DG Rangers shows courage to speak truth
MEDIA WATCH
More answers needed on Syria
D
IRECTOR General Rangers (Sindh), Major General Rizwan Akhtar certainly deserves appreciation for picking up courage to speak truth about the factors responsible for the deteriorating law and order in Karachi. He told Supreme Court on Wednesday that armed wings of the political parties were mainly to be blamed for the delicate security situation and that criminals nabbed by the law-enforcing agencies are later released because of political considerations and pressure. What DG Rangers has said is no secret but one must give him due credit for identifying the real cause of trouble in the city of the Quaid. This highlights the need for an across-the-board and transparent operation to weed out crime and criminals. His assessment has also been endorsed by Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan, who categorically stated that majority of target killers, extortionists and criminals belong to different political parties and that the DG Rangers told him the situation can definitely be improved in Karachi if there was no political interference. Different political parties surely have stakes in Karachi and the worsening law and order situation is said to be part of the on-going turf war among them but in a true democracy dominance is achieved through political and peaceful means and not through killing of other people and trying to grab power and capture maximum resources of the city. One wonders that on the one side individual candidates are scrutinized on the touchstone of Articles-62 and 63 of the Constitution but political parties are free to keep armed wings that play havoc with the lives of the innocent citizens and disrupt economic and commercial activities. We believe that stringent laws should be framed against raising of armed wings of political parties and those violating the law should be banned from politics for ever. As for the current murky situation, as per statement of the Interior Minister, the Federal Government has prepared a plan aimed at targeted operation against target killers, extortionists and terrorists/criminals under the supervision of the Provincial government. This would be a step in the right direction and we hope all the political parties would extend fullest possible cooperation for implementation of the plan without loss of further time.
Thank you Sardar Akhtar Mengal! M
EMBERSHIP of the Balochistan Assembly was completed on Wednesday with the oath-taking of two members of the Balochistan National Party, including its chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal. Mengal had previously some reservations and after swearing in he said they are swallowing a ‘bitter pill’ for the sake of rights of the people. It is indeed a turning point in the recent political history of the Province and hopefully presence of a leader like Sardar Akhtar Mengal in the Provincial Assembly would not only add to the prestige and credibility of the House but also augurs well for overall political scenario of the Province. This is the second major event after decision of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to allow National Party of Dr Abdul Maalik Baloch to form the Provincial government and to hand over Governorship of the Province to PKMAP of Mahmood Khan Achakzai. Dr Maalik has been urging Sardar Akhtar Mengal and others to join hands in addressing challenges confronting Balochistan and the latest development indicates he is getting positive response in his sincere endeavours for the purpose. We are confident that the decision of Sardar Akhtar Mengal would send right kind of signal to estranged leaders and elements and they too would finally come to the negotiating table. Federal Government led by Mian Nawaz Sharif is prioritizing development of Balochistan. Some of the mega projects being conceived by the Government like development of Kashghar-Gwadar Economic Corridor and establishment of National Power Park at Gaddani, would immensely benefit the Province in terms of socio-economic progress and job generation. But all this can be implemented only in peaceful environment and all political entities should help realize this objective.
NY Mosques labelled as terror centres T
HE New York Police Department (NYPD) has secretly labelled all the mosques in the city as terrorism organizations, a designation that allows Police to use informants to record sermons and spy on Imams. This means that any one attending prayers in these mosques could be subjected to surveillance. The Police may have their own reasons but it is bound to injure the sensitivities of Muslims not only in New York and other parts of US but the world over. We are sure that even other religious communities including Christians and Jews would not approve this approach because people go to worship places to offer prayers with concentration and without any fear. If there is a fear among the people that undercover agents are following them, their attention would be diverted from prayers. Though the New York Mayor and the Police Commissioner have denied these accusations but documents published by Associated Press Reporters in their recent book show in detail how in its hunt for terrorists, the Police investigated countless innocent Muslims. In our view the step should be an eye opener for Muslims as to why the New York Police has taken this extreme step. There might have been some suspected people visiting the Mosques or some sermons delivered in these mosques might have attracted the attention of the Police. As true believers of the last religion - Islam, which preaches peace and tolerance, the Muslims and particularly the Imams should not allow any one to enter the Mosques with ulterior motives because as US citizens it is also their duty to contribute in maintaining peace and order in their areas. In any case, we hope that the Mayor of New York and US Administration would intervene and the decision of declaring Mosques as terror centres would be got rescinded to give a sense of relief to the Muslims.
HURMAT GROUP OF PUBLICATIONS Zahid Malik President & Editor-in-Chief Ph: 051-2256006 Faisal Zahid Malik Gauhar Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-32631102
Executive Editor Ph: 051-2853818
Islamabad Ph Exchange: 051-2852027 Reporting Desk: 051-2852028, News Desk: 051-5879329 Marketing: 051-2262254, 2852029 Fax: 051-2262258 Email: observer@pakobserver.net Website: www.pakobserver.net
Lahore
Karachi Faisal Zahid Malik Editor Ph: 021-32211777, 32635403 Fax: 021-32626902 Email: obskhi@pakobserver.net
Khalid Butt Resident Editor Ph: 042-37593341, 37566702 Marketing Ph: 37597364 Fax: 042-36300043 Email: obslhr@pakobserver.net
Quetta
Peshawar
Ghulam Tahir
Tariq Saeed
Resident Editor Mobile: 0333-7944760 E-mail:obsqta@pakobserver.net
Resident Editor Mobile: 0321-9001476 E-mail:obspwr@pakobserver.net
Muzaffarabad Abdul Hameed Shaheen Resident Editor Ph: 051-2852028, Mobile: 0315-5010791 Email: obsmzd@pakobserver.net / abdulhameedshaheen@yahoo.com
Sadia Zahid Malik Editor Sunday Magazine
Ph: 2852027-8, Ext: 116 Email: magazinesocialdiary@hotmail.com
D
NATO succumbs to Sharon Syndrome Syndrome and thereby becoming targets of Shia terror groups. The anticipated attack on Syria by the US, France and the UK will tip the balance sufficiently to M D Nalapat make this unpleasant fate a reality, the effects of which Email: mgnalapat@gmail.com will begin to get fully manifested only after a time lag, so that Obama, Cameron riel Sharon is regarded in and Hollande can pretend that they Israel as a hero, much as were not responsible. Ironically, the toppling of Jawaharlal Nehru is in India, despite his chaining the economy in Saddam Hussein in 2003 could have bureaucratic coils and retaining the been the moment when the US and apparatus of colonial rule in its en- its NATO partners made allies of the tirety. As for Sharon, the reality is Shia. After all, Iraq under Saddam that the “hero” of Israel was respon- was a country where the Shia majorsible for some of the worst secu- ity were treated much the same way rity threats that his country faces, as they still are in Bahrain, as a secthe worst being the way in which ondary people. Had the US quickly he placed the Israel Defense Forces devolved power to Iraqi hands rather on the side of the Maronite Chris- than see to re-create the British Emtian leadership of Lebanon in 1981- pire in the form of Viceroys such as 83 in their armed battle against the Paul Bremer, much of the pain which Shia population. Led by the thug- Iraq is now suffering could have been gish Gemayel brothers, Maronite avoided. However, Washington gangs killed thousands of innocent seems unable to shed the colonial Shia civilians in encounters across legacy it has acquired from some of Lebanon. The way in which the US its European partners, and this was leadership led by Ronald Reagan - evidenced not only in the manner in who made no pretense of under- which the occupation of Iraq and Afstanding the Muslim world and ghanistan was handled but in the way showed this ignorance in his poli- in which the Libya attack took place cies - converted the Shia population and the manner in which the Egypof Lebanon from friends to critics tian military has been bullied by the of the US. However, it was Israel Obama administration to soften its that became the only country on the domestic policies in ways that would globe to face Shia (as distinct from reduce Egypt to chaos. If a semblance of order is returning to Egypt these Wahabi) terror groups. Since the invasion of Iraq in days, it is because military in coun2003 by George W Bush (who has try has refused to listen to NATO domade the same miscalculations as gooders who have descended on Reagan about a community that Cairo in hordes in their self-appointed comprises more than 1.5 billion), the role of Saviours of Humanity (via arentire membership of NATO has maments of NATO). It was clear by 2007 that the through its policies placed themselves at risk of following the Sharon Iraqi people would rise against the
Geopolitical notes from India
A
occupation of their country were such an alien administration to continue in power for much longer. The consequence was the transfer of formal power to Iraqi hands, although there is still considerable interference by NATO in the inner workings of the government of Iraq, although not on the scale which confronts the Government of Afghanistan. Since Nuri Al-Maliki took office, there has been relentless pressure on him to ensure that the Shia
Samantha Power, Susan Rice, John McCain and others who are responsible for pushing a reluctant Barack Obama towards armed intervention in Syria are entering the Sharon Syndrome. majority get powers far below what their weight in the population entitled them to. A similar concern has not been shown towards Shia minorities in other countries in the region, nor indeed to the Shia majority in Bahrain. Such discrimination has led to the perception that the entire Shia community in the region is being subjected to collective punishment because of the defiance shown by Shia-majority Iran towards NATO. This despite the fact that few Shia regard Iran as their most admired country. The attack by NATO on Syria, once it takes place, will lock in the already strong perception that NATO and its members are anti-Shia and that
the alliance looks the other way whenever Shia get targeted. The very groups that NATO helped in Libya and are on the side of Syria are behind the attacks on Shia in Iraq and elsewhere. The weapons and cash given to Wahabi groups in Libya and Syria are getting diverted to countries across the region, so that Wahabi extremists conduct a violent war against both the Shia as well as the Sunni population, which as a whole is free of the intolerance and extremism of the Wahabis. Samantha Power, Susan Rice, John McCain and others who are responsible for pushing a reluctant Barack Obama towards armed intervention in Syria are entering the Sharon Syndrome. They are creating conditions whereby the Shia population worldwide will see NATO as their enemies, and where the extremists within that group will take up violence against NATO, the way they have since the 1980s against Israel. The members of NATO will pay a huge price for the miscalculation of Rice, Power and Mc Cain, but it is unlikely that they will face any opprobrium as a result. Samantha Power can take heart from the fact that the Chief Patron of the Taliban, Robin Raphel, prances around a Washington ignorant of her 199297 role in Afghanistan. The same way, Samantha Power, who believes in saving civilian lives by launching air strikes that will kill thousands, can expect to continue to land one high-power job after another, years after she has got NATO to join Israel as direct targets of Shia terror groups. —The writer is Vice-Chair, Manipal Advanced Research Group, UNESCO Peace Chair & Professor of Geopolitics, Manipal University, Haryana State, India.
YouTube ban should continue of its citizens have everything to gain from massive free education. They have Sultan M Hali online pleaded that present moribund Email: sm_hali@yahoo.com state of education can be partly alleviated if online education is utilized effectively and inocial media website You Tube telligently. Their logic is that at was banned in Pakistan in Sep present, Pakistan cannot do so betember 2012 after a blasphe- cause of a state sponsored ban on sites mous video titled “Innocence of like You Tube, which are at the helm Muslims” was uploaded on it which of distributing this material online. caused mass scale protests/riots lead- The reasoning is sound but governing to loss of life/property across the ment has to see the broader picture. Muslim world and the operator of Last week, the State Minister for the popular webpage Google, re- Information Technology, Anusha fused to remove it. This was not the Rehman, announced that the ban on first offense of the website, which YouTube would be removed in the in 2008 had also hurt the sensitivi- coming few days after the sitting of ties of Muslims across the globe by Inter-Ministerial Committee. She disuploading a short film by Dutch closed that Pakistan is testing URL Member of Parliament Geert filters, which will enable it to selecWilders, which explored links be- tively block controversial content intween Islam and terrorism. Then too stead of banning the entire service. Pakistan had blocked YouTube in The technology is reportedly proresponse to street-wide demonstra- vided by Pakistan Telecommunications, but later lifted the ban. A tion Company, which will offer the couple of years earlier, the same so- services to the government for a year cial media website had organized a and will charge for the service after competition on the social media des- this duration. The URL filters are also ecrating the respected persona of the said to have been tested, blocking a Holy Prophet Muhammad list of 4,000 objectionable URLs. (MPBUH). This activity had cause Clarifying that the decision could not great mental agony to millions of be made by her Ministry alone, she Muslims all over the globe. declared that the final decision to lift A year on, there have been the ban would be made by the Intermixed reaction to the ban. Most Pa- Ministerial Committee, which will kistanis initially agreed with the ban also be responsible for preparing the as the blasphemous content was of- list of blocked URLs, which will be fensive and insensitive. However, as handed over to Pakistan Telecommuthe ban persisted, some groups have nication Authority. voiced concern over continued ban. The new government, which is With the change in government this still less than ninety days old and June, petitions were made to the new under normal circumstances, would Prime Minister to lift ban. Student have been enjoying the honeymoon bodies and some members of the period, where the opposition and meacademia have lobbied that countries dia give them a fair chance before like Pakistan who straddle in lower criticizing them harshly. Unfortuechelons of education empowerment nately, from day one, there has been
S
an onslaught of terror attacks and numerous other developments, which have left the new incumbents in the corridors of power shell shocked. Running helter-skelter to find solutions, the government of Mian Nawaz Sharif has been forced to make judgmental errors by acting in haste. The crucial decision of lifting the ban on You Tube must also be thought through, lest a hurriedly taken pronouncement may cause more damage and regret. The decision of blocking YouTube was also in line with the Honorable Supreme Court directives/ observations, orders of the Prime Minister and in the larger national interest. This scribe recommends that if at all the ban is to be lifted, Google must first apologize to the Muslims for causing them mental anguish. It should remove all clippings of the movie “Innocence of Muslims” and “The Innocent Prophet” from YouTube and promise to respect the emotions of the Muslim Ummah. Essentially, Google, and YouTube should get registered with PTA for being available in Pakistan and it should pay taxes. It has been observed that social media websites are earning tremendous revenue from Pakistan thus Federal Board of Revenue should take action against those search engines/ social media websites who are earning from Pakistan but evading local taxes. It is also important that Google should respect the legal clauses of Pakistan and before being permitted to operate in Pakistan, it should enter into formal agreements with the relevant Ministry for legalizing its services. Respecting the need of research scholars, the academia and student body, favorable agreements may be signed with Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and
other Social Media Networking Sites but these must include Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and automatic filtering software. In order to safeguard the mental health of Pakistan by discouraging pornography and block anti state content, especially those that incite separatism, hatred against specific sects/minorities or the armed forces of Pakistan, the Government should implement physical/electronic filtering of internet data like that adopted by a number of other countries, which the State Minister for I/T was alluding to. Simultaneously, OIC should take up a case with UN for drafting a resolution not allowing any person to misuse the Holy Prophet’s (PBUH) name and make movies / caricatures on him, Umhat-ul-Momineen RA, Khulfae-Rashideen RA and Sahaba. Necessary legislation as was carried out by Jews on laws related to denial of Holocaust should be adopted. The OIC should setup central or regional hubs of filtering units. OIC and Pakistan should ensure that evil attacks on Islam do not occur both internally and externally. It would also be prudent to develop Pakistan based equivalent of YouTube to benefit the public. Own versions of Search engines, Video sharing platforms and Networking sites be designed like Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter etc. In light of the above suggestions, perhaps further anguish to the faithful can be avoided by the machination of Islam bashers and those suffering from Islamophobia while enemies of the state can be kept at bay from misusing the social media for their nefarious designs. —The writer is retired PAF Group Captain and a TV talk show host.
espite the pumped-up threats and quickening military preparations, President Obama has yet to make a convincing legal or strategic case for military action against Syria. While there should be some kind of international response to the chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of civilians last week, Mr. Obama has yet to spell out how that response would effectively deter further use of chemical weapons. For starters, where is the proof that President Bashar al-Assad of Syria carried out the attack? American, British, French and Turkish officials have been unequivocal in blaming Mr. Assad for the attack, which seems likely since there has been no indication that his regime has lost control of its chemical weapons arsenal or that the opposition has the capability to deliver such a weapon. Still, no evidence to support this claim has been released. If the Obama administration has such evidence, it should make it public immediately. Before Britain proposed a resolution at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, the White House seemed ready to ignore the UN because Russia and China had repeatedly thwarted efforts to hold Mr. Assad to account. Despite diplomatic frustrations, the Security Council, on which Russia and China sit and have veto power, should be the first venue for dealing with this matter since chemical weapons use is a war crime and banned under international treaties. Ideally, once presented with evidence, the council would condemn Mr. Assad, impose a ban on arms shipments to Syria (including materials used to make chemical weapons, which the regime is trying to buy on the open market) and send Mr. Assad’s name to the International Criminal Court for prosecution. That is what should happen; Mr. Assad’s Russia and Chinese enablers are the ones most able to stop his brutality. Instead, Britain proposed a draft that would authorize military force against Syria. Predictably, Russia, Syria’s main arms supplier, and China balked, but there is still value in pushing the resolution to a vote so they are forced to choose to defend a leader accused of gassing his people. Whether that resolution is acted on or not, President Obama now seems prepared to move toward military strikes. But not only is he unlikely to win Security Council backing for such an operation, he has failed to lay out any legal basis for it and has not won support from key organizations — namely the Arab League and NATO — that could provide legitimacy. The league, in a statement, did charge the Syrian government with chemical weapons use, but its member states like Saudi Arabia, a top funder of the anti-Assad rebels, declined to support the use of force publicly. Without broad international backing, a military strike by the United States; France and Britain, two former colonial powers; and Turkey could well give Mr. Assad a propaganda advantage. There is also no sign that the White House will ask Congress to authorize military action, which seems to put Mr. Obama at odds with his own past statements about the limits of presidential war powers. House Speaker John Boehner sent Mr. Obama a trenchant letter on Wednesday, asking more than a dozen critical questions, including whether the administration had contingency plans in case foreign powers, especially Iran and Russia, were implicated in the chemical attacks and how the administration planned to pay for the military action. Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain also ran into domestic pressure that forced him to push back a quick vote in Parliament to support military action. Mr. Obama has yet to make clear how military strikes — which officials say will last one to two days and target military units that carried out chemical attacks, the headquarters overseeing the effort and the artillery that have launched the attacks — will actually deter chemical attacks without further inflaming a region in turmoil and miring the United States in the Syrian civil war. Any action, military or otherwise, must be tailored to advance a political settlement between the Assad regime and the opposition, the only rational solution to the conflict. If military action has a broader strategic purpose and is part of a coherent diplomatic plan, Mr Obama needs to explain it. — The New York Times
Force is not a remedy. —John Bright British politician