We mustn’t ridicule ourselves, I wish

This has reference to the news flashed today Sun 26^th Feb by Pakistan Observer under the caption reading, ‘Pasha not to have extension’. Extension, employment, re-employment and or termination has nothing to do with anyone including me since this is the inborn prerogative of the government but nevertheless being a Pakistani I do have some rights and obligations towards my beloved Pakistan despite the fact that I am out of the country since 1976 but still have single nationality of Pakistan and Pakistan alone which I am truly proud of.

Lt Gen Ahmad Shuja Pasha, Director General, Inter Services Intelligence is completing one year extension next month and it is very strongly believed in the appropriate circles that he will not be given any further extension to head our chief spying machinery which is an ordinary news and should not even be discussed by anyone whatsoever to be honest. It is said that since he has been named in memo gate, his reputation is very much dented and hence he will not be allowed to continue any further on the post meaning by that had he not involved himself with Mansoor Ijaz so far as memo scandal is concerned, he may would have been given another extension to be seated on the chair but not anymore.  

So far so good and I must fully and whole heartedly support my government not to keep Gen Pasha as ISI chief boss.

However, very surprisingly the same newspaper said further that Pasha is likely to be shifted to Strategic Plans Division as Director General replacing Lt Gen (Retd) Khalid Kidwai who is heading SPD for last 12 years. Normally anyone who is not suitable and qualified for any job but yet appointed is automatically without any inference and efforts exposed in hours if not minutes and in some cases it may take even some weeks if not days or if I exaggerate it may take some months but not years from set any set of imagination howsoever wild it could be. In the given situation it is noticed that Gen Kidwai is occupying such a key position not for a year or two or five or even ten but twelve years which is quite a long period which resultantly itself proves that had he not been worth he had been chucked out much before. Where did he lack and or slack now that he is to be removed, may I dare ask? Needless to mention, SPD is responsible to look after our nuclear facilities including Kahuta etc which is undoubtedly much more important and vital than ISI so far as very existence of Pakistan is concerned. Let it be very clearly understood that though SPD is also a division like other divisions but yet it cannot and should not be construed to be like any other division namely Planning or Cabinet etc simply because its role and responsibilities are much more higher and important that what other divisions are assigned to. How can we forget that time and again we were threatened by others that nuclear facilities will be hit hard and we will be crippled to the extent that we may no more boast of being a nuclear power? Who could be the main brain and force, other than Gen Kidwai, to thwart such like attempts and moved I simply cannot help asking? Why didn’t we find anyone better than Gen Kidwai to be the chief protector of our nuclear arsenals?

What can be the rationale, if any, to remove Gen Kidwai whose reputation is certainly not jolted like that of Gen Pasha and replace him Pasha when he is no more the same what he has been thought of before the leakage of memo scandal? Why he is not allowed to continue in ISA and instead being removed from ISI, does anyone know? Why are we turning ourselves into laughing stock because each and every same person will ask the question that once it is proved that Pasha is very much a character in memo scandal which has proved to be very much detrimental to our national interests then what compels us to keep him employed at ISI or SPS or anywhere else? I very much doubt but at least for academic discussion if not otherwise let anyone prove that memo scandal has made Pasha as an indispensible person and hence he shall have to be kept employed under all the circumstances? How do we guarantee that Gen Pasha will not act otherwise and instead prove to be as loyal as he ought to be when installed as DG, ISI? Why are we trying him again when once he has betrayed the trust reposed in him? Will sky split apart or will oceans dry up if Pasha is asked to finally pack up and go home?

My leaders who are vested with the authority to shape up our destiny must under all the circumstances be very much prudential and judicious in their mind and approach while taking important decisions like this unless we wish to earn ridicule and instead of laurels, I very regretfully pen. We must not repeat we must not gamble with existence of Pakistan, I sincerely pray.

                              ******************************************