While talking to Dr Moeed Pirzada , Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the CJP supported opposition on its stance to conduct legislation in the Parliament to resolve the issue, termed this refusal as opposition’s victory in the matter.
Joint Terms of References TORs are unavoidable for establishment of a viable judicial commission.
Opposition in its questionnaire has demanded the PM disclose details of the offshore companies that his family owns. It has also asked him to give out net value of his assets and details of bank accounts, properties and companies.
Opposition parties want a three member judicial commission headed by the CJP set up through an act of parliament, which should first hold an inquiry against the PM and his family members. The commission will be given three months, extendable to four, to complete the task. Only then, according to the opposition-drafted ToR, can it start proceedings against other Pakistanis named in the Panama Papers and will have a year to complete this task.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Shah Mehmood Perspective !!!
DPO Bahawalnagar Sacked for doing his duty?
Shariq Kamal Siddique, District Police Officer (DPO), Bahawalnagar, has been summarrily removed from his position, and surrendered to Centre after he refused apologizing to the local MNA for arresting his aide who had thrashed policemen at a check post. Notification of his removal has been issued by the Chief Secretary Punjab, Capt Zahid Saeed. What kind of governance you expect in a province where “Heads of District Police” can be treated like this; removed summarrily without any due process of law? just at the displeasure of the King? And you call this a ‘democracy’?
According to initial media reports from Bahawalnagar, young DPO, Shariq Kamal, known for his integrity took action against the close aides of a local strong man – MNA Lalika – who were intercepted in a drunken state at a police check post and who getting berserk then thrashed the policemen on duty. It is important to remember that Bahawalnagar is a border town with India and check posts are routine.
MNA complained to the Prime Minister. There are some reports, though not confirmed, that he initially complained to the Chief Minister, Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, who refused taking action against the District Police Officer for doing what a good police officer should have done. But then MNA reached up to the Prime Minister. According to the media reports reaching Islamabad, IGP Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera called the DPO and told him that he should go to the local MNA’s house and apologize to him and his aides otherwise he will loose his coveted position as head of district police and will be thrown out of the province.
DPO Shariq Kamal Siddique chose the second option. He refused apologizing to the MNA for doing what he considered the right thing to do as the head of district police. On his refusal he was immediately sacked and a notification has been issued surrendering him to the establishment division in Islamabad. Imagine the centralization, the control of the ruling elite on a province of 120 million? imagine the power dynamics when a ruling family, a ruling dynasty controls both Lahore and Islamabad? And keep in mind that in real local governments, as across the western world, district police would be the master of the district, answerable to the district government or courts.
This incident once again demonstrates the priorities of political elite in Pakistan, especially in Punjab and Sindh, and underscores the risks and the challenges the young police officers – especially of the prestigious CSS cadre – face while trying to full fill their constitutional responsibilities towards the state and the citizen. Young and imbued with the idealism, fresh from universities and academies they often try to live up to the best practices and standards of policing and the political system instead of rewarding these officers for their integrity and principles often punishes them in its narrow selfish interests.
Another example that immediately comes to the mind is that of the former SSP Islamabad, Mohammad Ali Nekokara, who in August/September 2014 offered reasoned arguments to IGP Police and Secretary Interior, for not using ‘additional brute force’ against the demonstrators in Islamabad and who was suspended and later sacked from the job. He is still awaiting justice from service tribunals and courts. Nekokara’s hesitation came immediately after the night of violence in which few demonstrators died and hundreds were injured. Police that night even barged into the emergency wards of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) – a scene which I personally witnessed at 4am in the morning. I was still at Express News. This was few days before I and Fawad Ch were unceremoniously packed off from the channel under pressure from somewhere.
Though SSP Nekokara and police force under him kept on battling with the crowds all night, till the next evening but later he argued, in his written messages, to Secretary Interior and IGP that using any more force against the demonstrators would be counter-productive. He issued written instructions to Islamabad police not to use firearms without his permission. He was in fact refusing to obey oral orders from above, from his political bosses, of ‘dealing strongly’ with demonstrators without any written instructions from these political bosses. He wanted clarity.
That situation had a background. In June 2014, Punjab Police ended up killing more than 10 men and women in Model Town Lahore. Almost a hundred received bullet injuries. That was an act purely of state terrorism. Police were sent to the precincts of ‘Minhaj ul Quran’ under the excuse of removing barricades; as if it was an administrative matter. Real purpose was to terrorize the followers of Dr. Tahir ul Qadri, the self styled Scholar politician – whom many suspected of dancing on the whims of establishment – who had declared his intentions to return back to Pakistan and launch a movement.
For details of the incidents and how police were exploited read this article written in July 2014: Pakistani pipe dream: Democracy sans independent police?
Punjab government then wanted to teach his followers a lesson before his return. Political objective – disguised as routine administrative action – was to terrorize and intimidate people before a movement could be launched. Situation got out of hand, people died and almost hundred received bullet wounds. Plan of the political geniuses backfired. And when the political strategy failed, when whole country, political parties and media protested Punjab police and its officers were made the scapegoat. Today, more than two years after that broad day massacre real people responsible – the politicians who planned and approved all those wanton acts of terrorism in series of meetings in Lahore and Rawalpindi – have not been punished. But several police officers have lost their jobs or are behind bars.
In Aug/September 2014 that incident was still fresh in memories. Police officers wanted to avoid ‘another Model Town’ at all costs. They, being inside the system, fully understood that police is being used as ‘political condom’ as ‘expendable underdogs’ by the ruling family to further its personal interests and they wanted to resist situations, pushed forcibly through oral orders, that get out of control. These were the circumstances in which SSP Mohd Ali Nekokara demanded clarity, he wanted written instructions. Professionalism demands that Police Officers should be independent in dealing with the situations of law and order. It is the ‘police officers’ and not their ‘political bosses’ who have to decide course of action; use of force: when? how much and where?. This is something that has never been understood in Pakistan’s troubled history. Police have become ‘private servants’ of political elite, who use, misuse and exploit them for their personal ends, personal control. Pakistanis have become slaves of these few thug families.
Fortunately, now at least in one part of Pakistan – the small province of KPK – there is emerging a different model of policing; Police independent of its political bosses. And the results are amazing. In the recent tragedy near Abottabad, near Donga Gali, where poor Ambareen was burnt alive, it was the local DPO, Khurram Rashid, (of 32nd Common) who was taking all decisions; from investigations to arrests. No Chief Minister rushed for photo-ops, no ministers and party heads made sensational statements or promised ‘exemplary punishments’. It was professional policing at its best.
Shariq Kamal Siddiqui and Mohd Ali Nekokara will soon be the heroes of a new generation of police officers and civil servants in Pakistan. The way they have been treated exhibits the mentality, the ruthlessness and political expediency that defines the politics of Punjab and PMLN. The plight of these upright young officers helps understand why almost all senior officers lack moral courage and initiative; why they all look like helpless, intimidated personal servants of Pakistan’s ruling families, these dynasties, and why police instead of serving the people of Punjab and Pakistan only serves these few families. It is time to think hard and deep about these issues of political abuse and corruption; its time to change this moribund system of ‘elite family control’ in the name of ‘democracy’. Its time for real democracy and rule of law in Pakistan. Its time to spread this message. May Allah help us all! Amen!
DPO Bahawalnagar Sacked for doing his duty?
Moeed Pirzada |
Shariq Kamal Siddique, District Police Officer (DPO), Bahawalnagar, has been summarrily removed from his position, and surrendered to Centre after he refused apologizing to the local MNA for arresting his aide who had thrashed policemen at a check post. Notification of his removal has been issued by the Chief Secretary Punjab, Capt Zahid Saeed. What kind of governance you expect in a province where “Heads of District Police” can be treated like this; removed summarrily without any due process of law? just at the displeasure of the King? And you call this a ‘democracy’?
According to initial media reports from Bahawalnagar, young DPO, Shariq Kamal, known for his integrity took action against the close aides of a local strong man – MNA Lalika – who were intercepted in a drunken state at a police check post and who getting berserk then thrashed the policemen on duty. It is important to remember that Bahawalnagar is a border town with India and check posts are routine.
Read more: Is Ch. Nisar being sacked?
MNA complained to the Prime Minister. There are some reports, though not confirmed, that he initially complained to the Chief Minister, Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, who refused taking action against the District Police Officer for doing what a good police officer should have done. But then MNA reached up to the Prime Minister. According to the media reports reaching Islamabad, IGP Punjab Mushtaq Sukhera called the DPO and told him that he should go to the local MNA’s house and apologize to him and his aides otherwise he will loose his coveted position as head of district police and will be thrown out of the province.
According to initial media reports from Bahawalnagar, young DPO, Shariq Kamal, known for his integrity took action against the close aides of a local strong man – MNA Lalika – who were intercepted in a drunken state at a police check post and who getting berserk then thrashed the policemen on duty.
DPO Shariq Kamal Siddique chose the second option. He refused apologizing to the MNA for doing what he considered the right thing to do as the head of district police. On his refusal he was immediately sacked and a notification has been issued surrendering him to the establishment division in Islamabad. Imagine the centralization, the control of the ruling elite on a province of 120 million? imagine the power dynamics when a ruling family, a ruling dynasty controls both Lahore and Islamabad? And keep in mind that in real local governments, as across the western world, district police would be the master of the district, answerable to the district government or courts.
This incident once again demonstrates the priorities of political elite in Pakistan, especially in Punjab and Sindh, and underscores the risks and the challenges the young police officers – especially of the prestigious CSS cadre – face while trying to full fill their constitutional responsibilities towards the state and the citizen. Young and imbued with the idealism, fresh from universities and academies they often try to live up to the best practices and standards of policing and the political system instead of rewarding these officers for their integrity and principles often punishes them in its narrow selfish interests.
Another example that immediately comes to the mind is that of the former SSP Islamabad, Mohammad Ali Nekokara, who in August/September 2014 offered reasoned arguments to IGP Police and Secretary Interior, for not using ‘additional brute force’ against the demonstrators in Islamabad and who was suspended and later sacked from the job. He is still awaiting justice from service tribunals and courts. Nekokara’s hesitation came immediately after the night of violence in which few demonstrators died and hundreds were injured. Police that night even barged into the emergency wards of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) – a scene which I personally witnessed at 4am in the morning. I was still at Express News. This was few days before I and Fawad Ch were unceremoniously packed off from the channel under pressure from somewhere.
Read more: Are KP police capable of fighting terror and crime?
Though SSP Nekokara and police force under him kept on battling with the crowds all night, till the next evening but later he argued, in his written messages, to Secretary Interior and IGP that using any more force against the demonstrators would be counter-productive. He issued written instructions to Islamabad police not to use firearms without his permission. He was in fact refusing to obey oral orders from above, from his political bosses, of ‘dealing strongly’ with demonstrators without any written instructions from these political bosses. He wanted clarity.
That situation had a background. In June 2014, Punjab Police ended up killing more than 10 men and women in Model Town Lahore. Almost a hundred received bullet injuries. That was an act purely of state terrorism. Police were sent to the precincts of ‘Minhaj ul Quran’ under the excuse of removing barricades; as if it was an administrative matter. Real purpose was to terrorize the followers of Dr. Tahir ul Qadri, the self styled Scholar politician – whom many suspected of dancing on the whims of establishment – who had declared his intentions to return back to Pakistan and launch a movement.
For details of the incidents and how police were exploited read this article written in July 2014: Pakistani pipe dream: Democracy sans independent police?
Punjab government then wanted to teach his followers a lesson before his return. Political objective – disguised as routine administrative action – was to terrorize and intimidate people before a movement could be launched. Situation got out of hand, people died and almost hundred received bullet wounds. Plan of the political geniuses backfired. And when the political strategy failed, when whole country, political parties and media protested Punjab police and its officers were made the scapegoat. Today, more than two years after that broad day massacre real people responsible – the politicians who planned and approved all those wanton acts of terrorism in series of meetings in Lahore and Rawalpindi – have not been punished. But several police officers have lost their jobs or are behind bars.
Another example that immediately comes to the mind is that of the former SSP Islamabad, Mohammad Ali Nekokara, who in August/September 2014 offered reasoned arguments to IGP Police and Secretary Interior, for not using ‘additional brute force’ against the demonstrators in Islamabad and who was suspended and later sacked from the job.
In Aug/September 2014 that incident was still fresh in memories. Police officers wanted to avoid ‘another Model Town’ at all costs. They, being inside the system, fully understood that police is being used as ‘political condom’ as ‘expendable underdogs’ by the ruling family to further its personal interests and they wanted to resist situations, pushed forcibly through oral orders, that get out of control. These were the circumstances in which SSP Mohd Ali Nekokara demanded clarity, he wanted written instructions. Professionalism demands that Police Officers should be independent in dealing with the situations of law and order. It is the ‘police officers’ and not their ‘political bosses’ who have to decide course of action; use of force: when? how much and where?. This is something that has never been understood in Pakistan’s troubled history. Police have become ‘private servants’ of political elite, who use, misuse and exploit them for their personal ends, personal control. Pakistanis have become slaves of these few thug families.
Fortunately, now at least in one part of Pakistan – the small province of KPK – there is emerging a different model of policing; Police independent of its political bosses. And the results are amazing. In the recent tragedy near Abottabad, near Donga Gali, where poor Ambareen was burnt alive, it was the local DPO, Khurram Rashid, (of 32nd Common) who was taking all decisions; from investigations to arrests. No Chief Minister rushed for photo-ops, no ministers and party heads made sensational statements or promised ‘exemplary punishments’. It was professional policing at its best.
Shariq Kamal Siddiqui and Mohd Ali Nekokara will soon be the heroes of a new generation of police officers and civil servants in Pakistan. The way they have been treated exhibits the mentality, the ruthlessness and political expediency that defines the politics of Punjab and PMLN. The plight of these upright young officers helps understand why almost all senior officers lack moral courage and initiative; why they all look like helpless, intimidated personal servants of Pakistan’s ruling families, these dynasties, and why police instead of serving the people of Punjab and Pakistan only serves these few families. It is time to think hard and deep about these issues of political abuse and corruption; its time to change this moribund system of ‘elite family control’ in the name of ‘democracy’. Its time for real democracy and rule of law in Pakistan. Its time to spread this message. May Allah help us all! Amen!
Moeed Pirzada is prominent TV Anchor & commentator; he studied international relations at Columbia Univ, New York and law at London School of Economics. Twitter: MoeedNj. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy. This piece was first published in Moeed Pirzada’s official page. It has been reproduced with permission.
Military Advising Nawaz Sharif to bring house in order?
Islamabad – Today, Tue, 10th May, PM Nawaz Sharif finally met his military chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif. This photo-opportunity, with the other Sharif, was desperately needed by PM Nawaz as it was increasingly being discussed in media and political circles that since the Panama leaks scandal took strength, PM Sharif has not met Gen. Sharif to generate the usual photos that claim: both civilian and military leadership are on the same page.
However the media disclosures, lead by Dunya News, that followed the meeting and that claimed that amongst other things military chief informed the PM Nawaz that “he must quickly bring his house in order and that this is in national interest” dissipated much of the shine of this meeting. Photos claiming the ‘Same Page Story’ had backfired.
The last meeting between the duo took place on April 6th, two days after the formal emergence of Panama Papers and one day after Nawaz Sharif’s speech to the nation offering to set up a commission under a retired judge, but the real controversy around ‘Panama Papers’ had started to rage afterwards.
Amidst this heated controversy around PM’s family holding hitherto hidden offshore accounts, came the famous statement of the military chief that ‘accountability should be across the board’ which was followed by the leaks of the details of the officers sacked from the military on charges of corruption. Though the statement sounded pretty innocuous and generalized, and the fact that it preceded the formal news of senior officers being sacked for corruption did contextualize it but given its timing, its syncing with the fulminating public debate centered around alleged corruption of PM Nawaz and his family, this sounded like a demand from the military that PM Nawaz must come clean on the allegations stemming from Panama Files. It was thus the beginning of a war – at least in the minds of lay media and public.
In his second formal address to the nation on 22nd April, PM Nawaz minced no words. He did not directly mention the military but made several oblique references to those ‘ghosts’ that put him in jail, and sent him to Saudi Arabia, those ‘ghosts’ that brought 17th Amendment and so on. It was obvious that he wants his political support base – mostly rural Punjab and lesser educated urban communities – to interpret the “Panama Files” as another round of ‘civil military conflict’ in Pakistan, with him as ‘democratic hero’ braving the conspiracies, the onslaught. Earlier PMLN media team had variously defined ‘Panama Files’ as a CIA conspiracy against China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Jewish Plan, and Imran Khan’s greed for power etc.
Urdu humorist, Shafiq ur Rehman, had once written, perhaps in ‘Mazeed Hamaqtain’ that if you want public to believe something you must keep on repeating it. For instance, buy a ‘lion skin’ from the bazaar, hang it on a wall, and keep a gun on your mantle in the drawing room and keep on telling all your guests how you aimed the shot, how you killed that lion. Which lion? the lion whose ‘lion skin’ is on your wall. At some stage, even if the guests are not convinced, you will be convinced yourself that you had indeed killed that lion. Nawaz Sharif and his family had been telling the story of their ‘forced exile’ to Saroor Palace for so long that they have now totally forgotten that they had forced Gen. Musharraf through relentless Saudi and American pressure (courtesy President Clinton) that they be allowed to leave. And that in lieu of a pardon, they had signed a contract to stay away from Pakistani politics for ten years – a contract which they violated at the first opportunity.
Anyway, it was in this overall context, this perception of growing civil military divide, a perception that Nawaz govt. wants to insidiously cultivate and is also afraid of, that a meeting with military chief was desired to send the message across to the punjabi support base – to throw waters on the ambitions of the opposition and to thwart the ghosts of media – that military was with Nawaz. In Pakistani politics this perception is important. Whereas to its liberal support base – of NGO’s and diplomatic community in Islamabad – Nawaz wants to convey that he is under threat from the military, to the rural Punjabi its important to convey that military or its top man is with you – Our own General Sharif.
So when Dunya News senior reporter broke the story that Gen. Sharif had also advised ‘PM Nawaz Sharif’ to bring his house in order in national interest in these words:
“General Raheel Sharif expressed his concern over the current political situation of the country and suggested to the PM that the investigation of the Panama Leaks need to done at the earliest, adding that the solution of this particular matter is in the interest of the country. Army Chief said that everyone has to work for the prosperity of the country and to ensure transparency the government must investigate the Panama leaks at the earliest” (Dunya News, 10th May 2016)
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office then reacted by putting a cocktail of pressures that meant: withdraw the story. It was asserted that media should not speculate on the basis of ‘sources’ however when asked if Prime Minister’s Office will like media to refute the sources in categorical fashion, should it be said that such an advice ‘bring house into order’ was never given then the sources in Prime Minister’s Office winked. While reporters contacted the original sources and they remained adamant that the information initially given is true, and they stand by it.
What does it mean? Does it mean that military has made a plan to force government into a corner? Is it the beginning of the end of a regime seriously weakened by charges of corruption? a regime that is desperately trying different options and tactics – Commission, allied political parties, friendly opposition, Parliament, bought voices in media, civil military divide, defense of democracy – to regain its lost moral ground. In democracy, all your authority is moral, elections are nothing but a certificate of your moral authority to govern; because there will always be large numbers who have either voted against you or not voted at all.
No. It only means that military is in no mood to lend its supporting shoulder to bail out PM Nawaz Sharif. Today’s meeting was a clever insincere attempt on behalf of the Prime Minister and his team to cash onto the popularity of the military, to take their help, in rescuing Prime Minister’s battered image. There is some evidence that contacts were also made to some top officers seeking help and intervention from the military on behalf of the PM. Through this meeting, which was probably not needed otherwise, optics of power and strength were to be generated; opposition, media and public were to be fooled; control, power and invincibility of the Prime Minister was to be demonstrated. And GHQ – like the State Department in Washington – had been smart enough to understand that the PM Nawaz is trying to exploit ‘military’s good will, its hard earned public image’ for its own ulterior motives. And they let the public know through ‘Dunya News’ as to where they stand on ‘Panama Files’ just like the State Department had done in the second week of April. Read my analysis here. US Position on Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif after Panama Files Leaks & its Importance?
Now Prime Minister Nawaz will visit Parliament on this Friday, and will try to shape a narrative with the help of his allies like Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, MQM and ANP. Democracy will be in danger once again. What will PPP do? Has Khursheed Shah received his signal from London, from Asif Ali Zardari to bail out Nawaz Sharif? Are we finally moving towards the unique, unforgettable, historic ‘Nawaz -Zardari Commission on Corruption’? Are Aitzaz, Raza Rabbani all are on board? Will there be real questions like there should be in this situation or it will be a set up to white wash and bury ‘Panama Files’? We will find out on Friday, 13th May.
Military Advising Nawaz Sharif to bring house in order?
Moeed Pirzada |
Islamabad – Today, Tue, 10th May, PM Nawaz Sharif finally met his military chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif. This photo-opportunity, with the other Sharif, was desperately needed by PM Nawaz as it was increasingly being discussed in media and political circles that since the Panama leaks scandal took strength, PM Sharif has not met Gen. Sharif to generate the usual photos that claim: both civilian and military leadership are on the same page.
However the media disclosures, lead by Dunya News, that followed the meeting and that claimed that amongst other things military chief informed the PM Nawaz that “he must quickly bring his house in order and that this is in national interest” dissipated much of the shine of this meeting. Photos claiming the ‘Same Page Story’ had backfired.
The last meeting between the duo took place on April 6th, two days after the formal emergence of Panama Papers and one day after Nawaz Sharif’s speech to the nation offering to set up a commission under a retired judge, but the real controversy around ‘Panama Papers’ had started to rage afterwards.
military chief informed the PM Nawaz that “he must quickly bring his house in order and that this is in national interest”
Amidst this heated controversy around PM’s family holding hitherto hidden offshore accounts, came the famous statement of the military chief that ‘accountability should be across the board’ which was followed by the leaks of the details of the officers sacked from the military on charges of corruption. Though the statement sounded pretty innocuous and generalized, and the fact that it preceded the formal news of senior officers being sacked for corruption did contextualize it but given its timing, its syncing with the fulminating public debate centered around alleged corruption of PM Nawaz and his family, this sounded like a demand from the military that PM Nawaz must come clean on the allegations stemming from Panama Files. It was thus the beginning of a war – at least in the minds of lay media and public.
Read more: Justice delayed is Justice denied: Panama Case nearing the end?
In his second formal address to the nation on 22nd April, PM Nawaz minced no words. He did not directly mention the military but made several oblique references to those ‘ghosts’ that put him in jail, and sent him to Saudi Arabia, those ‘ghosts’ that brought 17th Amendment and so on. It was obvious that he wants his political support base – mostly rural Punjab and lesser educated urban communities – to interpret the “Panama Files” as another round of ‘civil military conflict’ in Pakistan, with him as ‘democratic hero’ braving the conspiracies, the onslaught. Earlier PMLN media team had variously defined ‘Panama Files’ as a CIA conspiracy against China Pakistan Economic Corridor, Jewish Plan, and Imran Khan’s greed for power etc.
Urdu humorist, Shafiq ur Rehman, had once written, perhaps in ‘Mazeed Hamaqtain’ that if you want public to believe something you must keep on repeating it. For instance, buy a ‘lion skin’ from the bazaar, hang it on a wall, and keep a gun on your mantle in the drawing room and keep on telling all your guests how you aimed the shot, how you killed that lion. Which lion? the lion whose ‘lion skin’ is on your wall. At some stage, even if the guests are not convinced, you will be convinced yourself that you had indeed killed that lion. Nawaz Sharif and his family had been telling the story of their ‘forced exile’ to Saroor Palace for so long that they have now totally forgotten that they had forced Gen. Musharraf through relentless Saudi and American pressure (courtesy President Clinton) that they be allowed to leave. And that in lieu of a pardon, they had signed a contract to stay away from Pakistani politics for ten years – a contract which they violated at the first opportunity.
Urdu humorist, Shafiq ur Rehman, had once written, perhaps in ‘Mazeed Hamaqtain’ that if you want public to believe something you must keep on repeating it.
Anyway, it was in this overall context, this perception of growing civil military divide, a perception that Nawaz govt. wants to insidiously cultivate and is also afraid of, that a meeting with military chief was desired to send the message across to the punjabi support base – to throw waters on the ambitions of the opposition and to thwart the ghosts of media – that military was with Nawaz. In Pakistani politics this perception is important. Whereas to its liberal support base – of NGO’s and diplomatic community in Islamabad – Nawaz wants to convey that he is under threat from the military, to the rural Punjabi its important to convey that military or its top man is with you – Our own General Sharif.
So when Dunya News senior reporter broke the story that Gen. Sharif had also advised ‘PM Nawaz Sharif’ to bring his house in order in national interest in these words:
“General Raheel Sharif expressed his concern over the current political situation of the country and suggested to the PM that the investigation of the Panama Leaks need to done at the earliest, adding that the solution of this particular matter is in the interest of the country. Army Chief said that everyone has to work for the prosperity of the country and to ensure transparency the government must investigate the Panama leaks at the earliest” (Dunya News, 10th May 2016).
Read more: Are Pakistani politicians dancing with Perkin’s hitmen?
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office then reacted by putting a cocktail of pressures that meant: withdraw the story. It was asserted that media should not speculate on the basis of ‘sources’ however when asked if Prime Minister’s Office will like media to refute the sources in categorical fashion, should it be said that such an advice ‘bring house into order’ was never given then the sources in Prime Minister’s Office winked. While reporters contacted the original sources and they remained adamant that the information initially given is true, and they stand by it.
What does it mean? Does it mean that military has made a plan to force government into a corner? Is it the beginning of the end of a regime seriously weakened by charges of corruption? a regime that is desperately trying different options and tactics – Commission, allied political parties, friendly opposition, Parliament, bought voices in media, civil military divide, defense of democracy – to regain its lost moral ground. In democracy, all your authority is moral, elections are nothing but a certificate of your moral authority to govern; because there will always be large numbers who have either voted against you or not voted at all.
General Raheel Sharif expressed his concern over the current political situation of the country and suggested to the PM that the investigation of the Panama Leaks need to done at the earliest
No. It only means that military is in no mood to lend its supporting shoulder to bail out PM Nawaz Sharif. Today’s meeting was a clever insincere attempt on behalf of the Prime Minister and his team to cash onto the popularity of the military, to take their help, in rescuing Prime Minister’s battered image. There is some evidence that contacts were also made to some top officers seeking help and intervention from the military on behalf of the PM. Through this meeting, which was probably not needed otherwise, optics of power and strength were to be generated; opposition, media and public were to be fooled; control, power and invincibility of the Prime Minister was to be demonstrated. And GHQ – like the State Department in Washington – had been smart enough to understand that the PM Nawaz is trying to exploit ‘military’s good will, its hard earned public image’ for its own ulterior motives. And they let the public know through ‘Dunya News’ as to where they stand on ‘Panama Files’ just like the State Department had done in the second week of April. Read my analysis here. US Position on Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif after Panama Files Leaks & its Importance?
Now Prime Minister Nawaz will visit Parliament on this Friday, and will try to shape a narrative with the help of his allies like Maulana Fazal ur Rehman, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, MQM and ANP. Democracy will be in danger once again. What will PPP do? Has Khursheed Shah received his signal from London, from Asif Ali Zardari to bail out Nawaz Sharif? Are we finally moving towards the unique, unforgettable, historic ‘Nawaz -Zardari Commission on Corruption’? Are Aitzaz, Raza Rabbani all are on board? Will there be real questions like there should be in this situation or it will be a set up to white wash and bury ‘Panama Files’? We will find out on Friday, 13th May.
Moeed Pirzada is prominent TV Anchor & commentator; he studied international relations at Columbia Univ, New York and law at London School of Economics. Twitter: MoeedNj. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Global Village Space’s editorial policy. This piece was first published in Moeed Pirzada’s official page. It has been reproduced with permission.
Trumps First Day in White House & Briefing by Pentagon, CIA & FBI!
Trump’s first day at the Oval Office. First briefing by the CIA, Pentagon & FBI:
Trump: We must destroy ISIS immediately.
CIA: We cannot do that, sir. We created them along with Turkey, Saudi, Qatar and others.
Trump: The Democrats created them.
CIA: We created ISIS, sir. You need them or else you would lose funding from the natural gas lobby.
Trump: Stop funding Pakistan. Let India deal with them.
CIA: We can’t do that. It is Modi in India and not Manmohan.
Trump: So what?
CIA: Modi will cut Balochistan out of Pak.
Trump: I don’t care.
CIA: India will have peace in Kashmir. They will stop buying our weapons. They will become a superpower. We have to fund Pakistan to keep India busy in Kashmir.
Trump: But you have to destroy the Taliban.
CIA: Sir, we can’t do that. We created the Taliban to keep Russia in check during the 80s. Now they are keeping Pakistan busy and away from their nukes.
Trump: We have to destroy terror sponsoring regimes in the Middle East. Let us start with the Saudis.
Pentagon: Sir, we can’t do that. We created those regimes because we wanted their oil. We can’t have democracy there, otherwise their people will get that oil – and we cannot let their people own it.
Trump: Then, let us invade Iran.
Pentagon: We cannot do that either, sir.
Trump: Why not?
CIA: We are talking to them, sir.
Trump: What? Why?
CIA: We want our stealth drone back. If we attack them, Russia will obliterate us as they did to our buddy ISIS in Syria. Besides we need Iran to keep Israel in check.
Trump: Then let us invade Iraq again.
CIA: Sir, our friends (ISIS) are already occupying 1/3rd of Iraq.
Trump: Why not the whole of Iraq?
CIA: We need the Shi’ite gov’t of Iraq to keep ISIS in check.
Trump: I am banning Muslims from entering US.
FBI: We can’t do that.
Trump: Why not?
FBI: Then our own population will become fearless.
Trump: I am deporting all illegal immigrants to south of the border.
Border patrol: You can’t do that, sir.
Trump: Why not?
Border patrol: If they’re gone, who will build the wall?
Trump: I am banning H1Bs.
USCIS: You cannot do that.
Trump: Why?
Chief of staff: If you do so we’ll have to outsource White House operations to Bangalore. Which is in India.
Trump: What the hell should I do???
CIA: Enjoy the White House, sir! We will take care of the rest!!!
[This is a free floating, anonymous satirical piece, traveling or literally flying across social media, from Washington to Islamabad and perhaps all over the world. The Genius who wrote it might be sitting in Langley or Pentagon or wherever. Reproduced under ‘Free Commons’ ]
Killing of human rights activist Khurum Zaki and Nawaz Shahbaz Meeting !!!
Dr Moeed Pirzada discusses two important events; first one was target killing of human rights activist Khurum Zaki on late night of 7th May 2016. Khurum zaki was part of protests against Lal Mosque in Islamabad few months back. Although fraction of TTP banned outfit Qari Saifulla group took responsibility of the killing. But Dr Moeed Pirzada stressed the need to investigate further as this is another challenge for law enforcement agencies.Dr Moeed Pirzada said that in the past when parveen rehman of orange pilot project was killed, TTP took the responsibility as soon as the murder took place but later worker of a political party was arrested on killing charges. And similar was the case of KPK politician Soran Singh whose murder responsibility was earlier claimed by TTP but turned out to be political dispute. Another important event discussed by Dr pirzada was meeting between PM nawaz sharif and his brother CM Punjab Mian Shahbaz sharif. After the meeting it was stated that government will not take any sort of dictation from the opposition on Terms of references for judicial commission on inquiry of Panama leaks. Dr pirzada explained that the commission was needed by PM to clear his and his family names from panama scandal but the narrative shaped was that opposition is trying to target PM only by tough TORs of the proposed inquiry commission.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Dr. Musadik Malik on Panama Leaks Judicial Commission !!!
Talking to Dr Moeed Pirzada Dr Musadik Malik special assistant to the prime minister he said that PM presented himself for accountability on Panama Papers. Also he said all the demands of the opposition have been included in the TORs. He said the Chief Justice has been authorized to carry out investigation against all those whose names are mentioned in Panama Papers. Musadik Malik said the Prime Minister name was not mentioned in Panama Papers legally, but he presented himself and his family for accountability.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Judicial Commission !!!
In the last segment on Sunday, Dr. Pirzada invited PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira to respond on the reservations of government over opposition’s ToRs on Panama Commission. Mr. Kaira said that it is correct that Prime Minister is target because his children are named in Panama papers. He said that government has given chance to all oppositions parties to come on closer on this issue. This fight was initiated by Prime Minister who is trying to show his muscles by organizing rallies and abusing the opposition in those rallies, while opposition has simply demanded investigation of PM and his family. He also said that opposition is ready to talk on ToRs but with whom? Government has not showed interest to talk. Dr. Prizada also inquired about PPP’s politics, as Mr. Khurshid Shah is more close to Mr. Zardari while Barrister Aitzaz and other Punjabi leadership is trying to revive PPP in Punjab. Mr. Kaira said that it is correct that they want to revive PPP’s politics in Punjab and there is no bad in it. He further said that it is PPP’s leadership who demanded resignation from Prime Minister, gathered opposition parties and called APC on Panama issue.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Significance of London !!!
Dr. Pirzada in the first part of show elaborated the significance of London, in the history of Europe where people of every field of life live freely. London has chosen Sadiq Khan its Mayor, who is first Muslim and Pakistani origin Mayor of London, who is son of bus driver. Dr. Pirzada also explained the beauty of democracy where powers of London’s Mayor are more than the Prime Minister who control the police, health, education, transportation services and the development of London. While in Pakistan, democratic government deliberately dissolved the local government system in 2008. Dr. Pirzada further stated that American President’s income and taxes were made public by the White house. He wrote in his recent blog “America’s Poor President & Pakistan’s Rich Rent Seeker”, in Pakistan various official annual income or hick-backs would be more than Obama’s $435,000 annual income. Just day before, NAB raided finance secretary of Balochistan Mushtaq Raisani from where 60 to 70 crore cash was recovered. Today Prime Minister had a meeting with its ally parties to seek support on the ToRs of judicial commission on Panama papers. All opposition parties are worried about Pakistan on the issue of corruption and Panama leaks while Maulana Fazalur Rehman and Prime Minister feel threat for the democracy. Dr. Pirzada also stated that along with the declared allies of Prime Minister there are some opposition parties who with their interests get attached with government as an undeclared ally which are PPP, MQM, ANP and QWP.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Panama Leaks investigation..Is Government serious?
In this segment Dr Moeed Pirzada discusses Panama Papers Scandal and its impact on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif with Renowned investigative journalist, analyst and columnist Rauf Klasra. Rauf Klasra was of the view that once a person enters in parliament he shouldn’t be allowed to run his own business due to conflict of interest. He said 50% to 60% of parliamentarians are having their businesses including sugar mills and textile mills. According to Mr klasra PM should have stepped down and brought forward someone else from his party to become PM after accusations of off shore companies owned by his sons. He said that PM is not an ordinary man so he should have moral grounds to run the government and once he is in serious scandal in panama leaks, he should have resigned.Otherwise PM could could be blackmailed by other politicians or even establishment.Mr Klasra said that instead of blackmailing opposition government should give its clarification otherwise PM Nawaz himself will become biggest threat to Democracy. NAB, FIA and FBR are under government influence and not taking any action on such a big scandal.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Shaheen Sehbai on Panama Issue !!!
Dr Moeed Pirzada talks to Senior Journalist Shaheen Sehbai on issue of Panama leaks for which government had announced constituting judicial commission but there was a deadlock on terms of reference for the commission. Shaheen Sehbai said that issue of panama leaks investigations doesn’t seem to move forward and Government is playing games on the issue. But government is still under threat due to this scandal. According to Mr Sehbai government was trying to give political angle to the death coordinator of MQM Leader Farooq sattar in custody of rangers in Karachi. In his article nawaz grand strategy as discussed in segmet Nawaz Sharif was trying to buy time and split opposition and even army to settle panama leaks issue. It was also agreed by Dr Pirzada and Shaheen sehbai that Pakistan tehrek insaf chairman Imran Khan seemed to be trapped in demand for judicial commission to inquire panama leaks issue.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Brutal Murder in Abbottabad !!!
Dr Moeed Pirzada talks to Correspondent Dunya news Ayesha Khan who had travelled to Abbottbad to find out details of the heinous crime took place in the end of April 2016. Local so called Jirga of almost 15 people gave the decision to kill this girl named Ambreen. The charred body of the teenage girl was found in a torched Suzuki van in Donga Gali on last Friday.The body was tied to the seat of the vehicle which was parked at a bus stop in the village. That jirga was called by the Makool village councilor Pervez, ordered for the deceased Ambreen to be set on fire on charges for assisting her classmate to escape from the village to marry on her free will.
Abbottabad police arrested 14 suspects including local councilor Muhammad Pervez, who presided over the Jirga, and the victim’s mother. According to DPO Abbottabad Khurrum Rasheed pervez had confessed to the crime.
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: IG KPK Nasir Durrani on Girl Murdered in Abbotabad !!!
While talking to Dr Moeed Pirzada Nasir Durrani IG KPK condemned heinous crime that took place Abbottabad in which 16 year old girl was burned alive. Police investigated that there was a fake Jirga who had ordered killing of this girl as she might have help her friend in order to leave home and get married.The suspects be brought to justice without delay, Such incidents are not acceptable in society beyond he said
Tonight With Moeed Pirzada: Government & Opposition !!!
Dr. Moeed Pirzada with the guest Mr. Asad Umer-Senior Leader of PTI, discussed the PM Nawaz Sharif’s statement who compared opposition parties and dharna policy with the non-state actors. Mr. Asad Umer responded that PM is trying to avoid to response on Panama revelations. He said that opposition parties are on one page on Panama papers investigation and it should be started from Prime Minister and his family.