Hold your breath

Yes, we are all waiting anxiously for something big to happen. In fact, what has already happened this week is stunning in its significance. But these astounding developments are apparently meant only to set the stage for a major upheaval in the national state of affairs.

The news, like a bombshell, exploded on Monday. It was announced that retired Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed, the previous head of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency had been taken into military custody. The process of a field general court martial had been initiated against them.

Without going into the details of what the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in its statement, one felt overwhelmed by the very thought that a former military officer of this rank who had been one of the most powerful persons in this country for many years could be taken into custody. However, it was not difficult to read the message that had been delivered.

And there seemed no doubt in anyone’s mind that the ex-spymaster’s court martial would have a lot to do with the events of May 9 and the political destiny of Imran Khan, now incarcerated in Adiala Jail. In that sense, what has been set into motion is unprecedented and radical in its implications. It may even be seen as a sequel to the Imran Project that had been launched by the establishment a decade or so ago.

Anyhow, what was unveiled on Monday, with a thunder that left us baffled, is bound to be the opening episode in a story that is unfolding by and by. But there is no doubt as to where it is heading. On Thursday, the military announced the arrest of three more retired officers. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar disclosed that more arrests would be made in connection with the court martial of the former ISI chief.

An ISPR statement said that the three retired officers, two brigadiers and one colonel, were taken into military custody “for their actions prejudicial to military discipline”. In a related development, a former deputy superintendent of Adiala jail was arrested for allegedly delivering messages to Imran Khan from Faiz Hameed.

What all this indicates is not too hard to decipher. One can be sure that there is a definite game plan and a lot of hard work and detailed snooping must have gone into building this operation. Irrespective of what unintended consequences may creep into this process, great suspense is building up in the minds mainly of the supporters of Imran Khan’s PTI about measures that are in the making. A number of scary scenarios have been floated on social media.

Meanwhile, of course, this has been a week of hectic action and excitement for some other reasons. There has been much focus on the Independence Day celebrations. For that matter, there were other important anniversaries that relate to South Asia and we do feel a bondage with some of them.

For instance, India celebrated its independence anniversary on Thursday and this day, August 15, was also the third anniversary of the Afghan Taliban’s return to power in Kabul. I am specifically mentioning it because it reminds me of both Imran Khan and Faiz Hameed. Imran saw it as a blessing and said that the Taliban had “broken the shackles of slavery”. Faiz Hameed, as the head of ISI, openly visited Kabul in early September and made that famous observation: “Don’t worry, everything will be okay”.

For us, the Independence Day celebrations were extended or overlapped with the glory of Arshad Nadeem’s Olympic gold. Arshad’s remarkable achievement has given us a kind of joy that we have never had as a nation. He is an inspiration for our youth. There is ample justification for how the government has paid tribute to our exceptional athlete. At the same time, Arshad and the functions that were held in his honour have momentarily distracted our attention from the grim situation we confront at this time.

When Bangladesh’s student-led revolution toppled the regime of Sheikh Hasina early this month, many in Pakistan began to wonder if something similar could happen in this country. PTI leaders particularly felt inspired and statements were made to imply that our rulers cannot escape in a helicopter because Islamabad is not close to the border.

Well, something radical that has clearly touched the emotions of ordinary people is surely taking shape in Pakistan. Considerable attention was paid by observers to the speech Army Chief Gen Asim Munir made to mark Independence Day at the Pakistan Military Academy in Kakul, after an impressive parade. It was a wide-ranging speech but some remarks appeared to have a reference to what may transpire after the arrest of the retired army officers.

Gen Asim Munir blamed foreign powers for a wave of ‘digital terrorism’ which he said was aimed to create a gulf between state institutions and the people of Pakistan. The military, in its statements, has been critical of what is posted on social media. It has warned that social media is being used as a tool to spread anarchy and false information targeting armed forces.

As one report of Gen Asim Munir’s speech noted, the term ‘digital terrorism’ is increasingly being used by the military to describe the use of online spaces by its critics, particularly the activists of Imran Khan’s party. A number of PTI leaders and activists were detained, including the party’s spokesperson, Raoof Hasan, who faces charges related to ‘digital terrorism’.

Finally, we have no idea as to how long Faiz Hameed’s court martial would last and what its outcome is likely to be. Since other retired officers and civilian officers have also been arrested, there may be many different issues under investigation. One question is yet unanswered: what does this mean for Imran Khan?

We do have some idea of what it means for a former ISI chief who once exercised unbridled power.

The writer is a senior journalist. He can be reached at: ghazi_salahuddin@hotmail.com