When General Kayani, the new army chief of staff issued instructions to army people last month not to meddle in politics and not to hobnob with politicians, he was merely reiterating existing regulations of long standing. But these have been flouted with immunity in Pakistan ever since one can remember.
President Musharraf allegedly used army men (in and out of uniform) extensively as emissaries in wheeling and dealing with politicians in various dubious ways. Only a few days back, there was news of an ex-army officer talking to Shahbaz Sharif in back door diplomacy. Old habits obviously die hard.
Another deviation from the appropriate norm was that over the years, President Musharraf filled hundreds of top or near top positions in industrial and business entities and even Universities with serving and retired army men much to the chagrin of civilian professionals in line to fill them.
Army men trained in such military disciplines as gunnery or commando action and so forth for most of their careers, suddenly found themselves running businesses, factories and academic institutions for which they had never been trained either academically or professionally.
Their number had swelled to over 300 when General Kayani took over army command. Among officers being recalled are included as many as 61 officers working in the National Accountability Bureau which was set up by General Musharraf soon after the 1999 coup and reportedly often used to bring errant sheep back into the fold one way or another.
Apart from depriving the army of their professional services, the employment of senior army officers in civilian areas had the effect of also depriving deserving civilians of opportunities of moving up to positions of higher responsibility. Civilian organisations obviously suffered from having non-professionals suddenly descending from "above" to sit at the top. It goes to General Kayani's credit that, despite more serious preoccupations in the tribal area and elsewhere, he lost no time in starting the "rollback" of the army from where it was not wanted or needed.
Early in February for example he took a decision, at the Corps Commanders Conference held at GHQ, to recall army officers from their civilian assignments in a phased manner. This was followed up by quick action. We hope the mistakes of the past will not be repeated and a firm foundation laid for prevention of unhealthy practices in future.
At the same time General Kayani has focused on improving the lot of the lower army ranks through provision of better accommodation and education facilities and subsidised education for their children. For a change some one is taking care of this apparently forgotten need.
AITZAZ AHSAN - MAN IN A HURRY!Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan, catapulted into prominence by his aggressively competent defence of the "deposed" CJP and bold leadership of the lawyers' movement has yet to learn to play the statesman rather than the politician.
He aims to be a roller-coaster, on the move all the time at a hectic pace, rather than be a train stopping at stations at intervals to fill up on fuel and water. To be fair, however, he has hardly been out of detention for some months now thanks to the short-sightedness of one who cannot see beyond his nose.
The matter came to a head recently when even his well-wishers appeared to differ from his call for long-march on Islamabad on 9 January (first anniversary of the "removal" of CJP Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry) if the judiciary was not restored to its 2 November 07 position by then.
They wanted to give the new parliament (yet to be formed) reasonable time to come to grips with this tough nut specially but not exclusively due to the fact that there is considerable difference of opinion in legal circles as to how exactly the "restoration" can come about. Good sense finally prevailed and the day has been converted to a protest day. A strong hint to Aitzaz to take a more consultative approach and to carry others with him!
OH NO! NOT AGAIN, MR ATTORNEY GENERAL: Oscar Wilde's classic "The importance of being Earnest" features an interview of a hopeful suitor by the prospective mother-in-law. When the suitor informs the prospective mother-in-law in response to a question that both his parents were dead, the latter remarks: "Losing one parent is a misfortune; but losing both is plain carelessness"!
We are reminded of this after reading a news item that appeared around middle of the month, a day or two before the elections. The news item alleged that our worthy Attorney General, Malik Abdul Qayyum advised an unnamed person on phone to accept an election ticket from an unnamed party because "they will massively rig (elections) to get their own people to win.
At the time this phone conversation allegedly took place, the AG was being interviewed on phone by a journalist on the day the Government announced in November 07 that it would hold the elections on January 08. The interviewer was put on hold by the AG to attend to this other call.
As it happened, the interview was being recorded and this call was also recorded. All this was alleged by a US based human rights group named Human Rights Watch which also volunteered that the entire conversation (which was in Punjabi) could be heard on its web site www.hrw.org.
This is bad publicity for the Attorney General who has already had to answer charges of judicial misconduct concerning published transcripts (by Britain's Sunday Times in February 2001) of tapped phone conversations he allegedly had (when he was High Court Judge presiding over a case against Benazir Bhutto and Asif Zardari) with Mr Saifur Rahman, the anti-corruption chief in (then Prime Minister) Mr Nawaz Sharif's government, way back in April 2001.
The conversation showed an abject Judge allegedly seeking instructions on what punishment to award in these words "now you tell me how much punishment you want me to give her (Benazir)?".
Strong sentences of 5 years in jail plus a hefty fine and various disqualification's were handed down by the Judge. However a seven member bench of the Supreme Court upheld an appeal and overturned the conviction, recalled the Sunday Times and added that rather than face the charge of professional misconduct by the Supreme Court, Mr Qayyum opted to resign his post in Jun 2001.
The Attorney General hotly denies the HRW allegation, calling it fabricated and saying: "had it not been fake it would have been released three months ago". He has now served a legal notice on HRW for placing the alleged conversation with an unidentified person on its web site to take various actions including payment to him Rest 300 million as "damages for defamation".
We sit back and see what happens but we also wonder about the journalistic morality of broadcasting an unauthorised and accidentally tapped conversation What the new government will be up against First consider the law and order situation. Strong arm and arrogant measures have landed us in a situation in which half of our army is engaged in quelling acts of sabotage and insurgency and not nearly succeeding.
Parts of Balochistan and NWFP are like wounds which have been allowed to fester for so long that the body itself is in grave danger and our enemies have opportunity for carrying out overt and covert operations to add to our misery. The new civilian government has an opportunity to give dialogue a chance.
Externally the country we have allied ourselves with in its war against terror plays hot and cold with unsettling regularity. We are constantly asked to do more, threatened with discontinuance of aid and warned against entering into any kind of dialogue with the insurgents. Can the new government break from the past in a bold new direction? Can we lure our old and trusted friend China back to resume its helpful economic activity in this country with reliable assurance of security for its project staff.
On the economic front the picture is clouded with chickens coming home to roost, a result of economic mismanagement of past years. Here I quote from an admirable analysis by Mr Rais Ahmad Khan which appeared in this paper under the title "Legacy of Shaukat Aziz" recently. Mr Rais has listed succinctly the malaise as follows:
(Quote) 1) Unprecedented current account deficit and balance of payments gap, 2) Rising imports, and beyond control fuel bills, 3) Power shortages and forecasts of worse to come, 4) Falling industrial production and loss of export orders, 5) Over estimating agricultural production, and consequent food and other shortages, 6) Drain on public and private resources due to worsening law and order situation - itself an offshoot of economic disparities, 7) Political instability and a power vacuum at the top, 8) Growing domestic public debt and reluctance of foreign "friends" to bail us out.
(Unquote) As a result of the above another price spiral is almost certain to come leading to much economic hardship and unrest especially among the low income groups which continue to suffer from shortages of staples like atta, cooking oil, sugar and so on as well as the price spiral. The question of the Presidency and Judiciary looms large and ominous. But this subject appears in detail elsewhere in this Roundup. Good luck to the new government. It will need lots of it.
UNREST CONTINUES, TALL CLAIMS NOTWITHSTANDING The month got off to a bad start. Towards the end of the month, however, there were signs of a lull accompanied by talks at various levels and in various forums for working out a peaceful solution to the continuing strife.
America has been always opposed to any discussions or compromise with the insurgents among whom it goes on including an ever increasing number of groups. Let us hope this dangerous situation is not allowed to prolong itself and use of brute force is replaced by meaningful dialogue.
Continuous strife is detrimental to our security, and encourages our enemies to fish in troubled waters. The following news items give an idea of how serious the situation is. The purpose in showing these happenings together in one place is to bring home the enormity of the problem which might be passed over if seen as just one item of violence and sabotage on any particular day.-- Miranshah, 2 February 08: five security personnel killed in suicide attack.
-- Noshera, 1 February 08: PAF truck damaged in blast.
-- Mardan, 2 February 08: Eight-hour gun battle leaves two cops, two militants dead.
-- Landi Kotal, 3 February 08: Two red-cross workers go missing in Khyber area.
-- Rawalpindi, 4 February 08: Terror revisits Pindi security zone in suicide attack on army bus. 10 killed including one lieutenant colonel and one major.
-- Kohat, 8 February 08: About 25 militants attack and occupy Kohat Tunnel's old toll booth.
-- Kohat, 9 February 08: Power pylon of a high power transmission line damaged in blast.
-- Miranshah, 11 February 08: Six pro-government elders killed by suicide bomber in Edak village in North Waziristan's Mirali sub-district.
-- Lakki Marwat, 11 February 08: Two PAEC officials, their driver and five local men were kidnapped in Sheikh Badin area adjacent to Lakki Marwat.
-- Landi Kotal, 11 February 08: Tariq Azizuddin envoy to Kabul goes missing, feared kidnapped in Khyber Agency.
-- Mingora, 13 February 08: Swat candidate survives bomb attack.
-- Darra Adamkhel, 13 February 08: Security forces moved tanks and launched a massive search operation in Darra Adamkhel after rockets were fired on telecommunication installations.
-- Khar, 13 February 08: A major and two other security personnel were killed and another suffered injuries when their vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Badi Siah area of Bajaur region.
-- Peshawar, 15 February 08: An F.C. official was killed and a police constable suffered injuries when a group of armed men attacked a Frontier Constabulary fort in Kishan Garh.
-- Kohat, 19 February 08: Three security personnel were injured in a hand grenade attack at a military checkpost in Kohat cantonment.
-- Mingora, 16 February 08: Suicide attack on army media centre kills two and 14 others were injured.
-- Swat, 22 February 08: Security man, militant killed in Swat's tehsil Gul Jabba.
-- Rawalpindi, 24 February 08: Suicide bomber strikes at the Mall, kills army surgeon-general, his guard, driver and several others.
-- Mansehra, 24 February 08: Four NGO staff members were killed and eight others seriously injured when armed men attacked its office with hand grenades.
-- Peshawar, 23 February 08: Three security men were killed and six others injured when armed men attacked a check post on the outskirts of the city.
-- Peshawar, 24 February 08: Three missiles landed here including one in the cantonment area.
-- Miranshah, 23 February 08: Paramilitary soldiers shot dead a suspect when he attacked a security check post in Miranshah.
UNREST IN THE SOUTH-WEST The policy of using force alone has obviously failed in this sensitive province. How can we think of ever having a gas pipeline bringing gas from Iran to Pakistan and then to India, if our existing gas and power infrastructure comes under daily, deadly attacks.
The elections provide an opportunity for a fresh start towards resolving this festering security sore. America is deadly opposed to the Iran gas project and one wonders if CIA of USA has been also abetting the strife one way or another. Here briefly is what has been happening in the province by way of sabotage and destruction during the month.
-- Quetta, 31 January 08: Six injured in blast, Pylon blown up.
-- Quetta, 2 February 08: Suspected militant killed.
-- Quetta, 4 February 08: Two police personnel injured, militant killed in exchange of fire.
-- Quetta, 3 February 08: Power pylon blown up near Hub.
-- Quetta, 3 February 08: Armed men kidnap driver of Irrigation Department from Pat Feeder area.
-- Quetta, 4 February 08: Man killed in land mine blast.
-- Quetta, 5 February 08: Man carrying explosives killed in blast.
-- Quetta, 9 February 08: Dr Chishti killed for "working against Baloch cause".
-- Quetta, 9 February 08: Two main gas pipelines blown up, gas supply to parts of Quetta disrupted.
-- Quetta, 9 February 08: Security man killed, four others injured in bomb blast in Nushki area.
-- Quetta, 10 February 08: Power pylon damaged by an explosion in Hazargangi in the outskirts of Quetta..
-- Quetta, 11 February 08: Six security men were injured in an explosion near Dera Bugti.
-- Quetta, 12 February 08: Journalist among nine injured in blast.
-- Quetta, 13 February 08: Blasts rock Mastung, Kharan; Window panes of many buildings damaged.
-- Quetta, 15 February 08: Landmine blast kills boy, injures three.
-- Quetta, 16 February 08: Three security personnel were injured when their vehicle was blown up by a remote control landmine in the Dera Bugti area while 5 powerful explosions took place in Quetta and elsewhere.
-- Quetta, 17 February 08: Four security personnel killed, one injured in a landmine explosion in the Pir Koh gas field area of Dera Bugti District.
-- Quetta, 20 February 08: One sub-inspector and two head constables were shot dead in the suburbs of the city.
-- Gas supply to the Sui purification plant was suspended after a pipeline linking it with Loti field was blown up.
-- Quetta, 22 February 08: A police officer, his 2 guards and driver were taken hostage for hours by armed tribesmen in the Qila Abdulla area and were released only after 4 hours of talks with tribal elders.
-- Quetta, 22 February 08: A Frontier Corps man suffered serious injuries in a landmine explosion in the Kohlu district.
-- Quetta, 23 February 08: An 18-inch gas pipeline was blown up in the Pirkoh area disrupting supply to the gas purification plant.
-- Quetta, 24 February 08: At least 3 security personnel were killed in two explosions in Dera Bugti area.
QUOTES OF THE MONTH
PAKISTAN MOVEMENT REINITIATED: It seems to me as if the Pakistan movement has been initiated again". - Rana Bhagwan Das (retired judge Supreme Court of Pakistan) addressing a joint meeting of various Bar Councils on Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry Day, News Report dated 1 February 08.
WHO KILLED AL LIBI?: Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff planning to visit Pakistan during the month for talks with the new Army Chief of Pakistan said he could not disclose whether it were Pakistani or American troops who killed Al Libi a top al Qaeda leader in North Waziristan on 29 January 08 - Washington 1 February 08 News Report. (It was earlier reported that Al Libi was killed by a missile fired by a US drone).
PRESIDENT'S POWERS VERSUS RESTORATION OF JUDICIARY: "President Musharraf retains the power to dissolve the next parliament if it restores the previous judiciary". US State Department on 2 February 08.
INSIGNIFICANT PERSONALITIES: "They are insignificant personalities - most of them are ones who served under me and I kicked them out. They are insignificant. I am not even bothered by them". - President Musharraf talking to Financial Times about ex-Forces officers who criticised his actions. 2 February 08
VIP ESCORT DUTIES: "Instead of taking on terrorists in situations like the recent Shah Latif Town shootout, anti-terrorist commandos (an elite group of Sindh police) perform escort duties for the president, ministers and other VIPs". - Karachi 7 February 08 Newspaper Report.
NEVER IF NOT NOW: "If we did not bring the (deposed) judges back this time never again will any judge dare to stand up to injustice and tyranny" - Nawaz Sharif during a talkathon with journalists around 8 February 08.
DEPOSED JUDGES: "The deposed judges could be reinstated through a formal notification as they were removed under a PCO which had no constitutional or legal basis". - former Supreme court judge Wajihuddin Ahmed addressing the Sindh High Court Bar Association on 7 February 08.
GOVERNMENT BORROWING AND INFLATION: "Government budgetary borrowing from the State Bank has reached historic level of some Rs 334 billion during the current fiscal year and the Government's reliance on bank borrowing is fuelling inflation" - Shamshad Akhtar Governor SBP on 9 February 08
MQM WILL NOMINATE OWN PRIME MINISTER IN 2013: "The message of MQM was spreading across the country and it would be in a position to nominate its own Prime Minister and Chief Minister in Sindh in the 2013 elections". - MQM Chief Altaf Hussain addressing public meetings in Karachi on phone from London.
QUESTION OF THE MONTH: To what extent America will go to ensure that President Musharraf continues as President ?([email protected])
(Concluded)
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