The following is a letter we recieved from Mr.Moizuddin, a student worker in the Pakistan Movement.. His words offer a great deal of perspective for us, as students, to gain strength and inspiration in these dark days..
"Bravo young persons.. You have shown a light at the end of a tunnel ..The tunnel is long and appears to be getting longer .. But the light is there .. Shown by you.. Imagine who is saying so ! An unknown student-worker in the Pakistan Movement I passed my Matriculation in 1945 Saw Hazrat Quaid e Azam RahmatuLlah alaih in 1945, and then from 14th August 1947 onward in Karachi. Had he been alive todayhe would have patted you on the back Patted the way he used to pat the members of All India Muslim Students Federation ... the students of Aligarh Muslim University ... of Islamia College Lahore... of Islamia College Peshawar ... of Bombay University and everywhere. Students were his hope in the fulfillment of his dreams during his life time... The students made him breathe his last peacefully... 76 years old persons like me also wish to die peacefully; they can not come out and be a part of your meetings,demonstrations, protest march .. But there is a big stride intechnology. I can be with you electronically In my youthful days it was impossible to take out a mass message in print ... The Printing Press was under strict surveillance. The cyclostyling-machine(ever seen one?) was available far and wide. Maybe one in miles, often owned by a Hindu. Now you have all the access to dissemination of information, at the click of a finger. You ought to be able to perform much, much more Please keep your Agenda brief In my times the agenda was one point " ley ke rahenge Pakistan" Avoid direct clash with Police Our Quaid was never arrested But when he gave the call of 'Direct Action' for 16th (or 15th) August 1946, thousands laid their life in one day Most of them in Calcutta It was a call for one day onlyI am in no position to give any suggestion to you But In my age I am as convinced of the power in Prayer.. as in the power to demonstrate publicly May I be permitted to please suggest that you find some moments for prayers or public prayers in the open How to pray publicly and jointly? Please find an answer to this by public consensus..The prayers work .. They did in my days too ! ---------------------I wish you all the success in all that you may do.."
Saturday, November 24, 2007
A message from a student worker in the Pakistan Movement
Corruption under Musharraf
As all of us know, Transparancy International is the most well known corruption rating agency worldwide. Overthrows of most civilian governments in the 1990's were justified by referring to this agency's findings. They had rated Pakistan the third most corrupt country in the world in 1996. Musharraf regime made wide use of their findings in projecting a negative image of all political parties and leaderships. It is another matter that he included the most corrupt elements among the civilians in his own governments. Using the same methodology, Transparancy International has claimed in their 2006 report that the Musharraf government (2002-2006) is more corrupt (67%) than PPP's second government (48%) and Nawaz Sharif phase II (34%). Unfortunately, for some strange reason, the mainstream political parties and civil society organizations have not used the data presented in this report the way the military regime had used against the civilian governments. It has been the most frequently used weapon by the military regime to malign civilians and justify continuation of military rule in Pakistan in the last eight years and many supporters of Musharraf in the liberal elite hold the same view. This report presents a very dark picture of corruption in Pakistan under Musharraf. It is high time that civil society organizations expose both institutional and common corruption under the military rulers and break the myth of clean government under them.
Delegates throng candle light vigil at LUMS
Relevance of Iqbal in today's times
kitaab-e-millat-e-bezaa ki phir shiraazaH bandi hai
yeh shaakH-e-haashmi karney ko hai phir barg-o-bar paida
[kitaab-e-millat-bezaa=blank book of the community; shiraazaH bandi=binding or systematize
shaakH-e-haashmi=family of the Prophet Muhammad (saaw); barg-o-bar=leaves and fruits]
The above couplet by Allama Muhammad Iqbal, beautifully describes the past, present and future of Pakistan. It shows that whatever has happened till today is the result of the apathy of the nation in general and the lack of will to change the system. The reason that the book of the community is blank is the acceptance that the people of Pakistan have given to corruption. Since we, as a nation, never really fought against corruption by fighting the corrupt, we deserve to face such a situation. Everyone has developed the most self- destructive belief that he/she cannot change the system. And that is why the book is blank.
However, the ever increasing frequency of protests by every kind of group in the country including politicians, lawyers and now by the most effective group which is students, against the established norms by the undemocratically established government shows an extremely positive picture of the future of this country. As Iqbal said that, this community is now organizing, the consequence of which is much needed and the awaited act shall be witnessing new leaves and fruits in the form of a better future of Pakistan where people will have democracy and welfare instead of a being mislead about prosperity on the basis of an increasing GDP.
Nevertheless, it is of utmost importance that we take up every effort to unite ourselves and forget all the difference of personal, religious, professional, political differences that exist between us etc. There has to be a bigger goal but that should be achieved with small goals and the one of those small goals should be to first unite, no matter how big the differences may be. We must learn to accept each other with these differences if we wish to see new leaves and fruits.
Khuda tujhe kisi toofan sey aashna ker dey
Keh teray behar ki mojon mein iztiraab nahin
We, the people of Pakistan should be thankful to Allama Muhammad Iqbal that he admonished people like us
Friday, November 23, 2007
LUMS protests continue..
The protests at LUMS continued unabated on Thursday and throughout the week. Two flash protests were held earlier in the week, while today, a banner was signed by students not just from LUMS but also by students from all over Pakistan attending the LUMS Model United Nations. The students were demanding the restoration of the judiciary, freeing the protest prisoners, and the independence of the media. The recent crackdown on political debate in universities by the federal government was widely condemned by the student body. It directly contradicts General Musharraf's proclaimed agenda of bringing 'enlightened moderation' to this country. Building walls around people's minds can never achieve any kind of enlightenment. This move is evidence that the government's increasingly oppressive policies are now beginning to cast a shadow in the private sphere as well. As one student in LUMS put it, one wonders if the next ban will be on political debate in the household. The question is, does General Musharraf want to turn this country into Stalinist Russia?
Pakistan suspended from Commonwealth
Pakistan has been suspended from the Commonwealth because of its imposition of emergency rule, the organisation has announced after a meeting in Uganda. Secretary General Don McKinnon said Pakistan was being suspended "pending restoration of democracy and the rule of law". Earlier Pakistan's Supreme Court dismissed a legal challenge to Pervez Musharraf's re-election as president.
UN demands reinstatement of Judges before vote
Reuters reports:
Earlier in the day the Supreme Court, now stacked with judges friendly to Musharraf, threw out the last challenge to his October 6 re-election and paved the way for him to quit as army chief.Arbour, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and a former prosecutor for international criminal tribunals on Yugoslavia and Rwanda, said Pakistan faced a "terrible deficit in governance" without a free judiciary.
"It is not enough to move towards free and fair elections unless all the judges who were dismissed or suspended are fully reinstated in their previous capacity," she told reporters in Dublin.
"Otherwise we will have a very twisted form of democracy where the judicial branch will have been made totally subservient to the executive," she said on the sidelines of a human rights conference.
Teachers charged with sedition
1. Dr. Mumtaz Salik, President, Punjab University Academic Staff Association (PUASA)
2. Dr. Asmatullah, Secretary General, PUASA
3. Dr. Haris Rashid, Director, Centre for High Energy Physics
4. Samee Uzair, Law College
5. Amanullah, Law College
6. Mujahid Mansoori, ICS
7. Dr. Shafiq Jallandhari, ICS
8. Nayyar Raza Zaidi, Director, IBIT
9. Dr. Mujahid Kamran, Chairman, Department of Physics
10. Ziaullah Shah, IER
11. Rana Majid IER
12. Prof. Bashir Ahmad, Pharmacy College
13. Prof. Chaudhry Muhammad Nazir, Department of Geology
14. Prof. Abdul Ghaffar, Department of Geography
The FIR against the above 14 teachers of Punjab University under sections 124-A, 188, 143/149 and 16-MPO was registered at the Muslim Town police. They have been charged with sedition and provoking the masses against the government for its action of imposing emergency and promulgating the PCO. This FIR was registered after the above teachers had taken part in demonstrations against the promulgation of emergency and for the restoration of the constitution and the judiciary. These were peaceful protests held inside the campus.
The academic staff of Punjab University are continuing their protest against the government and the Chancellor of the university and are demanding the withdrawal of the FIR.
Letter of Support by LUMS Students to SHC, LHC and SC Judges
Dear Sir,
Our generation - born and bred in the politically disappointing decade of 1990s that ushered in another military rule in Pakistan - had always doubted the possibility of change. Our parents and peers told us that the only way to live in the country was to subject our ideals to the “system” and that the only code of conduct was that of bribery and bullying. They quoted history books and told us how pointless it was to struggle for justice and democracy in Pakistan. Newspapers and TV channels simply added facts that proved their arguments and our own little experiences with “practical life” verified them.
We didn’t see people around us as good and bad, or right and wrong, but simply as the smart and the stupid in terms of their dealings with political reality. We weren’t able to take any sides because we didn’t see any. All we saw was a jumble of interests, each and every one of which could be compromised at a certain price. The theories and principles we learned at school and college seemed utterly devoid of any relevance to our real lives.
But then we saw some people fighting, not for their personal material interests, but for ideas and institutions. Ideas and institutions that form the basis of justice and democracy. We saw them fighting with a passion and selflessness that simply astounded our conventional understanding. We also saw them being oppressed and tortured with such heartlessness that offended the very notion of being human. For the first time in our lives, we saw a conflict where compromise was not an option. For the first times in our lives, we were in doubt about which side to take.
Many judges of superior courts have been put under house arrest. Hundreds of lawyers have been arrested, put under house arrest or forced to go underground. Despite all this, thousands of them are resolved to take the fight to its rightful end, and are bravely facing the inhumane violence being meted out to them on the orders of a power-hungry military dictator. But let us assure you, the lawyers are not alone in this struggle.
We, the students of LUMS and those of many other universities, have joined lawyers in many protests for the independence of judiciary and have witnessed the despicable yoke of dictatorship with our own naked eyes. We have also witnessed the purity of intentions with which lawyers have struggled to throw off this yoke. This purity of intentions and resolve has shown us a much-awaited glimmer of hope. It has shown us the possibility of change.
For giving us this glimmer of hope, this tangible inspiration, this possibility of change, we thank you.
For your courage and resolve, for your steadfastness, for your selflessness, we salute you.
For carrying on the struggle and showing all of Pakistan what a principled stand really means, we congratulate you.
And rest assured, we wouldn’t let you down.
Signed,
The Student Body of Lahore University of Management Sciences
Pakistan likely to be suspended from the Commonwealth
However, Pakistan has been informed its membership status will be reviewed again once the January 8 elections are held.
To read more click here
Judges need immediate show of support
There is increased severe pressure on the non-PCO judges of Sind High Court to sign on PCO or break away from their brother judges who didnot take oath under the PCO.
The initial spate of visits to judges has worn off and there haven't been any visits lately. And believe me, most of them are not aware of the protests that are taking place all over for the judiciary.
It would be a tragedy if they were to take oath because of lack ofinformation coupled with pressure from the govt.
We urgently need to reaffirm our support for them. We need to tell them that their clear stand is what galvanised the entire nation to stand up and raise its voice with them.
The following is a list of judges of the Sindh High Court who refused to take oath under the PCO. Let us all, in whatever way we can, reach out to them. They are indeed the heroes of the hour.
Political debate banned in colleges
(Courtesy DAWN)
ISLAMABAD, Nov 21: The federal government on Tuesday imposed a ban on open debate on media curbs, suspension of judges and emergency in all colleges and universities in the country.Well-placed sources said students of various universities and colleges in Islamabad, had been strongly protesting against emergency rule, curbs on the media and suspension of judges, for the last few days to express solidaritywith the electronic media. Taking notice of the situation, the federal government has banned debate in all colleges and universities and warned of strict action against violators. Students, civil society activists and others have been continuouslyprotesting against the imposition of emergency for the last 12 days.
(Yet another milestone of the Police State..One wonders if a seperate directive will be issued for households soon)
[Finally] Musharraf to doff uniform by Saturday
from cagel e toons"It may happen on Saturday," "I know the president, and he will honor his commitment."
After having his loyal group of handpicked judges dispensing a tailor-made ruling, Musharraf will be stepping down as Chief of Armed Services on Saturday and swearing a Presidential oath for a five year term.
It's about time.
QAU observes black day
The News further reports:
“Azadi,” freedom of expression, “Go Musharraf go” and “Restore judiciary” were the slogans adorning trees, walls, pillars and poles at Quaid-i-Azam University. The students, teachers and employees are about to complete third week of their protest campaign against sacking of judges, proclamation of emergency and suspension of the 1973 Constitution.
Everyday, the campus community with students in overwhelming majority assemble at Social Sciences parking lot and making round of different departments terminate their march at buses terminal, the chowk renamed by the students as Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Square some days ago.
Tuesday was another day of protest, which continued unabated since Nov 3 interrupted only by public holidays and Fridays. They were chanting slogans of “Restore electronic media,” “Muk gia tera show Musharraf, go Musharraf, go Musharraf” and “Restore the deposed judges.” They carried black flags also inscribed with similar slogans.
Addressing the gathering, Alia Amirali, a student of anthropology, said that according to Gen Musharraf, terrorism was the reason behind emergency. Are jails of Pakistan stuffed by lawyers, journalists, students, labourers, human rights activists and political workers or by terrorists? she posed a question. She lamented that one person has made the whole country hostage only for remaining in power.
The protesting students announced to observe Thursday as Black Day and appealed to the students, teachers and employees to come in black dress. A human chain will be made from Bab-ul-Quaid to Justice Chaudhry Iftikhar Square near cafeteria on that day. It was also announced that the students will stage a protest rally at 2:30p.m as per routine.
To trust or not to trust
R.A.
It may be a bitter pill to swallow, but the fact is that President General Pervez Musharraf appears to have weathered the immediate post-emergency storm. Initial foreign pressure emanating from European stalwarts of democracy seems to have receded in view of Musharraf’s indispensability to the United States being the man who controls the Pakistani Army, which, apart from making the usual expected noises on the matter, continues to be largely concerned with its own needs rather than the global development of democratic institutions Although internal resistance continues to be offered by the legal fraternity, students community and members of civil society, a definite polling date of Jan 8 has been announced and most political parties, in spite of maintaining the charade of being unequivocally opposed to the emergency and subsequent measures, have started preparations for elections.
The PPP, whose chairperson Benazir, was until recently calling for nation-wide protest movements, has predictably softened her stance on Musharraf and elections following a visit by the US Deputy of State John Negroponte; delivering the American wish that she should cooperate with the general - hence the declaration expressing her readiness to work with Musharraf and a review (read reversal) of the party’s decision to boycott the upcoming elections. The only person to remain truly steadfast on the emergency issue is Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf chairman, Imran Khan, who has emerged as the unscathed leader of the anti-Musharraf camp, by going on a hunger strike in jail and calling for mass-scale mobilization of the students.
This is not the first time that Khan has pinned his hopes on the youth, particularly in Punjab. When he first entered politics in the 90s, he expected widespread support from the younger voters, largely as a result of the popularity he enjoyed as a cricketing icon. Unfortunately for him, the Pakistani public reacted the same way as their Indian counterparts when it came to treatment of celebrity icons who delve into politics. The overwhelming reception that was accorded to Khan during his visit to LUMS suggests however, that that the trend might be changing. In his address to LUMS students, Khan talked at length about the role of youth in the transformation of Pakistan, concluding with a stern reminder, that students had to as of yet, play a role in the post-March 9 movement.
At a time when questions about the effectiveness of the protest movement are being raised within the student’s body, Khan’s followers can take heart from the 1969 largely student-sponsored anti-Ayub movement. What lacked then, was a sincere leader, with a post-Ayub vision, who could after Ayub’s departure, usher a progressive change in national politics. Hence the student movement that began remained ill defined, resulting in a eventual breakdown of the state that culminated finally with the East Pakistan tragedy.
Another retaliatory student movement that emerged was that of ‘Muhajir’ identity politics. The MQM, originally having the ethnic nomenclature of Muhajir Qaumi Mahaz, was born out of the APMSO, which was formed by Karachi University student leaders belonging to lower and middle income brackets. They were able to mobilize staggering support among the Urdu-speaking and Gujrati-speaking populace of urban Sindh with the aim to be represented in assemblies against all odds. It is another matter, that once elected, these students exhibited all the tendencies and practices of the very feudal lords that they had initially set out to challenge.
The above instances show that even in feudal politics-dominated, illiterate, Pakistan it is possible for students to achieve victories with will and courage. However, the post-Ayub scenario also demonstrates, that it is necessary to have an objective vision, apart from merely ousting of a military ruler through street protests in order to prevent the country from falling into the wrong hands yet again. The dilemma that poses students and civil society members is whether to trust military backed, corrupt political players with shady track records who claim to be against the current establishment and working for democracy in the country. The PPP’s two-fold strategy reflects the cynical reality, that political parties are merely riding on the coat tails of popular public dissent at Musharraf so to obtain votes by attempting to use students and protestors as a tool to pressurize the government into compromise. History shows, that boycotting the elections may not bode well for such parties (PPP in 1985, MQM in 1993), yet such a boycott will reflect the strength of the resistance. By participating in the upcoming elections these parties, contrary to their alleged stances, are giving a tacit acceptance acceptance to conditions under the state of emergency and recognition to the elections.
If such opposition political parties are devoid of principles, then what exactly are the students then fighting for? Simple ‘restoration of democracy’ will only result in sham elections that bring back the same governments that failed people in their promises, for there is way in present elections, that minor parties like the PTI, hampered by lack of capable personnel within the party and mass public following, can pull off a landslide in the elections. The hour’s need most, is the realization that the journey to radical political reformation will not end after the ousting of the current military rule. Only a collective resolve by students and civil society will fill the abyss of political bankruptcy and make such fickle political parties accountable for their promises.
Whether Imran Khan is the messiah we have been waiting for, is a conclusion to soon to judge. Whether he is even capable of mobilizing the intelligentsia and the youth, is something only time will tell. What we do know is that, we do set aside out political apathy and cynicism, and armed with a new resolve rid our politics of prevailing feudal- military system, there is no hope.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Teachers joining protests
By now it should become apparent to this government, that their up against not just lawyers. With students and civil society members already behind the legal fraternity in the protest movement, teachers have now begun to step up protests in universities across the country.
University teachers announce two-hour boycott of classes ( The News)
Bureau report
PESHAWAR: Federation of All Pakistan Universities Academic Staff has decided to boycott classes from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in all public sector universities of the province to protest what they called the non-cooperation of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). A statement issued here Tuesday said that teachers would not deliver lectures in the duration but would attend a protest meeting in the convocation hall and would arrange a walk to show solidarity with civil society and condemn human rights violation, curbs on media and imposition of emergency by the government.
Protests planned for Thursday
Event: Protest led by Justice Wajihuddin Ahmed
When: 22nd Nov, 9 45 am (sharp!)
Where: Meet infront of Mr. Books, F-6 SuperMarket
To Bring: Placards, Banners, Flowers. Please bring "appropriate" placards for restoration of judiciary, human rights, freedom of press. Please refrain from bringing placards that would be a shame for civilized citizens of Pakistan.
Lahore:
Event: Student Protest Planning Committee Lahore Chapter Meeting
When: 22nd Nov, 7 pm
Where: Minigolf
To Bring: Friends from different universities/colleges/schools who are interested in organizing.
Imran Khan released from jail
It seems the government is beginning to understand that illegally detaining protesters is not going to stifle dissent. On the contrary, it has only made most of us adamant to not stop until our rights have been restored. The Government gesture of announcing general elections on January 8 and apparent release of 3400 prisoners is a lame attempt at placating the dissent brimming among the public. This is a long fight; not confined to simply challenging the martial law and this fight will continue until the government restores the judiciary, eases media restrictions, releases all political prisoners and holds free and fair elections.
Justice Wajihuddin Arrested!
UPDATE:
After an announcement by the Ministry of Interior yesterday that there were no restrictions on judges imprisoned in their residences in Islamabad, a group of lawyers decided to meet them to test this assertion.
The lawyers who were accompanied by Justice (retired) Wajihuddin, were prevented from visiting the Judges Colony at a distance by a heavy posse of police. Justice Wajihuddin along with the group were forcibly removed from the area.
Dawn News reports that Senior Advocate Athar Minallah has been arrested and taken to Secretariat Police Station in Islamabad.
Journalists from Pakistan honored for reporting in times of danger
The International Press Freedom Award recognizes their extraordinary contribution to journalism and their defense of press freedom.picture courtesy VOA
Pakistani journalists have been a pivotal component in the civil society movement alongside lawyers and their coverage has been catalytic in mobilising protests against the government's autocratic policies and in demands for the restoration of democracy, judiciary and media freedom. Kudos to all those media outlets which have continued to resist government pressure to sign on the dotted line conforming to new media regulations. The government's blanket ban on any negative press has not deterred these journalists, who have taken risks to protest and provided coverage to the public, despite continuous brutal crackdown by the police.
For the rest of the article click here
Succesful Protest at the Karachi Press Club- An Eyewitness Account
The rally
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) and the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ) had called for a peaceful demonstration at 03:00 Tuesday (yesterday) outside the Karachi Press Club. The purpose was to demand the freedom of the Press, etc. Please note, all of us were totally unarmed, while the police surrounding the area were in complete riot gear with shields and motey dandey and bulletproof vests, helmets, knee pads, and whatnot. The entire area around the press club had been cordoned off.
The moment the rally got out of the Press Club, we were attacked (yes, "attacked") by the policemen. There was a LOAD of brutal baton-charging, and one policeman hit ARY's Aajiz Jamali so hard on his back with the shield, that the shield broke in two. :-S Women and men were hit indiscriminately and very VERY brutally -- yes I can emphasize that enough. I'm skinny -- I crawled around and got out unhurt. Everyone ran back towards the press club. Some of our office bearers and senior people had been picked up.
The demands and the negotiations
We all got out again and demanded that everyone be released. The policemen said they'd let everyone go if we went back inside the press club. We refused, and said we'd go in ONLY after our people were released. Negotiations followed, and it turned out that our people could not be released. We said fine, if you can arrest 10, you can arrest all the rest of us too. :-P We gave in "ba-jamaa'at" giriftaariaN. The policemen tried to stop the women but we said we were standing by our male colleagues. They said there were no female police officials and we could therefore not be arrested. We reminded them that the people who had baton charged us were not female police officials, and if the male police waalahs could hit us, they could pretty darn well arrest us too. Khair, female police waaliaN were brought in, but we insisted that we will go in the same vans as our male colleagues.
In the van
Now this is the fun part! :-D There were 27 of us in this van -- seven women and 20 men. And boy did we raise hell!!! The van took us on a tour of the entire city, and we kept naarafying all the way. Passersby stopped to gape at us and then joined in the naareybaazi. In short, we conducted a State-sponsored anti-Musharraf rally. AHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! Yes, I can't get over this -- this IS funny!!! :-D They took us to the Boat Basin police station, only to realise that it was full. Ditto for Gizri and Darakhshan. They were then told to take us to the Docks police station, but the driver did not know the way (YUP!!! :-D). He took us to the Jackson police station instead, where his bum was kicked, and the correct raasta explained to him by officials concerned. LOL! All this while, we weren't making life easier for him by continuously naarafying, jeering and heckling. Yes we're mean. :-P
At the Docks Police Station
We were "offloaded" and the women were told to go separately. We refused and decided to stick with our male colleagues. "We're here as journalists, not men or women," we told the police waalahs there. Since the Docks Police Station does not have a female lockup, they had to put all 26 of us in the interrogation room where we continued to party. :-P
At around 05:30 p.m. they came to the women and said that we were free to go. We asked if EVERYONE was free to go and we were told, "No, only the 'laddiss'." We told them to sod off -- either EVERYONE leaves, or no one does.
They tried to confiscate our cellphones, and we refused en masse. So while cellphones at the rest of the police stations were taken away, us "Docks waalahs" still had ours on us. :-D
We also took over the SHO's rest room, because the "prisoners' restrooms" were filthy and the doors wouldn't lock. We made them bring water for us, etc etc, didn't tell them our home addresses for the FIR, bugged them every way we could. :-P Faiz saheb's kalaam was sung, nareybaazi huee. Some PPP waalahs brought us food, tea, diet coke and jaali ciggies, for which we're thankful to them. :-P
A lot of people visited us, and we are sincerely grateful for their support. Special thanks to Ayesha Siddiqi from the People's Resistance for staying with us for a whole bunch of hours together. A majority of the CMKP Karachi DC camped out outside the gates of the police station, as did Nasir Mansoor and Sherbaz Khan from the LPP, and Dr Riaz and all. The HRCP visited us too, as did members of Peoples Resistance, including Dr Awab Alvi and Sophia (I'm sorry I'm missing out names here). From what I heard from the other police stations (people were spread out -- some, including two women, were at the Clifton police station, some at the Artillery Maidan police station, Frere police station, Darakhshan too, I think), journos there were having as much fun as we were having at the Docks Police Station.
Ten people who had been taken to the Shershah police station were brought over to Docks, bringing the total at our camp to 36 -- the more, the merrier! :-P
The Release
At around 09:30 p.m. they said all of us were free to go. We came to know, however, that four of our senior office bearers could not be traced. It was mutually decided that no one would leave any police station, until those four people were released with us. The police waalahs threatened to physically throw everyone out, and they were told to "try." :-P The missing people were then "miraculously" traced out within 15 minutes, and everyone rejoiced. We left the Docks police station the way we'd entered it -- naarafying and partying. :-D
All of us "criminals" from all the police stations then congregated outside the Clifton police station, where we raised hell again. We then proceeded to the Karachi Press Club, where we partied again -- yes, that's what us Karachi'ites do best -- and we do things with a bang! : )
Lesson learnt yesterday: Unity = Victory.
Comrade Ziyad asked me yesterday about why we were not mistreated at the police station. The answer, comrade, is: they dared not mistreat us because we stood united.
Also, from what we were told by the new information minister, Nesar Memon, the decision to arrest journos was taken independently by the Sindh government -- no such orders had come forth from the provincial level. Now I'm wondering how or why a caretaker government would take such a major step.
Moreover, there are people who're going around saying that the police resorted to violence only after journos hurled stones at them. This is WRONG. Stones were hurled, yes, but only AFTER the police started beating us up like cattle. A friend of mine rolled up her placard and started hitting a police waalah on the head with it -- after his lathi hit her really hard. Serves them right, I'd say. But let the records show that the stone-throwing was a REACTION. Anyone would do it if you saw your friends being beaten up this way for no reason -- and we're all friends here. No matter how cut-throat the competition between publications and channels, no matter how hard we try to outdo each other professionally, but when push comes to shove, we journos are all friends and we stand united!!!
Oh and naaras that journos came up with yesterday:
Mukk gya tera show Musharraf -- Go Musharraf, Go Musharraf!
Kalla baetha ro Musharraf -- Go Musharraf, Go Musharraf!!! :-D
Inquilaab Zindabad!
( The Emergency Times Eds- This officially places public protest rallies as the number one source of exciting entertainment as far we are concerned. Hats off to the The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ), the Karachi Union of Journalists (KUJ)and the People's Resistance. We are with you all the way. In Complete Unity.)
Update on Aitzaz Ahsan's situation
Nov 20, 2007: Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan is still in Adiala Jail, his 17th day of solitary confinement. He is suffering from high blood pressure and is now allowed medicines in his cell. Members of his family are now allowed to see him during his one hour breaks from solitary confinement.
Aitzaz is still in high spirits and holding up well.
Some senior members from the foreign diplomatic community tried to see him but were refused access.
( May his spirit and determination continue to inspire us and keep our hopes up and our heads held high)
Deposed judges release ruling against Musharraf
Courtesy The News, 21 Nov 2007
ISLAMABAD: Three defiant judges of the Supreme Court, who are presently under house arrest after imposition of emergency, have now declared in their detailed judgment submitted before the SC last Friday that General Musharraf could not be allowed to contest the presidential elections.
They say frequent military interventions and destabilization of elected governments have given "rise to indiscipline, disorder, unemployment, massive corruption, intolerance, and extremism in Pakistan, which must be eradicated and eliminated with iron hands".
These judges who had refused to take oath under the PCO, have also observed in their joint judgment, which has not been released to the media, that continuation of Musharraf as the army chief beyond December 31, 2004 was "illegal and unlawful".
The judges, Justice Rana Bhagwandas, Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza Khan and Mian Shakirullah Jan, were part of the nine-member bench which had dismissed the petitions of Qazi Hussain Ahmed and Imran Khan on September 28, 2007 with regard to the question whether Musharraf could contest election from the present assemblies with or without uniform.
The judges submitted their detailed judgment to the Supreme Court on Friday in which they have addressed seven questions that were raised before the court. Talking to The News, Justice Rana Bhagwandas who headed the bench, confirmed that he along with Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza and Mian Shakirullah had submitted their judgment last Friday but the authorities may not have released their 58-page long observations.
Justice Bhagwandas who was in good spirits and in a defiant mood told this correspondent they had taken a lot of time and effort to put together the arguments to establish their points of view. The SC should have made their judgment public.
But, he said, it was not done. He observed that his staff might have handed over the judgment to the concerned authorities for its release to the media, but it was simply dumped and ignored. "These are very important observations and everybody should come to know about those points on the basis of which we had decided the issue of eligibility and merit."
In the judgment spread over 58 pages, the three judges have observed that "we earnestly feel that this country no longer can afford the luxury of resorting to circumvent the law and the constitu tional mandate by upholding and affirming the draconian doctrine of necessity restored to earlier.
Indeed, the judges of this court are under an oath to uphold, preserve and defend the constitution of Pakistan, which must be strictly adhered to in letter and spirit without any fear or favour, or ill will.
"Any endeavor to continue and affirm the present system of governance, which has transformed parliamentary system of governance into presidential form of government is bound to damage the dignity, respect and honour of the citizen of this country in the comity of the nations and bring a bad name to it, which can hardly be appreciated.
"Independence of judiciary, stability of the democratic system, regular conduct of the general election process, allowing the institutions to serve freely within the sphere of their scope and without involvement of the armed would always be in the supreme interests of the nation.
They said: "Needless to emphasis, frequent military interventions and destabilization of elected governments have always given rise to indiscipline, disorder, conflict of interests, inflation, unemployment, massive corruption, intolerance and extremism in the country which must be eradicated and eliminated with iron hand and strengthen in accordance with the law".
In the same judgment the judges have also observed "we earnestly feel, there appears to be enough substance and force in the submission of the petitioners that General Musharraf could not contest elections from the current assemblies as outgoing assemblies can not be allowed to bind the successor assemblies to be elected as a result of popular mandate. Further more, members of present electoral college, who have already expressed their opinion by expressing a vote of confidence immediately after their assumption of office, may not be in a position to exercise their right of franchise freely and independently. They would naturally be influenced and swayed by their earlier decision.
"Since the term of the office of President as well the present assembly expires simultaneously on November 15, 2007, it would be in the fitness of the things and in consonance with the democratic norms and intentions of the framers of the constitution if the new assemblies and the electoral college are allowed to exercise their right to elect a president of their choice during the term of electoral college under the constitution.
"An exceptional situation which can be conceived may be where the incumbent president, before expiration of his term of office, is removed from his office on the ground of physical or mental incapacity, is impeached on a charge of violating the constitution or the gross misconduct; resignation or death when the office of president falls vacant, the existing electoral college would be constitutionally authorized to elect another president for the un expired term of office.
"Indeed, General Musharraf, was fully alive to this situation, therefore while promulgating LFO 2002, he introduced meaningful amendments in the Chief Executive order, he introduced meaningful amendments in article 224 of the constitution, providing for time for election bye election. While the original text provided that a general election to the national assembly or a provincial assembly shall be held within a period of 60 days immediately "preceding" the day on which the term of assembly is due to expire, the expression "preceding" was intentionally substituted by the term "following".
"This amendment was intentionally and deliberately made with a view to make a room for a seeking election to the office of the president from the outgoing assemblies in conformity with clause (4) of article 41 of the constitution stipulating that election to the office shall be held not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of the president in office. The draftsmanship and ingenuity of those who suggested the above said amendment in the constitutional provisions can only cause dismay may be looked upon with sorrow and grief".
"Since the purpose and object of the amendments never saw the light of the day, it is hard to appreciate the ground realities providing the forum to present electoral college for election of the same person to the office president for another tem for which new assemblies have to be elected a as a result of popular vote based upon election manifestoes of various political parties.
"It may be further observed that the president being an integral part of the parliament, it would be quite inconceivable and unusual that the parliament with whom a president has to work in total cordiality and harmony should not be elected by such parliament.
"At the cost of repetition, it may be noted that a parliament having outlived its tenure should not be allowed to bind the successor parliament with its choice as it is well settled that a parliament may do anything but bind the successor parliament. The present parliament having outlived its life, in our view, does not have a democratic mandate of the people to elect the same person as president for another term of five years, which would militate against the well entrenched principles of democratic value".
"For the aforesaid facts, circumstances and reasons these petitions are allowed and General Pervez Musharraf declared to be disqualified to contest for the presidential election," the three judges concluded.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Lets stand with Pakistan's heroes
The following is an article written by the president of the American Bar Association
Washington - We all have seen the images: Lawyers clad in dark suits, symbols of professional responsibility, enveloped in clouds of tear gas. Soldiers surrounding a nation's Supreme Court, and thousands of lawyers and judges, as well as several justices, placed under arrest.
Much has been written about the unfolding crisis in Pakistan, and how the US government should respond. Less has been said about its significance for the rule of law, which is more important than ever in the dangerous world we live in today.
Since Gen. Pervez Musharraf, president of Pakistan, declared a state of emergency there, the impact on lawyers in America and in other nations has been electric – virtually unprecedented in my more than 40 years of practice.
To many Americans, Pakistan's breakdown may seem vaguely routine, another eruption in a distant land. But to American lawyers, the events are shocking and immediate.
In part, it is because we see our fellow lawyers and judges in Pakistan doing something dangerous and heroic: standing up to police and soldiers, subjecting themselves to arrest for such ideals as the "rule of law" and an "independent judiciary."
Their bravery reminds us that these ideals are not abstract at all. They are the difference between nations of justice and law, and unchecked tyrannies. This crisis reminds us how precious, and fragile, the rule of law is in the United States and in all nations.
This week, lawyers gathered in Washington and states across the country to express solidarity and to stand shoulder to shoulder with our courageous colleagues in Pakistan.
The American Bar Association and other bar groups have called on General Musharraf to restore the Constitution, re-instate the Supreme Court justices, and free those lawyers he has wrongly arrested. We will continue working until the rule of law is restored in Pakistan.
As lawyers, we see it as no coincidence that Musharraf targeted his crackdown on his nation's legal community, as well as on the press and other organs of civil society.
Like a free press, judges and lawyers who are free from intimidation and outside influence are essential checks to raw power. These agents of liberty are a danger to would-be tyrants, and Musharraf has treated them as such.
When the Soviet Union collapsed, American lawyers helped draft constitutions and train judges whose work would help new democracies emerge.
We appeared to be at the start of a worldwide flowering of liberty, but today, we increasingly see those gains in jeopardy.
To advocates of the rule of law, the recent actions in Pakistan are worse than a misfortune; they are a catastrophic reversal of values we hold dear. And in a world threatened by terrorism and rising autocrats, they make our world more dangerous, not less.
America's lawyers do not claim expertise in foreign policy. But we can speak for the urgency of standing up for justice and the rule of law.
The loss of a constitution and the arrest of thousands of lawyers and judges, including those on the Supreme Court, cannot be ignored.
Lawful government in Pakistan is the best way to assure security and justice.
Protests by journalists today
For those in Karachi.
Despite yesterday's brutal use of force by police, journalists remain undaunted and plan to hold another protest today outside Karachi Press Club (Wednesday) at 2.30pm. Everyone is invited. Support is needed especially especiallyfrom civil society groups and students, so do you part.
One more time, Strength in numbers!
Civil society condemns lathi charge, arrest of journalists - Press Release
KARACHI, NOV 20: The civil society coalition People's Resistance condemns in the strongest terms the brutal police lathi charge on unarmed journalists outside the Karachi Press Club and the arrests of Karachi Union of Journalists' President Shamimur Rehman, Karachi Press Club President Sabihuddin Ghausi, Secretary General of the Association of Pakistan Television Journalists Faisal Aziz Khan, Ahfaz-ur Rehman and Najeeb Ahmad among others. Journalists as well as members of civil society had gathered in solidarity with the nation-wide protest call given by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) against restrictions on the media, particularly the electronic media. Several journalists, including women, were injured when police launched a second attack on them outside the Press Club. The People's Resistance salutes those who subsequently peacefully offered arrest in solidarity with their arrested colleagues and in protest against the police refusal to let the journalists to take out a peaceful procession to Governor House. About a hundred journalists and several civil society members were among those who courted arrest, including senior journalists Idris Bakhtiar, Owais Tohid, Qaisar Mahmood, Afzal Nadeem Dogar, and Kamal Siddiqui. They were carted off in several mobiles to police stations across the city, many flashing victory signs and shouting slogans for the freedom of media and against dictatorship. People's Resistance calls upon all professional groups, NGOs, trade unions, student unions and individuals to join the platform of resistance in its peaceful campaigns for the restoration of the Constitution of Pakistan and basic rights, the judiciary and media independence.
Police baton-charge, temporarily arrest 200 Journalists in Karachi
After the Emergency
We are worse off than Burma (it's a fact)
Your fact of the day:Pakistan now ranks below Burma in the United Nations Human Development Index's social indicators—a fact not terribly surprising given that Musharraf, in the last eight years of rule, has invested only 2% of GDP on education.
This interesting article demonstrates how not only have the leaders of this country succeeded in turning this country into a vultures politics bait in the upcoming US presidential elections, but their track record in achieving social progress in this country, should make the junta in Burma quiet envious of them.
US Senators demand Aitzaz release
Dawn News reports:
US senators have demanded immediate release of Supreme Court Bar Association president Aitzaz Ahsan.Moreover, there are reports of Munir Malik's torture during detention. Infact his family has gone underground due to harassment from agencies.
The demand has been made in a letter addressed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf and signed by 32 senators, a copy of which was faxed to Dawn on Thursday.
Recognising Pakistan’s role in the region and in bringing Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda to justice, the senators have, however, expressed concern at the detention of Mr Ahsan.
“...Mr Ahsan is a highly distinguished attorney and political leader. He is a former government minister and former opposition leader in the Senate of Pakistan,” the letter said, adding: “A senior advocate in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, he consistently earns the highest rating in rankings of legal professionals in Pakistan.”
The communiqué recalled that Mr Ahsan had represented a variety of high-profile political figures, including former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif as well as deposed Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry.
But, it said, he was arrested last Saturday during a press conference he was holding in Islamabad and was probably being jailed in Rawalpindi.
“It is simply not right that Mr Ahsan is being jailed for doing his job as an attorney by defending rights of his client.
We ask you to immediately look into this mater and urge you to release Mr Ahsan from prison immediately,” the communiqué said.
Meanwhile, some local politicians claimed that US embassy officials had told them by phone that President Musharraf had given them commitment to doff his uniform by Nov 15.
The officials, the politicians said, were contacting political parties as well as civil society members to seek first-hand information about the public response to the emergency.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Musharraf leaving to meet Saudi Monarch (and Nawaz?)
"(AGI) - Riyadh, 19 November - Pakistani President, Pervez Musharraf, will be in Saudi Arabia tomorrow to meet with King Abdullah and he may hold talks with former Pakistani premier and leader of the opposition, Nawaz Sharif, who lives in exile in the Kingdom. The visit has been announced in Riyadh by the official Saudi news agency SPA. This will be Musharraf's first visit abroad since he announced the state of emergency on 3 November. In the Pakistani media, a possible encounter between Musharraf and Sharif was announced with Saudi mediation. Collaborators of the ex-premier have announced that the only purpose for the meeting could be the finalization of a strategy for the unconditional political retreat of the Pakistani president. Sharif has indicated that he has already refused the request to meet Musharraf twice."
http://www.agi.it/world/news/200711191500-pol-ren0049-art.html
APDM calls country-wide strike on Nov 23
All Parties Democratic Movement held a meeting today in Islamabad which was attended by by the entire APDM parties including PML-N, PTI, MMA (JUI, JI & others), ANP & regional parties including PONAM. The meeting concluded with a unanimous call for a country wide protest on Friday 23rd of November against this martial law enforced by General Pervaiz Musharraf.
How to save Pakistan
In the absence of democracy and rule of law, extremism and religious fundamentalism will continue to grow at a frightening pace. The more the present regime bows to Washington’s desire to “do more” and the more innocent Pakistani blood is shed under the garb of fighting the war on terror or curbing extremism, the more Pakistan moves towards becoming a “failed state”, and the more people would resort to picking up arms against the security forces
Imran Khan on Hunger Strike
(Courtesy AFP)
Pakistani cricket hero Imran Khan began a hungerstrike Monday in the prison where he was sent last week for protesting against emergency rule, his spokesman told AFP.He said Khan, who now heads his own opposition party, wanted a restoration of the constitution and reinstatement of judges sacked when Persident Pervez Musharraf imposed the emergency just over two weeks ago."Imran Khan has gone on hunger strike for an indefinite period,"spokesman Saifullah Niazi said."He is demanding the restoration of the judiciary and restoration of the constitution," Niazi said. Khan is in Deraghazi Khan jail, normally used to house terror detainees and hardened prisoners.He was picked up last Wednesday and charged under a section of anti-terror legislation which stipulates a minimum punishment of atleast seven years and up to life in prison.Khan had been put under house arrest after emergency rule was declared on November 3 but slipped the net and went into hiding, communicating via email and video.He was arrested after emerging from hiding last Wednesday at a university campus in the eastern city of Lahore. Lahore police said then that he would face charges for inciting people to pick up arms, calling for civil disobedience and "spreading hatred." Khan, who led Pakistan to cricket World Cup glory in 1992, had called for Musharraf to face the death penalty for imposing emergency rule.
There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, butthere must never be a time when we fail to protest - Elie Wiesel
Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible; but man'sinclination to injustice makes democracy necessary - Reinhold Niebuhr
Videos of London Protest, 19th Nov
Videos of the protest in London on the 19th of November, featuring interviews with British MP George Galloway and Jemima Khan are available on http://pkpolitics.com/2007/11/18/protest-at-london-embassy-18-november-07/#more-739 .
Bahria University administration clamps down
A piece of paper titled FLASH, literally threatening students involved in demonstrations and political activities was pasted to walls and passed through the corridors of Bahria University. It stated that those involved would be subject to strict disciplinary actions including but not limited to expulsion, cancellation of degrees as well as legal action. These ‘punishments’ would be for all those wearing black bands and protesting on as well as outside campus. The administration made an even more obvious show of their insecurity as they closed the university on Monday, the day on which a protest organized by Bahria and Air University students was scheduled. Perhaps one can not blame the administration of such universities, run by the Navy and the Airforce respectively, but their attempt to silence the opinions of their students is truly shameful.
Musharraf's Supreme Court dismisses challenges to his Rule
The Dogar-headed Supreme Court on Monday threw out five major challenges to President Musharraf's re-election, leaving one to be heard later in the week, the attorney general told AFP. “There were five petitions, they have all been dismissed. There is only one left and that will be heard on Thursday,” attorney general Malik Mohammad Qayyum told AFP. The PPP earlier said that it had withdrawn its challenge as they did not recognize the sham courts sworn in under the emergency rule. It was not clear if the appeal filed by the PPP was among those that had been dismissed.
LUMS Students hold Flash Protest in DHA
Around 20-25 students from LUMS had a flash demo in Defence Market, H Block on Monday. They assembled at the spot at around 4 PM, wearing black armbands and carrying pamphlets pertaining to the nature of their cause. They then undertook a round of the Market, raising slogans and distributing the pamphlets as they went along. A significant crowd gathered in the market to witness the procession, with many bystanders joining in the sloganeering. Around five minutes into the procession, the students dispersed, amid reports that the police were arriving. Overall, the protest was a huge success, with a heartening response from the bystanders witnessing it.
The movement continues..
In Complete Unity
Protest at Aabpara, Islamabad
A demonstration attended by students, political organizations and civil society members was held at Aabpara chowk at 3:00 p.m. There were many slogans heard but soon the protest shifted venue to Geo’s office in Blue Area. Journalists spoke at length with regard to the curbs placed on the media as well as the various abductions of journalists. The police stood watching complacently and even smiled shyly at the occasional "Police ko azad karo (Free the police)" slogans.Later in the day, a meeting was held to discuss further action. A student action committee was formed which had sub-committees within it for greater mobilization and organization. The agenda is nearly finalized and we hope to see pamphlets being printed and distributed soon.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Patriotism and Common Sense
It is natural therefore, that the present struggle is a struggle against this institution that has thwarted any attempts for democratic consent to exist in this country ( ignoring the argument that we are not ready for democracy, often found in elite circles and more recently in the General's martial law imposition speech). Ofcourse, politicians have always been a support mechanism for military regimes, but the overiding power has always existed with the army. The assertion that Benazir is a more vociferous proponent of international interests is absolutely incorrect since BB's party atleast has roots within the masses Pakistan, unless ofcourse, Mr Baig conforms to the same elitist sensibilities that PPP supporters are nothing more than illiterate peasants, easily duped by their leader everytime. General Musharraf has absolutely no roots within this country (his referendum can be testament to that) and Mr Bush still calls him America's 'Staunch ally' in the war on terror. Who can forget the billions of dollars received by Pakistan to butcher innocent Afghani's, massacre its own people in Waziristan and Swat to counter 'Terrorism' and the selling out of Pakistan's assets (including telecommunications) to foregin companies. Even the General's Prime Minister, Mr SHORTCUT Aziz, a man with no political constituency in Pakistan, is like a 'Gift' to Musharraf from International Donour Agencies. No one represents international strategic interests more than the General, and the reason for this is the fact that dictatorships in Pakistan have never found popular support amognst the mass. Insteadm the have relied primarily upon international powers (with a few local renegades thrown in, like the Chaudry brothers today).
As for corruption, who can compete with the Army's billions of dollars of legitimate corruption, using the state appratus to obtain loans and grants for businesses, from construction to corn flakes. The Army is also the biggest land holder in the country, fleecing several thousand peasants off their lands to make poultry farms and farm houses. Field Marshals, like Khattak Abbas Khan are known to have recieved kickbacks of 180 million rupees through the sale of mirage fighters. Countless other cases of corruption exist that are never investigated due to the fear of the military, while all attention is cast upon the corruption of politicians. The Armed forces already recieve more than 50 % of the budget to kill its own people in Balochistan, Swat and Waziristan and sells nuclear weapons to other countries. The reason for viewing politicians as corrupt and ignoring the biggest corruptor, stems from years of a 'sytematic demeaning of politics' in this country, the brunt of which has been borne by the PPP. This comes as no surprise since the PPP is perhaps the only party with a consistent record of fighting the military establishment. Notwithstanding the fact that Benazir is corrupt, the biggest danger to unity today stems from creating fissures in the opposition by calling an end to Benazir along with the General. The reasons are quite simple. The fight against dictatorship can only succeed if a democractic government of National Unity is formed, something that all political parties, including the PPP is calling for. Democracy without BB would ignore the biggest political opposition to the Military Establishment, without which any democratic set-up is unforseeable atleast in the near future. We definitely need to bypass BB at some point in time, just like we need to bypass the PML (N), or the Jamat-i-Islami. This is only possible, however, if we allow democratic processes to find their course, citizens to scrutinize their leaders, and most importantly, if we reject the misguided notion that we need UNIFYING LEADERS. We do not need unifying leaders to be our saviours, this would be the same as the General's claim. We need democratic institutions to be allowed to take route, and the only way for that to happen, is if the military is taken out of the power equation permanently, and a democratic government of national unity through free and fair elections is allowed to function. Any other path can create discord amongst the opposition and turn our attention away from the main struggle of the present time.
The Path of a Patriot
General Pervez Musharraf is not the man he was when he first usurped the seat of Pakistan's government. Over time as his political age has advanced, he has undergone a staged metamorphosis: from an amateur idealist, to a practitioner of temperate Realpolitik, and then finally to an outright Machiavellian Prince.
It will be profoundly self-righteous of any single one of us to contend with authority that if exposed to the General's temptations - the troika of International interests, institutional weaknesses and a manipulable judiciary - we ourselves would not succumb to a similar fate. Opposing General Pervez Musharraf is therefore akin to focussing on the proverbial symptoms of a malady, and not its root, when in fact ours should be a struggle against the method of perpetuation of our affliction and not its recurring product. We are merely opposing a masque today.
It is high time that we question our motives before treading any further with placards in hand and slogans on tongue. The return to democracy we yearn for today can potentially be a rude awakening since General Pervez Musharraf's successor – in the wake of an all-pardoning National Reconciliation – is set to be Ms. Benazir Bhutto. Notwithstanding those forgotten corruption charges of fraudulently amassing roughly $1.5B of the nation's wealth[1], she is a more vociferous representation of strategic international interests than the General; she is the proverbial soldier of fortune.
This implies that there will undoubtedly be an intensification of tribal conflict leading to increased national destability in the event of her election and subsequent government. Moreover, the tide of extremism in Pakistan is unlikely to be subdued by a satellite government zealously enforcing external decree; if anything, it will fuel the same. Overall, such a fanning of the flames could be a fatal development in a climate where the country's social fabric is reminiscent of 1971 and international monitors are preparing contingency plans for securing Pakistani nuclear assets. Quite simply the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is a threat to national security – Ms. Benazir Bhutto's ascent must be stopped. This is as crucial as our government's reversion to democracy and deposition of General Pervez Musharraf; and so we have two objectives to achieve - not just one.
Our struggle at present is predominantly composed of pro-democracy demonstrations marked with an indifference to political positioning. A lot has been said in favor of this strategic non-alignment, and rightly so. However, such apathy is jeopardous on at least one account: the movement is an easy target for political highjack. Even as you read this, the PPP is actively conflating the tide of sentiment in Pakistani youth with its own pressure tactics. And it is no secret that having inherited the devotion of Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's unflappable loyalists, the PPP needs but a small further push to tip the scales completely in its favor. By being non-aligned, we give this party exactly that opportunity. This profound risk should not be overlooked when assessing the true virtue of our neutralism, and its true cost to our future.
We need to elevate our intellectual capital to genuinely understand the crossroads we find ourselves standing at today. In this regard, a study of history can be valuable since there exist patterns in human behavior which accord it a degree of predictability. Our struggle can hence greatly benefit from comparable examples from these archives - hindsight has the latency to impart wisdom no conjecture can provide. And so, the following case is worthy of notice.
There are lessons to be learnt from India. On 25th June 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi imposed emergency in the country - precisely two weeks after the High Court in Ahmedabad UP (where she had won parliament elections in 1971) ruled her recent election win void due to election fraud. Soon the prime minister, aided by the promulgation of President’s Rule, was ruling virtually by decree and thus began the country’s turbulent two-year journey through calculated oppression.
Ms. Gandhi was a proponent of a rather efficient school of oppression management. She administered a generous dose of comprehensive media blackout throughout the land, in effect birthing a communicative quarantine that drove deep schisms through the opposition camp and compartmentalized it into isolated pools. This efficiently dispersed the threat of a backlash. Leaders who took the cause of opposition found their clout limited in the absence of established channels of information flow, and so a unifying figurehead to lead the people of the land in their darkest hour was unable to flourish.
The Indian example can give us a better understanding of our own situation. Firstly, the example illuminates the indispensability of effective communication, without which, the rivers of protest cannot converge to form the ocean of change. Any tyrant understands this modus operandi, and thus does his paramount to disallow it. Secondly, it deconstructs the mechanics of tyranny: a potentially equivalent popular-reaction develops as a direct consequence of oppression, but precipitates only when catalyzed by a unifying leadership structure – or disperses ineffectually otherwise.
It is imperative that we truly understand the function of the aforementioned unifying leader. Unlike days of responsible citizenship, in times when the general populace cries "Revolution!” the role of a leader is less of a mobilizer and more of a focal point. . He is not required to inspire them into action – such impetus already beats within each protesting heart. He chiefly exists as an anti-thesis to the oppressor and gives the separately protesting throngs a locus of confluence. Consequently for such a figurehead to fill the leadership vacuum, the only crucial attribute is universal agreeability – for then, like fire-flies, the masses gravitate to him in expression of their dissent.
Therefore, we can realize our dreams for Pakistan by first designating a popular leader and then by empowering him through our voice, our action; our multitude. Such a platform of focussed patriotism has the potential of setting off a chain-reaction through capturing imaginations and stirring feet into vigor anew. And in this struggle, one good tiding is that we are all the progeny of the information age. In the guise of the World Wide Web, and to some extent cellular networks, we command a dissemination instrument which is pervasive and almost unstoppable. General Musharraf's emergency may have blacked out more conventional forms of media; it cannot restrain our virtual eyes, ears and tongues.
When considering the contendership of a unifying leader for our cause, the names of Hon'ble Mr. (Ex) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, Mr. Imran Khan and Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan naturally spring to mind. To my understanding, all three are compelling choices. I am of the view that whereas extremely competent and reasonably charismatic Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan would be nothing short of a grave national risk given his allegiance to Ms. Benazir Bhutto. Unless the good Barrister publicly proclaims his independence from the PPP to eliminate any conflict of interest therein, we should maintain his ineligibility for the position. In between Hon'ble Mr. (Ex) Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry and Mr. Imran Khan, I would lend my support to the latter, given his hitherto commendable record of public service (the Cancer Hospital), his outspoken patriotism and his public appeal. On the whole, time is of the essence for us to reach a consensus on this choice. Destiny will not forgive, nor forget, our complacency.
The efficacy of our struggle is dependent upon efficient, disciplined micro-management. In this consideration, our foremost duty is that of pervasive information dissemination. And the most effective method of accomplishing this duty is dedicating the greatest amount of time to engaging new, hitherto unaffiliated individuals, instead of repetitively enlightening the enlightened. For we need to significantly expand the pool of our numbers to a critical mass – without which our voice would be lost in the tolling bells of suppression. It must not be expected that such a mass-contact campaign would be easy: we would need to nurture ample mental perseverance given the psychological demoralization inherent in laboring to awaken the apathetic, the bigoted and the morally flexible. We would find ourselves out of breath quite often.
We will harvest the uninitiated with the cruciality of our cause, and with our allegiances. We will not hesitate in revealing the true nature of our common enemy to them, leaving no inroad unexplored. We will resort to patriotic discourse where necessary, to sheer rationale where required and to dialectical resilience where needed in order to convince our audience. We will use all communicative means available to us, prioritizing those which can achieve supreme impact in the least amount of time. Those of us possessing the dexterity of the tongue will use that tongue. Those with writing skills will put such skills to comprehensive use. Those with physical stamina will take to the open sky in a spirited show of constitution-bound demonstrating. And those with all three traits will generously indulge in all quarters.
Unity is the only way to success in joint activism and a splinter-group can undermine an entire cause; much like it takes but one traitor to defeat the whole group. Therefore, in our endeavors we will ensure inclusion along the commonality of ideology, and not stated goal – for clash of ideologies is seldom reconcilable. Secondly, we will maintain our dignity but curb our egos lest they jeopardize our alliance. Thirdly and most importantly, our integrity will be Jinnahite in its infallibility - we will never bend under pressure, we will never yield to fear, we will never succumb to enticement. These three mantras will form the bedrock of our struggle.
The current milieu is a time of flux; like putty it is ripe for molding and shaping. Our founding-fathers have left us with an invaluable blueprint of conflict management, and we are also intellectually well-poised to actualize a popular-reaction. Though we find ourselves outmatched by our opponents' cache of material resources and their Western patronage, we possess a potent counter in the fact that once in unison, we can resonate the realms. And therefore it is critical that we perceive our responsibility to our country's future, and then act upon it. Recognition of this responsibility and its concretization through considered steps is the real path to the fruition of our aspirations - the only path a true patriot knows.
[1] A 1999 US Senate sub-committee report using Mr. Asif Ali Zardari’s money laundering activities as one of the case studies can be read at: http://www.senate.gov/~gov_affairs/110999_report.htm
The General holding nukes as hostage
Pakistan may face its ultimate destruction because of one person -its own military chief.
Today's Protests in Islamabad
1) Media Solidarity: Ary TV st 62, F7/4 2:25-3:30
2)Civil Society Gathering: 3:45- 5:30 PM, Cricket Staduim, F6/3
