I had written an article comparing the situation in Pakistan as potentially another Gaza.
A Pakistani friend living in UK, with whom I often talk on whatsapp, and to whom I had sent my article, asked me how I could compare the situation in Pakistan with that in Gaza.
I explained that the Hamas attack on Israel on 7th October, which is still ongoing, was not on a sudden impulse, but was the result of pent up anger over decades long atrocities by Israel on Palestinians, which reached a boiling point on 7th October.
Similarly, the situation in Pakistan is reaching a boiling point after the reign of terror unleashed by the Pakistan Establishment ( meaning the army and police ) on the Pakistani people after the events of 9th May ( which many believe were stage managed ), in which about 10,000 people were arrested after being dragged out of their houses, many beaten, tortured, or simply ‘disappeared’. Those arrested have been incarcerated in jail on trumped up charges where they have been languishing in horrible conditions for several months. The judiciary, whose solemn Constitutional duty was to protect the rights of the people, has become impotent and servile, the media largely muzzled, and the people living in fear.
But just as in Gaza, this situation will not last forever. Wherever there is oppression there is resistance
There is a Chinese proverb ‘ A single spark can set the prairie on fire ‘. This spark will be the return to Pakistan today, 21st October of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who had been convicted on corruption charges by a Pakistani Court in 2018 and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Surprisingly he had been allowed to leave Pakistan and go to England, ostensibly on medical grounds, though he appeared hale and hearty, and he has been doing political activities from there ever since.
Now it seems that the generals ruling Pakistan got a brainwave, struck a deal with him, and have allowed him to come back. The deal evidently was that the corruption charges against Nawaz Sharif will be withdrawn or suspended and his sentence put in abeyance, and as a quid pro quo he will not interfere with the massive graft and loot by the senior army officers
Nawaz Sharif is intensely hated by the vast majority of the people of Pakistan
However, the authorities are working overtime to make his proposed public rally after his return a huge success with a massive crowd
The servile judiciary has worked with breakneck speed to facilitate his entry into Pakistan despite his conviction.
And all this time the immensely popular former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is supported by over 90% Pakistanis ( as all opinion polls indicate ) lies incarcerated in jail in a horrible tiny, dingy cell with few amenities.
But this sordid and dismal situation will not last long. The pent up anger, bitterness, indignation and discontent of the people of Pakistan, who are presently cowed down and silent due to fear, and are reeling under skyrocketing prices of food, electricity and other essential items, as well as record and rising unemployment, is bound to burst soon in a massive uprising against the Establishment, and this process will be considerably accelerated by the return of the despised and hated Nawaz Sharif, which is going to be the spark which will put the prairie on fire.
My friend asked me how can the unarmed people of Pakistan take on the highly armed Pakistan army ?
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I replied by explaining the situation in Pakistan. After its independence in 1947, Pakistan aligned itself with USA, which gave it huge military and financial aid, and Pakistan practically became a US neo-colony. However, of late another super power, China, has entered Pakistan economically in big way, investing a huge amount of money there, and capturing a large section of its markets and raw materials. Thus there is a clash between two super powers in Pakistan. Since the Pakistan Establishment is still very much pro-American, this must be causing a lot of resentment in China, and the Chinese leaders will definitely support a popular uprising against the former, including by giving it arms and other aid, surreptitiously and clandestinely.
Nawaz Sharif’s return is bound to set the Pakistani prairie on fire.
Markandey Katju is an Indian jurist and former Supreme Court judge of India who served as chairman for the Press Council of India. He has also worked as Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department.
The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not represent the editorial policy or views of Global Village Space.