A Palestinian was hurt and laying in a Faisalabad hospital on March 28, 2002. A senior CIA official was standing over him, attempting to speak Arabic with the injured man. However, the injured Palestinian was unable to speak. The CIA official wanted to ask him something really vital as soon as possible because he was in such bad shape that he could pass away at any moment. That was this person who was hurt? This American official, who was he?
And why did General Musharraf consider all of this to be so crucial? What is the history behind LFO and how was QL created by Pervez Musharraf? I’m Faisal Waraich, and episode number 51 of Dekho Suno Jaanoo’s History of Pakistan series will demonstrate everything. Significant Taliban figures were moving into Pakistan. It was getting much harder to stop them. mainly open due to the more than 2400 kilometer Pak-Afghan border. There was not a barrier like the one being built presently at the time. So it came to pass that their closest allies, including Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, Abu Zubaydah, Muhammad Atif, Ramzi Al-Sheiba, and other Al-Qaeda members like them, went on the hunt after Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri.
However, neither America nor Pakistan had control of a single high-value target for six months following 9/11. After 9/11, the United States branded its conflict as a war on terror and designated Pakistan as a frontline state in this conflict, granting it the right to receive financial and military support. This was supported by General Musharraf, and Pakistani intelligence services joined their American counterparts in the search for Al-Qaeda members. An agent of the Pakistani intelligence service received a highly valuable tip in such a circumstance. The official observed a group of women traveling near the Afghan-Pakistani border. There were several tall women there. He pursued the caravan once he had a suspicion.
When these individuals finally got in a taxi and started driving away, the police completed a quick task. He offered the taxi driver a little bribe and inquired as to their destination. The driver provided the Punjabi city of Faisalabad’s address. This tiny nugget of knowledge was crucial. Who is who in this caravan was not yet evident, though. And are there actually al-Qaeda members in this caravan, or is this just a false impression? He was only tracked down and found thanks to this tip.
American and Pakistani intelligence services together conducted 13 raids across 4 cities on the evening of March 27, 2002. The CIA officer claimed that security employees broke doors together to gain entry at 14 locations in one night.
At the same suspected site in Faisalabad, there were 25 persons present. They were all foreigners. As soon as the raid occurred, these people fled and engaged in combat while running. The young man fell 25 feet to the earth after jumping from the roof. He sustained significant injuries when the Pakistani staff started firing. Several additional people suffered injuries, but they were all eventually apprehended. However, none of them were valuable targets. But then, from the pickup where the injured were abandoned, an undercover officer spotted a face with a flashlight and yelled.
Abu Zubaydah is presented here. after Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden, the most wanted al-Qaeda member. What made it such a valuable target? In History of Pakistan Episode No. 46, we told his story. This episode is a must-see. Thus, Abu Zubaydah, the primary al-Qaeda member, was sought after and eventually apprehended. He had three or four gunshots in the sensitive areas of his body, and a lot of blood had spilled out because of his severe injuries. He was restrained, handcuffed, and in danger of passing out. However, John Cariaco, a top CIA employee, had a crucial question for him. He awaited her regaining consciousness for a full day.
Abu Zubaydah is presented here. after Ayman al-Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden, the most wanted al-Qaeda member. What made it such a valuable target? In History of Pakistan Episode No. 46, we told his story. This episode is a must-see. Thus, Abu Zubaydah, the primary al-Qaeda member, was sought after and eventually apprehended. He had three or four gunshots in the sensitive areas of his body, and a lot of blood had spilled out because of his severe injuries. He was restrained, handcuffed, and in danger of passing out. However, John Cariaco, a top CIA employee, had a crucial question for him. He awaited her regaining consciousness for a full day.
Detention Site Green, a US black site in Thailand, was the actual secret place where Abu Zubaydah was relocated. Consequently, this arrest was a crucial first step toward success for both Pakistan and America. General Musharraf claims that in exchange, the CIA provided him the reported 5 million dollars. The ISI erected a new headquarters and purchased a helicopter with the $1 million he reportedly gave, according to the CIA. In his numerous interviews and books, General Musharraf has mentioned this prize and numerous others of a similar nature.
In the War Against Terror, they were thus arresting members of Al-Qaeda and turning them over to the United States, while simultaneously arresting those who shared their views and turning them over to Muslim League-Q. But how? In his book, General Pervez Musharraf admits that after assuming power, he had to forward his goal. And a political party was required for this purpose. Therefore, General Musharraf faced a disorganized Muslim League when he made the decision to found a party. This has typically benefited dictators. However, the issue here was that this party was supporting Nawaz Sharif at the moment.
And as part of an agreement, he had quit politics and moved to Saudi Arabia. We’ve already told you his narrative, so General Musharraf began reaching out to influential members of the same party. According to General Abdul Majeed Malik, Raja Zafarul Haq was called by Pervez Musharraf to lead the Muslim League and was given the opportunity to establish the government. Senior PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq declined, thus General Musharraf turned to plan B and began attempting to split the party, creating the Muslim League Quaid-i-Azam. In order to convince people to join the Muslim League-e-Azam, also known as the Q-League or King’s Party, General Musharraf is allegedly employing the NAB and other secret agencies, as well as threatening them with legal action.
And as part of an agreement, he had quit politics and moved to Saudi Arabia. We’ve already told you his narrative, so General Musharraf began reaching out to influential members of the same party. According to General Abdul Majeed Malik, Raja Zafarul Haq was called by Pervez Musharraf to lead the Muslim League and was given the opportunity to establish the government. Senior PML-N leader Raja Zafarul Haq declined, thus General Musharraf turned to plan B and began attempting to split the party, creating the Muslim League Quaid-i-Azam. In order to convince people to join the Muslim League-e-Azam, also known as the Q-League or King’s Party, General Musharraf is allegedly employing the NAB and other secret agencies, as well as threatening them with legal action.
While others joined the Q-League because of a personal bond with General Musharraf. Just two months before the elections, on August 20, 2002, he established Muslim League Q under his direction. Elections were now scheduled for October after the party’s launch. A prime minister, who would serve as the country’s president, would then be chosen. Specifically, a constitutionally-qualified elected official of the people who should be in a position to lead the nation. However, President General Pervez Musharraf made a decision that, a day after the party’s launch, completely upended the nation’s political order.
On August 20, the Q League was established, and the very next day, on August 21, General Musharraf issued the LFO, or Legal Framework Order. The Supreme Court recently approved the LFOs, which were constitutional modifications. How was this authorization given? We have given you the entire tale in Episode No. 45 of the same series, which details how the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court made decisions at General Musharraf’s behest through covert meetings. Therefore, General Musharraf issued the LFO and made it a part of the Constitution with the approval of the same Supreme Court.
According to this, Pakistan has replaced its previous parliamentary government with a presidential one. At least based on the available possibilities, that was the current scenario. The President, who at the time was General Pervez Musharraf himself, was given the authority to dissolve the elected National Assembly and name the heads of the Pakistan Army in accordance with this order. General Pervez Musharraf might therefore serve as both Pakistan’s president and Army chief for the ensuing five years.
Additionally, he stated in the LFO that the Parliament’s approval of his constitutional modifications is not required. Yes, he did guarantee that the President would hand over his authority to the chosen Prime Minister following the elections, which would take place in two months. But history attests to the fact that they broke their word. As a result, it became clear that any assembly chosen after the LFO would be dependent on a President who was not elected. The Supreme Court judges’ retirement age was raised from 65 to 67 in the same LFO.
It was a questionable agreement that was inked in the dead of night between the Supreme Court officials and the military, according to President Supreme Court Bar Hamid Khan. The benefit of this was that Sheikh Riaz could now continue to lead the Supreme Court for an additional three years as Chief Justice. Now, it appears that things should have been extremely tranquil for them after the partnership between General Musharraf and the Chief Justice. But it never materialized. why? Lawyers fiercely fought the purchase, which is why. The Supreme Court Bar Association unanimously passed a resolution in Lahore on October 26 condemning everything.
The resolution stated that raising the retirement age for judges through an unlawful and impractical LFO would be the final blow to the judiciary’s independence and reputation. Small demonstrations against this supposed bargain were also initiated by lawyers. However, General Musharraf took the implementation and upkeep of the LFO very seriously. Which, in any event, he desired the triumph of the Q-League founded under his auspices. Additionally, the election was scheduled for October 10. Currently, there are just two significant parties in the Q-League. PPP and the Muslim League-N were the established parties. With these two knowledgeable individuals, General Musharraf took two actions.
One of them is that it was against the Presidential Ordinance for anyone to hold the position of Prime Minister for a third time. Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto were no longer candidates because they had each served as prime minister for two terms. And no other name was well-known enough for the employees of these two parties to be enthusiastic about his appointment as prime minister. Another order was issued by President General Musharraf as his second action. Which states that no one who is not eligible to vote cannot even be the leader of a political party.
Now, this clause specifically singled out Benazir Bhutto. Considering that he had been found guilty in the ARY Gold and Kotecna cases. His nomination papers were likewise turned down as a result. Therefore, she was not even permitted to serve as the party’s hostess under the new legislation. She once claimed that Musharraf is genuinely terrified of her. For the election, he changed the name of the Pakistan People’s Party to People’s Party Parliamentarian, and Amin Faheem was given the reins as leader. Benazir Bhutto managed the party’s affairs from London during those times when she was living in self-imposed exile abroad.
Since the election, several of his rivals have been running advertisements against him in newspapers with the slogan “This is not a fairy tale,” which feature enormous, colourful ads. AIDS featured Benazar Bhutto’s part, and accusations of his corruption were spread. Under Makhdoom Amin Fahim’s leadership and the sign of the arrow, his party was prepared to run in the election under these conditions. Now consider the PM-League, the second Q-League rival. Therefore, PML-N was experiencing PP-like phenomena, albeit in a somewhat different manner.
Nawaz Sharif did not run for office even though he was forced to leave the country as part of a deal and despite having had his nomination papers accepted at the outset. Additionally, he was the target of a turbulent campaign, in which it was claimed that his identity was “red and white due to the great amount of stealing.” Please get in touch with the residents if you know who this individual is. because only citizens were included under the advertisement, not the names of any parties. The Q-League has a nearly open field in this scenario with the two main traditional political parties.
They also had the largest advertising campaign going. With slogans like prosperity, jobs, farmers, and village to village health services, he was out in the field. However, that wasn’t the only event. Another organisation, led by a very ambitious and cunning religious politician, was also filling the hole left by popular parties in the nation. The Muttahida Majlis Aam was this coalition. After the US invasion of Afghanistan, the MNA, an alliance of religious groups, began to gain ground.
The two most active leaders were Maulana Fazlur Rehman of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Qazi Hussain Ahmad of Jamaat-e-Islami. It was headed by Shah Ahmad Noorani. He built his entire campaign around Atney American catchphrases. Additionally, their border province and Fata were their strongest fields. It is currently known as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elections were held on October 10 as a result of all of these preparations, however the Q-League, the party that was carrying on President Pervez Musharraf’s goals, was unable to secure the necessary number of seats.
How was the Q-League government established if the necessary votes could not be obtained despite the addition of numerous parties to the Q-League? When did Maulana Fazlur Rehman take office as Pakistan’s prime minister? As a result of the rapid spread of terrorism in Pakistan starting in 2003, the assassination of President General Pervez Musharraf was plotted by a highly strong and covert organisation. They even detonated the motorcade’s cars carrying General Musharraf. How did everything occur?
How did General Musharraf lose his hair, too? Who organized the murder’s execution? You may see all of them in the upcoming History of Pakistan episode. We have highlighted two incidents in this episode of History of Pakistan. To learn more about the covert dealings between Chief Justice Riyaz Shaikh and General Musharraf, see episode 45 here. You can also learn how the tragic fall of Dhaka occurred and how man came to inhabit the place he regarded as sacred here.Contact Us