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From Model Town to Gujranwala: PMLN on road to VIOLENCE?

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From Model Town to Gujranwala: PMLN on road to VIOLENCE?

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From Model Town to Gujranwala to Jehlum to Multan, PMLN has cleverly relied upon tactical violence to brow beat its opponents; so far it has worked for them because they end up frightening the general public thus reducing the sizes of rallies and marches; it was fear of violence by govt that reduced the sizes of rallies in Islamabad since common people and families which are against the PMLN govt still try to stay away from zones of violence. This pattern seems to be repeated again in Faislabad today and needs to be understood.

Violence is being repeatedly used as a tool to terrorize the public which otherwise will turn out in very large numbers to protest and score its point. Govt is afraid of the TV cameras & helicams capturing large crowds so cleverly uses tactical violence. (Remember beatings of media, ban on helicams, huge advertisements as sweetners etc)Use of privateers becoming important because Punjab Police is increasingly less willing to do violence for govt.

Now you will see the spin from govt spokespersons to shift the blame for violence on PTI. Goal is to frighten the opposition and to create a legitimate excuse for broad police action to clear the streets. This strategy needs to be understood.

Faislabad represents an interesting challenge for both PTI and PMLN …!

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Faislabad represents an interesting challenge for both PTI and PMLN …!

Moeed Pirzada | FB blog |

Faislabad represents an interesting challenge for both PTI and PMLN. Imran Khan had threatened to block cities but then in subsequent explanations PTI leaders made it clear that “closing city” does not mean forcing traders to shutter down, so what does it mean? does it mean sitting down of hundreds of small crowds at important cross-sections and not letting traffic pass? so far this looks like the plan which can work in any city but Faislabad with its key roads all originating outwards from the city circle of Ghantaghar is ideal for this.

PTI’s weakness is its perceived “sharafat” and “non-violence” which is the defining line of Pakistani power politics because country unfortunately, at all levels, from gali,mohalla, street and college to work place is controlled by “badmash people” and traditional political parties have large number of such “badmash” who control situations by threats or actual violence.

Pakistani educated middle classes – without whose participation country cannot progress – have not been able to play their role in politics because they abhor street violence. They look towards the state (District Admin, Police and Army) to provide an atmosphere to conduct their lives peacefully but Pakistani state – except the military – has been penetrated and controlled by the “badmash/street urchins” and all power in Pakistan ultimately belongs to “gunda elements” so PTI and Imran Khan are struggling to set a new trend; they want to challenge PMLN by showing that they can bring cities to stand still without doing the violence PNA did in 1977. Will they be able to do it in Faislabad today? We will find out in the next few hours, after 3pm, and we will start analyzing it then..

But PMLN govt challenge is also not easy; if crowds such sit and stop traffic then how much force Police can exert to dislodge them? and how will it use Police to disentangle PMLN workers from PTI workers? already last evening clashes in Faislabad already created a shut down kind of situation; any repeat of such scenarios in few places of Faislabad with tv cameras covering it will give PTI what it wants.. if you look at the hundreds of “Govt of Pakistan Ads” which are appearing on all TV channels after every few seconds you can part of the PMLN strategy to demonize PTI; the worst part of these party adverts is that they have been paid by Govt of Pakistan ie all of us…

Faislabad represents an interesting challenge for both PTI and PMLN …!

Moeed Pirzada
-
0

Moeed Pirzada |

Faislabad represents an interesting challenge for both PTI and PMLN. Imran Khan had threatened to block cities but then in subsequent explanations PTI leaders made it clear that “closing city” does not mean forcing traders to shutter down, so what does it mean? does it mean sitting down of hundreds of small crowds at important cross-sections and not letting traffic pass? so far this looks like the plan which can work in any city but Faislabad with its key roads all originating outwards from the city circle of Ghantaghar is ideal for this.

Pakistani educated middle classes – without whose participation country cannot progress – have not been able to play their role in politics because they abhor street violence.

PTI’s weakness is its perceived “sharafat” and “non-violence” which is the defining line of Pakistani power politics because country unfortunately, at all levels, from gali,mohalla, street and college to work place is controlled by “badmash people” and traditional political parties have large number of such “badmash” who control situations by threats or actual violence.

Pakistani educated middle classes – without whose participation country cannot progress – have not been able to play their role in politics because they abhor street violence. They look towards the state (District Admin, Police and Army) to provide an atmosphere to conduct their lives peacefully but Pakistani state – except the military – has been penetrated and controlled by the “badmash/street urchins” and all power in Pakistan ultimately belongs to “gunda elements” so PTI and Imran Khan are struggling to set a new trend; they want to challenge PMLN by showing that they can bring cities to stand still without doing the violence PNA did in 1977. Will they be able to do it in Faislabad today? We will find out in the next few hours, after 3pm, and we will start analyzing it then..

Read more: PTI demanded PM to resign

But PMLN govt challenge is also not easy; if crowds such sit and stop traffic then how much force Police can exert to dislodge them? and how will it use Police to disentangle PMLN workers from PTI workers? already last evening clashes in Faislabad already created a shut down kind of situation; any repeat of such scenarios in few places of Faislabad with tv cameras covering it will give PTI what it wants.. if you look at the hundreds of “Govt of Pakistan Ads” which are appearing on all TV channels after every few seconds you can part of the PMLN strategy to demonize PTI; the worst part of these party adverts is that they have been paid by Govt of Pakistan ie all of us…

 

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.

What is Polarization?

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What is Polarization?

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

What is Polarization? I suspect most of you or perhaps most in Pakistan don’t fully understand what it means. Polarization is when a society or polity splits in extreme ends, without a connecting middle ground. Pakistan today has become a very polarized polity between those who stand for change as epitomized by PTI and Imran Khan and those who are resisting the change as symbolized by PM Nawaz Sharif, PPP, Malana Fazal ur Rehman and allies. This is a dangerous situation for there is no middle ground left to mediate between these warring factions.

For supporters of Imran Khan all evil lies with Nawaz and allies and all propaganda machinery being controlled or financed by PMLN and allies continues to describe Imran Khan as a dangerous anarchist. PMLN controls govt and is backed by the power of the state and Washington, whereas PTI is without doubt riding on a wave of extraordinary popularity never since the days of ZA Bhutto.

Finding Solutions is always the responsibility of powerful side. In this case this means the govt controlled by PMLN has to find a political solution; unfortunately Nawaz govt does not exhibit any capability of finding a broad based solution. Nawaz Govt from day one is banking on the premise that since it controls lever of state power backed by Washington, sooner or later its opposition will exhaust itself and PMLN will be in a situation to either ignore them or negotiate a cheap deal without the need for any meaningful concessions. This is frightening and may prove disastrous for all sides. For much happens in life without any planning; this is called “Law of Unintended Consequences”.

Earlier PM Nawaz Sharif took unwise decisions that lead to this polarization. Though Elections 2013 suffered from massive rigging, which was obvious from day one, but PTI which was the main target of this rigging in Punjab (given only 8 seats out of 148 directly contested) decided not to agitate but to broadly accept the results and to follow complaints through Election Tribunals which were never suited to address the kind of irregularities that were committed. An over-confident PM Nawaz picked up an unnecessary battle with the military over Musharraf trial, which now almost everyone in PMLN realizes to be a great blunder. (privately all PMLN leaders agree that this was a disaster). Musharraf trial was an absolute power grab and it became obvious to all that if PM Nawaz handcuffs ex-military chief then his power and fear will intimidate Generals, Opposition, Judiciary, media and corporate world.. and no one will be able or willing to challenge him…it was then that military stepped into the arena to confront Nawaz in a calculated manner but Nawaz Sharif’s inability to grasp the limitations of his power soon kept on increasing the crisis between his govt and the intelligence community..that finally took an ugly turn with the confrontation between Geo and the military in which Nawaz govt decided to encourage and back GEO against military making it impossible for GEO to extricate itself from an unnecessary situation…this confrontation then sucked in country’s politics and rest is history..

Why remember all this? because none of that was imagined by either side; all that happened was “Law of Unintended Consequences” – in which one thing lead to the other. Now as it is abundantly clear from Gen. Raheel Sharif’s extended visit to the US that military has been able to establish their direct rapport with Washington and civil govt has lost much steam, but instead of understanding all this loss of power and relevance, simple minds in govt are still considering themselves very smart for not falling to Imran’s dharnas. This childish thinking still continues; they are trying for total victory in situations that demand political compromises. If Nawaz govt continued to try for total victory over Imran and did not find political compromise then Law of Unintended Consequences may lead to greater shocks soon…if Nawaz Sharif and his kitchen cabinet ponders carefully they will realize that compromising with Imran Khan by making meaningful concessions is their best deal; without bringing Imran Khan and PTI as an empowered leader of the Opposition system cannot run and deliver; this is the minimum they ought to do to save the system and to make it legitimate; time is passing and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” is ticking like a time bomb…

What is polarization?

Moeed Pirzada
-
0

Moeed Pirzada |

What is Polarization? I suspect most of you or perhaps most in Pakistan don’t fully understand what it means. Polarization is when a society or polity splits in extreme ends, without a connecting middle ground. Pakistan today has become a very polarized polity between those who stand for change as epitomized by PTI and Imran Khan and those who are resisting the change as symbolized by PM Nawaz Sharif, PPP, Malana Fazal ur Rehman and allies. This is a dangerous situation for there is no middle ground left to mediate between these warring factions.

For supporters of Imran Khan all evil lies with Nawaz and allies and all propaganda machinery being controlled or financed by PMLN and allies continues to describe Imran Khan as a dangerous anarchist. PMLN controls govt and is backed by the power of the state and Washington, whereas PTI is without doubt riding on a wave of extraordinary popularity never since the days of ZA Bhutto.

Finding Solutions is always the responsibility of powerful side. In this case this means the govt controlled by PMLN has to find a political solution; unfortunately Nawaz govt does not exhibit any capability of finding a broad based solution. Nawaz Govt from day one is banking on the premise that since it controls lever of state power backed by Washington, sooner or later its opposition will exhaust itself and PMLN will be in a situation to either ignore them or negotiate a cheap deal without the need for any meaningful concessions. This is frightening and may prove disastrous for all sides. For much happens in life without any planning; this is called “Law of Unintended Consequences”.

Polarization is when a society or polity splits in extreme ends, without a connecting middle ground. Pakistan today has become a very polarized polity between those who stand for change as epitomized by PTI and Imran Khan and those who are resisting the change as symbolized by PM Nawaz Sharif, PPP, Maulana Fazal ur Rehman and allies.

Earlier PM Nawaz Sharif took unwise decisions that lead to this polarization. Though Elections 2013 suffered from massive rigging, which was obvious from day one, but PTI which was the main target of this rigging in Punjab (given only 8 seats out of 148 directly contested) decided not to agitate but to broadly accept the results and to follow complaints through Election Tribunals which were never suited to address the kind of irregularities that were committed. An over-confident PM Nawaz picked up an unnecessary battle with the military over Musharraf trial, which now almost everyone in PMLN realizes to be a great blunder. (privately all PMLN leaders agree that this was a disaster). Musharraf trial was an absolute power grab and it became obvious to all that if PM Nawaz handcuffs ex-military chief then his power and fear will intimidate Generals, Opposition, Judiciary, media and corporate world.. and no one will be able or willing to challenge him…it was then that military stepped into the arena to confront Nawaz in a calculated manner but Nawaz Sharif’s inability to grasp the limitations of his power soon kept on increasing the crisis between his govt and the intelligence community..that finally took an ugly turn with the confrontation between Geo and the military in which Nawaz govt decided to encourage and back GEO against military making it impossible for GEO to extricate itself from an unnecessary situation…this confrontation then sucked in country’s politics and rest is history..

Musharraf trial was an absolute power grab and it became obvious to all that if PM Nawaz handcuffs ex-military chief then his power and fear will intimidate Generals, Opposition, Judiciary, media and corporate world.. and no one will be able or willing to challenge him…it was then that military stepped into the arena to confront Nawaz in a calculated manner but Nawaz Sharif’s inability to grasp the limitations of his power soon kept on increasing the crisis between his govt and the intelligence community..that finally took an ugly turn with the confrontation between Geo and the military in which Nawaz govt decided to encourage and back GEO against military making it impossible for GEO to extricate itself from an unnecessary situation…this confrontation then sucked in country’s politics and rest is history..

Musharraf trial was an absolute power grab and it became obvious to all that if PM Nawaz handcuffs ex-military chief then his power and fear will intimidate Generals, Opposition, Judiciary, media and corporate world.. and no one will be able or willing to challenge him…

Why remember all this? because none of that was imagined by either side; all that happened was “Law of Unintended Consequences” – in which one thing lead to the other. Now as it is abundantly clear from Gen. Raheel Sharif’s extended visit to the US that military has been able to establish their direct rapport with Washington and civil govt has lost much steam, but instead of understanding all this loss of power and relevance, simple minds in govt are still considering themselves very smart for not falling to Imran’s dharnas.

This childish thinking still continues; they are trying for total victory in situations that demand political compromises. If Nawaz govt continued to try for total victory over Imran and did not find political compromise then Law of Unintended Consequences may lead to greater shocks soon…if Nawaz Sharif and his kitchen cabinet ponders carefully they will realize that compromising with Imran Khan by making meaningful concessions is their best deal; without bringing Imran Khan and PTI as an empowered leader of the Opposition system cannot run and deliver; this is the minimum they ought to do to save the system and to make it legitimate; time is passing and the “Law of Unintended Consequences” is ticking like a time bomb…

 

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.

Over the last two days ….!

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Over the last two days ….!

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

Over the last two days, I have read through most of your 900-plus responses with your brief profiles, careers you follow, the cities you live, universities you have been to, organizations you work and above all your aspirations to change lives, communities and the world around you and forgive me for initially forgetting the house wives who are holding the forts, shaping the future generations and getting “politicized” by nation’s highly polarized media. And I am impressed by the immense diversity, depth of experiences and plurality all of you collectively bring to this page. Reading through your profiles was an amazing exhilarating experience and I am thankful to God that he has given me an opportunity to play a little teeny weeny part in letting so many intelligent people interact with each other on a virtual platform. Amen!

After reading what your wrote, and how you were drawn to one or the other idea I am even more convinced that anyone who thinks that he can stop the process or desire for change that resonates through all of you is an idiot. Change may take a while but old castles will gradually fall. Ideas assume a force of their own once they start to coalesce together and this is what is happening in today’s Pakistan and amongst Pakistani diasporas and that itself is driving the agenda for change.

Looking forward to continue with this beautiful journey!

Over the last two days ….!

Moeed Pirzada
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0

Moeed Pirzada |

Over the last two days, I have read through most of your 900-plus responses with your brief profiles, careers you follow, the cities you live, universities you have been to, organizations you work and above all your aspirations to change lives, communities and the world around you and forgive me for initially forgetting the house wives who are holding the forts, shaping the future generations and getting “politicized” by nation’s highly polarized media. And I am impressed by the immense diversity, depth of experiences and plurality all of you collectively bring to this page. Reading through your profiles was an amazing exhilarating experience and I am thankful to God that he has given me an opportunity to play a little teeny weeny part in letting so many intelligent people interact with each other on a virtual platform. Amen!

Read more: What is polarization?

After reading what your wrote, and how you were drawn to one or the other idea I am even more convinced that anyone who thinks that he can stop the process or desire for change that resonates through all of you is an idiot. Change may take a while but old castles will gradually fall. Ideas assume a force of their own once they start to coalesce together and this is what is happening in today’s Pakistan and amongst Pakistani diasporas and that itself is driving the agenda for change.

Looking forward to continue with this beautiful journey!

 

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.

Congratulations! to all of you …!

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Congratulations! to all of you …!

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

Congratulations! to all of you on this page; we have now become a community of more than 300,000 people, across Pakistan, India, UK, Europe, UAE and US and many other countries and amongst you there are doctors, engineers, lawyers, civil servants, IT experts, army officers, students and academics. This becomes pretty obvious from your comments. May be today you should write a few lines about yourself, what you do, where you are located and how this page makes sense to you and connect you with others who share a perspective to you…it will be interesting!

Terror against political opposition and Media ?

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Terror against political opposition and Media ?

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

PMLN’s Policy to use “terror” against political opposition and Media – History is long. Today’s attack against PTI workers near Jehlum on a day of PTI Rally fits neatly into that pattern of creating fear through violence that has been the hall mark of political thinking of PMLN from the very beginning. Can one expect justice from Pakistani judicial system? Can one expect Supreme Court to take notice of such acts of terrorism?

Unfortunately Supreme Court itself was attacked in 1997 by an unruly mob lead by PMLN party workers like Sardar Naseem & Col (retd) Mushtaq Tahir Kheli, Nawaz Sharif’s political secretary. Hooligans stormed into the supreme court, forcing Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah to adjourn the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Hundreds of Pakistan Muslim League supporters and members of its youth wing, the Muslim Students Front (MSF), breached the police cordon around the courthouse when defence lawyer S.M. Zafar was arguing his case.

Famous PTV anchor Tariq Aziz, famous for Neelam Ghar, threw and broke the portrait of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. But such has been the impotence of Pakistani Judicial System that some lowly minions were arrested and tried after a long period and awarded ceremonial punishments. The real culprits who planned and encouraged the attack on the Supreme Court of Pakistan were never identified or prosecuted. Had they been prosecuted the political history of Pakistan would have been different.

But the important point to understand is that at every juncture when PMLN was under political challenge and stress, party was able to cow down its opponents through violence and intimidation and the impotent state institutions including Pakistani Military silently watched. Attack on Supreme Court was widely anticipated but the Supreme Court Chief Justice’s request for physical protection to the Army Chief was sent by the Army Chief (Gen. Jehangir Karamat) to Ministry of Defense which was under PMLN. After the end of that challenge, Nawaz Sharif found the opportunity to get rid of Gen. Jehangir Karamat as well, who was packed unceremoniously.

In the same time period (1997-99) Najam Sethi was picked up, for writing satirical pieces against Nawaz Sharif, by IB from his home, beaten and abused and handed over to ISI for framing sedition charges which was refused by the then military Chief, Gen. Musharraf. (I was told this in detail by Najam himself in London in 2006). Jang and News were asked to fire 04 journalists including Maleeha Lodhi and when they refused all government machinery was let loose against the papers reducing 16 page paper to 4 pages. The whole period was replete with such tactics against political opposition and media. In 2006 PMLN and PPP workers beat protesting boys in Edge ware Road outside Rehman Malik’s house when boys were protesting on the meetings between PPP and PMLN. (Aitzaz Ahsen apologized on behalf of PPP in my tv program in London and referred to all this violence a result of mind distortion under martial laws)

We unfortunately again see the same pattern of using terror. Attack on Tehrik-e-Minhaj ul Quran in Model Town was perhaps not to kill or murder people but to give them a good beating to spread fear and intimidation across whole of Punjab. Impotency of state institutions – including Police, Judiciary and Army – to protect public interest is in full glow.

No genuine investigation is happening because Police officers have evidence of pressure being exerted from the top and if put in dock they will speak and spread the beans. Attack on PTI rally in Gujranwala, attacks on Shah Mehmood’s house in Multan, use of privateers with Police in Islamabad and now this latest attack in Jhelum are not isolated events that just happen. They are part of a “thinking” that believes in using “violence” to terrorize political opposition and media. Most of the time Police is used like in Lahore and Islamabad by creating pretexts and excuses but then there are instances when private gangs are needed since Police despite its institutional decay won’t oblige in such tactics.

And Pakistan is such an uncivilized and underdeveloped state with failing institutions that it works. This gives temporary results. But With every such action state and democratic society gets weakened. Ultimately when such actions continue the only force that stands between rival political factions and interests is the Army. This is ultimately the plight of every failing state. This is what the anarchy in civil war torn Africa was. But I am doubtful if Pakistan Army will be able to deal with the kind of crisis that is brewing now. It is the responsibility of Pakistani political parties, and Media including PMLN second tier leadership who are silently watching these crimes to come forward and take positions and above all it is the responsibility of Pakistani Judiciary to take notice before this realm totally collapses into anarchy.

Terror against political opposition and media?

Moeed Pirzada
-
0

Moeed Pirzada |

PMLN’s Policy to use “terror” against political opposition and Media – History is long. Today’s attack against PTI workers near Jehlum on a day of PTI Rally fits neatly into that pattern of creating fear through violence that has been the hall mark of political thinking of PMLN from the very beginning. Can one expect justice from Pakistani judicial system? Can one expect Supreme Court to take notice of such acts of terrorism?

Unfortunately Supreme Court itself was attacked in 1997 by an unruly mob lead by PMLN party workers like Sardar Naseem & Col (retd) Mushtaq Tahir Kheli, Nawaz Sharif’s political secretary. Hooligans stormed into the supreme court, forcing Chief Justice Sajjad Ali Shah to adjourn the contempt of court case against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Hundreds of Pakistan Muslim League supporters and members of its youth wing, the Muslim Students Front (MSF), breached the police cordon around the courthouse when defence lawyer S.M. Zafar was arguing his case.

Attack on PTI rally in Gujranwala, attacks on Shah Mehmood’s house in Multan, use of privateers with Police in Islamabad and now this latest attack in Jhelum are not isolated events that just happen. They are part of a “thinking” that believes in using “violence” to terrorize political opposition and media.

Famous PTV anchor Tariq Aziz, famous for Neelam Ghar, threw and broke the portrait of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. But such has been the impotence of Pakistani Judicial System that some lowly minions were arrested and tried after a long period and awarded ceremonial punishments. The real culprits who planned and encouraged the attack on the Supreme Court of Pakistan were never identified or prosecuted. Had they been prosecuted the political history of Pakistan would have been different.

But the important point to understand is that at every juncture when PMLN was under political challenge and stress, party was able to cow down its opponents through violence and intimidation and the impotent state institutions including Pakistani Military silently watched. Attack on Supreme Court was widely anticipated but the Supreme Court Chief Justice’s request for physical protection to the Army Chief was sent by the Army Chief (Gen. Jehangir Karamat) to Ministry of Defense which was under PMLN. After the end of that challenge, Nawaz Sharif found the opportunity to get rid of Gen. Jehangir Karamat as well, who was packed unceremoniously.

In the same time period (1997-99) Najam Sethi was picked up, for writing satirical pieces against Nawaz Sharif, by IB from his home, beaten and abused and handed over to ISI for framing sedition charges which was refused by the then military Chief, Gen. Musharraf. (I was told this in detail by Najam himself in London in 2006). Jang and News were asked to fire 04 journalists including Maleeha Lodhi and when they refused all government machinery was let loose against the papers reducing 16 page paper to 4 pages. The whole period was replete with such tactics against political opposition and media. In 2006 PMLN and PPP workers beat protesting boys in Edge ware Road outside Rehman Malik’s house when boys were protesting on the meetings between PPP and PMLN. (Aitzaz Ahsen apologized on behalf of PPP in my tv program in London and referred to all this violence a result of mind distortion under martial laws)

We unfortunately again see the same pattern of using terror. Attack on Tehrik-e-Minhaj ul Quran in Model Town was perhaps not to kill or murder people but to give them a good beating to spread fear and intimidation across whole of Punjab. Impotency of state institutions – including Police, Judiciary and Army – to protect public interest is in full glow.

Famous PTV anchor Tariq Aziz, famous for Neelam Ghar, threw and broke the portrait of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. But such has been the impotence of Pakistani Judicial System that some lowly minions were arrested and tried after a long period and awarded ceremonial punishments.

No genuine investigation is happening because Police officers have evidence of pressure being exerted from the top and if put in dock they will speak and spread the beans. Attack on PTI rally in Gujranwala, attacks on Shah Mehmood’s house in Multan, use of privateers with Police in Islamabad and now this latest attack in Jhelum are not isolated events that just happen. They are part of a “thinking” that believes in using “violence” to terrorize political opposition and media. Most of the time Police is used like in Lahore and Islamabad by creating pretexts and excuses but then there are instances when private gangs are needed since Police despite its institutional decay won’t oblige in such tactics.

And Pakistan is such an uncivilized and underdeveloped state with failing institutions that it works. This gives temporary results. But With every such action state and democratic society gets weakened. Ultimately when such actions continue the only force that stands between rival political factions and interests is the Army. This is ultimately the plight of every failing state. This is what the anarchy in civil war torn Africa was. But I am doubtful if Pakistan Army will be able to deal with the kind of crisis that is brewing now. It is the responsibility of Pakistani political parties, and Media including PMLN second tier leadership who are silently watching these crimes to come forward and take positions and above all it is the responsibility of Pakistani Judiciary to take notice before this realm totally collapses into anarchy.

 

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.

Why Imran and PTI should compromise on Resignation of PM Nawaz ?

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Why Imran and PTI should compromise on Resignation of PM Nawaz ?

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

Why Imran & PTI should compromise on Resignation of PM Nawaz in lieu of a genuinely empowered Judicial Commission backed by a Joint Investigation Team with ISI & MI as components?

Because the real progress in Pakistani democratic history will take place when a genuinely powerful Judicial Commission will be able to investigate the rigging, deliberate wrong doings and executive and policy failures that marred the Election 2013 which without any doubt has been the most controversial and hotly disputed election since 1977. An Election that has jeopardized the future of democracy in Pakistan.

If you are watching the debate on tv screens, you will realize that all parties and their “hired guns” afraid of a genuine free fair and transparent election under a reformed restructured Election Commission are trying to sabotage the whole concept of the Judicial Commission. All kinds of funny and ridiculous excuses are being given for instance that this will be involvement of Army into politics. Surprisingly none of these johnnies protested when PMLN invited military under Art: 245 into Islamabad under the phony excuse of terrorism; then PM forced Army Chief to mediate into a political confrontation and sent ISI and MI officers to sit in negotiations. Now these “hired guns” are crying for using Election Tribunals. In our recent programs we were able to highlight that why Election Tribunals are meaningless to investigate the kind of systematic rigging that was done in Elections 2013. Following are some key points:

One, the Election Tribunals worked like Session Courts on the Pakistani convention of Adversarial Trials where both sides (who challenge each other) have to bring accusations and then evidence to back it up. Tribunals then got caught in technical matters as pointed out by the lawyer that most petitions were thrown out for not meeting the requirements of Sec 55(3) of the Representation of Public Act 1976 (ROPA) leading to a situation where facts are never investigated since every step of the work of the Tribunals gets stuck into Technical and procedural issues. This brings us to the first important point that Judicial Commission under Supreme Court should be fully empowered to act as an Inquisitorial Court like the French and Swiss Model where Judges can ask all kinds of questions, frame queries and then direct the Executive/Investigative Agencies to collect facts, all kind of facts and evidence to help the court understand the situation.

Second, this analysis itself helps understand that why Judicial Commission will be meaningless without the support of a powerful “Joint Investigative Team” consisting of Police, IB, ISI and MI. The last two agencies are the only two agencies who have real capacity of collecting and processing all kinds of information and are not under the control of any provincial party that fought elections.

Third, the single most important step which the Judicial Commission has to take is to order the Election Commission of Pakistan to place all Form-14’s (Statements of Count) around 70,000 in case of National Assembly Elections on its website. Why website? because Election Monitors, Political Parties and Media who are in possession of the thousands of such Form-14’s issued on 11th May 2013 can then compare and check if the Form-14’s ECP used to compile election results match with the Form-14’s being issued by the Presiding Officers in the evening of 11th May 2013. This comparison alone will furnish massive evidence to raise questions about the workings and transparency of the Election 2013. In case of differences Judicial Commission can order verification of ‘thumb impressions’ of Presiding Officers on Form-14’s. Specimens of thumb impressions of the Presiding Officers officially designated by ECP to work on 11th May 2013 are available in NADRA and AGPR. These two steps will answer most of the questions; opening way for larger investigation of why Election 2013 went horribly wrong.

Fourth, the deal between Nawaz Govt and PTI should be that govt agrees to create such a powerful independent Inquisitorial Commission supported by a JIT with ISI and MI technical support and PTI agrees to withdraw the demand of the resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif even on the conclusion of such investigations. Sword of resignation dangling on head of Prime Minister & PMLN makes it practically impossible to clear the way for political transition towards a transparent, fair next Elections in 2015.

Instead Judicial Commission should focus on finding the nature of rigging and irregularities, should suggest ways and means to improve the system, recommend the structure of a new reformed Election Commission which should be empowered on the pattern of the Indian Election Commission that takes over administration before the Election doing away the drama of this fake Interim Govt which in Pakistan is only used to do rigging under the excuse that we were not running the government and poor Najam Sethi was the Chief Minister of Punjab and so on. For all practical purposes PMLN was running Punjab, PPP interior Sindh and MQM Karachi before the May Elections in 2013 and all managed to collect as many votes as they needed.

Judicial Commission can’nt and should not recommend the resignation of PM Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan should compromise on this demand in lieu for getting a genuinely empowered Commission backed by JIT supported by MI and ISI.

Commission once it finds the rigging and irregularities and their scope may recommend an “Early Elections” either in the beginning of 2015 or end of 2015; and political parties can settle amongst themselves the addition of opposition like PTI and PPP into central and provincial governments (Cabinets) to increase transparency before the these elections. But the single most important step at that stage will be the creation of a new Election Commission in which process should be more important than personalities.

This whole debate about who will head the Election Commission is meaningless, [an energetic civil servant in his fifties should head it instead of octogenarian judges] what is important is the internal balance of power between its various organs and total transparency so that all political parties, media, election monitors and civil society organizations can continuously examine what is happening inside the Election Commission. Multan Bye-Elections is a good example of how massive rigging becomes impossible when media and monitors are watching each step and bureaucracies are less inclined to help politicians rig the election.

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Dialogue With Students @ Oxford University

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Dialogue With Students @ Oxford University

A dialogue with Pakistani students in Oxford University. Dr Moeed Pirzada said in the introduction that there are many Pakistani students belonging from middle class in Pakistan and on scholarships to get educated from Oxford University.

Different issues relating to Pakistan and how students in Oxford perceive issues, challenges and how to solve these in Pakistan from abroad are discussed in the dialogue. It was also discussed that after completing their education in Oxford how they want to take part after getting back to Pakistan or they are not interested to go back home and prefer to stay in UK for brighter future.

A Conversation with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri

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A Conversation with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

A Conversation with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri on why he called off his Dharna and If he is going to Canada? – Friends started texting me today that Dr. Qadri has again decided to leave for Canada. Given my familiarity with the developing politics, possibility of Local Elections in near future and Qadri’s plans to turn his PAT into an active political party I found that hard to believe. So I requested to speak to him. After a bit of effort I reached him on phone and I shot: Dr. Qadri, I just heard this and I am surprised. How could you do it?

He explained that he is just going to travel for few days. More than Canada, he will spend time in the US and UK where he intends to set into motion a reorganization of his political party, PAT which had remained dormant since 2004, while he concentrated on Tehreek-e- Minhaj ul Quran as his main activity, but now he is seriously working to reinvigorate Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and his followers in both US and UK constitute his key support. Qadri emphasized that he has moved back to Pakistan, and like anyone else living in Pakistan he will continue to travel in and out, but Pakistan is now his political focus and he will continue to be in the country as long as it takes and will be back much before his next scheduled jalsa at Bhakkar on 23rd Nov. He emphasized that he has given a full schedule of such Jalasa for instance he will be at Sargodha on 5th Dec, in Sialkot on 14th Dec, Mansehra on 21st Dec and Karachi 25th December, so permanently leaving for Canada is not an option for him at this stage – not any more.

Why he finished his Dharna? He said that he was thinking and planning to end dharnas and for taking his politics across the country for past several weeks. According to him, when he briefly joined Imran Khan at his Container due to failure of his sound-system (on 2nd Sept) he told this to Imran that he will have to wind his dharnas since his organization is paying a huge financial price for these, his people from different cities of Punjab are tired, have jobs and businesses and most importantly because he has concluded that now more than dharna, politics of rallies across cities and countryside is needed to continue with the political agitation – staying put at Islamabad restricts him. (Perhaps he had also concluded that his initial strength of having dedicated cadres was his weakness now, and Imran who did not have such hardened cadres had a different strength at this stage in terms of crowds every where, including Pindi and Islamabad who can continue to come and go, unlike Qadri whose supporters are from far off). According to Qadri, Imran listened patiently and carefully, did not protest much but looked unhappy on his suggestion. In the days to come, many political quarters pressed Qadri not to leave and the departure kept on being delayed but in principal he had decided to leave.

He is right to the extent that all those who were watching, and listening to all sides knew that sooner or later he will call off and his announcement two days ago was not a surprise. I knew for instance that Chaudries had pleaded him not to leave; this was before his large jalsa in Lahore and he had politely refused. But he stayed on for few more days. But still one wonders: Why he could not have maintained a small token presence of 200-300 people at Constitution Ave while continuing to have jalsas and rallies across the country?
Meeting of PAT with Shahbaz Sharif? – Dr. Qadri insists that such a meeting only took place between Dr. Raheeq Abbassi and Shahbaz Sharif; Khurram Gandapur was not present. This was an accidental meeting and Raheeq Abbassi happened to be at a place where Shahbaz Sharif came and bumped into him. (No one will or can believe this; as you have seen Fawad criticizing this simple narrative in our program on Sat). Any way according to Dr. Qadri, Shahbaz Sharif asked Raheeq Abbassi that what can be the way forward? Raheeq told him that he – CM Punjab – should resign briefly, till the end of investigations by JIT into the Model Town Massacre. Shahbaz rejected this point blank; adding that there was a stage to consider such things but time for such discussions has passed. Meeting ended in few minutes. But basically Dr. Qadri asserts that no deal has taken place between PAT and CM Punjab, and that they could never agree on anything – not even on Diyyat or Blood Money for those killed by Punjab Police in Model Town Lahore.

I described all that in “Siyasat Aur Sazish” today. How much of what he told me is true and how much is either Siyasat aur Sazish, I cannot say with certainty; and only time will prove. But I am confident of one thing: He is not going back to Canada; he sees significant political space for his party – Pakistan Awami Tehreek – in Local Bodies Elections and disappearing from the political scene will not make sense. Lets wait for the Bhakkar Jalsa on 23rd Nov – with crossed fingers…?? (Will some complications develop while he is traveling? Will something happen that will make it difficult for him to return? I have these questions on my mind, but we will find out)

Note: Transcript of this Telephonic Conversation can be checked with Intelligence Bureau for accuracy, under Right to Information Act.

A conversation with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri

Moeed Pirzada
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0

Moeed Pirzada |

A Conversation with Dr. Tahir ul Qadri on why he called off his Dharna and If he is going to Canada? – Friends started texting me today that Dr. Qadri has again decided to leave for Canada. Given my familiarity with the developing politics, possibility of Local Elections in near future and Qadri’s plans to turn his PAT into an active political party I found that hard to believe. So I requested to speak to him. After a bit of effort I reached him on phone and I shot: Dr. Qadri, I just heard this and I am surprised. How could you do it?

He explained that he is just going to travel for few days. More than Canada, he will spend time in the US and UK where he intends to set into motion a reorganization of his political party, PAT which had remained dormant since 2004, while he concentrated on Tehreek-e- Minhaj ul Quran as his main activity, but now he is seriously working to reinvigorate Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and his followers in both US and UK constitute his key support.

Read more: From Model Town to Gujranwala: PMLN on road to violence?

Qadri emphasized that he has moved back to Pakistan, and like anyone else living in Pakistan he will continue to travel in and out, but Pakistan is now his political focus and he will continue to be in the country as long as it takes and will be back much before his next scheduled jalsa at Bhakkar on 23rd Nov. He emphasized that he has given a full schedule of such Jalasa for instance he will be at Sargodha on 5th Dec, in Sialkot on 14th Dec, Mansehra on 21st Dec and Karachi 25th December, so permanently leaving for Canada is not an option for him at this stage – not any more.

Meeting of PAT with Shahbaz Sharif? – Dr. Qadri insists that such a meeting only took place between Dr. Raheeq Abbassi and Shahbaz Sharif; Khurram Gandapur was not present. This was an accidental meeting and Raheeq Abbassi happened to be at a place where Shahbaz Sharif came and bumped into him.

Why he finished his Dharna? He said that he was thinking and planning to end dharnas and for taking his politics across the country for past several weeks. According to him, when he briefly joined Imran Khan at his Container due to failure of his sound-system (on 2nd Sept) he told this to Imran that he will have to wind his dharnas since his organization is paying a huge financial price for these, his people from different cities of Punjab are tired, have jobs and businesses and most importantly because he has concluded that now more than dharna, politics of rallies across cities and countryside is needed to continue with the political agitation – staying put at Islamabad restricts him. (Perhaps he had also concluded that his initial strength of having dedicated cadres was his weakness now, and Imran who did not have such hardened cadres had a different strength at this stage in terms of crowds every where, including Pindi and Islamabad who can continue to come and go, unlike Qadri whose supporters are from far off). According to Qadri, Imran listened patiently and carefully, did not protest much but looked unhappy on his suggestion. In the days to come, many political quarters pressed Qadri not to leave and the departure kept on being delayed but in principal he had decided to leave.

He is right to the extent that all those who were watching, and listening to all sides knew that sooner or later he will call off and his announcement two days ago was not a surprise. I knew for instance that Chaudries had pleaded him not to leave; this was before his large jalsa in Lahore and he had politely refused. But he stayed on for few more days. But still one wonders: Why he could not have maintained a small token presence of 200-300 people at Constitution Ave while continuing to have jalsas and rallies across the country?

Qadri emphasized that he has moved back to Pakistan, and like anyone else living in Pakistan he will continue to travel in and out, but Pakistan is now his political focus and he will continue to be in the country as long as it takes and will be back much before his next scheduled jalsa at Bhakkar on 23rd Nov.

Meeting of PAT with Shahbaz Sharif? – Dr. Qadri insists that such a meeting only took place between Dr. Raheeq Abbassi and Shahbaz Sharif; Khurram Gandapur was not present. This was an accidental meeting and Raheeq Abbassi happened to be at a place where Shahbaz Sharif came and bumped into him. (No one will or can believe this; as you have seen Fawad criticizing this simple narrative in our program on Sat). Any way according to Dr. Qadri, Shahbaz Sharif asked Raheeq Abbassi that what can be the way forward? Raheeq told him that he – CM Punjab – should resign briefly, till the end of investigations by JIT into the Model Town Massacre. Shahbaz rejected this point blank; adding that there was a stage to consider such things but time for such discussions has passed. Meeting ended in few minutes. But basically Dr. Qadri asserts that no deal has taken place between PAT and CM Punjab, and that they could never agree on anything – not even on Diyyat or Blood Money for those killed by Punjab Police in Model Town Lahore.

Read more: Terror against political opposition and media?

I described all that in “Siyasat Aur Sazish” today. How much of what he told me is true and how much is either Siyasat aur Sazish, I cannot say with certainty; and only time will prove. But I am confident of one thing: He is not going back to Canada; he sees significant political space for his party – Pakistan Awami Tehreek – in Local Bodies Elections and disappearing from the political scene will not make sense. Lets wait for the Bhakkar Jalsa on 23rd Nov – with crossed fingers…?? (Will some complications develop while he is traveling? Will something happen that will make it difficult for him to return? I have these questions on my mind, but we will find out)

Note: Transcript of this Telephonic Conversation can be checked with Intelligence Bureau for accuracy, under Right to Information Act.

 

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.

Rana Sanaullah’s new definition of Imran Khan…!

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Rana Sanaullah’s new definition of Imran Khan…!

Moeed Pirzada | FB Blog |

Rana Sanaullah’s new definition of Imran Khan & PTI as “Fahashi Party” on Ptv, but why? – Just heard Rana Sanaullah on Ptv, while moving in between different news bulletins (12.30-12.37pm– 22nd Oct, Thu). Rana was talking to press, perhaps only Ptv was covering it live. Rana said that Imran Khan’s PTI and its “Naya Pakistan” represents dishonor of families and disrespect to the elders, now soon grown up children will say: “Go Abba Go”; PTI represents dancing boys and girls, and open fahashi etc. People will reject this “Naya Pakistan” in favor of “Jinnah’s Pakistan” because otherwise their “thees ie Daughters” will soon emerge on dharanas dancing and thus dishonoring their families and elders. He talked for several minutes but this is a gist of what he said, in more or less his words and I am sure TV channels will dig up this clip and can put it on internet.

Why is he saying this? Is this only an expression of his or PMLN’s social conservatism or this represents a political strategy? And will Pakistani liberals and Feminists, Diplomatic and Development communities take notice of this political communication which militates against all what they stand for? or at least give the impression that they do?

Rana is a very intelligent man. He is PMLN’s point man for shaping political narratives, for defending party’s interests and for hobnobbing for religious and sectarian organizations. And that is why there is serious talk of bringing him back to the forefront and ministerial position. And despite his involvement with the Model Town massacre he is increasingly being given limelight from PMLN; it is not without a purpose that his press briefings are being covered live by Ptv. So what is trying to achieve?

First we need to understand that PMLN’s vote bank is mostly rural, is less educated, ultra-conservative and has a narrow world view. It is also more “older”. Most PMLN support comes from fathers and mothers and older people over 40, who also become conservative and thus very insecure about “daughters” and the young especially daughters not obeying them. Though PMLN’s vote bank is still more aware of the world than the PPP vote bank in interior Sindh, Achakzai’s vote bank amongst Pashtuns in Baluchistan and Maulana Fazal ur Rehman’s supporters in rural parts of KPK, but is decidedly less educated, less socially developed than PTI, MQM and ANP.

Secondly we need to understand that Rana, and PMLN are now trying to scare the rural Punjab that Imran Khan and PTI represents a threat to your traditional values, respect for elders and father and brother’s control on his daughter and sister. May be everything is fair in love and war and our politics aferall now represents a war like situation, so Rana and PMLN may be able to justify what they are trying to do. However this kind of political communication should be challenged by Pakistan’s liberal community, NGO crowd, Development community and should be brought in front of the international community, all of whom have always advocated a more equal and progressive role for Pakistani woman and her greater participation in political process. This is a test case for their commitment to better governance.

Third, Rana is saying this at the eve of provincial bye-elections in Sheikhupura; though its a safe PMLN seat vacated after the death of a PMLN MPA and his brother or cousin is contesting from PMLN, and is hardly being monitored by media but PMLN is worried that a victory by slim majority may be interpreted as a symptom of their growing unpopularity.

Fourth and in conclusion, we need to understand how political parties and factions need to communicate different messages at different level. To international community CM Punjab presents himself as a symbol of development and modernity, to rural conservative Punjab PMLN sends the message that “modern and thus assertive daughters will be a threat”. Previously at the height of Long March and dharnas, PMLN told the liberals and international community that marchers are a conspiracy by the military and thus represent a ‘civil military problem’ but to rural and conservative Punjab, PMLN told that Qadri and Imran represent an international conspiracy against Pakistan and China being funded by Americans, British and Canadians. Let me add PMLN has done that quiet successfully and PTI despite a middle class party did not have good communication strategies. May be PTI wallas need to read Machiavelli.

Hope this helps to your understanding of issues – please share it

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