- BY: Mohammad Ayub Khan
Cyril Almeda, a renowned columnist wrote in his article, published in daily Dawn in October 2016, that during a high-level security council meeting a conflict of opinion has led to some disagreement about controlling the rising terrorism in the country. It was reported that Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif remarked that when his police arrest the terrorists and put them in lockups, the plain cloth powerful spooks come in the evening and take them away. In such a situation how come the terrorism can be brought under control and the global diplomatic isolation issue could be addressed. No doubt the reported outburst proved the proverbial last straw on the back of irritated camel, who had already made-up his mind to get rid of a third time Prime Minister.
Mian Nawaz Sharif, who was already entangled in Panama Leaks of April 2016 despite the fact that his name did not appear on the list pertaining to the off-shore companies’ owners, received another lethal jolt. Mass protests were “organized” across the country. Imran Khan who was unhappy over the results of 2013 general elections was also holding the longest ever sit-in (Aug 14 to Dec 16, 2016) against his government in D Chowk, Islamabad. Tahir Qadri, who apparently had no stakes in the matter was there to echo Imran Khan’s cries of his pain. Punjab Chief Minister who allegedly appealed to the terrorists’ outfits to spare his province, Punjab in return he had advised his administration to go soft.
It was not less than a bombshell for the real owners of this country. The DG ISPR not only condemned the said piece of information but also demanded severe punishment for the responsible person for leaking the information relating to such a sensitive matter. Since the publication of undesired article came under the preview of the Minister of Information, thus the senior politician and minister of information, Pervez Rashid was the ultimate victim who was shown the door without seeking his opinion. But the camel had now entered his head in the tent and the poor Badu was more and more offering space. Paradoxically Pervez Rashid’s departure from the information ministry failed to cool down the situation and a Inquiry committee was formed under a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to Investigate the matter
Despite such overtures, a decision was already taken by the king makers to cut the Nawaz tattering govt to size. A number of traps were laid around and a watchful Judiciary was put on alert to ambush him as soon as the beleaguered Prime Minister make a mistake. Meanwhile the inquiry commission formed to look into the matter Dawn leaks submitted its report to the government on April 29, 2017, which led to the ouster of a seasoned diplomate and foreign secretary Mr. Tariq Fatemi. Both the heads of Pervez Rashid and Fatemi that rolled as the precondition for any rapprochement, however did not please the detractors and the DG ISPR infamous tweet on the same day closed the chapter for good.
Barely two months later, a five members Judicial Commission under Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan was formed to prob Mian Nawaz Sharif involvement in the Panama Leaks, which traced an absurd cause to legally justify sending pack Nawaz Sharif home on April 13, 2017. No doubt the then Prime Minister (Nawaz Sharif) submissively obeyed each and every order at the cost of disgracing the office of a Prime Minister but to save his skin. Unfortunately, a cooked up ten years plan was not possible to put in action until his govt was packed out.
Years passed since October 2016, when the Dawn Leaks episode shook the very foundation of the state. None could have thought in their wildest dream that such an eventuality can take place in this country, that the role of powerful military establishment could be exposed in bizarre fashion by its own protege. Few days ago, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whom the opposition and a significant part of his own Pakistan Tehrik Insaaf (PTI) party consider the blue eyed of the venging establishment, publicly demanded that the military Establishment must not fight their war through their proxy aka good Taliban. If the military Establishment still wish to use them then these so-called good Taliban should be provided the military uniform. While talking to the press he more or less echoed the same sort of accusations, which resulted in the notorious Dawn Leaks. He did not stop there, rather moved a step further and strongly opposed any planned military operation anywhere in the province.
Both these events of October 2016 and July 2025 almost nine years apart, however related to the same sort of civil and military roles, dealing with the menace of terrorism. The first incident led to growing influence of Establishment in contrast to the weaking position of the civil setup. Dawn Leaks was considered a sufficient reason that was why the Establishment come hard on the Nawaz Sharif govt and publicly rejected its appeasing overtures. So much so, Nawaz Sharif name was nowhere in the Panama leaks but the notorious macho Chief Justice Saqib Nisar not only dismissed his government but also disqualified him for five years on the pretext of dishonesty. Later It turned into a joke that Panama Leak investigation was just an excuse and he (Nawaz Sharif) was ousted through Iqama (the residency in UAE).
On the other hand, no doubt, the present opposition and its provincial govt in Pakhtunkhwa took the risk of challenging the mighty Establishment, however none could dare to touch Ali Amin Khan govt. Such wide difference confirms that we are now living in a different time. If nine years back, the military establishment enjoyed absolute authority and the civvies played the secondary fiddle, today both of the power-hungry partners are deadly weaken. Masses have moved miles away from their previous position and now they openly question the roles of military and civilian setup as far as the war against the local form of terrorism is concern. Ironically none seems serious though, about the prevailing near civil war situation in the country. We have a full-blown war against the state in Balochistan and near civil anarchy in Pakhtunkhwa but sadly enough both sides in the power corridor are playing the Imran Khan imprisonment drama to keep the gullible masses busy for some time.