STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
In a recent talk show I had stated that we have to wait and see which Judge will garland an absconder, convict and an accomplished liar, Nawaz Sharif. It happened in broad daylight and the honour goes to none other than Chief Justice Islamabad High Khawaja Aamir Farooq. It is the height of hypocrisy unseen in the judicial history. The same “Honourable” Justice took diametrically opposed positions in two similar cases.
First case happened on May 9th 2023. Former Prime Imran Khan sought preventive bail from this Court in Al Qadir Trust case. Despite being only an accused, he was ordered to surrender before the Court in person and get his biometrics done before his application could be entertained. It was part of a much larger conspiracy engineered by establishment to trap IK. While getting his biometrics, IK was kidnapped by commandos. Justice Farooq’s reaction was unfortunate. Pretending to being offended by the arrest methodology, he termed the arrest legal.
The 2nd case was taken up on 18th October by a DB headed by Justice Farooq. He created judicial history in the matter of Nawaz Sharif. NS is a convicted felon who fled the country on false pretenses. The relief was for fourweeks. Four years later after being declared an absconder, Nawaz sought the same relief that IK wanted. All requirements demanded from IK were waived for NS. Within minutes Justice Farooq accepted the application dragging along an honorable, much respected Justice Aurangzeb. The latter’s reluctance is evident from his remarks.
NAB was the prosecuting agency in both cases. They arrested IK because their big bosses ordered them so. In NS’s case the bosses in Rawalpindi are his facilitators,hence NAB declared that this convicted felon is not required. NAB under new Chief, has gone into the dumps. The law does not matter; they are bully boys designated to further the designs of rogue rulers. We are witnessingsystematic dismantling of all our institutions by this ruling Junta. What is their motivation? Is it personal ambition or nefarious designs to undo our nation?
Pakistanis looked upto their Army as the saviors of the country. Growing up in Abbottabad, watching the smartly turned out Gentlemen Cadets with their “katora” haircuts was a treat. I went to school in Burn Hall where many of our contemporaries joined the Military Academy. We would look upto them. As we grew up, we had many friends and relatives become officers. They had comfortable living, were provided all facilities yet they always lived hand to mouth on their meager salaries.
Those days of innocence that valued honor and valor have disappeared over time. Multiple martial laws led to army’s interaction with civilians. It has polluted their value system. Acquiring plots and hunger for wealth by whatever means has taken its toll. Promotions were based on merit and only exceptional officers rose beyond the Colonel’s level. Not anymore, now the criterion has degenerated to chamchas or toadies rising to the top ready to make compromises. According to the grapevine any promotion beyond two stars general has some sort of approval by the State Department.
This crop has risen to the top and currently in control. We have degenerated as a nation and standards of governance have taken a nose dive. This institutional malaise has infected the judiciary and bureaucracy. Nation’s priorities have taken a back seat. All this has been compounded by our political leaders. A new crop rose to the top during General Zia’s rule. Obsessed with rooting out Bhutto’s followers, he cobbled together newleadership through his party-less elections in 85. His nursery threw up the Sharifs who have only one priority – self enrichment.
With Bhutto out of the way, his daughter Benazir succumbed to the pressures of acquiring wealth to fight the Sharifs. Having a rogue, Asif Ali Zardari, as her spouse made this journey easier. After General Zia’s exit these two families have dominated the political scene only interrupted by General Musharraf. When Musharraf sought to legitimize his rule, he also recruited from the same nursery. Afghan war and war on terror led to the strengthening of intelligence services. They have acquired muscles that now control all walks of life. This cycle was broken with the rise of Imran Khan as a populist leader.
IK disrupted the blood seeking leeches that had taken control of politics, army, bureaucracy and judiciary. When accountability rose to the top of national agenda, it unnerved all these groups. He had to be gotten rid of. This chorus was joined by our traditional masters who found a resurgent Pakistan asserting its independence intolerable. IK was overthrown.
Instead of withering away, IK reemerged stronger than before. Thus since early 2022 we have seen an acceleration of persecution of PTI and IK. It has peaked now when all pillars of power are working overtime to bring back Nawaz into power.
The confrontation is between the crooks in power and the will of the people. Kidnapping, torture and forcible interviews has become the order of the day. It is of utmost importance that the bonding between the masses and IK stays firm against this mafia out to damage our nation. Allah forbids losing hope. Pakistan was created in His name. He shall not permit these destructive forces steal our nation. We are running a marathon. We are 225 million strong. A few dozen rabid mice shall not be permitted to wreak this havoc.
