Pakistan Urdu Press: January 23-29, 2012

It is the responsibility of the military leadership to bring the Kashmir policy back on the track: Ausaf

Editorial (excerpts), 24 January, 2012

The Difa-e Pakistan conference, held at the historic Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi adopted following resolutions:

  1. Withdraw the decision to grant MFN status to India
  2. Disband the Kashmir Committee
  3. NATO supply lines should be blocked forever
  4. Bar the US and its allies from accessing the Pakistani airspace
  5. Break alliance and support to the US
  6. Along with the Shamsi airbase, tell the US to evacuate other airbases too.

The rally was addressed by Maulana Sami ul-Haq, Hafiz Saeed, Munawwar Hussain, Gen (Retd) Hamid Gul, Sheikh Rashid Ahmad & Maulana Fazlur Rehman Khalil. Those who addressed the rally have always been closer to the military and the ISI. However, the issues they discussed were an outcome of the Musharraf regime. It is true that the policies that the speakers urged to change are not the recommended by General Kayani but the fact is that the military is an empowered institution and if it does not want, no policy can be changed.

Historically, Kashmir has been a sensitive issue and all the governments have been saying that till the Kashmir issue is not resolved, there would be no progress in relations with India. But, the entire nation is witnessing that there is some progress on all fronts with India, except Kashmir. It is true that the military remains a mute spectator. The reality is that when the military remains silent on some issue, the people understands that military has tacit support and that is why they also remain silent.

Let us ask why despite all concessions given to India, the army has not expressed its opinions? Now the speakers of Difa-e Pakistan should also approach the Army Chief and ask why the army is silent on the MFN issue and why it is allowing a dead Kashmir Committee to continue in its dysfunctional state? The military leadership has spoken on various issues and the entire nation has rallied behind it once it spoke on an issue. Therefore, the question remains, despite the people’s support why it is not getting active to bring the Kashmir policy on track?
http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/77946/

Gilani and his party should prove that they are sincere in respecting the democratic ethos: Jang

Editorial (excerpts) January 28, 2012

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said that the reports of military takeover are not true. The coalition government enjoys two-thirds majority and there would be no snap elections.

This is a fact that the opposition is playing a more constructive role as compared to the past. Earlier, in collusion with the military, the opposition parties have dislodged elected governments. However, the present situation is quite contrary. Despite the turbulence, political parties have not supported the military. Now the Prime Minister should also realize his duty and adopt a goal of a better performance on part of the government. No doubt, there exist many shortcomings and weaknesses in the present ruling government that have been identified by the political analysts. The government has completed four years. Therefore, the political forces should not deviate from their real role and should wait for transfer of power through democratic means.

It is also important that all the institutions function under the constitutional limits and not interfere with others. Although the Prime Minister and the ruling party say that they respect all the institutions, reality does not support their statements. The opposition has been alleging that the government has not respected Supreme Court’s previous decisions. Therefore, the Prime Minister should prove from his attitude that he and his party is sincere in respecting the democratic ethos.
http://jang.com.pk/jang/jan2012-daily/28-01-2012/idaria.htm

Hurdles in transforming Pakistan into an Islamic Welfare State: Ausaf,

Editorial (excerpts) January 29, 2012

Addressing a mammoth rally at Mazar-I Qaid in Karachi, the leader of Jamiat-e Ulema-e Islam (F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that he will not accept a ‘master-servant’ relationship with the United States. He said that the establishment is the biggest hurdle in transforming Pakistan to an Islamic Welfare state. He also stated that “… the West has disgraced Quran and has taken extremely anti-Islamic steps so we also have a right to take extreme steps against the West”.

We congratulate Maulana Fazlur Rehman for holding the historic rally at Mazar-I Qaid also because the rally started and concluded in an Islamic fashion. Based on his experience, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that the establishment had been a hurdle in transforming Pakistan to an Islamic welfare state. It should be mentioned that whenever a politician refers to military, he uses the term ‘establishment’, but we think there are quite a few hurdles in transforming Pakistan to an Islamic state.

First, politicians consider Islam a big challenge in transforming Pakistan into an Islamic state because in that kind of a setup, there would be no scope for corruption and evading punishment. Secondly, the bureaucracy which is styled after the British model, does not want to adopt Islamic system as it would eliminate the chances of corruption and will not provide space for their lavish style. The military leadership has also been very ‘liberal’. They support Islamists to a limited extent. They want some representation of Islamic parties in the parliament but not to the extent that they wrest power through a majority.

Once again, we congratulate Maulana Fazlur Rehman for organizing this rally, also because they did not make a hue and cry like others have been doing. Pakistan is an unfortunate country in which a bare headed woman dancer tells an Islamic clergy in a TV talk show that she knows more Islam than him. This is the country where 98% of the population is Muslim. However, unfortunately the majority does not want an Islamic system, otherwise they would not have voted in favour of the liberal parties and instead they would have elected religious political parties for the assemblies.
http://www.dailyausaf.com/news/id/78506/

Translated and complied by Shamshad A. Khan and Amit Julka, Research Assistant and Research Intern respectively at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi.