Political Instability, Terrorism & Social Media have become Frankenstein Monsters

By Asif Haroon Raja

The overall security situation of Pakistan is getting worse and worse. Reentry of Indian and American influence into Afghanistan, readiness of Haibatullah regime to support TTP and to cooperate with western and Indian intelligence agencies, and reactivation of Greater Pashtunistan Movement and Greater Baluchistan Movement aimed at separating the two flanks from Pakistan have made the situation extremely grave and alarming.

The western and southern borders are turbulent due to cross border terrorism by TTP, BLA and IS-K. The former two are supported by foreign intelligence agencies under a dangerous plan to destabilise, denuclearize and balkanise Pakistan.

Although the terrorists devoid of any religion have rightly been named as Fitna Al Khawarij (evil forces), and are being hunted by the security forces and sent to hell in the two conflict ridden provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Baluchistan, the defenders of the motherland are also laying down their lives almost daily.

Almost three Corps along with paramilitary forces are deployed in the two combat zones, and are launching intelligence based operations relentlessly to get rid of the scourge. Even the sanctuaries of the two notorious groups in Afghanistan and Iran were struck with precision guided munitions and were destroyed.

However, due to provision of heavy funds and sophisticated weapons and equipment to these groups by RAW and NDS, duly backed by the old nexus of CIA, MI6 and Mossad, there is no letup in the scale of attacks.

What has compounded the threat perception is the backup support of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and the IRGC in Iran to TTP and BLA respectively, and the marrying up of the two terrorist groups.

While TTP enjoys the support of banned PTM led by Manzur Pashteen and the religious parties/groups, BLA has the support of Baloch Yakjehti Movement (BYM) led by Dr Mahrang Baloch. Both are political faces of the radical groups.

PTI is the largest political party and has its government in KP. Since its ouster from power almost three years ago , it is nursing its grievances against the ruling coalition government and the military establishment. It holds the latter responsible for its fall from power in Apr 2022, and the incarceration of Imran Khan (IK) and most of the leading lights of the party.

Failing to reconcile, PTI leaders and workers motivated and incited by the jailed IK have been using violent means to topple the government, and is misusing media platforms to defame the rulers and the army leadership. The worst kind of vandalism was unleashed by PTI’s zealots on 9 May 2023 and on 26 Nov 2024, which had shaken the foundations of the country.

It was the result of policy of defiance and confrontation with the State and its institutions that PTI’s leaders and activists were arrested, tried in the courts and given jail sentences.

The most deplorable acts of PTI’s head honcho are to malign the image of army chief and DG ISI through fake news and narratives, spoiling the reputation of the state by falsely accusing that it was indulging in horrible human rights and civil rights violations, writing letters to IMF not to extend loans, letters to the parliamentarians of the US, EU and UK asking them to pressurise the government to release IK. The other sinful act of PTI is its secret collusion with anti-state terrorist groups.

When all the uncanny and sinister methods employed by PTI to regain power failed, it found itself in a blind alley and without any options. At that stage, it showed flexibility and decided to hold talks with the government.

However , for unknown reasons, PTI’s team abruptly terminated the process of negotiations meant to end the political impasse. Thereafter, IK triggered a new trend of writing letters to the army chief, which were full of grievances, complaints and accusations.

The purpose was not to seek redressal of his grievances or his help, but to discredit him so as to build a case against him and the sitting Govt, and to present it to the UN or HRW, or ICC.

This subtle move was also made unproductive by Gen Asim when he stated that he had neither received any letter nor was interested in it since the army has nothing to do with politics.

An impression is now being floated that the army’s image has hit the rock bottom, Gen Asim has lost the respect of the people, the Govt has lost its writ in the two troubled provinces, and sooner than later they would break away. It is being suggested that the only way to save Pakistan from fragmenting is to release IK and hand over power to him. It’s an act of desperation.

PTI has been day dreaming that sooner than later Pakistan would default and would become another Iraq, Syria, Libya or Sudan. were also dashed.

PTI leadership also hoped that its propaganda war would create fissures within the rank and file of Pakistan Army, and widen the gulf between the people and the army, because of which, Gen Asim Munir will have to quit. This insidious plan went for a six, and all the senior army serving and retired officers aligned with PTI were taken to task.

PTI indulged in the politics of dead bodies and missing persons and equated 26 Nov scuffle in Isbd between the police and the law breakers as a genocide akin to Gaza, but this plan misfired, since the accusers couldn’t produce the list of dead and the missing persons.

The current narrative of the PTI media network is that everything is topsy turvy in Pakistan, there is no rule of law, no justice, no governance, freedom of speech and expression has been zipped, the law enforcement agencies are behaving like monsters, there is no democracy and civil rights have been denied, and it is a martial law like situation. Gen Asim is blamed.

The good deeds of the federal and Punjab governments are underplayed and weaknesses bloated out of all proportions. Improvement in the economy is dubbed as propaganda.

The detractors are not showing the other side of the picture and about its internal chaos . PTI is a house divided and the leaders of the badly fractured party are fighting among each other.

The party is ruled by a bunch of selfish and greedy lawyers, U-Tubers and vloggers sitting abroad. They have hijacked the party and brought IK under their perverse influence.

They have taken over the role of Lt Gen Faiz Hamid (being court martialed), and have become IK’s ears and eyes and advisers. By poisoning the mind of IK, they have managed to sideline the diehard genuine leaders of PTI and created deep-rooted resentment within the party.

Ex PTI leaders Fawad Choudhury, Sher Khan Marwat and several others have become rebellious because of interference by the wife of IK, Bushra Bibi and his two sisters, and knee jerk faulty decisions of IK based on hearsay. PTI has lost its predominance in Punjab due to good governance displayed by Chief Minister Maryam.

The politicised pro-PTI judges of supreme court and Isbd high court have to an extent been neutralised after the implementation of 26th Amendment in the Constitution, formation of constitutional benches and transfer of judges from other three provinces to Islamabad high court. It has extinguished another ray of hope for PTI. Possibility of IK’s pardon has become dim.

High hopes placed in the newly elected Donald Trump are also fizzling out since till now he hasn’t made any overt or covert move to bailout IK. The arrest of wanted IS-K leader Sharifullah by the ISI has warmed up Pak-US relations, which is a big set back for PTI.

The IMF’s complete satisfaction over the government’s performance has disappointed PTI. Praises showered upon Shahbaz Sharif and his team for averting default and putting the economy on the right path of growth is disconcerting for PTI.

Recommencement of Phase 2 of CPEC, arrival of the World Bank team to Pakistan for investment in various sectors, and keenness of the Arab Gulf States as well as of American businessmen and the Central Asian States to invest in Pakistan are disheartening developments for PTI.

PTI’s government under chief minister Gandapur in KP is rived in internal rivalries because of the heightened terrorism , deteriorating law and order situation, corruption scandals and poor governance. The explosive situation in Kurram and at Torkham border have yet not been defused. Gandapur is suspected of playing on both sides of the wicket, and chances are high that he may be replaced.

Pushed against the wall, PTI is left with no other viable option to exercise, except to continue with its non cooperation, and to create commotion inside and outside the parliament, further heighten polarization and political instability to impede development works, undermine state institutions, corrode the writ of the govt, defame the army, scare investors, hurt the economy, disturb religious harmony and social cohesion and to foment chaos and anarchy.

PTI is desperate to get together all the opposition parties on one platform to form a grand alliance and launch a countrywide mass movement. JUI F is still resisting and without this party, the contemplated movement will have no teeth.

On social media planes, PTI’s unregulated and unbridled operators would continue using media platforms to pollute the minds of the people by indulging in yellow journalism, negativity, spreading hatred, and badmouthing the country.
Amended PECA laws and its strict implementation might help in defending the social media which has become a Frankenstein monster which is destroying the moral fabric of the society. The newly created Media Protection & Regulatory Authority and the journalists, and TV anchors will have to play a role in disciplining electronic and social media and framing a proper code of conduct for the media.

The writer is retd Brig Gen, war veteran, defence and security analyst, international columnist, author of five books, Chairman Thinkers Forum Pakistan, Patron-in-chief CDS Think Tank, Administrator Fact Check Think Tank, takes part in TV talk shows.