By Habib R. Sulemani

* President Zardari demanded Rs2 billion from real-estate tycoon Malik Riaz….

* Malik made Gen. Kayani’s brother business-partner on Presidential threats…

* ISI chief owns many commercial plazas in Rawalpindi and Islamabad…

THE revelations of WikiLeaks have taken the world by storm and embarrassed the Obama Administration in the United States. But when I look at the content of the leaked American diplomatic cables regarding Pakistan and Afghanistan, I feel nothing new in them.

The Army Chief calls the shots in Pakistan and it’s a universal truth. How the generals play double games, that’s also known by everyone. So whatever the former American Ambassador has reported from Islamabad (in the leaked cables), is actually an open secret in our country. For journalists, researchers and historians, these cables have value just because responsible diplomats of the Super Power have documented them in a bureaucratic way—thus they’re citation material for everyone.

I feel, many things, being discussed in a journalistic circle, are missing in the WikiLeaks. I want to count a few of them in this blog in the hope that The Terrorland Team (TTT) will not edit them. Discussing such things will bring the hidden truth out. Only truth can make national organizations credible and stronger; hiding them will bring more embarrassments to Pakistan in the future!

Here are some stories which the WikiLeaks missed:

1-     The military establishment allowed the Taliban to takeover Swat region to deceive the American Administration and get funds for fight terrorism. When the Taliban were entering Swat region, a very professional Deputy Superintendent (DSP) of the regional police told the government to allow him, to stop advancement of the Taliban. The high-ups told him shut-up it was a strategy of the military establishment. Then the DSP was transferred to another region.

2-     A follower of Maududi — Godfather of Pakistan Army & al-Qaeda — was appointed as Commissioner of the region, who allegedly facilitated the Taliban’s takeover of Malakand Region and then the so-called military oppression against the Taliban started.

3-     Militant leader Maulana Sufi Muhammad, also a follower of Maududi, was given full security with a chauffeur-driven land-cruiser by the Inter-Service Intelligence (ISI) so that he could terrorize the people to leave region. Later, the military media cell gave the faked news of the death of Sufi’s son and son-in-law (even now Sufi is said to be a valued guest of the ISI like Taliban spokesman Muslim Khan).

4- When a straightforward Pashtun Major-General wanted to finish the reign of Taliban the tribal areas, he was transferred to downtown—but he refused, saying that until he finishes the enemies of Pakistan, he couldn’t leave the battleground. However, later, he was tactfully packed off—

President Zardari with real-estate tycoon Malik Riaz.

5-     After becoming President of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari allegedly demanded Rs. 2 billion from a well-known real-estate tycoon, Malik Riaz of Bahria Town. (It could be commission or bribery as Mr. Zardari was known as Mr. 10 Percent when his wife Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan) Without payment, the tycoon was told, he couldn’t continue his lucrative business in His Majesty Zardari’s domain! The tycoon refused. But when the Presidency threatened him to deposit the said amount in a given account, Malik Riaz suffered a heart attack but, fortunately, survived due to in-time treatment.

6-     After recovery, the first thing Malik Riaz (the tycoon) did was calling the brother of Army Chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani—and offering him partnership in the huge real-estate business. (The tycoon has reportedly also given shares to the management of the National Press Club Islamabad to amalgamate the Media Town with his Bahria Town) After this strategy of the tycoon, President Zardari kept silent (at least for the time being).

7-     Another thing which was talk of the journalistic community about two years back was that ISI chief Lt-Gen. Ahmad Shuja Pasha owns many commercial plazas in the twin-cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. One of his commercial plazas is situated near the PIA office in Saddar area of Rawalpindi, where the Dawn Media Group had also its Bureau Office. A serving Major of the Pakistan Army had been assigned to collect rent from the tenants at the beginning of every month.

So these things are missing in the WikiLeaks. What’s the truth? The 180 million people of Pakistan want to know it. I hope President Zardari, Gen. Kayani and Lt-Gen. Pasha wouldn’t hesitate to tell the truth in this regard as the global scenario is changing rapidly… and eyes of the whole world are fixed on Pakistan’s ruling class. (Photos via Google)

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khaisor’ editorial stance.

First published on July, 7 2017 at theterrorland.blogspot.com