STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
“Chor tey kutti ral gai tey pind da ke banay ga?” a Punjabi saying that translates “when a thief and protector gang up what will be the fate of the village?”. I believe it aptly describes what is going on in our beloved country. We are witnessing extremely painful events unfolding in Supreme Court of Pakistan. Justice Mazahar Ali Naqvi has been squeezed out of Supreme Court. It has been followed by resignation by a future Chief Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan. Itdepicts an alarming level of degeneration at the highest levels; highlighting the ruthlessness of a biased justice system. It is evident that the entire Government machinery is owned and operating for and on behalf of a wickedly corrupt “ladla”.
Watching the proceedings of the Supreme Court on TV, it is easy to get their flavor. CJ’s desire to be in front of the camera has actually exposed his prejudices and disdain for PTI and his unflinching love for Sharifs. Justice Naqvi was the latest victim of “operation cleanup” of those who stood up for law and fairness. His list of “crimes” is long. Including his exposing Model Town executions carried out at the behest of Shahbaz Sharif. As well as being part of the bench that recommended Suo Moto intervention against violations of Constitution by not holding elections in Punjab and KP. Justice Naqvi’s line of questioning in the blatant murder of Arshad Sharif Shaheed; his role in disallowing military trails of civilians and the list goes on.
Above all Justice Naqvi refused to kow tow to the present CJ’s efforts to consolidate his dictatorial control. He refused to be part of the process of bringing back Nawaz Sharif to power. The allegations against Naqvi J are corruption and non disclosure of assets based on unsubstantiated charges. He has contested them and was seeking a fair dispensation of justice. However he was being trapped to be disgraced him on national TV. He took the honorable way out by resigning and walking away rather than face this humiliation. This was strongly resisted by Justice Ijaz Ul Ahsan on legal and moral grounds. His protestations were garbaged leading to his resignation. The purge of honest and independent judges is on. It is tragic to watch our highest judicial forum crumble in front of our eyes.
This is the era of social media. It has brought back to life the manner in which present CJ was able to muzzle his own case of blatant corruption by him and his spouse. Itwas shut down on technicalities. Like Nawaz Sharif, he had no justification for funds used to purchase London flats in his wife’s name. The similarity doesn’t end there. Money laundering like Sharifs was done under assumed aliases of CJ’s spouse. The moral compass of the entire nation has been turned upside down.
The bold decision by Division Bench of Peshawar High Court of re-instating bat as election symbol for PTI has received accolades from the nation and Pakistanis around the world. This decision is under threat in the Supreme Court which seems to be backing ECP’s sole mission to exclude PTI as a party from the election process. Holding free and fair elections is furthest from the mind of ourrulers. As obedient servants of the Sharifs, no stone is left unturned to facilitate their return to power.
The battle lines have been clearly defined. Infamous “London Plan” chapters continue to unfold since April 2022. The two main authors were Nawaz Sharif and General Bajwa. The present army Chief signed on as part of the terms of his appointment. It’s become clearer by the day that this evil and nefarious design was underwritten by the champions of democracy in the West. The one man standing in their way to make Pakistan subservient to India is IK; he needs to be removed from the political scene.
While defining the contours of this plan, all the corrupt elitist participants assumed that Pakistani public will fall in line as they always have done historically. That was a huge miscalculation. From the 1st day of IK’s manipulated removal, the masses refused to accept it. They came out in droves to support IK. The journey since April 2022 till date has been marred by atrocities, murders, brutality, blatant violations of law and the Constitution, never witnessed before in Pakistan.
Tragically our police have turned into goons, civil service has become errand boys and majority of judiciary has become obedient to wishes of executors of London Plan. Even worse, our Army leadership and their intelligence wings have participated fully in the worst subjugation of human rights. So the battle for a democratic Pakistan has two clear camps. The entire state machinery is on one side and common Pakistanis on the other. Thus if, and it is a big “if” elections are held on 8th February, Nawaz along with the entire corrupt mafia will be wiped out. Now the Establishment’s onslaught has turned onto the ticketing process of PTI. Apparently PTI decision makers have been infiltrated to award tickets to losing candidates.
The clampdown on PTI is reaching its crescendo. Party symbol for PTI is being taken away because they did not conduct elections as per Party Constitution. In reality they are blocking PTI from participating as a political entity. What will be the consequence of these sham elections preventing expression of 70% voters’ desire? More chaos and instability.
