Congratulations to the Pakistani Nation and Judges

March 16th 2009 marked a new day in the history of Pakistan. This was the day when a two year struggle by the civil society, lawyers, media and politicians produced significant gains. Judges who refused to accept illegal demands of civil and military dictators were reinstated through an executive order. Earlier lawyers from the PPP who were leading figures in the lawyers movement from 9th March 2007 took a u turn regarding their stance on the restoration of the judiciary. After getting senior positions in the government they started propogating their own views. They claimed that the deposed judges cannot be restored through an executive order. According to them the parliment has to pass a bill regarding the restoration of judges. However, lawyers like Aitzaz Ahsan, Ali Ahmed Kurd, Munir Malik etc. claimed that a simple executive order is enough for their restoration. The government adopted a divide and conquer strategy for restoring the judges of their choice. They asked some judges to take fresh oath. Majority of the PPP legislators decided not restore some of the judges. Even a few hours before the announcement those legislators kept on claiming that restoration of the CJ was out of question. Alas, truth prevailed and the judges are being restored through an executive order.

This did not deter the civil society, lawyers and media from fighting for establishing the rule of law. They fought relentlessly and were not scared of detentions, teargassing and other state atrocities. Hats off to them for thei valour and determination. This movement could not have succeeded without them. This movement would not have produced the desired results if either one of them had backed out.

At the same time I would like to express my gratitude to General Ashfaq Kiani and Lt.Gen Ahmed Shuja Pasha who did not let the sytem collapse. They gave confidence to the Prime Minister and civil leadership that they can handle the affairs themselves. Ofcourse the played their role and perhaps even guided the leadership. However, they did not take things into their own hands. They have set a trend for the future military leadership who will only focus on their professional responsibilities.

Perhaps this was the most popular movement after the creation of Pakistan in 1947. We have proved to the world that we are not a failed state or a bunch of extremists. We believe in the rule of law and will fight peacefully to achieve our goal. Our success today does not mean that this is the end and law will be supreme. This is just the beginning. We’ll have to keep fighting with the same spirit and valour. We have realized that this is OUR country and only WE can put it on the path of prosperity. With a sincere desire to fight we can easily achieve our goals very peacefully.

Deal with PPPP

After the 2002 elections  there was alot of political uncertainty.No party had a clear majority.The government could have been formed only after an alliance between PML(Pakistan Muslim League) MMA(Muttahida Majlis e Amal),PPPP(Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians) PML or the PPPP and MMA.But none of the parties were willing to form an alliance and after alot of horse trading the PML formed a government.At that time rumours were rife that Makhdoom Amin Fahim of PPPP would be made PM(Prime Minister) and his son would be made Governor Sindh. However something went wrong at the last minute.Apparently Benazir had some reservations on sharing power with General Pervaiz Musharraf.Consequently the Parliament saw a very strong opposition one of the strongest in recent history.

Its been more than 4 years since PML became the ruling party.During these 4 years the sustained democracy introduced by dictator General Musharraf saw three Prime Ministers.Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali was the first PM.Later he developed some problems with the President because of which he was told to leave his office.Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain President of PML was made a care taker PM.Shaukat Aziz the then finance minister was nominated PM and he was unable to go to the office immediately because he was a member of the Senate.After a few days he was elected through a bogus rigged election.This is a clear indication of the fact that anybody who wants to be PM should have the consent of the Army Chief.It doesn’t make a difference whether you dont have a constituency.After all elections are held to be rigged.

Last years local government elections saw the worst ever rigging.International observers condemned the whole process but what matters is that our worthy General’s loyalists came.They are loyal to the General therefore they are loyal to the country.

Elections of 2007 are fast approaching.All parties have started some sort of preparation, though on a very limited and small scale.After showing the worst form of corruption, nepotism etc the PML thinks that it has lost popularity.The fact remains that the lotas could have never come to power if the elections were free and fair.But free and fair elections are just a dream for Pakistan now.

In its preparations for next year’s elections the PML is working out seat adjustments with different parties and what are the possibilities.They are afraid they wont be able to get as many seats next time.As a part of the elections strategy they are looking at alternatives.Their current partner MQM doesnot have any significant importance.MQM’s vote bank is restricted to afew parts of Sindh only.But they need a party which has a following all over Pakistan.The mullahs of MMA are too rigid and can create alot of problems.Nawaz Sharif’s PML has lost most of its leaders to the lotas PML therefore there isn’t any use of talking to them.And secondly they are very much against the present regime.The only option left for Musharraf is the PPPP.They are moderate and reasonable people.Musharraf wants to retain both his uniform and Presidency.For that he needs to legalize his stay through another constitutional amendment after the 2007 elections.But he needs a majority in the Parliment.The last hope for him is the PPPP.

Afew days back in a statement Musharraf admitted that the government was negotiating with PPPP.Some senior leaders of PML are also of the view that PPPP is their last hope.Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed who is a close aide of the President also said that they were in regular contact with the PPPP leadership.However this has been strongly denied by the PPPP leadership.They say that any sort of deal with the Government is impossible.A reason cited for their denial is the Charter of Democracy which was signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.According to the charter no party will carry out any deal with the military government.

Details will unfold as the elections come closer.A deal between PPPP and General Musharraf cannot be ruled out under any circumstances.However there is a strong possibility of a deal after some time.

Democracy:a dream for Pakistan

Pakistan got independence in 1947.Our only leader Quaid-e-Azam died after one year.Generals  never left any opportunity to come to power and loot the country.Every general promised “genuine and real democracy” but it seems that those promises were for some other country.Pakistan is yet to see democracy.Even for civilians the road to the parliament starts from the GHQ.Anybody who can support the army chief’s thinking and views is eligible to be the PM.However, a person has to do much more to reach the PM office.The results of elections are  decided at the GHQ even though they should be calculated at the Election Commission’s office.Anybody who dares to go against the army chief’s wish invites trouble.History shows mostly generals have never left power on their own.Allah Almighty is way above them and He takes away their lives along-with their power and uniform.When they come into power they say we’ll take off our uniform as soon as possible but Allah’s will prevails.

When General Musharraf came into power he said he is there to introduce and implement reforms.The international community criticized him for being a military man.However, thanks to the events of 9/11 he became one of the worlds most popular leaders.The international community conveniently ignored the fact that he was a dictator.A general whose loyalists had brought him to power.

General Musharraf had claimed that he would introduce democracy at grass roots level and Pakistan would see genuine sustained democracy.The local government system was given a new shape.People were supposed to benefit from this new democracy.He claimed that there was sham democracy before him.But the fact remains that Pakistan has never seen democracy.And most probably it never will unless the masses try to bring a revolution.

The politicians who support the government have no choice.Either they evade NAB cases or they stay in the government.Staying in government is lucrative and rewarding.PML-Q and PPP-Patriots are full of such people.Those out of the government are against it because they couldn’t get ministries.It is for this reason that they criticize the government and call for fresh elections.In last year’s local government elections most of the districts went to the Pro-Government candidates.International observers had condemned the whole procedure claiming that the elections were rigged.That’s not surprising at all.

It is high time for the masses to rise up against the  prevailing situation.The power is in our hands.We can change the system if we want to.Its about time that corrupt generals and politicians got their punishment.Genuine leadership has to come from the masses.Politics is now a family business.Legharis,Khans etc and children of former generals can be called politicians.We have to replace them by honest leaders who come from the masses.The generals have to learn that they have to work at GHQ and not the Presidency.We have to stand up and fight for our rights.Otherwise I’m afraid people might even forget our country.

The Presidents Book

Recently the President published his autobiography titled "In the line o fire".It should have been titled "In the line of American Fire".However as usual the President prefered to consider the public a fool.The target apparently is the Pakistani public but there is no news about the urdu version.According to unconfirmed reports about the earnings are  about US $3 million.According to the President most of the revenue will go for charity.

In his book he has touched different issues like nuclear proliferation charges against Dr. A Q Khan,Pakistan’s role in the war on terror,Kargil war etc

Dr.A Q Khan still remains a hot issue for him.The issue had died down some time back with no pressure from IAEA or the west regarding more investigation or punishment of Dr.A Q Khan.But thanks to the President the West and IAEA will reopen the case.The General claims that Dr.A Q Khan’s daughter was ready to leak Pakistan’s nuclear secrets to British journalists.Its a shame.Even if its true what was the need to publicly accuse his family. Haven’t they gone though enough harassment already?Gen.Musharraf also denies that the army had no knowledge of the the nuclear transfers.Its impossible.KRL was under full army control till our nuclear program became public.ISI,SSG and other army agencies were responsible for the protection of KRL.Secondly C-130s flew to North Korea,Iran and Libya but nobody even the pilots didn’t know where they were headed.C-130s are only owned by the army and airforce.No civilian or private airlines owns C-130s.So how is it possible that these transfers took place and the armed forces or aviation authorities had no idea about whats going on.

A few days before the launching of his book the President claimed that former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage had threatened to bomb Pakistan to stone age.Armitage was quick to deny it.The president seems to be silent now.However, he claims that he took this decision in supreme national interest and there was no sort of American pressue.

The General has given an impression that everything in Pakistan is wrong.Its a coutry full of terrorists and extremists.He is the only person who is strong enough to fight everything.

 The book seems to be an attempt to gain cheap publicity and improve his public image.