Adil Najam
The two videos attached below – one of a student speaking at a student convention presided over by Gen. Pervez Musharraf and the second of an MNA speaking in the National Assembly during the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz – have recently been floating around over email on Pakistani lists.
[Thanks to Eidee Man for alerting us to this new version of the first video which includes Gen. Musharraf’s Response to the student’s speech. Even if you have seen the student’s speech already, the response is worth listening to.]
While the remarks from Muslim League (N) MNA Khawaja Asif is less surprising (especially since it came right after Nawab Akbar Bugti’s death and during a no-confidence motion) the speech from the student (Syed Adnan Kakakhel) is much more of a surprise. Gen. Musharraf listens intently, takes notes, and seems engaged. Indeed, as you can now see from his response (later in the video) the speech certainly got to Gen. Musharraf. He responds at length – including on the military rule and Balochistan issues.
I should also add that this event was organized by the government itself and also note that Adnan Kakakhel was awarded the second prize in the speech contest and also that this was telecast over Pakistan Television.
Whether you are a government opponent (i.e., this shows the depth of people’s frustration with the current order), a cynic (i.e., such talk is tolerated because everyone knows it will make no difference), or a government supporter (i.e., this proves that this government has given people real democracy and freedom of speech), you should celebrate these videos for what they are: a demonstration that political thought is alive and well in Pakistan (irrespective of whether you believe its content to be righteous or misguided).
Coming from the bol ke lab aazad hain tairay school of democracy, to me the space for dissent is itself important to the democratic polity; for that reason alone I beleive that these are important articulations.
[quote comment=”4603″]@Turab you failed to answer me. How would you react if your wife or sister is offended by outsiders in your home. Would you give them a hug and say ‘Well done guys, I am a civlised and I would appreciate your actions’ or would just attack back on them to take revenge of your loved ones?[/quote]
Now you are getting personal my firend which was expected. However I do choose to answer your question. I would persue everything in my power legally and not go about randomly killing people who had nothing to do with the act.
It is intersting how you seem to assume everyhting about me from my name , my knowledge , my understanding and my reaction. Kudos to you. However I won’t waste space on this comments section any more.
[quote comment=”4595″]Regardless of Kakakhel’s affiliation with any institution or ideology, one needs to appreciate his courageous and well articulated point of view. I believe no member of the parliament had dared to challenge General Musharraf with decency and irony. We should be see what he is saying rather than, who is saying.
[/quote]
How do you judge the credibility of a person/entity if you don’t see who is saying? This is especially important when the organisations that they belong to have dubious pasts and naturally these organisation have a dire need to pull wool over everyone’s eyes.
[quote comment=”4602″]One accept it or not. Jinnah and his guys used ISLAM as main tool to get Pakistan. The party name was Pakistan *MUSLIM* league, not Pakistan Democratic Alliance or India freedom Alliance.
Running away from facts is miserable for you only, not for others. So be thankful of *Islam* which provide opportunity to you guys to throw shallow statments on Adil’s website.[/quote]
Granted Jinnah did not cheat Muslims like the lying murderous religious parties but does it make him any less Muslim or less worthy of fighting for Muslim cause? If anything the so-called religious parties should be banned from using terms Islam/Muslim for giving nothing but pain to Muslims and bad name to Islam and Pakistan.
What opportunity in the name of Islam are you talking about here? I live in a country where I have freedom to express myself without any fear of threats (veiled or not). I however see a lot of opportunity (regretfully for all of us) in the name of *Islam* to attack mosques and imam-baras in Pakistan.
did someone visited the following link?
Pakistan Army beyond criticism
How does mush define ‘Democracy’ ?
Anyone not wearing a uniform and not carrying a weapon is a CIVILIAN
I wouldn’t like to argue you further upon this issue since you have no idea about Israel.
According to your theory, MUsharraf shouldnt be considered an army man since he doesn’t wear uniform much *grin*