Message from Asia Society

January 3, 2008 . 9 Comments

Pakistan in Crisis: What Next After Bhuttoâ€™s Assassination?
(with Live Webcast)

Date: January 4th
Time: 8:00 – 8:30 am breakfast and registration; 8:30 â€“ 10:00 am program
Location: Asia Society and Museum, 8th Floor, 725 Park Avenue, New York
Cost: $7 students; $7 Asia Society members; $12 nonmembers
Phone: 212-517-ASIA
Web: Link Here
Speakers:

- HASAN-ASKARI RIZVI, 2007-08 Annual Pakistan Studies Scholar, Johns Hopkins University (via teleconference from Pakistan)
- BARNETT R. RUBIN, Director of Studies and Senior Fellow, Center on International Cooperation, New York University
- KIRAN KHALID, freelance broadcast journalist and documentary filmmaker of “We Are Not Free,” about media censorship in Pakistan (moderator)

The assassination of former Prime Minister and then leading prime ministerial candidate Benazir Bhutto, just days before the planned parliamentary elections, has brought Pakistan into even deeper crisis. This caps one of the most turbulent years in Pakistanâ€™s history with waves of violence, suicide attacks, assassination attempts on politicians, unprecedented public protests, constitutional crises, and the resurgence of pro-Taliban forces plaguing the country. This emergency town hall meeting will explore the national, regional, and global implications of the Bhutto assassination with leading experts on Pakistan.

Please join us at Asia Societyâ€™s New York Headquarters or online via live webcast (beginnging at 8:30 am), to discuss these and other pertinent questions. Internet listeners will be able to ask questions and offer comments via email during the webcast. Please send your questions to moderator@asiasociety.org.

Policy programs at the Asia Society are generously supported by the Nicholas Platt Endowment for Public Policy.

www.asiasociety.org/events/calendar.pl?rm=detail&eventid=17026

{ 9 comments... read them below or add one }

khosa said:

I am glad that someone is raising this awarness abroad that Pakistan and musharaf are not synonomous and Pakistan needs real democracry like the rest of the world.

Democracy has never and will never flow from the barrel of a gun.

3 January 2008 at 6:28 pm

Azlone said:

What is next ? What does one expect? We have always been ruled by a dictator and we always would be. The difference is that one says the army uniform is his second skin while the other shrouds in a green and while shalwar kamiz and only chants the slogan of democracy.
The fact of the matter is that we are not ready for democracy.
If someone tell me that Benazir stood for democracy, he is living in a world of his own. The leader within PPP is nominated, never elected. If BB could not practice democracy within her own part, how can one expect her any different while she is the PM. History has proved this time and again. She is history anyway.
You see, it is much easier to rule a poverty stricken nation. In our part of the world leaders make sure that there is no prosperity among the masses.
It is plain and simple, it is much difficult to rule a nation that has all its needs taken care of. If all the people in that nation have food on their tables, have education, have jobs, their minds begin to think. They investigate, they learn, they criticize. They figue out what the leader is doing wrong. They realize the power of the ballot. All of these doest exist in our land.
In our country, during election, the poor sells the ballot paper for Rs. 50/- or even less. I fully justify this deed. Imagine yourself being in that position, poor with four kids, no job, trying to make ends meet while wheat prices soaring high. If those are the living conditions, would you care who becomes the PM.
NOT ONE BIT.
The rich and the influential would continue to repress the already docile poor class like they have since our administrative independence. It would take us decades, if not a century to win our mental independence.
So the bottom line is, it doesnt matter what happens after Benazir’s assasination, the living conditions are going to deteriorate, unless there is a bloody revoloution. We need a revolution, ANY revolution, if we know what we have to achieve.

3 January 2008 at 6:39 pm

khosa said:

My friend Azlone,

I can understand your pain and frustartion, but please dont loose hope as that is exactly what these generals and dictators want us to do, so they can hoard us like animals.

3 January 2008 at 6:59 pm

Azlone said:

Mr. Khosa,
I never ever had any expectations from the rich and the influential. Expecting any kind of patriotism from them would be farthest from reality. What bothers me is that our general public is losing hope, they are getting frustrated and I dont blame them. We need just a couple of true patriots….who can make a nation out of this crowd….who can give direction to the people. Unfortunately, this breed of people is a rare commodity (at least nowadays) in Pakistan. Trust me, we all know that our so called political leaders, the rich and influential are more loyal to the west and almight dollar than even to their people. This is why I talk of a fierce revolution. I see some signs of it. Unfortunately, things still have to get even worse, in fact much worse as they are now in Pakistan to give way to an uprise. History has proved this. We have to hit rock bottom before bouncing back.

3 January 2008 at 9:19 pm

kinnare said:

Azione, it take time to mature, it takes time for tree to grow. what Pakistan Army and establishment has been doing it that as soon some sow the three they chop it of. that is what struggle is. Right from Liaquat Ali khan they never allowed politician and political parties to operate and nurture them self. PPP could have democracy but just wonder since the day of inspection in Hala 1967 they are on run General Ayub khan was the first dictator to chop head of their worker.

How about other political worker do you know that GM Syed introduced the bill of Lahore resolution in Sindh assembly. It is only assembly in Pakistan which have adopt Lahore resolution But what we did with GM Syed. kept under House arrest for whole his life. what a pity.

3 January 2008 at 10:12 pm

jojo said:

Azlone, you are quite true in your assesment. May Allah help us in right direction, aameen.

3 January 2008 at 11:30 pm

abz said:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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

4 January 2008 at 12:13 am