Author: Ashfaq Hussain Shah
“We must remember that while the masses are on one side, there is also an entrenched vested interest that has been created through years of dictatorship or subjugation and these people are waiting to hit out at every single opportunity … through several different ways … with intrigue and conspiracy … [and] by violent means – beheadings, car bombs, assassination” writes Benazir Bhutto in her book Whither Pakistan: Dictatorship or Democracy? (p. 175).
Benazir herself became victim of an assassination bid on December 27, 2007. The revenge was taken by the people by propping up democracy through their electoral verdict. Now, the PPP is the leading party in the national politics. Nevertheless, waiting in the wings are the groups having vested interests in the dictatorial system.
Benazir was cognizant of the sinister approach of these groups – diverse and disparate apparently but united underneath. That was why; perhaps, she advocated transition rather than transformation to democracy. She was of the view that during gradual replacement of the military hegemony with the civilian representation, it was better to identify and neutralize these groups. Assassination of Benazir was an attempt to taper off the distinction between transition and transformation. Before the transformation stage could take roots, her husband, Asif Ali Zardari, took hold of the situation and besought peace which was duly awarded. Asif continued mission of Benazir and materialized the concept of transition to democracy. Thereafter, Asif can be found busy in installing a government based on national consensus.
It seems that in due process the major problem which is being faced by Asif is how to embrace the MQM in the folds of the government of national unity. Asif even disregarded the reservations of the PML-N – the main ally of the PPP at the national level – in this regard. Sometimes, it seems that the MQM is asking for a role bigger than its size and stature. Apparently, the MQM has one main advantage: it functions in the economic hub of the country, Karachi. That is why; outside Karachi, the MQM is viewed as a party which perhaps blackmails the central government. During the past eight years, another perception has been tagged to the MQM: it works at the behest of the President General (retired) Pervaiz Musharraf. It is relevant to the fact that a question haunts the Pakistanis in general that when Musharraf’s allies face problem anywhere in the country, why does mayhem erupt in Karachi which is then pinpointed by no one else but Musharraf himself?
The gory incident on May 12, 2007, tarnished the reputation of none other than the MQM, as the accusing fingers from the rest of the country were raised at the MQM. Outside of Karachi, its offices were closed forcefully; the office-bearers either fled or renounced membership of the MQM. The reaction from the north of the country was not only due to the perception the MQM had garnered but it was also because of the statement of Musharraf in which he condoned the incident and, somehow, appreciated the role of the perpetrators of the atrocities. Now, the incident on April 9, 2008, was a microcosm of the events happened on May 12, 2007, and along with that again came the statement of Musharraf, before he left for China, condoning the incident but declaring it a reaction to the maltreatment meted out to his allies, Dr Arbab Rahim and Dr Sher Afgan.
Manhandling of both Arbab and Afgan is condemnable but equally important is the realization of the fact that there still exists hatred in the society against the symbols of the former government which was patronized by Musharraf. It implies that people were actually aspiring for transformation rather than transition to democracy.
Still not decipherable is the criteria which Musharraf applies to fathom the depth of his popularity in the country. Moreover, it is Musharraf who is in need of endorsement of his November-3 PCO through a constitutional amendment by the incumbent parliament. The statement of Musharraf regarding the April-9 incident in Karachi has put Asif in trouble as to how to offer Musharraf a face-saving and let him continue as an unbiased President. Further, such statements of Musharraf are bound to bring the MQM into the limelight of suspicion, besides offering the PML-N a chance to disparage the PPP-MQM rapprochement.
Owing to such statements of Musharraf, some people may be dreaming of a possibility of invocation of 58-2b to dissolve the Parliament thereby offering them again a niche to survive. Nonetheless, options for Musharraf to stay in the presidency have already shrunk but it is not yet comprehensible how the MQM will withstand the label of a pro-Musharraf party in the years to come. Further, it is also a general perception that the MQM survived in the February-18 elections because of its ethnic tinge; otherwise, it would have met the fate of the PML-Q which has virtually devastated its political future by siding with Musharraf.
Taken collectively, the ethnic streak encompassing its pro-Musharraf stance makes the MQM eccentric and misfit in the current political dispensation. The MQM is yet to shed the impression of being a brain child of the late General Zia ul Haq. Moreover, it is not only the appointment of Dr Shoaib Saddal as the Inspector General Police of Sind but the gloomy future of Ishrat ul Ibad as the Governor of Sind also at the heart of the decision of the MQM to sit in the opposition benches, both in the province and in the centre. Whenever Gwadar develops as an alternative port, the leverage position of the MQM is bound to reduce significantly.
It is yet to be seen whether or not the MQM promotes itself from the position of an ethnic and pro-dictator party to a truly democratic party which is not waiting in the wings but holds democratic credentials to survive.
Ashfaq H.Shah is a worker of PPP-Benazir. By profession he is a Chartered Accountant practising under Shah & Co. Ltd, Glasgow and he can be contacted at ashfaqhussain_shah@yahoo.com
Please send your articles to “admin at pkpolitics dot com” for publishing.
Taking the point about Gwadar port, I would think of developing the Gwadar port on exceptional basis and integrating into the national economy as Karachi is. Sooner the better.
I agree with the author, but it must be remembered that the theroy of necessity initiated by Mir Jaffar Sharrifuddin pirzida shitan and shoe polisher of Army generals is gone with the wind. It’s 2008 and the wind are blowing in full swing and PPPP has a chance to work thing out of the crisis. Restoration of Judiciary will bury Army rule. MQM Harramis who blackmail the centeral government on the basis that it hold the ecnomic hub is wrong becaue the past PPPP gvot of Benizir Bhutto under the command of Nasir ullah Baber had handled MQM very nicely.
Don’t forget that Dictators and Dacoits and Bhatta khoors like MQM Harramis are the most coward people on earth. It takes courage to stand for Right and MQM the sons of baster ISI Generals always choose the wrong path, and if you review HISTORY, they always vanish and disappears like DUST. MQM will be burried in Arabian Sea, if there arise one SON OF PAKISTAN and say NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The author forgot to mention the remaining sentence, Democracy and Dictatorship; two sides of the same coin.
Regards
1) Good article. Reflects feelings of all Pakistanis.
2) I hope it is read by the people whom matter these days, especially the policy-makers.
3) Such good thoughts are available in Pakistani print & electronic media. I also hope that people who matter, take into consideration such views, which reflects the thoughts & desires of the public at large.
Since Admin has made a point not to publish my articles that reflect our real image, I have resorted to reply to the articles that lack logical consistency at best and intellectual dishonesty at best.
Will my friend Mr. Shah will define “transition” and “transformation”.? I am confident that he doe not know the philosophical, objective, and concrete difference between these two. James MacGregor Burns is one of the leading writers on Transformational Leadership. His seminal work on this topic is written in the book “Transforming Leadership.” Transformation is a word being abused by Mr. Shah and Mr. Kashif Ababasi. There is a difference between opinion & reporting and facts & perceptions. For most Pakistanis opinion and perception are absolute truths that deny open listening to other opinion or perceptions. These elements have the courage to deny facts as unreal.
Anyways the point is that, in democracy transformation does not take place rather transactions. AS the democracies are not based on I am right and you are wrong. Rather I have justified opinion with your opinion having the same reverence as mines. This is tough for our society that does not believe in democracy but aristocracy. Unless we all are equal in the eyes of law and state, no transformation can take place. PPP, BB, or Zardari is not a hurdle in this regard but all so called self righteous who think their religious, patriotic, and ethnic believes make them superior over other groups. Transformation is result of academic not political liberalism and progressiveness. This doe not mean rejection of any set of values rather acceptance of all set of values irrespective of the differences. The differences is strength not weakness.
We will (yes will) fail as any nation unless transformation of behaviors and attitudes takes place is bound to fail. Government is not our Saviour but a mechanism that ensures equality for all. All men are equal irrespective of religious, ethnics, social, cultural, and economic differences. Your life is as sacred to me & my family as it is to you and your family. The right of my opponents are as critical as mine. This calls for transformation. The rights of ordinary citizens are insured at local level. The restoration of Supreme court should translate into assurance of basic rights at village, town, and city level.
Problem is basic analysis of transformation is missing. Democratic leaders are most of the time transactional as the democratic structures requires that. However, any society that can tolerate the killing in the name of religion or honor can not be transformed or democratic. It can pretend to be one. We have done that. When religion is matter of state then suppression as opposed to transformation takes place.
BB shaheed had to use first 80 pages of her book to explain the Islam in the light of Koranic versus and historical perspective because the Ulema of Islam are nothing but ignorant manipulators using religion to their personal agendas. No sects in Islam considers other sect as Muslim. The problem is not that believe but when that translates in accepting deprivation of basic rights of opponents then transformation does not take place society. Only oppression, suppression, and manipulation is the result of such a society.
Please my dear friends, do not abuse words like transformation.
@Jawad,
Please send me the article again. You can always send me a reminder if you don’t see a reply since I have too many emails to reply everyday and sometimes miss emails.
Thanks,
Admin
@Jawad
The comment is mostly off-topic.
@admin
Please create space for people who want to talk off-topic, so it does not get mixed up with this.
@Jamshed Khan
No abusive language please. If Mr. Pirzada was so sensitive to being verbally abused, he would be someone else. MQM will not go away by name calling either. Besides, they may be visiting this site and you may be in violation of commandment #7 :>)
Musharrafism Iftikharism and Munirism
The day 9th of March 2007 is the memorable and historical day in the history of Pakistan, as first time from its inception, a judge refused to prostrate in front of the dictator. Rather, he challenged him and wrote a new history and tried to pave the path of societal justice for the posterity. Before 9th of March there were only two Role models (if one can dub them role models). Musharraffism and Munirism both notoriously and obnoxiously colluded together for only their own interests and gains.
Musharaffism represents the forces of suppression and tyranny. Military dictators who are unable to perform anything good in the battlefield, against the real enemy, are the conqueror and captor of their own people. They first prepare and make the grounds with propaganda, by using intelligent agencies, that politicians are inept and corrupt and then offer and present themselves as the saviour, rescuer, redeemer and so on…. of the country, reach in time to save the country. Authoritarian rulers, ostensibly, occupying as a liberator and using every autocratic measure to sustain and prolong their suppression. As they are not the true representative of the people nor answerable to anyone, despots just do not care about the miseries and wretchedness of the masses and try to boot out every logic and dissent opinion. Ignominious, reckless and unnecessary use of the Army to subjugate the people is detrimental to the very existence of the institution itself. Firstly, army cannot play its assigned role of defending the country’s borders. Secondly, when it is involved in the statecraft and straight away in the government affairs directly, it looses its support and backing among the masses, moral strength, and essential for the professional army to combat any external threat
Coward, myopic, opportunistic and materialistic attitude towards the power or hierarchy can be defined as Munirism. Conspirational attitude, in person and in office as well, twisting the facts to gain timely benefits. No respect of principles is the hallmark of the Munirism. With the label of “For Sale”, pasted on their foreheads, and ready to prostrate in front of the Musharaffism, Munirism, is the tool to contrive and machinate the path for the dictators as cahoots. To provide legitimacy to all the unconstitutional and unlawful acts perpetrated by Musharaffism.
Then come along the Iftikharism, the manifestation of the virtuousness and uprightness. Courage is prerequisite to remain alive in the annals of the history. With courage and audacity of Justice Iftikhar Choudary, couple with the verve and panache of the lawyers throughout the country, Iftikharism provided the drift velocity to stir and enhance the desire for the just society .This is the basic threshold to pave the way for elimination of Munirism and, resultantly, obliteration and eradication of Musharaffism. Before 9th March2007 the choices were very limited. All the forces related to the judiciary and lawyer fraternity were trying to be, or they were already part of, Munirism. And all other forces including dictators or dictator like politicians and quasi-democratic- representatives were cobbled and colluded under the banner of Musharaffism.
Now, at least, there is a ray of hope and light at the end of the tunnel. Statistics show that Musharaffism is still prevailing, though in a changed shape. but trends show that Musharaffism definitely be purged out of the polity of Pakistan.
Dear admin i am sending you my opinion.please publish it if possible.Ishall be thankfull to you for this regard.
Shahid Abbasi Birmingham UK
1 I also had a chance of studying the character of the the MQM type of people, way back in the 60′s, while I was in Karachi, in that period of time.
2. I always found them to be un-reasonable towards the non-Urdu speaking people, & they always sided with urdu spekers, even if they were wrong.
3. Did anybody notice, that during all these years, the MQM has been slowly & in a subtle manner, changing the demography of Karachi, by increasing the Urdu speaking population, of Sindh generally, & of Karachi particularly ?
4. One of their main purpose of having their own govt in Karachi & Sindh, is to allow un-hindered access & entry into Pakistan, to Urdu speakers from india..
5. Nobody, but who else, other than Musharaf could gelp them in such a purpose & mission. I happend to be on border duties in Sindh, bordering India
during the 70′s, & I noticed. un-hindered access to kith & kin of Urdu speakers, from India into Pakistan.
6. Their plan THEN, was, & is also the same,TODAY ; that by increasing their
population of Urdu speakers, & their numbers, they INTEND to out-number the Sindhis in RURAL SINDH, like the JEWS do in Palistine, & like the Hindus do it in Indian-held kashmiir
7. More later.
BB was killed by pakistan army on contract by USA. If we really want to get rid of US interfernce in Pakistan we should openly say it not only say it but should write to US admin about it.
[...] to democracy. … forgot to mention the remaining sentence, democracy and Dictatorship two sides …http://pkpolitics.com/2008/04/17/dictatorship-or-democracy/Scandals tarnish saviour elected to clean up Peru – Times OnlinePERU&8217S transformation from a [...]
really very nice article. writer is suggested to continue this effort on daily basis. in fact Pakistani people need your brainstormed stuff.
Leave your response!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Recent Comments
Discuss Topics
Blog Comments
Search