Open Letter,
To Chief of Army Staff,
Pakistan Army.
Subject: All Institutions Must Play their Role To Avoid National Collapse.
Dear Sir,
The ordinary people of Pakistan, welcomed democracy because they were promised safety, security and economic well being. The reality is that, what little they have is being taken away through persistently rising inflation and tyrannical governance. The state of the country is now a subject of profound worry and deep apprehension. The middle and poor classes are particularly hard hit and it is in these classes that the number of suicides has increased manifold. People feel extremely insecure.
The 'Feudal democracy brigade is causing the greatest damage to this country by continuously masking failures and faulty performance. By blaming the Media or past Military Rule, they succeed in diverting attention, but fail to take cognizance of the fact that things are growing from bad to worse. Complaints against the persons in power and their machinations are multiplying. These persons are willfully flouting all accepted norms of conduct. People are losing faith in the system. This does not augur well for national integration. Demands are widespread, that these persons should be held accountable. Deep anger against the system, brought in place after elections is mounting. The strong perception, that the persons want to manipulate the system whereby all laws can be broken with impunity, is based on various decisions and actions.
Should we not question them and their acts? Why should institutional meltdown be tolerated? Why must governance not be the Priority?
Is a system which is not functioning, more important or the type of the system itself? In a normal democratic system, it is the Institutions which are supposed to play their part to correct deviant actions.
Are the civil institutions effective enough and are they playing their part other than perhaps the Courts. The courts authority is also being challenged. Are the courts being respected? It is perhaps a record that in the last two years 4 Attorney Generals and 3 Law Secretaries have resigned. The circumstances are well known. Is NAB being allowed to function? Is FIA being allowed to carry out independent investigations? Are the Assemblies holding those who are plundering accountable? Is there a viable opposition? Why are the protests of the people aired in the media not given attention for corrective action? Why are steps not taken to correct it? This is an enigma. Very questionable actions of the leaders are being reported but no action taken to correct or reverse them. The complaints of corruption are not even being refuted for any misreporting or wrong understanding. Deterioration in values has reached a point where, a new corruption story is highlighted by the media everyday.
The matters associated with the Head of the State, need no elaboration and are highly embarrassing. A Lawyer who was in the vanguard of the so called Democracy movement is now the strongest defender of corruption cases through the Law of Immunity. The immunity being demanded, in this specific case, is as bad as the NRO itself. To add to this the people who form part of the Presidents team are highly controversial.
The Law Minister, Babar Awan (and other well known lawyers) allegedly extorted massive fees from the accused of Punjab Bank. None of them have been questioned by the legal fraternity. Why are the fees charged by these lawyers, part of which was alleged to be for 'court fixing, not being questioned by NAB?
The Fake Degrees scandal and its management by the PM are unthinkable. Its parallel does not exist in our history. No ruler has ever defended falsehood as has been done in this case.
Can a Prime Minister anywhere in the world, write off his own loan? By reportedly writing off his wifes (The PMs) loan of Rs 30 crores,he has created the most unprecedented example of misuse of power. We all seem to be unperturbed. While the PM paid Rs 85000/- as per return filed (Media Report), former PM Nawaz sharif, paid only Rs 5000/-, as income tax. The greater worry is that their supporters and the opposition parties have winked at it and allowed this to happen. Why should people pay taxes when these examples are being set?
This has happened because NAB has been completely defanged. It is now an institution not for prosecution but for the defense of the corrupt in the Government. With all its loopholes, NAB remained an extremely powerful set up, functioning much better during Gen Musharrafs rule. It does not exist now. Look at the treatment given to Supreme Courts orders regarding NAB
Subsequent to the resolution in the Punjab Assembly, to put a noose round the medias neck, the worst kind of media tyranny and persecution of journalists is taking place now as never before. Umar Cheemas persecution is a blow to freedom of the Press.
This surpasses the torture of Najam Sethi by Police and IB on orders of Saifur Rehman during Nawaz Sharifs tenure. It may be recalled that he was rescued and saved by Gen Musharraf.
On the subject of foreign aid, never ever has the country been mistrusted as now? To be fair every Military Government was trusted, given funds and never doubted as at present.
To promote Higher Education, a beautiful organization in the shape of the HEC was created. Its budget of Rs 22 Billion has been reduced to 11 billion. What is happening to it now is a matter of shame.
The Courts must hear all the relevant corruption cases. Otherwise, the bribes taken by politicians in the Mehran Gate scandal and the Swiss cases will very soon become history. All the vociferous demands by the opposition for the return of the looted wealth have now fizzled out. There seems to be a compromise of sorts between the Government and the opposition. Massive corruption will thus be legalized.
The Steel mill deal was scrapped on technical grounds by the Supreme Court. Thereafter the Country has suffered a 30 Billion loss due to pilferage and leakage till date. Are we going to wait and let the sharks wipe off everything?
Fortunately, the appointment of a convict and semi literate Adnan Khawaja as MD of OGDC has been taken notice of, by the Supreme Court.
Complacence seems to have crept in comprehensively. The objectives of the Rule of Law movement are not anywhere near implementation. This movement brought in place the present set up which is so highly corrupt that many of its actions are akin to broad daylight robberies. Instead of rule of law the people are at the receiving end of the most intense misery because of a steep rise in prices in a period of two and a half years..
There was a lot of hype about the corruption in the award of contracts of the Rental Power plants. The Asian Development Bank objected to the deal. The then Finance Minister raised objections, the civil society protested but the project is going ahead. Why no Suo Moto, as in the case of the Steel Mills. The consequent rise in electricity bills has destroyed the middle class. The numbers stealing electricity has gone up manifold. Those caught are let off.
The economy is in a state of virtual collapse. Yet we have approved a Monument for Benazir, the cost of which is Rs 1 Billion. There are so many others for whom monuments need to be built. Why for the spouse of the President. This is notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan does not have the money for giving relief to the flood affected and massive loans are being taken from the IMF, which will break the back of all of us, eventually. The endless list necessitates, that the state of the collapse must be averted.
The Army as an Institution of national integration and protection of the Countrys sovereignty has always rescued the country in crises. The peoples voice is being reflected in the media day in and day out.
All institutions must play their legitimate role in aid of the country without imposition of Martial Law.
Solutions being articulated by the civil society through the media to overcome the state of anarchy need to be given their due importance, so as to save the nation from drowning in a sea of bad governance
Shams Z Abbas,
Lahore.
16Sep10.
To Chief of Army Staff,
Pakistan Army.
Subject: All Institutions Must Play their Role To Avoid National Collapse.
Dear Sir,
The ordinary people of Pakistan, welcomed democracy because they were promised safety, security and economic well being. The reality is that, what little they have is being taken away through persistently rising inflation and tyrannical governance. The state of the country is now a subject of profound worry and deep apprehension. The middle and poor classes are particularly hard hit and it is in these classes that the number of suicides has increased manifold. People feel extremely insecure.
The 'Feudal democracy brigade is causing the greatest damage to this country by continuously masking failures and faulty performance. By blaming the Media or past Military Rule, they succeed in diverting attention, but fail to take cognizance of the fact that things are growing from bad to worse. Complaints against the persons in power and their machinations are multiplying. These persons are willfully flouting all accepted norms of conduct. People are losing faith in the system. This does not augur well for national integration. Demands are widespread, that these persons should be held accountable. Deep anger against the system, brought in place after elections is mounting. The strong perception, that the persons want to manipulate the system whereby all laws can be broken with impunity, is based on various decisions and actions.
Should we not question them and their acts? Why should institutional meltdown be tolerated? Why must governance not be the Priority?
Is a system which is not functioning, more important or the type of the system itself? In a normal democratic system, it is the Institutions which are supposed to play their part to correct deviant actions.
Are the civil institutions effective enough and are they playing their part other than perhaps the Courts. The courts authority is also being challenged. Are the courts being respected? It is perhaps a record that in the last two years 4 Attorney Generals and 3 Law Secretaries have resigned. The circumstances are well known. Is NAB being allowed to function? Is FIA being allowed to carry out independent investigations? Are the Assemblies holding those who are plundering accountable? Is there a viable opposition? Why are the protests of the people aired in the media not given attention for corrective action? Why are steps not taken to correct it? This is an enigma. Very questionable actions of the leaders are being reported but no action taken to correct or reverse them. The complaints of corruption are not even being refuted for any misreporting or wrong understanding. Deterioration in values has reached a point where, a new corruption story is highlighted by the media everyday.
The matters associated with the Head of the State, need no elaboration and are highly embarrassing. A Lawyer who was in the vanguard of the so called Democracy movement is now the strongest defender of corruption cases through the Law of Immunity. The immunity being demanded, in this specific case, is as bad as the NRO itself. To add to this the people who form part of the Presidents team are highly controversial.
The Law Minister, Babar Awan (and other well known lawyers) allegedly extorted massive fees from the accused of Punjab Bank. None of them have been questioned by the legal fraternity. Why are the fees charged by these lawyers, part of which was alleged to be for 'court fixing, not being questioned by NAB?
The Fake Degrees scandal and its management by the PM are unthinkable. Its parallel does not exist in our history. No ruler has ever defended falsehood as has been done in this case.
Can a Prime Minister anywhere in the world, write off his own loan? By reportedly writing off his wifes (The PMs) loan of Rs 30 crores,he has created the most unprecedented example of misuse of power. We all seem to be unperturbed. While the PM paid Rs 85000/- as per return filed (Media Report), former PM Nawaz sharif, paid only Rs 5000/-, as income tax. The greater worry is that their supporters and the opposition parties have winked at it and allowed this to happen. Why should people pay taxes when these examples are being set?
This has happened because NAB has been completely defanged. It is now an institution not for prosecution but for the defense of the corrupt in the Government. With all its loopholes, NAB remained an extremely powerful set up, functioning much better during Gen Musharrafs rule. It does not exist now. Look at the treatment given to Supreme Courts orders regarding NAB
Subsequent to the resolution in the Punjab Assembly, to put a noose round the medias neck, the worst kind of media tyranny and persecution of journalists is taking place now as never before. Umar Cheemas persecution is a blow to freedom of the Press.
This surpasses the torture of Najam Sethi by Police and IB on orders of Saifur Rehman during Nawaz Sharifs tenure. It may be recalled that he was rescued and saved by Gen Musharraf.
On the subject of foreign aid, never ever has the country been mistrusted as now? To be fair every Military Government was trusted, given funds and never doubted as at present.
To promote Higher Education, a beautiful organization in the shape of the HEC was created. Its budget of Rs 22 Billion has been reduced to 11 billion. What is happening to it now is a matter of shame.
The Courts must hear all the relevant corruption cases. Otherwise, the bribes taken by politicians in the Mehran Gate scandal and the Swiss cases will very soon become history. All the vociferous demands by the opposition for the return of the looted wealth have now fizzled out. There seems to be a compromise of sorts between the Government and the opposition. Massive corruption will thus be legalized.
The Steel mill deal was scrapped on technical grounds by the Supreme Court. Thereafter the Country has suffered a 30 Billion loss due to pilferage and leakage till date. Are we going to wait and let the sharks wipe off everything?
Fortunately, the appointment of a convict and semi literate Adnan Khawaja as MD of OGDC has been taken notice of, by the Supreme Court.
Complacence seems to have crept in comprehensively. The objectives of the Rule of Law movement are not anywhere near implementation. This movement brought in place the present set up which is so highly corrupt that many of its actions are akin to broad daylight robberies. Instead of rule of law the people are at the receiving end of the most intense misery because of a steep rise in prices in a period of two and a half years..
There was a lot of hype about the corruption in the award of contracts of the Rental Power plants. The Asian Development Bank objected to the deal. The then Finance Minister raised objections, the civil society protested but the project is going ahead. Why no Suo Moto, as in the case of the Steel Mills. The consequent rise in electricity bills has destroyed the middle class. The numbers stealing electricity has gone up manifold. Those caught are let off.
The economy is in a state of virtual collapse. Yet we have approved a Monument for Benazir, the cost of which is Rs 1 Billion. There are so many others for whom monuments need to be built. Why for the spouse of the President. This is notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan does not have the money for giving relief to the flood affected and massive loans are being taken from the IMF, which will break the back of all of us, eventually. The endless list necessitates, that the state of the collapse must be averted.
The Army as an Institution of national integration and protection of the Countrys sovereignty has always rescued the country in crises. The peoples voice is being reflected in the media day in and day out.
All institutions must play their legitimate role in aid of the country without imposition of Martial Law.
Solutions being articulated by the civil society through the media to overcome the state of anarchy need to be given their due importance, so as to save the nation from drowning in a sea of bad governance
Shams Z Abbas,
Lahore.
16Sep10.