Adil Najam
It seems that YouTube is down in Pakistan. Possibly it is blocked.
Blocking websites is a rather bad habit that the government authorities in Pakistan have gotten into (here and here). This is something that we have written about before. It is silly habit, because technologically it does not work. But, much more importantly, it is a disturbing habit because it points towards a desire by those in authority to “control” the passions of the public. Democracy demands the very opposite – that the people control teh passions of those in power.
But the real question is, that if YouTube is blocked, then why?
There would be those who could imagine that it is because all of the mujras, soft porn and supposedly “sexy” and indecent material that might be “corrupting” Pakistani minds – not that the Pakistani or any human mind really needs YouTube to further “corrupt” our sensibilities!
But this time, the general opinion is that th ban is more “political” than “cultural”. A large number of videos with actual footages of electoral rigging were placed on YouTube and the view is that the “ban” or the “technical difficulties” that have come up are really a way to distract attention in Pakistan away from these videos, at least for the time being.
Here, for example, are two of the video … its being recorded secretly, so you will need to turn up the volume and listen carefully.
NOTE: The original videos we have posted were later removed from YouTube, these are the same videos but re-posted on YouTube later:
A number of other videos of such rigging have since been removed and one cannot be sure how long these will last. Given that this is YouTube, one should also put in a caveat that even though these look quite legit one can never be sure if these are propaganda or counter-propaganda instruments that are staged themselves. Of course some of this is all still in the realm of speculation, and we ask our readers to exercise due caution in the use and interpretation of all this.
The ban – if, indeed, it s not a technical hitch, may or may not be because of the videos. Even if it is not, it is despicable for the same reason previous bans were. And even if it is not, the videos themselves are despicable for all the obvious reasons. All of this will, of course, become all the more despicable if, indeed, there is a real ban or other government interference in this and it is because of these videos.
YOUTUBE is available just fine! I used MBL connection and viola! and secondly what is the big fuss? If YOUTUBE is off air just switch to something else on the net becasue alternative sources of information are available.
I think that our media sometimes gets into this frenzy of ”Hai Hai Hun Ki Hosi!” mode when they are blocked. They always tell ”their” side of the story in a more ”Hai Hai Asi Lut Gai” type of fashion. My suggestion is please do not confuse freedom of media with everything goes. Last time I checked, we all live under the ambit of one type of law or the other. If you do not like the law of the land then seek your fortunes elsewhere!
Whatever we do we should do within the envelope of the law of the land and that goes especially for the media (websites, TV channels all included)
my aunt went to vote for NA-250 and upon arriving she noticed several irregularities. She had her ID card on her but the polling agent said her name was not on the voting list. There were mqm men there holding AK-47s snatching ballots from people and being really rude to people if they were not there to vote for MQM. They approached my aunt and tried forcing her to vote for MQM or else leave. My aunt got very angry and started yelling. The polling officer got involved but he said that a vote with her ID number had already been cast at another polling station. When my aunt started creating a scene by trying to shame these armed men by telling them what they are doing is very unethical the men started laughing. She made it a point to mention that people will remember MQM with a bad taste in their mouth because of their ‘ghundaness.’ They replied by saying ‘bhenjee humari amaam bewakoof hai, humeinsha doh din key baad saab kuch bhul jati hai.” translated – “sister, people of our country are dumb, and always forget everything after two days.”
its true, we get upset for two days, vent our anger on the internet and then forget about it moving on with our lives allowing the culprits to get away with it.
There is a movement in Pakistan against MQM, people, media and other political parties are taking a stand against them. Let it be by the means of exposing them through videos or taking them to court on election rigging charges. For once, lets not forget whats going on and stick with this movement. We should committ to supporting this movement to remove mqm from power!
As many have noted, the two videos we had posted this morning in this post were soon removed by YouTube, reportedly by the user who had posted them.
One of those videos has now reappeared from a different source on YouTube. That video has now been replaced in the post and can be viewed on clicking the video in the post above.
Rumors are ripe in our country. I think we should adopt a wait and see attitude. But then it is no fun that way! Is it?
Wow. I am amazed, how far a 19 NA-seats party can go.