Adil Najam
It seems that the PPP government has finally found its equivalent to Wasi Zafar (the absurd, and often obnoxious, Law Minister in Gen. Musharraf’s government; here and here). Listen to the Rt. Hon. Abdul Qayyum Khan Jatoi, Federal Minister for Defence Production, proclaiming that it is the “political right” of every politician to do corruption: “yaar, karrapshun pay humara haq nahiN hai, aur unn ka hai!”:
In all fairness, I should confess that there is a certain bholla-pun and naivety in Mr. Jatoi that is markedly different from the viciousness of Mr. Zafar.
Minister Jatoi does seem to be trying (badly) to make a argument – a silly argument, indeed; but an argument nonetheless. But he may also have hit on a real truth. Not only because so many politicians do indeed believe what he has naively said but even more because we have indeed created a system of governance (through the actions of the politicians, of the military and through the reactions – or lack thereof – from the courts and the media) that smacks of political immunity for the corrupt. Maybe we should listen to what he is saying more carefully, after all.
Of course, the host – Javed Chaudhry – is having a field day; and enjoying it too. A big part of this is the host’s inappropriate badgering and the game of trying to ‘corner the guest’ rather than having a conversation. Its a game played by all our leading hosts. But the fact of the matter is that Mr. Jatoi does himself no favors and looses his cool again and again. Even when the host shows some tarss on the guest, the Minister just keeps digging himself into deeper holes.
Seems like this is a pattern with Minister Jatoi, since he keeps coming for more from Javed Chaudhry. Watch them here too, as the host corners Mr. Jatoi to proclaim that he is himself corrupt (around min. 5:50). And, then, again, dig himself even deeper in a hole – trying to make a ‘point’ but making a fool of himself instead, even as the host tries to give him a way out.
And if you want more, see the next segment, when both Mr. Chaudhry and Mr. Jatoi keep at it.
@Riaz Haq
Bhai, when will we get out of this low self-esteem of wanting to bring India into everything. This is about Pakistani politicians so lets be honest and just talk about that rather than distracting thing.
There is a type of Pakistani who just can’t talk about anything without dragging India into it (there may be a similar breed in India but that is there problem). Janab, aap ko India kee baat karnay ka itna shouq hai tou wahan chalay jaaiN, humm nay Pakistan PakistaniouN kay leeaye banaya tha, acha hai ya brra hai, hai PakistaniouN ka. So, lets get over it guy, in India or in Pakistan.
As to the video. As Adil Najam wrote, it is both hilarious and rather sad.
Indian and Pakistani democracies have a lot in common. Both systems of governance are a legacy of the British Raj; both have failed to deliver basic necessities, good governance, rule of law and speedy justice to the vast majority of their people; both have been marred by a close nexus between crime and politics; both have many criminals, including violent felons, as members of the legislature and the executive. But the big difference is in the top leadership; the Indian democracy is led by Dr. Manmohan Singh, also known as Mr. Clean; Pakistani democracy has Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, often labeled as Mr. Ten Percent, as its top leader.
http://southasiainvestor.blogspot.com/2009/11/paki stans-nro-and-corrupt-democracies.html
As hilarious as it is, there is some truth in what the guy is saying. The joke is ultimately on us more than anyone else, for we accpt corruption as long as it is not openly admitted and the perpetrators not caught. To the extent that he is stating that all previous governments have committed extensive corruption and gotten away with I, for one, agree with him completely.
I am even more amused at all of us and our lamentations; hoo! haa! what is our country coming to? As if we have no role whatsoever in it getting there. The aliens from outer space have done this to us. Never mind that we – and not the aliens – elected these jokers, and acquiesced to the lop-sided influence of the establishment in the politics of Pakistan, which has made the nation a laughing stock of the whole world.
My apologies for the distraction. Please carry on with the regularly scheduled whining and lamentation.
I like this guy Mr Jatoi. Although he has no personality but he is starting a trend that politicians should confess to their crimes or the country would not have been in such a bad shape. Rest of them still lie like a dog.
Pakistan is a extremely corrupt society. They are all goondas.
Sorry to generalize but I am mad.
If you are not a goonda or “badmash” (corrupt) Its not easy to survive in pakistan.
Although media tries to paint a nice picture of pakistan but I know pakistan internally. A decent amount to make a comment.
They include woman as a cosmestics to show the world that they so nice to them. No one listen to them. Most of them are unexposed to the “real world” because of their insecurities.
The road for improvement is long way ahead but is not impossible to find.
Get that in your head first, religion (is awesome but a very twisted and confused one) will not save you, morals will. And you dont need religion to have that.
he is talking like a street person and you do hear this sort of talk in Pakistan where people justify one wrong with another wrong.
You can’t compare him with Wasi Zafar.