STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
It is an abomination to be deprived of freedom. Forced confinement on false pretexts is unnatural and triggers various responses. Some folks buckle under and surrender, others reconcile and accept it, and then there are those who get rejuvenated in their resolve to resist. I experienced these feelings during my incarcerations in younger days. Some under Yahya Khan’s martial law and other during Bhutto’s rule. As a political prisoner you have to draw on your internal resolve and belief system to keep standing. The worst form is solitary confinement. It denies you the ability to share your sentiments with others which helps ease the journey.
The need to share these sentiments arose from my desire to humanize the sufferings being faced by friends and colleagues under the yoke of this brutal regime. Thousands of PTI supporters and workers have been jailed since the false flag operation of May 9th. I want to pay respects to my buddies Mian Mehmood Ur Rashid, Omar Sarfaraz Cheema, Senator Ijaz Chaudhry and our beacon of light in these stormy seasons, Yasmin Rashid for their fortitude and commitment to the cause of freedom and rule of law. Standing alongside them is Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Vice Chairman PTI who has also proved himself as a pillar of strength and resolve. Chaudhry Pervez Ellahi, former Chief Minister Punjab,went through the same trials and tribulations and came out holding his head high. Each one of them has faced inhuman conditions for prolonged periods without knowing what tomorrow holds for them; unshaken in their belief.
All of them are seniors with youthful resolve, wedded to ideology of Imran Khan’s bold stand for rule of law. I would be amiss if I don’t say kudos to Hasaan Niazi and other youngsters suffering at the hands of unjustified military courts set up to intimidate conscientious objectors. This process continues unabated and is going from bad to worse every passing day. 26th Amendment has neuteredour entire courts system. Seeking relief through justice system has turned into a pipe dream. The impotency of implementing court decisions is being highlighted every Tuesday and Thursday by Adiala Jail authorities. They are denying meetings with Imran Khan as per the list prepared under court directions by Salman Akram Raja.
A combination of cruelty and deception in multiple shapes and forms is being evidenced on a daily basis. The generals and their touts have created a web of deception with two very clear objectives. To perpetuate their absolute control of state structure and the economy. The latest grab and snatch thrust revolves around the mineral wealth in KP. This elaborate ruse and evil plan has two main ingredients, deception and brutal enforcement; a norm of governance in Pakistan. To implement this ruse, cobwebs have been woven on multiple fronts. Military rulers have established their control over all pillars of the state. Whatthey failed to collar so far are a runaway economy, overseas Pakistanis, social media activists and a defiant PTI backed by an overwhelming number.
The Generals are convinced that economic woes can disappear if they can rope in Americans and bring them onboard with access to rare earth minerals in KP, Baluchistan and Gilgit Baltistan. The proposition is to giveUS access to these minerals to make them forget about rule of law and its greatest proponent Imran Khan. Two-pronged attack has been launched to create divisions amongst Pakistani diaspora and create moles or mules within PTI. They made some headway by bringing in a delegation from USA of self-seeking doctors to meet DG ISI. It was a storm in a teacup that died down within a few weeks. Purpose was to distract support being conjured up to seek congressional support for Joe Wilson and Jimmy Panetta’s Pakistan Democracy Act. This disruption has re-enforced diaspora’s efforts.
The mules within PTI have been activated to sling mud within the party. The prime purpose is to ram through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mines and Minerals Act 2025. This will enable the Federal Government to take control of the mineral wealth in KP. This Act has to be passed by KP Provincial Assembly where PTI has overwhelming majority. Through behind the scenes manipulation it appears the KP Chief Minister and his cabinet has been compromised. They were hoping to ram the bill through like it was done for 26th Constitutional Amendment. Fortunately, the information leaked. All this was being done behind the back of IK. Access to Imran Khan has been denied since 20th March. Only the mules are being permitted to meet him. Those true to the cause or IK’s loyal sisters’ access has been blocked.
This is like the Battle of Waterloo for Pakistan’s future as ademocratic state. American Establishment’s greed for rare earth minerals is far greater than their desire for democracy. A similar Bill in Baluchistan will sail through because of Tout Regime. It’s time for social media and voices from overseas Pakistanis to prevent this disaster. Once the people of KP are sensitized to scope of this highway robbery they have the ability to rise against it. Once again social media has to play their role in creating awareness like they did in February 2024. KP assembly members must remember that they got elected in the name of Imran Khan. They must think twice before stabbing him in the back. Future investors must evaluate their chances of success in a restive KP and Baluchistan.It is an opportunity to negotiate freedom for Imran Khan.
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