Dangerous Judges:
Rocky Khan: Mr. 007: Common Pir
By LampPost
ISLAMABAD:
Everybody and his aunt is marking his time to strike, at the right
target, at the right moment, with the right weapons and using
the right shooters. There is a sense of acting like a James Bond
in every soul, in and outside the newly elected National Assembly.
The
numbers game thrown up by the Pakistani voters, and the manipulators
of turncoats, has turned so thrilling that each person is now
an important entity, in his or her own right, capable of overthrowing
an elected Prime Minister, so to say.
But
like many previous Prime Ministers, our new man also believes
firmly in 'Pirs' and incidentally his Pir is the same from Layyah
who was regularly visited by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
This Durrata Village Pir Sahib in Seraiki Punjab, however, could
not help the former PMs from getting sacked. Jamali would have
to please him twice as well, if he wants to avoid the same fate
as the past disciples who could not escape the wrath of Islamabad,
or Rawalpindi to be exact.
But
all that is happening in the cool confines of Islamabad is not
bad. While dirty games are being played by players who should
actually be stopping this foul play, at least the game has begun,
the teams are in the field, line-ups have been arranged, goal
posts have been set, umpires have been named and some spectators
have gathered to watch the match. It is a different matter that
the organizers had forced the teams to guarantee before they entered
the arena who would be the winner.
But
when the game starts, some players do well and others don’t.
Some even get injured in the game. It is thus playing the democratic
game which matters, not the result as the result could be altered
by any set of circumstances, even at the last moment. But for
the present game there is no time limit so players have to remain
fit for a long haul.
LampPost
has learnt that while the democratic game has begun, and the appropriate
name for the present match would be “Tug of War”,
some outsiders are eager to change the rules of the game, as it
progresses. The highest of the high who sit in judgment are itching
to restore their badly bruised image. The country’s supreme
body of attorneys had given a body blow to these judges by boycotting
them and refusing to argue before them any case in which the army
was a party. This had left the judges with egg on their faces
and robes and now “Their honors” are in a different
mood. In fact one of them was even heard, and reported, saying
that they will strike, “as soon as we get some space.”
Who
are these “honors” going to strike at was the big
question, LampPost heard many asking during the big ceremonies
of pomp in high places. They cannot strike at the just revived
democracy. They cannot even strike against their own good or bad
pronouncements. So the only target left for them to hit out will
be the Khakis, and “their honors” can be nasty, if
they are offered proper security. Watch out for the high profile
constitutional cases which go to their court in the next weeks
and months. After all the egg that they got on their faces has
to be cleaned, belated the clean-up may be.
LampPost
is amused to hear the discussions in the post-Iftar parties in
Islamabad about the compromises which had to be made and the promises
which have to be kept. Someone heard a uniformed high up congratulating
a super “lota” that he had done a wonderful job. “We
are proud of you,” the 3-star Khaki said to the man. Proud
of betraying his party, is that what he meant. If that becomes
the motto of the institution he serves, Pakistanis should better
start thinking about who will defend them in a real war situation.
Such 3-star stars may start performing the “lota”
act themselves if they think it is such a good thing to do.
The
Big Mush has also performed some of these acts himself in his
quest to get a political set up which does not pose a challenge
to his own power. In a totally illegal and uncalled for act, he
has written off some Rs 8 million due from ex-chairman of the
Upper House for misuse of his telephones and cars. This act alone
is unjustified as being the head of the state he is not supposed
to provide monetary benefit to people, while for similar “crimes”
others are spending months and years in jails. This is not what
his oath says, oath which he must now remember by heart as he
has read it so many times in recent times. Yet if he does not
stand by his oath, what good is repeating it again and again.
The
new man in charge, General Jamali, or Rocky Khan, as he is known
in his area, has done a courageous act by jumping into a situation
in which he will have to perform some circus tricks to keep himself
floating and alive. LampPost heard a comment that Rocky Khan had
been handed over a NAB cabinet, people who were under the sword
of the Accountability regime and had agreed to work with the Khakis
to escape their ordeal and to enjoy some of their perks. A simple
count shows some of the new ministers are on bail as their cases
continue to progress in the NAB courts.
But
the man who would have made the best bargain is forward bloc chief
of PPP, now the Interior Minister who instead of being harassed
about his textile loans would now be ordering the NAB courts,
not just to clear his own name but to get his stuck up mills running.
It would help the country if his Shah Jewna Textile Mills starts
production soon as employment would be generated and economy would
move on quickly.
LampPost
was specially interested in the reaction of some of the pillars
of the out going cabinet who were acting like God until the last
day. Men like Javed Ashraf Qazi, of the Railways Ministry. His
Ministry was handed over to a new minister on the very first day
so his chances of coming back are as good as nil. Likewise the
Information Minister, who compromised himself so much by speaking
out loud for the Khakis, found that he had been left in the cold.
When LampPost tried to look up these two lost souls, amid the
celebrations all around, they seemed to have lost many pounds
of weight and many years of their ages. Power keep you young,
and absolute power like being the ISI chief, keeps you super young.
But when you fall, even Siddiq ul Farooq will be having a big
laugh. That’s nasty.
The
most interesting ministry has come to Pindi’s son, Sheikh
Rashid who now has to defend the military regime’s past
and present and future deeds and misdeeds, with the same gusto
that he shows for his own boss, the Rocky Khan. Dear Sheeda can
handle the job as he is a man born and raised on the streets and
he knows when to make the play or duck the bouncer.
The
last laugh, LampPost learns, is being enjoyed by the erstwhile
Qazi Sahib who is now poised to control many of the strings as
a major player in the Senate, running the NWFP and possibly Balochistan
and capturing the Opposition Leader’s slot in the National
Assembly. Qazi Sb, however, made it a point that he was present
at the swearing in of General Jamali as that sent the strongest
signal that all politicians will stay together to defend their
clan, against their rival team, the clowns.
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