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Featured Articles | Posted on January 3, 2008
Author: Gul Bukhari
Benazir Bhutto’s contribution to Pakistan and Pakistani politics during her life always generated highly charged responses of an equal and opposite nature. To many she was their leader, their princess. To her supporters, Benazir represented a hope for democray and a future for this country. 
To many others, she was one of many controversial figures on the political landscape of Pakistan. These opinions will perhaps remain unchanged, but people on both sides are outraged and saddened at this atrocity.
Just like ordinary glass can either shatter after passing through an intense fire, or convert into something tougher, the Pakistani nation also has two possible paths it can take now. If it unites, it can emerge tougher and more resilient from this ghastly fire, the tragic and violent end of Ms Benazir Bhutto. The alternative needs not spelling out. The Quaid e Azam, Mohammed Ali Jinnah died at the most inopportune moment in the history of Pakistan, and left a vaccum behind. But tragedies do not have to create vaccums, they can also give birth to maturity. If this shock is to mature the Pakistani nation, the result will be a new beginning, an opportunity. An opportunity to come together, to draw strength from its misfortune, and to bring a revolutionary but positive change for the better. If our political leaders respond with wisdom, Benazir’s tragic death could become her noblest contribution to Pakistan. Her death should not be in vain.
This is the time, where the Musharraf administration is at its weakest, fumbling to catch at straws like the proverbial drowning man. It must be hoped now that the major political parties will put their differences aside, and take this opportunity born of the grimmest events, to draw together a list of demands and action points to lead the country out of crisis.
And this task will be very simple for all those who rise above themselves in the interest of the future of this country. The major political parties must declare the Musharraf administration unviable and a complete failure, and demand for:
The 1973 Constitution to be restored immediately;
January elections to be called off;
Musharraf to resign, and an interim government by consensus of the APC to be constituted;
the pre Nov 3 judiciary to be restored;
PEMRA amendments to be repealed; and
a fresh election date for three months later to be be fixed.
Any political party or leader that does not demand these fundamental changes, will be known to be placing self over nation. Bhutto, in her death, has provided this nation with an impetus. It is now up to this nation to consecrate her loss by exhibiting maturity and strength, and using this impetus to march ahead into a brighter future.
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January 3rd, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Aaj tv Reports that Musharraf said that he is not satisified with the on going investigation of BB’s assassination and he is looking forward for Scotland yard to come and investigate.
On the other hand Zardari said that he would not allow Scotland yard to investigate the assassination, rather he wants UN to interfere. Babar Awan told the same thing today to media.
The question is why Zardari and PPP do not want Scotland yard to come and investigate ? Are they trying to HIDE something ?
I think BB’s murder has written ZArdari all over it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:21 pm
PPP has simply upped the ante. They do not want to be satisfied with the morsels thrown to them by the government.
On the issue of the murder, it’s hard to say. Thinking about it dispassionaltely, it could be ANYONE. But as far as Zardari is concerned, he knows full well that the chicken that laid golden eggs was far more valuable for him alive than dead. He knows he cannot pull if off the way BB could. That’s the very reason he quickly changed his son’s name and nominated him as co-chairperson. I’m not saying he was not capable of his wife’s murder, I’m just saying it didn’t make materail sense enough for him to have done it.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
It’s already vain I think, and it’s because the stance taken after BB’s assassination by PPP. They don’t have any mature politicians to lead them. All the active actors are workers or spokesman but not the leader. The only thing which they are emphasizing is to use the sympathies to secure more votes. I don’t know what they are up to, how they are going to have a liaison with the workers and international community. I think some mature politicians should take the charge and compose strategy to combine political party. Otherwise as election has been delayed the reputation and image of the party will be deteriorating.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:08 pm
Jams78
I agree with you…it seems already in vain. But in a way it’s good that Zardari et al are most interested in gaining political capital and nothing else out of this tragedy. The reason I say it’s good is that the more time he has (before the elections take place), the more likely it is that he’ll show his true colours and shoot himself in the foot.
January 3rd, 2008 at 5:37 pm
In my humble opinion, PPP needs to throw Zardari & Co. out of the PPP. I dont have any disagreement with PPP but I have difference with BB and Zardari.
Making the deal with the government was not benefitting Amin Fahim, Sheeren Rehman, etc… but was only benefitting BB and Zardari, as there were involved in lot of corruption cases , thats why BB came back on NRO.
After throwing Zardari & Co. out of the party, PPP would not need to make any more deals with the establishment, because then they wont have to get black mailed by the establishment.
I think, people with clean back ground like Amin Fahim should be given the leadership of PPP and not to corrupt people like Zardari, because the party is recognised by its leadership.
January 3rd, 2008 at 6:27 pm
I think Zardari isnt that bad choice for right now. He certainly can do the job if ppl of pakistan put some trust on him.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:14 pm
abz
come on, then why not put trust in phulan devi?
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:37 pm
yup, I agree, he can certainly do the job of what he is known for, Corruption and Looting.
BB and PPP lost lot of credibility because of Zardari’s corruption when BB was in power and she also tried to put Zardari on the sideline. Now Zardari has won the chairmanship of PPP thanks to fabricated WILL he delivered, he is like a Bull who has just broke the rope and on a corruption and looting Rampage.
January 3rd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Clearly seems like demands like these, even though also made by Nawaz Sharif, are not at the top of the agenda and whether we like it or not, life has moved on to the rough and tumble business of politics.
However, looking dispassionately at the demands, I agree with most of them but don’t agree with the demand to restore the 1973 constitution. There seems to be a tendency to view the 1973 constitution as some sort of holy book which defies common sense. Whereas we may disagree with some of the subsequent amendments (and the motivations behind them), the fact of the matter is that constitutions are evolving documents (e.g. witness the number of crucial amendments in the US constitution) and need to move with the times. Also, poeple who witnessed the reign supervised by the 1973 constitution firsthand and saw the lame duck president Ch. Fazal Elahi in action against Mr Bhutto, don’t think it had the appropriate amount of balance required in a country like Pakistan.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Update: A very Big progress in BB’s assassination case
Aaj tv just reports that while BB was addressing in Pindi, one of her Jiyalas, who iwas standing right next to her was caught doing suspicious behavior.
His name was given too, which I forgot, he has been taken into custody by the government for questioning.
Got to watch the video to exactly understand what I am saying. I’ll try to copy the video next time, put in on you tube and then paste the link on this website.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
@answers70
1973 constitution is not a holybook,, we have no objections to change it. But to change the constitutional holybook you need the 2-3rd Majority. You forgot to discuss that part. As far lame duck president is concerned, that is how it works in a parliamentary system. Look at India, and you wil find President is a ceremonial post.
When people say restore constitution, general intentions are to revert changes made by the dictator. Independent judiciary and independent media act as check on the government. Independent election commission make sure that people elect their choice.
This whole balance of power between President and Prime Minister is kind of stupid idea.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 pm
@ Farooq Ahmed
i think u r talking abt this man and video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcNBYj-JOjM
it is there on youtube for last 4 days and lot of discussion already been done. Also it has been discussed on this site (pkpolitics) by many visitors. Dunno, how u missed this all.
January 4th, 2008 at 12:15 am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breaking News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chowdaries of Qatil League are having a run. They have sold out almost all of their properties in pakistan. Get dese bloody lame Bas**** before they run away with our billions of rupees.
Source:
http://www.aajtv.com/news/urdu/index.php?pg=newsdetail.php&id=2091
January 4th, 2008 at 12:52 am
This is a news release by the Ministry of Information about a secret conversation between Retired General Parvez Musharraf and his mentor. Our correspondent adds that the ministry might backtrack on it, the same way that the Ministry of Interior backtracked on its first press conference after BB’s death.
Devil: Hi Mushni, whats up?
Musharraf( retired general): hehehe. I was not able to do much. Just got one killed.
D: No,No,NO. You are doing just fine. No need to worry. Great job.
M: Really. I thought this was not enough.
D:: Well yes. You have to be more aggressive. But you are improving everyday.
M: Really!
D: See you started from Bugti, then the CJ, then the lathi charges, arrest, emergency, Muneer Malik, Tariq Mahmood, Kurd, Aitezaz , and now BB’s murder. Vow you have a long list to your credit. Not forgetting the atta crisis, and energy crisis coming up soon.
M: But everyone is blaming me even the US senators, media,…
D: How much I hate this media. Even more than the Pakistani lawyers. Why don’t you distract them.
M: How?
D: Kaala bagh!
M: But I have already used that after the earthquake.
D: Emergency?
M: That was 2 months back.
D: A rrest people
M: We are already doing that. Have arrested many people over the violence in Karachi.
D: WHAT!!! You have arrested MQM workers. What will I say to Altaf Bhai. Are you out of…
M: No. Not MQM, but innocent people. How could I even lay my hands on Altaf Bhai’s people.
D: OK. So who is next on the list?
M: I already said that in today’s press conference that a lot of other politicians are under threat.The agencies are working ona list.
D: That’s good. You can kill as many as you like since you already have a scapegoat. Just keep blaming baitullah or any one of those tribals that you like. You can even create new names.
Just keep up the good work. I am already getting scared of you. You are almost at the top. Could become a bigger D than I am.
M: hehehe. Thanks!
January 4th, 2008 at 11:12 am
econfused - I take your very valid points. I don’t support ad-hoc amendments made by dictators to further their various agendas but would also like (given that we are in any case talking about utopias) a more relevant constitution put in place by a broad-based unity government.
With regards to the balance of power, I don’t think it is a invalid concept notwithstanding the very important role of the judiciary and the media. In my opinion, it is even more important in our cultures where personality cults take on a much stronger life of their own. I would argue that there is indeed a balance of power in India - it is between the federal and state governements who have tremendous power of their own - wihch does not allow the cult of the super powerful PM to become even stronger.