While political temperature may be rising across the country and could lead to 1977 like situation, if not handled with political maturity, what perhaps, went un-noticed is a “silent coup” in Sindh, as the civilian authority of the “captain,” has practically been eroded in the last one year, in dealing with “Karachi Targeted Action.”
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah, now under criticism within the party for not doing enough to protect party’s men has recently been stopped from proceeding to Germany for a weeklong tour on party’s instruction apparently because of changing political scenario.
Sources said there might be a change in the Sindh setup after PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto dissolved all provincial bodies. As a result, Qaim Ali Shah is no more the president of PPP, Sindh.
It is unlikely Shah would be retained in which case the new President would also be the next chief minister, in line with the party tradition, and is likely to be another Shah. But even the new CM may not be able to dispel the impression of a “silent coup” or bring any relief for the jailed or self-exiled party leaders.
The concern within the party has been whether these actions were taken with the consent of the CM or not, and what position he had taken in these cases in the apex committee?
But there is lot more to what is happening in this province for the last one year, a clear reflection of erosion of a civilian authority when it come to action against the PPP men allegedly involved terror financing, money-laundering and corruption in particular. Dr Asim Hussain and his adviser are now in the category of “jet black” by the law enforcement agencies. Nisar Morai, a close associate of the party leadership, is also facing serious charges.
Another interesting aspect is whether the Captain of the Karachi Targeted Action himself gave the authority to the agencies or non-civil forces or it had been softly taken from him. The fact remains that today he cannot give assurance to any party leader abroad that he would not be arrested if the returned to Pakistan.
The constitutional position of the “apex committee,”often been raised within the government circles but the CM told his colleagues that decisions have been taken with consensus. Sources said that at times the Captain did object to issues of “crossing the mandate”. For instance, last year he was once not happy with one of the speeches of the Corps Commander, Karachi, termed by many as a “charge sheet” to the provincial government, and when Rangers in one of the most hard-hitting statement even mentioned “Bilawal House.”
Later, these issues were settled down in the apex committee, meetings but the arrest of some bureaucrats and official linked with some PPP leaders again caused problems and the CM got pressure from the party.
Rangers often defended its position by saying that all these decisions were taken in apex committee, but when police did not act accordingly, they were left with no choice.
It appeared that army’s top brass is so disappointed with civilian authorities in implementing certain decisions that they have decided to keep them out on certain sensitive inquiries and information.
In the last few months, the army chief Gen Raheel Sharif twice presided over the meeting on the Karachi operation and was briefed by the DG, Rangers Maj. Gen Bilal Akbar in the absence of the Captain.
At least two sitting MPAs, Mr Sharjeel Memon and Syed Muzzafar Hussain Tappi have been living abroad for the last nine or ten months and consequently lost their ministries. Even former president Asif Ali Zardari has been staying abroad since April, last year. His last appearance in Pakistan was on April 26, 2015 when he made a hard-hitting speech. His named had been mentioned in the JIT of Dr Asim Hussain in these words, “It was also revealed that on the instructions of Asif Ali Zardari, leaders of PPP like Zulfiqar Mirza, Muzzafar Tapi and later Qadir Patel used to look after the issues of groups of Lyari gan war i.e. Uzair Baluch/Baba Ladla including illegal weapon supply to these groups.”
Now Uzair Baluch had already been in the 90-day custody and has made revelation to supplement Dr Asim’s JIT. Video statements of former PPP leader Qadir Patel and former home minister Dr Zulfiqar Mirza had already been recorded, but the two have not yet been arrested.
Sources said there is every possibility that in case Zardari returns he might have to record similar statement even if no further action is required.
All this is happening with the PPP that rules Sindh and Syed Qaim Ali Shah is the Caption of the operation. So technically the province has the “most transparent” mechanism of accountability and the ruling party has put its own leadership before the law.
Practically, it’s the other way round as is evident in what happened in Dr Asim Hussain’s case — arrest of some bureaucrats, raid on government buildings by the federal agencies without seeking CM’s consent.
At times the CM did try to assert his authority, agitated, registered protest before the apex committee, the Interior Minister, and once before Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. In certain cases they too looked helpless like in the MQM case and over joint committee to look after complaints in the Karachi operation.
The powers which the Rangers had asked for in its report submitted to the Supreme Court, if accepted could have led to the “Mini Martial Law.” For instance, it had asked for separate Police.
The Sindh government out of frustration tried to curtail the powers of the Rangers even to the extent that they would not accompany any federal agency during raids on government departments.
Situation did improve but two federal agencies, FIA and NAB, are more active in Karachi than in any part of the country.
At one time, the Chief Secretary, the IGP and two other Secretaries of Sindh were on bail. Some former ministers of the PPP and bureaucrats either went on “long leave” or delayed their return because of fear of being arrested.
The Sindh government has no control over some of the serious inquiries which once materialized can lead to the arrest of some of the sitting ministers, advisers and bureaucrats.
In one such incident, the Rangers lodged a complaint to the CM House, about the presence of a suspect, brother of a PPP leader, wanted in a murder case of two Rangers personnel. When the CM House initially denied his presence, the DG Rangers was about to give instruction to his people posted at CM House to arrest him. What was most surprising was the fact after getting assurance that he would be turned in, the said suspect left the place and reportedly escaped abroad.
Even the Sindh Assembly, supposes to be the most powerful democratic forum, avoided debate on such issues for two reasons.
(1) It may further weaken their relationship with the establishment, and (2) the MQM, which claimed to be the worst target of operation, could use the forum for their missing persons.
The PM might be feeling the heat now of what Zardari told him a month back about the possible consequences of what is happening with his government in Sindh.
Ironically, in Sindh’s case even the PPP leaders particularly those from Punjab, blamed their own government for the “mess.” “What you expect from us to defend corrupt bureaucrats, advisers and ministers, who had minted millions.”
Is it not an embarrassing situation for the Chief Minister that firstly, his adviser Dr Asim was arrested without his consent and later declared in the category of “Jet Black”, a term normally used by JIT for terrorists. The adviser, who is now in judicial remand after spending 90 days with the Rangers, denied these accusations. “I am waiting for the trial for the last nine months,” he once told me.
Interestingly, when I asked him about the role of the Sindh government and whether it provided any relief or did Home Minister Anwar Sial bring any message from the former president, he just smiled, and said “what message could he brought. No, there was none.”
In such a hot weather there are chances of politicians to fall victims of “political heat stroke.” Sindh has already fallen. With too many black-sheep around it’s always difficult to defend and Shah Sahib has a weak case, but he is a constitutionally-elected CM and the Captain of the “Karachi operation.” Is he really? http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/115446-Silent-coup-in-Sindh
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