STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
The top story these days on American media is the indictment of President Trump on federal criminal charges. It is unprecedented in US history against a former president. Their public discourse is full of latest reports, analysis and predictions. Trump’s equivalent in Pakistan is Nawaz Sharif. Both actually believe they are above the law. There is one huge difference. In USA institutions are stronger than an individual. They are resilient and havestruck back at gross violations by President Trump.
In Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif as an individual has proved to be stronger than all the institutions. Despite being a convict and an absconder, he continues to rule the roost and run the State by remote control. The script crafted by NS and General Bajwa, called “the London Plan”continues to unfold. Bajwa’s successors have continued with this plan not caring about the consequences for Pakistan. While Bajwa as a master crafter wore silk gloves operating behind a smoke screen; the present team has resorted to bare fisted brawl.
There are so many scars, broken bones and twisted souls hounding us; one wonders where to start. The robbery of Karachi Mayor’s position through coercion, brutal force combined with bribery is a trailer of what is to follow; if and when national elections take place. A combo of sweet and sour soup is being dished out by a partisan election commission and subservient law enforcing agencies. Intimidation and incarcerations of those who resist are in full swing. This is the sour part. The sweet is millions being dished out by Zardari in safe haven, Dubai, to those willing to sell their souls.
This is a snap shot of the overall malaise infecting the country. Human rights, freedom of speech, and the right to protest have been steam rolled by huge road rollers. It all started in April 2022. Having overthrown PTI’s Government, this imported regime’s top priority was to kill accountability. This was achieved at breakneck speed through mysterious heart attacks killing prosecutors and witnesses; amending laws and taking firm control of investigating agencies. This corrupt political mafia, with the backing of Establishment, then turned the spotlights onto crushing Imran Khan by demonizing him in every which way. The people of Pakistan displayed political maturity never seen before. They did not waver. IK put up a brave resistance and the masses responded. His popularity continues to soar with every repressive step taken by this unholy alliance.
Inability to break the bond between the masses and IK has forced the rulers to go back to the drawing board. Theyconjured up devious plans to take away IK’s narrative trusted by 2/3rd of the nation. It unfolded on May 9th in theroughshod arrest of IK. The nation was outraged. This hybrid regime infiltrated the ranks of genuine protestors to wreck havoc on defense installations to concoct a narrative. The subsequent brutality unleashed on citizens will be recorded as the worst cruelty in Pakistan since the reign of terror in East Pakistan in 1970. Establishment is using these manufactured events of May 9th to justify their pretentious outrage; fully backed by PDM henchmen singing their tune.
The opposition and dissenting voices in the media are facing the full brunt of this venomous anger. Over 10,000 political activists are being held in sub-human conditions in jails. Women had participated for the first time in the political process. They were stripped of their dignity and taught a lesson. Media is totally subjugated. PTI leadership is being coerced at gun point to leave the Party. Weaker ones have succumbed. Those standing tall continue to suffer inhuman suppression. It is exemplified by the way Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi is being treated in jail. Confined in C class, he is being denied medicines and suffering indignity. He has refused to buckle over. Imran Riaz Khan was kidnapped over a month ago facilitated by the police. His fate is unknown and a huge concern for millions of followers around the world.
This undeclared martial law seems to have achieved silence in Pakistan. They have isolated Imran Khan after entangling him in a web of false cases; yet he is undeterred exposing these rulers on world media. Now they have trained their guns on Overseas Pakistanis. Frivolous cases have been registered against Shaheen Sehbai, Moeed Pirzada, Sabir Shakir, Haider Mehdi, Ahmad Noorani, Adil Raja, and Wajahat Saeed Khan forspeaking the truth. They are true freedom fighters. Loudmouth Khawaja Asif has lashed out at Overseas Pakistanis living in free societies. Their depravity is complete.
What are the rulers fighting over? A bankrupt economy as fully exposed by this budget. After disbursement to the provinces, the federal government doesn’t have sufficient funds to make interest payments. Wake up Establishment; you cannot draw water from an empty well. Your success at intimidating Judiciary, media, and opponents gets you a driving seat of a vehicle with no gas in its tank.
You have two options; declare martial law, impose technocrats and attempt to get out of this swamp. All previous attempts have bombed. Alternately allow people’s will to prevail and restrict yourself to defending the nation that you are totally capable of. Beware; your PDM allies will fall apart like a sand castle because you have cornered their common enemy. Your new ally, IPP,may have a muscular upper body, but they have no legs to stand on. End this vicious cycle. Priority must be national interest. It supersedes personal grievances or greed.
