Selective justice

What suits ‘them’, when it suits ‘them’

As ill luck would have it, the state and its security agencies have no justification for why Waseem Akhtar was arrested so late, almost ten years after May 12. Perhaps those who arrested him were once a part of the political system when the offence was committed

Politics in Pakistan is nothing but a jokers’ game. The same can be said about the powerful establishment here.

The recent episode of Altaf’s anti-Pakistan speech and its after-effects brought yet more insult and debasement to the state of Pakistan, though it is not new. Every now and then similar statements have been uttered by the MQM chief but nothing could be established or changed, neither by the civilian government nor by the holy men in uniform, in the courts of law or otherwise. Resultantly, it continued for decades and still there seems no end to such politics which keeps all the state machinery and its business diverted towards countering it.

Farooq Sattar, MQM’s leader, played a very smart move and rescued his party chief – Altaf Hussain — immediately after his controversial speech. He announced Altaf’s exit assuring that no decision will be taken or directed by MQM’s London Secretariat, so that his party should stand protected at the hands of law enforcement agencies. As earlier, a number of criminal cases were registered against the MQM’s top leadership for listening to and facilitating speeches delivered by Altaf Hussain.

Notwithstanding the merciless campaign against the Muttehida by some political parties and some security establishment’s elements, the party is still there – with its full grace and grandeur. One recent example is victory of Waseem Akhtar as Karachi’s new mayor. He won from behind the bars under charges of terrorism regarding the May 12 mayhem in Karachi. Moreover, allegations of the party’s involvement with RAW were never proved despite the fact that Pakistan has 26 intelligence agencies, as was announced by Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ahmad. Not a single conviction has appeared till date proving that MQM has been in any manner an instrument at the hands of India or some other enemy country. Moreover, this party enjoyed unbridled powers in Sindh and the center during General (r) Musharraf’s regime and flourished. But Mr Commando was given safe exit from treason charges and the process of law.

Considering the sequence of events, the more ordinary people among us should be forgiven for thinking that either the MQM is powerful enough to have intelligence stronger than that of the holy men or that the latter too follow certain policies even in matter of ‘traitors’ or criminals. All the alleged links of this party with RAW must have become stronger and multiplied during Musharraf’s era but the same was totally ignored by the intelligence agencies. Were they complacent or waiting for Musharraf’s regime to be over, so that they could put the burden of prosecution on the civilian government? And in case nothing is proved against them (MQM), prosecution could be held responsible which for sure we know comes under the civilian government.

Waseen Akhtar’s first press conference after being elected a Karachi’s Mayor rightly raised an objection against his arrest and prosecution 10 years after May 12. From an academic viewpoint, if he were a criminal and an alleged terrorist, how come he was chosen by the people and finally elected as mayor of financial hub of the country? Should people’s mandate for an alleged criminal not be a question mark on the electioneering process in Pakistan?

But it is not. Here the criminal justice system has always been subject to some policy decision, more so during dictators’ regimes or weak civilian governments. The much-celebrated present era of democracy, though led by the security establishment in case of foreign policy, internal security and military courts, is devoid of any strength or the will power to deal with alleged criminals belonging to political parties. And most of the time this provided reason to the boys to come into power and assume the authority of doing accountability against the alleged corrupt, which they necessarily find in the civilian set-up only.

This time too, Rangers started arrests of MQM workers and party leaders who enjoyed massive powers under then military head’s supervision – Gen (r) Pervaiz Musharraf. As per law, all the collaborators and supporters must come under the ambit of free and transparent investigation, but the person who brought MQM’s men in power during his sham regime is enjoying luxurious life in Dubai – making selfies with female health instructors. If accountability this time is indeed genuine, why not bring the ex commando back to the country to face trial along with MQM’s party workers. A special court, constituted for the first time in the history of Pakistan, is awaiting Musharraf and has already ordered attachment of all his property and bank accounts. And luckily all his property happens to be situated in societies managed and held by the establishment which are beyond the jurisdictions of civilian courts. So, punishment awarded or order issued by any court will remain ‘justice without execution’.

Whether it’s MQM or any other party, running a negative campaign through released videos seems more important to them than dispensing real justice. Selected prosecution of political parties of offences dating back decades, whenever the establishment thinks it suitable, suddenly starts to bring in a new narrative that protectors of the borders deem fit for the state.

As ill luck would have it, the state and its security agencies have no justification for why Waseem Akhtar was arrested so late, almost ten years after May 12. Perhaps those who arrested him were once a part of the political system when the offence was committed. After Musharraf’s regime was over, and a new democratic system was put in place, their conscience suddenly awoke and they thought to do justice regarding the May 12incident and arrested Karachi’s mayor.

Being a conscientious citizen of the state of Pakistan, I am much impressed with the ‘scrupulous’ establishment doing justice in case of just a political party – subtracting their own boss Mr Musharraf.