Written by Riaz ul Hasan
Thursday, 18 December 2014 19:52
Asma Jahangir requires no introduction in Pakistan. She headed the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and was elected president of the Supreme Court Bar Association. She has struggled in support of democratic institutions in the country and for the cause of the downtrodden for over forty years.
While this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Malala Yusufzai, the ‘Alternative Nobel’-- the Right Livelihood Award--- was awarded to Asma Jahangir, among others. During her visit to Stockholm on December 1st to receive her award she addressed a meeting of the Swedish-Pakistani community. She spoke on the political crisis in Pakistan, Balochistan, Kashmir, on civil-military relations and answered a number of questions.
On democratic gains:
During the sit-in staged by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), the democratic forces were united against anti-democratic forces. This was a historic first in the country’s history. While in practice the democratic forces did not do much, they remained firm in their resolve to defend democracy.
I do not consider the present government to be a model for good government. Governments are never good but unless political stability is achieved in Pakistan and the system is strengthened, we cannot move forward.
Look at India! True, poverty and many other problems persist. However, a middle class has emerged there and many have been lifted out of poverty. In Pakistan however, there is a lack of co-ordinated effort that marks both state institutions and civil society.
Take for example the recent petition for land reforms filed in the Supreme Court by Abid Hassan Manto, joined by the HRCP. The need for advocacy and a strong political campaign is ignored. In my opinion judges are not instruments of change. Rather they are instruments of regression.We cannot expect a court ruling to put an end to feudalism. Likewise, we need to educate ourselves on the question of feudalism. The critics say that feudalism is a thing of past in the case of Punjab. Likewise, in Sindh they say that feudalism no longer exists and it is ‘Waderaism’ that must be confronted.
On PTI agitation:
I am not against Imran Khan’s entry into politics. It is his right to do so. In fact, many more people should take an active part in politics. However, a dichotomy exists. On the one hand he declares that politics and politicians are bad. On the other he wants to be involved politically. Likewise, the PTI has attacked and undermined every institution of the state, including parliament and the judiciary. In a nutshell every thing is bad in Pakistan except the PTI. All politicians are bad, except Imran Khan. All institutions are bad, except the army. Our experience shows that judges, generals and politicians are not good. However, we need to allow the [democratic] system to achieve some stability.
It is true that voters often elect the wrong representatives. In India, for instance Modi was recently elected. But let the system take its course. If you subvert the system, anarchy will follow.
Sharif government’s response:
The Sharif government is utterly indecisive, clueless and lacks initiative. Above all it is inefficient. Just look at their priorities. They have two advisors for one department and none for another. Bureaucracy is undermining the government. This is understandable. When favourites are patronized and promoted at the cost of others, bureaucracy will react. But in some cases, civil servants have been ‘advised’ not to co-operate. We all know that this government is incapable of handling the challenge posed by PTI agitation. At the same time if I were in their shoes, I would be at a loss myself. It is not Imran Khan they fear. It is the people who back him.
According to information I have, and if the situation is correctly analyzed, it transpires that the military hierarchy does not want Imran Khan to jump the queue to occupy the prime ministerial slot. However, there is an active lobby group of retired generals. Both General Hameed Gul and Brigadier Ejaz Shah are frequently spotted at PTI meetings. I learned from credible sources that a couple of serving generals and brigadier-level officers with radical views are also instrumental in catalyzing the present agitation.
In view of such stark facts, we cannot play the role of naïve activists. We cannot just dismiss the agitation on the pretext that agitation is the PTI’s democratic right. Yes, you have the right to agitate. However, you don’t have the right to agitate on the incitement of hidden hands. One has the right to register an FIR (First Investigation Report). However, one does not have the right to fake it.
The PTI allegation providing the pretext for ongoing agitation is election rigging. Imran claims that his mandate was stolen in the 2013 general elections. However, even if the seats he claims he would have bagged in the absence of rigging, he would not have gained the required majority to form a government.
Personally, I do not believe that there was systematic rigging. Individuals may have stuffed ballots etc. however systematic rigging is not a fair charge. At HRCP, we received lot of complaints regarding rigging from Balochistan and KPK.
In short, what has Imran Khan achieved? He frightened the government into inaction and indecisiveness. They refuse to take any decisions or initiative on either the foreign front (India, Afghanistan) or the domestic front (economy, privatization and so on). It seems the sole purpose was to corner the government and to create a situation whereby we have a civilian façade while behind the scene the army pulls the strings.
On Balochistan:
Recently, our HRCP representative in Turbat received threats from the ISI. He was relocated immediately. After Rashid Rehman’s murder, we are reluctant to take any chances and the Rapid Action Plan was devised to defend our people. Well, he was relocated. But his extended family was picked up and tortured.
I visited Balochistan in October. I think the situation has improved to some extent. However, the question of missing persons remains unresolved. Mutilated dead bodies are still discovered every now and then. Though the frequency has diminished there is no end in sight. Likewise, the plight of Hazara is heart wrenching.
Taliban deprived of a safe haven:
Certain advances have been made. For instance, Operation Zarb-e-Azb broke the Taliban infrastructure in North Waziristan. In the past, an operation in North Waziristan was never an option. Instead, talks were preferred. North Waziristan became a safe haven. Now it is no more. This is a step forward. However, there has been criticism. There is no transparency. Most Taliban escaped before the operation. They could not be expected to wait on the army.
While this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Malala Yusufzai, the ‘Alternative Nobel’-- the Right Livelihood Award--- was awarded to Asma Jahangir, among others. During her visit to Stockholm on December 1st to receive her award she addressed a meeting of the Swedish-Pakistani community. She spoke on the political crisis in Pakistan, Balochistan, Kashmir, on civil-military relations and answered a number of questions.
On democratic gains:
During the sit-in staged by Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI), the democratic forces were united against anti-democratic forces. This was a historic first in the country’s history. While in practice the democratic forces did not do much, they remained firm in their resolve to defend democracy.
I do not consider the present government to be a model for good government. Governments are never good but unless political stability is achieved in Pakistan and the system is strengthened, we cannot move forward.
Look at India! True, poverty and many other problems persist. However, a middle class has emerged there and many have been lifted out of poverty. In Pakistan however, there is a lack of co-ordinated effort that marks both state institutions and civil society.
Take for example the recent petition for land reforms filed in the Supreme Court by Abid Hassan Manto, joined by the HRCP. The need for advocacy and a strong political campaign is ignored. In my opinion judges are not instruments of change. Rather they are instruments of regression.We cannot expect a court ruling to put an end to feudalism. Likewise, we need to educate ourselves on the question of feudalism. The critics say that feudalism is a thing of past in the case of Punjab. Likewise, in Sindh they say that feudalism no longer exists and it is ‘Waderaism’ that must be confronted.
On PTI agitation:
I am not against Imran Khan’s entry into politics. It is his right to do so. In fact, many more people should take an active part in politics. However, a dichotomy exists. On the one hand he declares that politics and politicians are bad. On the other he wants to be involved politically. Likewise, the PTI has attacked and undermined every institution of the state, including parliament and the judiciary. In a nutshell every thing is bad in Pakistan except the PTI. All politicians are bad, except Imran Khan. All institutions are bad, except the army. Our experience shows that judges, generals and politicians are not good. However, we need to allow the [democratic] system to achieve some stability.
It is true that voters often elect the wrong representatives. In India, for instance Modi was recently elected. But let the system take its course. If you subvert the system, anarchy will follow.
Sharif government’s response:
The Sharif government is utterly indecisive, clueless and lacks initiative. Above all it is inefficient. Just look at their priorities. They have two advisors for one department and none for another. Bureaucracy is undermining the government. This is understandable. When favourites are patronized and promoted at the cost of others, bureaucracy will react. But in some cases, civil servants have been ‘advised’ not to co-operate. We all know that this government is incapable of handling the challenge posed by PTI agitation. At the same time if I were in their shoes, I would be at a loss myself. It is not Imran Khan they fear. It is the people who back him.
According to information I have, and if the situation is correctly analyzed, it transpires that the military hierarchy does not want Imran Khan to jump the queue to occupy the prime ministerial slot. However, there is an active lobby group of retired generals. Both General Hameed Gul and Brigadier Ejaz Shah are frequently spotted at PTI meetings. I learned from credible sources that a couple of serving generals and brigadier-level officers with radical views are also instrumental in catalyzing the present agitation.
In view of such stark facts, we cannot play the role of naïve activists. We cannot just dismiss the agitation on the pretext that agitation is the PTI’s democratic right. Yes, you have the right to agitate. However, you don’t have the right to agitate on the incitement of hidden hands. One has the right to register an FIR (First Investigation Report). However, one does not have the right to fake it.
The PTI allegation providing the pretext for ongoing agitation is election rigging. Imran claims that his mandate was stolen in the 2013 general elections. However, even if the seats he claims he would have bagged in the absence of rigging, he would not have gained the required majority to form a government.
Personally, I do not believe that there was systematic rigging. Individuals may have stuffed ballots etc. however systematic rigging is not a fair charge. At HRCP, we received lot of complaints regarding rigging from Balochistan and KPK.
In short, what has Imran Khan achieved? He frightened the government into inaction and indecisiveness. They refuse to take any decisions or initiative on either the foreign front (India, Afghanistan) or the domestic front (economy, privatization and so on). It seems the sole purpose was to corner the government and to create a situation whereby we have a civilian façade while behind the scene the army pulls the strings.
On Balochistan:
Recently, our HRCP representative in Turbat received threats from the ISI. He was relocated immediately. After Rashid Rehman’s murder, we are reluctant to take any chances and the Rapid Action Plan was devised to defend our people. Well, he was relocated. But his extended family was picked up and tortured.
I visited Balochistan in October. I think the situation has improved to some extent. However, the question of missing persons remains unresolved. Mutilated dead bodies are still discovered every now and then. Though the frequency has diminished there is no end in sight. Likewise, the plight of Hazara is heart wrenching.
Taliban deprived of a safe haven:
Certain advances have been made. For instance, Operation Zarb-e-Azb broke the Taliban infrastructure in North Waziristan. In the past, an operation in North Waziristan was never an option. Instead, talks were preferred. North Waziristan became a safe haven. Now it is no more. This is a step forward. However, there has been criticism. There is no transparency. Most Taliban escaped before the operation. They could not be expected to wait on the army.
source: http://www.viewpointonline.net/2014/12/vp232/imran-khan-scared-sharif-govt-into-inaction-asma-jahangir
