The leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Shahbaz Sharif, insists that an in-camera briefing by the Miltablishment on the way forward on the National Action Plan against terrorism scheduled for 28th March should be in front of the full House so that a lively discussion can take place in the national interest. This briefing will aim to lay the basis of the government’s report to the FATF next month. Maulana Fazal ur Rahman, whose stakes as leader of the most important religious party in the country are directly affected by actions proposed in the NAP, has echoed the same view. But the significant development is in Bilawal Bhutto’s stance. Until recently, the PPP was hand-in-glove with the Miltablishment in many of its machinations in domestic politics. But since the NAB axe began to loom ominously over Asif Zardari and Feryal Talpur, young Bilawal has come out all guns blazing. The problem is that he is focusing his gunsights on a matter of national interest rather than sole Miltablishment interest. Consider.
Bilawal wants NAB laws reviewed and amended. That’s fine. There is a national consensus that NAB needs to be reined in because it has become arbitrary and discriminatory. He wants at least three PTI cabinet members with avowed links to banned organisations to come clean and be shunted out. That’s political point scoring. Which party hasn’t, at one time or another, played footsie with organisations that are today blacklisted? He is questioning the impartiality of the judiciary. So are we all. But his position on two points is provoking the ire of the Miltablishment. He says “come what may, the PPP will not allow military courts to return to the fold”. And he is questioning the sincerity of the Miltablishment in putting down certain non-state actors as demanded by the international community via FATF. In one angry retort, he has asked why Ehsanullah Ehsan, the notorious TTP spokesman in the Miltablishment’s protective custody, who used to brazenly announce thousands of civilian casualties in TTP acts of terrorism, has not been investigated by a JIT and charged accordingly. Now this is wading into dangerous waters.
It is in Pakistan’s national interest not to be shoved into the black list by FATF. This is the time for all to unite and present a policy of action that is not merely aimed at appeasing FATF but is genuinely concerned with eliminating the adverse consequences of non-state actors for domestic stability and regional peace. If some of these were once dubious state “assets” in the conflict with India over Kashmir, then they have clearly become dangerous state “liabilities” now. The Pulwama attack was laid squarely on Pakistan by the international community and almost provoked a full-scale war between two nuclear armed neighbours after breaching several red lines. This is an unacceptable situation, especially since Pakistan is currently grappling with several other political and economic crises that have sapped national unity and cohesiveness and triggered alienation and anger across large swathes of people and territories.
But it is not just the opposition parties and their leaders who should be aware of their national responsibilities over and above parochial party or mundane personal interests. It takes two hands to clap. The ruling PTI and the institutions of the state which are persecuting the opposition must step back and allow them to play their role as Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, loyal to the state, not governments. The judiciary and NAB need to redress the impression of acute bias. The ruling party needs to show it can govern instead of constantly trying to divert attention from its incompetence by screaming about the opposition’s “corruption”. And the Miltablishment must verifiably change course on non-state actors that have plunged Pakistan into international isolation.
Some good news may be expected if every stakeholder can lend a shoulder to the task of dismantling these unacceptable non-state actors. China has blocked the banning of Jaish-e-Mohammad’s leader, Masood Azhar, at the UN. But, it has assured India and the international community that this is a temporary measure. Clearly, some modus operandi is being fashioned behind the scenes between China and Pakistan to resolve this issue. A ban on Masood Azhar would imply the freezing of his assets, including madrassahs that are also training camps or indoctrination centers, a ban on travel and a zipping of his mouth. This is easily done without fear of provoking a backlash as happened during General Musharraf’s time. Similarly, the mainstreaming of some other extremists can proceed apace within prescribed limits.
Even if all this is done inside Pakistan, however, one serious problem will remain and endanger peace and stability. That is India’s repressive policies in Kashmir that continue to produce indigenous freedom fighters who use terrorism as a weapon of resistance. What if, despite Pakistan’s credible anti-non-state actor measures, there is another Pulwama and mischief is made by pointing the finger at Pakistan again? Clearly, the world must impress upon India too to put its house in order if regional peace is to be assured.
Bilawal wants NAB laws reviewed and amended. That’s fine. There is a national consensus that NAB needs to be reined in because it has become arbitrary and discriminatory. He wants at least three PTI cabinet members with avowed links to banned organisations to come clean and be shunted out. That’s political point scoring. Which party hasn’t, at one time or another, played footsie with organisations that are today blacklisted? He is questioning the impartiality of the judiciary. So are we all. But his position on two points is provoking the ire of the Miltablishment. He says “come what may, the PPP will not allow military courts to return to the fold”. And he is questioning the sincerity of the Miltablishment in putting down certain non-state actors as demanded by the international community via FATF. In one angry retort, he has asked why Ehsanullah Ehsan, the notorious TTP spokesman in the Miltablishment’s protective custody, who used to brazenly announce thousands of civilian casualties in TTP acts of terrorism, has not been investigated by a JIT and charged accordingly. Now this is wading into dangerous waters.
It is in Pakistan’s national interest not to be shoved into the black list by FATF. This is the time for all to unite and present a policy of action that is not merely aimed at appeasing FATF but is genuinely concerned with eliminating the adverse consequences of non-state actors for domestic stability and regional peace. If some of these were once dubious state “assets” in the conflict with India over Kashmir, then they have clearly become dangerous state “liabilities” now. The Pulwama attack was laid squarely on Pakistan by the international community and almost provoked a full-scale war between two nuclear armed neighbours after breaching several red lines. This is an unacceptable situation, especially since Pakistan is currently grappling with several other political and economic crises that have sapped national unity and cohesiveness and triggered alienation and anger across large swathes of people and territories.
But it is not just the opposition parties and their leaders who should be aware of their national responsibilities over and above parochial party or mundane personal interests. It takes two hands to clap. The ruling PTI and the institutions of the state which are persecuting the opposition must step back and allow them to play their role as Her Majesty’s loyal opposition, loyal to the state, not governments. The judiciary and NAB need to redress the impression of acute bias. The ruling party needs to show it can govern instead of constantly trying to divert attention from its incompetence by screaming about the opposition’s “corruption”. And the Miltablishment must verifiably change course on non-state actors that have plunged Pakistan into international isolation.
Some good news may be expected if every stakeholder can lend a shoulder to the task of dismantling these unacceptable non-state actors. China has blocked the banning of Jaish-e-Mohammad’s leader, Masood Azhar, at the UN. But, it has assured India and the international community that this is a temporary measure. Clearly, some modus operandi is being fashioned behind the scenes between China and Pakistan to resolve this issue. A ban on Masood Azhar would imply the freezing of his assets, including madrassahs that are also training camps or indoctrination centers, a ban on travel and a zipping of his mouth. This is easily done without fear of provoking a backlash as happened during General Musharraf’s time. Similarly, the mainstreaming of some other extremists can proceed apace within prescribed limits.
Even if all this is done inside Pakistan, however, one serious problem will remain and endanger peace and stability. That is India’s repressive policies in Kashmir that continue to produce indigenous freedom fighters who use terrorism as a weapon of resistance. What if, despite Pakistan’s credible anti-non-state actor measures, there is another Pulwama and mischief is made by pointing the finger at Pakistan again? Clearly, the world must impress upon India too to put its house in order if regional peace is to be assured.