Adil Najam
These are distressing times. But this is not a time to be depressed.
This is a time, as Owais reminds us in his last post, to reaffirm our hopes for the future. True defeat would be to give up on those hopes. I have put up the splash image (on the front page) that I have to reassert and to remind ourselves that ultimately Pakistan will be what we make of it. Emergency or no emergency, no one can snatch our Pakistaniat from us. Not until we ourselves surrender it!
Back in May, at a moment of similar desperation, I had written a post where I had sought “solace in the one place where I always find it. In poetry. Especially in Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poetry.” The video clip I had used there is worth repeating here.
I had written then – and it seems even more pertinent today to repeat it:
Here is Faiz – in his own words, in his own voice. The second half has the same poem masterfully sung by Nayarra Noor. Enjoy this rare find of kalam i Faiz, ba zaban i Faiz. But more than that, think about what he is saying and how it relates to what is happening today.
What I had to say (including about US role) I said at length in an NPR Radio show today (or here). But what Faiz has to say is far more profound.
The words of Faiz certainly cut deeper than anything I can say. They are an invitation to action. But they are also an invitation to thought. An invitation to responsibility. An invitation to continuing the struggle no matter what. An invitation to keep moving onwards despite the odds. An invitation to celebrate the spirit of defiance of those who will not give up.
I had ended that post by reaffirming ATP’s committment “to celebrating all the diverse trials and tribulations of being Pakistan … the mundane as well as the profound; the sad as well as the gleeful; the immediate as well as the long-term.” It is time, today, to repeat that commitment.
This is our commitment to Pakistaniat. We love Pakistan not because everything is right in it. But despite that which is clearly not right. And with a commitment to make right that which has gone astray. Ameen.
Hello All!
unfortunately, I am not in Pakistan right now – otherwise, I would also take part in these demonstrations.
When the goverment uses extreme force against unarmed civilians, it is justified to use armed means to take this Goverment down. I think an armed struggle from the cities is the next step.
It is such a shame that our Army brings out its armed cars and guns and tanks againsts its own citizen and when faced with serious enemy forces like Amercicans / Indians – does not have the guts to fight.
What is the use of all these nukes? better have few armed citizens ready to fight for their rights than to have these nukes and huge useless armies.
In the 21st century, the Army is the biggest liability – neither the Amercians understand this nor the Pakistanis. Look at Europe, China, India, Russia, Brazil – their economies are booming due to productive work and not “strategic depth wars” and “regime changes” around the world.
Infront of the Indians, the General President retreated from even the basic principles of UN resolutions for elections in Kashmir. If this Army cannot take a principled stand and has the spine to fight for its people then this Army have no right even to a single peice of bread.
In the last three martial laws,
This Army let go of politics in ’71 when it was really humiliated with a big defeat in the field. This Army again retreated in ’88 when the Americans took out Zia in the air and the collaborators within the army ranks did not have the guts to cliam Zia’s place. Only in Ayub’s time, the Army just changed its figure head from one to another – the reason being that shit had not hit the fan at that time.
From our recent history, it is quite clear that there is no chance that this Army will let go of the helm of politics unless humilited and kicked out. To expect some sense from these generals is asking for a bit too much.
The problem is not only Musharaff – but all his buddy generals and their slave mentality towards America.
There have been exceptions like the honarable general who resigned before Musharraf was appointed, but the vast majority of them are just power hungary.
When the Army and the Police is so brutal with its people, what option do they leave for the unarmed people who want a change? Only one way is left and this is armed struggle.
A peaceful struggle will result in another Husni Mubarik ruling Pakistan for the next 30 years.
At this time, the only people who are giving a bloody nose to this Army are the jihadis, even though I do not buy their fundamentalist outlook, and I think the support for these jihadis will increase with the passage of time.
Atleast they are fighting honarably.
If moderate / liberal civil society does not undertake armed struggle, the opportunity will be taken over by these fundamentalists – this is already happenning.
In my humble opinion, armed struggle is the way to go – and the direction should be to focus on the top leadership of this regime – and not at the innocent civilians – this should be left for the agencies itself.
Is there an argument against this positition?
unless people fight for their rights, there is no way they can get these rights.
ordinary citizen somewhere out there,
jnzi
Have people read the daily times editorial today and yesterday?
Like PPP, Najam Sethi is falling well short of outrightly condemning the martial law. Yesterday, he was instead more interested in saying how wise he was on the transformation vs transition debate. Someone needs to tell this egoistic man that while this was a perfectly legitimate debate before the martial law, now it is not the time to get into it. Instead, there should be a clear condemnation of Musharraf as well as all others who are supporting him or playing noora kushti, including Benazir Bhutto.
Najam Sethi has been regularly calling for a Mush-Benazir alliance in recent years and that is his one point pre-occupation. While he is perfectly entitled to his likes and dislikes, not coming through with a full fledged condemnation of both Musharraf and Benazir after the martial law makes him an apologist right now.
The issue is very clear and it is about time that we all strongly condemned Musharraf as well as all those who are siding with him. The intellectuals who have been regularly projecting Benazir as a democrat should now decide whether they like BB more than democracy and we should all reject them if they do not stop supporting her despite her complicity.
Apologies to be off-topic! Can someone provide a softcopy/ image of the Supreme Court decision agains the government?
Thanks in advanve.
“These are distressing times. But this is not a time to be depressed.”- How very true. Since yesterday, when I saw pictures/ tv footage of Pakistani lawyers being beaten up and still standing up to face the brutal force to defend their independence, I have been reminded about the stories of freedom struggle agiant the British empire. I think Pakistanis should be proud of the way their country is reacting to emergency. All peaceful, but all brave. Yesterday the lawyers came out and today the students of Lahore university came out to defend their freedom. I read stories how Gandhi ji and other leaders faced the wrath of British force for years before we could obtain freedom. I see the same determination in Pakistani lawyers to retain their freedom. Twice, within six months they have faced and defied the might of brutal force. Shouldn’t this be enough to give you hope for the future?
we need to stand up to face this crisis unitedly. and musharaf should realize that we do not need him.