Turbulent times ahead for Pakistan

Developing Just Leadership

Crescent International

Ramadan 11, 1443 2022-04-12

Daily News Analysis

by Crescent International

America—and the Pakistan army—may have got rid of Imran Khan and put a government of their choice in power but riding the Pakistani tiger will not be easy.

The odd assortment of opposition parties cobbled together under the watchful gaze of the army and amply rewarded by American largesse were united on one point: ouster of Imran Khan as prime minister.

Going forward will not be easy no matter how much the establishment may paper over the differences.

The three main parties—Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA)—that joined hands to topple Imran Khan’s government have nothing in common.

In the past, they have called their opponents thieves and rapists. These are all true.

The ruthlessly ambitious opportunistic politicians will soon be at each other’s throats.

It would be fool-hardy to predict that these parties would get along and last until August 2023 when elections are officially due.

The party leaders and their mouth-pieces in the media kept on harping on the allegation that Imran Khan did not do anything during his three-year rule.

This is true.

Imran Khan did not steal or open bank accounts abroad.

He did not buy properties abroad (Avenfield Flats, anyone? How about Surrey Estates?)

He did not murder anyone nor did he allow the Americans to carry out drone attacks against Pakistani citizens or use Pakistani territory to attack Afghanistan.

And, he did not lick the Americans’ boots either.

These are considered major sins in Pakistan.

When people get used to living as slaves, freedom is difficult to appreciate.

Bilawal Zardari’s chortling in the National Assembly after the no-confidence vote against Imran Khan in the early hours of April 10 that ‘purana Pakistan’ is back meant that the days of slavery to America and plunder of state resources are here again.

This is how his mother, father and both of his grand-fathers stole tons of money.

Asif Ali Zardari, a venal character, has little formal education. He is a feudal lord of very low IQ.

During his wife’s two stints as prime minister, Zardari earned the epithet, ‘Mr. Ten Percent’.

He took 10% commission on every project that was approved.

In league with that other lowly creature, Fazlur Rahman (it is an insult to call him a maulana), Zardari used to smuggle diesel from Iran.

Hence, he earned the title, ‘maulana diesel’.

As for the Sharif family—names can be very deceptive—they are a bunch of crooks.

The former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif—doyen of the family—fled the country feigning low platelets.

He is, however, barred from holding political office because he has been convicted of fraud, as is his dim-witted daughter Maryam Nawaz.

Pakistan’s newly-minted prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, installed through courtesy of America, not only faces money-laundering charges but was also responsible for the murder of a dozen innocent people in 2014.

These will now be thrown out the window.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan that so enthusiastically took up the National Assembly deputy speaker’s dismissal of the no-confidence motion, has shown no interest in the murder charges against Shehbaz Sharif.

This is not surprising. The chief justice, Umar Ata Bandial is related to leading lights in the PML-N through marriage.

It’s all in the family!

Imran Khan had said that he was ousted from power through a foreign conspiracy.

His opponents have ridiculed his claim.

Is it too much to understand that America has been carrying out coups in other countries for decades?

Here is a short list: Iran (1953); Guatemala (1954); Vietnam (1963); Indonesia (1966); Chile (1973) and Ukraine (2014).

Why is it so far-fetched to believe that America wanted Imran Khan out because he was showing too much independence and that too of the wrong type: couching his defiance in Islamic terms.

His replacement, Shehbaz Sharif has already said, “Beggars can’t be choosers”.

He wants Pakistanis to remain as America’s beggars. This is his natural habitat.

The late Malcolm X had described such people as House Negroes as opposed to Field Negroes.

The House Negro identified totally with the slave master while the Field Negro was the rebel, always trying to escape from slavery.

If the slave master was sick, the House Negro would say: “What’s the matter master, are we sick?”

This is what Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani established are doing.

Their comfort zone is that of House Negroes of the American slave master.

They will, however, face a formidable challenge from the Pakistani masses that seem to have woken up and are overwhelmingly supportive of Imran Khan.

This was immediately evident on April 10 night when millions of people across Pakistan in cities big and small, poured out into the street to express support for Imran Khan.

Similar rallies were organized in other parts of the world including Dubai, London, Washington DC and Toronto.

It is clear that Imran Khan enjoys widespread support among the Pakistani masses.

This, however, may turn out to be a double-edged sword for him.

If the powers that be want to keep him out, they will likely subvert the process of elections.

There are also fears that Imran Khan might be assassinated to get him out of the way.

Should any of these options be exercised, there is no doubt that the country will erupt into total chaos.

The responsibility for such eventuality will fall squarely on the shoulders of those that go down this route.

Pakistan is heading into uncharted territory.

For their petty personal ambitions, America’s slaves have put Pakistan’s very survival at risk.