The Pakistani Daleets.

Creation of new provinces for various ethnic groups in Pakistan is a hot debate nowadays in the electronic and print media. The premises on which such arguments are based are fulfillment of public wishes, redemption of their grievances and instilling sense of patriotism so that another East Pakistan is not created.

Whether it is the Hazara province, Bahawalpur province, Saraiki province or the division of Sindh, the argument is that it is the legal right of the people entrusted to them by the constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Amid all these hues, one region of this country is missing. No one talks about their grievances. No one talks about their sense of deprivation. No one highlights their patriotism, and that region is the ever neglected Gilgit Baltistan.

Many bilateral agreements have been penned down between India and Pakistan to formulate a way for Kashmir dispute. It’s an irony that the people of Gilgit Baltistan – an important stakeholder of the issue have never been taken onboard in such discussions. It has always been ignored and was never consulted whether it was regarding their will while penning down the Karachi Agreement or any any such bilateral dailouges.

The people of GB have no representation in National Assembly and Senate, yet some of the most renowned personalities such as Nazir Sabir, Hassan Stapara, Lalak Jan hail from this region.  They are Pakistanis for their achievements, but not Pakistanis when it comes to their constitutional rights. Let’s accept that the people of GB are Daleets of Pakistan and are deprived of their very basic human and constitutional rights since their independence.

What is the contribution of the people of Gilgit Baltistan to Pakistan? Well, they annexed the region with Pakistan without any prior conditions. They fought bravely in the war of 1948; they shed their blood in the Kargil war. They never conspired against Pakistan. They never burnt Pakistani flags. Despite of being in limbo, they showed more patriotism to their country compared to the people of any other administrative provinces.

What, in return, Pakistan has materialized GB? To say few, no constitutional rights, no administrative authority, no inclusion in any talks on Kashmir issue, no medical college, no engineering university, no basic infrastructure, no plan for mountaineering and tourism, no technical college. Nothing!!

The people of GB are Daleets of Pakistan. Will any CM of any province talk about their rights? Will any intellectual brainstorm about their plights? Will any media programme also cover their wishes like they do for Kashmiris? Perhaps no, because the state imposes its laws on minorities, it doesn’t give them their due share of rights. And being a minority, the people of GB will remain in constitutional and administrative limbo.

Policing The Police

After killing of Zuber during the election campaign of Nawaz Khan Naji in Punial, Ghizar District,, the second incident of killing an innocent father and son took place in Hunza. Killing of peaceful people demanding their rights is saddening and contemptible news. It horrifies us. It is a right time to ask the basic questions about the roles and responsibilities of police along with their authority.

According to constitution, the police have no authority to open fire on mobs and protestors. The constitution clearly prohibits such acts of cowardice.

As far as the duties of police on duty are concerned, the Police Order 2002 states:

Subject to law, it shall be the duty of every police officer to -

1. Protect life, property and liberty of citizens;
2. Preserve and promote public peace;
3. Ensure that the rights and privileges, under the law, of a person taken in custody, are protected;
4. Prevent the commission of offences and public nuisance.

The above points have been violated to their best by GB police. It is a high time to ask these questions that under which law they have killed two innocent people and injured five others?

Under the title of ‘Offences by and Punishments for Police Officers’, the Police order states:

1. Without lawful authority, or reasonable cause, enters or searches or causes to be entered or searched any building, vessel, tent or place;
2. Unnecessarily seizes the property of any person;
3. Unnecessarily detains, searches or arrests any person; or
4. Inflicts torture or violence to any person in his custody; shall, for every such offence, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term, which may extend to five years and with fine.

The law clearly states that even under its custody, the police can never torture any person.

There is a need of judicial inquiry to the incident. The police who opened fire must be suspended. When the rangers in Karachi killed Sarfaraz Shah, DG rangers and IG were suspended. In a similar way, Chief Justice of Pakistan must issue orders of IG Giligit’s suspension and case must be filed against those police personals who are involved in these heinous crimes.

(Originally Published in Pamir Times)

Losing Allies, Troubles for PPP government

The decision of Altaf Hussain, London based party chief of MQM has stripped Pakistan People Party government in center and Sindh province.

In meeting of Rabita Committee last night, Altaf Hussain has announced to take their sets in opposition benches and has put the stability of government at stake.

Earlier JUI had parted their way from coalition government after sacking their minister Azam Sawati for his critical stand against Hajj Corruption.

PPP government now needs support of any other party to stable its government in center. Meanwhile the opposition leaders have arranged various meeting to harmonize their agendas against the current PPP government dismissal.  The only ally standing beside PPP government now is ANP of Asfandyar Wali Khan.

Currently holding 125 seats in National Assmbly, PPP government needs 172 seats to maintain its simple majority. Any member can move resolution of No-Confidence against the Prime Minister which will be a real hard test for government.

Analysts say that the only way forward for PPP government is to make coalition with PMLQ in center or agreeing to the demands of JUI. Meanwhile President Zardari has assured to rebuild his usual cooperation with MQM in coming future.

Occurrence of any turmoil or stability is anybody’s guess, but one thing is obvious that the democracy is exposed to threats due to irresponsible and selfish attitude of various political parties.