Once again Pakistan is a at cross-road, Imran Khan is apparently gaining steam which is evident from the recent PTI rally in Lahore, US-Pakistan relationship are jittery to say the least, Civilian-Military nexus is in flux and more so now as a result of the recent MemoGate scandal.
Rumors are abound of a potential military coup d'etat against the current PPP government. While President Asif Zardari appears to be in a self preservation mode to appease the army at any cost, even if it means scapegoating his trusted advisers such as the U.S. Ambassador Husain Haqqani who has been summoned to Islamabad to brief the President on the MemoGate scandal. Of ocourse this would not be Pakistan if you did not have rumors to support rumors where Ambassador Haqqani has been accused of being the principal architect of "The Memo" that was delivered to Admiral Mike Mullen via a well connected American businessman / lobbyist of Pakistani decent Mansoor Ijaz, apparently also a member of the Ahmadi* sect of Islam.
GHQ (Pakistan Armed Forces Head Quarters) under the leadership of General Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani has been advising President Asif Zardari to replace Ambassador Husain Haqqani, who apparently has a mixed reputation amongst military and intelligence top brass. A short list of proposed replacements for Haqqani has been presented, with the first being the current Foreign Minister Salman Bashir and second (though I am unsure on how strong the source is) Dr Maleeha Lodhi who has already served twice as the Pakistani Ambassador to Washington DC.
There are several loose ends, referring back to the MemoGate scandal which bring up questions such as: If the civilian apparatus was in fact involved in drafting the memo to Admiral Mike Mullen, then why have a third party such as Mansoor Ijaz deliver it, especially given his"phishy" history? Also with close ties between Pakistan's civilian leadership and the Obama Administration why couldn't the such a memo be sent through regular diplomatic channels, unless there was a threat of it being intercepted by military intelligence gate keepers? Then on the accusation that Ambassador Husain Haqqani as the architect of the memo -- if that were the case then why, given his close relationships in Washington, not to mention well respected diplomat would he not deliver the memo through more secure channels -- perhaps orally vs written?
Personally I don't buy into the whole notion that Ambassador Haqqani had a role in drafting memo. After reading the memo, the language style is not that of the Ambassadors style, not to mention too sloppy for him. The responsible party for this memo mess rest in the able hands of the one and only, though some may argue "only" as an understatement as Mansoor Ijaz couldn't have acted alone. If that were they case then who or what else was behind the Memo?
*According to Ordinance XX of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Ahmadi community are barred from being referred to as Muslim
Friday, November 18, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 02, 2011
Time for decisive action ... #Egypt #Change
Tahrir square is looking like next Tiananmen square - time to put pressure on the White House to take decisive action.
This is an opportunity for the Obama Administration to win hearts and minds in the Middle East. It is our moment of being true to our ideals of Democracy.
This is the Obama Administrations moment to fulfill its campaign promise and bring about lasting CHANGE in US foreign policy.
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Egypt Crisis an opportunity for the United States
The current crisis in #Egypt poses an unprecedented opportunity for the Obama administration to renew the United States commitment to uphold the ideals it was founded upon by pledging unconditional support to the peoples movement and the democratic process in the Arab world, the greater Middle East and near East regions. Thus, facilitating in defeating extremism and paving the path for peaceful coexistence.
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A People's Untold History
- Hosted by The Green Economics Initiative, a program enacted under the aegis of Shirkat Gah, and in partnership with Henrich Boll Stiftung.
- Introductory remarks by Najma Sadeque.
- Its largely unscripted film - a venture backed by the film makers.
- The film was a factual portrayal of ground realities of a nation's untold Economic development or lack thereof.
- The screening was hosted at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi, on Tuesday, 11th January, 2011. This was the second screening. The launch apparently had happened in Lahore on December 2nd. Review from Lahore launch can be read here.
More details and a personal account to come soon.
*** This Message Has Been Sent Using BlackBerry Internet Service from Mobilink ***
- Introductory remarks by Najma Sadeque.
- Its largely unscripted film - a venture backed by the film makers.
- The film was a factual portrayal of ground realities of a nation's untold Economic development or lack thereof.
- The screening was hosted at the Beach Luxury Hotel in Karachi, on Tuesday, 11th January, 2011. This was the second screening. The launch apparently had happened in Lahore on December 2nd. Review from Lahore launch can be read here.
More details and a personal account to come soon.
*** This Message Has Been Sent Using BlackBerry Internet Service from Mobilink ***
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Karachi Coastline: Endangered Mangroves
Back in 2007 I had done a series of posts, many in partnership with Civil Society members on Karachi's threatened coastline. Since then the situation has worsened. Unchecked construction in the name of development is threatening the coastline. An increase in untreated sewage running into the Arabia Sea is having adverse affects on the marine plant and animal life, not to mention local indigenous fisher folk's livelihood;
Following is a brief video produced by Nameera Ahmad, in association with NuktaArt on the Mangroves of Karachi and an IUCN re-plantation project ...
Other related posts:
Karachi Coastline Under Threat
A Dying Breed: The Baloch Fisher Folk
Save the beaches: Karachi's coastline under threat
Sahil Bachao...Save Karachi Beaches (Petition)
Following is a brief video produced by Nameera Ahmad, in association with NuktaArt on the Mangroves of Karachi and an IUCN re-plantation project ...
Other related posts:
Karachi Coastline Under Threat
A Dying Breed: The Baloch Fisher Folk
Save the beaches: Karachi's coastline under threat
Sahil Bachao...Save Karachi Beaches (Petition)
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