Pakistan Alert: Revolution in the Making?

Mr. Saqlain Imam`s article shows the naivity of the author. He is thinking only on religious grounds, which has brought Pakistan to an economic ruin. If any sense was to prevail, the intellegensia in Pakistan has to look away from religion and start thinking on practical & economic ways to uplift Pakistan`s sagging economy.

RELIGION IS POISON and I HOPE NOT ALL ARE SAQLAIN IMAM !!!!

Yes, there is every indication that a revolution is in the making. According to dawn, 40 % of the bank loans are non performing and under the military rule, hopefully armed with new powers, efforts will be made to recoup the money. The general mood of the people is that all these are cheats, in an economy on the decline for a coulple of years, this type of non performing loans are common. In malaysia in one year of decline it went to 15%, in indonesia, it was 25%. In both the countries, the efforts were to recapitalise the banks so that further `non corrupt` lending can proceed.

Forced recouping of loans will mean the take over of bussinesses by the banks who are not good at running them. Many will simply close, sale of assets in a closed business will fetch only paltry sums. Un e,ployment will rise.

The mood of revenge, is not good for the economy. The amounts that can be confiscated are very small compared to the needs of the economy, playing to the lynch mob can only be disastrous.

Who cares, it is time for celebration, even on the chowk. After which will be the revolution, could it be of the proletariat, no more likely of the traliban kind.

Saeedk #10 wrote: Let us pray that Allah (SWT) keeps General Musharraf on the right path and also keeps him safe from the evils. I propose that we should let him rule the country for a period of 2-3 years.....

Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Mr. Sharif demonstrated the truth of that adage

very well. Will General Musharraf buck the

trend evinced by the careers of most military

rulers?

Let the euphoria subside and we`ll know what the side effects / withdrawal symptoms are of this potent drug called ``military coup``. For now, let the 140 million addicts enjoy it.

It is not difficult to understand that people of Pakistan have no faith in politicians. But it is baffling to see them completely forget the dismal performances of Pakistan Army on all fronts. Pakistan Army has never won a war since its inception. And we all know how they have ``played around with, and systematically dismantled” various institutions, and the constitution of Pakistan in the past 52 years. Coup d’tat is about the only thing Pakistan Army is good at. They have directly ruled Pakistan for more than half of her existence. It is only fair that they should take a fair proportion of responsibility and blame for the destruction of Pakistani nation.

I am not for corrupt politicians, and I strongly support accountability process for all corrupt people in Pakistan. It should not stop at politicians though – army personnel, ex-army personnel, public servants, businessmen etc. should also be made accountable for their deeds. However, I do not believe that accountability process under a military regime would uncover the extent of damage done to Pakistani nation during Zia-ul-Haq’s regime, for example. It will not bring to light the part Pakistan Army played in running a thriving trade in drugs and arms, under the guidance of CIA, to finance Afghan war - which, in my view, is the root cause of current situation of lawlessness in Pakistan.

I was also euphoric for couple of days. Deep down in my heart I still have hope that may be this time things will change for the better. May be this man is not like Zia-ul-Haq. May be this man, as he says, will do the right thing by Pakistani people. However, the realities may turn out to be different – only time will tell. I agree that General Musharaf deserves benefit of the doubt for circumstances under which he acted. And if he as sincere as he claims to be, he should be given a chance to put Pakistan on the right track. But it would be simplistic to completely disregard the history, and drop all guards.

My heroes are the oppressed people of Pakistan - the enslaved women of Sind – the poor children of Punjab – the boys and girls of Karachi who are struggling to find a future for themselves – the Pathan laborers from NWFP who have built whatever infrastructure we have with their bare hands – the poverty stricken Balochis for whom Islamabad is as far as Washington D.C. Politicians or Pakistan Army are not my heroes.

I pray for the success of my heroes. May Allah bless them with peace and prosperity.

Greetings

Saqlain Imam`s article as most of the articles I have seen on pakistani websites since Kargil is devoid of depth. Most of the premises have been proven wrong.

Nuclear Pakistan is not a deterrant. It is not going to stop India from stopping mischief being created by Pakistan. A game of nuclear one-upmanship would leave Pakistan completely deep-frozen. It`s economy is doddering, to say the least. It cannot afford a nuclear arms race. Any nuclear war sceanrio will have Pakistan wiped out. So leave out the nuclear talk.

No, Pakistan, Iran and China axis cannot happen. Ever! When did you see China in its 3000 years history aligning with someone. China has larger geo-polictical interests. Pakistan is just a small instrument to keep India busy. A China - Pakistan angle will leave a US - India angle and probably throw Iran in as well.

It is a myth that the Talibanesque fanatic muslim movement will achieve anything. Afghanistan happened because of USA.. not Islam, not Pakistan. It can be a irritant at best. terrorists in the next century will face the force of states as they battle them with ferocity. Notice Russia with Dagestan and Chechnya and also notice China with Xinjiang. Once world opinion brackets these guys against the West, these terrorists will face the terror as even India will also move against them in the same vain.

Fundamentalism can be fought in Pakistan with economic policies. The Army in Pakistan is no way qualified for it. I do not know who can deliver Pakistan other than the West with doles of money. For that Pakistan has to sell its soul, for the 1001th time.

It is in Pakistan`s national interest to make peace, stop supporting the terrorists and concentrate on its economy. That is the only strategy that can save the nation. Otherwise, it will be the next wild, wild west - after Afghanistan. And probably countries such as Somalia.

Democracy in Pakistan

I find the article rather thoughtful and would like to add a few comments of my own.

Democracy is supposed to be the means to good governance and not the objective. It must provide a common man the following as a minimum:

1. Security for his life and his possessions

2. Education for his children

3. Opportunities to earn a living in a dignified manner

In Pakistan’s case democracy has failed miserably to deliver the goods. The elected leaders simply became dictators. Both Benazir and Nawaz Sharif, in spite of the fact that they were thrown out once before, did exactly what they had done before – looted and plundered the poor common man once again. One would have thought that Sharif brothers had accumulated enough wealth during their first term to last several generations and during their second term they would sincerely work for the common man but alas, their greed went to new heights.

Nawaz Sharif made a mockery out of the institutions and one by one destroyed them. His own cabinet and the parliament became rubber-stamping bodies, supporting his every whim. What sort of a democracy is that where the Prime Minister simply cannot be terminated in spite of gross incompetence? He amended the constitution so the President could not fire him; no member of his own party could dissent without getting fired and so on. Basically Mr. Sharif was turning into a Firaun and Allah has His own ways of taking care of such individuals.

During Sharif’s regime the country lost ground on just about every front – economy kept going downhill fast; foreign investments basically dried up; law and order was totally out of control with extremely serious long term problems arising out of so called Mujahedeen – but actually terrorists; foreign policy was anchorless with even an old friend like China starting to keep distance from Pakistan. It was all because of Sharif and his team’s lack of sincerity to the nation, incompetence, greed for their own wealth, nepotism, putting themselves above the law and so on.

Allah (SWT) is very kind to this nation of ours. He keeps giving us opportunities. I believe another opportunity has arrived. Whatever I have heard of General Musharraf from my Army friends, he is a thorough professional, honest and a down to earth individual who makes things happen. Let us have faith in him and work with him. Each and every one of us should do our share of service to the country. As Kennedy once said “Do not ask what the country has done for you. Ask what you have done for the country.” Let us pray that Allah (SWT) keeps General Musharraf on the right path and also keeps him safe from the evils. I propose that we should let him rule the country for a period of 2-3 years until all corrupt politicians have been sidelined permanently and start afresh with democracy with new and sincere blood.

This is for the first time in the history of Pakistan that an army coup happened independently of the United States: the previous three similar examples had American blessings. Hence, any illogical effort at American engagement to the present military take over in Pakistan may trigger events resulting in the retreat of US interests in the region.

(I BELIEVE YOU ARE LOOKING FOR REVOLUTION...FO RTHIS TO HAPPEN, PEOPLE MUST RISE (NOT THE MILITARY).



``The American response to the situation in Pakistan seems to be based on premises relevant only in the American

society, but they have little germaneness to the Pakistani society.``

AMERICANS WILL ALWAYS LOOK AT THE WORLD FROM THE AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE, SO STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT THE AMERICANS ARE SAYING OR DOING! DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO!

In fact, the so-called democratically elected governments in the recent past were product of a series of palatial

conspiracies, and not the ones of a process of democracy. Would we say that Hitler or Mussolini, who were also

elected to their offices, could be supported on the basis that since they were democratically elected therefore, they

were democrats by any means?

ONCE AGAIN, I MUST POINT OUT TO YOU THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A REVOLUTION...SAY SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING, PROVE SOMETHING, WRITE SOMETHING THAT WILL GET THE PEOPLE TO RISE-UP AGAINST TYRANNY! DON`T THINK FOR A MINUTE THAT MARTIAL LAW IS THE ANSWER!

Some one, other than a person like Monica Lewinsky, must warn Bill Clinton that resorting to any misadventure

against Pakistan in the name of protecting civil society or restoring democracy, will be disastrous for the very civil

society and democracy. If Mr. Nawaz Sharif happens to be his buddy, Clinton must not overlook ground realities,

which clearly indicate that the Sharifs dynasty is over.

BRINGING IN MONICA LEWINSKY UNDERMINES YOUR CREDIBILITY AS A MATURE JOURNALIST. DON`T BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE WAHT IS GOING ON. I GUESS YOU WOULD CALL IT `GROUND REALITY.``

There are certain factors that must be considered before taking the Pakistan Army on:

OK, LET`S CONSIDER THE FACTORS...

* Good governance is merely a dream and will remain a dream in the present Constitutional Order (the mutilated

1973 Constitution);

OK. WHERE DID THIS ``MUTILATED CONSTITUTION`` COME FROM? OK, SO YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A REVOLUTION...FOR THIS PEOPLE MUST RISE, NOT THE MILITARY.

* Pakistan is a nuclear power, therefore, it cannot be bullied;

OK. NO ONE WANTS TO BULLY PAKISTAN. NUKES OR NOT! YOU REALLY NEED TO DIGEST THIS FACT.

* Fundamentalism is still not a popular doctrine among the people of Pakistan;

WHO ARE YOU KIDDING? FOR YOU TO SUGGEST THAT WHOLE OF PAKISTAN COULD BECOME FUNDAMENTALIST IS PATHETIC. LOOK AROUND (GROUND REALITY), MOST OF THE PEOPLE DON`T WANT/LIKE EXTREMISM. SO STOP PRETENDING TO THE MOUTH PIECE OF ALL THE PAKISTANI PEOPLE. THIS THREAT/INTIMIDATION WILL NOT WORK!

* People of Pakistan believe that America and its interests in the region are the root cause of the problems in the

region;

WRONG AGAIN! ROOT CAUSE OF PROBLEMS IN THE REGION COMES FROM PAKISTANI STAND ON KASHMIR. THE SAD TRUTH IS THAT IF KASHMIR WAS NOT MADE AN ISSUE, PAKISTAN WOULD BE AN INDUSTRIOUS AND THRIVING NATION AS YOUR ``CEO`` PUT IT. THINK ABOUT THE RESOURCES THAT PAKISTAN IS PUTTING INTO MAKE SOMETHING OF NOTHING. IMAGINE IF ALL THESE RESOURCES WERE USED TO MODERNIZE AND EDUCATE (AND I DON`T MEAN MADARASSES (sp?)) THE NATION.

* Sanction-clamped Pakistan will breed a peculiar kind of poverty-stricken people who would be willing to die an

honorable death (martyrdom) while fighting against America;

WHY? WHAT HAS AMERICA DONE TO YOU? DON`T BLAME OTHERS FOR YOUR SELF INFLICTED WOUNDS! THIS THREAT/INTIMIDATION WILL NOT WORK.

* It is also seriously considered that if Pakistan form a strategic alliance with Iran and China, it can change the destiny

of the region;

AGAIN, WITH ALL DO RESPECT...GET A GRIP! WHILE SOMEONE MAY HAVE TOLD YOU THAT YOU ARE STRATEGICALLY IMPORTANT, DON`T LET THAT GET TO YOUR HEAD! ONLY WAY YOU CAN AFFECT THIS IS IF YOU TREAT YOUR NEIGHBOURS WITH RESPECT! ``GROUND REALITY`` AS YOU HAVE STATED INDICATE THAT YOU ARE FAR AWAY FROM THIS GOAL. ASSUMING THIS IS ONE OF YOUR GOALS (ALTHOUGH, I DON`T SEE IT LISTED HERE ANYWHERE).

* Pakistan with China and Iran can eliminate the American influence and interest in the region, which would pave the

way for a new order in Asia;

WHAT NEW ORDER? DOESN`T THE ROAD TO THIS ORDER GO THROUGH YOUR BIG BROTHER? YOU CAN``T LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT COMES TO ASIA (AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO, YOU HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THE ``GROUND REALITY). THIS THREAT/INTIMIDATION WILL NOT WORK.

* General Parvaiz Musharraf has potential of taking any decision as he has already showed it;

WHAT`S YOUR POINT? ANYONE CAN TAKE A DECISION AT A GUN POINT. I RECOMMEND THAT YOU FIGURE OUT A WAY TO START A REVOLUTION BY THE PEOPLE (NOT THE MILITARY).

* Moreover, the general would soon fit into the popular image of a Rambo-like hero who can take the control of

`Airforce One` from hijackers. This would elevate him to the highest level heroism;

I GUESS I DON`T GET YOUR LOGIC. I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN TOO MANY HOLLYWOOD MOVIES AND ARE BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THE ARTIFICIAL REALITY IS THE REALITY. COME ON, PLEASE SHOW SOME MATURITY.

* A country with acknowledged potentials is poor. But any adventurism against her would make the people ready to

give sacrifices, thus, sanctions would fail to force military leadership to change its stand vis-a-vis `civil society`.

COME ON, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DOES NOT OWE PAKISTAN OR INDIA ANYTHING. SO LET`S STOP ASSOCIATING SANCTIONS WITH `any adventurism.` THEY ARE DISTINCT. BECAUSE SOMEONE STOPS DOING BUSINESS WITH YOU DOES NOT MEAN THAT THEY ARE BEING ADVENTURUSITC (sp?).

* The only factor that would remain a threat to Pakistan is India. However, India would not be able to take on a

nuclear Pakistan.

STOP DAY DREAMING. INDIA WILL DO WHATEVER IS REQUIRED TO ENSURE IT`S NATIONAL INTEGRITY. NUKES OR NO NUKES. SO, I HUMBLY URGE YOU NOT TO WAKE A SLEEPING GIANT.

Keeping in view these few but important factors, would it not be a better advice for the State Department and the

White House to engage present Pakistan in a constructive diplomacy. It would be counter-productive if the US bullies

military leadership that happens to have become a rallying point for the big and small as well as poor and rich segments

of the `civil society` of Pakistan.

ONCE AGAIN, I ASK YOU TO STOP USING BLACKMAIL/INTIMIDATION AS TOOLS FOR PROSPEROUS PAKISTAN. THESE TOOLS WILL NOT LEAD PAKISTAN TO WHERE IT WANTS TO GO.

Pakistan is neither a China where America wants to find a Tiananmen Square incident nor a Soviet Union where

jeans-clad youth would overpower Tanks on Moscow roads. The civil movement was stronger in these two countries

in spite of the fact that they were under authoritarian rules.

IF YOU ARE TRYING TO SAY THAT CIVIL MOVEMENTS CAN PROSPER UNDER MARTIAL LAW, I URGE YOU TO RECONSIDER. I GUESS IF YOU LOOK AT THE CIVIL MOVEMENTS IN CHINA, THE MESSAGE IS LOUD AND CLEAR...IT`S OK TO HAVE CIVIL MOVEMENT AS LONG AS THE MOVEMENT DOES NOT GET IN THE WAY OF THE AUTHORITIES. IF THEY DO, RUN TANKS OVER THEM.

But here in Pakistan, `civil society` was not only weakened during the martial law of General Zia-ul-Haq (a US

protege), but was now being stifled by the so-called democratically elected government.

AGAIN, AMERICA WILL DO WHAT`S BEST IN HER NATIONAL INTEREST. PAKISTAN SHOULD DO WHAT IS IN HER BEST INTEREST.

Stories of storming the

Supreme Court, press-bashing adventurism power-seeking legislation, writing off of loans worth billions of rupees, etc.

People in Pakistan like a democratic system, want to promote and strengthen civil society, but that was not happening

during the so-called democratically elected government of the buddy of Clinton.

THIS IS THE ONLY AREA I AGREE WITH YOUR ARTICLE. I DO BELIEVE THAT HAVING ELECTED WITH AN INCREDIBLE MAJORITY, MIAN SAHEB DID WHATEVER HE WANTED TO DO. THIS WAS WRONG. BUT, PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN ELECTED HIM AND PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN CAN TAKE HIM DOWN...I.E. NOT THE MILITARY. WHEN INDIRA GANDHI IMPOSED THE EMERGENCY, THE INDIAN ARMED FORCES DID NOT TAKE ACTION INTO IT`S OWN HANDS. PEOPEL OF INDIA TOOK TO THE STREET (NONVIOLENT). CITIZENS FORCED AN ELECTION AND KICKED HER OUT OF THE OFFICE.

P.S. KEEP CLINTONS and MONICAS OUT. USING THESE PEOPLE FOR YOUR ARTICLE TO MAKE A POINT, ONCE AGAIN, UNDERMINES YOUR CREDIBILITY.

High courts and district bar

associations in Pakistan have already supported the military take over.

THIS IS SAD. `NUFF SAID.

This shift of the pillar of civil society in favour of military rule cannot be comprehended by the advocates of civil society

living in the west unless they live the political saga of countries like Pakistan. The façade of a system does not matter to

them. People want whether they can live a prosperous and honourable life or not.

WHAT IS PAKISTAN LIKE? I GUESS I DON`T GET IT! YOUR ARGUMENT HERE IS HOG WASH. DOES BANGLADESH, INDIA, NEPAL, SRI LANKA etc. FALL INTO THE PAKISTAN CATEGORY? IF THE ANSWER IS YES, THE YOU ARE NOT MAKING YOUR ARGUMENT.

Do not make people hate democracy by supporting a facade of democracy that was built in the persons of corrupt

rulers. It is high time that Pakistan restructured its body politick; Pakistan drafted its new Constitution. This is the time

where the advocates of Good Governance should come forward and help Pakistan in laying foundations for a civil

society.

But if the short-sighted policies of level-headed thinkers of US State Department prevail, then be ready for a big game

in the region and subsequently in whole Eurasia. Perhaps, this will be the beginning of the World War III.

NO ONE IS MAKING PAKISTAN DO ANYTHING. SO, STOP YOUR WHINING! STOP MAKING THREATS. IS THIS WHAT JOURNALISM IS ALL ABOUT IN PAKISTAN? COME ON, PLEASE SHOW SOME MATURITY IN MAKING YOUR POINT.

The author is a Lahore-based Journalist working with the Jang Group of Newspapers. He is also the president of Lahore Press

Club



MY TWO CENTS WORTH.

PAKISTAN NEEDS TO MAKE PEACE WITH INDIA. AS LONG AS PAKISTAN USES IT`S KASHMIR OBJECTIVES AS YARDSTICK TO MEASURE WHETHER IT HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL AS A NATION, PAKISTAN WILL NEVER REALIZE ITS POTENTIAL. I CAN SEE PROSEPEROUS ASIA IF PAKISTAN IS ABLE TO OVERCOME KASHMIR. GET OUT OF THIS ``RUT`` AND SEE SOUTH ASIA BECOME THE GIANT IT OUGHT TO BE. GOD SPEED.

-D. Patel

strong article...I want to emphasise the fact that our nation is horrendously misrepresented. All the world sees are taliban-esque images. How do we promote ourselves as moderate-if not secular people-who want to excel in business, arts, education. we as a people have a history and tradition of intellectual achievment. Where is that image? People like you promote it. Good job on that article...hopefully

Saqlain,

Your article is a disservice to Pakistan, to say the least. Your intellect, like your writing prowess, is equivalent to that of a 10th grader. What scares me is that not only you have landed a job with Jang, but also have been elected as the President of Lahore Press Club.

The US State department has made the right noises and will resume doing business with Pakistan to pursue their interests in the region namely CTBT, spread of Islamic extremism, Bin Laden etc. I think the US media has been pretty even handed in its coverage of the coup, and this eventually contributes in shaping the public opinion. Your WWW3 scenarios are a figment of your over-active imagination.

Jang has a few good journalists on the payroll. Dr. Maleeha Lodhi and Irshad Haqqani come to mind. I suggest that you start spending some time with them.

Ali

I cannot agree with you more, as a Pakistani -Canadian citizen, I am very disappointed at the reaction of the Candian government towards the recent events in Pakistan.

We have an opportunity here to try and get the country back from all the corrupt politicians and rebuild a country that has been in a steady decline for the past decade.

The democracy we had in Pakistan was nothing more than another name for a politically imposed dicatotrship. Successive governments have stolen billions out of Pakistan, bought palaces around the world on the backs of the average Pakistani, with no remorse and a total absence of conscience.

The Canadian government/west has an opportunity to provide true leadership and assitance, but instead they make statements without having any idea what is going on in Pakistan. It is the typical west attitude ``either my way or the highway``.

It is my sincere hope that this government will eliminate and punish persons heavily that have taken these treasonous actions. In addition, not to fall victim to pressure from the west regarding implementation of a democratic governement. We have neither the infrastructure nor political leaders at this time that can operate a democratic government in the true sense.

I am intrigued that you mentioned the word ``governance``, I am sure that most people are not clear on the true meaning of the word. It is about guiding the organization, the distribution of rights, obligations and power that underpins the social system. How to coordinate activities and sustain cohernece, explore dysfunction and lacklustre performance. Then to make suggestions to redesign the process. In the past Pakistan is an excellent example of what happens when a proper governance system is not put in place. Lets do it right this time!!!!!!!!!

In closing, lets try and fix our society and internal organization before we try implement political systems from the west that have their own intrinsic problems.

Pakistan never had true `democracy` because the Feudals hijacked it. Similar to the US system of powerful lobbies, Pakistan`s Feudals control hundreds of thousands of votes and the Politicians cannot ignore their wishes. These Feudals act in their interests and not in the interest of the nation...just as in the US. They must be eliminated and never again allowed to show their ugly heads so that the common man of Pakistan can again live free. What the US does about its problem is up to them.

What I read in this article was really strange!

First, how can he talk about China/Iran?Pak axis when there is no basis, absolutely none, for such an assumption. Second, from where WW3 comes into picture ? Do you think that China and Iran would be ready to take on US feeling safe that Pakistan is on their side?

Comments about US,though, seemed to be in line with the popular thinking. Other than that, it is a work of active imagination; pure and simple?

A warning for Jang !

I whole heartedly agree to the views of Saqlain on self centered policies of US.

I take this opportunity to ask US Administration that why do not they talk of civil rule or democracy in Saudi Arabia, Gulf or Emirates? I am sure Saqlain and many others know the answer. Why Chechens in Georgia have been taken on by Russians and NATO or US is silent admirer? Why any Muslim fighting for independence or freedom is labled a ``terrorist``? Who was Nelson Mandela and his people, a terrorist or freedom fighter?

Well it is time that Western so called democracies help the under-developed un-democractic countries, by putting in place elaborate plans to give them 90+% literacy and 99% Clean drinking water...so that people start learning ins and outs of what is a democracy and what is the value of their vote.

Till such time they should support any rule which gets back the looted wealth from cronies and pay up IMF and World Bank.

A great article, at last some one is thinking, and the thinking man is also a president of a journalist asscociation. This is the time to spread the news, First article, mentioning india, with ou t kashmere, talk of world war three, not a war with india. Forming an alliance with iran and china to take on the world, fantastic.

Chowk and the author deserves all the kudos, for the first time, deviating from the beaten track.

At last some one is thinking, a palce for pakistan under the sun, at last some has found iran in the horrizons, this coup could be different, people are thinking.

Absolute to the core Truth.

We can`t trust America to solve our problems where ever they went and try to influence they created nightmares, Iran, south Americas, Panama, etc., are the good examples.

America`s ONLY interest, and world knows it by now, is protect their corporate interest, in fact it`s of, by and for the fortune 500 elite`s. If you need the example don`t look further, Persian Gulf & Afghan War are their dreaded legacy.

America would never like Independent Pakistan (in thinking terms) because it will be against their interests. Pakistan has now a great opportunity to break the shackle of America`s Stick & Carrot diplomacy. We need to establish our own national self esteem, this is the time people!

We don`t need any super ambitious goal of leading the Islamic world or Asian block, what we need is the strengthening of our civil society and prosperous life for the common man. If Uncle Sam is not happy with it then so be it.

My advice for the world leaders is to strengthen the civil codes and roots for true democracy in Pakistan not the usual, lame, for the lip service comments about democracy. If you really interested in true democracy then come and help Pakistan. Let the new era of order and humanism begin otherwise

``lead, follow or get out of the way``

RE :Pakistan Alert: Revolution in the Making?

Mr. Immam, a good article but a very strange end, Please research the word ``ISLAM``. Next time when you dream of WW-III or any other War you are visioning, Please refrain from posting those thoughts.