Just a Woman

Re: # 44

True!

No one can now reverse freedom of press, says Najam Sethi

By Khalid Hasan

WASHINGTON: Najam Sethi, editor of Daily Times, told a meeting here on Tuesday that no government will be able to take away the freedom that the media has won for itself in Pakistan through its long struggle.

He was speaking at a meeting organised by the Heritage Foundation to discuss the current judicial and political crisis in Pakistan. Shuja Nawaz, author of ‘Crossed Swords,’ a book on the Pakistan Army, and Hassan Abbas, a Boston-based Pakistani academic and author, also addressed the meeting.

Sethi provided the audience that included several South Asia experts with a detailed account of how the crisis had developed and why it was necessary to resolve it sooner rather than later so that the situation does not turn into one of chaos. He said the MQM, which had received a “green light” from the president to block the chief justice from addressing the Karachi bar, is the biggest loser today, especially in the Punjab where it was trying to set itself up. It is clear by now that the president, despite being advised by some to withdraw the reference made to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), is not going to do so. Benazir Bhutto is not going to return as she is scared of what the court cases against her might produce. She also has fears about her physical safety. Nawaz Sharif is primarily interested in Gen Pervez Musharraf’s removal from the scene. He said if the chief justice is restored, it will not suit the government, and if he is not restored, the crisis will be prolonged. However, if Gen Musharraf makes a deal with the PPP, it can work. There is still time, although it is running out fast. The window of opportunity is going to close before long. If Gen Musharraf decides to impose martial law, as he has once indicated by referring to “extra-constitutional” steps, it will result in “political anarchy”.

Sethi felt that an arrangement between the civilian politicians and Gen Musharraf is necessary to restore order. He said the war on terror cannot be carried on by a fully democratic government, nor will it be possible to proceed with the peace process with India, as an alienated army will see to it that both are blocked. Similarly, the progress made on women’s rights and other civil society initiatives by the Musharraf regime will be put on hold if not reversed. A fully democratic government will be susceptible to the influence of conservative clerics and right-wing elements. There will be pressure on the government for further “Islamisation”. He warned that if Gen Musharraf is ousted, there will emerge 20 centres of power, all clamouring for a piece of the pie. He said Gen Musharraf should see the wisdom and advisability of playing a “transitional” role in bringing about an understanding between the civil and military establishments.

Lisa Curtis, head of the South Asia programme at the Heritage Centre, who moderated the discussion, said that the United States should encourage Gen Musharraf to bring in a secular, democratic order in Pakistan. She felt that if Gen Musharraf continues to act in an autocratic way, it will be bad for the US, no less than for Pakistan.

Re: # 43

Point taken.

#88 Samankhan

Yes, ma`m! The list of the even dozen is:

BeeJay=bjkumar=Stan=Beej=CD_Lion=Delta_High=Beej.=BJK=bjkumar.=bj2=BJ003=BJ004

Most of the nicks besides ``bjkumar`` are currently banned.

Sincerely,
BJ Kumar

#92
Whats this?! Do ankhein, barah haath?!

LOL!!


What next?
BJ 007??!!

manto # 87 ``So your pathetic little attempt to use this to attack me as usual is unnecessary and wrong``

Dear Manto, I was merely making a point, not attacking you! Now please dont use this as an excuse to stir up a chowk mob against me. You are in Pakistan, I am in US, and so you dont have any advantage of ``daring proximity`` to carry out your revenge against me.

[What is sadder is that the security guard got riled up only because he assumed that Aisha was a syed...]- #87

manto...
do the syeds have a horn on their heads or noor coming out of their ears that even jahil security guards can differentiate a syed from a bhangi...please explain...

#93 Samankhan

[BJ 007]

No ma`m!

Ham ek, hamarey gyarah!

Buss! :)

``You are in Pakistan, I am in US, and so you dont have any advantage of ``daring proximity`` to carry out your revenge against me.``

Malik99, the self styled anti-imperialist, is hiding in the comforts of the US and citing it as a wall against revenge from the ``slave of the west``. Rest assure, I am not the kind of person who riles up mobs... but apparently whoever you meet in Pakistan, when you visit, you make a point to declare that you intend to bash my head against pavement... (because you don`t agree with what I have to write!) ..

Next time just contact me (yasser.hamdani@gmail.com) because I`d like to see how you do that.

Re: # 97

Manto - That was sweet :)

Re: # 95

Can somebody please tell me what the fuck a Syed is?

Burpinder,

It is Pakistan`s Islamised form of cultural lag called Caste system... and the Syeds are like the top Brahmins...

Re: # 98

zahra,

That is like the 10th time you have used the word `sweet` when it is not warranted lately! Are you looking for a shohar by showcasing your `non-sultaan-raahi` side?

kaka is impressed already.. May you be blessed with a shohar!

Aisha - Thank you for sharing your experience. I believe that there is no right or wrong how a woman responds to these types of incidents. And only the person IN THE situation is the best judge of the kind of response she needs to give. One person may like to take the hooligans to task. The other person may completely ignore the nasty fellows. None of the readers can provide any suggestion in that regard.

On a different note: I am a little unclear on the following:

[The Colonel said that it is hard for these guys to differentiate between the “type” of women they see. Some women hold men’s hand in the parking lot. What he meant to say was, this was a simple case of miscalculation. ]

Was this Colonel in his senses when he uttered the above? This sounds real silly.

Aisha your statement is misleading me on some points. This is possible that some bad guys tease some girls but keep in mind that a boy cant dare to touch/tease the girl unless she gives her an opportunity. This opportunity may be in the sense of obscene dressing, looking continuously at boys means to invite the boys in any sense etc. These are some examples due to which a boy is encouraged to misbehave the girl. I dont know who are you, hows your dressing, hows your attitude etc. but you can avoid such types of difficulties if you change yourself first.

I have a suggestion for you that you cant change all boys but yourself. Look at yourself first why did that boy misbehave with you and why did he not do this thing with anyother girl? It means, there is some mistake at your end, you need to improve yourself. If you cant do this, you dont have a right to publish this long article.

I am just beleiving on the fact which you have mentioned, may be you have hidden some realities. I mean this is one aspect of your picture. Anyway try to change yourself, I am sure you will not face this thing again.

Imran
Khi

`#103 by itsme5588 on June 3, 2007 2:58am PT
I have a suggestion for you that you cant change all boys but yourself. Look at yourself first why did that boy misbehave with you and why did he not do this thing with anyother girl? It means, there is some mistake at your end, you need to improve yourself. If you cant do this, you dont have a right to publish this long article. `

while i am no admirer of aisha or any of her works, but that does not mean that anyone has the right to take liberties with her.

what you wrote above shows that you are a typical MCB most commonly found in india and pakistan.