STRUGGLES IN THE MAKING OF A STATE: AZERBAIJAN

By Sabah Aslam

The early part of 20th century witnessed the collapse of the Russian Empire. This big fall of Russian Revolution 1917 led to chaos and unrest in all parts of the state including Azerbaijan. Hence under the slogan of ‘struggle against the counter-revolutionaries’ in March 1918, the Baku Commune of Armenians and Bolsheviks decided to completely eliminate the ethnical Azerbaijanis. Thus, the Armenians acted atrociously and killed thousands of innocent Muslims. That throbbing history is imprinted on the memory of the Azerbaijanis forever and it has left indelible marks on the history pages to give Azerbaijan a real boost to rise against all the odds and prove its substance, subsequently, it is beaming today with multidimensional colors of success and glory amongst the comity of nations. It was an opportunity availed in time and today that all Azerbaijanis hold the flag of grace for the generations to come and follow the footprints of this venerable legacy.  

Coming back to the history, the only option for Azerbaijanis to stop that violence against them was to establish their own very State. So, the Muslim National Council held its opening sitting in Tiflis (presently Tbilisi, Georgia) on May 28, 1918, and adopted the Declaration on Independence.  And subsequently the establishment of an independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) in south and southeast Transcaucasia was announced. The 1918 declaration became the first Constitutional Act in the history of Azerbaijan and affirmed Azerbaijani statehood in the form a Democratic Republic. On June 16, the National Council and the cabinet of the ADR got relocated to Ganja – the second biggest city of Azerbaijan. The primary goal of the government was to liberate Baku and the other cities of Azerbaijan, which were under occupation of Armenians and Bolsheviks after the March 1918 genocide.

The mission was carried out by the newly established Caucasus Army of Islam - united Azerbaijani and Turkish forces. Afterwards, twenty thousand Baku Soviet troops launched an all-out attack on Ganja. The Islamic Army entered a fierce battle with them. The Soviets were defeated and the Islamic Army advanced toward Baku and got it liberated on September 15, 1918. Over a thousand of Muslim officers and soldiers laid down their lives in the Baku battle. The losses of the enemy were huge. 

The capital of ADR shifted from Ganja to Baku and on November 16, 1918, the Azerbaijan National Council resumed its function. On December 7, 1918, the first session of Azerbaijani parliament took place. That was the first parliament formed on the utmost democratic principles of that time in the entire Muslim East. Not only a true form of multi-party republican government was created, but also extended the suffrage (right to vote) to all persons, irrespective of ethnicity, religion or gender.  ADR was the first country in the entire Muslim world to give voting rights to women, even ahead of such advanced western democracies like the United States and the United Kingdom. It also guaranteed freedom of expression, assembly and religion, among many other liberties to the citizens of Azerbaijan. 

The Supreme Council of the Paris Peace Conference on January 11, 1920 unanimously resolved to recognize de facto independence of Azerbaijan. Despite the lack of any previous experience in statecraft, the leadership of the ADR managed to form a well-operated state machine, establishing relations with more than twenty countries of the world, including Turkey, UK, USA, Italy, France Belgium, Holland, Greece, Denmark, etc. The Government adopted a national flag with white crescent and eight-pointed star with a three-stripe background. On June 26, the Government enacted the establishment of Azerbaijan Armed Forces. The process of army build up was completed by January 30 to include 30,000 of infantry and 10,000 of cavalry troops.

Functioning economy and independent financial system started to evolve. Educational reforms began, the Baku State University was founded; roughly half of the schools switched to use Azerbaijani language, which became a compulsory subject; hundreds of young students received scholarships to study in leading European universities. Preparations for constitution, development of comprehensive doctrine of national state building, and the criminal code with guarantees of universal rights and freedoms were under way. Bilateral formal relations were established with a number of foreign states and independent foreign policy reflecting the national interests of Azerbaijan was formulated and pursued. The Government established an extraordinary investigation commission to scrutinize the acts of genocide of Azerbaijanis by Armenians, adopted the official state symbols and regulation on Azerbaijani citizenship. The separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers was also confirmed. The establishment of Chamber of Appeals and Intelligence department became the vital pillar of the state-building process. The Baku-Batum oil pipeline was restored in 1919; the government issued a decree on free trade and gave a rebirth to the merchant fleet. The Caspian fleet of Azerbaijan was established in summer of 1919 as well.

The ADR fell under the military attack of Soviet Russia on 28 April, 1920. The resistance movement of Azerbaijani people was squashed. All government institutions of Azerbaijan were abolished. The independence of Azerbaijan was restored only after 71 years. The tri-colored flag with a white crescent and eight-pointed star of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic rose again.

Today, Azerbaijan is witnessing a rapid and dynamic development that is comparable with developed countries of the world. Rich of hydrocarbon reserves, the country exports them to Europe consequently taking part in ensuring of its energy security.  Having taken advantage of its geographical  location,  Azerbaijan became not only a main  point  for transportation of  crude and gas to Turkey and Europe  via diverse pipe-line net, but a transport corridor linking East with West as well.  A country with nine and a half million population has become a leading power in Transcaucasia and a main regional investor, financing multi-billion projects in different countries of the world. The economic growth of Azerbaijan goes accompanied by enormous construction boom, development of the industry, infrastructure, agriculture, sports, and tourism.

Azerbaijan carries on a balanced foreign policy, based on the interests of the country. Situated on the geographical border of Europe and Asia, Azerbaijan is integrated in the political structures of both continents. Being a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE, Azerbaijan plays an active role in the OIC, ECO. It is also a member of Non-Aligned Movement, and last year completed its tenure as a non-permanent member of UN Security Council. 

Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy close and cordial relations characterized by shared perception on major global and regional issues.   The two countries signed number of agreements to provide a framework for bilateral cooperation in all spheres including economy, trade, finance, information, culture and military fields. Both countries closely cooperate in international forum and support each other on their core issues.

The writer is Executive Director of the Islamabad Institute of Conflict Resolution.

Geo TV premeditated assault on ISI

 Asif Haroon Raja

    On April 19, 2014, Geo TV anchor and senior journalist Hamid Mir was attacked by unknown assailant (s) in Karachi when he was travelling in a car from the airport to Geo office. Out of 12 bullets fired, six bullets pierced his abdomen and legs. The driver who remained unscathed drove him to the hospital where he is currently under treatment and reportedly is out of danger. Such gory attacks by unidentified terrorists are a common phenomenon in Karachi where daily score of the target killers ranges from 6-12. Despite Rangers-Police combined targeted operation since last September, the gory practice has not been controlled. The dastardly attack on Hamid Mir is condemnable and we pray for his early recovery.

    While the attack on Hamid Mir was undoubtedly reprehensible, the unethical reaction of Geo TV was more shameful. Ironically, the Geo News channel’s onslaught began with a vengeance within hours of the incident when even on-spot inspection of the site and preliminary investigation had not been carried out and FIR was not registered. It seemed as if the TV channel was already waiting in readiness to spring into action and start a willful malicious media campaign against the DG ISI, ISI as an institution and the Army. What was detestable was that the photo of DG ISI was repeatedly flashed during the over 8-hour program aired without a break, indirectly holding him responsible for the attack. Ansar Abbasi in his exuberance demanded immediate resignation of DG ISI.

    Even a layman could make out that the program aired by Geo TV had been stage-managed and pre-meditated with the sole objective of tarnishing the image of DG ISI and ISI. The hidden purpose behind the vilification program was to create a gulf between the armed forces and the people of Pakistan in general and the government and the defence establishment in particular. The whole lot of tutored anchors trained their guns on the ISI and based their arguments on the statement of the brother of Hamid Mir who stated soon after the incident that Hamid had secretly expressed his fears within his family members and close friends and his employer that he was receiving threats from ISI and in case he was murdered, DG ISI Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam would be responsible. Surprisingly, none of the analysts bothered to consider any other possibility.

    Neither Hamid nor any of his family member or his organization deemed it fit to register an FIR, or even a complaint that he was facing life threat. If he was facing life threats, how come he was moving around so freely and boldly without a guard? Why did he continue to remain in an offensive mode and repeatedly put the blame of missing persons on intelligence agencies despite the threats? His body language and facial expressions never indicated any signs of stress. Some say, the time bomb found strapped under his car last year was a ploy to increase his popularity rating and ISI threat was also played up to enhance his rating. How come Hamid Mir and his TV channel came in bad books and felt threatened and none else? It meant something was wrong somewhere. Is it not true that the Geo in its blind urge to make big money has crossed the red lines and all limits of decency?

    Over a period of time, Geo TV has earned the reputation of being more of an Indian channel than a Pakistani channel promoting Indian themes/ agenda and maintaining an anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan stance. As opposed to spiteful role of Indian media against Pakistan, Geo TV stance towards India has always been soft and friendly. Jang Group owned by Mir Shakil-ur Rahman co-hosts highly controversial Aman-ki-Asha program with India which is RAW funded. Ansar Abbasi, one of the journalists of Geo News has recently come out with a bizarre revelation that Aman-ki-Asha is ISI funded. Geo TV and ‘The News/Jang’ newspapers are known for promoting secularism, creating rifts between the institutions and sowing seeds of doubts/ misgivings over settled issues like ‘Two-nation’ theory, Objectives Resolution, ideology of Pakistan, and making Quaid-e-Azam controversial by projecting him as a secular.

    While Geo TV glamorizes Hamid Mir, he is looked down upon by many for his anti-Army/ISI/FC stance, for espousing the cause of separatists wanting to make Baluchistan independent, overplaying missing persons issue and for his pro-India posture. In early 2009, while the then government was denying that Ajmal Kasab, falsely implicated by India in Mumbai attacks case in November 2008, was a Pakistani, Hamid Mir took the Geo team to a village in Punjab and broke the story that Kasab was a Pakistani born and brought up in village Faridkot. He sold the story despite the villagers showing their ignorance about Kasab. That way he strengthened India’s handle to beat Pakistan with.

    He is the one who blamed the ISI for burning down Ziarat Residency and would have kept spitting venom had BLA not claimed responsibility. Reportedly, he had poisoned the ears of Asian Tigers, a group affiliated with TTP who had taken late Col retired Sultan Amir Tarar, popularly known as Col Imam and Squadron Leader retired Khalid Khawaja hostage in March 2010. Based on the information given by Hamid Mir on a phone that Khawaja was an ISI agent and unreliable, the captors killed both of them in January 2011.

    ISI bashing by the Geo TV was fully capitalized by the Indian media as well as the British media and the trio worked in tandem to discredit ISI. Let it be known that the ISI is a world famed organization which is second to none and its effectiveness has been acknowledged even by the traditional adversaries. Since its birth in mid 1950s, it has stood as a guard against inimical forces striving to harm Pakistan. It acts as the first line of defence for the armed forces and has valiantly kept the outreach of anti-Pakistan CIA-RAW-MI-6-RAAM-Mosad-BND nexus at bay since 2002 and is also supporting the security forces fighting the war in the northwest and separatist movement in the south zealously. In the process, large numbers of its members have lost their lives at the hands of foreign paid saboteurs.

    The Army and ISI are defending the motherland stretching from the peaks of Siachin in the north to the deserts of Sindh and barren hills of Balochistan in the south under extremely adverse conditions. Under extraordinary stressful conditions when the very existence of the country is under grave threat, putting the premier institutions faced with an existential threat under further stress and strain through slanderous media campaign is highly undesirable.  

    The adversaries of Pakistan consider the armed forces and the ISI as the only bottlenecks in their way to accomplish their sinister designs against Pakistan. The US has invested $ 60 million to buy the loyalties of Pak media while India and Israel too have invested heavy amounts to influence leading TV channels and newspapers. The Christian Science Monitor dated September 2, 2011 reported that two journalists belonging to ‘Express News’ and ‘Dunya News’ filing reports back home from Washington drew their salaries from the US State Department funding through a nonprofit intermediary. Despite their best efforts they have been unable to weaken the trunk of these two organizations.

    Apart from demonizing Islam and secularizing the society through media, the other major task of paid Pakistani journalists, anchors and pseudo intellectuals is to build perceptions and create hatred against the Army and ISI. The invisible hand of sabotage and subversion has caused incalculable damage to the fabric of the country. The agents of subversion are busy polluting the minds of the people and weakening the country under a well-defined agenda. Unfortunately, a section of media is playing into the hands of our adversaries of Pakistan for the sake of material benefits.

    It is indeed surprising that the head of ISI was callously attacked by the media barons for 8 hours and the government as well as PEMRA remained mum and paralyzed. Other TV channels acted more responsibly. Response of civil society is very encouraging. I have received dozens of messages condemning Geo TV. There are wide calls to block Geo TV for defaming ISI. A petition has been filed in a law court seeking registration of treason case against Jang & Geo Group and his owner Mir Shakilur Rahman and Amir Ali, brother of Hamid Mir. 

    Being the member of Executive Committee of PESS headed by Lt Gen Hamid Gul, I am in a position to feel the pulse of well over 2.5 million retired officers, JCOs, NCOs and men. They all are highly perturbed and resentful over the perverse role of media and inaction of the government in taking to task the black sheep within media and controlling the unruly and undisciplined media indulging in yellow journalism. Government’s inaction has given rise to suspicions about its intentions and motives.

    A judicial commission has been established to probe the incident and come out with its findings. Till the finalization of the report by the Commission, all concerned parties should exercise restraint and refrain from drawing hasty conclusions. PEMRA should come out of its hibernation and start managing the media houses and guide them that instead of indulging in sensationalism, defamation and spreading despondency, they should play a constructive role in bridging divides within the society and promoting harmony between the State institutions.

    The writer is a defence analyst, executive member of PESS, member of MEASAC Research Centre, Thinkers Forum Pakistan and Opinion Maker. asifharoonraja@gmail.com                              

GEO - Going for a Settlement?

By Ishaal Zehra

Although the Hamid Mir dramatic event is dying down its own death because of inability of people in charge of this act to prove their accusations, but they should not be given an easy escape because this incident has shook all the nook and corners of Pakistan, hurting the feelings of a large number of the Pakistani community not only in cantonment areas of Pakistan but throughout the Pakistani community around the globe. Question must be asked who or what gave confidence to a mere private TV channel, one of the dozens in Pakistan, to launch such a damaging campaign against a premier intelligence agency of the country — the ISI.

Hamid Mir, whose earlier plan was to go to Quetta, changed his plans at the last couple hours and instead came to Karachi. Even Karachi police wasn’t aware of his new plans. Only a couple people in GEO Karachi office in admin were aware, or, the people who forced him to come to Karachi instead Quetta knew that. Instead of blindly accusing Gen Zaheerul Islam, Geo should have done an internal investigation first, if Geo or Mir Shakeel ur Rehman themselves were not involved in this drama.

Agha Iqrar Haroon has been working with national and international media houses for the last 24 years. His tenure as journalists includes 8 years in print media and 16 years in electronic media. He writes: Who knew change of Hamid Mir plan to go to Karachi instead of Quetta? Hamid Mir had a plan to go to Quetta from Islamabad. He changed his plan and travelled to Karachi and from where he was supposed to travel to Quetta. Change of his travel plan was known only by his close circle—mostly Islamabad and Karachi office of Geo Television. This is one the lead for initial investigation in the case of attack on Hamid Mir. It may be mentioned that involvement of Geo staffers also came on surface on the face of Wali Khan Babar case.

A friend of mine opined: if victim (Hamid Mir) has a solid proof, then he has every right to name the culprit no matter if he or she is a President, Prime Minister or a General. Now, it’s up to him to present proof or get punishment for maligning a national institution. No criminal should be allowed to take refuge under sanctity of any institution. 

Practically all the senior Pakistani journalists/ columnists and anchorpersons, leaving a few who are already well known for their “Foreign Agendas”, have expressed concern over the organized campaign against the security agencies by a section of the media in the name of the attack, saying this is a clear violation of journalistic values and code of conduct.  Human Rights activist Asma Jahangir and prominent media persons like Ayaz Amir, Talat Hussain, Shazeb Khanzada, Haroon Rashid, Mubashir Luqman and all others condemned the GEO channel for its non-serious handling of the issue. None of them said that inquiry should not be done but there are journalistic ethics to report any incident and verification of news with supporting proof should be there before establishing a fact. Interestingly, political parties are also against the way GEO has handled this episode. PMLN, though, apparently joined hands with PTI against GEO’s adventurism but the fact remains that they have not done anything credible to reprimand the doers.

Voice of Journalists say, new revelation in the GEO-ISI saga has come into light and it is alleged that Ansar Abbasi, a reporter of Jang/Geo news, secretly visited PEMRA office to draft the PEMRA notice against Geo. It is the same notice which was sent out to Geo after the Ministry of Defense sent a complaint against the said media house for bringing disrepute to state agencies.

It is alleged that Mr. Abbasi went to PEMRA office on 23rd April night around 2:18 AM and prepared the draft and or helped in drafting the show cause notice which was then sent to Geo. It is alleged that different versions of the drafts were discarded for being strong worded. The final draft version was then approved and sent out to Jang/Geo media house.

If matters are really moving the way they are being reflected then things are fishy inside the government machinery. PMLN government must check the status and take serious notice before the seriousness of the matter checks them instead. Rest assured, Pakistan really knows how to tackle its problems.

The Man Who Steered His Nation to the Pinnacles of Glory

           
Sabah Aslam

The name of Mr. Heydar Aliyev is progressively linked with the socio-political, economic and cultural uplift of the people of Azerbaijan, who has been able to leave indelible marks to change the successful course of history into the very lap of his nation, which is indisputably indebted to his unflinching efforts for the people of Azerbaijan.  He was a leader of the nation providing them hope and optimism in the era of despair and distrust. With his wise and foresighted policies, the great Azerbaijani leader has become an icon of honour, the architect of what Azerbaijan is today; independent, economically developed and strategically important amongst community of nations. President Heydar Aliyev was instrumental in playing an indispensable role in keeping the country united, independent and sailing smoothly on a steady path of economic development. Being a charismatic leader with impressive grasp of politics, he made all efforts to make his country important in the eyes of the west and equally secure relations with the east. Soon after becoming President of the country, the visionary leader was able to elevate the country’s status as an important global player.

Mr. Heydar Aliyev was born on 10 May 1923 in Nakhchivan city of Azerbaijan. Having started his professional carrier from Internal Affairs Division he later got shifted to the state security bodies where raised up to the chairman level in1967. In July, 1969 Mr. Aliyev became the head of the Azerbaijan SSR and in December 1982, First Vice Prime Minister of the USSR. He resigned from this post in October 1987, as a sign of protest against the policy pursued by Communist Party. 

On 20 January, 1990 Soviet troops stormed Baku killing unarmed civilians, who raised their voices against injustice made to them  Central Government. On the next day, Mr. H.Aliyev reached Azerbaijani Representation in Moscow and in his statement demanded to punish the organizers and perpetrators of this crime. In July, 1990, Mr. Aliyev was elected a member of Azerbaijan USSR Parliament and lead the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic’s Assembly.   Protesting the hypocritical policy of USSR leadership on Nagorno-Karabakh problem, in July 1991 Mr. Aliyev terminated his membership in the Communist Party.
     
On 15 June 1993, the day Mr. Heydar Aliyev assumed leadership at the persistent requests of the people at a time when the political, economic and social crisis of Azerbaijan’s independence brought it the brink of civil war. Mr. Heydar Aliyev was twice, on 03 October, 1993 and October 11, 1998, elected a President of Azerbaijan with overwhelming majority. The first years of Heydar Aliyev’s presidential tenure were most crucial. He became a President of the country with collapsed economy, internal and foreign rivals, with a neighboring Armenia occupying the districts of the unguarded country. In a short span of time, Mr. Aliyev formed a National Army, which was able not only to halt aggression but also liberate a significant part of the occupied lands.

One of the main achievements of Mr. Heydar Aliyev that paved way to the economic revival of the country was his oil strategy. It was based on making politically stable Azerbaijan with further attraction of the Western capital to the exploration of the huge on- and off-shore hydrocarbon reserves of the country and transportation them to the World markets via diversified routes.

On September 20, 1994, the oil contract, later called a “Contract of Century”, was signed with the Western oil companies in Baku. Neither coup attempt nor outside and inside pressures could break a will of the Azerbaijani leader.  This contract instilled a confidence to those who were full of doubts about the future of the newly born Republic.
As a part of the strategy it was decided to transport the hydrocarbons through different routes. Thus the Baku-Novorossiysk (Russia), Baku-Supsa (Georgia) oil pipelines were commissioned. Agreement for construction of Baku-Tbilisi-Jeyhan oil and Baku-Tbilisi- Erzurum gas pipe-lines were also reached. Thus, Mr. Aliyev undertook the next important step for ensuring long-term political and economic interests of Azerbaijan.
The visionary Azerbaijani leader took active steps for making country a regional transport hub as well. An ambitious interstate programme TRACECA aimed at supporting the political development in Black Sea, Caucasus and Central Asia by means of development of the international transport.
The successful integration into the global economy, economic liberalization in the country, Azerbaijan’s growing credit rating, the annually increasing state budget and foreign exchange reserves are strong indications of a stable economy built by Mr. Aliyev since 1993. Development of the non-oil sector is also a result of President Aliyev’s vision. By handing over the land to private ownership, Mr. Aliyev ensured the country’s food security.

Construction of a democratic, law-governed state, development of civil society, return to the national and spiritual values as well as development of science, education and culture in Azerbaijan are forever linked with the name of late president of Azerbaijan. The adoption of the Constitution and the principle of powers separation, the alignment of the legal framework and national laws with international standards are integral parts of the program implemented under the leadership of Mr. Heydar Aliyev.

As a result of Mr. Aliyev’s activity, Azerbaijan, capitalizing on its geo-strategic, economic and cultural potential, started to play the role of a reliable bridge between the East and the West and become one of the most dynamic economies in the world.

Leader of Azerbaijan introduced a balanced foreign policy, based on the interests of the country. Azerbaijan got integrated into the political structures of the East and West both. His successful foreign policy contributed to the growing international authority of the country, which is now perceived as a reliable partner, and to its promotion as a reformist and ambitious state. That was also during the presidential tenure of Mr. Heydar Aliyev when Islamic values, which were not much welcomed during the Soviet era, started developing. Construction of new mosques, reconstruction of shrines, setting Islamic education institutions goes to his credit.

The establishment of Pakistan – Azerbaijan relations is also linked with the name of Mr. Heydar Aliyev. His meetings with the then President of Pakistan Mr. Farooq Ahmad Khan Leghari and the Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in1995 and 1996 accordingly, and agreements reached during the visits, formed a base of these ties.

President Aliyev passed away in on 12 December, 2003. People of Azerbaijan highly value the legacy of their National Leader. 15 June, the day when Mr. Heydar Aliyev returned to Baku is celebrated as a National Salvation Day. Heydar Aliyev Foundation lead by First Lady of Azerbaijan, Goodwill Ambassador of UNESCO and ISESCO, Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva with the main goal to implement large-scale projects and programs in line with the late President’s ideas of Azerbaijan's progress was established on 10 May, 2004. In the framework of Foundation’s activity abroad, the number of projects in education, health, humanitarians’ fields in all provinces of Pakistan were implemented.

Inside Hamid Mir Episode

By Tariq Rizwan

GEO is a popular channel and seen across the country. It is providing employment to thousands of Pakistanis but its characterless owner Mir Shakil ur Rehman is bent upon closing the channel to deprive these employees of their bread and butter. The game started when a senior anchor person of ARY Channel Mr Mubashir Lucman has recently revealed that he has received life threat from MSR, five months ago.

Mir Shakil ur Rehman is a Pakistani media mogul and philanthropist. As a businessman, he is known as founder 24-hour news cycle network, Geo TV, as well as its executive. In addition, he is the owner of the Jang Group, that was started by his father Mir Khalil ur Rehman and part owner of the Independent Media Corporation. This media group publishes a number of Newspapers and Magazines in Urdu and English. IMC also owns the Geo TV network.

In late 1990s, during Nawaz Sharif second term as Prime Minister, Mir Shakil ur Rehman was found involved in tax evasion and cases were framed against his news group amounting to 40 million US dollars, followed by freezing of bank accounts and seizure of their assets. The government withdrew after some controversial phone conversations between government’s aides and MSR, which the later made public to blackmail the government and succeeded.

Mir Shakil ur Rehman established a Television channel network by the name of Geo TV in 2002. Achievements Business Week magazine, in a report published in the issue of 11 July 2005, selected Mir Shakil ur Rehman in its list of 25 Stars of Asia, for their role in bringing change in their respective field in Asia. They wrote that Geo TV launched by MSR has become one of the most popular TV channels in Pakistan. The GEO TV network has quickly evolved into Pakistan's biggest network of channels.

It is an open secret now, who were the killers of Wali Khan Babar; everybody knows about the group behind it. May be the same group behind Hamid Mir firing and MSR’s kidnapping. Mir Shakil ur Rehman (Owner of Geo and Jang) was kidnapped, sodomized and photographed in the past as revealed by PPP stalwart Dr Zulfiqar Mirza(the former Provincial Home Minister) in Sindh Assembly.

The video clip is a startling disclosure of the kidnapping of Mir Shakil ur Rehman by a gangster (Aman Dalmia) in Karachi. He was repeatedly sodomized and photographed for a number of years until he was rescued by Mr. Asif Ali Zardari , Dr. Zulfiqar Mirza, and Mr. Agha Siraj Durrani (now Speaker of the Sindh Assembly). Dr. Mirza has the damaging photographs in his possession as stated by him in the video. MSR was so scared that he neither challenged the video and the group involved nor took any legal notice against Dr. Mirza or to the Speaker of the Sindh Assembly. The video remains part of the records of the Assembly.

This event of abuse and repeated sexual assaults, humiliation and degradation has left lasting psychological effects on Mir Shakil ur Rehman making him bipolar. This has led to psychotic symptoms such as hearing voices, paranoia (of perceived threats) visual hallucinations and false beliefs of special powers or identity (Like he can no more change governments). He has taken it personal and became disappointed from the state authorities.

To pursue his wild imaginations of being a power player, he started interacting and befriending enemy intelligence agencies, taking funding from foreign governments to disseminate their agenda in Pakistan. Programs and editorial content that are contrary to the beliefs and principles of our nation and religion are propagated in Jang and Geo.

Subsequently, the financial and business sector of Pakistan continued its blackmailing game led by MSR and the Jang Group and involves a name of Jahangir Siddiqui in the scheme of things. Mir Shakil ur Rehman is mostly rallying on his confidants in the team like Hamid Mir, Saleem Safi and Ansar Abassi to forward the assigned agenda from abroad.  

For the purpose of record, Mir Shakil ur Rehman’s daughter is married to Jahangir Siddiqui’s son Ali. Mir Shakil ur Rehman has been seen exerting his media power to support JS Group’s various fights with regulators in Pakistan like SBP and SECP and other business groups. The SECP has moved against the JS Group in the instances of a criminal case against the group in the Azgard Nine Scandal, inquiries against the group in the illegal transfer of shares of PICT to Switzerland causing a loss to mutual fund holders of the group and a huge bonus to Ali Jahangir Siddiqui are considered as frontline reasons which did not allow for the deal to go through. JS Bank has had a role to play in each of the above transactions. There are also indications that the group is being investigated for money laundering.

Recently, a story was leaked which is nothing but an egg in the face for Mir Shakil ur Rehman’s Jang Group and Jahangir Siddiqui. A report was published in Hindustan Times on September 29, 2013 that claimed that Dawood Ibraahim was behind the launch of an upcoming TV network in Pakistan and it was being fronted by Aqeel Karim Dhedhi. BOL TV network was also alleged to being set up by ISI in order to bring down the popular Geo TV. Hindustan Times did an internal inquiry and found out that the report was published by Hindustan Times at the insistence of MSR with Jahangir Siddiqui in their Mumbai office. Pakistan’s Express Tribune has shown some courage and placed the report as “Indian campaign on ISI exposed”

The ARY anchor person, Mubashar Lucman has done two programs on 25th and 26th October which have featured Aqeel Karim Dhedhi, the Pakistani businessmen who have laid bare the blackmailing by Mir Shakil ur Rehman and Jahangir Siddiqui and how that has affected his business interests. May be that firing  on Hamid Mir has been shot by foreign enemies to ignite the flames in the country’s economic hub, Karachi.

The writer is a freelance journalist based at London, UK

Kalat Operation: Countering Anti-State Baloch Elements

                                

Posted by Dr Muhammad Faheem Belharvi

Every patrotic Baloch knows that the Kalat search operation in the Balochistan province of Pakistan is against the foreign funded and foreign sponsored anti-state outfits like Baloch Liberation Army, United Baloch Army and Baloch Republican Army. These groups are involved in killing of innocent and poor Pakistanis in train bomb blasts, destruction of national assets like gas pipelines, railway lines etc. The aims of these suverisve acts are to weaken the state, public infrastructure, while coercing the economy to fulfill external agenda of the US, India and some western powers.

Farrari camps (Hideouts), located in far off mountains of Balochistan are sanctuaries for these terrorists where they have a lavish living. Sophisticated equipments and gadgets have been recovered from these areas including non detectable satellite phones, solar panels and state of the art weapons. Their defenses are well-planned and weapon system—sited in a deliberate well-organized manner. There is clear proof of external hands, because no indigenous movement or group can afford to have such high-technological weapons and sophisticated gadgets.

In the recent past, bomb blast in Jaffar Express resulted into killing of the innocent Pakistanis, especially the Baloch and Pakhtuns, while the poor were travelling in the cheapest mode of conveyance. The perpetrators were the Baloch sub-nationalists who have lost sense of morality and human compassion. Foreign secret agencies can easily buy their loyalties, as they sell themselves for petty gains and readily fulfill the objectives of their foreign masters.

It is notable that India, US and Israel have been internationalizing the Balochistan issue in accordance with their secret goals. In this respect, in connivance with the Baloch separatist leaders who have taken refuge in Switzerland, Sweden, US and London, these external entities use media, various NGOs and human rights organizations for false propaganda against Pakistan’s armed forces including other security  agencies in relation to extrajudicial killings, mutilated bodies and the missing persons.

While, regarding aggravated situation of Balochistan and the missing persons, everyone knows that Balochistan Liberation Army and Baloch sub-nationalist including another group, Jundollah (God’s soldiers) which have been fighting for secession of the province gets logistic support from American CIA and Indian RAW—these militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in the province. They also massacred many persons through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. Therefore, they are responsible for dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings in the province. On a number of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their subversive acts. A majority of the disappeared individuals are also in the detention centers which are being run by Baloch feudal lords (Sardars) who want to continue old system of feudalism in the province.

It is because of these reasons that during the missing persons’ case, nothing was proved in the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the armed forces and other security agencies. There are only a few anti-state Baloch separatists and Sardars, who are exploiting the situation in their own favour. In fact, these anti-Pakistan elements are creating hype on the issue of missing persons in order to distort the image of the country, all the Baloch and Pak Army at national and international level so as to obtain their own vested interest. Giving undue importance to the missing persons’ case by these few hostile entities is a diversionary tactics to downplay the actual issues of Balochistan, affecting the common Baloch populace. Thus, they have  not only been misguing the loyal Baloch, but are also diverting the attention of the majority of the people from the construtive and progressive works, conducted by the government and the Army in Balochistan.

In this context, Government of Pakistan and the Army have sincere desire to address all the issues of the angry Baloch, who are being misguided by the anti-state outfits.

As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by the nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established in Balochistan, while on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in the province. However, these elections proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, and do not favour separation of the Balachistan, as they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by anti-Pakistan powers.  

It is mentionable that a Gallup survey of the UK official body, DFID, conducted on July 20, 212, had disclosed that the vast majority of the Baloch people oppose the idea of an independent Balochistan. This survey has also proved that some external elements have been conducting acts of sabotage in the province by backing the minority groups.

Nevertheless, projects relating to the socio-economic uplift has been top priority of Government of Pakistan. In 2013, Rs. 43.19 billions on account of Development Fund were given to the elected Baloch leadership of the provincial assembly. But, benefits of the second development programme funds, issued to MNAs and MPAs of Balochistan are not trickling down to common Baloch. No doubt, a huge amount has been provided to the Baloch political leadership, but no significant development project has been initiated in Balochistan. It is entirely up to the concerned Baloch Sardars or Nawabs to ensure that a common Baloch reaps the benefits of development. They should implement the development project as per plan.

As regards the positive role of Army, in 2011, I had visited Balochistan along with other journalists. I saw a number of institutes, set up by army, and these were providing education, especially technical training to thousands of Balochis. Besides other developments works, Pak Army was also imparting army training to the Baloch youth. So, the purpose of army is to uplift the Baloch people with creation of jobs and to bring them in the mainstream of the country. However, I had also a trip to far-flung areas of the province and witnessed various mega projects and mineral sites, protected by the armed forces. People also told me that subversive events are being arranged by the minority separatist elements so as to create chaotic situation in the province.

Pakistan’s armed forces and law-enforcing agencies are ready to sacrifice their lives to save their Balochi brethren from foreign sponsored anti-state Baloch sub-nationalists. In this respect, Pakistan Army’s relief efforts in Awaraan Earthquake is testimony of their resolve to sacrifice everything for helping Baloch brothers in distress, agony and grief.  

Now, it is the duty of our Baloch brothers to identify these anti-state elements which are sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan and get secluded from them. The armed sub-nationalist elements are defaming patriotic Baloch by committing heinous crimes. Honorable Baloch brethren should get united and put up a collective response to counter these elements by undermining their nefarious designs, aimed at destabilizing the state of Pakistan and tarnishing its image including that of the armed foces. The loyalist Balochis must know that separatist entities of the province are bringing bad name to the noble people of Balochistan, and therefore must be condemned assertively.  

Undoubtedly, the Baloch are patriotic Pakistanis, but they must not be indoctrinated by the anti-state elements’ propaganda by becoming reluctant, having reservations over priorities set by the federal and provincial governments for their benefits.

Nonetheless, it is the duty of every Pakistani, and particulary every Balochi including members of the civil society and the media persons to give a matching respons to the hostile entities of Balachistan. In this connection, by countering anti-state Baloch elements, they must draw a clear picture of the province regarding Kalat operation and other efforts, made by the civil and military authorities for the benefits of Balochistan.

(By Sajjad Shaukat)

Carlotta Gall & US Twofold Diplomacy towards Pakistan

                 

Posted by Dr Muhammad Faheem Belharvi

Despite the fact that a number of strategic institutes and thinktanks play a key role in formulation of American external policies, but contradictory statements of the US president, high officials and media have always reflected that the United States has been acting upon a twofold diplomacy twards Pakistan.  

In the last few years, while ignoring the responsibilities of the US, ISAF and Karzai-led troops in Afghanistan, especially US civil and military high officials have unilaterally been blaming Pakistan to ‘do more’ against the militancy in the tribal regions in order to stop cross-border terrorism in Afghanistan. 

In this regard, the then US Defence Secretary Robert Gates, while repeating the false allegations had accused Pak Army and Pakistan’s intelligence agency, ISI of close contact with the Haqqani network and militant’s infilteration in Afghanistan. US Chairmen of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen had also alleged that ISI has been supporting, funding, training fighters that are killing Americans and killing coalition partners in Afghanistan. 

During her visit to India, the then US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, while showing US paradoxical approach had remarked, “New Delhi would bring prosperity and peace to India, Pakistan and Afghanistan…Pakistan must do more to tackle terror groups operating from its territory being used for attacks that destabilise Afghanistan or India.” And when she visited Pakisan, she said that Pakistan should take “strong steps to dismantle safe havens of Afghan insurgents and encourage Taliban to enter negotiations in good faith.” But she clarified that the US was not asking Pakistan to sacrifice its own security, saying, “Pakistan has a critical role to play in supporting Afghan reconciliation and ending the conflict.” Replying to a question that ISI was involved in attack on the US embassy in Kabul through Haqqani network, she categorically pointed out, “We have no evidence of that.”

The US Secretary of State explained, “Her country is also committed to the economic development of Pakistan”, and “supports regional economic integration between Pakistan and all its neighbours.”

However, if we take note of the US strategy about Pakistan, we observe that American policy goals are quite unclear. Sometimes, US top officials admire Pak Army’s action against the Taliban militants including arrests of the top Al Qaeda commanders by the ISI, sometimes, they revive their blame game against ISI including its links with the Haqqani network, sometimes they accuse that Al Qaeda Shura has been operating from Pakistan, sometimes, they misconceive that Pak nukes are not safe, sometimes, they show their determination to maintain ties with Pakistan and sometimes they threaten to stop aid of Islamabad, while sometimes to carry on the same.  

The fact of the matter is that US has been acting upon a twofold diplomacy towards Pakistan. In this context, American CIA with the help of Indian RAW and Israeli Mossad has continuously been weakening Pakistan through subversive acts which keep on going in the country because it is the only nuclear state in the Islamic World. Washington which signed an agreement of civil nuclear technology with New Delhi in 2008 wants to counterbalance China by India. US-led some western countries also have tilt towards India as they consider it their larger market at the cost of Pakistan. 

Nevertheless, Pakistan which had been granted the status of Non-NATO ally by America has now become a target of maliscious propaganda. Besides the collective connivance of their secret agences, the media of the US, India and some western countries leave no stone unturned in distorting the image of Pakistan, its army and ISI by continuing old allegations in wake of new developments. 

In this connection, a female journalist, Carlotta Gall has always showed venomous drive against Pakistan. She has allegedly stated, “The Red Mosque stood at the centre of Pakistan’s support for Jihad in Afghanistan and throughout Muslim world. That Pakistan’s strategy is to show cooperation with the America’s fight against terrorism while covertly abetting and even coordinating Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants. 95% of Taliban fighting in Afghanistan are educated and trained in Haqqania Madrassa in Akora Khattak”.  But, it is the past story when Soviets were the occupiers in Afghanistan, and Jihadi factions were used as a fodder to implement US amd Western plan.

In her book, titled “The Wrong Enemy: America in Afghanistan 2001-2004”, Carlotta Gall wrote: “The terror attack on the Indian Embassy in Kabul in 2008 that left 58 people dead, was sanctioned and monitored by senior officials of Pakistan’s ISI”. This is a deliberate lie, because there is no evidence to substantiate this allegation. In late 1970s and early 1980s, when Soviet forces were forced to withdraw from Afghanistan with active cooperation of Pakistan, the then government believed that Pakistan would have strategic depth in Afghanistan. In 1950s and 1960s, the then Pakistan governments had found strategic depth in Iran, as Tehran was member of CENTO. But that was a flawed policy. Now, Pakistan as a nation has confidence in itself and its armed forces, and does not look for strategic depth in other countries. 

Partucularly, there is a paradigm shift in Pakistan’s policy, and Islamabad has a hands off policy regarding Afghanistan, despite negative propaganda by western intelligentsia including Carlotta Gall who stated, “Organizers of insurgencies in Afghanistan are in Pakistan and that these are well protected by ISI”. Anyhow, Pakistan neither harbor ambitions, nor has the intention to interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs. Pakistan government has taken confidence building measures and has given gestures to show its sincerity that it desires to see Afghanistan as a stable and peaceful country.

It was owing to this realization that none of the Afghan President candidates resorted to Pakistan-bashing during their recent election campaign.

 Pakistan’s cooperation in Global War on Terror has been an outstanding feature of NATO’s Afghan campaign. But Carlotta Gall is trying to defame Pakistan on the lines of India by accusing that Islamabad is playing a double game. Such allegations are baseless and wicked in nature. Carlotta Gall’s accusations about Red Mosque and assassination of Benazir Bhutto are reflections of a sick mind. She is a senior journalist who at the present, covers Pakistan and Afghanistan for New York Times. Unfortunately, Carlotta Gall showed utter disregard to the journalistic norms, and also did not bother about her self-respect and dignity. Her allegations about Gen. Musharraf, Shuja Pasha and Ziauddin Butt are totally unfounded; and so is the case of her false reporting about Hafiz Saeed and Mulla Omer. Her malicious propaganda against Pakistan, Pak Army and ISI is an effort to denigrate these institutions and create a market for selling her book. As a journalist, she should not stoop so low as to defame a state and its national institutions to make money or to achieve personal prominence. 

Undoubtedly, she works with anti-Pakistan elements like Fareed Zakria, an Indian national who always showed a deep-seated animosity against Pakistan and leaves no stone unturned in showing Pakistan in bad light. New York Times often published stories denigrating Pakistan and its key institutions, and the excerpts of Carlotta Gall’s book were also published in the form of an article by this daily. In the past, apart from America’s duplicity, American media is also responsible for deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the United States. The downward slide in relations had begun when a CIA contractor Raymond Davis shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore. This was followed by the cladestne American raid which killed Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad—an operation that was seen as a open violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty. Ties hit their lowest level after the US attack on two Afghan border posts on 26, 2011 which killed 24 Pakistani soldiers. While, the US realized its mistakes by expressing regret over the incident, and tendered apology in that respect. When efforts are being made to remove the misunderstandings, American media and writers should not throw spanner in the works.

As regards the issue of cross-border terrorism, it is notable that since April, 2011, about  200 to 500 heavily-armed insurgents from Afghanistan’s side entered Pakistan’s region from time to time. They targeted the security check posts and other infrastructure of the tribal areas, and killed several innocent persons and personnel of the security forces. In his meeting with the NATO/ISAF Commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Joseph F Dunford on April 1, 2013, Gen. Kayani asked him to stop cross-border infiltration from Afghanistan.Nonetheless, the book of Carlotta Gall is a part of nefarious and venomous anti-Pakistan propaganda which reflects the US twofold diplomacy towards Pakistan. (By Sajjad Shaukat)