PTI, Imran Khan & The Change!

The C H A N G E ? Old is really "new"? Or is it? 

As pro Musharraf & pro establishment, old faces join the so-called new face of "change" in Pakistan, today's PTI is fast becoming yesterday's PML-Q. Aslam Beg & Hamid Gul had IJI, Musharraf had his PML-Q & now Kayani & Pasha will have their own hand-maiden, PTI! What a vehicle of c h a n g e for the unfortunate people of Pakistan. But some gullible still fall for such decoy! So get ready for the 'change' that comes via GHQ. 

Good luck, Pakistan!

 

 

Top Brass Strikes Deal With MQM; Supreme Court Conveyed Message

People Pinning Hope in Supreme Court & Chief Justice to be Disappointed; Judge Aspires to be Next President

IH Special Report

By Our Reporter

The people who have pinned hopes in the Supreme Court of Pakistan expecting a firm and specific action to end terrorism in Karachi may be in for a shock as the ‘forces that be’ in the country are said to have struck a ‘deal’ with MQM and have conveyed the message to the judicial quarters to go soft on the party that has been generally held responsible for most of the bloodshed & criminal activities in the city.

People who had already been disappointed in the provincial and federal governments and the country’s premier intelligence agencies for their failure to take concrete action against the terrorists in Karachi had high hopes and confidence in the Supreme Court and specially in the person of the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The SC and CJ were seen as the last hope to save the city, the main business, trade and commerce hub of the country. But as this correspondent has found out these hopes may never be fulfilled either.

MQM's India trained, confessed terrorist, murderer Ajmal Pahari

The proceedings in the Supreme Court’s Suo-motu notice on Karachi situation have been coming across as a horror movie. Remarks by the honorable judges have put the already fragile government under further pressure. MQM's India trained murderer Ajmal Pahari and his confessions of several murders and torture cases in front of a Joint Investigation Team are under discussion inside and outside the court. The ISI (Army’s main intelligence organization, Inter Services Intelligence) briefing to the Bench is also supposed to be taken seriously. Keeping these things in mind everybody specially those who consider themselves as ‘ foot-soldiers’ of the honorable Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry have been sure of a decision that would lead towards permanent solution of the Karachi issue, but alas it can be said with deep sense of sorrow and heavy heart, though with certainty that no such decision will come from the honorable court that could be considered against any particular party or banning the MQM as being demanded by ANP.

Although predicting a judgment and that too from the apex court could fall under the ambit of the contempt of the court, but revealing truth is such a sacred job for which every sentence can be accepted. The truth must also be revealed by the people inside the circle, which matters in real decision making in the country.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Choudhry

The Indus Herald investigations reveal that in his communiqués to the Rawalpindi, the most powerful judicial personality in the country has aspired for the post of the president after his retirement and for that purpose he has assured any possible support that he can provide even in his present capacity. Meanwhile he has also communicated with the MQM through middlemen that no decision in May 12 incident will be given against the party although the large number of people sacrificed their lives on that day at the hands of MQM for restoration of judges. Thus no further proceedings were held in Sindh High Court for more than two years; neither any court proceeded against NRO beneficiaries from MQM under the charges of even heinous crimes including murder, rape etc.

Pakistan's top brass; Corps Commanders hold a meeting

It is now revealed with full authority by the sources in the ‘forces that be’ that the top brass has struck a deal with MQM and it is duly conveyed to judicial quarters that despite the fact that concrete evidence against MQM is presented in the Supreme Court, no harsh decision like that of a ban on the party or declaring it as a terrorist outfit be taken. Reason given by the Khakis in this respect is that the MQM is a well-organized party with a large number of highly trained fighters armed with heavy weaponry and that it is in a position to gather thousands of workers on streets with lethal arms and ammunition and if that happened it may cause a disaster or even the break-up of Pakistan, sources maintained.

May 12, 2007, black day in Pakistan when MQM massacred people in Karachi to stop CJ from addressing the Bar Association

The sources are quite confident that although ISI held MQM 60% responsible for Karachi situation and all the other parties including the PPP, JI, all factions of PML, the Sunni Tehrik, ANP, Taliban, Peoples Aman Committee, different Mafias and groups, terrorist outfits of religious leanings, the Taliban, The Lashkar e Jhangvi and others 40% responsible, but the court will take a lenient view against MQM in view of the situation that can arise if a strong decision is announced. Indeed some of the MQM related terrorists will be held responsible, few of them may be awarded capital punishment by courts, but the party as whole will not be put in an embarrassing situation, they are confident. The sources further maintained that the Sindh and federal governments will be held responsible and they will have to face more embarrassment.

MQM according to the sources was quite under pressure after the press conference of former senior Sindh minister Zulfikar Mirza and was under more pressure since the suo-motu hearing and it was evident from the press conference of Altaf Hussain. The party and its head were clearly seen under heavy pressure throughout even the last week, but as the present week progresses, the party seems coming out of the pressure. The statements of different party workers and leaders are an evidence of the fact that the pressure is over and they have been conveyed that no harm will come to MQM as a party as it is a useable and reusable tool for the Establishment.

It is also said that the Choudhris of Gujrat were part and parcel of the deal and in return Moonis will get benefit in NILC case against him and will be a free citizen very soon.

This development is of real concern to the President, Prime Minister and the PPP elders, sources maintain. They feel helpless, as they have been given a deadline to resolve Karachi issue as revealed in earlier IH story. While President has lost a trusted friend like Zulfikar Mirza, it is seen as a matter of concern that the Establishment keeps providing its umbrella to an organization like MQM which is considered main responsible party for the Karachi situation and also that there is ample evidence available to declare it a terrorist organization. The dilemma forces PPP to loose its face but save its skin. In the present scenario, PPP can’t do any thing instead of making requests to MQM to rejoin the government. Sitting on the opposition seats do not suit MQM either for many reasons. The coming days will be a test for the government and other stakeholders, but will also be a real test for the Supreme Court. It will be interesting to see how it is going to save its reputation.

Nawaz Answered Government’s SOS & Rushed Back to the Country; Osama’s Death & Civil-Military Row; Who Asked Mark Siegel to Publish Write Up by Zardari?

(This was published on May 12th. Due to some problem with the blog, it has been re-posted.) 
By Aijaz Ahmed

Islamabad: The May 2 Abbottabad operation, which resulted in the discovery and murder of world’s most wanted terrorist, Osama Bin Laden at the hands of US Navy SEALs has brought the civil-military relationship in Pakistan to a new low. The mistrust between the two has increased manifold. It is feared that the imbroglio may end up in the pack up of another democratic dispensation.

Observers are unanimous that the country’s civilian leadership was stunned at the news and couldn’t respond quickly to it but they are really surprised at the response or the lack of it by the military leadership. They feel that the military hierarchy’s behavior was quite perplexing. They were remarkably silent and seemed quite oblivious in the first few days after the US operation as if nothing had happened. Later they mishandled the issue in the media and attempted to undermine the political leadership. That raises concerns of the people about junta’s intentions towards the democratic government.

Sources in the power corridors have confided to this scribe that the civilian leadership is taking many questions into account so as to regroup and formulate a counter strategy. Every single move by the army chief and other military top men is being minutely watched and analyzed. The civilian leadership is quite unhappy over the recent statement of top ranking military leadership regarding the government in its post Osama briefing to media and anchorpersons. The address of Army Chief General Kayani to Garrison Officers at three top cantonments has also caused concern amongst the civilian leadership through which an impression was given that the civilians are ineffective and it is they who are making damage control efforts despite a huge understanding on the issue between the President, Prime Minister and the Army Chief, sources maintained.

The civilian leadership sincerely intends to control the damage but for many reasons it is clueless and directionless, sources observed adding that every effort of independent inquiry was thwarted and blocked by the military, thus an inquiry under Adjutant General has been constituted. How come a serving subordinate will be able to conduct an independent inquiry against his immediate bosses, asked a sitting minister however adding that everybody will have to wait for the outcome of the inquiry being conducted by army itself.

On the other hand civilians are trying to get answers of many questions including the one that whether or not they have been ditched by the intelligence networks. The people also want an answer to the question if OBL’s presence in Abbottabad was in the knowledge of the relevant agencies and military leadership.

Meanwhile, sources observed that a sizeable number of the civilians seriously believed that they have been ditched. A serious question is being raised in view of the recent statements by some neighbors pointing out that when they heard the blast after the helicopter crash, they tried to approach OBL’s compound but they were stopped by some guards speaking Urdu.

These statements, in view of some sources, clearly indicate that an earlier report carried by Indus Herald that some soldiers were provided for outer cordon was correct. This also indicates that a section of Pakistani establishment knew about a US strike, but they might not be privy to the details of the proceedings.

A section of media and politicians are also looking for an answer to the question that if the operation was done in total dark and without a prior information of Pakistan, then how come the people who have been arrested after the operation from the compound did not escape although they got at least 15 minutes before the arrival of any Pakistani security personnel? Hamza bin Laden is believed to have taken the advantage of the time gap and ran away from the scene as reported by the British media is quite a good evidence in support of the above argument.

The president and the other PPP leaders wanted an independent inquiry to be held, but they had to accept the decision by military leadership as desired by Army Chief sources said adding that the powers that be asked civilians to stay away from the damage control efforts and they will be the ones who will be responsible to take on the situation and control the damage, but the situation deteriorated with every passing day. However, the military leadership was not happy with the way some TV channels sparked debate and took them to task with strong words and allegations of incompetence and negligence.

It is also said that the president has been advised that besides the inquiry announced by the military leadership, an independent parliamentary inquiry commission with presence of opposition leader Ch. Nisar, and some of the top retired judges must be set up. However, the sources observed that the government would be packed up if such an inquiry were established. It is also believed that the president is willing to set up such an inquiry with Army Chief and other military leadership on board.

Meanwhile, a section of media is probing an allegation that the officers in KPK were asked not to leave their station and stay in before the operation and all mobile phones of the uniformed officers were blocked on May 01. However this story has not been confirmed by any reliable source.

On the other hand, sources in the PML-N have confided to this scribe that Mian Nawaz Sharif responded to a May-Day call by the government through unconventional means and rushed to Pakistan. The government wanted to block Ch. Nisar’s cynical criticism. Mian Nawaz Sharif on the first day of his top leadership meeting strongly supported the idea of a demand of resignation of both Army Chief and the ISI Chief, a demand that didn’t get much response earlier.  He according to the sources has assured the PPP that any attempt to subvert the Constitution and dislodge the civilian rule will be resisted with full force. At a press conference after the two-day PML-N meeting Mian Nawaz Sharif rejected the inquiry set up by military and demanded a Judicial Commission to look in the matter. He severely criticized the military establishment.

An interesting information has also come from the sources at the presidency that an internal inquiry is being conducted to identify the person who asked PPP’s lobbyist Mark Siegel to publish an article in the name of President Zardari, praising Osama’s death just few hours after the killing. The sources claim that the president didn’t write that good English. The sources say the president did not write the article in the Washington Post but he is in a fix and could not remove Mr. Siegel because of his previous support.

President, according to sources is also not happy with the statement of COAS regarding his advice to the government for calling a joint in-camera sitting of both the houses of the parliament, but he is waiting for the outcome and briefing points to the legislators before moving further, sources maintain.      

Attack on GHQ & Now On PNS Mehran: Alas, No One Sees the Writing On the Wall!

Attack on PNS Mehran: A Comment

PNS Mehran under attack: pic, courtesy Dawn

'Deep State', aka the 'Pakistani military establishment', created two monsters, one in the North & the other in the South to serve its twin objectives of achieving 'strategic depth' in Afghanistan and to fight the democratic & progressive forces in the country. The creators will never fight their creation as they need them for their well-known objectives but what about the people? 

Even the masses still have soft corner for the two! One of them is engaged in an open war on the state and the people while the other is engaged only in 'exercises' and 'target practice' for now testing weapons & keeping the personnel fighting fit! Wait for the day when the second monster would declare an open war from the South. Look forward to nothing else but death, destruction, murder & mayhem.

And remember, the responsibility for the eventual catastrophe will not lie only on the shoulders of the so-called military establishment. All the citizens will be equally responsible for their timidity and their silence. They are accomplices in all this.

PNS Mehran under attack: pic, courtesy Dawn