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.
From DAWN
[quote post=”702″]KARACHI, May 13: The Rangers, who were called in about 18 years ago by the provincial government, got the upper hand over police on Sunday when they were additional powers.
The federal interior ministry and the Sindh government asked the Rangers in Karachi to increase their manpower and authorised them to shoot on sight anyone involved in violence.[/quote]
Where were these rangers that we see at every chowrangi on Saturday and where was the police? This goes to prove that whole massacre had the blessing of Pervez Musharraf who claimed in ISlamabad that we have shown our power (by asking the whole nation to conserve energy whereas whole of the area was electrified with large number of lights for his holiness where people were brought from all over the country at Rs.300 per person).
The title says Hope Persists. Hope of what? because the way government is reacting, there is no hope for things getting better. The campaign season hasn’t even started and then we will see who rules the roost in Karachi and this time it WILL be violent.
I have heard a number of recent interviews by Imran on national and international media and I think he has changed and learnt and now is more on the ground. I never liked him as a politician before. But now I do.
And now Justice Khalil ur Rehman Ramday has excused himself from the full bench hearing The CJ petition.Also the deputy registrar has been fired on and killed by shot fired from close range.
Does Musharraf have any idea of what’s happening. He is willing to shed his blood for Pakistan and that too from behind a bullet proof screen.
Thank you Mr. President, sorry, you cannot fool us any more.
I agree, everyone, please don’t make things personal.
As much as I would like to consider an event of historic proportions, something tells me that this too shall pass without any significant change. This is similar in many ways to the way our nation rose against Ayub’s dictatorship. Things didn’t turn out too well even after we had gotten rid of him. We can just hope second time’s a charm. I do think, however, that no matter what the only way to avoid an implosion in Pakistan is to restore democracy. It’s a great time to be in Pakistan, the environment must be electrifying. Let’s hope this leads to something better. For another perspective, read http://khurramm.wordpress.com/2007/05/14/the-4-min ute-mile/