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InternatIonal

in the production of the natural gas is re- be ascertained whether Imran Khan’s new face could be identified. There are Awami League, leader, Sheikh Mujibur In spite of all these repressive meas- received full support of the GHQ as well
sponsible for the decline, but the truth is decision to give three-year extension to reports of growing differences within Rahaman, as the elected prime minister. ures, Pakistani journalists, continue to as ISI during the 2018 polls.
that the political and economic situation the present army chief, Qamar Javed Ba- the establishment regarding Bajwa’s The history appears to be repeating reveal the political decline of the Khan’s His inability to win any friend among
in the country is heading towards an in- jwa, would help him in retaining office. extension for another three years. If the itself. During the 1970-71, the conflict was government and the growing differences the prominent world leaders against
definite future. It is quite known in the knowledgeable rivalry for supremacy for power within between the Punjabi and Bengali Mus- among the members of the establish- India has further reduced his support
sections that Bajwa had helped Imran’s the establishment contnues, it may lead lims. In the contemporary Pakistan, the ment comprising serving generals. The base in the establishment. The JUI’s on-
Indian apprehensions march to power in 2018, and thus giving to an unprecedented violence. ethnic divide has increased among the establishment got also arrested Mariam, going movement against Imran Khan is
India may face a repeat of the 1970-71 po- him an extension, he has reciprocated The present Pakistani government people of the provinces, whether they Sharif’s daughter, who is now a political believed to have support of the GHQ. It
litical conflict, when Pakistan’s eastern the favour he had received from the may survive till February 2020, but its are Baloch, Sindhi, Pakhtoon or Pun- challenge to the power-centre, the Gen- has surprised a number of journalists,
wing with its majority population had general. future is uncertain. Few may trust Khan’s jabi. The people of Baluchistan are angry eral Headquarters (GHQ). including Najam Sethi, and Hasan NIs-
seceded. It had led to the formation of Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s proposed capacity to tame non-state players or the that their lands have been sold off to the sar, who are unable to explain that how
Bangladesh. India had faced more than march scheduled on October 31 reveals terrorists to save Pakistan being sent to Chinese in the name of development of Disillusioned with Imran this march could be possible without the
10 million refugees from the East Paki- that a section of the Pakistani estab- the black list. Within the establishment, roads and infrastructure. The billions of Imran Khan, a darling of Pakistani dic- consent of the high and mighty in the
stan. The situation had worsened follow- lishment, a word coined by the Paki - the non-state players have patrons. The dollars obtained from the foreign sourc- tators, became the choice of the estab- establishment.
ing the large scale massacre of its citizens stani journalists and leaders for the army and its intelligence wing, Inter Ser- es have been siphoned off to meet the lishment, and succeeded in becoming In spite of his efforts, Imran Khan,
by Pakistani army. In spite of the U.S. armed forces, has become disillusioned vices Intelligence (ISI) too the interna- luxurious life of the Pakistani generals prime minister through intensive politi- could not make inroads in the interna-
support, Pakistani forces had to surren- with Imran Khan. It is quite known in tional pressure to dismantle the terror and their fellow travelers in politics. The cal campaigning in 2018. However, due tional politics to win support for Paki-
der before the Indian forces. In camps and their funding. ethnic division has further sharpened to his inability to release Pakistan from stani establishment, which continues to
the contemporary Pakistan, the with the near-collapse of the country’s the stranglehold of army which supports violate the international directives for
army is ruling the country under The blame game economy. terrorists, Khan could not attract invest- winding up its terror structure. Mean-
a façade of democracy. The Pakistani establishment while, Bajwa has started talking to busi-
The face of the so-called has repeatedly accused India of Lessons in past experience: In 1970-71, the secession nessmen and industrialists for saving the
democratically elected govern- fragmenting Pakistan. A num- If the army rulers and the People’s Party country’s economy, a job expected to be
ment is Imran Khan, a world- ber of senior Pakistani schol- leader, Z.A.Bhutto, had honored the ver- of Pakistan’s eastern done by politicians. It is yet to be ascer-
class cricketer-turned political ars, however, have repeatedly dict of the elections, and had allowed the wing with its majority tained that what would be the implica-
leader. Khan, a favourite of the blamed myopic leaders of the winning Awami League’s leader, Sheikh tions for the army officers’ promotion,
army generals was first offered western wing Pakistan and the Mujibur Rahman to form government at population had led The extension to Bajwaa has definitely
a political role during the regime army dictators for the uprising Islamabad, Pakistan’s unity could have to the formation of disturbed the other senior army officers
of General Zia-ul-Haq. In later of its eastern wing. The situation been retained. During the post-partition seeking promotion to the post of army
years, he was invited to join the in the contemporary Pakistan is years, Pakistan was mostly ruled by the Bangladesh. India had chief. One of them is Lt-General Sarfarz
PML(Noon) led by the former equally bad, if not worse, what army junta. Bhutto was a bright young Sattar, who could have been the army
prime minister Nawaz Sharif. the country faced during the pe- man, who was being groomed by the Pa- faced more than 10 chief, if Bajwa were not given extension.
Imran Khan had declined these riod 1970-71. kistani army during the Ayub years. Mu- million refugees from The flow of the capital to save
political offers, but he launched About half-a-century ago, it jibur Rahman was not acceptable to the Pakistan’s fragile economy is dwindling.
his own party, Pakistan Tehreek- was tall handsome Punjabis ver- army, which used Bhutto to prevent the the East Pakistan The situation could have improved if
in-Insaf (PTI). sus dark-complexioned short- democratically elected leader, Mujibur USA, Western Europe and India had not
The much-pronounced mis- heighted Bengalis. The common Rahman, to occupy the seat of power in ments from abroad. His frequent visits refused to accept Imran’s outbursts
sion of PTI has been to cleanse the cor- • Leader or dealer JUI chief Fazlur Rehman faith, Islam, could not bind them togeth- the country. to China, Saudi Arabia, Washington cold against the past Pakistani regimes sup-
ruption-infested Pakistan. He initiated er. The Bengali Muslims had refused to The army’s control in the West not attract any economic-relief to the porting terrorism seriously. Even the
countrywide campaigns against the Sha- Pakistan that no big movement can dump their language and culture, though Pakistan was always dominant. It did not resource-starved Pakistani economy. non-resident Pakistani too are not able
rif government, who did not have sup- be launched in Pakistan without tacit during the British regime they had sup- allow anyone to weaken directly or indi- There are few takers to his slogan to to send much funds to Pakistan in spite
port of the generals. In 2018, Imran Khan support of the establishment. During ported a separate homeland for Muslims rectly the controls of army. Bhutto was convert Pakistan into a welfare state on of Imran’s repeated appeals.
was imposed upon the country amidst the 2018 elections, with the conniv - under the leadership of S.H. Surahwardi, hanged, his daughter, Benazir, was as- the pattern of the legendary state of Mad- Meanwhile, India has successfully
the complaints of large scale bungling ance of the Pakistani establishment, its a Muslim League leader. sassinated by some unknown assassins ina. According to a quote circulated by an checkmated Pakistani-sponsored ter-
and manipulations in the polls. He is so-called non-state players, the terror- Apart from the issue of imposing and the former prime minister, Mia Mu- international news agency, a taxi driver ror activities in the Kashmir valley, and
known as an army-favourite leader. In ists, and the Inter-Service Intelligence Urdu on Bengalis, the alienation with the hammed Nawaz Sharif, and his daughter told journalists that “I would like to set except a few outbursts from Malaysia
spite of much-rhetroic and bold state- (ISI) agents have succeeded in inducting rulers was further aggravated amidst the Marian are in jail under one or the other my car on fire. The fuel prices are up by and Turkey, no Muslim country has seri-
ments, the Imran Khan’s government a large number of provincial leaders of reports that the most of earnings from pretext. In its bid to further stifle political 50 per cent and few want to hire a taxi.” ously criticized India on the removal the
could not tackle the mounting economic Bhutto’s People’s Party and Sharif’s Paki- exports was spent on the development opposition, the National Accountabil- The food grains and essentials are get- special constitutional status to Jammu
challenges being faced by the country; stan Muslim League (N) in the PTI. of the country’s western wing. The re- ity Bureau (ABC) has not only arrested ting costlier with each passing day. Imran and Kashmir. The Indian concern is the
and his government could not dismantle The political developments indicate fusal of the army dictator, General Agha Sharif, but got him convicted through a Khan cannot blame others for his politi- worsening political and economic situa-
the terrorists training camps functioning that it will be difficult to retain Khann Muhammed Yahya Khan (third presi- sham judicial process. The ABC has so far cal opportunism. In his bid to get power, tion in Pakistan. It may have grave impli-
under the direct supervision of the Paki- in this volatile political situation either dent of the united Pakistan, who served not nabbed any general, though most of he had allowed himself to be used against cations for the country too.
stani armed forces. Bajwa will directly assume power the post from March 25, 1969 till Decem- them enjoy lavish retirement life in Lon- Sharif, who had lost the favour of the
Amidst these challenges, it is yet to replacing his nominee Imran Khan till a ber 1971), to sworn in the majority party, don or Dubai. establishment. His party, PTI, had letters@tehelka.com

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