Here We Go Again

Another promise from the coalition partners (read Zardari) that they will grow some marbles at last and implement the verdict that people of Pakistan rendered on 18th February 2008. What I find interesting is that there is no deadline this time around. They said they will impeach and they will reinstate but when will they do this humongous favor is anybody’s guess.

There are 2 point of views emerging in the aftermath of this new promise to the nation. One school of thought says that they should have reinstated the judiciary first and than the judiciary would have nullified Musharaf’s candidature on the basis of the fact that he was a 22 grade officer of the state and had no business running for the office of presidency in the first place, but this although legal maneuver, nevertheless politicizes the judiciary and it should be avoided as much as humanly possible.

Another group is of the opinion (and I reckon they are right) that the political players should show there force through the parliament and impeach this unconstitutional head of state that has become a headache. If they are able to do it than a very strong message goes to the shadowy characters in GHQ, PCO’d judiciary and the civil bureaucracy that NO MORE. No more will the people of Pakistan put up with anyone taking them hostage at the barrel of a gun. It’s been 60 years people and believe you me no one will blame us for haste or preemption, we have to set the precedence here so never again a dictator could conquer us.

There was somewhat of a disturbing silence and I felt they danced around it a little but never really addressed when and if they are going to reinstate the judiciary to the pre-November 3rd position. Although they would have to, have no doubt that this coming around isn’t happening because Zardari had an epiphany or Nawaz Shereef all of a sudden is nothing but goodness (he’s posturing as such I must admit). This is happening because there is tremendous public pressure and PPP knows it and knows it quite well that they will be a political dinosaur, a mere joke of the past especially in punjab and pakhtoonkhoa if they don’t put a stop to the tomfoolery of Farooq Nayik, Khossa, Rehman Malik and there ilk. How do you sideline someone like Raza Rabbani and Aitezaz and project these stooges as the face of the party is beyond me.

What will Musharaf do now? That’s a million dollar question. The only trick he got in his bag is 58-2b. But it’s really a wet firecracker without Army’s intervention, because sehba auntie or shareefudding peerzada can’t jump the gates of PTV and take over. Some are certain that Army has turned a new leaf, I am not so sure but I would like to be wrong.

I was listening to barrister Saif the other day and I swear to you when these little midgets are flaunting and making a mockery of the people of Pakistan with a sarcastic smug on their face, I totally get why someone would paint qusoori’s face black. Do they not realize that this is no time to act cute under the garb of legal ramblings? People are pissed and burning petty criminals alive. What will they do with abettors of a dictator, (God forbid if push comes to shove) should be writing on the wall that a blind man should be able to read.

I am against invoking article 6 because when you go that route for Musharaf than you should also hang all the ex generals starting with Faiz ali chishti. Even as a subordinate officer you are suppose to only follow those laws that are legal. When you willingly, gladly and enthusiastically made king parties - whether it was Q or IJI - and you oppressed & enjoyed perks of martial law as an officer and are currently living in mansions thanks to army’s influence than you can’t all of a sudden claim innocence & amnesia. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring Musharaf to the court and let the courts decide his fate and than he should be given a presidential pardon. But we must scare the pants off these macho men who have treated our constitution like a 2 bit prostitute.

Allah swt says in Quran “We don’t change the condition of people unless they rise and strive to change their own condition first�. We have to keep the pressure on in which ever capacity we can. I do feel a certain level of hypocrisy egging revolution from the comforts of suburbia USA. But I can’t help it. Pakistan is my motherland but please feel free to blame me for not being part of the struggle on the streets of Pakistan; you’d be justified to do so. My hands are tied because I have to provide for my wife, kids and aging parents but I hope to contribute in some small way even if it’s an insignificant article and little bit of foreign exchange. I think as expatriates the least we can do is become active in local politics so we can influence Washington to back the democratic forces in Pakistan, rather than tin-pot dictators who only care about there personal and institutional ambitions.

I have said it on these very pages before that reinstatement of judiciary and impeachment of Musharaf won’t eradicate all ill’s of this unfortunate country. But why does it have to be either or? Why can’t we have rule of law, food & electricity all at the same time? Is that really too much to ask in this day and age? Pundits who are nagging about people’s ‘real’ issues are in essence saying that if we don’t impeach the president and let him run amok everything will be peachy. Really? Is it too much of a stretch to insinuate that maybe and just maybe we don’t have aata and electricity because of contradictions, mismanagement and incompetence of past 9 years? I know PPP hasn’t delivered much in 4 months but don’t u think it’s a little unfair to ignore the shenanigans of 9 years and blame everything on a 4 month old government?

Lets decide this in principal that if politicians are incompetent than we the people will deal with them ourselves. It’s a humble request to current and future COA’s to stay the hell out of it. Islamic tradition tells us that the rule of KUFR can work but the rule of injustice and oppression is doomed to failure, all the unjust oppressors are duly warned.