STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
It was interesting to watch Rana Sanaullah enjoying a boat ride with his companion somewhere in Europe wearing a fedora hat. He looked like a Mexican bandit or a mafia don. It was taken down rather quickly but not before it had gone viral. Rana Sana is an important part of “selected regime” and given this joy ride to Paris Olympics. We have seven athletes and 27 officials; four officials per athlete. Arshad Nadeem thanks for bringing joy and pride for Pakistanis. I checked the Canadian athletic delegation. For 315 competitors there are less than 10% officials. They all represent their National Olympic Committees, not paid by Canadian Government. What a crying shame for a country teetering on the verge of bankruptcy.
As kids we were given clay “piggy banks” to collect coins.It took awhile to fill up. Once full, breaking the “piggy bank” was joyous which made us feel rich and we would lavish (waste) it on ourselves. Our present regime, foisted on us since April 2022 by Army generals, is doing the same. PM Sharif has begged around the world with zero results so they have gone crazy borrowing domestically and lavishing it on themselves and their cronies for their fun times. As the whole nation gasps for breath burdened with criminal inflation, the rulers are incompetent, ruthless and directionless. The generals and their political lackeys are obsessed by a one-point agenda; how to eliminate Imran Khan and PTI from the arena.
This endeavor is getting more and more ridiculous with each passing day. We have a Chief Justice in Supreme Court busily undoing the integrity of his own institution. We have a Chief Election Commissioner who has relegated himself to level of a patwari who forges land records (fards) for financial gains. ECP is forging election results to please his masters. This downward spiral of demolishingmoral authority and principals has been rejected by an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis on Feb 8th. General Asim and his coterie refuse to read the writing on the wall and are getting deeper into the quagmire. Their much heralded “SIFC” program to rekindle the economy by bringing in billions is a total failure. Their false flag operation of May 9th is in tatters. The crooks and cheats they engineered to victory through form 47 are proving to be a disaster. This disgusting performance is hated by Pakistanis and ridiculed around the world.
Sharif regime is surviving with the backing of a few generals. It is surviving through ISI and police using kidnapping, intimidation, indiscriminate torture and jailing. It was correctly portrayed as “Gestapo tactics” by an honorable Judge of Islamabad High Court. How far will these cruel and inhuman tactics prolong this illegal regime? They have silenced the media through coercion or bribery. The false propaganda carried out by their touts has no takers. Narratives launched by ISPR or monkeys in the Government have lifespan of a still-born baby; dead on arrival.
Yet the process of getting rid of this filth is in doldrums. Some conscientious Justices in Supreme Court, High Courts and lower courts have lit a light of hope that rule of law still matters. It was the breakthrough needed in this suffocating environment. As a veteran political activist for over 5 decades, I would like to share some of my experiences. As a youngster in the seventies, I was part of the struggle fighting for human rights in Bhutto rule when he donned a dictator’s robes. The lesson we learnt was that relief from the courts was directly related to our street power. The more vehemently we protested in bignumbers, the greater response we got from the Courts.
Using the same analogy, the verdict of the people on Feb 8th has encouraged courts to openly say enough is enough. Kudos to Justices who have taken a bold stand. It needs to be backed by the people on the streets. The most recent events in Bangladesh are a glowing example.
This brings me to the operative part of “The curse of incompetent leadership”. IK, incarcerated since last August, has exceeded his part. He has stood like a rock against what seemed insurmountable odds. PTI’s genuine leadership have stood their ground and faced torture, humiliation and suffering in jail. Where are the leaders who were honored by IK by naming them as ticket holders? KP has done their bit. We all know political battles are won and lost in Punjab. As a party elder, I seriously question the toothlessness of Punjabi leadership.
We realize that Punjab Police is vicious and ISI is deeply entrenched. They have traumatized political dissidents and refuse to permit Jalsas. What is stopping them from gathering a 100 people in 1000 locations all over the country? There are not enough uniforms to counter that. The future of the country is in your hands. Trust me when I say the masses are ready. They have been burdened to a breaking point and are full of resentment. The haystack is ready; it needs a spark only.
This regime and their backers’ rule through fear. Refresh your memories of what IK oft repeated, “La illaha ill lal la.” There is no God except God. Drop your fear and be creative. Sharifs are a house of cards and will fall like one. This is the time for you to step-up and be counted. Masses are looking for leadership. Mobilize them and don’t let them down. You owe it to Pakistan.
