Dear All

Having read some of the posts on this forum and more importantly, some of the replies, I am convinced that some of the readers could use some of the below lines for self enlightening.

I'm sure you must all be fussing over the events in our beloved country; not knowing which side to argue for. Following is my take on it; rational comments welcome.

1.      What is so big about emergency?

Every organ of the state keeps functioning as it was; the only people affected by it will be the politicians who will probably have to wait a bit longer for a return on their investments in the business of politics. In Pakistan, basic human rights are not available anyway. The so called missing person's cases were there for last 6 years. Why did the honourable chief Justice suddenly had a call of conscience? Makhdoom Javaid Hashmi was in detention for past 2 years? Incidently indicted, and convicted by same courts. How come the CJ suddenly remembered that he was charged falsely or that he had completed his term? Was he the only one? I am sure there must be thousands. What honourable CJ and the justice system needs to ensure is that nobody has to stay in custody a second more than s/he should. Lets accept that it was just vindictive agenda against government and wasn't a call of conscience.

2.      What's the alternate?

OK; if we imagine for a moment that Musharraf steps down as Army  chief as well as is disqualified as a presidential candidate. Obviously Pakistan  will not crashing down and nobody is indispensible. However, we will have another period of uncertainty in which country will suffer a lot. At least at present he has a set of cohorts who listen to him blindly. A quick comparison can be made as follows:

(I have deliberately not mentioned Q league since they are just a
psuedo party, front face for Musharraf's democratized Marshal law)
So they are all equally corrupt like all other politicians.


Its better that Musharraf fixes them all, under this psuedo
democracy. I agree, its a farce and just an eyewash, but lets hope
 that may be, just maybe, he can bring about a change. He
has already made some changes such as graduation requirement for MNAs
& MPAs, local governments are working beautifully (although they are
involved in internal bickering, but at least its going on), The
electronic ID cards & MRPs will help get rid of bogus votes.

3.      Democracy, Pakistan style?

We have a unique style of democracy where votes are given in return for:

a.     A days meal by candidate

b.     A free ride on tractor trolley/ buses to polling station

c.     Bicycles

d.     Sewing machines

Well, it is true for 80% of Pakistan which matters. We are really not ready for true democracy. Democratic institutions like western countries, cannot flourish in our country for years to come so why try to have a shame democracy; better have what we are; autocracy.

For the consumption of all those l falling in line with media hype" hai hai mar gaye; zulm ho
gaya", please try to understand the true meanings of:

1. hey jurm-i-zaeefi ki saza marg-i-mafajaat

2. first deserve then desire

I will leave the religious thoughts out of this, since I am no expert on
it but I know that anyone rising above grade 19 or above in the system
of government of Pakistan has to have certain "Qualities " to rise against all
odds. HE/SHE HAS TO TAKE A LOT OF THINGS, AGREE TO A LOT AGAINST
HIS/HER  CONSCIENCE, TRY TO STAND OUT IN THE LINE OF OTHER 'YES SIRERS' ETC.
(I am sorry if it includes some of the people on this forum but I still stand by my conviction) I have actually been to Courts in connection with a job, I used to do. The whole system of courts is unfortunately based on anything but justice & fairness. You all must have seen in movies when a witness is called, s/he promptly takes stand. Well this is not how it
happens in our country. There is a designated man who goes out of court
to call the witness. Its standard Rs.50 per call. You don't pay him, he will go out and come back saying the witness is not present. There is a 'Peshkaar', who acts as a go between. Once the case is put up to judge and there is no jail warrant attached to papers, the judge knows 'understanding' has been reached and regardless of evidence, the 'mulzim' shall be given 'zamanat'; if however no understanding has been reached with peshkar, a jail warrant is attached, and regardless of evidence, the mulzim goes to jail. Speaking of bar council funds, well ......now who is being naive. Have you seen why every Prime Minister goes and addresses the bar councils for support? you think they support him on merit? no sir, its all give and take. The same courts legatimized Musharraf's take over? where was their conscience then? I'm sorry I cannot agree that they ALL had a sudden call of conscience. It was pure personal vendetta in which Musharraf outsmarted him. I am not saying Musharraf is a pariah or he came the right way or his cohorts Justice retd Abdul Qayyum or that minister Mr. Wasti are angels...All I was trying to say was at the moment, it is in the best interest of Pakistan. COMPARATIVE OPTIONS OF OTHERS ARE GIVEN ABOVE. Yes, Pakistan will not fall if he goes home but then we'll have to start from scratch. Its' very good to
talk about revolutions but revolutions throw a nation many years back.
Are we willing to pay that price? Given our explosive population growth
rate, our meagre economic performance?

Our economy is cotton based, Nigeria's oil based & so on. Our imports have always been more than exports; hence the balance of payments go against us. Thus a stage comes
when we have no dollars left to pay for our imports. However, if our forex have increased, it actually means we have earned dollars one way or the other. Its as simple as that. Although infrastructure building such as motorways is no sign of economic progress since  infrastructures are conventionally built in recessions (Y=C+I+G-Subsidy; hence when G
increases economy increases), Motorways upto Burhan towards Peshawer,
M2-link to Faisalabad, Dual carriage Indus Highway all across Pakistan,
have all been built in this tenure. Credit rating of Pakistan has
improved (Moody`s) in this tenure regardless of loan. All international
agencies have acknowledged our GDP growth.

Arab Israel wars of 67 & 73 have proved it beyond doubt that american
technology is far superior to Russian (which in our case is available
to India only). So its great to talk about self sustainance and LIVING
LIKE A LION FOR A DAY THAN 100 YEARS LIKE A JACKAAAL, but we all know
what kind of Muslims we are. There won't be any DATA Brigades fighting
for us and there won't be any wins like Ghazwa-i-Badr. Hence down to a
real conflict, we'll see all Benazir etc. sitting in their palaces
abroad and poor people of Pakistan will die. Imran Khan has very good
agenda but he can never win in the election scenario of winning seats by
Gun (Sindh Urban), commandeering tractor trolley or buses or free meals,
bicycles or sewing machines. He will probably have to wait a long time
before people start voting on issues.

Lets first become strong; let Pakistan be known as a centre of
excellence for technology, for athletics, for systems, for universities,
even tolerance . Let the statistics prove that Madrissahs have turned
out scholars who have impacted mankind in many ways. Let Muslims in
general and Pakistanis in particular be known world over for conduct,
fairness, principles, piety, scientific research and then we can tell
off anyone that our system is better than yours so GTH; till that time,
I am afraid its:

beggers can't be chosers