Loud Thinking

Archive for the ‘Pakistan’ Category

Straight Talk – The Power Crisis & The 780 million rip-offs. (The Nation, Sunday, 10^th July, 2011) 

The threat of a looming power crisis that the country would be facing in the coming years was raised way back in 1994, when a group of concerned citizens had filed a Public Interest Litigation against KESC in the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

Since then, Helpline Trust and other citizens have repeatedly raised this issue at various platforms. Yet despite the ringing of the alarm bells over the years, no government, civilian or military, has taken this looming crisis seriously.

Instead, the present government has excelled in promoting the culture of corruption in its various ministries. There are reports of mega corruption scandals almost every day and yet our leaders have the audacity to insist that they must be allowed to complete their five-year term in office, because the citizens had voted for the PPP in the last elections.

However, the voters had not given the government a carte-blanche authority to loot and plunder the country. They had voted for the PPP, with the hope that this time it would fulfill its promise of providing Roti – Kapra – Makaan to the citizens and establish good governance, accountability and enforcement of the Rule of Law. But, as in the past, it has failed to honor any of these promises.

However, instead of introducing good governance and investing in power generation units and improving the output and efficiency of the existing units, the government has been indulging in the worst kind of corruption and rip-offs in the power sector.

First we had the questionable KESC Privatization deal, which is still shrouded in secrecy, followed by the scandals of the massive rip-offs in the importation of IPP plants and the agreements connected with these shady deals.  (http://www.helplinetrust.org/EDC%201/youtube%20ht/kesc.htm).

This was then followed by the news of the recent rip-off in the importation of the Turkish Karkey power rental ship, which, according to reports, is standing idle off the shores of Karachi for the last few months and is costing this electricity starved City of Lights a cool  $9 million a month.

The deal to pay capacity charges of approximately Rs.780 million was struck between the clueless former minister of water and power, Raja Pervez Ashraf, who had boldly announced that there would be no load shedding in Pakistan after December 2009 and Raja Babar Ali Zulqarnain, son of AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan, the country representative for the company Karkey Karadeniz Elektrik Uretim AS in Pakistan.

The power rental ship is standing idle because the government is not making any efforts to ensure fuel supply to make the unit fully operational. Instead, it is paying Rs26.37 per unit as capacity charges, while Rs. l5.48 per unit is being paid under the head of fuel cost.

This multi-million dollar loss to the national economy came to the surface during the hearing of the petition of eight power distribution companies. During the hearings, it was revealed that Karkey is producing only 30 megawatts of power, against an agreement to add 231 MWs to the system.

Allegations of massive corruption and mismanagement in the power sector have been circulating for a very long time, but who are the real Hidden Hands that are behind this recent rip-off is not clear but it is obvious that they must all be very pleased with themselves and smiling all the way to the bank. 

In India, the citizens have forced the government to form a Grand Alliance against Corruption and introduce a bill to tackle the problem. India’s Supreme Court has also ordered a special investigation into unde­clared money stashed in foreign bank accounts of the rich and the famous.

While in contrast, instead of assisting the Supreme Court of Pakistan in punishing the culprits involved in corruption, our democratically elected Awami government has tried everything in the book to sabotage trial proceedings.

It has frustrated the Court’s efforts to investigate cases of corruption and the Rs.5 billion NICL scandal, by trying to suspend ADG FIA, Zafar Qureshi, on the pretext of talking to media without departmental authorization.

However, the CJ has stepped in and ordered the government to reinstate the ADG or face its wrath. Such is the commitment of this morally corrupt government to eliminate the octopus of corruption and improve our system of governance.

According to media reports, all this was being done to accommodate the leaders of PML-Q, who have come forward to join a shaky coalition, to prevent the PPP government from immediate collapse.

General Musharraf, in his eight years of governance, had the opportunity to tackle the power crisis and could have taken the positive steps to set up power generation plants and revamp the dilapidated and outdated distribution.

But instead, this government had also ignored this problem and had taken took the easy way out, by privatizing the utility service, without examining the ground realities and had allowed allowing this city of lights to plunge into darkness.

And unfortunately, the present government has also failed to rectify the mess that the previous government had left and even failed to provide the basic facilities like electricity, gas, clean water and a decent health and education system to its citizens.

Our leaders have shamelessly humiliated and shamed this nation. Under this government, we do not have democracy, but a politics of bullets and fear, as it has failed to even protect the lives and property of the citizens, which is the primary duty of the government under the constitution.

Will the Grand Alliance between the two former rivals, PML-N and MQM, come up to the ‘Great Expectations’ of the suffering citizens? Will it force the government to end corruption, the increasing killings in Karachi and improve the system of governance?

Or is it just another attempt to push AZ and his Merry Men out of their Ivory Tower? Or will this GA end up as just another ‘Much ado about nothing’ charade, as in the past, only time will tell.

After 9/11, Pakistan had declared a war against terror. Perhaps it is time for the government to declare a war against corruption, target killings and the power crisis, which is crippling and killing our industries and making the lives of the citizens miserable and unbearable.

Until then, in the words of Gen. Musharraf, our former dictator, at the end of his resignation speech: ‘Pakistan Ka Khuda hafiz hai’ – ‘May Allah protect Pakistan’. 

Hamid Maker. (Email: trust@helplinetrust.org).

By: General Mirza Aslam Beg

Former Chief of Army Staff

On 17^th August 1988, I didn’t consult any of my Corps Commanders or Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) and called-upon the Naval and Air Chiefs, discussed the matter briefly, and within three hours of General Ziaul Haq’s death, restored the Constitution and handed over power to Mr. Ghulam Ishaq Khan, It was an unprecedented decision in favour of democracy and rule of law. Similarly General Kiani, took the ‘command decision’ of keeping the army out of the election process of 18^th February 2008, defeated Musharraf’s sinister design of repeat of 2002 elections and put democracy on the right course. 

      In May 1990, President Ghulam Ishaq Khan gave me a ‘non-paper’, listing serious lapses on part of the Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. I made the mistake of discussing this matter with the Corps Commanders and the PSOs. The ‘consensus decision’ was conveyed to the President, that “remaining within the constitutional limits, the President may take action as deemed necessary.” Benazir Bhutto’s government was soon dismissed and a care-taker government was formed to hold elections in 90 days, thus setting the bad precedence of ‘Presidential Coup’, during the period 1990-1998. In the retrospective, I regret having consulted the senior military commanders on such a vital issue. My ‘command decision’ would have been very different. 

      Similarly, General Kiani’s recent decision to consult the Corps Commanders and the PSOs, on the present critical national issues, and the declaration of 10th June 2011, carries all the weaknesses of a ‘consensus decision’ as it has failed to address the main issues, which matter to the people of Pakistan and the country, as highlighted in my recent article, titled “Our Wuthering Sovereignty” published on 15^th May 2011. I said: “The Pakistani nation has had such high expectations from the democratic government to deliver a sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary and an above board accountability, which are the pillars of national sovereignty, but unfortunately these institutions have been so methodically suppressed to render them ineffective. In fact, our national sovereignty has been debased and humiliated by one and all who mattered in Pakistan.”

      The GHQ Declaration of 10^th June, 2011, has passed-on the entire responsibility of correcting the course, to the government, which itself is responsible for creating this calamity. This declaration won’t help establish the civilian supremacy over the military. Rather it shirks responsibility, to support the state institutions to perform. In fact, it is a repeat of General Jehangir Karamat’s action of 1997, who failed to respond to the call of the Supreme Court, that led to the assault on the Supreme Court and the political turmoil, thus paving the way for Musharraf’s take over. And if past declarations of this kind are any guide, this declaration also falls short of achieving the main objective, that is, establishing the supremacy of the civil authority over the military. Let us re-count a few episodes, preceding Gen Zia’s coup of 1977:

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  • In 1976, Prime Minister Bhutto was visiting Multan. The then Corps Commander Lt Gen Ziaul Haq called-on him and pledged loyalty to Mr. Bhutto, on the Holy Book. Mr. Bhutto was so impressed that he appointed General Zia, as his COAS.
  • In 1977, Mr. Bhutto was visiting Murree. Commander 12 Division Maj Gen Akhtar Abdur Rahman lined-up his officers and their wives, on the reception-line and in an exclusive meeting he also pledged loyalty to Mr. Bhutto on the Holy Book, establishing the nexus with General Zia.
  • In 1977, when the political agitation against Mr. Bhutto’s government had reached a dangerous level, the top military commanders, such as the Chairman JCSC and the three service Chiefs, pledged to the nation, their loyalty and unflinching support for the government, but, within days, Gen Zia struck and dismissed the government.

      General Kiani has time to correct the course. Civilian supremacy over the military can be established only by a sovereign parliament and an independent judiciary as we witness today in Turkey – the example to follow. General Kiani should support the Parliament’s resolution demanding cessation of drone attacks, which the American flouted and the parliament was helpless, while the Pakistani armed forces have full capability to deter and defeat such violations of our sovereignty. The will to use this capability is ‘a function of command decision, of the person in authority’ as demonstrated in 1990, by the then Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. She sent the foreign minister to Delhi, with a strong message, and ordered a squadron of F-16s fully armed, ready to strike targets deep in the South of India. This bold command decision, deterred the enemy. Then, we had the F-16s and now we have the submarines, missiles and guns, which can engage targets upto a range of 30 KMs to 3000 KMs. Whereas we enjoy distinct superiority on ground, i.e., the men and missiles and the conventional weapons support. Our men belong to one of the best fighting machine of the world, supported by the hard core tribal fighters of our border regions. Based on Men and Missile, we can effectively deter and defeat aggression directed against Pakistan from Afghan territory. Let there be no ambiguity about it. 

      The Armed Forces must support the ‘Supreme Court of Pakistan, to ensure that the judgments passed by the apex court are implemented, which is the constitutional responsibility of the armed forces and there is no going back on it. The armed forces must also help re-establish, above board accountability, to punish the corrupt and the unscrupulous. The political parties also have the shared responsibility to help the military, establish the supremacy of the civilian rule and also have to remain mindful of the bloatings and blusterings of the opposition leaders, against the military, which is counter-productive. They better draw on the political wisdom of Mr. Erbogan of Turkey, who has achieved harmony between the seculars/liberals and the Islamists, has established the supremacy of the civilian rule over the military and has taken the country to unprecedented economic heights.

      If the military high command remains content with the 10^th June declaration, that would mean waiting for the collapse of the system and military take-over. It is the time now to act, remaining within the framework of the Constitution, and support the present government, to build a sovereign parliament, an independent judiciary and the institution to deliver above board accountability. This would be the greatest gift, the armed forces could offer to the nation – an unprecedented move, “to willingly accept the supremacy of the civilian rule.” 

This is our rendezvous with history. And to make history, one has to rise above the level of the ordinary.

LINK:http://pakpotpourri2.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/waiting-for-the-command-decision/

Quaid related his dream to Allama Usmani, Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque quotes Usmani

Islamabad—As against general impression that the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah had returned to India from London in end 1934 on persuasion by prominent Muslim leaders, the new evidence proves that the Quaid decided to end his self exile after he dreamt of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) who asked him to go to India and lead the Muslims in their struggle for a separate homeland for the Muslims of South Asia.

During an exclusive interview with Pakistan Observer, former Interior Secretary, Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque, talked about some episodes relating to his meetings with Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani who were kind to him for his devotion to the cause of Pakistan.

Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque, now in 90s, who had frequent chances to meet with Quaid-i-Azam and Quaid’s very close associate and confidant, Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani, said that Mr Jinnah had told Allama about his dream, in New Delhi when the Pakistan movement had been launched by the Quaid. The Quaid-i-Azam asked Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani not to mention the dream to anyone during his (Quaid’s) life time.

Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque as a great devotee of Quaid-i-Azam would visit him in New Delhi during 1940s when he was also there. The Quaid though living in Bombay visited the Indian Capital during assembly sessions, meetings with viceroy, party conferences and exchanges of views with Congress leaders. The Quaid was kind to him and met him briefly after his breakfast. It was there that he developed his relationship with Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani who also frequently visited the Quaid in the morning before Mr. Jinnah took up his day,s work.

After the emergence of Pakistan, Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani migrated to Karachi where he had the unique honour of unfurling national flag at the ceremony marking the Independence Day in the presence of the Founder of the State. After the demise of Quaid-i-Azam, Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque who was serving the police department in Karachi, had frequent meetings with Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani. During those meetings the main topic was naturally the personality of the Founder of Pakistan. As both the Allama and Chaudry were highly devoted to Quaid-i-Azam, they would fondly recall moments they had the privilege to have spent with him. During one such meeting between the two, the topic was Return of the Quaid to India in 1934 and his assumption of All India Muslim League’s leadership. When Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque talked about people who as common belief had been, motivated Mr. Jinnah to return to India and assume their leadership, Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani spontaneously reacted saying the reality was something else. And then he narrated an episode, that had never been mentioned by anyone. The Allama said that a couple of years before the emergence of Pakistan, he was discussing something with Mr. Jinnah and there was a reference to his return to India in 1934. When Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani mentioned names of the people who he believed had motivated the Quaid to end his exile, Mr. Jinnah said it was not the correct impression. He told Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani about his dream of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and said he had returned to India in 1934 on order by the Prophet (PBUH) he loved most.

Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani quoted the Quaid-i-Azam as saying:

“One evening, I was strolling in the lawn of my house in London when I smelt a unique fragrance. First I thought it was temporary phenomenon but the fragrance continued to prevail in the air. I could not understand as to what was the source of that fragrance. I decided to go to sleep. I could not sleep for quite some time. During sleep I saw a holy personality in my dream. The holy personality addressed me: ‘I am Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). I order you to go to India and lead the Muslims to their destiny. After the dream I awoke and started preparation for my return journey to India’.

Though Founder of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah outwardly looked to be a Westernized man in terms of life-style, he had deep love for the Prophet (PBUH) and the Muslims of South Asia. That was the reason why he had devoted his life and all to the cause of the Muslims and fought relentlessly to attain rights they had been deprived of.

People who have studied various phases of the Pakistan Movement and political career of Mr. Jinnah or those who have had access to Quaid’s associates, are convinced that the Founder of Pakistan took guidance from the Holy Quran and life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). This scribe has been meeting with such people including the President, Nazriya Pakistan Council (NPC) Trust to have a better understanding of the Pakistan Movement and personality of the man who had emerged as the Sole Spokesman of the Muslims of the sub-Continent. They all agree that the Quaid’s commitment to the cause of the Muslims had no bounds. This scribe came to know that a former senior bureaucrat Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque, during his youth had chances of meeting the Quaid-i-Azam in New Delhi and also Quaid’s close associate Allama Shabbir Ahmed Usmani.

The testimony given by Chaudry Fazl-e-Haque clearly shows two facts: One that Quaid-i-Azam took up his mission after he was asked to return to India by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in dream. This also shows his devotion to the Holy Prophet (PBUH). Two: That Pakistan came into being with the blessing of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

There are several events that indicate Quaid’s love for the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He had selected Lincoln Inn for his study of law in London when he was only a young boy. During the struggle for Pakistan, he on several occasions, stressed that the best role model for the Muslims in every respect is the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He always said that teachings of Islam as provided in the Holy Quran and exemplified by life of the Holy Prophet were relevant for all times and climes.

Link of Pakistan Observer :- http://pakobserver.net/detailnews.asp?id=97440

The question is not that could Pakistan have decided otherwise when America asked whether we were friend or foe, immediately after 9/11. The question is could we had made a better bargain for all the unimaginable facilities and cooperation we offered to America. In this connection, just recall what the US ambassador said (Musharraf agreed all our terms without conditions) in the cable to Washington, which really shames me even now and may be forever. Only a timid & selfish ruler can be so myopic. He made an abject surrender of a nuclear power. Later On he fell on the feet of the Indians by allowing them construction of barbed wire on not only on working boundary but even at LOC. Such things are only allowed at international borders as per law. Musharraf left Pakistan nowhere.

Napoleon Bonaparte once said on leadership that if you build an army of 100 lions and their leader is a dog, in any fight, the lions will die like a dog. But if you build an army of 100 dogs and their leader is a lion, all dogs will fight like a lion.

Lamhuan Nay Khata Key Thee Sadyoun Nay Saza Paei. (At times punishment goes till centuries for mistakes of a second).

An exceptional article publised in the daily ” The Nation ” dated May 22, 2011 titled ‘Osama’s Killing: A Drama or Reality” by Mr. Khawar Munir Haroon, is reproduces below for the benefit of readers who are keenly interested in resolving the mystery of the death of Osama Bin Laden.

Quote. ” According to Dr Steve R. Pieczenik, a psychiatrist who has treated CIA employees, “Osama was dead in 2001” and 9/11 was, in any case, a farce. When a person with the inside knowledge of the American intelligence system says so it is hard not to believe him.

Mr Pieczenik cannot be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist. He served on important posts with Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush Sr. He was Deputy Assistant Secretary of State with the first three and also as senior policy planner under Henry Kissinger, Cyrus Vance and James Baker. The former US Navy Captain still works as a consultant for the Department of Defence and is recipient of two prestigious Harry C. Solomon awards at the Harvard Medical School, as he simultaneously completed a PhD at MIT. He has a long list of credentials that can be found through the internet. He says: “Osama was suffering with Marfan syndrome”, and he died in 2001, “not because the Special Forces had killed him, but because as a physician I had known that the CIA physicians had treated him and it was on the intelligence roster that he had Marfan syndrome. The US government knew he was dead before they invaded Afghanistan. Bush Jr knew about it, the intelligence community knew about it. CIA physicians had visited bin Laden in July 2001 at the American Hospital in Dubai.”

Marfan syndrome is a degenerative genetic disease for which there is no permanent cure. The illness severely shortens the lifespan of the sufferer.

Then why to dramatise Osama’s capture, his murder and then throwing the dead body in the sea? What is the message sent out? Who gained and who are the losers?

The CIA failed on 9/11 or did it? It is a Zionist plan that is gradually unfolding. It is a pity that the poor Americans are so naive that they cannot read between the lines. They are mechanised robots.

They do not have time to go through the political jigsaw. Most of them only understand what is fed to them by the media, which is primarily owned and operated by the Jews. They are fleecing the people of America who are being practically controlled by Israel. Don’t we know who controls the American economy? Don’t we know about the owners of US gold reserves? Why moves aimed at destabilisation are under way in our part of the world? Who are the actors behind the stage? Who are the supporters of the terrorist groups operating in Pakistan? Are we not aware of the funding channels of these plunderers? The answer is short and crisp. It is the Israeli perpetrators. They are there in the guise of our so-called religious brethren and friends. 

The degree of the sovereignty of a nation is  directly proportional to the state of economy of that nation. Actually, in constant growth & development lies our salvation. Secondly, we Pakistanis must know  without any doubt, that the easiest and surest way of moving ahead, is to stand on our own feet. Foreign aid, can keep us afloat, but won’t allow us to swim.

Biggest factor in any victory is self confidence. Anti-thesis of terrorism is education, coupled with economic emancipation.

As such, the nation must embark upon the following agenda, to resurrect our economy without any further loss of time.

1. Request to all foreign donors for a 5 years moratorium, on all debt repayments by Pakistan. 

2. 20%  per annum reduction in all non-developmental government expenditures, plus total freeze in all perks paid from the national exchequer, involving foreign currency. 

3. Increase in productivity & exports with liberal tax relief to industry, commerce & trade.

4. Set a target for 20% per annum  increase in foreign remittances, by offering innovative incentives to expatriate Pakistanis.

5. Abolish FBR (which will alone increase income by Rs.500 billion) & impose flat 10% tax on all & every type of income, withour any exemption (except for the security forces personnel, whose salaries should be doubled with receipt of un-precedented increase in revenue, due to this formula). This will not only reduce income tax burden on salaried class ( with max. tax rate of 10%) but will also result in so much increase of revenues that government will not require any tax imposition  in the budget. Plus, the government will be able to give tax free salaries to all armed forces, rangers, police and other security agencies personnel, who are shedding their blood, in fighting the menace of terrorism, for our safe tomorrow.

6. Initiate steps (by imposing economic emergency) to bring each and every economic activity under document.  

Renowned singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, who has been touring US these days, just remained saved from a car crash while his manager dies at the spot in an accident. According to TV reports, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan is save in the accident.

Reported The Nation (http://nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Islamabad/08-May-2011/Rahat-Fateh-Ali-Khans-manager-dies-in-a-car-crash-in-US)

Sir, corruption is the biggest danger to the survial of Pakistan. 

Sir, there is a saying of Hazrat Ali RA, that a system of ‘Kufr’ can sustain but not a system of ‘Zulm’. And in my opinion, the biggest Zulm with the poor after injustice is corruption. In fact, injustice stems from corruption. The monumental increase in corruption has tremendously increased poverty which in turn is now breeding terrorism. 

Pakistan cricket team always had the potential and talent to win any and all of the past cricket ODI world cup tournaments. As such, there should be no doubt about its chances of winning the next cricket ODI world CUP scheduled in 2015, to be played in the down under.
In this regard, PCB must prepare a plan named ”Vision 2015″. This plan should be a fool proof strategy with specific focus on winning the 2015 tournament, considering all risk factors, like sudden unavailability of any player due to various reasons, at least five umpiring decisions going against us (two in batting & three in bowling innings), dropped catches/missed run outs and failure of main bowlers and batsmen etc. We should remember that plans never fail, we fail to plan. Moreover, the PCB “Vision 2015″ must state that “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.”
The broad outlines of the “Vision 2015″ are defined as below.
1. A visionary person of a ultra high calibre, should be appointed the coach of Pakistan cricket team. We should also set a new trend and hire a full time mentor, for which I recommend Sir Alexander Chapman “Alex” Ferguson, CBE who is a former Scottish football manager and player who managedManchester United from 1986 to 2013. His time at the club has led to Ferguson being regarded as one of the most successful, admired and respected managers in the history of the game. PCB must ensure that in the hiring of Sir Alex Ferguson, money should not be a barrier, notwithstanding any amount demanded by him. PCB should consider this expense as an investment in 24K gold. The mentor should be specifically responsible for making our players mentally the strongest in the world, along with his other defined duties.
2. A young person should be appointed captain to lead the team for the next 5-7 years.
3. All cricket playing centers of PCB in Pakistan, should remodel the boundary distances to 90 meters (matching the size of Australian grounds) and batsmen should practise taking 5 runs, in case, ball is fielded before it reaches the rope.
4. Any player who is not of age and fitness to serve the country for next 5 years, should be discarded now, for ODI and T20 games.
5. A world class fielding coach of the calibre of Jonty Rhodes, be appointed for the team, alongwith the head coach.
6. We must find more than five bowlers from the tribal belt or any rugged area of the country, who should be able to bowl at 100 MPH speed. To attract the country talent of fast bowling, a handsome prize should be annouced, as an incentive for this speed bowling.
7. Cricket academy at PCB HQ Lahore, must be headed by a world renowned batsman.
8. The team of selectors should be tasked to locate 50 talented players, with potential to deliver at international level.
9. PCB should take on the challenge of round the year cricket (in summers, games starting at 5 PM) playing arrangements of local and foreign teams in Pakistan. And in summer 2011, PCB should pioneer night Test/ODI/T20 matches in Pakistan.
10. All PCB grounds in the country (even in smaller cities/towns), should be provided with lights for night games.
11. In order to prepare fast and bouncy tracks on all PCB grounds, suitable soil and if possible prefabricated pitches may be imported from abroad.