STRAIGHT TALK by Hafeez Khan
While talking to my buddy Hassan Nisar along with Afzal Ghauri we went on a nostalgic binge recapping our 60 years of friendship. Revisiting our memories of yesteryears when we met up in 1965 upon joiningGovernment College, Lyallpur. We reminisced about my first election for students’ union and friends who supported us. Many are no longer amongst us, foremost being Ifitkhar Feroze. How we miss and pine for them. Hassan has found a catharsis by digging up and collecting old photographs. He has created a “gallery of friends”adorning walls of the living room in his daughter, Muhammada Nisar’s home. At our age memories are our greatest treasure.
We moved together in 1967 to Punjab University New campus, Lahore and were allotted rooms in Hostel #1. Freed from the shackles of disciplined families, our years in university were an extended holidays punctuated with attending some classes. It laid the basis of lifelong associations that we cherish till today. I have not been able to spend my last two winters in Lahore to avoid midnight ransacking of my home. The sense of loss in our dwindling years is huge, at times bordering on depression. So, when I found out that Syed Pervez Hussain, “Paiji Shah” was in Lahore from Hong Kong along with my mate Tahir Chaudhry from Jakarta having gupshup at Hassan’s place,I had tears of both joy and sorrow well up in my eyes.
Days of loitering on Mall Road in the company of my late friend Rashid Butt, lost to the mishandling of doctors, are wounds that open up easily especially in the snowy winter in Mississauga. I was bitten by the political bug early in life. It continued in Punjab University and thereafter. After a 15–year stint in Saudi Arabia, I returned to Pakistan in 1994 and got involved in PTI from the formative years. My late buddy, Ahsan Rashid, and I were together in Saudi. We had brainstormed amongst our group who to support who can bring true change in Pakistan. We all gravitated towards Imran Khan. Hafeez Ullah Niazi, IK’s brother-in-law, had a huge role in bringing us all together. Prior to his falling out with IK, he was a pillar of strength for PTI. I lament his loss. There is partial compensation by the role of his son, Hasaan Niazi’s bold and determined stand.
Life goes on along with its trials and tribulations. For the last three years Pakistan has taken a turn for the worse. It has been taken over by usurpers who have totally derailed the country. Imran Khan is languishing in jail since August 2023 as the noose on freedom and democracy is tightened every day. There are serious challenges for our motherland. Threats are mounting on the economic, political and security fronts. From the recent events it appears that national security has taken a front seat.
The handing over of terrorist Shareef Ullah to USA is being rejoiced all over. President Trump thanked Pakistan for this effort. Bumbling PM Shahbaz and his dumb associates are over joyed for being acknowledged. It reminds one of the Nawabs and Tumandars presenting gifts to His Lordship, the Governor, in Lahore during the British Raj on auspicious occasions. Mere acknowledgment of their presence would throw them into joyous ecstasy. Everyone must realize that as a businessman, Donald Trump has transactional relationships. It may pave the way for release of next IMF tranche. How far will that carry us, given the extremely anemic condition of our economy. Our exports are dwindling, there is shortfall in cotton and wheat production and no one is interested in investing in Pakistan.
We have not learnt from history at all. Every coin has two sides. As the regime rollicks at their mere mention, they are returning to post 9/11 era. General Musharraf had embarked on the route to capture and handover of terrorists. What did we experience in return? Bomb blasts and suicide bombings across the whole nation. We lost nearly 100 thousand lives of civilians and uniformed personnel. Since Zia Ul Haq we have thrived on the status of a frontline state. Yes, dollars have roll in but the price we pay in human losses and insecurity is monumental.
We are number 2 in the world as a lead terrorist state. We are carving our name as a rogue nation that nurtures terrorism. We want to pick a fight with Afghan nation that has just defeated NATO’s joint forces who spent trillions on a futile effort. There is a potential that Afghanistan and Pakistani visas may be banned in United States. The joy of short-term recognition will dissipate. Stories are appearing in US media that Shareef Ullah was a low level operative and not a prized target. If this proves to be true, I assure you Trump will not be happy hombre.
It is difficult to comprehend why is this Fascist Regime seeking to create a war zone when there is straight path available for the nation? We have lost democracy; rule of law and justice system is destroyed. Financially we are in shambles. 90% of the nation refuses to back this regime despite all the brutality. The recent example is arrest of Senator Aun Abbas and demolition of his residence. The option for a free and fair election allowing Pakistanis to elect their leaders is being abandoned for purely selfish gains. It is a national calamity that can be avoided.
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