What
will happen? What is going to happen? When will protests end? Every Pakistani
is concerned about these questions, people are getting nervous. In addition to
this the irresponsible statements by Govt. Ministers and leaders of protesting
parties are adding fuel to the fire. Whole nation is suffering with the fear of
some big human tragedy. Obviously, the death of a single life due to political
disputes is nothing less than a tragedy. But a little mistake or crackdown by
govt. on protestors would lead to big tragedy; on the one hand protesting
parties are struck to their demands that Prime Minister should resign and
system should be changed but govt. has started crackdown / attacking
protestors; Govt. has wasted time in the wait and see policy. On this situation
Pakistani media had been divided into two different groups and busy in running
commentary to public; exposing mutual rivalries of media houses. TV Channels
have stopped their routine transmission to present live coverage of the
developments in Capital or other cities. Moment by moment analyses have forced
protestors and govt. stick to their stand and forced public into chaos that
what would happen next? Irony of the fate is that AMAN KI ASHA brand media is
blaming Pakistan army and ISI as script writers of the whole situation through
suspicious gestures in its talk shows. These talk shows and accuses are being
run on the same line as they did after an anchorperson was injured in Karachi
while army had already taken over the security of important buildings had
cleared that army will defend these buildings that are national property. On
the other hand army appealed both parties to diffuse the situation through
patience, foresightedness and insight.
After
statement by army; protestors made it clear that damaging buildings aside they
will not break a single flower pot. However, if govt. tried any misadventure,
operation or crackdown then controlling protestors would be impossible. Look at
the foresightedness of govt. they are satisfied after getting resolutions
getting passed from Parliament for protection of democracy and considering that
demands of protestors have lost value. They were of the view that Imran Khan
and Tahir-ul-Qadri and the protestors would get tired but protest
demonstrations after 14th August 2014 have proved that no decrease
in passion of protestors for Azadi and Inqilab March have been observed. As
soon as protestors reached Islamabad they arranged shelters from weather etc.
which shows that protestors are not ready to leave their leaders at any cost.
As a retaliation to the protest Govt. arranged rallies and protests by workers
of Pakistan Muslim League – N (PML-N), the ruling party; these rallies started
from Multan by attack over the house of Shah Mehmood Qureshi of Pakistan
Tehreek Insaf (PTI) afterwards workers of PML-N came on roads in other cities
as well. Protests are there but what would be the consequences of the
retaliating rallies in spite of political solution. Unbiased are concerned over
this situation and claiming it as threat not only to democracy but motherland
as well.
Prime Minister addressing the Parliament |
Had
this situation emerged suddenly? Offers by ruling party for solution of current
political chaos or electoral reforms are out of time; why these actions were
taken before the lapse of time? Leaving aside the disputed elections 2013 if we
look at the performance of current govt. it is disappointing. If current govt.
is intoxicated with the heavy mandate of public; they should keep it in mind
that it was due to the poor policies, high inflation, increased crime rate etc.
of last govt. which current govt. has taken as a certificate merger
(friendship) with Hindu India in spite of resolving problems of public. Current
rulers’ affiliation with India had won the support of AMAN KI ASHA brand media
for govt. as well. With the oath taking of current politicians, a specific
media group broke all records to defame Pakistan army by propaganda over
missing persons, Ex-President and Chief of Army Staff General Pervaiz Musharraf
was portrayed as traitor and discussions were on the air to hang him for
treason. According to this media group many govt. ministers also crossed all
limits to hang Musharraf.
In
the case of Musharraf, govt. wants to hang him alone excluding all those who
were involved in the imposition of emergency as soon as possible under the
accuse of treason which jolted legal experts because on the other hand govt.
either being afraid or due to some secret reason wanted to negotiate with TTP
terrorists and was not ready to execute 480 terrorists given death sentence by
courts for terrorist activities. This govt. wants to execute Musharraf, start
free trade with India ignoring Kashmir dispute, all other national disputes,
and Indian interference (terrorism) via Afghanistan created an expression of
dispute between army and current political govt. This was the duty of the govt.
to remove such expression by supporting Pak army that is indulged in the final
stage of war after a decade long war against terrorism, however, Govt. was seen
standing with the media involved in propaganda against Pak army and security
agencies of motherland. During this BJP came into power in India which has
already nominated Narendra Modi as Prime Minister who is notorious for massacre
of Muslim of India.
On
the oath taking ceremony of Modi, Nawaz Sharif impatiently participated in this
ceremony, Mr Nawaz had time to meet various envoys and Hindu film stars but
denied to meet Huriyat leaders of Indian Held Kashmir. Whether it was for the
friendship (merger) with India at any cost or something else but India took
denial of Pakistani PM to meet Huriyat Conference leaders as a signal by Pakistan
to step back from Indian Held Kashmir. This illusion of India over Pakistan’s
policy for Kashmir was shattered when Pakistani High Commissioner for India held
meeting with Kashmiri leadership in New Delhi. As a reaction over this meeting India
cancelled scheduled meeting Foreign Secretaries which was to be held on 25th
August 2014. Not only this; India also roled back the development for peace
between two countries.
This
did not end here; workers of BJP staged protest demonstrations against
Pakistani High Commissioner. Indian Foreign Ministry adopted threatening
attitude towards Pakistan which was disliked over the international level,
however, US and UK dislike over Modi’s policy for Kashmir is orally only. The relations
between both countries got a twist when an Indian lawyer Sushail Kumar filed a
case against Pakistani High Commissioner in the court of Magistrate grade-II of
District Allahabad under the allegations that meeting of Pakistani High Commissioner
to Huriyat leaders in spite of being restrained by Indian govt. falls under
conspiracy against India which accounts to treason. Female judge of Indian
court has fixed the date of hearing on 5th September 2014 in which
evidence would be presented in the court, in order to examine evidence and that
what punishment could be given if allegations are proved. Huriyat leadership of
Indian Held Kashmir had been already arrested. However, India failed to do
anything against Pakistani High Commissioner except trying to pressurize him. But
the bitter reality is that a new wave tension between both countries has been
started by Hindu India. Extremist Hindu army has increased violations over LoC
and working boundary against civilians. In this way whether it is internal or
external situation, Pakistan has been forced in such a cross road from where
each road leads to a dead end. It is possible before publication of this post
operation against protestors might have been started or status quo is
maintained but one does not see any resolution of common man’s problems. Public
has been pressed so much hard in indirect taxes and underemployment that if
they pay utility bills nothing is left for food and if they buy food they have
to forego the electricity that is already pregnant with power cut offs in the
name of load management but bills are ever increasing. How can they afford
education for their children, medical services etc. On this situation of
public, govt., opposition and protesting parties; all have no solution.
In
the end I would like to reveal that Ms Asma Jahangir has been appointed by UNO
to find out violations of Sri Lankan army in Sri Lanka in war against Indian
terrorists in Sri Lanka that were crushed by Sri Lankan army. Sri Lanka is only
country of this region that openly stands with Pakistan but imagine what would
be the situation of relations between
Sri Lanka and Pakistan when Asma Jahangir
would present stories of human rights violations fabricated by India; would
discuss this in next week…
Written by Mr Khalid Baig,
Published in Daily Nawa-i-Waqt,
Date: 29 August 2014.