Asia Bibi Blasphemy Case: Dragging Army into Politics, Anti-Pakistan Zionist Agenda

By Sajjad Shaukat

Recent negative developments in Pakistan such as Asia Bibi blasphemy case, dragging army into politics and assassination of the renowned-peace-loving religious clerk Maulana Samiul Haq cannot be seen in isolation, as the same are part of the Zionist agenda to destabilize Pakistan, because latter is the only nuclear country in the Islamic Word, which irritates the US, India, Israel and some Western countries.

After the September 11 tragedy inside the United States, American President George W. Bush and neo-conservatives crossed all the limits in protecting the political, economic and religious interests of the Zionist Jews and Israel at the cost of Muslims. In this regard, the US-led Global War on Terror (GWOT), invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq by the US-led forces were part of the sinister scheme. The US President Barack Obama and America’s Western allies continued Zionist policies such as maintenance of troops in Afghanistan, air strikes on Libya, support to Syrian rebels and the terrorists of Islamic State group (Also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh), including Al-Qaeda’s Al-Nusra Front in fighting against the legitimate regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to secure the illegitimate interests of Israel.

American secret agency CIA which is in collaboration of Israeli Mossad and Indian RAW has continued various techniques of ruthless terror and extrajudicial killings of the innocent persons through illegitimate drone attacks—sectarian divide in the Muslim countries on the basis of Sunni and Shia, like Iraq, creation of more collapsed states such as Libya, Yemen and Syria which opened the doors for Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

As regards Pakistan, violent protests and demonstrations led by the religious party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) broke out across the country on October 31, this year in connection with the judgment of the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) about the Asia Bibi blasphemy case.

The special bench of the apex court, consisted of Chief Justice Saqib Nisar, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Mazhar Alam Khan Miankhel acquitted the Asia Bibi (A Christian Woman). The trial court and Lahore High Court’s verdicts, sentencing her to death were overturned. The court has also ordered that she be freed immediately if she was not wanted in any other cases.

In its verdict the Supreme Court of Pakistan said: “No one could be allowed to defy the name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and be left unpunished, but there is another aspect of the matter; sometimes, to fulfill nefarious designs the law is misused by individuals leveling false allegations of blasphemy.”

It is notable that the constitution of Pakistan is Islamic and SCP verdict in the Asia Bibi case is in accordance with the constitution and has legal reasons for the decision. The reaction to the SCP decision by a small segment of the society is not the opinion of the nation as a whole.

During the violent protests, the language used against SC judges, the Army Chief and others were excruciating was not the character of a true Muslim society. Those who were inciting the people against judges, army and state institutions were doing a disservice to the country.
Pakistan has vociferously raised the issue of blasphemous caricatures in Netherland and truly became one of the reasons to halt the contest.

Pakistan is endeavoring to get onto the route to prosperity and any protest in the country will cause damage to the fragile national economy.

In this connection, in his address to the nation Prime Minister Imran Khan said on October 31, 2018, that he had been compelled to communicate with the nation due to the reaction given and language used by a small segment in response to the SC verdict. Pakistan was founded in the name of Islam and the verdict given by the SC is in accordance with the Constitution, which is in line with the teachings of the Holy Quran and sunnah. He sharply criticised the protests which broke out and continued for three consecutive days, saying people’s livelihood was being harmed through the roadblocks and demonstrations.

The premier added, “Which government can function when people say that kill the judges, rebel against the army chief?…We are already facing such tough economic hurdles. My cabinet and I have yet to take a day off…we are struggling continuously to uplift the people [and] to improve the conditions of the underprivileged.”

In this respect, Director General (DG) of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor on Novmber 2, 2018 distanced the army from the controversy surrounding Asia Bibi’s acquittal, saying that the decision had been taken by the courts and the army had nothing to do with it.

He stated, “Unfortunately, the army is dragged into every matter…This is a legal matter and it is sad that negative statements are being issued against the army.”

DG of ISPR also urged the protesters “not to divert the army’s attention to other matters”, and added: “The forces are engaged in a fight to defeat terrorism…Our goal is long-lasting peace. We have established peace and we are headed towards stability but there is still a lot left to do.”

Notably, it is as to how these internal elements defame their motherland by following, intentionally or unintentionally, the conspiracy of the external entities led by the Zionist Jews against the government and the key institutions of the country.

In fact, Prime Minister Imran Khan has vowed to end country’s reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In this regard, during the second visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the latter agreed on October 23, this year to provide $3 billion for a period of one year to address country’s balance-of-payments crisis. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Pakistan’s Federal Finance Minister Asad Umar and his Saudi counterpart Muhammad Abdullah Al-Jadaan. It was agreed that a one-year deferred payment facility for import of oil, up to $3 billion, will be provided by Riyadh. This arrangement will be for three years, after which it will be reviewed. So, it is total $6 billion which Saudi Arabia will give to Pakistan.
The agreements were signed, as Prime Minister Imran Khan was in Saudi Arabia to attend the Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference, trip he undertook on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

Riyadh also confirmed its interest in investing in a petroleum refinery in Pakistan. The Kingdom also expressed interest in the development of mineral resources in Pakistan. In this connection, the federal government will hold consultations with the Balochistan government, following which a Saudi delegation will be invited to Pakistan to finalise matters. Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman agreed to the premier’s suggestion for reduction of Saudi visa fee for Pakistani workers.

Regarding the first trip of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry had told in a news conference on September 20, 2018 that Riyadh has agreed to join and invest heavily in its ongoing China-funded bilateral infrastructure and industrial development projects—China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). He added, “Saudi Arabia is the first country that we have invited to become a third partner in CPEC.”

Besides, Prime Minister Khan had also confirmed that Pakistan was also in talks with the IMF over a bailout. While, Khan has in recent days sought to avoid going to the IMF and still wants to at least reduce the size of any bailout by appealing to friendly countries for bilateral financial support.

The Saudi pledge came days after the State Bank warned inflation could double in the coming year—hitting 7.5 percent—while the country’s growth target rate of 6.2 percent would likely be missed. Federal Finance Minister Umar had warned on October 13, 2018 that the country was fast heading towards bankruptcy.

An IMF team is set to arrive in Pakistan on November 7, 2018 to begin negotiations, offering tough ‘conditionalities’ on the new government, as Pakistan’s economic analysts have opined in the recent past.

During the four-day visit of Premier Khan to China, Beijing on Friday (November 2, 2018), reportedly agreed to provide USD 6 billion in aid to cash-strapped Pakistan to minimise its dependence on an IMF bailout package. A loan of USD 1.5 billion is also expected to be offered, along with an additional package of USD three billion for CPEC. The loan and the investments were reportedly part of the USD six billion package. According to the joint statement, released today (On November 4, 2018), the two sides also signed fifteen Agreements/MoUs on a range of bilateral issues.

It is mentionable that reacting to China’s policies, the US National Security Advisor John Bolton allegedly said: “China is engaging in a behaviour that is troubling a lot of nations in the region, including India and Japan.”

It is worth-mentioning that Washington and New Delhi have already opposed the CPEC which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative.

However, at this crucial hour, economic package of China and Saudi Arabia to Islamabad has provided a great relief, reducing its dependence on the IMF which is controlled by the US-led Jews who are against Pakistan.

In his address to the nation, Prime Minister Imran Khan pointed out on October 24, this year, the steps taken by his government to tackle the economic hardships faced by the country. He also announced that Pakistan is trying “to play the role of a mediator in the Yemen war involving Saudi Arabia…Pakistan will try to play to its role in ending conflicts in the region and bring all Muslim countries together.”

It is noteworthy that on November 2, 2018, Islamist hard-liners ended mass protests after reaching a deal with the government. Pir Ijaz Qadri, spokesman for the TLP said late night that the party was calling off sit-ins by thousands of protesters in major cities that for three days had blocked major highways and caused gridlock across the country.

Under the agreement, the government will not object to the review appeal of the Supreme Court verdict by religious parties, who have already filed it. The government also agreed to impose a travel ban on Asia Bibi to stop her from leaving the country, while the review appeal is pending.

Meanwhile, earlier, on the same day, Maulana Samiul Haq, known as the “father of the Taliban,” was stabbed to death by the unidentified terrorists at his home in Pakistan’s city of Rawalpindi. He was member of the faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-S) and prominent religious scholar. Maulana Samiul Haq received his religious education from Darul Uloom Haqqania, the seminary founded by his father. He was the founder of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, an alliance of politico-religious parties, and leader of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council. He had been twice elected to the Upper House of parliament.

His son Maulana Hamidul Haq told the media that his father was receiving threats from the Afghan government.

Last month, a high-profile delegation from Afghanistan sought help of Maulana Samiul Haq, to put an end to the 17-year-old deadly conflict in Afghanistan.

In the recent past, Haq who was in close contact with the Afghan Taliban, urged that US should announce timeline for troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. He has called on China to play a larger role in negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban to end the Afghan conflict. He had stated that Beijing’s stake in regional peace is larger than that of America.

As the US President Donald Trump tentatively renewed direct talks with the Taliban in a bid to end America’s longest war, martyrdom of Maulana Samiul Haq show double game of America which is following Zionist agenda to destabilize Pakistan.

The assassination of Haq came at a time when politico-religious parties were staging countrywide violent protests against the acquittal of blasphemy accused Aasia Bibi by the SCP.

CIA, RAW and Mossad availed opportunity of the drastic aftermath of the Asia Bibi case and were behind the martyrdom of Maulana Samiul Haq to advance the anti-Pakistan Zionist agenda by accelerating unrest in the country.

Here, the case of cross-border terrorism in South Asia is equally notable. When any terror attack occurs in Afghanistan, America, India and puppet rulers of Afghanistan shift the blame game towards Pakistan. The US has also accused Iran and Russia of assisting the Taliban in Afghanistan. Particularly, the main purpose of Washington is not only to pacify their people and justify the unending war in Afghanistan, but also to fulfill the collective secret strategic designs of the US, Israel and India and the against Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran.

It is of particular attention that in his first interview to the NBC News on October 31, this year, indicating NATO defeat in Afghanistan, the US General Austin Miller-NATO’s new, head of Resolute Support in Afghanistan admitted by saying: “This is not going to be won militarily…This is going to a political solution…My assessment is…if you realize you can’t win militarily at some point…So you do not necessarily wait us out, but I think now is the time to start working through the political piece of this conflict.”

Nevertheless, on October 24, 2018, Islamabad has dismissed the Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s declaring “baseless and unfounded” allegations regarding Kandhar attack which killed top provincial leadership including Police Chief General Raziq. Pakistan has asked Afghanistan to share the evidence or intelligence if any about Pakistan’s involvement, but Afghan government failed.

Security situation in Afghanistan is well beyond the control of Afghan security forces and the National Unity Government of that country. For all its failure, Afghanistan has been blaming Pakistan in accordance with the Zionist agenda.

As a matter of fact, since the occupation of Afghanistan by the US-led NATO forces, the country has become center of CIA, RAW and Mossad which are in connivance to obtain the covert designs of the their countries and some Western countries against Russia, China, Pakistan and Iran. Under the cover of fighting terrorism, these foreign agencies which are also in collaboration with the Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS), support the militants of ISIS and Afghanistan-based Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), including their linked outfits which have been conducting terror-assaults in Afghanistan and Pakistan as part of the secret strategy of the US-led countries. Besides, these terrorist outfits are weakening Tibetan regions of China and Iranian Sistan-Baluchistan through subversive activities.

It is also of particular attention that armed forces of Pakistan have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists by the successful military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad which have also been extended to other parts of the country, including Balochistan. And Pakistan’s primarily intelligence agency, ISI has broken the network of these terrorist groups by capturing several militants, while thwarting a number of terror attempts. But, in the recent past and during the election-campaign of 2019, blasts in Balochistan and other regions of the country showed that the US-led India, Afghanistan and Israel have again started acts of sabotage especially to destabilize Pakistan and to damage the CPEC.
We can conclude that the main aim of the recent negative developments such as misinterpretation of the Asia Bibi blasphemy case, violent protests, dragging Pakistan’s army into politics and martyrdom of Maulana Samiul Haq were part of the conspiracy to advance the anti-Pakistan Zionist agenda.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations

Email: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com