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.
Are you finding it hard to motivate the students at your educational institution to protest against the Martial Law?
An easy way to encourage your student-colleagues to protest is to collect the news about the protests taking place at various campuses across Pakistan (LUMS, FAST-NU, Quaid-e-Azam University, Punjab University, etc.) into a pamphlet and distribute them in massive quantities. You can find plenty of news on the Internet. This should also include something like
The ‘what’ part of the solution seems to have been understood by most. The question here is the ‘how’ and ‘right now’ part of the soultion.
Definitely very furious response Imad. One of the important aspects on which people here are recording their comments is “Freedom of Speech”. Nobody can justify being a patriot by fleeing out of country in the time of need. But the limit to which our society has gone, the next thing is a total breakup into groups which have zero tolerence for each other. Most of us are very well aware of the fact that the plunderers of national treasure are the ones on the forefront of these protests. But the problem is that before these politicians could be taken in by the process of democratic accountability the dictatorship in Pakistan has always been coming into the picture to take away the national leadership. However, the positive side of this situation is that all over the world people have realized and united for the cause i.e, “Govt. of people, by the people, for the people”, and that is only possible by independent judiciary. If you look closely, just in past few months Pakistan had started seeing the rulings of an independent court. And right there we saw how the dictator leadership took such decisions. ZERO tolerence.
Regarding the situation of militant islamists:
I would like to draw attention of readers to the fact that Punjab (majorly) and Sindh have no right to use the natural resources by depriving the locals of NWFP and Balochistan from those resouces. No government in Pak’s history has given true provincial independence. Capital has always kept a central control on provincial governments. When we corner the locals in these areas, the external factors definitely take the advantage of these situations. And in such a situation, force is not the way to crulp the insurgents, however you if you take the approach of dialogue, that helps reslove the situation gradually and with less pain.
Its never too late before its really over. United we stand, divided we fall.
It amazes me that expatriates sitting halfway around the world in the cozy confines of their living rooms have taken with such fervour to the recent emergency declaration in Pakistan. Where were you all during the events that led up to this crisis? Where was the spirit when governments were cozying up to the militants and jihadists that now threaten the very fabric of Pakistani society? Yes, you will continue to enjoy your constitutionally enshrined freedoms in your adopted country while the average Pakistani worries about the next day’s meal, clothing and shelter for his kids who have been all but abandoned by leadership and society in general. Have your two cents worth on the sorry state of education in Pakistan as the country steadily ambles towards guaranteed self-destruction – after all, it’s easier to feel better after voicing opinions in familiar company than to get out in hostile territory to make a real change. Where were you when during the 90s the so-called democratically elected leaders that so you want back so dearly were raping and pillaging the country no end for personal gain? Oh yeah, you were busy packing up and leaving a failed state. Now you want the same crooks to come back, ensure democracy for your fellow compatriots, and fight the scourge of militant Islam. As if after that wave of the magic wand, everything in Pakistan will be hunky dory. Do you not realize that there will NEVER be democracy in a country where the VAST MAJORITY of people has ZERO representation? When you’re a peasant existing (yes, existing, not even living) under the tyranny of a monstrous landlord for whom you are nothing more than a beast, do you have any real choice who to pick as your leader, especially when half your family in in chains in his private jails and the other half is paying off a debt incurred 5 generations ago? Why have we never risen with the same fervour to guarantee these poor ‘beasts’ some basic human rights too? Where was the spirit when women across the land were being gang raped and killed in the name of honour and Islam, when the Hasba bill was being enacted into law, and all of the National Assembly was busy fixing the prices of basic food commodities for their own gain, while telling the populace that guilty traders would be found and punished.
This could go on and on. The Point is, Pakistan has suffered for 60 years from neglect at the hands of its own people. We have never been pushed to do anything about our future, we just chose to run from it. It’s still happening today, and now we’re past the point of no return. Only the restoration of basic human rights for the citizens of Pakistan, their right to choose leaders beyond the corrupt, despicable swines we have now, and a steely resolve to fatally crush militant Islam will rescue us from this quagmire. It’s time to end family dynasties and get some real leaders. It’s time to drive the mullah out of his mosque where he rapes little kids and drown him in the sea. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!
Sohail Aga,
@ “Harvard Law School ‘Medal of Freedom ‘
if you don’t know where to dump it , send it to me,
I have a giant eco trash Bin called Superdrecksk