Adil Najam
With the PPP leadership having endorsed him and his nomination papers having been accepted, unless something dramatic happens – and in Pakistan, it always can – Syed Yousuf Raza Gillani will soon be elected as the next Prime Minister of Pakistan.
Whether Mr. Gillani will become the person to harken meaningful democratic change in the country or yet another in a string of powerless Presidents and Prime Ministers who held ceremonial office while others wielded real power remains to be seen. But right now, today is his day. We wish him well and wish that he will make it memorable and prove our inherent cynicism wrong.
Read Full Post
Adil Najam
Addressing the Pakistan military parade today, Gen. Pervez Musharraf proclaimed that “you are seeing that a real democratic era has begun in Pakistan.” I say “Amen” to that. I remain confident as ever that Pakistan remains a democratic society trapped inside of an undemocratic state. I repeat and stand by what I had written a year ago today:
On this March 23rd, I am more confident than ever that not only can democracy work in Pakistan, it is the only thing that can. Whether our elites recognize it or not, the democratic spirit of the people can neither be tamed nor contained. Not any more.
Read Full Post
Darwaish
Today is 23rd March, 2008. On this date in 1940 the historic Lahore Resolution (Later Pakistan Resolution) was passed.
Last year in the series of March 23 posts (here, here and here), Adil Najam had written about ‘Owning Mohammad Iqbal.’ This year I thought it would be a good idea to share some of my favorite photographs from 1940’s and also very very relevant speeches of founder of Pakistan, Mohammad Ali Jinnah. One of the earliest posts on ATP had, similarly, featured some less-seen pictures of the Quaid (here).
It would be interesting if ATP readers can guess all the people in photographs; tough one, I think.
Read Full Post
