The details emerging out of Pakistan are still somewhat sketchy but some facts are clear; more than 30 people are dead and over 115 injured. The Chief Justice of Pakistan was unable to address the Sindh Bar Association and was forced to go back to Islamabad and the private television station Aaj TV, which has been in the forefront of covering pro-judiciary and anti-Musharraf protests, was attacked by armed gunmen. This is indeed another dark day in the checkered political history of Pakistan.
It is now well past time for the Musharraf regime to go. This government has now lost the last shreds of moral authority required to govern. I salute the men and women of the civil society of Pakistan and the courageous independent media who are leading this struggle for the supremacy of the law and freedom of expression at grave risk to their life and limb.
As tragic and sad as events in Karachi are, this political moment is of historic import for the people of Pakistan and even on this day of darkness I see some hope for a better future. Since the sacking of the CJP on March 9th, the heroic struggle of the lawyers has germinated greater democratic desire and decisively strengthened Pakistan’s civil society and its beleagured independent media.
In the face of relentless governmental coercion there have been heartwarming displays of peaceful resistance, none more evident than in the historic journey of Justice Chaudhry through the heart of Punjab. Those in Pakistan and abroad who desire an eventual constitutional democratic polity rooted in a rule of law have to be encouraged by these developments. The conclusion of this episode, however, remains highly uncertain because no political sagacity can be expected from those who have brought us to this pass.
This grassroots peoples’ movement has also forced the politicians of all hues to make a choice; they either stand on the side of the rule of law or for the perpetuation of a dangerously unstable, one-man military banana republic. Mainstream politicians (despite all their historical shortcomings) clearly seem to grasp the national mood and the King’s men who are standing up for the present dispensation to save their personal fiefdoms will hopefully pay a steep price whenever they face the electorate in a fair election.
MQM more clearly exposed itself today than it ever has in its sordid history (thanks to private TV channels). The party that started with great hopes, rooted in the educated middle classes has over the years just become a collection of vicious thugs. It is wielding its fascistic tactics on behalf of people who seem to believe they have a divine right to perpetual power and who originally nurtured this party as a counterweight to PPP. MQM has shown itself the mirror image of the worst of MMA; both groups want people to acquiesce to their ideologies by force. Neither believes in nor has any fundamental respect for a constitutional rule of law.
Pakistan stands at a critical juncture as it has so many times in its unfortunate 60 year independent history. I would urge all Pakistanis and their well wishers to lend thier support to the struggle of Pakistan’s revitalized civil society. Let’s hope that the forces of peaceful democratic activism led by the country’s courageous lawyers ultimately emerge victorious and we can close this latest chapter of the military’s recurring era of authoritarian and unconstitutional misrule without further human suffering.
Fawad is a California-based literati-at-large and writes the blog ‘Moments of Tranquility,’ where a version of this was first posted.
Don’t know about the other questions, but I don’t blame the policemen. We pay them next-to-nothing, keep them in dirt conditions, and then expect them to commit suicide by taking on exceptionally armed thugs?
If someone thinks on following, he will get the answer who is behind all this show:
– Who blocked the opposite parties routes?
– Who blocked the main arteries of city except their own route?
– Where was 15000 police which was deputed to handle situation?
– Where was ranger in karachi which is living in khi in all corners of city?
– Why no help was provided to people living in Guru mandar and Aaj TV premises despite it was aired live since the incident starts?
– Why Police didnot arrested / fired a bullet on persons carrying arms roaming openly on road?
Despite it is a fact, khi police known to fire and arrest citizens
– Why mobsters carrying modern weaponry fired indiscriminately on people from bridges, roads cars motorbikes without any fear from law enforcement agencies?
– Who gave insurances to terrorist tht they are free to act and 15000 police will not be on all the main roads and important points where they want to play?
_ Why IG Police said that he is authorityless and he cant do anything for people who pay taxes for them to be a privilaged?
– Why DIG traffic said on TV tht if you want to open all important roads, i need instructions from ruling party?
There are lot of points.. if anyone ponder and find only one thing..
Who were these Gangsters and why so much silence from the Law enforcement agencies?
Well done post!!
@Umair Masood
CJ visit was scheduled much earlier than MQM gave the call for rally.It was MQM intention to do it on the same day as CJ visit.Had CJ and Sindh Bar chosen another date, MQM would have call the rally on that day because it was clearly stated by them that they wanted to show power on same day. Sindh government advised CJ because a clash was imminent, the question is why it didn’t ask MQM not to rally on same day? The important point is MQM wanted that rally to coincide with CJ visit, no matter whatever day he pick.
Day 12/05: It is quite disturbing; I feel something is wrong with our self. As a nation we are confused, we are a Muslim Nation or Moderates or a South Asian or a Indian Muslim version or something more divided?
We have to clear our thoughts, who are we? I think ISLAM is the only supreme platform which may unite all the regional natives (sindhi,punjabi, pashtoon, seraeiiki, migratories, pathaan, kashmeri, some others) . Otherwise JAMHORIAT will keep as we are living. JAMHORIAT is not for us, if it is for us then why not we have implemented in long past 50 years. I will not accept the fact (politicians claims) that it was not implemented because SOME people played with it.
For myself, I will never put my country flag down (in all attributes of life).
Well said… but I m wondering if the CJ should have postponed his visit of the city of Karachi to some other date? He *was* given this ‘enlightening’ suggestion from the Sindh govt and a number of other sources thus making it obvious that there would be trouble for sure if he still decides to go ahead.
One may argue that why should the CJ have postponed? And why not Altaf be asked to do the same with his boys?
Well… when there’s a feud between two people, it’s the truly honourable who secures his honour and thinks for the general good.
The CJ could have been the ‘noble Brutus’ for me… the sane amongst us cannot expect that from the mazlumoun kaa sathee – the saviour of the oppressed!