Munaeem's Blog

Troops have been deployed inside state-run TV and radio stations, while independent channels have gone off air.

Benazir Bhutto fled to Dubai in hurry .

The question is , what compelled her to leave Pakistan in such a way.

Before her departure to Dubai, she made claim in a press conference that she had canceled her visit and would remain in the country to watch the changing situation.

But it looked that she fled country for fear of martial law.

Pakistan’s interior Ministry spokesman asserted that a foreign country was responsible for the situation in Swat. He added that a foreign country was supply arms and ammunition to militants in Swat.

Although , he did not divulge the name of that country. However, a local Pakistani magazine Takbeer reported that Afghan government is behind the terrorists activities in Pakistan. The magazine wrote that the Afghan Interior ministry had formed a cell to fund and train militants to destabilize Pakistan.

Media reports say that suicide bomber blew himself up near Army house in Pindi killing 8 people and injuring 22 persons.

It is very alarming that these bombers are striking our top security zones with ease. The government should reprimand security agencies for their failure to nab the culprits.These incidents have frightened people and they are losing trust on our security agencies.

According to reports, armed supporters of Maulana Fazlullah, the cleric, who launched an FM radio station and started  a Taliban-style Islamisation campaign , has agreed to a ceasefire.

Pakistani government claimed that they had killed 60 militants in fighting Sunday. However, cleric’s spokesman disputed government’s claim and said that only five people had been killed.

How can government make peace with  criminals and anti-state elements? They are responsible for the growing instability in the region. Has the government forgotten that they had beheaded 13 people, including six security officers, soon after the fighting started on Friday?

These Islamic militants exert virtual control in our semi-autonomous tribal belt bordering Afghanistan are spreading their influence into the rest of the country. They must be stopped at any cost because they are maligning the name of Islam by their actions.

ROBERT NOVAK thinks that Benazir Bhutto can be a bulwark against Islamic extremism. He opines that al-qaeda and Taliban is against Benazir Bhutto and is creating trouble for her.

Mr. NOVAK , she is the one who formed Taliban. History tells us that she can make deals with militants and terrorists. She made a deal with the cleric, who was fighting security forces in Swat now. If she had take action, he would have been behind bars. She may be good for American interests. But she is not good for Pakistan. Her government will bring Shiites in power in Pakistan.

BB and her close confidents know that open support by the US does not go well with Pakistani public in context of elections or otherwise. The Americans are not naive to ignore this fact but yet they keep pounding on rhetoric irritating public psyche. I believe the PPP leadership has politely conveyed their subtle reservations on such open support.

So what could possibly be the motives behind it? I can think of two; one minor another major. Putting pressure on the honorable judges of Supreme Court vis-à-vis the two ongoing cases which, directly or indirectly, link BB can be taken as minor. But if, God forbid, something happens to BB in another attack identical to Karachi blasts, the country will go into acute turmoil. The Americans will make it a point and takeoutthe nuclear facilities as part of established plan, Condi spoke about in recent interviews. A non-nuclear Pakistan, no matter how destabilized, will not create gripes in US policy-implementers. Pertinently, it is essential to find out the actual culprits behind the Karachi blasts and the relevant groups stop pointing fingers in wrong directions.

Dr. Ghayur Ayub
via email

Islamic militants beheaded four law enforcement men in Swat to avenge the deaths of their comrades. The way these poor people were killed is barbaric.

It is painful to hear that the government wants to negotiate with these barbaric people, and politician like Maulana Fazlur Rehman wants to stop the action against the militants. He has demanded to pull troops out of Swat.

These cruel militants deserve no respect. I urge the government to continue till these militants are eliminated. They should not succumb to pressure like the government on self-professed crusader Ms. Benazir Bhutto, which gave concessions to militants in Swat in 1994.

US Ambassador to Pakistan disclosed while talking to editorial board of the News, Jang, and GEO TV that the US has offered help in the investigation of the recent bomb blasts in Karachi.

I fail to understand why the US wants to embroil itself in the internal affairs of Pakistan.

In my opinion, interventionist policies will generate anti-American feelings, which will benefit hardliners and extremists in Pakistan.

Ms. Bhutto has projected herself as popular leader in the eyes of the US Administration and law makers. Let her prove her claims in the elections.

I would like to tell the US administration that she is a mediocre leader and is surrounded by mediocrities. The way she conducted herself in the recent week tells us that she is not fit for the top job.

Reports say that Pakistani government has launched a major operation against maverick , Maulana Fazlullah.

The government claims that they have moved in on the militants in Swat to reassert its writ over 59 villages of Matta Division. They also allege that the cleric has set-up a parallel administration.

I support government's decision to launch operation in Swat. I hope that they will be able to restore peace. But the question is why the government did not take action when he started his criminal activities.

The should also shake up the local administration. According to reports , they are corrupt and tyrant. Their tyranny and corruption have made Maulana Fazlullah popular.

Sherry Rehman, spokeswoman for the Pakistan Peoples Party, made a startling assertion in an interview that al-qaeda had threatened Ms. Bhutto’s life. She said that Ms. Bhutto’s lawyer had received a letter, which says that she would be slaughtered like ‘goat’.

In my opinion, this is a publicity gimmick. They are trying to put pressure on government to give them concessions in the interim set-up. The unidentified assassin claims that he will kill her with a knife. I think no one can break her fortified security.

Our society stands on five pillars as opposed to frequently stated three. They are Judiciary, Legislative, Executive, Armed forces and Clergy. Over the last sixty years, one by one each pillar got eroded for various reasons, corruption topping the list. When the pillars which hold a society get weakened by erosions, they start shaking creating a pre-collapse societal chaos, followed by caving in as frank revolution.

The government of Pakistan is mulling over to ban large political rallies following Friday's deadly attack in Karachi.

Political opposition parties in Pakistan are opposing government’s plan to impose ban on rallies. They think this will affect their political campaign.

Their  objection is justified. But the precarious situation prevailing in Pakistan dictates that government should ban political rallies, because government does have the resources to provide security to every tom , dick and harry.