U.S. Soldier Found Guilty Of Killing Afghan Civilian

A U.S. National Guardsman who shot an Afghan electrician in the head at close range last year has been found guilty of premeditated murder.

Officials say that Sergeant Derrick Miller will be sentenced in the near future.

Prosecutors had argued that Miller shot and killed Atta Mohammed in September in Masamute Bala, Afghanistan, with a Beretta pistol.

They said Miller took another soldier’s weapon, straddled the man on the ground, and then shot him.

Miller is a member of a Connecticut National Guard unit that is attached to Fort Campbell, home to the 101st Airborne Division, which is now being rotated home from Afghanistan.

No bail for Florida imam accused of aiding Taliban

A federal judge in Miami denied bail on Tuesday to a young Muslim cleric arrested in May on charges of financing and supporting the Pakistani Taliban.

The judge cited flight risk and a potential threat to community safety in rejecting bail for Izhar Khan, 24, who has been charged along with his father and brother with conspiring to provide material support to terrorists.

The three Pakistani-born U.S. citizens are among six charged in a U.S. indictment with “supporting acts of murder, kidnapping and maiming inPakistan and elsewhere” carried out by the Pakistani Taliban, which Washington calls a terrorist organization.

Judge Adalberto Jordan said the evidence against the younger Khan, an imam at the Jamaat Al-Mu’mineen Mosque in Margate, Florida, was not as strong as that brought against his father, Hafiz Muhammed Sher Ali Khan, 76.

But Jordan said the evidence was enough to justify his detention pending a trial in which he faces up to 15 years in prison for each count of the indictment against him.

Khan pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last month and a trial date has not been set.

“In general, the government has proffered recorded intercepted conversations and financial records demonstrating that, between 2008 and 2010, Mr. Khan assisted his father, Hafiz Khan, in collecting funds for, and transferring funds to, the Pakistani Taliban,” Jordan said in his order denying bail.

Jordan is weighing whether Khan’s older brother, 37-year-old Irfan Khan, should get bail. He has already rejected bail for the men’s father, who was an imam at the Miami Mosque, also known as the Flagler Mosque in Miami, at the time of his arrest.

The other three charged in the case, Ali Rehman, Alam Zeb and Amina Khan, were living in Pakistan when the indictment against them was handed down and are believed to be at large.

The case is United States v. Khan et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, No. 11-20331.

Chaudhry Shujaat says commission ‘unnecessary’

While condemning the severe criticism the Pakistan Army had to face for its role in the Abbottabad commission, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain said the commission was “unnecessary” and was formed under “immense pressure and haste”.

Party leadership says all stakeholders will be taken on board.

“That is why I pinpointed this issue at a very early stage that it would be unnecessary to make this commission and now it seems that there is more loss than gain in this deal,” said Hussain in a statement released on Wednesday.

“As work done in haste always ends up in waste.”

The PML-Q president said that the investigation should have taken place under the direct supervision of the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC).

He asserted that the report of the findings should
have been presented directly to parliament and the cabinet.

He termed it “unfortunate and highly irresponsible” that the findings were made public on various media sources while the investigation was still underway by the commission.

Hussain insisted that “in the larger interest of national security” there should be no hesitation in closing the commission.

NATO truckers under probe for sabotage

By Manzoor Ali

Police in Nowshera district are investigating five cases in connection with the recent upsurge in attacks on NATO supply trucks.

The skeleton of a burnt Nato oil tanker near a police observation point in Nowshera district.

Authorities responsible for carrying out the investigation suspect that NATO tanker drivers and transporters themselves could possibly have been involved in sabotage. Allegations that transporters themselves were involved in these attacks have been made earlier, but this is the first time that authorities are formally investigating such complaints.

Police in Nowshera said that two such cases were under investigation by the Pabbi police station, while three others were being investigated by the Azakhel police station. At least four people are in custody and an FIR has been registered against the owner and driver of a NATO tanker that had been attacked in the area.

A senior police official told The Express Tribune that circumstantial evidence raised their suspicions. In the majority of cases, drivers and cleaners escape from the scene soon after the attack rather than informing the police about the incident, the official said.

Transporters’ frustrations

A tanker driver requesting anonymity also said such sabotage incidents take place. ‘Authorities allow only 30 to 40 tankers to cross into Afghanistan from the Takhta Baig checkpost and the others are made to return to Mianwali. If in the meanwhile their permits expire, they are stranded for a long time.’

Some of the drivers who are tired of this going back and forth may have sabotaged their own vehicles, although other people may have been involved, he added.

PTI-led alliance on anvil to end ‘dynastic politics’

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan has announced that his party will forge an alliance with ‘emerging’ political parties to provide the people with an alternative to the parties based on dynastic politics like the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz in the next general election.

Disillusioned politicians to be invited to join the camp.

“My party will campaign to bring likeminded politicians on a single platform to win more seats in the coming elections,” Khan told a news conference on Tuesday. “The Pakistani nation wants an end to politics of musical chairs,” he added.

The PTI, which recently accelerated its campaign against the government policies, is all set to contact the politicians disillusioned with their parties, sources in PTI told The Express Tribune. The PTI chairman has contacted PML-F leader Jahangir Tareen, who had recently announced that he would launch a new political party of ‘clean politicians’ in September, they added.

Renegade members of all political parties, inclined to join the alliance would be contacted, said PTI leader Zahid Hussain. Party sources said that the likely candidates are former PML-Q MNA Marvi Memon, PPP Senator Safdar Abbasi, Naheed Khan, former minister of state Omar Ayub, Javed Hashmi, former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Sikandar Bosan, political rival of Premier Gilani’s family as well as other dissidents of the PML-N, PML-Q and PPP will soon be contacted. The PTI may also link up with the Sindh National Front and Pakistan Muslim League-Functional.

The PTI chief said that the government should be held accountable for its refusal to implement the Supreme Court’s orders. “The Supreme Court should start contempt of court proceedings against the prime minister for violating its orders,” he said.

Contempt proceedings should also be initiated against President Asif Ali Zardari for holding two offices in defiance of the Lahore High Court verdict and exercising his powers as the PPP’s chief executive in contravention of the constitution. “The government’s consistent defiance of the apex court is leading to anarchy in the country,” he added.

“Criminals are on the rampage in Karachi and law of the jungle prevails everywhere,” Khan said. “It is high time the chief justice held the chief executive of the government and the state accountable under Article 6 of the constitution.”

He welcomed new political entrants to the PTI and said that his party’s membership was open to all honest politicians irrespective of their past political affiliations.

Rangers, BSF agree to check illegal border crossings

By Asad Kharal

Border forces of Pakistan and India have agreed to stop incidents of illegal crossing, smuggling and unprovoked firing on the working boundary.

Officials of Rangers and Border Security Force exchanging gifts before a meeting at Wagah border on Tuesday.

This decision has been taken in a joint meeting of Pakistan, India border forces held at Wagah on Tuesday. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) Deputy Inspector General Vasudevan led the 10-member Indian delegation, which was given a warm welcome by the Pakistan Rangers’ delegation headed by Brigadier Wali as they crossed the zero line at Wagah border. Both officers shook hands, exchanged presents and had a group photograph taken. The Rangers also offered guard of honour before start of the meeting.

The quarterly coordination meeting was held at Joint Check Post at the Pakistan side of the Wagah border on Tuesday. The meeting is part of a mutually agreed programme aimed at coordinating measures taken by both forces for border management duties. Brig Wali told media before the session that 24 points would be discussed with BSF including ceasefire violation especially in Sialkot and Shakargarh sectors, smuggling, drug trafficking, casualties of unarmed civilians, border crossing and illegal construction of spur by Indian authorities at river Ravi at Narowal Sector.

Speaking at the occasion, DIG Vasudevan said both the authorities wanted a result oriented discussion. Answering a question he said he had given orders to BSF not to open fire on unarmed civilians who cross the border mistakenly, but also made it clear that it is difficult to judge a civilian crossing the border at night and distinguish whether he’s carrying a gun or a stick.

After the meeting a press release issued by the Rangers stated that dialogue was held in highly congenial atmosphere and there has been sincere endeavour from both forces to encourage junior commanders to mutually resolve minor issues.

At the end of the session the Indian delegation witnessed the flag ceremony and appreciated the parade of the jawans from Pakistan Rangers. The next quarterly meeting will be held at the joint check post Attari, India.

The bloody monsoons of Karachi

By Ghalib Sultan
ZoneAsia-PK 

The monsoon season has hit Pakistan. While most parts of Pakistan enjoy the good weather, Karachi bleeds. The deteriorating situation in Karachi has been a constant since the past twenty years and in the recent months it has further debilitated to the point where the value of life for the common man has become virtually non-existent. It is a curious title to choose, knowing that in early July more than 110 people perished in just five days in Karachi, and countless others were either forced to flee their homes, or still remain trapped in them.  Consider further that it was but part of a recurrent pattern, and one is bound to question that have there ever been any gains to preserve and possibly build on.

No matter how you look at this situation, it surely did start from somewhere. But in the light of the current situation it does not become apparent on cursory introspection of who the culprits are for this situation which continues to worsen every single day. Is it a political deadlock? Or are external forces to blame for this abysmal situation? Or is it because of the presence of anti state elements within Pakistan?

Karachi is a major economic hub of Pakistan. The political and economic situation in Karachi is a pre-requisite to a happy and prospering Pakistan. During the first few days of July, Karachi was gripped by a massive terror wave and since then the situation has only worsened. Three attacks on public buses, along with invaluable losses to public life and property were the obvious consequences of such attacks. While all of this happened, the government seemed to be in denial and the political parties just played the age-old blame game. MQM blamed ANP, ANP blamed MQM, PPP blamed MQM, and MQM blamed PPP for not taking action to control the situation; ostensibly because of MQM’s recent decision to quit the government and sit on the opposition benches.

MQM and PPP have a history which dates back to the 70’s. Areas such as Layari, Sorab Ghot, Orangi and a number of other localities have been major battle grounds between the PPP and MQM. Furthermore, with the already incongruous relationship between the two parties, ANP has added itself to the list of political parties looking for legitimacy and power in the politics of Karachi. Upping the ante, the MQM blames the ANP of harboring terror elements such as the TTP and Al Qaeda – as the MQM makes a Pashtun generalization this way, the ANP responds by saying that it is the only political party openly fighting the Taliban and rendering numerous sacrifices in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province that they control.

During the current terror cycle, where a number of MQM political workers were targeted, the party went as far as accusing the PPP led government of not taking any action against the aggressors because of MQM’s decision to isolate itself from the coalition during those times. Furthermore, the situation reached its tipping point when last week when Zulfikar Mirza, a senior provincial minister with PPP, unleashed an uncontrolled barrage on the MQM, which resulted in dozens of cars being set on fire and numerous shops were burnt in the violence. The streets of many poorer residential areas, home to MQM supporters, thronged with angry protesters who burned effigies of Mirza. Even prior to Mirza’s outburst, Karachi had seen running gun battles on the streets of Qasba colony, requiring the paramilitary Rangers force to be deployed (however late).

On Thursday afternoon, Mirza apologized for his ethnic remarks, and yet in another political about-turn MQM chief Altaf Hussain told Dr Ishrat ul Ibad, who had recently resigned as the Sindh governor following the parties earlier decision to quit the federal and provincial governments, to return to his former post. Furthermore, both ANP and PPP have welcomed this decision made by the MQM and termed it as a big step towards restoration of peace in Karachi.

Even though, the domestic politics of the city shows a positive return to normalcy, the matters don’t end here. It seems that it never really did cross anyone’s mind that external actors may have had a role to play in this recent terror wave and it was catalyzed by adding fuel to fire. In light of the situation where both the state and its institutions (primarily the army) have been subject to intense criticism from international as well as domestic quarters, it seems to be in the interest of certain international actors to push Pakistan to the brink of a collapse. What else is better than ensuring that the economic core of Pakistan remains in a terror wave for these anti-Pakistan elements? Why would any other state or external force want to engage with Pakistan directly if they already know that she is bleeding from the inside? The enemy knows us very well, and it is only us who seem to be in denial about this reality. Why would any foreign enemy sacrifice resources to declare open war on Pakistan when they can just as easily buy off some Pakistanis and stoke a fire whose flames are already licking the sky.

There are a number of scenarios which can be attributed to the present situation. Since the partition of the sub-continent, both India and Pakistan have been at loggerheads a number of times and have gone to war a total of 3 times. War or no war, India has always accused the ISI of Pakistan of creating instability with in India, and Pakistan on the other hand has accused India of doing the same as well. The most recent memory of such an incident takes us back to the first Mumbai attacks, where all the blame was attributed to Pakistan and not their own lack of security mechanisms. In the 13/7 attack, India’s response was measured and many analysts attribute this to the uncovering of an internal terror group or cell that has little to no connection with LeT or even Pakistan. Last month, Pakistan’s military had seized a large cache of Indian made weapons during the operation in Kurram tribal region. According to the source the seized weapons included, heavy guns, rockets and others sophisticated arms. Therefore, it would be a little foolhardy to eliminate the possibility of an Indian hand (read RAW) in the recent violent eruption in the city.

On the other hand, Interior Minister Rehman Malik gave a new twist to the deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi when he revealed that Israel-made weapons had been recovered from the captured target killers. Furthermore, he also insisted that even the target killers were being contracted from outside the country. Comments such as these coming from the interior minister seem flaky to say the least but one cannot single handedly eliminate the option of presence of external elements. However, the Interior Minister backtracked on this statement within 24 hours, making it a special note to exonerate Israel from terrorizing Karachi.

The fact of the matter is that Karachi is still bleeding; it will continue to bleed with every passing monsoon until and unless a proper channel is derived for the political parties to communicate their concerns. Furthermore, Karachi being a metropolitan city is composed of different ethnicities and classes, and in such circumstances a participatory and all-inclusive political mechanism is the need of the hour, where no one marginalized enough to resort to violent means of exhibiting power. With a possible change in the power dynamics in South Asia predicted because of US’s decision to pull out from Afghanistan, the security situation in Pakistan is becoming critical for peace in the region. Pakistan must prepare itself not only for the Afghan endgame – the specifics of which deserve an article on their own – and it can only do so by ensuring peace and security for its citizens and by developing political platforms that mainstream marginalized people and rehabilitate violent militants and extremists. Otherwise the Afghan war on terror will spill into Pakistan and prove to be a war of terror for the Pakistani population.

US Aid That Does Not Matter

Over the weekend, the U.S. government announced that it would not deliver about one third of the military aid it had allocated to Pakistan this year, approximately $800 million. The move was not particularly surprising; last month Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Senate Committee that “When it comes to our military aid, we are not prepared to continue providing that at the pace we were providing it unless and until we see certain steps taken.”

The United States has long attempted to prod the Pakistani military in a more favored direction in the so-called War on Terror, employing a mix of stern language and financial incentives, to little effect. While the aid suspension is hardly a drastic measure, it does constitute ramping up the dial on U.S. pressure on Pakistan.

We can easily conclude that a message is being sent. The question, however, remains: Is it being received? The provisional answer is that U.S. pressure is unlikely to have any meaningful impact on the Pakistani military’s behavior. Certainly the military is, publicly at least, brushing off the importance of the move and claiming that it will be business as usual on the fighting front. The Pakistani military is hardly going to launch costly new operations in the tribal agencies for want of $800 million.

And despite what Defense Minister Ahmed Mukhtar may say, Pakistan is not going to suddenly abandon its ongoing operations. For one thing, Mukhtar – even as Defense Minister – doesn’t actually speak for Pakistan’s war-fighting effort, a sad indictment of the civil-military balance if there ever was one. For another, Mukhtar’s statement was a speculative claim on a television news show, not a prepared official statement distributed to the media.

All this is to suggest that we must not overstate the marginal value of the U.S.’s latest diplomatic salvo. Taken as an isolated act, it could have conceivably jarred the military into changing course – though whether the military would have changed course by further retrenching or actually following through on U.S. demands is a matter of conjecture.

But placed within the context of escalating coercive policy the United States has employed recently – from strategic leaks to the U.S. media to more direct verbal pressure to “do more” in the tribal agencies to explicitly accusing the Pakistani government of sanctioning the torture and murder of investigative journalist Saleem Shahzad – it is but one pebble in the sand. As such, it is unlikely to provide enough of an external shock to influence the military to abandon the militant allies the U.S. deems most damaging. It is more plausibly seen as more of the same, rather than a radical departure from existing policy.

Indeed, the gradated nature of U.S. policy toward Pakistan itself reveals a fundamental truth: The U.S. cannot risk asking too much too stridently because, as has been true since the mid 2000s, it needs Pakistan’s cooperation in Afghanistan. In turn, the dependence on the Pakistani military ensures that, for the time being at least, it can’t escalate its coercive instruments above a certain point. For instance, it is instructive that the U.S. only withheld one slice of one element of the aid annually delivered to Pakistan.

So for the time being, the U.S. and Pakistan will continue to muddle along. In the medium-term however, the deepening distrust between the U.S. government and the Pakistan military is likely to be more impactful, particularly once the U.S. embarks upon its slow withdrawal from Central Asia.

Historically, the U.S. has preferred to deal directly with the Pakistani military rather than civilian authorities, deeming strongmen rulers more reliable and trustworthy – as it did in Latin America and the Middle East. A cursory glance at the levels of aid Pakistan has received from the U.S. since 1948, collated by The Guardian, easily confirms this assertion, with steep rises associated with the onset of direct military rule.

Of course, the fact that the U.S. has fought two wars in Afghanistan – once alongside insurgents, once against them – coinciding with military rule in Pakistan does complicate things, but only to a limited extent. If nothing else, one can say that the United States has generally felt more at ease when dealing with the military, relative to Pakistani civilians. This bonhomie has been buttressed by institutional contacts between the militaries, with officers from Pakistan training in U.S. facilities, and other senior level interaction between the two institutions, particularly in the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

That dynamic will in all likelihood change once the U.S. withdraws from Afghanistan. Experts and scholars such as Christine Fair have noted that both sides have justfiable grievances with the other. But in times of war, when lives and security are at risk, it becomes difficult to accommodate allies’ differing perspectives, at least to the extent it is possible during peace. If nothing else, the fitful and tumultuous relationship between the two establishments signals that a more lasting commitment and alliance – an expressed goal of President Obama and Secretary Clinton – is probably best attempted when war is not at the forefront.

For the narrow interests of reformers and civilian authorities in Pakistan, the breakdown of relations between the U.S. and the Pakistani military is a positive. As the Guardian’s data shows, the military in Pakistan has long enjoyed preeminence in the West. That its image as a reliable, disciplined and can-do ally has been punctured over the last few years, especially in the last six months, is no bad thing. It reinforces the need for Western allies to support Pakistani democracy, if not with aid – which is often a poisoned chalice – then with diplomatic and political support.

Dragging Central Asia in to the War

Rupee News

One of the ways the Mujahideen defeated the USSR’s occupation of Afghanistan in the 80s was that they severed the supply lines to Afghanistan from the USSR, which at the time included Tajikistan and Uzbekistan etc. They constantly harassed and attacked the conveys. The supply lines from Central Asia are very vulnerable to attac. The US is trying to diversify its supply chain. The maps shows that it is an impossible task to get supplies to Afghanistan without the support of Pakistan.

This is the long circuitous route the US has to take in order to get supplies to Afghanistan. It is expesive, unreliable and subject fo the whim of Russia and a whole bunch of states that have to be constantly bribed

The alternate supply lines using the “Northern corridor” is good news from Pakistan. The Talibs will focus on the supply routes in Central Asia. Already the IMU is very active in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The NATO trucks rumbling through these former Turkish states will act as magnets for the militants. The last time the supplies came from the Northern route, it destabilized the region from the Amu Darya all the way to the Caucus mountains. As a result of the militancy, Chechniya Dagistan, Tartaristan, Angushtiya, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan all rose up in revolt against the Soviet empire. The USSR had to retreat from Afghanistan, but it also had to give up give up control of the former Turkish states.

This time around, the supply routes, as they are bing shifted through Tajiksitan and Uzbekistan will create havoc for the regimes in Astana, Dushambe, Fergana and other regional hubs.

As the Americans move more and more supplies to those supply routes, Russia will have to weigh the costs.

The Northern Supply routes are unsustainable and cannot be relied upon for any extended period of time, especially in the winter. No war in the history of mankind has been able to be waged with such an extended supply chain.

Army seizes large quantity of Indian ammunition in hands of ‘Afghan’ terrorists.

The end game in Afghanistan has begun. Proxies are taking up positions on both sides of the border-testing the waters and attempting to stake out the territory. Events point to the future after the USleaves. It will leave a contingent of Afghans that are beholden to the West. Those Afghan will die for no reason at all-cannon fodder for the empire that refuses to call itself an empire.

Press reports have Pakistani officials indirectly blaming Delhi for the cross-border raids fromAfghanistan.

Apparently a ‘game’ was being played at the behest of some regional stakeholders who were averse to Pakistan-Afghan rapprochement.

During a recent operation against militants, the army seized a large quantity of Indian,American, Russian and Chinese weapons and ammunition.

Pakistani officials said there was no doubt that they had tacit support of regional leaders and some elements within the Afghan government.

“There could be no other explanation for groups of 200-300 militants moving in Kunar to launch attacks on Pakistani posts. They have a continuous supply line of arms and finances in addition to logistical support.”

There have been five major raids by militants based in eastern Afghanistan. The militants, many of whom had fled operations in Bajaur, Mohmand and Swat, are occupying an area between River Kunar and the border because of a void created by withdrawal of Isaf forces from the area.

“They attack the Pakistani areas to regain the territory lost because of army operations,” a military official said. Pakistan has protested over militant attacks with the Afghan government, Isaf and ANA.

Delhi is openly supporting the terrorists. Iran is supporting factions. Pakistan is building up alliances. China is investing. Russia is taking stock and the frmer Turkish states of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are scared. As the US begins to retreat from Afghanistan, it will begin to sugar coat the defeat with spectacular raids, and high-profile acts which will hide the pain felt by the NATO forces.

One such event is the vacation of areas along the Pakistani border. THe Afghan National Army (ANA) has not taken up the area and the US forces have withdrawn. Bharati sponsored froces call the Tehrik e Taliban (TTP) are being brought into this area to attack Pakistan from Afghanistan.

Islamabad has repeatedly asked the ISAF and ANA forces to clean up the cesspool. Because the ANA has failed to clear up the area, the Pakistan Army had to do it itself. The sanitization is in progress.

Belatedly the Army did admit that it had conducted operations to clear the area. Pakistan army had earlier this week said that the mortar rounds could have “accidentally crossed the border” and denied that the shelling was intentional. With the Afghan National Army (ANA) with its embedded US advisors fired rounds into Pakistani territory too.

According to press reports, the Pakistani military commanders say the root of the problem lies in Afghanistan where militants have sanctuaries in areas bordering Pakistan from where they “launch attacks on our posts”.

Military officials say when Pakistani forces retaliate against the militant attacks some rounds possibly land in Afghan territory.

“We have told ISAF and the ANA about the presence of Swati Taliban and militants led by Faqir Mohammad (Bajaur) and Abdul Wali (Mohmand),” a military official said, adding no action was being taken against their sanctuaries.

Another official said there was no doubt that they had tacit support of regional leaders and some elements within the Afghan government.

The US is scrambling to find other routes to get its supplies to Afghanistan. It is stubbornly refusing to defend the indefensible-the refusal to vacate the Shamsi airbase, ostensibly on the pretext that they rented it from the UAE. The Emirates were apparently using it for falconry and then leased it to the Americans. Pakistan has halted food and water supplies to the base, and the US is not flying drones of the base, at least temporarily.

Pakistan Defence Minister Mukhtar Ahmad’s comments this week that the government had ended U.S. drone flights out of Shamsi air base deep in southwest Baluchistan province has injected new controversy in their troubled relationship.
Washington’s dismissal of the Pakistan government’s stand is quite extraordinary.
Can a country, even if it is the world’s strongest power, continue to use an air base despite the the refusal of the host country ?
Imagine the United States encamped in Pakistan using its air strip to run a not-so-secret assassination campaign against militant leaders including Pakistanis while Islamabad fumes. Christian Science Monitor.

Rising political temperatures: Military brass opposed use of force against MQM

Amidst straining relations between the ruling Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and its estranged coalition partner, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), the military brass is learnt to have opposed a series of moves that could have adversely affected an already tense situation – including any move to launch an operation in Karachi.

Army also opposed ‘sensitive’ post for Zulfikar Mirza; PPP says no operation planned against its former ally.

The military brass had also expressed displeasure over the possible induction of controversial former Sindh home minister Zulfikar Mirza on a sensitive post in the federal or provincial cabinet, The Express Tribune has learnt.

“Mishandling Karachi’s situation, or using coercive means against the MQM, is not something the country can afford at this point in time,” brass as telling top civilian authorities. The military has advised the government against launching any operation against the MQM, which pulled of the ruling coalition last month.

However, PPP’s information secretary Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the government was not planning any operation against the MQM. But at the same time, he added, “I don’t think the military would stop the government from taking action against the law breakers in Karachi.”

Sources said that the PPP was planning either to make Mirza governor of Sindh or to assign him a portfolio in the federal cabinet after getting him elected to the Senate. Reports of such a move had earlier begun appearing in the media. But the military is said to have precluded such a move.

Sources said that the PPP had planned an operation against the MQM, particularly against it supporters among the Kacchi community in Malir. And Mirza, who has good relations with the Sindh police, had alerted the police officials belonging to interior Sindh but serving elsewhere in the country. Mirza’s plan envisaged an operation against the Urdu-speaking people in order to coerce the MQM into compliance. Mirza’s recent meeting with Afaq Ahmad, the chief of MQM-Haqiqi, was actually a message to the MQM.

When contacted by The Express Tribune, Presidential spokesperson Farhatullah Babar refused to comment on the issue and instead switched off his cell phone when pressed hard.

Sources said that the military brass contacted MQM chief Altaf Hussain and assured him that the government would not launch any operation in Karachi. Following the assurance, Altaf cancelled a scheduled address to a general party workers meeting on Monday.

Babar Ghauri is said to have contacted PML-N Senator Ishaq Dar to seek support against any operation in Karachi. And PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, in return, held out an assurance that his party would oppose any operation against the MQM in Karachi. Sources said that the two parties would soon start a movement against the PPP-led government from the platform of a grand opposition alliance.

The Express Tribune has learnt that, following its failure to muster military support against the MQM in Karachi, the government’s top leaders took a ‘U-turn’ and decided to send PML-Q leader Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain to Nine-Zero to assure the MQM on behalf of the president that the government would not launch an operation in Karachi. Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the government’s coalition partner might have endorsed Shujaat’s trip to Karachi.

However, the MQM said the Chaudhry was in Karachi to attend a wedding ceremony and not to reconcile the MQM with the PPP. “Shujaat visited Nine-Zero to sympathise with the MQM over the atrocities the party has been facing in the city,” MQM’s Joint Incharge Information Secretary Qamar Mansoor told The Express Tribune.

He claimed that the PPP has made the PML-Q a coalition partner at ‘gunpoint’. And the day Moonis Elahi, son of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, was released, the Chaudhrys would pull out of the ruling coalition. Moonis has been in police custody for his alleged involvement in the multi-billion -rupee land scam in the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL).