Explaining what is happening in Pakistan, and why, is never easy. Never has it been more difficult than it is now. Talking earlier today to the National Public Radio show Here and Now, it struck me again how difficult it is to articulate any explanation of Pakistan’s politics - not only to non-Pakistani audiences, but to Pakistani audiences too.
Consider the recent news stream. Suicide bomb blasts by extremists kill another 30 in Lahore in yet another dastardly attack. Gen. Musharraf calls the National Assembly to meet on Monday, March 17. Supposedly Nawaz Sharif and Asif Zardari come to an agreement on the government formation but it is no more clear today who the next Prime Minister will be than it was before the meeting. They also insist that they will “restore” the judges but speculations remain rife on just which judges and just how “restored.”
Depending on who you speak to, you are told that Gen. Musharraf is playing games with the parliament by trying to call the opposition’s hand before they have decided on the Prime Minister issue. Others tell you that it is the politicians themselves who are playing games not only with the cat and house of Prime Ministerial candidates but also with the judges and the lawyers movement. Meanwhile, the extremists continue their deadly game of murder and mayhem as they did in Lahore.
At the end of the day the real losers are - as they always are - the people of Pakistan. It is they who suffer the instability. It is they who are killed. It is they who languish in uncertainty. The costs of uncertainty are never trivial, but it becomes particularly horrendous with suicide bombers blowing themselves up.
What is most disturbing and truly dangerous is that as Gen. Musharraf keeps fighting for his personal survival and position and as the politicians keep fumbling in their indicisive daze, it is the extremist forces that stand to gain by playing simultaneously on the citizen’s dislike for Gen. Musharraf and distrust for the main political leaders of our time.
No one is clear on who will rule Pakistan tomorrow. But it is clear that uncertainty rules Pakistan today. And that is not good for anyone except the extremists who seek to destabilize the country and breed anarchy and chaos.
@ zia m
I am very sure this image is very emotionally disturbing. This is what our media and politicians are expert of , They know how to play with emotion of people. But what media and every body need to do is humiliate these extremists 24/7. This might help decrease in the images of babies like the one you saw.
Aaaj jang akhbar mein aik baachi ki tasveer thi.
aap ne bhi dekhi hogi.
uskay zakhmi chaharey ko dekh kar.
mujhe to apni baachi ki shakal nazar aie.
I wonder what has gone wrong with us. There are many who condone violence just because it is done in the name of religion. Whereas, I think if we knew the religion we would condemn it.
I agree with the ultimate statement of this post - that uncertainty currently reigns in Pakistan. In the aftermath of the Lahore bombings, the people took to the streets chanting slogans against Musharraf (one media source noted that one slogan was, “Musharraf is a pimp!”) - how interesting that we can are united against the president of this country (not that it’s not surprising given the stream of events in the last year) but yet cannot unify to say one word against the terrorists that committed such atrocities? I understand the polarization of perceptions against Mush, believe me, but in our effort to get him out of power, we have turned a blind eye to the crux of the security problem. For militants viewing the aftermath of the blasts - the slogans against Musharraf is a victory for them - they want to breed instability, and more importantly, they, too, want this leader out of power.
Has Mush visited any of the blast sites yet?
Folks, stay with Mr Musharaf and you would be fine. I do understand that he has made mistakes in the past and he would learn from his mistakes but he would not let Pakistan go into wrong hands aka Mr Nawaz Sharif.
My jury is still out on Mr Zardari, Mr Aitezaz Ahsan and Mr Makhdoom Amin.
Stay put and we will see how things plays out.
God bless Pakistan.
Respectful Ilyas Khan
To run a country under tremendous pressure and at the same time staying honest will never work. Allah will judge us from our intentions not our deeds. Yes Musharraf may have had made mistakes but no one was willing to sit with Musharraf accept Chouhdries and MQM. Up till now Nawaz Sharif is worried about his own grudges not Pakistan. Musharraf simply worked hard to bring Pakistan to its feet and he would not let these politicians discredit him. Musharraf defiantly has a choice like politicians take the money and run from Pakistan. Ever wonder why he rather die but will not run with the money which is belongs to the people of Pakistan.
This is called true honesty knowing people have turned against but doing the right thing. Where politicians do not worry about doing right thing but they do what makes people happy. And when the hard time comes they leave country.
Our country has nothing to offer. We rather fold and hand our country to other country than giving the control to well known X Looters. OR we work on foundation of Pakistan and that is a hard way to success. This includes tough decisions. Army is the only credible institute Pakistan has.They know better about the security of Pakistan. If Musharraf was so wrong why 9 commanders under him did not take him out?
Because all these guys understand the security of Pakistan better than anyone.
We people of Pakistan who voted for Zardari , Imagine for a minute these are the people are against Musharraf ? Does this tell you something? Although Zardari is acting much decent than Nawaz Sharif. At least he has learned from his mistakes. Same goes for MQM. Or may be Zardari is acting normal as he wants his son to be the next leader of Pakistan.
I have been crying on this board i am sure the owner of this board can tell you that I have been saying unite for terrorism and against extremism.
Today people like Atzaz Hasan and CJ are playing with the emotions of the people of Pakistan but have not given one statement against terrorism which has crippled our country.
Who knows they are loving all these bombings as they are blinded with the hate of Musharraf rest they do not care.
Dear Sir/Madam,
How long shall we scatter the blood of Pakistani for ….?
To denounce the killing incidents of innocent people in Lahore or else where in Pakistan look good and sympathetic but are we really feel sorry for that killing if it is so then we must eliminate the route cause of suicide killing and other heatred,being a democratic muslin country and people, we must think in the light of teaching of our prophet (PBH) because killing for killing and bloodshed of innocent people, due to one pretext or other can never gives flowers in return peace cannot prevail in this circumstances we must adopt democratic ways and means to settle the differences with who so ever they may be.
Democracy as a system of governance and interest representation demands respect for dissent and opposition. It recognizes the principle of majority rule and guarantees, protection of minorities. Democracy also builds faith in electoral contestation to gain public office and gives legitimacy to political parties as primary instruments for acquisition and transfer of power from one set of individuals to another.
But, since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power, so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster. Many innocent people are dying every day-week and every month. Because of bombast, suicide attacks and target killing in Pakistan the factual condition is that nothing happened in this world without any reason, the need of the time is to redress the grievances of the people and eliminate the reason.
The right way to reverence to Martyr is to eliminate the causes after the incidents. If we can redress the route cause after the suicide killing, we can save many lives in future. The only way out is the change of system the route cause of all kind of grievances, the time is to empower the Pakistani at grass route level to eliminate the socio-political injustice and strengthen the unity within the society at large, and closing the door for outsiders or intruder to penetrate in our society because of social unrest.
Unfortunately, despite the significance of the democratic elements, only the power full elite are fitted in power and Pakistani are always left at the mercy of circumstances again and again… As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society based on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for real peace and progress in the society. Therefore, Change of socio-political system is inevitable to empower the Pakistani at grass route level for rapid industrial and agriculture development.
See www.idp.org.pk
Ilyas khan Baloch
Islamic Democratic Party
Dear Sir/Madam,
How to bring back –Pakistani, economic, political Stability?
Tensions in Pakistan have been rising; the political instability surrounding both the presidential and parliamentarian is inclusive with the increase in militant activity within Pakistan, which led suicide attacks in Pakistan. Following Benazir Bhutto’s assassination on December 27, the external forces are working within their planning and span of control in Pakistan to destabilize the whole country. It is very much clear that more and more restriction could only be possible to impose on Pakistani ruler if the internal circumstance turns in to bad to worse. In order to compel Pakistani government to accept more condition due to gloomy socio-political condition, indirectly helping to disrupt the security situation to implement more rigid and brutal action, so that socio-political unrest increase shaking /deteriorating confidence in administration, so that people and administration could not get together to settle their grievances at large and Pakistan could be declare as the world’s “most dangerous nation”. To achieve further political gain. Such as, submission of 11 point demand draft by the USA for future implementation of His planning to attain more and more control on Pakistani administration and force them to work, accordingly, even at the cost of sovereignty of the country and against Pakistani people’s aspiration.
Since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster.
We have already lost the major part of Pakistan in 1971 simply to save the centralized sole power to exploit this country by the ruling elite they let the country break in part then allowing the masses to rule this country democratically. In the present circumstances we are again dragging our sovereignty at stack for the external interest in the name of national interest, instead of our interest i.e. the interest of Pakistani people at large.
Events affecting current socio-political situation are:
• In March 2007, Musharraf suspended Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry
• In July, security forces raided Islamabad’s Red Mosque,
• On October 6, Musharraf was overwhelmingly reelected President while still ,
acting, as Chief of Army Staff.
• On November 3, Musharraf declared a state of emergency and dismissed
Chaudhry once again,
• In late November, Musharraf removed his uniform, appointing General Kiyani as
the new Chief of Army Staff, and inaugurated as civilian president.
• On December 27, nearly two weeks after Musharraf ended emergency rule,
Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at a campaign rally.
• More suicide attacks within country, may more have to be followed. Violence and military
activity in the tribal areas has risen significantly.
The current socio-political system did not have accountability and transparency, therefore, both the presidential and parliamentary members ,have greater than before the uncertainty, the instability, and Musharraf’s loss of credibility. Political uncertainly has been compounded by a simultaneous rise in militancy, which has fed into the ongoing sectarian violence throughout Pakistan and the Security situation in Pakistan is evaporating, this fact was made clear in January when refugees flooded into Afghanistan from Pakistan, the former being perceived as providing a safer environment.
In spite of who wins, all of the leading candidates will likely pursue similar policies to Musharraf, with contrary levels of aptitude. Stability will be maintained by the army with force, mainly certain stability that General Kiyani brings to the leadership will not be complete, however any of the candidates for Prime Minister will face the same challenges, discrepancy in their presentation will be in the precincts, this election will bring in change of faces not the change of socio-political system in Pakistan as expected by the people of Pakistan and essential for the country.
Perhaps the more important factor than the selected one is the process to be followed, and whether the people feel their voices are being heard and their participation encouraged. Since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power, so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favor of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is to invite, to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster. Many innocent people are dying every day-week and every month. Because of bombast, suicide attacks and target killing in Pakistan the factual condition is that nothing happened in this world without any reason, the need of the time is to redress the grievances of the people and eliminate the reason the route cause.
The right way to reverence to Martyr is to eliminate the causes after the incidents. If we can redress the route cause after the suicide killing, we can save many lives in future. The only way out is the change of system the route cause of all kind of grievances within society, the time is to empower the Pakistani at grass route level to eliminate the socio-political injustice and strengthen the unity within the society at large, and closing the door for outsiders or intruder to penetrate in our society because of social unrest.
Unfortunately, despite the significance of the democratic elements, only the power full elite are fitted in power and Pakistani are always left at the mercy of circumstances again and again… As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society based on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for real peace and progress in the society. Therefore, Change of socio-political system is inevitable to empower the Pakistani at grass route level for rapid industrial and agriculture development.
See www.idp.org.pk
Ilyas khan Baloch
Islamic Democratic Party