Adil Najam
Benazir Bhutto, twice Prime Minister of Pakistan, now lies under six feet of earth in Garhi Khuda Bux, her ancestral village, in a grave next to her equally mercurial father, the late Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
As the graphic above (click to enlarge) from Boston Globe shows, hers - like her father’s - was a brilliant but tragic life. Tragically ended.
Now she is buried. But I suspect that the Benazir saga is far from over. Indeed, just as all of Pakistan’s politics after Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto’s hanging was contextualized by his hanging, all of Pakistan’s politics after Benazir’s assasination is likely to be contextualized by Benazir’s assasination.
In the immediate aftermath of this tragic death, the country continues to reel in grief at what has happened, fear about what might happened, and immense immense anger and everything that has been happening. As I argued in an op-ed in the New York Daily News today, this mix of grief, anger and fear is a very dangerous combination. It cannot lead to any good.
Right now the scenes we see on our screens are of mayhem, of devastation, of further violence, of destruction. These are not good images for Pakistan and certainly these are not the Benazir Bhutto would have wanted as her legacy. We at ATP have written many many times about the climate of anger that defines modern Pakistan (here here, here, here, here, etc.). This anger is the single most disturbing and single most defining motif of today’s Pakistan. Right now - and not without reason - the anger is being directed at Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf’s government. Much of this should, but not in this way.
More important to note is who the anger is not being directed at. I hope that the legacy of Benazir Bhutto’s untimely and tragic death is a legacy of a society that seizes this moment to reassert its demand for democracy and to recognize that extremist violence is our problem. This is not a mercenary war. This is Pakistan’s own battle. Right now the evidence suggests that society continues to tear at its own self. I fear that it will not change anytime soon. That things are likely to get worse before they become any better. But, I refuse to give up hope. At least, not yet.
As I wrote in my New York Daily News op-ed:
If this moment ends up being defined by Pakistan’s latent anger - if it launches a cycle of crackdowns and protests - it will certainly empower and embolden the militants further. But if it is defined by society’s sense of shared loss, felt grief and the continued movement toward genuine democracy, it might - just might - bring together a fractured society and awaken in them the realization that the common enemies are extremism, violence and terrorism. Then, we might just have half a chance of winning this war on terror. And Benazir Bhutto’s death would not have been in vain.
I think that Pakistan should seriously think of adopting the rule of Allah. After all we have been blessed by Allah’s book and what is better for us that that?
Pakistan was created specially for Islam. It’s be all and end all is Islam, and it has no meaning except that it is for, by and of Islam. The creation of Pakistan has taken a lot of bloodshed, from 12th century to 20st century. All this sacrifice of Arabic and Subcontinental Muslims cannot go waste.
How will Pakistan ever fulfill it’s destiny without submitting totally to Islam? Until it’s purpose is not fulfilled, it will surely stay in turmoil. Pakistan itself is burning, striving for the rule of Allah so that it can prosper, by its people do not pay attention. May there be a leader that can show it the right path, the one Allah intends, the one directly ordered by Allah.
Here is what I think is needed:
1. Musharraf needs to go!
2. Constitution restored.
3. Judiciary restored.
4. REAL elections within 3 months AFTER Musharrafhas left.
5. REAL rooting out of religious extremists because they are real enemies of Pakistan and Islam.
I like your headline. Our future should be our choice, not of some know it all general or some mullah who thinks he knows the real truth. DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY DEMOCRACY ZINDABAD.
I am sure Pakistanis have the strength and sgacity to build their future from ashes. Assasinationm of Benazir Bhutto should be used as a unifying force and a spring board to confront extremists and fight them till Pakistani’s achieve their aim of a peaceful and tolerant / moderate society bukit on equality, justice and moderation. All Pakistani’s must understand that it is our collective responsibility to take our Nation to progress and prosperity and we all have to work hard towards that end. It is a fight of our survival. I also urge the political parties to participate in the elections, otherwise they are indirectly strengthening the extremists’ hands.
I have not seen one of us go beyond the usual stuff. For the life of me, I dont get why even educated Pakistanis can’t delve deep enough. Forever on the surface. Has our native intelligence dimmed so much?
If I remember right, Benazir and Babar supported the Taliban (its Afghan version) back in the day, they wholeheartedly created the Lashkar and co jihadis and started the jihad in Kashmir in late 80s. Who the …. are today’s domestic jihadis, but a wierd mix of these two, a monster thats turned on its masters ?
And we still wonder that we are forever in trouble? As someone said here, we think the end justifies the means. We need some serious soul-searching and tough decisions. Otherwise, the downward spiral will continue.
Daktar: For example, visit: http://www.dawn.com/2007/12/29/rss.htm#37
Okay, Geo just reported that Asif Zardari has said that no name has been mentioned for PPP’s leadership.
Just heard very disturbing news according to AAJ TV their reporter has seen several hundred cars on fire while travelling on Sukkur Hwy.There is no police,rangers or army personnel in sight.Details still coming in.