Adil Najam
This one should be easy. Too easy maybe. But, then, the purpose of these posts is not really to test your knowledge. It is - like everything on this blog - to initiate conversations. To kindle thought. And maybe remind ourselves of things we should never have forgotten in the first place.
Anyhow, don’t read too much into that little stream of consciousness. Just go with your instincts; sometimes the heart is a better judge of history than the mind!
My opponents sometimes say: ‘This man is a dictator; he has all the power in his hands.’ How? I do not know. After all, there always has to be someone finally in charge whatever the system, be it parliamentary or presidential, a monarchy or a dictatorship. There are many to assist but, in the ultimate analysis, one man has to take the final decision. This has been the case throughout history, and it is so even today all the world over. If the man is chosen by the people and if he is a good man, he has to be trusted and given full co-operation.
To my knowledge there has never been so much freedom in this country as there is today. ‘On a number of occasions I have been accused, abused, and vilified, subjected to all kinds of rumours and slanders, all thoroughly unjustified and untrue, by some of the biggest blackguards in the country, and I have swallowed it. I have put up with it for the simple reason that I want to nurse and protect the system. I will not allow it to be demolished.
Because this one is as easy as it is, we will hope that you will share with us not only who said this, but also why, where and in what context.
Comments : In Pinglish : May her SOLE rest in PIECE !
USA - Use of Sexy Acronyms
BB Marhooma during her life had announced her Party’s manifesto comprising five Es; including employment, education, energy, environment and equality. Notwithstanding the interesting selection of subjects by Sherry Rehman, the Americanized thought process to create eye catching slogan in the form of acronyms is visible. Her party itself comprises of acronyms indicatives of an important theme ie Pakistan Peoples Party Patriots/ Parliamentarians projecting / protecting parliamentary practices in Pakistan. PML (Q) has also proved to be no less PARHA LIKHA and gone for five Es. Both these manifestos follow the rhythm of a popular track; CHANDA CHAMKE CHAM CHAM, CHEEKHE CHAUKANA CHOR, CHEWNTEE CHEENEE CHATE, CHATOREE CHEENEE KHOR. The identity of poet, music director and singer of this very tricky tongue twisting track is not known, since Pakistan or Indian identity has become irrelevant to our highly enlightened and excessively moderate ‘DJ’s. Since their own American accent English and slang make their own identity chary. Any way that is not the issue in this globalised world, we must ride the wave (as per wise Shaukat Aziz) notwithstanding the direction of its movement. So it is a C12 song very articulately sung by someone like E5 song of PPPP sung by BNS sisters (Benazir, Naheed and Sherry). Use of acronyms is part of American Culture as the very name of this country is universally abbreviated i.e USA. The problem with acronyms is misinterpretation, as one of my German friends said, we are all USA (United Slaves of America). Coming back to issue of acronyms in Pakistan, where we have created quite a few in the past eight years in the name of institutions e.g. RAB,NAB,RAT sounding like animals like white elephant and others sexy ones like NADRA, PIMRA, OGRA, ERRA etc. We can have many more e.g. Cn covering Chacha Chauhdry, Chhota Chaudhry, Chachi Chauhdrain, Char Chor, Char Chamche, Choorhe Chamiar and many more like Condi Chachi on the same rhythm. Another combination of Ps is also seen in the offing P8 (Pervez Musharaf, Pervez Kiani, Pervez Chauhdry, protecting/projecting political policy for Pakistan). This goes in line with President’s claim that Pakistan runs in his blood, while Pervez Kiani will act as pace maker, Pervez Chauhdry remains a clotted vane. If Pervez Musharaf considers himself life supporting system for Pakistan, then let us pray for his life long rule. And if Pakistan is expected / required to live longer than Pervez Musharraf, we must look for alternatives to be groomed to the level of patriotism displayed by him by upholding constitution of Pakistan. A soldier always aspires to scarify his last drop of blood. Let him bleed till his sad demise, which may give birth to real democracy. Allah Almighty can create living ones from dead and vice versa. The performance of last regime can also been described by number of Ps; progressive, prosperous, peaceful, probably perfect paradigm pattern preferred over the past. The pessimists may describe it as C6I; an era of confrontation, compromises, corruption, chaos, confusion, Credibility deficit and individualism. Let us look back at the progress we have made in following USA (Useless Strategy of America) for governance and devise one, based on concept given by Hazrat Ali in his letter to Governor Malik bin Ashtar. I wish it becomes the manifesto of all progressive parties and a code of conduct for our rulers to lead the nation through this time of turmoil. Cooperation should replace confrontation while transparency and accountability to eliminate corruption, rule of law and above all clarity of understanding the national purpose of Pakistan will make it Pakistan as envisaged by Quaid.
Anatomy of Suicide
I happened to watch an interesting discussion of one of the private television channels on Anatomy of Suicide. One of the experts believed to be a psychologist made an interesting remark “Soldiers are prepared to commit suicide through the military training process”. One’s military background would offend oneself on such a remark as this kind of training and preparation to walk through an identified minefield was generally attributed to “anatomy of courage” instilled through motivation. I recall similar remarks long ago made by a psychologist on German television, ”The soldiers are potential murderers”. That had stirred the entire German society and was followed by hot discussions even at the level parliament asking the individual to apologize. However, he stood to his ground. One does not expect our military intellectuals comment on that kind of analysis, for two reasons; one they do have more important things to talk about, secondly they may be in agreement with this comment. The sole motivation of our soldier to walk through a minefield and barrage of bullets and artillery shrapnel, is drawn from our ideology. “There is a better life waiting, if you die crossing the minefield”.
Qura’an has repeatedly described holly worriers as “those who get killed or die in the cause of Allah”. The simple understanding of this philosophy gives out the causes of the physical death i.e. killed due to action of adversary or that of one’s own. This is probably the basis of indoctrination of all those who are prepared to die in the perceived path/cause of their Creator. This explanation may appear to challenge the logics and fatwa’s on legitimacy of suicide attacks. One has no sympathy with these brain washed attacker as they target the innocent citizens including children. However, I believe that religion is unnecessarily dragged into this motivational process, they might have been driven by the revenge (a tribal characteristic). They daily see their houses razed to ground and family members lying in the pool of blood as a result of “unavoidable collateral damage” caused through, precision engagements.
The smiling young women, who got exploded in Peshawar could have found a queue of “GHILMANS” in this world, if the sole motivation for male suicide attacker as often quoted is company of “HURS”. I often wonder that if the miscreants are able to prepare these youngsters to “die” on the basis of ideology, why don’t we the propagators of same ideology make an attempt to prepare our young generation to “live”. The difference lies in intentions and motivation of the policy formulators. The fear of West to avoid Islamic label on even the most legitimate agendas leads to muddled thinking and the results are obvious.
Coming back to the anatomy of suicide and the military training, the best example could be our former COAS, who attempted a political suicide by imposing emergency against all the sane advises that are expected from the closer ones like General Hamid Javaid. I may be wrong in attributing this noble, though illegitimate act, as suicide, call it gamble to secure an other tenure in Presidency as most analysts say. This too is HARAAM like suicide. So call it anything like courageous leadership. He has stepped into the political minefield, at the peril of his life, especially because he wears no more the anti mine pneumatic shoes issued to the soldiers in uniform only. Let us hope the objective defined across this minefield is a democratic Pakistan as envisioned by the Constitution not the PCOs. Otherwise, call it suicide for Pakistan, which the President so vehemently wants to prevent through his words (recall his speech on declaring emergency), at least.
Lt Col ® Samee Ullah Jan, Karachi
‘This man is a dictator; he has all the power in his hands.’ How? I do not know.
But I know how. Can I ask you Adil Najam, why is there an army head of Higher Education Commison ? Why are the heads of major organizations in Pakistan retired army officers ?
Due to this reason, Musharraf recieves less protest. I know that Musharraf did good for Pakistan, but he should do more and that too without wearing the uniform.
I guess that the text is from Gohar Ayub’s recent book ‘Glimpses into the corridors of Power’ published by oxford printing press.
Bhindigosht:
The language is a bit too “literate” for Nawaz Sharif to have said it. Hain Ji?
And as I already said, it is too unlike Musharraf’s — it’s too restrained.
Adil When will you announce the winner of the color television?
Was this speech in English or you transalted it ?