Abbottabad Operation shatters remnants of Pakistani Sovereignty

The US Abbottabad operation of 2^nd May 2011 has destroyed what was left of the tattered sovereignty of Pakistani after years of American drone strikes and CIA operations. The Pakistani and American leaderships are making a mockery of the world by claiming that the operation against the compound allegedly housing Osama Bin Laden was done unilaterally by the US without Pakistan’s knowledge. We are expected to believe that Pakistan’s army is able to hold the million man Indian army at bay but it cannot realise that American helicopters loaded with US personnel are flying around 35 miles from the capital, next to the elite training centre Kakul?

This is a ridiculous notion. Pakistan’s secular leadership including COAS Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, DG ISI Ahmad Shuja Pasha, their cronies in the military and the politicians have willingly all agreed to produce this drama and help America create a narrative whereby Pakistan is backed in to a corner by world public opinion. Pakistan, or more specifically the Pakistani military and intelligence services, will be accused of harbouring Bin Laden right under their noses and only direct intervention by US Special Forces has resulted in the man being eliminated.

This entire piece of theatre allows America to do two things

One, it is allowed to withdraw from its disastrous and costly war in Afghanistan by saying it got its target, thereby attempting to preserve the prestige of the US armed forces and boost public opinion at home. The withdrawal is necessary as the US can no longer sustain its military occupation and can attempt to ‘hand over control’ to Afghan forces. This will give it the opportunity to refocus its energies on the Middle East to prevent the popular uprisings and toppling of its puppets from loosening its grip on the region. It is critical that America maintains control of the oil in the area and prevents an Islamic oriented power from emerging that could challenge it on an ideological and strategic level.

Two, it sets up the stage to not only continue drone strikes in Pakistan’s tribal areas but also expand both the reach and magnitude of its military operations in the country. An incursion by troops in helicopters is an unprecedented act of war against Pakistan and will serve to push the line of what is tolerable for America to do in Pakistan further.

The reasoning for this is to pursue America’s real objective in Pakistan, which is to prevent real ideological change from occurring that will threaten its economic and geostrategic interests in Central Asia and the Middle East. America will continue to create strife in Pakistan so that the country becomes further divided amongst any lines possible – ethnic, provincial, sectarian, political and religious grounds. This will keep Pakistan weak and distracted, and the current and previous crop of leaders have facilitated America along this path.

Pakistan needs to stand up and issue a strong response to the US straight away if it is prevent this unprecedented incursion to be become a norm. Pakistan must not be pressured by Western Media for standing up for its independence as the issue of Bin Laden is involved. The country must draw a line and make it clear to the whole world that no country can simply fly in wherever and whenever it wants to and kill its people.

Pakistan’s secular rulers are leading the country down an alarming path of destruction. The current political set up cannot lead Pakistan out of this crisis. The secular democratic parties are all in cahoots, along with Kayani, Pasha and their cronies, with the US in helping achieve its objectives in exchange for dollars.

Real change can only come by the establishment of the Khilafat system, which would not allow one inch of territory to be comprised to foreign aggressors. Pakistan has the means; it merely lacks the political will to exhibit its strength in the face of aggression. America has shown its weakness, not its strength, by putting on this theatrical show in order to save face from what is a humiliating and fruitless exit from Afghanistan.

The people of Pakistan must come together and call upon the sincere elements of the military establishment, that form the vast majority of the military institution, whose hearts are no doubt being torn apart just like those of the common man to remove the treacherous leadership that is leading the country in to a dark abyss. Both elements must take inspiration from the events unfolding across the Middle East where our brothers and sisters are rising up to rid themselves of Western sponsored puppets.

America and her allies care not for the people of these lands just as in Pakistan and similarly, have supported and continue to support those rulers that oppress the people as long as it is in their interests. Secular rulers, with their desire to slavishly obey America as dictators or democrats, have pushed Pakistan to the edge. The Khilafat must be established quickly if the country is to be saved from destruction.

Muhammad Asim

mammuhammadasim@gmail.com

The author is a freelance columnist

Hizb ut Tahrir seeks to restore Caliphate in Pakistan

Recent events in Pakistan have brought the spotlight on to the group Hizb ut Tahrir and its activities. Hizb ut Tahrir, or HT as it is widely known, describes itself as a global Islamic political party that seeks to restore the Caliphate state in the Muslim world. Founded in 1953 by Palestinian scholar Taqiudeen an-Nabhani, HT is active throughout the Muslim world and in many non-Muslim countries.

Its membership varies globally and though no official figures exist it has a strong presence in Central Asia where it is rumoured to have up to 1 million members. In Indonesia it also has a significant presence having held large conferences in recent years, such as a 100,000 Caliphate conference in 2007 and a 10,000 strong global Ulema conference in 2009 where scholars from around the globe convened to sign a charter calling for the restoration of the Caliphate and Shariah law in the Muslim world. In some non-Muslim countries it has significant presence such as the UK where it draws a large number of its supporters from the Pakistani community.

HT has often been persecuted for its work, most notably in Uzbekistan where its members have been tortured to death and imprisoned for years on end. In Pakistan it was banned by President Musharraf in 2004 as he claimed it was a terrorist organisation, but this order was later declared defective by the Lahore High Court as it found no proof to support such a claim. In the UK HT has been threatened with a ban on multiple occasions by different Prime Ministers, however the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) has said that it knows of no intelligence to justify a Hizb ut Tahrir ban.

HT has been campaigning for several years in Pakistan for the restoration of the Caliphate which it states is the model of governance as described by Islam. It does not take part in parliamentary elections as it believes the system is set up in a manner to empower and protect those who engage in corruption and seek patronage from foreign powers like America. It believes the current system rewards those who base their message upon sectarian and provincial differences and only those with huge wealth such as feudalists are able to compete for seats.

It is also opposed to democracy on a theological basis arguing that whilst elections themselves are legitimate in Islam, democratic elections are about giving power to those who would legislate laws according to their own whims and political interests. It cites the NRO as one such example where the rule of law was suspended using legal means in a secular Parliament, something which would be impossible in the Shariah based Caliphate. This would not prevent the Caliphate from being technologically progressive State, saying innovation and discovery was a hallmark of the Muslim world under the Caliphate system.

Elections in Islam, according to HT, are about establishing representative rule without affording the ability to elected officials to make laws but instead requiring them to govern within the confines of Shariah and legitimate difference of opinion with all differences being settled by the Caliph. It says current problems between religious groups arise because the mechanism of the Caliph does not exist to settle disputes. This it says leads to claims that there is no one Islam and there are too many differences that prevent the people from being united. HT points to the existence of multiple schools of Fiqh in Islam’s history as proof differences in jurisprudence do not lead to conflict.

HT has proven to be unique from other parties who would also assert to be based upon Islam. Whilst other religious parties in Pakistan have entered the system they have been left tainted by their association with maligned rulers. HT has instead focused its energies on publishing various reports and books on issues ranging from foreign policy to economy. It has also organised seminars and rallies to put pressure on what it terms are agent rulers working to implement the American colonialist agenda for Pakistan.

HT however does not see itself as a mere educational organisation and believes it is able to rule. It points to its body of research work in the fields of Capitalism, Communism and Islam and says that it is the only political party in Pakistan that has the intellectual wealth necessary to govern. HT says it is active in discussions with people from all sections of society including lawyers, politicians, journalists, youth and the military. It hopes that as a result of these discussions it shall eventually be swept to power peacefully on a wave of pro Caliphate public opinion.

As such HT presents an interesting dilemma for America and her supporters within Pakistan. Whilst it does not engage in violence it is striking a chord with many in society who have become disillusioned both with America’s role in the region and a political process which has shown no break in policy between dictator led or democratic regimes.

Some have been calling for HT to be banned or have its activities restricted in public places such as university campuses but have failed to offer justification further than simply disagreeing with HT’s message. Ironically this is further damaging the secular cause as secular champions within the media claim to stand for plurality and rational discussion yet are being seen calling for draconian measures to combat HT’s message rather than calls for constructive dialogue or debate.

HT claims that it has been growing despite stifling measures places against it by successive governments at America’s behest. This claim seems to be backed up by a similar statement recently by former COAS General Mirza Aslam Beg who believes former President Musharraf banned the group upon America’s request. America itself has officially remained silent on HT’s status; though many officials have expressed their fears at its growing influence in the fertile grounds of an increasingly disillusioned military establishment seething at America’s continued interference in Pakistan and violation of its sovereignty.

Muhammad Asim.

E-mail: mamuhammadasim@gmail.com

Twitter: @Asimwriter

The author is a freelance columnist.