Muhammad Asif
Being aware of his feelings and views about the Army, I think that none other
than Pervaiz Rashid could be behind both Dawn Leak and Nawaz Sharif's recent
anti-state and anti-army statements. I know him and his views from our college
days. When I got admission, in August 1969, in the 1st Year class at Gordon
College Rawalpindi, Pervaiz Rashid was a student of 3rd Year there. Sheikh
Rashid also got admission in 1st Year.
It was a time when the 1970 general elections gave birth to the most serious
political crisis in our history. The main reason for this crisis was Gen Yahya
Khan, and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who refused to hand over power to Sh
Mujib-ur-Rehman who had won the overall simple majority to form government both
at the Centre as well as in Dhaka, by sweeping polls in the East Pakistan.
Pervaiz Rashid, an active supporter of PPP, was arrested by the Martial Law
regime because of his involvement in anti-Army activities. After the fall of
East Pakistan, Yahya handed over power to ZAB in December 1971. Pervaiz Rashid,
after his release from jail, again took the admission in 3rd Year, and thus
became my classmate. At that time Sh Rashid and I were holding the appointment
of President and Secretary of the Students’ Union, respectively. Though both of
us had similar views on political issues, we developed serious differences
probably due to personality clash.
Pervaiz Rashid a founding member of PPP Rawalpindi was tasked by his party to
neutralize Sh Rashid who was enjoying the support of Ch Zahoor Elahi. Exploiting
my differences with Sh Rashid, Pervaiz tactfully trapped me to launch an
anti-Sheikh Rashid campaign in the college. Due to a common opponent, Pervaiz
and I became closer. Though he failed to win my support for PPP, yet our
friendship led me to know the views, beliefs and activities of the so-called
leftists in Pakistan. I also got the chance of meeting the PPP leaders, big or
small. Another reason for our friendship was my Vespa scooter; Pervaiz did not
have any, so he depended on me for his mobility.
Raja Muhammad Anwar (another leftist and pro-PPP student leader, who was later
involved in the hijacking of a PIA plane along with the elder son of ZAB,
Murtaza Bhutto, during Gen Zia’s ML) was appointed as an advisor to Begum Nusrat
Bhutto. Reportedly, he is currently occupying an important government post due
to Pervaiz Rashid’s influence in PML-N. Pervaiz was also appointed Personal
Secretary to the Chief Minister of now KP. He served on this position till the
removal of Bhutto's government by Gen Zia. Pervaiz remained politically inactive
during Zia’s rule from July 1977 to August 1988. He resurfaced in mid 1990s as a
close aide of Shehbaz Sharif. He was introduced to Shehbaz by Nazir Nagi,
another founding member of PPP.
Before his appointment as PS to the KP CM, he always boasted of being an
ideological Marxist. Che Guevara, a Latin American Marxist revolutionary, and
Meraj Muhammad Khan, who left PPP after resigning as a State Minister due to
ideological differences with ZAB, were among Pervaiz’s ideals. I am not sure
what compelled a die-hard leftist to join PML-N that has always been known as an
anti-PPP and anti-Marxism party. Whether it was change of political views due to
some disillusionment, being sidelined by Benazir Bhutto for showing disloyalty
to the founder of PPP during Zia’s regime, or simple opportunism and pragmatism
necessitated by some personal and monetary interests. I cannot comment.
I don't want to comment on Pervaiz Rashid's religious views and faith, but
basing on his political and ideological background, it is not difficult to
conclude that he is one of those figures who joined the PML-N to achieve their
political agenda by creating a wedge between the Army and people of Pakistan.
Despite his anti-Muslim League political background, he has been practically
controlling the policies of PML-N since his induction in the party. Because of
their trust in his loyalty, capabilities and political acumen, the entire Sharif
family accord more weightage to his opinion than the views of senior and
ideological members of PMLN. As I know him, Pervaiz Rashid could be behind Dawn
Leak and Nawaz Sharif's recent anti-state and anti-army statements. I also have
a feeling that the October 12, 1999 mishap that derailed political and
democratic process, was the outcome of miscalculation of Nawaz Sharif’s advisors
like Pervaiz Rashid. His removal from his post as a minister even before the
completion of JIT report, and remarks of Ch Nisar Ali Khan, the senior most PML-N
leader, that Pervaiz Rashid's views about the Army are not different from those
of the Indians, validate my conclusions about this dubious character. If I say
he is the Hussain Haqqani of PML-N, it won't be wrong.
No doubt Pervaiz Rashid, Raja Anwar, and other outsiders, who are currently
occupying important positions in PML-N, and some supporters of Nawaz like
Mehmood Achakzai are clever and cunning players, how highly experienced and
seasoned politicians like the Sharif brothers have not been able to understand
the game plan of these elements, who have always been opposed to the Ideology of
Pakistan and Army, which is entrusted the mission of guarding both geographical
and ideological frontiers of Pakistan by the nation.
Nothing can be more damaging for a country than choking the active support of
the nation to the army that is engaged in war against terrorism. Pakistan is
fighting for its survival. Our Motherland is surrounded by hostile forces from
all sides. Never before nation’s active support to the army was so vital to
counter the nefarious designs of our enemies. After the disqualification of
Nawaz by the Supreme Court, a systematic campaign has been launched by PML-N to
malign the army. Besides politicizing the charges of corruption against the
Sharif family, weakening the state institutions appears to be the sole objective
of this campaign. It is virtually a war declared against Pakistan, waged with
the support of its internal, regional and international enemies. It is far more
serious crime than violation of the constitution. It is the collective
responsibility of the nation and the state institutions to convey a resolute and
unequivocal message to the black sheep among the politicians that they will have
to account for anti-state activities, launched in connivance with our declared
enemies to undermine the State of Pakistan.
(The writer is a retired officer)