Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth

``...freedom for the state (read civilian) institutions to evolve with a freedom to make mistakes and learn from them in complete absence of any kind of dictation``

This is the problem! There are people in Pakistan who have a ``father knows best`` syndrome and they are not willing to allow for mistakes to be made. Once the the powers of Pakistan realize that democracy is the right to make a mistake and then have the option to correct it later, things will improve.

Ciao

so true FerozK. it`s the attitude but as the great dulla bhatti once said when his party was ambushed and he was at the verge of losing his freedome fight: ``resistance wherever possible.`` now, tell me how many people know the names of the people who ambushed him or his people while we all know the great dulla!

even the dog will have his day! we are human beings!!

``Jamali came with a smile and left with the same smile on his face. Between his two smiles nation lost some 19 months. Who should the people hold accountable for that?``

Themselves.

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Let me state from the on-set that I hold no brief for Mushrraf or his junta; but the views expressed by the writer are generalized and one-sided. True Mush and co are the main culprits of the present imbroglio, but what about the feckless, lotas and turncoat politicians? Just take one example: most of the lumanaries of the Nawaz government are today merrily holding the coat-tails of Mush. The bellicose, vociferous and incessantly pontificating Mullah-Brigade is cutting deals with Mush ( rem LFO?).
By the way the ``heavy-mandated`` Nawaz was the creature of the army, and his mandate was secured by heavy rigging courtesy of the intelligence agencies and the presidency of GIK.
Did Jamali resist the humiliation meted out to him? Why did he join a dictatorial dispensation? What about the feckless and gutless judiciary?
You article could have been more objective had you named all the culprits.

This is the best socio-political piece concerning Pakistan put up by chowk this year! Shabaash! You did not make any apologetic arguments for military take-overs and that really strengthened the article.

This is the best socio-political piece concerning Pakistan put up by chowk this year! Shabaash! You did not make any apologetic arguments for military take-overs and that really strengthened the article.

It is interesting to see that Pakistanis are finally realizing the futility and impotence of military rule to deliver anything for their nation. The military establishment may have good intentions for Pakistan. But as the saying goes, the path to hell is lined with good intentions. When you don`t have accountability, you are subject to the whims and fancies of an individual or his cronies. Even if that person starts out as a decent person, power corrupts people and makes them ineffective. Sooner or later, they become complacent and start taking the people for granted. As a result, there is no premium on performance and the status quo continues forever.

Take a look at India. When the recent elections were held and the BJP lost power, a lot of people were behaving as if the world was coming to an end. Posters on chowk were making dire predictions about the economy, some were asking people to leave India, the stock market was crashing and everyone was lamenting that Sonia would become PM. If it were Pakistan, the military would have stepped in right away to ``correct`` the situation. But notice how things finally shaped up. Dr. Manmohan Singh took over with Chidambaram as Finance Minister. The situation calmed down, people`s anxieties about the economy were taken care of, the stock market went back to normal and things are looking good again. As a result of this exercise, Modi and other thugs will face prosecution for the Gujrat riots and the poor farmers in AP and elsewhere are getting relief. The BJP has been forced to rethink its policies and become more competitive. The Congress has got power but it has also learnt the tough lesson that the people can boot them out for non-performance. So overall, it is a sobering lesson for everyone that no one can be complacent and you have to perform. All this without firing a shot or dealing with any so-called messiah.

#8 by amit on August 20, 2004 8:28am PT
It is interesting to see that Pakistanis are finally realizing the futility and impotence of military rule

And its so frikking irritating to read pompous, condescending Indian fags constantly vax about the perceived shortcomings of Pakistani people. Please remember that Pakistanis have given their lives fighting against Martial Laws of Ayub Khan and Ziaul Haq, and Pakistani journalists have been flogged for demanding freedom of speech, unlike the Indian eunuchs who wouldn`t even whimper during the emergency. Who said about Indian journalists, ``They were asked to bend over and they started crawling``. Thousand year old habits die hard, don`t they?

P.S. Dude, have you been sniffing Hino bus exhausts in Lahore with Veeresh Malik?

Ali_1

Well said. As a matter of fact the recent overnight change of faith of hindu journalists just as their government nodded and winked, was spectacular. They turned their pubes grey demonizing Islam and Paksitan for years and how they have shed their snake skin now in just one second is amazing - laholwila quwwat.

Here is a gem from Ustaad Daaman about our hindu friends:

mahatma ji de falsafay de charchay
Enj naiN vich jahan ho gayay

taupaaN uttay dhandorchi shaanti de
kade mantri, kade pardhaan ho gayay.

aidhoN wadh keh moaujaza haur ki hona
Daaman jay diloN musalmaan ho gayay.

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This is a good piece of writing without relying on emotionalism associated with the topic invoved. The case for democracy is made as simple as idiot`s guide to anything found these days in the bookstores. I would have, though, liked a rebuttal right after the statement of Musharraf, “military intervention 15 years down the road if situation does not improve”. The rebuttal of this statement is very easy which nobody here can refuse.

In all four cases of military takeovers, army establishment played from significant to decisive roles in destabilizing the situation. So it is false and cheap statement rgarding improving the situatioin.

Army`s role in pavingt he way to Iskander Mirza and later Ayub Khan`s coup are well documented and can found in number of books and articles. Similarly even seemingly playboyish and dumb Yahya Khan systematically paved the way for his takeover from Ayub Khan. This is also well-documented that despite Ayub Khan`s inclination to negotiate with Sheikh Mujb Ur Rehman about his famous six points, army establishment under direction from Yahya Khan vetoed the proposal to make any link with Sheikh Mujib, precisely in order to destabilize Ayub Khan by creating an impression of ultranationalism and conservatism of the establishment. Zia Ul Haq followed Yahya Khan exactly and destablized Z. A. Bhutto while constantly showing his loyalty to Bhutto. Army intelligence role in uniting the opposition to PNA movement was backed and handled by military intelligence. Additionally Saudis also contributed either in support of mullahs or as middlemen for Kissinger and US intelligence. And this guy, Musharraf did the worst. The Kargil operation was part of a plan to destabilize and overthrow NS government. Their proxies in religious parties and Jihadi organizations wer given green light and in at least two instances, the arrested sectarian terrorists were helped escape from prison. The situation was so obvious that one of their proxies Qazi Hussein Ahmed, in his infinte wisdom, predicted the exact timeframe in which NS government was to be eliminated. The operation was to be taken 2 weeks before but Abbaji (father of NS) and some common friends mediated (read bribed) many in the army establishment and offered sweetened deals to stop it from happening. The date was forwarded and operation was to be taken as soon as Musharraf coming back from Sri Lanka. Rest is well-known.

Musharraf and his buddies created the situation more than the alleged and almost certain corruption, storming the Supreme Court and Shariah bill. They even bugged prime minister house with the help of their man in his cabinet, Ch. Shujaat who was then interior minister. Two other military agents, Sheikh Rashid and Mushahid Hussain not only kept military establishment informed of the NS planning but Mushahid Hussein actually suggested to divert flight coming to Karachi to make justification for takeover. NS trusted Mushahid too much knowing well where the loyalties of this Bihari bhayya lied but hoped to make him double agent or switch loyalties to him.

Only Indians can be so hungry…

Worry about your backyard stupid cunnilingus!

..drought-flood scenario in various parts of the country, leading to disruption in supplies and providing play to speculators. The prices of several essential commodities, including fruits and vegetables, have almost doubled. Much also depends on the proposed truckers strike from tomorrow on the service tax issue.
The Government has announced another fiscal measure in an effort to dampen the inflationary pressures. Effective today, the customs duty on non-alloy steel (other than seconds and defectives) under specified customs tariff headings have been reduced from 10 per cent to five per cent. The five per cent customs duty on melting scrap of iron and steel (other than stainless steel or heat resisting steel) has been withdrawn and the customs duty on ships for breaking up reduced from 15 per cent to five per cent.

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