Tarek Fatah: A voice of reason on the Nato Supply issue

As a diehard Bhuttoist and proud Jiyala, I am extremely troubled to see some fake civil society activists (pseudo-liberals) presenting themselves as pro-PPP but at the same time undermining the very foundations of the elected parliament.

My leader, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, was killed by religious fanatics namely Taliban, Al Qaeda and their mentors and affiliates. Why would I have any objection to the provision of those supplies which international community needs to neutralize the threat of Al Qaeda and Taliban?

As a Pakistani who does not see honour in xenophobia and conspiracy theories, much of the debate on the NATO supply routes is both disappointing and disturbing. It is disappointing because of the dishonesty of some sections of the press (Jang Group, The Friday Times, Jinnah Institute etc) a decision made by parliament. Any one who has followed Pakistan’s history since 1947 knows that such decisions are tightly controlled by the military bureaucracy, the permanent State and NOT the elected representatives of the people. Those who can deny this in the light of 1948, 1965, 1971, 1984, 1988, 1996, 1999, 2008-present are only fooling themselves.

In a recent debate on Twitter, the only person who made any sense on this topic was Pakistani-Canadian Tarek Fatah.  I was troubled to see  the statements made by some journalists who present themselves as liberal and Pro-PPP (yes, I am referring to the PTH-PTI-JinnahInstitute group) but whose statements reflect the opposite.

As has been pointed out by PPP and ANP parliamentarians and leaders of the ruling government coalition in the last few weeks, re-opening the NATO supply routes benefits Pakistan both politically and economically while opposing such an initiative places us against 40 other countries that are part of NATO and most of which like Turkey are some of Pakistan’s allies. However, to present the false picture that the PPP is calling the shots on this one is the height of dishonesty.

In the streets, the Difa-e-Pakistan Council that is strongly supported by PTI (Imran Khan) is raising blood curling slogans against the PPP. The parliamentary representatives of DPC, the PML-N, is creating a ruckus in the assemblies. The media and judiciary, as if on cue, are also working overtime to undermine the PPP on this and other issues. And the strings for all these actors are being pulled from you-know-who. It is GHQ (Pakistan army) which is calling the shots on this one and in the end, the PPP has to chime what they say.

In my opinion as a Jiyala, the PPP has to do what is good for the country and that is re-opening the NATO supply routes. Having said that I do not envy the position of President Zardari and Prime Minister Gilani who have to convey to GHQ that the latter’s brinksmanship negotiating tactics (such as the activation of DPC) have backfired and earned the displeasure of many countries that are part of NATO.

Contrary to media misinformation, NATO has UN mandate and unless one resides in the PTI-DPC-Jinnah Institute complex, NATO has UN mandate for its presence in Afghanistan. This is not to say that NATO has not made mistakes and should not be critisized.  However, we cannot expect the rest of the world to take us seriously, especially when rogue elements still support the Taliban and OBL is found in a compound in Abbottabad.  We cannot expect NATO and the US to take us seriously when we demand an apology for Salala but remain silent and inactive against the Taliban who have killed far more of our brave soldiers.

Similarly, pretending as though the re-opening the NATO supply routes is in the hands of parliament is a bit rich – especially coming from the “liberal” champions of the #SherryRehmanLobby.

Just before the murder of PPP governor Salmaan Taseer, Sherry Rehman (founder of pro-army Jinnah Institute) had presented a private member’s bill in parliament to amend the blasphemy law. An excellent initiative on the surface and one that I support. However, as a member of parliament who was appointed on a reserved seat – as opposed to being elected from a constituency – Sherry had done nothing substantive to create support in parliament for this bill. It was presented when the PPP government had been ditched by two of its coalition allies – the MQM and the JUI-F and simply did not have the numbers to pass it.

Meanwhile the security establishment, media, PML-N, PTI and judiciary were whipping up extremist sentiments on the streets which lead to the murder of Governor Taseer. Instead of standing with her besieged party, Sherry Rehman used this opportunity to score cheap points against them in the media.

Just months later, her Jinnah Institute published a pro-Taliban report without any dissenting note – kind of like our Judiciary. So much for caring for the rights of minorities. Now a lobby group of journalists loyal to her want us to respect the “mandate of the (same) Parliament – the same parliament that was being vilified by the budding aspirants (Nasim Zehra) of the Jinnah Institute just a year ago. Hypocrisy has no bounds!

Currently, the #SherryRehmanLobby is working to undermine Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar. This lobby has already placed two paid activists of PML N; one in the Foreign office (he appears on Al-Jazeera and presents himself as liberal) and another in the Jinnah Institute- which is now being headed by someone widely known as the unofficial ISPR spokesperson to the Pakistani media. Another for sale consultant too is a part of the same club. While one can have a difference of opinion with Foreign Minster Hina Rabbani Khar, she is more loyal than Sherry Rahman to PPP and has won elections from her constituency – unlike Ms. Rehman who would be hard-pressed to win even a local councillar’s seat.  The script provided by Sherry, which is unfortunately being read out by Chairman Bilawal and President Zardari, is not in the best interests of Pakistan.

As a PPP supporter and activist, I would like to alert my party to the efforts of the Sherry Rehman Lobby. This ISI Trojan horse, filled with the staff of the Jinnah Institute and aided by several elitist propagandists and operatives placed in various media houses and think tanks, can bring nothing but destruction to the PPP and Pakistan. The last Pakistani ambassador to the United States was Mr. Husain Haqqani whose “Between Mosque and the Military State” is a good primer on the tentacles of the security establishment. What an irony that his successor is Sherry Rehman, author of the ISI-esque foreign policy elites views on the future of Afghanistan. Pakistan’s international standing can only get worse if this lobby creates further space for itself within the current PPP-led government.

1. Anonymous source are claiming that PPP-led government intends to cut judiciary down to size by revoking the March 16, 2009 executive order on restoration of judges . It lead to emergent called late night judges meetup and deliberations .

Result: Anonymous WON!

2. Anonymous memo resulted in Zardari’s main opening bastman losing his job; on the first day of court hearing, his name was added in Exit Control List.

Result: Today, after  6 months  memo issue first came in the limelight its seems odds are even now . specially after former ISI Chief testimony in judicial commision where he confessed he didn’t investigated Mansor Ijaz claims he believed what Mansoor Ijaz was saying was’  true’ . PPP have weather the storm of  Media , Judiciary who’s Chief initially said “IF ISI Chief is claiming memo is reality than we can’t simply ignore it ” now  finding it  really hard to declare accused traitor , and the alliance of Jihadi organization Difae Pakistan which was leading the campaign to hang ‘traitors’ President Zardari and Hussain Haqqani   have failed to sustain its initial momentum.

According  to Daily Times Columnist Dr. Taqi :

President Zardari not only  remains in the ring but also has a realistic chance of being the one remaining standing after the 15th round — not unlike Muhammad Ali in that Manila fight. The generalissimos, on the other hand, appear to be at the end of their wits. While President Zardari might have been politically wounded, the damage on the other side is to the egos bloated by decades of illegal authority that they have become used to exercising unchecked. 

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has survived the last couple of months thanks to the sheer grit of President Zardari, matched only by a resolute Husain Haqqani. Clearly, both men have decided that they will sink or swim together, and rightly so.

Memogate: the odds are even now —Dr Mohammad Taqi

Even the arch political enemies of the present government would be hesitant to support any movement of the mechanised columns from Rawalpindi to Islamabad

If the recent slew of ISPR press releases is anything to go by, the Pakistani brass is one frustrated lot. What they thought would be a slam dunk is turning out to be a drawn out battle of nerves in which there are few, if any, legal and constitutional options for them to achieve their desired goal of sending President Asif Zardari packing. In the so-called Memogate saga, the odds are even now.

The Pakistani security establishment went charging into the memo affair and expected to deliver a knockout blow to President Zardari within days. To their dismay this is becoming more and more like the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ bout between the great Muhammad Ali and the fearsome Smokin’ Joe. In the PAF School, Peshawar, we had a partial day off to watch that 1975 Ali-Frazier fight. But my recollection of the event, then telecast live on the Pakistani national television, remained rather vague until its re-run last month to commemorate the death of the mighty Joe Frazier; it was a reminder how superbly tenacious Ali was.

President Zardari has been battered and bruised in the most recent of the many attempts by the brass to cow down the civilian leadership. Over the last 40 years they have done this to every single civilian head of the ruling party in Pakistan. Whether it was Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Muhammad Khan Junejo, Benazir Bhutto or Mian Nawaz Sharif, they all faced the constant pugilistic attitude of an establishment unwilling to loosen its grip on domestic, and more importantly, foreign affairs. All these leaders lost their governments for standing up to the praetorian guard. The Bhuttos, of course, paid with their lives, not just governments.

However, not only does President Zardari remain in the ring but also has a realistic chance of being the one remaining standing after the 15th round — not unlike Muhammad Ali in that Manila fight. The generalissimos, on the other hand, appear to be at the end of their wits. While President Zardari might have been politically wounded, the damage on the other side is to the egos bloated by decades of illegal authority that they have become used to exercising unchecked.

Outside the legal options and desperate to teach the ‘bloody’ civilians a lesson, the junta can certainly do rash things, including physical harm. But this is not 1977 when an elected prime minister could be roughed up or 1979 when he could be hanged. This is not even 2007 when physically mistreating the chief justice of Pakistan unleashed a powerful movement within days of such nastiness.

All its fury notwithstanding, the raging bull is well aware of its limitations. The junta realises that the days of scaling the compound walls and taking over the state radio and television are over. Even the arch political enemies of the present government would be hesitant to support any movement of the mechanised columns from Rawalpindi to Islamabad. Simply put, that the junta has not staged a coup over two months after the Memogate affair started is not out of the goodness of its heart but because it is not a viable and sustainable option today.

President Zardari has so far been able to call the army’s bluff quite successfully and in the process did inspire some confidence in Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani who came out with some hard-hitting statements and vowed to not allow what he called a ‘state within a state’. But Mr Gilani has since embarked upon an attempt apparently to make up with the brass. In a situation where the apex court is scrutinising things closely, Mr Gilani would be well advised to mind his Ps and Qs. He might have considered issuing such a clean bill of health to the Generals Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Ahmed Shuja Pasha magnanimous or part of his balancing act but it also has the potential to come back and haunt him and the government.

Both generals remain at the centre of the memo controversy and their stance is diametrically opposite to that of Mr Gilani’s government and his party. General Kayani continues to make overtly political statements via those multiple ISPR press releases. The various arms of the deep state are perceived to be going on with their machinations to keep encircling the civilian government. A coalition of the jihadists and their sympathisers — the Difa-i-Pakistan Council (Pakistan Defence Council) — staging rallies and the political birds of the same establishment feather flocking together in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) are not coincidental.

General Pasha’s role, of course, remains much more controversial. Also of concern is his ability to influence and/or undermine an independent probe as long as he continues to head the Pakistani spy agency. I had noted in my first column on Memogate that General Pasha’s role requires a much closer scrutiny, something he has been able to evade thus far. It would have been quite gentlemanly of the officer to step down on his own but he has shown no inclination to do so. It, therefore, behoves Mr Gilani to not blow hot and cold in the same breath. He ought not to commit to something that can hurt his government’s legal position.

The federal government in its response filed with the Supreme Court earlier this week has taken a principled and firm stance vis-à-vis both Generals Kayani and Pasha who have been accused of “keeping Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in the dark” (about the memo issue). The government has also charged General Pasha with dereliction of duty by not reporting to his de jure superior, i.e. Mr Gilani. These are serious charges and hardly leave room for Mr Gilani shrugging off the concerns about the ISI chief.

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has survived the last couple of months thanks to the sheer grit of President Zardari, matched only by a resolute Husain Haqqani. Clearly, both men have decided that they will sink or swim together, and rightly so. Mr Gilani, too, has shown glimpses of resolve but he needs to remain consistent and must refrain from going out on a limb to defend the brass hostile to the civilian setup. A rapprochement on the anvil within the PPP, and possibly with Mian Nawaz Sharif, is also a welcome sign.

The parliamentary inquiry will certainly deal with the merits and demerits of Memogate but the political response by the PPP has evened out the odds and barring unforced errors, it may weather the manufactured storm.

The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com. He tweets at http://twitter.com/mazdaki

 

12 May 2012: Ghotki (border of Sindh and Saraikistan)- Millions of Pakistanis (estimated to be two millions) belonging to Sindh, Sarikistan, Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan and other areas of Pakistan gathered in Ghotki, Sindh, to express their support for democracy, in particular for the Pakistan Peoples Party and its leaders President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani.

Today’s public rally at Kamon Shaheed area on the Sindh-Punjab border is estimated to be one of the largest in Pakistan’s political history. The total number of people in today’s rally is estimated to be several times larger than other similar rallies organized by other political parties (e.g., PTI’s rally in Lahore, PML-N’s rallies in Lahore and Rawalpindi etc).

The National Highway from Sukkur to Kamon Shaheed is jam packed due to participation of a large number of people in the today’s rally.

Here is another clip contributed by Salma Jafer (@Chiltan). Barring the exception, Pakistan private-owned corporate media has done its best to ignore this event and we will continue to collect more video clips that highlight the verdict of the People.

Today’s grand rally has some important messages:

1. PPP is the symbol of federation; it is the only political party in Pakistan which is equally popular in all six provinces (Punjab, Sariakistan, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit Baltistan) and other areas;

2. Jiyalas (workers) of the PPP have full confidence in the leadership of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani;

3. Despite the malicious propaganda by right-wing journalists in Pakistan’s Urdu media and pseudo-liberal journalists in English media, most of whom remain politically and economically aligned with Pakistan’s military establishment, the PPP remains the party of choice of Pakistani nation;

4. The people of Pakistan reject Teen Jeem’s (3 Js) conspiracies against the democratic government, e.g., politically motivated judicial trial and conviction of PPP leaders in fake cases (e.g., memogate, NRO etc), conspiracies by rogue elements (remnants of General Zia-ul-Haq and General Musharraf) in Pakistani establishment against democracy, and malicious propaganda by unscrupulous journalists, particularly by those employed by the Jang Group.

According to daily The News, the PPP has selected Kamoo Shaheed venue for the rally, as it bears symbolic importance since it would be the border of the new South Punjab province and the PPP being instrumental for this demand wants to attract the people from the Seraiki-belt as well.

This venue had also been used in the past both by the nationalists and the PPP whenever differences sharpened among the provinces, particularly over the distribution of water.

The PPP thus wanted to give a “message” to Nawaz Sharif, as the slain PPP chairperson and former premier Benazir Bhutto along with the nationalists had held a rally at this place in 1998 against the PML-N regime that had announced construction of controversial Kalabagh Dam (KBD). It was on the same day when Awami National Party led by late Wali Khan had held a rally at Attock Bridge, the border area between Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, for identical purpose.

This fact was highlighted by Qaim Ali Shah himself during his chat with media in Sukkur on Friday when he alleged that by constructing KBD, Nawaz Sharif wanted to turn Sindh’s fertile lands into barren area.

12 May is the day (2007) when major portion of Sharea Faisal had turned into battleground soon after the arrival of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry to address lawyers’ convention at the Sindh High Court but the CJP had to return from the airport after more than 40 people, including the PPP workers, were killed by militants belonging to Altaf Hussain’s MQM. Later, the same CJP turned his gun against the very party which gave its blood for his restoration.

“Ghotki is a place where both PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif and PTI head Imran Khan held rallies recently and now PPP wants to show its political power,” said Dr. Ayub Sheikh, a leading political columnist of Sindhi newspapers. As the venue adjoins the Seraiki-belt, the PPP also wants to influence south Punjab voters, he said, adding that the PPP may decide to “replace” Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani when the clash among the institutions would become imminent or certain quarters would feel it necessary to remove Gilani.

Meanwhile, General Secretary PPP (Sindh) Taj Haider said that their rally was aimed at demonstrating active support for the “beleaguered” prime minister (Gilani) as well as for democratic stability. He said they expect that lakhs of people from northern districts of Sindh and southern Punjab would turn up at the rally despite extreme weather condition, “as Jiyalas could not be deterred by heat”. To a question as to why May 12 was selected for the rally, the senior PPP leader said: “This day holds significance for the party as out of 49 slain people 18 belonged to the PPP”. He said they wanted to show that it were their (PPP) workers who sacrificed their lives for the restoration of the judiciary but now the PPP itself has become a “victim” of the superior judiciary. To another question, Taj Haider said that Benazir Bhutto had led a march at Kamoo Shaheed against the KBD for the sake of the federation as the controversial dam had been a cause of major friction among the provinces. “Now, our purpose is also the same i.e. to strengthen the federation,” he added. (Source)

Some comments from Twitter

Maula Bux Thadani ‏ @MaulaBuksh
Corporate media doing its best to ingnore what is shaping up to be a giant #PPP rally despite temperatures over 40 C.

PakistanPeoplesParty ‏ @PPPSocialMedia
CM Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah Addressing PPP Jalsa of around 2 Million Jiyalas at Kamoon Shaheed, Ghotki — The… http://fb.me/1KQjTDAsL

Muhammad Ahmed Tariq ‏ @Ahmedtariq81
PPP rally in support of PM + democracy. Crowd estimate 1.5-2 million. Jiyee Bhuttooo !

Farhad Ahmed Jarral ‏ @farhadjarral
CM Sindh at the Jalsa now — Kammu Shaheed, Ghotki.. Masses chanting and raising slogans Zinda hai Bhutto Zinda Hai.. Jeay #Bhuttoism. In the main, it’s just Larkana and Sukkur Division who r out 2 attend Jalsa, If all Sindh comes out then Mian Brothers won’t find place 2 run again! #PPP

Assad Zulfiqar Khan
So it would seem that the PPP can get more people to a rally in a town like Ghotki than IK can get in Islamabad.

Mirza Afaq Sharif
Its 41 Celsius in Ghotki !! and million people are in unhabitated area of #KamoonShaheed for PPP Jalsa

Hyder Khan Laghari ‏ @HyderKhanLghari
hot weather at place of #PPPJalsa at #KamoonShaheed Ghotki but people’s gathering nd dancing on slogan #ZindaHeBBzindaHe

Asad Qureshi ‏ @asad_psf
#PPP today jalsa is going great with 20 lac people from Punjab and Sindh

Maleeha Manzoor ‏ @MaleehaManzoor
#PPP is unbeatable! Millions to gather at Ghotki – today! The place has been crowded completely, yet more caravans to reach there!

Bakhtawar Bhutto Z ‏ @BakhtawarBZ
“My nervousness drops, my apprehension drops. I no longer care for bullets because I feel in a crowd like this, no bullet can hit me” – SMBB

Shahzadi Tauseef ‏@ShaiziCheema

@faraz999 It was huge gathering even pres #Zardari & @BBhuttoZardari were not there, like MNS & IK. And if they come then imagine da crowd

Shehryar Riaz Sheikh ‏ @ShehryarRS
News from Ghotki : People, people, people in the glorious tricolor everywhere the eye sees. PPP everywhere the eye sees !

Saher Azad ‏ @SaherAzad
Today the masses have proved that the only Courts to decide PPP’s FATE are the Awami Courts. PPP Showed strength of 2 Million

Asma xoxo ‏ @Asma11m
So is everything alright with PML-N and PTI’s trolls after watching PPP’s jalsa ? Dont worry dont worry We sympathise with you

PPP have support of the people, will win next elections as well: Qaim Ali Shah
Sindh Chief Minister and senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Qaim Ali Shah said that people supported the government of Asif Ali Zardari, and threatened a long march of their own, one which would travel to Lahore, and beyond.

To please the MQM, PPP is conducting a one-sided operation in Karachi. The only area, that is being operated, is Lyari. My simple question is, does the government find criminals in the Lyari area only?
Criminials are all over the city, then why the government just targets the Lyari area? I am not at all saying that do not take action against criminals, but take the action indiscriminately. You support a
particular party, you never operate in the areas that come under the control of a particular party, you never operate in Azizabad, Liaqatabad, Korangi, New Karachi etc, you think only saints and angels
live in the areas that come under the control of a particular party and all the criminals of world reside in Lyari.

The behavior of Pakistan People’s Party, the party, I USED TO SUPPORT, has disappointed me. Hence, I have decided not to vote for PPP or any political party in upcoming elections and I know, I am not alone, there must be a good number of people who have been disappointed by the behavior of PPP. The current leadership of PPP has harmed its own party in Karachi. And one thing I would like to remind people that Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto had never adulated any political party in her life.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik proved that PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif was involved in money laundering.
He gave evidence against Nawaz Sharif would be placed before the Supreme Court and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for alleged corruption of $32 million.
Federal Rehman Malik said a commission may be formed to investigate alleged involvement of Nawaz Sharif in money laundering.
He appealed to the Supreme Court to call him and he would present all evidence. He further alleged that Nawaz Sharif made an NRO with former President Farooq Ahmed Leghari and as a result, Benazir Bhutto’s elected government was unconstitutionally dismissed in November 1996.
Federal Rehman Malik said that Nawaz Sharif made a second NRO with dictator Pervez Musharraf and went abroad after signing an agreement and violated the Charter of Democracy (COD) he signed with Benazir Bhutto in 2006.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has just convicted an elected Prime Minister for following an explicit Constitutional clause (Article 248 (2)) – on the basis of an Ordinance passed by a military dictator, General Musharaf (Contempt of Court Ordinance 2004) – who in turn was empowered to subvert the Constitution by this very same Judiciary!  However, if one is expecting any balance or nuance from Pakistan’s media on this landmark decision, one is sorely mistaken.

The media’s role in being a cheer leader of right-wing, Islamist politicians and populist judges is an unfortunate departure from its often stated role of being a “fair and balanced” presenter of the news and of informing the public.  In the last few years, the media, for the most part, has gone out of its way in presenting, supporting and empowering an obscurantist and conspiratorial mindset that is low on facts and high on sanctimonious piety and selective morality.

To understand the “dynamics” of the symbiotic relationship between the media and the judiciary, one needs to look no further than the following exchange that took place between the dignified Information Minister, Qamar Zaman Kaira and prominent news anchor, Kamran Khan.  It is a sad reflection of how the media distorts facts and is very reluctant to allow gentlemen like Kaira to argue a case on its merits, as opposed to moral grandstanding.

At this point in time, one must also reflect on the role of Pakistan’s Jejune “liberals” who were an essential part of the Lawyer’s Movement, long after it had lost its legitimacy post-2008 elections.  This was when all judges were released by the newly elected Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gillani and over 96% of them restored.  The current Junta in the judiciary that often evokes dictator-inserted clauses to continuously undermine the legislature and the executive has been hugely supported by the Jejune “liberals” of Pakistan – an exclusivist cabal who assume the moral high ground by discarding with uncomfortable facts as it relates to them.

By distorting history and constructing a narrative based on half-truths and distortions, this elite cabal of Jejune “liberals” spare no opportunity to bash the PPP in general and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in particular.  While one must acknowledge their mistakes, inflating their role in the current problems facing Pakistan is both an intellectual fallacy as well as deflecting the role of Pakistan’s Jejune “Liberals”.

By their willful and continuing support to this judiciary, Pakistan’s Jejune “liberals” stand forever exposed as opportunists who share an equal blame in the current constitutional crisis.  In their published articles and media space, these Jejune “liberals” of Pakistan have portrayed this judiciary as anti-military dictatorship.  After today’s verdict (on dictator-inserted clauses), their misrepresentation of this judiciary comes across as a cruel joke to the public.  However, one should not comment any further as Pakistan’s Jejune “liberals” are deeply intolerant of criticism and one cannot afford the witch hunts and intimidation that ensues after they are criticized.

Today’ verdict against the Prime Minister was based on THOSE parts of the Constitution which were mangled by military dictators, General Zia and General Musharaf while the Prime Minister did not want to violate THAT part of the Constitution that is derived from the Geneva Convention.  Pakistan’s Jejune “liberals” who never tire of inflating and misrepresenting ZAB’s role in creating religious intolerance need some honest self-reflection given their own support for this judiciary and its continued usage of Article 63 – a constitutional clause that was mangled by General Zia ul Haq; whose coup and martial law was supported by the judiciary then; as was General Musharaf by the current judiciary.  Article 63, as it stands, is the Islamist manifesto of Jamaat Islami and the pillar used by this judiciary for its often controversial decisions.

FAQ: How to remove the democratically elected Prime Ministers of Pakistan?

ANS: If 58-2(b) exists and president is co-operative then dissolve the entire parliament which naturally will get rid of PM as well. Else get the justice done with PM by approaching courts of law who would initiate contempt of court and a soft revolution will follow that will wipe out PM

FAQ: You seem sarcastic, do you have any precedent to this effect?

ANS: Absolutely. 1990 Benazir’s first regime, 1993 Nawaz Sharif first regime, 1996 Benazir’s second tenure. Tool used was 58-2(b) and presidents were co-operative. Nawaz Sharif in his second tenure got rid of 58-2(b), courts summoned him for contempt proceedings. He was lucky to have some faithful followers who gate crashed the chambers of my lord justices of Supreme Court and ‘azad media’ was absent too thus NS couldn’t be washed away. Now Yusuf Gilani, tried to run a West Minister type democracy in Pakistan which doesn’t suit our temperament thus he should go, rather should be made a horrible example, as how dared he tried to complete his term.

FAQ: Wow that is seditious, if all of these techniques fail what will you do then.

ANS: LOL:) Easy just move 111 brigade and they will occupy the PTV and PM house. PM will be tried for some ‘grave’ crime and at the end either he would be hanged like Bhutto or be exiled to Saudi Arabian Saroor palace like NS.

PS. Make sure to obtain clemency like that of NS, you have to be a non-PPP PM otherwise …. well read the history.

نئے صوبوں کی تشکیل

پاکستان ایک کثیر الثقافتی ٴ کثیر اللسانی اور مختلف قومیتوں پر مبنی ایک ملک ہے۔ اس کے بانیوں کو بھی اس حقیقت کا ادراک تھا کہ ایک مضبوط اور کامیاب وفاق کو چلانے کے لئے ضروری ہوگا کہ پاکستان میں تنوع کو تسلیم کرتے ہوئے اس کا تحفظ کیا جائے۔ وفاقی نظام کو بہتر انداز میں چلانے کے لئے ضروری ہوتا ہے کہ متنوع ثقافتیٴ لسانی و علاقائی خصوصیات کو تسلیم کیا جائےٴ وفاقی اکائیوں کے درمیان نفرت اور تعصب بڑھانے سے وفاق نہ صرف کمزور ہوتا ہےٴ بلکہ شدید ترین خطرات کی طرف بھی بڑھتا ہے ۔ 1940 ئ کی قرارداد لاہور میں مسلم اکثریتی صوبوں کی حمایت حاصل کرنے کے لئے وفاقی اکائیوں کے لئے زیادہ سے زیادہ خود اختیاری اور آزادی کی بات کی گئی تھیٴ مگر قیام پاکستان کے بعد وفاقی اکائیوں کے حقوق و اختیارات کا خیال نہیں رکھا گیا طویل عرصے تک آئین سازی کے عمل کو مختلف حیلے بہانوں سے موخر کیا جاتا رہاٴ آئین سازی کے ذریعے ہی وفاقی اکائیوں اور عوام کے بنیادی حقوق اور اختیارات کا تعین ہوتا ہے۔ مزید برآں مختلف استحصالی طریقوں سے قومیتوں کی شناختٴ ثقافت اور زبان سے محروم کرنے کی کوشش کی گئیٴ مشرقی پاکستان کو اقتدار اور فیصلہ سازی کے عمل میں شامل نہ کیا گیا جس کا نتیجہ بنگلہ دیش کی صورت میںنکلا اور آج جو چھوٹے صوبوں میں بے چینیٴ قومیت پر مبنی مضبوط تحریکیں ہیںٴ ان کی بنیادی وجہ بھی وفاقیت کے اصولوں سے انحراف ہے۔

1956 ٴ اور 1962 ئ کے آئین کے مقابلہ میں 1973 ئ کے آئین میں مضبوط فیڈریشن کی اہمیت کو تسلیم کیا گیا تھاٴ یہی وجہ تھی کہ تمام صوبوں کی قیادتوں اور نمائندوں نے اس کو متفقہ طور پر منظور کرلیا تھاٴ آئین کے تخلیق کاروں نے وعدہ کیا تھا کہ کنکرنٹ لسٹ 10 سال بعد ختم کردی جائے گی مگر چونکہ 1977 ئ میں فوجی آمر جنرل ضیائ الحق نے جمہوری حکومت کا خاتمہ کرکے آئین معطل کردیا تھاٴ لہٰذا اس وعدہ کی تکمیل نہ ہوسکیٴ کنکرنٹ لسٹ کی موجودگی میں بہت سے صوبائی امور پر وفاق کو قانون سازی میں سبقت حاصل رہیٴ ساتھ ہی وسائل کی تقسیم کے لئے آبادی کا جو فارمولا بنایا گیاٴ وہ تین چھوٹے صوبوں کو قبول نہیں تھاٴ ان حالات و واقعات میں یہ فطری تھا کہ چھوٹے صوبوں میں احساس محرومی مضبوط ہوٴ اور علیحدگی پسند تحریکیں جنم لیں۔

پاکستان میں جو لوگ غیر آئینی طور پر برسر اقتدار آئےٴ ان میں وفاقی اصولوں کو سمجھنے کا فقدان رہاٴ طاقت کے ارتکاز اور مضبوط مرکز کی خواہش میں انہوں نے اختیارات اور فیصلہ سازی کے معاملات کو وفاقی اکائیوں کے ساتھ شیئر نہیں کیا۔ ایسی صورتحال میں ایک تو صوبوں میں احساس محرومی بڑھتا گیاٴ اور جب حقوق کے جائز مطالبات کو طاقت کے ذریعے کچلنے کی کوشش کی گئی تو مختلف تنظیموں نے بھی دہشت کے ذریعے اپنے مطالبات منوانے کی کوشش کیٴ بنگلہ دیش کے معاملہ میں بھی ہم نے خود مسائل جمہوری اور وفاقی اصولوں کے تحت حل نہ کئےٴ اور انگلیاں دوسروں کی جانب اٹھاتے رہے۔ آج بھی ہمیں ماضی کے اوراق سے سبق حاصل کرتے ہوئے بلوچستان سے لے کر سرائیکستان ،تک تمام مسائل کو وفاقی حکمرانی کے اصولوں کے تحت سیاسی ڈائیلاگ اور پرامن طریقے سے حل کرنے کی کوشش کرنی چاہیے۔
پاکستان میں غیر جمہوری حکومتوں کے لمبے ادواروں کی وجہ سے وفاقی اصولوں پر عملدرآمد نہ ہوسکاٴ اس سے یہ نتیجہ بھی اخذ کیا جاسکتا ہے کہ وفاقی اصولوں پر عملدرآمد اور آئین کی بحالی کے لئے جمہوریت بنیادی ستون کا کردار ادا کرتی ہے اور ایک وفاقی نظام ہی پورے ملک کے اقلیتیٴ لسانی اور علاقائی شناختوں کے حقوق کی ضمانت فراہم کرسکتا ہے۔ ایک صحیح جمہوری وفاقی ریاستٴ ایک منقسم اقتدار والی ریاست ہوتی ہے جس میں کم از کم دو حکومتی سطحیںٴ وفاقی اور صوبائی آئینی طور پر علیحدہ علیحدہ ذمہ داریاں نبھاتی ہیںٴ تاہم ان میں مشترکہ اختیارات بھی پائے جاسکتے ہیںٴ وفاقی اور صوبائی حکومتیں اپنے شہریوں سے براہ راست تعلق رکھنے کی مجاز ہوتی ہیں اور متعلقہ شہری براہ راست انتخابات کے ذریعے وفاقی اور صوبائی حکومتوں کے قانون ساز اور نمائندہ اداروں میں اپنے نمائندے منتخب کرسکتے ہیں۔ پاکستان میں 1973 ئ کے متفقہ آئین اور دو ایوانی مقننہ کو تشکیل کیا گیا تھا جس کے تحت ایوان بالا ٴ سینٹ میں قومی اسمبلی میں آبادی کے برعکس چھوٹے علاقوں کو غیر متناسب نمائندگی کے ذریعے مساوی نمائندگی دی گئی ہے۔

وفاقیت کے حوالہ سے بھارت کے تجربہ سے ہمیں یہ انداز ہوتا ہے کہ کس طرح براعظم ایشیائ کی ایک بہت بڑی ریاست اپنے حالات و ضروریات کے مطابق وفاقی اصول اپناتے ہوئےٴ برطانوی راج کے خاتمہ کے بعد ایک جمہوری وفاق کے طور پر اہم ریاست کی صورت میں ابھری ہےٴ کس طرح اس نے اپنے لسانیٴ علاقائی اور مذہبی تنوع کے مسئلہ سے نمٹتے ہوئے نئے جمہوری وفاقی راستے تلاش کئے ہیںٴ اور اس کا 1947 ئ سے اب تک سیکولر انڈین فیڈریشن کا تجربہ کس طرح کامیاب رہا ہے۔1947 ئ میں بھارت کے 14 صوبے تھےٴ مگر اب ان کی تعداد دگنی ہوچکی ہے۔ اس کے ساتھ ہی بھارتی پنجاب میں سے ہریانہ اور ہماچل پردیش کی ریاستیں تخلیق کی جاچکی ہیں۔ بھارت نے علاقائیٴ لسانی اور گروہی شناختوں کو تسلیم کرکے وہاں کے عوام کو مساوی آئینی حقوق دے کر وفاق کو مضبوط بنایا ہے۔

پاکستان کے آئین کے آرٹیکل 239 ٴ کے تحت پارلیمنٹ کی دو تہائی اکثریت سے منظور کردہ ترمیم سے نئے صوبے بنائے جاسکتے ہیں۔ یہ ترمیم اس صورت میں ایوان میں لائی جاتی ہے جب صوبائی اسمبلی یہ فیصلہ کرے کہ بہتر انتظامات کے لئے لسانیٴ ثقافتی اور تاریخی بنیادوں پر نئے صوبے بنانے کی ضرورت ہے۔ لہٰذا پاکستان کے آئین میں یہ گنجائش موجود ہے کہ نئی وفاقی اکائیاں تخلیق کرکےٴ وفاقی حکومت اور وفاقی اکائیوں کے درمیان تقسیم اختیارات کے مختلف انتظامات کئے جاسکتے ہیں ۔ ہم دیکھ رہے ہیں کہ پاکستان ایک جابرانہ وفاقیت سے معاون وفاقیت کی طرف سفر کررہا ہے۔ وفاقی کابینہ نے 2 نومبر 2011 کو ہونے والے اپنے ایک اجلاس میں فورم آف فیڈریشنز کے رکن بننے پر غور کرنے کے بعد اس کی منظوری دی ہے جبکہ 16 نومبر کو پاکستان نے باضابطہ طور پر فورم آف فیڈریشنز کے ساتھ رابطہ کیا اور فورم کے رکن بننے کے فیصلے سے آگاہ کیا۔ اس ضمن میں وفاقی وزارت بین الصوبائی رابطہ فورم کے ساتھ رابطے میں ہے گی۔

جمہوری دور میں متفقہ طور پر منظور ہونے والی 18 ویں ترمیم نے پاکستان میں ایک بڑی تبدیلی کو جنم دیا ہےٴ اور ہم نے پاکستان کو معاون جمہوریت کی جانب عملی انداز میں بڑھتے دیکھا ہے اٹھارہویں آئینی ترمیم کے بعد مشترکہ مفادات کی کونسل میں اصلاحات اور نیشنل اکنامک کونسل کی تنظیم نو دو ایسے اقدامات ہیںٴ جن کے پاکستان میں بین الحکومتی تعلقات پر بہت مثبت اثرات برآمد ہوں گے۔ یہ مثبت اقدام مل کر وفاقی اور صوبائی حکومتوں کے درمیان عملی سطح پر توازن لانے میں معاون ثابت ہوں گے۔ پاکستان میں قدرتی وسائل پر حق ملکیت کے حوالہ سے وفاق اور صوبائی حکومتوں میں تنازعات کی ایک لمبی داستان ہے آئین میں حالیہ ترامیم کے باعث ان تعلقات میں بہتری آئے گی ساتویں قومی مالیاتی ایوارڈ نے پاکستان میں صوبائی خود مختاری اور مالیاتی وفاقیت کو مستحکم کرنے میں بہت اہم کردار ادا کیا ہے۔

پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی موجودہ حکومت نے پاکستان کے پسماندہ اور کچلے ہوئے طبقات کو ان کی شناخت اور حقوق دیئے ہیں اس ضمن میں اس نے خیبر پختونخواہ کو نام اور شمالی علاقہ جات کو گلگت بلتستان صوبہ کی حیثیت دی ہے اب صدر آصف علی زرداری نے موجودہ حکومت کے دور میں جنوبی پنجاب کے عوام کو ان کے حقوق اور شناخت دینے کا اعلان کیا ہے انہوں نے وزیراعظم سید یوسف رضا گیلانی کو ہدایت کی ہے کہ وہ جنوبی پنجاب میں الگ سرائیکی صوبہ کے قیام کے لئے تمام سیاسی جماعتوں سے مشاورت کا عمل تیز کریں انہوں نے یہ بھی کہا کہ اگر عوام کو ان کے حقوق دینا جرم ہےٴ تو ہم ایسا جرم کرتے رہیں گے۔ برطانوی دور سے چلی آرہی انتظامی حد بندیوں کو اب تبدیل کرنے کی ضرورت ہے اس لئے ضروری ہے کہ نئے صوبوں کی تخلیق کے عمل کا خیر مقدم کیا جائےٴ کیونکہ اس سے نہ صرف بین الحکومتی تعلقات بہتر ہوں گےٴ بلکہ وفاقیت بھی مضبوط ہوگی۔

Source: Daily Mashriq

ہماری پارلیمنٹ

ہمارے معاشرے میں ریاست اور سیاست سے بیگانگی اور لا تعلقی کا کلچر بڑی تیزی سے پھیلا ہے۔ جس کا سب سے بڑا مظہر شہری ذمہ داریوں سے گریز کا رحجان ہے ہم اپنے اداروں اور حکمرانوں پر ڈرائینگ روم اور ٹی وی ٹاک شوز میں بیٹھ کر تنقید تو کرتے ہیں مگر ان کی بہتری اور جمہوری عمل کو مثبت انداز میں آگے بڑھانے کے لئے عمل کی دنیا میں قدم نہیں رکھتے۔ ہم یہ تو کہتے ہیں کہ پاکستان کی سیاست بہت خراب ہے مگر اس کی بہتری کے لئے سیاسی عمل میں شامل نہیں ہوتے۔ ہمارے ہاں طویل فوجی حکومتوں کے ادوار میں عوامی نمائندہ اداروںٟ پارلیمنٹٞ کو کمزور کرنے اور عوام کو سیاسی حوالے سے گمراہ کرنے کی جو پالیسی اپنائی گئی تھیٴ اس کی وجہ سے آج کیفیت یہ ہے کہ لوگ اپنے سیاسی نمائندہ اداروں کے بارے میں جاننا بھی نہیں چاہتےٴ بس وہ ہر چیز کو غلط کہہ کر رد کرتے جارہے ہیںٴ اور اپنی قومی ذمہ داریوں سے بھاگ رہے ہیں۔

پاکستان میں غیر یقینی سیاسیٴ معاشی اور معاشرتی حالات کے تسلسل کی وجہ سے یہاں جدید سیاسی ثقافت کی صورت نہیں بن سکی۔ اس کلچرل انتشار نے عوام کو ریاستٴ معاشرے اور قومی اداروں سے بیگانہ اور لاتعلق کردیا ہے۔ جس کی وجہ سے نہ ہماری کوئی مشترکہ ذمہ داری رہی ہے اور نہ ہی کوئی مشترکہ نصب العین۔

ملکی نمائندہ اداروں کے بارے میں باخبر اور باشعور عوامی رائے عامہ قومی ترقی میں اہم ترین کردار ادا کرتی ہے۔ اب جمہوریت کوئی یو ٹوپیائی تصور نہیں رہاٴ بلکہ اس نے اپنے چراغ ہر جگہ روشن کئے ہیںٴ اور آج آئینی جمہوری حکومت کو ہر جگہ بہترین طرز حکمرانی کے طور پر تسلیم کیا جارہا ہے۔ حتیٰ کہ بڑے بڑے ڈکٹیٹرز بھی یہ کہتے رہے ہیں کہ بلاآخر جمہوریت ہی قائم ہوگی ہم اگر آج یورپ اور امریکہ کی ترقی اور خوشحالی کو دیکھیں تو ہمیں اس میں ان کے نمائندہ اداروں ان کے فیصلوںٴ قراردادوں اور ترامیم کا بڑا کردار دکھائی دیتا ہے مگر بدقسمتی سے ہماری پارلیمنٹ پر آج بھی غیر نمائندہ اداروں کے بہت سے اثرات باقی ہیں اور اسے ربڑ سٹمپ ہونے کا طعنہ بھی کئی بار سننا پڑا ہے۔ غیر نمائندہ اداروں کی یہ خواہش رہی ہے کہ عوام کی منتخب نمائندہ پارلیمنٹ غیر موثر اور غیر فعال رہے۔

یہ ہماری قومی ذمہ داری ہے کہ ہم اپنے نمائندہ اداروں سے وابستہ ہوتے ہوئے ان اداروں کو مضبوط بنائیںٴ تاکہ ہماری آنے والی نسلیں جمہوری عمل سے مستفید ہوتے ہوئے ترقی اور خوشحالی کے مقاصد حاصل کرسکیں۔ پاکستان میں چونکہ ابتدائ ہی سے ریاستی اقتدار غیر نمائندہ اداروںٟ اسٹیبلشمٹٞ کے ہاتھ میں رہا ہےٴ اور سیاسی منتخب نمائندہ قیادت کو اقتدار کے ریاستی ڈھانچہ میں ثانوی حیثیت دے کرٴٴ شراکت اقتدارٴٴ کے فارمولے پر عمل کیا جاتا ہے اس کے ساتھ ساتھ منتخب سیاسی قوتوں کی عجیب مجبوریاں اور مشکلات رہی ہیں انہیں ایسے آئین اور قوانین کے تابع کیا جاتا رہا ہے جو ان سے پہلے قابض غیر جمہوری حکمرانوں کے مسخ کردہ یا ترمیم کردہ ہوتے ہیں ان تمام غیر جمہوری ترامیم کا خمیازہ ہماری جمہوری حکومتوں کو بھگتنا پڑتا ہے۔ جمہوریت کی بحالی کے نام پر فوجی آمروں نے جو آئینی ترامیم کی ہوتی ہیں یا اپنے اقتدار کی طوالت کی غرض سے جو قاعدو ضوابط وضع کئے ہوتے ہیں وہ جمہوری حکومتوں کے خاتمہ کا باعث بنتے ہیںٴ آٹھویں ترمیم کی بدنام زمانہ شق ٟ2 ٞb 58 بے نظیر بھٹو اور نواز شریف کی منتخب حکومتوں کو ختم کرنے کے لئے استعمال کی گیٴ اسی طرح لیگل فریم ورک آرڈرٟ ایل ایف اوٞ اور پھر بعد میں جنرل پرویز مشرف کی 17 ویں ترمیم نے پارلیمنٹ کو بے اختیار اور غیر فعال کئے رکھا۔ غیر نمائندہ اداروں کا یہ سیاسی کھیل اس طرح سے تھا کہ اقتدار اپنے پاس رکھ کر ذمہ داری پارلیمنٹ پر ڈال دی جائے اس میں آئینی پارلیمانی اور نمائندہ اداروں کو جواز تو حاصل ہوتا ہے مگر اقتدار ان کے پاس نہیں ہوتا اس طرح اسٹیبلشمنٹ نے نمائندہ قانون ساز اداروں کو ڈیبٹنگ کلب میں تبدیل کردیا تھا۔ جہاں بحث و مباحثہ تو ہوسکتا تھا مگر اسے حساس موضوعات پر بحث اور قانون سازی کے اختیارات حاصل نہیں تھے ان حساس موضوعات میں خارجہ پالیسی اور دفاعی معاملات خاص طور پر سرفہرست رہے ہیں۔ بدقسمتی یہ بھی رہی کہ قانون ساز نمائندہ ادارے کمزور ہونے کے ساتھ ساتھ عوام کو جوابدہ بھی ہوتے ہیں۔ اس تلخ صورتحال میں کمزور اور بے وقعت پارلیمنٹ کو سازش کے ذریعے نظریاتی اور مفاداتی ہنگامہ آرائیوں کے بعد ناکام قرار دے کر فارغ کردیا جاتا رہا ہے اور پھر فوجی آمروں کو یہ موقع مل جاتا ہے کہ وہ دس بارہ سال تک شراکت اقتدار کے فارمولہ کی بجائے عوام پر براہ راست حکمرانی کریں۔

شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو کے دور حکومت کے بعد پاکستان کی سیاسی تاریخ میں ایک اہم موڑ آیا ہےٴ جس میں پارلیمنٹ اپنی کھوئی ہوئی طاقتٴ حیثیت اور اختیارات واپس لے رہی ہے جس میں بلاشبہ پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی مفاہمت اور اتفاق رائے کی پالیسی اور صدر آصف علی زرداری کی سیاسی حکمت اور دانائی کا بہت بڑا عمل دخل ہےٴ 18 ویں ترمیم کے ذریعے پارلیمنٹ نے 1973 ئ کے آئین کو اس کی روح اور اصل صورت میں بحال کیا ہے اس کے بعد 19 ویں اور 20 ویں ترمیم نے پاکستان میں جمہوریت کو استحکام بخشا ہے اور سیاسی ترقی کا نیا باب کھولا ہے اور اب حال ہی میں پارلیمان نے امریکہ کے ساتھ تعلق سے متعلق قومی سلامتی کی کمیٹی کی سفارشات کا ترمیمی مسودہ اتفاق رائے سے منظور کرکے عوام کے منتخب نمائندوں کو یہ حیثیت دی ہے کہ وہ خارجہ پالیسی جیسے حساس موضوع پر بحث و مباحثہ کرکے قانون سازی کرسکتے ہیں حتیٰ کہ امریکہ بھی قومی سلامتی کی کمیٹی کی منظور کردہ سفارشات کو احترام کی نظر سے دیکھتا ہے اگرچہ خارجہ پالیسی کی تشکیل اور نفاذ پارلیمنٹ میں موجود اکثریت یعنی حکومت کی صوابدید ہوتی ہے مگر حکومت نے اس عمل میں تمام سیاسی قوتوں کو شامل کرکے ایک بہتر پارلیمانی سیاسی روایت قائم کی ہے جس کے دور رس اثرات مرتب ہوں گے ایسے اقدامات سے عوام کا جمہوریت اور اپنے قانون ساز اداروں پر اعتماد بحال ہوگا اور وہ پارلیمنٹ کو اپنا نمائندہ ادارہ تصور کریں گے جہاں پر ان کے ضمیر کی ترجمان ممکن ہوسکتی ہے اور جہاں پر ان کے منتخب نمائندے ان کی خواہشات کو پالیسیوں میں تبدیل کرسکتے ہیں علاوہ ازیں یہ بھی حقیقت ہے کہ پارلیمنٹ کے تسلسل اور استحکام کے بغیر ہم ترقی اور خوشحالی کے مقاصد حاصل نہیں کرسکتے اور نہ ہی ایک زندہ جمہوری قوم بن سکتے ہیں۔

Source: Daily Mashriq

Text Begins

“Bismillah Ir Rehman Nirrahim

Assalamo-allaikum

I am not here to compete to be the leader of the youth. I am the youth. We are the youth.
I am sorry if I am going to disappoint you but I don’t give free laptops or free concerts.

I as well as all of the youth in Pakistan want to see a peaceful prosperous and progressive Pakistan.
To achieve this we must demand more from our older generation. To do so we must demand peace. I can relate more than any other politician in Pakistan to the agony of all those families who have lost loved ones to the scourge of terrorism.

My mother Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was assassinated by Islamic terrorists within our midst.

So I know the pain felt by innocent Men, women and children who have lost loved ones. I feel the pain of our brave soldiers fighting on the front lines risking their lives so our generation can live in peace.
I feel the pain of all the children who have lost parents at the hands of these blood thirsty killers who seek to terrorize us into submitting to their warped interpretation of our peaceful religion.

There are some politicians who bury their heads in the sand and pretend this is not our war. I refuse to engage in this ostrich politics because unlike them I know what it is like to be a victim of terror.
They try and portray this as somebody else’s war. Tell me how can this not be our war if it has cost us Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It was our enemies from within who strapped a bomb to a baby in the terrorist attack on SMBB on October 18 2007. What has this got to do with drones.

Our enemies within have blown up girls schools and are threatening the future of our sisters. They blew up a school bus carrying innocent children whose only crime was to seek an education. Some so called leaders call these monsters ‘our taliban’. They can by yours but they are certainly not mine.

We are the youth and we demand the truth. The People Government’s strategy of dialogue, deterrence and development is working. We have regained Swat from terrorists.

We demand our country’s honor to be protected from enemies within and from outside. I am proud that our government shut NATO routes and Shamsi base in reaction to an attack on our sovereignty.

Our parliament will demand foreign policy based on equality. Unlike the dictator before us who took orders from a single phone call and signed secret deals that compromised our integrity.

But we are equally outraged when our own citizens bring shame and dishonor to our country.

We condemn equally the butchery of our shia brothers in Gilgit, the murder of our people of different ethnicities in Karachi, the killings of our fellow Pakistanis in Balochistan and the persecutions of Christians, Hindus and other Pakistani minorities.

We demand justice for all victims. We refuse to be drawn into ethnic or religious conflicts by divisive extremists.

We all stand united. We are the youth of Pakistan. No matter our color, caste, creed or religion. We are Jinnah’s Pakistan. We want a Pakistan of opportunity. We want a Pakistan of prosperity. I just returned from India. Every small step taken on this long arduous road to peace gives us hope.

My generation is not burdened by my forefathers animosity. Our wounds are not as raw.

It gives me great pride that my grandfather gave Pakistan the world’s first Islamic bomb and my mother gave us our missile program. We are now equipped to defend ourselves.

But my generation wants peace not war. Must we invest in enough nuclear weapons to destroy each other a hundred times over. Isn’t once enough?

We would rather have the best schools not just the best tanks. We would rather have the best doctors and best nurses not just the best jets. We would rather our people were fed, clothed and sheltered not armed to the teeth guns locked and loaded ready to kill. We have grown up in a security state our generation will bring about a welfare state.

Our brave soldiers are still defending our borders. I pray for the victims of the Siachin tragedy who stood guard on the highest and most treacherous battlefield in the world. I look forward to the day where they can finally come home.

We are the youth of Pakistan. We are tired of being patronized. We do not want our futures mortgaged and to be burdened by your debt. We do not want to live in a divided Pakistan. We want to live in the Pakistan promised by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and Quaid-e-Awam Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
We do not want to live in the ruins of Zia’s and Musharraf’s Pakistan. We must demand from our fathers now if we want the Pakistan we were promised.

So if all u want are free laptops and free concerts am afraid I can’t help you. If you are ready to stand up and demand the future we deserve then stand up and have your voices heard. Youth is no obstacle. Our future is at stake.

Pakistan Zindabad.”