tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post3039326953004971203..comments2024-03-27T15:36:44.737-07:00Comments on Haq's Musings: Sharif's and Trump's Strikingly Similar NarrativesRiaz Haqhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-69395311108276657712018-09-19T18:28:13.018-07:002018-09-19T18:28:13.018-07:00Jason Chaffetz: The Deep State is real – I've ...Jason Chaffetz: The Deep State is real – I've seen it up close and it's far worse than you can imagine<br /><br />http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2018/09/18/jason-chaffetz-deep-state-is-real-ive-seen-it-up-close-and-its-far-worse-than-can-imagine.html<br /><br />With each successive batch of text messages released between then-FBI agent Peter Strzok and then-FBI lawyer Lisa Page, the evidence supporting a politically motivated Deep State within the federal government spills out into the open.<br /><br />Based on my own experience, this particular set of text messages is the tip of the iceberg. While serving on the House Oversight Committee, I saw firsthand how those in control of our bureaucracy brazenly abuse their power – spying, manipulating and misleading – in an effort to perpetuate their stranglehold on the government.<br /><br />--------------------<br /><br />My first run-in with the Deep State happened weeks after the Benghazi terrorist attacks of September 11, 2012. In an encounter highlighted in my book, I went face-to-face with a lawyer sent to Libya by Hillary Clinton’s State Department to act as a spy and ensure I did not ever get to the truth of what happened on that tragic night.<br /><br />When I refused to allow this State Department lawyer to participate in a briefing for which his security clearance was insufficient, he immediately called Clinton Chief of Staff and fixer Cheryl Mills to demand entrance to the meeting. His real purpose was to intimidate witnesses from being candid with a congressman.<br /><br />I won that battle and got the information I sought. But the effort to speak to witnesses, review documents, and debunk the ridiculous and false narratives told by political appointees and perpetuated by their Deep State allies was an uphill battle.<br /><br />Even with a select congressional committee empaneled to investigate, Congress was never able to pry from the Deep State many of the documents that would have confirmed or refuted the damning testimony of Benghazi’s heroes.<br /><br />Spying is just one trick up the sleeves of politicized bureaucrats. Powerful senior staffers with authority to classify, resist disclosure, and subvert oversight have perfected other strategies to avoid transparency and accountability.<br /><br />The Deep State manipulates congressional investigations by pretending to cooperate with document subpoenas. Those who are part of the Deep State bury congressional committees in piles of paper ostensibly responsive to the investigation, and then brag to the media about the number of pages they have turned over.<br /><br />In reality, many of those pages will either be fully redacted, duplicates of other pages, or irrelevant to the investigation.<br /><br />The media then dutifully report that the agency has turned over thousands of pages – yet the public gets no answers. Meanwhile, the documents that would actually tell the American people the truth never see the light of day.<br /><br />Misleading the public about the nature of documents sought either by Congress or through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests is another art the Deep State has perfected. Agencies employ lawyers specifically to find reasons to withhold documents.<br /><br />In one May 2014 hearing, a TSA sensitive security information director testified that upon being hired, attorneys and FOIA processors trained him to hide information.<br /><br />The director testified that he was told: “If you come across embarrassing information or whatever, (the chief counsel) will just hide it and come up with an exemption; because if you cover it with a FOIA exemption it’s so hard for the other person to challenge it, and it will be costly and difficult for them to challenge it, and they’re probably never going to see it anyway, so you just get away with it. That’s the way it’s done.”<br /><br />There are solutions, which I outline in my book. But before we can address solutions, we have to acknowledge the problem.<br /><br />The Deep State is not just a conspiracy theory. No less than our very system of separation of powers and checks and balances is at stake.<br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-81951844736323789382018-05-29T21:00:38.417-07:002018-05-29T21:00:38.417-07:00Election Act 2017 has removed all electoral nomina...Election Act 2017 has removed all electoral nomination form entries requiring disclosure of assets by candidates and their family members as well as other questions related to unpaid bank loans, loan defaults, income tax payments, educational qualifications and criminal records. <br /><br />It’s intended to avoid public scrutiny and possible challenges under article 62 and 63. <br /><br />The law was passed after Nawaz Sharif’s and Jahangir Tareen’s disqualification Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-66575455324970587612018-05-29T17:31:58.120-07:002018-05-29T17:31:58.120-07:00#Pakistan #NAB Recovers US$1.3 Million from Corru...#Pakistan #NAB Recovers US$1.3 Million from Corruption Suspect Ahad Cheema , ex head of #Lahore Development Authority #Punjab. #PMLN https://www.occrp.org/en/27-ccwatch/cc-watch-briefs/8143-pakistan-recovers-us-1-3-million-from-corruption-suspect … via @OCCRP<br /><br />Pakistan's anti-graft authorities recovered on Monday Rs 15 million (US$1.3 million) and a luxurious Toyota Landcruiser from the former head of the Lahore Development Authority, Ahad Cheema, in the eastern city of Lahore.<br /><br />Cheema was arrested in February under suspicion of misusing his authority and corruption involving a housing project. The case is known as the Ashiana Housing scam, a project of the Punjab government.<br /><br />Cheema was arrested by National Accountability Bureau, NAB, officials after he failed to respond to two notices they had sent him.<br /><br />Investigators claim they collected significant evidence of Cheema's involvement in the corruption and illegal allotment of land.<br /><br />Cheema allegedly received land worth Rs 30 million (US$260,000) from the owners of the firm associated with the housing scheme.<br /><br />He remained in NAB custody for three months and has been sent to jail for judicial remand on court orders.<br /><br />NAB opened the investigation last November after receiving several complaints over an ‘illegal deal’ involving acres of land between the Punjab Land Development Company — a government owned company — and some private firms.<br /><br />Corruption in Pakistan is rampant and the country is listed as one of the most corrupt in the world. Transparency Internationals 2017 Corruption Perception Index ranks it 116 out of 180 countries.<br /><br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-52452711361250295532018-05-26T09:45:39.634-07:002018-05-26T09:45:39.634-07:00#Pakistan Among Top 10 Countries Losing Most #Tax ...#Pakistan Among Top 10 Countries Losing Most #Tax Revenues. #India #China #Indonesia #Japan #Germany https://youtu.be/Xe-GSM1k9Ag via @YouTubeRiaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-44801147431740673182018-05-26T09:28:12.713-07:002018-05-26T09:28:12.713-07:00Masood: "Especially since Zardari has been de...Masood: "Especially since Zardari has been declared Saadiq and Ameen by the same judiciary. "<br /><br />I am not aware of any judicial verdicts declaring Zardari "sadiq" or "ameen". He's not even a member of parliament nor does he hold any public office where the sadiq/amin requirement applies.<br /><br />In any event, all justice in the world in selective. You see it everyday when some people get pulled up for speeding while others are not. <br /><br />There's a thing called "prosecutorial discretion" where prosecutors have to routinely select who to prosecute and who to let go simply because they lack the resources to prosecute everybody. Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-88987575096710616732018-05-26T09:27:00.356-07:002018-05-26T09:27:00.356-07:00Ahmad: "There is no doubt who carried out the...Ahmad: "There is no doubt who carried out the Mumbai attacks and several Pakistanis, including General Shuja Pasha, the former head of the ISI, have attested to that. So it is not a question of buying Sharif's conspiracy theories. The facts are there for everyone to see."<br /><br />There's zero evidence linking ISI with Mumbai. <br /><br />Besides, it has nothing to do with Sharif's lying and money laundering trial. He raises these issues as a distraction to change the topic and you fall for it <br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-12490648755510439202018-05-26T09:24:27.471-07:002018-05-26T09:24:27.471-07:00Making Sharif accountable was a good start by the ...Making Sharif accountable was a good start by the Judiciary but their selective justice has raised many questions about their motives. <br /><br />Especially since Zardari has been declared Saadiq and Ameen by the same judiciary. <br />He is de facto leader of the Senate and with hung parliament, he might also form the next government. Sounds improbable? It also did before he came into power first time around. No hidden hand or third umpire interfered to end his corrupt and inept regime. Those were wasted five years for the country. <br /><br />This is not conspiracy. It is happening in front of our eyes. Masoodnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-81206269258582995972018-05-26T09:23:49.298-07:002018-05-26T09:23:49.298-07:00There is no doubt who carried out the Mumbai attac...There is no doubt who carried out the Mumbai attacks and several Pakistanis, including General Shuja Pasha, the former head of the ISI, have attested to that. So it is not a question of buying Sharif's conspiracy theories. The facts are there for everyone to see.<br /><br />Ahmad F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-12142460654143671762018-05-26T07:43:07.046-07:002018-05-26T07:43:07.046-07:00Ahmad: " He (Hasan Askari Rizvi) is entitled ...Ahmad: " He (Hasan Askari Rizvi) is entitled to make his comments on democracy in Pakistan. But I can assure you the views he has expressed are not in accord with those of the majority of learned writers on Pakistan. They view Sharif's dismissal as a travesty of the rule of law in Pakistan."<br /><br />You buy Sharif's conspiracy theories regardless of the evidence against him, just as Trump supporters believe all the conspiracy theories he spins to deflect attention from serious allegations against his campaign. <br /><br />This shows how successful the two leaders are in politicizing the situations in their attempts to retain political support. <br />Riaz Haqhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00522781692886598586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-32029916438660690242018-05-26T07:40:20.031-07:002018-05-26T07:40:20.031-07:00Professor Rizvi is a good friend of mine. He has w...Professor Rizvi is a good friend of mine. He has written widely on civil-military relations in Pakistan and was the chairman of the political science department at Punjab University. He also taught at Columbia University for three years, as part of an exchange program.<br /><br />He is entitled to make his comments on democracy in Pakistan. But I can assure you the views he has expressed are not in accord with those of the majority of learned writers on Pakistan. They view Sharif's dismissal as a travesty of the rule of law in Pakistan. <br /><br />Rizvi's comment is an idealized comment in the Aristotle-Plato vein. Most democracies in the world have issues, many don't improve the welfare of their people. But they are still called democracies. So his statement should not be taken as being the gospel truth.<br /><br />He is best known for his critique of military rule. And the Pakistan army hates him. He is their ultimate critic. They could not fire him from the chairmanship of the university so they turned off the heater in his office. At some point he simply resigned in disgust.<br /><br />He reviewed my book on Pakistan's national security and totally agreed with my recommendations. <br /><br />ZAB had a sterling opportunity to restore true democracy in Pakistan. We all know what he did. Here is my take on Bhutto's own website (why they posted it I don't know)<br /><br />https://www.bhutto.org/article43_.php<br /><br />Yahya held genuinely fair elections in Pakistan but did not hand over power to the party that won an absolute majority. And then he plunged the country into a Civil War which resulted in the death of Jinnah's miraculous creation.<br /><br />https://dailytimes.com.pk/219222/operation-searchlight-revisited/<br /><br />Ayub thought the people of Pakistan would not be ready for real democracy for another "two generations." He was the savior that God had destined for the Islamic Republic. So he rigged the elections and defeated Jinnah's sister. He did not win even using his bastardized definition of Basic Democracy. He brought ethnic tensions to Karachi, the largest city, and moved the capital closer to his hometown where one day the Number One terrorist would be found hiding and killed in an operation that disgraced the entire country.<br /><br />That was not enough. He he plunged the country into war with India, under guidance from his upstart foreign minister, and gained nothing in Kashmir and came close to losing the war.<br /><br />Zia ruled unopposed for more than a decade and claimed he had seized power to give genuine democracy to the country.<br /><br />We all know the ruin Musharraf imposed on democracy in Pakistan.<br /><br />Many of us are now engaging in an orgy over Sharif's dismissal. He is gone. Congrats! But please get over it. Its like Trump keeps on telling us he won the elections.<br /><br />Old news, guys. Please share your views bout the future. When are the elections? Who are you supporting and why?<br /><br />And tell me why is Pakistan fated to suffer, regardless of who rules? Is this a divine sanction? The more you suffer, we are told every Friday, the higher the place you will get in heaven.<br /><br />Now we will be reminded by my learned friend that Pakistan is doing very well, that it is India which is suffering, and I have got it all wrong.<br /><br />I will pause and wait for that oration.<br /><br /><br />Ahmad F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-91133994218242067162018-05-26T07:38:00.699-07:002018-05-26T07:38:00.699-07:00Riaz Haq forgot the involvement of family members ...Riaz Haq forgot the involvement of family members by both, including son-in-laws.<br /><br />The main difference is that one is still holding office and the other is not. In that way, Pakistan's system has an edge over the US. <br /><br />In the case of Trump, he has been riding the high horse with a zillion people gunning for him, be is still able to do virtually everything he wants and can, while people watch. They may criticize, investigate but all that they can do is watch. Mueller has collected all the evidence and indicted related people. There is no doubt of the Russian intervention on the US (s)election, but there he blazing away saying and doing everything he wants, with nobody and nothing to stop him. No human being in history has been in the news as consistently as Trump. <br /><br />Where Nawaz gets an A+ is for resilience. Despite being the first man in history to be a PM three times and each time his tenure has been aborted, age, Panama nothing has mellowed him down. In fact, he is more articulated when he is not in office than when he is. I doubt whether he will ever give up.<br />Mayrajnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-70829710572936314042018-05-26T07:36:44.360-07:002018-05-26T07:36:44.360-07:00Good analysis. Both are deplorable. I heard a good...Good analysis. Both are deplorable. I heard a good phrase from a very respectable Pakistani analyst Hasan Askari Rizvi. He was on a talk show on ARY this week. He said and I paraphrase, "Democracy that does not improve the lot of the people is not democracy. Call it whatever, but it is not democracy." <br /><br />At least Trump in his own way is trying to serve the people who elected him. The same cannot be said about Nawaz, who became a billionaire as a result of his "democratic" conquests.Sikandarnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-56030833337651327232018-05-25T20:01:16.818-07:002018-05-25T20:01:16.818-07:00Buying Trump’s narrative would make chumps of us a...Buying Trump’s narrative would make chumps of us all<br /><br />By Ruth Marcus<br />Deputy editorial page editor, columnist<br />May 4<br /><br /><br />We’re missing something important, indeed fundamental, in all the legal-political chatter about whether President Trump will answer questions from the special counsel and what might happen if he refuses.<br /><br />We need to keep in mind: This is the president, not an ordinary witness — or, to be more precise, ordinary...<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-80459842985471767032018-05-25T19:54:18.900-07:002018-05-25T19:54:18.900-07:00Both of them are basically businessmen first and p...Both of them are basically businessmen first and politicians later!Habibullahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5848640164815342479.post-53265408763854912002018-05-25T19:52:08.230-07:002018-05-25T19:52:08.230-07:00No doubt both are extremely corrupt and have a lot...No doubt both are extremely corrupt and have a lot in common.<br /><br />This is a top notch analysis.Alinoreply@blogger.com