Adil Najam
Over the last few days we have resisted posts about the recent political machinations in Pakistan. This is despite the fact pseudo-news pours in ever-more ferociously and ever-more sensationally from Pakistan. Literally by the hour.
This is pseudo-news not only because everything is sensationalized and exaggerated with bombastic Ministers, protesting lawyers, baton-charging policemen, and dumbstruck awam. It is pseudo-news because despite the truly historic nature of what is unfolding, there is little that anyone can seem to do about anything. Events unfold as if they were totally disconnected with public sentiment. As if all the noise is just background accompaniment. In the long run, this can never be. But that is what it seems like right now.
Discussion seems to be of little use. So little that it merely causes further aggravation. Since analysis does not matter, it is swiftly replaced by slogans (naara-baazi). Look at the TV talk shows, read the op-eds, or scan the comments in our previous posts (or the posts themselves). The same people keep repeating the same points over and over again. On all sides. And since no one is really trying to convince anyone of anything - nor has the hope to do so - the arguments get increasingly more futile, ever more heated, and ever more prone to naara-baazi. Our comments section are a testimony to this frustration. This is frustration that you also see on the streets of Pakistan. Frustration that comes from the belief that you are not being heard. That you will not be heard no matter what you do or say. You shout ever louder and repeat yourself ever more ferociously, as if the merit of an argument is to be measured by the decibel or as if things will become more believable if you repeat them more loudly. Since no one is trying to convince anyone of anything anyhow, the best you can do is to try to get in the last word.
Discussion seems to be of little use. So little that it merely causes further aggravation. Since analysis does not matter, it is swiftly replaced by slogans (naara-baazi). Look at the TV talk shows, read the op-eds, or scan the comments in our previous posts (or the posts themselves). The same people keep repeating the same points over and over again. On all sides. And since no one is really trying to convince anyone of anything - nor has the hope to do so - the arguments get increasingly more futile, ever more heated, and ever more prone to naara-baazi.
Our comments section are a testimony to this frustration. This is frustration that you also see on the streets of Pakistan. Frustration that comes from the belief that you are not being heard. That you will not be heard no matter what you do or say. You shout ever louder and repeat yourself ever more ferociously, as if the merit of an argument is to be measured by the decibel or as if things will become more believable if you repeat them more loudly. Since no one is trying to convince anyone of anything anyhow, the best you can do is to try to get in the last word.It is of little use, right now, to do yet another post on the Presidential elections or to invite people to vent the same frustrations yet again, and again, and again. Venting can be useful, but onlyto a point. Please, spare us your comments on just how good Gen. Musharraf has been for Pakistan’s economy or just how bad the military is. These points have been made too many times already in the comments, and frankly, if others have not been convinced of your viewpoint on this yet (whatever your viewpoint), then repeating it one more time will really make no difference. It will only waste our bandwidth.
Let us try, instead, to push into more analytically fertile territory. Let us try, at least, to think beyond the slogans about the even larger political questions confronting us. Barring some really big surprise, it seems a fair assumption that Gen. Musharraf will get himself elected as President. Right now, we do not want to hear whether you think it is a good thing or not. Most of you have already made your positions on this clear already. As have we. We want to hear instead on what do you think will happen next? And why? Will things calm down or worsen? And, again, why? Why is the really important analytical question.
To assist in catalyzing such a discussion, we have devised a two part ATP Opinion Poll.
Q1. Assuming that Gen. Musharraf will get himself elected as President, what do you think is most likely to happen next?
Q2. One year from today, what do you think would be the level of Gen. Musharraf’s political power?
Again, and please, spare us the slogans. Give us your analysis. We understand and share the frustrations that give rise to the slogans, but let us at least try to make something better of this discussion. If you really feel like abusing and shouting, there are plenty of other places to do so. Here, lets focus on analysis. That means, the ‘why’ questions.
Dear Dr. Adil;
I find myself in the ranks of “An extremely disgusted Paki…!!!!” However being an eternal optimist I feel this can be an opportune time to throw all the rascals out. Far fetched yes but how about offering this prestigious Pakistaniat platform to start a draft movement for a panel of new faces from all over the country to contest in the upcoming National Elections.
Once you have candidates who meet a defined criteria this panel can send a draft notice to each one of them.Hopefully other websites and Blogs, all over West (USA, Canada and Europe) and East but especially in Pakistan pick-up the thread. Hopefully it catches fire!
In Pakistan as anywhere else money to bankroll candidates is a major glitch among many others. If the diaspora starting with this forum, puts its money where its mouth is, and financially supports the drafted candidates through a legal and transparent channel it will be an exercise, itself, worth the effort.
Best Regards;
Salim.
An extremly disgusted Pakistani,
No don’t get illussioned by events around u, illussions discovered might be disasterous for immature brains.
Sagesse is observation not abrupt conclusions.
We “Pakis” of 16 crore in and out of the country have to decide whether the road to a legit government (for the people and by the people) goes through Washington DC, Riyadh, GHQ or “us” and only “us”. If we branch out today, we shall never be free again. Those “heretics” in Tehran could teach us “the pure and pious” a thing or two about standing up for one’s own dignity.
Cemendtaur
its curious and worrysome, international organisations of
Humanrights should be alerted, and photographs should be sent immidiatly with all TV channels, and indentify them
they might be from MQM thugs
Great debate on geo,
Shaikh Rasheed dare to accuse Jamaat-e-Islami to be in the
lap of USA since years, What nonsense from a big mouth
and accomplice of Dictatorship supported by USA,
Shaikh ji, app ka to saara tola USA ki jaib mein say nikla
hay, aur app wapis wahin jain gay app apna aslah na bhoulen
IMRAN KHAN, he’s the only hope for Pakistan, all the rest are corrupt business as usual political hacks. I can say this with conviction because he got into the political game only because he gave a damn about the country and not to fatten his own pocket. My Grandmother told me in her last days to never forget the sacrifice of her generation for Pakistan, said to me because I’m an American and rarely make it back to Pakistan. It seems that the people of Pakistan actually there in-country forgot a long time ago the price paid for Pakistan, if they remembered, should they be demanding better than whats at hand?
Read this news report in Daily Dawn:
http://www.dawn.com/2007/10/02/local20.htm
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KARACHI : SHCBA chief’s complaint
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 1: A ditch has been dug in front of Sindh High Court Bar Association President Abrar Hasan’s residence in Gulshan-i-Iqbal to make it inaccessible by car, the SHCBA chief told a meeting of its members addressed by presidential candidate Wajihuddin Ahmed on Monday.
Mr Hasan told the meeting that he had been receiving “warnings” for quite a few days. The town municipal administration sent a bulldozer this morning and it cut a trench in front of his house. Fortunately, he had already driven his car out of the house for proceeding to the high court. A truck came soon afterwards and took away the dug-up earth and rubbish, perhaps to prevent early refilling and leveling. He said no pressure tactics would work and he would remain steadfast in the campaign.
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What do you think of this? Who came up with this idea?
Imagine pro-Musharraf people sitting somewhere, making a list of everyone against Musharraf’s presidency and deciding who deserves what kind of punishment.
Digging a ditch in front of your opponent’s house may appear amusing to some, but imagine facing inconvenience related to such a punishment when the table is turned and others are strong enough to do that to you.
Why doesnt govt make the point to the SC that the opposition cant mobilize the masses , so it goes to court instead?
None of these petitions are actually about the law, its all politics.