The SCO Summit hosted by Pakistan in Islamabad on 15-16 Oct was a mega event, in which ten PMs participated. Islamabad was beautified tastefully, and the August occasion was organized befittingly and smoothly. The guests including the secretary general of SCO were wholly satisfied and impressed by the arrangements and hospitality of the hosts.
The successful conclusion of the high-powered Summit has elevated the stature of Pakistan politically, diplomatically, economically and culturally, and has helped in improving its image and credibility in the world. Pakistan has shifted from the pool of isolation to integration.
All the guests evinced keen interest in enhancing trade, economic and security ties and to benefit from each other’s technical know-how. The heaviest delegation was from Russia.
A large number of MoUs and economic agreements were inked. KSA signed an investment agreement of 2.2 billion dollars. The virtual opening ceremony of the Gawadar seaport was held. China signed an agreement to kickstart phase 2 of CPEC, which includes the MI railway line and the opening of SEZs. On the whole, the Summit opened up wide openings for the development and betterment of Pakistan.
The only missing link and a bottleneck in this integrative get-together was Afghanistan, which kept itself out of it. Since it has still not formed an inclusive government and has imposed harsh Sharia laws which have binded the girls and women, and above all, it has refused to control cross-border terrorism into Pakistan, it has not been recognized by the world community and is isolated.
Amidst the happy tides, some negative forces at home were extremely unhappy with the changing fortunes of Pakistan since it ran against their script.
From 4 Oct onwards, sustained efforts were made by PTI to sabotage the prestigious Summit meeting by creating chaotic conditions in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. The TTP in KP and BLA in Baluchistan intensified their terrorism. An attack on the Chinese convoy in Karachi was carried out by the Majeed Brigade of BLA.
Failing to disrupt SCO Summit through the planned D Chowk sit-in on 15 Oct, the arsonists triggered student protests with the intention of creating unrest and anarchy in Punjab, the heartland of Pakistan. The schemers frenetically tried to re- enact the BD model of students protests to topple the govt so that PTI could regain power.
Some of the major cities of Punjab witnessed students riots from 15 Oct onwards. The protests started from Punjab College in Lahore after three girls uploaded fake videos of rape of a girl student of that College.
The girls and boys of the college, later on joined by students of some other colleges indulged in mass hooliganism and arson, causing extensive damage to the college. Some students and cops were injured in the scuffles.
Social media upped the ante by projecting the event as something extraordinary, unique and horrifying.
Student protests spread to Gujrat, Lalamusa, Kharian, Rawalpindi, and Islamabad. In the wake of spreading violence, schools and colleges in Punjab have been closed and law enforcement agencies are deployed in full battle gear in all the disturbed cities. The army troops deployed in Islamabad to protect the capital city during the SCO Summit have not been withdrawn.
The curtain of deceit and fakery has been lifted after the exposure of the originators of the fake videos by the three girls who admitted that they had uploaded the fake videos without any evidence.
Some other girls who claimed to have witnessed the rape were from another girl’s college located far away and their stories were found to be fake. However, the tempo of protests didn’t taper down.
The girl who had supposedly been raped by the college security guard on 10 Oct, was not present in the college on the day of the occurrence, and was admitted in ICU due to injuries she suffered at her house.
There was no complaint of rape or harassment from her, or from her parents, or for that matter anyone else. It was fiction and the videos uploaded by the three girls of Punjab College Lahore were based on hearsay. They sheepishly admitted their guilt in front of the media cameras.
However, the videos and interviews of tutored girls were exploited to the hilt by PTI’s social media network, and a mountain was made out of a mole in a fictitious story. The PTI leaders, paid journalists, you tubers and vloggers are sticking to their stance, saying that the govt and Punjab Police were covering up the incident and hiding facts. They are bent upon making an issue out of a non-issue.
Social Media savvy students got charged up and they were further incited by invisible hands. They were heroized and bucked up, giving them the example of Bangladesh students protests.
Misled girls and boys who have lacked grooming and moral training at homes and in schools, are the victims of social media and the glamour of the materialist world.
The parents have failed to build the character of their children and to inculcate desired discipline. Instead of showing them the righteous path and guiding them to follow the principles of Islam, they are being guided by their misguided children.
Likewise, the school teachers and religious teachers didn’t pay any attention to morality, human values, and respect for elders. They are involved in shadowy activities including sex scandals with students. As a result, they have lost the respect of the students.
The cult culture, which has infected a very large segment of the people, has added fuel to the fire, ignited by hybrid war.
The cult leader IK, has given the delusional idea of Haqiqi Azadi, and this juicy idea has been bought by the illiterate and the literate, young and old.
The so-called educated youth of today are hypnotized by social media, and they take education and guidance from these satanic apps, which spread obscenity and nudity and falsehood.
The infected minds have become used to fake news, and this addiction is so deep rooted that the addicted accept falsehood gladly and reject truth. It is unfortunate that lies have overshadowed the truth.
Devoid of Ikhlaqiyat and tehzeeb, and in search of fun, frolic and adventure, they behave like unguided missiles whenever provoked and incited by the invisible characters. They derive pleasure in pretending to be Inqilabis.
The other anarchistic prongs to maximise pressure are PTI’s protest rallies all over the country, countrywide protests by PTI affiliated lawyers. JUI- F and PkMAP are hands in gloves with PTI.
The worst crisis is the judicial and constitutional crisis, which have overshadowed all other inanities.
The government is desperate to pass a constitutional amendment bill containing 26 and by hook or crook.
Its urgency is to either let outgoing CJP Faiz Essa retiring on 25 Oct to continue, or else, a constitutional court under another CJP be made over and above the supreme court to checkmate unchecked authority of the CJP.
The purpose is to deny Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, the seat of CJP, or to clip his powers.
The reason is that he and seven other supreme court judges as well as six judges of Islamabad High Court are closer to PTI and have given pro-PTI verdicts. They have played a role in protecting the 9 May 2023 vandals who have so far not been convicted, and have also restrained the military courts from trying civilian accused.
Justice Mansoor has stated on several occasions that soon after he takes over on 26 Oct, he will grant reserved seats to PTI and clear the way for the PTI to form a govt on the basis of Form 45.
Hence, Mansoor Ali is unacceptable to PML N, PPP and MQM P. And so is the case with the number 2, Justice Muneeb. Numbers 3 and 4 are acceptable.
To save itself from the downfall, the govt’s package includes selection of the next CJP by the PM from the list of top three judges and in this, the first two contenders are ruled out.
Similar are the concerns of PTI. It hates Faiz Essa and EC Raja Sultan, considering them its chief villains . Hence PTI, a Bar Council, a segment of advocates, disfavor the constitutional package and are making all-out efforts to block its passage till 25 Oct.
The government claims to have acquired the magic figures in both the houses. Fate of the 41 MNAs is hanging in the balance. It is still not clear whether they are treated as independents, or members of SIC or of PTI. Eight judges of the full Supreme Court bench had ruled that they belong to PTI, but ECP has yet not implemented its order since it has its own version.
Some of these 41 members are on sale. Likewise, Senate members of JUI F, who hold the key, are reportedly being bribed or coerced to join the govt ranks. BNP-M two MNAs and a senator are also reportedly being browbeaten.
The opposition is blaming the govt and the establishment for resorting to underhand dirty tactics to complete the number game. Allegations and counter allegations are being hurled by both sides. Among the list of demands of PTI, the foremost and most urgent is the release of IK from jail.
JUI F is giving the toughest time to the Govt. Today is probably the last day of pampering Fazlur Rehman, as indicated by Bilawal in his public address last night in Hyderabad. He warned that if JUI F didn’t agree, the Govt would pass the bill minus JUI F and PTI. The whole day of Sept 19 was spent wooing Fazlur Rehman and the parliamentary session was postponed three times, but to no avail. Apparently, JUI F and PPP have almost agreed to put forward a joint plan tomorrow.
Fazlur Rehman is shrewdly keeping both sides hopeful and guessing, but he is quietly helping the PTI through delaying tactics. Fazl has become the center of gravity and holds the key to the passage of a much hyped constitutional package, which has no benefits or relief for the people, but is primarily focused on saving the skins of the big power wielders.
The two opposing camps are intransigent and daggers drawn, with no hope for reconciliation and a compromise in the overall national interest.
The political circus is going on and till 25 Oct, the temperature will remain at a boiling point.
