War of Terror By: Amjad Malik MA, LLM
9/11 was the most tragic incident in this decade which brought so much hatred; vengeance along with it, as well as, it brought the ancient civilisations on to a flash point where tolerance and forbearance was lost somewhere down the line. Along with it came the new drive of a war against terrorism where enemy was unseen and it was a myth and ‘religious terrorism’ was invented prejudging the billions of people of one faith linking to intolerance and radicalisation. Pakistan too was asked to submit to the mighty power or was asked to face the consequences and be ready to go to the time of caves. Unlike Turkey who rejected an offer of over 35 billion aid package in exchange of allowing the mighty to use its territory to turn Iraq into rubble, Pakistani rulers devoid of legality in its newly installed regime caved in easily without any honourable settlement of their outstanding debts or without guaranteeing and addressing any threat to their national security in the form of retaliatory attacks. When we look back US is asking receipt and weaker can only give explanations as Sovereign states seldom plunge their soldiers into a war whose results and risks are not calculated.
Pakistani army has lost around a thousand soldiers as a result of their active participation in the north of their country bordering areas of Afghanistan. In North and South Waziristan locals are taking up arms against its own military personnel. Both sides are picking up dead bodies and both sides are declaring them ‘martyrs.’ In civilised countries issues pertaining to country’s sovereignty and integrity are presented in parliament for approval however same countries support weaker regimes in order to avoid a parliamentary oversight over sensitive matters. Pakistan is giving its unstinted support to United Sates for the second time. Last time it came to the region in 70’s, Bhuttoo was hanged prior to its arrival. This time post in 1999, Sharif was not less than Bhuttoo in receiving the similar treatment when he was exiled for a period of 8 years and he was facing a charge punishable to death. When I compare this with UK’s Prime Minister Tony Blair who strolled after completing his half 3rd term in office and was made an envoy to middle east, I was trying to understand as to why in third world countries strong Parliament is not supported by the West. I have seen that only lip service is provided on the name of restoring true democracy, freedom of judiciary and media in military regimes only to tame the incumbent rulers to join the club or face the music.
Time has come that newly elected government of Pakistan post 18 February brings all those items for approval of Parliament including any tacit understanding between two countries which is used as a back ground to use fire at will in the northern areas of Pakistan and missiles are landing like fireworks and people of Pakistan are facing suicidal attacks almost every week nearly 80 in 2007 alone. Parliament must pave the way for a better understanding on the issue considering war on terror as an international issue and contribute according to its worth and in line with their requisite international share. I think it’s also worth considering Saudi King Abdullah’s suggestions to form and international intelligence sharing mechanism in order to combat the worldwide common menace of terrorism. If we do not trust to share then we will always be pointing fingers. British Home Secretary Jackie Smith during her visit to Pakistan rightly said that terrorism is a global and joint problem and as UK and Pakistan are finding each other’s accused in each other’s countries therefore only a joint cooperation can foil the plots of organised criminals.
Parliament is up with a heavy task either to show whiter than white philosophy and show maturity to take the peg from military to run the state as it deserves or continue beating the opposition politicians with shoes as if that’s the only way to revenge. People have forgotten that Late Be Nazir declared ‘democracy as the best revenge’ from dictatorship and Progress and success is the best reward this newly elected can give it to its voters. Pakistan is up with severe challenges to its economy, security and system including institution(s). A healthy political activity can reduce tension amongst institutions and pave way to reduce radicalisation of mind and aggressiveness in the attitude, trying to address common grouses which jeopardise mutual harmony and good will. Federation stays if the tolerance in true sense is practised and preached. Ball is in the court of politicians to come up to the task as it’s never too late, they need to abreast the challenges and bring some revolutionary changes in the social sector giving relief to a common man, and newly elected must see eye to eye to the challenges the country faces without losing its allies but saying ‘no’ to our old masters where it deems necessary, bring judiciary to a standard of at least our glorious heritage and run the system of civil administration smoothly addressing all the threats to it from within. Qauid’s Pakistan is waiting for people of Pakistan to deliver.
Amjad Malik is a Solicitor-Advocate of the Supreme Court (England) and a political analyst based in UK
8 April 2008
- Posted by valiantpk on 08/04/2008.
- valiantpk's site
Please sign in or join etribes to add comments.
