Pakistan: Looking For A Saviour

                                               Pakistan : Looking For A Saviour

The images coming out of "Abbas Town Karachi", are not only heart wrenching but also soul tearing, it is  frustrating how we as Muslims can kill people on Ethnic and religious bases, what is frustrating to see Muslims killing Muslims, on the bases of assumptions and ethnic differences. For last one year or so, the target is Shia Community, continuously being targeted across Pakistan, whether its Quetta, Karachi, Gilgat-Bilgistan. Punjab, KPK, infect their life purposely has been made miserable and Pakistan fast becoming a alien territory for them, what hurts you even more, the whole humanitarian issue being politicised from different quarters, some politicising it to gain political mileage, some to hide their incompetence and miss-governance of last five years, but no body seem to take interest and focus to solve this issue, rather fuelling it with conspiracy theories emerging literally every day, from different quarters.

Rescuers evacuate the victims at blast site 

Lets dissect it step by step, start from ruling PPP and allies in these provinces, Quetta and Sindh. PPP and allies after shattering economy and bringing this country  to a status of failed state , achieving historically low numbers in economy and has pushed this country into a Sectarian anarchy. Rehman Malik, the Interior Minister comes on Media after every blast, putting responsibility Solly on Punjab Government, declares Taliban as Zaliman, then in same breath tells the Nation he has literally broken the back of Taliban, finishes the Media talk with the news that more blasts coming in days and weeks to come. Pakistan being very unlucky in last five years, that these rulers are not just Financially corrupt but touching new lows in moral bankruptcy. My question to federal and provisional governments ruled by PPP led collision, who on is earth stopping you to take strict actions against these butchers, whether they are taliban, lashker e jhangvi, SSP etc. Who stopped you to chalk out a comprehensive strategy, make necessary legislation in the Parliament for these barbaric acts and terrorist, who is stopping you to make Counter terrorism Force to tackle these groups head on. Blaming others for your incompetence and lethargy wouldn't  help, PPP seems desperate to put blame of their inept 5 year rule on Punjab Government, because historically, "Shia Community" always voted for PPP and allies in Karachi and Quetta, even other parts of Pakistan, so their desperation is pretty much obvious. Some PPP apologists blaming Army for these attacks, trying to bail out these heartless rulers, I partly do agree with their point of view  but the way Police being politicised in these two provinces, their main focus to protect the elite, protect the bhatta mafia, inability to stop target killings, taking more lives than those killed in Bomb-Blasts and terrorism, the glaring example was seen after Abbas Town tragedy, when police was busy in protecting the elite at some reception.

Similarly Imran Khan PTI, a great advocate of talks  was very vocal about it , in fact among few renowned political leaders advocating talks with Taliban for last 12 years and so. Suddenly shifting his position a bit, when ANP had a round table followed by JUI-F, talking almost on the same lines as Imran Khan doing for last 12 years. Because some body else taking the initiative, Imran Khan rejected them out-rightly and declaring it a political gimmick. Imran Khan PTI must understand it is ANP who has suffered the most at the hands of Taliban, many of their notable political leaders got Shadat in last few years. Secondly this War on terror starting in Mush Era, when Imran Khan was part of Mush lead collision, infect more than 50 thousands Air Strikes carried out by USA led forces on Afghanistan from 9/11 to famous Mush referendum, in which Imran took an active part and canvassed for Mush through out Pakistan. What Imran Khan PTI needs to tell to the public, is there any difference between Taliban and lashker e Jhangvi. There is another twist to it, some reports link these organisations to Al Quaida, an effort on their part to start Iraq like Sectarian wave. So technically negotiating with one means negotiating with all??.

Another Party which is trying to cash in on "Shia Massacre" is MQM, ruling Karachi for almost 22 years but in last 10 to 12 years, ruled with absolute power. Just two Weeks before care-taker set-up, chooses to sit in on opposition benches, threatening to shut down the 'city of  lights for indefinite period'. What a tragedy, first thousands of lives taken in their rule by target killers, people has to pay Bhatta to run their businesses, street crimes at their peak in history of Karachi, extortion's, land grabbing etc. Know these heartless and soulless leaders threatening to ruin already fragile Country's economy, in the name of Shia Community. Know it's upto the people of Karachi and Shia Community to say no to these hypocrite's and once for all get rid of such opportunists.

The real villain according to ruling parties and their stooges in these Provinces is "PMLN led Punjab Government" demanding immediate operation in Punjab, where according to Rehman Malik, Head-Quarter of Lashker e Jhangvi exists, (which to me, a very immature and childish) but not  a single raid on their  hide-outs was carried  by Rehman Malik led Federal Agency. Don't get me wrong here, I am not trying to bail out Punjab Government  here, but at the same time I am not going to ignore, the incompetence and ineptness of the federal governoment. If we look into the history, it was "Shahbaz Sharif" led Punjab and his brother "Nawaz Sharif" led Federal Government in Center back in 1997-98, carried a comprehensive crack-down on these groups, killing many of their key figures and arresting others, literally breaking their back. But after October 1999 coup, Mush eased many of them into main stream to gain political mileage and up-held the strategic depth doctrine. Similarly key figures of Lashkre e Jhnagvi were able to flee from Quetta jail under dubious circumstances which is still a mystery to many. To be fair to Punjab Government, its very difficult to start an operation in Punjab alone, when you know that terrorists sanctuaries exists somewhere else, but every political opponent is trying to bring them down by hook or crook and take political mileage. To clear the air regarding Punjab Government intensions, Shahbaz Sharif offered the custody of "Malik Ishaq" to Federal Government. But their is no doubt in my mind that  Shahbaz Sharif led Punjab Government from 2007-13, is somewhat  lenient on these groups, couldn't up-hold the tradition of their previous Government, as these banned out-fits continue to work under different names and umbrella in different cities of Punjab as "charitable organisations". Punjab Government is facing severe criticism from every corner, it remains to be seen, how much they are willing to pay for it in coming GE, because traditionally Shia vote were never their strength but urban, educated Middle-class non-ethnic voter, who is observing these events very closely may come to haunt them in next GE, which is round the corner. I don't see Shahbaz Shahrif can do any thing now, because their rule in Punjab is going to end in couple of Weeks.

Pakistan Army, another stake-holder should get rid of their Strategic depth doctrine, because with Nuclear weapons in our arsenal. we hardly need more security and reassurances. They should put aside their ego and sit together with civilian Government to chalk out a comprehensive strategy to counter these terrorists, before its too late. In fact both Civilian and Military Leadership should lock themselves in a room, come up with new strategic doctrine to counter terrorism, they should include judiciary as well, then legislate it through Parliament. Because negotiating with these groups from position of weakness is not a good bet, rather it can back fire, we must remember almost ten written and numerous verbal agreement with Taliban have already failed. Lets give them a chance to lay down their arms and then negotiate, if not then full fledged operation is a must, starting from Wazirstan extending it  down stream, with no ifs and buts. Because in recent APC in KPK, there was no mention of asking Taliban to lay down their arms, even they were reluctant to call these out-fits as terrorists, which in my opinion gives them a lot of leverage and space to manoeuvre.

Pakistan is stuck in a terrible mess, some demanding an out-right full throttle operation, while others completely opposing it, we need to strike  a right balance. Here comes the role of media, start a wide spread debate among different ethnic, civilised and learned groups of the society, avoid this sectarian war looming on our country, which is already eating hundreds of our brothers, sisters, children, old and young ones. It is  not differentiating between Shia's and Sunni, targeting everyone, timing and place is different for different set of people,  no doubt, Shia's  are facing the brunt of it.

A piece of advice to those spreading sectarian hatred, we all are Pakistanis, yes I admit, right now our Shia brothers are suffering more, but remember many shrines in Punjab and KPK were targeted by these butchers killing  hundreds of innocent, we as Pakistani know, they are friend of no one, we must stay united and focused against these butchers, yes road is tough and bumpy but Insha"llah we will win if we stay together. We must thwart any efforts to erupt ethnic divide because that's what our enemy wants.

Summing up, Pakistan need a serious re-visit of their Civil Military relations, Military need to understand it is 2013, there is hardly a role for them in running day to day affairs of country, yes they can give their inputs, can chip in with ideas, their sincere thoughts on foreign as well as internal relations should be entertained, but abandon the idea to rule from now on. While Civilian must take a leaf out of Tayyab Urdagan book, where with his Governance and delivery to the masses, was able to rule peoples heart, otherwise masses are left with no other choice but  to call for a "saviour", which in Pakistan is none other than Military Establishment. There are many conspiracies theories circulating like foreign hand, Raw, Proxy war, funding of terrorist groups etc. these stories only surface when we are internally weak, no doubt enemy takes advantage of soft spots, but once we are united and stand like a rock, conspiracies theories die their own death.

Finally, as predicted in my previous read, PMLN is the front runner in coming GE, vindicated by recent Gallup Poll as well,  Nawaz Sharif once again need to take the lead with his leadership, give a comprehensive stratigy on Counter terrorism and Ecnomic Uplift to get Pakistan out of this mess. Can Nawaz Sharif be that "Saviour", only time will tell. Supreme Court and Election Commision also has to play thier role and become a gaurdian to this system.