STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
I don’t say it often enough; thank you my readers, friends and supporters for such tremendous response to my articles. It is amazing to see such traction for articles written in English. It is a tonic to continue my efforts to say it as it is!
It was the plan all along. Use Nawaz Sharif as poster boy to continue Sharif family’s dynastic rule. Obese and lethargic NS lacks the oomph to meet challenges of a rickety, leaky boat. Like an overcooked steak gone cold, Generals will find it difficult to chew on him. Alternatively, “Showbaz” Shahbaz is malleable, easy to mould and capable to serve as “yours obediently”. NS got his pound of flesh by unleashing “talented daughter” Maryam on the hapless Punjabis. She will be walking on thin ice of stolen mandate, wearing pointed heels. As her rule falls apart under the glaring light of truth, it will take her down permanently.
I listened to a podcast by my university buddy Syed Ehsan Ullah Waqas who was deeply involved in these elections. The rigging techniques used in 2024 elections by ECP,ROs and ISI were previously tested by Aleem Khan in local bodies’ elections in 2008. The then Presiding Officers submitted their equivalent of Form 45 to a private residence in Gulberg, Lahore where false equivalents of Form 47 were created. It took Shah Sb and his team 3 years in courts to rectify this criminal activity. I was wondering how these dumb robbers could be so creative!
Despite a clear and resounding verdict by Pakistanis in favor of Imran Khan, the Generals, their lackeys in bureaucracy and judiciary continue their heavy handed fascist techniques. Their ruthless and brutal suppression continues. PTI’s flag bearers are beaten up and arrested as if they are enemy agents. PTI stalwarts like Umar Cheema, Mehmood Ur Rashid, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Ijaz Chaudhry and thousands of IK supporters continue to languish in jails.
In the latest round to placate the ruffled egos of Nawaz and Maryam, Ahmar Rashid Bhatti is being punished for his audacity of winning MPA’s seat for PTI in Jati Umra. His father Rashid Bhatti, a very dear friend of mine, is an icon in the area. Ahmar completed his education from a prime Canadian University and returned to Pakistan to appear and succeed in competitive CSS exam. He served in the bureaucracy for a few years and exited; bitten by the bug for a change in Pakistan. He was inspired by IK and had inherited the genes of a revolutionary from his father. As MPA elect from a constituency his father had held multiple times, he was arrested to be taught a lesson for standing up to the Sharifs. He was humiliated and presented in the courts with his face covered by a shopping bag. What a shame.
Such tactics shall not work; the power drunk generals must realize that people are getting immune to their shock and awe techniques. They are overcoming fear of this reign of terror. General Asim can hide behind hisbombproof walls; but his pygmy politicians will be jeered, taunted and insulted when they venture out. Ponies can never become horses, no matter how much you dress them up. Look at the recent public humiliation of Hanif Abbasi and Khawaja Saad Rafiq by irate young ladies. The pot of unhappy public opinion shall continue to simmer till the rightful mandate of PTI is restored.
There is change of guard amongst the politicians; the old fogies’ of our generation’s shelf life has expired. Take the case of MNA elect from Ahmar’s constituency, my young and dynamic friend Rana Javed Umar. He, along with nearly 90 other elected MNAs of PTI, are not giving up their fight against this crass daylight robbery through false Form 47s. They have energy and drive to face up to thesecriminals in power. The enraged masses took their revenge on February 8th. They displayed tremendous maturity and loyalty never seen before in Pakistani politics. Now again they are waiting to get even for this butchery of their collective verdict.
People will continue to speak up. Stalwarts like my friend and companion of yesteryears, Javed Hashmi, despite his differences with PTI, came out openly to condemn this travesty of justice. Commissioner Chattha of Rawalpindi’soutspoken admission of guilt led to blockage of Twitter now called X. This disruption is being condemned worldwide. General Asim and his commanders have limited range in their arsenal. Beat up, destroy property and silence criticism by muzzling media. These weapons give temporary respite; they cannot save their house of cards against the tsunami of social media.
Suddenly the respect of deviant CJ is supreme. Another vulgar attempt is being unleashed to silence the most credible voice in media, Imran Riaz Khan. CJ, who is in cahoots with GHQ, has lobbed yet another bombshell. It will cause religious discord. Is he paving the way for an emergency? Our shrunken–brain rulers must realize that for now the resistance is from youth, women and patriotic Pakistanis who have some stakes. The suffering poor buying onions at Rs 250 a kilo are reaching their boiling point. For now the resistance emanates from political belief. What will happen when the floodgates of anger based on hunger and deprivation burst open? The poor have nothing to lose but their chains of poverty. Do not push them to a limit when bloodletting starts. This fire will engulf all the partners of this elite capture.
