Will Gen Raheel Sharif Bring The Charge Sheet To Its Logical End?

Few days ago, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI)’s leader Ali Zaidi wrote a letter to Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, to seek a ban on Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) following its founder`s controversial speech on Aug 22 (http://www.dawn.com/news/1280867 ).

Ali Zaidi`s letter contained two important points. Firstly, he blamed MQM of being involved in criminal activities and thus demanded the Army chief to ban it. Secondly, he claimed that two former chiefs of Pakistan army had formed and patronized MQM. What he wrote was, “It is also not a hidden secret that MQM was created by former President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq and further aided/facilitated by former President General Pervez Musharaf”

Regarding the criminal charges on MQM, there is nothing new in them at all. MQM has been facing all that ever since its came into the Pakistani politics in mid 80`s. Not a single of them has yet been proved in any court of law. So the allegaions levelled on MQM in the letter can easily be considred the result of political rivalry of PTI.

However, as far as the other aspect is concerned, PTI leader has not merely demanded to ban MQM, but in fact, has put a formal charge sheet against the Pakistani military establishment in the letter. We know that, as per the prevailing laws in Pakistan, government employees are not allowed to take part in politics during their service period. If some one is found doing that, he will be brought to justice. Thus, question is, when an ordinary government employee has such a restriction, how can an army chief be permitted to create and facilitate political groups promoting crimes/violence in the country? If someone really does so, it would be the sheer violation of his oath sworn to protect Pakistan as well as its citizens and, consequently, be considered as an act of high treason.

Keeping in view this, has Ali Zaidi not accused the former army chiefs of high treason? Would the present Army Chief General Raheel Sharif not like to require the reliable and concrete evidences from the PTI leader to prove his allegation?

Honestly speaking, this is not only PTI leader alone, there is a long list of political and religious leaders, anchorpersons and analysts who have been putting the same charges on MQM without considering the fact that, by doing so, they are actually denting the image of Pakistan army and ISI in the outside world.

Recently, a known female journalist and anchorpersons, Nasim Zehra  not only put all the burden of political violence of May 12, 2007 on MQM, but also termed then Army Chief Pervez Musharaf as the master mind behind that. What she tweeted was, “Justice re May 12 impossible without holding  mil ruler Gen Musharaf accountable who asked MQM to prevent CJ rally-MQM were his proxies/allies”

Since Nasim Zehra is considered to be as one of MQM`s traditional critics, it was not surprising to see hostile views against it. But, how can it be believed that, as per her claim, an army chief ordered to forcefully stop the the rally of deposed Chief Justice (Iftekhar Choudhry) from entering Karachi? Even if Pervez Musharf really did that, what was the role of other army generals, coup commanders, DG Rangers, MI, IB, ISI and FIA`s officials of the time? Were they unaware of that or, perhaps, were also hand in gloves with the Army Chief? By now, she has not yet produced any evidence in the support.

In the same respect, the most shocking allegation came not from a disgruntled/stressed politician, but from the present Federal Interior Minister Choudhry Nisar who is supposed to be very close to the Pakistani military establishment. Mr. Nisar, during an exclusive interview with Kashif Abbasi, anchorperson of ARY channel, revealed that then Army Chief (Pervez Musharaf) offered to have Altaf Hussain (MQM`s founder & leader) killed in London by his means in such a way that even the blame would not come to them (https://twitter.com/fawadrehman/status/771004835642675201) .

If he was true, question is, do the Pakistani army generals really work this way? Can they have their rival politicians killed so easily? Do they have so powerful means that they can accomplish any task even in a foreign country as per the orders of their chief in Pakistan? Very importantly, neither the Inter Services Public Relations of Pakistan Army (ISPR) denied that nor did the military establishment take any action against Ch. Nisar if he had told a lie.

It should also be kept in mind that Pakistan army and its agency ISI have been facing the allegations of creating and still patronizing extremist/Jihadi and Taliban groups to be used against their rival countries prominently including India and Afghanistan, while the Pakistani authorities have been refuting completely. In such a scenario, new accusations from within are nothing, but an obvious endorsement to them.

Therefore, it is the responsibility of the present Army Chief to set a up a commission (or JIT) to prob the same. This will help to decide these accusations once for all. If they are proved to be true, Gen. Raheel Sharif should give stern punishment in public to the perpetrators. Because it would give a very positive message to the entire world that the Pak army, as an institution, does not support or defend any individual involved in such a filthy act. 

On the other hand, if the charges turn out to be baseless, all the liars (from Ali Zidi to Ch. Nisar), should be tried under Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan.