Page 5 - Pakistan Link - March 22, 2024

OPINION PAKISTAN LINK - MARCH 22, 2024 - P5
n By Karamatullah K. Ghori show-boy, Naqvi has been installed
Toronto, Canada Denizens of Status Quo at Helm, again! in the Home Ministry, he has quickly
bared his knuckles. The latest draconian
he Muslim world is in Rama- order banning any visits to the notorious
dan mode, and so is the Islam- servience and loyalty to the country’s Adiala Prison—where the most promi-
Tic Republic of Pakistan. Security Establishment has always been nent detainee is none other than the
There’s an old adage associated with above board. That singular quality of country’s most popular political leader
Ramadan, i.e. that Sa- their political persona is what endears and former PM IK—gives a clue to
tan is incarcerated dur- them to the Bonapartes. They’re trust- what mandate factotum Naqvi has been
ing this holy month, worthy factotums whom the men-in- handed down by his khaki masters. He
depleting his capacity khaki could count upon to deliver, ac- has to prove that he’s up to their expec-
to influence or affect cording to the agenda handed down to tations, if not exceeding them by a wide
the pious fasting Mus- them; the welfare and interests of the margin.
lims. people of Pakistan are at the bottom of The obvious game plan of this pup-
No pun intended. But, perhaps, with their list. pet government is to take confrontation
an eye on that, Pakistan’s notorious, and Asif Ali Zardari—with his worldwide with IK and his PTI to a new level. The
omniscient, ‘Establishment’ put the final reputation as a corruption genius—gets name of the game is to turn ever more
touches to their over-weaning plan to the top slot of President of Pakistan, suc- The new dispensation of distribution of spoils has nothing new about it. screws on those who were given a loud
hog political center-stage through their ceeding a clean, though timid, Dr Arif It’s the familiar pack of old guards—partisans of the status quo — whose and categorical mandate by the people
puppets, before the onset of the holy Alvi. subservience and loyalty to the country’s Security Establishment has always of Pakistan on February 8.
month. Zardari’s elevation to the head of been above board – Reddit This nihilistic policy of aggravated
Pulling the levers of power from be- state is nothing short of an irony and a confrontation with democratic and lib-
hind the stage—when not in control, cruel joke with the people of Pakistan. their own nests. Who, if any, had heard the name eral factions of the people of Pakistan is
upfront, with the help of martial law— He becomes the first civilian to become But there are surprises, too: Jarring of Mohsin Naqvi, until he was foisted mind-boggling. It’s currency in a coun-
has been a familiar pattern of lording President for a second time. But more surprises, as such. over the largest province of the country try teetering on the brink of an eco-
over Pakistan with its Bonapartes. grating on the people of Pakistan is his The crucial portfolio of the Finance as caretaker Chief Minister, less than a nomic meltdown forces one to ponder
What they did on the night of Feb- reputation as a master of corruption. So, Minister has, mercifully, been taken year ago? He was a stringer for CNN what’s the bottom line of our military
ruary 8 and 9 was an act of outrageous they would be entitled to bemoan that away from the grubby hands of Ishaq until his family connections with Gen- overlords’ agenda.
theft, even by their own standards the worst amongst them has been cho- Dar, who made a mess of it whenever he eral Asim Munir smoothed his way to The Bonapartes seem frozen, hope-
of usurpation of power—a game the sen by their chess masters to lord over headed it. But this puny man, with no the top of Punjab. Backed by the khaki lessly, in time. They still believe that
Bonapartes are hopelessly addicted to. them. feather in his hat, has now been thrust power, Naqvi let loose a reign of terror their muscle power can muzzle the
But so brazen was their assault on the The choice of the younger of the two over the sensitive and highly important over Punjab, which was trying to steal voices of agitation against their purblind
ramparts of Pakistani electorates’ power Sharif brothers—Nawaz and Shehbaz— Ministry of Foreign Affairs. a march over KPK in their support for paranoia of power. They’re repeating the
of vote that the whole world took notice is out of the Bonapartes’ concern to give One wonders what sins were com- Imran Khan (IK) and his PTI. same mistakes that truncated Pakistan,
of it, and called the generals’ bluff. priority to absolute loyalty. Nawaz has mitted by professionals of the Foreign Naqvi turned Punjab into a Gestapo in 1971, in their pervert imagination
However, morbidly unfazed by the been pesky and troublesome, to the dis- Office to have this joker as their new land, cracking down brutally on the par- that they wouldn’t face the same fate that
loud outcry of ‘foul’ the power-addicted taste of the generals. Shehbaz, in com- head. One is reminded of what that tisans and aficionados of IK and PTI. befell the country in the East Pakistan fi-
company of besotted generals has gone parison, has the reputation of an obey- immutable bard, Shakespeare, said so His performance—obviously with the asco. They’re the living embodiment of
ahead with their blueprint of how they ing factotum. Hence, the scales at GHQ graphically about pigmies like this Dar: full connivance of the khaki-power— Albert Einstein’s acid test of insanity.
wish to lord over a familiar terrain: tilted in his favor. ‘Some are born great; some achieve endeared him to those who have treated Another old dictum, the more things
taking no blemish for the failure of the Shehbaz’ cabinet of Ministers is a greatness; but some have greatness Pakistan as their fief. change the more they remain the same,
puppet regime thrust over the people of pack of mostly old faces who have been thrust upon them.’ Dar, the darling of Naqvi retains the trophy of Chair- is so apt and so timely in the case of Pak-
Pakistan in utter disregard of their ver- coming in and going out of the revolv- the Sharifs and their masters-in-khaki man of Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in istan. It’s not the people but the country’s
dict. ing door of power over the past three de- belongs to the last category. addition to becoming the new czar of a pompous and bloated ruling elite which
So, the new dispensation of distribu- cades. They’re mostly men of straw who The appointment of Mohsin Naqvi Ministry which was turned into a rapa- seems hell-bent on committing Haraki-
tion of spoils has nothing new about it. did nothing good, as far as the welfare as the new Interior Minister may be cious killing mafia under that irascible ri, en masse! - K_K_ghori@hotmail.com
It’s the familiar pack of old guards—par- of the people of Pakistan was concerned. surprising to many who don’t know the Rana Sanaullah. (The author is a former ambassa-
tisans of the status quo — whose sub- Instead, they were known for larding antics of this social climber. To those wondering why this upstart, dor and career diplomat)

n By Asma Bangash practices are not only undermining
Pakistan A Case of Fair Trials: Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Imran Khan the credibility of the legal and justice
system of Pakistan but also violating
n recent news, the Supreme Court the principles of justice and fairness as
of Pakistan has declared that for- will also pass and become part of enshrined in the international human
Imer Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali our history but will keep haunting rights law also.
Bhutto (ZAB) had not received a fair generations and Pakistan’s wounded My second question is for Bilawal.
trial, a verdict that soul for years. If we review the le- Today you are siding with people who
comes almost half a gal proceedings against Imran, Shah are carrying out the same injustice to
century later. While Mehmood Qureshi, and other politi- Imran as they did to your grandfather?
this is great news for cal workers of PTI, we find a flagrant How come you are teary eyed today?
the veracity of our disregard for the basic principles of Every time I see injustice in the world,
justice system, there justice, due process and the proce- my mind goes back to what our beloved
is a feeling of justice dural safeguards in their trials. The Prophet’s (PBUH) grandson Imam
delayed is justice de- denial of access of their trials to the Hussain (AS) had said: “Those who are
nied. But as they also say, better late public or media and the prohibition silent while others are oppressed are
than never. of cross-examination of prosecution guilty of oppression themselves”.
Ironically enough, we saw footages witnesses are flagrant violations of To Bilawal Bhutto, I say, you can’t
of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zard- rights, including the right to a fair shed tears for the injustice against your
ari ‘teary eyed’. While as a lawyer or an trial and the presumption of inno- grandfather and shake hands with the
international law expert, I am all for cent until proven guilty as enshrined people carrying out the same injustice
the dispensation of justice and rule of in the Constitution of Pakistan as to another. There is no place for neu-
law; here are my two questions, one for well as international law. trality when it comes to justice. When
the honorable Chief Justice of Pakistan In 2010, Article 10-A (the right you remain neutral while witnessing
and the other for the PPP chairman. to fair trial and due process) was in- tion itself does not define the right, him, right to have adequate time and injustice, you have chosen the side of
While the honorable Chief Justice is serted in the Constitution via the a reference to international human facilities to prepare his defense, right the oppressor.
declaring that a fair trial was not given 18th Amendment, making it a basic rights conventions can help us under- to be defended through counsel of his It is time we realize our past mis-
to ZAB, I want to ask our justice system constitutional right of every citizen of stand what it may entail, which is: choice, right to produce witnesses or takes, learn from them and not repeat
what is being done differently today by Pakistan. Interestingly enough, while “A fair and public hearing, by an have witnesses summoned and exam- them. Because otherwise, after another
the judges or the courts, 44 years later? the 1973 Constitution of Pakistan had independent and impartial tribunal, ined.” 44 years, another chief justice would
What is different now from 1979? In incorporated most of fundamental hu- within a reasonable time; announce- Coming to Imran’s trials, the lack be sitting calling your verdicts illegal
today’s reference, my question pertains man rights, the right to fair trial was ment of the judgement in open court, of transparency and impartiality in the and another grandson would be crying
to what is being done to one of Paki- omitted, and looking at the situation in presumption of innocence of the ac- conduct of these trials is casting a dark over the injustices done to his grand-
stan’s most popular and largest political Pakistan, I realize that it was rightly left cused until proven guilty beyond shadow over the rule of law and the father.
party’s leader, Imran Khan? Isn’t his- out since it was never meant to be re- reasonable doubt; availability of safe- dispensation of justice in Pakistan. We (Asma Bangash is a peace activ-
tory repeating itself in today’s courts? spected or guaranteed. Nevertheless, it guards to a person charged with a must not forget, justice must not only ist and a law graduate from Khyber
Is Imran Khan being given a fair trial? is part of the Constitution of Pakistan. criminal offence, including the right be done, but it must also be seen to be Law College, Peshawar. The Express
What is being done right now Moreover, although the Constitu- to be informed of the charge against done, which is not the case here. Such Tribune)
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