‘The lady doth protest too much…’
The dust raised by Supreme Court’s verdict in the Asghar Khan case refuses to settle down. The people named by the apex court as disbursers and recipients of funds to form an anti-PPP alliance way back in 1990 are either maintaining a stony silence or have expressed their innocence.
General (retd) Aslam Beg, the ringleader of the conspirators, has taken a novel position bordering on absurdity. Ostensibly outraged by the Supreme Court’s judgment declaring him to be the villain of the piece, the former army chief has gone viral.
Claiming that he had no knowledge about the hatchet job being conducted against democracy, he conveniently puts all the blame on the then President, late Ghulam Ishaq Khan. According to Beg, GIK armed with article 58-(2B) was the boss, not him as the army chief.
The general asserts that he had no control over the ISI which took orders from the presidency without him being on board. Even the Military Intelligence (MI) was not under his operational control.
The former DG ISI General (retd) Asad Durrani and Brig (retd) Hamid Saeed, the head of MI Sindh at the time, however, contradict Beg’s version claiming that funds were distributed on his express orders.
To claim that army chiefs in Pakistan take orders from presidents and prime ministers without questioning them or scrutinising them is a travesty of truth. And to say that the ISI and MI take orders from civilians behind the backs of their uniformed bosses is a white lie. Here in the Shakespearean sense, ‘The lady doth protest too much…’
Beg does not hide his visceral hatred for the PPP, a passion he shared with Ghulam Ishaq Khan. Even before the verdict against him he has been predicting that Nawaz Sharif will be the winner in the upcoming general elections. On what basis, we are not told.
The former army chief has not even spared the Supreme Court from his ire. In yet another television interview, he has claimed that the apex court’s verdict in the Asghar Khan case is a conspiracy hatched in cahoots with the ruling PPP to postpone the upcoming general elections. It is ludicrous even to suggest that the Supreme Court and the PPP, at loggerheads for the past four years, can be in the same bed.
The military mindset at the time that led to the formation of the Islami Jamhoori Ittehad (IJI) by bribing politicians and journalists is betrayed by the top MI officer in Sindh in his affidavit filed in the apex court. Brig (retd) Hamid Saeed claims that Benazir had to be sacked, as she had become a “security risk”.
According to the retired brigadier, who also served as a minister in Punjab during the Musharraf regime, Benazir as prime minister had developed adversarial relations with the military. He states that the military was wary of placements of Al-Zulfiqar cadre in “sensitive departments like PIA and Customs”.
Hamid Saeed claims she opposed supporting the Khalistan movement. A job requirement for prime ministers to support such adventurist schemes hatched by the deep state? He states that the general perception (of the common man) was that the ruling party had got the votes but lacked the vision to run the country. Hence Benazir had to be sent packing.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar-uz-Zaman Kaira has claimed that the government would put Beg and Durrani on trial. This is unlikely to happen. Learning from the fate of Benazir, and for that matter Nawaz Sharif as well, the government will be loath to move against army officers even though retired. At the most it can recommend to the military leadership to move against them.
After initial dithering Nawaz Sharif has expressed outrage that he received 2.5 million rupees from the discredited banker and disburser, Younas Habib. Inferring in a television interview that it was too paltry an amount, as his nephew Hamza Shahbaz Sharif paid millions of rupees as unfair taxes during the Musharraf regime.
Contradicting his own leader of the opposition Ch Nisar Ali Khan, Nawaz has finally relented to accept a probe by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Syeda Abida Hussein, who was a minister in Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi’s caretaker government formed on the ashes of Benazir’s dismissal, has been more candid and forthcoming than her peers. She has claimed that as part of the IJI she received one million rupees through the president’s principal secretary Ijlal Haider Zaidi for electioneering.
She contends that she was not aware that it was tainted money. Whatever the veracity of her claim, Abida has decided to return the money, 1.6 million with interest.
Other politicians, including Nawaz Sharif, named in the affidavits should emulate Abida’s example. The least they should do is to return the dirty money with profit, as ordered by the apex court. It is strange that what Nawaz Sharif has admitted privately, he is denying in his public persona.
Nawaz has come a long way from a politician created by the military establishment. As a populist leader he has been a victim of his erstwhile mentors. Hence he should show the moral courage and candidly admit to mistakes made in the past.
The Peerzadas and Khars of this world are “yesterday’s papers” and have nothing to lose. But Nawaz being leader of a mainstream party should salvage his position before it is too late.
Another (unintended?) victim of the Supreme Court verdict could be the president himself. The apex court’s verdict that the presidency cannot be used for political activity as it undermines the neutrality of the office would upset Zardari’s plans for electioneering. He has already cancelled his long scheduled public rally at Mandi Bahauddin which was to kick start PPP’s campaign in Central Punjab.
A writ challenging the president holding dual office is pending in the Lahore High Court. According to unconfirmed reports, Zardari is mulling over quitting his political office, the co-chairman of the ruling party.
The wily Zardari will have to devise a strategy to run the party and the government without inviting another battle with the apex court. Bilawal Bhutto, the party co-chairperson, could be an asset in our dynastic milieu. Notwithstanding security concerns, he is too young and inexperienced to guide the party to victory in the next general elections, which are not too far away.
The writer is Editor, Pakistan Today
A fair analysis.
Come to think of it, it is most likely the guilty generals will go Scot free since the SC has not mentioned any clause of the constitution & will go into Army's lap, so we all know what will happen, the politicians are only alleged offended, fat chance of any of them not getting away, that leaves Zardari to sweat and save his skin at that of his party too!!
The generals are guilty only of acting above and beyond the call of duty in the best National Interest as directed by the then President and Supreme Commander. No number of disjointed verdicts can change that fact. However, the timing of such a verdict of a 16 year old case is questionable viz a viz the threats that Pakistan faces today.
What "National Interest" ,subverting the will of the people of Pakistan and its constitution? As far as timing is concerned, when was it in the last three decades that Pakistan did not face threats.
A typical response of a PPP Jiyala !
and you are an anti-PPP bug
When people run out of reason & logic, they start swearing!
Oh! so you have uneducated friends too.
You r an anti-democratic and anti-state rubbish
It is still astonishing to observe that how the politicians, military mindset and even main stream journalist still loathe the verdicts of common people. Instead of lashing out at genrals and their cooprators politicians to steal elections and discussing the legality, moral, legal and etchcal, of 1990 government all efforts are being made to create disillusion to benefit Nawaz Sharif, the ultimate beneficiary of Zia ul Haq, Military- Ishaq Khan nexus and even from PArvez Musharaf. Sham on such analysis
The PTI needs to come to power to get rid of the dross-both PPP and PML are crooks and should be cleaning sewers,not stealing from the poor.
Now what? Will the supreme court take any action against Nawaz Sharif as well when he is refusing any investigation or he will over look it as well like he always does in Sharifs case in particular.
Will Supreme Act now?????????? to bring the powerful massively corrupt notorious for tax evasion to bring in the ring of law???????????????????????????????????????
SHAHID HUSSEIN QAHOOLPURIA,
LAHORE, PAKISTAN
A realistic and daring analysis. But can anyone predict an early conclusion of the saga? Tough question !!!!
why only focus on asghar khan case. how ayub khan,yaha,bhuuto became martial dictators,break up of pakistan,musharraf treason and all these treasons be ignore.just because the present judgment suits pppzardari,the worst corrupt government on earth.
the pro sader media as you,dunya naji, etc or of imran khan is playing the case against one 'googughora.nawaz sharif.this judgement has already rigged and prejudiced the forthcoming elections.is there some kind of deal-compromise.
Worst corrupt govt on earth was of Sharifs who issued presidential ordinances and lifted custom duty on their imports for three days and did billions of loss to national exchequer. Dont forget 25 billion cost motorway built in 65 billion. Yellow cabs scandal, and now Metro scandal which started with 22 billion reached 40 billion and now expected 70 billion. Rest of Punjab is hungry while 70 billion on one project because Sharifs wud get 10 billion commission on it. Why did not they spend this money on Electric power houses?
it is not matter of maintaining innocence but routine crookedness.First we were observing obstinate and shameless confession of brig Imtiaz and now General duraani .one should salute to his unconscious level of his self respect that how humbly he is accepting all in front of different media channel.All duffers knows as our rulers are hearing him as routine part of their life .
Pathetic article
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