Men in Khaki

Justice Chaudhary , again, lip-syncing Troggs – ‘Love is All Around’

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqYDbj_b7ns

#140, Kamath {``Salim_Chauhan: I say to you too. Take it easy and enjoy the show. You sit here in your comfortable sofa, polish of your whiskey and write between sips! Don`t you?
Enjoy the Tamasha. There is not one little thing you can do to help poor Pakistani brethren!
Wa Salaam! ``}

Kamath Sahib,
Thank you for understanding my feelings. At times like these I wish I was drinking again, but I haven`t touched the soothing nectar of life for almost two years - thanks to my wonderful wife. :) :(

I would enjoy the tamasha, were it not for a real fear of looming bloodshed for my brethren in Karachi.

Walaikum Salaam.

Re: bjkumar # 79

With all due to respect to the author, the article was more an emotional jab than an analysis of the situation in Pakistan and did not really address the basic issues. The unfortunate fallout of the crisis is that once again, we in Pakistan, are making the same mistake of hoisting our hopes on to a pedestal from which they will surely fall once more. The mistake in this case is that the person of the chief justice has been made into a hero and once more, we are wrongly concentrating on the personalities rather than the issues.

This crisis/situation is not about the charges filed against the chief justice of Pakistan or the dismissal of the chief justice himself, but hinge around the very basic constitutional issue about the legality of the reference itself.

The question at stake is who has the right to interpret the law in Pakistan; the judicial or execcutive branch of the government?

In my opinion, this is a unique situation, because the heart of the debate is not about sharia or liberal politics versus religious conservatism, but about consititutional law and within that, about the meaning of the idea of the separation of powers. The unique nature of the situation is that for the first time since 1947, a key political debate in Pakistan is being decided on a purely secular agrument of constitutional law and the issue of justice and not the ideology of Pakistan or the meaning of Pakistan. Whatever the final outcome of the debate, it will address the issues of balance of power and ``check and balances`` within the three branches of government in Pakistan.

Pakistan has a golden and a very rare opportunity, in the shape of the present crisis, to redefine its constitutional compass and to reassert the idea of the separation of powers that was constitutionally discredited by the judiciary itself in its legal decisions, since the 1950s, condoning extra-constitutional acts by the executive branch of the government. The opportunity does not merely come from the chance to revive the dead spirt of constitutionalism in Pakistan, but from the pleasant realization that the debate is being influenced and argued by secularists; educated members of legal community on a secular issue - constitutional law. It is for this very reason that the mainstream political parties or the religious alliance is not in the forefront of this debate and it is because of this very fact, the the politicans in Pakistan cannot use religion to score political points against the government, that this debate has assumed the proportions of pushing Pakistani politics towards a definitive point.

Will it make a difference? Yes; it will but only if the legal community in Pakistan is to able to argue the merits of consitutional issues and keep this debate limited to issues of justice and constitutionalism and does not allow the politicans to hijack this crisis for their own narrow minded interests.

Has anything changed that might a difference in the nature of political power in Pakistan?

Since 1950s, historically, the judiciary in Pakistan has acted in collboration with the executive to undermine the legislative branch but in this crisis, we are witnessing a new realignment of the judiciary with the legislative against the executive. Hence, the ratios of political power in Pakistan have already altered and for the first time in the history of Pakistan, the power of the executive branch has been checkmated.

I cannot answer about the future, but the crisis has already made a difference in Pakistani politics and from thesedifferences, we will see more ripple effects and one of these effects would be now the issue of the supremacy of parliament in Pakistan will have a constitutional momentum which was lacking since the 1950s` dismissal of the Constituent Assemby by the Governor-General of Pakistan.

It will make a difference, because Pakistani politics have turned a corner and whether turn will result in good or bad for the nation is another question. :)

Hope this answers your query.

Ciao

Hallo - interesting, however... I was hoping to read more about PIA and how the problems can be resolved. Perhaps, nothing to report on that front, given PIA is pretty much ignored now, huh?

-zensufi-

BJ Kumar: Read- Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry here is the info about administering Oath to general Mush! You can actually see the pictures too!

See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6462745.stm.

The article is ``Blood and batons spur Pakistan row By Masud Alam
BBC Urdu service, Islamabad Saturday 17th March 2007

Kamath

#148 by zensufi

PIA (having worked there for 5 years) was the only airline in the world which never had to struggle its seats. All its flights were always overbooked depite the grumblings over delays etc. This was because of the inflight service, and a loyal passenger base of overseas Pakistanis. This was also despite PIA being the most expensive on many international routes than its competitors. There was great employee loyalty as well because of generous medical and travel benefits plus job security offered to employees despit a high employee/aircraft ratio and low take-home compensation.

The downfall began in 1980s after the PIA hijack to Kabul by Al-Zulfiqar when PIA was absorbed into the Ministry of Defence instead of being an autonomous corporation, and every retired colonel or wing commander replaced professional managers in departments like stores & purchases, marketing & sales, flight services, flight kitchen, communications, transport etc etc., and the rot began. It was pure loot mar after that. And here we are. PIA is barely being kept afloat as it is the national career. Actually it must be grounded and completely overhauled.

Pew,

Thank you for the benefit of the doubt. I`d suggest you read the stuff Raman has written and decide for yourself if he is merely critical of Pakistani government policies or an out and out Pakistani (certainly of the Pakistani government and Army) hater. He is a prolific writer and there is no shortage of stuff he has written. Here is one particular example:

``There was a symbiotic relationship between Tricky Mush and Osama bin Laden. He created bin Laden and made him into the dreaded terrorist that he is today or was, if he is dead. He used him against the Soviet troops in Afghanistan and, in 1988, when a Shia revolt for an independent Karakoram State rocked Gilgit in the Northern Areas, he let loose bin Laden and his murderous tribal hordes on the Shias. More Shias were massacred in Gilgit in 1988 than in the Hazara area of Afghanistan under the Taliban post-1996.

The dubious ‘exploits’ of bin Laden helped Tricky Mush, till then considered a mediocre commando, upwards in his career.``

You can read the rest for yourself at http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/publication/idr/vol_17(2)/B_raman.htm

I think this goes beyond ``criticism`` and is clearly ``hatred.``

Regards.

Even the rats are abandoning the sinking ship

Altaf threatens to review ties with government

By Azfar-ul-Ashfaque

KARACHI, March 18: Muttahida Qaumi Movement leader Altaf Hussain warned on Sunday that his party will review its relationship with the government if the use of ‘state violence’ was not stopped immediately.

“We did not support the government’s action of imposing restriction on the press or its acts of violence against peaceful lawyers. MQM is closely monitoring the current situation and demands that the president and the prime minister should stop the use of state power, otherwise the MQM will be absolutely free to exercise all its options in the near future,” Mr Hussain said. He did not elaborate.

He was addressing his party’s activists and supporters gathered here to celebrate the 23rd Foundation Day of the MQM.

He said that the MQM had always raised its voice against injustice and it would continue to do so without any fear of ‘consequences’.

He spoke at length about the current internal political situation, the threats being faced by the country, situation in tribal areas and in Balochistan and the current judicial crisis.

With regard to the presidential reference against Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, he clarified that neither the MQM had been taken into confidence nor was it consulted on the matter.

Criticising the government for not consulting the MQM before or after filing of the reference, he said that it was high time to decide whether it wanted to continue working with the MQM, which always supported the government even in difficult times, or it wanted pseudo-friends.

However, he maintained that it was a constitutional and legal matter and all Pakistanis should leave the matter to the Supreme Judicial Council to reach a decision in accordance with the Constitution and law. “This matter should not be used for scoring political points,” he added.

He appealed opposition leaders to lodge their protest in a peaceful manner keeping in view the critical situation the country was facing.

He said MQM believed in freedom of expression and it was concerned over various government restrictions on the media. He condemned the police action on the Islamabad office of Geo News and recent incidents of police violence against protesting lawyers. The MQM leader observed that the government had mishandled the situation in Balochistan and tribal areas and the recent protests of lawyers.

He said that President Gen Pervez Musharraf himself had admitted that some conspiracy was being hatched against him. He urged the president to unmask the conspirators and to take action against them in accordance with the Constitution and the law.

He said that Pakistan’s relations with its neighbouring countries, Iran, Afghanistan and India, were not normal.

He said that the MQM always urged the government to resolve the issue of Balochistan and tribal areas through dialogue, but unfortunately the rulers did not pay heed. He said that the situation in Balochistan was not satisfactory.

He called upon the president, the prime minister and the policy-makers to give complete provincial autonomy and stop interference by the federation into the affairs of the provinces for the sake of solidarity and integrity of Pakistan.

“People of former East Pakistan wanted their rights and they gave them the country. I request the authorities not to adopt similar practices, lest instead of giving provincial autonomy you give them countries,” he said.

He prayed to the Almighty to grant wisdom to the rulers to take decision in national interests.

He asked the government to immediately release all lawyers, political leaders and workers.

Mr Hussain congratulated MQM workers and supporters on the 23rd Foundation Day.

A large number of MQM workers and supporters attended the gathering. The address of Mr Hussain was relayed simultaneously in 20 cities of Pakistan, where the party’s foundation day was celebrated.

Courtesy, Dawn - March 19, 2007 Monday Safar 29, 1428

#147 by ferozk on March 19, 2007 0:44am PT


Pakistan has a golden and a very rare opportunity


But Pakistanis won`t take it because they`re afraid that going against the military means showing weakness to India..Like it or not, India is a huge factor in all of Pakistan`s decisions..right from the one that brought Mushy to power..



we are witnessing a new realignment of the judiciary with the legislative against the executive.


They were aligned when their interests were aligned...Now that most Pakistanis aren`t happy about the whole disappearance in the GWoT thing and their military`s acquiescence to the US in the GWoT, the pent up anger is bubbling out..this isn`t about a CJ..if the current CJ who is being hailed as a hero had gone against mushy post oct 99, there wouldn`t have been lawyers in the streets protesting his dismissal...

Dear Pakis,

Nobody in his/her right mind would advocate dictatorship - especially a military one. Everyone wants democracy, but there is no quick fix, no cheap freedom, and no instant cure for insanity. Pakistan has NEVER experienced a sustained even limited democracy. Jinnah was basically a universally-accepted autocrat, a one-man show, who needed no ratification of his whimsical ideas. Muslims have an uncanny habit of elevating even the most mediocre of their leaders to positions approaching divinity.

Democracy means much more than mob rule. Majority rule does not mean that a vote can decide the life or death of any hated minorities, confiscation of their wealth, or designation of their community as non-Muslim, naPaak, or discrimination against them in employment, business, or education. There must be concrete, sacred, and inalienable rights assured to ALL citizens - such as in the Bill of Rights. There must be protection for smaller states/provinces, otherwise Delaware would have never joined the United States.

Pakistan has had only two orderly, legal, and fair transitions of power. The first was in the `50s when the Bengali-dominated Awami League and Suharwardy beat the incumbent Muslim League. The second was when an Urdu-speaking Mohajir COS, Mirza Aslam Beg, transferred power to a victorious Benazir Bhutto in 1989. Forget the fact that Gen Aslam Beg was a chutiya when it came to knowledge of military matters - he was the fool who considered helping the Bosnians achieve military success as a futile effort and bound for failure. But he did supervise fair elections and did not grab power for himself - unlike Ayub, Yahya, Zia, and Mushy.

The question to ask is what replaces Mushy in the future? Another two rounds of twiddle dee and twiddle dum will not do. The military must be there ONLY for the defense of the country against FOREIGN enemas - something it has NEVER succeeded in doing effectively. The military should not become a tool of a single province or ethnicity to lord over the rest of the country. The provinces should enjoy full local power - including taxation, police, education, and local legislation. The days of the One Unit and Basic Democracy crap are over. Will Pakis rise to the challenge or are we to expect more of the same? Throwing bricks, burning tires, and smashing windows are not the solution.

#152 by Salim_Chauhan

Even the rats are abandoning the sinking ship

Altaf threatens to review ties with government

Meaning:

MQM=RATS

GOV`T=SINKING SHIP ..

Guess you goofed up ... LoL

#155 Listen stupid Zeemax,
I call it as I see it. Remember that you are the jingoistic Paki Punju Paindoo ``my shit doesn`t stink`` jerk. Your perception of interactors is determined by your own bias and prejudice. That`s why you are so BORING.

Zeemax #155,

Zeemax,
Keep on displaying your PPP traits. You are guaranteeing a sad end for yourself on this site. Don`t forget there are Injuns lurking in the bushes and the next time you go to take a crap, you might just return with a premature load of sandalwood, strategically placed for future combustion.

#157 by Salim_Chauhan

Is Pir Saheb Altaf Bhai Bhindiwalla your boss or not .... ?

#158 ... contd ..

This SOB married a nice Sindhi girl from an illustrious family of Sindh just to chamkaofy his siasat and paraded her on TV ... then this SOB got a daughter from raping her and paraded the baby on TV too as if in this manner he becomes a Sindhi ... This SOB.

Listen ... he`ll always remain a bhayya and a mutarwa ... he`ll never be a Sindhi by raping a Sindhi woman ... this dirty greasy shitty despicable SOB ...

#159, Zeemax,
No need to get jealous of Altaf Payee - just because your Lucknowi nawaban left your sorry ass and you had to get screwed by ``Genghis Khan.`` LOL :)