| 11 June 2004 | Friday | 22 Rabi-us-Saani 1425 |
Re-polling decision
Yesterday's morning newspapers reported renewed fighting in South Waziristan, with nearly 40 people killed, including over a dozen army men. The people barely had time to digest the news when mayhem broke out in the Clifton area of Karachi, with firing on a convoy of cars, one carrying the corps commander.
There was also a bomb blast when security people reached the scene - in a replay of earlier incidents in Karachi. At least 10 people died in the new outrage. There will be an immediate temptation to draw a link between the flare-up of fresh trouble in South Waziristan and the Karachi happenings, particularly in view of the tribal militants' warnings that they would avenge attacks against them by striking in the country's principal cities.
A connection between some of the blasts in Karachi, notably the one outside the Pakistan American Cultural Centre, and militant organizations has been suspected for some time. It is also believed that sprawling Karachi, ungovernable and unmanageable as it has become, provides safe sanctuaries for Al Qaeda and Taliban elements.
The bottom lime is that we are in deep trouble, and the situation is becoming daily more alarming both politically and with regard to security and law and order. The government has been unable to establish its writ in South Waziristan despite an effort lasting over two months.
During this period, the paramilitary or military forces have lost about 50 men (at least 14 in March) and many militants have also been killed or captured. But since the wanted men merge easily with the civilian population there, innocent tribal people have also been among the casualties.
This has its own significance in terms of the alienation that is at the root of the crisis in the tribal belt. A ceremony was held amidst much fanfare at Shakai where one of the leaders of the resistance had surrendered his weapons.
He had shortly afterwards made it known that searching for or producing foreign fighters hiding there was not part of his agreement with the authorities, and has now emerged again as a key figure in the resumption of fighting.
The support extended to the rebellious tribes of Wana by the mainstream religious parties, neo-converts to anti-imperialism, is goading the former into more defiant action.
Statements suggesting that we should "understand" tribalism, when the need is to abolish this anachronism along with feudalism and many other pernicious practices, only confuse the issue.
But none of this can minimize either the atrocious mishandling of the problem of terrorism and South Waziristan or the open defiance of state authority by a group of tribal people.
It is clear that the colonial political structure in Fata has collapsed and cannot deliver any longer. There may have been assimilation or integration in some tribal agencies, but South Waziristan stands out as an exception.
The government, which really means the military even more in this case than in other matters, has the option of either going in with greater force into the troubled areas or persuading all political parties to come to its aid by sending a delegation to the region for talks with the people there on an amicable settlement.
The first course brings back disturbing memories of previous military operations such as in Balochistan; the second would need an effort on the part of the military to accept that it is not the answer to every problem that faces the country.
The umbilical relationship between jihadi, sectarian and the new post-9/11 militant organizations should be recognized and a sincere attempt made, in cooperation with democratic forces, to contain the violence that holds us in thrall.
We have too long been in denial - denial of the fact that militarization of society and the absence of democratic and political processes complicate issues; denial too of the consequences of encouraging all kinds of revivalist and ideologically blinkered tendencies in an attempt to replace genuinely representative parties.
There is also an urgent need to investigate the infiltration of the country's military and intelligence services, which have been so involved in politics over the years that they have assumed a pervasive poli-tical role of their own. The attempts on the president's life and Thursday's attack on a military convoy strongly point in that direction.
Re-polling decision
Following an inquiry into the by-polls held in Karachi on May 12, the Election Commission has annulled the results for one provincial seat and two national assembly seats while upholding the verdict for a third NA seat.
The Muttahida Qaumi Movement has taken strong exception to the 40-page EC order, which cites "grave illegalities" committed on election day as the main reason for its decision to annul the results in question.
Incidents of violence on that day had claimed nine lives besides injuring 29 people amidst allegations and counter-allegations by the MQM and the MMA. The Election Commission's order signed by four high court judges headed by the chief election commissioner incorporates the findings of an inquiry committee and submissions by the MQM candidates.
The proceedings were boycotted by the MMA. The order has determined that the violence and killings on the by-poll day were "tantamount to illegal interference with the free exercise of the right of franchise of the electorate... and is in violation of the law and the rules."
It cites Section 103AA of the Representation of People Act as the basis for its decision to annul the results in the three constituencies and has ordered fresh by-elections to be held there on August 9.
The unofficial results announced the day following the by-polls had declared MQM candidates successful, and the Muttahida has now launched a broadside against the chief election commissioner.
The Election Commission has not been above controversy, and following both the October 2002 general elections and the presidential referendum of April 5, 2002, there were numerous allegations about the EC failing to take notice of many irregularities.
Even now, the EC's report is silent on the performance of its own electoral machinery. That said, the Muttahida's reaction appears to be too personalized and based more on factors other than the actual situation on May 12. The Muttahida would have won the NA by-polls anyway, since these were its seats, and will again win in the fresh polls scheduled for August 9.
The PA seat was a problem because it was held by the PPPP and was wrested by the MQM. If an inquiry has established that there was violence and disorder on May 12, then it is difficult to see how re-polling can be avoided, and all parties should now cooperate in ensuring that the re-polling is carried out peacefully.