Adil Najam
I was in Chicago all weekend for Human Development Foundation (HDF) of North America’s Convention celebrating the HDF’s 10 years of service. It was an intellectually stimulating event with a host of thoughtful presentations various issues related to Pakistan’s development coming from Dr. Tariq Banuri, Dr. Pervez Hoodbhoy, Dr. Sania Nishtar, Arshed Bhatti (‘Civil Junction’ Cafe), Zobaida Jalal (Minister of Social Welfare), Ahmed Bilal Mehboob (PILDAT), Khalid Mirza (former SEC Chairman), Nasir Ali Shah Bukhari (KASB), Dr. Nadeem ul Haque (PIDE), Beena Sarwar, Munizae Jehangir (NDTV), Ethan Casey (PakCast), Syed Talat Hussain (Aaj TV), and others. The event also featured the music of Josh, Munni Begum and Jawad and the poetry of Ahmed Faraz.
As interesting as the formal presentations were the many many side conversations amongst the participants. The current political situation in Pakistan, including Elections 2007, were a hot topic. I learnt much in talking on this to people like Syed Talat Hussain from Aaj TV, Ahmed Bilal Mehboob of PILDAT who had been instrumental in getting the ‘open letter’ to Gen. Musharraf written, and also with Ahmed Faraz. On the elections question the common response was that ‘anything could happen’ and it is no longer clear what is most likely to happen, or even if elections would be held.
I was reminded of my conversation with Imran Khan last year where he had said that the 2007 elections would ‘either be like 1970 or like 1977.’ That may still be true; but it would depend on whether elections happen at all. What do you think? Will they?
[Poll=8]
[quote comment=”49623″]I do not see any better option than Imran Khan.
I think top military brass along with politicians may step forward and provide Musharraf a peaceful and secure exit, without any further anarchy. That may be acceptable to the external powers too.
In elections, urbanites will try to vote for Imran Khan as they have seen he is the only one who can stand up and speak some sense and people still listen.Rural people are not so free to excercise their vote.
Lets wait and see. I hope this time it is very different and better than 1971 & 1977.[/quote]
I seriously don’t think that urbanites would vote for Imran Khan. They would either vote for PPPP or PML(N), and a large number of them would also vote for MQM in Karachi. Imran Khan’s support is quite spread through out the country but I wonder if he has got any pockets of support, so essential in the parliamentary democracy. Just because people on the internet, what can be termed as “e-elite” don’t support the two main stream parties doesn’t mean that people in urban areas won’t support them.
I think Musharraf would get him re-elected from the current assemblies. He is not ready to budge an inch perhaps because if he does, it won’t just be him, but the entire Army that would loose. So the Faujis are behind him, retired or serving, for their interests lay in the furthering of brutal dictatorship. Their greatest threat is the power devolving to the people.
But if Musharraf does get re-elected from the present assemblies and does not doff off his uniform, Pakistan would most probably go the Zimbabwe way, where Robert Mugabe has refused to step down despite the fact that inflation has crossed the 3000% mark, there is 80% un-employment and a large number of people have emigrated causing a huge brain drain. And the government’s reaction: recruitment of a large number of youth in the polic force that would raise the number of police from 29,000 to 55,000. The aim is to rig the next elections by hook or by crook and to browbeat the opposition.
I find little difference between Pakistan (with Musharraf re-elected and still in uniform) and Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.
@Hum:
Here are the links for the ABN Urdu Talk Radio Show with Adil Najam and Syed Talat Hussain including other bloggers. Click Here
To Download the file:
@ shahran asim:
the links you mentioned are not working.
could you please post the correct links again?
thanks :)
SJH >Dil mein ik lei see uthee hai abhee, Koi taaza hawa chalee hai abhee
With due apologies, lei = lehr as per Nasir Kazmi as far as I recollect. Yes, Lei is what the military dictators have made of the civil institutions
Interesting that you chose this ghazal in the current context. After watching Musharaf’s interview with Talat Hussain on AAJ TV, another line from the same ghazal that seems appropriate is , kuch to naazuk mizaaj hain hum bhee
The general does protest too much, me thinks. He goes on and on about doing everything according to consitution and then an after-thought saying that he may revert to extra-consitutional measures.
And this one takes the cake. Since he has made promises that he has broken in the past, therefore he had decided not to make any promises.
Maybe it is just me but I thought he was very nervous during the interview. Kudos to Talat Hussain for a brilliant interview.