Rape Of the Constitution

11 by ferozk

A very good analysis of the current political situation in Pakistan. Musharraf, I agree, is doing alright but not in the right way. He has exposed the mullah`s characterlessness. To save their government and degrees the MMA mullahs supported the 17th amendment to provide legitimacy to Musharraf and now to save their credibility in politics they are opposing him on `Wardy` issue. They let the elephant pass and are now catching at his tail, so to say. But Musharraf would also stand discredited if he does not fulfil his promise of doning off the Wardy. So from the people`s point of view it would be `ek teer se do shikar`. But the question is who is there to fill the gap. Is `Hammam` mein to sabhi nange hein.

re: Mantolives

Your comments are insightful, but it remains to be seen what will actually happen after the due date in December 2004. :)

There is a rumor floating around and gaining some currency that Musharraf will resign as the president, but keep the post of COAS. As to the government in Baluchistan, it seems that is a possibility that it might collapse politically. MMA already has serious internal rifts, which are glossed over for political reasons. The recent anti-terrorism bill, which was amended and passed, gives an idea to the future events. It seems that Musharraf has two major items on the check list and they are: educational reform and marginalization of the political clergy in Pakistan.

The United States` silent view on the matter is quite deafening, because it has not said anything negative about the controversy in Pakistan. Also, the American understanding is that Musharraf is more effective as a army chief than as a civilian president in tackling and solving Pakistan`s religious problems and reforming its educational system. The recent bill passed in the Congress, which links the financing of United States` aid to Pakistan based on its actual performance on the educational reform issue suggests a similar thought. It is a given and accepted fact that no international government feels confident in the ability of a Pakistani politican to deal with the clergy and prevail. The only organization, which can deal with the clergy is the military and the United States seems to have realized this factual reality out of sheer political necessity.

The military is not ``moving`` against the clergy, because it is being prodded by the United States, though there is an American pressure, but it is doing so more from reasons of its own internal complusions; based on its own internal cohesion and security reasons. Nothing in Pakistani politics is ever black or white. So far, it seems that Musharraf has used the political parties to get what he wanted and he will isolate the MMA, because the MMA is a future obstacle to key issues in Pakistan`s foreign-domestic security rubric parameters; from military operations in FATA to domestic political reforms within Pakistan itself.

From a cynical perspective, whether one agrees or disagrees with Musharraf, the fact remains that Musharraf has done a beautiful waltz in proving the hypocrisy of the MMA. In this sense, Musharraf has done something, which all claimed but could not do and that is, he has torn the cloak of religion from the clergy`s politics and shown them, and in toto MMA, as nothing more than political opportunists who are on par with any other politican in Pakistan - he has destroyed their mask of morality and principle in politics. The Seventeenth Amendment and MMA`s support for it proved that MMA was interested in democracy but in retaining power even if it meant at expense of its stated principles.

If taken in this vein, this argument hammers a nail into the coffin of theocracy in Pakistan and actually discredits the notion of a theocratic government by holding it on similar level as a would be secular government in Pakistan - a government based on the ideals of political expediency simply to gain power. If nothing else, the MMA`s support of the Seventeenth Amendment and their volte-face over it, has created a public disgust for MMA`s politics and it has destroyed the rationale which brought them into power. The rationale behind MMA`s popularlity was the people of Pakistan having experienced the mainstream parties thought that the priests might be different, but now they stand disabused from that idea also and are disenchanted by politics of the priests.

After this episode and how the MMA behaved to retain power and then how it reacted, there is a general impression that no matter what happens, Pakistan will not be well served by priests with a divine mission, because there is nothing divine about politics. This is a very small step towards secularism, because once the people reject the notion of religion in politics, then the politicans will have a hard time to play religion as a political card to gain power. Seventeenth Amendment has robbed the public`s perception that maybe sharia might be answer to Pakistan`s problems, because they have seen that the priests have no principles when it comes to clinging to power.

Cynicism and skepticism is one of the early steps towards political maturity and Pakistani public is slowly taking its ``baby steps`` on this this path. Regardless of how one feels about Musharraf, he has to be admired for the manner in which he has show cased the hypocrisy of religion in Pakistani politics. Thanks to the controversy, religion in Pakistani politics stands discredited and that is something to be grateful and to applaud.

Ciao

P.S.: Congrats! Best wishes and a bright and prosperous future to Zoya and the proud parents! :)

Die Politik ist die Lehre vin Moglichen... (Otto Von Bismarck)
``Politics is the art of the Possible``

The Constitution serve a test of tyranny... (my Big Boss)

The Possibility is..They dont have Tyranny anymore

when our cadets join Army they take oath on Quran that they will not intervene in political matters but unfortunately these military men are the very persons who forgot the Quran and their oath

The cleric who resigned has shown the moral path. Unfortunately our opp is not morally strong being weighed down with immoral excess bagage. Shame on the so called parliamentarians. Time to go home.

Here is what a retired General, named Roedad Khan wrote in an op-ed in today`s edition of Nation daily.

[Musharraf slipped on one banana peel after another. Is Pakistan back on the rails? Are we on the democratic path once again? Has Musharraf redeemed the pledge he gave to the nation five years ago? Is our long nightmare over and is it morning once again in Pakistan? Is this the promised dawn of a bright future for Pakistan? Is Pakistan experiencing a Renaissance, a rebirth, a new refinement of spirit, a liberation from extremism, dogmas and authority and are people enjoying the fruits of ‘true democracy’, as Musharraf would like the world to believe? My short answer is in the negative. There will of course be more to say later.

He wasted no time. First, in violation of the condition imposed by the Supreme Court, the constitution was defaced, disfigured, defiled, decimated and change beyond all recognition. Second, the two mainstream political parties were decapitated and their leaders prevented from taking part in the election process. Third, instead of holding free, fair and impartial elections and allowing the people to choose their representatives – the essence of democracy, the inescapable sine qua non – elections were rigged, ballot boxes were tampered with and results manipulated in many cases.

Today, after five years of absolute rule, Musharraf has ended with a bankruptcy of moral and political support, leaving the country in a worse condition than when he took charge. No wonder, 57 years after independence, Pakistan has a disjointed, lop-sided, hybrid political system – a non-sovereign, rubber-stamp, cowed, timid and paralytic parliament, a powerful President-in-uniform, a weak and ineffective Prime Minister appointed by the President.

A year ago, ruthless accountability of corrupt holders of public office was on top of General Musharraf’s agenda. Today the accountability process has run out of steam. Known corrupt holders of public office are his political allies. What prevented him from making good on his promise to arrange for expeditious and ruthless accountability of all those who bartered away the nation’s trust and plundered the country’s wealth? ]

What else did you expect from the Muslim League (Quisling)?

shaukat aziz told owen bennet jones that pakis are enjoying the rape. so what is your problem?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/the_interview.shtml

If Musharraf keeps the uniform beyond December 31st, it will be a masterstroke because it will totally isolate MMA as a political force... it was the MMA and not ARD that had made the deal with Musharraf on the 17th amendment... PPP and PML N have stuck by their principles... and not made any deals with the government... MMA on the other hand have dug their own grave.

Allama Tahir ul Qadri (after his resignation) and his PAT after Friday have emerged the leading contenders for the Barelvi vote in the future .... he has presented himself as more principled and straightforward than the MMA leadership... Qazi and his side kick Mullah Fatso have proved to the people that they are nothing but the lackeys of the government... and their popularity seems to be at an all time low...


My prediction: Fall of the coalition government in Baluchistan....

-YLH

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October 14 2004 was the natural and logical result of the process strated on 12 October 1999

October 14 2004 was the natural and logical result of the process started on 12 October 1999