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Injustice in Judicial System

The most harmful factor for any society, nation or country is unjust and selected justice system. In a society where different standards of justice are applied for different classes of people namely rich and poor, the social fibre is ruined and that society is subject to all kinds of social and street crimes. Extreme conditions of such injustice lead to social division and ultimately end up at bloody civil or ethnic wars. The effects of social and legal injustice in Pakistan and its effects are explained in Urdu in the article below: -

Accountability for all

Eucalyptus - blessing or curse?

What is PML (N) made of

Background

Pakistan was created under the leadership of All India Muslim League in 1947. All India Muslim League was single representative of Muslims of sub-continent with over whelming majority and support of people. Opposite Muslim political parties of that time like Nationalist Party and some politico-religious parties established by religious clerics were either in minority or opposed the idea of  division of India. With the legacy of being the founder political party, Muslim League has always been considered as a popular ideological political entity in Pakistan. People of Pakistan have traditionally had special affiliation to Muslim League for its political principles and objectives. With the same character, every military ruler of Pakistan introduced his own faction of Muslim League to establish political rule in Pakistan. Soon after the demise of its founder members, All India Muslim League; that had renamed itself as Pakistan Muslim League after independence, split into different factions till it was reunited and rejuvenated by Field Marshall Muhammad Ayub Khan, the first military ruler of Pakistan.
In 1971, after separation of Esat Pakistan (Now Bangladesh), Pakistan Peoples Party came into power with Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto as popular civilian ruler. During his reign, Pakistan Muslim League had almost disappeared till it was again reorganised by General Zia ul Haq for creating political activities during his military rule in mid 80s. Since then Pakistan's politics evolved into a two party party political system with Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League taking turns in the government.

Creation of PML (N)

History

 In the early 80s, General Muhammad Zia ul Haq, after his military coup and take over in 1977, was forced to start political activities in the country. He evolved the methodology of strong presidential system in the country as himself being the Chief Martial Law Administrator and President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan with impotent parliament that could act as a rubber stamp to legitimate all his law making Presidential Orders. To assuage the overwhelming support and deep routed impact of Pakistan Peoples Party, on common people, in all the four provinces, General Zia ul Haq and his team studied the dynamics and worked out a strategy which left long impact on the political future of Pakistan. The steps taken under that strategy in all the four provinces were: -

• Balochistan - Baloch nationalists were brought in lime light and united they were made part of Pakistan Muslim League.
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Then North Western Frontier Province) - Some of the religious clerics were made to form Pakistan Muslim League and other relatively staunch fundamentalists were added in Jamat Islami and Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI) and their alliance was formulated as B team in case Muslim League failed to make any headway in the province.
• Sindh (also spelled as Sind) - A considerable number of Urdu speaking community that had migrated to Pakistan on Independence settled in urban areas of Sindh. They always felt as they were deprived of their rights and were not satisfied with the power game in Sindh which was mostly in the hands of influential native landlords and Waderas (chieftains of local areas). Those migrants were united under the umbrella of Mohajir Qaumi Movement (MQM) and were made to rise against Peoples Party.
• Punjab - A wealthy industrialist from Lahore was required to stand against the feudal chieftains and Chaudhrys who led Punjab politics. Lieutenant General Ghulam Jilani Khan, the then Governor of Punjab and a trusted deputy of General Zia ul Haq was tasked to search for such an industrialist. Initially he picked a leading industrialist and textile industry tycoon from Lahore named Shahzada Alam Monnoo (1936-2014) of Monnoo Group of Industries. Due to his lack of interest in politics and inclination towards social welfare work, he was dropped and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef of Ittefaq Foundries was elevated as the first choice. Ambitious Nawaz Shareef stood to the call and thus was made part of Pakistan Muslim League. He was made Finance Minister of Punjab province and then Chief Minister. He remained Chief Minister of Punjab for two terms. Second term was under Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan Peoples Party, who was elected as Prime Minister of Pakistan after the military rule of Zia ul Haq ended.

In 1993, after the death of Muhammad Khan Junejo (1932-1993), the Prime Minister of Pakistan and President of Pakistan Muslim League under Zia's rule, Muslim League got split into two and a separate faction in Sindh already existed. Three main splits were: -

• Pakistan Muslim League (Functional) PML (F) - under Syed Shah Mardan Shah (1943-2012) (Pir Pagaro) and was mostly active in Sindh being the spiritual leader of Hurs.
• Pakistan Muslim League (Junejo) PML (J) - under Hamid Nasir Chattha (1944 -  ), who disagreed to the procedure of selection of Nawaz Shareef as President of Muslim League and parted ways.
• Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) PML (N) - under Mian Muhammad Nawaz Shareef (1949 - ). On the demise of Muhammad Khan Junejo, Nawaz Shareef invited leaders of Pakistan Muslim League for tea at his residence in Islamabad. During the get together, he proposed his name as the new president of the party and since then the faction is named as Nawaz League or Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) abbreviated as PML (N) or PML-N. When General Pervez Musharraf took over after a successful military coup against Nawaz Shareef's government in 1999, Nawaz Shareef and his family went into self-exile after signing an agreement with Musharraf and Nawaz League split into two again, This time the parting faction was called Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid e Azam) PML (Q) under Chaudhry Shujja'at Hussain. PML (Q) joined hands with Musharraf and formed political government under his military rule.

 The Fibre of PML (N)

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has peculiar and some unprecedented features in its political formation as discussed below: -

• Like previous Muslim Leagues, after creation of Pakistan, PML (N) was also given birth by a military dictator. Since its inception it lacked democratic culture within the party. The leaders once elected/ declared have never given away their authority and have treated the party as their family domain. Due to frequent and continuous rule in Punjab and in the Centre, the party has turned into a family dynasty.
• As is a famous saying - Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, the party has evolved a feudal  system in it where the leader is considered as above all sorts of laws and regulations. Words of the leader are considered as the final verdict and a binding over its policies. This feudal culture in the party has snatched away any rights of its members or the common followers to take part in any kind of policy making or decision process.
• Before the creation of Nawaz League, corruption in politics was considered a moral crime but they are the pioneers to invent financial corruption and bribing elected members of national as well as provincial assemblies to vote for them. The term "Horse Trading" was invented for this and they started this rancorous tradition of buying the loyalties of elected representatives through heavy cash or favours in kind. They bought the loyalties of elected members of Punjab Provincial Assembly and also of National Assembly and literally kept in protective custody at Changa Manga and in a rest house in Murree till the time they voted for PML (N) in the assemblies.
• Nepotism reached to its prime during the rule of PML (N). Due to the fears in his nature, Nawaz Shareef lacks trust on people whom he does not know well. For this reason, he is known for appointing his close relatives, family members and friends in the close circle at key appointments and ministries. This has failed the merit, capability and capacity standards of a democratic system. Entire statesmanship revolves around this group of people around him.
• Leadership of PML (N) has a history of being rival to any one who they are threatened from. National institutions in their rule have been neutralized, penalized and even attacked. During his first term in office as Prime Minister, his party leaders attacked Supreme Court of Pakistan (SCP) and Chief Justice had to escape through window to save himself. He fired two services chiefs (Army Chief and Naval Chief). All appointments done at important institutions are out of merit or the heads are promoted out of turn, and/or left vacant. 
• False and lucrative promises to public in political addresses is the common practice. Where ever Nawaz Shareef goes for public address, announces big developmental projects or relief packages but when the time passes, nothing material is done for the betterment of people.
• All developmental projects are Punjab, specially Lahore based since Prime Minister Nawaz Shareef and his brother Chief Minister of Punjab Shahbaz Shareef belong to Lahore. This has created lot of resentment and discontentment in the people of other cities and provinces.
• As a policy PML (N) prefers working the developmental projects that are visible on ground such as motorways, bridges, and over/ under passes etc. This is done to mention them during their election campaigns and during interviews to national and international media to boast upon. They pay no heed projects in health, education or social development because such expenditure is not visible on ground. This has deprived of people of basic health, education, employment and entertainment facilities.
• Being from industrial background, they have run the affairs as a private franchise. Democracy to them is just to purchase votes at general elections and for the remaining five years in the government the country is run through aristocracy. 
• To deal with the burning issues, PML (N) has evolved a policy of "being apathetic". On major issues they do not react when people look towards them for an official response. Recent examples are apprehension of a serving Indian military officer Kulboshan Singh Yadev, involved in espionage and supporting terrorists inside Pakistan's territory, Statements of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about Indian involvement and contribution towards anti-state activities in Balochistan, evidences of involvement of Altaf Hussain of MQM in anti-state activities in Sindh and funding from Indian RAW.

Keeping the tendencies and attitude of PML (N) towards different issues and their methodology to deal with political issues, their mindset can be summed up in one line as: -

"Everything is for sale, you just have to offer appropriate bid to buy it".   

General Raheel Sharif - The Essence

General Raheel Sharif is 15th Chief of Army Staff (COAS) of Pakistan Army. He was appointed as COAS on 27 November 2013 and is due to retire on completion of his tenure on 26 November 2016. Within two years in office as COAS, General Raheel Sharif has gained unprecedented support and backing of People of Pakistan. General took the charge as COAS when nation was in a state of pandemonium and uncertainty on different fronts. Terrorism was at its peak and suicidal attacks on every Friday had become a routine. Political government; instead of dealing with terrorists in the language they understood, was trying to hold peace talks with them. Situation in Karachi had gone worst, especially for business community who were beleaguered by extortionists and street criminals. Corruption in governmental institutions was at its peak and common people were exposed to unemployment, injustice, bad governance, and power crisis. 

General Raheel Sharif decided to fight against all social evils simultaneously and through concerted efforts of his team, he was not only able to gain control over most of the problems but also improved upon the general outlook of Pakistan internationally. He went head on at most challenging issues like terrorism in the country and law and order situation in Karachi. Immediately after taking over the command of Pakistan Army, he revised the methodology of military training and introduced more practical means in keeping the Armed Forces alert, trained, and ready for any combat operation. New weapons and equipment, specially to fight Close Quarter Battle (CQB) in Built Up Area (BUA), were developed and introduced for use by Infantry and Special Services Group (SSG).

On national front, General Raheel Sharif gained popularity as the most upright, brave, courageous, and firm leader within two years. This was made possible because of his revolutionary measures nationally and internationally to bring peace, stability, and improved foreign relations with other nations of the world. The gist of steps taken by him are as below: -

• Start of Operation Zarb e Azb against Tehreek e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other terrorists who were operating through Afghanistan and Federally Administered Tribal Area (FATA) of Waziristan was their safe heaven.
• Start of Rangers operation in Karachi against target killers, vehicles and cell phones/ jewellery snatchers, murderers, kidnappers, and terrorists. This resulted in bringing peace and stability in Karachi; the economic hub of Pakistan. For the first time in the history of Pakistan, big fish and mainstream political leaders have been questions and their close aides have been arrested. This operation brought life back to Karachi and public has overwhelmingly supported the actions taken by Rangers.
• Prompt and courageous decisions like implementation of death penalty, establishment of Military Courts for prosecution of terrorists and anti-state elements. It has not only frightened such elements of rapid decisions and execution but has also provided relief and protection to civilian judges in the courts of law who were threatened and terrorized by the criminals. Terrorists who has attacked and murdered children at Army Public School and College Peshawar, caused fiasco at Safoora Chorangi in Karachi killing passengers of Ismailia community, and other such incidents have been hanged. 
• Improvement and capacity building of Pakistan's nuclear and missile technology program. Successful test fire of FM 90 Missile has enhanced the capacity of Pakistan's strategic defense. Pakistan has become leading nation in the region in missile technology. IDEAS 2015 and other Defense exhibitions have provided new buyers of Pakistani weapons and war material to include JF Thunder (F-7 Fighter Aircraft). 
• Revisit of Pakistan's foreign policy with his personal interest. Steps in this regard have played vital role in paradigm shift of national foreign policy to enable improvement in the diminishing image of Pakistan in the comity of nations. Pakistan's relations have improved many fold with USA, Russia, China, Europe, and countries of South America through his personal visits and determined focus on national objectives.
• Solid and strong support and determined measures on ground to make China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a reality. Over and above Pakistan Government's agreements and signing of contracts, Pakistan Army, under the leadership of General Raheel has give surety to the neighboring sister country China for all kinds of protection, security, and peaceful work environment throughout the proposed corridor. This is the biggest project under foreign investment in the history of Pakistan and will bring job opportunities, industry, trade and prosperity nationwide.
• General Raheel Sharif is a strong believer in Democratic System. Unlike previous instances of imposing martial law by his predecessors; during troubled times, he dealt with the situations with patience and provided opportunities to political leaders to resolve the issues. Keeping democratically elected government intact, he has always provided full backing of Pakistan Army for the continuity of civilian and elected representatives of people of Pakistan. 
• For the first time, General Raheel Sharif implemented the process of accountability within Army. He dealt with the cases of corruption and misappropriation by senior officers in the Armed Forces and after thorough investigations/ inquiries, awarded severe punishments. This stern and bold action has been well received not only by all ranks of Pakistan Army but also by the civilian population. The mouths of those critics were also shut who used to bad mouth about the internal relaxation by Army Generals, whenever they started accountability of politicians, media, judiciary and civil bureaucracy.
• Keeping the Armed Forces of Pakistan abreast with latest means of communication, he took revolutionary steps regarding civil-military relationships. Department of Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR); the institution to keep civilians informed about military, has been reshaped and improved. For the first time Officers of Armed Forces and ISPR in particular have been allowed, rather encouraged to use social media for enhanced interaction with public.
• General Raheel has always responded to natural disasters not only in Pakistan but in the region. Pakistan Army has been ordered to respond to any untoward incident without waiting for formal instructions and initiative to deal with such situations has been delegated to lower command echelons of Armed Forces. He has always reached in person at sight of such mishaps and has lead from the front. Floods in Sawat, Earthquake in KPK and floods in Sindh are some of the examples. These are unprecedented examples and have given tremendous respect and support by people of Pakistan. In the region also, Pakistan has always been among the first nations to respond to any calls in the name of humanity. Pakistan Army's prompt response Nepal Earthquake is an example of such response.
• Restoration of long suspended Defense Forces' Parade on 23rd March - In remembrance of 23 March 1940, when Resolution of Independence was passed at Lahore, is another very important courageous step taken by General Raheel. The parade was suspended due to Armed Forces' commitments in dealing with terrorists but restoration of parade has sent a vibe of security and stability to all Pakistanis.

Every individual has some personality traits which help him build the aura of every individual's outlook.  General Raheel Sharif carries the charisma of his personality, bravery, courage, uprightness but there is something more to all this that makes him so unique. General hails from a family that has military culture in his blood both from paternal and maternal side. His father, Major Sharif (late) was a profound officer. General Raheel's elder brother, Major Shabbir Sharif shaheed was a brave officer of Pakistan Army who was decorated twice. Due to his bravery and acts beyond the call of duty, he was awarded with Sitara e Jurr'at in Pak-India war 1965 and Nishan e Haider in Pak-India war of 1971. His maternal uncle, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed was also awarded Nishan e Haider. It is the highest gallantry award of Pakistan and has been awarded to only 11 Officers/ Other Ranks so far. Two of those 11 brave heroes of Pakistan are blood relations of General Raheel. He not only has to keep up with the qualities required out of an Army Chief but he also carries the legacy of two Nishan e Haiders. That makes him an extraordinary General and an examplary leader.

Because of his personality traits and the legacy of his brother and uncle, it is expected that he will act with the same elegance and wisdom when he is asked for extension in his service as COAS. He has already gained the rapport as a man of principles and uprightness. It is expected that he will simply step down from his appointment on its completion and will leave an example for others to follow.