Month of the Gun

Zeemax #134 you write you gentlemen have always hated democratically elected premiers and never given democracy a chance by constant nitpicking on any warts they may have had

Nawaz Sharif may have been elected democratically, but he proved unable of understanding the fundamental importance of democratic checks and balances and became arrogant and started thinking of himself as some kind of a king. And so he, among other things, he had a confrontation with the Chief Justice Supreme Court that was as damaging to Pakistan as Musharraf`s confrontation.

Nawaz Sharif was like the fool who uses a saw to cut of the very branch he is sitting on - namely, democratic institutions.

And that is why his removal was welcomed. If Musharraf had then done what he promised he would do, namely step aside and permit elections, he would have gone down in history as a truly great man.

Instead, Musharraf has fallen into the same trap as Nawaz Sharif - he has let power get to his head. And so is destined to go down in history as another one in a succession of selfish rulers in Pakistan.

The question to ask is: Is it mere coincidence that in Pakistan we have had a succession of dysfunctional leaders? or is the problem rooted in our culture (i.e. the ``VIP Complex``, glorification of ``warrior kings``) or the result of an unfortunate wrong turn that was taken early in our history when the Constitent Assembly was dissolved or when Ayub did the first military coup, or the result of the special status given to the military in Pakistan as a result of the confrontation with India. I dont know what the answer is.

Since you are so smart that you could tell from day 1 what the rest of us could not see, perhaps yo know the answer to the above question.

Not to be all gloom and doom: I think that Pakistani people have shown a level of courage and spirit that gives one hope that one day, hopefully this time around, they will finally break this stranglehold of dictators and become a normal, civilized country. Pakistani people deserve nothing less that people in any other country in the world, be it the US or UK or India.

Why are you so full of yourself?

``The social and political dynamics of Karachi can never be understood with certain political constants that make up the political theories applied in the understanding of the politics of the rest of Pakistan... It is just a party that came about at a time of great ethnic paranoia characterised by a persecution complex that was ripe during the Zia era. ``

Do you really talk like that in person? What a loser.

#133 by tahmed32,

I wish you would go back to October 1999 and read the interacts on `He had No Choice` by Bilal Musharraf. Many still here were cheering the military coup at that time while I was saying it was a great setback and musharraf would eventually be dragged in the streets. Other than me as I recall, there was just a `single` interactor who agreed with me amongst more than 1200 interacts and that was someone called `RoohiAD` who was shouting ``Go Mutarraf Go.``

It was all so predictable but you gentlemen have always hated democratically elected premiers and never given democracy a chance by constant nitpicking on any warts they may have had, .. so ... time to contemplate on your follies.

As it stands, the largest cable news network in Pakistan i.e. GEO News has been shut down just for broadcasting the CJ seminar in the Supreme Court building where army was criticised.

and of course, the all important right to vote for the head of state was taken away 8 years ago. History will not forgive or forget this outrage.

#130 in other words, per dawn, `` The ordinance introduced on Monday gives the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) power to revoke a broadcaster`s license without referring the case to a complaints council``

Another shameful step towards stealing the basic rights of all Pakistanis so musharraf can cling to power for yet another ``five more years``. The right of peaceful assembly was taken away in the May 12 bloodbath, and the rights of free speech and of a free press are now readily taken away.

#129 by NothingNess,

Great post. Thanks.

That`s why I advocate that all it needs for MQM to be completely eliminated is a few RPG`s up their dark behinds. If the most underprivileged and deprived area like Lyari in Karachi is not under some `persecution complex`, these goondas of MQM need to be thrown in the Lyari nadi.

Musharraf promulgates PEMRA amended ordinance 2007

ISLAMABAD: President General Pervez Musharraf on Monday promulgated the amended Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) ordinance 2007.

Under the amended PEMRA Ordinance 2007, the PEMRA has been given powers to seal any building where it believes the illegal transmission is aired.

The PEMRA also has the power to cancel the license of any TV channel and can forfeit the broadcasting equipment for the said reason.

The Ordinance called the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007, shall come into force at once.

Following is the text of the Ordinance: Ordinance No. XXVI of 2007. An ORDINANCE, to further amend the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002.

WHEREAS it is expedient to further to amend the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002 (XIII of 2002), for the purposes here in after appearing; AND WHEREAS the National Assembly is not in session and circumstances exist which render it necessary to take immediate action; NOW, THEREFORE, in the exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 89 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the President is pleased to make and promulgate the following Ordinance:-1. Short title, extent and commencement:

(1) This Ordinance may be called the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2007. (2) It shall come into force at once.

2. Amendment of section 2, Ordinance XIII of 2002:- In the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2002 (XIII of 2002),Hereunder referred to as the said Ordinance, in section 2,- (a) in clause (ha) for the letters ``DTH`` the letters and commas ``DTH, IPTV, Mobile TV`` shall be substituted; and (b) for clause (j) the following shall be substituted, namely:- (j)-- ``Frequency`` means the frequency of the electromagnetic waves measured in Hertz and used for transmission;``.

3. Amendment of section 4, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance,in section 4, sub-section (3) shall be omitted.
4. Amendment of section 20, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance, in section 20, in clause (d), after the word ``rules`` the words ``and regulations`` shall be inserted.
5. Amendment of section 23, Ordinance XIII of 2002. In the said Ordinance, in section 23, in sub-section (2) in the proviso, for the word ``fare`` the word ``Fair`` shall be substituted.
6. Amendment of Section 25, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance ,in section 25, in claus e(d), after the word ``organization`` the words`` including any foreign non-governmental organization`` shall be added.
7. Amendment of section 27, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance ,in section 27,- (a) for the word ``therefore,`` the word ``there for`` shall be substituted; and (b) after the word ``operator`` the words ``or owner`` shall be inserted.

7. Amendment of section 28, Ordinance XIII of 2002.- In the said Ordinance,in section 28, in the marginal note, of the section for the word ``of`` the word``by`` shall be substituted.

9. Amendment of section 29, Ordinance XIII of 2002,- In the said Ordinance,in section 29,- (a) in sub-section (5), the proviso, for the full stop, at the end, a colon shall be substituted and thereafter the following further proviso shall be added, namely:- ``Provided further that he Authority or the Chairman may seize a broadcast or distribution service equipment or seal the premises which is operating illegally or in contravention of orders passed under section 30.``; and (b) in sub-section (6), for the word ``one`` a word ``ten`` shall be substituted.

10. Amendment of section 30, Ordinance XIII of 2002, - In the said Ordinance, in section 30, - (a) in sub section (1), (i) in clause (b), for the colon, at the end, a full stop shall be substituted; and (ii) the proviso shall be omitted, (b) in sub-section (3) the comma and word ``, suspended`` shall be omitted; and (c) after sub-section (3) following new sub-section shall be added, namely: -``(4) License of a broadcast media may be suspended on any of the grounds specified in sub-section (1), by a duly constituted committee comprising members of the Authority.``


11. Insertion of section 39A, Ordinance XIII of 2002: In the saidO rdinance, after section 39, the following new section shall be inserted, namely: ``39A. Power of the Authority to make regulations:” The Authority may by notification in the official Gazette, make regulations, not inconsistent with this Ordinance and the rules made there under, to provide for all matters for which provisions is necessary or expedient for carrying out the purpose of this Ordinance.``

This is very disappointing coming from someone who is considered to have acute observation, a sense of history and engagement with socio-political realities of the city.

There is something drearily reactive about always trying to prove that the opposite of what everyone else thinks is really correct. It’s an elitist gesture of trumpeting one`s own independence from the (allegedly) common opinions. But at the same time, it reveals a morbid dependence upon the very majority that one pretends to scorn.

NFP is typically, and wilfully, perverse in his analysis and somewhat praise of MQM. Though everyone else from the Left to the Right (if these distinctions are even applicable in Pakistani politics) has denounced the 12 May events as a fascist spectacle. NFP sees this as a continuation or worse a struggle of one ethnic group over another for its survival.

To be sure the article suggests that the current events can be trace back to the very origin of MQM, why it was founded and the locus of its politics. There is a major logical error in the assumption that the current practices or actions of individuals or groups can be trace back to their origin. However something like an ideology originated it always goes under constant change, discontinuities, incorporations, and the `turf` never remains the same; there is always a new playing field, particularly in a city as dynamic as Karachi. Thus there cannot be a casual relation between May 1989 and May 2007.

It is true that IJT was the first student wing of a political party to use guns in academic institutions in Karachi and APMSO was born as a reaction to this kind of fascist and authoritative politics. But less than a decade after its creation MQM virtually had (it still does) the whole city under their control, unchallenged and unrestraint by any ethnic group or religious party. There was no ethnic paranoia, MQM single handedly ruled the city and it had absolute control.

What Atlaf Hussain managed to do effectively was to bring that breed of student politics started by IJT and later adopted by everyone into mainstream politics (remember MQM is one of those political parties which grew out of its student wing (AMPSO) and not the other way around). Needless to say that it had anything to do with ideology (secular/liberal) or principles but everything to do with maintaining domination through every authoritative means available. The result is the politics of intimidation and fear, note how Altaf Hussain is never satirized or mimicked in any of the comedy shows in this supposedly liberal and `free` media and plethora of TV-channels in Pakistan.

The point (imho) underlying this whole account is that we are better off with fascism by/of middle-class, `secular and liberal gun-toting thugs, than Islamic/punjabi/pushtoon religious/ethnic fascism, because `the socio and political dynamics of Karachi` is such that it will always breed paranoia characterised by a persecution complex. `It will always have a violent streak if and when it sees a situation where it finds its turf being attacked` by its rival. Interestingly this whole point undermines the position that you cannot understand the socio-political makeup of Karachi in terms of `political constants`.

Having lived in Liyari (Karachi) all my life and witnessed the whole phenomenon and its effects on the city, I am happy to be on the other side of the fence, to be with the 30%, because the last time I checked some of the 70% supporters of MQM voted for MMA in some of the strong MQM constituencies in 2003 (i.e. Burns Road/Saddar). So may be you are right better to have secular fascism than Islamic fascism. I would on the other hand, like your father go on and vote for PPP again.

#127 by Salim_Chauhan,

Doesn`t sound as good as `Muttervia`. Hey think about it. People may even think you`re somewhere in East Europe ... :)

#125 Zeemax {``Salim_Chauhan,
Salim Bhai, what`re you going to call your new republic? My suggestion is Muttervia !``}

Zee,
No - I think the best name would be ``Anti-Paindoostan.`` :)

Hamidm,

Hmmm ... kaneezes ... yes I support that too. Mutta`s would be too much hassle ... you know lots of reciting of mumbo-jumbo and paperwork I guess, besides there`ll be plenty of the US trained apostasias to choose from :)

Salim_Chauhan,

Salim Bhai, what`re you going to call your new republic? My suggestion is Muttervia !

#101 by rf786 on June 3, 2007 10:55am PT
Re: # 99

Salim,

During the reign of Peter the Great, any Russian nobleman who chose to wear a beard had to pay a special beard tax. Add this to your list of solutions.

ALSO

#104 by hamidm2 on June 3, 2007 11:44am PT
Re: # 99

salim mian,

........ i agree with your brilliant solution, except for one point - the province of potohar should be allowed to make up 50% of the army ........ there is nothing else to do over here - ...all the smart people migrated to india in `47 and the remaining are dumber than their jackasses, and the women have moustaches .......... ``}

Dear Bishmillah Bhai and Hamidum Sahib,
Out of respect for both of your hairy concerns (bearded men and mustachioed women), I have decided to modify my suggested SOLUTION by adding the following:

No Pakistani citizen will be allowed to display ANY facial hair, with the exception of eyebrows and acceptable nasal overflow, unless a predetermined beard and mustache tax has been duly paid. The only exception to this rule will be that Sikh men will be allowed to display their beards as long as they state their height correctly on all government forms without including the turban. Sikh women will be expected to abide by the sans mustache law.

Owing to the lack of anything to do in Potohar, all mules, donkeys, and elephants of the Pakistani cavalry will be replaced by Potohari men, who will at no time constitute more than 50% of such composition.

HAPPY?

its quite sad..nadeem f. paracha`s writings of late have turned into little more than frustrated tirades against what he sees as religious obscurantism..little more than what his `liberal` counterparts that he berated so often are doing..
in his impassioned zeal against all forms of religiousity, he even betrays his own leftist roots, displaying no hint of an unbiased structuralist analysis..


``These guys,`` I tell my father, ``they still don`t know what Karachi is about.``

There is not much, Mr.Paracha, to understand about cold-blooded murder...regardless of whatever pre-dated `persecution complex` it was triggered by..

Re: # 112

My dear Ana, that was a joke for gods sake. Nadeem is amongst my most favorite Chowkie writers, even though he is only half-Punjabi.

While the corrupt ``leaders`` make powersharing deals ....

Bhutto, in Exile, Talks of Return to Pakistan - New York Times

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan, June 3 — Former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is stirring up Pakistani politics by quietly talking through intermediaries about a power-sharing deal with the president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and suggesting in an interview that she could return to Pakistan before the end of the year.

...the Pakistani people hope for freedom....

As TV Coverage Feeds Protests, Musharraf Reacts - Washington Post

Excerpt:
Every day, Taj Mohammed Abbasi wheels his cart through dusty streets, selling the oranges, guavas and litchis that are the pride of this rural outpost in the shadow of the Himalayan foothills.

But what he`s seen recently on television motivated him this weekend to take to the streets for a different reason: to join a movement with the audacious goal of ousting the military-led government and restoring democracy to Pakistan.

``Watching television, I have become very angry,`` said Abbasi, 33, swatting flies from his cart. ``I am not a political person. I have not been to a lot of rallies. But this time, definitely, I am going.``