How come until last week, all those pressing the govt to first build western route were called traitors, RAW agents?
JUBAIL, SAUDI ARABIA: One welcomes the consensus reached on the proposed sequence of construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The government has conceded to the popular demand to restore the original plan of first building the western corridor, which is the shorter distance between Gwadar and Kashghar. How come until last week, all those pressing upon the government to first build the western route were called traitors and RAW agents? One wonders for how long this ugly practice of awarding traitor certifications to opponents of certain viewpoints will continue. Even Fatima Jinnah was labelled as such. Every other leader from the smaller provinces can take pride in his/her traitor title.
I have doubts whether things will really move on with the western corridor. The major hurdle will be security for construction contractors, and others associated with the project. If you leave those outside powers who are against the development of such a corridor for a moment, the question is: what have we done to eliminate terrorism? Sectarian outfits have spread their menace across the country and we see their presence in Karachi, south Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Weak implementation of the National Action Plan has created an atmosphere in favour of building the eastern route first. That will be the time for recertification of thr traitor title.
Masood Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2015.
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