This is in answer to our exchange of SMS messages between Jan 11th and 12th, 2014, repeated verbatim:
Quote: Me to you: 11th Jan, 2014, 5:22 PM: ‘So, no reaction ON Aitzaz Hasans death Imran? How SHAMEFUL!!!’
You to me: 12th Jan, 2014, 9:36 AM: ‘U really have a v poor opinion of me....without ever bothering to hear my side. Was in india for a conf and got back late last nite. Have already announced a fund on my behalf for aitzazs family plus heavily criticized the kpk govt for their pathetic approach in not honoring the hero (no party head has ever openly criticized his own govt in the media).’
Me to you: 12th Jan, 2014, 9:47 AM: ‘So the K-PK govt. can’t move a finger w/out you/Mazari/Jehangir? Sad state of affairs I must say. Unless there is a compact with the Takfiri murderers to do as they will so long as they don’t bother Khattak And Co.?’
You to me: 12th Jan, 2014, 9:58 AM: ‘Grow up kamran. Stop being so pompous. Have never known a “liberal” so bloodthirsty as u hasn’t 9yrs of killing satisfied your blood lust? Hasn’t each operation spawned more groups? Since when have those who want peace become pro taliban and those who want our army to “do more” be called “liberal’. U are what ali shariati described as “westoxified”, a mentally colonized brown sahib without a shred of original thinking’: Unquote.
Right then, Imran: 1) Aitzaz died on January 6th, a full week before you ‘heavily criticised’ your govt. in K-PK upon arrival from India for not taking any cognizance of the brave boy’s sacrifice. So, what was the govt. in Peshawar doing before you ‘heavily criticized’ it, that it could not even verbally salute him and his act of bravery and condemn the perpetrators of the would-be suicide bombing? The cat got its tongue?
Or, was it too terrified to do so because it was afraid to be seen even hinting at criticism of the militants, which is the grand-mother of all the mad-men running about committing murder and mayhem, because you yourself have never by name condemned the murderous monsters and their dastardly deeds? By the way, why could you/your staff not have ‘heavily criticized’ it from India via ‘phone/email?
2) Upon my asking if the K-PK govt. can’t move a finger without approval from the triumvirate: yourself; Jehangir and Mazari; or if there was a tacit understanding between your govt. and the milit ants you really saw red and flailed about with your ‘balla’!
You said you hadn’t known a “liberal” so bloodthirsty as me, and asked if 9 years of killing hadn’t satisfied my blood lust? 9 Years Imran? How many times must I tell you and your minions that Swat and Dir and Malakand began to be taken over in 1994 for God’s sake?
I thirst for the blood of my own, Imran? Lots of us Pakistanis know, and respect, and love the brave people of K-PK and Fata, the real ‘stake-holders’. We have lived among them, and have served with them as comrades and buddies in the Services. You make the ‘tribals’ out as some mysterious people that only you know. How utterly arrogant and ignorant of you. The real ‘stake-holders’ are dead my friend; done in by these Takfiris who have systematically killed off the respected members of every single Jirga of note. Now your ‘stake-holders’ are Chechens and Uzbeks and Arabs and Uighur Chinese and Somalis and other criminals. You are welcome to them, they are not mine!
You say, ‘ Hasn’t each operation spawned more groups’? Yes, every operation against these car hijackers and kidnappers and murderers for hire has spawned more of the same because the first operation was not carried out effectively. Get the point?
You call me “westoxified” and a “mentally colonized ‘brown sahib’”. Now where did I hear this term before: Ah yes: you writing hypocritically in The Nation, many moons ago, having just got out of your morning suits and frequenting Annabel’s every night, as a means of ‘Pakistanising’ yourself for your political career. I am a Brown Sahib? Did I go trotting off to London to ‘Save the Elephant’ in a black-tie event the moment your doctors allowed you out of bed after you fell off that damned fork-lift?
Let’s rewind a little: why is it that you saw red after reading my sms about whether there was a ‘compact’ with the Takfiris to spare Khattak And Co.,? I had said nothing about ‘fighting’ you-know-who, so why the fury? Remember, however, that the mood of the country is changing after the deaths of Aitzaz Hasan and Chaudhry Aslam. Note the grand gesture of the Pakistan Army in not only sending a Brigade Commander to lay a wreath but also an honour guard to the young Pakhtun Shaheed’s grave. The Army seems sick and tired of burying too many of its young warriors without hitting back.
I think it is high time that you woke up and smelt the cordite; and heard the blood gush from the torsos of our brave soldiers and khassadars and police and levies as they are decapitated by the m-onsters. I wonder if your handlers expose you to the blood and gore that is there for all to see on our screens: like the Takfiris playing football with the heads of our soldiers?
Which reminds me: wait until the Americans leave and then see what happens: ‘Traitors’ like me have been saying it for years; our Ambassador in Washington has said it just a few days ago: If all of the Americans left Afghanistan, all of the murderer’s guns would be turned against us.
BTW, did your minders bring this to your notice: http://www.viewpointonline.net/site/component/content/article/38-bottomnews/3603-youre-a-coward-khan.html.
Must add that I am gratified that the PM has also named you as one of the negotiators with the TTP: Good Luck.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (87)
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@Disgusted with state of Pakistani mind:
so you were leading the team who won us the world cup
he is internationaly acclaimed
@Saqib Saeed: Depends which wind we are talking about ...all winds do not support a Take off ...
Hot headed arrogant Imran Khan. Some things just never change. And now he is also illogical giving all the stupidest historical references as to why we must cower down against these barbarians. Great cricketer zero political acumen......horrible statesman who has managed to misguide the impulsive youth of this country.
The writer seems to be sowing the seeds of hatred and want a clash between KPK and army and also might want to begin Civil War in Pakistan. Shame on this writer!
@SS: On your comment, the best reply would be: hahahahahah
@leader: article with PROOF is more like it…….now, when is Imran Khan going to be a real leader and himself personally go door to door and administer Polio drops to children in KPK???
@Ricky: He is not retired. Author was 'honorably' discharged from the Army for insubordination.
I sincerely liked this article. I have always felt that IK is fake, plays to the gallery and we need somebody like Shafisahab to expose him to bring out the fakeness in IK.
I personally approve of most of Imran's policies eg on corruption etc. I also seriously think Imran now realizes that he has made a mistake regarding his stance on terrorism but is too stubborn to admit it. Changing his point of view will not make him smaller, rather the opposite.
Why are people bashing the writer but not a squeak about the appalling language and attacks made by Imran in his text message? That kind of personal attacks is hardly something one would from a so-called leader.
Dear Kamran Sb
I read yr recent article in the Jan. 16, 2014 email edition of The Express Tribune.
I must say that I admire yr forthrightness, resolve and clarity of thought. I know that publically writing such articles in Pakistan today is risky, and that you must have received your own set of threats. To go ahead and write what you have is indeed admirable.
I salute you, Sir, and please continue to write what you write, giving voice to the thoughts of people like me, and many others like me.
Well...only two words needed to describe this article: Epic Fail
In short: Don't waste your time, replying someone like hime (Writer). I didn't/couldn't read more than first couple of lines.
@Karachiwala: Mr.Dude they will do the same things they were doing before 9/11, Go figure out what were they doing then!
Just goes to show that the media is willing to go to the lowest of the low levels to publish SMS conversations and abusive links towards a Leader. Shame!!!
Very true, people living outside KPK, enjoy the bloddshed in KPK, they should be ashamed of themselves, their mentality and their soul. Great reply from IK and we hate all such basterds who want more bloodshed in Pakhtoon areas instead of negociations. We not only reject them but request them to shut their mouths or come with their families and feel the hard ships of FATA people due to war. GREAT IK
Thank you Kamran Shafi for representing me. You have pointed out the hypocrites.
@soothla: its time to go to school...wakey wakey wake up.
Quite a refreshing break from your Mush-bashing-and an incisive one at that.
The day Pakistan surrendered without even knowing it: A young boy from KPK moves to head off a suicide bomber. The bomber too was someone in need of saving. They stood, convinced of their fate, of their purpose. They both died having thought it was their burden to do so.
Pakistan's response: 'Give the boy an award, name a building after him. Make sure you condole in the media, they must know we are with them. It is sad, but we must still try to negotiate.'
A boy is dead, thousands before him, AND ALL EVERYONE IN OFFICE AND THEIR 'MINIONS' CAN DO IS FIGHT OVER WHO GOT A MESSAGE THROUGH THE MEDIA FIRST!!!
No love for either the writer or IK. But this write-up looks hilarious, there's hardly anything worthwhile in this write-up.
TFT please don't put down these questions to Kamran Shafi:
Kamran Shafi, notwithstanding your prowess with the pen, it’s obvious you're fast losing the plot. You've made IK a whipping boy and never miss an occasion to have a swipe at him.. Ever heard of Major Hewitt, the 'tell all' character? Commentators on Diana scandal called him a cad, I wonder what they'd call someone who bases his 'oped' on an SMS exchange, in certain societies it would be classified as an outright breach of privacy. Did you caution IK that you'd be going public with the messages? Do you have the same access to the bros Sharif? If you do share the same intimacy with them would you dare go public after similar SMS exchange with them? I'd love to see you do it, the Sharifs have their ways of handling runaways, ask Najam Sethi. I am sure you don't want to be 'Sethied'. Punjab is the largest province in the country yet you rarely comment on its affairs, its CM and improvement in quality of life there, if any. Neither does one hear a whimper on federal affairs and the growing stranglehold of the family over state institutions. Has the down-slide in KPK become steeper over the last seven months? It would be interesting to hear your comment on this aspect. You know it better than anyone else that the idea of holding talks with militants or going for an all-out crackdown is debatable, it’s not a simple 'Aye' or "Nay'. There will be a difference of opinion, each need to be weighed and analysed, so why are you not willing to accommodate dissent? Let me assure you I'm not an Insafian but I’m anxious to put my get to the bottom of this animosity, it would be interesting to learn what triggers it.
Doesn't seem ethical to publish private text messages.
"Sacrifice of young teenager from Hangu Shaheed Aitzaz who gave his life to save others from a suicide bomber will not go in vain InshaAllah." This is IK's tweet on 8th January verbatim. At that time not a single columnist or any social media writer knew the name of Aitzaz Hassan. And if you still have any grudge against imran khan you should watch the interview he gave to capital tv. will cool your head burning with hatred against imran khan
This is terrible that you were with someone in a private discussion and instead of replying him in the same private discussion, this man uses media to satisfy himself... Come on and go and interview Imran Khan.... This is ever terrible piece i ever seen...
lame
This is the state of journalism in Pakistan sadly.
Leave imran khan , its enough that you are patriotic enough mr shafi , for lot of journalists like you and irfan siddiqi , its all about long live sharifs ,
IK has become a threat to national security
The author's criticisms of Imran Khan's policies are perfectly valid. The problem for him though is that most of them could also be made of his own glorious leader Nawaz Sharif.
Kamran Shafi needs to be more reasonable and respectful to Imran Khan if he is really doing it for national interest, and not some political/personal reasons.....
@fawad:
Iman in not PM. Hardly a comparison.
@Disgusted with state of Pakistani mind: disgusted mind can't be a balanced mind so forget about it...
This wind blows to help you fly higher
A good discussion which shows the concern of both about the enormity of situation. More such 'encounters' will be good. But I would like to suggest that these should better be 'decent exchanges' so that we can find the best solution and minimize the damage as much as possible.
@Umer: Silly comparison. No violation of the law or conspiracy against the state in this private exchange of views.
Excellent answer by Imran
Great sir Kamran!
So you think you can reason with a former cricketer who used to tamper ball ? He could not have been even a famous cricketer if he had played under current ball tampering laws !
PMLN is in the federal government who makes our foreign policies and who has the authority over our military, how much condemning them?
So you have a direct access to IK. Can you have such a direct access to our democratically elected PM?
Kamran if you sincerelly wants change in policy towards militancy then it should be Federal government and establishment you need to convince. After all same groups were considered strategic assets till sometime back and international events in near future can again make them valuable in eyes of establishment.
Your continous tirade against IK seems more like personal vendetta.
@leader and others bashing the author: Kamran has made some very valid points. But you guys are making just silly ad homienem attacks. Sad.
Dope has its effects on human brain....
@Faisal:
In Cuckoo land, yes.
@Damnedpeacetalks: Our PM is saying same thing. Just today again he said it as well. So you can understand where the so called PTI "trolls" are coming from. How come no criticism on mian sahib...only Imran is to be blamed?
This man has no knowledge of Pakistan history and of religion hence perfect choice for rouge elements in establishment to cash his charisma for some vested interests.He is not even aware of the fact as being used.I wonder why cluster of opportunists still hangs around him even after seeing-'Thuthoo' from top army brass.
Imran is not a brave person. Its foolish to expect from him any extra-ordinary act of bravery.
Its OK to bring out Haqani's text messages but not Imran Khan's. The PTI double standard.
Wow. This got really personal. That too over text messages. Not sure if that's how political discourse should be conducted.
ET is not posting comments to this Article. Why ET stoped comments on the article?
Leaving aside the arguments I have a question on media ethics and things being said on record and not. Can exchange of SMS messages be used verbatim without permission?
It's worded as a personal spat that spilled out in the media...
Sir, your message is lost in the way you have decided to deliver it. Talk about throwing your toys out of the pram!
Can't help but wonder at the utter ignorance of PTI trolls who still fail to understand the gravity of the situation just as their ignorant-let's-talk-until-we-die leader (as seen in most of the comments above).
Leaders such as IK should be unveiled such as this, so that more people understand their lack of intellectual level to handling a simple but horrendous situation. Kudos to the author! Don't seem to make out how much more lives shall we have to sacrifice for a failed leadership to understand the severity of the situation.
Imran is 100% right.
I disagree with the words of Mr.Khan that Kamran Shafi is "a mentally colonized brown sahib without a shred of original thinking ". Kamran Shafi is a soldier, a true son of Pakistan and is also one of the best Original Thinkers in Asia.
@Karachiwala: So you are implying that, being Karachi Wala, you are fine with all the "Maar Dhaar" going on among political mafias there instead of the policy of reconciliation to understand eachother's view point to possibly come at a settlement?
If you want peace through talks in Karachi and OK to have MQM in assemblies after the brutal decade of 90's in Karachi, what is wrong with talking to bad guys in tribal areas?
A blog about an sms conversation?
Desperation.
Brilliant, as ever! Great piece! However, our leaders are just delusional - no point of return...
@Karachiwala: It's not only "holding peace talks" and all will be fine. Apply the whole strategy. First step, disengagement from US WoT. Drop their "Jihad narrative". You need to listen to Imran Khan's whole strategy. Bits and pieces won't help us like it hasn't since over a decade.
That was a superb bit of writing. Imran Khan gave you the opportunity and you took it........brilliant. It's sad to see how quickly Imran has lost his way.
Hahahahaha.
Good on the journalists part that he didn't leave out anything from the text messages and published this in the first place.
Isn't it wrong to make an sms exchange between the two you public this way Mr Kamran Shafi? Did you ask Imran Khan's permission before you shared his text message, which was meant only for you, to the world at large?
Irresponsible journalism.