On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 10:16 AM, Kaleem Saadat <kaleemsaadat@hotmail.com> wrote:
Dear PESA Colleagues,
May I suggest that we launch an IDP Relief Fund in view of the extended operation, Zarb-e-Azb. The Govt
should also be asked to launch a national appeal for the same . The IDPs and the Armed Forces etc will bear
the brunt of the hardships of this operation. They are fighting for PK's survival so the citizens should do their
bit.
Regards,
Kaleem
Reply Reply to all Forward
samson
sharaf
I am in touch with HQ 11 Corps. The IDP Camp is established
near Baran Dam FR...
Jun 17 (11
days
Jun 17 (11 days ago)
Syed Masud ul Hassan
to Kaleem, salim, me, Nk, Brig, Lt, Abdussalam, Farouk, Brig, Brig, fasih, Khurram, Brig,
Qaisir, shafiq_ah, Babur, Muhammad, Masood, ahmad, Ikram, Ikram, Saleem, abcteacher1
Dear General Ali Kuli Khan,
Sir, I fully support the suggestion made by the ACM. If approved, Brig Mahmud could be requested to mobilize
generation of funds. I make a humble contribution of Rs. 25,000/Masud
Jun 17 (11 days ago)
Mian Mahmud <brigmahmud83@gmail.com>
to Syed, Kaleem, salim, Nk, Brig, Lt, Abdussalam, Farouk, Brig, Brig, fasih, Khurram, Brig, Qaisir, shafiq_ah,
Babur, Muhammad, Masood, ahmad, Ikram, Ikram, Saleem, abcteacher1
I fully support the idea. I make my contribution of Rupees 100,000.00. Brig Simon is in touch with Corps Head
Quarters. We should all start mobilizing of funds. At the meeting on 21 June, 2014, we should be ready to
dispatch our first relief effort.
Mahmud
Jun 18 (10 days ago)
Mian Mahmud <brigmahmud83@gmail.com>
to Ali, Brig, hamid, Shahbaz, Siraj, Iftikhar, aslamzuberi, Mr.Akram, Brig, brig, dr_zaltaf,
farooq.naseem, Hidayat, ibutt, inam, khalid, Shakil, Shakil, shakil, “Mian, Abeeramansur,
bilal.hashmat, Brig, hammid_noon, mahera_khan
We plan to send two truck loads of relief goods this coming Saturday i.e. 21 June, 2014. We can have the
function after the meeting which has been called for that day. We would request Air Chief Marshal Kaleem
Saadat to be the Chief Guest..
Brig Simon has been requested to find out from 11 Corps the relief items that would be needed so that we can
procure those immediately.
I would request that we all give it the maximum publicity and request the potential donors to come forward for
this noble and national cause.
Best Regards
Mahmud
I have reproduced above the sequence of events which triggered the action to the activities of PESA to
mobilize support to help the displaced persons from North Waziristan. We were ready with our first
consignment to be dispatched on 21st June, 2014, but the Army authorities at Bannu requested us to delay it
for a few days as there were not very many families which had moved into the relief camps being set up for
them. We should have realized it for ourselves that the tribesmen would not like their families to get the
publicity that the life in the camps would have drawn. Their customs and traditions were clearly not in favor of
such community living. They want to jealously regard their privacy as very important. Those who knew FATA
better should have realized that and the arrangements should have been made keeping that in mind. The
IDP’s took their own initiative and they either moved in with their relations or hired houses in Bannu and other
areas on their own. Any how the situation so created is now being rectified with various actions that the
Government and the Army is taking.
Major General Jamil Rao, has now been placed at Bannu to do all the co-ordination and execution of the plan
to take care of these IDP’s. Brig Simon was regularly in touch with him and Brig Aftab and Brig Shaukat who
are working under him. Realizing the sincerity of our effort, they allowed us to send the relief goods that we
had collected, but with the request that they would need fodder for the animals as the priority for our future
consignments. Captain Babar Zaheer-ud-din (Retd) had kindly agreed to accompany the relief goods being
dispatched. On 26th June, 2014 the consignment was dispatched. It carried rations for 15 days for 700 persons
along with much needed medicines which were urgently required. REKO Pharmacal Limited (Pvt), Lahore had
kindly made this valuable donation and we are most grateful to them that as always they came forward
generously for this contribution. We had a small informal function to mark the occasion. Air Chief Marshal
Kaleem Saadat (Retd) who is one of our Patrons and is always active for humanitarian work was invited as the
Chief Guest. The press gave the event a very wide coverage as we had responded almost immediately and
also it was known that we were in regular touch and in communication with the Army authorities who are
conducting the operations and the relief work both, for this operation of very high National Importance. The
whole Nation collectively owes it to make it a success. The press clipping placed below adequately gives the
idea of the wide coverage that it received:-
Ex-servicemen sent relief goods to North Waziristan IDPs.
Last updated: Thursday, 26 June, 2014 14:56 PST
Rawalpindi (Special correspondent)The Pakistan Ex-servicemen
Association (PESA) on Thursday dispatched first consignment of relief
goods for the people of North Waziristan displaced during operation
Zarb-e-Azb.
The supplies include edibles and lifesaving drugs which would be
handed over to in charge of the relief operations at Bannu Cantonment
Major General Jameel Rao.
Patron of PESA Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Kaleem Sadaat, Major General
(Retd) HUK Niazi, Brig. Mian Mahmood, Brig. Simon Sharaf, Brig.
Masood ul Hassan, Major Farooq Hamid Khan, Major Doctor
Zaheeruddin Baabar, Sq. Leader Mahboob Ilahi Siddiqui were also
present on the occasion.
Earlier, during a meeting, the former military officers said that urgent
steps are needed to avoid a human catastrophe in the war-affected
area. They noted that military action is not enough as winning hearts
of the locals in important to defeat terrorism for which we must
facilitate the IDPs in every respect.
The former military strategists said that government should urgently
deduct funds from schemes launched for political mileage as
humanity need urgent assistance.
They called upon masses, chambers of commerce, traders,
industrialists and government officials not to waste money on
frivolous ceremonies and other functions during and help the needy.
PESA members noted that a businessman linked to real estate has
announced to provide Rs 500 million for IDPs but the billionaire
politicians sitting in the government are ignoring the plight of poor
which is unfortunate.
The trip to Bannu rather took a long time. The car that Captain Babar Zaheer was driving
Had some problem with its air-conditioning and needed to be fixed enroot. He camped in the CMH, Bannu, courtesy
some friends he had in the Army Medical Corps. The next day turned out to be most hectic as the Prime Minister was
visiting the IDP’s and because of security concerns there was curfew imposed in the area. The personnel concerned with
the relief work, with who we were in regular touch, we were all too busy in handling this visit. Captain Babar had to
remain confined to his room in the ward in the CMH. It was at about 1600 Hrs that they got free and could meet Captain
Babar and take over the relief goods from him. They thanked him and through him, PESA for this humble but sincere
efforts. They made the request that immediately they need fodder for the animals and we are now already working on
it. CAPTAIN Babar was also in touch with Malik Afzal, a Wazir from Bura Khel tribe of North Waziristan, whose late father
Malik Gulabat Khan and he were meeting us regularly for the last few years and keeping us well informed of the
developments in the area. Some 350 families of his tribe had also moved to Bannu and we had promised him to coordinate the relief work with them through our inter action with the Army authorities. Due to the visit of the Prime
Minister we could not do this and we have already apologized to them with the promise that it will be done on our next
visit or may be through telephone discussions with the Army authorities.
Our next consignment of some 50 Tons of fodder for the animals is being organized. We have made arrangements for
the procurement of Cotton Seed Cake and Hay as recommended by the Army Authorities. We earlier thought that we
will send green fodder, but we were advised otherwise. Also we are coordinating the relief work with the agencies
involved in distribution and the Tribal Maliks of different Tribes. We are being advised that the distribution should be
planned on the basis of three divisions of North Waziristan i.e Miranshah, Mirali and Razmak. It will facilitate the
distribution of relief goods and also help in identification of the genuine displaced persons. As done in the Swat
Operations, we are recommending to the Army Authorities to introduce the ATM cards for ease of distribution of cash.
This relief work will continue and we hope that soon improvements will come to the satisfaction of the displaced people
of North Waziristan. But the final test would lie in their final rehabilitation on their return back to their areas. We are
working closely with the Tribal Maliks of both North and South Waziristan, for a comprehensive development plan of the
area. The two projects that are already identitified and are grafting of Wild Olive Trees, on wild trees which are in
abundance in both the North and South Waziristan, and sinking of tube wells where the water table is less than 400 feet.
These tube wells can be either electric motor where electricity is available or else based on Solar Energy. Dr Zafar Altaf, a
former Secretary Food and Agriculture and Chairman Pakistan Agricultural Research Centre, has kindly agreed to work
with us for raising teams for the grafting work and advise on extensive agricultural practices which can considerably
increase the yield of the crops and promotion of planting of fruit trees and growth of vegetables.
In the final analysis, it is the economic integration of the area with the rest of Pakistan that will determine the future of
this geo-strategic important region. The area itself is blessed with large quantities of Mineral Resources, which can be
explored once the peace returns to the area. Let us all continue working for theirs and our own better future.
Captain Babar Zaheer-ud-din (Retd) had kindly agreed to go with the relief goods to Bannu. On his
return he has compiled a report of his trip which may be of interest as it is his experience of handling this
first consignment that has been dispatched for the IDP’s. We will try to seek improvements so that there is
the least hassle in handling these goods. The report is placed below:-
RELIEF GOODS TO IDP’S
Dear Friends,
26th June 2014 early morning I made myself ready along with my son Zeeshan Raza Alim to go to PESA headquarters at
khurshid Alam Road, Westridge Rawalpindi for our early morning meeting.
As I came into the parking lot I could see lot many cars assembled there along with the truck of relief goods for the IDP’s
of North Waziristan being loaded for dispatch to BANNU.
The hierarchy of PESA was there and after a brief meeting and a cup of tea I saw to the final loading of the truck to make
sure everything was in order. The relief goods comprised of dry Rations for about 100 families along with medicines for
GI disorders and general ailment.
The truck was dispatched at about 11.30 hours and I got in to my vehicle that is Vitz along with my son and driver. It was
a very hot day and the AC was running full blast and I was listening to old songs of Madam Noor Jahan and Jagit Singh.
The first part of my journey was on the Motorway to Peshawar and then I took the first exit to Fateh Jang and came on
the Tarnol Kohat Road passing Dhama, Qutbal toll plaza, Sadqal Oil fields to Fateh Jang and then taking the right road to
Jand passing Dhoke Aitabar, Jafar, Kot Moree, Khunda Chowk, Thali, Basal Chowk and Bajwal Forms.
Here the first of the problem started as the Vitz got heated up and we had to stop in the wilderness to cool it down but
luckily we had water with us to put in the radiator and of course snacks were in handy to tide of the hunger pains. Time
wasted here was about one hour but finally we were on our way on N-80 and this time crossing Rangli, Chura Sharif,
Dhak, Jand then to Mankoor and finally to the old Khushal bridge. This bridge was built by the British more than 100
years ago but still holds good although a new bridge has been made on the right side but the approaches are still being
built hence may be after 2-3 months this will be serviceable.
One important point to mention here is that there is strict checking by the rangers who do not know their job how to
check, the police and the customs. Once you cross the bridge you are in KPK and the first town is Zeeni Ghambat and
finally Babari Banda. Here again the vehicle had the same problem and we had to waste about one hour again.
Finally we hit Kohat at 1535 hours on the bypass to KUST that is (Khyber University of science and Technology). This is a
very good road going passed Kharmate and we stopped at the start of the Indus high way to cool the vehicle and to have
refreshments. Then came Laachi where Fauji Foundation has its field hospital and we had to pay a toll tax of Rs. 25/here. From here onwards the road is a steep incline and there is traffic jam as many 16 wheelers get stuck up there and
the oncoming traffic from Karachi of flying coaches indulge in rash driving. In experienced drivers please watch out.
After the incline come Karapa, Chanda Mella Oilfield of OGDC and Nashpa oilfield on the Indus high way and finally the
oil rich district of Karak comes up which will Inshallah sometimes in the future be the Calgary of Pakistan because many
successful oil fields have been discovered here but the resources and potential have still to be tapped and put on line.
Then comes Buble Khail, Lundhi, Jalander, Muniabad and about 35 miles from Karak comes the big Danial Filling Station
after which you turn right on the unmarked Bannu Link road. I don’t know why the road signs have not been put up and
you may miss this turn but for me luckily I was guided by CO CMH Bannu Lt. Col. Fowad Immami and I took the turn on
time but again vehicle problem came up and I was delayed for further 45 minutes.
The road from turning point to Bannu is very good and about 35 Kms but once you come near the out skirts of Bannu
then you sense the change in air and then suffocation of the traffic. As you cross the Kuram Bridge you come into a great
traffic jam as most of the IDP vehicles of tractor trolleys can be seen coming from other side loaded to the top with the
belongings of the IDP’s.
As you proceed further you feel as if you are entering into FORT KNOX because the moment you go forward whistles
start blowing from all sides making you aware that you are coming into a heavily guarded area. I introduced myself and
was able to cross 3 of the barriers but finally after coming to the entry point of Bannu garrison my introduction and an
Ex-Army officer was not good enough and I had to call the CO CMH to send a point rider for me who luckily came very
soon and escorted me into CMH Bannu but as no rooms were available in the Officers Mess I was given a room in the
officers ward of CMH.
So far so good as I relaxed asked for a cup of tea I was joined by Col. Fawad Immami and later on by Col Nadeem Zafar
an abdalian from 24th entry and it was nice GUPSHUP over a cup of tea. While we were there in the room I tried to make
contact with the army authorities to liaison with them for handing over the relief goods but my efforts were in vain as
they were all busy in making preparations for welcoming the BIG VIP next day. At about 11.30 the truck came in at the
check post and I had to ask Col. Nadeem Zafar to escort me outside so that we could bring the truck in and this was done
in 1 hour as a lot of hassle took place in security checking and clearance.
The rest part which needs proper addressing and wording will be enumerated by me in part two of this episode which
will be sent to you the next day.
Friday 27th June, 2014 Dawned with the scorching heat and stillness of air and I got up at 06.30 because of the
impending uncertainty which lay ahead of me as I was not certain of my schedule of programme that day. When the
bearer brought me my breakfast he gave me this information that PM Nawaz Sharif is coming to Bannu to visit the IDP
camps hence the whole Bannu garrison was put under siege (Cordoned off) hence no movement can take place and no
one can go out. After getting dressed I walk to the CO’s office so as to use his good services to make contact with the
Army Authorities.
All my efforts to contact Maj Gen Jameel Ahmed Rao, GOC 45 DV engrs, Brig Commander Engr Aftab, Brig Mukhtar
commander ack ack command, Brig Zia, Brig IS Peshawar corp and Lt. Col Kamran were in vain as they did not respond to
my calls.
WHAT CAN NOT BE CURED MUST BE ENDURED
We are strange nation who act and react with thinking and then when the water flow’s under the bridge we repent and
lament. In the last elections we voted for idiots and imbeciles and now we have to bear the fall out of our own mistakes.
WHAT A NATION WE ARE.
Coming back to the present scenario I tried to make the best of my time by visiting Bannu CMH, accompanied by their
CO Lt. Col. Fawad Imami, who took me round to the various departments and introducing me to the officers and the
specialists. I decided to handover the medicines to CO CMH for which special tea break was arrange in my honor in the
conference room where I handed over the medicines to the medical store incharge and the staff of CMH Bannu honored
me by presenting me with the shield of CMH Bannu one of the oldest CMH’s of Pakistan of course I could not resist
saying thank you and also gave a motivational speech.
By this time it was already 1.30 in the afternoon and time for prayers after which I came back to my room in the officer’s
ward I ordered my lunch which took about 2 ½ hours in coming the reason being that my messing was from the station
mess and the road to the station mess was completely sealed.
After having my Lunch at 3.30 I got a call from Brig Aftab of 45 Dv engrs to come and meet him which I immediately did
and handed over the relief goods to him at about 4 O’ Clock the request put in by him was for the immediate supply of
fodder of animals as many were on the starvation point to which I appraised him that my organization PESA will help the
IDP’s as much as possible.
I came back to my room packed my bags said good bye to everyone and started my return journey to Rawalpindi which I
reached about 11 O’ Clock at night this time vehicle problem was less as we did not put on the AC and only stopped at
Fateh Jang for Mango Milk Shake.
Conclusion
The plight of the IDP’s of Bannu who are placed in 3 IDP camps at Sadagai, Khamesh Khail and Aurang Khail has to be
addressed sooner or later and the world community at large has to come forward with humanitarian and philanthropic
aid so that the IDP’s are well look after and rehabilitated.
Food items and tents have come in plentiful but the need of the hour is on fodder for the animals in the form of green
fodder, Chaff and rape seed cake (Binolla).
Appeal to all of you to come and join hands with me.
Regards,
Dr. Babur Zahiruddin
Spokesmen PESA
As mentioned earlier, the Army had expressed the need for dry fodder more than anything else for the IDP’s.
Consequently, we arranged for the supply of some 50 Tons of Cotton Seed cake and Hay. The Cotton Seed Cake was
packed in 15 KG Bags and we procured 600 Bags. The problem arose for the dispatch of the hay as it was difficult to load
it on the truck. We had to look for some factory which could compress and bail the hay. With some effort, we managed
to locate some units which could bail the hay in suitable weight packages. It was decided to have them in 30 KG bales.
With this distribution, we made our packages suitable for distribution. One bag of 15KG Cotton Seed Cake and two bales
of 30 KG Hay, could provide fodder for one grown animal for one week. Once this problem had been suitably addressed,
we started to look for a suitable 50 Ton trailer. It transpired that the transporters were reluctant to go to Bannu, as they
were hearing some news that the Army will requisition them once they arrive there. It was after great persuasion and
our personal assurance, that they will not be put to any inconvenience, that finally we managed to get a big ten wheel
trailer. When the driver finally arrived he said that he could not load Cotton Seed Cake and Hay together on the same
vehicle, as it has a possibility of catching fire. We had not realized that and hence, we had to look for a separate vehicle
to carry the Cake. Finally, all these arrangements were all in place and the two vehicles carrying some 50 tons of fodder
for about 600 Animals for one week left Kabirwala on the evening of 6th July, 2014. Hopefully, it will arrive at Bannu late
at night 7th July, 2014.
For liaison with the Army authorities and also to meet the displaced persons to find out their problems and needs, our
Patron Admiral Fasih Bokhari, decided to go himself. He had earlier, when the IDP’s from Swat, Malakand and Bajaur had
come to Mardan and Swabi area, been very active to help them while in the camps and later in their rehabilitation. He
asked for volunteers to accompany him, and Brigadier Simon and Captain Babur Zaheer-ud-din showed their keenness
to accompany him. This party is later leaving for Kohat tonight and courtesy Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, staying at
Pakistan Air Force Base, Kohat for the two nights stay. They will leave Kohat, to-morrow early in the morning and visit
the IDP Camps and liaise with the Army authorities. This will hopefully prove very useful for the subsequent meetings
that our teams are planning to have with the Governor and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtun kwah, Corps Commander 11
Corps and Lieutenant General Abdul Kadir, The Minister for Saffron. The idea of the meetings is to work out a plan for
rehabilitation of these IDP’s once the operation is over. We the PESA, has done some study with the advice of the local
Maliks and other knowledgeable people of the area. This region has large areas where wild Olive trees are already there.
We plan to do grafting and planting of new varieties of Olive trees as part of the humble effort of PESA for their
rehabilitation. We also hope to work on provision of Solar Tube wells and provision of good quality vegetable seeds for
their farming in conjunction with Dr Zafar Altaf. All these measure have their own gestation period and we hope to start
the planning on these, so that we can immediately implement these when the peace returns to these areas.
Admiral Fasih Bokhari, Brig Simon and Capt Babar zaheer , left for Bannu on 8th July, 2014. Air Chief Marshal Kaleem
Saadat was kind enough to make the arrangements for their night stay at PAF Base Kohat. From Kabirwala , we had
arranged to send the dry fodder consignment of 9 Tons of Cotton Seed Cake and 36 Tons of hay. The Cotton Seed Cake
was packed in bags of 15 KG’s each. The hay had to be pressed and bailed into 30 KG bales each. There were total 600
Bags of Cotton Seed Cake and 1200 Bales of Hay. It was so arranged to help in the distribution. One bag of Cotton Seed
Cake and 2 bales of Hay made a package of one grown up animal for one week. The report on the visit , written by Brig
Simon , is attached.
We now have the 3rd Consignment of relief goods leaving for Bannu. As per the requirement of the Army, it is again the
dry fodder that has been dispatched from Kabirwala, this morning. A total quantity of 10.5 Tons of Cotton Seed Cake and
1400 Bales of compressed Hay, each weighing 30 KG”s, has been dispatched. This will be enough for 700 Animals for one
week. We are grateful for the immense response of the donations by the generous and highly motivated people. We are
grateful to them all for this effort in the great cause.
The work on the rehabilitation of the IDP’s on their return has been also started. The cuttings of the new varieties of
Olive trees are being planted so that they are available in the month of November,2014 in the areas. We hope that by
that time, the IDP’s would have returned to their homes and these cuttings could be planted. Also we are preparing
teams of Pushto speaking people, who can go into the areas and train the locals for both planting and the grafting of
olive trees. 11 Corps has already placed this on their list of rehabilitation work. We have also made arrangements with
some generous donors, to donate high quality vegetable seeds worth Rs 10.00 Millions for distribution to the IDP’s on
their return for immediate sowing. Planning for installation of solar tube wells, where water tables are less than 300
Feet, has also been started . 11 Corps has already got an ambitious programme for the tube well and we will try to dove
tail our humble effort with that. Dr Zafar Altaf and his team are proving a great help in that. We are grateful to them all
for this voluntary help.
Dear Sirs,
We drove from Islamabad, stayed night at Kohat and reached Bannu next morning.
At Kurram Bridge an elaborate military escort arrived. We first went to the Ration distribution
point. Long lines of people but well organised. Thereafter we went to Bannu Garrison to attend a
briefing being given to SAFRON Ministry. Role of PESA was highligted by 45 Engnrs Division in
its briefing. There are over 832,000 IDPs of which 30-35% could be duplicates. Zong Sims
are being issued to each head of family.
We also visited Panel Christian Hospital and Don Basco School where Non Muslim IDPs are
living. Were surprised to see a Shia family living there. But thats how it is.
We also visited the BakhaKehl camp now renamed Azb Khan Kili. Sparsely populated with ample
facilities. NDMA has placed two mobile surgical units that are non functional
for exhibition purposes. The camp may undergo some modifications.
Our Haystack and Cotton Meal trucks were well received and direly needed.I have checked back
and confirm, it is being distributed for IDP animals only. The Corps HQ is very happy with our
efforts.
We returned the same evening driving through 100KMs of rain, dust storm and 27 fallen trees. The
eye of storm moved with us 20 KMs from Bannu to Jand.
I am attaching my article that is published yesterday and a google plus ling where all pictures are
available. These are self explanatory.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/101383771966719040363/albums/6034062567013116513
UTHO! MERI DUNYA KE GHAREEBO KO JAGA DO
(RISE AND RESPOND)
As I drove beyond the new Islamabad airport surrounded by unplanned housings to Bannu, I
realised nothing had changed. Parched and scorched landscape, the vintage Khushal Garh Bridge
and the dilapidated railway line that once catered to the high speed Hitachi rail cars to Kohat.
Though the Kotal Tunnel and Indus Highway are new additions, the poor quality of road
engineering, absence of highway police and unchecked lines of overloaded trailers reduced speed to
snail’s pace. There is no industry along the highway. Any that existed is long gone. Across Lachi
appears a gas field. Geological fables mention huge hydrocarbon reservoirs explored and capped to
facilitate cartels. The road across Kurram River passes through a desolate and deserted landscape
pimpled with odd date palms. Unlike Karachi and Punjab, modernisation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
is imprisoned in a time warp.
The misery and plight of brave hearts abandoned to colonial legacy and phoney battle of elites is
heart breaking. Hapless people torn between absence of governance and militancy walked hundreds
of miles with animals and poultry. For an umpteenth time, they abandoned households to a hope
that good governance and prosperity will finally erase scars of history. Exploited for their
patriotism by successive governments, greasy hands of FATA administration, geopolitics, upstart
strategists, non-state actors and greedy politicians, hope is not forlorn. Dehydrated and drenched in
intense heat with crystals of salt on their faces, they stand in disciplined lines at distribution points.
Tribal Maliks we met say only about 500 families of Gurbuz and Saidzai tribes moved into
Afghanistan to relatives. Over 11,000 have since detoured back to Khurram into a camp at Alizai
where facilities are far better. Their heart remains in the hope that is Pakistan. IDPs in Afghanistan
are barely 500.
Long briefings to officials on PowerPoint fail to animate human trauma; royal entourages disrupt
relief. The figure of refugees has crossed 832,000. Officials agree that 30% could be duplications to
be verified by NADRA. Errors of family trees and lack of registrations hold back issuance of Zong
SIMs to be used for cash distribution and surveillance. An Engineering Division boosted by an Air
Defence Brigade has been placed for management and security. For the past 12 days, officers and
men have worked overtime to put an efficient organisation in place. Distribution points are
testimony to their prowess. Food assistance is abundant with military rations and contributions of
World Food Program and UAE Government. Health facilities are wanting. Mobile surgical units
placed at the camp are non-functional and disgraceful.
Military used to working on clear directives is stretched between SAFRON, NDMA, FDMA,
PDMA and the Provincial Administration. A politically exploitative mind-set prevails. The federal
machinery seems to bypass the provincial administration to wield controls. The choice of
Bakkakhel Camp (Azb Khan Kili) in FR Bannu lacks imagination. In reality, more than 70% IDPs
are spread in Bannu and remaining around DI Khan and Khurram. The entire backwash has spilled
into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Federal Government reluctantly and slowly facilitates them.
This battle for the hearts and minds of the tribal Pakistanis must be won because herein lies the
stability and integration of a country whose people have been successively subjected to exploitative
politics, faulty narratives, inventive nationalism and elitist governance. As member of Pakistan Ex
Servicemen Association (PESA) I accompanied Admiral (Retired) Fasih Bokhari with a convoy of
relief. We rendezvoused with tribal leaders we had contacts through late Maj Gen Naseer Ullah
Babar. Our mission extends to rehabilitation.
The people of FATA are not the only victims. Most Pakistanis have endured the same in varying
proportions. The progressive left that relied much on Allama Iqbal and Faiz is confined to drawing
rooms. Welfare is no more a priority. The much touted constitution of 1973 has been ignored and
subjected to surgical procedures by military and civilian butchers. The social contract of Pakistan is
meaningless.
Pakistan politics is a system of the rich, for the rich and by the rich. In order to sustain elites, the
first three parts of the constitution comprising Articles 1-40 are circumvented by contradictory
legislations. Local Self Government, the most crucial link in socio-economic engineering and good
governance and part of the State under Article 7 has neither been promoted by political elites nor
pursued by the honourable Judiciary. The parliamentary system with its inherent idea of
accumulation of power has been systematically exploited to benefit a few. Conversely, at the grass
roots, powers have been separated to facilitate exploitation by the provincial and federal
governments. Of late the Judiciary with its selective interventions made a cabal with the old
political elites and a media house to maintain the status quo. One case study is the ineffectiveness
of all regulatory authorities that oversee transparency and ethics. Their heads were tarnished by a
certain media house, removed on various pretext by Judiciary and replaced by handpicked zombies.
This method alone drains Pakistan’s exchequer to a tune of Rs.10 billion a day.
So could a corrupt and exploitative system expected to forge a new model of governance in FATA?
What do FATA reforms actually mean? In all probability, it will result in half-hearted efforts to
preserve the elitists. The methodology will ensure status quo.
Another factor is the ‘intent and action’ of the Federal and Provincial Governments to deal with the
expected backlash of terrorism in the heartland. Most militant leaders have melted to reorganise
mayhem in major cities. With no mechanisms at successive layers in place and the inability to
handle crises sans military amplified in Bannu, counter terrorism operations in urban areas will be
ultimately taken over by the military. A logical end is best left to imagination.
This reminds me of a first person anecdote from Kargil. The House of Raiwand thought they would
emerge as Lions of Kashmir and privately sanctioned the operation as early as October 1998. In
face of adversity they disowned. How else could one explain the reluctance despite rhetoric to
appoint a Kargil Commission?
Reluctance in name of civil supremacy will not help. History will take revenge if it comes to
eliminating militant havens in Punjab and Karachi. The Prisoner’s Dilemma will get intense. The
criminal impasse will leave no option but to hand back the social contract to the people.
Iqbal’s Farman-e-Khuda (Farishton Se) could not be more opportune.
Utho! Meri Dunya Ke Ghareebo Ko Jaga Do
Kakh-e-Umra Ke Dar-o-Diwar Hila Do
Rise, and from their slumber wake the poor ones of My world!
Shake the walls and windows of the mansions of the elites!
Compiled and written by Brigadier (R) Samson Simon Sharaf in discussions with Admiral (R) Fasih
Bokhari on way to IDP camps in Bannu. Email and twitter: samson.sharaf@gmail.com
It is leaders such as these that Faiz called DOGS.
Ye galiyon ke awaara bekaar kutte
ke bakhsha gaya jin ko zauq-e’-gadaai
Ye chaahein to duniya ko apna bana lein
Ye aaqa’on ki haddiyan tak chaba lein
Koi inko ehsas-e’-zillat dila de
Koi inki soi hui dum hila de