Is the ISI Chief being made the
Scapegoat for MMA Victory?
Those who should
know are Saying: 'We Dont Know'
By
LampPost
ISLAMABAD:
How is the country responding to the deliberate confusion unleashed
by Government decisions forcing a “certain type” of
democracy and government on the nation, despite the October 10
verdict? The answer is “no one knows” as everyone
including the Government, Generals, Politicians, Media and the
People are confused.
But
those who are supposed to be the ears and eyes of the Government,
the famous, or infamous, intelligence agencies, are fighting an
in-house battle to overcome the shock of the October polls, specially
the MMA victory which came almost unnoticed by the agency which
should have known, the ISI.
The
news is now spreading in Islamabad like a wild fire that the ISI
Chief General Ehsan was soon to be made the scapegoat for keeping
Musharraf, and the Americans, in the dark. Either way, if he knew
what was coming and did not inform any one, or if he did not know,
he is to be held responsible.
Who may replace General Ehsan is
also of particular interest and the name circulating in media
circles is of General Musharraf's Chief of Staff, Gen. Hamid Javed.
Whatever
happens to the ISI chief, the political confusion is also mainly
due to the failure, or success, of the ISI. LampPost has collected
some samples of this gigantic confusion. This will, of course,
add to the existing state of lack of knowledge, but will confirm
that what is going on is beyond any one’s control: Listen
to what the government luminaries have to say first:
Interior
Minister Moin Haider (In Karachi on Nov 9):
- We want that the political parties should come to an understanding
to form the government with at least simple majority. The condition
is that the parties should do it before entering the parliament.
If this it could not happen, the situation would take another
turn.
- I refute the impression that government is delaying the National
Assembly session for its benefit.
-
Political parties are responsible for the delay, as they were
not in a position to reach any consensus on formation of the government.
-
If the political parties do not arrive at a settlement before
the NA session then, due to the deadlock in parliament, making
another reference to people might become unavoidable.
- Regarding political meetings with Asif Zardari it should be
considered a good thing if anyone meets him or he meets anyone.
Information
Minister Nisar Memon (In Karachi on Nov 9):
- It is not fair to blame any of the political parties or the
government for delay in the process of formation of the government
at the Centre.
-
The session would now be convened within the week's extended time.
Sufficient time has been provided and it is also in the interest
of the country that the process should be completed.
Federal
Law Minister Khalid Ranjha (In a statement on Nov 8):
- The anti-floor-crossing law is in abeyance, at present, so the
MPs-elect were free to choose their own direction, according to
their own conscience.
What
the Politicians are saying:
Qazi
Hussain Ahmed of MMA:
-
A solution to the deadlock prevailing on the nomination of Prime
Minister and a coalition government would be resolved on the floor
of the Assembly.
-
If Pervez Musharraf agrees to sovereignty of Parliament, restoration
of 1973 Constitution instead of insisting on LFO, the Parliament
can consider his validation as President for the next term.
Asif
Ali Zardari:
-
A dialogue is definitely on and there are certain proposals under
discussion between the two sides.
- PPP parliamentary leader Makhdoom Amin Fahim was in touch with
the powers-that-be and talked with me about their proposals.
-
I will have nowhere to go if I strike any clandestine deal with
the powers-that-be and I don't want to put myself in a situation
where whatever I have sacrificed in the past six years goes to
waste.
MMA's
Maulana Fazlur Rehman:
- We were suspicious that the PPP was playing game with us. But
Asif Ali Zardari has assured me on Friday during my telephonic
conversation with him that his party will support the MMA.
- The ARD is fully supporting us. Chances of formation of government
with the PML(Q) are slim.
- PML-Q is a powerless party which is being remote controlled
by the government.
PPP
dissident Faisal Saleh Hayat:
-
Whatever efforts I was making for the formation of government
with the PML-Q was mandated by party chairperson Benazir Bhutto.
- My stance is clear that PPPP should join PML-QA in government-making.
- I have full backing of Benazir Bhutto regarding my endeavours.
-
Mr Amin Fahim should explain if Benazir had not asked us to form
government with PML-QA, during meeting at Dubai.
- (On Legal Framework Order (LFO) If certain politicians could
contest October 10 elections under the LFO and return to the National
Assembly under the shadow of this Order, then why do they now
oppose it?
- A government of national reconciliation is imperative to bring
the country out of the present crisis. Otherwise we should forget
about democracy.
- Majority of PPP MNAs have the same thinking.
- I am following the directions of Chairperson Benazir Bhutto
who had asked us to form a government at every cost.
PPP
Secretary General Raza Rabbani:
-
Coalition between the PPP and PML (Q) is a distant illusion.
- The government is trying to create a deadlock to pave way for
the floor crossing.
- The party has reached a broad understanding with the MMA and
other parties of the Alliance for the formation of the government.
PPP-P
Leader and possible PM, Makhdoom Amin Fahim:
-
I do not rule out the party's cooperation with the PML (Q).
- All the parties which have representation in the parliament
have equal importance.
-
PML (Q) is a democratic party and its presence in the parliament
cannot be denied.
Mir
Hussain Gillani, Vice-President of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam:
- My party's policies are clear. It is the religious duty of every
Muslim Pakistani to protect and offer sanctuary to Taliban and
al-Qaeda.
-
Osama bin Laden was not a terrorist. Osama is one of the biggest
followers of Islam. And what has he done? What has the United
States and the West proven that he has done?"
All
these samples show every one is saying what he wants without any
coordination and definite knowledge. This is in simple words called
mayhem.
But
there is no mayhem in a small “empire” run by one
General Qayyum, in a city near Wah, the small town near Capital
Islamabad, where the country’s biggest arms manufacturing
factory is located.
Qayyum
was once the ADC of Benazir Bhutto and is now running POF like
his fiefdom. To keep things in the family, he appointed his son-in-law
as Staff Officer. While the father of this very son-in-law has
been made principal of the medical college cum hospital complex
the POF is building in Wah. During 1985-88, the days of late Mr
Junejo, thanks to the small housing scheme, a colony by the name
of Gulistan was built for the workers of Wah factory. The general
believes that while on a visit to his factory, "the VVIP
visitors" to POF consider the said colony as an "eye
sore."
To
hide it from the visitors, therefore, a wall was erected all around
the huge colony with slabs of concrete, each costing Rs 100. How
many millions were spent to keep the dirty sights away from the
visitors is an question of maths.
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