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Is Democracy or Pakistan’s Very Survival in Danger? The Questionable Role of Pakistan’s Media in Perpetuating Unworkable Political Status Quo!

The title of this painful but timely analysis is not just a question. It is the most dreadful reality of the day that needs to be fearlessly analyzed to make sure that Pakistan sails smoothly through the present frightening crisis created by unattended flaws in the present system of governance and conspiracies of Pakistan’s foreign friends.

The most frightening and totally ignored political reality is that a group of provincial leaders is independently running the federal government and the provinces without any sign of an Integrated Provincial and National Vision and Plan of Action. A provincially, administratively and politically weak and handicapped central government and on-their-own provincial governments do not seem to have the much needed will and the resources to forcefully eliminate the political and corporate crime mafias now evidently hiding behind unquestionably fake war against terror which is the biggest global political, diplomatic and military fraud of the past and present century. Pakistan’s problem is not war against terrorism. Pakistan’s problem is now identified criminal political and alleged corporate mafias who are plundering and hollowing Pakistan by hiding and acting from behind the mask of war against terror, the failure of law enforcement agencies to unmask them and recruitment of armed gangs of criminals by a number of, not all, politicians and corporate tycoons as security guards. THE BOTTOM LINE IS: Stop using the term TERRORISTS and start chasing the CRIMINALS!

2014

Zahid Hussain Khalid For friends on Slideshare, WordPress, LinkedIn, Google+ and Facebook

6/24/2014

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Is Democracy or Pakistan’s Very Survival in Danger? The Questionable Role of Pakistan’s Media in Perpetuating Unworkable Political Status Quo!

Democracy, Media and A wish-map published in Indian Defence Review http://www.indiandefencereview.com/news/why-the-existence-of-pakistan-is-not-in-indias-interest/

By: Zahid Hussain Khalid

Introduction: Is it just a question or a dreadful reality of the day posing far more serious questions? The title of this painful but timely analysis is not just a question. It is the most dreadful reality of the day that needs to be fearlessly analyzed to make sure that Pakistan sails smoothly through the present frightening crisis created by unattended flaws in the present system of governance and conspiracies of Pakistan’s foreign friends. What are the immediate serious threats that need to be attended without any further delay?

1. Crisis of Credible Leadership: Is there a single national leader acceptable to a majority of the people of the country for governing Pakistan as a country?

The most frightening and totally ignored political reality is that a group of provincial leaders is independently running the federal government and the provinces without any sign of an Integrated Provincial and National Vision and Plan of Action?

2. Political State Security Risks: Is the record of alleged past and present criminal activities of the heads of different political parties an inherent state-security risk? Is there awareness of that daunting reality visible at any level in any segment of the society including the so-called big names in journalist community that matters?

Crisis of Credible

Leadership ?

PAKISTAN UNDER

THREAT

Political Security

Risks

Missing Permanent Integrated

Homaland and Border Security

Umbrella

Media's

Role

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3. Need for a Permanent Integrated Strategic State Homeland and Border Security Umbrella: Does geo-political situation in and around Pakistan demand a triumvirate coherent political, diplomatic and military strategy backed by national social cohesion on war footing to safeguard country’s seriously threatened and openly challenged security interests?

4. Media’s Role: Is it true that the media owners, senior journalists and so-called analysts are shamelessly

emphasizing the perpetuation of a hopelessly rotten political status quo in the name of sham dynastic democracy evidently dominated by less than half a dozen globally known criminal families?

Crisis of Leadership and its Consequences

Pakistan has an extremely diverse natural ethnic national base with seriously adverse political consequences. The clearly visible negative influences of this ethnic diversity were to be constitutionally addressed to prepare the ground for national ethnic cohesion. Unfortunately, politicians, senior editors, journalists and analysts on the one and the researchers, scholars and authors on the subject on the other have not come up with any constitutional proposal or innovative idea to put the presently derailed and dangerously provincialized national politics back on track.

Charter of Democracy (COD) has shamelessly constitutionalized the criminalization of the provincial ethnic political entities laying a solid foundation for the ultimate Emiratization or disintegration of Pakistan in small fragile independent states. Political unrest and a general sentiment of alienation from national politics in Baluchistan, state of uncontrollable lawlessness and insecurity in Sindh, wave of political discontent translating into anti-government rallies in Punjab, undefined fall-out of an uncertain future of ongoing war in tribal areas on Khyber Pakhtoonkhwah and a deserted look of tourist spots in country’s mesmerizing northern areas are non-seriously and incoherently discussed issues in the country’s national and provincial assemblies, senate and the media.

The question of the day is: how to constitutionally create a political framework for turning provincial ethnic leaders into national political personalities after eliminating the criminal elements in country’s politics through an across the board fool-proof judicial process without any fear or favor?

This question deserves the attention of genuine think tanks, if there are any in Pakistan, post graduate research supervisors and students of the top universities of the country, different wings of the armed forces and intelligence agencies, as is done in the developed countries of the world, to initiate serious research for presenting a complete set of world class empirical studies and detailed comparative analyses of existing models from across the globe, their functional advantages and disadvantages, if any, and their possible introduction in Pakistan with or without amendments and adjustments. National Defense University can play an important role by taking timely lead in initiating a series of research assignment on the different essential dimensions of the subject.

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Print and electronic media can organize a number of conferences, seminars and workshops to address the issue, analyze its different provincial and national dimensions, expectations, demands, rights and responsibilities of the politicians and people at the delivery and receiving ends of the system of governance. A series of television programs and documentaries can be produced and telecast on different aspects of the proceedings on and their outcome on all suggested platforms.

The Real Political State Security Risk and How serious is it?

It goes without saying that any individual, irrespective of his social, economic and political status, has an inalienable right to be treated as innocent as long as he or she is not proven guilty. So, Benazir Bhutto, Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Altaf Hussain, Asfnadyar Wali, Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahaman, Imran Khan, Nawab Akber Bugti, Field Marshall Ayub Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haque, Yahya Khan, Pervez Musharraf, General Kiyani, Yusuf Reza Gillani, and Makhdoom Amin Faheem, all are innocent though the skeletons in their closets pop out every now and then which are pushed back and the media hushes up everything successfully and convincingly by not going beyond mere reporting and commenting mildly. Slightly less than half of them are dead and it is “considered unethical” for the convenience of media and politicians to even drag their names in any controversy, scandal, conspiracy or crime. Those who are alive vehemently deny any wrong doing of any sort. Is a denial a sufficient enough reason to say okay fine and move on? In today’s globalized world it is not that simple.

Without going into any details of who allegedly did what and how he or she got away with it, it will be appropriate to refer to John Perkin’s book, “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man,” the Showtimes’ television series, “Homeland,” and Wesley Snipes’ film “Art of War’s” first of the three parts. All three have one thing in common: covert dirty-tricks squads, using espionage and quasi-ethical tactics through United Nations and other platforms to

secure peace and cooperation targeting the corrupt politicians and the civil and military government officials, by twisting their arms and forcing them to betray their oath of offices and their countries. There are hundreds of books and documentaries by highly acclaimed authors, producers and directors worthy of mention but mainstream media has brushed them under the carpet as nothing but conspiracy theories.

The handiest vulnerabilities of politicians, civil and military bureaucrats, media owners, journalists, NGOs and corporate tycoons are corruption allegations by foreign intelligence and intelligence wings supported by documentary evidences of money laundering, details of undisclosed liquid assets, movable and immovable properties and business houses established abroad with black money.

National media knowingly hides the facts from public but specifically tailored politically, diplomatically and strategically motivated exposes by foreign media every now and then are religiously trumpeted as echoes in Pakistan to consciously or unconsciously add to the political, administrative, military and geo-strategic vulnerability of the identified and alleged corrupt elements endangering the very survival of the country. And that is the subject of this introductory paper.

Why an Integrated Strategic State Security Umbrella is need of the hour?

The most disturbing fact is that since the invasion of Afghanistan by former Soviet Union, Pakistan is constantly following the foreign policy dictates of a number of countries which are actively involved in and responsible for

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political and military mess in and around Pakistan benefitting from missing State Security Vision or Agenda. Consequently, the adverse internal security repercussions of following the agendas of the enemies of Pakistan are

clearly seen in different parts of the country which are now getting out of control in Baluchistan, Karachi and Tribal Areas. Ironically, no one but Pakistan’s armed forces and ISI are blamed by not only the media of the enemies of Pakistan but Pakistan’s own media too! Now Pakistan’s media houses have become bold enough to take the initiatives too in doing so.

Since 9/11 the government of Pakistan, Pakistan’s armed forces and media owners have disappointingly failed to come up with a comprehensive inland and border security plans to ward of internal and external security threats.

Not even a single attempt has been made to develop a plan and tailor a nationwide consensus on that. This author had prepared a presentation for GHQ in 2001 for and on behalf of his employers which was approved by the senior most military command and President of Pakistan but that plan was sabotaged from within by a civilian minister, a federal secretary and a two star General for the reasons that cannot be discussed here. Pakistan has and is paying a heavy price for this blunder by three civil and military government officials and bureaucrats!

Now close to almost a dozen recklessly planned and evidently flawed and unsuccessful military actions in country’s tribal areas by armed forces demanded by United States of America, NATO and ISAF and shamelessly supported by slightly less or more than a dozen journalists, columnists and analysts of dubious security credentials are not the solution of the problems created by now known foreign aggressors around Pakistan for shamefully nefarious and politically, economically, diplomatically and militarily misrepresented reasons. This subject has been discussed in detail in “The Last Word to defenders of and political leaders / media owners in Pakistan” in November 2007 (available here:

http://www.slideshare.net/19540201/the-last-word) and “America, the Great Game and the Greater Middle East an un-discussed perspective unveiling the birth of Conspiracy Theories” in February 2013 (available here: http://www.slideshare.net/19540201/america-the-great-game-and-the-greater-middle-east-an-undiscussed-perspective-unveiling-the-birth-of-conspiracy-theories) emphasizing:

“… The real Great Game has consequently been expanded to include Middle East and South Asia for access to natural resources for converting developed world’s dependence on resource rich countries into “display of domination.” This display of domination was not possible to become a reality without properly understanding the linkage between the Arab World and the Asian subcontinent. When a serious attempt was made to do that it dawned that “the linkage

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between the Arab World and the Asian subcontinent” according to a research report “was under-examined.” Not only that, “the war over identity, religion and state-society relation-ships was played out acutely in five countries of the Middle East and South Asia: Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and India. The five states were interacting in multiple and fundamental ways.”

“… The discussion on a uniform strategic vision

for Middle East, South and Central Asia was of

no use without addressing the “identity,

religion and state-society relationships.” The

only available option to strategic planners was

‘the geographical regrouping on the basis of

ethnicity and sectarianism.’ The concept of

regrouping was inspired by Russian geo-

strategist Mistilavsky who had propounded,

focusing only on Afghanistan. ‘Afghanistan,’ in

view of Mistilavsky in Strauss Hupe and

Stephan T. Passony’s book, International

Politics, ‘was a conglomerate of different

ethnic groups which could not be governed by

a central authority.’

The purpose of Soviet attack on Afghanistan was to contain the possibility of post-Islamic revolution Iranian

influence on Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and to redraw the boundaries of Afghanistan by

dividing it into Pashto, Afghan and Russian zones.”

For details read: The End of The Independent Political Muslim World http://www.slideshare.net/19540201/the-end-of-the-independent-muslim-world

“… Former Soviet Union’s Plan of Territorial Re-Organization of Asian States was pre-tested in Afghanistan and

it miserably failed only due to the covert and overt retaliation of United States of America with a firm

determination to put a permanent end to the possibility of a similar adventure in future. But, unfortunately,

in Iraq a similar adventure was staring at America.”

“… Iraq had presented a buffer within the Middle East System,” according to a research report,

“counterbalancing Iran and keeping Turkey facing west; now Iraq is the epicenter of a new set of tension

drawing in Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and Turkey. Iran has become a dominant player in the heart of the

Middle East. Consequently, the apparent elimination of Iraq is expected to create a regional vacuum

completely altering the power balances and containment effects of that.”

This scenario clearly indicates that after the disintegration of Iraq, three dominant players will emerge in South

Asia and Middle East: India, Iran, and Pakistan.

India is pampered to emerge as a South Asian engine

of economic growth and “diplomatic and military

nucleus.” Iran has been very recently brought back

to negotiation table and its role will only be clear

after the final outcome of the negotiations. Pakistan

remains an unpredictable and allegedly unreliable

player in this emerging South Asian / Middle Eastern

economic, diplomatic and military scenario

emphasizing concerns on Pakistan’s allegedly

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questionable nuclear vulnerability. Washington’s foreign policy approach on Pakistan revolves around this

imaginary concern. It is not only a concern. It is reflected consistently in foreign policy statements of White House,

Department of Defence, State Department and Commanders of the armed forces too. Let us see how serious it is!

Highlights of Pakistan’s Imaginary Nuclear Vulnerabilities as depicted in David Wood’s article, “Can Pakistan keep lid on nukes?” published online by Seattle Times on April 8, 2006: (Available here: http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2002918442_paknukes08.html)

“… While the United States struggles to rein in Iran's nuclear ambitions, a more frightening

nightmare is simmering right now in Pakistan, where a weak but nuclear-armed government is being buffeted by radical Islamist influences, terrorism and several bloody insurgencies.”

“… Pakistan is the most horrific and the hardest

one to do anything about.” “… The U. S. President‟s only option might be

nuclear – a desperate attempt to destroy

Pakistan‟s weapons rather than risk their falling into terrorists’ hands and ultimately detonating in an American city.”

"… To date we don't have anything that can get

there quickly, except for a nuclear weapon. By „quickly‟ officials mean one to four hours.

For that small highly important set of targets… a goal we have set is to be able to address those targets in one hour any place with missiles.” Now recall what has happened at Mehran Base and Karachi Airport?

“… Pakistan's loss of control over some or all of its nuclear weapons has been quietly discussed and war- gamed at senior levels in the Defense Department. But given the political sensitivity of discussing possible armed intervention in an allied country, Pentagon officials declined to answer questions. A spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Tracy O'Grady-Walsh, said, "Unclassified answers do not exist."

What is the hurdle in America’s way to “secure” Pakistan’s nuclear sites to its satisfaction?

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“… The Pakistani military has tight control over its nuclear weapons and it is "highly unlikely" that anything crack that control.” Now does the reason for a hue and cry in a particular group of media analysts could

against Pakistan’s armed forces, ISI and nuclear capability come to mind?

Source: http://thewillandthewallet.squarespace.com/blog/2011/1/28/all-over-the-map-disciplining-the-pentagons-footprint.html

“… The United States has neither the troops nor the airlift capacity to get to Pakistan within days, let alone the hours required in a crisis.” Look at the map above in which entire Pakistan is marked as a combat zone!

Also keep in mind that this map was published in 2011. A number of countries close to Pakistan remain unmarked for obvious reasons. Isn‟t it misleading keeping in mind what had happened in Abbottabad?

“… We (USA) lack the military capability (?). These sites would have to be brought down and secured, locked

down, simultaneously, in the middle of a huge conflict and among a hostile population. You'd need an army

much larger than what you have today."

“… Pakistan’s nuclear weapons are believed to be kept, disassembled, at six missile and air bases. Other sites would have to be guarded in a crisis, including the nuclear reactor facility at Joharabad and the Kahuta uranium enrichment facility in northern Pakistan, which is believed to be producing plutonium. Finding and securing such sites is a mission shared among the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, the U.S. Special Operations Command and the U.S. Strategic Command.”

“… An operation to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons is beyond the reach of a few teams of commandos.”

Now try to link the attacks on GHQ, Mehran Base, Kamra, Karachi Airport and see where the attacks have been

possibly planned, recruits are engaged, trained, equipped and deployed! Aren‟t they the rehearsals of the main

event as reported above by Seattle Times back in April 8, 2006?

Now let us see the other side of so-called AMN-KI-ASHA!

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“Eventually, for India to succeed,” according to Dr. Amarjit Singh in his article, “Why the existence of Pakistan is not in India’s interest,” published in Indian Defence Review on 17 March 2014, “Pakistan must be out of the picture and cease to exist for peace on earth, and India must actively work towards that objective rather than waiting passively in spectator stands.”

In another article, “The three dangers to Pakistan,” by Bharat Verma published in Indian Defence Review in 18 June 2014 has stated, “While the Pak dispensation talks of peace, terrorist cells are proliferating in the country including new frontiers in Southern part of India. Islamic Fundamentalism / terrorism footprints, as evidence by Bangalore centered incidents, are

too glaring to be ignored. Islamic terrorism in the garb of freedom fighting in Kashmir is therefore de-stabilizing the entire country. Islamabad is determined to use Kashmir as a gateway / launching pad to rest of India.

“Pakistan,” states Vikram Sood in his online article, “Pakistan’s Domestic Jihad,” published on 18 June 2014 in Indian Defence Review, “for as long the epicenter of terrorism, is also becoming the eastern flank of widespread Sunni extremism visible in the Arab world. Clearly, it is facing the effects of blowback – the unintended consequence of unacknowledged actions.”

Is there any doubt about who the Pakistan’s real enemies are and where the attacks on its sensitive areas and installations are planned? Far more disturbing question is from which country is the government of Pakistan taking instructions to continue now globally known fake war against terror. Interestingly, three seasons of a television series Homeland on the dark sides of war against terror have been screened in the birthplace of war against terror, the United States. This series is an eye opening story of how CIA works in war theaters across the globe and where a large number of our politicians and media owners / analysts allegedly fit in and how vulnerable they are as alleged state security risks!

The areas of concern and threat perceptions

1. Invisibility of an integrated transparent district, provincial and national governance plan encompassing inseparable social, economic, political, diplomatic and military dimensions is the biggest threat in an on auto-pilot rapidly globalizing world.

2. A provincially, administratively and politically weak and handicapped central government and on-their- own provincial governments do not seem to have the much needed will and resources to forcefully eliminate the political and corporate crime mafias now evidently hiding behind unquestionably fake war against terror which is the biggest global political, diplomatic and military fraud of the past and present century. Pakistan’s problem is not war against terrorism. Pakistan’s problem is its gangs of now identified criminal political and alleged corporate mafias who are plundering and hollowing Pakistan by hiding and acting from behind the mask of war against terror, the failure of law enforcement agencies to unmask them and recruitment of armed gangs of criminals as security guards by a number of, not all, politicians and corporate tycoons.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS: TERRORISTS CRIMINALS STOP SUSING THE TERM AND START CHASING THE !

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3. An irresponsible and unprofessional media is shamelessly presenting a distorted picture of what is really happening in and around Pakistan for known and unknown reasons.

4. The role of a number of foreign intelligence agencies, Psy-War and Military Operation Other Than War in and around Pakistan through national and international media is now clearly visible on television screens and in newspapers and “the beginning of the transition process of Pakistan from destabilization to disintegration has NOW defiantly started” by the external enemies with full support of the internal enemies of the Pakistan who have now openly declared media and judicial war against Pakistan’s armed forces and ISI.

5. The pressures of the internal lawlessness on the high command of the armed forces to simultaneously fight a war on internal, external and media fronts is nothing but a serious trial of their capability and skill.

6. Who are these internal and external enemies?

7. Who and what has encouraged them to openly declare war against the only remaining disciplined national institution of the country? From where do the media get a go ahead to open propaganda fire at the defenders of Pakistan?

Don’t these questions deserve serious answers before any action on front of the system of and by anyone or more than one of the pillars of governance is taken?

Some more reading on the subject: http://www.slideshare.net/19540201

The Last Word to Defenders of and America, the Great Game and the Pakistan: A Leaderless Leader in End of the Independent Muslim The Weaknesses and the only Politicians and Media Owners in Greater Middle East - An Economic Growth Potential among World Strength of the Muslims Pakistan… Un-discussed Perspective Emerging Markets

Zahid Hussain Khalid has worked for national and international media groups not as a journalist but a marketing practitioner, researcher and analyst. He successfully initiated and completed the assigned managerial and country tasks for such publications as Arab News, Financial Times, Jang Group, Euromoney magazine, Petroleum Economist, South China Morning Post, Asiamoney magazine, Innovation Management and Hong Kong Standard and Forbes Inc, Forbes Global, Forbes Europe, Forbes Asia. He will always remain thankful to Mr. William Adamapolous and Mr. Steve Forbes of Forbes Inc and Mr. Tony Shale CEO, Euromoney Institutional Investor Group (Jersey) Limited for their personal encouragement and support in initiating and marketing Pakistan-specific innovative integrated media packages for investment promotion. He also worked as Associate Producer, Current Affairs, Pakistan Television Corp.

His articles have appeared in the Daily Jang, Daily Mashriq, the Nawa-e-Waqt and daily The Muslim on social, economic, political, diplomatic and military subjects which are available here http://zahidhkhalid.wordpress.com/ and here http://www.slideshare.net/19540201

He had co-produced more than hundred episodes of the most popular weekly program “Hafta-e-Rafta” and was nominated for Best Producer’s award for documentaries on Afghan Refugees and Year of the Aged.

His work reflects a visible difference because he strongly believes in innovative approach in everything that he does. He was co-owner of International Media Sales from 1991 to 2012 and is owner of SUN&FZ Associates since 1994.