Pakistan

Whispers, rumors and rulers' narrative!

Written

1 year ago

Oct 15, 2021 02:09 AM

Imran Yaqub Khan

The change of top command in Pakistan's most important intelligence agency was generally considered normal, but then those with access to the ruling circles started whispering differences and stopped the notification of the appointment of the new DG.

Imran Yaqub Khan

These whispers emerged as rumors on social media. The market for rumors on social media continued to heat up, with some key government ministers allegedly trying to "firefight". Disagreements over a minor issue eventually escalated into a week that the government spokesman had to admit.

The appointments and transfers were announced on October 6, the rumors continued for four days. On October 10, the Prime Minister addressed the main function of Ashra Rehmatul Lil Alemeen (SAW) and one of his sentences was considered the big news of the day. The Prime Minister said in the history of the world, there has hardly been a general greater than Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (RA). He had never lost a war. Even then Hazrat Umar (RA) asked Hazrat Khalid to quit command for another. What was the context of his sentence? No one felt the need to consider it, but its meanings began to be taken in the context of rumors circulating on social media. Estimates began to be made.

After two days of silence, Federal Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry had to come in front of the cameras and talk about these rumors. He told the media in detail that the Prime Minister and the Army chief had a long meeting, the Prime Minister and the Army Chief have close ties, the Prime Minister's Office will never take any step that would tarnish the honor of the Army or the Commander-in-Chief and Nor will the military take a step that would tarnish the image of the prime minister or the civilian setup. Legal procedure will be followed for the appointment of new DG ISI, all constitutional and legal requirements for the appointment of new DG ISI will be met.

After this statement of Fawad Chaudhry, many more explanatory statements came from various personalities, then the journalists who were also in close contact with the Prime Minister's House were fed tickers in the name of sources that the Prime Minister while talking to the cabinet members said, "The appointment of DG ISI is my prerogative. The situation in Afghanistan demands that no change be made in this post for another six months. If the army has honor, then the Prime Minister's House too. The impresison that I am a puppet PM is wrong. The PM decides the name from the list of three names."

At the same time, the Prime Minister's favorite phrase was added to the un-fed tickers that "if I am not nervous, you should not be nervous either". The emphasis was on cabinet members. Maybe no one knows what was behind it.

Although the tickers fed from the Prime Minister's House were designed to defuse the situation, these tickers don't seem to benefit the government, but rather the advisers have created a state of confrontation. As far as the press briefing of the Information Minister is concerned, he also took the same stance as that expressed by the PMBAT reporters, the only difference being that the attitude of the Information Minister and the choice of words was careful. He spoke in muffled words.

The change of government is actually a tragedy, which it is now facing. From day one, this government tried to give the impression that the relationship between the top military leadership and the government was warm and the position was the same on every issue, for which the word "one page" was used repeatedly. In the current situation, those who have filed a "one-page" writ are unable to tell the nation that if the hell broke loose over the usual transfer of a post. The manner in which the issue is being handled isn't a good omen.

One page impressors successfully run their agenda for three years. The wreckage of their every incompetence and bad governance kept falling on one page. The opposition was also in control because of one page. One page hid every weakness. Now the secret of not having a page is open, so panic is spreading. In the same panic, the PTI supporters discussed the point of civil superiority. Even those who raise this point are not well-wishers of the government. What will be the result of this shake-up? The answer lies in our political history.

Most importantly, this disagreement is by no means a question of civil superiority. The stubbornness to maintain the personality of one's choice in any position cannot be termed as civil superiority. Those who give such an impression deliberately or unknowingly pave the way for institutional conflict.

The fact that the "one-page" writ petitioners have perpetuated the impression of national institution's involvement in important decisions for their own political interests is not a formal and explicit attempt by the military to refute this impression outright. The impression was made and the impression was gaining momentum. Now if someone tried to make unnecessary noise of the civil superintendent, then the silence may not be maintained and the position of the other side will also come to the fore and the noise of the civil superior may say Don't stay It is better to be careful.

Civil supremacy is in fact an ideology and principle that has taken root in the world with the concept of democracy. First of all, we have to focus on promoting real democracy in the country. Real democracy is the civil supremacy. It isn't possible to use the slogans of "one page" when support is needed to form and run a government, and when it comes to likes and dislikes, it is civil. The upper hand should be made a crutch. All the requirements of true democracy must be met.

Due to this disagreement, the role of any key player is not immediately in jeopardy, but once the impression of "one page" disappears, opposition parties and social elements opposed to government measures will surely be encouraged. Even those cornered within the ruling coalition will be free to decide according to the new situation as those who have completed three years despite continuous bad governance have lost an important support.

Now the chances of an anti-government movement will increase, and sit-in politicians may face new sit-ins. This means that if precautions are not taken, the situation can take any turn. The exsisting state of affairs can take any turn. Under these circumstances, if the PTI had to be ousted from power, the party's narrative will be that of a "political martyr"?

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Imran Yaqub Khan

Imran Yaqub is senior journalist and analyst

Regional

Met Office predicts rain around country today

Yesterday there was rain and hail in different areas of Lahore along with wind.

Published

8 hours ago

Jun 07, 2023 08:17 AM

Noor Fatima

Islamabad: Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) predicted rain with strong winds and thundershowers at some places in South Punjab, Upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Kashmir today (Wednesday).

Yesterday there was rain and hail in different areas of Lahore along with wind. Subsequently, the wall of a school located on Ravi Road collapsed, as a result of which three children were injured, trees fell at different places in the city.

Apart from this, there was some hail and light rain after thunderstorm in Multan, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Sargodha and Khushab.

Pakistan

Pakistan, China sign MoU for water resources development

Ambassador Moin Ul Haque said: “The MOU will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection”.

Published

2 hours ago

Jun 07, 2023 02:52 PM

Noor Fatima

Islamabad: Pakistan and China have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection.

The MoU between Chang Jiang Water Resources Commission and Water and Power Development Authority was signed in a ceremony at Pakistan embassy in Beijing.

Pakistan Ambassador to China, Moin Ul Haque and Vice Commissioner of Changjiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC), Wu Daoxi signed the agreement.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Moin Ul Haque said: “The MOU will pave the way for bilateral cooperation in the utilization and sustainable development of water resources and environmental protection”.

Pakistan

SC consolidates ECP election case, petitions against judgment review law

The court issues notices to the AGP, President Arif Alvi, the federal government, and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, ordering the joint hearing of both cases on June 13.

Published

37 minutes ago

Jun 07, 2023 04:37 PM

Hussnain Bhutta

Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) of Pakistan on Wednesday postponed the hearing of the Punjab election review case and the Supreme Court Review of Judgements and Orders Act 2023 until June 13.

The SC three-member bench, led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, combined the Punjab election review case and the Review Order Act case during the proceedings. Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan and Justice Munib Akhtar were the other members of the bench.

Chief Justice Bandial observed the court's intention to reach a decision on the Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) plea for reviewing the verdict on the Punjab elections as soon as possible. He remarked that the court received petitions and emphasized the importance of addressing the Review Order Act at this stage.

The Chief Justice observed that notice would be issued to the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP), following which the bench would consider the ECP's review plea under the Review Order Act. The Chief Justice then asked PTI lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar for his opinion on the Review Order Act.

Barrister Zafar argued that the SC Review Order Act contradicted the Constitution. He contended that the issue had already been raised in the SC Practice and Procedure Act, which had obtained a stay from the Supreme Court.

According to the lawyer, the same stay should also apply to the Review Order Act. He further claimed that the SC had the authority to hear the ECP's review plea since the Review Order Act did not currently apply to the court due to the stay.

Justice Akhtar observed hat if the Review Order Act was enforced, the ECP's lawyer would need to present arguments before a larger bench. He questioned how the court could proceed with the Punjab election case if the Review Order Act had been implemented. The Justice also asked the lawyer to explain why the Review Order Act did not apply to the SC.

Meanwhile, Chief Justice Bandial emphasized that a decision on the Punjab election review case was desired by everyone. He noted that there were certain limits for filing an appeal, mentioning that the ECP's lawyer had argued for extensive authorities. He added that the matter of elections was a national issue and implementing the May 14 orders was not feasible, but it represented a historical verdict.

Petitioners Zaman Khan Wardag and Ghulam Mohiuddin echoed the arguments presented by Barrister Zafar. They contended that the Review Order Act was illegal and required a constitutional amendment to extend the jurisdiction of reviews. The court acknowledged that a stay had already been issued on the implementation of the SC Practice and Procedure Act by a larger bench and scheduled both cases for a joint hearing on June 13.

Chief Justice Bandial announced that the SC would hold daily hearings on the cases after the mentioned date. The court issued notices to the AGP, President Arif Alvi, the federal government, and the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, ordering the joint hearing of both cases on June 13.

In regards to the Review Order Act, Advocate Riaz Hanif Rahi, the petitioner, urged the court to declare the Act unconstitutional, null and void, and issued without jurisdiction. The petition, naming the government as a respondent through the Ministry of Law and Justice Secretary and Senate Secretariat Secretary Muhammad Qasim Samad Khan, argued that the law was unconstitutional and had been passed for the government's personal advantage, disregarding public interest.

Rahi further argued that the respondents had exceeded their constitutional limits by considering extraneous factors and ulterior motives. The Review of Judgements and Orders Act 2023 came into effect on May 5, 2023.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar referred to Article 188 of the Constitution and defended the law, stating that it empowered the SC, subject to the provisions of any Act of Majlis-e-Shoora and any rules set by the Supreme Court, to review its judgments and orders.

He emphasized that the legislation was procedural in nature and aligned with the spirit of Article 188 of the Constitution.

Regarding the petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), which challenged the Supreme Court's authority to set a date for holding elections in Punjab, the previous hearing was indefinitely adjourned by Chief Justice Bandial after Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan mentioned the review order. The AGP informed the bench that the review order had come into effect, leading to the conclusion of the brief hearing.

The ECP's petition argued that, according to the Constitution, the power to announce the date for general elections rests with bodies other than the judiciary, making the reviewed order a breach of the fundamental principle of the separation of powers and thus unsustainable. Additionally, the ECP contended that fair conduct of the general elections to the National Assembly was not possible in the presence of an elected government in Punjab.