With the Army engineered ‘General’ elections in Pakistan ensuring that Shehbaz Sharif emerges as Pakistan’s newly ‘selected’ prime minister, Rawalpindi would have certainly celebrated its great success. However, with euphoria of having politically ‘neutered’ the one who gave Pakistani Generals the ungainly moniker of “neutrals” over, it’s time for Pakistan’s real kingmaker Gen Syed Asim Munir [who also doubles up as its army chief] to get down to serious work and take stock of the chaotic situation the military has spawned.

Gen Munir needs no reminding as he is a meticulous person known to be one who neither forgets nor forgives. He’s already on the job of tying up all the loose ends to ensure that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf [PTI] party chief and former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political aspirations have no scope of resurrection.  He also knows very well that the widespread public dissatisfaction generated by physical and psychological intimidation of the PTI’s rank and file is a ticking time bomb that needs to be defused quickly and with great finesse.

So, it was expected that the elections and its resultant political fallout would be high on the agenda of the corps commanders’ conference held on March 5, and the post-conference press release issued by the Pakistan Army’s media wing Inter Services Public Relations [ISPR] has confirmed the same.  

The ISPR press release states “The Corps Commanders Conference has expressed satisfaction over the smooth democratic transition of power in the Centre and Provinces” [Emphasis added]. The question that arises is- how can the army endorse untainted conduct of the entire election process so definitely? After all, doesn’t the ISPR statement specifically mention that the “Armed Forces of Pakistan provided [a] security environment for the conduct of General Election-24 as per the given mandate and had nothing to do with the electoral process.”? [Emphasis added].

Given Rawalpindi’s  history of meddling in politics, the recently concluded general elections in Pakistan were closely watched by the international community, various rights organisations as well as independent observers, and the general consensus is that the elections, to say the least,  have been “controversial.” So, it’s but natural for Rawalpindi to try and create an illusion of orders and instructions being implicitly followed during the entire election process- from canvassing to result declaration. How many will believe this is anybody’s guess!

ISPR will surely deny the Army’s involvement in orchestrating elections results, but if this is really the case, then why would there be such a pervasive barrage of accusations against the Army? Moreover, if this allegation lacks substance, then where was the need for ISPR to get so worked up and state that the corps commanders’ conference “expressed dismay that some vested small segments of polity and media especially social media have been maligning Armed Forces of Pakistan with unsubstantiated allegations of interference which is highly deplorable.”?

Similarly, ISPR’s statement mentions that during the conference it was “emphasised that due legal processes should be followed with evidence and proof rather than resorting to unconstitutional and uncalled for baseless political rhetoric and emotional outbursts.” If this menacing statement was meant to silence critics, then Rawalpindi needs to realise that unlike days of yore, such arm twisting doesn’t work anymore, and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s hard hitting, no-holds-barred response is proof of the same.

Reacting to the ISPR’s missive, the JUI-F chief highlighted the judiciary’s subservience to the military by saying, “When a politician stands against the establishment [Pakistan Army], the judiciary becomes active” [Emphasis added], and rightly noted that “No decision of the judiciary of Pakistan is presented as a precedent in the world.” One could have rejected these assertions had Rehman been the only one to have raised the issue of an existing nexus between the Army and judiciary, but unfortunately, many others have also done the same.

In 2018, senior Islamabad High Court [IHC] Judge Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui, who was in line to become its chief justice, publicly revealed that “Today the judiciary and media have come in the control of ‘Bandookwala’ [Army]” [Emphasis added] and that “Judiciary [in Pakistan] is not independent.” He even disclosed that “In different cases, the ISI [Inter Services Intelligence, Pakistan army’s spy agency] forms benches of its choice to get desired results.” [Emphasis added].

There’s yet another far more damning revelation coming from the very horse’s mouth.

In 2016, former President and ex Pakistan Army chief Gen Pervez Musharraf admitted in a TV interview that when he was placed in the ‘exit control list’ by the courts, the then Army chief Gen Raheel Sharif “did help me” to get out of it as “I have been his boss, and I have been the army chief before him . . .” Ruminating that “ . . . our judiciary should move towards justice,” Gen Musharraf revealed that “these courts work under pressure behind the scenes and then give decisions. The Army chief had a role to play in releasing the pressures behind the scenes.” [Emphasis added]. 

With the faceoff between the Army aided by the judiciary and the politicians supported by the public likely to gain momentum with passage of time, Pakistani politics has all ingredients of a pot boiler and holds promise of interesting times ahead!

In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and resistance, Tibetans residing in Vienna, under the umbrella of the Tibetan Community Organization and supported by Austrian Volunteer Tibet Advocacy Groups (V-TAGs), gathered outside the Chinese Embassy to protest against China’s occupation of Tibet on Sunday, marking the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day.

Approximately 200 protesters, draped in Tibetan flags, passionately expressed their discontent with China’s alleged atrocities and genocidal actions in Tibet. Chanting slogans such as “Tibet belongs to Tibetans!” and “China must leave Tibet,” the demonstrators voiced their unwavering commitment to the Tibetan cause.

Austrian politician and member of the Vienna State Parliament and Vienna City Council, Dolores Bakos, lent her support to the protest, brandishing a “Free Tibet” banner. Addressing the crowd on the 65th Tibetan National Uprising Day, Bakos reaffirmed the solidarity of the Austrian people with Tibet and pledged her party’s commitment to advocating for justice at the international level.

Expressing concern over the humanitarian situation in Tibet, Bakos highlighted the violation of cultural and religious rights, as well as the erasure of Tibetan identity under the guise of dam development. Bakos, affiliated with the Austrian political party New Austria and Liberal Forum (NEOS), emphasized the party’s dedication to working closely with Tibetans in Austria.

In a recent move, NEOS MPs presented a resolution in the Austrian Federal Parliament condemning China’s forced transfer of Tibetan children to boarding schools. Accordingly, the resolution is currently under consideration by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Austrian Federal Parliament.

Notably, earlier this month, Tibetan diaspora also staged a protest outside the Chinese Embassy in Vienna, condemning the arrest of Tibetans peacefully opposing the planned dam construction in Tibet’s Sichuan province.

Nevertheless, following the protest, a rally of around 200 Tibetans marched from the Chinese Embassy in Vienna to Stephan Platz, raising awareness among the Austrian public about the harsh measures implemented by the Chinese Communist Party in Tibet. The event aimed to shed light on the ongoing struggle for Tibetan autonomy and human rights, resonating with a global call for justice and freedom.

The harrowing tale of a Hindu man named Ritik Kumar, abducted one month ago while traveling from Sukkur to Mirpur Mathelo, has unfolded a disturbing pattern of targeted harassment against Hindus in Sindh. Despite informing authorities immediately, there has been a shocking lack of effort to locate Ritik or identify the perpetrators, raising concerns about the safety and security of the Hindu community in the region.

Reports suggest the involvement of local Waderas (feudal landlords) and bigoted individuals with influential backing. A viral video depicting Ritik in chains, pleading for release while being tortured, has added urgency to the matter.

This incident bears unsettling similarities to a case last year when Hindu man Jagdish Kumar Mukhi was abducted from Kashmore. Later another one, named Sagar Kumar was also abducted from Kashmore. The lack of prompt action by the police led to public protests in Kashmore and Kandhkot. However, instead of addressing the concerns of the protestors, the police, along with some dacoits, attacked the demonstration, injuring many.

The recurring theme of targeted abductions of Hindus and the subsequent apathy from authorities suggest a worrying trend. The striking resemblance between Ritik Kumar’s case and the incident in Kashmore last year implies a selective abduction pattern, indicating potential involvement by influential entities within the Pakistani establishment and their puppet administration in Sindh.