The details emerging out of Pakistan are still somewhat sketchy but some facts are clear; more than 30 people are dead and over 115 injured. The Chief Justice of Pakistan was unable to address the Sindh Bar Association and was forced to go back to Islamabad and the private television station Aaj TV, which has been in the forefront of covering pro-judiciary and anti-Musharraf protests, was attacked by armed gunmen. This is indeed another dark day in the checkered political history of Pakistan.
It is now well past time for the Musharraf regime to go. This government has now lost the last shreds of moral authority required to govern. I salute the men and women of the civil society of Pakistan and the courageous independent media who are leading this struggle for the supremacy of the law and freedom of expression at grave risk to their life and limb.
As tragic and sad as events in Karachi are, this political moment is of historic import for the people of Pakistan and even on this day of darkness I see some hope for a better future. Since the sacking of the CJP on March 9th, the heroic struggle of the lawyers has germinated greater democratic desire and decisively strengthened Pakistan’s civil society and its beleagured independent media.
In the face of relentless governmental coercion there have been heartwarming displays of peaceful resistance, none more evident than in the historic journey of Justice Chaudhry through the heart of Punjab. Those in Pakistan and abroad who desire an eventual constitutional democratic polity rooted in a rule of law have to be encouraged by these developments. The conclusion of this episode, however, remains highly uncertain because no political sagacity can be expected from those who have brought us to this pass.
This grassroots peoples’ movement has also forced the politicians of all hues to make a choice; they either stand on the side of the rule of law or for the perpetuation of a dangerously unstable, one-man military banana republic. Mainstream politicians (despite all their historical shortcomings) clearly seem to grasp the national mood and the King’s men who are standing up for the present dispensation to save their personal fiefdoms will hopefully pay a steep price whenever they face the electorate in a fair election.
MQM more clearly exposed itself today than it ever has in its sordid history (thanks to private TV channels). The party that started with great hopes, rooted in the educated middle classes has over the years just become a collection of vicious thugs. It is wielding its fascistic tactics on behalf of people who seem to believe they have a divine right to perpetual power and who originally nurtured this party as a counterweight to PPP. MQM has shown itself the mirror image of the worst of MMA; both groups want people to acquiesce to their ideologies by force. Neither believes in nor has any fundamental respect for a constitutional rule of law.
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture as it has so many times in its unfortunate 60 year independent history. I would urge all Pakistanis and their well wishers to lend thier support to the struggle of Pakistan’s revitalized civil society. Let’s hope that the forces of peaceful democratic activism led by the country’s courageous lawyers ultimately emerge victorious and we can close this latest chapter of the military’s recurring era of authoritarian and unconstitutional misrule without further human suffering.
Fawad is a California-based literati-at-large and writes the blog ‘Moments of Tranquility,’ where a version of this was first posted.
There is no doubt in my mind that sections of the Pakistani media are now being actively muzzled after their valiant defiance in showing the true face of this ugly regime over the last couple of months. On the website of “The News” there was no report all day on the cold-blooded murder of the Supreme Court additional registrar and CJP loyalist Syed Hammad Raza in Islamabad. Even the New York Times has a full blown story on it already, by their reporter Salman Masood. As if to confirm my fears “The News” finally has a story of MQM chief condemning Hammad Raza’s murder rather than the news item itself. More on http://writtenencounters.blogspot.com/2007/05/tyra nny-descends-on-pakistan.html
Sir
MQM has declared to close down all its sector and zonal offices for an indefinite time following the 12th May carnage. I think this is not an appropriate step by a ‘party’ which boasts to be ‘all-powerful’ in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. It also leads one to think that the MQM is thus trying to betray its voters who are now getting wary about their and their party’s future. If the MQM enjoyed the same popularity it enjoyed in the late 80’s it wouldn’t have closed down its offices on the pretext of avoiding confrontation from other citizens. There is common talk in the city circles that by closing down its offices the MQM has only tried to save itself from the ignominy of the collapse of its over-estimation of popularity and strength in Karachi and to save itself from the wrath of the affectees of 12 May carnage. It is also doubted that by closing down its offices the MQM has given a messae to its activists to go ‘underground’ for the time being.
Mazhar Butt
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and also
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GU60WKjNtE
A KTN video clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcOpCZpUo4M&mode=re lated&search
I have been wondering that we the people in USA how can we help to get the truth out, if more people had cameras , more might be able to come out, I have yet to be able to see the clips on AAJ tv, hoping that Talat is going to bring some clips ( he will be presenting a workshop for advocacy and media at HDF convention ( hdf.com)\
Any suggestion please comment I also think that there should be someway to support the lawyers movement do they have a fund or a website
Those scenes and clips are indeed agonizing! I saw them on Aaj TV in program by Talat Hussain. Armed men were roaming in midst of the police.. man.. dont are rulers fear the wrath of ALLAH?
Watch the footage on Aaj TV and you will feel sick. See the gunmen brandishing Kalashinkovs and the police mobile units are patrolling with them.
I do not know whether you have seen Aaj TV news. I have just subscribed Jump TV which shows Aaj Tv on the internet. Here in the UK Aaj TV is not on the sky.
I heard Farooq Sattar of the MQM ‘apologising’ from the media and Aaj TV for what happened to them. But just wait and listen to this gutless spokesman of Altaf. He says that who ever has committed this act will be punished. He never admitted that they were MQM thugs who were firing with Kalashinkovs for many hours on the staff of Aaj TV.
MQM is really a fascist organisation. They always apportion blame to others. The other thing which you would have noticed that they are potraying themselves the victims of the opposition party activists and are reporting burning of their offices by PPP activists. I will not be surprised if MQM itself is creating scenes like that to show to the world how peaceful organisation they are and they are being attacked.
Bravo, Altaf. You are really a fascist of the highest orders. Even Nazis of Germany would salute you.