Confusion worse confounded

Since the Abbottabad raid on May 2, 2011, several events have occurred threatening not only Pakistans internal stability, but also its territorial integrity and sovereignty; the tragic incident was followed by another issue - the memo scandal or memogate and, eventually, the Nato attack on the Salalah checkpost killing 24 Pakistani soldiers. Apparently, the dangerous dimensions of the memo have gradually developed into a national crisis, involving high dignitaries of both Pakistan and the USA. To address the memo controversy, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani summoned Ambassador Hussian Haqqani to Islamabad and asked him to resign. This was, indeed, a first step in the right direction to facilitate a high-level transparent inquiry into the incident. He referred the matter to the Parliamentary Committee on National Security (PCNS) to accord highest priority to the explosive contents of the memo, which had become highly controversial with regard to its genuineness. In the meantime, the PML-N Chief, Mian Nawaz Sharif, filed a petition in the Supreme Court over the memo scandal, asking for action against those responsible. According to him, the culprits, who were disloyal to the State and people, must be brought to book and that he did it for the sake of the people and Pakistan, as it should be made clear who was behind all this. Other prominent parliamentarians also filed petitions, making a similar request to the apex court. Consequently, the Supreme Court acted immediately by constituting a Commission to probe the memo case, besides seeking replies within 15 days from the President, COAS, DG ISI and other respondents. Moreover, the quest for truth brought to light the subtle involvement of Admiral Mike Mullen and General James Jones - top ranking officials of the Pentagon and White House - as part of the chain in the processing of the memo. As if that was not enough, President Asif Zardaris illness and his sudden trip abroad gave rise to rumours that his hold on power had weakened. After nine days, however, he was shifted to his Dubai residence for rest till the doctors declared him fit to take a flight back home to Islamabad. Nevertheless, the contradictory reports about his health made the confusion worse confounded with regard to the overall political situation in Pakistan, as well as the Pak-US relations, especially after Natos strike on the Salalah border post. Yet, the most tragic part of this story is a seemingly covert conflict between State organs. The situation has taken a serious turn after, reportedly, the Chief of Army Staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, and the DG ISI, Lt General Ahmed Shuja Pasha, in their recent statements before the court demanded an impartial investigation of the memo case. This has come in the wake of the evidence provided by the Pakistani-American businessman, Mansoor Ijaz, to DG ISI in London. The statements of the top brass are surely not in line with that of the federal government, since the Attorney General has questioned the Supreme Courts authority to hear the petitions filed and demanded their rejection. Anyway, the memo issue should be resolved without undue delay, which, if not settled peacefully on an urgent basis, may result in Pakistanis as a nation walking through a minefield that could blow up anytime. The ongoing internal conflict and external isolation do not auger well for the nation, urging the civil-military leadership to heed the dangers ahead before it is too late The writer is President of the Pakistan National Forum. Email: ikramullahkhan1@yahoo.com

The writer is President of the Pakistan National Forum.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt