Mass Difference: The Bhuttos and Civil Society

Multiple personality syndrome is what great number of Pakistanis suffer from, one personality for the public and another for personal consumption.
The primary criteria for creating Pakistan was based upon acquiring a homeland for "Muslims", those who vowed to found Pakistan always identified it to be a homeland for Muslims. Now that we have it Muslims are still here but Islam is discarded, Islam is not only about praying towards Kabatullah five times a day but it goes farther and offers a complete code of life for those who consider to be faithful to Islam.
Violation of Islamic codes be it by the ruler or ruled ones be it in private or public, it is a public matter, when one choses an individual to lead prayers the criteria is to assure that the leader is of appropriate character.
Up until 70's if one applied for a civil service career his/her background was investigated by the concerning authorities the references provided in the applications were checked and interviewed before offering the position. Similarly in that era when one applied for passport an investigative officer used to visit and interview the neighbors and acquaintances.
With regards to jobs this is practice is in convention in the USA even today.
If the nation of "infidels" (as labeled by most Muslims) if this can be practiced in USA what is the big deal if the character of a politician wishing to lead the nation of Muslims is scrutinized?
If we being a nation of Muslims claiming to be Islamic Republic are looking to find ways to separate our personalities at work and afterwards then what we are exercising is known as hypocrisy by the standards of our very own faith.
Hello! where are you?
One cannot ride two horses at the same time.
Similarly we canot maintain dual or multiple personalities leading a public and private life differently and unless we give up this fantasy we will never be successful in our lives.
Walah Alam bil thawab

people who do not even spare the sad occasion of death,and say unkind things, do not want to just hurt.they want to ensure that they unlike the sensitive folk, will not bend even a sliver from their rigid outlook;sothat they may not speak forgivingly about the deceased.which quality (forgiveness) an occasion of death is known to provide to many normal thinking people, even if they had differences before.such people want to shock others, more than anything else.there is something much more wrong with these people than simply wanting to hurt and be unkind.
‘evolutionary struggle’- a fascinating term. as we know what evolution is, why would ‘evolutionary’ be viewed and acknowledged in the past only?evolutionary changes take place anyway even without conscious struggle.and this changing process results in stages which can be identified-a sure prognostic view! your description of the classes which influence socio-political change, is accurate and interesting and helps one to get such a view. things should grow better towards a higher state of development, ought they not? that’ s evolution!

Okay now - in our history class, we are told that ZAB was responsible for 1971. He was, but so were everyone else at that time.

Dear Mr Paracha

I agree with many of your concerns but not with the analysis/theory you present. If you look up the term "bourgeois" in dictionery, some of the meanings are " middle-class; conventionally respectable and unimaginative, humdrum; selfishly materialistic; capitalistic, reactionary..". I wonder why we need to complain then...

As regards the populist party theory that you've suggested, I beg to diasagree ... Populist parties do not operate on the BUSINESS MODEL of an anarchy... If we let people choose their leaders in the real sense, I don't think we would see many of the faces we now see. Lack of political will of the majority, and vested interests of some .... that is the political scenario of Pakistan these days in my opinion. Of course I am no authority on the subject.

Needless to re-iterate that it was a very sad incident at the december end. I wish the nation dealt with it with a much greater maturity.

#11 Post: "Bill Clinton was impeached about having sex with Monica, wasn't that personal?"

This is totally inaccurate. Bill Clinton was never impeached!

Re: # 16
Excellent post Khazina. I am in agreement with you. However, Mr. MeraPakistan is exhibiting exactly the same kind of mentality Nadeem F. Paracha has written about in this article. But amanaslam has done well to answer Mr. MeraPakistan without sounding narrow and childish.

The discussions that should have taken place 5 decades ago are just beginning to take place in Pakistan. Countries gaining independance around the same time period as Pakistan are having discussions about 5-10-15-20 year development plans.We are still deciding on what to talk about. Big Minds talk about real problems while shallow minds discuss personalities. I have often wondered if our politicians, military and public alike have ever thought about the following:"If Pakistan ceases to exist, where will their politics be exercised? If Pakistan ceases to exist where will the military exercise their power and might? If Pakistan ceases to exist where will the masses exercise their ability to call a place called home? Ask a Palestenian or a Jew or millions of other people who have had to leave their homelands and the plight of these people.
What we need is to reconcile as a nation. PPP, ML (N),ML(Q), JUI, MMA, MQM must be forced into a broader reconciliation by us the voters.

your reasoning is completely flawed. whatever people do outside the office is none of our business- the distinction between public and private life aught to remain.
Also even if as you say it is our business; if alcohol consumption and "partying with girls" is such a problem for you instead of attacking bilawal [who possibly wont be in power until considerably later] perhaps you should focus your attention on those already in office.

Where else Clinton would do it, he was living in White House, what do you think that he should go to London to have an affair?
Thats why i said, that if someone is a public leader, his private life becomes public life and we can put that leader on trial and we can question him as that person can eventually run our country.
What do you think that he would not party with girls and wont drink after he come to Pakistan?

that is not true. The reason why Clinton was up for impeachment was because he was having an affair with monica lewinsky INSIDE the white house- inside the office in which he was supposed to be deliberating over matters of state.For that he had to be held accountable. That is a crucial difference.
Also you seemed to have jumped to the conclusion that bilawal is a drunkard which is totally unwarranted.

that is not true. The reason why Clinton was up for impeachment was because he was having an affair with monica lewinsky INSIDE the white house- inside the office in which he was supposed to be deliberating over matters of state.For that he had to be held accountable. That is a crucial difference.
Also you seemed to have jumped to the conclusion that bilawal is a drunkard which is totally unwarranted.

When you are a public leader, your private life becomes public life as well and we can question it.

Bill Clinton was impeached about having sex with Monica, wasn't that personal?

He is not even 21, so legally he could not even consume alcohol. Just give him couple of boozie and girls, he will be Mast. Should we accept anything from this drunk tennager who is so drunk that he cant even control himself, let alone running the party and affairs of country.

the link to the article given below is totally useless and irrelevant. People need to learn to distinguish between peoples private and public lives. It is none of our business what Bilawal is upto at uni and has no bearing on his being chairman of the PPP. While it is arguable whether he should have been appointed chairperson, it is definitely not so on the grounds stated in this article.

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NFP,

Once again, another provocative piece.

Some issues that need to be addressed:

1. Why is it that the major political parties have not been able to establish themselves in the major cities? Is it maybe simply because these political parties have become dominated by feudals who could care less what the middle class has to say?

2. Is it not the failure of political parties they have yet to provide a middle class leadership? Bhuttos, Sharifs, Chaudhries, Pagara etc etc have very little to do with middle class politics.

3. State machinery has effectively marginalized politics to regional level with the result: PPP=Sindh, PML (N & Q)=Punjab, ANP=Pukhtoon, JUI=Pukhtoon.

To Mr NFP, Fasi Zaka and all those who think that this was a "brilliant" take ( "fans" of Mr NFP and there are many who due to his controversial style think that he is some kind of a genius and a “misunderstood� icon ) , I would like to humbly direct your attention to some points....


1. While it is true that ZAB despite having actually originated from capitalist Ayub regime, and having a feudal background spoke the language of masses ( u know that mao cap, clapping above head, double meaning sentences...), nationalized industry and tried to induce equitable distribution of wealth, his daughter never had those attributes. Despite being no angel, that man stood against western capitalist interests and perhaps paid with his life for doing so.... His daughter despite having inherited the die hard political support ( which no doubt has continued because of ZAB's tragic death and people's love for him), did not even have semblance of that commonness..... she looked aristocratic and behaved aristocratic... the point is that Mr NFP you are wrong that BB could engage masses. Frankly you do not engage masses in that broken language and feudalist aristocratic behaviour and lifestyle...Moreover the policy of neo con privatization started in BB's time...
2. Mr NFP thinks that urban middle class opposes BB because she was able to engage masses... the evidence is 18th October’s reception..... Very frankly Mr NFP... that reception had the advantage of state facilitation and months of preparation.... When ZAB died, no one came out...because state did not want mass public protest and was able to stop people from coming out... the point is that in these times state can stop any one from forming a mass gathering...and allow mass gathering when it wants to….
3. So urban middle class opposed BB because she spoke for the masses... Mr NFP, Fasi Zaka (who unfortunately is too swept away by NFP's psuedo intellectualism and "cult" appeal...) kindly just look at the ticket holders of PPP... Do they belong to ordinary class... Now do not give me this bullshit that PPP had to be "pragmatic".... Frankly at least in cities, PPP could have nominated anyone...and yet it nominated upper class people even in cities....Mirza Ikthiar, Chaudary Ahmed Mukhtar are no union leaders.....they are mean industrialist...or real bourgeoisie bastards.... I would have accepted this "class" explanation from Mr NFP, had PPP nominated ordinary people in urban areas( mind u Mr NFP, I am not even raising questions about rural areas, where your favourite “mass� oriented party had actually nominated pirs and big exploitative landlords....just see the ticket holders)...
4. So far I have not pointed about corruption. I know you think that it is an anal “middle class� morality issue… But apparently it was important for BB as her only stress was on NRO during negotiations with your favourite liberalism last hope in Pakistan Mr Musharraf….
5. And yes ….. Mr NFP……You are still yet to answer my queries which I raised in my post no 6 when your article Cholesterol say Pak appeared…. I am pasting the link again for you and your “fans� benefit…..
http://www.chowk.com/interacts/12926/1/0/112#347868

6. Point by point answer will be appreciated…..
7. And please once again I request u to answer logically