Dislodging a Dictator
Yasser Latif Hamdani August 6, 2003
#47 Posted by roohi on August 6, 2003 11:35:43 am
Khamakwa - Wow you guys don`t get dumped on for using a word like ``bhangi`` ... ? In India it`s like sayng the N word for black people - you`d get nailed to the wall by the PC brigade !!!
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#46 Posted by Romair on August 6, 2003 11:35:43 am
vereesh #34: ``Why can`t anybody suggest Javed Miandad for President, Prime Minister``
I have a better choice. Saleem Malik.
Following along the lines of this article, he has the added advantage of being convicted by a Pakistani court. Which is a feather in his cap, in comparison with Miandad. However, he does not have the distinction of being convicted in a European court, also. So one cannot equate him with Fatima Jinnah. But, then there are so few Pakistanis who have the distinction of being wanted in two countries.
Seriously speaking, how much worse could he be, in comparison to what Benazir has done. She destroyed the economy of Pakistan twice. The worst Saleem Malik could do is to destroy it once.
I wonder what everyone`s reaction would have been had Fazl-ur-Rahman been convicted of corruption in Switzerland?
By the way, if Benazir is the next Fatima Jinnah, then who is the next Mohd. Ali Jinnah. Would it be Zardari?
I have a better choice. Saleem Malik.
Following along the lines of this article, he has the added advantage of being convicted by a Pakistani court. Which is a feather in his cap, in comparison with Miandad. However, he does not have the distinction of being convicted in a European court, also. So one cannot equate him with Fatima Jinnah. But, then there are so few Pakistanis who have the distinction of being wanted in two countries.
Seriously speaking, how much worse could he be, in comparison to what Benazir has done. She destroyed the economy of Pakistan twice. The worst Saleem Malik could do is to destroy it once.
I wonder what everyone`s reaction would have been had Fazl-ur-Rahman been convicted of corruption in Switzerland?
By the way, if Benazir is the next Fatima Jinnah, then who is the next Mohd. Ali Jinnah. Would it be Zardari?
#45 Posted by stuka on August 6, 2003 10:23:25 am
I think people in Pakistan who support Imran Khan should learn from Indians who voted for Amitabh Bacchan, Rajesh Khanna etc. All were useless as politicians. I have not heard Imran Khan say one sensible thing. Najam Sethi`s editorials display more vision than Imran Khan`s speeches.
If you are looking for a celebrity PM, YOU should consider Abrar ul Haq. At least he is the awaami, unlike Junoon.
On a more serious note, so what if BB and Vaddi Tind are out. Shahbaz Sharif as well as Zardari will both make good candidates.
Also, Pakistanis should remember that corruption is not the biggest problem their country faces. In terms of actual amount, India beats them hollow and per capita Bangladesh does as well. However, neither country gets the ungavorable gaze of international attention the way Pakistan does. Why? Because democracy is sustained in both countries, leading to a slow but continuous process of institution building, leading to higher expectations from the public in the long run.
If you are looking for a celebrity PM, YOU should consider Abrar ul Haq. At least he is the awaami, unlike Junoon.
On a more serious note, so what if BB and Vaddi Tind are out. Shahbaz Sharif as well as Zardari will both make good candidates.
Also, Pakistanis should remember that corruption is not the biggest problem their country faces. In terms of actual amount, India beats them hollow and per capita Bangladesh does as well. However, neither country gets the ungavorable gaze of international attention the way Pakistan does. Why? Because democracy is sustained in both countries, leading to a slow but continuous process of institution building, leading to higher expectations from the public in the long run.
#44 Posted by HisExcellency on August 6, 2003 10:23:25 am
Despite his dictatorial tendencies, Musharraf is the best man to lead Pakistan for the following reasons:
a) He is not corrupt.
Although Mr.Shaheen Sehbai will dispute this assessment, one swallow does not make a summer. Majority of journalists give Musharraf a clean bill of financial uprightness. Although he has ruled for almost the same time that Nawaz and Benazir were in power, his track record on corruption has been cleaner. During Nawaz and Benazir rule, we had a long list of scams: Motorway, Yellow cab, Pakistan Steel, Qarz-Utaro Mulk Sawaro, Green Tractors, Surrey Palace, Raiwind Palace, Bank defaults, Kickbacks in Mirage-2000 deal, BMW import-duty scam, SGS-Cotecna scam, ARY Gold scam, Preshipment Inspection Award in Karachi, Mehran Bank ... the list is endless.
All these scandals created a national uproar. And each uproar drove domestic investment and remittances from Pakistani expatriates away. There has been no financial scandal of such proportions since Musharraf took office in 1999.
Financial integrity and management transparency are critical elements of investor confidence. At present foreign investment is only $600-800m a year. This amount could easily become $5bn/year if a clean government stays in power for another 2-5 years.
b) He is a moderate liberal, not a Jihadi general.
Let`s not forget that Benazir also allied with Fazlur Rehman to secure power in 1993. If Musharraf strikes a deal with MMA to stay in power, what`s the big deal?
c) He enjoys tremendous rapport with the American president.
American support is necessary for Pakistan`s economic revival. Pakistan needs access to U.S. textile market as well as economic aid. Moreover, since 5 out of 10 billionaires in the world are American, a cordial US-Pak relationship is also necessary from an investment point of view.
Nevertheless, there are also some weaknesses that Musharraf needs to address:
d) Unbalanced approach towards Mullahs and Moderates
An alliance between Musharraf and PPP would be ideal/natural for several reasons. Both entities have a secular world view and want to establish stronger relationship with the West.
But Musharraf`s only reason for not allying with PPP is his hatred for Benazir Bhutto. Instead of letting the courts go after her, he is hounding her with a personal vengeance. If Musharraf was a sensible man, he would set aside personal feelings for the larger national interest. Granted that she is a corrupt, rotten politician who thinks that all Pakistanis are her personal fiefdom... but she also commands about 30% of the votebank.
In the end, who the lesser evil... a corrupt but progressive Benazir... or an honest but retrogressive Fazlur Rehman?
Musharraf should seek a pragmatic, natural ally instead of a dogmatic, fanatical one.
a) He is not corrupt.
Although Mr.Shaheen Sehbai will dispute this assessment, one swallow does not make a summer. Majority of journalists give Musharraf a clean bill of financial uprightness. Although he has ruled for almost the same time that Nawaz and Benazir were in power, his track record on corruption has been cleaner. During Nawaz and Benazir rule, we had a long list of scams: Motorway, Yellow cab, Pakistan Steel, Qarz-Utaro Mulk Sawaro, Green Tractors, Surrey Palace, Raiwind Palace, Bank defaults, Kickbacks in Mirage-2000 deal, BMW import-duty scam, SGS-Cotecna scam, ARY Gold scam, Preshipment Inspection Award in Karachi, Mehran Bank ... the list is endless.
All these scandals created a national uproar. And each uproar drove domestic investment and remittances from Pakistani expatriates away. There has been no financial scandal of such proportions since Musharraf took office in 1999.
Financial integrity and management transparency are critical elements of investor confidence. At present foreign investment is only $600-800m a year. This amount could easily become $5bn/year if a clean government stays in power for another 2-5 years.
b) He is a moderate liberal, not a Jihadi general.
Let`s not forget that Benazir also allied with Fazlur Rehman to secure power in 1993. If Musharraf strikes a deal with MMA to stay in power, what`s the big deal?
c) He enjoys tremendous rapport with the American president.
American support is necessary for Pakistan`s economic revival. Pakistan needs access to U.S. textile market as well as economic aid. Moreover, since 5 out of 10 billionaires in the world are American, a cordial US-Pak relationship is also necessary from an investment point of view.
Nevertheless, there are also some weaknesses that Musharraf needs to address:
d) Unbalanced approach towards Mullahs and Moderates
An alliance between Musharraf and PPP would be ideal/natural for several reasons. Both entities have a secular world view and want to establish stronger relationship with the West.
But Musharraf`s only reason for not allying with PPP is his hatred for Benazir Bhutto. Instead of letting the courts go after her, he is hounding her with a personal vengeance. If Musharraf was a sensible man, he would set aside personal feelings for the larger national interest. Granted that she is a corrupt, rotten politician who thinks that all Pakistanis are her personal fiefdom... but she also commands about 30% of the votebank.
In the end, who the lesser evil... a corrupt but progressive Benazir... or an honest but retrogressive Fazlur Rehman?
Musharraf should seek a pragmatic, natural ally instead of a dogmatic, fanatical one.
#43 Posted by ferozk on August 6, 2003 10:09:21 am
re: mantolives
I am sorry to hear that you expected so much from me, but then again, we cannot seem to get over this flaw in our characters. :)
As to Jinnah, Pakistan has to develop an identity that does not rely on Jinnah. Historically, Jinnah was responsible for the death of parliamentary democracy in Pakistan and it was a mistake for Jinnah to become the Governor-General of Pakistan. If he wanted power and influence, he should have become the prime minister and should have made Liaquat Ali Khan as the governor-general. Jinnah concentrated all the powers into his office and assumed the powers of the viceroy and the tradition of viceregalism in Pakistan. He weakened the office and the institution of parliamentary democracy by pushing Pakistan towards a diarchy of a presidential-monarchical form of goverance. Jinnah ruled Pakistan as an autocrat. I will admit that his reasons had a valid concern given the problems confronting Pakistan at its birth. Without an effective political-adminstrative infrastructure, Jinnah was left with no option. I will grant you the argument that Jinnah was forced by the circumtances to become a monarch of Pakistan.
The problem is that Jinnah created a precedent, which every Pakistani politican has tried to imitate and that is, to assume the viceregal powers of Jinnah and rule/administer Pakistan in the traditions of the viceregalism of the British Raj. Pakistan has been historically forced to experience the ``cult of personality`` and Pakistani politics have always catered to a strong leader at the expense of its political institutions. Jinnah`s personality and his aura, of governing Pakistan, has created a very powerful example and every Pakistan leader visions him/herself on Jinnah`s model and seeks to emulate his example. The political leadership in Pakistan is perpetually seeking to assume the mantle of being heir to Jinnah`s traditions of viceregalism.
Hence, my objection to Jinnah as being the role model for Pakistani politics, because if he is the role model, then democracy has no chance since it will always play a poor fiddle to cult of personalized rule in Pakistan. I have nothing against Jinnah per se, but I do raise a concern to his influence on Pakistani politics, which has been far from benign. Here we must seperate Jinnah the Muslim League leader of pre-August 1947 days and Jinnah of the post August 1947 days. There is a wide gap between intentions and implementations and Jinnah was forced to shed his idealism, of what he wanted Pakistan to be, in order to govern Pakistan within the limits, which confronted the new state on August 14, 1947. I will agree with you that Jinnah, given the choice, made what seemed to be a rational decision, but in doing so he altered the nature of goverance in Pakistan. Under the Government of India Act, 1935 that acted as the interim constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan was supposed to be a parliamentary democracy, but Jinnah due to the virtue of being the autocratic governor-general, did not allow that to happen.
Mantolives, I am no supporter of the illiberal tradition in politics and I generally hold the view that the military in Pakistan should refrain from entering politics. Ideally, that is what I would like to see. Sadly, and it is my misfortune because I am seeking the impossible. No matter how much may I disparage the military, I cannot deny the reality that it is, and has become, an inseperable, part of Pakistani politics. Temporal asked, in a post on another thread of discussion this question, and after thinking about it, I cannot see how to seperate the two. The lesser of two evils, would be formalize the military`s role in Pakistani politics and having said thus, I have refuted everything I believe in about the efficacy of democracy. My personal anguish not withstanding, I have to admit that in order for Pakistan to exist and indeed prosper, I have to become a hypocrite and tolerate and support that, which I find intolerable and indefensible.
I honestly envy you your clarity of convictions and I hope the best for you and what you seek for Pakistan. When I mentioned that my generation has failed Pakistan; it has failed Pakistan in the sense that we had renounce our convictions and accept, what we thought was wrong. You ask to ``leave Pakistan to us`` and to that I say, please by all means take it of my hands and I hope you can do a better job of realizing the dream, which I once dreamt. You say you are disappointed in me. My friend, you are not alone!
Best Wishes!
Ciao
I am sorry to hear that you expected so much from me, but then again, we cannot seem to get over this flaw in our characters. :)
As to Jinnah, Pakistan has to develop an identity that does not rely on Jinnah. Historically, Jinnah was responsible for the death of parliamentary democracy in Pakistan and it was a mistake for Jinnah to become the Governor-General of Pakistan. If he wanted power and influence, he should have become the prime minister and should have made Liaquat Ali Khan as the governor-general. Jinnah concentrated all the powers into his office and assumed the powers of the viceroy and the tradition of viceregalism in Pakistan. He weakened the office and the institution of parliamentary democracy by pushing Pakistan towards a diarchy of a presidential-monarchical form of goverance. Jinnah ruled Pakistan as an autocrat. I will admit that his reasons had a valid concern given the problems confronting Pakistan at its birth. Without an effective political-adminstrative infrastructure, Jinnah was left with no option. I will grant you the argument that Jinnah was forced by the circumtances to become a monarch of Pakistan.
The problem is that Jinnah created a precedent, which every Pakistani politican has tried to imitate and that is, to assume the viceregal powers of Jinnah and rule/administer Pakistan in the traditions of the viceregalism of the British Raj. Pakistan has been historically forced to experience the ``cult of personality`` and Pakistani politics have always catered to a strong leader at the expense of its political institutions. Jinnah`s personality and his aura, of governing Pakistan, has created a very powerful example and every Pakistan leader visions him/herself on Jinnah`s model and seeks to emulate his example. The political leadership in Pakistan is perpetually seeking to assume the mantle of being heir to Jinnah`s traditions of viceregalism.
Hence, my objection to Jinnah as being the role model for Pakistani politics, because if he is the role model, then democracy has no chance since it will always play a poor fiddle to cult of personalized rule in Pakistan. I have nothing against Jinnah per se, but I do raise a concern to his influence on Pakistani politics, which has been far from benign. Here we must seperate Jinnah the Muslim League leader of pre-August 1947 days and Jinnah of the post August 1947 days. There is a wide gap between intentions and implementations and Jinnah was forced to shed his idealism, of what he wanted Pakistan to be, in order to govern Pakistan within the limits, which confronted the new state on August 14, 1947. I will agree with you that Jinnah, given the choice, made what seemed to be a rational decision, but in doing so he altered the nature of goverance in Pakistan. Under the Government of India Act, 1935 that acted as the interim constitution of Pakistan, Pakistan was supposed to be a parliamentary democracy, but Jinnah due to the virtue of being the autocratic governor-general, did not allow that to happen.
Mantolives, I am no supporter of the illiberal tradition in politics and I generally hold the view that the military in Pakistan should refrain from entering politics. Ideally, that is what I would like to see. Sadly, and it is my misfortune because I am seeking the impossible. No matter how much may I disparage the military, I cannot deny the reality that it is, and has become, an inseperable, part of Pakistani politics. Temporal asked, in a post on another thread of discussion this question, and after thinking about it, I cannot see how to seperate the two. The lesser of two evils, would be formalize the military`s role in Pakistani politics and having said thus, I have refuted everything I believe in about the efficacy of democracy. My personal anguish not withstanding, I have to admit that in order for Pakistan to exist and indeed prosper, I have to become a hypocrite and tolerate and support that, which I find intolerable and indefensible.
I honestly envy you your clarity of convictions and I hope the best for you and what you seek for Pakistan. When I mentioned that my generation has failed Pakistan; it has failed Pakistan in the sense that we had renounce our convictions and accept, what we thought was wrong. You ask to ``leave Pakistan to us`` and to that I say, please by all means take it of my hands and I hope you can do a better job of realizing the dream, which I once dreamt. You say you are disappointed in me. My friend, you are not alone!
Best Wishes!
Ciao
#42 Posted by khamkhwa. on August 6, 2003 9:50:19 am
...aah benazir!
luchchi si lafangi si
ganje koloN changi si
uttay kapRe paye sun
thalle bilkul nangi si
youN tau voh irani thi
zehni taur te bhangi si
mulk da beRa paar kiya
halaN ke bhik mangi si
....that`s all folks for the lamented lady...lady??
luchchi si lafangi si
ganje koloN changi si
uttay kapRe paye sun
thalle bilkul nangi si
youN tau voh irani thi
zehni taur te bhangi si
mulk da beRa paar kiya
halaN ke bhik mangi si
....that`s all folks for the lamented lady...lady??
#41 Posted by MantoLives on August 6, 2003 9:50:19 am
Chowkstaff,
I find it very interesting that you chose this exact moment for the publication of this article.. within few hours of the newsreport of Benazir`s conviction.
ATTN everyone: I too now distance myself from the assertion ... that Benazir is the solution. I think we need a popular democratic leader who can dislodge the dictator. Hence the whole article holds true except the last bit.
Chowkwallahs,
To all
those who are balking at my comparison of Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto , I have made it very clear that I don`t think Benazir comes even close to in the personal integrity and honesty of Fatima Jinnah who after all had a sentimental stake in seeing Pakistan succeed.
However lets not go overboard with our admiration for Fatima Jinnah. She too was a human being like her brother and other great people, and unlike her brother who was calm and clear headed, she had the reputation of being a emotional hothead. Further more she was a strict perfectionist and even from Saadat Hassan Manto`s fine piece on Jinnah`s life we know that she was quite a horrid woman when it came to the treatment of the servants of the household...
Her greatness lies in the fact she was able to bring together diverse factions of Pakistani politics... including Wali Khan, Mujeeb, Bhashani and even Maudoodi, and she made them agree on the principle of complete and unfettered Democracy. Pakistan needs some one who would play that role again. She led in my opinion the greatest movement for Democracy in Pakistan... can there be another such movement... yes and given the current circumstances, I had pinned my hopes on Benazir. After yesterday I am forced to reconsider that possibility also.
Sameerjb,
Great Post...As usual you are right. Maybe the article didn`t come out right, but my bet is on Democracy and not a horse... I don`t envisage Benazir Bhutto becoming the Prime Minister again... she has failed the nation too many times, but till yesterday I still felt she can truly lead a popular peoples` movement like the kind Jinnah, FJ, and Bhutto (and Mujeeb) led, to oust a dictator.
Remember Fatima Jinnah didn`t win the rigged election ... but her movement was the catalyst that brought the dictator to his knees 3 years later... what was the cost to the nation though? Isn`t it plausible that had she won the real Pakistan would have lived on without the trauma of 1971 , after all her major backers were the Awami League leaders like a fella named Mujeeb ur Rahman. After all didn`t she win East Pakistan completely?
I feel Benazir Bhutto could have done it, but after the dismal news yesterday, I have come to the conclusion that BB has lost her chance.
Romair,
Who is harking back to Jinnah now?
I am sure from where you stand you believe that Jinnah would chosen instead a Military Dictator who has come into power illegally, or would have chosen the mullahs of NWFP? So much Right? This is the extent of your skewed vision.
Rozaiba
I was an ex-pipliya who moved away from the Peoples Party given the disillusionment with Benazir... In the midst of it all I was a die hard Musharrafite despite good and sane advice from people. I was kind of enamoured with his invocation of Jinnah and his admiration for Ataturk.
I find it very interesting that you chose this exact moment for the publication of this article.. within few hours of the newsreport of Benazir`s conviction.
ATTN everyone: I too now distance myself from the assertion ... that Benazir is the solution. I think we need a popular democratic leader who can dislodge the dictator. Hence the whole article holds true except the last bit.
Chowkwallahs,
To all
those who are balking at my comparison of Fatima Jinnah and Benazir Bhutto , I have made it very clear that I don`t think Benazir comes even close to in the personal integrity and honesty of Fatima Jinnah who after all had a sentimental stake in seeing Pakistan succeed.
However lets not go overboard with our admiration for Fatima Jinnah. She too was a human being like her brother and other great people, and unlike her brother who was calm and clear headed, she had the reputation of being a emotional hothead. Further more she was a strict perfectionist and even from Saadat Hassan Manto`s fine piece on Jinnah`s life we know that she was quite a horrid woman when it came to the treatment of the servants of the household...
Her greatness lies in the fact she was able to bring together diverse factions of Pakistani politics... including Wali Khan, Mujeeb, Bhashani and even Maudoodi, and she made them agree on the principle of complete and unfettered Democracy. Pakistan needs some one who would play that role again. She led in my opinion the greatest movement for Democracy in Pakistan... can there be another such movement... yes and given the current circumstances, I had pinned my hopes on Benazir. After yesterday I am forced to reconsider that possibility also.
Sameerjb,
Great Post...As usual you are right. Maybe the article didn`t come out right, but my bet is on Democracy and not a horse... I don`t envisage Benazir Bhutto becoming the Prime Minister again... she has failed the nation too many times, but till yesterday I still felt she can truly lead a popular peoples` movement like the kind Jinnah, FJ, and Bhutto (and Mujeeb) led, to oust a dictator.
Remember Fatima Jinnah didn`t win the rigged election ... but her movement was the catalyst that brought the dictator to his knees 3 years later... what was the cost to the nation though? Isn`t it plausible that had she won the real Pakistan would have lived on without the trauma of 1971 , after all her major backers were the Awami League leaders like a fella named Mujeeb ur Rahman. After all didn`t she win East Pakistan completely?
I feel Benazir Bhutto could have done it, but after the dismal news yesterday, I have come to the conclusion that BB has lost her chance.
Romair,
Who is harking back to Jinnah now?
I am sure from where you stand you believe that Jinnah would chosen instead a Military Dictator who has come into power illegally, or would have chosen the mullahs of NWFP? So much Right? This is the extent of your skewed vision.
Rozaiba
I was an ex-pipliya who moved away from the Peoples Party given the disillusionment with Benazir... In the midst of it all I was a die hard Musharrafite despite good and sane advice from people. I was kind of enamoured with his invocation of Jinnah and his admiration for Ataturk.
#40 Posted by Romair on August 6, 2003 9:50:19 am
I think Benazir is now a big liability to the PPP.
Her recent conviction by the Swiss court has vindicated the stance of the current govt. in banning her from Pakistani politics. It has also vindicated the stance of the previous Nawaz Sharif govt. in pursuing the corruption cases against her. It has also vindicated the stances of those of us, who have been pointing out her corruption, and have supported her being banned from Pakistani politics. And it has put egg on the faces of the people who were arguing for her return to Pakistani politics, as a savior. Though I doubt, there is any amount of egg (even Swiss eggs) which will deter such individuals from supporting corrupt people (apparently secularism cleanses everyone of corruption, in their extremist books).
It takes a lot of proof to get proven guilty in countries like Switzerland, which, by their own designs, are havens for money laundering. This will, hopefully, open the door to furthur corruption cases against her husband. I hope the Surrey mansion story comes to light.
Anyone supporting her now (or even before) does not have the better interests of Pakistan, PPP or secularism at heart. There are plenty of leaders (if one can call her that) that the secularists can turn to, other than Benazir. Comparing Benazir to Fatima Jinnah is an insult to Pakistan as a country, Fatima Jinnah as a human being, and to Jinnah as the founder of Pakistan (not to mention as a brother).
Benazir wanted to oppose the govt. till they dropped all corruption charges against her. The trick did not work. I am glad the current govt. held its ground, and did not give into her pressure - maulvis or no maulvis.
Had Benazir not held her own party hostage, to hide her corruption, PPP could have been running the country right now. Amin Fahim would have been Prime Minister, leading a coalition with PML(Q). This would have been a good situation for Pakistan, with the two main parties jointly running the country, and the MMA in opposition. This is what was offered to the PPP.
Now PPP is completely lost and isolated. Despite having the most votes (though not the most seats), it doesn`t even lead the opposition, much less form the govt. It is allied with the MMA agenda, while its supporters try to portray it as counter to the MMA. How much more confused can anyone be? Its leader is discredited everywhere in the world, except in Larkana (and, apparently, in the economics dept. of a university in Lahore). She couldn`t get elected dogcatcher in a respectable democracy. However, PPP will keep her as its leader for life.
While PPP die-hards will forgive her for this sin also (they already know she is massively corrupt, and some even think she is the next Fatima Jinnah), I don`t think all other Pakistanis will forgive her. After all, it is one thing to put down decisions by Pakistani courts as biased, but Goras don`t lie. Do they? Even, us desis accept that.
The international press will not forgive her either. Can she even enter Switzerland now, even as Prime Minister, without being on parole or in jail? How embarrasing for the PPP, and for Pakistan.
Her conviction has furthur eroded the credibility of the PPP. I hope there are now discussions amongst the top leaderships of the PPP, for getting a replacement for her. If not, and if PPPwallahs think that it is alright for an internationally convicted crook to lead the party, then I think (at least, hope) that PPP is going to go furthur down the drain. Even Pakistanis are not that naive. If PPPwallahs do get rid of her, then maybe PPP can realize its true potential, as a decent progressive party.
Malik Meraj Khalid, the die-hard PPP man/founding fathers, and one of the few politicians with an impeccable record, predicted (I believe), before his death, that Benazir would take the PPP down. He was eventually kicked out of the PPP during the BB days. She sidelined him completely. His words are proving prophetic.
P.S. Could the author let us know the university in Pakistan in which he is teaching? I would like to make sure I don`t, by mistake, send my kids to a university, whose teachers attempt to equate Benazir with Fatima Jinnah. I might even send them to a madrassah before I send them to a place like that.
Her recent conviction by the Swiss court has vindicated the stance of the current govt. in banning her from Pakistani politics. It has also vindicated the stance of the previous Nawaz Sharif govt. in pursuing the corruption cases against her. It has also vindicated the stances of those of us, who have been pointing out her corruption, and have supported her being banned from Pakistani politics. And it has put egg on the faces of the people who were arguing for her return to Pakistani politics, as a savior. Though I doubt, there is any amount of egg (even Swiss eggs) which will deter such individuals from supporting corrupt people (apparently secularism cleanses everyone of corruption, in their extremist books).
It takes a lot of proof to get proven guilty in countries like Switzerland, which, by their own designs, are havens for money laundering. This will, hopefully, open the door to furthur corruption cases against her husband. I hope the Surrey mansion story comes to light.
Anyone supporting her now (or even before) does not have the better interests of Pakistan, PPP or secularism at heart. There are plenty of leaders (if one can call her that) that the secularists can turn to, other than Benazir. Comparing Benazir to Fatima Jinnah is an insult to Pakistan as a country, Fatima Jinnah as a human being, and to Jinnah as the founder of Pakistan (not to mention as a brother).
Benazir wanted to oppose the govt. till they dropped all corruption charges against her. The trick did not work. I am glad the current govt. held its ground, and did not give into her pressure - maulvis or no maulvis.
Had Benazir not held her own party hostage, to hide her corruption, PPP could have been running the country right now. Amin Fahim would have been Prime Minister, leading a coalition with PML(Q). This would have been a good situation for Pakistan, with the two main parties jointly running the country, and the MMA in opposition. This is what was offered to the PPP.
Now PPP is completely lost and isolated. Despite having the most votes (though not the most seats), it doesn`t even lead the opposition, much less form the govt. It is allied with the MMA agenda, while its supporters try to portray it as counter to the MMA. How much more confused can anyone be? Its leader is discredited everywhere in the world, except in Larkana (and, apparently, in the economics dept. of a university in Lahore). She couldn`t get elected dogcatcher in a respectable democracy. However, PPP will keep her as its leader for life.
While PPP die-hards will forgive her for this sin also (they already know she is massively corrupt, and some even think she is the next Fatima Jinnah), I don`t think all other Pakistanis will forgive her. After all, it is one thing to put down decisions by Pakistani courts as biased, but Goras don`t lie. Do they? Even, us desis accept that.
The international press will not forgive her either. Can she even enter Switzerland now, even as Prime Minister, without being on parole or in jail? How embarrasing for the PPP, and for Pakistan.
Her conviction has furthur eroded the credibility of the PPP. I hope there are now discussions amongst the top leaderships of the PPP, for getting a replacement for her. If not, and if PPPwallahs think that it is alright for an internationally convicted crook to lead the party, then I think (at least, hope) that PPP is going to go furthur down the drain. Even Pakistanis are not that naive. If PPPwallahs do get rid of her, then maybe PPP can realize its true potential, as a decent progressive party.
Malik Meraj Khalid, the die-hard PPP man/founding fathers, and one of the few politicians with an impeccable record, predicted (I believe), before his death, that Benazir would take the PPP down. He was eventually kicked out of the PPP during the BB days. She sidelined him completely. His words are proving prophetic.
P.S. Could the author let us know the university in Pakistan in which he is teaching? I would like to make sure I don`t, by mistake, send my kids to a university, whose teachers attempt to equate Benazir with Fatima Jinnah. I might even send them to a madrassah before I send them to a place like that.
#39 Posted by MantoLives on August 6, 2003 9:50:19 am
Veeresh,
Whereas I do know Najam Sethi having met him at all the conferences he has held in Lahore... My reference was to his editorials in the Friday Times.. so I wasn`t dropping names. Next time I see Sethi sahib, I will give him your regards.
rkhan,
Just curious which conspiracy theory you are talking about? The one about the murder of Fatima Jinnah (I give you this much, it might just be a servant who was sick of her).. because she was murdered, and the FIR was lodged, and there are enough people alive who know of it.
If you are referring to my assertion that Musharraf is in cahoots with the MMA ... well the evidence seems to point that way... Where is all the Islamization ruckus now? Why aren`t billboards being destroyed now? Are you saying that Musharraf Government has now effectively stopped the MMA and its vigilantes?
Dostmittar...
Let us even forget the angle of Democracy. Let us forget all such idealistic angles. Let us go according to Feroze K and accept for argument sake that Pakistan needs a paternal raj like Government. Consider the reign of Musharraf then...
1) Has religious extremism introduced in Pakistan byZia brought to an end?
2) Has Musharraf restored my right to drink and eat whatever I please unrestricted in my owh country?
3) Has Dr. Yunus Sheikh been freed? Is Blasphemy law reformed now?
4) Have the Zia-induced Hudood laws been scraped? Remember those laws weren`t put their by an elected Government.. couldn`t Mushy atleast undo all the horrible things his own daddy did in Pakistan?
5) Have the equal rights of women provided under the 1973 constitution (which is a horrible document may I add) been restored to them?
Instead he has stalled on every issue, despite having all the opportunity in the world. You are right.. he would have done well if he had accepted his illegitimacy instead of trying to justify it through imaginary constitutional means.
Shandana,
Agreed on Imran Khan... even a 14 inch screen is too big for his vision.
#38 Posted by MantoLives on August 6, 2003 9:50:18 am
Veeresh,
Whereas I do know Najam Sethi having met him at all the conferences he has held in Lahore... My reference was to his editorials in the Friday Times.. so I wasn`t dropping names. Next time I see Sethi sahib, I will give him your regards.
rkhan,
Just curious which conspiracy theory you are talking about? The one about the murder of Fatima Jinnah (I give you this much, it might just be a servant who was sick of her).. because she was murdered, and the FIR was lodged, and there are enough people alive who know of it.
If you are referring to my assertion that Musharraf is in cahoots with the MMA ... well the evidence seems to point that way... Where is all the Islamization ruckus now? Why aren`t billboards being destroyed now? Are you saying that Musharraf Government has now effectively stopped the MMA and its vigilantes?
Dostmittar...
Let us even forget the angle of Democracy. Let us forget all such idealistic angles. Let us go according to Feroze K and accept for argument sake that Pakistan needs a paternal raj like Government. Consider the reign of Musharraf then...
1) Has religious extremism introduced in Pakistan byZia brought to an end?
2) Has Musharraf restored my right to drink and eat whatever I please unrestricted in my owh country?
3) Has Dr. Yunus Sheikh been freed? Is Blasphemy law reformed now?
4) Have the Zia-induced Hudood laws been scraped? Remember those laws weren`t put their by an elected Government.. couldn`t Mushy atleast undo all the horrible things his own daddy did in Pakistan?
5) Have the equal rights of women provided under the 1973 constitution (which is a horrible document may I add) been restored to them?
Instead he has stalled on every issue, despite having all the opportunity in the world. You are right.. he would have done well if he had accepted his illegitimacy instead of trying to justify it through imaginary constitutional means.
Shandana,
Agreed on Imran Khan... even a 14 inch screen is too big for his vision.
#37 Posted by MantoLives on August 6, 2003 9:50:18 am
Veeresh,
Whereas I do know Najam Sethi having met him at all the conferences he has held in Lahore... My reference was to his editorials in the Friday Times.. so I wasn`t dropping names. Next time I see Sethi sahib, I will give him your regards.
rkhan,
Just curious which conspiracy theory you are talking about? The one about the murder of Fatima Jinnah (I give you this much, it might just be a servant who was sick of her).. because she was murdered, and the FIR was lodged, and there are enough people alive who know of it.
If you are referring to my assertion that Musharraf is in cahoots with the MMA ... well the evidence seems to point that way... Where is all the Islamization ruckus now? Why aren`t billboards being destroyed now? Are you saying that Musharraf Government has now effectively stopped the MMA and its vigilantes?
Dostmittar...
Let us even forget the angle of Democracy. Let us forget all such idealistic angles. Let us go according to Feroze K and accept for argument sake that Pakistan needs a paternal raj like Government. Consider the reign of Musharraf then...
1) Has religious extremism introduced in Pakistan byZia brought to an end?
2) Has Musharraf restored my right to drink and eat whatever I please unrestricted in my owh country?
3) Has Dr. Yunus Sheikh been freed? Is Blasphemy law reformed now?
4) Have the Zia-induced Hudood laws been scraped? Remember those laws weren`t put their by an elected Government.. couldn`t Mushy atleast undo all the horrible things his own daddy did in Pakistan?
5) Have the equal rights of women provided under the 1973 constitution (which is a horrible document may I add) been restored to them?
Instead he has stalled on every issue, despite having all the opportunity in the world. You are right.. he would have done well if he had accepted his illegitimacy instead of trying to justify it through imaginary constitutional means.
Shandana,
Agreed on Imran Khan... even a 14 inch screen is too big for his vision.
#36 Posted by arjun_m on August 6, 2003 8:50:04 am
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#35 Posted by rozaiba on August 6, 2003 8:50:04 am
stuka:
the fraudiya zardari certainly has more guts than these cowardly fauji freaks or the punjabi sharifs.
the fraudiya zardari certainly has more guts than these cowardly fauji freaks or the punjabi sharifs.
#34 Posted by veeresh on August 6, 2003 8:43:15 am
Why can`t anybody suggest Javed Miandad for President, Prime Minister, Honorary Captain of the Pakistan Cricket team and Grand Caliph of Pakistan? I am sure that many Indians will welcome this.
Here are various reasons why he will make a good leader for Pakistan:-
a) He has no chance of ever atoning for anything, the list is so long.
b) He never went to college in UK, or defence school in the US.
c) He was able to smash a sixer of the last ball against India at Sharjah, grant the devil his due, which is far better than any Kashmir cause.
d) His friendship with a vast variety of Indians off the field, after he has sledged them on field, is par for the course as far as Indo-Pak enmities and friendships go.
e) He and Kapil Dev both cannot speak in ``twang-twang`` Angrezi.
f) If you don`t, then he will bore you on your new tv channels like Bishen Singh Bedi on ours.
Come on Yasser, so what if he didn`t go to an Ivy League and not play football?
Do your good deed, remember the motto?
Here are various reasons why he will make a good leader for Pakistan:-
a) He has no chance of ever atoning for anything, the list is so long.
b) He never went to college in UK, or defence school in the US.
c) He was able to smash a sixer of the last ball against India at Sharjah, grant the devil his due, which is far better than any Kashmir cause.
d) His friendship with a vast variety of Indians off the field, after he has sledged them on field, is par for the course as far as Indo-Pak enmities and friendships go.
e) He and Kapil Dev both cannot speak in ``twang-twang`` Angrezi.
f) If you don`t, then he will bore you on your new tv channels like Bishen Singh Bedi on ours.
Come on Yasser, so what if he didn`t go to an Ivy League and not play football?
Do your good deed, remember the motto?
#32 Posted by nazarhayatkhan on August 6, 2003 8:15:28 am
It is not a question of X, Y or Z.
Let the system function with fair elections. Whosoever is chosen by the people, so be it.
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