Pakistan has long been accused by its neighbours India and Afghanistan and western nations like the United States and the United Kingdom of its involvement in terrorist activities in the region and beyond. However, for harbouring terrorists and terrorism for so many years, Pakistan seems to be crumbling under the weight of its own terror-producing organizations.
MyNation on the 17th July accessed a video showing people of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in odds against the Pakistani army against the killing of Haroon Bilour, leader of Awami National Party (ANP), in the run-up to the country’s general elections scheduled this month. News Agency ANI, too, posted a video where anti-ISI slogans were raised outside Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
#WATCH ‘ISI Murdabad’ slogans raised outside Pakistan Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi yesterday pic.twitter.com/jdWn0fVTnc
— ANI (@ANI) July 22, 2018
A large number of supporters of former Pakistan prime minister Nawaz Sharif gathered outside the Pakistan Army headquarters and shouted: “ISI Murdabad” and “Yeh jo Deshsad Gardi Hai Uske Peche Wardi Hi” (Army is behind state terrorism) slogans. The protestors alleged that Pakistan’s General Elections to be held on 25th July were rigged by the country’s spy agency, the ISI (Inter-Services Intelligence).
Zaffar Baloch, president of the Baloch National Movement tweeted,
Civilian vs military: Public confronting soldiers in uniform in the streets of #Pakistan. #PakistanArmy #ISI biggest losers in the elections for their role of interference & intimidation of candidates, civil rights activists, judiciary & journalists.@StateDept @statedeptspox pic.twitter.com/kg7GapfKpM
— Zaffar Baloch (@ZaffarBaloch) July 22, 2018
In an exclusive interview with MyNation, Skardu-born Senge Hasnan Sering, who has been fighting for freedom of Gilgit-Baltistan or Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) in exile from Washington, used this opportunity asking for Indian intervention on behalf of PoK.
In one of his tweets, Sering said: “Defining moment in #Pakistan political landscape as protesters openly call PAK military chief General Bajwa a terrorist & soldiers surrounding them seem completely numb & helpless. The military has turned PAK into a powder keg. Hope generals live long enough to witness the fireworks…Religion: The force that made Pakistan shall unmake it.”
The military in Pakistan has been known for its outrageous control over the law and government of the country. Recently, the military declared that as many as 3,90,000 army personnel will be deployed at various election booths to closely ‘monitor’ the process so as to ensure that polling takes place in a ‘fair’ manner. It is also putting utmost efforts to make Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, the former cricketer, win the upcoming 2018 elections.
However, the Islamabad High Court Judge Justice Shaukat Siddiqui openly bashed the ISI for directly controlling judiciary and media. While speaking at the Rawalpindi Bar Association, he accused ISI of pressuring the Chief Justice and other judges to get favourable verdicts in different cases, including Nawaz Sharif’s corruption case.
