Enforced disappearances in Pakistan

[DW44]

THE details may change somewhat from year to year, even show an improvement here and there, but the overall picture of the state of human rights in this country remains dismal.

The HRCP’s latest annual report — dedicated to that redoubtable human rights defender, the late Asma Jahangir — is a trenchant illustration of the fact that a decline in casualties due to terrorism does not necessarily translate into respect for people’s inalienable rights.

Granted, some progressive legislation was enacted, but we fell short on a number of fronts.

Religious minorities and law-enforcement personnel continued to be targeted by extremist elements.

Mob violence, especially driven by allegations of blasphemy, showed no let up; in fact, the nation plumbed a new low with Mashal Khan’s murder.

Gender equality and sexual violence against women and children still pose a huge challenge.

Moreover, sinister methods have been devised to stifle freedom of expression, both in mainstream and social media, and society in general.

To this is linked yet another issue of grave concern — highlighted in the HRCP report — which is escalating alarmingly: enforced disappearances.

The Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances received 868 cases last year, more than in either of the previous two years.

Thus while the nation has comparatively less to fear from collectively being in the wrong place at the wrong time, its citizens increasingly have to look over their shoulder, and watch what they say and do if they value their freedom, sometimes their very lives.

The practice of enforced disappearances is a stain on any civilised country, and it is a manifestation of unrepresentative, unaccountable state elements tightening their grip over Pakistani society.

The vile practice, which figures prominently in the playbook of some of history’s most infamous regimes, began in this country from the backwaters of Fata and the provinces and has now reached a point where anyone, anywhere, is fair game.

Numerous bloggers, journalists, rights activists, political workers, etc have experienced the terror of the midnight knock and, increasingly, abduction in broad daylight.

All that is required is a point of view that is secular and/or questions the national security policy.

For a government-appointed body with the mandate to document missing persons and bring the perpetrators to justice, the CIED, while doing well in the first, has comprehensively failed in its second task.

That, arguably, is why the abductions have become ever more brazen.

Given this context, the statements on Tuesday by the head of the commission, retired Justice Javed Iqbal, before the National Assembly Standing Committee on Human Rights, are extremely unfortunate.

Disregarding multiple eyewitness accounts, ignoring the reality of grossly unequal centres of power in Pakistan, and holding the government alone responsible, makes the prospect of putting an end to enforced disappearances even more remote.

The finger of blame should be pointed where it belongs.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1402276/hrcp-report-and-the-missing

For some reason no one seems willing to even discuss the fact that people are going missing in their hundreds, and almost all of them tend to be from the same background: human rights activists, liberals, critics of the security state and those demanding accountability of the biggest sacred cow in the land. Worse still is the obscurantism that rears it's ugly head from the usual quarters when the issue is brought up since a civilized discussion on the matter requires pointing fingers at everyone's blue eyed boys who clearly have nothing to do with the disappearances.

The last two paragraphs sum it up beautifully:

"Disregarding multiple eyewitness accounts, ignoring the reality of grossly unequal centres of power in Pakistan, and holding the government alone responsible, makes the prospect of putting an end to enforced disappearances even more remote.

The finger of blame should be pointed where it belongs."

It's just a handful of words but the message they contain is clear - we know who's responsible but we'd rather point the fingers at incorrect but more convenient targets because it's not us getting abducted so who cares, right? Quite disgraceful how the average Pakistani deals with this issue.

The 868 reported (and several times as many unreported) cases, much higher than in previous years, confirm my suspicions that those who must not be named because they excrete roses and rainbows, and are the greatest thing since sliced bread, have become more brazen as public support for enforced disappearances has risen and 2017 was a particularly brutal year.

 

[Saeed]

That will probably require the willingness to accept that military is the most powerful entity in the country thus having to ability to get away with abuses. If people do not accept that then they will always blame the federal or local government. I guess some people believe that it’s necessary to support the military under all circumstances, otherwise it weakens their country.

 

[DW44]

That will probably require the willingness to accept that military is the most powerful entity in the country thus having to ability to get away with abuses. If people do not accept that then they will always blame the federal or local government. I guess some people believe that it’s necessary to support the military under all circumstances, otherwise it weakens their country.

The most common arguments used to justify their support for the military are:

(a) If the military stuck to its job and didn't keep corrupt politicians in check, they'd get away with daylight robbery, disregarding the fact that the military ultimately ends up stealing far more in a year than any politician in our history has over their lifetime.

and (b) If the leaders were honest, the military wouldn't interfere, another load of nonsense considering that every corrupt leader, from Altaf to Nawaz, is a creation of the military, as is the political system of Pakistan in general and these corrupt leaders keep rising to power because the military sets them up for it until they stop being useful and then the military moves on to the next pawn (Nawaz is a textbook example - from Zia's progeny to now).

The sad part is that most are aware of who's responsible but still blatantly deny or deflect the debate because they've been brainwashed since birth, through textbooks, TV and more recently online campaigns, to believe that the military is the only functioning institution/not as corrupt (not true - more corrupt than any politician and directly responsible for most of those corrupt politicians in the first place) and has the nation's best interests at heart (they don't - the only interests they have at heart are their own economic interests and they have routinely screwed the country over to secure said interests).

 

[Saeed]

The most common arguments used to justify their support for the military are:

(a) If the military stuck to its job and didn't keep corrupt politicians in check, they'd get away with daylight robbery, disregarding the fact that the military ultimately ends up stealing far more in a year than any politician in our history has over their lifetime.

and (b) If the leaders were honest, the military wouldn't interfere, another load of nonsense considering that every corrupt leader, from Altaf to Nawaz, is a creation of the military, as is the political system of Pakistan in general and these corrupt leaders keep rising to power because the military sets them up for it until they stop being useful and then the military moves on to the next pawn (Nawaz is a textbook example - from Zia's progeny to now).

The sad part is that most are aware of who's responsible but still blatantly deny or deflect the debate because they've been brainwashed since birth, through textbooks, TV and more recently online campaigns, to believe that the military is the only functioning institution/not as corrupt (not true - more corrupt than any politician and directly responsible for most of those corrupt politicians in the first place) and has the nation's best interests at heart (they don't - the only interests they have at heart are their own economic interests and they have routinely screwed the country over to secure said interests).

Wouldn’t foreign and local threats play a role in shaping the public opinion?According to Pew

Fully 86% say the military is having a good influence on the way things are going in Pakistan, up from 68% in 2007.

So if this accurate, it went from 68% in 2007 to 86% in 2009. What changed between these two years. In recent years public opinion hasn’t chnaged much.

http://www.pewglobal.org/2009/08/13/chapter-6-ratings-of-leaders-and-institutions-2/
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/08/27/a-less-gloomy-mood-in-pakistan/

 

[DW44]

Wouldn’t foreign and local threats play a role in shaping the public opinion?According to Pew

So if this accurate, it went from 68% in 2007 to 86% in 2009. What changed between these two years. In recent years public opinion hasn’t chnaged much.
View attachment 80827 View attachment 80828
http://www.pewglobal.org/2009/08/13/chapter-6-ratings-of-leaders-and-institutions-2/
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/08/27/a-less-gloomy-mood-in-pakistan/

2007 was the tail end of the Musharraf regime and with the exception of Zia, Pakistani dictators tend to end their terms with public support for the military at historic low points. As Zardari took over and the usual amnesia kicked in, things went back to the corrupt politicians/noble faujis rhetoric.

The military really picked up its public relations efforts around 2013 after Raheel Sharif took over, building a cult of personality around him and presenting him as a savior of the nation. This was when ISPR really stepped things up and haven't looked back since, with an inordinate amount of resources being spent on polihsing the military's image, one particularly favored tactic being taking credit for successful counter terrorism efforts and apportioning blame for failure on that front to the government.

In the absence of a contrarian viewpoint (anyone offering one disappears, hence the thread), people grow seeing the military being played up as RNGesus' gift to mankind which means consistently high approval ratings. During dictatorships though, when rhetoric has to be backed with action, the ratings plummet as things remain mostly the same. Once the dictator is gone and a civilian takes over, its back to business as usual.

 

[OoparCut]

There can only be one hero allowed in the eyes of media coverage. And that Hero can't be criticized. All other institutions - elected lawmakers, police, business, even Judges can be criticized. But you can't criticize the Hero.

 

[Gubol123]

these are only who are willing to come out in the open and lodge a complaint. I am sure there will be thousands of others whose families are unwilling to take more risks.. there are others who don't even that they can lodge a complaint..

 

[Gubol123]

Wouldn’t foreign and local threats play a role in shaping the public opinion?According to Pew

So if this accurate, it went from 68% in 2007 to 86% in 2009. What changed between these two years. In recent years public opinion hasn’t chnaged much.
View attachment 80827 View attachment 80828
http://www.pewglobal.org/2009/08/13/chapter-6-ratings-of-leaders-and-institutions-2/
http://www.pewglobal.org/2014/08/27/a-less-gloomy-mood-in-pakistan/

ISI, Zardari, Military, Religious leaders...these are real the culprits..

 

[Gubol123]

The most common arguments used to justify their support for the military are:

(a) If the military stuck to its job and didn't keep corrupt politicians in check, they'd get away with daylight robbery, disregarding the fact that the military ultimately ends up stealing far more in a year than any politician in our history has over their lifetime.

and (b) If the leaders were honest, the military wouldn't interfere, another load of nonsense considering that every corrupt leader, from Altaf to Nawaz, is a creation of the military, as is the political system of Pakistan in general and these corrupt leaders keep rising to power because the military sets them up for it until they stop being useful and then the military moves on to the next pawn (Nawaz is a textbook example - from Zia's progeny to now).

The sad part is that most are aware of who's responsible but still blatantly deny or deflect the debate because they've been brainwashed since birth, through textbooks, TV and more recently online campaigns, to believe that the military is the only functioning institution/not as corrupt (not true - more corrupt than any politician and directly responsible for most of those corrupt politicians in the first place) and has the nation's best interests at heart (they don't - the only interests they have at heart are their own economic interests and they have routinely screwed the country over to secure said interests).

biggest reason why Pakistanis are enamored with their military is the glorification of war and war heroes. Especially glorification of plunders or war lords who pillaged all of subcontinent and left it poorer. They fail to appreciate that the same thugs were responsible to bring down which was once one of the great civilizations on earth.. It is not even religious. it just happened that many of them were followers of Islam and if they were following some other religion, they would have done the same thing.. instead of revering the peace loving heroes of history, the citizens look up to thugs and war lords. Then they think their current military leaders are same and look up to them..

 

[DW44]

biggest reason why Pakistanis are enamored with their military is the glorification of war and war heroes. Especially glorification of plunders or war lords who pillaged all of subcontinent and left it poorer. They fail to appreciate that the same thugs were responsible to bring down which was once one of the great civilizations on earth.. It is not even religious. it just happened that many of them were followers of Islam and if they were following some other religion, they would have done the same thing.. instead of revering the peace loving heroes of history, the citizens look up to thugs and war lords. Then they think their current military leaders are same and look up to them..

That is all brand new information that I most certainly wasn't aware of before.

 

[Loralai]

Current situation regarding enforced disappearances is extremely worrying. We should be allowed to voice our dissent openly. It is a very sad situation we find ourselves in, but [MENTION=26195]DW44[/MENTION] has pointed out already, those who have authority do not seem to be willing to grant any real space in public to those who wish to offer alternative views about Pakistani politics.

 

[Greenstorm]

The most common arguments used to justify their support for the military are:

(a) If the military stuck to its job and didn't keep corrupt politicians in check, they'd get away with daylight robbery, disregarding the fact that the military ultimately ends up stealing far more in a year than any politician in our history has over their lifetime.

and (b) If the leaders were honest, the military wouldn't interfere, another load of nonsense considering that every corrupt leader, from Altaf to Nawaz, is a creation of the military, as is the political system of Pakistan in general and these corrupt leaders keep rising to power because the military sets them up for it until they stop being useful and then the military moves on to the next pawn (Nawaz is a textbook example - from Zia's progeny to now).

The sad part is that most are aware of who's responsible but still blatantly deny or deflect the debate because they've been brainwashed since birth, through textbooks, TV and more recently online campaigns, to believe that the military is the only functioning institution/not as corrupt (not true - more corrupt than any politician and directly responsible for most of those corrupt politicians in the first place) and has the nation's best interests at heart (they don't - the only interests they have at heart are their own economic interests and they have routinely screwed the country over to secure said interests).

How ?

 

[DW44]

How ?

Proceeds from occupied agricultural lands (one fifth of all agricultural land in Pakistan), commercial land grabs (DHA Islamabad Phase 2, for instance, has a significant chunk of forcibly acquited land) unethical businesses practices like using the army's influence to get contracts for NLC and FWO that they otherwise would not, instigating tense relations wiyh neighboring states and then naming their own budget, that has not once been debated in parliament, at the expense of health and education, among other things. An exhaustive list of ways they steal would be too large and beyond the scope of this thread though there's many books written on the subject that go into the most minute detail.

 

[Greenstorm]

Proceeds from occupied agricultural lands (one fifth of all agricultural land in Pakistan), commercial land grabs (DHA Islamabad Phase 2, for instance, has a significant chunk of forcibly acquited land) unethical businesses practices like using the army's influence to get contracts for NLC and FWO that they otherwise would not, instigating tense relations wiyh neighboring states and then naming their own budget, that has not once been debated in parliament, at the expense of health and education, among other things. An exhaustive list of ways they steal would be too large and beyond the scope of this thread though there's many books written on the subject that go into the most minute detail.

Where does this money from "mega corruption" goes to ? I am not aware of any military generals having expensive properties and flats in foreign countries like our politicians have. Were there any names of our ex-military personnel in panama papers ?

Education budget of Punjab last year was 345 billion rupees. Do you see even a fraction of it it spent anywhere?

 

[Gubol123]

That is all brand new information that I most certainly wasn't aware of before.

man you are grumpy today.. being in Pakistan, being a liberal and an open minded person, you obviously know lot of this information. you have taken lots of effort to educate yourself about the topic. Some of us who get to interact with lots of Pakistanis (both online and in person) find it difficult to elicit any such information from them. By and large they either avoid the topic (for obvious reasons) or parrot the same standard line. Interacting people who actually live there is the only sure way to know what is happening. Takes us that much extra effort to find out what is happening in the neighborhood.

 

[Greenstorm]

biggest reason why Pakistanis are enamored with their military is the glorification of war and war heroes. Especially glorification of plunders or war lords who pillaged all of subcontinent and left it poorer. They fail to appreciate that the same thugs were responsible to bring down which was once one of the great civilizations on earth.. It is not even religious. it just happened that many of them were followers of Islam and if they were following some other religion, they would have done the same thing.. instead of revering the peace loving heroes of history, the citizens look up to thugs and war lords. Then they think their current military leaders are same and look up to them..

No, you are wrong.

 

[Gubol123]

Where does this money from "mega corruption" goes to ? I am not aware of any military generals having expensive properties and flats in foreign countries like our politicians have. Were there any names of our ex-military personnel in panama papers ?

Education budget of Punjab last year was 345 billion rupees. Do you see even a fraction of it it spent anywhere?

if the military is strong enough to do all that, they will be strong enough to hide it. Who will have the courage to dig it up.. there were some rumors and articles about generals, military business etc. you can dig up some more

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/01/the-military-millionaires-who-control-pakistan-inc/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/may/31/books.pakistan

https://www.aljazeera.com/focus/pakistanpowerandpolitics/2007/10/2008525184515984128.html

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/110685-How-does-Musharraf-own-over-Rs2-billion-deposits

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/281959-musharraf-s-assets-to-be-probed-too

This book is supposed to give lots of information although i have not got hold of the book until now

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt18fs92c

here is the author interview
http://politicalpakistan.blogspot.com/2006/01/pakistan-armys-multimillionaires.html

 

[Gubol123]

Proceeds from occupied agricultural lands (one fifth of all agricultural land in Pakistan), commercial land grabs (DHA Islamabad Phase 2, for instance, has a significant chunk of forcibly acquited land) unethical businesses practices like using the army's influence to get contracts for NLC and FWO that they otherwise would not, instigating tense relations wiyh neighboring states and then naming their own budget, that has not once been debated in parliament, at the expense of health and education, among other things. An exhaustive list of ways they steal would be too large and beyond the scope of this thread though there's many books written on the subject that go into the most minute detail.

this made me do some research.. here are some quotes from Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa-Agha who seems to have done a lot of research. All the data is at least a decade old and i think the values would have at least doubled

https://www.aljazeera.com/focus/pakistanpowerandpolitics/2007/10/2008525184515984128.html


"The main street of any Pakistani town bears testament to the economic power of the military, with army-owned bakeries, banks, insurance companies and universities, usually fronted by civilian employees"

"She also estimates that the military controls one-third of all heavy manufacturing in the country and up to seven per cent of Pakistani private assets"

if whatever she is saying in that link is true, all civilian corrupt leaders look like amateurs.

 

[Greenstorm]

if the military is strong enough to do all that, they will be strong enough to hide it. Who will have the courage to dig it up.. there were some rumors and articles about generals, military business etc. you can dig up some more

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/01/the-military-millionaires-who-control-pakistan-inc/

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/may/31/books.pakistan

https://www.aljazeera.com/focus/pakistanpowerandpolitics/2007/10/2008525184515984128.html

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/110685-How-does-Musharraf-own-over-Rs2-billion-deposits

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/281959-musharraf-s-assets-to-be-probed-too

This book is supposed to give lots of information although i have not got hold of the book until now

https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt18fs92c

here is the author interview
http://politicalpakistan.blogspot.com/2006/01/pakistan-armys-multimillionaires.html

Military cannot hide its properties and assets on foreign land and from foreign journalists. I do not think there is a single military officer(apart from dictators) who is among top 50 most richest people in Pakistan.

Much maligned 'army welfare trust' has actually built up hospitals and schools all across Pakistan. Fauji foundation schools and hospitals, fertilizers and cement factories have created employment for thousands of civilians. I agree that in an ideal case, army should not be involved in all this but sadly we are not in an ideal situation. Army only fills the vacuum that is left by corrupt and incompetent civilian institutions. It is only natural that a more competent institution that gets the work done will fill in the gaps. The moment another strong institution emerges, army will retreat back as we saw it with the emergence of media and judiciary.

Army, with all its projects and alleged corruption has mostly kept money in this country and has created job opportunities instead of only filling their pockets and transferring money in foreign bank accounts.

 

[OoparCut]

Military cannot hide its properties and assets on foreign land and from foreign journalists. I do not think there is a single military officer(apart from dictators) who is among top 50 most richest people in Pakistan.

Much maligned 'army welfare trust' has actually built up hospitals and schools all across Pakistan. Fauji foundation schools and hospitals, fertilizers and cement factories have created employment for thousands of civilians. I agree that in an ideal case, army should not be involved in all this but sadly we are not in an ideal situation. Army only fills the vacuum that is left by corrupt and incompetent civilian institutions. It is only natural that a more competent institution that gets the work done will fill in the gaps. The moment another strong institution emerges, army will retreat back as we saw it with the emergence of media and judiciary.

Army, with all its projects and alleged corruption has mostly kept money in this country and has created job opportunities instead of only filling their pockets and transferring money in foreign bank accounts.

Oh please. Military can and does hide its assets. My uncle lives in a richie rich suburb of Washington DC, and 3 of his neighbors are Pakistani - all have Jernails as close relatives. And that's just one random street in DC Suburbia.

Pak military awards its personnel "constitutional" land grants in plum real estate areas, as reward for service. This practice alone, essentially takes away billions from the government. And nobody dare say anything about it.

 

[OoparCut]

The moment another strong institution emerges, army will retreat back as we saw it with the emergence of media and judiciary.

This is nonsense. Why is a country's army able to randomly shut down one of the nation's major TV networks, without any legislative sanction? Media in Pakistan is not allowed to say choo-chaa on so many subjects whether its Balochistan, PTM, or any other criticism of the army.

 

[OoparCut]

https://www.spectator.co.uk/2008/01/the-military-millionaires-who-control-pakistan-inc/

Elliot Wilson says Pakistan’s economy is dominated by a ruthless business conglomerate that owns everything from factories and bakeries to farmland and golf courses: the army

Sometime in late 2004, Pakistan’s all-powerful army made a curious decision. Under mounting pressure from London and Washington to capture Osama bin Laden, believed to be hiding in Baluchistan, Islamabad’s fighting forces instead turned their attention to a far more profitable venture: building golf courses.

In itself this wasn’t particularly unusual. With 620,000 soldiers, Pakistan boasts the world’s seventh-largest standing army, but its senior officers long ago realised the perks to be gained from commercial ventures. Since independence in 1947, the army has steadily intertwined itself into Pakistan’s economy: so much so that it’s hard to tell where the military stops and any semblance of free-market capitalism begins.

All too often, there is no dividing line. In her 2007 book Military Inc: Inside Pakistan’s Military Economy Dr Ayesha Siddiqa exposes the rampant commercialism pervading every aspect of the country’s military forces, until recently headed by President Pervaiz Musharraf. Dr Siddiqa, a former researcher with the country’s naval forces, estimates the military’s net worth at more than £10 billion — roughly four times the total foreign direct investment generated by Islamabad in 2007. She found that the army owns 12 per cent of the country’s land, its holdings being mostly fertile soil in the eastern Punjab. Two thirds of that land is in the hands of senior current and former officials, mostly brigadiers, major-generals and generals. The most senior 100 military officials are estimated to be worth, at the very least, £3.5 billion.


Many of the country’s largest corporations are also controlled by the military, thanks largely to an opaque network of powerful ‘foundations’ originally set up to look after the pension needs of army personnel. The largest three — the Fauji, Shaheen and Bahria foundations, controlled by the army, air force and navy respectively — control more than 100 separate commercial entities involved in everything from cement to cereal production. Only nine have ever published partial financial accounts, and all are ultimately controlled by the Ministry of Defence, which oversees all of the military’s commercial ventures.

The Fauji foundation, the largest of the lot, is estimated by Siddiqa to be worth several billion pounds. It operates a security force (allowing serving army personnel to double in their spare time as private security agents), an oil terminal and a phosphate joint venture with the Moroccan government. Elsewhere, the Army Welfare Trust — a foundation set up in 1971 to identify potentially profitable ventures for the military — runs one of the country’s largest lenders, Askari Commercial Bank, along with an airline, a travel agency and even a stud farm. Then there is the National Logistic Cell, Pakistan’s largest shipper and freight transporter (and the country’s largest corporation), which builds roads, constructs bridges and stores vast quantities of the country’s wheat reserves.

In short, the military’s presence is all-pervasive. Bread is supplied by military-owned bakeries, fronted by civilians. Army-controlled banks take deposits and disburse loans. Up to one third of all heavy manufacturing and 7 per cent of private assets are reckoned to be in army hands. As for prime real estate, a major-general can expect to receive on retirement a present of 240 acres of prime farmland, worth on average £550,000, as well an urban real estate plot valued at £700,000.

Unsurprisingly, the military is loath to release details of its commercial operations. The average Pakistani citizen earns just £1,500 a year, making his country poorer than all but 50 of the world’s nations. Most of the military’s junior officers and other ranks live in squalid tents pitched by the side of main roads, even in the capital Islamabad. Revealing to them that the top brass in their air-conditioned, top-of-the-range Mercedes are worth £35 million each (a few are believed to be dollar billionaires including, it is quietly suggested, Musharraf) would probably create widespread unrest. Little wonder that Dr Siddiqa’s book is banned in the country — and that Musharraf was so reluctant to take off his uniform and declare himself a civilian president.

Financial autonomy has also engendered in the military a dangerous sense of entitlement. When any premier or leading politician attempts to limit the army’s power, or even emasculate it, they get slapped down. In 1990 Benazir Bhutto, during her first stint as premier, made a concerted attempt to ‘secularise’ the army, installing non-army personnel at the highest level. Shortly afterwards, her government was forced out. She tried again in May 2006, joining with another former civilian leader, Nawaz Sharif, to issue a Charter of Democracy designed to reduce the economic power of the armed forces. Yet with Bhutto’s assassination, the latest move to tame the armed forces has again faltered — a rather convenient situation for the military.

It’s hard to imagine any individual or political body summoning up enough power or courage to challenge the army head-on. Each year the military gobbles up a bit more land, diversifies into new markets and industries and steadily consolidates power in the key sectors of agriculture, energy, natural resources, logistics and construction.

On the rare occasions when any constitutional body has stood its ground, the army has given it short shrift. In 2005, the Fauji foundation was asked by the elected parliament why it had sold a sugar mill at a ludicrously low price to senior army personnel. The Ministry of Defence refused to reveal any details of the deal. When the Auditor-General’s department questioned why the army was building golf courses — rather than attempting to capture bin Laden — its question was ignored. Yet the Punjab government had that year willingly handed over, for free, 30 acres of prime rural land worth more than £600,000 to the army, which promptly built a driving-range and an 18-hole golf course. Such ‘presents’ to the military are usually returned with interest, with senior civilian officials often being guaranteed a secure retirement on the board of one or more army-controlled ventures. Craven and submissive attitudes have thoroughly pervaded the political system, which defers to the military at every turn: little wonder that senior officers have so little respect for their civilian peers. Other countries have armies, but Pakistan’s army has a country.

Absolute power, of course, corrupts absolutely. It also engenders a sense of invulnerability — that the wielder of the power can get away with anything. This certainly seems to be the case in Pakistan. Land is being requisitioned left, right and centre across the country. In the financial centre of Karachi, the army has built eight petrol stations on land appropriated from the state. In 2004, the Karachi government again willingly gave land worth £35 million to the military, just because they wanted it. These are just two examples among many.

The military has also begun to act in the manner of a feudal landlord. When landless peasants in central Punjab complained in 2001 that the army had changed the status of the land on which they depended for their subsistence (forcing them to pay rent in cash, rather than working the land on a sharecropping basis) the army cracked down, beating many and leaving eight dead. At one point, Dr Siddiqa quotes a naval officer who questions why landless peasants should have any rights in relation to the land they till. ‘They do not deserve land just because they are poor,’ he says.

It’s hard to imagine anyone managing to circumscribe the economic power of Pakistan’s army. The military’s financial security reinforces its desire to retain control of the state. If full democracy were permitted in Pakistan, it would constitute a threat to the army’s throttling power. And since political power in turn creates greater economic opportunities, it’s in the interest of the military fraternity to perpetuate it. More political power leads to greater profit, and vice versa. The one factor that could still harm the army is its arrogant, dismissive attitude to its own people. Its flagrant profiteering engenders huge resentment in rural and smaller provinces, where the army is increasingly seen as an invading force rather than a protector. Ultimately, there is only so much abuse that an impoverished and subjugated populace can take before it rises up in protest.

 

[Gubol123]

Military cannot hide its properties and assets on foreign land and from foreign journalists. I do not think there is a single military officer(apart from dictators) who is among top 50 most richest people in Pakistan.

Much maligned 'army welfare trust' has actually built up hospitals and schools all across Pakistan. Fauji foundation schools and hospitals, fertilizers and cement factories have created employment for thousands of civilians. I agree that in an ideal case, army should not be involved in all this but sadly we are not in an ideal situation. Army only fills the vacuum that is left by corrupt and incompetent civilian institutions. It is only natural that a more competent institution that gets the work done will fill in the gaps. The moment another strong institution emerges, army will retreat back as we saw it with the emergence of media and judiciary.

Army, with all its projects and alleged corruption has mostly kept money in this country and has created job opportunities instead of only filling their pockets and transferring money in foreign bank accounts.

sir, you are being naive.. all of us proud of our soldiers, just like we are proud of our farmers, police teachers and others who contribute positively to the society. I know soldiers die on duty, but so does lots of others literally like police and security personnel. Some others give up their life figuratively to work for the country like dedicated teachers, farmers and dare i say some bureaucrats.. every one of them deserves our respect.. But this over the top trust placed in military is completely out of proportion and against the norm followed all our the world..

 

[DW44]

Where does this money from "mega corruption" goes to ? I am not aware of any military generals having expensive properties and flats in foreign countries like our politicians have. Were there any names of our ex-military personnel in panama papers ?

Education budget of Punjab last year was 345 billion rupees. Do you see even a fraction of it it spent anywhere?

That’s the whole point. You’re not aware and those who are promptly disappear when they try to start a discussion on the issue. Not having your name in Panama papers is not proof of honesty. The extent of their theft is well documented even if it is not well known to the average Pakistani and the fact that it isn’t is by design. I don’t see what you mean by ‘do you see’ and ‘I don’t see’ because we’re not talking about sums you can ‘see’. If you’re trying to see instead of understand, you probably need to fix that first. At this point, you don’t even seem to know what to see.

No, you are wrong.

He is not. Have you ever been to school in Pakistan?

Military cannot hide its properties and assets on foreign land and from foreign journalists. I do not think there is a single military officer(apart from dictators) who is among top 50 most richest people in Pakistan.

Military doesn’t need to hide it’s assets from foreign journalists, it just needs to make sure that whatever said journalists write either doesn’t make it to Pakistan (remember the Internation NYT Pakistan edition with its front page entirely censored?) or when it does (not a matter of ‘if’ in this day and age), it is dismissed as propaganda/yahudi sazish against the greatest Muslim Army because it can wipe out western civilization off the face of the earth in one fell swoop. Foreign (and several brave local) journalists have written a fair bit on the subject and the the fact that you’re unaware says more about the success of the army’s control over the flow of information than it does about whether or not their theft has been covered by journalists.

The bulk of the army’s stolen wealth also happens to be in Pakistan (and the middle east) so a Panama like scenario is unlikely – though I remember how quickly everyone brushed Musharraf’s account in Dubai with ~$25 million under the carpet when it was discovered.

You keep saying things like “I don’t think” and “I don’t see” as if you being unaware of the army’s corruption is somehow proof that they’re not corrupt. The reason you don’t see/hear of it is that unlike civilians, 90 odd TV channels don’t delve into the minutest details of their corruption on a 24 hour cycle. The odd brave journalist who tries to do so disappears never to be seen again which, again, the whole point of this thread is.

Much maligned 'army welfare trust' has actually built up hospitals and schools all across Pakistan. Fauji foundation schools and hospitals, fertilizers and cement factories have created employment for thousands of civilians. I agree that in an ideal case, army should not be involved in all this but sadly we are not in an ideal situation. Army only fills the vacuum that is left by corrupt and incompetent civilian institutions. It is only natural that a more competent institution that gets the work done will fill in the gaps. The moment another strong institution emerges, army will retreat back as we saw it with the emergence of media and judiciary.

Army, with all its projects and alleged corruption has mostly kept money in this country and has created job opportunities instead of only filling their pockets and transferring money in foreign bank accounts.

AWT isn’t “much maligned”, it’s not criticized enough. They haven’t built up hospitals for the general public, nor do the schools and cement factories make up for even a fraction of the damage that the army’s stranglehold over the economy does. It’s tantamount to stealing a million and giving back a hundred. This whole ‘not an ideal scenario’ business holds no water here since (a) Pakistan is at a level comparable to many developing countries with most of the same challenges (the one difference being terrorism and extremism which were created by the military in the first place) and yet Pakistan is one of only two countries where the military runs the economy – the other being Egypt.

Two of the most dishonest arguments thrown about in Pakistan to justify/deflect from the army’s corruption are the ones you just used here: that they fill in the gap left by corrupt politicians – they don’t. They create those corrupt politicians, from Bhutto all the way to Altaf and Nawaz, set them up to fail and then step in as our “saviors” – and that somehow their corruption is better than the civilians’ because the money stays in Pakistan – never mind that said money’s rightful owners are still deprived of it, the few job opportunities they create don’t make up for the damage they do in the grand scheme of things and at the end of the day, these are just lame excuses to justify the corruption of one corrupt entity because you’re incapable of accepting that they are even capable of the things they’ve done, all courtesy their public relations efforts.

As far as strong institutions are concerned, don’t hold your breath. The army, more than anyone, is responsible for weak institutions. Institutions take time to develop. We’re talking a minimum of fifty to sixty years of uninterrupted democracy here. Army has never allowed more than ten years of democracy and even then the democracy is mostly a façade with the army remaining significantly more powerful than the government. All of that is by design, not some unfortunate side effect of civilian corruption. Civilians may be corrupt but they don’t hold a candle to the army when it comes to the sheer scale of their corruption or the damage done to country’s interests in big picture terms.

 

[Greenstorm]

That’s the whole point. You’re not aware and those who are promptly disappear when they try to start a discussion on the issue. Not having your name in Panama papers is not proof of honesty. The extent of their theft is well documented even if it is not well known to the average Pakistani and the fact that it isn’t is by design. I don’t see what you mean by ‘do you see’ and ‘I don’t see’ because we’re not talking about sums you can ‘see’. If you’re trying to see instead of understand, you probably need to fix that first. At this point, you don’t even seem to know what to see.

It is impossible in this day and age that a General has billions of dollars stashed in foreign accounts and nobody knows about it. Name me a single Pakistani General who is richer than Sharifs and Zardaris. Whatever criticism that is done by both foreign and local journalists against Army's corruption is based on a general notion that how as an institution it is involved in different projects. Majority of them including you fail to bring the names of individuals who are beneficiaries of this corruption because that requires documented evidence. The only investigative journalist in Pakistan that regularly brings corruption scandals of top military ex serviceman is Rauf Klasra. From retired air marshals to army Generals, he names and shames them regularly on his show with documentary evidence and no the all powerful ISI has not picked him up yet.

He is not. Have you ever been to school in Pakistan?

I have studied all my life in Pakistan. Our textbooks glorify defenders of our country and their emphasis is more on defense rather than conquerors and aggressors. A common Pakistani relates more closely and knows more about Aziz Bhatti and Rashid Minhas than Babur or Mahmud Ghaznivi.

Military doesn’t need to hide it’s assets from foreign journalists, it just needs to make sure that whatever said journalists write either doesn’t make it to Pakistan (remember the Internation NYT Pakistan edition with its front page entirely censored?) or when it does (not a matter of ‘if’ in this day and age), it is dismissed as propaganda/yahudi sazish against the greatest Muslim Army because it can wipe out western civilization off the face of the earth in one fell swoop. Foreign (and several brave local) journalists have written a fair bit on the subject and the the fact that you’re unaware says more about the success of the army’s control over the flow of information than it does about whether or not their theft has been covered by journalists.

The bulk of the army’s stolen wealth also happens to be in Pakistan (and the middle east) so a Panama like scenario is unlikely – though I remember how quickly everyone brushed Musharraf’s account in Dubai with ~$25 million under the carpet when it was discovered.

You keep saying things like “I don’t think” and “I don’t see” as if you being unaware of the army’s corruption is somehow proof that they’re not corrupt. The reason you don’t see/hear of it is that unlike civilians, 90 odd TV channels don’t delve into the minutest details of their corruption on a 24 hour cycle. The odd brave journalist who tries to do so disappears never to be seen again which, again, the whole point of this thread is.



AWT isn’t “much maligned”, it’s not criticized enough. They haven’t built up hospitals for the general public, nor do the schools and cement factories make up for even a fraction of the damage that the army’s stranglehold over the economy does. It’s tantamount to stealing a million and giving back a hundred. This whole ‘not an ideal scenario’ business holds no water here since (a) Pakistan is at a level comparable to many developing countries with most of the same challenges (the one difference being terrorism and extremism which were created by the military in the first place) and yet Pakistan is one of only two countries where the military runs the economy – the other being Egypt.

Two of the most dishonest arguments thrown about in Pakistan to justify/deflect from the army’s corruption are the ones you just used here: that they fill in the gap left by corrupt politicians – they don’t. They create those corrupt politicians, from Bhutto all the way to Altaf and Nawaz, set them up to fail and then step in as our “saviors” – and that somehow their corruption is better than the civilians’ because the money stays in Pakistan – never mind that said money’s rightful owners are still deprived of it, the few job opportunities they create don’t make up for the damage they do in the grand scheme of things and at the end of the day, these are just lame excuses to justify the corruption of one corrupt entity because you’re incapable of accepting that they are even capable of the things they’ve done, all courtesy their public relations efforts.

I by in large agree that Army should refrain itself from taking part in public and private sector. Their land allocation schemes are entirely unnecessary and their is corruption to an extent at the top level but saying that the military ends up stealing far more in a year than politicians have done in their lifetime is going too far. I believe that today Army is the most competent, most disciplined and least corrupt institution in the country.

As far as strong institutions are concerned, don’t hold your breath. The army, more than anyone, is responsible for weak institutions. Institutions take time to develop. We’re talking a minimum of fifty to sixty years of uninterrupted democracy here. Army has never allowed more than ten years of democracy and even then the democracy is mostly a façade with the army remaining significantly more powerful than the government. All of that is by design, not some unfortunate side effect of civilian corruption. Civilians may be corrupt but they don’t hold a candle to the army when it comes to the sheer scale of their corruption or the damage done to country’s interests in big picture terms.

my reply in bold.

 

[DW44]

It is impossible in this day and age that a General has billions of dollars stashed in foreign accounts and nobody knows about it. Name me a single Pakistani General who is richer than Sharifs and Zardaris. Whatever criticism that is done by both foreign and local journalists against Army's corruption is based on a general notion that how as an institution it is involved in different projects. Majority of them including you fail to bring the names of individuals who are beneficiaries of this corruption because that requires documented evidence. The only investigative journalist in Pakistan that regularly brings corruption scandals of top military ex serviceman is Rauf Klasra. From retired air marshals to army Generals, he names and shames them regularly on his show with documentary evidence and no the all powerful ISI has not picked him up yet.

Who said anything about billions in foreign accounts? Most of the military’s corruption is in the form of land grabs since the military is, above all else, a land mafia. Land can not be stashed in tax havens. This includes both agricultural land - at least one fifth of all cultivable land in Pakistan - and commercial land, both residential and industrial. The land grabs alone are worth more than everything NS, Zardari, Benazir have stolen in their lifetimes. Let’s do a quick calculation:

Pakistan’s annual agricultural output last year was approximately $60 billion. The military controls one fifth of the agricultural land so if we assume productivity levels are at national averages, that comes out to a cool $12 billion in 2017 alone from occupied agri lands. But wait. That figure assumes that productivity levels are at national averages which is unlikely since the military, unlike the average farmer, has the financial resources to extensively harness technology and mechanization to achieve much higher levels of productivity than the average farmer so we’re looking at a minimum of $12 billion to a more realistic figure of $15-20 billion.

Please name one civilian politician who has stolen $12 billion over their lifetime, much less in 2017 alone. The reason you don’t see the army’s vast riches is because (a) They’re discrete and very protective about it and (b) These proceeds are divided between tens of thousands of people (pretty much anyone above the rank of Captain gets something) as opposed to the family mafias where the stolen wealth is concentrated in the hands of one family and therefore much more visible.
As far as documentary evidence go, its pretty disingenuous to suggest that unless you have that at hand, which any civilian is unlikely to, you can’t talk about them. Klasra gets away with what he does because (a) He limits himself to retired officers and (b) he goes after individuals involved in relatively minor (by army’s standards) acts of corruption, not the institution as a whole and their businesses, particularly the land mafia part. This is the army throwing us a bone, much like Raheel Sharif’s so called across the board accountability. Before you question the numbers in this post, do read Military Inc. by Ayesha Siddiqa, easily the most authoritative and detailed account of the military’s role in the economy and extremely well sourced/referenced to boot so no questions over credibility can reasonably be raised.

I have studied all my life in Pakistan. Our textbooks glorify defenders of our country and their emphasis is more on defense rather than conquerors and aggressors. A common Pakistani relates more closely and knows more about Aziz Bhatti and Rashid Minhas than Babur or Mahmud Ghaznivi.

Again, Aziz Bhatti etc are still military guys but it’s simply not true that the Ghauris, Abdalis, Ghaznavis and, above all else, Mo Bin Qasim are not shoved down our throats from grade 1. The glorification of war and gore by our textbooks and public sector media (read PTV) is undeniable.

I by in large agree that Army should refrain itself from taking part in public and private sector. Their land allocation schemes are entirely unnecessary and their is corruption to an extent at the top level but saying that the military ends up stealing far more in a year than politicians have done in their lifetime is going too far.

It’s not going too far, it’s not going far enough? Them stealing more in a year is something you can easily verify if you keep an open mind. Problem is that your belief that there can be no one more corrupt than *insert your favorite civilian punching bag here* is so deeply entrenched, through years of exposure to army sponsored propaganda, never mind that *insert politician here* wouldn’t be in power in the first place if not for the army, that you’re not even willing to entertain the possibility that the army can be more corrupt. Forget every other act of corruption – the agricultural land they stole alone produces revenues greater than what NS/Zardari/BB/ZAB/Legharis/Tareens have stolen over their lifetimes.

I believe that today Army is the most competent, most disciplined and least corrupt institution in the country.

That is unfortunate and a prime example of just how easily the military can manipulate what people believe in this supposed age of information. They’re competent at what they do. I’ll give you that but not only are they NOT the least corrupt institution in the country, they’re the MOST corrupt and by so much that even a certified world class crook like Asif Zardari or Nawaz Sharif looks honest in comparison to the sheer scale of the military’s theft, so much so that there’s no comparison here.

 

[Greenstorm]

Who said anything about billions in foreign accounts? Most of the military’s corruption is in the form of land grabs since the military is, above all else, a land mafia. Land can not be stashed in tax havens. This includes both agricultural land - at least one fifth of all cultivable land in Pakistan - and commercial land, both residential and industrial. The land grabs alone are worth more than everything NS, Zardari, Benazir have stolen in their lifetimes. Let’s do a quick calculation:

Pakistan’s annual agricultural output last year was approximately $60 billion. The military controls one fifth of the agricultural land so if we assume productivity levels are at national averages, that comes out to a cool $12 billion in 2017 alone from occupied agri lands. But wait. That figure assumes that productivity levels are at national averages which is unlikely since the military, unlike the average farmer, has the financial resources to extensively harness technology and mechanization to achieve much higher levels of productivity than the average farmer so we’re looking at a minimum of $12 billion to a more realistic figure of $15-20 billion.

Please name one civilian politician who has stolen $12 billion over their lifetime, much less in 2017 alone. The reason you don’t see the army’s vast riches is because (a) They’re discrete and very protective about it and (b) These proceeds are divided between tens of thousands of people (pretty much anyone above the rank of Captain gets something) as opposed to the family mafias where the stolen wealth is concentrated in the hands of one family and therefore much more visible.
As far as documentary evidence go, its pretty disingenuous to suggest that unless you have that at hand, which any civilian is unlikely to, you can’t talk about them. Klasra gets away with what he does because (a) He limits himself to retired officers and (b) he goes after individuals involved in relatively minor (by army’s standards) acts of corruption, not the institution as a whole and their businesses, particularly the land mafia part. This is the army throwing us a bone, much like Raheel Sharif’s so called across the board accountability. Before you question the numbers in this post, do read Military Inc. by Ayesha Siddiqa, easily the most authoritative and detailed account of the military’s role in the economy and extremely well sourced/referenced to boot so no questions over credibility can reasonably be raised.



Again, Aziz Bhatti etc are still military guys but it’s simply not true that the Ghauris, Abdalis, Ghaznavis and, above all else, Mo Bin Qasim are not shoved down our throats from grade 1. The glorification of war and gore by our textbooks and public sector media (read PTV) is undeniable.



It’s not going too far, it’s not going far enough? Them stealing more in a year is something you can easily verify if you keep an open mind. Problem is that your belief that there can be no one more corrupt than *insert your favorite civilian punching bag here* is so deeply entrenched, through years of exposure to army sponsored propaganda, never mind that *insert politician here* wouldn’t be in power in the first place if not for the army, that you’re not even willing to entertain the possibility that the army can be more corrupt. Forget every other act of corruption – the agricultural land they stole alone produces revenues greater than what NS/Zardari/BB/ZAB/Legharis/Tareens have stolen over their lifetimes.



That is unfortunate and a prime example of just how easily the military can manipulate what people believe in this supposed age of information. They’re competent at what they do. I’ll give you that but not only are they NOT the least corrupt institution in the country, they’re the MOST corrupt and by so much that even a certified world class crook like Asif Zardari or Nawaz Sharif looks honest in comparison to the sheer scale of the military’s theft, so much so that there’s no comparison here.

I do not know much about finance and economy but isn't it better that whatever wealth Army is generating through agriculture remains in this country and results in increase in exports as opposed to politicians and bureaucrats who steal directly from projects like metro buses, power plants, motorways, Health, Education, PIA, Railways, Steal Mills, Sugar Mills etc and transfer that stolen money into foreign accounts which results in massive capital flight.

I give you an example of Malik Riaz, man is corrupt but at least his assets are in this country and he has invested it in here. Bahria Town has created thousands of jobs for ordinary people like plumbers, electricians, security guards, sanitary workers etc. I will always take a man like him over stupid crooked politicians who have nothing invested in this country. After all we are talking about lesser evil here.

You are yourself admitting that supposed wealth and riches that army generates is well divided among its officers and I say even JCOs. Concentration of wealth is not in few hands which means that millions of serving and retired military personnel and their relatives (all of them added makes up a large part of our population) are reaping the benefits instead of only a few rich and powerful.

 

[DW44]

I do not know much about finance and economy but isn't it better that whatever wealth Army is generating through agriculture remains in this country and results in increase in exports as opposed to politicians and bureaucrats who steal directly from projects like metro buses, power plants, motorways, Health, Education, PIA, Railways, Steal Mills, Sugar Mills etc and transfer that stolen money into foreign accounts which results in massive capital flight.

No, it’s not really better since it’s still creating the same distortions and inefficiencies in the economy that corruption on such a scale produces, even if the proceeds of said corruption stay in the country. Besides, it’s not like the dirty money benefit the people it’s stolen from, it only benefit those who stole it. I don’t see what increase in exports you’re referring to since exports have been declining since 2006-07, when the FTA with China was signed under Musharraf, a military dictator. Politicians stealing from infrastructure projects is very common in most developing countries and they still manage to power through those losses and progress. What doesn’t happen in most developing countries though is what our military does. Let me give you one example: Railway, as an institution, owes its destruction as much to the army’s business interests as it does to politicians’ corruption. Railroads tend to make the bulk of their profits from cargo operations while normally losing money on passenger services. In Pakistan, that source of revenue is not available to the railway since the army runs a business that directly competes with the railway for cargo business and the army has a history of using their power to get contracts for NLC that would otherwise have gone to the railway.

I give you an example of Malik Riaz, man is corrupt but at least his assets are in this country and he has invested it in here. Bahria Town has created thousands of jobs for ordinary people like plumbers, electricians, security guards, sanitary workers etc. I will always take a man like him over stupid crooked politicians who have nothing invested in this country. After all we are talking about lesser evil here.

That’s basically the ‘khaata hay tau lagata bhi hay’ argument. Stolen money is stolen money, whether you keep it in the Caymans or in Chichu-ki-Malian. It’s still benefiting those who steal it, at the expense of those it’s stolen from. Keeping it in the country is tantamount to, like I said, stealing a million and giving back a hundred. Makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. Besides, they don't keep it here out of the goodness of their hearts, they do so because they can make the highest returns on it here. Bahria Town may have created thousands of jobs but does that justify the displacement of tens of thousands who were forcefully evicted from their lands for a nominal payment when they refused to sell it to Malik Riaz who, btw, is in business with the army (check out the arrangement between Bahria Town Islamabad and DHA Phase 1 Islamabad). I hate going there but if we’re talking about lesser evil here, the lesser evil, as much vitriol as I’d attract from the usual youthiyas for saying this, is Zardari/NS/*insert civilian politician here*, not the army.

You are yourself admitting that supposed wealth and riches that army generates is well divided among its officers and I say even JCOs. Concentration of wealth is not in few hands which means that millions of serving and retired military personnel and their relatives (all of them added makes up a large part of our population) are reaping the benefits instead of only a few rich and powerful.

So? How is that a good thing? It’s still money stolen from 210 million citizens of one of the poorest countries on earth, divided between a few thousand privileged people just because they wear the same uniform. It is not, by any means, a lesser evil compared to one family keeping it all for themselves, it’s the same principle. The only difference is that the one family in this case happens to be several hundred thousand strong. Chori ka paysa chori ka hay, whether you keep it in the country and divide it among 20000 people or store it offshore and divide it among 20. The rightful owners are still deprived of it so I don’t buy this logic that they keep it in the country or divide it among themselves is somehow better than the alternative. The rightful owners are still being deprived and given the sheer scale of their corruption, the damage done to the economy is orders of magnitude higher than what these bit part pawns masquerading as democratic politicians do.

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

Who gives such info to Rauf Klasra ?

The Jamhoor dushman Khaakis.


Well said by DW44 it's just a balancing act by the Est and pressure those in the news to become spokesperson of Est. Shahid Latif is a core example of this.


Ayesha had to flee Pakistan for stating facts. Why ?


What happened with Saleem Shehzad (Journalist) ?


Where is Raza Khan (peace/human rights activist) since last 137 days ?


Who picked up 5 bloggers on blasphemy charges ? They being advocates of Civilian supremacy were torchered by whom ? (All had to take assylum abroad)

18 months later Court was told that there was no evidence against any of those wrt the blasphemous fb pages & groups.


It's not just forces disappearances or mega corruption. It aen't


The person who won elections with lowest number of votes has been made CM of the largest Province by the same Est.


Senate elections have been robbed by the poli wing of Est through Zardari & Imran sahib for what ? So that Nawaz Sharif sahib does not get Majority in both houses.


Now that Fauzia Kasuri , Javed Hashmi & Akbar S Babar have spilled the beans so now Est stooge of last 4 years Gongloououn se matti jhaarh raha hai.



Anyhow that day isn't far off when Jamhoor will win & there will be civilian supremacy as like the civilized democratic world.


Hard to stop voices like Manzoor Pashteen now.

One day Saleem Shehzad's blood will be valued. One day this Media propaganda, brainwashing of Awaam unn Naas making them blinded jazbaati patriots will sieze. InshaAllah

 

[Gubol123]

That’s the whole point. You’re not aware and those who are promptly disappear when they try to start a discussion on the issue. Not having your name in Panama papers is not proof of honesty. The extent of their theft is well documented even if it is not well known to the average Pakistani and the fact that it isn’t is by design. I don’t see what you mean by ‘do you see’ and ‘I don’t see’ because we’re not talking about sums you can ‘see’. If you’re trying to see instead of understand, you probably need to fix that first. At this point, you don’t even seem to know what to see.



He is not. Have you ever been to school in Pakistan?



Military doesn’t need to hide it’s assets from foreign journalists, it just needs to make sure that whatever said journalists write either doesn’t make it to Pakistan (remember the Internation NYT Pakistan edition with its front page entirely censored?) or when it does (not a matter of ‘if’ in this day and age), it is dismissed as propaganda/yahudi sazish against the greatest Muslim Army because it can wipe out western civilization off the face of the earth in one fell swoop. Foreign (and several brave local) journalists have written a fair bit on the subject and the the fact that you’re unaware says more about the success of the army’s control over the flow of information than it does about whether or not their theft has been covered by journalists.

The bulk of the army’s stolen wealth also happens to be in Pakistan (and the middle east) so a Panama like scenario is unlikely – though I remember how quickly everyone brushed Musharraf’s account in Dubai with ~$25 million under the carpet when it was discovered.

You keep saying things like “I don’t think” and “I don’t see” as if you being unaware of the army’s corruption is somehow proof that they’re not corrupt. The reason you don’t see/hear of it is that unlike civilians, 90 odd TV channels don’t delve into the minutest details of their corruption on a 24 hour cycle. The odd brave journalist who tries to do so disappears never to be seen again which, again, the whole point of this thread is.



AWT isn’t “much maligned”, it’s not criticized enough. They haven’t built up hospitals for the general public, nor do the schools and cement factories make up for even a fraction of the damage that the army’s stranglehold over the economy does. It’s tantamount to stealing a million and giving back a hundred. This whole ‘not an ideal scenario’ business holds no water here since (a) Pakistan is at a level comparable to many developing countries with most of the same challenges (the one difference being terrorism and extremism which were created by the military in the first place) and yet Pakistan is one of only two countries where the military runs the economy – the other being Egypt.

Two of the most dishonest arguments thrown about in Pakistan to justify/deflect from the army’s corruption are the ones you just used here: that they fill in the gap left by corrupt politicians – they don’t. They create those corrupt politicians, from Bhutto all the way to Altaf and Nawaz, set them up to fail and then step in as our “saviors” – and that somehow their corruption is better than the civilians’ because the money stays in Pakistan – never mind that said money’s rightful owners are still deprived of it, the few job opportunities they create don’t make up for the damage they do in the grand scheme of things and at the end of the day, these are just lame excuses to justify the corruption of one corrupt entity because you’re incapable of accepting that they are even capable of the things they’ve done, all courtesy their public relations efforts.

As far as strong institutions are concerned, don’t hold your breath. The army, more than anyone, is responsible for weak institutions. Institutions take time to develop. We’re talking a minimum of fifty to sixty years of uninterrupted democracy here. Army has never allowed more than ten years of democracy and even then the democracy is mostly a façade with the army remaining significantly more powerful than the government. All of that is by design, not some unfortunate side effect of civilian corruption. Civilians may be corrupt but they don’t hold a candle to the army when it comes to the sheer scale of their corruption or the damage done to country’s interests in big picture terms.

POTW..if nothing else for the passion you have for your country

 

[Garuda]

I give you an example of Malik Riaz, man is corrupt but at least his assets are in this country and he has invested it in here. Bahria Town has created thousands of jobs for ordinary people like plumbers, electricians, security guards, sanitary workers etc. I will always take a man like him over stupid crooked politicians who have nothing invested in this country. After all we are talking about lesser evil here.

You are kidding. Right?

Or are you really serious when you say this?

 

[Garuda]

Sometimes I get the impression that most Pakistanis think the military people come from some different planet. Give them absolute power and still they will not be corrupted. If you are in Army, there is no need for balance of power as they are born honest.

 

[Greenstorm]

No, it’s not really better since it’s still creating the same distortions and inefficiencies in the economy that corruption on such a scale produces, even if the proceeds of said corruption stay in the country. Besides, it’s not like the dirty money benefit the people it’s stolen from, it only benefit those who stole it. I don’t see what increase in exports you’re referring to since exports have been declining since 2006-07, when the FTA with China was signed under Musharraf, a military dictator. Politicians stealing from infrastructure projects is very common in most developing countries and they still manage to power through those losses and progress. What doesn’t happen in most developing countries though is what our military does. Let me give you one example: Railway, as an institution, owes its destruction as much to the army’s business interests as it does to politicians’ corruption. Railroads tend to make the bulk of their profits from cargo operations while normally losing money on passenger services. In Pakistan, that source of revenue is not available to the railway since the army runs a business that directly competes with the railway for cargo business and the army has a history of using their power to get contracts for NLC that would otherwise have gone to the railway.



That’s basically the ‘khaata hay tau lagata bhi hay’ argument. Stolen money is stolen money, whether you keep it in the Caymans or in Chichu-ki-Malian. It’s still benefiting those who steal it, at the expense of those it’s stolen from. Keeping it in the country is tantamount to, like I said, stealing a million and giving back a hundred. Makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. Besides, they don't keep it here out of the goodness of their hearts, they do so because they can make the highest returns on it here. Bahria Town may have created thousands of jobs but does that justify the displacement of tens of thousands who were forcefully evicted from their lands for a nominal payment when they refused to sell it to Malik Riaz who, btw, is in business with the army (check out the arrangement between Bahria Town Islamabad and DHA Phase 1 Islamabad). I hate going there but if we’re talking about lesser evil here, the lesser evil, as much vitriol as I’d attract from the usual youthiyas for saying this, is Zardari/NS/*insert civilian politician here*, not the army.



So? How is that a good thing? It’s still money stolen from 210 million citizens of one of the poorest countries on earth, divided between a few thousand privileged people just because they wear the same uniform. It is not, by any means, a lesser evil compared to one family keeping it all for themselves, it’s the same principle. The only difference is that the one family in this case happens to be several hundred thousand strong. Chori ka paysa chori ka hay, whether you keep it in the country and divide it among 20000 people or store it offshore and divide it among 20. The rightful owners are still deprived of it so I don’t buy this logic that they keep it in the country or divide it among themselves is somehow better than the alternative. The rightful owners are still being deprived and given the sheer scale of their corruption, the damage done to the economy is orders of magnitude higher than what these bit part pawns masquerading as democratic politicians do.

I am not supporting or defending any form of corruption. Nor I am saying that Army is not involved in corruption. I believe that we need complete land reforms and Army should get out of land related and other businesses. What I cannot understand is how these crooked politicians like Shareefs and Zardari are in anyway better than Army. When it comes between Army and these politicians, I will always choose the former. Atleast they get the job done instead of looting, piling money abroad and then running from this country. For example, Pakistan Steel were running smoothly under Army rule, now the same department is in debt of billions of rupees.

Both Army and Politicians are involved in destruction of Pakistan Railways but atleast the Army established another institution like NLC which again created jobs for civilians but what did the politicians do, take commisions and stash them abroad.

Again, I am not defending the actions and policies of Army here. My only issue is when you say that Zardaris and Shareefs are better than Army.

 

[Greenstorm]

You are kidding. Right?

Or are you really serious when you say this?

Who will you take if the choice is between those two ?

 

[OoparCut]

Who will you take if the choice is between those two ?

What is worse? A thief or a thief with a gun?

 

[TalentSpotterPk]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Bilawal elected chairman of NA panel on HR unopposed <a href="https://t.co/aa8rbQM0y7">https://t.co/aa8rbQM0y7</a></p>— The Express Tribune (@etribune) <a href="https://twitter.com/etribune/status/1102974814594260996?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Hope he does some much needed effort for enforced disappearances of Baloch and PTM people.

 

[Abdullah719]

Missing human rights activist Sarang Joyo returns home in Karachi

Human rights activist Sarang Joyo returned to his home in Karachi late on Sunday night, his father said, almost a week after he reportedly went missing.

His father, the well-known Sindhi writer Taj Joyo, said “unknown people had dropped” his son off at Sohrab Goth around 1am, adding that Sarang had then come home in a taxi.

Sarang, 34, is a research associate at the Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology (SZABIST), Karachi.

According to his father, Sarang was leading the Sindh Sujagi Forum to highlight Sindh’s issues like repatriation of Afghan refugees from the province, 2017 census and enforced disappearances among others.

He went missing after leaving his residence in Akhtar Colony, Karachi, at midnight intervening Aug 10 and 11. The Joyo family believes he was picked up by unknown security personnel.

Taj added that on return, his son was tired and did not feel well, upon which the family called a private doctor to check on him. “The doctor advised him to rest,” he said.

He said Sarang would perhaps narrate what happened to him later. He questioned who would “compensate the physical and mental damages which Sarang Joyo suffered”.

Earlier this week, Taj had refused to receive the presidential Pride of Performance award apparently due to the lack of resolution of Sindh’s “core issues” — ranging from enforced disappearances, usurpation of Sindh’s natural and water resources, denial of national language status to Sindhi language etc.

He was also aggrieved over recent ‘enforced’ disappearance of his son and he had been joining protests outside the Karachi Press Club by family members of missing persons — allegedly picked in different districts of Sindh over the past several months.

Senate panel discusses Joyo’s disappearance

Later in the day, Taj Joyo attended a meeting of the Senate Functional Committee on Human Rights which discussed his son’s disappearance.

He said that his son had Rs1,500 when he was “kidnapped” but he had Rs3,000 on his return.

“Sarang kept protesting for recovery of missing persons,” he added.

Taj said he had a list of 228 missing persons with him, of which 128 people had been found — who were either in detention or had been freed while no information was available about 80 other people.

Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar of the PPP, who heads the committee, said that Sarang had been released last night after PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and the committee raised the issue. He termed it an “extremely unfortunate incident”.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1574906/missing-human-rights-activist-sarang-joyo-returns-home-in-karachi

 

[saeedhk]

A blot on the country! Unfortunately, this is not going away anytime soon! The boys are untouchable!

 

[Abdullah719]

SECP official Sajid Gondal missing from Islamabad, says family

Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Joint Director Sajid Gondal has been missing from Islamabad since last night, his family confirmed on Friday.

His car was found in front of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) on Park Road, located in Chak Shahzad, and his family says they have not been able to contact him since.

According to his family, last night Gondal visited a farmhouse he owned in Chak Shahzad but his staff said he left later in the evening.

The SECP official, who is also a former journalist, did not come home, his family said.

Earlier this morning, one of his employees at the farmhouse told his family that his car was parked outside NARC.

A formal case has not yet been registered but local police, as part of routine procedure, examined Gondal’s car and informed the family that due to heavy rain earlier in the day, no fingerprints could be found on the vehicle.

The family was also visited by SECP officials and it was decided that a team of lawyers would be consulted later today to decide if a case should be filed on behalf of the family or the department.

Bring Back Sajid Gondal was the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan after reports of him going missing started circulating on social media earlier today.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1577896

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Disappearance of Sajid Gondal is of concern & we as govt have a duty to ensure his early recovery. Police has been directed to register an FIR. Protection of each citizen's life is our constitutional obligation. Rule of law must prevail - all must be dealt with acc to the law.</p>— Shireen Mazari (@ShireenMazari1) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/1301825445789392896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Loralai]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">AWP demands that our worker Shafqat Malik who is a respected and known political worker from Ghotki must be released immediately. The unlawful & undemocratic practice of enforced disappearances must end <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ReleaseShafqatMalik?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ReleaseShafqatMalik</a> <a href="https://t.co/GMpp6ENTRm">pic.twitter.com/GMpp6ENTRm</a></p>— Awami Workers Party (@AwamiWorkers) <a href="https://twitter.com/AwamiWorkers/status/1295254155662065665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Bewal Express]

SECP official Sajid Gondal missing from Islamabad, says family

Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Joint Director Sajid Gondal has been missing from Islamabad since last night, his family confirmed on Friday.

His car was found in front of the National Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) on Park Road, located in Chak Shahzad, and his family says they have not been able to contact him since.

According to his family, last night Gondal visited a farmhouse he owned in Chak Shahzad but his staff said he left later in the evening.

The SECP official, who is also a former journalist, did not come home, his family said.

Earlier this morning, one of his employees at the farmhouse told his family that his car was parked outside NARC.

A formal case has not yet been registered but local police, as part of routine procedure, examined Gondal’s car and informed the family that due to heavy rain earlier in the day, no fingerprints could be found on the vehicle.

The family was also visited by SECP officials and it was decided that a team of lawyers would be consulted later today to decide if a case should be filed on behalf of the family or the department.

Bring Back Sajid Gondal was the top trend on Twitter in Pakistan after reports of him going missing started circulating on social media earlier today.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1577896

Is this the Youtuber Sajid Gondal?

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Police registered a case against unidentified persons for the disappearance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP) Additional Joint Director Sajid Gondal on Saturday.

The case was registered at Shahzad Town Police Station on the complaint of the SECP official's wife, confirmed police.

Read more: Disappearance of Sajid Gondal: Mazari, Akbar order early recovery of missing SECP official

Top government officials, including the human rights minister and the premier's aide on accountability, on Friday, ordered "early recovery" of Gondal, who allegedly went missing Thursday evening.

"We as govt have a duty to ensure his early recovery," Mazari had said on Twitter, directing the Islamabad police to register a first information report over Gondal's alleged disappearance.

"Protection of each citizen's life is our constitutional obligation," she added, noting that everyone must be dealt with according to the law and the "rule of law must prevail".

Separately, Adviser to Prime Minister Imran Khan on Accountability and Interior, Shahzad Akbar, had also directed the Islamabad Capital Territory Police (ITP) to promptly recover the missing SECP official.

Akbar had taken a notice of the reported disappearance, which went viral on social media, a news release said.

In this regard, the Amnesty International's South Asia chapter also released a statement for Gondal, saying "a former journalist and an official with the SECP is missing and feared to have been disappeared".


"We call upon the authorities to establish his whereabouts immediately," the human rights organisation added.

Petition filed in IHC
Meanwhile, Gondal’s family has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court seeking the court’s intervention for his recovery.

The petition, filed by his mother, has named secretaries of defence and interior and Islamabad police as respondents.

She has raised concerns that her son could be subjected to mental and physical torture and that the abduction is a violation of his basic constitutional rights

https://www.geo.tv/latest/306299-islamabad-police-register

 

[Major]

This abduction just makes Bajwa guilty, but yet the supporters of ruling govt wont say a word and still believe hes innocent.

Now lets see what will the PTI minister of human rights do here. While at the same time their leader is backing Bajwa, and Bajwas cronies got this guy abducted.

 

[saeedhk]

This abduction just makes Bajwa guilty, but yet the supporters of ruling govt wont say a word and still believe hes innocent.

Now lets see what will the PTI minister of human rights do here. While at the same time their leader is backing Bajwa, and Bajwas cronies got this guy abducted.

It is being said he provided some of the information on Bajwa to Noorani.

 

[Firebat]

IHC directs authorities to recover 'missing' SECP official by Monday

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday directed authorities to recover "missing" Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) official Sajid Gondal by 2pm on Monday.

The court gave these orders during hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed yesterday by Gondal's mother, Asmat Bibi.

During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah said that the interior secretary and the chief commissioner would need to appear before the court if Gondal was not recovered in the stipulated time frame.

The court also directed that the matter be referred to the federal cabinet, stating that it should be taken up at the next cabinet meeting if Gondal is not found. A copy of the court order was also forwarded to the Cabinet Division secretary.

During the hearing, Gondal's mother contended that her son, who had been missing since Thursday evening, did not have enmity with anyone.

"The abduction of a citizen from the capital in such a manner is extremely alarming," remarked Justice Minallah during the hearing.

In the petition, Asmat Bibi said her son had gone to his office on September 3 and returned back home in the evening.

At about 7:30pm, Gondal left his home, situated in Shahzad Town, but never came back. His car was found parked on Main Park Road, near the National Agriculture Research Centre office, Islamabad.

The petition said Gondal’s whereabouts were not known even after the passage of two days and the petitioner, being a poor person, was moving from pillar to post in search of her son.

It added that the petitioner, along with another relative, visited the police station and approached the Shahzad Town police station SHO, but authorities were reluctant to give any clues about her son.

“The petitioner is clueless about what to do and helpless due to her inability to find her son,” the petition said, adding that Asmat Bibi wanted to bring the matter to the notice of the court through the writ petition seeking to protect her fundamental rights.

She expressed the apprehension that her son may be mentally and physically tortured as his whereabouts were unknown and his life was also in danger.

According to the petition, Gondal is a government servant and there were chances that he was picked up by unknown persons in connection with his official duties.

The victim's mother requested the court to summon the respondents, namely the secretaries of defence and interior, the inspector general of police and the Shahzad Town SHO in person and direct them to produce her missing son before the court.

She also sought a directive for the interior secretary to take action against those who failed to protect the life and dignity of citizens.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1578060/ihc-directs-authorities-to-recover-missing-secp-official-by-monday

 

[Abdullah719]

IHC chief justice berates interior secy on failure to recover SECP official Sajid Gondal

Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Athar Minallah on Monday berated the interior secretary, police and capital authorities after they failed to produce Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Joint Director Sajid Gondal, who has been missing since last week.

IHC had directed authorities to recover Gondal, who had gone missing on Thursday night, by today. The court was hearing a petition filed by Gondal’s mother, seeking recovery of her son from “unknown” abductors.

During today’s proceedings, Justice Minallah noted that authorities had been unsuccessful in producing the SECP official before the court and said: “Give court one example of [a case] in which missing citizen was recovered.”

“Someone should accept responsibility for this,” the high court top judge remarked.

Spoiler

He asked interior secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar if the prime minister had been “told what is happening in the federal capital”.

“I am sure you have not told the prime minister about this [case]. As soon as the prime minister gets to know about this, the state’s response would be different,” Justice Minallah said, adding that the court had “complete confidence” in the prime minister.

Khokhar tried to assure the court that a “high-level” investigation was underway.

“A first information report has been lodged and investigation has started,” he said.

“You [should] accept your failure,” the judge remarked, adding that “everyone in the federal capital was feeling insecure”. He observed that the current situation was a product of “misgovernance”.

“We are doing everything we can,” Khokar said.

“Your efforts are not visible,” the judge said. “For the [past] three days, only meetings are being held, the SECP official could not be found.”

“How would you have acted if such a thing happened with a federal minister’s son?” Justice Minallah asked. He directed Khokhar to notify the federal cabinet about the matter. The interior secretary told the court that the prime minister will be informed and the matter will be placed before the federal cabinet in the next meeting.

Justice Minallah said that there were reports that the commission for missing persons had taken notice of Gondal’s “abduction”.

“Has it been established that this is a case of enforced disappearance that the commission took notice?” he asked. He inquired if the commission’s chairperson had found some information that indicated that this was a case of enforced disappearance, adding if the investigators have contacted the missing persons’ commission.

“Is this a case of enforced disappearance?” the judge asked.

“Nothing can be said about this right now,” Khokhar responded. Justice Minallah said that the police’s investigation team should have contacted the chairperson of the commission to ask if the latter has some “personal information”.

The judge also lamented that investigation officers were not properly trained and that there was not even a prosecution branch in Islamabad. What should a constitutional court do in such cases, he asked.

Khokhar urged the court to “let state departments do their job”.

Justice Minallah noted that the court was the “protector of people’s constitutional right” while adding that it will not interfere in the investigation.

He adjourned the case until September 17 and directed authorities “not to come in with a clarification” in the upcoming hearing.

Gondal had gone missing on Thursday night and his car was found from Park Road the next morning. According to the petition filed by his mother, at about 7:30pm, Gondal went out of his home situated at Shahzad Town, Islamabad, on his official vehicle bearing registration No GAE 496, but never came back. His car was found parked on Main Park Road, near National Agriculture Research Centre office, Islamabad.

Gondal’s wife had submitted a complaint of the incident in the Shahzad Town police station, expressing suspicion that her husband had been “kidnapped by unidentified persons”. She urged the police to ensure his return, adding that the family “did not have any enmity”. Until that time, police did not lodge an FIR.

The next day, Gondal’s mother filed a habeas corpus petition in the IHC.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1578411/i...failure-to-recover-secp-official-sajid-gondal

 

[Kaddy]

This abduction just makes Bajwa guilty, but yet the supporters of ruling govt wont say a word and still believe hes innocent.

Now lets see what will the PTI minister of human rights do here. While at the same time their leader is backing Bajwa, and Bajwas cronies got this guy abducted.

What did this gondal guy do? Why do you think our agencies are involved in this?
I genuinely want to know as I do not know background of the story.

 

[saeedhk]

What did this gondal guy do? Why do you think our agencies are involved in this?
I genuinely want to know as I do not know background of the story.

He allegedly provided Bajwa’s financial records to Noorani.

 

[Kaddy]

He allegedly provided Bajwa’s financial records to Noorani.

Oh ok. Thanks...
But I have one more question if you can answer
What benefits, the agencies will get by kidnapping him now. Will it not further damage their reputation.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Oh ok. Thanks...
But I have one more question if you can answer
What benefits, the agencies will get by kidnapping him now. Will it not further damage their reputation.

The allegation is, that it is an intimidation tactic. Send a message to others to not do this sort of thing.

Impossible to know if its true, however lets just say its a cause of concern.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

This abduction just makes Bajwa guilty, but yet the supporters of ruling govt wont say a word and still believe hes innocent.

Now lets see what will the PTI minister of human rights do here. While at the same time their leader is backing Bajwa, and Bajwas cronies got this guy abducted.

She had a tweet about this on Sept 4.
https://twitter.com/ShireenMazari1/status/1301825445789392896

What more can PTI do? These abductions have been happening for a long time. What did PPP and PML N do?

Only way to stop this, is for the entire country to put politics aside and work to ensure those who are doing this are held accountable.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) Justice Athar Minallah on Monday expressed serious concern over rising number of enforced disappearances in the federal capital and directed the interior secretary to take up the issue with the prime minister in order to devise a policy for protection of the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Separately, another IHC bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani summoned Interior Minister retired Brig Ijaz Shah in the case of missing person Abdul Quddus who has remained untraceable since Jan 1, 2020.

If the state and the courts cannot protect the right to life of a citizen, then there is no reason for them to continue, remarked IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah while hearing a habeas corpus petition seeking the recovery of Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) official Sajid Gondal after Interior Secretary Yousaf Naseem Khokhar told the court that the two police teams constituted to trace his whereabouts were clueless.

The habeas corpus petition was filed by Mr Gondal’s mother, who is also a grandmother of four siblings, the eldest being 13 years old. The SECP official is stated to be the family’s sole bread-earner who supports his elderly parents, a wife and four children.

Observes missing SECP official case is ‘only the tip of the iceberg’

The IHC on Sept 5 issued a direction to the respondents including interior secretary, chief commissioner and Inspector General of Police, Islamabad Capital Territory to appear in person in case of failure to trace the SECP official.

On Monday, the court noted that the respondents appeared but failed to give satisfactory explanation for the failure of the state and its agents (i.e. public functionaries) to protect the fundamental rights of citizens by demonstrating a response that would visibly commensurate with the gravity of the alleged offence. “The officials, who have appeared today, prima facie, do not seem to appreciate the gravity of the alleged offence and its consequences, not only for the loved ones of the citizen who went missing three days ago, but the general public as well,” the court observed.

The court observed there were some fundamental rights which were definitely not negotiable, nor could the violation thereof be ignored by a constitutional court. “Why is the alleged offence in the matter in hand so grave and shocking? It has happened in the Capital of Pakistan, spread over an area of 1,400 square miles only. The highest constitutional court of the country, this court, the seat of the Federal Government, the offices of the President, Prime Minister, Federal Ministers and headquarters of the intelligence agencies are situated in the capital. The police force is headed by the Inspector General who is assisted by several senior officers and their responsibilities are confined to 1,400 sq miles,” the court order stated.

Justice Minallah pointed out that the administration of, and maintenance of law and order in the Islamabad Capital Territory was directly controlled and managed by the federal government.

The IHC chief justice observed that the court in the recent past had been inundated with petitions filed by loved ones alleging the abduction of their close relatives… it was obvious from the connected petitions that the ministries/agencies and other state organs were, directly or indirectly, involved in illegal real estate business.

“Their involvement in such illegal actions has seriously undermined the rule of law and the effective enforcement of fundamental rights. The abysmal state of governance, the lack of rule of law and impunity against crime is evident from the exponential increase of complaints/grievances and failure of the state and public functionaries to demonstrably and effectively discharge constitutional obligations and duties.

“The alleged abduction of citizens and failure on part of law enforcing agencies to trace their whereabouts and prosecute and punish the perpetrators of this most heinous crime appears to have become a norm. There is no accountability. It appears though the protectors of fundamental rights have become silent spectators to this most abhorrent violation of fundamental rights,” the court stated.

It observed this had serious consequences not only for the victims, their loved ones but for every citizen because it eroded the rule of law and undermined confidence in the state’s ability to protect their constitutionally guaranteed right to life and security. “The case in hand is only the tip of the iceberg,” the order sated.

“This court has no hesitation in observing that there is no rule of law within the 1,400 square miles of the Islamabad Capital Territory for ordinary citizens and that there is an obvious impunity against serious crimes,” the court observed.

Challenge for federal govt
The chief justice remarked that the case related to enforced abduction of Mr Gondal was a challenge and an opportunity for the federal government to restore the confidence of the people by ensuring that rule of law prevails and to demonstrably show its political will to put an end to impunity against crime, particularly against alleged abductions of citizens.

“Let this case be a challenge for the federal government to establish rule of law and demonstrate the will of the state not to tolerate violations of fundamental rights and to assure every citizen that protection of life and security of every citizen is their paramount duty,” the IHC chief justice said, adding that this court expected that the federal government, led by the worthy Prime Minister, would ensure that rule of law was demonstrably restored in the Pakistan’s capital by putting an end to impunity against crime.

Justice Minallah directed the interior secretary to brief the worthy PM and members of his cabinet regarding the abysmal state of law and order and the obvious impunity against crime within the 1,400 square miles area. The secretary is supposed to submit a report regarding decisions taken by the federal government and measures taken in the instant case. It is expected that copies of this order would also be placed before the PM and cabinet members in the next meeting of the federal cabinet.

If there is no visible progress in the instant case and the petitioner’s son is not recovered, nor are his whereabouts traced before Sept 17, then the learned Attorney General for Pakistan shall appear before the IHC to assist the court in identifying the responsible functionaries and their accountability, the court ordered.

Interior minister summoned
Meanwhile, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani of the IHC summoned minister for interior Ijaz Shah and attorney general for Sept 16 in another missing person case.

The Islamabad capital police have failed to recover missing person Abdul Quddus so far, as the law enforcement agency told the court that efforts were being made to find his whereabouts.

An FIR of the enforced disappearance of Mr Quddus was registered at the Karachi company police station on Jan 1, 2020.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1578448/ihc-wants-pm-briefed-on-enforced-disappearances

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Senior official of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Sajid Gondal, who had gone missing from the federal capital last week, reached home on Tuesday night hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of his disappearance during a meeting of the federal cabinet.

“I am back and safe, and I am thankful to all friends who were worried for me,” Mr Gondal himself tweeted on his official social media account on Twitter at around 2218 hours from an unknown place before reaching home.

Mr Gondal, an additional joint director of the SECP, reached his sister’s home at Ghouri Town more than an hour after his tweet and during this time, besides his family members and friends, even senior police officers kept on waiting for him at his residence in Shahzad Town, Islamabad.

Police sources told Dawn that the “abductors” had set free Mr Gondal at a place between the famous Giga Shopping Mall and Rawat, some 30 kilometres from his Shahzad Town residence.

The sources said the investigating officer would record Mr Gondal’s statement on Wednesday morning (today).

Earlier in the day, taking notice of Mr Gondal’s disappearance during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Islamabad chief commissioner and inspector general of police (IGP) to ensure his early recovery. He also formed a committee to look into such incidences and present recommendations to prevent these in future.

The committee, headed by federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem, comprises Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Shahzad Akbar, Chief Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed and IGP Aamir Zulfiqar Khan.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed serious concern over Sajid Gondal’s abduction and asked the IG for his recovery,” Information Minister Shibli Faraz had said at a post-cabinet meeting press conference.

Mr Gondal had gone missing on Sept 3 and his car was found from Park Road near the National Agriculture Research Council office the next morning.

His wife had lodged a complaint with the Shahzad Town police station, expressing suspicion that her husband had been “kidnapped by unidentified persons”. She had urged the police to ensure his return, adding that the family had no enmity with anyone.

The Shahzad Town police had registered a case under Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Gondal’s wife.

On Monday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah had expressed serious concern over the rising number of enforced disappearances in the federal capital and directed the interior secretary to take up the matter with the prime minister in order to devise a policy for protection of the fundamental rights of citizens.

Justice Minallah had made the remarks during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Gondal’s mother seeking his recovery.

Earlier, the SECP had in a statement also expressed concern over the disappearance of the additional joint director, saying that the incident was creating unrest and unease among the staff of the corporate sector regulator.

The SECP statement had said: “We strongly condemn the abduction and would emphasise and urge the relevant authorities to immediately intervene and ensure his [Gondal’s] prompt recovery and to ensure that appropriate punitive measures are taken against the perpetrators in accordance with the law.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1578637/missing-secp-official-back-home-after-five-days

 

[Rinnegan Sasuke]

ISLAMABAD: Senior official of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) Sajid Gondal, who had gone missing from the federal capital last week, reached home on Tuesday night hours after Prime Minister Imran Khan took notice of his disappearance during a meeting of the federal cabinet.

“I am back and safe, and I am thankful to all friends who were worried for me,” Mr Gondal himself tweeted on his official social media account on Twitter at around 2218 hours from an unknown place before reaching home.

Mr Gondal, an additional joint director of the SECP, reached his sister’s home at Ghouri Town more than an hour after his tweet and during this time, besides his family members and friends, even senior police officers kept on waiting for him at his residence in Shahzad Town, Islamabad.

Police sources told Dawn that the “abductors” had set free Mr Gondal at a place between the famous Giga Shopping Mall and Rawat, some 30 kilometres from his Shahzad Town residence.

The sources said the investigating officer would record Mr Gondal’s statement on Wednesday morning (today).

Earlier in the day, taking notice of Mr Gondal’s disappearance during the cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan had directed the Islamabad chief commissioner and inspector general of police (IGP) to ensure his early recovery. He also formed a committee to look into such incidences and present recommendations to prevent these in future.

The committee, headed by federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem, comprises Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Shahzad Akbar, Chief Commissioner Amir Ali Ahmed and IGP Aamir Zulfiqar Khan.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has expressed serious concern over Sajid Gondal’s abduction and asked the IG for his recovery,” Information Minister Shibli Faraz had said at a post-cabinet meeting press conference.

Mr Gondal had gone missing on Sept 3 and his car was found from Park Road near the National Agriculture Research Council office the next morning.

His wife had lodged a complaint with the Shahzad Town police station, expressing suspicion that her husband had been “kidnapped by unidentified persons”. She had urged the police to ensure his return, adding that the family had no enmity with anyone.

The Shahzad Town police had registered a case under Section 365 (kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person) of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of Gondal’s wife.

On Monday, Islamabad High Court (IHC) Chief Justice Athar Minallah had expressed serious concern over the rising number of enforced disappearances in the federal capital and directed the interior secretary to take up the matter with the prime minister in order to devise a policy for protection of the fundamental rights of citizens.

Justice Minallah had made the remarks during the hearing of a habeas corpus petition filed by Gondal’s mother seeking his recovery.

Earlier, the SECP had in a statement also expressed concern over the disappearance of the additional joint director, saying that the incident was creating unrest and unease among the staff of the corporate sector regulator.

The SECP statement had said: “We strongly condemn the abduction and would emphasise and urge the relevant authorities to immediately intervene and ensure his [Gondal’s] prompt recovery and to ensure that appropriate punitive measures are taken against the perpetrators in accordance with the law.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1578637/missing-secp-official-back-home-after-five-days

Excellent by the PM, we all know why he disappeared and I was worried it may go unaddressed.

 

[saeedhk]

Agriculture Department needs to be reigned in.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sajid Gondal says he was abducted at gunpoint

Sajid Gondal, the joint director Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan, said he was abducted by five to six people at gunpoint in Islamabad.

Gondal had come back on late Tuesday night five days after his disappearance. The SECP official had gone missing from Islamabad on September 3. His vehicle was found abandoned outside the Agriculture Research Centre in Shehzad Town, according to the police. The vehicle’s doors were open and its key was in the ignition.

In a statement to the Shehzad Town police, Gondal said that unidentified men kidnapped him, covered his eyes with a cloth, and drove him around for almost two hours.

He said that the kidnappers tried to scare him but did not torture him. The kidnappers then dropped him off at an unknown place, Gondal told the police. It seems that my opponents are behind the abduction, he said.

Gondal’s family had been protesting his disappearance and had asked the prime minister, army chief, and the chief justice to have him recovered. His wife had told SAMAA TV’s Nadeem Malik on Monday that her husband was not picked up over any personal enmity.

https://www.samaa.tv/news/2020/09/sajid-gondal-abducted-at-gun-point-islamabad-secp/

 

[Loralai]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A few days ago, the army conducted raids in Muhammad Khel, North Waziristan, took away ornaments & other stuff & picked up several locals after which the people of the area staged a sit-in. They were told those who’ve been picked up will be released but that has not happened. 1/2</p>— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) <a href="https://twitter.com/mjdawar/status/1316007690137735173?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Today the women of Muhammad Khel come out to protest against the brutality of the army & for the release of the locals. The locals have now staged a sit-in.We demand that the innocent people picked up by the army must be released and the valuables taken away must be returned. 2/2</p>— Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) <a href="https://twitter.com/mjdawar/status/1316010941608124416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>