Analysis of Stunning Gains by Religious Parties in Pakistan’s Elections

Romair,

If my last few posts have ticked you off...do anything..give me all the gaalis you want...but please please please dont quote those urdu poets, hahn?!

A brown redneck from bfe Michigan like me aint got no cultural pizzaz to appreciate them...

Structural Optimism versus Personal Optimism

re: shankar # 36

shankar, you are trained to analyze the psychological motivations of men and women. And you do a great job of it. Individual pyschological trait of optimism, indeed, offers a magnificent advantage for those who have it.

However, there is a variety of optimism that has nothing to do with individual psychology, and everything to do with societal power relations.

If you look at the Pakistani army, you will easily notice that it (along with people associated with it in various capacities, direct and indirect) forms the MOST optimistic group of people anywhere on earth.

Why? Because its continued enslavement of Pakistani people is contingent upon the average Pakistani holding on to the optimistic belief that currrent structures and attitudes will bring him or her the ultimate deliverance, or success as the Pakistani army defines it for the nation.

I have been on Chowk for well over two years now. During this period, how many times have you and I read about romair`s declarations that ``Kashmir`` was about to be ``free`` within a couple of years? This kind of belief - and its regular communication to people - is absolutely critical for maintaining the legitimacy of the occupying army.

Such optimism (and such variations as that exhibited by hobbyty, since differences between hobbty and romair are completely superficial) is structural since it is promoted by institutions and then regurgitated by individuals. Its roots lie in the nature of societal power relations rather than in individual psychology. As such, its outcomes are entirely negative, with no redeeming societal value. Its function is to keep a nation happy while it is being pushed nearer and nearer the abyss.

Individual psychological optimism is entirely different. It springs from one`s belief in the inherent goodness of human nature, the belief that residents of any nation are ultimately intelligent, capable, independent human beings; that these intelligent capable people will one day see what is good for them; and will assert themselves. This belief sets a great store by the power and abilities of any people. The person who, for me, best represents this optimism is tahmed. This kind of optimism deserves great respect, and everybody`s support.

Since these two kinds of optimism are radically different in both their origins and their desired futures, they are bound to ultimately clash. It is in this clash, that I see my optimism. I think individual optimists in Pakistan and individual optimists in India should join hands, and help each other against structural optimists whose causes and interests are radically different from ours.

Ref Several posts of the Field Marshal

There is no way anyone could have said this better than Khalid Hasan. From the current issue of The Friday Times:

Here comes the hirsute brigade

Khalid Hasan

The Americans are no less worried by the election gains of the MMA than Pakistan’s barbers and hairdressers. Women are to be required to wear that awful thing called the hijab. Since the world began, women have tried to find new ways of beautifying themselves, and that is their privilege. The hijab is one invention that immediately turns a woman into something unbearably drab. If you put a hijab on Marilyn Monroe, she would be indistinguishable from, say, the late Phoolan Devi

ll things good and bad come to an end, and so have the elections. What is to follow is of course another matter. There may be uncertainty in the air but of one thing we can be certain. This is bad news for barbers. The hirsute ones are coming. General Pervez Musharraf who takes credit for everything, done and undone, true to form, has also taken credit for this phenomenon.

No longer can Pakistani representatives in Western capitals begin their conversations with, “But you know the religious parties have never taken more than two or three slots in parliament.” This standard opening served our diplomats and visiting delegations splendidly for many, many years. Often, it was able to clinch an argument and even during the years of Zia-ul-Haq when this dragon’s harvest was being well and truly sown, this gambit served to deflect criticism that Pakistan was going fundo. Well, surprise, surprise. Pakistan has gone fundo and Zia-ul-Haq rests in peace at last.

How can we ever express our gratitude to the Pakistan Army? Whatever we are today, we are because of our Bahadur Mussalah Afwaj (stirring sounds of the national anthem whose words 99.9 percent of the population of Pakistan is unable to understand, rise in the air. Stand up everybody). I think this grateful nation should pin another medal on the General Musharraf’s chest, though it appears to be running out of space. Perhaps he should be respectfully asked to put some of them in storage, as museums do with their art collections.

The Americans who have maintained near silence over the election results are no less worried about the future, speaking privately than, say the All Pakistan Anjuman-e-Araish-e-Gaisoo, or in less ornate language, Pakistan’s barbers and hairdressers. Between Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Maulana Sami-ul Haq “Sandwich”, Maulana Shah Ahmed Noorani of the India-ink beard, Prof Sajjad Mir who used to be perfectly normal once, believe it or not, should have at least a donkey load of hair, give or take a few kilos. It is hard to believe today that this country was created by that elegant, immaculately dressed gentleman Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Are they going to put a beard on his face as well? After all, a beginning has already been made by the federal secretary with his directive that all who draw their salary from the exchequer begin wearing “the national dress” whose only advantage is that the wearer will never know how much blubber he has put on.

My friend Mir Jamilur Rahman has warned in a newspaper piece that the holy warriors of the MMA are all poised to have Friday redeclared the weekly holiday. I suggest they go a step further and have Sunday abolished altogether so that it no longer exists on the calendar to dilute the piety of the faithful. Women are to be required to wear that awful thing called the hijab. Since the world began, women have tried to find new ways of beautifying themselves, and that is their privilege. The hijab is one invention that immediately turns a woman into something unbearably drab. If you put a hijab on Marilyn Monroe, she would be indistinguishable from, say, the late Phoolan Devi.

The MMA, writes my friend, is also determined to “end vulgarity and obscenity” on PTV. I would suggest, it go a step further and end PTV itself since, along with Radio Pakistan, PTV makes up the twin otters of dullness and disinformation. Like that poet in Julius Caesar, it should be killed for its bad verses. And what is it that the MMA find particularly sinful on PTV? It turns out that bareheaded women in sleeveless shirts and jeans do not let the maulanas sleep at night. Perhaps they have stolen a leaf from Mian Nawaz Sharif’s book who once wrote out a memo in his own hand directing that “these jean-jacket boys with long hair” should be banned from TV and, further, that the satellites that brought down “shameless Western programmes” should be “jammed.” Had he succeeded, we would have seen Star Wars in our own time.

The Pure Ones also want to abolish co-education once for all. Why don’t they go ahead and abolish women themselves because the female of the species it is that appears to bother them the most. The great contradiction of the mullah is that while on the one hand he leches for women, he detests them at the same time. My first visit to Iran after the Khomenei takeover was instructive. Everywhere, there were signs that women should on no account be seen without the chador, nor should their hair be visible to the naked eye. It struck me that the edict had come not from women but men. Women had no problem at all with looking their best and wearing nice clothes. It was only the mullah who felt in need of “protection.” So the sinfulness lay not in the appearance of the women but in the hearts and minds of those who issued such decrees. It was they who needed moral reform.

At the height of the Taliban terror, Kishwar Naheed wrote a lovely poem that began: Wo jo bacheeyon se dar gaye (They who felt threatened by girl children). But the Taliban were across the Durand Line in Afghanistan. This is happening right here and now under the rule of a man who is afraid to be seen in public with his dogs. Mir Jamilur Rahman wrote that the MMA was also of the view that women should not travel by the same public buses as men. He added that if this were to be carried further, it could well lead to the demand that there should be separate passenger aircraft for women.

But more sinister is the determination of the MMA leaders to implement the Hudood punishments. It is typical of the hypocrisy of those who have ruled us that none of them had the decency or the courage to strike off these primitive laws. While Nawaz Sharif because of his father or out of his own inhibited outlook was unlikely to have done so, Benazir Bhutto was afraid that if she acted, the mullahs would come after her. What she did not realise was that they were going to come after her anyway. General Musharraf began on a promising note but soon retreated into the reactionary cocoon that Pakistani leaders have fashioned for themselves. The mullahs, thrown up by the general’s shenanigans and the genius of General Tanveer Naqvi, will begin to chop hands, stone adulteresses and blind others on the “an eye for an eye” basis before long. Is there someone to stop them?

Someone wrote to a newspaper the other day that he was going to leave Pakistan the day Maulana Fazlur Rehman became Prime Minister. Since no other country would give a Pakistani a visa, he was proceeding to Papua New Guinea where no such restrictions existed. My advice to him is to hurry before Papua New Guinea also slams the door shut.

actually wot happened in the elections was that firstly, the govt knowingly or unknowingly played into the hands of the bearded brigade by giving them a `book` as an election symbol... after that ofcourse, the `book` became the Holy Quran ... and ended up becoming the mullah who was standing for the `book`...a walking talking `Quran`...
then, ofcourse, the mullah`s on friday exhorted ppl to vote for the Quran and not for the Qaffirs...
and all the talibs in all the madrassas had ID cards... and used them to vote in mullah power...
so who won? MMA or God?... :)

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#45 by Romair:

``I think the only problem is Kashmir. And in that, the main problem is misinformation. I think both Indians are Pakistanis should agree to allow completely neutral parties open access into Kashmir, on both sides, and let them show the whole world what is going on. That will end the, ``He said, she said,`` scenario. After that, I think a lot of opinions will change.``

Repeat after me: ``Kashmir is the symptom of the malaise between the countries and not the problem.`` Memorize it and be prepared to repeat it in class tomorrow morning.

shankar #36: I remember reading or hearing somewhere that optimism is a sign of high self-esteem.

I am actually quite optimistic on India-Pak relations, due to very practical reasons and experiences:

I have worked in the Pakistani military and have seen that side of things. I have worked with Pakistani civilians and have seen their views also. I have now worked with Indians on a hourly basis for five to ten years. This is a pretty broad spectrum. In all three of these situations, I have gotten along extremely and genuinely well with the groups and vice-versa. This cannot be a coincidence. All these people are basically good people.

I think the only problem is Kashmir. And in that, the main problem is misinformation. I think both Indians are Pakistanis should agree to allow completely neutral parties open access into Kashmir, on both sides, and let them show the whole world what is going on. That will end the, ``He said, she said,`` scenario. After that, I think a lot of opinions will change.

re: shankar to romair
``...If there is one thing I`m really jealous of you- its your undying optimism:)...``
I think that you should author a psychiatric profile on the Pakistani military mind. This undying streak of optimism has been noticed by others as well:
Shielded from most criticism and scrutiny, furthermore, the (Pakistan) army has pursued flawed strategies to wrest Kashmir from India. To this end,it has repeatedly made overly optimistic assessments of its own prowess,uncritically assumed the reliability of potential allies, and routinelyunderestimated India`s military tenacity and political resolve.
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/20021101fareviewessay10000-p10/sumit-ganguly/pakistan-s-slide-into-misery.html

Re: Romair and Wolpert
I would like to add another tidbit to Wolpert`s lecture in Karachi in January. This lecture was delivered just before the Danny Pearl beheading in the same city. I wonder whether Wolpert, who makes numerous references to UCLA faculty and their spouses, knew what was soon coming for one of his colleagues, Professor Judea Pearl of the UCLA Department of Computer Science and Engineering? I know now, because Judea Pearl was my professor, and his son Danny was to die in a few weeks not far from where Wolpert was hectoring.

Re: Romair and Wolpert
In this battle of posting Web links to bolster one`s case, may I humbly submit this editorial from yesterday`s Washington Post (Nuclear Enabler: Pakistan today is the most dangerous place on Earth)?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8422-2002Oct24.html
Not only is it of more recent vintage than Wolpert`s speech, but the author is far more well known and recognized than Wolpert. A delectable quote, `Pakistan`s role as a clandestine (nuclear) supplier shatters the Bush administration`s efforts to paint that country as a flawed but well-meaning member of the coalition against terror. Pakistan today is the most dangerous place on Earth, in large part because the administration does not understand the forces it is dealing with there and has no policy to contain them.`
Elsewhere you had mentioned that you repose great faith in the average Pakistani voter. This newfound faith is news to us - for months you had been haranguing us that Pakistan does not need any elections and that democracy will never work!

re: Mush` s dilemma
The mighty ``muhajir`` and the ``ulimate whore`` has a dilemma. How to accomodate a third partner? The days when he had to contend with just one (Taliban) was fun. He is sure to be nostalgic about those days. Then came 9/11 and Uncle Sam wanted a piece of his A$$. Mush had no choice, so he spread his legs a little wider. Now comes MMA, asking for a piece of his ever-shrinking A$$. Mush knows this is going to be tricky but is putting up a brave face.
There was a time i thought Mush could actually be the best bet for Pak. How mistaken i was! This dictator is behaving like any other dictator would: like a self-righteous, megalomaniacal idiot. He thinks he has all the right answers. He goes thr` this charade of democratising Pak while concentrating more power in his own hands. Considering the 2 nations had similar problems and baggage to start with in 1947, how far have we grown apart!
Sridhar

Ref Field Marshal turned Political Analyst who is Always Correct #34

[My prediction about a status quo change in Pakistani politics proved true beyond my wildest expectation.]

Yeah, right!!!

[But who the hell would have thought maulvis would end up filling the vacuum.]

You mean, you didnt?

[However, one must agree that only the maulvis could have kicked out the feudals and the sardars. None of us armchair revolutionaries and Hoodbhoys could never have done it.]

Yes, only Allah, or His representatives on earth the mullahs, could have done it!

[In the next phase kicking out the maulvis should not be that hard.]

You planning to run against the Koran, boy?

[I think the Kashmir issue is closer to solution than ever (which may or may not mean much).]

It doesn`t mean much.

[It is killing both countries.]

You wish.

[Pakistan has basically given up its claim on Kashmir, and is willing to accept anything the Kashmiris decide.]

What claim has been given up? Plebiscite in Kashmir is just a codeword for joining Pakistan. Have you guys removed that clause about officeholders in Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas having to swear fealty to Pakistan?

[India has used its final trump card (piling up all forces on the Pakistani border), and it didn`t work. It is itself pulling back its forces, with no success vis-a-vis Pakistan, in Kashmir.]

We at least held an election that, even if `farcical`, is considered better than what you folks had in Pakistan, with an even better result.

[What else is left for both countries to do? Now India just has to agree on accepting the wishes of Kashmiris. How long is it willing to carry this economic albatross around its neck, in the current state? I think Indians are too intelligent to not realize that it`s about time to talk.]

Has Vajpayee said anything about talking to Mushy-boy?

[Once Kashmir problem is solved, the relations between India and Pakistan will be excellent within a decade, since there are too many commonalities.]

There is absolutely no way Mushy is going to modernize/moderate anybody in the next ten years, let alone in an eternity. So, we just have to put up with you Fakhrs.

Reply Shankar #36

Brilliant!

And I actually think that you`re right - Romair does look on the bright side of most situations, and that`s a good quality.

Ref Field Marshal #23

[One of the best sources of info is Stanley Walpert - perhaps the most knowledgeable, well-reputed and most quoted person on South Asia. He has written the most authoratative biographies of Nehru, Jinnah and Gandhi. Following is a speech he delivered in LA. It is a MUST READ for every Indian and Pakistani who wants to leave behind his/her biases and is willing to indulge in some introspection.

(http://www.lawac.org/speech/wolpert.htm)

Wolpert`s views on Musharraf, as well as his views on Indo-Pak conflict resolution (and Gandhi`s), are 100% identical to what I have been trying to say for two to three years.]

So, like I actually went to that website to see what Wolpert has to say about Kashmir.

And he says, like, the `K` in Pakistan stands for Kashmir and so the Kashmir Valley must go to Pakistan. He doesn`t address, like, what India must do with its 120 million Muslims. I know what he would have said, like, India should behave in a Christian manner and keep them in India while only Kashmiri Muslims should be allowed to go to Pakistan, taking Kashmir with them. Like I have no problems with the Kashmiri Muslims going to Pakistan, except that they aren`t taking like any immovable property with them.

And he says, like, Ladakh should go to China. This would, like, sit well with the Field Marshal who is perfectly willing to sell, like, everyone to China.

And we all thought, like, Yasser Latif Hamdani was, like, the only fan of Wolpert!

Ref hamidm2 #20

[MMA`s moderation drive has started .....

``One of the parties in the group has attacked the choice of Akram Khan Durrani as nominee for chief minister of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP) because he lacks a beard.......

..... and yet there are some hopeless fools on the chowk who actually believe that the mullah can change his spots ..................]

Too much Macallen seems to have caused you to quote from the Bible, The Other Book: ``can a leopard change his spots or the Ethiopian his skin?``

In keeping with the dominant religious discourse in Pakistan, you might want to ask, ``Can the mullah shave his beard?``

//#34 by Romair ..... Pakistan has basically given up its claim on Kashmir, and is willing to accept anything the Kashmiris decide. India has used its final trump card (piling up all forces on the Pakistani border), and it didn`t work.//

why do you think ``Pakistan has basically given up its claim on Kashmir``? Among other factors - it is also because India has sent a very clear message to Pakistan Army on how far it could push the envelope. Uncle Sam now knows the Paki contribution to the global terrorism - so also the rest of the world - including their Chinese benefactors. The game is basically up for Paki Army - no support from anybody for any more misadventures against India. With nukes under tab of uncle sam - what else could Pakis do!!!

With kashmir out of the way - there is no more hindoo bogeyman to beat against. the stage is set for a very nice domestic fireworks inside the land of pure. With the Fundos (MMA - rhymes nicely with ``Mama Mia``) in charge in Islamabad the snake pit of pakistan is now everybody`s headache - not only India`s. With J&K settling down after a ``cool`` election shower, hindoos are planning to drive straight on the economy road and watch the show from across the border. Mushy boy is getting ready to perform a heck of a circus a with clowns MMA and ring master USA.