Adil Najam
The recent sacking of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Iftikhar Chaudhry, has ignited passions all over the Pakistani blogistan. That is not surprising. What is remarkable is the consensus in opinion and outrage that seems to be universal (including in the results of our ATP Quick Poll).
As I read the hundreds of comments posted all across the Pakistani blogistan, it is also striking how many times people have invoked poetry as a way to express their strongly held feelings and heartfelt emotions. As always it is in Faiz Ahmed Faiz that people find the most comfort and solace. My own favorite – hum daikhain gay – has been repeatedly invoked; so has nisaar mein teri galiyoun mein and aaj bazaar mein pabajolaaN chalo. Another great favorite of mine – kuch sanoo maran da shouq vi see; this from Munir Niazi – has also been mentioned.
I am, however, always surprised that we do not hear more of Ahmed Faraz’s poetry in these discussions. From what one can fathom, the sacked Chief Justice may not be the ‘perfect hero’ that poets commemorate, but I imagine that sitting under guard as he is he may well reading Faraz right now and feeling the intensity of at least some of the verses.
This is particularly so for the poem ‘Mohassra’, which is probably Faraz’s most prominent political poem (written during the Zia years):
Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry may also find some solace in Ahmad Faraz’s Qaid-i-Tanhai. The additional verses at the end of this video clip seem equally pertinent.
Bitter Truth.. The Speaker and other Govt officials can do whatever but it is not becoming of CJP to behave in that manner. if you apply the rule of suspesion for Govet Officials for not doing their jobs well then the smae rule should be applied to everyone. Nobody regardless of their position or social stature deserves to be humiliated including Justice Chaudhry. I sympathise with the families of the mising people and what is happening is unconstitutional but at the same time Justice Iftikhar was dependent on the Govt for material perks. And I am just trying to make a statement here that one should be wholly independent of the Government–If he was trying to seperate Judiciary from the Executive then he should have seperated himself personally as well by sticking to the 2 cars ( Toyota Corola and or Honda Civic) quota sanction for the CJP.
http://micropakistan.org/blog/2007/03/12/anopen-le tter-to-the-president/
You are right. Poetry is a great way of expressing ones feelings when there are no other ways to o so.
I loved the first poem. Had never heard that before.
@Someone “he humiliated Senior Govet officials publicly in court”
Ask the family of those who are kidnapped by the agencies. What you think when govt official simply say we dont know..It was due to tough stand of CJP that most of them suddenly reported to be in the custody of agencies.
If the govt officials do not fulfill thier duty, they deserved to be suspended rather than just humiliated.
He asked for BMW ..wow what a crime.Do you know Speaker of NA didnt accept a repaired BMW and forced the government to buy a new one. Why is only mushy and puppets deserve security and luxury?
I have been following all newspapers, TV channels and many websites to keep up with the what people are saying about the Chief Justice issue. I must say that of everything I have seen, this is still THE MOST thoughtful commentary in the choice of the poems but also in highlighting how poetry can help us express our strongest feelings. Keep it up.