Here comes the PFG!

The ‘non-political pressure group’ Pakistan First Group has a manifesto of ‘checking army, ISI bashing’.

So then, not 149 not 151, but fully 150 retired generals turned out at a 5-star (well, would we expect OUR generals to gather in a 4-star hotel, for God’s sake?!) to set up a ‘non-political pressure group’ by the name of Pakistan First Group. In keeping with what I have always held, buried deep inside the story we find that a sprinkling of naval and air force officers also attended.

Its manifesto as given in the press is to ‘check army, ISI bashing’ (not the other Services, please note) and that ‘Musharraf be allowed to return to his country ... participate in the elections ... (and) be provided necessary security allowed to any other former president of the country’. We are also told that PFG is affiliated with the Pakistan Ex-Serviceman’s Association (PESA).

Now then, while it is far from clear just how this collection of retired generals is going to ‘check’ what they call ‘army, ISI bashing’ might one point out that the criticism is mainly aimed at their fellow rank-wallahs who give the orders, not poor line officers and soldiers who are sacrificing their young lives in the War against Terror.

So, if they want the criticism to stop, could the retired generals please advise their successors to start with some CBMs. First off, the renunciation of their jihadi ‘assets’ who have brought so much grief to the country already. And who, let’s face it, have made Pakistan a veritable breeding ground of terrorists and therefore have given it a very bad name. The real assets of the country are common, ordinary Pakistanis, not crazed religious zealots.

Next, could they accept once and for all, that the army is but another department of the GOP. A fleeting look at the Indian army chief’s travails next door would help greatly. Could they then stop eye-balling the elected civilian government and trying to stare it down? And last, could they stop ISPR from issuing near-rebellious and insolent statements on behalf of themselves?

Could the retired generals advise those they want to protect to desist from those unsoldierly activities that give the armed forces a very bad name indeed? Such as running shaadi halls and restaurants out of officers messes? In a most disappointing sign, however, it is reported that the shaadi hall in the Mehran Base — yes the very same naval base that was attacked by al Qaeda and in which several costly aircraft were destroyed including the only two serviceable Orion P3-C — is now open for business again!

Such as merchandising mirch masalas and groceries out of CSD shops which at one time only catered to serving and retired armed forces personnel? And letting out portions of officer’s messes to banks and other commercial enterprises? And running bakeries and pastry shops? Why, I found an NLI-run pastry and cake shop located right in Skardu bazaar, and one in Marala Headworks bazaar some years ago.

As for the ISI, it only has to civilise itself, that’s all, to remove the aura of fear that surrounds it. It could make an excellent start by telling us what it has come up with in the investigation into Saleem Shahzad’s brutal beating to death. We recall that soon after the event, a high official whilst denying that the agency had anything to do with it, promised that it would ‘leave no stone unturned’ to find his killers. Well, sirs, how many stones are yet to be unturned?

As for providing ‘necessary’ security for the Commando, the PFG should have rather demanded that it be better than that provided by the Commando’s government to the much missed, much lamented, Benazir Bhutto.

And as for the PFG being allied to PESA, let us recall when Musharraf, showing stark discourtesy to his retired seniors, called PESA a collection of ‘spent cartridges’. It is shameful that now when he needs crutches, him or his fans would even look to ‘spent cartridges’ for support.

Which, be as it may, I would ask his new supporters to look at footage of Musharraf’s jalsa in Karachi. It may yet convince them that the Commando is the wrong horse to back.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 25^th, 2012.