Monday, August 25, 2014

Asma Jahangir’s Nomination: A Round Peg in a Square Hole



Aasef 

The news that has taken the sleep of the patriotic Pakistanis away is about the recent nomination of Asma Jahangir as an expert to investigate so-called human rights (HR) violations / abuse committed by Govt Forces in Sri Lanka during the last phase of war against LTTE. It would have been a routine news if the things would have had been different on the horizon; domestically and internationally. Nevertheless, under current circumstances it is quite likely to cause psychological embarrassment and emotional exasperation for Pakistan as Sri Lanka is an exceptionally friendly country.  Those who know her well know her as an arrogant, self-centered and ruthlessly blunt as a lawyer and HR activist as well. The lady is the former President of Pakistan Bar Council and has been mysteriously, out of blues picked by United Nations (UN) along with two other ‘international experts’.

The worrisome fact is that her appointment is not welcomed by Sri Lanka since very few Sri Lankan politicians like the idea of UN’s interference in Sri Lanka’s internal affairs to topple the sitting UPFA Govt. Sri Lankan political leaders strongly believe that this is the only underhand method that can be adopted for toppling the Govt and a way forward to regime change. Even they know, the international forces behind this idea, well

May be very few people know that about more or less five years back, suddenly from all nooks and corners of the country, the voice against Pakistan army was raised simultaneously, identical to the happenings of 1971 and yet another surprising thing was the timings of Uday Bhaskar’s concern and Asma Jahangir’s address at Agha Khan University during August 2009, which were finely synchronized. Interestingly both the individuals had a thrillingly common theme to highlight. Her addressed at Agha Khan University was being given a wide coverage and extra ordinarily highlighted by the Indian press and electronic media
Those who have a short memory can be given the allowance to forget the cries she made about few years back when she was yelling for action by the army, and against the Taliban, at the Constitution Avenue Islamabad and when the army ensured and restored peace in the restive valley of Swat, she came out with her real motive as she was tasked by her friends across the border and the mentors. However, it would be very difficult for people with sharp memory to forget her suspicious meetings in India with the radical leaders like Bal Thackeray whom she met while wearing a specially tailored Saffron suit, a color perfectly matching Bal’s dress, although Thackeray was not the only one whom she met.
I wonder if Pakistan government is awake and knows about her claims to be a human activist since her struggle is solely confined to the Indian prisoners rightly placed behind the bars for the heinous crimes like bomb exploding and killing but she has never uttered a single word or has raised even a faint voice for the inopportune Pakistani prisoners rotting in the Indian jails.
The double-faced lady, self proclaimed soft gender voice has ensured fetching divorce to thousand of innocent women during more or less last two decades, yet she claims to be a ‘Rights’ Watchdog’. For this notorious mission she is popularly known as the CEO Divorcee Club of Pakistan.

Coming back to the point, Asma, in her a recent interview with BBC, like a mice dancing on a beer drum and challenging the cat, arrogantly avowed while warning the Sri Lankan Govt of dire consequences if they tried to prevent people from testifying. Her rebuking statement against Govt of Sri Lanka through BBC interview indicates the extent of her being self-centeredness and idiosyncratic character. Pakistan holds Sri Lanka in high esteem as a trust worthy friend under all seasons. Her forewarning was not very well taken by Sri Lankan as most of them believe that a Pakistani national in UN investigation team will only come for their rescue.

Although the Sri Lankan Govt has firmly decided not to let any such investigation team enter Sri Lanka at any cost, yet its high time for the Pakistan government wake up and make their best efforts to either get her name withdrawn from the investigation team or clarify (on an international forum) that anything reported / presented or displayed by Asma Jahangir will be an individual act and will not reflect the policy of Pakistan. Sri Lanka is a time-tested friend and does not expect a Pakistani national (I wonder if she is so) to oppose Sri Lankan Govt on an issue that has already been supported by Pakistan during UNHRC resolution. Furthermore, apparently India has recently supported Sri Lankan stance and has opposed any international investigation with in Sri Lanka.

The time is already running out and the matter should be addressed before it gets too late. The reports are that the inquiry is already in process and the investigation team is to present / submit its first report to UN in September 2014. The government and the national media need to forget about everything else and seriously concentrate on raising voice against the attempt by UN to fit a round peg in a square hole.

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