Pakistan is a victim of grand
design, being pursued through indirect strategy. Since it is too dangerous to
invade it physically due to its large population, nuclear and missile
capability, strategic location, large armed forces and resultant unpredictable/unacceptableconsequences
for the region and the world at large, it is being destroyed systematically from
within using soft power. You may call it whichever generation war, but the end
result is that we are heading towards grave consequences unless meaningful
corrective measures are taken by those at the helm of affairs.
Manifestations of this design can be seen in the shape of situation in Karachi,
unending power shortages, terrorism, media and psychological warfare against our
culture/values and the national institutions in the name of human rights, rule
of law and civilian supremacy with a view to further divide the society on
provincial, sectarian and ethnic lines. The instruments of policybeing employed
by the architects of this grand design area section of media, extensive network
of NGOs (Overwhelming majority), chains of certain education networks, ruling
elite with their ill-gotten money and assets outside the country,
business/corporate mafias, international financial institutions,
terrorist/separatist outfits, sectarian/ethnic groups and some so called
friendly countries to influence our internal and external policies through which
they have already created a controlled destabilization in the country.
The ultimate aim is to ideally deprive Pakistan of its nuclear and missile
capability or at least take these capabilities under some kind of international
control and safeguards, in addition to achieve their other geo-strategic and
economic interests in the region like ensuring trade routes for India to Central
Asian States through Pakistan, encircling China etc. To achievetheseaims,a well
thought outmulti-dimensional strategy is being followed with the objectives of
weakening and discrediting Pakistan Armed Forces and its intelligence
agencies(These being the center of gravity of Pakistan) in the eyes of the
public andfoment civil war on already existing regional, ethnic and sectarian
fault lines, also simultaneously keep Pakistan, s economy under constant
pressure. Opposition to Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project, prolonged engagement
of Pakistan Armed Forces on multiple fronts (Eastern, Western, Internal),
desperate effortsto accord MNF status to India, Opposition to Kala Bagh Dam etc,
political dispensations as a result of NRO/rigged elections, influx of Black
Water agents in the country, conditions in Kerry-Lugar Bill, Memo-Gate Issue,
efforts to place ISI under Ministry of Interiorand recent media blitz against
ISI and the army, under the garb of attack on Hamid Mir( which is most
deplorable act ), should be seen and analyzedin the over context of this grand
design.
The biggest themebeing exploited in this regard is the issue of missing persons
(Unfortunate phenomenon anyway) through NGOs, so called civil society, selected
media persons and separatist elements on the notions of human rights and rule of
law. They deliberately hide the fact that 99 % of them are involved in terrorist
activities, nobody dares to give evidence against them and they cannot be
punished within present criminal/evidence laws. These elements conveniently
forget that these are extraordinary circumstances which require extraordinary
measures to deal with them. After all why only few hundred persons out of a
population of 190 Million are missing? All countries including USA and UK made
special laws to deal with the menace of terrorism after 9/11, whereaswe have
still not passed the Protection of Pakistan Ordinance into a law. As regards,
its misuse by the law enforcement agencies, all laws can be and are being
misused by everyone who can do so in this country. Are issuance of SROs,
appointment of relatives /cronies to the lucrative posts against the merit, loan
write offs, corruption and commissions, accumulation of wealth beyond means
within and outside Pakistan by the ruling elite and countless other crimes
committed daily by the high and mighty of this poor country, not misuse of laws
and power in the name of peoples mandate?Is people’s mandate, a license to loot
and plunder?
The irony, however, is that we all are willing partners in this enterprise. Why
to blame others for our own misdeeds and blunders?They are just exploiting the
opportunities created and provided by us with so much of hard work during the
last 66 years. We have double standards; in fact we have no standards. We hate
the military dictators (rightly so) but elect the democratic dictators and are
happy with family and dynastic kingships. For us national interest has no
meaning. We only have personal interests. Our rulers never tried nation building
because they remain too busy inimage building, factory building and assets
building.
If, we ever have any chance to come out of this quagmire and prosper as a
nation, we must become a nation, united against the internal and external
enemies. Intellectually, morally and financially corrupt ruling elite have to be
replaced with honest, visionary and capable leadership with no interests
whatsoever outside Pakistan, through reformed electoral system. All national
resources must be diverted towards the uplift of general public instead of
privileged few. Our priorities should be population control, education with
morals and ethics, health, water conservation and storage, affordable power
generation, human resource development, environments, institution building
without political interference, law and order including border controls, tax
collection from the rich and powerful, rule of law, speedy and free justice with
equal opportunities for all and last but not the least strict measures to
control corruption and punish the corrupt. A tall order In fact. A utopian world
for Pakistan. Many nations have done it. Canwe do it? Who will do it? I do not
know. Do you?
The writer is a freelance columnist and can be reached at “ [email protected]”.