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An Urgent Appeal to all Pakistanis Omar,
Just how many auntie toms are there on Chowk? You had warned me about one. Were you holding back on me my friend? I have counted at least three so far. How have you been?
By the way, I visit dawn.com several times a week and find it refreshingly neutral and a good source for news from all over the world. Stay in touch.

Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth fuzair #17,
I think that you said it all - ``How are you going to get rid of a ``bad`` civilian ruler?`` In 1999 that was the real problem. Nawaz was running wild with his huge majority of Lotas in Islamabad. I think that he was one of the worst and most stupid men to hold that office. We would have had a Sharif dynasty for a long long time - thanks Mushy!

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? Dionysus #190,
You are a fool - you sound like Chicken Little - ``The sky is falling, the sky is falling.`` Grow up.

Refugee for Life? kaka #73,
{``As a son of an actual mohajir raised in Karachi, kaka almost always felt empowered and in the majority excepting times when the Tullaas/armymen would let go of Punjabi speakers and detain others:(. But that`s almost understandable.``}

So, what is kaka`s point? Why does kaka talk in the 3rd person singular? Also, if kaka does kaka on Chowk, please have kaka clean it up.
Thanks,

Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth nikki #11,
{``Why is everyone in pakistan named ``akram`` something or the other???.....``}

Very perceptive. This is an attempt at concealment - security reasons, you know, to confuse the enemy so they don`t know who is who in Pakistan. Very similar to next door - every body is being named Vicky/Nikki and Rakesh/Rajesh. Pretty soon every Paki will be called Akram Khan and all Indians will be Vicky Singh.

Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth SameerJN #15,
What are you trying to say? Can you please say it in English? You make no sense whatsover. I can understand MBZ now, but you are a hopeless case.

Is There Space for Middle Class? Mr. Samad,
Overall an excellent article that hits the target as far as Pakistan`s dilemma is concerned. Forgetting the nonsense by Ravian about ``similar class structures in India and Pakistan,`` you have effectively articulated that feudalism is the enemy. India started land reform back in the 50s. Pakistan needs to institute and enforce honest land reform and remove the greedy chaudhry/vadera class from the necks of the rural majority. The massive, wall-enclosed homes of the rich and military rulers need to be exposed to the nation. Unfortunately, who will bring about the reforms. Yahan ke chor hen chowkidar.

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? Omar,
My friend, if you are around, you could be of great help. Both Mantolives and Dionysus, who may be suffering from delusions of being intelligent, are calling me an Indian Muslim. Not that there is anything wrong with being either Indian or Muslim, it just is not factual. I have provided them with the normal affidavit required to prove one`s impeccable credentials as a Pakistani-origin Muslim of good standing. They, however, have refused to accept my affidavit. Therefore, as much as it might hurt you or me, I will be forced to behave as an Indian Muslim. It is after all much easier to attack than to defend Pakistan. Please bring them to their senses.
Thanks,

Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth Mr. Akram,
Well written plea for democracy. Nothing wrong with the article, but plenty is wrong with this country`s dismal record in making democracy function.

{``Institutions develop only and only if granted independence to grow, make mistakes and then grow better and faster``}

Pakistan, at independence, was a democracy that was strengthened by its authoritarian founder. Unfortunately, after Jinnah`s death, those riding the donkey of democracy onto the political stage, once in power, made mistakes, and mistakes, and mistakes, and mistakes, and mistakes .... Until the people in the streets, once having given the ``landslide`` to a party, begged the military to do something, anything before the mistakes got bigger and more frequent.

Pakitan started off as a democracy, but the civilians (Ghulam Mohammed, Noon, Bhuttos, Sharif) started behaving as if they were back home in their fiefdoms of Punjab and Sind. It was only the politicians from Bengal who let democracy function (Nazimuddin, Bogra) and once BD split, Pakistan didn`t stand a chance. Democratically elected civilians have behaved in more authoritarian manner than the military dictators they replaced. Military dictators have pretended with every legitimate excuse in the book to justify their ``benign`` rule (basic democracy, Islamization, enlightened moderation). The problem is with the culture that produces such extremes - we have met the enemy, it is us.

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? Mantolives #179,
I guess the affidavit I provided wasn`t good enough for you. Well, then it`s not worth it. Go ahead and pursue your Punjaibi agenda and mess up Pakistan even more. I am just happy to be away from you and your kind. I will have to remember the name Yasser Hamdani - you convinced an other-wise patriotic ex-Paki that there is no room for us in that country. God bless the USA.

Indira Gandhi Bunaam Bush! Nikki #242,
10 Kg anh! So what, it was metric. Is that as heavy as 10 lbs? Kidding. I heard that Kaura regularly excercises with 5 lb weights. Chennai sounds like the place to be. Who is allowed in a kumb mela? Can anyone go - even backpacking US types? Have a great weekend.

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? Mantolives and Dionysus #179, 177, 175
What`s happenend to Pakiland? You guys have become so suspicious and so conspiracy-driven that a simple question needs to be supported by an affidavit. You feel that you have to establish the true identity of the person posing the question before you can answer it. What happened to the truth? Listen fellows, the truth will save you. Once you tell the truth you don`t have to lie over and over again.
Peace.

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? After observing the mentality of these so-called ``educated`` Pakis, such as Mantolives and Dionysus, I have become dejected about the future of that poor country. One can say that the Mullah types are at least driven by some set of rules, whether you agree with them or not. They, at least, have certain positions to defend and/or promote. The ethnocentric nationalists from Pakistan, such as this dynamic duo, are all over the map. They have no raison d`etre, their positions are constantly shifting as the sands of some barren desert, their logic is inverted, and they have a shallow knowledge of world history and events. I am almost ashamed to be associated with this group of Pakis - very disappointing.

When Balochistan bleeds, Why Pakistan Doesn’t Feel the Pain? Dionysus #177 and Mantolives,
``I swear by the Holy Koran that I am now a US citizen and prior to this I was a Pakistani citizen and that I believe in the finality of the prophethood of the Holy Prophet Mohammed son of Abdullah (Peace be upon both of them). I swear that I am a Muslim. I swear that I am not of the Ahmadiyaah or Qadiani affiliation. I also swear that I am not an Indian.``

I must always remember to observe Pakistani protocol. Now that we have that out of the way, please concentrate on the issues and not the personalities and religious/ethnic/national identities of the participants. Without resorting to profanity, please respond to the issues I raised.

Thanks,

An Air Canada Flagging The good Senator from Mass was probably flagged for his alcohol level - it had nothing to do with terrorism, just blood alcohol levels.

An Air Canada Flagging tahmed #86,
{``in the 1960`s in fact, most european countries including germany did not require any visas from pakistanis (and presumably other third world nationalities) at all - all that changed when large numbers started to go to these countries in the 1970`s and started settling down``}

Exactly. What happened was that in London`s Heathrow Airport, certain Sardarjis went to the men`s room. Instead of finshing their business and moving on, they stayed, cleaned the bathroom, and stood at the door asking for money from men using the bathroom. This caught on with other sardarjis at different airports and the next thing you know, western countries imposed visas.