When the Will of the People Poses an 'Inconvenient' Truth

Beena ji,

Vox populi, vox dei. The people's will must be obeyed whatever be our reservations about the people elected.

Well written.

Regards

Well said, but guess we as Pakistanis would have to bear with what has been elected, no matter how negative (as history shows) these elements could be.

Any government that forms under this dictator must be and will be unacceptable to the people of Pakistan. Elections have no meaning if democracy is not buttressed by a legitimate constitution. Any government which forms now have no other option but:

- To kick dictator out and try him in the court of law for treason and breaking constitution.
- Establish an election commission which is acceptable to all parties.
- Re-enact the judiciary as it was before Nov 3, 2007
- Hold elections with in 6 months again.

The deal cannot get any simpler than this; either do the above, or get ready to be guillotined. The corrupt, pro-western, oppressive ruling elite has run out of options of fooling around people of Pakistan any more. They cannot play the "Islam khatray main hay" card any more, because they are the one who are the biggest threat to Islam right now. They cannot play the "mulk khatray main hay" card anymore, because they are the one who have become the biggest threat to the integrity and safety of Pakistan. Doodh ka doodh, paani ka paani. There is no going back.

Urstruly bhai,

You are an idealist – somewhat impractical to the core.

a) PPPP made a deal with Mushraff to come to power to start with (thanks to USA)– so how could one expect PPPP to turn her back against Mushraff.
b) The fate of judiciary is very important but listening to some of the leaders of PPPP with the likes of Senator Latif Khosa (same chap who’s head was blooded) and Central Leaders of PPPP – they are against the restoration of judges.
c) PML (N) however is playing ‘topi-drama’ on judiciary by making half-hearted statements – they have this huge pressure from media and press – so Nawaz Paie is sticking to his stand – prorably this issue could lead to a split in PPPP and PML (N) coalition.

It's like saying Hilary Clinton is better for Pakistan and Obama is not - we all know who both are same !

Re: # 4 IB

Like I said the ruling elite has run out of options and playroom so "either do the above, or get ready to be guillotined".

As far as "deal with Musharaf" is concerned it has no moral, legal, or constitutional value; but rather it is unconstitutional to side with him. So once they (politicians) are in thru vote they do not need to oblige any deal with him. Currently siding with Musharaf is a political as well as actual kiss of death for any politician. The risks are enormous. I also agree with you that PML (N) is absolutely not serious about the re-enactment of judiciary. They are just paying lip service. The only people who have proven their loyalty to the constitution and rule of law are the judges, lawyers, Aitezaz Ehsan, Imran Khan, and some of the leaders in APDM (absolutely not JI). The political class has proved themselves to be utterly pathetic pieces of shit as far as the issue of judiciary is concerned. That is the reason hardly 5% of the voting population has come out to vote for these sorry excuses of human beings.

While free, fair and peaceful elections by Musharraf in Pakistan are very welcome, I am a little leery of accepting this as a fundamental change in Pakistan. This vote is more a protest vote based on basic bread, security and electricity crises they were subjected to in the last few months as the polls showed Musharraf going from 60% favorable rating down to 15% within about a year. People have responded by recycling the old, failed, and thoroughly corrupt feudal politicians and given them a third chance hoping things will improve. If they fail in solving the basic problems of food and fuel and security (a tough challenge by any measure), I wouldn't be surprised to see the same voters yearning for and welcoming another coup with a new general as a strongman. Let's all hope I'm wrong but we have seen this film replayed several times in our 60 year history. Let's hope the PPP and the PML(N)leaders are returning to power as a duly chastised and reformed bunch.
Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

Although I hate Mushraff now - I am not fond of our so-called democratic forces (PPPP and PNL-N). I mean I am sure - these lot will be worse then Mushraff in time to come. (fingers crossed).

The one good factor this time is that now people do not get fooled easily due to media/internet.....

Beena:
Here you say,"....My spontaneous response: “It’s surely not worse than a democracy which puts the fate of America -- and the world -- in the hands of a George W. Bush twice...."

I think you have exaggerated your ability to give a smart and a quick retort to the EMail which you received from an US friend. It is an ignorant remark. If you believe that Pakistani voters can be compared to US voters, you are dead wrong. US gave birth to modern electroral- a well thought about and a functioning democracy in the world some 200+ pears ago. .Pakistan might may have had the experience of variants of democracies. - Guided democracy of Ayoub Kahan, islamic one by Zia and now Khaki democracy of Musharraf etrc.

But Pakistan won't achieve democratic syatem of US in thousand years , my dear.!

Kamath

Re: # 9
Two hundred years ago, one of the US founding fathers Alexander Hamilton said, " The masses are asses". US democracy restricted voting rights to "white men owning property" for a long time. Blacks were held as slaves and women denied suffrage for a century. Even today, the US elections, legislation and policies are heavily influenced by corporate money and lobbyists. Neocons supported by the military-industrial complex have led us into a disastrous war that Nobel Laureate Joe Stiglitz describes as a "Three trillion dollar war". Let's see reality as it is.
Let's not get carried away by the hype of US democracy.
Let's hope Pakistan achieves a better system of democracy in a lot less than 200 years, a democracy that is responsive to the needs of its people and serves them well.
Riaz Haq, PakAlumni Worldwide

ok so i don't get it..if you don't want american meddling, why care what the american journalist thinks? at the end of the day, americans or anyone else can only meddle because pakistanis allow, nay ask them to.

......... has anyone seen imran khan ? ..... maybe romair, who was predicting his rise to power ten years ago, knows wher he is .......

Re: # 10 RiazHaq

“..Let's not get carried away by the hype of US democracy…”

True, US democracy is not the gold standard but has had a long working preparatory discussion, exchange of ideas between founding fathers before its acceptance and then a solid working experience for the next hundred years.

I do not where you got this quotation from Hamilton! He was never contemptuous of people or their common sense. Anyway, no need to copy American system, as everybody have their own unique mindset , culture and traditions to take into account yet keeping the essentials human rights and democracy.

Let us hope Pakistan will adopt and practice an elective- even a shaky one will do - democracy for the next 20 years rather than an elective feudalism. That would be a resounding success. After the election, the door has slightly opened and let us hope Pakistanis would keep it going.

It is good for the country and safe for the region.

Kamath

Dear Beena

Is it American influence that irritates you or is it the principle of foreign intervention of any sort? Saudi's pumped more than US$50million into NS campaign in the recently concluded elections. Now is that not interference? Its about time Pakistanis understood the root of our problems, we have to stop this blame game and looking for easy answers. When Rabita Islami is pumping million and millions of dollars into the extremist belt, how can we expect any reprieve. No politician can fight these extremists and live to tell his story, ask Benazir.

Nawaz "not-so-Sharief" who was not even part of the election how can he be placed anywhere in the govt. to be as instrumental as it is being portrayed.
He was originally against holding the election with his off again on again campaign for the PML-N.
Similarly AZ who appears to be going back on his word when it comes to Ameen Faheem doesn't appear to be politicking as he stated to the people of Pakistan.
We are back to the "bandar-baant" distribution of power among monkeys of the past, may Allah protect our homeland and save our nation from the fitnah circus of these so called mean & selfish politicians, ameen.

@BS
Nice article really insightful however i am not sure whether the article broached on the topic of military intransigence to leave politics or whether a military solution is (or Not) a panacea to our problems. Correct me if i am wrong.

@rf786
Foreign intervention of all sorts is unacceptable whether that comes through soft power - negotiation, pleading or through hard power - gun powder, Jutt (Jumbo Jutt aka F-16s) the wild wild west. Pakistan has been more willing to bow itself to the power of a largely uni-polar world than submit to the will of the people.. I can see that as a result of two reasons:

a) Politicians/Military Generals are not seasoned in terms of the real politik at play - We have been oft used and abused by the West but we always look like the love sick/love lorn puppy expecting our lover to change.

To take a more comical turn, most tv dramas etc depict the heer mahi kithey reh gaya sentiment where the lover is often duped by a cunning other who is more concerned with regards to property, money or other "conquests" and our typical romeo/Juliet roams the street in search of his/her lover.. So much ingrained is the whole dhoka but still expecting something pushed into our mentalities that we cant think otherwise. It is acceptable in world politics to hold no norms no moralities.. One should count their losses and move on and adjust to the realities of the world. The sooner the better!

b) The willingness to categorize funding into funding/assistance and other as "foreign intrusion".. Saudia pumps in money.. we say our Muslim brethren are helping us.. Similarly is the case with Iran.. Iran=Muslim= Brotherhood=Show me the money!.. Does brotherhood only arise out of the Muslim tag.. Also are our Muslim brathar.. really our Muslim brothers in the true sense of the word? because playing the devil's advocate anything and everything comes with certain conditionalities.. and the money of course pumps in to support splinter groups furthering the Wahabi or the Shiite Agenda across Pakistan.. (I am not saying all moolah goes to these people however some would trickle down to sustain such groups) Pakistan has for long been fighting other peoples' war.