Rayyan Baig
During a discussion at United States Institute of Peace (USIP) there was a heated exchange of words between Hussain Haqqani and Dr Ishrat. This hot exchange took place due to unfounded and immature assertions made by none other than the remorseless ex Pakistani Ambassador to US, Mr Hussain Haqqani, during the discourse “Future of US-Pakistan Ties and Coalition Support Fund (CSF)”. Dr Ishrat refuted his claims, being privy to the facts as ex-Governor State Bank of Pakistan. Not only did Haqqani behave irrationally during the discussion, rather he had the audacity to later on threaten Mr Mir ShakeelUr Rehman of harming the reporter by writing to the University of Maryland, where the reporter is pursuing a Fellowship. Outside Pakistan Haqqani always treats Pakistan as a hostile country and never misses any opportunity to discredit Pakistan and malign its institutions, with the sole aim of showing his loyalty to his masters.
Mr Haqqani is an ambitious man who can do anything to climb up the ladder of fame and authority even at the cost of his family, faith or the country. In his young age, as a student in Karachi University in seventies, he had been frequently visiting the library at the US consulate to establish acquaintances. He embarked his struggle of grabbing power by joining Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, student’s wing of Jamaat-e-Islami. Through his allegiance with the ideology of Jamiaat, he became President of the Students Union. As a President he had complete say over all the students’affairs and commanded all their activities. However, when a protest against US consulate was planned by the students under his leadership, he was intelligent enough not to physically join his colleagues in the protest. Few speculate that he abstained due to his understanding with the consulate staff, which he established overtime, visiting their library.
He never missed any opportunity to further his ambitions and had been clinging to anyone in power irrespective of his ideology. He started his national political career as a supporter of General Zia-Ul-Haq, a pro-Islamic dictator. Later he joined Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League (N) and became media advisor to Nawaz Sharif by shifting his basic loyalties from JI to PML (N). For the sake of political fame, to show loyalty to Nawaz Sharif and advancement of his personal interests, he launched an unethical and dirty media campaign against the top leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), targeting the late Nusrat Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. He also managed to serve with caretaker Prime Minister Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi and as special assistant to the caretaker Prime Minister Balakh Sher Mazari as well.In 1993 the shrewd Haqqani managed to become the spokesman to Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and later became chairman of the House Building Finance Corporation during 1995-96, in her government. Once, when asked by BBC if he deserved a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for switching loyalties so often, he replied “I was always with Presidents”
After the Military coup against Nawaz he offered his services to, yet another dictator, General Pervez Musharraf and desired to be appointed as an advisor for information, but could not convince the General of his loyalties. Frustrated from Musharraf’s refusal he left for USA, imbued in vengeance, and started a media campaign against Musharraf’s regime, using skewed thoughts and biased judgment, especially against Pakistan Army and the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI).He once again shifted his loyalties to PPP, by pleading his case with Zardari in such a witty manner that PPP leadership appointed him as anAmbassador of Pakistan to the US. Ultimately he was caught with his sinister designs during his efforts to malign Pak Army and ISI in the Memogate Scandal. However, pretending sickness he managed to flee to USA, giving false undertaking to the courts that he would return whenever required.
For acquiring power, status and wealth, and for the sake of his advancement Haqqani can even say goodbye to his life partners. Initially, he got married in his relatives, but broke the marriage with a view to advancing his career. Afterwards, he got married with the sister of Naheed Khan, a PPP activist and very close to Benazir Bhutto, hoping that Naheed Khan will help in promoting his political ambitions. Motivated with his self-political desires, he left his children in Pakistan and contracted yet another marriage with Farahnaz Ispahani,a former producer at CNN and MSNBC, in USA.
Haqqanni has always been endeavoring to win the hearts of his mentors, may they be Indians, Americans or else. After getting settled in USA he has very cleverly convinced Americans about his sincerity and loyalty and made himself indispensable to the Americans. As a matter of fact Haqqani doesn’t possess any morals or ethics. Now he is critic of Mullah and Military, whereas in the past he remained very close to both of them. Given an opportunity he would still not hesitate to join anyone, provided the price tag is higher than what he is getting now. Americans should also not feel complacent by having Haqqani in their camp, he is quite capable of going and sitting in Russian lap if the time comes.Although opportunism is very common in international and domestic arena, but Hussain Haqqani has broken all the records by rapidly changing his loyalties, while serving the foreign interests at the cost of Pakistan.If a man is not sincere to his own family, friends, political party and belief system, how can he be expected to be sincere with his country. Even his old friends view him as, having a deceitful conduct and unreliable behavior, who overestimates his abilities, maintains wicked mind-set and considers him a rising star who can cheat anybody.
