(28th April 2013)

Sarabjit’s ordeal

The sufferings of Sarabjit Singh, the Indian national sentenced to death for a series of bomb attacks in the 1990s, continue. Indeed, things have grown markedly worse for a man who has already served more than the usual life-term. His family has claimed mistaken identity in the case and New Delhi continues to campaign for Sarabjit’s release on humanitarian grounds.

But right now, the prisoner struggles desperately for life. He is reported to be in a state of coma, following an attack by fellow prisoners. It is, for now, impossible to say what his fate will be. Sarabjit appears to have been hit with bricks, rods and possibly other weapons inside his cell after other inmates broke inside, overpowering the guards posted outside. It is hard to understand how such an incident could have taken place in jail and why intervention did not come earlier, before Sarabjit reached a point where life and death were barely separated. Questions must also be asked as to why he was kept in the prison hospital for some days, rather than being shifted immediately to a better equipped facility outside.

There are other issues, too. The attack on Sarabjit does not appear to have been entirely spontaneous. It is hard to believe that a gang of prisoners acted alone. We must ask, too, why more security was not provided to Sarabjit, who had apparently been receiving threats, notably since February this year, when Afzal Guru was hanged in India. His counsel had pointed this out. Several members of the prison staff, including the deputy superintendant, have been suspended. But we must hope this action is not merely cosmetic; that it goes beyond that and all the perpetrators of a truly heinous crime against a helpless man are duly punished, while also taking steps to protect other Indian nationals in jails across the country before other acts of brutality are directed against them. A terrible tragedy has occurred. We must act to prevent others of a similar nature occurring, even as we wait to see what becomes of Sarabjit.

Voting from far away

Enthusiasm for balloting may be suffering at home due to the spate of violence that we have seen — with fears this may lead to a low voter turnout. But many of the nearly five million Pakistanis based overseas and eligible to vote seem determined to do so. Notably from the UK, supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf are planning to charter flights home for election day, if this is what it takes to put that slip of paper into the box. They have made it clear that supporters of other parties are welcome to come along too and hop aboard the flights.

But, of course, all this is expensive and not possible for everyone. We must, therefore, hope plans to organise balloting at missions overseas, as the Supreme Court has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to do, can move ahead smoothly. Encouragingly for Pakistan, eight key countries have already given the go-ahead for Pakistanis based there to ballot. According to the Foreign Office spokesman at his weekly briefing, they include the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. The largest number of Pakistani nationals, over three million in total, are based in the Middle East. It is hoped that other countries will follow in approving the move. NADRA has stated that it has worked out a software programme to enable voting and arrangements to send across required staff are being made.

However, there are complications. The caretaker government’s information and technology minister has told the Supreme Court that using untested software could be problematic. Other logistical issues have also been raised. These are legitimate concerns. Overseas ballots have led to problematic situations in other countries, too. However, given the obvious desire of Pakistanis living overseas to make their voices heard as the future of their nation is decided, we must hope that the ECP, NADRA and the government can work together to make this possible. While the time period is short, in this age of technology, it should be possible to work out a means to enable those based far away to have a say in the elections.

Election or selection?

Every other day is a day of mourning for the Awami National Party (ANP), which has been attacked at least 10 times just this month. On April 26, two attacks were carried out against the ANP in Karachi. In the second and more deadly attack at a corner meeting of the party, over 10 people were killed and around 45 injured. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for both attacks. The ANP has been the main target of militants in different parts of the country, especially in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P). For the ANP to campaign freely under these circumstances is not just difficult but nearly impossible.

Despite terrorist attacks, the ANP must be commended for braving these threats and not boycotting the electoral process. Adnan Wazir, an independent candidate in K-P whose rally was attacked in the Frontier Region Bannu last month, had to distance himself from the ANP in view of TTP threats. After claiming that he had nothing to do with the party, Wazir was “pardoned” by the militant group. No wonder the ANP has started asking whether this is an election or “selection” process. The battle lines are clear. If a political party espouses liberal views, it is the TTP’s enemy. Thus, the PPP, the ANP and the MQM have directly been threatened by the TTP. Parties with ambiguous and vague approach on terrorism and the Taliban do not face similar threats.

Instead of condemning these attacks, some political parties are either silent or their condemnations have been rather muted. Not only is this a cowardly response but a highly despicable one, to say the least. Those who have been attacked and have lost their lives in terrorist attacks are Pakistani citizens. All political parties who have not condemned these attacks unequivocally should be censured. Never in the history of Pakistan have we seen an election campaign this bloody. A comprehensive counterterrorism strategy should be put in place for the elections and the caretaker government must provide adequate security to the ANP, the MQM and the PPP.

30.04.2013

Balochistan’s crisis

As we move closer and closer to the May 11 elections, the security situation in Balochistan is quite clearly far from satisfactory. Violence occurs virtually every day. The latest incident took place on April 28 when an explosive device planted on a bicycle went off at a rally of an independent candidate. Five persons were injured. Parties contesting the polls in the province have already stated time and again that the wave of terrorism is adversely affecting their campaigns and will influence voter turnout.
What is most worrying of all is the fact that authorities appear to have no solution to offer. Indeed they seem to have given up any attempt to call a halt to the violence. In a recent statement, the home minister for the province has said the military will be conducting a clean-up operation in Balochistan around 10 days before the poll in the hope that this will bring sufficient stability to carry out the balloting. The scheme may or may not work. But most of all, it shows that other than the short view of matters, those in charge really do not know quite what to do or how to stop the scourge of violence. Simply curbing it for a few days is obviously no solution at all.

The reality is that the violence is undoubtedly impacting election campaigning in Balochistan. This is a serious matter. Reports state that there is no excitement ahead of elections in Quetta or other major cities of the province. This is not a healthy state of affairs. Without the full participation of voters and candidates alike, elections will be meaningless.
It is clear that the terrorists have succeeded in deciding a great deal about this poll. The results will be especially negative in a province like Balochistan, wracked by all manner of violence and deprivation, where we badly need a fair and free election. It now appears less and less likely that we will be able to conduct one, with the military operation likely to bring its own controversies and anxieties to a region where hatred already dominates many events and cripples political lives in many ways.

Poor security in hospitals

A 10-day-old infant was kidnapped at the gynaecology ward of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) in Peshawar, allegedly by an unidentified woman posing as a member of staff. We cannot even imagine the pain his parents must be going through right now. No parent should ever go through such trauma. It is the duty of the hospital authorities and the police to get to the bottom of this heinous act, find the culprits and recover the baby.
This is not the first time that an infant has been kidnapped in such a manner. In fact, such incidents have become quite common of late. It is quite worrying that this horrendous business of infant-napping is going on under the very nose of major hospital managements. There is merit to the accusations levelled by the parents of kidnapped babies that such incidents are not possible without “insider help”. In the past, we have seen how some doctors and hospitals were found removing organs from patients without their knowledge, for sale in the black market. Newborn babies who go missing are said to be sold to childless parents willing to pay a high price, beggar mafias or for illegal organ trading, among other things. Such incidents should not be taken lightly.
Hospital authorities all across the country need to step up and put an end to this business. Security must be beefed up, especially in and around gynaecology wards. There should be a proper mechanism whereby only those authorised by the newborn’s family are allowed to see the child. In case of a kidnapping, all staff members should be thoroughly investigated and if any one of them is alleged to be involved in aiding and abetting kidnappers, he/she should be fired immediately and criminal proceedings should be initiated against them right away. The lives of innocent children are at stake. Those who stoop so low as to kidnap infants and put parents through such misery must be dealt with an iron hand.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

01.05.2013

TTP’s campaign against elections

It is a matter of concern that Pakistan’s elections are being steered and monitored by the deadly banned, non-state actor Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). We had assumed that the Election Commission of Pakistan and neutral caretaker administrations would be managing the elections oversight but such is the state of Pakistan that the TTP are calling the shots as to who can freely participate in these elections. The recent statement issued by the TTP’s spokesperson makes it clear that political parties with a liberal and secular ideology are under threat. In particular, their support to the military operations against terror outfits is being cited as the key reason for such attacks.
The election campaign has sadly left a divided and blood-stained Pakistan. In Punjab, major parties are running their campaigns freely while in the three smaller provinces, there have been dozens of attacks leading to over 40 deaths in the past fortnight. The major brunt of this violence has been borne by the Awami National Party (ANP), which has lost over 700 workers and high profile leaders in the past few years. In Karachi, the MQM is facing the wrath for its moderate politics and its workers and election offices have been attacked repeatedly. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also been attacked with its top leadership facing dire security threats.

The TTP has also made it clear that it opposes the secular democratic system and its affiliate, al Qaeda, has already declared the Pakistani Constitution un-Islamic. Echoing the decades-old mantra of the right-wing, the TTP spokesperson also said that “a man cannot be secular and Muslim at the same time”. In a country where the majority has been influenced by Islamist rhetoric, political forces would need to join hands and struggle against this grave threat to democracy.
The situation becomes even more alarming when the major leaders from parties that have been spared the attacks are hesitating to condemn the TTP-led violence. In fact, their election campaign has not even referred to the issue of extremism. This does not augur well for the evolution of the democratic system in the country.

Workers of the world, unite!

International Labour Day is observed throughout the world on May 1 to commemorate the martyrs of the US city of Chicago who laid down their lives in May 1886, while demanding an eight-hour working day. The day has since been observed regularly by industrial workers and labourers across the world, marked by rallies and seminars in which they demand their rights enshrined in labour and industrial laws.
While workers have been denied their rights in many parts of the world, Pakistan is no different. The previous government took some good decisions regarding the working class. It increased minimum wage, lifted the ban on trade unions, repealed anti-labour laws like the Removal from Service (Special Power) Ordinance 2000 and Section 2A of the Services Tribunal Act of 1973, and came up with a new labour policy. Despite some good laws, most Pakistani workers are still exploited due to the non-implementation of laws.
Human history is the story of exploitation under specious excuses of race, gender, caste or creed. However, the driving force underlying all such discriminations has been the ambition of the idle few to prevail upon the industrious majority. Work is the ultimate virtue, the absence of which afflicts communities and nations with ignorance, deprivation and disease. In this era of globalisation where privatisation is rife, labour laws are essential to protect the rights of the working class.
Far from being a purely denominational event, Labour Day is a celebration of justice, peace and equality. Workers’ rights cannot be guaranteed in a world ruled by the might of classes, cliques and states. The dignity of labour is intrinsically woven in the matrix of human collective. The struggle to achieve its goals goes beyond trade union activity or isolated guarantees on the statute books. This struggle is worthy of all individuals, groups and nations alike. Looked upon thus, Labour Day is an inestimably valuable part of common human heritage and a beacon towards a prosperous human future.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

02.05.2013

Owning the war on terror

At an event marking Martyrs’ Day, army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani made an unambiguous statement regarding the war on terror. “Despite all this bloodshed, certain quarters still want to remain embroiled in the debate concerning the causes of this war and who imposed it on us … Today, it is Pakistan and its valiant people who are a target of this war and are suffering tremendously,” said General Kayani. These words are a timely reminder to the Taliban apologists who have confused our people by declaring the war on terror and our fight against the Taliban a foreign agenda and “America’s war”. It is because of such propaganda that many in this country are unwilling to own this war despite losing over 45,000 innocent Pakistani lives at the hands of terrorists.

Instead of saluting the PPP, the ANP and the MQM for owning the war on terror and condemning the Taliban, the TTP attacks on these three parties hardly merit a condemnation by the apologists. It is shameful that these elements, including certain political parties, are blaming the victim instead of unequivocally condemning the Taliban. Make no mistake, this is our war. General Kayani made it clear that there will be no talks with the militants unless they give up arms unconditionally and submit to the state and its Constitution. Those who think the Taliban will lay down their arms and become law-abiding citizens once Nato forces withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014 are deeply mistaken. The TTP and their ilk do not believe in the idea of democracy. Not only do they want to eliminate democracy but they also want to impose their own twisted version of religion on the people.
There is method in the Taliban madness. They want to paralyse the state through fear and terror till it stops functioning. It is time we understand what they stand for. We need to remain united against these merciless forces till we eliminate them from our soil. General Kayani’s reiteration about elections being held on time is also welcome. Uninterrupted democracy and our commitment to fight terrorism will pave the way for a stronger, peaceful, pluralistic and democratic Pakistan.

Putting an end to bigotry

Once again, the Ahmadi community is being harassed by radical clerics. On April 29, the Gulshan-e-Ravi police in Lahore arrested seven members of the Ahmadi community without filing an FIR against them when around 300 people protested in front of an Ahmadi place of worship. With mounting pressure from the people of the locality, the police finally filed blasphemy and terrorism charges against eight Ahmadis. Incidents of harassment against the Ahmadis have increased manifold, particularly in Punjab. A member of the Khatam-i-Nabuwat Lawyers Forum has been a central figure in recent anti-Ahmadi confrontations.
The authorities must prevent such hate-mongers from targeting the minorities before the situation gets out of control. As it is, Pakistan does not have much to show as far as its human rights record where the minorities are concerned. They have often been subjected to social stigmatisation and insecurity at the hands of the militants, who have gained impetus over the years.
Tolerance and interfaith harmony were part and parcel of the original doctrine of Pakistan. Unfortunately, previous governments did very little to support this school of thought. The ruling factions of the 1970s and 1980s gave much support to the obscurantist forces through the institutionalisation of isolation of minorities, especially the Ahmadi community, by enshrining anti-minority laws in our Constitution. No government has been able to repeal the Blasphemy Law.
The Ahmadis have traditionally been a peaceful lot and have shown great restraint despite consistent persecution and targeted attacks. As citizens of Pakistan, we must not forget that the white portion in our national flag represents the minorities. Now, the very same white portion has been tainted with the blood of the minorities. We must end this dangerous trend before the entire flag turns red due to intolerance and bigotry.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

(3rd May 2013)

Sarabjit Singh’s tragic end

Sarabjit Singh, an Indian spy on death row, finally succumbed to his injuries in Lahore’s Jinnah Hospital. Singh was badly injured following a brutal attack by fellow inmates in Kot Lakhpat Jail and fell into a coma as a result of those injuries. Pakistan has arrested two prisoners and charged them with Singh’s murder. It is not enough to just go after the prisoners who attacked him but the jail authorities must be dealt with an iron hand as well.

Singh’s safety and well-being was the responsibility of the Pakistani state. His family has demanded justice from Pakistan. Punjab’s caretaker Chief Minister, Najam Sethi, has also ordered a judicial inquiry into Singh’s death. It is not yet clear whether it was a pre-planned attack or not. It is a matter of grave concern that an Indian prisoner, whose lawyer had repeatedly warned of serious threats to his life, was beaten to pulp in a Pakistani prison. It is outright criminal negligence on the part of the jail authorities. The government must answer what measures, if any, were taken after his lawyer requested greater security for him in light of the threats.

Not only were Singh’s rights as a prisoner violated but the inaction of jail authorities exposes the conditions of Pakistani jails. Strict action must be taken against those police officials who were responsible for Singh’s security. Prison brawls are not uncommon in our country but we rarely hear of any action being taken against the jail authorities. The government must ensure that a transparent investigation takes place and jail authorities are taken to task.

This incident could also affect relations between India and Pakistan. In order to avoid a diplomatic row, it is hoped that the government will conduct a proper inquiry. As it is, Pakistan’s image has taken a blow for the worse internationally. Thus, it is in Pakistan’s interest to maintain peaceful relations with all its neighbours, especially India. Singh’s death is a tragedy that could have easily been prevented. The matter must be probed thoroughly so that those responsible are duly punished.

The US Equation

Rhetoric, slogans and drama are, of course, very much a part of any election campaign. This is as true for us as any other country; indeed, perhaps more so than most.

But given our current, rather precarious circumstances, parties need to exercise some degree of caution and demonstrate maturity. The anti-US slogan, as we all know, is a popular one with people. But, given our current economic and military links to Washington, is it realistic to envisage a total break? Or fool people into believing this can happen in the short term? Indeed, the complex network of dependency is not easy to untangle. The relationship between the two nations goes back a long way, and cannot be undone with a single stroke.

For this reason, all parties need to adopt a more sensible, more sensitive and more realistic approach. Right now, we have the parties of the religious right, chiefly the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal and the Jamaat-e-Islami forging ahead during their rallies with a fervently anti-US approach. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has also banked mainly on a stance directed against drone attacks and the war on terror. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz has kept its agenda somewhat ambiguous as far as foreign policy goes, while the Pakistan Peoples Party condemns drones but in its manifesto, indicates relations with the US will need to be maintained to one degree or the other, given global realities.

The point is we would all like to see our country move towards full sovereignty and self-reliance, but this cannot be achieved instantly. It is only a target we can endeavour to move towards. For this reason, parties need to act with responsibility, not raise false hopes and avoid raising slogans only because they are popular. Doing so will only build false hopes and unreal expectations; these will, in turn, make it even harder for the incoming government to operate effectively. It can do so only if people have a clear vision of the future and the task of all parties should be to help build this idea.

Anti-measles campaign: Cosmetic effort?

Too many of the efforts we see by governments appear to be more cosmetic than genuinely intended to serve a purpose. This certainly appears true of the anti-measles campaign begun early this week in Punjab, the purpose of which is to vaccinate some three million children under 10 years in a province where 60 deaths have occurred due to the disease and 10,000 remain infected.

While the drive sounds like a very good idea, the issue, according to a report in this publication, is that only 400 of the 1,300 personnel sent into the field to administer the potentially life-saving shot are trained vaccinators. The rest, who include lab attendants and nurses drawn from public-sector hospitals have received for the most part only a day’s training, as opposed to the six-month training usually given to vaccinators. A number have never injected a child and health experts warn an improperly administered measles shot can lead to grave health risks. There are other complications too. We know from WHO statistics that Vitamin A deficiency is common in our country. Yet, a campaign scheduled in April to administer the vitamin was not carried out by the Health Department. A Vitamin A deficiency can lead to a higher fatality risk in children with measles. The fact that the drive has so far been restricted to Lahore has also been criticised.

The Health Department, in its defence, says only 400 vaccinators were available. This may indeed be the reality. But the fact is that children have been put at risk through the use of personnel not qualified to give the shot. The entire situation also highlights the inadequacies of our immunisation programme. In the first place, we need to know why so many children were not given the measles vaccine as a matter of routine, preventing the epidemic and the panic we now see. Secondly, we need to seek help from the international humanitarian community, given our own inadequate resources, so that the existing crisis can be overcome.

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Yes We Can Do It!

04.05.2013

Sinister twists

We are accustomed to unfortunate events marring our history, blocking justice and leaving a myriad of mysteries drifting through the past. These date back to the 1951 assassination of Liaquat Ali Khan. Each time, conspiracies, conjecture and apparent cover-ups are spoken of — and we appear to be witnessing precisely the same series of events once more. In Islamabad on May 3, two unknown assailants on a motorcycle pumped some 10 bullets into the chest and shoulder of Federal Investigation Agency’s Special Public Prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali as he left his home. Zulfiqar died at the hospital. He had been due to appear the same day before an Anti-Terrorism Court hearing the Benazir Bhutto assassination case — and his obviously intricately planned shooting is, of course, being linked to this. Zulfiqar was also the prosecutor in the 2008 Mumbai bombings case and held a reputation as a competent officer. This may, of course, explain why he was gunned down.

Benazir Bhutto was killed in December 2007 in what ranks as possibly the most significant killing in our recent political history. More than five years on, it remains unsolved. The murder of Zulfiqar Ali decreases the possibility we will ever know the truth and this is extremely unfortunate. Other key persons in the case, including Benazir’s security officer, have died before this latest incident. Indeed, the whole affair is beginning to, rather eerily, resemble the case involving the gunning down in Karachi in 1996 of Benazir’s younger brother Mir Murtaza Bhutto. This, too, was followed by the killing of key witnesses and investigators.
We must demand Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali’s death be investigated fully. The trail leading back from it must be followed. No more curtains must be drawn to hide what really happened. Such acts only make matters worse, adding to uncertainty and the uncomfortable feeling that we live in a realm of darkness where much is kept hidden from the eyes of the citizens and the most drastic acts are carried out by unknown persons to prevent the truth from breaking through from behind this shield. Chaudhry Zulfiqar seems to have become the latest victim of these forces.

Pakistan-Afghan clashes

The Foreign Office on May 2 summoned the Afghan chargé d’affaires to lodge a protest against unprovoked firing by the Afghan forces on a Pakistani check post. The Afghan government has sent a delegation to investigate the incident. Such incidents can have serious implications for relations between the two countries and should thus be avoided.
There are certain elements in both countries that are supporting terrorism and causing instability. The governments of both countries should jointly take steps to tackle them instead of getting entangled in another war of words or retaliatory practices. The two sides should agree to work together to fight terrorism in letter and inspirit.
It is important that both neighbours should maintain good relations for peace to prosper in the region. The central issue here is what will happen in Afghanistan and the region in the lead-up to the Nato pullout? The need of the hour is for all stakeholders to show statesmanship and start engaging at a productive level. Moreover, the “strategic depth” policy should be scrapped once and for all. It is important that only the Afghan people decide their own form of government and destiny. Relations will only improve once this is ensured.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan have faced misery, pain, trials and tribulations that have affected us over the past 30 years; one way or the other, both nations have been scarred and wounded by three decades of conflict and violence in this region. The most agonising aspect of these years has been the way this prolonged conflict has brutalised our societies and has all but dismantled and destroyed time-honoured traditions, codes of conduct and human values that sustained our societies. Clashes between Afghan and Pakistani forces will only help our common enemy — i.e., the militant forces bent on creating havoc in the region. We should recognise this fact and fight militancy together, instead of wasting our time fighting each other.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

05.05.2013

Protecting minorities

The political parties which are contesting the elections 2013 have given due coverage to the issue of minorities’ rights in their manifestos. The liberal parties, the PPP, the ANP and the MQM, have given categorical assurances on the protection of the minorities and also bringing about the necessary legal and institutional changes to improve the manner in which Pakistan treats its non-Muslim population. The ANP unequivocally states that it will “continue its struggle for a secular, democratic and pluralistic Pakistan with equal rights for all citizens”. Given the fact that the word “secular” is almost a taboo expression in Pakistan, the ANP’s resolve is quite commendable. Similarly, the PPP has assured the electorate that it would introduce laws to prevent forced conversions and pay compensation to the victims of religious violence. The PPP’s pledge to revive the National Commission of Minorities as a statutory body is also commendable. However, its record during the past five years in defending its own leadership struggling for minority rights (Salmaan Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti) remains far from satisfactory.
Surprisingly, the religious parties, such as the Jamaat-e-Islami and the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Fazal) have also pledged full commitment to the enforcement of constitutional rights of the minorities in Pakistan.
The PTI — a seemingly formidable player in the upcoming elections — invokes Mohammad Ali Jinnah’s vision and says that the party would protect Pakistani citizens against all forms of discrimination, and recent developments have led the party to clarify its stance further.
The PML-N has assured legislation against forced marriages and intends to double development funds earmarked for minorities. Its manifesto also promises introduction of quotas for minorities in educational institutions and public-sector jobs.
Party manifestos are rhetorical documents in Pakistan, where the political parties aim to look good on paper, often actually ignoring the simple reality that radicalisation in Pakistan has assumed alarming proportions. The discriminatory practices and beliefs are widespread. Our school textbooks, mosque sermons and madrassa discourse, as a matter of routine, propagate hate speech and incitement to violence against non-Muslims. It is a matter of great concern that a country where 97 per cent of the population happens to be Muslim can be so insecure about the other tiny segment of its population and repeatedly fails to uphold their basic rights, such as life, liberty and equality before the law. Over time, the state institutions, such as the law-enforcement agencies and the courts, display a worrying mindset that is either afraid of the religious zealots or is genuinely indoctrinated by the decades-old search for an Islamic-nationalist identity.
The country’s founder, in his first speech on August 11, 1947 as the head of the state, had made it quite clear that despite the use of religious identity in seeking a separate homeland for the Muslims of India, the state would remain a neutral arbiter of citizens’ rights and entitlements. But our paranoia vis-a-vis India led to the construction of an extremist discourse that would inform the sense of Pakistani nationhood and today, Pakistan has been turned into a dangerous country for non-Muslims, and sadly, minority Muslim sects as well. Extremist discourses have a tendency to expand and engulf all belief systems, and our laxity in tolerating hate speech and widespread hate literature is turning the country into a deeply violent place.
It would be imperative for the incoming government that the situation of minorities be treated as a topmost priority. It is also vital for the civil society, media and other civic groups to monitor the status of the implementation of the tall promises made by political parties. We need to end this culture of lip service and capitulation before extremist groups in the country, which have become more radicalised, armed and are now openly advocating the agenda of global terror networks, such as al Qaeda.

Easing inflation

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) seems to have called it right again. In the last quarterly review of the economy, the central bank had said that inflationary pressures seemed to be easing a bit and that has proven to be the case. In fact, the latest figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, for the month of April, show that the Consumer Price Index registered an increase of 5.8 per cent over the corresponding month of the previous year. This is the lowest figure recorded in almost nine years.
This is obviously good for the economy, and it is good for the people. There are several reasons why this is good. The basic premise behind why low inflation is good for the economy is because it encourages people to get their money out of safe havens and put it to work in investments.
With inflation clocking in at 5.8 per cent, there is every likelihood that the SBP will further reduce interest rates. This is going to be even better for the economy. It will force banks to pull their liquid reserves out of areas where they are earning little or no interest and lend them out to the private sector. This will — in theory, at least — spur industrial growth which will have a multiplier effect. This will also — again, in theory — discourage banks from lending to the government and, instead, focus on other areas to keep up their profitability; again, good for the economy.
The major reason for the decline in inflation — apart from the rebasing — is the way the CPI basket is configured. The most important categories are food and non-alcoholic beverages. Average oil prices have been declining for a while, or have been steady. With the just announced decrease in oil prices, the fall in inflation was inevitable. In foods, it is pretty even, with some food categories declining and others rising.
And it is expected that this downward trend in inflation will continue for the immediate term, despite government excess and over-spending.

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"Nay! man is evidence against himself. Though he puts forth his excuses." Holy Qur'an (75:14-15)

(6th May 2013)

First Address

In his first address to the nation, caretaker Prime Minister Mir Hazar Khan Khoso has reiterated the assurance made only a few days ago by the army chief that the general elections would indeed be held on time and power duly transferred to the elected government. Such assurances should, of course, not ordinarily be necessary. In any democracy, this should be the standard course of action. But we do not live in ordinary times. The frenzied spree of violence seen in each of the three smaller provinces has created all kinds of doubts about the polls and unleashed a flood of rumours. Even now, fear plays a dominant role in the process, and could, indeed, determine many things such as the turnout. And the turnout could have a very important impact on the results themselves.

Therefore, Prime Minister Khoso’s calm speech, offering reassurance that every effort will be made to hold a peaceful election is, in many ways, soothing. It helps generate some sense of confidence that the balloting exercise will take place on schedule, as planned and without any disruption. Such assurances are necessary in helping to bring out people to vote in the current environment of violence and uncertainty. This is important given that we are moving towards what we hope will be Pakistan’s first constitutional democratic transition. If all goes well, or relatively well as we hope it will, this would be a significant achievement for the caretakers.

It is also a good sign that they have accepted responsibility for making sure that this does, indeed, happen. We all know that an election that is in any way prevented from moving ahead as it should, or is tainted by violence and allegations of unfair play, would be disastrous for our nation at this juncture. We must hope, therefore, that Mr Khoso and his team have their plans well worked out and are able to conduct the polling exercise as is required so that we can vote for a government of the people’s choice and hope this administration will then be able to solve the many problems we currently face by adopting policies based on the wishes of the people and their desire for harmony within our country.

Foul revenge

The death of Sarabjit Singh, attacked by inmates at the Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, has been followed by a terrible act of vengeance just a day later. At a Jammu jail, Pakistani prisoner Sanaullah Haq, on May 3, suffered severe head injuries after being attacked by prisoners apparently infuriated by the fate of Sarabjit. Sanaullah is being treated in a hospital in Chandigarh, where he was moved due to the severity of his injuries. The Pakistan Foreign Ministry, who summoned the Deputy High Commissioner, has demanded he be returned home immediately.

Here, of course, we see the worst possible example of an ‘eye for an eye’ mentality come into play. It must be stopped. More deaths like this must not take place at any cost. They indicate just how much hatred can be aroused in people, with the prison happenings, of course, a microcosm of a far wider problem. This matter needs to be discussed, negotiated and sorted out between the two nations. But this, of course, will take time. Months, years, very possibly decades; right now, what we need to do is ensure the other Pakistani prisoners are safe. They all face a risk in the current environment. Indeed, even in the past, they have been attacked or mistreated.

The two countries need to decide on security measures to be adopted. This should happen urgently. The possibility of sending prisoners home should also be discussed. We cannot have more incidents of this nature take place. Everything possible must be done to prevent them and also investigations carried out to ensure that those who attacked Sanaullah can be duly identified and punished under the law for their crimes. This is vital to set a precedent for the future so other killings are averted.

Polio eradication

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), only three countries remain polio-endemic, one of them being Pakistan. It is shameful that Pakistan has still not been able to counter a preventable disease. The first case of polio was reported in the North Waziristan Agency on May 3, since the Taliban imposed a ban on the entry of vaccination teams in the region in June last year. The Taliban do not even value human life so why would they care if our children are disabled? We must not allow the Taliban to dictate our lives.

Extremists have already given fatwas declaring polio vaccination ‘infidel vaccination’, resulting in deadly attacks on anti-polio teams. Despite these tactics adopted by the terrorists to scare away those administering polio drops, it is commendable that many humanitarian workers have not cowed down. If polio is to be completely eradicated from Pakistan, people will have to change their attitude towards the immunisation campaign. They must reject the absurd extremist view that the polio campaign is a conspiracy hatched by Western countries to reduce Muslim populations. In fact, it is a politically-motivated campaign by the extremists to defend their fanatic views. A similar anti-polio campaign was witnessed in the Nigerian state of Kano in 2003. We must not tread on a similar self-destructive path.

It is certainly not an easy task to eliminate extremism from our soil but we can certainly eradicate polio from our country. More than 125 countries have already eradicated this disease. People should be made aware through media and door-to-door campaigns, especially in far-flung areas, that polio vaccination can save children from permanent disability in life and secure a better future for them. Continuity in the immunisation campaign and a realisation of the importance of a polio-free society will make a lot of difference. The future of our children depends on our fight against polio. We must not fail them.

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Yes We Can Do It!

(7th May 2013)

Elections and the security situation

The ongoing election campaign has been marred by threats and the violence perpetrated by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), with the militant group having challenged the writ of the Pakistani state, as well as causing countless deaths. Since the start of the election campaign, the liberal parties — the PPP, the ANP and the MQM — have been threatened time and again. Thus far, nearly 50 political workers have been killed and dozens of major and minor attacks have been launched by the TTP. In most cases, the TTP have owned these horrific events.

More worryingly, Pakistan’s federation is also under attack. Much of the violence is taking place outside the populous province of Punjab, creating an impression in the smaller provinces that they remain insecure and denied of a free environment to elect their representatives. Leaders of political parties are carrying out successful campaigns in almost every part of Punjab but the liberal parties under threat are scared to hold even corner meetings. In the post-election scenario, it is unclear how far the elections would be taken as fully legitimate by the parties and the public opinion from the smaller provinces.

The response of the caretaker governments at the centre and the provinces has been less than satisfactory. It was only after the escalation of violence that the caretaker prime minister addressed the nation and promised protection and crisis management. However, the day he expressed this intent, several attacks were carried out by militants. It would be unfair to hold the interim governments fully responsible for the chaos in the country. Violent extremism is a deeper issue and terrorism has afflicted Pakistan for over a decade now. Nevertheless, it was expected that the caretakers would have focused on their primary task in a more coordinated manner.

In this regard, the statements coming from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the interim government are revealing. With days to go before the elections, the two seemed to be engaged in a bureaucratic wrangle. According to reports last week, the ECP declined the caretaker prime minister’s decision to place the administrative control of the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC), presently working under the interior ministry, at its disposal. Thus far, the NCMC, mandated to coordinate between all law-enforcement agencies, has not been all too effective. The chief election commissioner, citing a Supreme Court judgment, reiterated that the chief secretaries of the provinces and the chief commissioner Islamabad are responsible for maintaining law and order.

That the executive authorities are in charge of security is well known and this is how it should be. But in the absence of parliamentary oversight, perhaps the ECP could play a more proactive role. If it does not want to take charge of the NCMC, it should ensure that there is regular monitoring of it during the election season. The NCMC, for much of its existence, has been just another bureaucratic outfit. Its work and achievements remain shrouded in mystery. All law-enforcement agencies need to be working closely with it and there is an urgent need of leadership.

Similarly, in the provinces, all intelligence agencies should coordinate with one another to seek information on the plans and movements of militants. The public needs to be taken into confidence and there should be an effective means of seeking information through safe helplines about the likely attacks of the militants. In 2013, the people of Pakistan will look towards the civilian caretakers and the military to implement their assurances. The sensitive polling stations have already been identified by the authorities and it is time to seek the military’s assistance to provide a fool-proof cover to these areas so that Pakistanis can elect their new government. Despite the absence of a level playing field for all political parties, the caretakers and the executive agencies can still rescue the uneven election process. They must not fail the nation which has struggled for democracy for much of its existence.

Rare Triumph

Pakistan’s Aamir Atlas Khan ended a 15-year wait for the country as he triumphed at the 17th Asian Individual Squash Championship on May 5, beating Kuwait’s world number 33 Abdullah Al-Muzayen 3-0 in the final held in Islamabad. The last time Pakistan won the individual event was in 1998 when Zarak Jahan Khan won the coveted title. However, Aamir, who ranked 61 before his victory, was able to add to the list of squash trophies owned by the country that now features its ninth Asian individual title.
Aamir, who was unfit when his compatriots were preparing for the event, was also indebted to the Pakistan Squash Federation since the body delayed finalising the squad by a week to make way for the 22-year-old. The achievement was extra special since the event was hosted by Pakistan, which has seen a drought of international fixtures ever since the 2009 gun attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, which took away the country’s hosting rights for the 2011 cricket World Cup and cornered Pakistan into isolation where no foreign athlete would dare visit. But it seems that some progress has been made.

Pakistan hosted the Asian Snooker Championship recently before the squash event took centre stage. Aamir’s triumph has also sent out a gentle reminder to the world that sports is still very much alive in the country despite it being barred from hosting high-profile international events.
The win also spells a good omen for the country’s squash players, giving them a timely boost before they gear up for the upcoming British Open and the World Squash Federation Men’s World Team Championship next month. For Aamir, it may be a taste of things to come as he looks to improve his world ranking. His development as a player is hardly a surprise as Pakistan has a rich history of squash legends. It would hardly be a wonder if the Peshawar-born player is another one in the making.

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Yes We Can Do It!

Blood on the ballot

The ballot papers dropped into boxes on May 11 will bear not only stamp marks ahead of the names and symbols of candidates, but also more sinister stains of the blood that continues to spill. The latest attack came in Hangu, targeting the election campaign of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) and killed around 11 people, while around 35 were injured. Following the blast, a curfew was imposed in the area. This came just a day after a deadly blast in the Kurram Agency, which was the first to target a JUI-F rally. Twenty-three persons were killed and at least 47 injured as the party’s candidate for NA-38, Munir Orakzai, addressed party activists outside a mosque. Though Mr Orakzai himself, who was not injured in the blast, appeared bewildered by the attack and stated he had no enmity with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the banned organisation disagreed.

In a statement, TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan stressed the explosion was directed against Mr Orakzai himself, rather than the party, as the candidate had in the past “worked with the ANP, PPP and MQM” to hand over Arab “mujahideen” to the US. The three parties named by Ehsan have, of course, been most frequently targeted; the JUI-F, in contrast, is seen as being ideologically close to the militant force, necessitating the TTP clarification as to why it was carried out.

The thinking and complex politics of militant forces can be hard to understand. But what we can see is that the Taliban have emerged as major players in the electoral battle. They also seem determined to carry on with their games of death right into the polling day itself. The explosions occur virtually each day, and go to demonstrate just how helpless we are as a state before these forces. This is a terrifying reality. We are now confronting it head on and seeing a situation in which the militants have come to dictate more and more aspects of life, including how our democracy operates. This is not a good omen. We can only hope that all parties will move closer to recognising this and accept that the challenge of stopping the militants will be crucial to our future. They have already demonstrated just how capable they are of wrecking it and leaving behind only mayhem.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/545739/blood-on-the-ballot/

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When you really want something, the whole universe conspires in helping you achieve it!!!