Pakistan should not take the side of oppressive rulers in Arab countries facing uprisings against their autocracy and despotic rule as ultimate victory would be of people fighting for their rights. This was the gist of the discussion on "Turmoil in the Arab Countries" arranged by the Strategic Technology Resources (STR) of Dr Shireen M Mazari.
This becomes more important in view of the prevailing anger against Pakistanis serving in anti-riot forces in Bahrain. The people of Pakistan in the forces of Bahrain are now being seen by the locals as standing on the side of oppressive rulers. Former Foreign Secretary and Minister of State for Finance Inamul Haq underlined the need of cautious approach by Pakistan in response to Mariana Babar, a senior journalist, personal account that how 22 years old Pakistanis having 6.6 feet height are being vigorously searched and stalked by the locals after first incident of killing probably of a protestor by a Pakistani employed in security forces of Bahrain.
Haq gave an overview of the causes of Middle East crisis, its impact on the economy of the countries like Pakistan as well as double standard of super powers, their allies and world bodies like United Nations Security Council. At the same time, he said it remains to be seen whether ongoing uprising against long oppressive regimes of the Arab world would result in a free pluralistic and participatory democracy or would merely change the faces as has been happening in Pakistan. In his view, the political parties in Pakistan have been major hurdle in the way of revolution because they are dividing forces instead of uniting the people. He said that no one was able to understand including the US what was happening in the Middle East and about its outcome. He was of the view that turmoil in the Arab countries may undermine the Palestine issue and escalate Palestine-Israel conflict. Israel may not offer concession to Palestine if turmoil in Arab countries continues.
Dr Haq said that seed of democracy was sowed by the Bush Administration in Middle East which has now grown into a sapling and threatening the autocratic and oppressive rulers who not only have siphoned 100 of millions of oil dollars and banked them into Western countries but also denied human rights to the people. The revolt against oppression, cruelty and violation of human rights, which started from Tunisia has spread to the entire Arab region and may force the rulers out of power.
Sensing the critical situation, he said different countries have employed different methods to quell the peaceful protestors. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia not only employed two-pronged strategy, religious and economic, to deal with the protestors but also sent troops to help rulers in Bahrain. The Arab crisis, he said, exposed more vividly the double standard of US, West and international organisations. The US turned a blind eye to crisis in Bahrain and Yemen but took harsh measures against Libya. Haq said that Libya has been on target because of oil and rich water resources. The France is keen to get control on fresh water resources in Libya because its companies have been dominating the water market.
Mariana Babar deplored that about six countries in the Middle East did not have Pakistani ambassadors during the time of uprising and turmoil in Arab to take care of the their people. She said that the government has not taken care of Pakistanis living in Bahrain. In her opening remarks, Dr Shireen Mazari said that normally STR focuses on nuclear briefings but decided that the time has come now to talks about the turmoil in Arab world. She said that the UN resolution 1973 has become irrelevant and France and Britain have gone beyond it to support the anti-Qaddafi forces in Libya. She said that there is a unholy alliance between the US and Gulf monarchs to oppress the uprising in the Middle East.