ادھر وزیر اعظم یوسف رضا گیلانی کی ہدایت پر میمو اسکینڈل کی تحقیقات کرنے والی پارلیمان کی کمیٹی برائے قومی سلامتی کا اجلاس بھی منگل کو پارلیمنٹ ہاؤس میں ہوا، جس میں حسین حقانی اور انٹیلی جنس ادارے آئی ایس آئی کے سربراہ لیفٹیننٹ جنرل احمد شجاع پاشا کی طرف سے موصول ہونے والے بیانات کا جائزہ لیا گیا۔

کمیٹی کے سربراہ سینیٹر رضا ربانی نے بتایا کہ منصور اعجاز کو بھی اپنا بیان جمع کرانے کی ہدایت کی گئی تھی لیکن ان کی طرف سے نا تو کوئی جواب داخل کرایا گیا ہے اور نا ہی مطلع کیا گیا ہے کہ آیا وہ کمیٹی کے سامنے پیش ہوں گے یا نہیں۔

متنازع خط کو حکومت کاغذ کا ایک بے وقعت ٹکڑا قرار دیتی ہے، جب کہ پاکستانی فوج اور آئی ایس آئی کے سربراہان نے عدالت عظمیٰ میں اس حوالے سے اپنے تحریری بیانات حلفی میں ’میمو‘ کو ایک حقیقت قرار دیتے ہوئے اس کی تحقیقات پر زور دیا تھا۔ متنازع مراسلے پر متضاد موقف سویلین حکومت اور عسکری قیادت میں تناؤ کی ایک وجہ بھی بنا ہوا ہے۔

منصور اعجاز جس نے بغیر دستخط شدہ کاغذ کے ایک ٹکڑے سے مملکت خداداد کے ریاستی ستونوں کو ایک دوسرے کے مدمقابل لاکر،پاکستان میں کمزور جمہوریت کو شدید خطرات سے دوچار کردیا تھا۔ اب اس الف لیلوی داستان کا انجام قریب ہے، اس میں اتنا دم خم بھی نہیں کہ ہم آنے والی نسلوں کو سنا سکیں، نہ جانے ہمارے ریاستی اداروں کے سربراہ کس منہ سے یہ کہانی آنے والی نسلوں کو سنائیں گۓ؟

کہتے ہیں ‘جھوٹ کے پاؤں نہیں ہوتے’، اسے کچھ دور چلنے کے لے بیساکھیوں کی ضرورت ہوتی ہے۔ منصور اعجاز کو میمو اسکینڈل میں ایک بڑی بیساکھی میاں نواز شریف اور انکی جماعت کی صورت میں ملی، جن کی انصاف کے لۓ کوئ درخواست رد ہونے کا سوال ہی نہیں۔ ان کی آذاد عدلیہ سے محبت اور پارلیمنٹ سے نفرت کسی سے ڈھکی چھپی نہیں۔

مغل بادشاہوں اورانگریزحکمرانوں کے پروٹوکول سے متاثر، منصور اعجاز کے وکیل اکرم شیخ اس کی سیکورٹی کے لۓ فوجی دستہ مانگ رہے ہیں، اور میڈیا پر بیٹھے اینکروں اور تجزیہ نگاروں کے سنجیدہ سوالات اور تبصروں نےپورے معاملے کو کامیڈی سرکس میں بدل کر عوام کو ایک ہییجانی کیفیت میں مبتلہ کیاہوا ہے۔

حامد میر کا شمار ان صحافیوں میں ہوگا، جنہوں نے ‘میمو’ سازش کے دوران روایتی پی پی پی مخالف میڈیا کے برعکس منتخب سویلین حکومت اور صدر مملکت کو اپنی تحریروں میں سپورٹ کیا۔ اور انہوں نے انٹرویو کے زریعے صدرمملکت کی سوچ اور خیالات بھی عوام تک پہنچاۓ۔

حامد میرنے اپنے کالم ‘قلم کمان’ میں ‘منصور اعجاز تھینک یو’ کے عنوان سے جو کچھ تحریر فرمایا ہے، اس میں صداقت ہے۔ ہمارے ریاستی اداروں کے سربراہان کا چہرہ اور کردار سب کے سامنے ہی ہے، پی پی پی کے خلاف سازش کرنے والے سیاسی اداکاربھی سب کے سامنے بے نقاب ہوچکے ہیں۔ حامد میر نے کالم میں حکومت کی رخصتی کی افواہ میں ہونے والے ایک فراڈ کا تزکرہ بھی کیا ہے۔ یہ درست ہے کہ تمام جرائم افواہوں’ بے یقینی کی فضا میں ہی ہوتے ہیں۔ ہمارا سب سے بڑا مسئلہ سیاسی بے یقینی ہی ہے ۔ جسے میڈیا اور سیاسی اداکار مذید بڑھا رہے ہیں۔

حامد میرکے کالم میں کچھ باتیں ایسی ہیں، جن سے ہمیں اتفاق نہیں ہے۔ وہ فرما رہے ہیں، منصوراور اس کے میمو سے یپلز پارٹی کی مقبولیت بڑھ جاۓ گئ۔ ایسا نہیں ہے: پی پی پی کو اپنی مقبولیت کے لۓ کسی ‘جوکر’کی ضرورت نہیں، ہاں البتہ میان نواز شریف اور انکی جماعت نے منصوراور اس کے میمو سے فائدہ اٹھانے کی کوششش کی جس میں وہ ناکام رہے۔ میرصاحب تھینک یو اور ہار پہنانے کا مشورہ میاں صاحب کو دیتے تو ذیادہ بہتر تھا، لیکن بدلتے حالات میںشائد وہ بھی منصور کو تھینک یو کہنے کے لۓ تیار نہیں؟

Source: Daily Jang

Journalist Saleem Shahzad’s murder (May 2011)

The ISI told the commission that Shahzad kept his contact with them to the last, which, they said, proved he did not feel threatened by the agency! Their assertion that Al Qaeda could have killed Shahzad was backed by their taped conversation with another journalist, Hamid Mir, who “condemns Saleem Shahzad [as] being a dubious case [and] laments Americans for their extraordinary interest in this case.” The ISI sought to prove that Al Qaeda commander Ilyas Kashmiri and his agents, whom Shahzad’s reports revealed as his main sources of information, could have killed him. (Source)

Massacre of 86 Ahmadi Muslims in Lahore (May 2010)

Initial reactions to the terrorist attack on two Ahmadi mosques in Lahore in May 2010 focused on the official and popular bigotry against the Ahmadi sect in Pakistan. Intolerance towards the Ahmadi community is being seen as the explanation behind the massacre of worshippers, allegedly and by their own admission, by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the ‘Punjab wing of al-Qaeda’. While that narrative explains why the Ahmadis were targeted at all, it does not answer the important question of “why now?” Ahmadis have been victims of official discrimination, political violence and popular invective for as long as Pakistan has existed. ‘Sectarian’ terrorist groups like the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and the al Qaeda-linked Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) have not only been in existence for a long time but are political allies of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the party that is in power in Punjab province.

Organisations like these had the capability and the motives to massacre Ahmadis all this while, but until yesterday, the violence was ‘below the radar’. There is a need, therefore, to look beyond religious bigotry as the immediate cause of yesterday’s violence.

The attacks could have been triggered by the allegation—by Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir—that the controversial Khaled Khawaja was, among others, working for the Ahmadis. Because Mr Mir’s words were widely publicised it is possible that hotheads in one or more of the militant groups decided to deliver a violent response. While this has happened in the past—as when a television personality’s anti-Ahmadi vitriol triggered a lynching—it was never on this scale. (Source)

Khalid Khwaja’s murder (30 April 2010):

The Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence are said to be investigating what role Hamid Mir has played in the assasination of Retd Squadron Leader Khalid Khawaja, who was kidnapped by a shadowy outfit calling itself the ‘Asian Tigers’, part of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).

The shocking audiotape of a conversation between Hamid Mir – one of the country’s top TV anchors – and a man purportedly linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has revealed that negative information that Mir passed on to the Taliban could have led to the execution of Khalid Khawaja, the retired Air Force official allegedly killed by a group calling themselves the ‘Asian Tigers’.

The tape – which has Mir divulging dirt on Khawaja, ostensibly to someone who is going to cross examine him – was first posted by the Let Us Build Pakistan blog, and picked up by other online publications. It is still unclear who made the tape, with online speculation suggesting that it could be the militants themselves, or even intelligence agencies who released the recording.

Whatever the source may be, it is clear that one of the voices on the tape is Mir’s, a fact corroborated by his allusions to events such as his sacking from the daily Ausaf. In the tape, the person on the other end asks Mir for information on Khalid Khawaja. The content of the conversation suggests that this call was made before Khawaja’s execution earlier this month. Mir goes on to detail what he knows about Khawaja’s background, linking him to the CIA, an international network of Qadianis and an American named Mansur Ejaz, who, Mir claims, even offered to solve the Kashmir issue.

At one point, the voice on the other end claims to have abducted Khawaja. Here, Mir volunteers further information linking Khawaja to the Lal Masjid operation, saying that Khawaja and his wife were the ones responsible for the death of Ghazi Rasheed and the humiliating capture of Maulana Abdul Aziz and his family. Mir then urges the man to cross-examine Khawaja about his relationship with Mansur Ejaz, Qadianis and a CIA agent named William Casey.

Mir also mentions Javed Paracha – the Kohat-based PML-N lawmaker who offered to mediate Khawaja’s release. Towards the end of the tape, the voice on the other end says that he will relay the information (that Mir has given) to Hakeemullah Mehsud. (Source)

“Hamid Mir is Number 1 Enemy of Pakistan” Says Son of slain ISI-operative Khalid Khawaja

Hamid Mir’s audiotape (made public by the ISI on 13-14 May 2010, the conversation took place in April 2010 before Khalid Khawaja’s murder)

http://criticalppp.com/archives/10918

Transcript of Hamid Mir’s conversation with a Punjabi Taliban (Lashkar-e-Jhangvi) terrorist:

HM: Khalid Khawaja, according to my opinion, is not an ISI man, rather he is a CIA agent, an American CIA agent and he has links with the Taliban leadership.

UM: Yes, he met with Hakimullah and others when he came here last time.

HM: I personally know that Khalid Khawaja has links not only with CIA but he is also a front man of Mansoor Ijaz who belongs to a very big international network of Qadiyanis. Once he came to me along with Mansoor, who had a briefcase with him, and Khalid Saab told me that Mansoor is a key representative of the US government, so arrange his meeting with Syed Salahuddin, who is a mujahideen leader, and he along with him would resolve the Kashmir issue.

UM: All right.

HM: But I asked him what charm or magic lamp does he posses for the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. He said he had links with the Indian government and (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee Jee, which surprised me. I didn’t arrange the meeting, but I asked Mr Salahuddin who said Khalid Khawaja is sending messages that you should directly talk to India and the US on the issue and exclude Pakistan from it.

UM: All right, all right.

HM: After that, Mansoor Ijaz also asked me: Are you with us or not? I said, “I am not with you.” Then he conspired against me and got me sacked from the Daily Ausaf when I was its editor. So, I think Khalid Khawaja not only has links with the CIA but he is also an agent of the Qadiyanis, and I am very sad that he used to go to the Tribal Areas and meet leaders there.

HM: He (Khawaja) himself has confessed in front me that he had links with William Casey. Ok! Leave William, ask him about the Qadiyanis, because I personally believe that Qadiyanis are worse than infidels, what kind of links does he have with Qadiyanis? What relationship does he have with Mansoor Ijaz? Why does he use his money? Why does he go everywhere with him when he comes to Pakistan? Why does he bring him to the mujahideen?

Pakistan's Supreme Court has been traditionally allied with the Punjabi-dominated military establishment against elected governments.

Make so much noise that everything becomes inaudible-then people would hear what we want them to hear. This is how the Pakistani Establishment is controlling the game at the moment – It is very clear who is who, and what is what. But because of a concentrated effort to remove the current Government and head of state, all the other noises and all other logic is being drowned.

Today the Supreme Court of Pakistan has given the Government six options to remedy the NRO decision. Yes you heard this right, Courts are now providing multiple answer type option to their decisions. I am not aware how this would work in future, would this be that decisions would be given to murders they have six choices, varying degrees of punishment and even a possible acquittal. We provide, you decide.

Court has stated following options:

Option 1: Court would move against the Prime Minister, President and Law Minister because they were ‘harping’ that they shall not write a letter to Switzerland, and this equates to violating the court’s order they have violated their oath to office and so are not worthy of the office. 

The Honourable Judge states that Prime Minister made these claims in the floor of the House and Senate. Honourable Judge has made many references to Quran, but perhaps has oversight over Article 69 of The Pakistan constitution that explicitly prohibits any scrutiny of statements made on the House floor. The said speech is non-justiciable in any court as it as it was made in the floor the house – How has there been such an oversight is amazing.

President made a similar statement in an interview with Hamid Mir – Be that may, Only way to remove a President is through Article 47 of the constitution, i.e. two-third majority of the Parliament.

Option 2: The Prime Minister and the Law Minister would be held to have made contempt of court, virtue of which both Gentleman could lose their membership of Parliament, and their office along with it.

Though again Article 63 (1) (g) (ridiculing Judiciary or Armed Forces) is mentioned, though again Article 69 defence should apply. Thus only 63 (1) (h) is applicable.

Option 3: Supreme Court would form a commission under Article 187 that shall execute the said relevant decision. 

Option 4: Immunity to President under Article 248 has NOT YET BEEN DISCUSSED  and if anyone seeks to discuss this in the court, they may do so. 

In any case, it is highly astonishing thus far that court has not heard anything under Article 248 presidential immunity, which one would have thought is a highly important defense available to the Government against writing the letter.

Option 5: NAB chairman has failed and protected the accused, namely Ahmed Riaz Sheikh, and Adnan Khawja who have been appointed wrongly and to take actions against Malik Qayoom.

Option 6: Court may ask the Parliament to take such steps as it sees fit to ensure that court’s judgement is implement  

It is not clear what court means about handing over the implementation to the Parliament. Does the court expect a resolution by the parliament would suffice, which would first form a commission to ensure implementation and the the said commission can advise parliament of way it has ensure implementation .

Related Article: President Asif Ali Zardari exclusive interview with Hamid Mir

کیپٹل ٹاک کے اینکر پرسن اور مقبول صحافی حامد میر نےاپنے حا لیہ کالم میں صدر آصف علی زرداری سےکٔے گۓا انٹرویو کے تناظر میں ان کی مضبوط,دلیرانہ شخصیت, پیپلز پارٹی کی جنگ گروپ سے ناراضگی اورپاکستان میں ریاستی اداروں کےدرمیان تصادم اور اس حوالے سے سیاسی مستقبل پر گفتگو فر مایٔ ہےـ

اپنے اس کالم میں وہ صدر زرداری کے آدھے سچ کی نشاندہی کرتےہوۓ, اپنے آدھے سچ بولنے کی صحافتی روایت سے منکر نہیں ہوۓـ

حامد میر صاحب نے اپنے صحافتی ادارے کا دفاع کرتے ہوۓ فرمایا ’صدر زرداری اور پیپلز پارٹی سےہماری نا راضگی کی وجہ معزول ججوںکی بحالی کی تحریک تھی‘۔

یہ دعوی۱ تاریخی حقائق سے مطابقت نہیں رکھتا؛ زوالفقار علی بھٹو کو تختہِ دار تک لا نے سے لے کر بی بی شہید کے میڈیا ٹر ائل‘ ا’ن کے خلاف کینگروں کورٹس میں پیش ہونے والی نام نہاد انوسٹی گیشن رپورٹس کی فوٹو کاپیو ں سے موجودہ جمہوری حکومت کے خلاف بد ترین مہم جویٔ: جمہوری حکومتوں سے مخاصمت کے ایک لمبی تاریخ ہے۔ پھر کسی وقت سہی۔

ہمیں یاد ہے اس حکومت کے آتے ہی سب سے پہلا حملا اسٹبلشمنٹ نے حسب روایت میڈیا سے کروایا‘ الزام یہ لگا کہ حکومت ‘جیو انگلش‘ کو لأسنس نہیں دے رہی؛ اب لوگ پوچھ رہے ‘بھٔی اب کہاں ہے چینل؟ خیر جب بات ٹیکس دینے پر پہنچی تو جمہوری حکومت کے خلاف ’جنگ‘کا ایک بار پھر آغاز ہوگیا۔

مہم جو اینکروں کے زریے جمہوری حکومت کے خلاف بدترین مہم چلایٔ گیٔ‘, پیپلز پا رٹی کی حکومت جانے کی تاریخیں دیتے رہے؛ ا’ن کے مطا بق صدر کو ایون صدرسے ایمبلینس میں جانا تھا۔ معاف کیجئےگا میر صاحب لوگ ابھی کامران خان شو اور شاھد مسحود کے ’میرے مطابق کو نہیں بھولے۔

بہر حال یہ ایک یہ ایک مثبت پیش رفت ہوگی , اگر میڈیا اپنی ماضی کی غلطیوں سے سبق سیکھتے ہوےجمہوریت کے رستے میں رکاوٹ بننے کی بجاۓسیاسی راستہ کشادہ کرتا ہے۔ اور اپنا وزن تاریخ کے اس اہم موڑ پر جمہوریت کے پلڑے میں ڈالتا ہے۔

حامد میر لکھتے ہیں, ’انکیُ حکومت بہت غیر مقبول ہے اورانتخابات میں دوبارہ اکثریت حاصل کرنا مشکل ہوگا‘۔ اس کا فیصلہ آئندہ انتخابات میں ہوگا لیکن ماضی کے انتخابی نتائج اور خاص کر ضمنی انتخابات کےنتائج کو نظر انداز کرنا, بہتر تجزیعہ نہیں۔

حامد میر نے مستقبل میںجوڈیشری اور ایگزیکٹیو کے درمیان تصادم کی جو تصویر کشی کی ہے اور جس میں انتظامیہ کو بڑا قصور وار قرار دیا گیاہے, درست نہیں ہے۔ یہی وجہ ہے کے علی احمد کرد اور عاصمہ جہانگیرجیسے لوگ عدالت کے ساتھ نہیں کھڑے۔ اور تاریخ دان لکھے گا کہ وکلا تحریک کے یہ روح رواں درست سمت میں کھڑے تھے۔

حامد میر کا کالم ذیل میں پیش خدمت ہے۔

Source: Daily Jang

Mr. Zardari’s remarks came against the backdrop of various reports that the army is fed up with Zardari and wants him out of office, but this time through judiciary, and is pressuring him to quit over the alleged memo case/Khaghiz ka tukda.

“I don’t think anyone in Pakistan is so innocent that he will ask for my resignation,” the President said.

“What will they do with my resignation? I have given my powers to parliament. Who will take them back from parliament?” he asked.

Regarding the prime minister’s statement in parliament that he did not want a ‘state within a state’ Zardari highlighted that the premier was all-powerful and he took a firm stance on the issue accordingly.

In president’s view, parliament is sovereign to all bodies: When asked about which decision he would accept if the court and the parliamentary committee made opposite verdicts, he made it clear that the parliament was sovereign and he will back its decision.

“These (things) are part of evolution. You think this is a fight, I believe this is part of evolution. This fight will boil up and will simmer down then… We have no war with the court, why should we have a fight with the army?” president described.

Zardari asserted his party-led government was running the state affairs in the best way. He said he is ready for talks with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif on all the issues including early general election. “The Pakistan People’s Party-led government was not afraid of elections.”

In reply to a question about the reopening of NRO cases, Mr Zardari said he believed it would be a “trial of the dead; it will be like trial of BB’s grave”.

Asked to comment on the deteriorating condition of state-run organisations such as PIA, Railways and Wapda, the president said: “Media think it was so, but I don’t think so, these entities have only weakened (not destroyed)”.

In response to a question about Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the president said:

“When Bhutto sahib came he brought in 99 percent new people. You (PTI) want to bring 96 percent old people, who have left four parties. And you say you will bring change.”

President has also said he is ready for talks with the main opposition leader and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on all issues including early polls & Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) government was not afraid of polls.

Video: Asif Ali Zardari President Of Pakistan in an Exclusive Interview With Hamid Mir in Special episode of Capital Talk on Geo News.

Zardari’s interview helped clear misunderstandings: Rehman Malik

ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said that President Asif Ali Zardari’s recent interview to a private TV channel has helped in clearing misunderdandings on different issues.

The president spoke at length on various issues of national and international importance ranging from the domestic political situation, relations between state institutions and ties with India, China and the US, he said while talking to media here.

The minister said President Zardari strengthened the Parliament by transferring powers to the prime minister, negating the thinking of opposition parties including Pakistan Muslim League-N.

“Opposition was propagating that President Asif Ali Zardari will not give his powers to the Parliament,” he added.

Malik said the government is following the vision of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in line with her policy of reconciliation to strengthen democratic institutions.

Commenting on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, he said the case has been investigated from many aspects and people involved in it have been exposed.

Former minister Raja Pervez Ashraf said that President Asif Ali Zardari has presented his point of view in simple words before the nation, adding that the PPP-led government came into power after having a public mandate.

He said promoting the atmosphere of reconciliation in the country was the dream of Benazir Bhutto and PPP is committed to fulfilling it.

Replying to a question, Raja said the government is taking appropriate steps to extend maximum facilities to overseas Pakistani for which it had opened more offices in the country and abroad to solve their problems related to passports and identity cards. (APP)

The above and similar discourse is currently being injected in Pakistani and international media in the aftermath of a PTI rally in Lahore (30 October 2011) which was successfully engineered and enacted by Pakistan’s security establishment as a warning message to current democratic set up and also to demonstrate to the US and West that Pakistani masses are anti-USA, anti-drone, pro-Taliban and pro-Army.

Not surprisingly, the above discourse is being injected and spread not only by right wing friends of the establishment (mostly in Urdu media) but also by (fake) liberal affiliates (mostly in English media) who usually work in close coordination to promote the establishment’s interests and objectives.

A few snippets from local and international media:

Declan Walsh (sounds familiar?) writes in in Guardian (citing, of course, Najam Sethi and Mosharraf Zaidi):

“Declare your assets or face the wrath of the people,” Imran Khan shouted, drawing roars of approval, in the largest rally for decades in Lahore, Pakistan’s political heartland. The crowd reflected the vein that Khan has tapped – young, urban and mostly educated Pakistanis who have grown disillusioned by the chaotic politicking and inept governance of the traditional political elite. “It’s an activation of the upper middle class – people who, over the years, haven’t had a voice in Pakistani politics,” said political analyst Mosharraf Zaidi. “It’s been slowly taking root. People are getting disillusioned, they saw Imran as more dynamic and focused,” said Najam Sethi, a veteran journalist and analyst. “I think Imran and the army will get along very well – if he ever comes to power,” said Sethi. (Source)

Next, known pro-Taliban and pro-establishment journalist Hamid Mir offers a discourse which is not much different from Declan Walsh, Najam Sethi and Mosharraf Zaidi’s narrative.

A mind-blowing public rally of Imran Khan in Lahore on October 30 made it very difficult for the Zardari regime to give new commitments or accept any demands from the US to push its decade-long war against terror. Imran Khan has not only become a threat for traditional political parties inside Pakistan but is also going to become a big hurdle in the implementation of demands made by US during the recent visit of Hillary Clinton to Islamabad. The PTI leader criticised not only President Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif but also blasted US policies in the biggest-ever show of political power in Lahore in the past 25 years. His opponents often declared him “Taliban Khan” or the “modern face of Jamat-i-Islami” but hundreds of thousands of people enjoyed the songs of many popular singers in the Lahore rally. Imran Khan is becoming the voice of the common Pakistanis who are neither religious extremists not secular fascists. He is becoming a ray of hope for those disgruntled youngsters who have started hating democracy due to bad governance and corruption. These youngsters can now bring about a change in Pakistan through their vote power. Youth is the real power of Imran Khan and this youth belongs to the lower middle, middle class. This is the most disillusioned class in Pakistan but now the youth of this class is becoming active, which is a positive sign. Hillary Clinton needs to realise the wave of change in Pakistani politics. She cannot understand this change without engaging Imran Khan. October 30 was just a beginning. World will see more changes on the political map of Pakistan and Imran Khan will play a leading role. (Source)

Three groups of propagandists

There are currently three groups of media persons who are acting as propagandists of Imran Khan’s (ISI-backed) PTI:

1. Those who personally attended the PTI rally on 30 October 2011 and visibly demonstrated their support by being seated behind Imran Khan on the main stage.

2. Those journos who could not attend the rally in person but actively highlighted and promoted the rally in the mainstream media (e.g., Talat Hussain, Kamran Khan, Hamid Mir) and also on Twitter (e.g., Mosharraf Zaidi, Tammy Haq, Omar Waraich).

3. Those media persons who are not propagandists of PTI but are influenced by systematic lies and propaganda of the first two groups.

While we are sympathetic to the third group and hope that they will soon realize their mistake, it is the first two groups who are cunningly trying to deceive the masses through lies and tactics.

Such lies and propaganda tactics include but are not limited to:

1. Exaggerated account of total number of participants: According to most accounts, the rally comprised at the most 100,000 participants, which is per se no less an achievement. However, it is important to consider three factors:

a. For many live-hearted people of Lahore, the rally was no more than a free concert in which they could see their favourite singers (Strings, Shahzad Roy etc) perform without paying a single rupee.

b. For PPP and PML-Q supporters, it was a convenient opportunity to dent PML-N’s alleged stronghold in Lahore.

c. For activists and affiliates of Jamaat Islami, Sipah Sahaba / Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, Lashkar-e-Taiba, TTP etc, the rally offered an excellent opportunity to demonstrate their support for Taliban and Al Qaeda and hatred for the West.

2. Some of the propagandists are making funny claims, e.g., the attendance at the Lahore rally was the largest ever political crowd in decades.

Benazir Bhutto’s historical reception in 1986 during General Zia-ul-Haq’s military regime, her other rallies and most importantly the 2007 rally in Karachi of one million plus supporters is conveniently ignored by such propagandists.

BB’s arrival in Lahore 1986

BB’s arrival in Karachi 2007

3. The propagandists are conveniently ignoring the most important (and most disappointing) part of the said rally, i.e., Imran Khan’s speech which according to several objective political analysts was a huge failure. According to Nadeem Paracha, the speech was nothing more than a mix of feel-good sloganeering and hollow revolutionary spiel. According to daily Mashriq, there was nothing in Khan’s speech which might represent his promised revolution or change. According to Daily Times, by keeping quiet about the military’s role in Pakistani politics and the consequent mess we are in today, Mr Khan has certainly aroused suspicion. Many believe he has the blessings of the establishment.

End product:

Here’s a specimen of end product of the pro-establishment operatives’ systematic lies and propaganda:

Finally, this reality check:

Asad Kharral in Express Tribune provides an objective estimate of total number of participants in PTI rally based on various agencies reports: The Special Branch of the Punjab Police estimated that the PTI rally on Sunday attracted between 40,000 and 45,000 people. Provincial government figures suggest that about half of the PTI rally’s attendees were from Lahore while the remaining were from the rest of Punjab and even Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the tribal areas. The numbers from the federal government’s agencies, on the other hand, are higher. The Intelligence Bureau – the only agency directly answerable to the civilian government in Islamabad – estimates that the PTI’s crowd may have been as high as 60,000. The IB also estimates that, if the number of people unable to reach the venue due to traffic are counted, the total number of attendees at the PTI rally may well approach 100,000.

The same 100,000 (maximum) figure has been reported by various sources (ironically including some of the propagandists e.g. Hamid Mir and Declan Walsh) in their reports and columns.

To claim that PPP, PML-N or MQM have not been able to attract more than 100,000 people to a political rally in decades is a joke which must not be taken seriously.

For an example, we do not have to go very far. Right on the same day (30 October 2011) when Imran Khan was fuming against the democratic governments in Punjab (PML-N) and Pakistan (PPP-ANP-MQM coalition), the MQM in Karachi took out a massive rally in support of President Zardari which comprised a bigger crowd than Imran Khan’s political show cum musical concert in Lahore.

Unfortunately, MQM does not enjoy dedicated services of Mujib-ur Rehman Shami, Declan Walsh, Hamid Mir, Najam Sethi, Shirin Mazari, Mosharraf Zaidi etc. Thefore, MQM’s massive rally was not given due attention by certain media analysts and commentators whose current brief is limited to promoting Imran Khan and his PTI.

Here is, however, a picture of the MQM rally published in daily Dawn on 31 October 2011.

A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Enjoy!

The truth is that the politics of hate, anti democracy and confusion, combined with media complicity and Internet access, has led not to a discussion of issues but to garbage spewing hate towards West & democracy, especially United state and civilian elected government, with religiosity, fake nationalism and bigotry as its pillars.

Since, the mainstream media don’t present the liberal and democratic narrative that put question and cast doubt on the security based state narative, so the political commentariat has been reduced to partisan state one sided propaganda.

When it comes to hate-infested Anti-Americanism and Anti-Zardarism, the commercial channel’s cartoonish news and comment talk shows have been mixing biased opinion and ultranationalist extremism with news stories without clearly labeling and categorization, for the sake of a breaking news, some ratings points, better job package or to oblige masters.

Most of our “best corporate media’s talk show anchors” in Pakistan are great at being entertainers and practicing tabloid-style sensationalism, but are lousy at informing people, furthermore, are selling and spreading the lies of the extreme right wing. And, now, we have fortunately or unfortunately ‘Bhand experts’ on every issue ranging from Pakistan United States relations to democracy, as they are providing more entertainment than news anchors, and their rating is also better.

To define precisely what nationalism means; accepting people of all faiths and not differentiating between them on the basis of race, religion, color, ethnicity or caste, and it also means that every nation has the right to determine itself within the frame of its own interests. The national interest of a state is multi-faceted and usually as defined by its representative government or parliament, yet being nationalist does not mean that you have to follow blindly any order or policy given by a security and intelligence establishment.

The article, published in the New York Times, In Pakistani Media, the U.S. Is a Target for Acrimony, describes how Pakistani media have provided fodder for the spread of anti-American views.

“Such is the media frenzy and warmongering that popular talk show hosts have even begun discussing possible scenarios of how Pakistan should react if the United States attacks the country. One television news channel has even aired a war anthem.”

The Article further states:

“The rambunctious electronic and print media have been rife with discussions about the possible rupture between the two troubled allies. Several retired army officials have taken on a very hard line, urging the government to break ties with the United States.”

The article especially highlights the lies and propaganda of Hamid Mir:

On Monday, Hamid Mir, the host of “Capital Talk,” a talk show on the popular news network Geo, started the show asking, “Is United States going to attack on the ground in Pakistan?”

Mr. Mir, who has a penchant for sensationalism, asked Asma Jahangir, the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, what would happen if, in response to an American attack, Pakistan blocked the NATO supply lines that pass through the country for the Afghan war.

Ms. Jahangir rebuked the host. “America hasn’t launched any attack yet, and you are talking this way,” Ms. Jahangir said. Instead, she urged Pakistanis to reflect on where they have gone wrong.

Riaz Malik

I will not tolerate any criticism of patriotic journalists like Hamid Mir. If one were to reach the pinnacle of investigative journalism, one would then have to strain their neck further upwards to see the exalted level attained by underpaid patriotic reporters like Hamid Mir.  Only a Marxist, anti-imperialist media beacon like GEO/JANG Group would have the courage to employ such a bold, anti-establishment voice.

GEO has been a shining beacon against the Dynastic PPP tyrants.  Mir Ebrahim Rahman is the third generation of a struggling, anti-establishment middle-class family that has raised its voice against the PPP dictators who have oppressed Pakistan’s army.  GEO is the best for bravely providing the much-needed airtime to the anti-establishment hero of the masses and defender of the noble anti-imperialist Taliban, Hazrat Imran Khan.

“Hamid Mir, Shia Hazaras do NOT need your crocodile tears! – by Laibaah ” is the work of a typical liberal fascist!  It is these liberal fascists who are destroying the unity amongst real liberals like Ejaz Haider, Nasim Zehra, Ali Dayan and Hazrat Imran Khan.

As I have mentioned earlier, there are two types of liberals in Pakistan.

One are the CIA-RAW-Mossad funded fake liberals, in fact liberal fascists who attack, abuse and malign Hamid Mir and other patriots using fake Ids and are aptly known as dangerous computer viruses.

The other are the Real Liberals like Hamid Mir, Ejaz Haider, Nasim Zehra, Ali Dayan Hasan, Ansar Abbasi, Hazrat Imran Khan PTI, Hazrat Altaf Hussain MQM etc who are true patriots and do not use the media to malign the only working institute of Pakistan, the Pakistan Army. It is these liberals, amongst others who have highlighted that democracy is the best revenge that has been exacted on Pakistan!!

For Pakistan to succeed, it needs the good governance of sound administrators like PTI and MQM who are part of a Bangladesh Model that is installed by a Pious Patriotic Pakistani (PPP) general and Pakeeza Puttar Pakistani (PPP)  judges like the great Khawaja Sharif and his Holiness Chaudhary Iftikhar. This is the PPP we need and not Hindu-Rafzi Bhutto-Zardari sorcerors. The army and judges are the real PPP who will always support great leaders like Hazrat Imran Khan and great patriots like Malik Ishaq and Mumtaz Qadri.

Kal bhi Zia zinda thaa, aaj bhi Zia zinda Hai!
Jeeeeeayyyy Hazrat Imran Khan and Mullah Omar!

Related posts: Pakistani Shias and other rights activists protest the misrepresentation of Shia massacres by Human Rights Cartel

Intellectual dishonesty in misrepresenting Shia massacres in Pakistan

For the last few days, we have seen a new trend in Pakistani and international media to misrepresent the systematic and ongoing massacres of Shia Muslims in Pakistan as some sort of ethnic cleansing directed against a particular ethnic group. A case in point is the portrayal of Shia Hazara massacres in Quetta, not as sectarian motivated acts of violence by sectarian / jihadi footsoldiers of the Deep State (ie, Laskhar-e-Jhangvi, Jundullah, Sipah-e-Sahaba, Taliban etc) but as some sort of ethnic cleansing of the Hazara community.

There are, however, a few problems with such narrative:

1. It ignores the fact that the LeJ, SSP, TTP killers proudly own the massacres of Shia Hazaras (as well as those of Shia Tooris and Shia Saraikis etc) as a part of their jihad against kafir (infidel) Shias. Of course, it would amount to intellectual and moral bankruptcy to consider LeJ, SSP as an ethnocentric organization.

2. Such narrative hides the only common element between Toori Pashtuns of Kurram, Saraikis of Dera Ismail Khan, Muhajir and Sindhi Shias of Karachi and Punjabi Shias of Lahore and Jhang. LeJ’s attacks on all of these groups are not motivated by their ethnicity but by their faith, ie, Shia sect.

3. It also ignores the fact that in an ethnic conflict, particularly when there is an allegation of ethnic cleansing, there are always two parties. For example, in the Rawandan genocide, Hutu militia groups, backed by the Rwandan military, systematically set out to murder all the Tutsis they could reach, regardless of age or sex. If Hazaras are being ethnically cleansed, which ethnic group is killing them? Herein lies the sinister aim of the vested interests currently spreading the false narrative of ‘ethnic cleansing’.

By terming Shia Hazara massacres as ethnic cleansing they are indeed blaming Baloch nationalists and/or Pashtuns. Whose narratives are they serving? By blaming the Pashtuns, they are reinforcing General Hamid Gul, Tariq Ali and Imran Khan’s narratives who treat the Pashtun as synonymous to the Taliban. By blaming the Baloch, they are once again peddling the typical army-ISI’s line by blaming the RAW and CIA via BLA:

In an op-ed on the News on October 06, former IG Police Balochistan Tariq Khosa wrote:

“Everyone knows that after the escape of a hardcore LJ terrorist from the high security prison in Quetta, the LJ has regrouped and developed a nexus with BLA and other militant outfits in the province to cause systematic mayhem. It is not a secret that such forces have their hideouts near Mastung in Kabo and other Ferrari camps. These camps are located in the B Areas, which are out of the reach of Balochistan Police, thanks to power-hungry politicians and bureaucrats who have handed over 95% of the province to the rag-tag militias, called the Levies.”

Of course, it serves the army/ISI’s agenda to blame Baloch nationalists including the BLA for the Shia Hazara massacres enabling the military state to kill two birds in one stone, i.e. the rebel Baloch and the non-compliant (anti-Taliban) Shia. Unfortunately the same ISI-esque narrative has been adopted by some media persons and human rights organizations.

Let’s refer to the following editorial in Afghanistan Outlook:

Prominent Pakistani journalists such as Najam Sethi, Mushtaq Minhas, Javed Nusrat and others in TV talk shows are now calling the continuous attacks on Hazaras as an ethnic genocide. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a statement last week called upon President Zardari and Prime Minister Gillani “to take immediate, direct and personal initiative to prevent the killing of members of the Hazara community in Quetta and ensure action against all those who have failed to protect citizens’ lives.”

4. As far as human rights organizations are concerned, it is much more convenient for them to paint Shia Hazara massacres in Quetta as ethnic cleansing because it helps them cover up their criminal silence on the brutal, incessant Shia massacres which are taking place in Pakistan since 1985 at the hands of the Deep State and its various proxies, e.g.,  the currently ongoing blockade of Shia Tooris of Parachinar by Pakistan army backed Taliban which is effective since 2007. It also helps them cover up their complete silence on mass massacres of Saraiki Shias of D.I.Khan, Bhakkar and other similar incidents in Karachi, Lahore and other parts of Pakistan. In short, by reducing Shia Hazara massacres as ethnic cleansing, human rights organizations are conveniently shedding their ethical and professional duties towards Shia citizens of Pakistan.

A few snapshots from social media:

AliDayan Ali Dayan Hasan
It is shameful that #Pakistani authorities are turning a blind eye to ethnically targeted killings of the #Hazara in Balochistan says@HRW

Mustafa_Qadri Mustafa Qadri
Mastung has fast become 1 of the most dangerous cities in Pakistan….Increased attacks on Shia and in particular Hazara Shi’a, who are mostly Afghan refugees, demonstrate the increasing marginalization both groups face in Pakistan.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/news/press-releases/amnesty-international-urges-pakistan-authorities-to-tackle-brazen-attacks-on-hazara-shi-a

[MahdiBaloch: @Mustafa_Qadri Hazaras r mostly Afghan refugees after 150 yrs? Sir wt abt the Pakistanis came after partition? Indian refugees]

According to Pakistani journalist Amir Mir, LeJ in an open-letter distributed in Quetta has warned to “purify Pakistan” from Shias including Shia Hazaras and Shia Tooris. In a report for the Asia Times Online, Amir Mir reported translation of such a letter. “All Shi’ites are worthy of killing. We will rid Pakistan of unclean people. Pakistan means land of the pure and the Shi’ites have no right to live in this country.” Amir Mir does not rule out the complicit role of the (ISI backed) judiciary which ordered the release of LeJ chief Malik Ishaq a few months ago:

Those investigating the recent surge in anti-Shi’ite attacks believe it has something to do with the release on bail of Malik Ishaq, the feared LeJ leader who had been charged with involvement in 100-plus sectarian murders.
His release instantly caused sectarian tensions that were prompted by the anti-Shi’ite sermons he began delivering after his release. Therefore, on September 21, hardly 24 hours after the bloodbath in Mastung, Ishaq was placed under temporary house arrest in the Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab province, with district police officer Sohail Chattha saying: “Malik Mohammad Ishaq’s conduct has endangered sectarian harmony and caused a sudden rise in the sectarian temperature in the country.” According to an official document of Punjab Home Department, soon after his release, Ishaq had vowed while addressing a public meeting in Multan to continue to kill the enemies of “Sahaba” (the Prophet Mohammad’s companions). “All those against Sahaba are not our personal enemies, but the enemies of Islam. And we will fight them … we cannot tolerate these elements at any cost,” Ishaq said during his address, the document reported. The document, titled “Highly objectionable activities of Malik Ishaq”, further read: “On September 6, 2011, Malik Ishaq visited the house of a high-profile terrorist, Abdul Wahab alias Aenak Wala Jin, whose name is included in the Red Book, comprising particulars of most-wanted terrorists.”…The LeJ maintains close operational links with the Afghan Taliban and al-Qaeda. There is, in fact, sufficient evidence to indicate that the LeJ has been transformed into a significant al-Qaeda affiliate, which provides not only back-up support but also takes part in terrorist attacks linked to al-Qaeda.

5. The ethnic cleansing narrative clearly serves to ignore the complicit role played by Pakistan army and its subservient institutions (jihadi/sectarian organizations, judiciary, media etc) in stereotyping and massacres of Shia Muslims in Pakistan. For example, there is no mention of how in January 2008, two members of Lashkar-e-Jangvi, one of them on death row, were secretly released from a high-security prison in Quetta. Usman Saifullah Kurd and Shafiq ur Rehman were convicted for, among other things, the raid on Shia mosque in Quetta in 2003 that killed 53 people. The escape of the two was the second high-profile get-away in just over a month [of course with the help of Pakistan army]. A Pakistani British man, Rashid Rauf, suspected of involvement in an al Qaeda plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliners over the Atlantic Ocean was helped to escape by the Deep State’s operatives in December 2007. (Source). There are serious questions about the role of Pakistan army-ISI. How did Usman Saifullah Kurd, the LeJ terrorist, manage to escape from a high-security ATF prison situated in Quetta cantonment? What about Daud Badini? According to a report, the night Kurd escaped, some Hazara guards were relieved from duty and the roster changed. It is difficult to corroborate this story especially if the duty roster was indeed changed unless one could compare it with the original roster. It would be naive to think that would still exist. But the question remains: how did Kurd escape?

6. A Kufi Shia role is being played by some agency plants within Shias such as Ejaz Haider who justified Hazara killing by painting them as Iranian agents and Abdul Khaliq Hazara of Hazara Democratic Party who provided Ejaz Haider with such narrative. Abdul Khaliq Hazara is known for misleading Shia Hazaras of Quetta by diverting their attention from the real killers (LeJ supported by Pakistan army) and instead has been asked by Pakistan army to paint the Shia Hazara massacres as an ethnic issue. Abdul Khaliq Hazara is the man who has provided false assurance to Shia Hazaras of Quetta that army will come to protect them, therefore they don’t need to take care of their own security through licensed weapons, anti-terrorism training, better security arrangements etc. Of course, army sends its emissaries not to protect but to massacre Shia Hazaras on a routine basis.

However, there are several Shia and Hazara leaders who clearly state why they are being killed:

“Hazara people are being targeted just because of their religious beliefs,” fumed Quetta-based Hazara MP Nasir Ali Shah in parliament this week. “Where is the government? Where are the agencies? Aren’t they Pakistanis?” (Source)

These are questions being asked by fearful Shias across Pakistan.

Of course, Hazara Shias are suffering most in Quetta because of their higher numbers. Same is true for Toori Shias and Saraiki Shias. The only “ethnic group” killing Hazaras, Balochs, Pashtuns is army/ISI, LeJ and apologists. In fact, for a couple of years all those targeted in Balochistan were non-Hazaras. This isn’t an ethnic issue. The graves of those Shias martyred in Quetta is recent years are a testimony to the fact that not all those being killed are Hazaras. Taliban and LeJ are handled by same institution which handles Ejaz Haider, Javed Chaudhry, Abdul Khaliq Hazara, Sajid Naqvi and all those who are ignoring or misrepresenting Shia massacres in Pakistan by the Deep State. Three Baloch Shias were killed by LeJ in Mastung recently. There have been several attacks on Allama Domki, a Baloch Shia. It is sectarian, not ethnic cleansing. Calling it ethnic is absolving the state and its jihadi proxies and blaming the Baloch and/or Pashtuns.

**********

Here enters Hamid Mir

In the light of above, it is not hard to understand the sinister message in Hamid Mir’s column (daily Jang) written apparently in support of Shia Hazaras but in fact undermining and misrepresenting their massacres:

Here are a few comments on Hamid Mir’s column:

1. Not a single time in this column he acknowledges that Hazaras are Shias.

2. Not a single time, he names the organization which is proudly killing Hazaras and other Shias in Balochistan and other parts of the country, i.e., Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (aka Sipah-e-Sahaba).

3. Not a single time, he acknowledges that Shia massacres in Pakistan have gained further momentum after the release of Malik Ishaq under the orders of ISI-backed judiciary in July 2011.

4. Mir also fails to state that Shia massacres in Balochistan gained further impetus after ISI managed to ensure safe release of two LeJ terrorists from a high security prison in Quetta in 2008.

5. Mir does not mention the overall Shia massacres taking place in Pakistan since 1985, particularly the recent acts of systematic Shia masssacres in Kurram agency and D.I.Khan.

6. Mir refers to some imaginary peace which currently prevails in Kurram agency, which is a blatant lie because Shia Tooris of Kurram still remain stranded from all sides and are routinely massacred by ISI backed Haqqani Taliban / LeJ terrorists.

It is now abundantly clear that Pakistan’s military establishment and their proxies, friends and apologists are currently busy in misrepresenting Shia massacres in Pakistan.

Pakistani Shias, incouding Hazaras, Tooris, Saraikis and other rights activists, reject such misrepresentations and condemn all those who are peddling the LeJ/ISI’s narratives. All those who are peddling such narratives are actually enabling further massacres of Shia Muslims by spreading and reinforcing the ISI-LeJ’s lies.

To Hamid Mir, we have this much to say: Shia Hazaras do not need your sympathy. Reserve your crocodile tears for Khalid Khawaja’s family!

جنرل موسیٰ خان ہم شرمندہ ہیں
قلم کمان
حامد میر

http://search.jang.com.pk/archive/details.asp?nid=563291

جنرل موسیٰ خان 1965ء کی پاک بھارت جنگ کے دوران پاکستانی فوج کے سربراہ تھے۔ اس جنگ میں پاکستانی فوج نے جس بہادری سے لاہور، سیالکوٹ اور دیگر شہروں کا دفاع کیا اس پر آج بھی فخر کیا جاتا ہے۔ 1965ء کی جنگ نے پاکستانی قوم کو کئی ہیرو دیئے۔ ان میں سے ایک جنرل موسیٰ خان بھی تھے جن کی قیادت میں پاکستانی فوج نے چونڈہ میں بھارت کو ٹینکوں کی لڑائی میں شکست دی تھی۔ عوام میں ان کی مقبولیت کے باعث ریٹائرمنٹ کے بعد صدر ایوب خان نے جنرل موسیٰ خان کو مغربی پاکستان کا گورنر بنا دیا تھا۔ جنرل ضیاء الحق کے دور حکومت میں ایک دفعہ پھر موسیٰ خان کو بلوچستان کا گورنر بنایا گیا تو پہلی دفعہ عام پاکستانیوں کو پتہ چلا کہ موسیٰ خان کا تعلق کوئٹہ کی ہزارہ برادری سے ہے۔ ہزارہ برادری کو آج بھی اپنے سپوت جنرل موسیٰ خان پر فخر ہے جو 1965ء کی جنگ میں آرمی چیف تھا اور بعدازاں دو مرتبہ گورنر بھی بنایا گیا۔

ہزارہ نسل کے لوگ کوئٹہ اور کراچی سمیت پاکستان کے مختلف شہروں میں پھیلے ہوئے ہیں اور جنرل موسیٰ خان کی طرح پاکستان سے محبت کرنے والے لوگ ہیں لیکن افسوس صد افسوس کہ آج پاکستان سے ان کی محبت کا امتحان لیا جا رہا ہے۔ کوئٹہ میں آئے دن ہزارہ برادری کو ٹارگٹ کلنگ اور بم دھماکوں کا نشانہ بنایا جا رہا ہے۔

کوئٹہ سے پیپلز پارٹی کے ٹکٹ پر قومی اسمبلی کے منتخب رکن سید ناصر علی شاہ کو کئی مرتبہ قتل کرنے کی کوشش کی جا چکی ہے کیونکہ ان کا تعلق بھی ہزارہ برادری سے ہے۔ گزشتہ عیدالفطر کو وہ کوئٹہ کی جس مسجد میں نماز عید ادا کر رہے تھے اس مسجد کو خودکش حملے کا نشانہ بنایا گیا۔ پھر کوئٹہ سے ایران جانے والے زائرین کی بس پر مستونگ کے قریب حملہ کیا گیا اور درجنوں نہتے ہزارہ افراد پر گولیاں برسائی گئیں۔ یہ واقعہ تو شہر سے باہر ہوا لیکن 4/اکتوبر کو کوئٹہ شہر کے اندر ایک اور بس پر حملہ کر کے ایک درجن سے زائد غریب ہزارہ مزدوروں کو موت کی نیند سلا دیا گیا۔ افسوس کہ پچھلے تین سال کے دوران ہزارہ برادری کی نسل کشی میں زیادہ اضافہ ہوا ہے اور شاید اسی لئے قومی اسمبلی کے رکن سید ناصر علی شاہ اپنی ہی پارٹی کی حکومت کے خلاف بغاوت پر مجبور ہو کر بلوچستان میں گورنر راج کے نفاذ کا مطالبہ کر رہے ہیں۔

دوسری طرف ہزارہ ڈیموکریٹک پارٹی بھی کوئٹہ میں دہشت گردی کی بڑھتی ہوئی وارداتوں کا ذمہ دار حکومت کو قرار دے رہی ہے۔

کوئٹہ میں ہزارہ برادری پر حملوں کا آغاز گیارہ سال قبل جنرل پرویز مشرف کے دور میں ہوا تھا۔ 8 جون 2003ء کو 13 زیر تربیت پولیس کیڈٹس کو نشانہ بنایا گیا۔ 4 جولائی2003ء کو کوئٹہ کی ایک امام بارگاہ کو نماز جمعہ کے دوران نشانہ بنایا گیا اور51/افراد لقمہ اجل بنے۔ 2 مارچ 2004ء کو کوئٹہ میں عاشورہ کے جلوس پر حملہ کیا گیا اور 36/افراد مارے گئے۔ ان بہیمانہ واقعات میں ملوث کسی ایک ملزم کو بھی گرفتار نہ کیا جاسکا اور یہ سلسلہ جاری رہا۔ 2007ء میں دو افراد پکڑے گئے اور انہوں نے اعتراف کیا کہ وہ ہزارہ برادری کے خلاف قتل و غارت میں ملوث ہیں لیکن یہ دونوں افراد پولیس کی تحویل سے فرار ہونے میں کامیاب ہوگئے۔ ان دونوں ملزمان کے فرار نے ہزارہ برادری کے پاکستانی ریاست پر اعتماد کو متزلزل کیا۔

2008ء کے انتخابات میں ہزارہ برادری کی اکثریت نے پیپلزپارٹی کو ووٹ دیئے اور اپنے علاقے سے اس پارٹی کے امیدوار سید ناصر علی شاہ کو کامیاب کروایا۔ بلوچستان میں پیپلزپارٹی کی حکومت قائم ہونے کے بعد ہزارہ برادری کو امید تھی کہ انہیں تحفظ اور انصاف ملے گا لیکن پیپلزپارٹی تو خود کوئٹہ میں محفوظ نہ رہ سکی۔ 2009ء میں پیپلزپارٹی سے تعلق رکھنے والے صوبائی وزیر تعلیم شفیق احمد خان کو کوئٹہ شہر میں دن دہاڑے قتل کردیا گیا۔ وزیراعلیٰ بلوچستان نواب اسلم رئیسانی بھی زیادہ وقت اسلام آباد میں گزارنے لگے اور کوئٹہ میں ٹارگٹ کلنگ کے واقعات بڑھتے چلے گئے۔ کوئٹہ میں ہزارہ برادری کے علاوہ پنجابیوں کو بھی ٹارگٹ کیا جا رہا ہے۔

قانون نافذ کرنے والے ادارے ہزارہ برادری پر حملوں کو ایک فرقہ پرست تنظیم کی کارروائیاں قرار دیتے ہیں اور پنجابیوں پر حملوں کو بلوچ علیحدگی پسندوں کے کھاتے میں ڈالتے ہیں۔

ہزارہ برادری کے اکثر لوگ یہ سمجھتے ہیں کہ ان پر حملوں میں طالبان ملوث ہیں کیونکہ ایک کالعدم تنظیم کو طالبان کے کچھ عناصر کی سرپرستی حاصل رہی ہے۔ طالبان کے حامی اس الزام کی تردید کرتے ہیں۔ ان کا کہنا ہے کہ امریکہ نے کوئٹہ کو طالبان کے حوالے سے پوری دنیا میں بدنام کر رکھا ہے اور کہا جاتا ہے کہ افغان طالبان کے تمام فیصلے کوئٹہ شوریٰ کرتی ہے اس صورتحال میں طالبان کبھی یہ نہیں چاہیں گے کہ وہ کوئٹہ کا امن برباد کریں کیونکہ کوئٹہ میں بدامنی کا انہیں بہت نقصان ہوسکتا ہے۔

یہ بھی کہا جا رہا ہے کہ جس طرح افغان انٹیلی جنس نے سوات اور باجوڑ کے پاکستان مخالف طالبان کو کنٹر میں پناہ دے رکھی ہے اور وہ کنٹر کے راستے سے پاکستانی علاقوں پر حملے کرتے ہیں اسی طرح افغان انٹیلی جنس نے ایک کالعدم تنظیم کے گروپ کو جنوبی افغانستان میں پناہ دے رکھی ہے اور یہ تنظیم کوئٹہ میں کئی سال سے دہشت گردی کر رہی ہے تاکہ ہزارہ برادری پر حملوں کے ذریعے ایک طرف کوئٹہ کو غیرمحفوظ بنایا جائے دوسری طرف پاکستان اور ایران کے تعلقات میں کشیدگی پیدا کی جائے۔

افغان حکومت کے ذرائع کا کہنا ہے کہ کوئٹہ میں ہزارہ برادری پر حملوں سے ان کا کوئی تعلق نہیں کیونکہ ہزارہ برادری کا افغانستان میں کافی اثر و رسوخ ہے اور افغان انٹیلی جنس پاکستانی ہزارہ برادری پر حملے کرا کے افغان ہزارہ برادری کو ناراض کرنے کا خطرہ مول نہیں لے سکتی۔

افغان حکومت اور ہزارہ برادری کے اہم عمائدین کا اصرار ہے کہ ان پر حملوں میں طالبان ملوث ہیں کیونکہ ماضی میں طالبان کے ہزارہ برادری کے ساتھ تعلقات کشیدہ رہے ہیں۔ 1994ء میں طالبان نے قندھار سے کابل کی طرف بڑھنا شروع کیا تو افغان ہزارہ برادری کی تنظیم حزب وحدت نے شمالی اتحاد کا ساتھ دیا تھا اور1997ء میں مزار شریف پر قبضے کی لڑائی میں دونوں نے ایک دوسرے کا قتل عام کیا تھا۔

تاریخ بتاتی ہے کہ ہزارہ نسل کے لوگوں پر سب سے زیادہ ظلم افغان حکمران امیر عبدالرحمن کے دور میں ہوا اور اس نے 1892ء میں ہزارہ برادری کے خلاف لڑائی کو ”جہاد“ قرار دیا تھا۔ امیر عبدالرحمن کی فوج کے ظلم و ستم سے تنگ آ کر ہزارہ برادری نے مشہد اور کوئٹہ کی طرف ہجرت کی تھی۔ 1935ء میں کوئٹہ میں زلزلہ آیا تو اس کے بعد کوئٹہ کی تعمیر نو میں ہزارہ مزدوروں نے اہم کردار ادا کیا تھا۔

ہزارہ برادری کے کئی علماء نے تحریک پاکستان میں قائداعظم کی حمایت کی تھی لیکن افسوس کہ قائداعظم کا ساتھ دینے والے اکبر بگٹی کے ساتھ بھی ظلم ہوا اور آج ہزارہ برادری کے ساتھ کوئٹہ میں روزانہ ظلم کے پہاڑ توڑے جا رہے ہیں۔

پاکستان کے ریاستی ادارے کوئٹہ میں ٹارگٹ کلنگ روکنے میں ناکام ہیں بلکہ گزشتہ دنوں تو ڈی آئی جی ایف سی فرخ شہزاد کی رہائش گاہ پر بھی حملہ کیا گیا جس میں ان کی اہلیہ سمیت 25/افراد جاں بحق ہوئے۔

دوسرے الفاظ میں ریاست بے بس ہو چکی ہے۔ اس بے بسی کے خاتمے کا واحد راستہ اتحاد ہے اور اتحاد کیلئے ہمت اور ثابت قدمی کی ضرورت ہے۔ مت بھولئے کہ کئی سال تک کُرّم کے علاقے میں بھی اہل تشیع اور اہل سنّت کو آپس میں لڑایا جا رہا تھا۔

متحارب قبائل میں ایک حالیہ معاہدے کے بعد کُرّم میں صورتحال قدرے بہتر ہوئی ہے۔ کوئٹہ میں بھی امن قائم کرنے کیلئے تمام اہم سیاسی جماعتوں اور ریاستی اداروں کو مل بیٹھ کر کوئی حل تلاش کرنا ہوگا۔

1965ء میں پاکستانی فوج نے ہزارہ برادری کے ایک جرنیل موسیٰ خان کی قیادت میں پاکستان کا دفاع کیا تھا۔2011ء میں اہل پاکستان کو ہزارہ برادری کا دفاع کرنا ہے۔ ہزارہ برادری کے دشمن پاکستان کے دشمن ہیں۔ ان دشمنوں کو ناکام بنانے کا ایک ہی طریقہ ہے کہ ہم ایک دوسرے کو تحفظ دیں اور جنرل موسیٰ خان کی روح کے سامنے شرمندہ نہ ہوں۔

Appendix: LeJ’s fatwa / ultimatum to Pakistani Shias

All Shias are wajib-ul-qatl (worthy of killing). We will rid Pakistan of [this] unclean people. Pakistan means land of the pure, and the Shias have no right to be here. We have the fatwa and signatures of the revered ulema in which the Shias have been declared kaafir [infidel]*. Just as our fighters have waged a successful jihad against the Shia-Hazaras in Afghanistan, our mission [in Pakistan] is the abolition of this impure sect and people, the Shias and the Shia-Hazaras, from every city, every village, every nook and corner of Pakistan. Like in the past, [our] successful Jihad against the Hazaras in Pakistan and, in particular, in Quetta is ongoing and will continue [in the future]. We will make Pakistan their graveyard — their houses will be destroyed by bombs and suicide bombers. We will only rest when we fly the flag of true Islam on this land. Our fighters and suicide bombers have [already] successfully operated in Parachinar**, and are awaiting orders to operate across Pakistan. Jihad against the Shia-Hazaras has now become our duty. Our suicide bombers have successfully operated in Hazara Town on May 6, and now our next target is your houses in Alamdar Road***. As long as our innocent friends aren’t freed [from incarceration], we will continue our operations.

The Principal,

Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Pakistan
Source of translation: http://afghanistananalysis.wordpress.com/tag/lashkar-e-jhangvi/

Najam Sethi

The ISI has contacted Sethi, Haider and other journalists whom it feels have unfairly represented the spy agency.” Sethi told TIME, “For what I’ve been saying since the bin Laden raid, I have incurred the wrath of the ISI. The agency has officially expressed its anger and annoyance and irritation.”

Ejaz Haider

Of course, in view of the general anti-ISI sentiments in Pakistan in the aftermath of Saleem Shahzad’s murder, several journalists found it convenient and opportunistic to write a mild, shallow criticism of the ISI/army, something which Omar Waraich celebrates as “a recent wave of unprecedented criticism of the military”.

A striking example is a bluntly worded and widely read column by Ejaz Haider, a defense specialist who writes for several newspapers. “The ISI, the agency that you head, is being accused of Saleem’s murder,” Haider wrote in the op-ed that was cast as an open letter to ISI chief Lieut. General Ahmed Shuja Pasha. “You must know that the ISI is widely reviled and dreaded at home. For an agency that was set up primarily for strategic intelligence, this is quite an achievement.”

Hamid Mir

“The agency has officially expressed its anger and annoyance and irritation.” A third journalist, Hamid Mir, a political-talk-show host, goes further. The ISI, Mir alleges, recently approached him to ask that he cease his endorsement of the current civilian government. “I have refused to extend my support to the armed forces’ interference in politics,” he says. “That’s why they’re against me.”

Three heroes:

For their comments about the military establishment, the three journalists could soon find themselves appearing before the Supreme Court. Sardar Muhammad Ghazi, a lawyer who served as deputy attorney general under the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf, has filed a 20-page petition calling on the court to stop them from disparaging the army and the ISI and to declare that such criticisms will not be tolerated and should lead to the shutdown of the offending television channel and newspaper. “These people are criticizing my armed forces,” Ghazi says indignantly. “They sit and castigate the army. I can’t tolerate it. There should be somebody who should come forward and say the media should be controlled.” In the petition, he accuses Sethi, Haider and Mir of being “out to promote the foreign agenda to destabilize and denuclearize Pakistan.”

In terms of literary parallels, this act of camaraderie and support reminds one of the timeless novel by Alexandre Dumas, where the Three Musketeers can be substituted for these three “independent” and “maverick” journalists and Omar Waraich can be their young idealistic protege as represented by D’Artagnan. All of them like to think of themselves as anti-establishment; thus the role of Cardinal Richelieu can be played by Generals Kayani and Pasha. The Three Musketeers and D’Artagnan of course profess their loyalty to the King and France. Here is where the plot analogy starts to unravel.

Given the rabid, virulent and personal hatred that, to some extent barring Hamid Mir, all these three journalists bear for President Zardari and the late Benazir Bhutto, the romantic comparison with the Three Musketeers starts to fade. Furthermore, given what these three musketeers have written, it becomes clear that in 17th century France, they would have been serving and plotting with the Cardinal and not being supportive of the king. Here is a sample of their “anti-establishment” (sarcasm intended) writings:

Hamid Mir: Secret audio conversation of Hamid Mir with a Punjabi Talib associate of Hakimullah Mehsud
Najam Sethi:  Najam Sethi and his services against an elected Prime Minister
Ejaz Haider: Silence Of The Liberal Lambs: A rebuttal to Ejaz Haider – By Dr. Taqi

Let us also remember that this is the same Najam Sethi who was suspiciously flying around in a military helicopter as early as 1976; something that did not escape the notice of his collegues of the 1970′s anti-establishment London Group.  This was also the same Najam Sethi who was abusive to the late Benazir Bhutto in semi-public gatherings in the mid-1990′s; his abusiveness towards her was only matched by his sycophancy to the Caretaker Government that emerged as a result of a civilian coup by Farooq Leghari.  Mr. Sethi then went on to play a significant part as a minister in that caretaker cabinent!  How convinient.

As for Ejaz, his racist, chauvinist and bigoted views on Baloch, Hazara and Pashtun issues are disturbing enough. On top of  that, what does one make of his forceful defense of one of ISI’s main assets, the leading Al Qaeda and Taliban affiliate, the Shia-killing Lashkar-e-Jhangvi?

This brings us to the time tested tactic when even patent friends of the ISI are forced to adopt a cosmetic anti-ISI line of mixing one ounce of truth in one tonne of lies in order to demonstrate their neutrality, or even better, feign an “anti-establishment” posture as Omar Waraich want us to believe.

In the aftermath of the Taliban-advocating, pro-military establishment USIP-JI report, one wonders how Omar Waraich can continue to think of his three musketeers as “anti-ISI”.  All three were part of the 53 panel of elite “foreign policy experts” and Ejaz has already come out in support of this academically and ethically challenged report with his typical strawmanning and other dishonest tactics. If these three are still “anti-ISI”, why doesn’t Omar also write something in its favour. There is still a lot of USIP-JI money (nearly $5 million USD) to go around. Nasim Zehra, Imtiaz Gul and even the aspiring Nadir Hassan have jumped in to write in defense of this report.

My advice to Mr. Warraich: Don’t wait too long because five million dollars can only go so far divided as it is between the military establishment’s civilian mouthpieces (Moeed Yusuf, Shuja Nawaz take a bow) and their elitist compadres. And don’t worry about the consequences and other boring details such as consistency of principles. If Ejaz Haider, Najam Sethi and Hamid Mir are anti-establishment as per you, and if Sherry Rehman can remain a liberal icon (whose liberal profile you have been quite keenly promoting in accompaniment with Ayesha Tammy Haq) for the twitter brigade  (in spite of her JI being seen as a Pro-Taliban and Pro-Military establishment advocacy group), you will always be the idealistic articulate ‘D’Artagnan to the musketeers of the Deep State.

( Acknowledgement: To Pakistan Blogzine for allowing me to use parts of their posts for developing this one. M.A.)