Is There A Plan B ??

 

                                                         IS There A Plan B ??

There was a mayhem in Peshawar suicide bombings, a carnage and a bloodbath, that too after Government continuous efforts of peace talks. I wouldn't talk about how many Pakistanis lost their life's, how many were injured, security lapse on part of the intelligence agencies, condemnation on part of Government, political leadership, civil society, rallies across Pakistan to show solidarity with the martyrs, talk shows on different TV Channels etc because to me these things have become irrelevant, we discuss and mourn after every incidence and forget after  few days. But this incidence in Peshawar  has send shock waves across Pakistan, you can feel the palpable pulse of anger and frustration across the country, people are agitated and angered, finally we are seeing a sense of consensus evolving across the country, including political elite and different religious groups. Take these terrorist head on, either finish them or be finished, do not bleed to death.

PMLN and PTI won the May 2011 General Elections with a clear mandate given to them by the people of Pakistan to solve their decade long problems. Imran Khan clearly has run his Election campaign on the slogan of drones and ending terrorism through talks. Similarly Mian Nawaz Sharif a great advocate of peace talks with terrorists. Now what is baffling and unimaginable that the day this Government took charge both in Federal Government ( N League ) and Provinces, made it very clear that they want peace through talks, don't want any bloodshed but they are reciprocated with countless attacks inside Pakistan in fact more than 1250 people have lost their life's in different suicide or because of  other terrorist activities.

Now question arises "Is Their Any Plan B" ???

Imran Khan PTI's continuous insistence on Peace talks and Mian Sahb reluctance to deal these terrorists with iron hands has  literally shaken the confidence of many like me who trusted these parties by sending them to helm of affairs. PMLN made the right moves by calling an "APC", trying to bring all stakeholders on one page particularly Imran Khan PTI  was given the mandate by war torn KPK people, great advocate of peace talks, claims of knowing these areas better than anybody else, their traditions as well. Secondly this APC has shown Government honest intentions to negotiate with these elements who always hide behind shades of Drones and American interventions in Pakistani State affairs.

Now let me shed some light on Multi Billion rupee industry run in these areas, all the criminals from across the country involved in heinous crimes gets a safe heaven there ( Just recently target killers, bhatta khors, terrorists, kidnappers etc dodged the agencies after their operation in Karachi reached these no go areas ). Target Killing, Kidnapping for ransom ( Multi Billion Rupee Business ), Arms deals, tools of Proxy War of different intelligence agencies ( CIA, RAW, KGB, Moss ad etc ), every individual or vehicle has to pay them the Bhatta to cross the area, smuggling etc, in fact they will and can do anything for money. Now Question arises where is the ideology ?? There are dozens of groups involved in these heinous crimes, you give them the money they will do anything for you. ( recently met a Afghan Businessman, he smiled when I asked him the fate of peace talks, "Doc do you expect that "Taliban" will surrender  this power, money, influence and agree to lay down their arms, turn back to their miserable life's, take peanuts offered by Government ( Rickshaw, offer to build homes etc by Government ) if you think so, you are a fool".  This makes more sense, that thousands of criminals involved or wanted by Provincial or State agencies who are hiding in these areas would surrender, hope our Government realise the gravity and scale of the problem we are facing ??

A very idiotic logic given by few that a operation will lead to a disaster in the country, TTP will focus the settled areas of the country, do these morons realise they  are already targeting settled areas of the country, Karachi, Quetta, Peshawar etc what more they can do ?? Already hundreds of people  have lost their life's  while thousands have become handicapped, what else they can do ??. Another logic that you can not win this war, thousands will be displaced once operation starts, civilian causalities will start an uproar. Answer is very simple when Army carried the Swat operation with Government and Public backing, they were successful, in fact within months terrorists were either flushed from the area, arrested or killed. Secondly People of KPK opened their houses for these IDP's, thousands  were accommodated, Provincial Governments established camps for displaced, every possible measure was  taken to take care of them. Similarly Drone rhetoric by "Imran Khan" that they are the major reasons of terrorism fading away as well, recent report in National Assembly giving us the exact number of Civilian causalities in Drone strikes, still i do feel Pakistan need to take control of these Drones if they are inevitable in War against terrorism so this way this War On Terror can owned by us rather giving an impression that we are fighting an American Proxy War. As far as civilian causalities  are concerned I must concede this is the real soft belly which needs to  be taken care off, evaluate carefully before starting a ruthless assault plus a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the IDP's displaced in different operations in the past. Finally another very painful and heart wrenching fact that 50 thousand plus civilian and Armed Forces personnel lost their life's in this War on Terror, while thousands were handicapped, thousands of families had financial as well as social implications, according to official data, Pakistan Economy suffered the most ( close to 100 billion dollar ).

But question arises, are these terrorists giving us any choice ?? are we left with any other option once a Dictator  has pushed us into this war ??

Key to winning Gorilla war fare is with Public support, as Vietnam and SriLanka successfully defeated their enemy, won Gorilla battles, Public opinion in their favour was key to their success. Now it needs to be seen Mian Nawaz Sharif has the will or let me put it that way courage to confront these barbarians, killing innocent civilians and waging war against our State in the name of Allah and Islam. Nawaz Sharif was clearly stunned and visibly broken with the recent happenings, clear desperation was visible during his brief conversation with the Media in UK after horrendous act of terrorism in Peshawar. Now Question must be asked of to Mian Sahib, if he has the ability or answer to this onslaught on Pakistani State by terrorist ?? Has he got any Plan B while Peace options are exhausted ??. He already has given peace a chance, did his job, made an effort to build consensus it's time to Stand as a Leader and be Counted because history remembers the brave Leaders who stood by their Nation's. Secondly he is a businessman, must realise nobody invests in war torn country, every investor wants single penny of his investment to be safe and protected. These "son's of the soil" ( TTP ) created by our agencies to give impetus to "deep state doctrine" back firing big time, these babies has turns into monsters, started eating their own children.

For Imran Khan, message is very clear, you made your point, Peace has been given a chance, still those willing to lay down their arms, surrender to writ of the State, abide to Constitution of Pakistan, can be accommodated, but those butchers taking innocent life's must be dealt ruthlessly. Imran Khan must come out of his Election rhetoric's, stand  hand in hand with Federal Government, in fact with people of Pakistan because impression is emerging in Media and amongst people that he is the real hurdle in operation after Taliban's continuous attacks on civilian and Armed Forces. His Drone rhetoric fading away as well because recent report presented in National Assembly clearly indicates the exact number of civilian causalities in Drone strikes.  Looks Imran Khan had never thought of  Plan B ??.

Shahzeb's Murder Drop Scene And Diyat Law

                      Shahzeb's Murder's Drop Scene And Diyat Law

It was cold night of 24th December, when Shahzeb was brutality gunned down in Karachi, allegedly after Shahzeb had altercation with one of the servants of  Shahrukh Jatoi, who threatened Shahzeb's sister of grave consequences. Shahrukh Jatoi along with Siraj Talpur and two other suspects chased Shahzeb's car, ruthlessly murdered him in front of many witnesses, so was the mind set and power of Feudal mentality. Shahzeb's Murder send shock waves among Human Right Organisations rather I should say it was a movement led by volunteers ( Middle Class Educated Youth ). Media played its part as well, continuously gave coverage to the whole event, Social Media was flooded with the news, volunteer's on their own created Shahzeb's pages, infect the whole Social Media was flooded with Shahzeb's picture. Every individual and political Leader rose above party affiliation and stood for a cause.

Chief Justice Iftikhar Chudhry took "Suo Moto" of the case giving it the much needed impedance and important it deserved. The case was run in ATC Sindh ( Anti Terrorist Court ). The ATC awarded Shahrukh Jatoi the main accused in the case, the Death Penalty. The other accused Siraj Talpur Capital punishment, while two other suspects were given life imprisonment. Speedy Justice was provided by courts as demanded by Civil Societies, volunteers protesting against the atrocity.

Yesterday, the case took a new turn when Shahzeb's family accepted "Diyat" and gave pardon to their son's murderers.  An ironic fact is, Shahzeb's father and Mother had  repeatedly promised  to all the volunteers ( Youth supporting the Movement ) that they wouldn't budge to any political or Social pressure from the Feudal Families of Jatoi's and Talpur's. So the anger is obvious from the young ones across the country, who for once stood against the Feudal Mind Set and challenged their might against all odds . Think about those witnesses, who stood against these land Lords despite threats of grave nature to themselves and their families.

 Now Question might be asked, were  not these witnesses  given  incentives ( Millions Of Rupees ), were their and their family lives not threatened ??. When they stood up to this challenge, why couldn't the family of Shahzeb, who's only son lost his life while protecting her sister and standing up courageously against these Land Lords brutality and mind set. Yes I agree the pressures were huge in fact I can assume in this case political and family pressure was monumental but they might have taken leaf out of volunteers and witnesses book who stood up courageously. The news, the Family accepting 350 million rupees plus Australian Nationality is even more devastating because  "Raymond Davis Saga" is still fresh in our memories where Diyat Law was used . I still remember a foreigner  quote "These Pakistanis can sell their Mothers for Money" . This whole saga has brought an utter disgrace, excruciating pain and sadness to the whole Nation, belief that you can get away with anything if you have money, resources etc. is just disgusting and painful.

Now let's talk about Diyat Law and it's history. In pre-Islamic Arab society cases of murder were usually settled by "Saar" (revenge ),  Qisaas and Diyat. Saar was the real objective of the Arabs, they believed that soul of the deceased remain in the World in some form, if revenge was not taken. It was result of these emotions that "Diyat" was considered a shameful act. These emotional challenges have nothing to do with actual concept of "Diyat". "Hence it is quite evident that Diyat is neither a monetary compensation for an economic loss nor a monetary worth of a human life. By nature it is 'Gharaamah' i.e a fine or penalty imposed on the criminal in lieu of Qisaas in case of intentional murder and in deed in all unintentional murders.

Explanation Of The Law

The injunctions related to Diyat regarding Un Intentional murders explained in 'Surah Nissa".

              "And whoever kills a believer by mistake, he must set a Muslim slave free, pay Diyat to the family of the victim, unless they forgive it. (4: 92 )

In case of Intentional murder, the quran directs us to pay 'Diyat' according to m'aroof or the General custom and tradition.

             "Then for whom there has been some remission from his brother, he should follow ( The Remission ) according to m'arrof and pay Diyat with Goodness. (2:178

It is evident from the above versus of "Surah Nisaa" and "Surah Baqarah" that in case of intentional as well as unintentional murders, Diyat should be paid according to customs and traditions of the society. Our Prophet ( pbuh ) followed these Quranic injunctions. By this Quranic directive, now,  Diyat has become the eternal Law Of the Shariah for all times for every society to follow, however its quantity, nature and other related affairs have been left to the custom and traditions of the local  society. The Diyat Law evolved from Pre-Islamic Arab era to Hazarat Mohammad (pbuh) era, has seen dramatic changes through it's course according to local customs and traditions of the society.

Important thing about the Law "the family of the victims has to give pardon to the culprits, receive Diyat according to the local customs and traditions of the society". 1) Now Question arises what if family of the victim intentionally sell the blood of the victim due to their greed ?? 2) why if The family is put under pressure by local political and social clans of the society ?? 3) Why if State is involved in influencing the Family of the victims ( Raymond Davis ) ?? 4) Why if the Culprits are very rich and influential part of our society, it will be next to impossible to punish them under current Law of Diyat ?? ( I personally have witnessed two cases in my family, when this Law was applied to get away from Murders ). These Questions will keep on haunting us, many in our society will keep on raising them unless we amend the Law to protect the poor and punish the Rich and Powerful.