Credits for photos belong to Pervaiz Munir Alvi saheb. He took the photos on his recent trip to Pakistan and graciously shared them with me. The location is the Grand Trunk (now called highway N5) in Punjab.
While we have discussed Declaration of Emergency, Chronology of a Meltdown, mis-treatment of Imran Khan in recent past, one topic that got missed is what’s Benazir Bhutto up to these days? We would like to hear from our readers. Today, on my drive back from office, I was listening to Imran Khan’s interview on National Public Radio (NPR). On a question of joining forces with Benazir, Imran Khan replied:
“We would love to join Benazir, except we don’t know whose side she is on today….There is a big mistrust of each other among opposition parties these days”.
I agree. What do you think? Above photos are in no way ATP’s endorsement to Benazir. They simply reflect a glimpse of our society. In addition to that, I personally enjoyed reading the slogan: “faisla zameer da….”
I am fully aware of the implications of the ‘counter theft’ argument and I know it will sound like a ’stretch’. Yes, there is theft from personal greed. And yet the stolen money is being channeled back to the country (though in much smaller amounts) to organize events (like the huge sum spent on Oct. 18 2007). The moneys acquired by anti-PPP forces since 1977 has greatly damaged PPP and cannot be countered by doing ‘clean politics’ like that of Asghar Khan. As I said above it will sound ‘ugly’ and it is ugly. But that kind of ugliness is not limited to the PPP.
Be that as it may I’d like to point out that from Zia onward the military dictators have ensured that their actions get constitutional cover. And only a few days ago Gen. Musharraf introduced some Const. Amendments giving his actions indemnity? Who is going to try them?!
Anyway, either we start fresh or hold EVERYONE accountable. In that setup if BB rots in a jail for the rest of her life then….fine by me, really!
PS. A.R. Shahid: Yes, PML-A-to-Z better unite to face PPP. A lot is at stake for them.
Meengla:
Just to clarify, I was posting on BB because you guys were having a hot debate on her and secondly, rightly or wrongly, she draws strong passions from her supporters as well as opponents more than any other person in the country.
I agree that there should be no indemnity even for the 1977-88 period and what I said about BB in my above post should also apply to everyone else.
However, your argument that accountability should either start from 1977 or 2008 is rather misplaced. There is no need for insisting on such dates. If there is a case against anyone from any period, it should be dealt by courts on merit.
Your statement that Benazir’s corruption is counter-theft necessary for doing politics is a huge stretch so I will just let it go.
There should be NAB but not hijacked by the retired military personnel to protect the Army Generals from being properly investigated against. Both the military and the judiciary should also be brought within the jurisdiction of NAB.
As for BB, I still agree with Meengla that BB is castigated disproportionately to her crimes while the others, specially the Generals, get scott free.
How much Musharaaf owns now and how much he owned when he joined the military? How much he has earned as a military officer? What are his assets since 1999? No body asks because our agencies are not interested in investigating a General, and that too a serving one. They are only after the politicians, specially BB.
Humayun Gauhar, who writes for The Nation and is a staunch supporter of Musharraf, is now saying that PML(Q) and PML(N) should be re-united just to keep the PPPP from stealing the show. What kind of silly logic is it? Humayun Gauhar represents what the military junta says, and thats how our military junta thinks like. Meengla is somewhat right, our establishment can’t bear Benazir though its still ready to join hands with NS.
@AqilSajjad,
Good post. Fully agree except that why should there be constitutional protections for the misdeeds and corruption done between 1977-1988 for generals and politicians? Why should BB’s corruption be highlighted while that of NS and a range of the so-called PML leaders’ be accomodated?
The wealth that anti-Bhutto forces acquired is not all clean wealth but that wealth has been used to inflict crushing blows to PPP since 1977–and continues to be used and will continue to be used as far as I see because, despite all events, PPP remains anti-Establishment party. As ugly it will sound I think the ill-gotten moneys of BB is a ‘counter theft’ to wage politics in the mirky (and now suicidal!) waters of Pakistan.
The slate of politics in Pakistan was cleaned from 1947-1977 by General Zia ul Haq. After 1977 new-crooks came to power who plundered and murdered with impunity. Since 1977, barely 5 years have been given to the PPP and yet, somehow, the PPP gets the major blame and most hatred. That, to me, is unfair. I repeat call to either start clean from 2008 or to hold every Khaki and Shewani clad person accountable starting 1977.
There are apparently two extreme attitudes on Benazir.
One position is to want her out of politics regardless of whether its done legally and constitutionally. This group does not care for ‘petty’ issues like the need to convict someone in a proper court of law for a disqualification under article 62 of the constitution.
The other group is that of her supporters, who insist that all cases against her must be dropped. They are not in favour of letting the courts decide on the cases. These people tend to get upset at any criticism ofBB and see it as an insult to the masses.
A balanced position would be to recognize that the people have a right to elect BB, but at the same time, there should be an independent judiciary and NAB for investigating and trying corruption cases. Any politician who has not been convicted should be allowed to participate in elections and anyone who has been convicted should be barred, regardless of his/her vote bank. Yes, many corrupt people will still get through, but there will at least be a proper process.
In the present crisis, Benazir or for that matter, any other politician should be judged on whether they are standing up for this basic principle instead of going into tantrums about who supports or opposes who and why.
“That puts the onus on VM to make a case against BB–a fair case in which he gives alternatives and and exclusive case wherein BB is worse than PML-Q, MQM, PML-N, or PTI to be the next ruler of Pakistan”.
Sorry Meengla, VM does not believe there is any such onus on him. It is purely in your own mind.
It is a pity that this website doesn’t facilitate accessing the archived posts of a particular poster; or else, you would have found out that I have consistently advocated the salvation to be in the institutions and the process. More specifically, as argued recently, I see an independent judiciary and a vibrant, unfettered, media as the bare minimum that can ensure a slow democratisation of Pakistan.
Whether BB is worst of the lot, or someone else, is immaterial in this viewpoint. Whoever comes to power, as corrupt and insincere as they may be, a vigilant public can keep them in check provided we have these institutions functioning normally.
I have my reasons for disliking BB, which I have stated. It cuts no ice with me that others may be just as bad or worst, or that the time, or context, is not ripe for anyone else except BB.
I am afraid the onus is on you to prove that she is the lone savior of Pakistan.
Meengla:
Thanks for clearing my position.
[VM=ViqarMinai; ARS=Ahmad R. Shahid]
The ‘Comments’ in this article started with VM extremely anti-Bhutto. And he has remained so–short of publicly denying BB power even if the people of Pakistan elect him. That puts the onus on VM to make a case against BB–a fair case in which he gives alternatives and and exclusive case wherein BB is worse than PML-Q, MQM, PML-N, or PTI to be the next ruler of Pakistan.
As far as ARS is concerned, he has not resorted to name-calling as far as I see in this thread and has called for ‘fair and free’ elections. Something I too echo. I am sure Pakistan can find a few dozen ‘honest’ people to form a truly ‘neutral’ interim govt. and hold fair elections under that govt. That is ALL the PPP is asking.
We held fair elections in 1970. Why can’t we do it again?!