Of Quetta blast, Houbara Bustard and Mirza’s plans

KARACHI: There is a great importance of the time and place of the bomb blast in Quetta, observed Shahzeb Khanzada in his analysis in the program Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada Kay Saath on Monday.
He said the blast has significance for three reasons. The most important of which is whatever Shiv Sena did today is being talked about in the media the world over. But attention of the media was diverted towards the Quetta bomb blast.
Shahzeb Khanzada observed that the incident is significant because it has been reported today that Commander Southern Command General Janjua is being made National Security Advisor of Pakistan, which appointment was being vehemently criticised by India. On the other hand the prime minister of Pakistan has also reached the US where he will also speak and give evidences on Indian intervention in Balochistan.
Shahzeb Khanzada, while analysing extremism in India, said extremists are gaining strength ever since Narendra Modi came to power. These extremists would not only bring states to confrontation but would also push societies towards war. He said the trend and acts of Shiv Sena added with the silence of the Indian government would bring about confrontations and on the whole India will have to suffer.
He said the extremist outfit Shiv Sina, with its attacks on the meeting of the authorities of India and Pakistan cricket board has once again defaced India. While the Indian cricket board and the Indian government appear to have bowed before Shiv Sena. The madness of Shiv Sena is on the increase and no one in India is safe from its vandalism. Narendra Modi prefers, rather loves, to appear on the media. He even tweets on big or small matters but does not care to say anything on atrocities perpetrated on the Indian minorities. This tendency of the prime minister is heightening the sense of insecurity among the Indian minorities.
Taking up the politics of the country in his analysis, Shahzeb Khanzada said a survey of the Pildat says the popularity of the N-League is on the increase. There is a question at this point whether unimpressive performance of the government is its achievement or does it show the failure of the opposition parties, which have failed in properly highlighting mistakes in rulers’ performance.
Referring to Pakistan’s terms with Arab countries, he said it seems that foreign policy of Pakistan has become dependent on the rare bird Houbara Bustard (Talor). The poor bird does not know how important it is but our foreign ministry knows it importance very well. The ministry had been attempting to develop relations with the Middle Eastern states on the bird, instead of developing brotherly relations, making trade agreements, inviting investments and arranging meetings of the rulers of these countries with the government of Pakistan.
It should be interesting to note that the foreign ministry urged the Supreme Court of Pakistan through a petition to revise the order it issued to the central and provincial governments now to issue permits for hunting the Houbara Bustard. The foreign ministry submitted in the petition that the hunting of the bird increased relations of Pakistan with the Middle Eastern states. Not only that, but the rulers visiting Pakistan for hunting the bird also make investments in the country. The foreign ministry also submitted in the petition that relations with the Middle Eastern states are deteriorating as a result of prohibition on the hunting of the bird.
Chief Minister Balochistan Abdul Malik Baloch, while speaking in the program, condemned the bomb blast incident in a passenger bus in Quetta. He said very poor people and labourers, who were returning home from their jobs, were killed in the explosion. While saying it was an extremely shameful act he assured that the injured will be provided with all facilities and treatment.
The results of the by-election in Lahore clearly depict that popularity of Tehrik-e-Insaf is on the increase, said leader of the party Shafqat Mahmood. Referring to the scandal of Nandipur Power Project, he said it is now more than two months that the Natioanal Assembly is not in session otherwise we would have brought the scandal to the floor of the House. He also mentioned that the government has also not told the facts about the LNG agreement. Such matters point to non-transparency in the projects of the government. He said Tehrik-e-Insaf is mulling over going to the Supreme Court on these matters.
Former interior minister of Sindh, Dr Zulfiqar Mirza also spoke to Shahzeb Khanzada. Mirza said he had not lost hope in Bilawal Bhutto although he is with his father Asif Zardari and his aunty.
Mirza said he, as well as a number of leaders of the People’s Party, dislike them as they cannot revive the party. Mirza said the trend of politics at present is quiet different. It had no more remained a matter of making efforts for the people, win their favour and gather followers. The politics of today is rather a matter of money. It costs billions of rupees.
In case Bilawal Bhutto de-links himself with his father, then he will have no means and sources to run the party. Dr Mirza said the People’s Party has turned into Zardari League.
Zulfiqar Mirza said he is forming a new party in wider interest of the country and will give hope to the depressed Jialas. He vowed that he would put his efforts best to provide the people with an alternative platform.
Mirza said he was making the party with Arbab Ghulam Rahim: in larger interest of the province and the country. It is necessary to forget personal difference for achievement of higher goals. He pointed out that Arbab Ghulam Rahim cannot be held responsible for all odds of the Musharraf tenure. He said Arbab Ghulam Rahim has said that he had never opposed Benazir Bhutto nor had said anything against her. Dr Mirza claimed that he was making honest efforts to save People’s Party from illegal occupation.