[January, 2012]
FreePakistan Newsletter and Alternate Solutions Institute wish its readers and sympathizers a very happy 2012!
CONTENTS:
0 Corruption undermines fundamental rights
By Jamil Nasir
0 HumorWise
0 Letters to FreePakistan
0 Issue of the month: 1971
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[T]yrants like Kim Jong-il do not exist in vacuums. They depend on public ideology to thrive. Without the North Korean people believing in the supremacy of their state, the state would collapse, which is why all states — and particularly authoritarian ones — are so bent on fomenting a social theory and narrative of propaganda favorable to themselves.
[Anthony Gregory, “A Dictator Dies, Will the Regime Live On?” (December 19, 2011)]
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Corruption undermines fundamental rights
By Jamil Nasir
[The writer is a graduate from Columbia University with a degree in Economic Policy Management. This article first appeared in The News on December 24, 2011.]
Every year Transparency International compiles the ranking of countries in order of their corruptness. The more corrupt the country, the lower it descends the ranking. Transparency International (TI) relies for the ranking of the countries on data, impressions of its correspondents and most importantly on the perceptions of the people of a country about the level of pervasiveness of corruption.
The methodology for ranking the countries is undeniably not perfect and fool-proof. It can be contested just on the basis that corrupt acts are generally clandestine in nature, and lack direct evidence. Corrupt acts become visible only if the attempt of the perpetrators fails. Thus the ranking of countries on the basis of perceptions and not direct evidence lacks objectivity. It is also argued that the quality of reports from the TI correspondents may vary based on factors like professional experience and their familiarity with the local environment and culture. Hence, the elements of bias and error in the compilation of these corruption perception index rankings cannot be ruled out altogether.
But at the same time, it is also a fact that TI's reports are the only comprehensive one we regularly have on corruption issue. The 2010 Transparency International Report, issued a couple of weeks ago, is similar with earlier reports in the sense that the rankings show a consistent pattern. Rich countries like Sweden, Denmark etc are at the top of the list in terms of the corruption perceptions index (i.e. have lesser corruption levels). On the contrary, the poor and less developed countries are placed at the tail of the ranking. This pattern has persisted over the years with slight variations. It points towards the deep nexus between poverty and corruption.
Corruption exacerbates poverty in several ways. For example, corruption negatively impacts the economic growth. It sharpens inequalities between various strata of the society as it falls heavily on the poor and disadvantaged segments of society. It breeds poverty by perpetuating tax evasion. I had discussed these mechanisms in detail in earlier articles with the titles "corruption and economic development" and "more corruption, more poverty." So I will not dive into the details from this perspective.
Corruption has devastating effects on the society from human rights perspective as well. It is an infringement of fundamental human rights. This years TI report mentions some incidents which prove the point. For example, the protection of property is a fundamental right which the state is obligated to protect. However, this right is violated very often and with impunity in a corruption-ridden society. The report mentions how the grabbing of land by the corrupt mafia in Karachi has violated this very basic human right.
"Land grabbing by the so-called land mafia is reportedly prolific in Pakistan, particularly in and around Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. In some cases, housing authorities have allegedly colluded with property developers, who employ private militias to secure the land," the TI report says.
The report further described an incident of land grabbing by a builder with the connivance of a local politician which was purchased by a Karachi-based family in a government-run auction. When they visited the allotted land, they were greeted by a wall constructed around their plot which had been erected by the land grabbers.
Another story mentioned in the report is from Zimbabwe. The story mentions how corruption is derogatory to human dignity. The story goes that in a local public hospital, nurses charged US$5 every time a mother screamed while giving birth to a baby. This amount was charged as a penalty for raising alarm. The mothers who were unable to pay the delivery fee were detained at the hospital unless they settled the debt. Thus they became captive of the corruption prevalent in the local hospital.
These two incidents mentioned in this TI report are just the tip of the iceberg. The problem is more complex and deep-rooted. Fundamental human rights are always under serious threat in a corruption-ridden society. When corruption is rampant, people do not have access to justice. "Right to fair trial" will be badly trampled in a corrupt judicial and police set-up system as police and court officials will concentrate more on bribes than law. Thus, corruption violates the principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the constitution.
Another basic human right is "right to health." In a corrupt environment, doctors in public hospitals will not pay proper attention to the patients as is the case in our country, because they will prefer the treatment of patients in their private clinics, where they can charge private fee. However, reports have emerged from time to time in the press about the use of adulterated and spurious medicine, the phenomenon symptomatic of a corrupt environment. And above all, the state's allocations for the health sector is extremely low and that too will be spent on hospital infrastructures and sophisticated medical equipment due to high potential of kickbacks and commissions. In this way corruption undermines the fundamental rights of the people to access to health facilities.
Similarly, low income and poor families cannot have access to social security programmes because these programmes are corrupt or designed to support a corrupt patronage network. Schools do not offer quality education to students because a meagre amount of funds is allocated to the education sector; teachers are recruited without adhering to the principle of meritocracy, and infrastructure is insufficient and poor as the allotted money is used elsewhere.
The "right to development" has increasingly been emphasised, where it is stated that the environment should be conducive to the overall social, political and economic development of the people. A corruption-free society is thus sine qua non for the realisation of the collective rights of development. Corruption hinders economic development, reduces social services both in quality and quantity, and misallocates resources besides dampening economic growth. The impact of corruption on the right to development is devastating especially, if corruption has permeated the top echelons of decision-making. When public money is plundered and finds place in the safe havens outside the country, how can the right to development be enforced.
But the key question is: how can we control corruption in a low trust society like ours. It may be kept in view that corruption is a multi-dimensional issue and has essentially got economic dimensions. When we talk of economic dimensions, it does not mean that improving the salary/remuneration structure will suffice. A common perception prevails and it does so rightly that levels of corruption have not gone down in the departments of revenue, judiciary and police where salary structures have improved in the last couple of years.
The results should not surprise us as empirical evidence (I recall a paper published by the IMF in 1990s) suggests that an increase of 9-10 times in salary (which is prohibitively high due to budget constraints) has some impact on corruption reduction. Incremental increases in salaries of the public officials generally do not translate into reduction of corruption. However, it does not mean that the incentives for the civil servants should not be redesigned.
The point is that corruption problem is multidimensional in nature and essentially requires reduction in regulation, enhancement of accountability and transparency and enactment of whistle-blowing legislation. What is needed first of all is the recognition that corruption is a problem that is curable and a corruption-free society is the most fundamental right we are entitled to as a nation. [Courtesy The News]
PROTECTING CORRUPTION
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry during the hearing of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) case has asked the Government “if it intends to protect corruption”. Not only protect, the present Government intends to regulate and legalize it sir. [Pakistan Observer]
MEDIEVAL MONARCHY SYSTEM
[Sayed Gb Shah Bokhari, Peshawar]
A photograph that was flashed on first page in most newspapers on December 8, showing PPP meeting chaired by the 23-year old Bilawal Bhutto where senior party members were shown listening to the wisdom of a “made in England” lad, reminded me of the medieval monarchy system. The heir apparent (King) irrespective of age or experience always had absolute authority over his Wazirs who would stand before him with folded hands. [The Nation]
DR VEENA MALIK
[Dr Irfan Zafar, Islamabad]
The Vice Chancellor of the Karachi University is requested to grant an honorary doctorate to Ms Veena Malik for her unmatched services for propagating an enlightened image of Pakistan. If Rehman Malik can be awarded an honorary PhD, then why not Veena Malik? [Daily Times]
SPIRITUAL SON?
[Dr Alfred Charles, Karachi]
Wonder what compelled President Zardari to say I am Bhtto’s spiritual son and trust me. Is this memo gate scandal probe? Why at this stage he wanted to tell nation that Shaheed Mohtarma Benzair Bhutto had full trust in him? Is this a publicity stent or beginning of election campaign at his end? Will he get full faith of the nation to prove himself innocent? [Pakistan Observer]
JOINT INVESTIGATION
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
Is Pakistan’s refusal to be part of the Joint Investigation (JI) into the NATO attack on Salala post a correct one? I think not. Being on the JI would have provided Pakistan with the firsthand opportunity of : a. Monitoring the proceedings closely. b. Taking/suggesting corrective measures to the JI where needed. c. Peeping into the minds of NATO/Isaf/US/Kabul etc. and getting to know some real inside facts. d. Excluding the possibility of ‘Not Accepting’ the findings later on, which probability would always be there. e. Providing an opportunity of rapprochement between the otherwise estranged fighting partners on some equitable terms.
PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS TO THE PARLIAMENT
[am malik, LA]
President(?) Zardari is due to address the joint session in the parliament after Moharram. The guessing game is on. What are the issues that he is likely to address? Is he going to speak on the economy? Far fetched. Economy is only a one way street for him. Then the Salala incident? He has never ever given a statement on any thing called Defence. Military Operations then? nope. Never visited the forward areas to give his famous smile to the faujis. What then? not Veena malik's alleged photograph on an indian magazine? That could provoke interest, for Veena is quite honest and never does she hide any thing. But this cannot be the subject of address - and in a parliament where people like Mr Munawwar of JI is likely to be present as well or any of his same face ilk.
What then? Zardari is already reeling under the pressure of the memeogate. He is feeling the heat all over. The recent NRO decision by the supreme court has already been an add on. And the recent statement of Mansur Ejaz alleging him to have been privy to the US of the Abottabad incident has been another needle that has been pushed to give an uncomfortable hangover. What could be the way out then? Remove the Chief Justice? Nope. Parvez Muharraf's tried doing that. Plus it would be futile. Even if all decisions go against him, the CJ has no where-withall to have the same implemented. The letter summoning the Parliament also has the Supreme commander of forces printed on it. So is this a message to the concerned that behave or................and if not then it may be either of the two. Ur guess is as good as mine!
ZAB & IK
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
Comparing the recent sudden rise in Imran Khan’s popularity to that of ZAB’s similar performance four decades ago, a lot looks common between the two, only ZAB was more theatrical. Both are (were) promising more than they could deliver. Imran needs to be more watchful as he might lose the popular support - particularly of the younger lot - if the old heavy weight turn coats - the very embodiment of corruption - keep coming in to the party. The very basis of his charm – elimination of corruption and return of the plundered national wealth – will be affected beyond repair.
NO LET UP IN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN SINDH: 557 KILLED IN 11 MONTHS
[Abbas Kassar, Hyderabad]
Incidence of violation against women are on rise in Pakistan especially in its Sindh province where they are subjected to various forms of violence including murders under pretext of “family honor” that is called in Sindhi language as Karo Kari( honor killing) kidnapping, rape, acid throwing, sale like animals and giving away in exchange of crimes committed by their family male members. In most cases violence against women is committed on behest of the feudal lords( Jagirdars, sardars and waderas) who are backed by police and state. These feudal lords are made so politically powerful by every successive government in Pakistan that they have set up states within state and every state machinery including police and district administrations must back them in their tyrannies or lose their jobs.
Many cases are not reported and in those brought to police affected women are denied justice resulting perpetuating the cycle of violence. Because these very feudal lords manage to be elected to assemblies and taken as ministers, they defend violence against women on basis of centuries old custom to keep women as slaves. Women have no rights or privileges in male dominated and feudally rules society of Sindh.
According to figures collected by this scribe, more than 557 women were killed under honor killing and domestic violence in Sindh in last 11 months of year 2011.83 men were also killed under family honor during this period, bringing total to 640 comparing to 557 in last year which means 83 men and women more were killed indicating the incidents of honor killing on rise. 65 women and 14 men were killed in October 2011, 55 women and 11 men killed in July 2011, 73 women and 8 men in June, 65 women and 17 men in May, 48 women and 12 men in April and 41 women and 12 men in January 2011.
Apart from killing women and men under honor killing the women and girls were also made subject to other violence including their sale and giving them in exchange as Sangg Chati ( given in marriage to enemy family) where they have to live the life under humiliation. 17 Incidents of violence against women were committed in first week of December 2011. Killing of Javed Kharal in Larkana by Ghulam Abbas under suspicion of having illicit relations with his wife Shaheen who though ailing was fired upon by husband and injured seriously. The culprit husband also wounded mother of wife. In another incident in Khanpur Saleh Kharal sold his another daughter 14 years Zeenat in Rs.3 lacs (US dollars 330);In Dad Leghari young man Yousuf and Zarina were declared Karo Kari by local landlord in a so called Jirga ( the illegal court) and issued Fatwa to killed them both. Their only crime was that they had married on their own. For a girl and boy to marry without consent of parents is, under feudal custom, crime to be punished with death. 4 girls Sarfaroz, Fahmida, Samina and Rani were kidnapped from Mehar town in Dadu district and 2 of them are sold in sum of Rs.5 lacs by kidnappers who are their close relatives and other 2 killed.
In Dera Murad Jamali in Jaccobabad district a man Zahid and girl Saran were killed for marrying on their own. Their dead bodies were thrown in jungle. In same town 8 years Rahiman was gang raped by 8 armed men. In Ghulam Shah in Shikarpur district Saeedo Mehar was imposed fine of Rs.5 lacs and Sangg Chati of his 9 year old daughter who was married on same day to old man.In Khairpur the home town of Sindh Chief Minister Sharif Rajput killed his wife Rehana for reason that she had delayed in baking bread for him. In 2 cases in Adilpur and Jongal 2 girls Hafizan and Sadori were taken by Sardars to their Haveli while boys Ayaz and other who had married the girls on their own were killed or orders of Sardar.
There have been hundreds of reports of honor killing of women in Afghanistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, West Bank of Israel and Jordan but Pakistan tops among them all, where the concept of women as an object or commodity is deeply rooted in the tribal culture. In Pakistan women are considered property of the males in their family and, like livestock or property, they have monetary value. Women are almost always married by arrangement between families. The tribal customs dictate the property is to be kept within the family so girls are often married to cousins or close relatives almost in exchange of a girl from groom family for may be old male if young is not available in bride’s family. Sometimes daughters, even unborn granddaughters, are exchanged to obtain new wives for males. Women are seen to embody the honour of the men to whom they belong.
The culture casts the males as the sole protector of the female so he must have total control over her.
Men feel honor to kill his family female under what is called in local languages as 'ghairat' or honour on coming to know of her illicit relations with any man. Women in rural villages are not allowed to talk to any man outside family and are also not allowed to go out of home without escort of men even not to hospital as in that case the 'izzat' or standing of man in society will be diminished. Such woman is declared as Kari meaning she brought disgrace to family and must be killed A man who kills for reason of honour is 'ghairatmand' , both morally and legally supported by his tribesmen. After the women are killed their bodies are often thrown into rivers or buried in hidden graveyards. No one is permitted to express grief or pray for them. The Sardar of the area chairs Jirga ( illegal court) which decides the penalty on Karo mostly the fine amount which is taken away by Sardar and “Sangg Chati” penalty of any women or girl ( may be minor one).
There are many cases of fake honour killings where rumours about a daughter or wife are circulated so that they can be killed just to obtain blood money or a new wife. Under Qisas and Diyat law promulgated by military ruler Gen. Ziaul Haq the family of the victim is allowed to pardon the perpetrator for receiving blood money. In many instances “honour” is used as an excuse to perpetrate crimes that stem from inter-family, land, and personal disputes. Government of Pakistan has passed few acts including Protection of Women Act yet the practice of honor killing not only continues but it is on rise by every passing month. 8548 cases of violence against women were reported including 683 honor killing, 604 suicide, 1987 kidnapping, sexual harassment 274 and acid throwing 27 in 2009 while in 2010 there were 8000 incidents of violations against women with 5295 in Punjab and 1652 in Sindh, 650 in KP, 79 in Balochistan and 127 in Islamabad. 2236 women were kidnapped 1436 killed, 486 of domestic violence and 633 had committed suicide after being weary of the miserable life. 557 women were killed under honor killing while 928 were gang raped. More than 100 incident occurred of sexual harassment and acid throwing.
The figures of Islamabad are alarming given the smaller population and high security maintained in the capital. Of the total incidents of 8000 in Pakistan, 2236 women were abducted; 1436 women were murdered and 557 were killed in the name of ‘ honour’ killing; 928 women were raped; 633 women committed suicide; 32 women were made victim of acid attacks and 38 women were target of stove burning. 1 This is a grim reminder that evil social practices persist, such as the fact that several women were exchanged like cattle to settle disputes adjudicated by illegal jirgas, or hundreds were killed on the pretext of so-called ‘honour’.
Sindh being ruled de facto by politically powerful Sardars and Jagirdars where the authorities were silent and get the issue taken for granted. Due to which in almost all districts of Sindh the cases of killing women under Karo Kari, rape, gang rape, torture, domestic violence and child marriages are happening. On the occasion of world human right day the leader of Women Action Forum and women activists professor Amar Sindhu,Arfana Mallah, Haseen Shah Musrat,Nasreen Shakeel Pathan,Zahida Detho, Ms. Gulani as well as the human rights activists Dr. Sarwan Kumar, advocate Aslam Rana, advocate bhagwandas, Dr. Ashothama (HRCP),Dr. Hyder (GRDO), Taj Mari, Ramzan Memon, former first secretary of Communist Party of Pakistan Jam Saqi and others have slated apathy and indifferent attitude of state to curb incidents of violation against women including honor killing and to bring the perpetrators to book and have demanded to implement laws and international
conventions for protection of women and according them the status equal to men. They demanded cases of rape be tried in special courts. They lashed out at Jirga system and said if the feudal lords and Jagirdars were to decide fate of women victims then how they can get justice. They also deplored that the state has failed to implement the provisions of law which was passed to bust the attempts of sexual harassment of women in work places.
PICTURE CULTURE
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
A picture on page-5 of “The News” 10 December shows the Saudi Ambassador Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer calling on Senator Muhammad Ali Durrani. Two things caught my immediate attention. First, the ambassador looked real smart attired in a designer’s western suit complete with what must have been a pure silk stripped necktie with a matching kerchief. Second, the presence of a framed picture of the Saudi monarch perched conspicuously on a table that seemed to have been placed deliberately between the visitor and the senator. There was also a standing standard in the background that looked like the Saudi flag. The senator had certainly created an aura of Saudi atmosphere for the occasion. Somehow it all reminded me of a comedy movie “Hotel Sahara” of my young days. The hilarious story of the film revolved around the Second World War hotel in a city of African desert which came under the alternate occupation of the Allied and Ax is forces a number of times. At the advent of each occupation, whether by the Allieds or the Axis, the hotel manager had to change in anticipation the entire décor of the hotel, the pictures (of Hitler, Mussolini, Churchill or Roosevelt) and the countries’ flags and buntings etc. to welcome the occupying force. The tantrums and the panic were real hilarious when the occupying troops turned out to be other than what the manger expected and everything had to be altered covertly to meet the changed situation without its being detected by the invader. Pray the Senator doesn’t face a situation ever like that.
PUBLIC IS NOT HAPPY
[Sher Gondal, Mandi Bahauddin]
Public in general is not happy with the present democratic government. Only those are happy who are in it, said Lt General Faiz Ali Chishti, President Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) when addressing a meeting attended by more than a thousand retired soldiers at Dina. He said Prime Minister of Pakistan is Executive Chief who had miserably failed to organize and control government set up. Some force behind the curtain was directing him to follow wrong directions. He should avoid criticizing armed forces realizing that he was PM because of military sacrifices. Referring to federal cabinet, he said it was over crowded with unwanted large number of ministers.
He referred India and other democratic country where around 16 ministers were running the government efficiently. Similarly in Navy there were more admirals than the number of ships. General’s strength in Army was also not in proportion. This was all burden on public exchequer, he regretted. Referring to Chief Justice Statements that he would not validate martial law when it comes, he said martial law comes on the desire of public when its neck is tightened with noose of corrupt rulers and when ever it is imposed people welcome it with distribution of sweets. He said rulers have made our nation slave and it was call of the hour that ex-servicemen rise to save the country from collapse. He said at present ex-servicemen belonging to Army, Air Force, Navy, Pakistan Rangers, FC including other defense pensioners were more than 2.5 million and keeping in view members of their families their vote bank was around 25 millions. He urged ex-servicemen to organize at grass routes level and raise their vote bank.
He said on 23 March, 2012 all Pakistan ex-servicemen convention will be held at Islamabad where it would be decided who would be next PM of the country. He said without enforcing accountability our nation could not be stable economically. He offered himself for accountability and asked government hand over responsibility of accountability to PESS if they wanted to see separation of milk from water in a transparent manner. He said our country was rich but the rulers have brought poverty to the people because of mismanagement of national resources. The meeting was also addressed by Col Rubani, Major Sher Gondal, Major Nasir, and Subedar Iqbal. Ex-servicemen came from Mandi Bahauddin, Mirpur (AK), Jhelum, and Chakwal. Khushab, Sargodha, Gujrat and other surrounding districts and attended the meeting.
THE VICE PRESIDENT
[Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd), Rawalpindi]
In reply to a TV reporter’s question as to who was the President whose Vice he was, Dr. Babar Awan replied that there was only one President in the country. An obvious hint to President Zardari. Does it mean that Babar Awan has been appointed as the Vice President of the country? If yes, under what constitution? And if not, then what is the answer to the TV reporter’s question?
RETHINKING THE BIG LIES FROM 1971
[A reader, Vancouver, Bc, Canada]
This is with reference to Dawood I Ahmed’s article of December 16 titled “Rethinking the big lies from 1971”. The article is not only thoughtful and provocative but also makes a persuasive argument for our shortcomings as a nation. We are a nation whose birth was based upon lies and hence our history is full of manufactured lies. I do not think we ever made an effort to tell the truth, or for that matter even if we even know what the truth is. We do not believe in an honest self-introspection instead much prefer to practice rather zealously lying and denying. What the writer is asking of us can never be delivered because truth will pose a serious threat to our very existence.
[The Express Tribune]
1971 TRAGEDY: TIME FOR SOUL-SEARCHING
[Masood Khan, Jubail]
December 16 is Bijoe Dibosh — victory day for Bangladesh, while Pakistanis remember this day as the tragic fall of Dhaka. This was the day when the nine-month-long Bangladesh Liberation War (Muktijuddho in Bengali) ended in 1971 with the fall of Dhaka. All this period was marred by senseless bloodshed, atrocities and hatred. Bangladesh claims that around three million people were massacred by the Pakistan Army. However, they have failed to find any mass graves during the last 40 years. At the same time, Urdu-speaking ethnic groups and West Pakistanis living in the then East Pakistan were subjected to immense reprisal attacks, torture and devastation of properties.
It’s unfortunate that Dec 16 is just a day for celebration, remorse or anguish for some people in South Asia; where is the soul-searching? There are so many unanswered questions and open issues that are pushed under the carpet, assuming these will never wake our conscience.
Pakistan never accepted that it was the economic and political discrimination which sowed the seeds of succession. Refusal by the military dictator to honour the Awami League’s landslide in 1970’s election was enough to close the fate of a united Pakistan. Pakistan never accepted that it was the defeat of the theory that just a common faith can glue a country of diverse languages and cultures. Pakistan never offered an official apology for the countless massacres carried out by its forces whether it was the March 25 Operation Searchlight in Dhaka University, slaughtering scores of students and faculty members or the infamous massacre of Bengali intelligentsia a couple of days before the Dhaka fall. Pakistan also refused to accept a large number of East Pakistan-based Urdu-speaking people who opted to remain as Pakistani.
Bangladesh never brought to justice its Mukti Bahini liberation force which indulged in gross-scale atrocities against the non-Bengali population. A sense of denial prevails in both countries which is not the solution. The real and primary perpetrators and instigators of these unfortunate events should be brought to justice. But maybe it’s too late. Only historians can try them in their analyses of the events of those dark days. Till that time it’s time to sleep over or indulge in another denial of rights to our people. [Dawn]
RETHINKING THE BIG LIES FROM 1971
[Faiza Khan, Lahore]
This is with reference to Dawood I Ahmed’s article titled “Rethinking the big lies”, published December 16. Having published a book on this topic, Indian author, Sarmila Bose, wrote Dead Reckoning, which is a controversial book accusing Bengalis of 1971 war crimes. Offering thorough research and evidence, she reiterates that both Bangladesh and India have demonised the Pakistan Army as the only villain in the war. She asserts this is a lie; whilst not entirely exonerating the Pakistan Army from committing the war crimes, she doesn’t support the claim that the sole responsibility of the atrocities and genocide rests with Pakistan. All three sides have difficulty in digesting their mistakes which is why Bose’s book is a good place to start to come to terms with some of the realities of the war. [The Express Tribune]
1971 & H R COMMISSION
[Gull Zaman, Peshawar]
The tragedy of Pakistan is that as a nation even after the 1971 shameful debacle, we have refused to learn any lessons from history. The Hammoodur Rehman Commission which comprised of Justice Anwar ul Haq and Justice Tufail Ali also had Lt Gen (retd) Altaf Qadir as Military Advisor and M A Latif serving as Secretary to commission. They submitted their report on 23 Oct 1974 after they had interrogated 72 persons including Lt Gen AA K Niazi, Maj Gen Farman Ali, Rear Adm Sharif, Chief Sec Muzaffar Hassan and IG police Mahmood Ali who were posted in former East Pakistan. The Commission submitted the following:-
“After analysing the evidence brought before the Commission, we came to the conclusion that the process of moral degeneration among the senior ranks of the Armed Forces was set in motion by their involvement in Martial Law duties in 1958, that these tendencies reappeared and were, in fact, intensified when Martial Law was imposed in the country once again in March 1969 by General Yahya Khan, and that there was indeed substance in the allegations that a considerable number of senior Army Officers had not only indulged in large scale acquisition of lands and houses and other commercial activities, but had also adopted highly immoral and licentious ways of life which seriously affected their professional capabilities and their qualities of leadership.”. In their report they also submitted that Brig. Jehanzeb Arbab, former Commander 57 Brigade, Lt. Col. (Now Brig) Muzaffar Ali Khan Zahid, former CO 31 field Regiment, Lt. Col. Basharat Ahmad, former CO 18 Punjab, Lt. Col. Mohammad Taj, CO 32 Punjab, Lt. Col Mohammad Tufail, Col 55 Field Regiment, Major Madad Hussain Shah, 18 Punjab based on “The evidence of Maj. Gen. Nazar Hussain Shah (Witness No. 242 GOC 16 Div, Maj. Gen. M.H Ansari (Witness NO. 233) GOC, 9 Div, aswell as of Brig. Baqir Siddiqui (Witness No. 218) Chief of Staff, Eastern Command, disclosed that these officers and their units were involved in large scale looting, including the theft of Rs. 1,35,00,000 from the National Bank Treasury at Siraj Ganj”. The Commission also recommended court martial of Maj Gen Rahim. The unfortunate reality is that Gen Zia Ul Haq appointed Maj Gen Rahim as Chairman PIA and Brig Jehanzeb Khan was promoted as GOC as early as 1974 and so were others instead of being punished. [Pakistan Observer]
THE SHADOW OF 1971
[Mohammad Ali Khan, Karachi]
This is with reference to Dr Akmal Hussain’s article of December 20 titled “The shadow of 1971”. It is rather surprising that the worthy columnist has traced events only since March 25, 1971 and not prior. His perception of the events taking place in the eastern wing of Pakistan since 1947 is quite far from the facts. He finds the military government, being in power in 1971, the sole culprit for the debacle when he writes that “it chose to use military force as a response to what were essentially political demands of the majority, following the electoral success of the Awami League led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.”
I would like to correct Dr Hussain. He should consider what happened right after the 1970 elections. It was not the military but rather the PPP that chose to disregard the electoral results and refused to accept the mandate of the Awami League. Also, it was that party’s leadership which had threatened the newly-elected members of the National Assembly and stopped them from going to Dhaka for attending the inaugural session scheduled for March 1971? One more thing: military action was ordered on March 25 but the killings of non-Bengali civilians, military/paramilitary personnel from West Pakistan and those Bengalis who were against the Awami League’s movement for secession had started after March 2 with the announcement of postponement of the first session of the newly-elected assembly by General Yahya Khan. The bulk of the reinforcements for the army from West Pakistan moved after March 25 by which time the brutalities by the Mukti Bahini and other nationalist elements were well underway in various parts of East Pakistan. It is high time for the truth to be told on both sides. [The Express Tribune]
RETHINKING THE BIG LIES FROM 1971
[SM, Florida]
With three million dead in a few months, the Pakistan Army’s brutal 50,000 strong machine must have been way more efficient than the German juggernaut numbering a few million that exterminated over six million Jews in six years. True, atrocities were committed by the Pakistanis as well, but not the three million figure that is commonly thrown out there. [The Express Tribune]
RETHINKING THE BIG LIES FROM 1971
[Zillur Rahman, Los Angeles]
After the 1947 partition, MK Gandhi took it upon himself to force the Indian government to transfer to Pakistan its share of assets. Forty years have gone by since the dismemberment of 1971. Pakistan has yet to agree to an equitable share of the assets of united Pakistan. It has not offered reparations to Bangladesh and it has not tried a single military officer for war crimes. In fact, Pakistan has yet to even offer an apology to Bangladesh. [The Express Tribune]
APOLOGY FOR 1971?
[Munir Ahmad Saeed, Perth, Wa, Australia]
This is with reference to Kuldip Nayar’s article of December 20, titled “The birth of Bangladesh”. General Pervez Musharaf did apologise in his capacity as the ruler of Pakistan when he visited Bangladesh and laid flowers on the graves of martyrs of the language riots of 1948. However, I still believe there is no harm in the state of Pakistan making a formal apology for what happened, if that helps heal wounds. [The Express Tribune]
Edited and prepared by
Khalil Ahmad
Email: khalilkf@yahoo.com khalil@asinstitute.org
[FreePakistan Newsletter, among other things, is a compilation of views and news taken from the national newspapers’ print and online editions. It is not possible to mention the source of every piece of news or view made use of herein; but as a matter of policy, where possible the source is mentioned with due thanks. However, no opinion expressed here should necessarily be taken as reflecting the view of Free Pakistan Newsletter.]
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