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An All-Inclusive Rejoinder to All the Chronic Complainers

Riffat Jahan November 20, 2002

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listing 96-112   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

#18 Posted by jay on November 21, 2002 7:15:06 am
Rifat,

Another pathetic winging paki attacking the last standing institution in pakistan, the last bulwark against the jihadic tsunami. At last mushi has done the right thing, he has surrendered to the americans, all walks of life in pakistan will be progressively controlled by the americans and that is the best thing that can happen to pakistan.

At least you can be thankful that military has not changed the foundations of what jinnah envisaged for an islamic state, the honour killing, linching for blasohemy, madrsis o focus on jihad all these essential elements of an islamic country have not been tampered with.

The martyrs are being honoured, sink for the jihadic fodder in kashmir is still there, what more can a genuine pakistani ask for.

The political system, the industries, the schools and colleges all have been finished off in the name of rooting out corruption, what else an islamic country want.

It is time that the pakistanis start appreciating what they have achieved in the last fifty years. This article is really too much, the feudals have been attacked, the politicians have been banished, the industrialists have been robbed, the country is almost there, in the times when the book was written.

At last the military is making a honest attempt to answer the chorus...pakistan ka matlab kya.. with out a bloody revolution. Pakistanis have a lot to be thankful for.
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#17 Posted by mohar11 on November 21, 2002 7:15:06 am
As if to prove the author right - Musarraf delivered yet another of his marathon speeches ( 1 and 1/2 hrs this time ) to the hapless nation yesterday and according to NYTimes, it seemed as if he was seeking some sort of public thanks for his ``achievements ``.

What`s up with this dictator anyway - why the heck he rambles on like a little girl every few months on national TV ? I wonder if any pakistani really sits that long just to listen to the BS this guy dishes out once too often. One and half hours - come on man - most of the Hollywood flicks are shorther than that.
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#16 Posted by arjun_m on November 21, 2002 7:15:06 am
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#15 Posted by S.P.Wakil on November 21, 2002 7:15:05 am
People, people! You all disappoint me.

The real question is: Are the trains running on time?




All else is so much hot air, narcissism; eversince, that is, appearance of posts in groups such as this began being referred to as ``publications``!!
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#14 Posted by nasah on November 21, 2002 7:15:05 am
for the lack of a better expression -- the Pimp has successfully turned the NA into a whorehouse -- of `real` democracy -- flowing from the barrel of the GUN.....congratulation P Musharraf --

for the s/election of that `brilliant` & pliant pros Jamali.. as the Crime Minister

if Ghalib will only allow:

jub voh Jamal-e khud farosh aise ho gur nazaara soz
roweeye zaar zaar keya keejiye hai hai keoN
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#13 Posted by nasah on November 21, 2002 7:15:05 am
A QUISLING government of CONCUBINES -- of the Army -- by the Army -- for the Army.
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#12 Posted by Tipu on November 20, 2002 10:00:26 pm
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#11 Posted by Romair on November 20, 2002 9:41:14 pm
``So what is to be done? Hold elections and transfer power to another National Assembly of political incompetents? Few musical scores are as intoxicating as the rhetoric of democracy. But democracy of the kind we have had is a recipe for disaster. If the generals are not equipped to run the political show by themselves, neither are the politicians. A resurrected or remade Muslim League calling the shots? The PPP once again on trial? The mere prospect is frightening.....

Ours is a tolerant society, with a known capacity for suffering, but it cannot afford Benazir or Nawaz again. Even with masochists there is an acceptable threshold of pain. Just so much and no more. Vis-a-vis these two wonders we are in this position. If this does not square with the requirements of pure democracy, so be it. The corps commanders are right on this score: no political future for Pakistan`s most famous duo.

As for the beguiling theory that to solve the problems of democracy we need more democracy, we can do without it. Lower the floodgates of democracy and all we will get are substitute versions of the original Benazir and Nawaz models. No, if it be laid down as the first commandment that Pakistan`s generals should not occupy the bull-ring by themselves, the second is that Pakistan`s politicians should not be allowed to run loose on their own. As each is a menace more threatening than the other, both together must forge a pragmatic partnership. `` (Ayaz Amir: http://www.dawn.com/weekly/ayaz/20010316.htm)

Musharraf needs to do four things, that I have been suggesting for a long time:

First of all, he needs to cut the General ranks of the military (specifically the Army) by 2/3rd.

Secondly, he needs to get the Army out of civilian financial enterprises.

Thirdly, he needs to use all the money saved from this and raise the salaries of the sepoys and junior officers by 100 to 200%, thereby brining them in line with other professionals (the other option would be to mail it to us ex-patriates, since we are so concerned about Pakistan).

Fourthly, he needs to make sure, that despite how much everyone insists (many of whom were supporting Zia as members of Jamat-i-Islami, while it was screwing Pakistan, and thus owe the country an apology, rather than asking the country to apologize to them), the four illustrious souls of Pakistan (BB, NS, Altaf Bhai and Fazl/Qazi) are not allowed to take over the country.

The first three will fix the upper echelons of the military (the lower echelons are fine and very highly respected and desparately need pay raises so they don`t leave the military. And also so good talented people like temporal chose the military as a profession:-)).

The fourth will sort out the opportunistic supporters of, ``democracy,`` who want the status quo of feudal dominated politics to continue. This group is losing a lot of money under the current situation where they have no access to loan write-offs from Pakistan`s banks, and will do anything to get back into power. After all, the PPP was ready to make a deal with the MMA, until Condaleeza Rice stepped in.

Based on this, I am not quite sure what this article achieves, other than allowing people who have slowly been moved out of the status quo politics of robbing Pakistan, vent out their frustration. It does not offer any constructive criticism or solutions to the problem that the author is trying to highlight, i.e. how to stop military intervention into politics. For that, I would encourage everyone to read Ayaz Amir`s article, quoted above. He usually hits the nail right on the head, since he has seen both side. Having participate with Tehrik-Insaaf now, and having been in the military, I think I have a pretty good picture of both sides also. I have noticed most of the frustrated useless rhetoric usually comes from people, who do not want to make the efforts to participate in either, yet want to make a living by raising slogans.

Maybe the solution is to let the MMA into power, so it can end co-education. Or to let Zardari rule the country so he can open the 20th off-shore company. The solution definitley isn`t to let people vent out their frustrations, without offering any practical alternatives - other than Zardari.

It is this group of apologists for the status quo politics (who else is in status quo politics than BB. NS, Zardari etc.) that will never allow honest politicians like Imran Khan/Asghar Khan etc. into power. Unfortunately, Musharraf has now started buying the lines of this group also (thereby losing the support of the party I was supporting PTI), and has started trying to make deals with some of the members of this group, to establish, ``democracy.``

Musharraf`s biggest mistake, that will haunt him for the next five years, is that he did not get rid of this opportunistic lot when he had the chance. He himself is clean. He needs to trust his instincts and forget about the, ``pseudo-intellectuals`` like us, living abroad. Anyone who is unwilling to serve his country by living there and doing something for Pakistan should be immaterial, regardless of how much English he/she can write. Musharraf should (have kept) keep faith in the common sense of the common man, who will support a change in the status quo (even to the point of voting for a maulvi). As long as he was ignoring the pseudos and following his own instincts, he was supported by people like Asghar Khan and Imran Khan (and me, for that matter - though I still think he is better than the feudals and maulvis -the only other options available to Pakistan). But he has allowed the same Chaudries and Makhdooms back in power, and they are waiting for the kill. He should have gotten rid of them within three years, and then retired and then handed over the govt. to people like Imran Khan.

Anyways, it will be a cold day in hell when I support the return of Benazir, Nawaz, Maulvi brigade or Altaf Hussein or Zia back into power in Pakistan, (regardless of how much any Tom, Dick or Sameer wants them back). People who supported JI under Zia have no right to talk about democracy in Pakistan.

Where the hell were they when all of us were opposing Zia`s rule? They were on his side screwing the country. Now all of a sudden, they are the self-appointed, ``champions`` of democracy.

Compared to these morons, Musharraf, with all the faults of Army rule, is still a better option (not a great option, but a better option). If people like Imran Khan and their parties have a shot, they would certainly be a healthy change. But having supported their party actively, I know they have no chance at the moment.

Someone needs to kick this opportunistic lot out, regardless of arguments presented by their ex-JI supporters, on how great they are. Musharraf did kick some of them out. I wish he had kicked out all of them (he will regret that he didn`t). Now the maulvis are kicking them out. They are better than the feudals, but certainly not my choice of people who should replace the feudals.

But BB, NS, AH, Fazl and Zia and their minions back in power - over my dead body. I will support Advani over them.
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#10 Posted by fara on November 20, 2002 9:41:14 pm
Makes one wonder about an animal farm being built in Paksitan. All animals are equal. But some are more equal than others!
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#9 Posted by Ras on November 20, 2002 9:41:14 pm

Riffat Jahan Welcome!

Finally an article certainly worthy of CHOWKI POLITICS.

Ras

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#8 Posted by Ajeet on November 20, 2002 5:48:46 pm
The author failed to mention the biggest accomplishment of the Khakis. You can read the entire history of the world, but you will not find any example matching the fastest about face done by them on the Taliban policy. No doubt, the general was well prepared for it, what with all those about turns and quick marches on the parade ground.
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#7 Posted by SameerJB on November 20, 2002 5:48:46 pm
The government of angels
Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad
After hounding Bhutto and Sharif out of country for being responsible for all the corruption that one sees around, Musharraf has finally put a government of angels in place. He has thus completed the mission for which he had come to power: to uproot corruption from politics and introduce true democracy. Those collected together by him are a specimen of uprightness that should inspire the rest of society to follow their uplifting example..............
The government of angels or a den of thieves?
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#6 Posted by Ajeet on November 20, 2002 4:56:44 pm
temporal and sameer,

I wish you guys didn`t jump the gun so soon. I would have loved to read some other chowkies give their comments first.
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#5 Posted by nooralain on November 20, 2002 3:40:30 pm
my goodness...is this person serIous????!!!! i`ll let my fellow pseudo-intellectuals tackle this one.
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#4 Posted by Shah on November 20, 2002 3:40:30 pm
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#3 Posted by SameerJB on November 20, 2002 3:40:30 pm
F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C
I am sure the way things are heading, generals would be able to outmaneuver god on the first day of the beginging of eternal world. Poor god! surrounded by 111 brigade would have no choice and his only son later would be writing at chowk, ``He Had no Choice``.
Beautifully written, though requires taking Zantac for field marshall and other mush chamchas. Better take one Zantac or Pepsid AC before reading and one after.
Thanks Riffat Jahan and welcome to adda pardesiaN.
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listing 96-112   1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Interact Index

    #115 S.P.Wakil
    #114 jay
    #113 stuka
    #112 tahmed32
    #111 arjun_m
    #110 arjun_m
    #109 jay
    #108 tahmed32
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    #101 faisaluno
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    #96 rsaxena
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