Dr Shahid Masood: Theft, Slander, Lies and Phobia, all in one - An analysis by Qais Anwar

By Qais Anwar

I wrote the following article for LUBP (Let us build Pakistan) but , after watching the yesterday's Meray Mutabiq, I could not stop myself from posting it on [another website]. ..... now more and more right wingers are mentioning LUBP on the TV. A few days ago I saw Irfan Siddiqui mentioning it. [Here is an analysis of Dr Shahid Masood's journalism.]

شاہد مسعود ۔۔۔ سرقہ ؛ دشنام طرازی؛ دروغ گوءی؛ اور جاوے ای جاوے کا مرض

خاموش فلموں کا دور شروع ہوا تو خوبصورت چہرہ اور خوبصورت آواز دونوں ہی پردہ سکرین پر آنے کا معیار بن گءیں ۔ سریلی آواز سے محروم خوبصورت چہرے اس وقت تک انڈسٹری میں

جگہ بنانے سے محروم رہے جب تک پس منظر گانے کا رواج شروع نہ ہوا۔ ہاں مکالمہ نگار شروع سے ہی مختلف تھا۔ اداکار کا کمال یہ ہوتا تھا کہ سب یہ سمجھیں کہ گانے کی آواز بھی اس کی ہے؛ مکا لمہ بھی اس کا اور اداءیگی بھی اسکی۔ ہاں ٹا ءیٹل پر ہمیشہ اصل لوگوں کے نام لکھےجاتے۔ ٹی وی شروع ہوا تو یہ روایت برقرار رہی۔ٹاءیٹل پر مسودہ لکھنے والے ؛ ہدایت کار سمیت سب کے نام آتے رہے ۔ ہاں کبھی کبھی یہ بھی ہواکہ خبط عظمت میں مبتلا لوگ دوسروں سے لکھوا کر اپنےنام سے پیش کرلیتے ۔ ہمارے شاہد مسعود کو بھی شوق تھا کہ وہ خوبصورت لفظ استعمال کریں ۔یہ سچاءی کہ وہ کس کے لفظ بولتے ہیں اس وقت تک لوگوں سے مخفی رہی جب تک انہوں نے اپنے ایک پروگرام کے ابتداءیے میں عرفان صدیقی کا وہ کالم نہیں پڑھ دیا جو ایک دن پہلے نواءے وقت میں چھپ چکا تھا یا پھرجب تک موصوف نے خود ہی کالم نگاری پر طبع آزماءی نہ شروع کر دی۔ پہلے پہل یہ وہ کالم ہی تھے جو ان کی اصل ذہنیت کو سب کے سامنے لے آءے ۔ پاکستانی صحافت کی تاریخ میں سب سے زیادہ گھٹیا پن تک اترنے کا سابقہ اعزازروزنامہ سیاست کو حاصل تھا جو اس حد تک پہنچ جاتا تھا کہ موت کی کوٹھری میں بند ذولفقار علی بھٹو کے لیے ’پاگل ہو گیا’ جیسی شہ سرخیاں لگایا کرتاتھا ۔

لفظوں کے سرقے کے ساتھ ساتھ شاہد مسعود دروغ گوءی کو اس حد تک لے گءے کہ پیشہ صحافت سے وابستہ لوگوں نے بھی اس پر کراہت کا اظہار کرنا شروع کردیا۔ ابھی یہ پچھلے سال ہی کی بات ہے کہ انہوں نے جیو کے پروگرام جواب دہ میں یہ دعوی کیا کہ ڈاکٹر عشرت العباد ان کے ہم جماعت ہیں ۔ اس کا کامران خان نے یہ کہہ کر بھانڈا پھوڑ دیا کہ وہ ہم جماعت تو کیا ہم مکتب بھی نہیں رہے۔

جنرل پرویز مشرف کے استعفی کے ایک دن بعد شاہد مسعود نے رخصتی کے نام سے ایک کالم لکھا جس میں فرمایا’یہ انتہاءی مشکل تقریر تھی جس کا انتظام ایوان صدر میں صدارتی آفس سے ملحقہ کمیٹی روم میں کیا گیا تھا ۔ ایوان صدر میں صدر کے ذاتی عملے کے علاوہ صحافیوں میں صرف میں ہی وہاں موجود تھا ۔۔۔۔۔۔تقریر مکمل کرنے کے بعد صدر میری جانب بڑھے اور اور میں نے گزرے ہفتے میں دوسری بار تھینکس شاہد کے الفاظ سنے۔ تقریر کے بعد صدر مکمل طور پر ریلیکس ہو گءیےتھے ۔ جب یہاں مہمانوں کے لیے چاءے آءی تو ان کے دل گرفتہ سٹاف نے چاءے پینے سے معزرت چاہی تو صدر مشرف نے ان سے کہا کہ وہ چاءے پیءیں اور صدر نے خود بھی یہاں سب کے ساتھ چاءے پی۔ ’ شاہد مسعود کے اس کالم میں بیان کردہ واقعات کی مختلف ذراءع نے فوری طور پر تردید کر دی ۔ لیکن اس میں سب سے اہم تردید سماء ٹی وی کے حسن کاظمی کی تھی جو انہوں نے جنگ گروپ کو ایک ای میل کے ذریعے بھیجی۔ ان کے مطابق ڈاکٹر شاہد مسعود تو سرے سے وہاں موجود ہی نہیں تھے ۔میں (حسن کاظمی)وہاں اپنی میزبان عظمی الکریم کے ساتھ تھا ۔۔۔اور میرے پروڈیوسر عدیل احمد بھی وہاں موجود تھے ۔تقریر صدر کے دفتر سے نشر کی گءی تھی نہ کہ کمیٹی روم سے ۔۔۔۔۔ صدر نے میری ہم کار عظمی الکریم سے ہاتھ ملایا ۔ پھر میرے پروڈیوسر عدیل احمد اور معین خان کے ساتھ ۔۔۔۔اس وقت ان کے دفتر میں بالکل چاءے نہیں پیش کی گءی ۔۔۔۔

شاہد مسعود کی ذہنی ساخت کو سمجھنے کے لیے ان کے اسی کالم کے ان الفاظ کو دیکھنا بہت ضروری ہے ’ گزرے آٹھ برسوں میں میری گفتگو اور تجزہوں کا بنیادی ہدف ہی صدر مشرف کی پالیسیاں رہیں اور میں گیارہ ستمبر کے بعد ان کے لاءحہ عمل سے لے کر نومبر ۲۰۰۷ءکے ماوراءے آءین اقدامات تک ۔ تنقید کے ڈونگرے بساتا رہا اک عجب احساس یہ تھا کہ اب وہ ہدف اپنی جگہ سے ہٹ رہا ہے جو میرے مد مقابل رہا اور نءے اہداف کا تعین اب میرے مجھ جیسے تجزیہ نگاروں کے لیے فوری دشوار ہو گا ایک خلا ء کا احساس ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔۔’شاہد مسعود کا یہ نکتہ بہت اہم ہے کہ جنرل مشرف کے دور میں الیکٹرا نک میڈیا کی آمد کے ساتھ ہی جاوے ای جاوے کے نعروں کی گونج میں تجزیہ نگاروں کی ایک بڑی کھیپ وجود میں آءی ۔ ان میں سے بہت سوں نے آمر کے غیر اخلاقی اقدامات کا غیر اخلاقی اقدامات سے مقابلہ اپنے تجزیوں کا حصہ بنا لیا۔منافع کی تلاش میں اپنے ناظرین کی تعداد میں اضافے کا خواہش مند میڈیا اس طرح کے تجزیوں کو جگہ دینے کے لیے بالکل تیار تھا۔اس ماحول میں جہاں صالح ظافر جیسے لوگ جنرل مشرف کی ہاوس اریسٹ کی خبریں تک چلا دیتے تھے شاہد مسعود جیسے دروغ گوءی کے عادی کے لیے خاصی جگہ موجود تھی۔ نءی حکومت بننے کے بعد ان لوگوں کو اہم مناسب پر فاءز کرنے کی بجاءے زیادہ ضروری تھا کہ ہدف کے متلاشی شاہد مسعود جیسوں کی نو سازی پر توجہ دی جاءے ۔

rehabilitation = نو سازی

شیری رحمان شاید یہ کام کر لیتں لیکن شاہد مسعود کو پی ٹی وی کا چءیر پرسن بنا دیا گیا ۔ راوی بتا تا ہے کہ شاہد مسعود ذرداری صاحب کی پبلک ریلیشننگ کا کام بڑھ چڑھ کر نبھا رہے تھے لیکن شیری اور شاہد کی باہمی مسابقت شاہد مسعود کی شکست پر منتج ہوءی ۔ ذرداری نے شاہد مسعود کو نہیں بچا یا اور یوں شاہد مسعود کو وہ ہدف مل گیا جس کی اسے تلاش تھی۔

ہدف کی طرف بڑھتے بڑھتے شاہد مسعود پستی کی اس دلدل میں اتر گءے جس کی انتہا ان کے کالم جءے بھٹو کی شکل میں ظاہر ہوءی۔بہت سے لوگ اس کالم کا جواب دے چکے ہیں اس لیے میں یہاں اس کالم کا صرف ایک پہلو درج کرنے پر اکتفا کروں گا

اس کالم میں شاہد مسعود نے یہ بھی ثابت کرنے کی کوشش کی کہ محترمہ اپنے بچوں کو آصف زرداری سے بچا کر رکھتی تھیں اور ان کے طویل عرصہ تک جیل میں رہنے پر خوش تھیں ۔۔۔۔۔۔۔ دنیا کی بہترین درس گا ہوں سے فا رغ التحصیل خاتون یقینی طور پر اپنی اگلی نسل کو اس ذہنیت سے محفوظ رکھنا چاہتی تھی جو کسی سینما کے باہر ٹکٹ بلیک میلنگ کرکے یا ڈسکو کلبوں میں مار پیٹ وغیرہ میں ملوث ہو کر پیدا ہو جاتی ہے اور تبھی جب محترمہ کو اس حقیقیت کا اندازہ ہوا کہ ان کی وہ اولاد جو برس ہا برس سے۔۔۔اس کردار سے دور رہنے کے بعد خوش قسمتی سے اس کے اثرات سے محفوظ اپنے ذہنوں میں اس کے بارے میں ۔۔۔اچھے خواب بنے بیٹھی ہے……۔ خاوند اور بیوی کے تعلق اور باپ اور اولاد کے رشتے پر اس طرح کا تبصرہ صرف شاہد مسعود ہی کر سکتے ہیں۔

اور اب اٹھاءیس نومبر 2009 کا میرے مطابق ۔ جاوے ای جاوے کا مرض عروج پر ہے؛ شاہین صہباءی ؛ انصار عباسی اور اکرم شیخ دروغ گوءی اور دشنام طرازی میں مصروف ہیں ۔ ہاں اب تیا ری عدالتوں اور حکومت کے درمیان جھگڑا کرانے کی ہے۔ وہ شاہد مسعود جو پیلز پارٹی کے کا رکنوں کو گمراہ کرنے کے لیے خود کو بی بی کا ہمدرد ظاہر کرتے ہیں آصف زرداری کی دشمنی میں بی بی کے سخت ذاتی دشمن ڈاکٹر مبشر حسن کو میدان میں لے آءے ہیں

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Three ways (wishes) to get rid of President Zardari - By Nazir Naji

In the following op-ed, Nazir Naji notes that out of more than 8000 beneficiaries of the much publicized NRO, only 34 are politicians, and only 15 belong to PPP. Out of these 15, four have contested the list because they were not amongst the NRO beneficiaries, whereas others, it is widely known, were subject to political persecution by the establishment (Saif-ur-Rahman, Musharraf etc) in the guise of charges of corruption.

Naji also identifies three ways that the agents of establishment in Pakistani media (Mullah Media Alliance) are currently contemplating or hoping to get rid of President Zardari:

1. Take him out by (pressurizing) the Supreme Court (through a judicial decision against NRO).
2. Take him out by an internal revolt (by Yusuf Raza Gilani).
3. Take him out by a military coup.

Only if wishes were horses, pigs would fly....

Here is the complete article:

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In defense of Nawaz Sharif: Are our politicians corrupt? Is Pakistan Army a sacred cow?

Rauf Klasra reveals some interesting details of the alleged 60 million dollar corruption by Nawaz Sharif.

http://www.jang.com.pk/jang/nov2009-daily/26-11-2009/col12.htm

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Blackwater, bloody civilians and our holy cows in uniform: A tale of two stories

While the pro-Taliban and anti-democracy anchors and journalists want the Pakistani nation to believe that the democratic government (President Zardari et al) are responsible for the alleged Blackwater rule in Pakistan, Cyril Almeida offers an alternative, critical perspective highlighting the connection between ISI, MI and Blackwater.

A tale of two stories
By Cyril Almeida
Friday, 27 Nov, 2009 (Dawn)

‘In real terms, there is virtually nothing that can be done to stop Blackwater and its ilk from operating here. Secret military operations are the blackest of black holes, and if the media and the public kick up a fuss over Blackwater, the army will quietly switch to some other opaque tactic.’

Military men have been up to some very bad things, we’ve learned this week. But the very different reactions to two seemingly unrelated stories in the media tell us at least one thing: things aren’t going to get better any time soon.

First, over to Jeremy Scahill, writing in The Nation, US: ‘At a covert forward operating base run by the US Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in the Pakistani port city of Karachi, members of an elite division of Blackwater are at the centre of a secret programme in which they plan targeted assassinations of suspected Taliban and Al Qaeda operatives, ‘snatch and grabs’ of high-value targets and other sensitive action inside and outside Pakistan.’

Before you reach for your pitchfork to skewer evil Americans up to no good inside Pakistan without our leadership’s knowledge — military or civilian — consider what else Scahill has reported: ‘He [a former senior Blackwater executive] said that Blackwater is also working for the Pakistani government on a subcontract with an Islamabad-based security firm that puts US Blackwater operatives on the ground with Pakistani forces in counter-terrorism operations, including house raids and border interdictions, in the North West Frontier Province and elsewhere in Pakistan.’

‘Government’ can be misleading since it implies the civilian side of the state, but the story makes it clear elsewhere who inside Pakistan is really working with Blackwater: ‘According to the executive, Blackwater works on a subcontract for Kestral Logistics, a powerful Pakistani firm, which specialises in military logistical support, private security and intelligence consulting. It is staffed with former high-ranking Pakistani army and government officials.’

The reaction to these revelations should be severe; we don’t need America’s version of non-state actors, mercenaries, really, running around our country, whatever their purpose or utility. The fact that the Pakistan Army — that so-called bastion of professionalism and custodian of our national security — has acquiesced in or enabled the activities of these non-state actors as opposed to elected representatives — the so-called ‘bloody civilians’, aka politicians — doesn’t make it any better or well-thought-out an idea.

But here’s the problem: the selective outrage of the media and the public enables military men to remain immune from accountability.

On Tuesday, a front-page headline in Dawn proclaimed: ‘Intelligence agencies looking into oil, gas deals’. The accompanying article goes on to report: ‘According to sources, a team of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI) has collected record of the proposed transactions and interviewed the managing director of the Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and some senior officials of the petroleum ministry.’

Who authorised agencies run by the military to investigate commercial affairs? To whom is the ISI/MI team going to present its findings? To what purpose will the findings be applied? None of these questions have appeared to worry many here.

Fixated as the media and the public are on the corruption allegations that are churning the political waters at the moment, it seems to matter little who is probing corruption and why — just as long as someone is, there’s hope that the ‘dirty’ politicians can be drained from the swamp. It’s a simple, visceral reaction in a messy place where there are few good options: corruption, bad; those fighting corruption, good.

But bad as corruption may be, the revelation of the ISI/MI probe is, or ought to be, equally, if not more, unsettling. It is yet another piece of evidence that the transition to democracy, already shaky because of the political sins of the politicians, is headed in the wrong direction, and that the military is perhaps quietly working to nudge it in that wrong direction.

A bold pronouncement? Consider this. It is an open secret by now that President Zardari and the army high command have rocky relations. Neither really likes the other and some of that dislike is personal and some policy-driven. But the publicly known disagreements so far have been about policy issues: who controls the ISI, what is our declared nuclear posture, what conditions attached to US aid are acceptable.

Inserting the ISI and MI into the civilian domain to probe corruption, however, is not about policy, it is about politics. Only the incorrigibly naïve would believe that the intelligence team was sent over to fight corruption in the system.

But the point here is larger than the fate of Zardari or the government. The point is this: a law unto itself, the army’s actions remain frighteningly immune from accountability — and the lack of public and media opposition to its ‘good’ but possibly illegal actions (such as sending its intelligence operatives to investigate a very narrow, specific case of alleged corruption that could affect the presidential camp) means that there is absolutely no chance that the army’s bad and possibly illegal actions can ever be stopped.

In real terms, there is virtually nothing that can be done to stop Blackwater and its ilk from operating here. Secret military operations are the blackest of black holes, and if the media and the public kick up a fuss over Blackwater, the army will quietly switch to some other opaque tactic. And if that is subsequently exposed, too, the army will switch to a third.

Meaningful civilian oversight of the army is obviously a distant goal, but it will remain a chimera — an impossible idea — if the public and the media and the politicians never push back against the army on the smallest of issues.

That’s exactly what the corruption probe by the ISI/MI team should be: a relatively small matter on which there should be no ambiguity in denouncing it and demanding it be shut down at once.

There is, of course, no straight line between the army’s corruption probe and its murky arrangements with Blackwater. But the two stories fit into a bigger picture of the army setting and playing by its own rules. And unless the army gets its knuckles rapped for minor misdemeanours, why should it ever worry about being held accountable for its major sins?

cyril.a@gmail.com



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Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman: Do some soul searching please!

As to the media group [Jang Group / Geo TV] in question, they too need to do some soul searching to establish whether their practices of recent days are in conformity with best practice in journalism. Personalised vitriol may vent anger, but does not meet the test of impartiality, accuracy and restraint in recognition of the respect due to the head of state and high government functionaries. After all, the exchange should not degenerate to the level of a street brawl. None of the parties would come out of such a fracas smelling like roses.

Editorial in Daily Times, 27 Nov 2009

President Asif Ali Zardari delivered a hard-hitting speech at the PPP’s foundation day rally in Karachi, albeit from the presidency in Islamabad. Breaking his silence over what he termed were conspiracies being hatched to weaken his presidency and the PPP government, he vowed to fight all the “political actors” out to destabilise the democratic system. One media group in particular, which has for some time now has been waging what some have described as a concerted, motivated, vitriolic (at times bordering on the indecent) campaign against the incumbent in the presidency and the government led by the party of which he is the co-chairperson, came in for some harsh stick in the president’s address. Labelling them “pranksters masquerading as political actors”, he singled out the group’s editor and some TV anchorpersons for his harshest comments. He argued that neither the political parties nor the establishment were involved in trying to derail the system, only some “political jokers” were responsible for what he said was a vicious campaign to destabilise the government. He advised all such aspirants to a role in politics and those parties that had boycotted the last elections to wait their turn at the next elections, since the PPP and he had a mandate for five years and would see it through. Only the masses had the right to decide the fate of the PPP at the next elections, the president asserted.

It should not perhaps come as a surprise that the president has finally responded in like fashion to the heaps of calumny some media persons, and one group in particular, have been throwing at his person and the government for many months now. Pakistani politics is not known for civilised restraint, and the president may be forgiven for being all too human and succumbing to resentment after admirably holding his peace for all this time. Having said that, even if some concession is made to the fact that it was a political rally and the president was speaking in the avatar of the party co-chairperson, perhaps dignifying the visceral campaign against him and the government in mocking terms was not the right way to counter the one-sided tide. The PPP continues to suffer from a dearth of good media managers and spokespeople who can effectively counter criticism in an age of free media. Having vented his spleen, perhaps the co-chairperson should consider this weakness in the ranks of his party and government and take steps to bring forward people who do their homework diligently and are therefore well prepared against any onslaught, no matter from what quarter it emanates.

As to the media group in question, they too need to do some soul searching to establish whether their practices of recent days are in conformity with best practice in journalism. Personalised vitriol may vent anger, but does not meet the test of impartiality, accuracy and restraint in recognition of the respect due to the head of state and high government functionaries. After all, the exchange should not degenerate to the level of a street brawl. None of the parties would come out of such a fracas smelling like roses.

Restraint is advised to all sides in this controversy. The media group should revisit its policies and attitudes. The government and the presidency should also find better ways to counter what they regard as the spin against them in the media, fighting unacceptable arguments with better ones. On no account should the authorities indulge in heavy-handed tactics to try and intimidate the media or any part of it, as that will, in present-day Pakistan, have the opposite effect to that intended. Now that all is in the open, perhaps a truce or cooling off period on all sides should be the order of the day.

Read more...

Democrats, beware! - Article By Nadeem Paracha

In the following article, Nadeem Paracha offers a critical analysis of certain (pro-establishment, pro-Taliban and anti-democracy)elements in Pakistani media (e.g. Dr Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, Geo TV, and The News) who are dismantling the institution of democracy in Pakistan on various pretexts such as the anti-NRO and anti-politicians campaign.

The criticism against the PPP and PML (N) has very little to do with any constructive assessment, as such. On the contrary, quite like in the 1990s, some high profile newspaper reporters (and now also TV anchors) have yet again suddenly managed to get hold of ‘vital facts and figures on corruption,’ that have otherwise eluded even the most astute investigative reporters. Exactly where these facts and figures suddenly appear from, I’ll leave that to your own discretion. But the truth is these ‘reports’ read and sound more like anti-democracy indoctrination speeches than a crusading case of journalism, really. Have some columnists and TV personalities gotten down to once again preparing the ground for democracy’s disgrace? The alarming phenomenon is, that this time around these ‘forces’ (with their own tainted pasts) can now be seen on popular TV channels as well; meaning that this time the mantra against the ‘corrupt’ abomination called democracy is set to influence a much larger number of people.

Democrats, beware!
Ever since Field Martial Ayub Khan toppled a blundering conglomerate of civil servants and politicians in a military coup in 1958, as a culture, Pakistan was moulded into a desperate group of people to whom democracy was akin to corruption and chaos.

But compared to the 1950s, corruption scaled unprecedented heights during the Ayub dictatorship, and it was this corruption that generated a fresh interest in democracy among a new generation of politicians and youth in the 1960s.

Between 1967 and 1970, a movement led by progressive students and fiery politicians opened a new window of opportunity for democracy.

However, with the tragic dismemberment of the country in 1971 that saw East Pakistan become Bangladesh, this gave various politico-religious parties and conservative ‘pro-establishment’ politicians and intellectuals the fodder they needed to at once term the 1971 debacle as a demonic consequence of democracy.

In the 1970s this meant two things: first, that in spite of the exploitative ways the establishment had treated its Eastern wing, Bengalis were termed as ‘traitors.’ Secondly, some rightwing journalists and parties like the Jamaat-i-Islami started to claim that it was Bhutto who was responsible for the East Pakistan debacle.

Though a much loved leader, as Prime Minister, Bhutto awkwardly bounced between populist democracy and autocracy, in a way preparing his own downfall at the hands of forces that had been rejected by the electorate in the 1970 elections

Some suggest that Bhutto’s erratic behaviour in this context was mostly due to a concerted smear campaign against his personality (by the ‘rightwing press’) and against democracy itself that was said to be ‘undermining Islam’s place in Pakistan.’

Not surprisingly, during the 1977 elections, the anti-Bhutto coalition, the Pakistan National Alliance’s slogan became, ‘Nizam-i-Mustafa’ (a system based on Shariah).

Though Bhutto blundered by doctoring an election he could have won on his own, this gave his opponents the chance to pounce upon him like never before. But some opposition leaders panicked when Bhutto rallies once again started attracting large numbers of people.

A number of respected historians have claimed that the Alliance’s leadership then ‘requested’ the military (under General Ziaul Haq), to intervene, and which it gladly did.

Thus, in the next eleven years, state-owned media, politico-religious parties, anti-Bhutto politicians and educationists were used by the Zia dictatorship to engrave in the people’s minds the supposed incompatibility between Pakistan and democracy.

In the chaotic midst of rampant corruption, ethnic and sectarian violence, and the imposition of brutal laws (in the name of Islam) by the dictatorship, it continued to accuse democracy as a system that produced ‘monsters’ like Bhutto and divorced Islam from the political and social fabric of Pakistan.

The anti-democracy mantra and mindset cultivated during the dictatorship was now so well entrenched that even the revival of democracy after Zia’s death in 1988 failed to exorcise it.

Despite Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif’s own obvious shortcomings, it would not be far-fetched to suggest that at every turn during the 1990s, those associated with various intelligence agencies and politico-religious parties used a large section of the popular press to continue portraying democracy and democrats as abominations ‘planted by anti-Pakistan forces’ to ‘compromise Pakistan’s strategic victory in Afghanistan,’ and ‘work against Pakistan’s Islamic credentials’.

Another thing that was clearly exaggerated was the way democracy bred corruption because during the 1990s politicians weren’t any more or less corrupt than what they had been — along with a number of military men, bankers and businessmen — during the Zia dictatorship.

Today, some two years after the dramatic revival of democracy after the PPP, PML(N) and the lawyers’ movement successfully dislodged the Musharraf dictatorship, we are once again hearing the same mantra of ‘corruption’ and ‘incompetence’ coming from sections of the popular press and the private electronic media.

The criticism against the PPP and PML (N) has very little to do with any constructive assessment, as such. On the contrary, quite like in the 1990s, some high profile newspaper reporters (and now also TV anchors) have yet again suddenly managed to get hold of ‘vital facts and figures on corruption,’ that have otherwise eluded even the most astute investigative reporters. Exactly where these facts and figures suddenly appear from, I’ll leave that to your own discretion. But the truth is these ‘reports’ read and sound more like anti-democracy indoctrination speeches than a crusading case of journalism, really.

Have some columnists and TV personalities gotten down to once again preparing the ground for democracy’s disgrace?

The alarming phenomenon is, that this time around these ‘forces’ (with their own tainted pasts) can now be seen on popular TV channels as well; meaning that this time the mantra against the ‘corrupt’ abomination called democracy is set to influence a much larger number of people.

No wonder then, according to a recent British Council survey, a very small percentage of young Pakistanis have any faith in democracy; but up to 60 per cent of these young men and women trust the Army and, more alarmingly, up to 50 per cent exhibit faith in the madressahs — the very institutions that have been behind some of the messiest political, economic and cultural blunders that have continued to haunt Pakistan till this day. Source
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Sindhis responsible for 97% of corruption in Pakistan: NRO's message

By Abdul Nishapuri

Once again, it would appear that the rules are different for peoples from Sindh whereas politicians, bureaucrats and military personnel from Punjab and elsewhere are angels who do not have a spot of corruption on their careers. Or at least, that is what the establishment wants us to believe through its "NRO" tool.

NRO list out, 34 politicians among 8,000 beneficiaries
By Amir Wasim

Sunday, 22 Nov, 2009 (Dawn)

ISLAMABAD: A majority of the NRO beneficiaries have been bureaucrats and government officials as a list, released by the government on Saturday, contained names of only 34 politicians out of a total of 8,000.

According to the list, almost 97 per cent of the beneficiaries are from Sindh. The ordinance will lapse on Nov 28 in the light of the Supreme Court’s July 31 verdict in the PCO judges case.

The list shows that a total of 8,041 people — 7,793 from Sindh — have benefited from the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), promulgated by former president Pervez Musharraf on Oct 5, 2007.

These people have got withdrawn 3,478 cases (3,320 in Sindh) registered against them on charges of corruption, financial bungling, misuse of authority and criminal charges.

What do ordinary Pakistanis think about NRO?
(various sources including pkpolitics, friendskorner etc)

Pakistan said:
7,793 from Sindh, this does not mean that sindhis are corrupt.
Ghulam Agmad Bloor from ANP said on a TV show that 99% corruptionwas done in Punjab through loans written off ,by a specific part in punjab, and they built from sugar to terxtile industry.
These corrupt military, civil bureaucrats and government officials should be brought to justice.

This was time when every MNA and MPA in punjab was running to get loan and get write off and then develop a factry.

Worh to see that time a loan beneficiary and calculate the amount with interest toay.
———————————–
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/12-pms+wife+paid+rs455m+against+rs570m+liabilities–bi-07
———————————-

Wahid Doyum said:
How accurate are the cases against those on the list? NAB after all was run through Musharraf’s orders and the history of judiciary is well known.

waw said:
The above list is half of the looters. The list – which consists the gangsters from Sind- was prepared by the looters from Punjab when they (Nawaz and his team) were in government. Now the looters from Sind (Zardari and party) are in government and they are in process of preparing another list of gangsters who belong to Punjab. All these consist of one group- the looters of the nation. Now Nawaz Sharif is protecting them- Then Zardari will be protecting Nawaz. You can say two teams of looters – the lahori group and the larkana group- looting the country for the last 65 years.

agrana75 said:
This list is only for the “idiot” politicians who instead of buying judiciary and other related officials , preffered to get rid of the cases through NRO. There are many shrewd and clever politicians who foresaw long time ago that such ordinances had no long term validity and effect. They “managed” to get clear themselves through the judicary and NAB. Now, question is that no body investigating the “CRIME” even if some got acquittal from the courts, it looks some angels came down to earth and looted the money ands thats all.

i_shah said:
What about generals. they surely arent angles and have had major chunk of the national budget. I guess corruption is legal for them. afterall who needs to deal in cash when they get plots and agricultural land at dirt cheap prices:

http://www.satribune.com/archives/Aug17_23_02/P1_landgrabbing.htm#top

http://antisystemic.org/satribune/www.satribune.com/archives/200504/P1_ss3.htm

sabazbagh said:
Many of us MAY BE familiar with a fact that especially when an officer from the army reaches the rank of a ‘Brigadier’ he (& now a ’she’ also) is LITERALLY ‘OFFERED’ ON A SILVER PLATTER, a prized piece of land in any military cantonment & MAY BE, then or (sometimes earlier or later,) when he reaches the rank of a Major:/Lt:General, he is THEN AGAIN ‘OFFERED’ the best ‘PIECES’ of STUD FARMS/AGRICULTURAL LANDS; that he MAY HAVE NEVER DREAMED-OFF?

A major question is then normally asked by majority of lower rank officers, sitting within or outside GHQ that ‘WHY THEM & NOT US?

What is called a ‘rat-race’ is THUS INITIATED by senior military officers with the backing & greediness of their spouses.

Consequently, there is a lot of ‘heart-burning’ amongst the lower ranks, whether themselves officers, or other ranks (comprising of Jco’s, Nco’s & men.) Is there any JUSTIFICATION for such a dole-out or ‘charity, whatever you may call it?

In order to ‘lessen’ the so-called ‘heart-burning’ among junior officers of the rank of Lt:Colonels & Majors, it was THUS decided about 15/20 years back, to ‘DULY REWARD’ them too, by the ‘CHARITABLE ENDOWMENT’ organization called the GHQ.

This legacy of ‘buying-off’ the LOYALTIES of the officers-lot was left behind by our ‘clever & intelligent’ Britishers, who ‘devastated’ every facet of life, during their, over 200 years rule,) NOT AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE, BUT AT OURS!

Will ever any army officer voluntarily, (whether TODAY or TOMORROW,) return back to GHQ, the PRIZED land ( worth billions in Pak Rs) , house or a residential flat, ( worth millions?)
Your own answer, NOT SURPRISINGLY would be a big, NO !

murtazahasaan said:
The NRO list of Beneficiaries is not as big of an issue as the fight against terrorism. The media can help us unite to raise voice against terrorism. We are Pakistanis and we can do this.

sabazbagh said:
Whatever OTHER BENEFITS that a serving or a retired military officer obtains during his service with the civil govt, ( especially during past martial years of Ayub, Zia or any other, such era; they are usually ‘OVER & ABOVE’ what he gets from GHQ, either during his ‘pre’ or ‘post’ retirement period of service in the military.

I seriously think that the Ministry of Defense should also release a similar LIST, showing the names of beneficiaries of the three services, i.e; Pak Army Navy & Air Force, ‘who had their cake & ate it’ too & also ‘burned both ends of their candles’!

MAY BE, there will be so much of pressure by retired military officers upon the incumbent Service Chiefs,that such a list will NEVER see the light of the day.

MAYBE, (I AGAIN repeat MAYBE,) it could result in a ’swift, short & quick’ move by the military, to SAVE IT” s HOLY COWS , TOO, FROM PUBLIC EXPOSURE?

Adonis said:
Given the backdrop of all the propaganda and the virile hatred that many ignorant and gullible Pakistanis keep expressing about politicians, this list of NRO beneficiaries is an eye opener.

It is time for us to realize that our politicians are not the source of our problems, rather it is the corrupt civil and military bureaucracy.

Politicians are accountable to the people and in every elections they have to defend their deeds. If the political system is not derailed by power-hungry generals, the relatively few corrupt politicians can easily be purged by the democratic process.

hasankhan said:
cases should be reopen but if not proven relative people should be compensated and the people who filed these fake cases should be put in jails.

logical said:
In last sixty years only last PPP govt was corrupt. Other all generals, politicians are clean and most important thing is these cases registered by most honest general Mushraf.
شرم تم کو مگر نہیں اتی

• Is it not the type of NRO in past and future
* In proposed Balochistan package people will be release from jail and all the cases against them will be withdraw and many of them openly admitted that they are doing arm struggle.
*In coming years Taliban will be part of Afghan govt and thousands of Pakistani Taliban will be in political process without any sentences.
*In 1977 military operation in balochistan stopped after five years. All prisoners released. No general or political activist who was openly involved in arm struggle blame for any thing.
*Nawaz family with a deal with Mushraf went to Saudi Arab.
*In history of trade union thousand times after strikes when management and trade union sit on table for agreement first it decided all charge sheets will be withdrawn.
*Pholan davi, a proved dacoit in India got mercy and became Lock Saba member.
*Every dictator in Pakistan got approval for breaking constitution, from assessable.
*when Ayub khan went thousands political activist was in jail with true and false FIR but next day they start releasing them. Same thing happened when Bhutto gone.

All above example are proved crimes not only political but murders, treason etc. this NRO is nothing to do with proved cases even in some cases more then 11 years within two different governments.

If supreme court can say that last supreme court made mistake and their action null and void then if National assembly decide that the approval of ( Mushraf 12th October coup and first PCO ) was wrong and it is null and void then what going to be happened with Ch Iftikhar.
You can find hundreds example in our and in world history where for breaking stalemate with political understanding we have to do this. Opposition for NRO is not about eliminating corruption. This is a political agenda. Generals have no problems with politician’s corruption instead they encourage them so they can blackmail them. Why they hate Zardari? He is trying to make good relation with India and interested in supremacy of civil govt on Military. Fortunate of Pakistani people Nawaz sharif (not all Muslim league) also have same vision. Most of these people are not democrat in nature. They can not remove him democratically so remove him by NRO, by court or by military.

mir munsif said:
..the propaganda and hate compaign against PPP is very old.Mighty establishment and sponsors always tried to corner PPP,the biggest federal party of Pakistan.Inspite of all their efforts of infusing hate and fabricating new cases against PPP,they could not erase the name of PPP.Even today,if elections held,if PPP wont stand as majority party,I assure u,it would be Second largest.

Actually Military Economic Umpire and co sponsors dont want to give free space to democratic system because they fear it,If it succeeds,which will weaken their power control over state.Its war started by Military Alliance (Certain Media+Mullas+agencies+Certain class in bureacracy etc) against PPP led Govt to discredit Govt so that they can cut the roots of democracy.Wake up call for Pro-democratic forces!!

dara said:

Bravo , Bravo pakistanies from whole of Lahore only Jahangir Badar was corrupt all others are angels. Those whose names are not in NRO are the real culprits because they belong to Punjabi Establishment.

In Lahore where since 1990 we only saw Muslim League in power thus all the corruption was done by them only JB . Hamayoon Akhtar Khan, Mian Munir, Haji Maqsood Butt, Liaqat baluch, Salman butt, and numarous Muslim League MPas and MNA’s no matter they were Q or N or XYZ.

Army generals the most corrupt people along with Punjabi establishment and Muslim League are the real culprits.

Nawaz Sharief family are bunch of saints who become the most richest just with hard work and by praying five times. The state pakistan has no courege to make cases against punjabi leaders. This will take Pakistan to its logical end , disintegration.

Pakistan said:
=============================================================
Be realistic….DO NOT BE TRAPD IN THE PROPAGANDA DONE BY THESE JOKERS.
=============================================================
The following are the only clean people in the country.
1: NS
2: CHs.
3: Army Generals,Colns,Capt. etc as they all are living according to theor means.
———–
Case against Rehman A Malik: Illegal detention against complainant and gratfication.
Source: http://www.geo.tv/important_events/2009/nrolist/pages/list.asp
———-
My suggestion to AZ to resign and go to the courts to get clearance.
———
To me: 95% people in NRO will be freed.
———

mir munsif said:
More Corruption stories

Pakistan-armys-multimillionaires

http://politicalpakistan.blogspot.com/2006/01/pakistan-armys-multimillionaires.html

Army Eyes its Biggest Real Estate Catch in Hotbed Islamabad

http://www.satribune.com/archives/200503/P1_butt2.htm

One more corruption story:

High Court Presented With Massive Charge Sheet Against Pakistan Army

http://www.satribune.com/archives/aug10_16_03/P1_chargesheet.htm

mir munsif said:
Pakalert Report update to share you!

EXPOSED!!!

GEO TV, Kamran Khan and the Lies of Dr Shahid Masood

http://pakalert.wordpress.com/2009/09/05/geo-tv-kamran-khan-and-the-lies-of-dr-shahid-masood/

Bawa said:
صدر کیخلاف مقدمات ختم ہو چکے: ترجمان

لاہور /اسلام آباد/ (خبرنگار خصوصی نوائے وقت +خصوصی نامہ نگارنوائے وقت + ریڈیو نیوز) ایوان صدر کے ترجمان فرحت اللہ بابر نے کہا ہے کہ قانون کے تحت صدر زرداری کیخلاف جو کیس ثابت نہیں ہو سکے اور جن کی انوسٹی گیشن ہو رہی ہے وہ ختم ہو چکے ہیں۔ نوائے وقت سے گفتگو کرتے ہوئے انہوں نے کہا اگر عدالتیں اس حوالے سے کوئی دوسرا فیصلہ کرتی ہیں تو وہ ہمکارے لئے قابل قبول ہو گا۔ امریکہ میں پاکستانی سفیر حسین حقانی نے کہا ہے کہ میں نے کبھی این آر او سے فائدہ نہیں اٹھایا۔ میری سمجھ میں نہیں آتا میرا نام این آر او سے فائدہ اٹھانے والوں کی فہرست میں کیسے آ گیا۔ انہوں نے کہا احتساب بیورو نے جو مقدمات میرے خلاف بنائے تھے وہ میں نے عدالتوں سے کلیئر کرا لئے تھے۔ مزید براں پیپلز پارٹی کے سیکرٹری جنرل جہانگیر بدر نے فہرست کو مسترد کرتے ہوئے کہا کہ این آر او سے فائدہ اٹھانے والے کوئی اور ہونگے۔ میرے مقدمات ہائیکورٹ میں ہیں۔ انہوں نے کہا میرے فیصلے کی گھڑی آئی تو میرا نام این آر او میں شامل کر دیا گیا۔ ہم عدالتوں سے گھبرانے والے نہیں‘ مقدمات کا بھرپور دفاع کرینگے۔ پیپلز پارٹی کی سیکریٹری اطلاعات فوزیہ وہاب نے کہا ہے کہ عدالت کو ایسے فیصلے ریورس نہیں کرنے چاہئیں جس سے ملک کا مفاد اور موجودہ نظام متاثر ہو ۔ نجی ٹی وی سے گفتگو میں انہوں نے کہا کہ پیپلزپارٹی مقدمات سے گھبرانے والی نہیں پارٹی رہنماؤں نے ہمیشہ عدالتوں کا سامنا کیا ہے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ این آر او سے فائدہ اٹھانے والوں کی فہرست پہلے ہی جاری کردینا چاہیے تھی اس میں تاخیر کی گئی۔ ان کا کہنا تھا کہ اکثر مقدمات انتقامی کارروائی کے تحت بنائے گئے

Pakistan said:
After November 28, Nobody will be able to comment on this NRO issue.

As far far as These jokers (from Mullah Media Alliance) are concerned, They will damage the country by spreading false information and propaganda.

Ansar Abasi once mntined that PM stoped AZ to fire COA which was totally wrong and there was no fact at all.Think about the consequences in sight for the vicious propganda and If COA had taken this seriously.

Same thing applied with Saleh Zafar,a biggest joker,Once spread the news that AZ offered 5 crore each MNA to cast a vote in favour of NRO,What the hek this news analyst is?
This Jang group is trying to become a new piller in the country as they think it was the Jang newsgroup brought Musharaf don hence they can do this with each and every governament.
DEFEAT IS YOUR FATE YOU ALL JOKERS…….

mir munsif said:
I am neither against healthy criticism nor I ever consider PPP as Party of angels.Having said that I am also against Biased and abusive approach against PPP and its leadership.Even as per Transparency International and many independent fact finding reports,the Biggest plunders of national assets are Military Establishment Umpire.They are looting it without any accountability and any check & balance and any time they can over throw democratic system on the basis of so called ‘Biggest national interest’..while they are also considered Pure ppl of Pakistan.

Its important to understand the bigger picture,The weakness of any party or democratic system gives stimulus or rejuvenate the role of Military Authority.Since the day one,The Military Alliance has captured the authority over state and they WONT ever allow any Federal party or leadership to earn good names or strengthen the democratic system.It is indeed War of interests between Democratic Camp Vs Military Alliance (Military+Intelligence agencies+Certain Media+Pseduo Political groups+Mullas etc).

Politicians have suffered more and earned bad name,while the Military Alliance have earned not only good name but also plundered at the extreme.Give a break please,whether good or bad,Politicians have to go through democratic process,which may be slow but sooner or later,it will reform,but the wekaness of Political parties should not be an EXECUSE for any Military QUO.Therefore,I suggest you all to be free to criticize any party or leadership but dont be blind in hate/biased mind..dont be a tool of Propaganda Industry of Agencies and Media co which have only objective to discredit Democratic system.

zahidnaqvi said:
The TIME for serious thinking has now arrived. We must admit that due to our religious thinking and attachments, certain communities and regions have blindly voted for Bhuttto Party, and believe me we all are suffering very badly now. In view of Transparency International Report we have been down-graded by 5 points and this is only due to NRO and widespread corrruption.

The corruption is to such a high level that even if you need a new gas or electricity connection you have to bribe from an ordinary office clerk, then SDO and then XEN.

Yes, this corruption has been in ALL previous Govt’s, but my God why is it ‘free for all’ situation when Bhutto Party rules. Peoples Party must change its name to Bhutto Family Corruption Party.

What really annoys me is that for the last few weeks, Zardari has now started to wear Sindhi topi. I personally saw that news item when 2 days ago at Kabul Airport he was wearing Sindhi topi. Zardari must come to his senses, he is now trying to fight Sindhi against Punjabi, and Shia against Sunni. We must now allow this to happen. I urge to all Zardari lovers that they must come to their senses. This latest list of beneficiaries has been prepared by Zardari’s own hand picked PM and this list contains 90% Sindhhi’s.

In the last 2 Govt of Benazir, Sindhi’s were particulary given jobs in PIA, Customs, Airport Immigration, huge loans in the name of Agricultural Loans, free umrah tickets etc. I am not saying that the then Punjab Govt of Pervaiz Elahi was an angel, but the level of corruption with the aid of MQM was at a very high level in Sindh.

mir munsif said:
@Zahid Naqvi

U Said “This latest list of beneficiaries has been prepared by Zardari’s own hand picked PM and this list contains 90% Sindhhi’s.”

I refute ur claims that 90 percent are Sindhis instead the right Phrase should be 90 percent are from SINDH.Dont play with fire of ethncity.

List contains names of only 34 politicians out of a total of 8,000.Only four Sindhi Political figures got benefit from NRO (AZ,Nusrat Bhutto,Agha Siraj Durani,Yusuf Talpur),14 Politicians are from Punjab.The Biggest beneficiary of NRO is MQM not Sindhis…Mind the GAP Please.

Your second claim about Sindhi topi,which creates trouble for you,seeing a President wearing Sindhi cap as if its some cap from India or Jews.Give a break man,President AZ wears this cap on many official events even on the day he took oath as President.Why A sindhi cap gives u suffocation,why you see always boiling Ethenic divide.SIndhis are equal stake holders of this state,who were the first ppl in Indo Sub continent to pass the Pakistan resolution bill in Assembly before prepartition,they always voted for Federal Parties,either PPP or PMLN etx,then why again some ppl want to corner them.Dont Push harder or play with fire,I am sure,if PPP ever lost its strength in Sindh,then if u know the dynamics of Sindh,No other party has any base nor they try to make their foundation…how many times NS or Imran khan visited Sindh…??Except PPP,other strong thriving forces are Nationalists.I personally feel that Sindh can turn another Baluchistan the day PPP loose its credibility in Sindh,coz other credible force left is Nationalists.

mir munsif said:
@Zahid Naqvi,

I respect your opinion but I appreciate if you enlighten us on healthy discussion and pointing out problems with solutions rather fueling Hate,ethnicity and launching personal attacks on PPP leadership through this platform.Grow up dude..Your Qazi sb’s vote bank is less than 5 Percent and every one knows whts their strength and even you will know in future elections where your JI stands

with all Military Mulla alliance Might and propaganda,they could not erase the name of PPP.Keep bashing and shouting as long as you can,coz this wont harm the vote bank of PPP,it will absolutly give some blood pressure to u SInce your agenda seems to find all sort of blames upon PPP and all evils are in PPP while the rest of parties and Military Mullas are angels ..

runaway said:
when is Shahid Masood going to discuss Kiyani’s role in NRO.

Shouldn’t he also resign for his role in NRO?

I dont like Zardari but he is easy punching bag. Just by getting rid of one person won’t fix problems of Pakistan
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Hamid Mir terms Shahid Masood and Imran Khan as snakes

In the following op-ed, Hamid Mir terms those people as snakes who are frustrated because Nawaz Sharif has explicitly stated that he will note be a part of a conspiracy to derail democracy in Pakistan. We all know who are the agents of establishment in the conspiracy against democracy, i.e., Shahid Masood, Shaheen Sehbai, Imran Khan, Munawar Hasan, Roedad Khan, Hamid Gul, Ansar Abbasi, Muhammad Saleh Zafir, Irfan Siddiqi, Javed Chaudhry, Sheikh Akram, and others.

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Cannon Should Be Towards Burning Issues

By: Jarri Mirza

Presently all non-serious politicians and so-called champion journalists are reporting or publishing baseless stories without research and giving one side picture to the public. This act is being done by some private TV Channels as well as political analysts in daily newspapers and electronic media.

They want to put pressure on the present government and the real party of the peole, which is the largest political party in the country. The ruling political party proved its popularity in the most recent Gilgit Baltistan elections that they have roots is the people of Pakistan who love democracy and rule of law in our beloved country.

For last few weeks our TV anchors are busy along with the so called political analysts discussing about corruption and anti President campaign only for the sake of point scoring and gaining sympathy from whom they are affiliated with and also for monetary payments from their lords involved in terrorism in South Waziristan and Afghanistan. They are unable to think that these hearsay stories are encouraging the wrong doers in the public; while some English TV Channels are telecasting accurate reporting, certain Urdu electronic media anchors telecast sensational conversations and scary stories spreading panic among innocent people, blocking the positive way to develop the country and making obstacles in the way of foreign investment.

They can now read the statement made for head of 2nd largest political party (PML-N) given to daily news; when he said he has never talked about the impeachment of the president nor has he demanded his resignation. The Chief Minister of Punjab also talked with journalist in Karachi that they don’t want to derail the democratic system in Pakistan. President should complete his tenure, who unanimously elected through democratic process.

Now political analysts and media persons should wait the decision from court of law, as judiciary is independent and impartial. Corruption will put before the court of law. Let us see the institutional mechanism for dealing with the corruption cases not emotional attacks against the corrupt.

My suggestion for media persons that burning issue should be taken up i.e. social, economic issue in the society, war on terrorism, health care, drinking water, education and other necessaries of people.

Cannon should not be toward one personal, latest gallop survey reports confirm that present government has ability to coop the crises and other problem faced by the people of Pakistan. Media should improve their image, so people could rely upon them.
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Zardari responsible for corruption in Pakistan?

In the following op-ed, Nazir Najis argues that it is not politicians but the civil and military establishment which is the biggest thief in Pakistan.

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Fazail-e-martial law wa khabais-e-jamhooriat

Here is a column by the unofficial spokesperson of the Ziaist (military) establishment in Pakistan, Haroon-ur-Rasheed in defence of the military establishment and against democracy. Mr Haroon-ur-Rasheed has in the past written an official history of Islam, titled 'Fateh', a biography of General Akhtar Abdur Rehman.

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