FEATURE
FEATURES & ARTICLES
By Iqbal Tareen Herndon, VA, USA October 13, 2007
It is understandable when Taliban, MQM and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) folks hate Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s guts but it is beyond me when I see so called pro-democracy groups and individuals engage into slanderous campaign against her. I hope these born again “Desktop Revolutionaries” realize that their mudslinging movement against Benazir Bhutto advances cause of Baitullah Mehsud, Chaudhry Shujaat, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and MQM. By throwing stones at MBB, they are not only strengthening Musharraf’s hold on power but they are weakening real cause of restoration of democracy in Pakistan. In my opinion liberty and democracy in Pakistan has a long list of predators but Benazir Bhutto is not one of them.
The real enemies of people are those who have captured power under military rule and through takeovers.
They are the ones who would prefer to retain uncontested rule without losing even an ounce of it. As far as remaining political parties are concerned, majority of them are either creation of agencies or they are doing business with their blessings. The only party that significantly challenges establishment's monopoly on power and shares it with the masses is Pakistan People’s Party. That is why the real beneficiaries of Musharraf's rule including PML (Q), Arbab Rahim, MQM, and Mullahs hate MBB's return to Pakistan.
I hope these so called critics realize that Musharraf has not conceded to MBB's return to Pakistan out of mere admiration for her. It has taken MBB years of perseverance, sacrifices, separation from her family and heroic hard work of democracy loving people around the world that has forced Musharraf's hand to change of status. The Chaudhry Bros. & Co., MQM, Taliban, and Mullahs will have field goal if by any hook or crook they can prevent MBB's return.
Recent ploy by Musharraf team to delay Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan on October 17th is yet another trick to create confusion and demoralize pro-democracy forces in Pakistan. It speaks a lot about real losers who are determined to stop Benazir at any cost. Asking Benazir Bhutto to delay her return is also aimed at creating a Nawaz Sharif like situation but without resorting to an open confrontation.
Although Pakistan celebrates its annual anniversary without any failure but it had failed to advance beyond its inception that took place 6o years ago. Sanity requires that we honestly dice and slice the current status; identify various options to arrive at the most sane and peaceful resolution of Pakistan’s stagnant existence.
REALITES ON THE GROUND
1.Decades of direct and indirect army rule, unrepresentative governments, especially last eight years of combined Musharraf, PML (Q), MQM, and Mullah rule has enlarged the gap between rich and poor of the nation to its max. Advances in electronic media has shrunk the distances but it has also provided most modern tools of manipulation to unrepresentative governments thus disarming and deflecting rising public opinion against its hold on power.
2.Pakistan being a frontline state against increasing threat of Talban and their growing influence in Pakistan and the region provides General Musharraf a favorite status with western countries. Although it is no secret that General Musharraf has successfully leveraged this threat as an insurance policy to continue his grip on power but in absence of any viable alternative, the General remains to be the only game in town and an important ally in war against terrorism.
3.Traditional friends of Pakistan, regional countries and powerful Muslim states will not allow imploding of Pakistan from within. In a national chaotic situation it could be any body’s game thus leading to loss of innocent lives of unarmed and peaceful citizens of the country. Good students of history should recall lessons learnt from the French Revolution.
Mass uprisings do not necessarily bring democracies and order. Chaos will create unstable Pakistan thus triggering a dominos effect where one Muslim state after another might fall in the hands of Taliban rule.
4.Those who know history will vouch that anyone who takes over power by violent means does not relinquish it so peacefully. We also know that the violent takeovers of government rarely produce democracies.
5.If you value liberties and are concerned about the freedoms under Musharraf rule, you aint seen nothin yet. Make no mistake the Taliban’s Afghan Model of governance is no picnic. Under Taliban rule, the first thing to go will be the Internet, next to follow will be TV and Media, and then the current judicial system will be replaced by mobile Sharia courts.
6.APC’s failure to provide a unified, doable, and credible solution to the current constitutional and political crisis has put a damper on popular hopes. Nawaz Sharif’s poor execution of his comeback-strategy, cracks in MMA, and despicable reaction against Nawaz Sharif’s deportation proved that APC is not ready to pose any significant challenge to Musharraf’s powerful machinery. At least not in current situation.
7.Contrary to his public stance, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman’s (Maulana Machiavelli) vacillating stand on resignations revealed his real allegiance. Mysterious absence of APC leadership from Pakistan during Nawaz Sharif’s arrival and repeated expulsions of Imran Khan and other APC leaders from province of Sindh by MQM government exposed a huge gap between their rhetoric and real power to act. Maulana Machiavelli’s true colors vindicated Benazir Bhutto’s stand on her refusal to team with the Maulana. Time will tell Mian Nawaz Sharif should not have cut away from MRD to form a handicap group with highly opportunistic and unpredictable Mullahs.
8.Contrary to wild speculations and popular wishes, Pakistan Army leadership stood united behind General Musharraf by either blessing his actions or remaining indifferent to his strikes against the opposition during the recent political crisis.
9.Successfully pinning down possible reaction from Mr. Sharif’s deportation brought PML (Q) and MQM closer to Musharraf’s ear. If Musharraf had his own way, he would never let Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto step on Pakistani soil ever. He will love to remain surrounded by gang of political bouncers who are willing to do any hounding for him.
10.Icing on the cake and badly needed victory to General Musharraf was delivered when the Supreme Court cleared his way to run for another term on September 28th. This was done by the very Supreme Court whose Chief Justice- a people’s hero conveniently detached himself from nation’s most critical constitutional decision thus leaving the court’s panel hanging heavy on one side. The 6 to 3 ruling, which dismissed number of petitions seeking to remove Musharraf off the ballot, made it difficult for rivals to keep him from winning another five years in office.
OPTIONS
I see an adrenaline rush in many Desktop Revolutionaries who are trying to look cute politically. But the question is how do you make any decent difference on the ground if the objective is to make a change and not merely writing about it? There are different sets of responsibilities for those who believe in Desktop Revolution and those who have responsibility to bring about changes on the ground. Here is the set of options available to people of Pakistan:
1.Do nothing and let the pack of Chaudhry Brother, MQM, and Mullahs continue consolidation of their power under army rule.
2.Whip-up popular uprisings, civil strife, and chaos in the hope that a perfect government will be awaiting at the end of tunnel.
3.Adopt a peaceful quest for transition from nominal democracy to representative democracy that guarantees civil liberty and welfare for ordinary people.
REASONABLE PURSUIT
I support the 3rd option even though the road leading to its accomplishment may look bumpy. In my opinion the only party that has a shot at bringing about this change is Pakistan People’s Party and that also under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It would be highly blissful for people of Pakistan if Mian Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan give up their betting on MMA and joined Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her bid for restoring representative government in Pakistan.
Forcing change through violent means will be counterproductive. No matter which way we look at it, if there is anything consistent about Pakistan, it is the constant growth in the power of military and bureaucracy and not the strengthening of civic institutions. By shooting a few emails at each other, Desktop Revolutionaries can’t scare this giant away. Change on the ground requires much more than just a few movements of mouse and keyboard strokes.
Although the recent heroic movement of Pakistani attorneys deserves the real Kudos but re-instatement of Chief Justice took most of steam out of it. Pakistanis are not ready to engage into fist fighting with their children in the uniform. Record shows that the Generals will not hesitate using them against the masses to protect themselves.
If anyone thinks that the judiciary and lawyers alone no matter how noble there cause seems to be will be able to bring about a sea change in Pakistan, they are mistaken. Instead of waging your war against Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan People’s Party, engage into a progressive and pro-people alliance with her. Your rage against Benazir Bhutto is starting to sound similar in tone and tanner to that of Chaudhry Shujaat, diehard MQMites, Arbab Rahim, and Baitul Mahmud. If that’s what you really want to accomplish than say it and don’t pretend as if you are really longing for representative governance and guaranteed liberties in Pakistan.
If you have a better intention on mind then let me remind you that “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. You simply don't succeed in doing the good things you intend. You will have to work towards achieving it on a much deeper level by creating the capacities to do the things you should. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai - a most famous Sindhi sufi poet may have a good piece of advice warning you against barking at the wrong tree. He said:
“ Kashay teeru kamaan maan, mian maar na moon, moon mein aaheen toon mataan tuhinjo ee tokhay laGay”
English translation would mean: Do not target me with your arrow - you may end up hurting yourself because you are in me”
I urge you to make up your mind and decide what side are you on?
Note: Term “Desktop revolutionaries” is coined by a good friend Murtaza Solangi.
It is understandable when Taliban, MQM and Pakistan Muslim League (Q) folks hate Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto’s guts but it is beyond me when I see so called pro-democracy groups and individuals engage into slanderous campaign against her. I hope these born again “Desktop Revolutionaries” realize that their mudslinging movement against Benazir Bhutto advances cause of Baitullah Mehsud, Chaudhry Shujaat, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, and MQM. By throwing stones at MBB, they are not only strengthening Musharraf’s hold on power but they are weakening real cause of restoration of democracy in Pakistan. In my opinion liberty and democracy in Pakistan has a long list of predators but Benazir Bhutto is not one of them.
The real enemies of people are those who have captured power under military rule and through takeovers.
They are the ones who would prefer to retain uncontested rule without losing even an ounce of it. As far as remaining political parties are concerned, majority of them are either creation of agencies or they are doing business with their blessings. The only party that significantly challenges establishment's monopoly on power and shares it with the masses is Pakistan People’s Party. That is why the real beneficiaries of Musharraf's rule including PML (Q), Arbab Rahim, MQM, and Mullahs hate MBB's return to Pakistan.
I hope these so called critics realize that Musharraf has not conceded to MBB's return to Pakistan out of mere admiration for her. It has taken MBB years of perseverance, sacrifices, separation from her family and heroic hard work of democracy loving people around the world that has forced Musharraf's hand to change of status. The Chaudhry Bros. & Co., MQM, Taliban, and Mullahs will have field goal if by any hook or crook they can prevent MBB's return.
Recent ploy by Musharraf team to delay Benazir Bhutto’s return to Pakistan on October 17th is yet another trick to create confusion and demoralize pro-democracy forces in Pakistan. It speaks a lot about real losers who are determined to stop Benazir at any cost. Asking Benazir Bhutto to delay her return is also aimed at creating a Nawaz Sharif like situation but without resorting to an open confrontation.
Although Pakistan celebrates its annual anniversary without any failure but it had failed to advance beyond its inception that took place 6o years ago. Sanity requires that we honestly dice and slice the current status; identify various options to arrive at the most sane and peaceful resolution of Pakistan’s stagnant existence.
REALITES ON THE GROUND
1.Decades of direct and indirect army rule, unrepresentative governments, especially last eight years of combined Musharraf, PML (Q), MQM, and Mullah rule has enlarged the gap between rich and poor of the nation to its max. Advances in electronic media has shrunk the distances but it has also provided most modern tools of manipulation to unrepresentative governments thus disarming and deflecting rising public opinion against its hold on power.
2.Pakistan being a frontline state against increasing threat of Talban and their growing influence in Pakistan and the region provides General Musharraf a favorite status with western countries. Although it is no secret that General Musharraf has successfully leveraged this threat as an insurance policy to continue his grip on power but in absence of any viable alternative, the General remains to be the only game in town and an important ally in war against terrorism.
3.Traditional friends of Pakistan, regional countries and powerful Muslim states will not allow imploding of Pakistan from within. In a national chaotic situation it could be any body’s game thus leading to loss of innocent lives of unarmed and peaceful citizens of the country. Good students of history should recall lessons learnt from the French Revolution.
Mass uprisings do not necessarily bring democracies and order. Chaos will create unstable Pakistan thus triggering a dominos effect where one Muslim state after another might fall in the hands of Taliban rule.
4.Those who know history will vouch that anyone who takes over power by violent means does not relinquish it so peacefully. We also know that the violent takeovers of government rarely produce democracies.
5.If you value liberties and are concerned about the freedoms under Musharraf rule, you aint seen nothin yet. Make no mistake the Taliban’s Afghan Model of governance is no picnic. Under Taliban rule, the first thing to go will be the Internet, next to follow will be TV and Media, and then the current judicial system will be replaced by mobile Sharia courts.
6.APC’s failure to provide a unified, doable, and credible solution to the current constitutional and political crisis has put a damper on popular hopes. Nawaz Sharif’s poor execution of his comeback-strategy, cracks in MMA, and despicable reaction against Nawaz Sharif’s deportation proved that APC is not ready to pose any significant challenge to Musharraf’s powerful machinery. At least not in current situation.
7.Contrary to his public stance, Maulana Fazal-ur-Rahman’s (Maulana Machiavelli) vacillating stand on resignations revealed his real allegiance. Mysterious absence of APC leadership from Pakistan during Nawaz Sharif’s arrival and repeated expulsions of Imran Khan and other APC leaders from province of Sindh by MQM government exposed a huge gap between their rhetoric and real power to act. Maulana Machiavelli’s true colors vindicated Benazir Bhutto’s stand on her refusal to team with the Maulana. Time will tell Mian Nawaz Sharif should not have cut away from MRD to form a handicap group with highly opportunistic and unpredictable Mullahs.
8.Contrary to wild speculations and popular wishes, Pakistan Army leadership stood united behind General Musharraf by either blessing his actions or remaining indifferent to his strikes against the opposition during the recent political crisis.
9.Successfully pinning down possible reaction from Mr. Sharif’s deportation brought PML (Q) and MQM closer to Musharraf’s ear. If Musharraf had his own way, he would never let Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto step on Pakistani soil ever. He will love to remain surrounded by gang of political bouncers who are willing to do any hounding for him.
10.Icing on the cake and badly needed victory to General Musharraf was delivered when the Supreme Court cleared his way to run for another term on September 28th. This was done by the very Supreme Court whose Chief Justice- a people’s hero conveniently detached himself from nation’s most critical constitutional decision thus leaving the court’s panel hanging heavy on one side. The 6 to 3 ruling, which dismissed number of petitions seeking to remove Musharraf off the ballot, made it difficult for rivals to keep him from winning another five years in office.
OPTIONS
I see an adrenaline rush in many Desktop Revolutionaries who are trying to look cute politically. But the question is how do you make any decent difference on the ground if the objective is to make a change and not merely writing about it? There are different sets of responsibilities for those who believe in Desktop Revolution and those who have responsibility to bring about changes on the ground. Here is the set of options available to people of Pakistan:
1.Do nothing and let the pack of Chaudhry Brother, MQM, and Mullahs continue consolidation of their power under army rule.
2.Whip-up popular uprisings, civil strife, and chaos in the hope that a perfect government will be awaiting at the end of tunnel.
3.Adopt a peaceful quest for transition from nominal democracy to representative democracy that guarantees civil liberty and welfare for ordinary people.
REASONABLE PURSUIT
I support the 3rd option even though the road leading to its accomplishment may look bumpy. In my opinion the only party that has a shot at bringing about this change is Pakistan People’s Party and that also under the leadership of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto. It would be highly blissful for people of Pakistan if Mian Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan give up their betting on MMA and joined Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in her bid for restoring representative government in Pakistan.
Forcing change through violent means will be counterproductive. No matter which way we look at it, if there is anything consistent about Pakistan, it is the constant growth in the power of military and bureaucracy and not the strengthening of civic institutions. By shooting a few emails at each other, Desktop Revolutionaries can’t scare this giant away. Change on the ground requires much more than just a few movements of mouse and keyboard strokes.
Although the recent heroic movement of Pakistani attorneys deserves the real Kudos but re-instatement of Chief Justice took most of steam out of it. Pakistanis are not ready to engage into fist fighting with their children in the uniform. Record shows that the Generals will not hesitate using them against the masses to protect themselves.
If anyone thinks that the judiciary and lawyers alone no matter how noble there cause seems to be will be able to bring about a sea change in Pakistan, they are mistaken. Instead of waging your war against Benazir Bhutto and Pakistan People’s Party, engage into a progressive and pro-people alliance with her. Your rage against Benazir Bhutto is starting to sound similar in tone and tanner to that of Chaudhry Shujaat, diehard MQMites, Arbab Rahim, and Baitul Mahmud. If that’s what you really want to accomplish than say it and don’t pretend as if you are really longing for representative governance and guaranteed liberties in Pakistan.
If you have a better intention on mind then let me remind you that “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”. You simply don't succeed in doing the good things you intend. You will have to work towards achieving it on a much deeper level by creating the capacities to do the things you should. Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai - a most famous Sindhi sufi poet may have a good piece of advice warning you against barking at the wrong tree. He said:
“ Kashay teeru kamaan maan, mian maar na moon, moon mein aaheen toon mataan tuhinjo ee tokhay laGay”
English translation would mean: Do not target me with your arrow - you may end up hurting yourself because you are in me”
I urge you to make up your mind and decide what side are you on?
Note: Term “Desktop revolutionaries” is coined by a good friend Murtaza Solangi.
Vilifying Benazir Bhutto serves Chaudhry Shujaat , Baitul Mehsud, MMA, and MQM interests…