustration with the state of affairs, Imran’s call to arms to save the country gave the masses the courage to brave the risks.
Not completely sanitized of party-organized target killers or terrorists, Imran’s rally was only possible (and passed without incident) because of the outstanding effort by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) over the past four months. Political interference had made the LEAs ineffective, cadres belonging to all three coalition partners in the PPP-led coalition govt in Sindh being involved in murder and mayhem. With target killers spending only a few hours in police custody before walking free, criminal elements and terrorists took good advantage to thrive and force-multiply. Frustrated with the escalating daily target killings further complicating the security situation, the Supreme Court (SC) in late August 2011 put in place a judicial mechanism making the Rangers effective.
Karachi’s thickly populated urban areas made the task infinitely more difficult operationally, with complications far more than Pakistan Army’s counter-insurgency in the mountainous terrain of Swat and FATA. Freed of the political straitjacket, Maj Gen (promoted since to Lt Gen) Ijaz Chaudhry and his Rangers used “actionable intelligence” for meticulous planning and restored a semblance of peace and tranquility in Karachi, an achievement nothing less than truly magnificent. The Rangers success envigorated a politically crippled Sindh Police to show positive signs of rising to the potential they are capable of. Kudos to the sagacity of Chief Justice (CJ) Iftikhar Chaudhry and the SC for the legal model giving cover for enforcing the rule of law while staying within the rule of law. Can the success of this judicial version of “the Doctrine of Necessity” be emulated at the Federal level?
Imran Khan suggested in a lighter vein that Mian Nawaz Sharif could soon find himself without a team. After PPP’s Shah Mahmood Qureshi and PML (F)’s Jahangir Tareen (alongwith associates), the biggest catch for Imran’s PTI is PML (N)’s Javed Hashmi. Who among the mafia-like inner circle surrounding Mian Sahib protested Musharraf’s rule more vociferously than Javed Hashmi did? Did anyone among Mian Sahib’s present near and dear political ones suffer incarceration in jail for even a fraction of the period spent by this outstanding son of Pakistan?
The mass electronics messaging was superb. Educated and enthusiastic PTI party workers successfully prevented the crowd from becoming an unruly mob. While loyalty must count for something, not at the cost of political merit, expertise and/or effectiveness. Outstanding organization notwithstanding, there were some glaring lapses. A zero-sum game, security was clearly breached during the latter part of the meeting. How did so many people get onto the main podium even before Imran was due to speak? Such a breakdown is unacceptable, the overwhelming numbers should have been catered for.
Imran Khan says no doubtful character would be given any election ticket, Some badly need political safe havens to escape accountability or want to benefit from his soaring political potential. Entry into his fold of those with bad reputation (ie if the rumours of those like Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Liaquat Ali Jatoi etc are true) may smear its pristine cleanliness. Strong rumours suggest that even Musharraf is looking for a “merger” or “alliance” with Imran’s PTI, even casual contact would be political disaster of the greatest magnitude. Moreover it would confirm the canard of “Establishment” support. That Imran has made deep inroads into the vote banks of ANP, PPP and PML (N) in Karachi was evident from the snide reaction of their leaders displaying a distinct lack of sportsman spirit. Unlike such lesser mortals, Altaf Hussain’s congratulating Imran’s historic event reflected MQM’s maturity and self-confidence.
Notwithstanding his expensive suits, Gilani’s has no clothes. His claim that Osama Bin Laden (OBL) was given a “visa” for Pakistan was a very cheap shot directed at the Pakistan Army and the ISI. He could well be in the “Guinness Book of Records” as the first Chief Executive of any country giving credence to enemy propaganda against his own Army and premier intelligence agency. Meant to divert attention from the “Memogate” issue and achieve political martyrdom by attracting Martial Law-type reaction would camouflage all PPP’s misdeeds and misdemeanors before the next elections, a rather desperate bogey on which Gilani backtracked later. Chief Martial Law Administrator (CMLA) Ziaul Haq was famous for being “Cancel My Last Announcement”, Gilani’s acronym should be CMLS (Cancel My Last Statement).
While the CJ SC ruled out martial law, is it Constitutional for Zardari and/or Gilani to persist deliberately provoking the Armed Forces? Can he rule out unrest in the rank and file, Kayani notwithstanding? Will our soldiers fighting and dying in Swat and FATA tolerate the PM to badmouth them at will while the immediate members of his family are busy making money, also at will? Conversely how long with the CJ turn the other cheek while the only person in public office who cannot declare his assets publicly for fear of exposure continues political attacks on the SC while hiding behind Presidential “immunity”?
Far more disturbing than the May 9 Manzoor Ijaz-Haqqani Memo was former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s disclosure about Asif Zardari’s insistence on a “no-first nuclear strike” pact with India. India’s “Cold Start” Doctrine envisages 10-12 Indian Brigades earmarked to attack Pakistan without notice from a standing start and seizing vital nodal points before Pakistan can effectively react in a non-conventional manner, why is our Constitutional “Supreme Commander” hell-bent upon emasculating Pakistan’s defences?
A number of disparate enemies were hell-bent on assassinating Ms Benzair. The ISI alerted Federal Secretary Interior more than a week before Dec 27 about the possible “Jehadi” threat to Ms Benazir’s life. Others who wanted her dead did not have to plan her assassination, they simply had to ensure that security around her was so weak and inadequate it could be breached at will.
Is the same strategy being used to weaken our defences and compromise the country’s security?
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