Imran Khan at LUMS

Re: # 111

Tahmed Sahib:

Things are not this bad. What I do not understand, why Musharraff did not exercise President's emergency powers?

Indian, and U.S. constitutions, I know, provide for the President to acquire emergency powers that can temporarily suspend all or ant elections, legislative and judiciary acts. This includes rights of member states of the union, in case of America.

May be he is novice in this playing within the rules of democracy. Let him learn.

Indians are very good at it. They have thrown out state governments all the time, and suspended elections many times. Yet they would not do it when it was needed to throw out Modi in Gujrat.

Atleast once, even judiciary was curtailed. Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad Obliged, Indira Gandhi. Imposition of emergency is not unheard of in democracy. War powers Act empower President enormously. Executive veto over judiciary also comes through immunity, and ordenances.

I know you love your country dearly, it is not going to dogs. Your commander-in-chief and President Musharraff is playing very smartly. The world will reconize him as a world leader who triumphed over terror, and jump started the job left unfinished by Jinnah. Please no Jinnah - Gandhi on this comment. I greatly admire Gandhi.

Re: # 101

Hamidm Sahib:

Locus of power moves around top two, at most three power blocks, in almost any situation. Although, even three is a crowd, at times. This principle is quite consistent and universally applicable, in democratic, corporate or any other set up for governance.

In Pakistan's case, for now atleast, two slots are already taken, Army and America.

Allah had been drummed as a bogus joker in this pack of three till recently. Even CIA would like to leave Allah out for now.

It really is in America's strategic interest to add one more player - moderate Pakistani civilians. Benazir priced and sold herself well, as that attractive bride.

The third player, like it or not, is going to be America's choice, not Army's. Even though it is a bride for the Army.

Army had drummed up Allah (a la Zia-ul-Haq) as the third choice, this time they are not getting the chance to choose.

This role of America to get a civilian partner, is good for Pakistan to atleast on paper and in minds of few have Harvard's famous road-map to democracy.

It really is more of a concession to Bush under the gun and on the loosing side in Iraq. Your republican party, more than my favorite Hillary Clinton - needs Benazir to let republicans make any sense out of their actions of last seven years in that part (including Iraq). How else they can justify blowing several hundreds of billion dollars, and few thousand American lives. In addition, brought the U.S. dollar to all time low,, that your neighbors across the bridge can cross over and buy Detroit Lions now, with additional free U.S. dollars they get for each Loonie (sp?), what a name, really.

This is one of the few times, when Pakistan can really squeeze the best deals from the U.S. and industrialized west and their lackies in Arabia, so that you may even consider adopting Masadi and Romair.

Musharraff is doing just that. He may be incorruptible, and indeed brought technocrats to help run. Mr. 10% may increase at least 90% going into Pakistan. Every 90 cents counts. Armed forces to fight terror, is the best outsourcing beusiness Pakistan started. Not bad, whichever way one looks.

anil: #100 I have no doubt that musharraf is playing "very smartly". The problem i have is the game he is playing - i.e. destroying national institutions like the supreme court, stealing the basic rights of pakistanis (habeas corpus, the right to elect their rulers).

Canadian Muslims ask Ottawa to react to Pakistan coup

Posted: 05 Nov 2007 08:44 AM CST

The Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC), a liberal Islamic group, has asked the Canadian government to cease all links and cooperation with Pakistan’s army generals until such time as they return to their barracks.

In a letter to the prime minister, the Muslim Canadian Congress said it welcomed Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier’s “rebuke” of the martial law in Pakistan, adding, “Ottawa should use all possible levers available to send a clear message to the generals in Islamabad that Canada will not cooperate with a rogue regime that tramples over the judiciary and rules the population at gun point.”

As a first step, the prime minister has been asked to “impose a ban on Pakistan army officers and their families traveling to Canada”. The letter also urges the prime minister to summon the Pakistan high commissioner in Ottawa and convey to him the dismay of Canadians who are appalled at the imposition of martial law in Pakistan. “We urge you to inform the Pakistan government that normal diplomatic relations cannot continue unless the Constitution of the Pakistan is restored, all arrested political prisoners are released, and censorship on the media is lifted.”

hamidm: as you said before, you dont have a dog in this fight. you are comfortable in the USA. has it occurred to you that the 160 million pakistanis who actually live in pakistan do have a dog in this fight? maybe it is a bit more than politics as usual as you try to make it - maulvis have become more and more in power during musharraf's rule over the past 8 years, with lal masjid maulvis actually become law givers until they crossed the line and picked up chinese women; hundreds of pakistanis have been "disappeared" by musharraf as he tries to cull favor with the west by claiming to be picking up terrorists.

so, while you are welcome to have fun watching police beat up protestors with sticks, but dont for one minute think that you are any smarter than any of those thousands of brave pakistanis fighting to save their country from this monstrous tyranny. you are merely safe and sound in the US. That is all.

....... in a couple of weeks tahmed (along with george bush and the bum on 34th st and 7th av) will be taking credit for 'convincing' mushy to get back on track ......

Re: # 105

tahmed,

.... et tu ?!! ...... man! you need to get out more often ......

....... this is a golden oportunity for imran khan to get recognized as a serious politician - he should go out there and at least get a bloody head ....

Ras: Thanks for posting. Expatriate Pakistanis who think they owe something to the country they were raised in need to assure those bravely fighting for tyranny in Pakistan that the are not alone.

Ras: Thanks for posting. Expatriate Pakistanis who think they owe something to the country they were raised in need to assure those bravely fighting for tyranny in Pakistan that the are not alone.

Re: # 102

ras mian,

...... i keep on telling you guys not to fret - this is all drama baazi ....... bb will be the pm in a couple of months if she can get enough seats (that is why pervez elahi is in a panic)

....... relax and enjoy the tamasha of lawyers being beaten up - the fools deserve it for not staying home and buying a dish so that they can see sombody else being beaten up instead ......cheap bastards!

For those interested in what is going on and missed this:

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/asia/july-dec07/pakistan_11-05.html

Re: # 100

anil mian,

..... you can gage what is happening by simply looking at the statements of some of the politicians :

bb just wants musharraf to doff his uniform and hold elections on time (which he will)

fazloo is blaming the other mullahs for resigning from the provincial assembly and bringing on the emergency - he might end up as the 'compromise' candidate for pm and make pakistan the laughing stock of the world (as if romair wasn't enough!)

the chores of gujrat are spewing venom against bb because they are worried about holding on to their rustled cattle

mqm is simply trying to hang on to karachi - they have already conceded sindh to ppp

.......... the only politicians actually protesting are those who don't have a dog to put in this fight - imran khan and the jokers of mansoora ........ nawaz sharif is still a wild card - if mushy lets him come back, he will be dancing to the organ grinder ..........

.......... sub bakwas hai ! .....or as they would say in english, BFD!

Re: # 99

Hamidm sahib:

The only difference is that I called it Musharraff's smart play - "The partnership is thus intact."

Dilwale dulhaniya le jaate hain.

Re: # 94

dulla mian,

... you got it! .... everybody is getting worked about nothing ...... all kinds of conspiracy theories are flying around when all musharraf wanted to do was remain as the president, hold a 'fair and free' election, get a hung parliament and get everyone to shut up for the next five years ..... unfortunately, foolish lawyers and the secular 'civil society' are upsetting his apple cart ..... only the jihadis are playing their expected role by huffing and puffing and blowing themselves up .......

... c'mom guys, stick with the program!

"We want Islamic law because Musharraf cannot suspend Islamic law". (Sirajudin, Taliban spokesperson)

He has a point!