Zardari and the Politics of Defiance

Naqvi Saheb,

Thanks for the article.

“We do not want bread, we do not want electricity, but we want him (Musharraf) out�

What else? Just a day earlier he had the very last case against him thrown out. Now it is time to say this.

Zardari has fooled everyone successfully so far, surprisingly besting musharraf at Machiavellian tactics as well.

However, the old adage holds "You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time"

Regards.

Re: # 1 Yes Zeemax but unfortunately it appears that majority of people of Pakistan can be fooled by the same people at major times........And majority rules in democracy!!!!
Nikhat Riaz

#2 Posted by Nikhat,

I don't agree Nikhat. The people have been fooled enough but no one can fool them anymore. The Feb election results are proof of that. And the next ones will be even further proof.

We must never underestimate people. May they be illiterate or whatever.

... contd ...

Zardari was an unknown quantity, and that's why he was able to get away with betraying his own party in the wave of sympathy over Benazir's murder. People were willing to give him a chance. They will not next time around.

Re: # 4 "They will not next time around"
Next time???? and when will that be????????
with all current deplorable political scinario in our country I admire ur optimism and belief in our people.
Apna kaam to chalna hai so chale chalo berhe chalo abhee woh manzil naheen aaee.
Nikhat Riaz

#5 Posted by Nikhat,

That's a very defeatist attitude, Nikhat. 60 years are nothing in the history of nations. I know Pakistanis are an impatient lot, but these ups and downs and upheavals are to be expected till any nation finds its direction. Pakistanis have just been struggling to find that out as to which one it is.

If you need to renew your faith in the Pakistani people, you just need to look back not too far at the earthquake.

The political scenario is not deplorable. This is the natural process of weeding out.

Re: # 6

AZeemax

Your optimism is commendable but lacks realism and more importantly evidence to support these hopes.

Pakistani political parties have yet to demonstrate the basic requisites of democracy which usually comes with democratic principles being applied at the party level. May it be PPP, PML-N (etc etc), ANP, MQM, JUI/JUP none of these parties have fostered democratic cultures in their respective parties. JI may have some semblance but that too is tainted by their stringent orthodox Sunni view of Islam which does not allow a open environment.

I agree with your basic premise, but have very little confidence in this political setup.

Re: # 6 yeah Zeemax u r right... Sometimes cynicism, depression, frustration rules but I am with u.....instead of complaining of darkness or rough weather... apne hisse ka diya to jalaein aur chappoo utha ker chala ker nayya paar lagaein
Nikhat Riaz

Nikhat: "chappoo" used to be the nickname of a fellow in the school I went too. I think it was because of his big hands. Another fellow was "pullthroo" (from english name "pull through", which was a metal rod used to clean the barrel of a rifle). He was tall and thin.

Nothing to do with the topic, but just presenting the connections..

#8 Posted by Nikhat,

apne hisse ka diya to jalaein aur chappoo utha ker chala ker nayya paar lagaein

Exactly. And you're doing great at that! Just remember it needs a lot of diyas and chappoos - many diyas flickering out and many chappoos abandoned by tired arms and dropped in the river, before the nayya gets anywhere. And it takes many generations. Pakistan has has just had two.

#7 Posted by rf786,

You don't need to have confidence in any political set-up. It will evolve. You only need to have confidence in the will of the people.

Tell me, what do you really think Pakistan is? Is it a weak country of weak people? Resourceless, consciousless place with no character?

Think about it and let me know.

Re: # 9 thanks for this funny info right out of the context but right now another big joker of our times Mr Zardari is briefing the press so gotta go cherrio!!!
Nikhat Riaz

Re: # 11

zeemax,

.... by and large the people of pakistan do not have any character and on top of that they are stupid and ignorant ....... people are stupid and ignorant everywhere, but it is the lack of character that sets the pakis (and nigerians) apart from the rest ..... unfortunately, this lack of character has become our national character and so nobody thinks it is a problem until they are personally affected by it ........

..... take the droopy eyed cj for example ... this joker was annointed by mushy and did his bidding until he thought it was safe to defy the faltering general ...... his defiance was not motivated by any high moral principle - he was driven by personal peeve, ambition and the fact that he felt he had nothing to loose and everything to gain ........ he did what any characterless paki would do .....

.... zardari is a wretch who is driven by the same unethical and base motives, but at least he is looking at the big picture and might end up doing some good for the long run (inadvertently) ......

..... i think the problem is genetic

Re: # 1 I wonder mr.Z is drawing wrong conclusions regarding electricity and food. Sure lawyers and activist may have sufficient of both but there is anguish in amoung nonlawyer hardworking people. People will be happy if he takes care of president ( dismisses him) but that will be pyratic victory. The basic problems still can demolish PPP or any party. Hope PPP does strategic way about food and electricity otherwise tactical moves against president can take them so far only. Hope he does not treat president badly as then his partners in Sindh MQM may not tolerate too long.
He took opportunity to give message to india which is most significan factor in life of pakistan for good or bad. It appears he is not interested in military confrontation on K and that is not good. No concession or control even partly to have say in occupied HK ( held kashmir) is coming forward from Indian side, so CBM measures are not worth. May be this central question of Kashmir will not be dewcided by talk it will be decided by steel and blood. But Z is doing fine as after taking care of president and then economic problems he will have to concentrate on army as army is getting weak due to reduction of its money and no new arm purchases are coming up except JF-17 from china , a joint coproduction. His post is not happy post as it is hard too many demands on him and he can not make everybody happy. He is having weak hand as economy is is dire state. Yester was black friday and even I feel pinch when you loose so much in equity markets in one day. People just stop buying shares. So instead of president removal helping KSE will be more helping people.
bUT HE HAS GOOD PLAN AND HAS DANGLED good things for India if they behave properly. He has assured Sindhi's of developing "thar coal fileds" ( Over Billion Tons deposits) as up to know gas and oil import lobbies had stopped development of these things. He was right in telling india he has enormous energy in Thar and he can supply energy to india and can reduce shortages in India and help to improve image of india in Muslim world and help them by providing iranian and turkmen gas from pars and Daulatabad fields. So his approach isd better to show india to come to reasonable deal on Kashmir so he can sell back to people here. About kashmir people have very strong feeling and people want to help liberation of kashmir short of nuclear war but if too long time it is not solved even nuclear option is possible and winable. Just now nobody want war at two fronts and that gives less resources devoted to kashmir. It is not econoimic question likeindian attitude of Baniyas its very emotional for awam and they are ready to any sacrifice it is problem of survival like original problem. It is not going any where with time.
Also this moody and S and P need to be warned by usa to have more reasonable evaluation ofeconomy as I have noted there are many american indian professionals working at strategic level who damage the creidt rating of pakistan. At least both agencies need to not allow indian ethinic / hindus and ask them to excuse them from their work as comflit of interest. Dr Shamsad is try best to shore up situation and has assured of coming of 3.5 billions soon from friendly countries to dampen dollars demand. With inflation reaching 17% officially state bank chioef has shown corouge to raise interest up by 150 basis points. Exceptional situation need exceptional treatment and hope KSE is back to normal as loss of awam in stock exchage is real and hurting.
THis president may go but problems will not go he is trying to help people but if people are ungrateful he will leave. But then mr. Z and NS will face real proble. Both are just making "president" problem so they can avoid facing real problems for which both has no guts to raise taxes and lead armed forces against India. Army is demoralised by stupid meaningless talk with india about Kashmir. Now how thesae both can inspire army man so he can go out of way and go to fight against india, we need some inspiring leader who will inspire soldier at bottom who will be ready to saCRIFICE HIMSELF FOR LIBERATION OF KASHMIR AND and solving this problem leading to permanant peace with India and keep source all major water. It is true what Mr. Jinnah said it is Juglar vain of economic life of pakistan.
Hope Z and NS stop childish games and go for real work. They will hopefully as I believe in miracles.
Good night.

hamidm: "by and large the people of pakistan do not have any character and on top of that they are stupid and ignorant "

and you are certainly a good example.

Nikhat #9 When a man does not respect his own words (as in case of Musharraf and Zardari), there is no need to waste time listening to what they have to say.

Just hope that they will do the right thing because the people of Pakistan leave them no choice.