Mass Difference: The Bhuttos and Civil Society

Babu Nadeem,

The subtle references to the Lahore and Karachi based middle class did not need to be so subtle at all. We know what their role had been and what it would be in future. These people were opposed to Mujib too who hardly had any connection with the feudal in Pakistan.

I would rather call them as JI inspired middle class that controls the media in Pakistan and is always able to project its point of view as the Pakistani point of view even though their connection with the land is only sixty years old!

Thanks Nadeem for writing a reasonably decent, though a little circuitous, eulogy to a deceased woman politician victim of a deadly violence against women -- despite some ear jarring jargon.

Unless the Pakistanis quit demeaning their own politicos of their own country -- and sugar coating with ‘progressivism’ a patently delinquent disastrous debilitating one-man dictatorship -- before the eyes and the ears of the whole world -- the whole world would not stop demeaning Pakistan.

And there is already a lot of demeaning for Pakistan and Pakistan’s L’Enfant de Terrible Musharraf in the pipeline from abroad in coming months including the prospect of an invasion if Musharraf is caught cheating again in not providing the services for which he has already been paid.

Pray that Hillary is not the next president of the United States – because if she is -- it will be not so good for Pakistan – just to keep up with the Georges she has to invade yet another country on her watch – and guess which one that will be -- just to maintain the newly established ‘tradition’ of American Neo Imperialism – if I may be excused for borrowing one of your jargons.

"As I heard Zaka painstakingly tell me about the kind of statements coming from young people on certain websites, I could only imagine them as being the off-springs of the viciously intransigent anti-Bhutto mentality that was first cultivated in large sections of the bourgeois and the petty-bourgeois in the ’70s."

Very perceptive . Indeed the past contains the seeds of hatred that have grown now.

{"... It was then that the soft conservatism of this class became drastically reactionary, especially when the Bhutto regime started initiating its various populist policies...
As the political representatives of the urban bourgeois battled Bhutto’s populist economic and political enforcements, the bourgeois and the petty-bourgeois became ready instruments in carrying out their social propaganda against Bhutto. ...It was this class that was again seen actively attacking Benazir Bhutto throughout her two stints as PM. ... therefore throughout the ‘90s as well, this class was largely involved in giving momentum to all kinds of slanderous propaganda against Benazir and her husband, Asif Ali Zardari....
This is not to suggest that the couple were angels, and neither was Z A Bhutto. ...But the bottomline is, just as Z A Bhutto’s sweeping electoral victory in West Pakistan in 1970 had gripped the bourgeois with unprecedented dread and eventual reaction, the sight of millions of common people coming out to greet Beanzir on her return from exile on October 18, 2007, left the majority of the urban bourgeois reeling under a mix of fear, disdain and confusion. "}

Paracha Sahib,
I guess you are saying that the "urban bourgeois" and their children were not concerned about ZAB's false slogans of "socialism" while he did nothing about the pernicious feudalism that had been strangling the country. Also, I suppose that the Swiss were in cahoots with the so-called "urban bourgeois" who were out to get BB as she stashed $1.5B or more in secret accounts, while Mr. 10% rotted away in jail. The "unknown female" for whom Mr. 10% had purchased the Surrey mansion went unidentified. Interestingly, the mansion was decorated with antiques from Taxila and Gandhara - a serious crime, especially when committed by a PM.

Instead of using archaic communist cliches, my friend, you should be concentrating on the crooks, charlatans, and divisive politicians who have brought us to this day and proven MAJ to be totally wrong in seeking partition. Yes, I am blaming Bangladesh on ZAB.

NFP,

This writing is as accurate as it gets.

But you are wasting your time on a number of

CHOWK "know it alls" who are living in a world of

make believe. Their intentions are good but they

have been brought up believing too much "Bull" from

the Zia era.

Please keep writing in Dawn because you can make more of an

impact there.

HP is quite right in his observation too. You do not

need to hold back.

Ras

About bloody time. . . . .Nothing further to add at this point that already has not been said.

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

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.

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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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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

This is totally inaccurate. Bill Clinton was never impeached!

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.

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.

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!

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