Amidst Democracy

The issue of sacking the Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik is circulating in the political circles of Pakistan nowadays. Three days before, at mid night a news waved across the country about the dismissal of Tariq Malik (Later reinstated by the IHC). According to the news reporters he was threatened and pressurized by the Punjab law Minister for a possible voter verification in NA 118, Lahore.  This news has some lessons to learn particularly for the ruling PMLN and generally by all the political parties inside and outside the power corridors.

The very first reaction of the removal of Tariq Malik was amplified because of a government which is lacking an active Information Minister. The social media which always looks for catchy stories, at the drop of the hat, started bashing the PMLN government. The issue of Tariq Malik was the nation wide top trend on twitter, soon after the news erupted and all the PTI supporters joined the bandwagon to "curse" PMLN. The absence of information minister from the scene was similar to the Kargil crisis when after the meeting of PM Nawaz Sharif and US President Bill Clinton, the proprietors of dreams to capture Srinagar opened their mouth guns on Mian Nawaz Sharif. The issue of Tariq Malik, however, was portrayed like he was the one who was about to expose the "rigging" of GE'13, which otherwise were declared justified by neutral international observers. PTI who is constantly alleging its defeat in GE'13 as part of a "big game" cashed the situation and circulated that the chairman NADRA is an upright person and that he was not willing to surrender before the "unconstitutional pressure" of PMLN. They claimed that this person was going to unveil the "massive rigging" in Punjab, where PTI was literally knocked down despite the financial investments of Aleem Khan (EOBI scandal) and the Jahangir Tareen (The Sugar Mafia). Tariq Malik consulted the Islamabad High Court the very next day where he was reinstated by the court in the first hearing (Courts however never liked such rapid actions by the national assembly). As a counter measure the federal government filed a case in Supreme court of Pakistan, thus challenging the decision by the Islamabad High Court. Later on after the debates inside the National Assembly the minister In-charge of Interior Affairs Ch Nisar Ali Khan came to the house and presented the curious case of Tariq Malik. The speech of Ch Nisar had such information that the case of Tariq Malik turned out to be a real can of worms.

The first lesson in this story is that never believe on the glitters of our media for false political mileage. The shallow work of our media once again exposed badly in this saga. After proving Tariq Malik the hero standing in between the "dictatorial PMLN" and Pakistan, the very next day media came to know that actually Tariq Malik was a political gimmick and was appointed to this sensitive post just because of his close relationships with the PPP mainstream leadership. Just in one day our so called "investigative" journalist portrayed their shallow depth of work. Therefore everything these "investigative" journalists say, we must take with a pinch of salt.

The second lesson hidden in this issue is the timing. I mean how bizarre and suspicious it looks when late night orders are given to fire a person who is Chairman of a sensitive organization. Back in 1999, it was the same issue of timing when instead of waiting Gen Mushrraf to come back to Pakistan, he was fired midst Colombo-Karachi Flight (That issue was highlighted time and again as a proof of military coup). I am unable to understand that what would have happened if the issue of Tariq Malik was resolved during the daylight. It happened many times that PMLN was right in the case but the mistiming backfired and they were bashed by the media. For the military coup and KARGIL crisis the issue turned in favor of Mian Nawaz Sharif almost after 6 years. Luckily the issue of Tariq Malik is quite known to the people within a weak, although the "naive" information Ministry cut short the broadcasting of speech by an important member of federal cabinet. Hopefully the issue will be amicably resolved in the next few days and will be taken as a lesson that in this Pakistan the late night jackals type actions will never by welcomed by anyone.

Written by Raheel Adnan*

TTP is, at times, wrongfully considered as a faction of ‘Taliban’. It's important to note that, although, Taliban and Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) share a name, the two groups are discrete entities with fewer similarities than differences. They operate independently with contradictory strategic goals. 'The fact that they have the same name causes all kinds of confusion,' Gilles Dorronsoro of Carnegie Endowment for International Peace told NYTimes in 2009.

Taliban vs TTP

As Wikipedia defines, 'the Taliban is an Islamic fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan'. They operate against foreign and Afghan security forces but strictly oppose targeting another Muslim state or country. Before 9/11, Taliban hosted and supported several Al-Qaeda leaders but it’s believed that the groups are separated now. Currently Taliban's 'real purpose' is to fight the invading forces in Afghanistan and 'liberate' it from their occupation.

Contrarily Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan is an umbrella organization of various anti-Pakistan militant groups. Organization's strategic goals are purely based on enmity toward the Pakistani government and military. TTP can largely be held responsible for violence and security related issues in Pakistan. The group has been extensively involved in suicide attacks on military, police and innocent Pakistanis, heavily armed attacks on Pakistan's security forces, murdering of opponents without discrimination (like the attack on young girl Malala Yousafzai), kidnapping for ransom, killing of high value targets and promoting sectarian violence.

Origination of the Groups

Taliban's origination can be linked back to 1980s insurgence by mujahidin fighters against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. After the fall of Soviet-backed regime, several Afghan political parties signed a power-sharing agreement, but the feeble government lasted only a few days and Afghanistan entered into civil war. Taliban’s militant activities started in 1994. They took control of Kabul in 1996 and ruled the country until American-led NATO invasion in 2001.

TTP’s roots can be traced back to 2002, when Pakistan Army started operation in FATA (Pakistani areas bordering Afghanistan) against foreign militants fleeing from Afghanistan into Pakistan due to NATO operation. Eventually in December 2007, several groups united under Baitullah Mehsud to form the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. It’s reported that the TTP killed around 200 tribal elders to strengthen their hold in the region. Several TTP leaders previously participated in Afghanistan war, along with Taliban.

TTP and Al Qaeda are in a close relationship, collaborating in financial matters and manufacturing of explosive devices. White-House counterterrorism advisor John Brennan once said on Fox News, "It [TTP] is a group that is closely allied with Al-Qaeda. They train together, they plan together, they plot together. They are almost indistinguishable."

Relationships between Taliban and TTP

Taliban strongly denies their association with TTP. "We don’t like to be involved with them (TTP), as we have rejected all affiliations with Pakistani Taliban fighters. We have sympathy for them as Muslims, but besides that, there is nothing else between us." There has been several attempts to bring the two organizations together, but Taliban often asks TTP to “to end suicide attacks, attacks against the Pakistani military, kidnappings for ransom, and the killing of innocent Pakistanis”. Apparently, none of the agreements between two groups ever worked.

TTP and Recent Attacks in Mountains

The first incident of violence in the mountains took place in February 2012, when 18 Shia Muslim bus passengers were killed in Kohistan district. Jundallah, a group linked with Al-Qaeda and TTP, claimed the responsibility of the attack. Despite being an unprivileged area, militancy related incidents in the Kohistan were almost non-existent, prior to aforementioned incident. Although, previously militants had a strong hold in the adjacent valley of Swat.

In August 2012, more than 20 Shia passengers were killed in the valley leading to Babusar Pass. TTP claimed the responsibility of the attack. The attackers were disguised in military uniforms.

Although massacre at Diamir BC is the first instance of attacks on foreign climbers, the incident can be closely linked with past events. TTP claims that the attack was carried out by its newly formed team, Junud-ul-Hifsa.

Map showing location of three incidents

'The purpose of this attack was to give a message to the world that Pakistan is unsafe for travel,' said the interior minister, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, addressing the National Assembly session, which passed a resolution condemning the incident. 'The government will take all measures to ensure the safety of foreign tourists.'

Note: ‘Taliban’ is at times referred as Afghan Taliban, and TTP as Pakistani Taliban.


*First published here http://bit.ly/12jKK2A