Political Immaturity can Damage National Interest
By Zaheerul Hassan
During war on terror Pakistan paid heavy price in the shape of life losses and finances in addition to the sponsored militancy of hostile agencies against the country and its security forces. The security environment all over the country is still not conducive due to the involvement of covert hands. Since 9/11, more than 50000 individuals have been either killed or dislocated as result of militant activities and drone attacks. Most of the courts have not able to give justice to the martyrs of global war on terror. Tragically, the country’s highest court seems to be more interested to guard sponsors of militants, instead providing justice to the victims of these terrorists. All Parties conferences have been held to deal with militants, drone attacks. The political elite gave mandate to the federal government end militancy while carrying out negations with TTP and also ask USA to stop violating Pakistan territory through drone attacks. But unfortunately, terrorists kept on carrying out sabotage activities instead accepting government offer of to come on table, Similarly, US also rejected Pakistan’s stance over drone attacks. In fact, political and military elite probably are not on one page against TTP and U.S. Resultantly, both anti state elements and foreign agencies started exploiting this situation according to their own design. Actually, in such like situation, the government and political elite would have shown solidarity towards security forces. Recently, US drones struck at a Madrassa in Hangu, PTI went forceful in their protest against US drone attacks, denouncing such violations of Pakistan’s territorial integrity and illegitimate acts of killing innocent people while causing collateral damage to the property. PTI decided to register a FIR against CIA Director (Johan Brennan) and a man identified as the agency’s Station Chief in Islamabad. Regrettably, PML (N) leadership used FIR issue as a plea to score political points against PTI and Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab Law Minister, issued derogatory remarks against ISI, stating that ISI might have revealed the name of CIA Station Chief in Islamabad. Thus, tackling the issue of protest against drone attacks while damaging the reputation of superior intelligence agency just a foolish and immature approach was adopted by Rana Sanaullah.
ISI is a prestigious intelligence agency of Pakistan and it works for the security and well being of entire Pakistan. Rana Sanaullah’s statement that ISI might have revealed the name of CIA Station Chief in Islamabad, to PTI for registering a case against US spy agency against drone attacks in Hangu (KPK), is entirely irresponsible, offending and thoughtless. Rana Sanaullah is known for his bad mouthing, whereas entire Pakistan including PML (N) is voicing against US drones. If PTI is creating some kind of pressure on US to stop drone attacks in Pakistani territory, then it should not be made controversial. Thus, it is media reasonability to investigate the credibility of news before making it in the air. In fact Rana Sanaullah for accusing ISI without any proof need to be condemned by all sincere lot of the country. It is mentionable here that that some politicians have already pointed out that Punjab Law Minister has connections with the banned extremist outfits. Regarding general elections 2013, while commenting on a statement by Maulana Mohammad Ahmed Ludhianvi of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat that the PML-N had approached him for seat-adjustment, a PTI spokesman had disclosed on February 25, this year, “PML-N government in Punjab has links with the militant groups, requesting the Taliban of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) not to target them because the PML-N and Taliban had the same ideology.” The spokesman elaborated, “People remembered how the Punjab law minister had accompanied leaders of the banned Sipah-i-Sahaba Pakistan and attended its rallies.” However, TTP did not target the leaders of the PML-N during the election-campaign. In 2010, a large number of civil society activists staged a rally from Sindh University’s old campus to the press club to condemn terror attacks on worship places of Ahmadis in Lahore. They raised slogans against Taliban and urged the Punjab government to dissociate itself from banned outfits and remove its irresponsible minister Rana Sanaullah who has given shelter to the country’s most violent Islamist militant groups.
It is notable that on March 3, 2013, the deadly twin blasts killed more than 50 people in the Shia-dominated Abbas Town of Karachi, and on February 17, same year, the deadly suicide attack killed more than 100 persons of the Hazara Shias in Quetta at Kirani Road. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) claimed responsibility for these terrorist acts. Regarding these two major terror-attacks, the former Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik said in the National Assembly on March 5 that four activists of the LeJ, involved in Karachi’s Abbas Town bomb blasts have been arrested, and assured the Assembly that he would present a fact sheet that apart from the TPP, some other outfits like Lashkar-e-Jhangvi were also involved in recent terrorist activities, while LeJ is openly holding its meetings in Punjab. Earlier, he revealed that Punjabi Taliban of the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi which had its headquarters in Punjab were behind the terror attacks in Karachi’s Abbas Town and Quetta’s Alamdar Road and Kirani Road. He explained that the Punjab government’s ruling party, the PML-N was in an electoral alliance with the banned organisation. Therefore it had taken no action against the militant group. Former Governor, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Barrister Masood Kausar expressed similar thoughts on March 5.
In short, some of media channels just to improve their rating assist leaders like Rana Sannaullah who feel proud in criticizing prestigious institutions like Pak Army, ISI, LEAs and other state organs. Our political leaders and media should learn from others democratic countries to behave maturely while dealing with the matters related to national interests since political immaturity and efforts of improving channels rating at the cost of country’s vital organs can damage the national interests.
The writer can be approach thorugh zameer36@gmail.com
