NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
Because of the ideal strategic location of its province Balochistan and being the lonely nuclear
country in the Islamic World, Pakistan has become special target of the foreign entities like US,
India, Israel and some western countries whose secret agencies have been destabilizing it through
various kinds of terror attacks, as witnessed in the recent years. These hostile elements are also
using propaganda in maligning Pakistan.
In this regard, in a recent report, Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) blamed that the
government, military and Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) of Pakistan are involved in
elimination of Baloch people by adopting tactics of disappearances and extra-judicial killings
under the canopy of National Action Plan (NAP). AHRC allegedly pointed out that the
government and military are involved in creating and supporting Islamist extremist groups to
manage domestic political challenges in Balochistan.
Report further elaborated that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has again provoked
the government to commence a new phase of military operation in Balochistan to curb the
popular demands for autonomy and equal rights in comparison with other provinces.
While, there is no confirmation and authenticity of any involvement of Armed Forces/LEAs/
Agencies in the said report. But, to make their donors happy (who are mostly from European
Countries, USA, India and Israel) are highly opposed to CPEC project. In fact, AHRC is
spreading disinformation to achieve the grand designs of these countries by creating hurdles in
the way of CPEC.
For the purpose of propaganda campaign against Pakistan’s security forces, these external
elements have also hired the services of those Pakistanis who are vulnerable and can work
against the national interest of their own country.
According to online sources, on 28-30 October 2016, these traitors get together and a conference
titled “Future of Pakistan” was organized in London under aegis of South Asians against
Terrorism & for Human Rights (SAATH). The moot was termed by segment of social media as
“Pakistani Left Gathers in London to Set Things Right”. SAATH can be reached
at www.saathforum.org; however this website has not updated any features as yet.
SAATH is a recently raised forum and the conference which was co-hosted by a US-based
activist Dr Mohammad Taqi and Pakistan’s former ambassador Hussain Haqqani. Other
prominent participants included ANP leaders Bushra Gohar, Afrasiab Khattak, MQM London
leader Wasay Jalil, ex-diplomats- Wajid Shamsul Hassan, Hussain Haqqani, columnists and
academicians-Rashed Rehman, Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, Marvi Sermad, Gul Bukhari, Dr Taimur
Rahman of Laal and Mazdoor Kisan Party, activists and anchors-Anis Harooni, Asma Sherazi,
Meena Sarwar, Shah Jahan Baloch (represent Baloch HR group), Saleem Javed (Sweden based
HR activist from Hazara Community), Senge Hasnan Sering (USA based Giglit-Baltistan
activist), Sufi Leghari, Dr Haroon Ahmad, Prof Aqil Shah, author Dr Farhat Taj, journalists
Murtaza Solangi, Umber Khairi, Babar Ayaz and many others.
All major Indian papers and channels and major Pakistani newspapers gave wide coverage to the
moot. The speeches of selected participants are also available on YouTube.
They gathered in the cozy London, away from the gaze of the feared establishment, to vent their
views under the patronage of Hussain Haqqani. The aim of SAATH forum was to put their heads
together to find an alternative narrative to get rid of the Albatross hanging in Pakistan’s neck, the
establishment. Hussain Haqqani commenced in a lighter tone with jokes and giggles and laughter
to purify Pakistani well from the stink created by the dead dog and everyone laughed and
clapped acknowledging the hint, who this dead dog was being referred to.
Some important remarks by participants from videos released on YouTube are as under:-
Murtaza Solangi said, “We know who the elephant in the room is; smaller provinces are
forcefully bound in Pakistan, it’s a prison and Pakistan is heading into a direction which will
make it worse than Yugoslavia. The forum should develop a monitoring mechanism for
implementation of its aims and objectives.”
Farheen Rizvi (MQM activist and blogger) stated, “The Rangers break in our homes in Karachi
and abuse our people in Punjab…they beat our youth and ridicule our being Mohajirs. We need
to augment our intellectual resources, why cannot all of us here write at least one article or blog
to raise the issue of suppression of Mohajir community.”
Sufi Laghari allegedly said, “Although we the Sindhis and Balochis have coexisted in Pakistan
till today, our remaining in one Pakistan has become very difficult, we need Azadi (Freedom).
Dr Anis Harooni as pointed out by Rashed Rehman said, “There is a Karkhana in Pakistan which
labels people as traitors, I don’t need a certificate for my loyalty, we are told to talk to
establishment, how we can trust them when they bulldoze their narrative on our heads. Out of 25
million Pakistani children out of schools almost 2.5 lacs land up in Madrissas, how can we bring
change?”
Bushra Gauhar (ANP) opined, “We are all defensive, Balochistan is burning, FATA has been
raised to ground, Pakistan in self destructive mode and our neighbours are angry, part time
activism should stop now and we need to continuously work to change the narrative in Pakistan.”
Dr Ayesha Siddiqa remarked, “We all know who the dog in the well is; however we are all part
of the problem and need to peruse the goals of the conference with consistency and vigor.”
Tahir Gora of TAG TV Canada Interviewed Altaf Hussain, as Tahir Gora and selected members
of SAATH forum called on Altaf Hussain for an interview which was arranged to show Altaf
Hussain in good spirit. However; Altaf Hussain showed a sublime and accommodative posture;
he highlighted the rights of Mohajir community. Tahir Gora runs an exclusive programme on
TAG TV including people like Tariq Fateh etc.
The timing of holding this forum was interesting, Pakistani Line of Control (LoC) is under direct
assault from the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Modi’s boys, terrorists—stepping up in
Balochistan and Karachi—Cyril gate and specter of Pakistan’s diplomatic isolation and Doval-
Modi circus going in full swing to isolate Pakistan and build up the bogey of Giglit-Baltistan and
Balochistan to deflect the attention away from the year of Pellet Guns and Dead Eyes in
Kashmir.
Nevertheless, SAATH forum has been able to get maximum attention in Indian press and
electronic media. Recent weeks also saw resonating articles in Pakistani press, where criticism of
military operation Zarb-e- Azb and need for an alternative discourse and narrative was
highlighted. It is expected that the charade of assault on Pakistan Army and its primary
intelligence agency ISI would not only grow in coming days, but also become more sophisticated
and intense.
Nonetheless, at the end of the moot, journalist Rashed Rehman read out “London Declaration for
Pakistani Pluralism” which had following points:-
It is sad and disconcerting that instead of dealing real issues with the help of fresh ideas espoused
by broad-minded Pakistanis, the Pakistani state tends to appease or nurture religious extremists,
propagates religious extremism and allows it free spread in society, and persistently misinforms
the people of Pakistan about the realities of our country.
The Pakistani state, regrettably, expresses a continued willingness to engage with religious
extremists and terrorists, and sometimes even talks of formally inducting Jihadi terrorist groups
into the state’s paramilitary structure but remains hostile to liberal, progressive and nationalist
groupings within Pakistan. Political parties representing Baloch, Muhajir, Sindhi, and Pashtun
segments of Pakistan’s population have been targeted by both state repression and hostile
propaganda aimed at de-legitimizing them even when they have won clear electoral mandates
form the people.
Participants of today’s conference are a diverse array of people, united by the desire for a
pluralist and tolerant Pakistan that abides by internationally recognized human rights, allow full
and free debate, treats all its people and nationalities fairly and is no longer seen around the
world as an incubator for terrorism.
While, talking to Hindustan Times, Hussain Haqqani stated “If Pakistan wants to avoid big
pressure from the rest of the world; it has to change from within. The current narrative of the
establishment is untenable.”
As matter of fact, the main aims of these traitors were to share the malicious propaganda of the
anti-Pakistan elements by marginalization of the Baloch and other minorities by “Punjabi
majoritarianism”, showing crises of identity.
In this respect, Shahjahan Baloch who strongly opposed the $46 billion CPEC by saying that the
project had adversely affected Balochistan and recalled the killing of dozens of lawyers and
police cadets in the province in the recent past, elaborated, “It is wrong to say there is democracy
in Balochistan. We don’t want the development brought by CPEC. I have lost so many friends.
Who will want the fruits of such development that comes with so many killings? We only want
the right to life”.
And recounting the military’s pervasive role in public life, speakers of the conference stated that
the army was not involved in image and narrative management, with major investment in films,
radio and theatre to “capture the mind before it gets ideas…to strengthen democracy, the military
needs to be put on the back foot, news media in Pakistan was not being allowed to convey
ground realities to the people.”
They emphasized the need for a dialogue for unity among various ethnic groups. The conference
also concluded that Pakistan faces the risk of global isolation because of widespread
obscurantism, growing intolerance, lack of rule of law, along with official support for extremism
and general disregard for human rights.
It is surprising to note that while pursuing foreign agenda against Pakistan, the participants of the
conference ignored ground realities and facts. They neglected the statement of Indian spy
Kulbushan Yadav who admitted that he was assigned with the task to create unrest in Karachi
and Balolchitan by stating, “I supported the individuals who worked to destabilize Pakistan…I
promoted the criminal mindset that was there in Balochistan.” Another task assigned to him was
to target the Gwadar Port. Yadav also confessed—funding Baloch separatists along with other
terrorists. During investigation, RAW agent Yadav admitted that during his stay, he contacted
various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including Dr Allah Nazar Baloch, to execute
the task to damage the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project.
In the recent past, Indian former Army Chief Gen. VK Singh openly confessed that during his
tenure, he supervised special army unit, Tactical Support Division (TSD) on the instructions of
the then defence minister to sponsor subversive acts in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan.
The participants of the conference must know that these blatant admissions by New Delhi
endorsed that with the assistance of CIA and Israeli Mossad, RAW has well-established its
network in Afghanistan. These secret agencies have been fully backing cross-border incursions
and terror-activities in Balochistan, Karachi and other regions of Pakistan, while providing the
anti-Pakistan elements to manipulate the situation. With the tactical assistance of America and
some western countries, India has continuously been assisting the Baloch separatist elements and
anti-Pakistan groups like BLA, Jundullah and TTP including their affiliated outfits with logistic
support—the militants kidnapped and killed many innocent people and the security personnel in
the province through suicide attacks, bomb blasts, targeted killings and sectarian violence. They
also abducted and killed many Chinese and Iranian nationals. Therefore, they are responsible for
dumped bodies and extrajudicial killings and the missing persons in the province. On a number
of occasions, these insurgent groups claimed responsibility for their acts of sabotage, but India
and some external powers have been shifting the blame game of human rights violations in
Balochistan and other areas of the country towards Pak Army.
In this context, these traitors’ purpose is to create resentment among the Baloch, Sindhis, people
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan against Punjab and Army.
Whereas Army has not only been successful in uprooting the anti-state elements, but also
contributed a lot in socio-economic development of Balochistan. It is mentionable that besides
protecting mega projects, and promoting other developments works, Pak Army set up a number
of institutes in Balochistan, which have been providing especially technical training to thousands
of Balochis. Pak Army has also been imparting military training to the Baloch youth. The
purpose is to bring them in the mainstream of the country.
As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by a nationalist leader Chief
Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established. And on December 7, 2013; local
bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in Balochistan. The successful elections
have greatly negated the cause of terrorist groups, who always claim to enjoy the majority
support. These elections also proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, as
they have rejected the case of separatists, being projected by India.
The speakers of the conference should also take cognizance of the fact that since the government
of the Balochistan province announced general pardon and protection to the Baloch militants as
part of reconciliation process, many insurgents and their leaders have surrendered their arms and
decided to work for the development of Pakistan and the province, peace has been restored in the
Balochistan. But, recent terror attacks in Balochistan show that the US-led India and Israel have
again started acts of sabotage in the province.
Besides, the Rangers and the police have also restored peace in Karachi. Notably, since the anti-
Pakistan foreign connections of the former chief of MQM Altaf Hussain have been exposed, a
division has been created in the ranks and files of MQM, resulting into London-based MQM and
Karachi-based MQM.
The participants of the forum in London remained silent over the gross human rights violations
in India and the Indian Occupied Kashmir—promotion of Hindu extremism in India, the plight
of religious minorities. While following the foreign agenda against Islamabad, they did not pay
attention to the developments like persecution of minorities, forced conversions of other
religious minorities into Hindus, ban on beef and cow slaughter, inclusion of Hindu religious
books in curriculum etc., and creation of war-like situation with Pakistan, which have continued
since the leader of the ruling party BJP Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India. Hindu
extremist outfits such as BJP, RSS VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena including other similar
parties have been promoting religious and ethnic chauvinism in India by propagating ideology of
Hindutva (Hindu nationalism). The extremist Hindus have particularly accelerated assaults on
Muslims and Christians, including their places of worship. In this respect, even western media
have highlighted the plight of minorities in India. But, traitors of Pakistan who get together in
London totally neglected these realities.