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Mansoor Ijaz may be downgraded from being Senior Jack of all trades, courtesy of some in the Pakistan’s self-righteous media brigade, to being Junior Jack (JJ) now, thanks to the wily video of the super hit number ‘Stupidisco’ dating back to 2004, produced by the Italian JJ, and only now happily doing the rounds on social media. The clipping has got well over 300,000 hits on Youtube, mostly by the faithful Pakistanis, and Pemra has not found it obscene enough to block it.
That said, it is but a storm in the tea cup, as indeed is the entire ‘memogate’ scandal which has been blown out of all proportion by those who are holding Husain Haqqani’s media trial in the name of patriotism. Yes, patriotism, which a certain Johnson arguably termed as the ‘last refuge of a scoundrel’— be it of Ijaz’s American variety or his lapsed countrymen’s desi moorings. But worry not, because there can be much more to the man than meets the eye.
The surfacing of the video really completes the Ijaz saga in a way. It all started with international intrigue and a maverick effort by an American with Pakistani ancestry, who achieved a considerable business clout in the US; Ijaz then sought to translate it into political clout given Washington’s ease with ‘show me the money’ it takes to steer American policy. That’s where the articles appearing in the US press reviling Pakistan Army and the ISI fit in, following Ijaz’s trips to Srinagar and Delhi earlier on.
When those writings and the said Indian backdoor diplomacy trip didn’t quite pull the man into the limelight, bang came the memo scandal to test the who’s who of Pakistan. While India and America did not quite take Ijaz’s bait, Pakistanis did in a somewhat spectacular manner, involving a common citizen’s and a prominent politician’s petition to the highest court in the land, which made the army chief, the spy agency chief, the president and the prime minister parties to the controversy; an ambassador’s head rolled even before he was found guilty, and guilty of what? You may ask that question in a less happening country than Pakistan.
Now Ijaz was getting some attention, albeit from all the wrong quarters from his stated standpoint, in a country to which he says he owes no allegiance; from the army whose mechanisms he so dutifully poses to dislike, and a spy agency which, according to his writings, has been working against American interests, nay, actively sabotaging the US-led ‘war on terror’ in Afghanistan.
It all adds up when Ijaz claims that he forwarded a memo to the US army chief Mike Mullen, allegedly dictated to him by Ambassador Haqqani to seek help from Washington against any adventure by the khakis to overthrow the elected government in Pakistan. When Mullen admittedly didn’t make much of the memo and it was shown the bin, Ijaz decided to approach the opposite camp, apparently his pet peeve, Pakistan Army. The move worked and created more than fireworks by putting our government in the dock.
Is it some twisted sense of patriotism that now suddenly oscillates between Ijaz’s allegiance to the US and albeit, bizarrely, the Pakistani security state — the latter being his stated nemesis — when, say, America starts chasing a perceived common goal? And pray tell what that common goal might be other than throwing Pakistan into utter chaos?
Ijaz has worn many hats and carried many an ex-file: neural science engineer from MIT, investment banker, financial risk-management expert, TV and newspaper political analyst, interlocutor working at the behest of the Clinton administration on Sudan-bin Laden crisis and a facilitator of a non-starter Kashmiri mujahideen-Delhi dialogue, to the media expert of sorts on nuclear proliferation, the Iraq invasion and finally the Obama administration’s Af-Pak policy. How desperately current the guy has sought to remain all these years, and got no where but for Pakistan, which has now made him the star clown of the home circus, beaming worldwide. And now we also know him as the Junior Jack video commentator.
Can anyone beat this screenplay of a Hollywood thriller? Who says it doesn’t have the glamour and the entertainment value of the soft-porn variety? This is stuff that Hollywood blockbusters are made of, and that keep viewers on tenterhooks until they find out whether the main protagonist lives or dies in the end. Remember… he fears being killed if he came to Pakistan to testify?
But there’s still a formula link missing: a final twist in the drop scene. Could Ijaz in the end turn out to be an undercover ISI agent?
Murtaza Razvi is a member of the staff at Dawn.
"When Mullen admittedly didn’t make much of the memo and it was shown the bin, Ijaz decided to approach the opposite camp, apparently his pet peeve, Pakistan Army."
so there was a memo! if mike mullen did not act on it does not mean there is no cause for concern. its a treasonous act on the part of the pakistan government. next time such a memo may not hit the 'bin'
Mr. Ijaz is no friend of Pakistan. He does not deserve the kingly security that he demands. He is an unmitigated critic of Pakistan and its culture. The Pakistani government must show pride. Do not treat this guy as a king. The prime minister is right in his stand on this guy.
Mansoor Ijaz's accusations are being taken seriously not because of his character-traits, but inspite of them, because of the evidence he has provided, or claims to be able to provide. Also, this would be taken seriously anywhere because this is an issue concerning national security at the highest level: the sovereign leader of one country seeking shelter against his own military from the heads of state of another country. This is not a "non-issue", and it is not a minor thing, therefore, there is no shame on the military or the judicial system for taking this case to its due end.
shame on CJP, Army, ISI for taking this guy seriously……
Mansoor Ijaz is still doing the same. Watching and commentating on G & K wrestling in the SC from outside the ring.
I really wish Peter Sellers was alive to make this into a movie – Junior Jack testifying before the Chief Justice – all the dark khaki cladded army types and the undercover agents after him and nude wrestlers on his side-what a story
Mr. Ijaz is one of the black sheep and the most dubious person. He likes plays the game of politics, which currently he is playing so far.
Could it be more unfortunate for Pakistan, supreme court is also towing the line of army to derail the process of democracy, relying on a person who has no credibility at all. Hence supreme court is also loosing its credibility and yet again proving that even today judiciary is not free and even today it is following the cues of army.
Husain Haqqani has very strong relationship with the mighty media, hence articles like this.
Mansoor is what he is.
On the memo: Mansoor is one of the links, would the author care to comment on the others like James Jones and Mike Mullen – surely they are not your JJs!
What is this going on in Pakistan? A Junior Jack video commentator giving character certificates to CJ, COAS, President and the PM? Just throw him out.
crisis after crisis, what is gone here. Repeating same thing
Sadly the Politicians, Judiciary and the Army General are all trying to win a trophy and destroy the country by being inept to decipher IJAZ's scoundrel act game.
Ijaz appears to be a spoilt little rich kid, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and having bought or bartered many of his titles and positions. Not sure why we're all taking this man so seriously.
Right you are Shakky.
Paul Duggal
Banana republic
Anand Sahib- Your comment doesn't become a respectable person like you.
Pakistan is a country which is an important wing of the sub-continent, sir.
Well Paul, so far we all are proving Mr Anand right!
I hope this man gets sidelined soon. If not he will be a potential threat to Pakistan's democracy.
Supreme court of Pakistan has many issues of national importance to decide instead of running this sop opera.
So Ijaz is no good and govt. is all good? Dawn doesn't understand how much people despise the current govt. and want it to go and if Ijaz can help… at the expense of getting his 15 seconds in Pakistan's name… so be it.
Dear Mani, There is a process called elections. Why are people like you so impatient that you would rather throw the country in turmoil? Take your frustration out in the polls and throw the current government out using legal and in a non-violent way.
What a strange thing that this nonissue is being played as though Ijaz did something so horrible. As the man (and the director of the film) admitted, he did this as a favor to his wife and he was not even there when the girls took their clothes off. Now let us see how Pakistanis are treating their own national hero who had a child out of wedlock and he refuses to accept his child, he parties, drinks alcohol, etc. So, Pakistan, which issue is more damaging to Muslims who claim to be the pious ones in the world?
Mansoor Ejaz is not a genuine article but on the memo he is 100% right and if he is not then he sued for every cent he has got.
Bingo!! CJ shud ask Qasim to give 100% details since he KNOWS Ijaz is right.
Lots of tactics. Is there a strategy?
The truth will prevail. Thank goodness for institutions like the Supreme Court of Pakistan. There is no smoke
without a fire.
Sad but true, the only question is: Why such story gained such credence ? If the Army behaved like a civilised institution of a poor country, the poor country after suffering such a burden for years can not shake off the self styled protectors , what is wrong with a cry for help.
If the generals learnt to behave, such scenario would not gain any credence.
If UK is cutting down a substantial part of the defence budget why not TOP Heavy Pakistan Defence Establishment?
How true unfortunatley it is the sick mind set of the generals who still seem to be living in 1950's !
Clip is nothing… a man being part of media, which is a hot thing to do in USA… its an cheap attempt to cover an sensitive issue… i hope common man and courts in pakistan do not like memogate with this..
This corrupt elite of Pakistan is too experinced in keeping people busy in non issues.
Your one line comment sums it all up !
Beautifully summed up. Thanks, Kanwal.
an unfortunate and ugly situation, described very clearly and nicely