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.
Yahya: We can record our protest in what ever capacity we can. Build up a pressure opinion, sending message to the concerned that the country belongs to all and not to a bunch of plunderers.
Shaheen: This is a serious matter, provided we desire to exist as self respecting and sovereign people. There is no question of scoring points. It concerns us all – we are all affected by what is going on in Pakistan.
[quote comment=”6540″]@Yahya: We can publish a sequel to the book at great expense to national exchequer entitled “Friendly fire: Baluchistan, Bajaur etc.”. The Urdu version can be entitled “Sub say pehlay Pakistan. Hissa-e-Doem (Part II)” a slogan which has been successful in justifying all Mushi’s adventures.[/quote]
I think “fauji jat” on the lines of “maula jat” is more inline with the theme than “sab say pehlay pakistan” but who am I to criticise General Pakistan.
I am just imagining mush after Bush in US. The upcoming election are not giving good news about Bush. See the current Time cover page.
ah nazir naji,thanks for letting me know your feeding source :-)
While addressing the Earthquake victims was not the most appropriate moment to ask for voting for PML(Q) in the next elections, this one takes the cake.
From Business Recorder
[quote post=”362″]2007 would be the most important milestone in Pakistan’s history and moderate forces must emerge victorious, which held the key to the country’s bright future.
He made these remarks while addressing the officers from Sialkot and Gujranwala Garrisons after attending the inaugural session of the Corps War Game at the Gujranwala corps headquarters. He said obscurantists must not gain foothold in the country as there is no room for them in the country’s future.[/quote]
Why doesn’t he just say “vote for Mush” because from his perspective, he is the only moderate and rest of the politicians would be obscurantists. At least “Roti, Kapra aur makan” was used to reach out to poor. His political campaign is targeted for highly educated or highly rich using words like “enlightened, moderates, obscurantists (Ironically the word itself is obscure *grin*)”