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=”4860″]” … and MastQalander who came up with theory that God “Allah” was one of the God of pagans etc etc.”[/quote]
Adnan Siddiqi Sahib,
I did not come up with a theory, I simply quoted a historical fact that the Arab pagans also believed in a high God, among so many other lesser gods, whom they called Allah. Did you ever ponder over the fact that the name of the father of the Prophet of Islam was Abdallah? And did you know that some of the Islamic rituals, like Hajj and the names of the months, are also pre-Islamic? When you find time, you might like to read an authentic history of that period.
[quote]”if calling a spade a spade is not a polite way then I don’t mind at all.” [/quote]
Well, Adnan Sahib, there is a difference between calling a spade a spade and calling it a goddamn shovel.
Sincerely,
MQ
@Liberal: why disguise? why are you hiding yourself?
I am clear enough who are liberals ofr me.Some exist on this mighty website as well who condemn many Islamic stuff by preaching their theories like one produced by Bilal Zuberi who got irked due to fajar azaan and MastQalander who cameup with theory that God “Allah” was one of the God of pagans etc etc.
[quote post=”362″]Or is it just that you have an urge to abuse someone and vent needless anger that leads to these comments?[/quote]
Abuse? its a plain blame over me. Where were you hiding when such *abuse* is thrown against
Islamist.?[quote post=”362″]Sometimes I wonder if maybe you are a hidden-liberal yourself [/quote]
Definately i am not a mullah but I am not a liberal as well, please don’t curse and abuse me. I would rather like to be follower of some XYZ religion and stick its rules rather beliving in theories given by West or anyone else for my religion. I am in the middle, neither a religious zealot to send someone for some so called ‘Jihad’ neither i am a desi liberal who don’t mind to interpret Quran for their own while grabbing a wine glass in other hand. for me both cabals are unacceptable and are on extreeme.
[quote post=”362″]But you know what, I know too many ‘mullahs’ who are entirely polite and reasonable, who are not always angry and dont always make hurtful comments. May you be like them too one day. Ameen[/quote]
if calling a spade a spade is not a polite way then I don’t mind at all. as you know you can always block me to comment on it but I wouldnt use someone else’ tone to express my words.
[quote comment=”4635″]”… how many people today identify with the slogan that Mr. Kakakhel said was the foundation of Pakistan ie: Paksitan ka mutlab kya….La Ilaha Ilallah!” [/quote]
Ali Naqvi,
This was a meaningless slogan as most slogans are. They sound good but mean very little. It might have been used to rouse the people in public rallies like the “Roti, kapra aur makaan” was used in the 70s but it does not find a mention in any serious study of Paksitan movement. The founder of Pakistan never used it or mentioned it in any of his speeches. This and others ideas like these are all latter day inventions. Not the kalima itself but its political use.
Come to think of it, Jinnah never even started any of his speeches by reciting “bismillah …”. Nor did Liaquat Ali Khan. Nor any of their immediate successors. That does not mean they were lesser Muslims. It only means they were not hypocrites like our “latter day saints”.
the particular binori student is actually getting popular because it was very shocking experience for the ignorant liberals of Pakistan who believe in theory that mullahs live in caves.
Unfortuantely, the last few messages have gone far too off-topic and become way too personal to be appropriate for this forum any more. These have been removed. Would request all commentors to please respect ATP comment policy and also each other.