Adil Najam
The frustration and anger that one finds in the comments on the Emergency imposed by Gen. Musharraf in Pakistan is mirrored everywhere. In every conversation one has with any Pakistani anywhere. I was in Pakistan till last weekend and this pent-up feeling of frustration was evident in every conversation even before the Emergency was imposed.
It is, of course, a complex feeling emanating from the complex dynamics of our complex politics. At its very core, however, is the burning desire to be able to “do something” about what is happening made all the intense by a sense of helplessness about exactly what it is that we as citizens might, in fact, be able to do that might make a difference.
Since Saturday every conversation I have had with Pakistanis ends in exactly this question. What can we do? I have an in-box full of emails asking me to sign a petition, attend a meeting, say this or that to the media if I speak to them, join a protest, pass on a message, do this or that on ATP, join a conference call to plan a strategy, send out notes to my contacts, and so much more. There have been call after call from friends and acquaintance many of whom not even Pakistanis who just want to talk and share the intensity of their disgust at how the events are unfolding.
Of course, at the basest level doing anything – anything at all – has a cathartic effect and makes one feel that at least we did not do nothing. But the desire to do something is more intense. The desire not to just be a spectator to history. The desire to have contributed something, somehow. As one watches the heroic struggle of the lawyers, and now the students, to stand up and speak out – despite the brutality they are met with – makes this desire even more intense.
We each do what we can. We speak out to the media (I have had more than a dozen media interviews and comments already, we give talks (I have been giving multiple talks on this a day), we send out messages of support to those on the front lines in Pakistan to let them know that they are not alone, we sign petitions, and above all we hold hands in solidarity and vent our feelings where ever we can – on blogs, on phone calls to friends, in gatherings. All of this helps some, but one keeps wondering if it really makes a difference to the big picture?
Even if it is not, it is clearly worth doing. But can more be done? What? How? We would like to hear from our readers on that. Please let us know what is already happening as well as suggest what more could happen.
Are there to many petitions going around; so many that they might lose their efficacy? Are some of us crossing the line between that which is anti-Musharraf and that which is anti-Pakistan? Even if they mean the same thing, strategically would a message that is pro-constitution, pro-democracy, pro-Pakistani resistance be better than one that is anti-individual? How can one best support those lawyers and students and others who are on the front-line of action, especially those who are not physically there? What, if any, are the dangers of focusing our attention too much of external actors rather than those in Pakistan itself? How does one explain to the media and policy-makers abroad that the events we are seeing is not the failure of a nation (the Pakistani people) these are the failure of a person and a particular government? (I personally have been saying to friends and to the media that I remain bullish on Pakistan and bearish on Musharraf).
These and many others are the questions that boil in ones head. There must be other questions too. Share these with us, but more importantly point us towards answers. Share with our readers what you are doing. How others can help. What should be done.
Note to commentors: My own views on the subject have been pretty clear and I feel no compulsion to either defend them or amend them. While I consider thsi emergency an anti-Pakistan and anti-Pakistani act, I do not doubt the patriotism or integrity of those who disagree. Pakistaniat is based on the premise that there can be, have to be, multiple views and they all must be respected, even when we disagree with them. Those of us who resent the emergency because it has tried to silence certain voices cannot then silence or disempower those who disagree with our views.
I say all this because over the last few days we have had to moderate out too many comments. More, in fact, from people we might agree with than those who we do not. One realizes that the moment is tense and passions are flared, but we stand committed to implementing our comment policy as best as we can. We have moderated, and will continue to do so, not because of content but because of infringements of our comment policy. We are, and will remain, especially careful about inappropriate language, personal attacks, inflammatory and disrespectful tactics, uncivil and slanderous language, and irrelevant diatribes. Please help us in not moderating your comment out by resisting these things. (And, please stop sending us notes about why you can misbehave because someone else did; we try to catch these things as best as we can and even if we miss them sometimes that does not give others a liscence to misbehavior). We remain committed to having a civil discourse and no matter whether we agree with you or not, no matter if you are an old friend or anew acquaintance, we will do our best to maintain that civility. If and when we feel that we are unable to do so, we are more likely to just close down the blog then to give in to people’s tantrums and badtameezi.
One Mr. Mustafa wrote in one of his post:
“Do you agree with his decisions of releasing all the Lal masjid extremists and dragging the case against Musharraf?”
It seems that, he is not in tune with all the debates going on judges, particularly re-calibrated allegations of musharraf against the conscientious judges.
It has been written by all and sundry, including the big columnists and analysts of the country in all big newspapers of the country that, those who gave lousy decision in Lal Masjid cases are all now PCO-ed, are in the Court, and would soon validate serving general musharraf as the President for next term of the country.
So, the people like Mr. Mustafa, enamoured of musharraf’s ‘camak’ need to open the eyes and see the reality.
I for one believe that, the PCO-ed (mis)judges need to be tried for treason,and hanged, so that no other future judges carrying the solemn and very heavy responsibility of ensuring rule of law and rule of Constitution in the country should dare to save their ‘naukri’ at the cost of the nation and the future generation of the nation.
Autonomy of Pakistani Judiciary
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I don’t know if it is correct to say “autonomy of judiciary”, when there is too much talk, demand, and short lived exuberation for “judicial independence”. But anyway, I shall go on calling for “judicial autonomy” unless and until I get politically corrected on it.
Thanks to Providance that, this time around people are well aware for judicial freedom. People are demanding the restoration of judiciary before the position of 3rd November. People are vocifarously demanding the bringing back of the ‘deposed’ chief justices and judges.
I think this is not enough. I think, along side demanding the restoration of ‘deposed’ judges, we must start voicing for a really free judiciary, an autonomous judiciary.
An “autonomous judiciary” should be able decide for itself the issues of raise of pay, revision of pay, promotions, retirements, accountabilities, punishments and placements etc without involvement of the executive/establishments (full of scions of maliks, chaudhris and waderas who always like to keep the judiciary and the law-enforcing forces under their thumbs for their nefarious designs) who use these prerogatives manipulate and armtwist the judiciary in their favour.
You may remember, sometimes after restoration of CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry, general musharraf announced substential raise in pay in judges salary; for what only he could tell; which probably did not give him any benefit; or probably gave in the form of PCOed (mis)judges.
So, let’s start demanding an AUTONOMUOS JUDICIARY, in line with our autonomous behemoth.
Let’s also demand that, the PCOed judges should be proceeded against under Article 6 of the Consitution (when restored) for treason against Constitution.
My complements to this blog for maintaining a civil discourse.
I would add that besides protest within Pakistan and protests directed at foreign embassies, what would be useful is to pin the responsibility for Musharraf’s recklessness and disregard for democracy on the Bush Administration. As an American citizen, you can bet I have let my Senators know where I stand.
It is also vitally important for this message to get out clearly – that only a full restoration of the judiciary, 4th estate (independent media), and vital civic institutions (human rights commission in Lahore), will allow for a participatory democracy that is in the US best interest long term.
I am also bullish on Pakistan’s prospects as an economic power.
“Nuclear armed Pakistan, fighting on ongoing war on terrorism and where bin laden is reputedly holed up”, seems to be the current dominant description in much of the “mainstream” US media, with all sorts of implied notions. How can you counter this? I don’t have a silver bullet, but perhaps, “Pakistan, a place where lawyers and judges have led the way in protesting a military dictatorship” is a good start.
Good luck to all.
Show me the proof of MAJORITY of Pakistani’s living in Pakistan who agree with your assessment and I will change my mind of supporting Musharraf.
As ususal we Pakistanis are again back to where we were 5,4,3 decades ago. For us, except that mobiles are in every hand, and newest gadgets are with us, the world is not forwarding.
In all these glooms and gluts, it is however good to see that, as a nation we have become mature enough to understand the bodily charm, fake cherisma and hollow hurling of rhetoric words. We have, in general, understood what Benazir is up to. Benazir’s opprtunistic politics, and American style ‘free-style’ wrestling between her and musharraf is all too obvious to all, well to almost all, of us. This is a big gain of today, though no doubt inelection farce as declared she will still grab a big chunk of so-called popular vote.
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, ever too ready to speak out in favour of his government, and a self-styled sage of Pakistan politics recently sounded prophetic when he said that, Benazir and her dashing party would be a “friendly opposition” this time around, replacing MMA of 2002.
The question is, will print and electronic, if survived, grill and molest PPP for being friendly, they way they did that to MMA after 2002 election? I know, PPP is too media savvy and articulating to be grilled by mere mortals of Pakistani media.