Nawaz plan C, Fazl plan D: Prof Mumtaz

Washington: (from left to right) Prof Dr Shdireen Hunter, Prof Dr Marvin
Weinbaum, and Prof Dr Mumtaz Ahmad during a disucssion at the
George Town University on Wednesday -- (Photo by Rana Fawad)

By Rana Fawad

WASHINGTON: The late Benazir Bhutto was the plan B of the US strategy in Pakistan and after her assassination Nawaz Sharif could be the plan C and don’t be surprised if Maulana Fazl ur Rehman emerges as the plan D.

This was stated by Prof Dr Mumtaz Ahmad of Hampton University during a discussion on “Recent Events in Pakistan and Their Implications” organized by the Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding of Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University on Wednesday. The other key speaker was Professor Dr Marvin Weinbaum, Resident Scholar at The Middle East Institute. Prof Dr Shireen Hunter conducted the proceedings on this occasion.

Analyzing the political situation in Pakistan, Prof Mumtaz told the audience that he won't be surprised if Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam leader Fazl ur Rehman is brought into the power picture as plan D. He added that Fazl ur Rehman has distanced himself from the Afghan Taliban, has friendly ties with the Indians through Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, does not approve of the Kashmiri struggle as jihad, could talk to the religious elements using his influence in the troubled parts of the tribal areas, and on top of that, he is purchase-able.

Referring to Nawaz Sharif's deportation in September 2007, Prof Mumtaz told the audience that even the FIA director was kept under dark about real destination of Nawaz Sharif's plane. He said the FIA director was told that Nawaz Sharif would be taken to Karachi and that's what he told Nawaz Sharif when he escorted him to the plane. The professor added that after the plane took off, the FIA director was informed the plane was going to Jeddah.

As for the Feb 18 elections in Pakistan, the professor said the world should not be surprised if the President Musharraf's party, Pakistan Muslim League (Q), secures half of the 55 per cent National Assembly seats in the Punjab province. He said one reason was that many of the party tickets holders of PML-Q belonged to the influential families that had their own vote banks in the respective areas.

Another reason, the professor mentioned, is the fact that the Punjab government led by Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi did a lot of development work in the province and some sectors experienced significant salary raise. He said for instance the school teachers in the Punjab received almost 100 per cent raise in their salaries.