Credits for photos belong to Pervaiz Munir Alvi saheb. He took the photos on his recent trip to Pakistan and graciously shared them with me. The location is the Grand Trunk (now called highway N5) in Punjab.
While we have discussed Declaration of Emergency, Chronology of a Meltdown, mis-treatment of Imran Khan in recent past, one topic that got missed is what’s Benazir Bhutto up to these days? We would like to hear from our readers. Today, on my drive back from office, I was listening to Imran Khan‘s interview on National Public Radio (NPR). On a question of joining forces with Benazir, Imran Khan replied:
“We would love to join Benazir, except we don’t know whose side she is on today….There is a big mistrust of each other among opposition parties these days”.
I agree. What do you think? Above photos are in no way ATP’s endorsement to Benazir. They simply reflect a glimpse of our society. In addition to that, I personally enjoyed reading the slogan: “faisla zameer da….”
Renal failure of Munir Malik (someone mentioned his association with PPP)..wondering what Benazir did uptill now/would do now…
http://free-pakistan.blogspot.com/2007/11/torture- by-military-agencies-lead-to.html
Anyone who votes for BB is ignorant knowing her record , How foolish one can be, GEO should be out of business soon and they deserved to be. May BB will bail them out using her money which she stole from Pakistan.
Meengla:
Allowing IAEA inspectors access to AQ Khan would also have one other positive effect. The generals who were also involved in this henious activity, whom Musharraf has been protecting, would also be investigated and it won’t just be Qadeer Khan who would be made the scape goat just to avoid the Generals being brought to book.
Also PPP may represent most parts of interior Sindh and some parts of Punjab, it can’t become the glue to the entire country. For that purpose there must be a broad based alliance including ANP, Baloch Nationalist Parties and MQM or JI, since both have representation in Karachi. Without such an alliance PPP would at best remain a Sindhi force with some support in Punjab.
1) BB did say that she would allow IAEA access to Dr. Khan because, in her opinion, Pakistan should be seen as country which has nothing to hide. That is quite far from throwing her to the Americans.
2) BB did say that she would do ‘utmost’ to use Pakistan’s own forces in the Tribal Area. But (it was a big ‘but’) if she has to then should would ‘work with the Americans’ to curb militancy in the Tribal Areas. (As if Musharraf has not already done that!)
3) Both #1, 2 should be seen in the context of the actual power she would enjoy: If she was not even allowed to enter a building (KRL) a few miles from the PM House then it would be a stretch to say that she could have ‘real’ power when she becomes the PM.
4) Since 1977, no PM of Pakistan has enjoyed real power in foreign/security policy. As Mr. Heavy Mandate PM to confirm it. The situation is likely to remain so unless, God Forbids, Pakistani Army is humiliated in a major war.
5) Money talks everywhere–especially in Pakistan’s politics. By 1988 the anti-PPP forces enjoyed complete state patronage and that enabled non-entities like NS to gain prominence and much wealth–almost some of it ill-gotten. That position enabled NS to undermine BB’s rule and throw money into efforts to topple her. BB’s corruption in the form of kickbacks should be at-least partially seen in this light. Yes, this is ugly to say but that is also the reality.
6) ZAB’s PPP was thoroughly persecuted, climaxing in the judicial murder of ZAB himself. But since 1977 there has been public flogging/hanging,loss of territory (Siachen),massive alleged corruption, Gun/drug culture, Ojhri Camp….And not all of these have been done by PPP/BB. But look at the target of ‘justice’ over the past 30 years: It is the PPP/BB who have paid the highest price while ‘Mard e Momin’ got a grand funeral and has one of the best burial sites in the country. Not to mention a whole new class of state-sponsored corrupted-wealthy politician is in place now with deep pockets which is essentially a tool of the Establishment to keep the Status Quo. SO ACCOUNTABILITY SHOULD BEGIN FROM 1977 AND ALL SHOULD BE TAKEN TO TASK!!
7) Uncle’s influence over Pakistani military/politicians is a sad reality but that has happened since 1977–something BB cannot be exclusively blamed for. In face, to this day, Musarraf is Uncle’s first choice and BB is being pursuaded to make a compromise. Also, for nearly 8 years she was not allowed access to the American Establishment and it is only now that the military govt. has failed to ‘deliver’ that Americans wants more involvement of people in Pakistan’s affairs.
8) Both NS and Imran Khan as well as Qazi Hussain, Altaf Hussain, Maulana Fazlu have a role to play in Pakistan’s affairs, whether I or someone else like it or not. I may not ‘like’ some of them but I can still vote for some of them as ‘lesser evil’ when I see them fit.
9) PPP is more than BB although BB is the glue that binds them. Unlike the Tonga Party of Imran Khan or the popular party of NS (in Punjab), PPP has the best potential to bring Pakistanis from different parts of the country to one platform. To me that is the most important role for BB/PPP in the current situation in Pakistan.
Shaukat Aziz not to contest polls.
He says it’s for personal reasons. Yeah right, the personal reason being that noone gave him a party ticket. :)
Good riddens!