Video Report - #MJtv LIVE: پی ٹی آئی کے منحرف اراکین قومی اسمبلی متعلق الیکشن کمیشن کا بڑا فیصلہ آ گیا

#Pakistan - Imran Khan’s dangerous narrative

By Samina Yasmeen

It could further weaken a Pakistan increasingly divided along ethnic, religious, and sectarian lines, between supporters and opponents of jihad, and between the exceptionally rich and poor masses.

In the hands of a master narrator, carefully crafted narratives, that employ easily understandable and culturally relevant symbols and stories, can mobilise individuals and groups for particular causes. The recently-deposed Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, is trying to establish himself as a master narrator who can mobilise the masses despite his failure to improve the economy and living standards of 220 million Pakistanis. Economic mismanagement, rising inflation, and the concentration of power in the hands of a select few had dissipated support from his erstwhile backers in the military. In response, Khan is crafting a narrative that his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), can deploy to mobilise the masses.

The narrative focuses on the dichotomy between Pakistan’s ideal and current state. The ideal state is presented as one designed along the lines of the first Islamic state established by Prophet Mohammad in Medina in 622 AD. Pakistan’s failure to secure a respected status in the international community since the 1960s is contrasted with the progress made by India which became independent at the same time — New Delhi has earned respect for its refusal to compromise on national interest. The heavy criticism levelled against Khan for his visit to Moscow at a time Russia was preparing to invade Ukraine is presented as evidence. US and European envoys criticised and demanded that Pakistan, notably Imran Khan, not side with Russia. On the other hand, the Indian success story meant that the Narendra Modi government withstood external pressure and asserted its right to purchase oil from Russia at the height of the Ukraine conflict.Khan portrays corrupt and self-serving Pakistani politicians as obstacles on the path toward true independence. He blames them for pushing Pakistan into a subservient relationship with Western powers. They have pursued conflicting policies, siding with the West to push the Soviets out of Afghanistan in the 1980s and then joining hands with the US to invade and occupy the same country in the War on Terror. The Pakistani media is also incriminated for joining hands with the country’s rulers to prevent Pakistan from realising its true potential.

The portrayal of the ruling elite as willing accomplices of the West in exploiting and subjugating the Pakistani people resembles a neo-Marxist analysis of the world system. “Core” states exploit those at the “periphery” in an exploitative yet collaborative relationship with the ruling elite of the peripheral states.

Rival political parties that collaborated to oust Khan’s regime through a no-confidence vote are accused of working at the behest of the Western powers, especially the United States. The former PM has alleged that the US Assistant Secretary of State, Donald Lu, had warned of severe consequences for US-Pakistan relations if he stayed in power. Echoing the Gramscian idea of a counter-hegemonic struggle to create a new historical bloc, Khan has called upon ordinary Pakistanis to become activists in thwarting the collaboration between the corrupt politicians and the US. The newly-appointed prime minister and his coalition partners are labelled an “imported government” lacking legitimacy and requiring a response from those who stand for independence, integrity, and fairness. The Pakistani youth, which comprises 60 per cent of the country’s population, is allocated pride of place in this schema: They are urged to think about the future they expect and deserve despite all the machinations of the corrupt politicians and the imported government.

Khan has delivered this narrative in simple language easily understood by the masses in a country with a literacy rate of just 60 per cent. He has portrayed himself as a selfless individual who did not need to be in politics but struggled for more than two decades to secure true independence for Pakistan and international respect for it. Repeated by other members of his cabinet and the PTI, this narrative has proved successful. Overnight, those complaining of economic mismanagement and rising inflation have come out on the streets declaring their support for Khan as the true leader and rejecting the “imported government”.

However, this narrative is fraught with danger for Pakistan. It runs the risk of further weakening the cohesion of a society increasingly divided along ethnic, religious, and sectarian lines, between supporters and opponents of jihad, and between the exceptionally rich and poor masses. The defiance narrative is dividing the country between supporters and opponents of Imran Khan — and by extension the PTI. Equally concerning is the fast-emerging public anger against the military and the judiciary as “collaborators” in ousting Khan as the PM. This anger was apparent in responses to a tweet from DG ISPR about the successful launch of the Shaheen III missile on April 9. Congratulatory messages were interspersed with extremely critical assessments of the military’s role and capability to thwart Pakistan’s real threats. According to some reports, dissenting voices are also emerging within the military, insisting on Khan’s narrative as the guiding principle for Pakistan. If the fate of narratives employed by jihadi groups is any indication, once a message has been delivered to an audience, some among the audience attach their own meanings to the message and the ensuing activism does not necessarily correlate to the intended aims of the master narrator(s). Khan’s narrative could also motivate some groups to resort to actions with far-reaching implications for civil-military relations and Pakistan’s stability.

https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/imran-khan-power-pakistan-politics-economy-7914389/

Bilawal Bhutto says PTI minister threatened him on eve of no-trust vote

 

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari Thursday revealed a PTI minister had threatened him with the imposition of martial law a night before the no-confidence motion against ex-prime minister Imran Khan was passed.

In his address to the National Assembly, Bilawal told the house that the PTI minister asked him to either accept early elections or martial law would be imposed in the country.

The foreign minister said that despite PTI's repeated attempts to defeat the no-confidence motion against the former premier, their bids were foiled and the no-trust vote was successful.

Bilawal then demanded an investigation into the events leading up to and post the no-confidence motion that led to former prime minister Imran Khan's ouster.

Ex-deputy speaker Qasim Suri had termed the no-trust motion against Khan "unconstitutional" and dismissed it on April 3, and following this, the then-prime minister advised President Arif Alvi to dissolve the assemblies and he followed suit.

But the then-Opposition filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking the nullification of the government's move. The top court then on April 7, declared the government's decision to dissolve the assembly and Suri's ruling against the constitution.

The SC had asked to hold the voting on the no-confidence motion on April 9, but Khan had the speaker prolong the session. But near midnight, the speaker resigned from office.

Being the senior member of the panel of chairs, PML-N MNA Ayaz Sadiq chaired a session on early April 10 and held the voting no-confidence motion which ultimately led to Khan's ouster.

High-level committee should probe matter: Bilawal

"This house must form a high-level parliamentary commission or committee to investigate the events leading up to April 3, post-April 3, of the night of April 9 and 10, and the events that have taken place to date after [the no-confidence motion was successful]," Bilawal said on the floor of the National Assembly.

The PPP chairman said the "attacks on the constitution and the house" should be taken seriously, and an investigation should be held to determine who was at fault.

"Even the Supreme Court termed the previous government's acts of April 3 as unconstitutional. In the way that the former government tried to escape from the challenge of the no-confidence motion, it was unconstitutional and the people of Pakistan demand accountability," he added.

Bilawal said the acts of undermining the constitution had taken place in the past as well and the parliament remained mum on it, therefore, these events should be investigated.

Bilawal emphasised that PPP was never in the favour of political engineering and noted that his party's demand still stands that first electoral reforms should take place, and general elections should be held after them.

"We are a democratic force and demand transparent elections. We had earlier demanded that electoral reforms should take place first. This is PPP's clear stance," Bilawal said.

'Situation in Pakistan is at crisis point'

Berating Khan, he said the former prime minister should be asked about his performance during his tenure, he should be questioned about the economy, and how his "ego" damaged Pakistan internationally, in a reference to the PTI chairman's alleged US threat.

"The former prime minister thinks he is a 'sacred cow' as he is currently speaking against the constitution, national security, and economic stability," the foreign minister said.

The PPP chairman said the government left a mess in terms of the economy as it has left sugar, wheat, and energy crises for the incumbent government.

"Wherever we see, there is a crisis [...] the conditions are even worst than we had thought when we were in the Opposition. The situation in Pakistan is at a crisis point — there should be no difference of opinion in this regard," Bilawal said.

Resolution passed condemning Indian actions in IOJK

In other matters of business, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution denouncing the latest Indian attempt for demographic engineering in occupied Jammu and Kashmir through a so-called "delimitation commission".

The foreign minister had moved the resolution, which stated that India aims to artificially alter the electoral strength of the Muslim majority in occupied Kashmir.

Noting that the commission’s recommendations have been rejected by a cross-section of political parties in the occupied region, the resolution categorically rejected the report of the so-called delimitation commission that seeks to convert the Muslim majority territory into minority and further marginalise, disenfranchise, and disempower the Kashmiri population and advance the political and electoral objectives of the BJP.

The resolution noted that through the delimitation exercise, India is making attempts to further its illegal actions of 5th August 2019 and subsequent measures.

The resolution recalled that Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised dispute and a long-standing item on the agenda of the UN Security Council.

It declared that no façade of elections based on a sham delimitation exercise can substitute the legitimacy and indispensability of a free and impartial plebiscite under the auspices of the UN.

The resolution demanded that India should honour and fulfil its obligations under international law, UNSC resolutions, and the fourth Geneva Convention, whilst refraining from bringing about any illegal demographic changes in the occupied territory.

It urged the Indian government to forthwith end its oppression and widespread violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in IIOJK and enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the Security Council resolutions.

The resolution called upon the international community to ensure accountability for India’s grave and persistent violations of human rights and war crimes in IOJK.

The resolution reiterated Pakistan’s unflinching commitment and solidarity with Kashmiri, reaffirming that Pakistan will continue to extend all possible support in their just struggle for freedom and self-determination.

It also asked the government to continue to expose and counter the Indian moves before the international community and to highlight and forcefully project the Kashmir cause at all bilateral and multilateral forums including the UN and the OIC.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/416461-people-demand-accountability-fm-bilawal-bhutto-demands-investigation-into-events-surrounding-no-trust-motion

وزیر خارجہ چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے قومی اسمبلی میں مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر کے حوالے سے قرارداد پیش کردی

  وزیر خارجہ چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری نے قومی اسمبلی میں مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر کے حوالے سے ایک قرارداد پیش کی جس میں بین الاقوامی برادری سے کہا گیا ہے کہ وہ بھارت کی جانب سے مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر میں انسانی حقوق کی سنگین خلاف ورزیوں اور جنگی جرائم کا نوٹس لیں اور مقبوضہ کشمیر میں بھارت کے مظالم اور یکطرفہ اور غیرقانونی اقدامات کو روکنے کا کہیں اور بھارت سے یہ بھی کہیں کہ وہ اقوام متحدہ کی سکیورٹی کونسل کی متعلقہ قراردادوں پر عملدرآمد کرے۔ قرارداد میں بھارت کی جانب سے غیرقانونی اور ظالمانہ اقدامات اور کشمیر کی متنازعہ حیثیت کو تبدیل کرنے کے خلاف قرارداد منظور کی گئی۔ قرارداد میں اس بات پر سخت تشویش کا اظہار کیا گیا کہ بھارت کی قابض فوج کی جانب سے غیرقانونی اقدامات لئے گئے ہیں جن سے مقبوضہ کشمیر کی آزادی تناسب بگڑ گیا ہے جو کہ بین الاقوامی قوانین کی خلاف ورزی ہے۔ بھارت کے نام نہاد ڈی لیمیٹیشن کمیشن کو مارچ 2020ءمیں قائم کیا گیا جس سے مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر کے مسلمانوں کی اکثریت کو مصنوعی طور پر تبدیل کر دیا گیا ہے۔ قرارداد میں کہا گیا ہے کہ پاکستان کشمیری عوام سے مکمل یکجہتی اور حمایت کا اعادہ کرتا ہے۔ پاکستان اور کشمیری عوام کی جانب سے بھارت کے 5اگست 2019ءکے غیرقانونی اقدامات پر تشویش کا اظہار کیا گیا۔ قرارداد میں یہ بھی کہا گیا کہ جموں و کشمیر بین الاقوامی طور پر ایک متنازعہ مسئلہ ہے جو کہ اقوام متحدہ کی سکیورٹی کونسل میںایک طویل عرصہ سے قابل توجہ ہے۔ اب اس جعلی ڈی لیمٹیشن کے بعد جو بھی انتخابات ہوں گے وہ اقوام متحدہ کے تحت غیرجانبدرانہ حق خود ارادیت کا نعمل البدل نہیں ہو سکتے۔ قرارداد میں مطالبہ بھی کیا گیا کہ بھارت بین الاقوامی قوانین، اقوام متحدہ کی سکیورٹی کونسل کی قراردادوں اور جینوا کنونشن پر عمل کرے اور مقبوضہ علاقے میں کسی قسم کی غیرقانونی طور پر آبادی میں تبدیلی کی کوشش سے باز رہے۔ قرارداد میں بھارت سے بھی کہا گیا کہ وہ مقبوضہ جموں و کشمیر میں انسانی حقوق کی خلاف ورزیوں سے باز رہے اور کشمیری عوام کو ان کا حق خود ارادیت کی راہ میں رکاوٹ نہ بنیں۔ قرارداد میں پاکستان اور پاکستانی عوام کی جانب سے کشمیری بھائی بہنوں سے یکجہتی کا اظہار کیا گیا اور کہا گیا کہ پاکستان کشمیریوں کی آزادی کی جدوجہد اور حق خودارادیت کی حمایت کرتا رہے گا۔

https://www.ppp.org.pk/pr/27003/

Video - Chairman PPP and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addresses National Assembly session | 12May