Players behind audio, video controversy

ISLAMABAD: What can be possible similarities between the recorded conversation of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan with Dr Arif Alvi, which has created quite sensation on the social media and on mainstream channel, and the mysterious video statement from the death cell, of convict Saulat Mirza, hours before his execution. The answer is perhaps, the people who leaked all this. The question is why and what could be the possible motive.
While there is no doubt about the authenticity of the statement of Saulat Mirza, whose execution has further been delayed till April 4, PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi has raised a few questions about the audio recording though neither has he or has Imran denied that these are their voices. Alvi believes that someone had put patches of their conversation in order to give a wrong impression. Now, whether did Arif Alvi and Imran Khan talk about the state-run TV takeover or not? Secondly, did Mr Alvi speak to Imran on that day or not?
There is nothing wrong even if Imran had praised the takeover and told Alvi that it would bring more pressure on Nawaz Sharif to resign but on the same day Imran had condemned the incident.
The government instead of taking political advantage of the situation should first order an inquiry into this incident as to why the conversation between the two party leaders was recorded. Since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif claimed that his party did not believe in putting politicians under surveillance who did it and now leaked it on whose order? True, it’s an old practice and has frequently been used by the successive governments.
This practice was brutally used to malign politicians and even civilian governments followed this practice. But, the worst was the conversation of Justice (R) Malik Muhammad Qayyum. It was such a serious offence that those responsible should have been in jail and the government could have resigned.So, before debating the content, it’s important to find out,

who had recorded the conversation, on whose order and with what purpose.
Secondly, why it was leaked and particularly at a time when there was a ceasefire between Imran and Nawaz Sharif following an agreement on Judicial Commission. In this way, some people tried to sabotage the efforts.
Imran’s reaction was more like a confession and admission, which was quite contrary to his public position on state-run TV attack in August last year during dharna politics.What Altaf Hussain has to do with this conversation that Imran hit back on MQM? Since the raid at MQM headquarters, Nine-Zero,” Imran hit back on Altaf Hussain. During his address in Azad Kashmir, he criticised MQM politics and even announced public rally in Karachi prior to by-election in Azizabad, next month.
On Friday, he once again targeted MQM, though the question was with regard to his alleged conversation with Arif Alvi. Other PTI leaders also picked from where Imran had left and in all TV talk shows, they hit MQM.
Imran and PTI need to clarify their position on state-run TV attack and the conversation between Imran and Alvi took place or not.Thus, both PML-N and PTI need to check from “within,” who wanted to exploit this situation and sabotage the efforts of Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar and PTI leader Jehangir Tareen.
No doubt, there is a lobby within PML-N against Dar and there are people within PTI who are against Jehangir Tareen.Thus, it suits pro-JC elements in both the parties to get an ordinance issued, form JC and put the ball in commission’s court. They should also agree not to make further comments on the issue till the outcome of the report.
If JC is not constituted and Imran decides to take PTI to the streets, it will only damage the democratic process.Imran continued verbal attack on Altaf and MQM which has already created tension in Azizabad constituency. Imran Khan is using his aggressive posture to put pressure on MQM without realising that elections are not merely fought through harsh stance but it also needs a few techniques.
PTI is aimed at giving surprise in NA-246 Azizabad, the seat fell vacant after resignation of Nabil Gabol, a former PPP and MQM leader. It’s a tough task for PTI in Karachi as it is already facing internal organisational problems.
Though PTI leaders feel that after raid at 90, and Saulat Mirza’s confession, the public opinion in Karachi might have changed and the MQM has gone down since Karachi operation in the past two weeks, they are not out of the field.But, the “audio-video” controversy has certainly charged the political atmosphere and the by-election in such a high tension between MQM and PTI, may be a challenge for both the parties.
PTI had performed well in Karachi since they surprised everyone by getting over eight lakh votes and four MPA seats. This will be followed by Cantonment Board elections in third week of April and most crucial local bodies’ polls in September.
Delay in Saulat Mirza’s execution for another 30 days will be a sign of relief for some people. However, the question is, if the authorities allowed the “recording of his statement” the people will never know, at least officially, who was behind all this. Perhaps, that is why the committee to probe about the video leak was dissolved.
Similarly, if Imran-Alvi audio recording was deliberately leaked, days before the ordinance for the formation of judicial commission, the fate of the JC, would not be difficult to assess. For instance, If JC’s findings come against the PTI, and the PML-N comes out clean, no one could stop Sharif from completing his term in office. At the same time it would also damage Imran’s politics in future, which some people don’t want as they want to keep Imran as potent threat to Nawaz.
The writer is a senior analyst of Geo, The News and Jang.