Breaking the Breakers

Public Policy & Governance

Case Studies from Pakistan

Edited by
Syed Abu Ahmad Akif
M. Khalid Nadeem Khan
IPS Press is the publishing arm of Institute of Policy Studies, Islamabad
(est. 1979), an independent think tank dedicated to promoting
policy-oriented research and dialogue.

© IPS Press 2021

Breaking the Breakers:

Public Policy & Governance Case Studies from Pakistan

Edited by: Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, M. Khalid Nadeem Khan

ISBN: 978-969-448-803-5

Edition: 1st

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Published with the kind support of:

Cover Design: Ayesha Tahira Akif

Layout & Typesetting: Abid Hussain

Printed in Pakistan by: Galaxy Printers, Lahore

 ‫ااصنف وہ سک رطح ہک دل اصفںیہن ےہ‬
‫دل اصف وہ سک رطح ہک ااصنفںیہن ےہ‬

How can there be justice when the heart is not trustworthy?

How can the heart be trustworthy when there is no justice?

Dedicated to

all conscientious and principled Pakistani public servants,

past and present, who made and continue to make
their best efforts in a deteriorating, corrupt system,
managing to provide a modicum of service against all odds
to the citizens of Pakistan who are their true masters
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 Contents
Abbreviations & Acronyms vii
From the Publisher’s Desk ix
Foreword xiii
Preface xvii
The Story Behind the Stories xxv

I. Foreign Policy Conundrums

1. Decision-making in the United Nations Security 4
Council on the Iraq War
Ambassador Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, FSP
2. A Director’s Dilemma: Winning Over the 22
Foreign Minister
Ambassador Tariq Zameer, FSP (Retd)

II. Crisis Management: Pakistani Style

3. Manchester Mosque Muddle: Crisis 34
Management Abroad
Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, PAS
4. Tasman Spirit: Pakistan’s Worst Marine 58
Oil Spill
M. Khalid Nadeem Khan
5. Garhi Shahu Gas Leakage 82
(late) Khalid Sherdil, PAS
6. Punjab Institute of Cardiology Syndrome 106
Aamir Ashraf Khawaja, PAS
 III. Political Interference, Corruption &
VIP Culture
7. Breaking the Breakers 128
(late) Hafeezur Rehman, PAS
8. Humanity’s Nightmare: Rule by Rape in 154
Meerwala
Saaz A. Khair
9. Quick Take-off, Uncertain Landing: Purchase of 196
an Aircraft for Chief Minister of Punjab
Qaiser Saleem, PMS (Punjab)
10. The Prime Minister’s Pilgrimage 208
Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, PAS
11. Show Me the Man, I’ll Show You the Plot: Land 232
Disposal in Public Sector Housing Schemes in
the former NWFP
Index 247