Yemen Debate Requires Understanding of Colonialist Role
After the government informed a stormy joint session of parliament on 6 April of Saudi Arabia’s request that Pakistan join a coalition fighting rebels in Yemen by contributing jets, navy ships and ground troops, parliamentary foes and allies alike demanded more details. Speakers from the main opposition PPP and PTI and the government-allied Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) labelled a prepared statement, read out by Defence Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif, as ambiguous, though none of them asked the government to say “no” to the Saudi demand while calling for a peaceful, diplomatic solution to the crisis in Yemen. However, neither the opposition nor the regime have yet demonstrated understanding of the colonialist interference in Yemen. One of the most dangerous aspects of the Muslim Ummah’s decline was the decline in global awareness and political thinking. Lack of political thinking or its weakness or non-existence is a matter of life and death for the Muslim people. Wrong political analysis leads to people accepting, even supporting disastrous policies by their rulers which results in bringing the masses harm and strengthening their enemy.
As an example the regime in Pakistan built a narrative that the war on terror is a war between Pashtun tribes residing in FATA and the Pakistani state. While in reality it is a war between Pashtun tribes and America in Afghanistan. Wrong political analysis allowed some to support military operations in FATA which actually strengthened US occupation of Afghanistan and brought harm upon Muslims in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Another example is the flawed opinion that Iran and America are enemies. While in reality the Iranian regime has been an American agent since the so called Islamic revolution. Iran helped America in its invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq. Iran and America are currently conducting joint military operations in Iraq. This wrong political analysis led the people to believe that Iran is actually helping the Syrian dictator Bashar Al Assad against a revolution which is sponsored by America. While in reality the pro-American Iranian regime is helping the US agent Bashar Al Assad against a genuine Islamic revolution. This wrong analysis led the Ummah to turn a blind eye towards one of worst massacres of the Muslim people in the 21st century.
And now we are witnessing the crisis in Yemen where the regime and opposition think that this is a regional struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabic or a Sunni-Shia sectarian conflict. In reality both the Iranian regime and the Saudi regime are American puppets and they are not fighting in Yemen rather they are helping each other in Yemen. The crisis is not a regional struggle between Saudi and Iran. It is an international struggle between America and Britain for control over Yemen. Wrong analysis will lead us to wrong conclusions resulting in the Ummah supporting policies which harm her interests. What the Ummah needs is a sincere political leadership, an aware Khalifah who would make correct political analysis and execute policies which protect not harm the interests of the Ummah.
End Colonialist Presence to Restore Peace in Yemen
As parliament continued to debate how to respond to a Saudi request for a military role in the war in Yemen on 7 April, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was already engaged in peace moves and expected to “hear something” from Turkey by 8 April. On the second day of debate in the joint session of both houses of parliament, smaller parties came out strongly in favour of a peaceful and diplomatic course, though they generally endorsed the government’s commitment to fight any threat to Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity. The debate continues amidst unconfirmed rumours that Nawaz Sharif has already committed troops for Yemen and that Pakistani pilots have already been used in bombings within Yemen. Such rumours have provoked an accusation that the current debate in the assembly is a “Topi (Beret) Drama,” where the military leadership has already sent troops and is now creating a cloud as cover for this deployment.
Even if it is not a cover, the current assembly debate is not discussing the core issue, the purpose for military or political actions. Neither “Restoring peace” nor “Peacemaking” is specific enough as a purpose. If the purpose is anything less than ridding Yemen of colonialist influence, any action will be for nothing. After all, even during the “peace” in Yemen before the current conflict, the colonialist powers were sowing the seeds for conflict by supporting competing factions. On the ground in Yemen, through their officials, they were nurturing agents to secure their influence in Yemen. Outside of Yemen, through their influence in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the colonialists also supported factions within Yemen, exploiting sectarianism to further their aims.
All this is made possible through the network of colonialist presence throughout the Muslim World, whether military, private military, intelligence or diplomatic.
Until the Muslim World is rid of colonialist influence, it will continue to suffer from conflicts. Ending colonialist influence practically means eradicating the means of such influence, the colonialist presence within the Muslim World. Such a change can never be expected by the current regimes, regardless of how many times they militarily or diplomatically intervene, as they themselves are under colonialist influence. Only the establishment of the Khilafah will secure peace for the Muslim World. Wherever it is first established, it will end the colonialist presence on its soil, whether military, private military, intelligence or diplomatic. Wherever the Khilafah is first established will act as a starting point for the unification of the Muslim World as a single state, ridding it all of colonialist mischief once and for all. And it will act as an example for other communities in the world that are tired of the colonialist hegemony that has subjugated much of the world for so long.
The Continuous Betrayal Against the Respected Dr. Aafia Siddiqui
A new study carried out in the US finds that 94% of those held in connection with terrorism cases after 9/11 were unfairly prosecuted and Dr Aafia Siddiqui was at No 2 in the list. Jointly released by SALAM (Support and Legal Advocacy for Muslims) and the National Coalition to Protect Civil Freedoms (NCPCF), the study titled ‘Inventing Terrorists: The Lawfare of Preemptive Prosecution’ is the first to directly examine and critique preemptive prosecution and its abuses. Study co-author and US lawyer Stephen Downs addressed a press conference in Lahore on 7 April 2015, saying that Dr Aafia was the most well-known political prisoner in the world and the injustice and maltreatment she had received shocks the conscience. Quoting from the study, Mr Downs said “…the war on terror has been largely a charade designed to make the American public believe that a terrorist army is loose in the US, when the truth is that most of the people convicted of terrorism-related crimes posed no danger to the US and were entrapped by a preventive strategy known as preemptive prosecution.” He also expressed dismay at why the Pakistani government had still not demanded Dr. Aafia’s repatriation and return which would not be difficult if the political will was there.
The truth is that the treatment of Dr. Aafia is a black mark of disgrace on Pakistan’s political and military leadership. She was handed over the US knowing full well of her innocence and what would happen to her. Since then, her case has been purposefully ignored. The traitors in the political and military leadership meet and deal with the US as friends and allies – receiving medals and accolades for their service! – but fail to demand justice for Dr. Aafia, because they could not care less. Their reference point is not Islam and justice but narrow self-interest, even if through open oppression. RasulAllah صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
«الظلم ظلمات يوم القيامة»
“Oppression will be severe darkness on the Day of Resurrection…” [Bukhari]
Privatization of Energy Has Deprived Pakistan of Its Potential
The country can overcome energy crisis in the short run but the task can only be accomplished by the private sector, the president of Engro Group, Ali Ansari, said here on 8 April. “Any project executed by the government alone will not only be costly, but will take a long time for completion,” he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the Dawn Media Group’s conference on ‘Clean, affordable and reliable energy’. Mr Ansari said any project executed by the private sector, with the support and collaboration of the government, will be a successful model. On the same note, State-run Power Construction Corp of China Ltd plans to invest in a $2.1 billion coal-fired power project in Pakistan as part of a broad economic cooperation between Beijing and Islamabad, the company said on 9 April.
It is capitalism which has crippled the state’s ability to secure energy projects. The world over capitalism demands the privatization of energy and mineral sources, which represent huge wealth. The wealthiest companies in the world include energy giants. These sizeable revenues are not available to the general society, but go into the pockets of private parties. Taxation revenue on energy is peanuts in comparison and not enough to allow state supervised development of energy. The private companies then offer their funds and expertise and the state throws up its hands, continuing the cycle.
Only the Khilafah will break the cycle of depravity. Islam uniquely regards energy as a public property. It can neither be nationalized nor privatized. It is neither state owned nor privately owned. It is a wealth for the public, regardless of race, religion or gender. The soon to arrive, inshaaAlllah, Khilafah will utilize the wealth to ensure strong development as well as providing affordable energy for domestic, agricultural and industrial users.