IN-NEWS
Updates from and about Pakistan around the world
Speech by before a rally held in
Washington D.C. on June 3, 2007
Although it was pouring but many Pakistanis men, women, and children gathered in front of the White House to protest against policies of present government in Pakistan. They had traveled from New York, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and many surrounding States to show their solidarity with their brothers and sisters striving to restore justice and democracy in Pakistan.
Speaking before this rally and facing to the White house, Iqbal Tareen a former student leader and former President of SANA described why democracy was also good for Pakistan.
Addressing US President George Bush, he said that if democracy was good for Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and many other countries in the world why it was not good for Pakistan. He went on describing why people of Pakistan are yearning for a true democracy and justice in Pakistan.
He said that the democracy is not a perfect system but it is the best known system to mankind where individual and collective rights are safeguarded against anti-democracy predators.
He said especially in countries where there is large cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity and huge class and gender gaps exist, democracy is best tool for consensus building. Democracy converge competing and diverse ideas by giving people a say into shaping nation’s future. Mr. Tareen said that In democracy, the distributed sense of ownership gives people something to lose thus serves as an effective nation building tool. Open and fearless freedom of expression provides a great on-going dialogue creating harmony amongst various religious, ethnic, and gender groups. It also diffuses anger and creates an environment of trust and understanding.
He said, democracy includes interests of greater number of people into nation’s economic planning and development thus distributing opportunities instead of concentrating them into the hands of a few chosen ones. Broader representation of the people ensures spreading prosperity instead of creating economic polarization. Dictatorships play ethnic, religious, gender, and economic groups against each other to grab and retain power. Democracies thrive on creating unity of ideas and consensus building between greater numbers of constituents.
Mr. Tareen repeatedly said that the DICTATORSHIP ALWAYS HAVE SMALLER CONSTITUENCY TO PLEASE, WHEREAS DEMOCRACIES CAN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT SERVING GREATER NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS.
Mr. Tareen, presented profile of forces, which are constant threat to freedoms and democracy. He said that the regimented, small, clandestine, narrowly focused, and power hungry extremist forces, which can’t ordinarily capture power without disruptive and chaotic conditions will always be found working against establishment of democracy.
These forces are eager to collaborate with military and bureaucracy (Nation’s most powerful institutions) to act as a conduit creating desired conditions to overthrow elected governments. Under representative governance, these forces remain hyper-active, distasteful, and demeaning to elected governments and are quick to unite with dictatorships to backdoor into power.
Although smaller in numbers but these forces are usually are concentrated in population clusters and are located in large cities or in strategically important geographic locations. Through the power of disruption these forces can lock-down major industrial cities thus wreaking a massive logistic and economic havoc on any nation.
Mr. Tareen categorically pointed to MQM and religious extremist groups, which play out this role in Pakistan. He said “MQM was created by Zia-ul-Haq as a counter balancing force against influence of Pakistan Peoples Party. Its one-point agenda was and remains to dilute constituencies of all pro-democracy forces especially the one of Pakistan Peoples Party in province of Sindh”
He said “Arming of MQM and its enforcement terrorism against peaceful citizens of major cities of Sindh ensured suppression of any uprising that might have occurred after the execution of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. MQM was nurtured and groomed by General Aslam Beg, financed by moneys of notorious dons and bankers, and graduated into power by General Musharraf”
He reminded all those who were present in the rally how MQM distributed sweets and candies at the death of first Pakistani democracy under ZA Bhutto. It also distributed sweets celebrating fall of 2nd democracy under Benazir Bhutto, and it organized Nimaz-e-Shukranas when 3rd democracy under Mian Nawaz Sharif was ousted.
He challenged everyone present to prove if MQM had ever mobilized mass opinion against any dictatorship in Pakistan. He said that “As a matter of fact it is permanently embedded into Pakistani dictatorships”
Mr. Tareen said that MQM AND DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN IS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. ONE CAN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT THE FALL OF OTHER.
Washington D.C. on June 3, 2007
Although it was pouring but many Pakistanis men, women, and children gathered in front of the White House to protest against policies of present government in Pakistan. They had traveled from New York, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and many surrounding States to show their solidarity with their brothers and sisters striving to restore justice and democracy in Pakistan.
Speaking before this rally and facing to the White house, Iqbal Tareen a former student leader and former President of SANA described why democracy was also good for Pakistan.
Addressing US President George Bush, he said that if democracy was good for Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, and many other countries in the world why it was not good for Pakistan. He went on describing why people of Pakistan are yearning for a true democracy and justice in Pakistan.
He said that the democracy is not a perfect system but it is the best known system to mankind where individual and collective rights are safeguarded against anti-democracy predators.
He said especially in countries where there is large cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity and huge class and gender gaps exist, democracy is best tool for consensus building. Democracy converge competing and diverse ideas by giving people a say into shaping nation’s future. Mr. Tareen said that In democracy, the distributed sense of ownership gives people something to lose thus serves as an effective nation building tool. Open and fearless freedom of expression provides a great on-going dialogue creating harmony amongst various religious, ethnic, and gender groups. It also diffuses anger and creates an environment of trust and understanding.
He said, democracy includes interests of greater number of people into nation’s economic planning and development thus distributing opportunities instead of concentrating them into the hands of a few chosen ones. Broader representation of the people ensures spreading prosperity instead of creating economic polarization. Dictatorships play ethnic, religious, gender, and economic groups against each other to grab and retain power. Democracies thrive on creating unity of ideas and consensus building between greater numbers of constituents.
Mr. Tareen repeatedly said that the DICTATORSHIP ALWAYS HAVE SMALLER CONSTITUENCY TO PLEASE, WHEREAS DEMOCRACIES CAN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT SERVING GREATER NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS.
Mr. Tareen, presented profile of forces, which are constant threat to freedoms and democracy. He said that the regimented, small, clandestine, narrowly focused, and power hungry extremist forces, which can’t ordinarily capture power without disruptive and chaotic conditions will always be found working against establishment of democracy.
These forces are eager to collaborate with military and bureaucracy (Nation’s most powerful institutions) to act as a conduit creating desired conditions to overthrow elected governments. Under representative governance, these forces remain hyper-active, distasteful, and demeaning to elected governments and are quick to unite with dictatorships to backdoor into power.
Although smaller in numbers but these forces are usually are concentrated in population clusters and are located in large cities or in strategically important geographic locations. Through the power of disruption these forces can lock-down major industrial cities thus wreaking a massive logistic and economic havoc on any nation.
Mr. Tareen categorically pointed to MQM and religious extremist groups, which play out this role in Pakistan. He said “MQM was created by Zia-ul-Haq as a counter balancing force against influence of Pakistan Peoples Party. Its one-point agenda was and remains to dilute constituencies of all pro-democracy forces especially the one of Pakistan Peoples Party in province of Sindh”
He said “Arming of MQM and its enforcement terrorism against peaceful citizens of major cities of Sindh ensured suppression of any uprising that might have occurred after the execution of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. MQM was nurtured and groomed by General Aslam Beg, financed by moneys of notorious dons and bankers, and graduated into power by General Musharraf”
He reminded all those who were present in the rally how MQM distributed sweets and candies at the death of first Pakistani democracy under ZA Bhutto. It also distributed sweets celebrating fall of 2nd democracy under Benazir Bhutto, and it organized Nimaz-e-Shukranas when 3rd democracy under Mian Nawaz Sharif was ousted.
He challenged everyone present to prove if MQM had ever mobilized mass opinion against any dictatorship in Pakistan. He said that “As a matter of fact it is permanently embedded into Pakistani dictatorships”
Mr. Tareen said that MQM AND DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN IS MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE. ONE CAN’T SURVIVE WITHOUT THE FALL OF OTHER.
Dictatorships always have smaller constituencies to please, whereas democracies can't survive without serving greater number of constituents
Iqbal Tareen
Iqbal Tareen
On November 7, 2006 responding to a question from New York Times to its readers, which asked “As US President, what you would like to see happening on the ground in next 180 days?”
Iqbal Tareen wrote:
It is evident that Iraq is # 1 issue on the minds of Americans. Much rides on how and when it is resolved. Iraq has become a drastic problem, which requires a drastic solution. It is my responsibility to give direction and to formulate and articulate a doable and dignified exit strategy. It is critically important for USA to resolve this issue without looking weak or walking away from its stated commitments.
As US President, here is what I would like to see happening on the ground in next 180 days:
Setup and deploy well equipped and well armed but a low profiled Iraq Peace Corps (IPC). This force will be commissioned to replace US occupation of Iraq and provide leadership, resources, expertise and support to local Iraqi army and law enforcement agencies so that they can take full control of law & order and its defense. The date of completion of this mission and the details will be worked out with the participating nations.
IPC will be commissioned under the mandate of United Nations, which will consists of military and law enforcement personal drawn from Muslim and Arab nations of that region. Syria and Iran must play key roles in this initiative. This force shall be funded by United Nations with major contributions from US and its allies. Contributions from rich Arab states and others will be encouraged.
I will call National Security Council and will ask Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, Joint Chiefs of Staff and other NSC members to work together to submit draft proposal of this transition plan within 30 days. I will ask Secretary of State to immediately discuss this proposal with our allies and to take members of UN Security Council and office of UN Secretary General in confidence.
Iqbal Tareen wrote:
It is evident that Iraq is # 1 issue on the minds of Americans. Much rides on how and when it is resolved. Iraq has become a drastic problem, which requires a drastic solution. It is my responsibility to give direction and to formulate and articulate a doable and dignified exit strategy. It is critically important for USA to resolve this issue without looking weak or walking away from its stated commitments.
As US President, here is what I would like to see happening on the ground in next 180 days:
Setup and deploy well equipped and well armed but a low profiled Iraq Peace Corps (IPC). This force will be commissioned to replace US occupation of Iraq and provide leadership, resources, expertise and support to local Iraqi army and law enforcement agencies so that they can take full control of law & order and its defense. The date of completion of this mission and the details will be worked out with the participating nations.
IPC will be commissioned under the mandate of United Nations, which will consists of military and law enforcement personal drawn from Muslim and Arab nations of that region. Syria and Iran must play key roles in this initiative. This force shall be funded by United Nations with major contributions from US and its allies. Contributions from rich Arab states and others will be encouraged.
I will call National Security Council and will ask Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, Director of National Intelligence, Joint Chiefs of Staff and other NSC members to work together to submit draft proposal of this transition plan within 30 days. I will ask Secretary of State to immediately discuss this proposal with our allies and to take members of UN Security Council and office of UN Secretary General in confidence.
As US President, what you would like to see happening on the ground in next 180 days?
Tareen Speech .... Continues...
Expanding on his thoughts, he said “Whenever there is a representative government in Pakistan, MQM demeans and rejects rule of democracy as a rule of Choudhries, Khans, Sardars, and “Waderas”. If you look into MQM’s track record, it has always teamed up with the worst kind of Choudhries, Sardars, Khans and Waderas when serving their client dictators”
He said that “May 12th Massacre” saw a glimpse of a new kind of lord, which is most ferocious and merciless than Pakistani nation has ever seen. He called them “Shaderas” who planned, executed, condoned, and praised the May 12th Massacre in Karachi. Explaining the term coined by Mr. Tareen, he said Shaderas are new breed of city (Shahar) waderas. On May 12th, MQM Shaderas declared exclusivity on city of Karachi. They declared Karachi as their “Jaagir” by denying right of entry to Pakistan’s Chief Justice and hundreds and thousands of his supporters.
Describing a historic irony, Mr. Tareen said “Before rise of MQM, citizens of Karachi stood like a rock facing dictatorship of Ayub Khan. Today Karachi has been placed on the wrong side of history. Not by choice but by terror. Karachi deserves freedom from fear and tyranny. When we see Aaj TV and GEO exercising their God given right of free expression; when we see Pakistan’s oldest and leading newspaper Dawn poured in blood; when we see opposing members of the media coming under MQM-Musharraf fire, we know Karachi is yearning for freedom”
Addressing citizens of Karachi in Urdu, he said “Karachi, we can hear you loud and clear. Your calling for rescue from ransom and intimidation has touched millions of hearts in Pakistan and around the world. Once again you want to lead the nation to a new dawn of freedom from fear, tyranny and dictatorship. You want to join millions of your brothers and sisters in this holy struggle to restore individual and collective dignity in Pakistan”
He continued addressing in Urdu and said “My brothers and sister of Karachi, the moment has arrived to break your silence. Break away from the chains to claim your rightful place in history. Just remember MQM Shaderas and democracy in Pakistan is mutually exclusive. There is only MQM between you and your freedom”
Addressing President Bush and facing White House he said “ You know this era will end and it will end soon. The new dawn will bring democracy and freedom to 160 million Pakistanis. It is up to you to decide whether you want to side with weak dictator or 160 Million Pakistanis? He added “Siding with the people you can seal US-Pakistani friendship until eternity”
Expanding on his thoughts, he said “Whenever there is a representative government in Pakistan, MQM demeans and rejects rule of democracy as a rule of Choudhries, Khans, Sardars, and “Waderas”. If you look into MQM’s track record, it has always teamed up with the worst kind of Choudhries, Sardars, Khans and Waderas when serving their client dictators”
He said that “May 12th Massacre” saw a glimpse of a new kind of lord, which is most ferocious and merciless than Pakistani nation has ever seen. He called them “Shaderas” who planned, executed, condoned, and praised the May 12th Massacre in Karachi. Explaining the term coined by Mr. Tareen, he said Shaderas are new breed of city (Shahar) waderas. On May 12th, MQM Shaderas declared exclusivity on city of Karachi. They declared Karachi as their “Jaagir” by denying right of entry to Pakistan’s Chief Justice and hundreds and thousands of his supporters.
Describing a historic irony, Mr. Tareen said “Before rise of MQM, citizens of Karachi stood like a rock facing dictatorship of Ayub Khan. Today Karachi has been placed on the wrong side of history. Not by choice but by terror. Karachi deserves freedom from fear and tyranny. When we see Aaj TV and GEO exercising their God given right of free expression; when we see Pakistan’s oldest and leading newspaper Dawn poured in blood; when we see opposing members of the media coming under MQM-Musharraf fire, we know Karachi is yearning for freedom”
Addressing citizens of Karachi in Urdu, he said “Karachi, we can hear you loud and clear. Your calling for rescue from ransom and intimidation has touched millions of hearts in Pakistan and around the world. Once again you want to lead the nation to a new dawn of freedom from fear, tyranny and dictatorship. You want to join millions of your brothers and sisters in this holy struggle to restore individual and collective dignity in Pakistan”
He continued addressing in Urdu and said “My brothers and sister of Karachi, the moment has arrived to break your silence. Break away from the chains to claim your rightful place in history. Just remember MQM Shaderas and democracy in Pakistan is mutually exclusive. There is only MQM between you and your freedom”
Addressing President Bush and facing White House he said “ You know this era will end and it will end soon. The new dawn will bring democracy and freedom to 160 million Pakistanis. It is up to you to decide whether you want to side with weak dictator or 160 Million Pakistanis? He added “Siding with the people you can seal US-Pakistani friendship until eternity”
