Military, Musharraf and Magic

Time for Field Marshal Romair to trot out his statement that Pakistanis never elect any of their fundamentalists to their National Assembly unlike the horrible Hindoos who elected the BJP. From the BBC:

[Islamic parties surge in Pakistan poll

Islamic fundamentalists have made a strong showing

Anti-American Muslim fundamentalist parties are making a surprisingly strong showing in Pakistan`s general elections.
With more than a third of the results counted, the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), or United Action Front, has won at least 27 seats.]

Ref Prem #33

[Hate to say it, but I agree with Romair # 29.]

I knew you would rush up to kiss the Field Marshal`s butt the moment there was any sign of him bending.

So, it is wonderful that Pakistanis elect Islamic fundamentalists to their National Assembly but it is so baaaad when Indians elect the BJP to power? Please explain that to me.

Ref hamidm2 #25

[.......... mary, mother of god, help us ! .... vishnu, mohammad, zoroaster, musharraf help us!.......... ya alah, we are doomed!]

In your rush to seek the help of all and sundry (this a uniquely Hindu trait who have no problems going to some dargah, church or temple in the hope that they haven`t missed out on any of the bases -- I have to doubt your claims to be a pure-blooded Pathan descended from Abdal Ali), you seem to have forgotten that it is Muhammad and Musharraf who have landed Pakistan in the pickle it finds itself in today.

How about Ganesha, you know, the one with the elephant head?

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I invite everyone to put Field Marshal ROmair`s name in the search box and read his replies over the years. Each and everyone of his brilliant analysis has proven to a be piece of crap. And even now he has the nerve to show up with nary a sign of repentance.......Anyone who takes this guy seriously needs serious medical attention.

later
-sac

hamidm2

I am not happy at the outcome either. But one has to be dumb as a mule not to have thought that this would have happened. Extremism always gives rise to further extremism and never eradicates it. I have been crying since 9/11 and even before that political issues must be resolved politically, but at that time you ilk was gleaming to see that your political opponent`s arses were being kicked at the time.

Welcome to new Algeria.

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Hate to say it, but I agree with Romair # 29.

People should be free to make their decisions. That is exactly why Musharraf`s decisions to bar Benazir and Sharif from politics and to disfranchise 98% of the population by privileging graduates were - like much else the man has done in the last few years - criminal. But now that people have spoken, we must respect them.

If they have made a wrong decision (as some of us may believe they have), they will see a need to correct themselves. If not, we may learn a lesson in humility. We don`t always get things right.

P.S.: I was wrong in my suspicions about Musharraf`s determination to select Imran Khan. Imran Khan seemed such a perfect person to suit the needs of Musharraf`s army.....Yet, for whatever reason, I was proven wrong...an occurrence as rare as a grey cell in Imran`s head (ha!), but the Lord be thanked. He certainly IS merciful.

#29 Romair: ``Pakistanis have voted.`` which ones??? figures show only 25% turned up at the polling booths...when a fraction of the nation decides to vote i dun think that`s fair do u? and its certainly not fair when people rigged some of the polling booths...its not fair when the ladies at the polling booths did not even bother to look at our id cards cursorily and conveniently forgot to mark thumbs...38 friggin seats in the National Assembly...do u think we all want that??

rgds,
samina

TRUTH EMERGES,

At last one good thing has come out of the elections. The ilks of tahmed have maintaned that there are only 3 percent jihaedeists in pakistan and the blasphemy laws and honor killing laws are only the creation one bad zia. The general support for the above laws by the educated and a large majority have never been accepted by the ilks of tahmed and romair. Now at last there is proof, even in the allegedly educayed capital, the jihadists have come out in support of the laws they so much adore.

It is heartening to see pakistan fullfilling the true destiny of TNT, emerging as a truly jihadic country, a country created for islam.

Zubeida Jalal wins!!!!

All I can say is, ``Yeah baby.``

There are three individuals I have admired in Pakistani poltics: Imran Khan, Omar Asghar Khan, and Zubeida Jalal. All three are philanthrapists of international standard. They are charismatic, articulate, highly educated, progressive, urban and very efficient and effective.

Omar Asghar Khan was assasinated recently, otherwise he would have won by a landslide in the Hazara area, where his NGO Sangi has done great work against the timber mafia and for womens` rights etc.

Imran Khan needs no introduction.

Zubeida Jala is from a lower middle class family in rural Baluchistan. In this province the literacy rate for women is 2% (yes 2%). She is a self-made person, who became a philanthrapist building children`s schools in her area. Musharraf picked here up and appointed her the education minister, where she received praise even from the Bush govt.

For a women to win, to win in Pakistan against a man in a game of ludo is an achievement. For her to win, as an independent candidate, in the heartland of Baluchi sirdars is amazing.

Hats of to Zubeida. She is still in her early forties. I will have to add her to my list of heroes.

These elections have been hailed, so far, by all international agencies as being fair. The fact that these agencies were there to begin with, indicates that the elections would be fair. On top of that, the fact that Musharraf`s biggest opposers, the maulvi brigade has won more than it could have dreamed is a good indication, that the elections are fair. If the elections are rigged, then it was a terrible attempt at rigging, because the opposition has ended up winning.

The only purpose of elections is to be fair. After that any self-respecting person should accept the results, as the wish of the people. The aim of elections is not to force others to vote for your candidate. It is just to vote for your own candidate, and to respect the other person`s views. Anyone unwilling to accept this, is not a democrat. Such individuals have their own agendas and want everyone to follow them, regardless of what the people want. This is why religionatics and secularatics are dangerous. Their philosophy is my way, or the highway. One can see many of them emerge from the woodworks now on this site. The success of the religious parties is biting them in the ass. So much for their version of democracy. I don`t support the religious parties, but as a democrat, I am happy to accept their victory. They have won fair and square. They will now be the fourth largest group in Pakistani politics.

Some interesting trends:

- The maulvi brigade won in two provinces (Baluchistan and NWFP). Most seats they have ever won.

- People have rejected the provincial parties (ANP, Baluchi sardars), and have voted for national parties.

- PML (Q) did not win the most seats. PPP did. This was kind of expected.

- MQM has lost its stranglehold on Karachi, and JI has made a comeback there.

- PML(Q) lost to PML(N) in Lahore. However, maulvis have won some seats there as well.

Now, Pakistan politics is divided between four groups (PML(N), Q, PPPP and MMA). Previously, it was divided into five power groups (PML, PPP, MQM, ANP and Baluchi sirdars). Anyone who thinks Pakistan was a two party democracy knows very little about Pakistani politics. Provincial and urban Sindhi parties always had a powerful third and fourth group.

I am very happy to see the feudals lose in Baluchistan and NWFP. I am also happy to see MQM lose its stranglehold on Karachi. I am also happy to see Lahore politics change. The bad part is that all these changes have been brought about by the maulvi brigade. I would have like PTI to bring about these changes. However, while I think the maulvi brigade`s leadership is composed of hypocrits, I will still take them over the feudals anyday. They are far more democratic and lower middle class than the feudal parties. Since Pakistan is not a maulvi country, I am quite sure the maulvi brigade will have to moderate its extremist stances, in a coalition govt. It will also be a kick in the pants to parties like the MQM etc. to get their act together.

I have been rooting for six individuals in these elections. They are Imran Khan, Zubeida Jalal, Aitezaz Ahsan, Haleem Siddiqui, Omar Asghar Khan`s (marhoom) brother and Ayaz Amir. All these candidates are from six different parties. I have written in support of them before, and I have followed or know all of them. These people need to take leadership positions in Pakistan, and within their own parties. So far, from the news, Imran (the leader of the party I support) and Aitezaz (a family friend) have won. Lets hope the others win also.

SameerJB: you need to learn to respect the wishes of Pakistanis, and not attempt to force them to accept your desires. If you want to do the later, you need to participate in politics, or support candidates actively, like some of us (me) have done.

I really fail to understand your definition of democracy, and your attempts to make fun of religion and of Pakistan. You are a self-proclaimed Buddhist. That is fine. It is your choice, but that does not give you a right to badmouth Islam, with your jest at Khandaq`s etc. You have opted to leave Pakistan. Again your choice. But again, why badmouth Pakistan.

Pakistanis have voted. And they have selected their leadership. You should learn to respect their opinion. My party (PTI), a party that I actively support, not just through passive comments, hasn`t won much. But I am not going off on a tirade, making fun of Pakistan and Islam and everyone else. As long as I know the ballot boxes weren`t rigged, I accept the views of fellow Pakistanis, for not electing PTI members. Even the Musharraf govt., which is effected directly by these elections, has accepted the choice of the people. Why exactly do you think, you have a right to not accept it?

The people of Pakistan should do what they want. Not what you want. After all, they are living there and are electing their own leadership. You are not even living there, and are directly effected by their decisions. You will be more effected by whether Gore or Bush is elected.

Isn`t democracy for, by and of the people. Or is it for, by and of SameerJB?

I`ll be interested in the analyses as to the good performance of the MMA. While I doubt (and I`ll keep doubting until the final result is in) that they`ll make enough to form the government, they`ve done a darn sight better than ever before, even if they get no more seats than they have now. Difficult to blame this on government patronage, as it is hardly in Musharrafs interest to have them dominant. Rising anti-Americanism? Well, maybe.. more to do with Iraq and Palestine than Afghanistan and Kashmir? Possibly.
I suspect, though, that the final analysis will show it to be due to the mindset of Temporal, Sameer et al. The `moderate/progressive/liberal/call `em what you will` minded got convinced `Why bother?` and stayed at home, leaving it to the more simple (and narrow minded) to go out and be bothered to vote. And vote, of course, for their men of the beards. Not unlike voter patterns in the last election, where the Pipians just didn`t bother to go and vote, giving us a heavy mundate of 17% of the population.
Mind you, those who didn`t bother to go and vote will probably be the loudest to decry the road Pakistan takes.

dunno `bout the still orderliness of some of us Pakistani migrants...and don`t necessarily know about the greener pastures....but yes, Pakistan has always been an interesting place in space.

How come Pakistan`s EC stated that Voter IDs are a must and there can no waiver on that for the October election but the same EC said no need for Voter ID during April(Fool) referendum?

What kind of an EC is this dude?