A Welcome Move by General Ashfaq Kayani

Finally, after so much bad and tragic incidents the Commander of Pakistani Armed forces has emphatically asked his senior officials to focus only on professional responsibilities. In categorical terms he asked armed forces to remain away from politics and politicians. To impress further he also warned all army and its affiliated wings for dire consequences if they call upon any political party or individual politician.

When I was a kid, we used to chant slogans like “Pak Fauj – Zindabad” or “Pak Fauj ko Salam”. It was General Zia’s era and we did not understand the complexities of the political cobbling of army and Pakistani politics. We used to think them as the only true and staunch Pakistanis who were our saviours and messiahs.As time turned its pages and my understanding of right from wrong improved, I was quite upset with the new face of “Pak Fauj” that I learnt. This face ushered only after I was able to read Pakistani history and the power politics of Armed forces. I never understood why there was a systematic campaign to malign politicians while we were presented with TV dramas like “Sunehray Dinn” or “Alpha Bravo Charlie”, to present a soft image of Army. However that was still acceptable until our entire Army turned into mercenaries in the so-called “War on Terror”. Chief or Army Staff, General Parvez Musharraf was only asked for logistic support while he presented his entire institution for rent. This was too bad for the image of Armed forces. Then there were reports of ISI’s involvement in 2002 elections. The consequence of this entire exercise turned out to be bitter for this institution. The heat of public anger that was usually absorbed by politicians started burning the feet of only well maintained institution of Pakistan.

The credibility of this institution touched to its nadir. Extremists started kidnapping the soldiers of world’s fifth largest standing Army. An institution which was respected (or feared ) was exposed. People openly started criticising it. There is no doubt that the countless sacrifices Armed forces have rendered for the motherland but castigation has no limits. At its worst it wipes out all the good deeds. In this perspective this is a giant leap forward by Chief of Army Staff, General Parvez Ashfaq Kayani. If he stands by his commitment I have no doubts that expatriates like myself and the entire Pakistani nation would again start chanting the slogans: “Pak Fauj Ko Salam”.

Is it too much to Ask?

A friend of mine, Nauman, sent an e-mail where he pointed to the cover of the Economist magazine. You should see it as well, link is provided at the bottom of this e-mail. It says World’s Most Dangerous Place: Pakistan.

This scenario is very very bad. Things are really messed up now. This was bound to happen when people don’t understand the hidden perils of dictatorial rule. This rule craetes problems. We have seen it before many times, we are yet witnessing another one now. Please stop messing with Pakistan anymore. Things are ugly. We used to be world’s laughing stock and now we have become scariest place on the world. No statesman of a stature is left there now. Here is something we need to do on urgent basis. We do it or we are returning to the stone age without US threat elements. Society is disntegrating fast, moral bankruptcy can be seen on the streets of bigger cities where dacoits are roaming free, killing anyone on the whim. Here are some of the questions that need urgent answers:

1: Kya gunah hai hai keh, Army gets back to barracks?

2: What is wrong if 1973 Constitution is restored to its full minus the impurities?

3: What is wrong if the most unpopular president resigns and gets back to Turkey with his ideals and leave the nation alone?

4: Would the havens fall if CJ Iftikhar Chaudhry is restored and Mush’s minions judges are demoted? At least people could feel sense of some protection.

5: Why cannot we request our Americans freinds to let us negotiate with FATA and FANA people instead of hitting them with the guided missiles of a misguided foreign policy which only generates more anger and jihadi recruits?

6: If the filthy swines of the establishment are still hungry after plundering the nation for last 60 years, cannot we request them to please vacate these positions and people of Pakistan would pay them 1% of the GDP annually in return? ( Sure this is too much to ask, but what is wrong in begging )

7: Why it is so impossible for PPP to bring Aitzaz Ehsan to the front, instaed of the Zardaris’ kiddo?

My list of requests could get very long, but even if the 50% of what is requested is granted, we will be in good shape. This seems so possible but I know it is way easy for us to call as we have nothing to lose. But people with false ego and big stakes in the status quo would never let it happen. Khuda woh wuqt na lai when we might be saying “there was a country name Pakistan….”.

Here is the link to the Economist:
http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10430237

Pakistani Politics and Kinship Factor – Bilawal Case

Since Bilawal Bhutto Zardari became PPP chairman, a controversy has started over the kinship factor for sucesssion. I personally may not like a kid to run the largest party of Paksitan but keeping the sub-continent and Pakistani political culture this is no surprise. Personality worship is genetic in our region. We should leave aside the names like Bush or Kennedy families for reference or name of Rahul Gandhi (Rajiv Gandhi’s son, he is general secretary of Congress, along with his Italian born mother Sonia Gandhi as Congress chairperson ).Lets look into other Pakistani political parties and measure the yard of democracy whithin those:

1: (JUI-F) Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman is running his father Maulana Mufti Mehmood’s party

2: (ANP)Asfandyar Wali is son of Wali Khan which on turn took it over from his father Ghaffar Khan

3: (BNM) Akhtar Mengal son of Ataullah Mengal

4: (PML-N)Who do you think will succeed Nawaz Sharif ? Certainly Shahbaz Sharif.

5: (PML-Q) Ch. Shujaat has already passed his powers to Ch Parvez Elahi and latter is preparing his son Moonis Elahi.

6: (Tehrik-e-Istiqlal ) Who was running Asghar Khan’s party, his slain son Omar Asghar Khan.

7: (JUI-Noorani) Uns Noorani took over party of his father Shah Ahmed Noorani.

8: ( PDP) Who is running Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan’s party? Nawabzada Mohsin Ali Khan, his son.

9: Maulan Ibtisam Ilahi Zaheer is running his father Ehsan Elahi Zaheer’s legacy.

Give me an example of a Pakistani political party where kinship is not criteria for succession. Yes, there is one party which always brings up new candidate each time because this is how their chemistry is. This party is Pakistan Army. You see they are democratic in nature, that is why they are ruling Pakistan forever.

All the best and God Save Pakistan