PTI activists torch a US flag during a protest in Lahore

In order to successfully carry out the fraudulent scheme of an election manipulation (pre poll and post poll), Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf’s Kaptaan is planning to gain support of the international establishment, with national establishment’s ‘trump card’ already in his pocket.

Talking during his talk show, Aapas Ki Baat, Najam Sethi indicates that Imran Khan and his new deputy Shah Mahmood Qureshi will go to Washington, D.C. to meet with Congress members to try to get their support in upcoming election. The proposed meetings could be the big support getter from the world’s biggest power; the main purpose of these meetings with high US officials is to dispel the impression that the PTI is an anti-US and pro Taliban party.

The PTI chief took double standards to a new low, when at a recent meeting with the US ambassador, he indicated that his party would be ‘absolutely comfortable’ working with the US on all issues, including the war on terror, since both countries have strong mutual interests.

We see this as a convenient, opportunist shift in the PTI’s policy stance. As the election is approaching, Kaptaan the new darling of Pakistan’s military establishment is trying to fix the match with the US by presenting a soft stance towards it.

The historical context and political philosophy of PTI: Since its inception, the party has radical religious overtones with very critical of the US role in Pakistan and the participants of it’s rallies have been carrying national flags, banners, play cards inscribed with ‘Amreeka ka jo yar hai ghdaar hai ghadaar hai’. During the visit of George W. Bush to Pakistan in 2006, Imran was the only politician to attempt to hold a rally against his visit. And his party had demanded public execution of Raymond Davis. Throughout the PPP led government’s period in office, he has criticised the government for maintaining unholy alliance with the US & called to walk away from the “war on terror”. He always held US responsible for spread of terrorism and for the deteriorated law and order across the country, not the terrorists organizations. Thus, he attracted the attention of the right wing extremist lobby through anti-Americanism. But now his stance on the status of the US as a world’s biggest terrorist began to change.

The pre and post poll rigging, formation of Pakistan peoples Party Parliamentarians Patriots (PPPPP) and the former head of ISI’s political cell General Ehtisham Zamir’s role, all of that is still fresh in our memories. How can we forget the creation of Pakistan Muslim League(Q), Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal(MMA), the King’s political party and religious alliance formed in 2001 by former Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

Now the same establishment is once again playing the same game, though player is new yet technique is many generations old. History is repeating itself once again and just like old king’s party the PTI is accepting all those well known characterless turn-coats and opportunists from other political parties including those belonging to PPP, PML-N, PML-Q and former staunch supporters of General Pervez Musharraf. The future of Kaptaan’s new so-called ‘Tsunami’ will not be different from the past establishment supported parties and alliances, like IJI, MMA and Millat Party.

However, various reports reveal that entry of ‘turncoats’ has disappointed sincere PTI workers and leaders as they fear that induction of ‘opportunists’ would dent the popularity of the party among people, particularly the youths, who want a real and positive change in the country. The reports also suggest that the powerful establishment is backing Imran Khan’s recent campaign and encouraging the patent lotas (opportunists) to join the PTI, so they are jumping on the establishment’s new bandwagon for the allotment of tickets.

In the new political scenario, our experienced manipulators are not only encouraging turncoats to join the new bandwagon but also trying to fix Imran’s meetings with the foreign players.

Meanwhile, for his domestic supporters who represent the right wing club, Imran Khan is promising to bring a medieval political system like Khilafat-e-Rashida in Pakistan.

http://express.com.pk/epaper/PoPupwindow.aspx?newsID=1101401322&Issue=NP_LHE&Date=20111215

Hum Khilafit-e-Rashida ka nizaam qaim karain gey - Imran Khan (via Daily Express)

Kaptaan’s political recipe for foreign audience is different from other local religious recipes we listen, watch and read on local media. His foreign recipe does have liberal, secular and parliamentary ingredients. In a recent interview with the BBC, Imran said that he was a liberal and did not support the religious extremist groups/terrorists. However, on ground PTI prefers to make political alliance with religious political parties particularly Jamat-e-Islami, while opposing liberal democratic parties. Is it self-contradictory or political convenience?

PS: Don’t forget to enjoy this musical tribute to Imran Khan: the change has arrived! (tabdeeli aa gai hai)

http://soundcloud.com/sarah-khan-1/dj-shahrukh-imran-khan?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign

Chaachi Clinton says hello to Kaptaan!

In his yet another epic report, Pakistan’s apex investigative journalist, Ansar Abbasi has used “sources” and “wikipedia” to talk about  Pakistan making “extraordinary progress by developing one of the world’s smartest nuclear tactical devices”. A military and intelligence devoid of any, cannot even repair its F-16s and depends on the manufacturer of the planes for parts, can for sure be expected to make the smartest tactical devices. Maybe the smartest tactical device Pakistan has are its suicide bombers who have wreaked havoc.

This is yet another attempt by the Best Army and Best Intelligence Agency in the world to give false sense of superiority to our “ghairat brigade”.  

Pakistan has developed smartest nuclear tactical devices

By Ansar Abbasi

The News, November 30, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s nuclear programme has made some extraordinary progress by developing one of the world’s smartest nuclear tactical devices, it has been learnt.
According to a western diplomat, the former dictator and the then President General Pervez Musharraf, during one of his meetings with US officials, had deemed it proper to convey it to the Americans what Pakistan possessed and how the country’s nuclear scientists had secured the defence of Pakistan.
The diplomatic source said that New Delhi also knows what Pakistan has produced and what is really unmatched. The Indians got this source said and believed that Musharraf intentionally conveyed this to the Americans so that the country is not treated by the US like Afghanistan and Iraq Pakistan is neither a signatory to NPT nor CTBT, however, it has unilaterally decided to use its nuclear programme only as deterrence against any foreign aggression.
After becoming the target of the Western capitals particularly Washington, which have been unleashing all sorts of propaganda against Pakistan’s nuclear programme, Islamabad has developed one of the most credible and foolproof command and control systems for its nuclear programme. The US authorities have acknowledged the credibility and security of Pakistan’s nukes.
Wikipedia quotes a Washington-based science think tank as saying that Pakistan is increasing its capacity to produce plutonium at its Khushab nuclear facility. The website said that the estimated Pakistani nuclear weapons was probably in the neighbourhood of more than 200 by the end of 2009.
It, however, adds that the actual size of Pakistan’s nuclear stockpile is hard for experts to gauge owing to the extreme secrecy, which surrounds the programme. Pakistan’s nuclear programme was started by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto while the country conducted its nuclear test on May 28, 1998 during Nawaz Sharif’s tenure.

It’s hard to escape fact that the electronic media has undoubtedly played a large part in introducing Imran Khan as a political option. The media free air time & team staffers are always available to assist/serve him.(If someone doubts then here you go this is the evidence of media’s role in promotion of fake leader).

This Kaptaan started his political inning, long ago, supporting the 7 point agenda of General Pervez Musharraf, shamelessly begging vote for General’s referendum. Now, in a new role he wants to be the master of Intelligence and security establishment. But hold on; let’s analyze first his political history & ideology which Pakistani media always miss.

The Manifesto of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf seems derived from the General’s vision & 7 point agenda style view, mainly focus on politicians corruption and their accountability. And mobilizing people on the sovereignty doctrine based on Paranoia and megalomania. His politics is purely pro establishment, while it’s true he opposed General Musharraf in his last over. But he never criticized or questioned security narratives, imbalance between the civilian and military institutions. He never talked of the judicial enquiry into the massacre of different ethnic & religious groups. He never recognizes importance of the Charter on Democracy, never appreciates any of Parliament’s efforts towards more democratization and never says a single positive thing about parliament’s landmark achievement 18th amendment. So how he can become symbol of civilian supremacy?

In this fraudulent scenario, Imran Khan’s Interview with Karan Thapar was a timely and much needed interview on the independent & less friendly TV talk show in which tough questions are asked. So, eventually his hypocrisy is exposed by the independent anchor, as when Kaptaan is in Mir, Abbasi, Malik & T Hussain’s friendly talk shows, he has another persona, which can be a bit ultra nationalist, radical and ‘Ghariat mand’ oppositional.

Kaptaan’s lies on Pakistani screen, in particular, have been voluminous, he has deliberately misled the people of Pakistan for more than 16 years, ever since he is in political ground when he asserts establishment’s lines, against the evidence, that Pakistan’s main issue is corruption/accountability of politicians and not civilians supremacy & continuity of democratic process, moreover when he ignores terrorist groups responsible for the acts of terrorism in Pakistan and presents solely Drones and US presence in Afghanistan as the cause for increased terrorist acts in Pakistan.

But in India Talk show where anchor was less friendly Kaptaan seems totally opposite. He even quickly disappointed his right wing ‘Ghariat mand’ supporters when he suggested that for Indo-Pak ties to improve, the Kashmir issue should be put on the back burner for a while.

He praised the Army for restoring peace & eliminating terrorism independently and without government’s input:

“Balochistan is being handled by the Army. The entire FATA operation is being handled by the Army. No civilian input. SWAT today is controlled by the army. Karachi, these rangers are controlling Karachi. What is this government doing?”

When Kaptaan said this he is not viewing the army as subservient to the government. It seems he has not read Constitution of Pakistan (1973) & especially its Article: 245 Functions of Armed Forces. Which states that 1[(1)] The Armed Forces shall, under the directions of the Federal Government, defend Pakistan against external aggression or threat of war, and, subject to law, act in aid of civil power when called upon to do so.

On the contrary, he blamed civilian government, president Zardari and PM Gillani for the corruption within Armed forces ranks:

Karan Thapar: One of the strongest points you make is one against corruption. The Army has a major role in Pakistan in corruption. But you don’t say a word about Army’s corruption.

Imran Khan: But whose is responsible for the Army’s corruption? The Prime Minister.

Karan Thapar: Aren’t you exonerating exculpating the Army when you say that?
Imran Khan: But under General Musharraf I was criticising the corruption.

Karan Thapar: But now?

Imran Khan: Under General Musharraf there was a GHQ being built here, I was the first one who said this is a massive corruption going on. And it actually stopped because of me. Now, this is posed to be a democratic set up. Either they should say that they are not in-charge or they should resign. If they cannot be responsible for what is going on in Pakistan, they should resign. So, anyway, to blame the Army when you have Asif Zardari and Gilani having all the perks and privileges of power. So, what are they doing there?

Karan Thapar: Alright, you are not criticising the Army because you claim this is a democratic set up, the civilians should take the blame, but the truth is that on critical issues, the generals are hobbled civilian politicians whether it is defence related matters or it is relation with America or India, the Army calls the shots. Now if you become prime minister, will you accept a subordinate status on those issues or will you seek a better balance between civilian politicians and Army General?

Imran Khan: Well the truth is also that when Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was the prime minister, he sacked the Army chief, he sacked the air chief. He was a genuine leader, a prime minister.

Kaptaan proves he has the pro establishment mindset & he is in politics just for recycling state’s century old narratives. He is by far the most undemocratic person I ever seen.

In non Pakistani talk show he’s contradicting his own position and held intelligence agencies responsible for Pakistan’s myriad and complex problems:

Imran Khan: I think the time has come to have a new relationship. And, I believe that you know if you can eliminate the roles of intelligence agencies, where two civilian governments can sit together and say we’ll resolve all our issues through dialogue – I think it’s a way forward because the benefits of peace are enormous.

Kaptaan keeps changing the positions to guarantee a favorable political outcome & most of his narratives not based on logic but political expediency. He does not mind talking appropriate words to suit to the audience, here on Pakistani right wing media he ignores terrorist safe havens, the headquarters of the banned or permitted organizations that espouse these extremist ideologies here & level of fundamentalism within society.

On Karan Tharpar’s show he admitted that supporting terrorist groups as strategic assets is now an outdated concept of having them as assets.

Imran Khan: Well, as a policy, if Tehreek-e-Insaaf government comes to power we will insist on there being no militant groups operating within Pakistan because the world has changed. So, the groups that were created during the Afghan jihad, now this is now an outdated concept of having them as assets. The time has come to not only remove all militant groups, disarm them but also a de-weaponisation in Pakistan because it causing massive problems within the country. So, therefore, once that issue disappears, once there are no militant groups within Pakistan, I think that issue will disappear.

On Pakistani TV Screen Imran always says he would negotiate with instead of fighting the Taliban & Taliban killing & blowing Schools are lies. He has also advised government to stop Bush’s war in Afghanistan & Pakistan by talking to Taliban leaders and ‘No peace without Taliban’.

Let’s see what he says in Karan Thapar show?

Karan Thapar: Today as we speak in Islamabad, the spokesman of the Tehrik-e-Taliban has officially said that you are the agent of West and they reject your overture. And you are attempting to negotiate with Taliban to bring them on line but they’ve rejected your overtures. So, to begin with your approach, forgive me, a kick in the teeth.

Imran Khan: Who is this spokesman of Taliban? There are about 30 taliban groups operating. My idea would not be to negotiate with any group. My idea would be to win the people of tribal areas to our side. And every poll and survey conducted in the tribal areas has said number one party is Tehrik-e-Insaaf.

The contradiction and hypocrisy of ‘Great Kaptaan’ quite visible when he was not really answering the question properly & ducked smartly most critical questions related to terrorist groups and Chief of Army staff. Here on Pakistani TV screen his theory is if you win hearts and minds of the tribal people you can win war on terror. But on Devil’s Advocate his position is different:

Imran Khan: The time has come to not only remove all militant groups, disarm them but also a de-weaponisation in Pakistan because it causing massive problems within the country. So, therefore, once that issue disappears, once there are no militant groups within Pakistan, I think that issue will disappear.

Here Kaptaan is suggesting that currently Intelligence and security establishment is not operating under civilian government & not negating that Pakistan is sponsoring terrorism.

Imran Khan: Well, in your last interview I said as the Prime Minister of a country where the responsibility lies on me, so should the authority be on me. Its not going to happen that here’s me holding responsibility and some group is operating independently, whether its ISI or any other group. So the answer is ISI and the Army would be under a civilian governmental control. And if I can’t do it, I would much rather resign.

Karan Thapar: The Indian people are hearing you as you as you speak tonight. They’ve known you as a cricketer, they’ve admired you and some have even loved you. Is this a promise you’re making them?

Imran Khan: I am not only making a promise to the Indian people, I think I am making a promise to anyone. The biggest problem the United States faces, you know they worry about terrorism from Pakistani soil. Its not just India who is worried. If I cannot stop terrorism from Pakistani soil, I would rather not be the Prime Minister.

Karan Thapar: And that is a promise you’re making the Indian people tonight, here and now?

Imran Khan: To every people, not just Indian people. At the moment the Afghans are complaining, the Europeans, the Americans, everyone, any terrorism is blamed on Pakistan.

Kaptaan has never had an interview like that before & that interview will surely haunt him for a long time. He looks so confused and failed to defend his childish economic program which solely revolves around his personality, magnetism & appeal.

Karan Thapar: At the moment, 2.5 per cent of your population pay taxes. Can you take it up sufficiently and quickly enough to overcome the one trillion deficit?

Imran Khan: The reason is that none of the political leaders give taxes. All the political leaders’ wealth is lying outside. They hide their wealth, they conceive their wealth. They don’t declare their assets. They don’t give taxes. Nawaz Sharif as prime minister gave Rs 5,000 crore as income tax. He is a billionaire in dollar terms.

Karan Thapar: But how you are going to force politicians, and not just politicians, how you are going to force businessmen, professionals and all the others who don’t pay taxes. What you are going to do to make them pay taxes?

Imran Khan: Number one. Lead by example. Myself, my cabinet declare asset. We have already said that no one can control elections unless they declare their assets. And if we find any concealed assets they are disqualified. Number one, ‘benami’, means whether concealed their assets in other names, that will be outlawed. Number two. Any assets lying abroad, if they are not declared, it will be considered perjury, it will be prison sentence. So I am saying first the stick and then the carrot.

Karan Thapar: The problem is not just to make people to pay taxes, the problem is that you have the economy that is in the process of winding down if not unravelling. Your inflation is officially touching 12 per cent. Unofficially it is said it is twice or may be three times higher. Growth has fallen below 2.5 per cent. You have crippling power shortages and you have gone on record to say that you will stop US aid. How will you revive the economy? You can’t do it simply on the back of more taxes.

Imran Khan: First of all, except for the martial plan, aid has solved any country’s problem. All it does is props up crooks like our president here.

Karan Thapar: But martial plan is a great example that how aid can be properly used.

Imran Khan: But aid normally comes with strings attached. Aid normally stops you from making the reforms needed to structure your economy. What aid actually does is, it helps the crooked government and incompetent governments.

Karan Thapar: But in absence of aid, how would you revive the economy that is close to collapse, which is the true case in Pakistan?

Imran Khan: There is a one trillion rupee deficit. I guarantee you that we can collect 2 trillion rupees from Pakistanis.
Karan Thapar: How?

Imran Khan: Number one. Remove the exemptions. Because the rich has given themselves exemptions. Now just to give you an idea. Nawaz Sharif made a law where any remittances coming here were not tax free but no question asked. So that to whiten the black money. Number two. You have to give feeling to the people that their taxes are going to be spent on them. So, abolish all these symbols of extravagances, PM’s houses, President, Governor houses.

Karan Thapar: How do you abolish them, you are going to demolish them?

Imran Khan: No, make them into educational institutions. Symbolically, we need education emergency in Pakistan. We have the whole plan.

Karan Thapar: But that won’t revive the economy. It will tackle the education problem but it won’t revive the economy.

Imran Khan: No, but what it will do is, it will inspire people to pay taxes. I get the highest donations in Pakistan every year. In one month, they gave me two billion rupee for the floods. Here is the country which gives highest per capita charity but the lowest taxes. Why? Because they don’t trust the government.

Karan Thapar: Now, the point is that you are relying on the people, A be a inspire and may be you are inspirational and two, paying taxes on time and properly. Many people turnaround and say this is idealism to the point of simplicity.

Imran Khan: No. Hold on. I am idealistic, that’s number one. Remember, I am the only politician, who people trust, who people give money to.

Karan Thapar: So when Imran Khan goes to tell pay taxes, people will. That’s what you are telling me.

Imran Khan: No but you have to take a series of steps. In US, people don’t pay taxes because they are more honest. It’s a non-bailable offence. You get caught not paying taxes, you are going to jail. So you’ve to have two both. At the one stage inspire them and on the other make sure the top big fish who evade taxes go to jail.

Karan Thapar: Once again the time alone will tell whether this novel if not unique solution to Pakistan’s economic problem deliver the good.

Here’s the transcript from the interview part I:

Here’s the transcript from the interview part II:

Related Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNN1Zfy4XE0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJvomNq_0vs

Pick one: Khan's tenure may end in nuclear war, mullah takeover, country-wide revolt, accidental war with India.

Its 2013 and by some unlikely miracle of sheer inqilabi (revolutionary) voting, Imran Khan has been elected prime minister and his party is in power.

Wait a minute – what party?

That’s right, a hefty gang full of loafers and bitter ex-politicians out for rival blood. Looking at those lining up to be given party tickets so far, the PTI may as well take Sheikh Rasheed, Pir Pagara and Musharraf on board (something I’ve suggested before).

Let’s face it – for Imran to win the elections, he will (and is) turn to the same old faces, using the same old tools to come out on top.

Fear not though, there is an inqilab (revolution) coming – just not the one you envisioned.

2013

It’s three months after Imran has been elected prime minister and two weeks since all ties were severed with the US. This is partly due to drone attacks which Imran was unable to stop post-coming into power, and partly from Pakistan’s new foreign minister Shireen Mazari shouting expletives at random goras (white people) in Islamabad.

The US has had enough. The drones keep falling. The Pakistan army says its hands are tied, short of all out war. The foreign office has imposed a ban on all ‘yanks’ travelling to Pakistan. The PTI gang is telling Imran he is bang on target with his agenda. People in Pakistan are loving it!

Except, there is no more US aid to fund anything – and by anything, I mean anything. The military, food, education – there is no money.

It is now the start of 2014

Imran is delivering his Obama speeches laced with a little less “Yes we Khan” and a little more:

“I’m not gonna lie to you…times are tough, results will take a while to show, but we all have to work together to pull through.”

This is also when his PTI gang starts splitting at the seams as corruption reaches new highs (or lows depending on how you see it). Imran is firing lotas and loafers left right and centre, but unfortunately, is forced to hire their loathsome underlings to fill in the gaps. In desperation, Zohair Toru is declared Minister for Information due to his street cred (hey at least he’s not corrupt).

The PPP, PML-N and ANP are laughing hysterically at the sidelines and using all their clout to ensure things go from bad to worse. This is starting to look bad. It’s starting to smell bad too as money for street sweepers and gutter cleaners is the first to run out.

Funds are short but Imran has a plan. He has appealed to the Swiss Banks demanding the return of Pakistan’s looted wealth. The Swiss say they will get on it…soon.

BOOM!

That was the sound of parliament being attacked by a suicide bomber. He got through due to lack of security due to lack of funds. More importantly, he got through because over the last year Imran has been busy engaging the Tehreek-e-Taliban in talks letting them regroup and expand (not to mention there is no army to carry out operations any more; it’s too busy on the Afghan border watching the US with fear in its eyes, and lets not forget – the lack of US funds).

The Taliban have now decided they can take a crack at the parliament too. So have 35 other militant outfits who have (miraculously) found a new supply of desperate young men out of jobs, out of homes, starving, and ideologically motivated after having watched the new regiment of religion-based dramas trotted out after pretty much everything else was banned on TV because “hum sub ke ghar, or TV mein pardey honay chahiye” (we should all have curtains in our homes and TVs).

Imran is cursing the day he decided to make a bunch of Twitter experts his economic team. The Swiss haven’t replied. The US well has dried up and sanctions are fast approaching (along with a US-led coalition on the Pak-Afghan border). How can things possibly get worse?

Easy. The military realizes things have gone to pot with Sunshine boy. They realize coups are just so 1999, but they really need that US cash and they really don’t want a war on their hands.

End of 2014

The coup is under way. The militants are among us. Our TV channels suck worse than before. There is no food, no money, no fuel, and for us rich folk, no easy escape to the US either (no visas, not to mention all PIA flights were grounded four months ago). The mullahs are trying to talk to Imran to convince him to hand over power to them, as a mullah-military nexus may be acceptable to the militants, preventing a complete hostile takeover.

Imran of course, refuses to compromise and his newly appointed Minister of Water and Power, General (rtd) Pervez Musharraf keeps telling him to “take it like a man.”

2015: choose your own (real and inevitable) inqilab

US take-over of Pakistan

Mullah-military nexus take-over

Militant-run Pakistan

Countrywide revolt due to abject poverty, starvation

A PPP return to power

(Accidental) nuclear war with India

Source: The Express Tribune

Source: Pakistan Blogzine

The following statement by Dr. AQ Khan has been recently published in several newspapers:

Instead of criticizing Zardari and Nawaz, Imran must suggest solutions
ISLAMABAD: Dr Abdul Qadeer, a renowned scientist, has said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) neither possesses a team nor a party, hence can’t bring about a revolution. Talking to a private TV channel, he said that in other provinces there was anarchy and killings but the Punjab Chief Minister was being targeted over a natural calamity, dengue. Without an appropriate leadership, slogans and rallies are of no use. If the Supreme Court could not investigate the assets, how Imran can do it,” he observed. He termed Imran Khan’s rally as a one man show.

Dr AQ Khan said that the politics of Imran Khan is ‘one man show’ and the people are restless for change in every aspects of life and asked Imran Khan to suggest solution of problems instead of criticising politicians. (Source 1, 2, 3)

The best take away from the above statement is the fact that Dr. AQ Khan does not endorse Imran Khan’s anti-politicians stance and the one-man worship culture of PTI.

As expected, PTI propagandists have started a negative campaign against Dr. AQ Khan.

Haroon-ur-Rasheed’s propaganda:

Haroon-ur-Rasheed in his column in daily Jang (4 Nov 2011) clearly criticizes Dr. AQ Khan alleging that Dr Khan wanted to attend the Lahore rally and that he had advised Imran Khan to accept Dr. Khan despite certain issues (nuclear espionage? proliferation? deception?). However, just before the jalsa, Imran Khan under advice of majority of his PTI colleagues dis-invited Dr. Khan. Haroon-ur-Rasheed then digresses and questions Dr. AQ Khan’s role and services in the field of nuclear technology.

میری معلومات یہ ہیں کہ آئندہ چند ہفتوں کے دوران تیس چالیس اہم شخصیات تحریک انصاف میں شامل ہو سکتی ہیں۔ جہاں تک ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر خان کا تعلق ہے، جلسہ عام سے ایک ہفتہ قبل ہی وہ آمادگی کا اظہار کر چکے تھے۔ کپتان نے مجھ سے پوچھا تو مشورہ دیا کہ انہیں قبول کر لیا جائے۔ ان سب چیزوں کے باوجوڈ ڈاکٹر صاحب جن کے مرتکب ہوئے، وہ قومی سلامتی کی ایک علامت ہیں۔ ایسا لگتا ہے کہ خان کے ساتھیوں کی اکثریت نے اتفاق نہ کیا۔ شاید ان سے معذرت کر لی گئی۔ ان کا غصہ فطری ہے۔ آدمی وہ بہت بڑے ہیں۔ ایک سے ایک بڑا خواب دیکھنے والے۔ غیر معمولی یادداشت، حیرت انگیز تحرک اور اپنی ٹیم کو آمادئہ عمل کرنے کی منفرد صلاحیت۔ اپنی ذات گرامی کے سوا مگر کوئی دوسرا انہیں کبھی دکھائی نہ دیا۔ سائنس دان تو خیر وہ ہیں کمال کے، دانشور اور مفکر بھی وہ خود کو سب سے بڑا سمجھتے ہیں۔ اس بات پر آپ نے کبھی غور نہ کیا کہ ہر آدمی کا اپنا میدان ہوتا ہے اور اسی میدان میں اپنے جوہر اسے دکھانے چاہئیں۔ ایٹمی پروگرام کے بائیس مختلف مراحل ہوتے ہیں۔ یورینیم کی افزودگی ان میں سے اہم ترین ہے۔ اسی میں انہوں نے اپنا کارنامہ انجام دیا۔ چاہتے مگر وہ یہ تھے کہ باقی ہر کام کی داد بھی انہی کو دی جائے۔ یہ اعتراض ان کا درست ہے کہ عمران خان کے پاس کوئی ٹیم نہیں۔ سامنے کی بات یہ ہے کہ ٹیم تو اب بنے گی۔ جہاں دیدہ سیاستدانوں میں سے ایک قابل ذکر تعداد جب اس کے ساتھ آ ملے گی۔ اور بتدریج نوجوان تربیت کے مراحل سے گزریں گے، جنہیں آنے والے کل کا منظر نامہ تشکیل دینا ہے

Clearly, HR is counter-blaming a person who dared to ask serious questions about Imran Khan and his team’s credibility. How can Haroon-ur-Rasheed or Imran Khan hope that political turncoats from the “disreputed” parties will bring credibility to PTI? What kind of training will the turncoats impart to the inexperienced lot in PTI?

On the issue of nuclear black market, why did Haroon-ur-Rasheed conveniently ignore that Dr. AQ Khan alone could not be held responsible for the whole proliferation saga. Dr. Khan naively acted as a tool in the International Jihad Enterprise project of Pakistan army. Instead of blaming the military establishment, Haroon-ur-Rasheed is blaming an old man just like General Pervez Musharraf who forced AQ Khan to offer an explanation to release pressure on Pakistan army. Our beloved army backtracked from certain policies after 9/11 and eventually Dr. AQ khan was made a scapegoat.

The fact of the matter is that Imran Khan wanted Dr. AQ Khan to join the PTI, however, when Dr. Khan refused to go by IK whims and wishes suddenly all of the PTI supporters and propagandists got hold of Musharrafian memories of Dr. Khan and his black market connections. What else is called political expediency and hypocrisy? (Source)

Irfan Siddiqi’s rebuttal

Leading pro-PMLN columnist Irfan Siddiqi too has offered a rebuttal to PTI’s allegations against Dr. AQ Khan in his column in daily Jang. Note how he is concerned about the fascist tactics of PTI wallas. Let’s hope he will also direct same advice to hawks in his own party, PMLN.

اس تاثر سے لاتعداد پاکستانیوں کی طرح مجھے بھی بہت دکھ ہوا کہ محسن پاکستان ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر خان نے عمران خان کے جلسہٴ لاہور میں جانے اور تحریک انصاف میں شامل ہونے کی کوشش کی لیکن تحریک کے بعض راہنماؤں نے ایسا نہ ہونے دیا جس پروہ ناراض ہوگئے اور خان صاحب کے انقلاب کے حوالے سے ایک منفی تبصرہ کردیا۔

میرے پاس ایسا کوئی ذریعہ نہیں کہ میں اس خبر کے درست یا غلط ہونے کے بارے میں اپنی رائے دے سکوں۔ ممکن ہے ایسا ہی ہوا ہو اور ممکن ہے خان صاحب کے بیان کے ردعمل کے طور پر انہیں تنبیہہ کی گئی ہو کہ اپنی حدود میں رہیں۔ گزشتہ شام میں نے ایک دوست سے، جو ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر خان کا نیازمند ہے، کہا کہ وہ ڈاکٹر صاحب تک میرا پیغام پہنچادیں۔ معلوم نہیں اُن تک یہ پیغام پہنچایا نہیں لیکن میں رات یہ سوچتے ہوئے سویا کہ اس کالم کے ذریعے اُن تک اپنی معروضات ضرور پہنچادوں گا۔

صجدم اخبارات میں ایک خبر رساں ایجنسی کی طرف سے جاری کی گئی خبر پہ نگاہ پڑی۔ خبر تھی۔

”معروف ایٹمی سائنس دان ڈاکٹر عبدالقدیر نے کہا ہے کہ کچھ دوستوں نے سیاست میں گھسیٹنے کی کوشش کی لیکن میں تیرتی ہوئی مچھلی ہوں، کوزے میں بند نہیں ہونا چاہتا۔ خدا نے مجھے عزت، شہرت اور بلندی دی۔ اب یہی خواہش ہے کہ ایمان سلامت رہے ۔ نجی ٹی وی کے ایک پروگرام میں اظہار خیال کرتے ہوئے ڈاکٹر قدیر نے کہا کہ مجھے دوستوں نے سیاست کے میدان میں گھسیٹنے اور اپنے ساتھ ملانے کی کوشش کی۔ تحریک انصاف کے لوگوں نے بھی کئی مرتبہ رابطہ کیا لیکن میں ایک آزاد شہری اور سیدھا سادہ انسان ہوں۔ میں ان چکرں میں نہیں پڑنا چاہتا“۔

مجھے یہ خبر پڑھ کر طمانیت ہوئی۔ اس کے باوجود میں ڈاکٹر صاحب کی خدمت میں کچھ معروضات ضرور پیش کرناچاہتا ہوں تاکہ سند رہے۔

کبھی کہا جاتا تھا کہ سیاست کے سینے میں دل نہیں ہوتا۔ اب بات کہیں آگے بڑھ چکی ہے۔ اب سیاست کے دل میں وفا رہی ہے نہ آنکھ میں حیا۔ آپ نے ایک تخیلاتی انقلاب کے بارے میں ذراسی بات کا ردعمل دیکھ لیا؟ قوم کو یہ باور کرانے کی کوشش کی گئی کہ ڈاکٹر قدیر خان ایک خود پرست شخص ہے جسے اپنے سوا کوئی دوسرا دکھائی نہیں دیتا۔ اگرچہ آپ نے گزشتہ شام ٹی وی پر بتایا کہ آپ سے ملاقات کی خواہش کا اظہار عمران خان صاحب کی طرف سے ہوا تھا اور انہی کا ایک پیام بر اس آرزو کا سندیسہ لے کے آیا تھا لیکن دوسری طرف سے عوام کو یہ بتایا جارہا ہے کہ ڈاکٹر قدیر خان، تحریک انصاف میں شمولیت کا آرزومند تھا لیکن دال نہ گلی جس پر دل برداشتہ ہوکر اس نے انقلاب کی شان میں گستاخی کردی۔ آپ اسے صرف ایک معمولی سی وارننگ سمجھیں۔ ذرا آگے بڑھ کر اگر آپ نے ”انقلاب“ کے حوالے سی کسی جائز خدشے کا اظہار بھی کیا تو یقین جانئے کہ آپ کے گریبان کے تار بھی نہیں ملیں گے۔ برسوں بعد ہماری سیاست میں ایک ایسا فسطائی ذہن، پھن پھیلائے شیش ناگ کی طرح پھنکارنے لگا ہے جو کپتان یا اس کے تصوراتی انقلاب کی شان میں ذراسی بے ادبی کو بھی برداشت نہیں کرتا۔ ہم لوگ تو گالیوں کے عادی ہوچلے ہیں۔ آپ کا اس کوچہٴ رسوائی سے کیا واسطہ

Source

Through this post, I want to ask PTI wallas, General Musharraf wallas and other pro-establishment groupies to forgive Dr. AQ Khan. Dr. Khan’s role in nuclear black market was limited to complying with the direct instructions of the Deep State. Instead of blaming a helpless scapegoat, better muster up a bit of courage and blame the powerful generals sitting in the GHQ.

I will also advise Imran Khan and his visible and closet supporters to refrain from politician-bashing. Fair criticism of politicians is to be welcomed, however, promoting military establishment and its toadies by lopsided criticism of politicians and democracy is not acceptable.

Cross-posted from Pakistan Blogzine

Related posts: On General Musharraf’s betrayal by General Kayani – by pejamistri

PML-N’s NRO with Musharraf and secret meetings with General Kayani

Critical analysts of Pakistani politics have always insisted that the restoration of CJP Iftikhar Chaudhry and his colleagues such as Khalil Ramday, Khawaja Sharif etc in 2009 was not possible without judges’ NRO (agreement) with Pakistan Army.

The army-judiciary NRO included the following clauses:

1. Judges will not pursue the missing persons case (i.e., those illegally abducted by Pakistan’s ISI, MI etc);
2. Judges will not intervene in Pakistan army’s kill & dump policy of the Baloch nationalists;
3. Judges will take no action against the LeJ-SSP-TTP sectarian killers backed by the ISI who are routinely killing Shia Muslims, Ahmadi Muslims, Barelvi Muslims, Christians and other oppressed communities;
4. Judges will routinely release key assets of Pakistan’s ISI (e.g., Hafiz Saeed, Qari Saifullah Akhtar, Malik Ishaq and other sectarian / jihadi terrorists);
5. Judges will take no action against those responsible for 12 May 2007 massacre in Karachi;
6. Judges will conduct a one-sided accountability of the democratic government, in particular that of President Zardari and other leaders of the PPP while providing maximum relief to right wing politicians (e.g. Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif, Hafiz Saeed, Maulana Abdul Aziz of Red Mosque);
7. Judges will give statements and decisions to reinforce religious jihadism and fanaticism in Pakistan (e.g., by taking public stance against secularism, Hindu community, sexual orientation, women (releasing those who gang-raped Mukhtaran Mai), banning facebook, stopping President Zardari from pardoning a blasphemy accused Christian woman);
8. Judges will take no action against General Musharraf and his colleagues (General Kayani, General Pasha and others) who played an active role in Musharraf’s first and second emergency (martial law);
9. Judges will not pursue Asghar Khan’s long outstanding petition about political misuse of public funds by Pakistan army / ISI in forming IJI and rigging elections.

Lately, it is encouraging to see more and more voices agreeing with the above discourse (presented by LUBP, Pakistan Blogzine and other progressive forums).

For example, in a debate in the National Assembly yesterday (12 October 2011), politicians from both treasury and opposition benches criticized judges and generals holding them responsible for the current suffering of Pakistani nation.

Judges and generals criticised in NA
by Amir Wasim

Source: Dawn, 13 October 2011

ISLAMABAD: The anniversary of the Oct 12 military coup provided an opportunity to the ruling PPP and opposition PML-N to jointly condemn the 1999 military action in the National Assembly on Wednesday, but a debate on the issue soon degenerated into mutual accusations with each side blaming the other for providing support to military dictators. It all started when PML-N members, while denouncing the overthrow of the party’s government by the then army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf, reiterated their demand for initiating a treason case against the military dictator and accused the present rulers of providing protection to him under a clandestine deal.

MNAs Ahsan Iqbal, Capt (retd) Muhammad Safdar and Khawaja Saad Rafique in their hard-hitting speeches on points of order not only assailed Gen Musharraf’s policies, but also lashed out at the PPP government for providing Gen Musharraf an honourable departure. They blamed Gen Musharraf for the crises the country faced today and demanded that he should be hanged.

But, PPP’s legislator from Sargodha Nadeem Afzal Gondal came up with an equally hard-hitting speech amid desk-thumping by treasury members in the presence of Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He said he would like to know why had the PML-N singled out Gen Musharraf and spared others, including the judges who had allowed a man in uniform to carry out changes in the Constitution. An angry Gondal said the PML-N should not claim the credit for the reinstatement of superior court judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who, according to him, had been reinstated because of the intervention of the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) and not because of the opposition’s long march. “Long march was just a drama and a farce. The judiciary was restored when the ISI wanted it,” Mr Gondal said. He also alleged that it was on ISI’s directives that the Chief Justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, took a stand and said ‘no’ to Gen Musharraf when the former president had asked him to resign on March 9, 2007. He asked the PML-N why was it not demanding action against the army generals who had been with Gen Musharraf in the past and were “nowadays playing golf in Punjab”.

Interestingly, the chief justice also came under criticism from the opposition when PML-N’s Muhammad Safdar questioned his inaction on the May 12, 2007, incident in which over 40 people had been killed in Karachi during the chief justice’s visit to the city. “If the CJ does not provide justice to families of those killed, then one should not expect justice from the CJ,” he said.

The PPP MNA was of the view that had the then PML-N government constituted a commission on Kargil, the nation would not have suffered the Oct 12 military coup. Mr Gondal said if the PML-N announced a long march against the army generals, then he himself would participate in it. He also accused the PML-N of having links with extremist groups, particularly the outlawed Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan.

Soon after completion of the question hour, PML-N’s Ahsan Iqbal took the floor on a point of order and said that under the law, only the federal government could institute a treason case against a person. He said if the government could not do it then it should change the law so that the PML-N’s provincial government could take the step. He said if the PPP government would not lodge a treason case against Gen Musharraf, then it would amount to committing treason. Mr Iqbal claimed that the Musharraf regime had received $85 billion as result of the 9/11 incident, but that money was not spent on the country’s infrastructure. He said that Gen Musharraf used intelligence agencies for his personal interests and for creating the PML-Q.

PML-N MNA Capt (retd) Safdar, son-in-law of Nawaz Sharif, called for framing treason charges against all those who had supported Gen Musharraf and jointed his cabinet.

Khawaja Saad Rafiq asked rulers as well as the military leadership to tell the nation why a “criminal” had been allowed to leave the country and given a guard of honour. He said the military leadership should now realise that the people’s attitude had changed and they would not accept any military intervention in future. The PML-N lawmaker said it was Mr Sharif’s mistake to appoint Gen Musharraf as the army chief, ignoring the seniority list.

Nawaz Sharif blames his military nemesis, Pervez Musharraf, for destroying his efforts to make peace with India in 1999 with the Kargil misadventure.

The recent remarks by Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan’s main opposition party, show that there are politicians in that country prepared to stand up against the populist view of India as dushman humsaya or the “enemy neighbour.” It would have been the easier political course for Mr. Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League(N), to fall in line with this idée fixe, born out of decades-long anti-India propaganda by the Pakistani state. He could have used it to score political points against the Pakistan People’s Party government. To his great credit, the former Prime Minister has emerged as a voice of sanity and reason on Pakistan’s relations with India. At a seminar organised by the South Asian Free Media Association in Lahore on the occasion of Pakistan’s Independence Day, he urged his compatriots to conceptualise an economic rather than a military rivalry with India. He spoke of a motorway that would connect the subcontinent from Kolkata to Peshawar and from there to Central Asia. He also said it was time that Pakistan stopped blaming India for all its problems.

This is not the first time Mr. Sharif has taken such positions. He blames his military nemesis, Pervez Musharraf, for destroying his efforts to make peace with India in 1999 with the Kargil misadventure. Since his 2007 return from exile in Saudi Arabia, he has been a consistent advocate of building good relations with India. He has talked of “visa-free” travel between the two countries and the importance of building trade relations. He was the first to acknowledge that the Mumbai 2008 terrorist attackers were Pakistanis. Days after the May 2 Osama bin Laden raid by the U.S. military, he said, in defiance of the popular mood, that it was wrong to view India as the “number 1 enemy”. Mr. Sharif deserves full praise for taking a rational view of India-Pakistan relations without fear of the attendant political risks. For India, the position espoused by Mr. Sharif is reassurance that bipartisan support exists for the steps, however small, that Islamabad has taken and might want to take towards normalising relations with New Delhi in the post-2008 climate. Unfortunately, the UPA government, beset by other troubles, has been at best defensive about its efforts to restart a dialogue with Pakistan. The opposition BJP has been of no help. It has chosen to fall back on a populist hardline position on India-Pakistan ties instead of leading from the front to create political space towards normalisation. It has something to learn from Mr. Sharif.

Apparently, as soon as the news item made it to the electronic media, there was some sort of retreat. The back pedaling and a clarification came rather swiftly. His comeback was that he will return back to Pakistan, as soon as “Pakistan needs him” and it will all depend on his party APML’s performance and support of the core group of his voting base.

Somewhat emulating what Barack Obama did, when Mr. Obama galvanized the young American voters through new media, Mr. Musharraf is banking on his Facebook following. Perhaps thousands of his followers on Facebook and Twitter are giving him highly false hopes and perhaps some unnecessary hype.

The fact is Musharraf Sahib is no Barack Obama, when it comes to the oratory skills, energy level or personality. Nor are the elite kids inclined to stand in the long lines in Pakistan, to cast their votes, come voting season. This is mostly the on line chattering class.

The down side with Musharraf is that he was in the office for almost 10 years and created some major havoc. Obama was fresh and he had some what of a “Change Mantra” for the US. Musharraf is stale, has no real vision and when he launched his APML, his launch manifesto was rather vague.

The bigger issue (s) with him are, his one time loyalists have disowned him. The Chaudhrys are cozying up with the PPP. The Judiciary and the former Commando cum General have old scores. The Khakhi company has not much interest in him either, as soon as he took the infamous “wardi” off. To them he does not add much of value, as there is a new Chief on the saddle. He does not have that emotional connection with the average voter as well. Like many countries, it is the average voter of lower to middle class strata that makes the difference. He has no known name with him to pull. Even if he miraculously makes a come back and stands, the most he can garner is one seat under his name. A la Imran Khan style.

It is perhaps in his best interest to retire gracefully in London and perhaps continue his lecture business. That brings this discussion to a new question. Who in their right mind, is willing to pay Mush Sahib, for the same old information, that every one is aware of, thanks to the blogosphere and Google?

Parrot writers and journalists in Pakistan always praise the position of a serving Army Chief. Those who have sold their souls tell us how great the military’s top brass is. It does not matter if it includes generals, who surrendered in Dhaka, and those who ran away from Kargil, or those who killed an elected Prime Minister and tore apart the constitution. Even military leaders accused of corruption, incompetence and misconduct are portrayed as heroes.

It is not surprising that we are told that the current Army Chief, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, is the only capable saviour of Pakistan. Analysts, anchorpersons and columnists, who pretend to be mouthpieces of the military, inform us that General Kayani is different than his predecessors.

Not very long ago, General Kayani was the right-hand man of General Parvez Musharraff. After Kayani became the Commander-in-Chief, General Musharraff received a guard of honour at the end of his illegal stay in the President House. The military is a state within the state in Pakistan. The sword of a military intervention still hangs over the civilian government as the power equilibrium continues to be in the military’s favour even under General Kayani.

Nonetheless, so far, General Kayani has acted wisely and he appears softer than the previous heads of the Pakistani military. The Armed Forces are supposed to defend a country but the Pakistan military has embarrassed Pakistan many times. The Armed Forces are a symbol of pride for the people of a country; in Pakistan the military has caused national discomfiture. Some Pakistani generals wanted to make history—they left with dark history.

General Kayani, however, could be an exception. May be he can heal the wounds, which the country has suffered at the hands of its Armed Forces. Perhaps he can assist in bringing an end to a crisis that started in the early morning of April 4, 1979 when generals of the Pakistani Army had committed a horrendous crime.

It will be a great service to Pakistan if the military, under General Kayani’s command, parts ways with the past and throws away the colonial legacy of righteousness and supremacy. Like other institutions in Pakistan, the military, too, needs critical self-review. Instead of applying media management techniques to boost its image, the military ought to start a new chapter by publicly admitting that the generals, dead or retired, who have hurt the military and Pakistan will be tried in military courts for treason. New officers should be told that the military had rotten eggs in its basket and that such characters will not be tolerated in the military’s ranks again.

General Kayani along with his top commanders should visit Ghari Khada Buksh, Larkana and offer a sincere apology, on the behalf of the military, for killing the founder of a new Pakistan. This would be a big step towards true reconciliation.

The Armed Forces should present a guard of honour to Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto for saving the defeated and broken Pakistan. They should salute Bhutto for rescuing 90,000 soldiers who had surrendered to the Indian Army in Bangladesh. Monuments of Bhutto should be erected in all cantonments because Bhutto built a new defence shield for Pakistan.

Z.A Bhutto restored Pakistan’s integrity and never compromised on national interest. He earned respect because he could talk to anyone eyeball to eyeball. Bhutto always held his chin high. His role and deeds for Pakistan should be included in history textbooks, especially in those taught at the military schools so that soldiers are aware of their true national hero.

Unless the Pakistan Armed Forces recognize and admit that the Bhutto’s murder was the military’s biggest blunder, and ask for forgiveness, Pakistan will not be at ease with herself. It will remain a disturbed and divided country.

At the same time, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Lahore High Court must reverse the decision of Bhutto’s judicial murder and seek an apology from the people of Pakistan. The Supreme Court is guilty of gross injustice. The Bhutto case is a stain on the institution of judiciary. Bhutto’s blood will stay fresh in the courtrooms until justice is done and Bhutto’s dignity is returned to him by the Court. The integrity and respect of the Supreme Court of Pakistan will never be restored without declaring Bhutto innocent and calling him Pakistan’s national hero.

Also the Supreme Court should formally admit that judges who were instrumental in providing legal cover to martial laws and dictators were actually traitors. The Court should give a similar verdict about generals who imposed military coups and derailed Pakistan.

Bhutto prevails in Pakistan even 32 years after his physical death. His glory is untainted and love for Bhutto has not been diminished from the hearts of the masses.

Anti-Bhutto camp often moans why Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is still alive politically and why his influence and legacy is so strong in Pakistan? Bhutto divides Pakistan because his killers have not asked, sincerely, for forgiveness nor have they forgiven Bhutto for saving and serving Pakistan.

Shiraz Paracha is a journalist and analyst. His email address is shiraz_paracha@hotmail.com

When Musharraf regime seized the power through military coup back in 1999, the best strategy for the regime was to control the government institutions and public offices effectively. Therefore, the concept of devolution of power to grass root level was revived and introduced with some changes in the departmental role of civil servants. Police Ordinance and DMG roles’ restructuring methods were made; this was only done to suite the vested interest of then regime. Tightening the age limit was also one of the tools which were applied to block the entry of competent persons through this perilous process of examination. The other ulterior motive was to allow contractual hiring of favorites on the key positions on the pretext of available less experienced and relatively young age for the required positions. As a result the retired servicemen regained the ‘lost paradise’ and clung to the position they had been retired from. It is really commendable that Supreme Court eventually took notice and null and void all contractual hired consequently paving the way for within department promotions.

On May 17, a senate standing committee had oragnized a debate on age relaxation in FPSC offered job (other than competitive exam, proceeding is available on the internet), the initiative was taken by Senator Haji Ghulam Ali. The proposal of age relaxation was unanimously accepted. It is beyond logic that why government is reluctant to take competent people onboard by just removing a restriction imposed by a dictator, even though candidates would secure their seats on competition basis. Why governemnt is not allowing them to take just exam and prove their competency? Age restriction was imposed on about a decade ago, since then education system have undergone a number of changes e.g. now universities are offering FOUR YEARS GRADUATION PROGRAM. To complete this education, one has to study four years, therefore, 28 years of age makes no sense. Secondly, after completion of education a number of candidates join private sector to eke out their living and to support their families. How is it possible for an average middle class to continue the studies without supporting his or her family? In 2008, SPSC has given 10 years of age relaxation to aspirant to appear in exam and prove their competency, as a result number of candidates appeared and only handful of ‘best of the best’ could make it. What’s a problem with CSS exam? However, there is a rumour that goverment would relax age by 5 years and education qualification would be 16 years but not cleared yet.

On 24, June 2010, Establishment division had issued an Office Memorandum (No: 9/2/91-R-5), as ‘Most Immediate’ was mentioned on it, regarding Clarification on general age relaxation of upper limit prescribed in recruitment rule. In this memorandum, the general age relaxation is given for five years to all posts except through CSS. No one could understand the reason or logic behind this decision. Why the whole government seems reluctant to let aspirant compete and take best of the best on board? The point#2 of this office memorandum is read as:

“2- In light of the recommendation of the Senate Standing Committee, the Ministries/Divisions/Departments are advised that hence-forth, the concession of 5 years general relaxation in upper age limit shall be clubbed with the maximum age limit of the post n their advertisments. In case usual upper age limit of posts in various Basic Pay Scales is as in column (2) below, the maximum age limit shall be as in column (4) below:”

It is quite ridiculous that, the BPS 17 person of ex-cadre is given 5 years age relaxation and age limit is already set 30 years but for the CSS exam, age is restricted to 28!

On July 1, 2010 Chairman FPSC has presented the annual report to the Honorable President Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and explained the dearth of competent candidates especially from Sindh (rural/urban). In order to retain and attract the smartest people in the civil services the president had ordered to give incentives to the bureaucrats and young civil servants in terms of constructing high rise buildings and increased pay packages. It is indeed a good move forward but the basic question remains unanswered that how would government attract ‘competent’ people for civil services? In 2008, the annual report was presented to the president highlighting some problems in which the prime one was ‘declining education standard’, the real road block for skiming out best of the best; in 2006, approx 82% and 68% were failed in Essay and English Precis Writing respectively. This percentage rose to 92% in English Precis Writing, quite pathetic. On the basis of such drastic and declining education standards, the recruitment system was gravely demanding improvement. Owing to this need, consultants were hired through word bank as stated in annual report 2008 which is as follows:
c) Improvement in CSS Recruitment System.
Consultants hired through World Bank have completed their study
on CSS recruitment system and after thorough analysis, FPSC’s
recommendations for improvements have been forwarded to the
Government. Modifications and changes in our present system are
essential in order to bring CSS recruitment system in line with modern
day requirements and practices.

Consultants’ fee was payed off from tax payers’ money yet we are unable to implement the changes suggested by them. We are so much radical and conservatives that we seem always in love with our old archaic practices. Why can’t we adapt to global changing patterns? I think that is why we are backwarded, war torn and extremism ridden society although we are a nuclear state. Simply, we don’t want to get change, we don’t want to mend our ways and don’t want to learn from the history.

India and Bangladesh have very flexible and relaxing age criteria for the prospective candidates of Civil services having graduation as academic qualification. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have the same system of government as inherited from the British Raj. But how the others evolved their system to compete the modern challenges of globalization and how naïve are we to complicate the system to suite a regime’s vested interest. India and Bangladesh has age limit of between 21 to 30 but they facilitate to have maximum participation for it is the democratic right of every ‘capable and competent’ person to serve his or her country. Please see below the criteria of both neighboring countries; India and Bangladesh.

India:

i. A candidate must have attained 21 years and not be over 30 years on August 1 of the year of examination.
ii. The upper age limit is relaxed in specific cases as mentioned below:
a. upto a maximum of 5 years if the candidate belongs to SC/ST.
b. upto a maximum of 3 years if the candidate belongs to Other Backward Classes.
c. upto a maximum of 5 years if the candidate had been domiciled in Jammu & Kashmir during the period between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1989.
d. upto a maximum of 3 years in the case of Defence Services personnel disabled during hostilities with foreign countries or in a disturbed area and consequently released.
e. upto a maximum of 5 years in the case of ex-servicemen including Commissioned Officers and ECOs / SSCOs who have rendered at least five years Military Service as on August 1 of the year of examination and have been released:
o on completion of assignment (including those whose assignment is due to be completed within one year from August 1 of the year of examination) otherwise than by way of dismissal or discharge on account of misconduct or inefficiency, or
o on account of physical disability attributable to Military Service, or
o on invalidment.
f. upto a maximum of 5 years in the case of ECOs / SSCOs who have completed an initial period of assignment (5 years Military Service) as on August 1 of the year of examination and whose assignment has been extended beyond 5 years. Such candidates will have to provide a certificate from the Ministry of Defence stating that they can apply for civil employment and they will be released on a notice of 3 months, upon selection, from the date of receipt of offer of appointment.
g. upto a maximum of 10 years in the case of blind, deaf-mute and orthopaedically handicapped candidates.

Bangladesh:

• If not a child of a freedom fighter or a candidate for health cadre, the age should be between 21 to 30 years on the first day of advertisement year.
• If the candidate is a child of a freedom fighter or he/she is a candidate for health cadre, the age should be between 21 to 32 years on the first day of advertisement year.
• If the candidate is a scheduled tribal group member, the age should be between 21 to 32 years on the first day of advertisement year.

I would strongly suggest the government and policy makers to enhance the age limit to 35 years and qualification criteria to at least 16 years. Most of the universities are offering now four years graduation program i.e. candidates are getting 16 years of education as compared to previously 14 years of education.

This will help to cut down unnecessary training costs abroad for the people of this mature age would also bring some experience coupled with expertise with them to run the business of state effectively.

It is requested to Honorable President of Pakistan Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudry and His Excellency Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani to please look into this matter and do needful. Our President has claimed in his Birmingham speech that he is a common people’s president and vigilantly aware of peoples’ problems and issues.
Therefore, it is requested to Mr. President to specially look into this matter being the Awami Saddar.

Thanks,

The author is a freelance writer, having rich corporate sector experience. He can be reached at

shamoon.qureshi@yahoo.com.