Where's the news?

Maybe the people have really wisen Up.

...they did came out on the CJ issue, and paid for 44 Lives in Karachi, because that for them was a geneuine Issue

...All Other Hulla Boo, and Lok Tamashas, don't interest them any more.

...Elections just round the corner, it would be really interesting to see, How really much have they wisened UP.

#2 Posted by Love2love
Its just a lot of billboards and shit not all that many people. But if I ever have to hear that horrible jeeay bhutta song again I'm gonna kill somebody.

Nadeem,
Thanks for this write-up. It is one of the better articles in chowk that I have read for a long time. While people like me have been hailing the role of the media, you have correctly pointed out the other angle of 'the great tamasha'.

A pro-democracy movement cannot be sustained by the "professional classes" and the media alone. Nor can it be sustained by students alone, as we saw during the Tiananmen Square movement, the Naxalbari movement and those in Pakistan (of which I do not know much about). But a 'movement' for democracy is a prolonged affair. A great case study is that of Britain. But let us not go into it right now. Suffice to say that at some point in time the unwashed have to get involved. And they will get involved only when they get to see a CREDIBLE direct connection between democracy and "roti". That day will come in Pakistan. However, before signing off I would like to mention a crollary to what you have written and it has to deal with the media and street protest.

Let me start by agreeing that the press is not out there to usher in "democracy". It's primary objective is ratings and profit. Nevertheless, in doing so they do play an important role in "protests" and it depends on "chance". Consider, for the moment, that people in Pakistan really want to take to the streets to protest. However, a large section would go out to protest if and only if they see sufficient numbers on the street (i.e. the probability of success is high). Another section is indifferent between protesting and not protesting. A few go out and protest. The crucial section is the second group. Indifference leads to random turn-out. AND THE MEDIA IS NECESSARY TO INFORM THE THIRD GROUP ABOUT THE ACTUAL TURNOUT. This is what happened in Berlin, the random turn-out was high. Unfortunately, in Pakistan the turnout was low. But it could have gone in either direction. But mobilization should continue. And who knows the next time around you may be lucky. In that case do not be surprised. The number of less-apathetic people would not have necessarily increased. It would just mean that you had a better draw from amongst the second group.

I hope another call for a protest is given before the dictator is sworn in again. No problem if it fails again whatever be the spin.

Sorry for the long post.

For Khuda Bux (or KB) & Friends who have gone from

the USA to greet Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto in Karachi....


"Jab Tak Sooraj Chand Rahay Ga

Bhutto Tera Naam Rahay Ga"


NFP, you once again have gone against the grain

and shared much wisdom. Write on!

NFP,

As always, great article.

People have no idea who and what these lawyers represent, ask their clientele and then it will be no surprise why this concocted movement fizzled out.

PPP is making some progress, lets see how this story unravels.

Once again, many thanks for sharing your ideas.

Re: # 13


http://dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\10\17\story_17-10-2007_pg 3_5

For all those who are hailing BB's return remind me of those goons who would never learn. This so called land of pure is full of people who would always be blind in support of their leader in spite of whatever has been done by her so far.

In any democratic country the party members question their leaders and pile up pressure on the leaders if they compromise on principles. This pressure acts like a feedback and governs the actions of the party leaders. Sadly this is not the case in Pakistan. PPP remains a party formed around Bhutto cult and workers keep on worshipping the daughter of their dead leader in spite of whatever her role has been so far.

If the cases against her are fraudulent, then why insist on withdrawing them. If Pakstani courts are "kangroo" courts then surely foreign courts are going to acquit our genuine leader. Every one knows she insisted far more on withdrawal of those cases.

Tomorrow I know Karachi will turn into "mini Pakistan" and compared to 1986, this time her return is also facilitated by USA as well as the military strongman.

Well done my fellow jiyalas, you truly deserve her and keep this blind support up so that there is no pressure on her when she comes back into power. And keep on calling all those who are daring to question her majesty's actions as armchair political theorists who are unable to comprehend the long term wisdom behind BB's shrewed moves.

PPP of 2000s is so different from that of late 60s. It is full of feudal lords and pirs. All the idealist element is long gone. However BB has a very powerful weapon in her hand- the political legacy of her far far better father whom people worshipped and support of jiyalas who think that she truly emulates her father who despite shortcomings was far better than her.

And yes she is shrewed, as she is able to understand that goons will always support her no matter what. Thats is why she has skillfully done a shady deal. And yet despite the fact that even the most banal individuals outside PPP know that her only objective was to get those strong cases withdrawn, she has people writing in Daily times about how well she understands the problems of our country.

Well I'd rather throw a simple plain common sense , masses did'nt come out against Presidential Elections because it was Ramadaan! and they still wont come out against benazir because they are all off on eid holidays.

elephant-

Very interesting take, good read.

Comparing the mass movement politics of the 1970's and 1960's today with present day activism is comparing apples and oranges. The old concepts of static borders, deep ideological divides and a monolithic state no longer apply.

A modern day movement may be smaller but that does not mean one should diminish it's effect. The state apparatus is also far weaker and requires less force to provoke a collapse. This applies universally rather than specific to Pakistan.

With reference to Imran Khan, the writer seems to have a deep personal dislike for the man, so whenever I read his name mentoned by NFP I expect the following bits to be quite negative.

Re: # 18 Today history is happening and all worlds eyes on arrival of Mrs. Bhutto.
Almost 90 years ago similar thing happened in Russia. Mr. Vladimar Lenin arrived from europe after exile of several years to lead russian revolution. He was self exiled homself to save himself from Tsarist military regime. Then he changed and affected russia and world.
Today after 90 years same scene is repeating only place will be Karachi than Petrograd.
Lots of people will come out to greet around million people just to be part of history. Just like lenin Mrs Bhutto is going to change Pakistan for ever for good and bad only history will decide. I hope is for betterment of country. So all people should welcome daughter of Quaid E Awam and wish her best luck and hope for best and prepare for worst is prudent welcome way.

Paracha finally fails to deliver. For a media person to not figure out what is happening out there is unfathomable.
Here is my take paracha, run with it.

Pakistani politics is like a soap opera with numerous turns, twists and sub plot with major theme changes. Seriously, you should have figured it very quickly. You got the Imran Khan part right but missed the rest. If you watch Indian TV, you will spot that it is an extension of Bollywood. All big shows are related to movies in one way or other because movies, songs, and emotional themes sell and Indian TV shows build reputation on what is already successful. Same is the case in the US but the US tv has built its own identity too.

In Pakistan, there is no other kind of entertainment for TV to build around and create a market for itself. They finally figured it out that politics in Pakistan is high ticket selling item and now they are selling it, building the audience and their franchises based on Politics. All Pakistani popular channels are primarily political channels. They have more news, more talk shows and some very aggressive hosts. Today I watched Faeza Dawood for the first time and I can see that there was no other way for this girl to make a name for herself, Even though she is clearly talented. Look at Dr. Savera. This is one ideal host for any show but she too is forced to talk politics.

You talked about Imran but you missed the clown of the this political drama Shaikh Rashid and what about the mullah who try and look very sharp but have no idea what they are talking about.

Buddy pay attention to these little things. The media needs the movement. Media needs drama queen Benazir and the media needs melodramatic kidnapping of Nawaz and I promise you they will keep this thing going or they will lose money. I can foresee that soon media will offer political parties money too for elections and the media would find more Shaikh Rashids to fill up the air time during the next few months.

I wish Main Tufail was still the Amir of Jammat Islami, He was the ultimate clown. He would have beaten Shaikh Rashid and Imran Khan both in TV rating.

I am sorry to say that you just don't know what the 60s movement or the 70s harampai was.There was no movement by Bhutto. it was all a joke until east Pakistan got in to the act. Lefty students used to take out ten kids and there used to be more policemen around them. After the demo on Regal chowk, student leaders used to run to the newspaper offices to beg the editors to run the news with their names in that. Some big name student leaders came up that way. Including Mairaj and that lefty doctor who is still underground ( I cannot remember his name now). At that time newspapers were the only source to build political name recognition.

Pakistan is going thru a situation which is not good enough for the short attention span, raised on sound bites generation. You appear to be one of them.

I have heard about market rates to arrange for people in India. I understand the rate is anywhere between Rs.1000-10000 with meals.

I guess the same may be true in pakistan as politics everywhere is the same. Anybody have this kind of info on going rates for masses in Pakistan?

I fully agree with Zakkk here. The major problem with NFP is his obsession with the religious right. He is deeply fearful that these powers may get into power and therefore he keeps on downplaying the lawyers’ movement as well as anything which opposes Musharraf regime. Although I do not endorse religious right but NFP should stop treating Musharraf as liberalism's last hope. His support for Musharraf manifests itself in various ways such as ridiculing the issue of uniform, satire about the significance of emergency and any criticism on president as Media gimmicks to attain more ratings. It seems despite passing of so many years his obsession with corporates is still intact.

According to NFP, these are not real issues and therefore any movement built upon on these will fizzle out.

I would partly agree that real issues are poverty, security and economic development. But current issues are also important as creation of effective checks and balances, reduction of power of army as well as president are necessary to create apparatus which would ensure that all the future governments do not abuse their powers and are geared towards concentrating their energy towards development. I know it won’t happen overnight but it will be an important building block.

Moreover if the movements have to be based on real issues to be effective and sustainable, let me ask one question here to Mr Paracha. Kindly let me know which movement has taken place in the past 3 decades, which aimed at addressing the “real” issues and which was effective also. And moreover if the criterion of truth is mass support than why he continues to claim that he is marxist leninist as frankly Pakistan does not seem to be moving towards a Proletariat revolution. When his own convictions are concerned, he measures truth through his own rationale and discards the fact that a vast majority of people do not accept those as valid. However regarding issues in which he is taking a contrary opinion, he is quick to cite lack of public support as a proof that the opinion is rubbish.

A warm welcome home to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto.

It has been a long time but she has not been forgotten.

The most important issues to address are Roti (Rupees 4,

Terrorism and the Return of Democracy.....

Who knows what the future brings but let us think positive.