Attack on Indian media
THERE are only seven months to go before Prime Minister Narendra Modi faces voters for a tough third term. Tuesday’s raids on senior journalists in Delhi seem directly linked to the looming polls. It is not a great time for the BJP government, which has been rattled by recent bad press at home and abroad. A robust opposition alliance has become a palpable challenge to Mr Modi’s prospects, and a caste census in Bihar on Monday exposed the vulnerability of upper caste supremacy the BJP uses as its support. The highest numbers for the middle caste farming community has reportedly left the BJP jolted. Being denied good press abroad at such a crucial time, and left only with courtiers in the ‘godi media’, may have set off Tuesday’s events.
Most of the journalists rounded up in the morning blitzkrieg were linked to the NewsClick online portal, which the police claim is funded by a person involved in pro-China propaganda. The truth, however is that the editor, Prabir Purkayastha, has been an acknowledged campaigner for financial probity and human rights, both of which the government has fallen short of. Mr Purkayastha and an associate at NewsClick were sent on police remand. Dozens of other senior journalists, men and women, were questioned. Mr Purkayastha, however, is a seasoned campaigner. He was jailed as a student leader for the entire stretch of the 1975-77 Emergency. Another journalist who has done detailed work on crony capitalism with reference to the Ambani brothers and Adani Group is Paranjoy Guha Thakurta. He told the media how he was interrogated about writing on Covid, and whether he uses the Signal messaging app. Police said the raids were carried out in the context of charges slapped on the news portal in August, which reports say includes anti-terror laws. A worried Mr Modi could be a greater threat to free speech and independent media even by his own lowly standards.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023
Reimagining politics
IN addition to the establishment’s incessant meddling in political matters, the lack of internal democracy within political parties has also hurt the evolution of Pakistani democracy. Most mainstream parties are operated as family firms. Merit is disregarded, and those pledging eternal fealty to the party chief or their family have the brightest prospects of moving up the ranks. Perhaps this is why three leading lights who were until recently associated with two of Pakistan’s biggest parties are now considering setting up their own political group. Former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, ex-finance minister Miftah Ismail, part of the PML-N, and ex-PPP senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, who have been addressing seminars over the past few months from the ‘Reimagining Pakistan’ platform, are reportedly close to forming a new political party. Talking to DawnNews recently, Mr Khokhar said the new outfit would likely be announced “this month”, while Mr Abbasi was in London a few days ago apparently for a farewell call on Nawaz Sharif. The latter’s imminent departure from the N-League is said to be amicable.
While there is no shortage of political parties in Pakistan, and the prospects of the trio’s new outfit may not be too bright considering the crowded field, it would be worth looking at the factors that drove the three leaders from their old parties. Mr Abbasi was reportedly uncomfortable with the dominant, and unchallenged, role of Maryam Nawaz in the PML-N, while Mr Ismail was unceremoniously moved from his position as finance minister in the PDM government to make way for Ishaq Dar, another Sharif family member. Meanwhile, Mr Khokhar has talked of being uncomfortable with decisions taken in “closed rooms” by parties, hinting at the lack of internal debate. It is no secret that the PPP, PML-N, ANP and JUI-F, amongst others, are dominated by families, while the PTI is a one-man show. What Pakistan needs from parties, new and old, is an internal democratic culture and pro-people politics driven by ideology and based on merit that addresses the structural faults that lie at the core of the crises we confront. No unelected saviours and no benevolent foreign benefactors opening their spigots and unleashing a flood of dollars and riyals will address our problems. Only a genuine democratic culture, where parties recognise merit and pay heed to dissent, can rescue us from the abyss.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023
Targeting Afghans
THE government has given all illegal immigrants in the country till the end of the month to return to their homelands or risk deportation.
This includes 1.73m Afghans, who, according to Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti, are undocumented. E-tazkiras — Afghan identity cards — will no longer be deemed valid after Oct 31, leaving only passports and visas as the acceptable form of identification.
Mr Bugti said it is to ensure the “welfare and security” of Pakistanis. While security is paramount, one cannot help but question the real motive behind these plans.
The interior minister pointedly said that of the 24 suicide attacks that took place in Pakistan since January, “14 bombings were carried out by Afghan nationals”. This was a troubling statement to have made on TV and nothing short of ethnic profiling.
Even more disturbing was his announcement of a web portal and a national helpline where anyone can report “illegal immigrants” in exchange for a reward.
These decisions — seemingly targeting the Afghans — in addition to others taken in recent weeks suggest there may be more to it than meets the eye.
It bears mentioning that September saw an alarming rise in the rounding up of Afghans in the backdrop of renewed tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, which followed a TTP attack in Chitral.
The Afghan embassy said more than 1,000 Afghans were detained in the past two weeks — half of them despite having a legal right to be in Pakistan.
Why was such treatment meted out to those who have sought refuge on our soil for four decades? And with what conscience, when we are so quick to urge the West not to close their doors on war-ravaged Syrians, Iranians, and the like? Was it to pressure the Taliban rulers in Kabul to ‘do more’ with the TTP?
While Pakistan cannot allow such a large number of undocumented foreigners and must enact measures to properly register them, the West, which packed its bags and left Afghanistan in the lurch, must also bear responsibility for the ongoing fallout.
It must provide Pakistan assistance in this endeavour, monetarily as well as in terms of technical expertise. It must also help those migrants who came here with the hope of moving to the US or other Western countries under refugee resettlement programmes.
The migrants allege delays in the processing of their resettlement applications, lack of help from UNHCR and trouble securing an extension of their Pakistani visas. The UNHCR has belatedly offered to help Pakistan manage and register people in need of international protection.
The Afghans cannot be wished away. They are a part of the region’s sociopolitical fabric, and a compassionate, sustainable solution must be sought for their plight. Abandoning them in haste will only sow seeds of future discord.
Published in Dawn, October 5th, 2023