‘Fix Mirza’ job for new minister?

Why an inexperienced MPA from Larkana, Sohail Anwar Sial, was picked for the most sensitive ministry like interior. The objective was to improve law and order or “fix Mirza,” the former interior minister, is the question.
Whatever the task he has been assigned, some glimpses were witnessed in the last 48 hours. It has become a dilemma for the Sindh police that so far have been unsuccessfully trying to keep itself away from political victimization, at least in this case.
It is significant to note that Sial’s nomination as home minister came a day after Zulfiqar Mirza used highly abusive language on TV against former President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, his sister and Sial. This episode is a classical example of “politicized police.”
The decision surprised many including the establishment, which apparently is not happy. The scheduled “apex committee” meeting was postponed and instead Corps Commander Karachi Lt General Naveed Akhtar met the chief minister and the governor of Sindh. However, neither he nor DG Rangers Maj General Bilal had met the new minister.
Sial was given preference over some more experienced figures, who in past had even performed the job as interior minister like Manzoor Wassan and Makhdoom Rafiq. There are also some energetic persons like Makhdoom Jamiluzzaman or even cool headed Nisar Khuhro. Perhaps, they were not picked because they may not be ready for this particular “job,” which an inexperienced and more loyal could do.
Makhdooms are presently not on very good terms with PPP leadership. Eldest Makhdoom Amin Fahim has been abroad for the last two months and there are reports that he is seriously ill. His son in the cabinet is not happy while brothers too are facing isolation in the party. Some knew the kind of job they were supposed to do if nominated as interior minister, so they kept themselves away from this controversy.So, within 48 hours, after the appointment of Sial as home minister, former minister and his families complained massive harassment by the police, raid on their houses and farms etc.
Dr Mirza, who is facing scores of cases against him including alleged attack on a police station in Badin and Darkshan in Karachi, is now on bail for a week and escorted back to his home from Sindh High Court on Saturday, after several hours of standoff, as he feared he might be killed in an extra judicial manner by the police.
What happened in the Sindh High Court premises is unprecedented. Hundreds of policemen including SIU commandos had surrounded the area, just for one man. Why? Who knows who were these “masked men,” who had badly beaten cameramen and photographers and why? Was SIU supposed to be used for such purposes?
Police feared that any mishap with someone like Zulfiqar Mirza could be “fatal” for them also. They still have bad memories of Mir Murtaza Bhutto’s case, some 19 years ago, as a result of which from DIG to SP level officers and 11 cops faced jail and trial for years. “It’s not the question of rule of law or action against any terrorist. It’s a political matter and personal rivalries,” said one police officer on condition of anonymity.
Had police been empowered and independent, what happened a few weeks back at Badin Police Station would not have been happened. Dr Zulfiqar Mirza would not have dared to do what he had done in the police station. He would have been in the lock up immediately. But, the officials knew that they were not only helpless but powerless too. They too may have been posted there for political reasons. This practice Mirza himself had followed when he was in charge of this ministry.
What Mirza is saying and the kind of language he is using against his old friend and his family is something which one should not expect from people’s representative, who once remained the minister, too. But, it does not mean that the police forces, special commandos be used just to control one man and only for personal likes and dislikes.
Mirza may be indecent in his expressions as he himself allegedly remained “partner” with people today he is accusing of many wrongdoings, but is it not true that he was never stopped when as minister he issued hundreds and thousands of arms licenses including prohibited arms to one group of Lyari gang war, followed by killings in Karachi. Is it not true that for this very purpose the government is not very keen to bring back Uzair Baluch to Pakistan, because he and Mirza are still in contact and backed each other?
Thus, Mirza-Zardari episode can also cause problems for the apex committee, Corps Commander and DG Rangers as police were supposed to take more active part in Karachi targeted action, instead of dealing with Dr Mirza.
The new interior minister has to be very careful in his action irrespective of whatever loyalties he has with the top PPP leadership. Mirza is avoiding arrest or court arrest because he feared he would be killed, either in jail or like Mir Murtaza Bhutto.
This very statement of Mirza demand a caution from the government and Chief Minister Sindh Syed Qaim Ali Shah should intervene particularly when Mirza will again appear in the court for further bail this week.
Mirza and his family too have to show some political maturity. One expect from someone like former Speaker National Assembly and PPP MNA Dr Fahmida Mirza to control her husband, if nothing else, from the use of “indecent and abusive” language, personal attacks as he himself had remained “too close” to the former President Asif Ali Zardari.
She must realize that her husband is not only causing embarrassment to her but to the family. Mentioning someone like model Ayan Ali or others raises question about his own conduct. Why he did not disclosed all this a few years back?
Dr Mirza should not make situation far more difficult for himself, his wife and son Hasan Mirza, who are still PPP legislators and have not resigned from their seats yet, which itself is quite surprising.The writer is a senior analyst and columnist of Gep, The News and Jang.