187 million Pakistanis and the answer is Musharraf. I am not going to argue whether or not he is innocent but I am just as amazed as anyone else that he is only man responsible for all the ills of Pakistan.
I suppose the judges of all the courts in the nation simply start the proceedings like the wicked witch used to do in the story and ask the mirror for the answer so that the case can be open and shut without the waste of judiciary's time or tax payers money. Ingenious indeed!
' He’s not the fairest of them all
But he’s got something they can’t see
One look at him and you’ll agree
Guilty, guilty, guilty...'
Case closed.
I have lost a lot of my published and unpublished work over the years to diaries, computer hard drives and, lately, to memory sticks. It seems only appropriate to find a home for my work on the world wide web for friends to see where was I going with my thoughts, when I am finally gone! You will see some samples of my shairi as well. -- A. Salahuddin
Friday, April 26, 2013
Thursday, April 25, 2013
The ghost of our past; surrender revisited
Once upon a time, some people thought that they were right all of the time. They reckoned they knew what was best for Pakistan. They were wrong. Once again some people because of their ethnicity and privileged positions in the institutions, government and politics think more of the same. They believe some Pakistanis are more equal than other. They will be proven wrong all over again.
Sometime in 1968, the government of Pakistan, implicated Sheikh Mujib of conspiring with India against the stability of Pakistan. It was known as the State vs Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and Others. It was not long before it turned into a campaign for the independence of Bangladesh and in three short years it became a reality. West Pakistan as it was known at the time, was left with the scar of a shameful surrender of 90000 standing Pakistan Army and loss of one half of Jinnah's Pakistan to the misadventure of a few who thought they knew what was best for Pakistan.
Pakistan is not prosecuting Musharraf but, in fact, revisiting the famous Agartala Conspiracy Case against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and company -- all over again. Sheikh Mujib went on to lead Bengali nationalism and became the founder of Bangladesh. He was arrested on various charges and innumerable cases were framed against him by those in power. Sounds familiar?
They were so sure of them being right that they spared no effort to crush him and others like him. The rest is history. Lessons of Agartala forgotten so quickly, history is coming back to haunt us. Memories of the surrender of East Pakistan are still fresh in my mind and anyone can visit Youtube to learn from those. They were out to teach the Bengalis a lesson for disobedience then and they are out again to teach one to the migrants from India.
One man, one vote? One nation? One goal? Get Musharraf?
Your guess is as good as mine; the ghost of Agartala case has come back to visit us.
Sometime in 1968, the government of Pakistan, implicated Sheikh Mujib of conspiring with India against the stability of Pakistan. It was known as the State vs Sheikh Mujibur Rehman and Others. It was not long before it turned into a campaign for the independence of Bangladesh and in three short years it became a reality. West Pakistan as it was known at the time, was left with the scar of a shameful surrender of 90000 standing Pakistan Army and loss of one half of Jinnah's Pakistan to the misadventure of a few who thought they knew what was best for Pakistan.
Pakistan is not prosecuting Musharraf but, in fact, revisiting the famous Agartala Conspiracy Case against Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and company -- all over again. Sheikh Mujib went on to lead Bengali nationalism and became the founder of Bangladesh. He was arrested on various charges and innumerable cases were framed against him by those in power. Sounds familiar?
They were so sure of them being right that they spared no effort to crush him and others like him. The rest is history. Lessons of Agartala forgotten so quickly, history is coming back to haunt us. Memories of the surrender of East Pakistan are still fresh in my mind and anyone can visit Youtube to learn from those. They were out to teach the Bengalis a lesson for disobedience then and they are out again to teach one to the migrants from India.
One man, one vote? One nation? One goal? Get Musharraf?
Your guess is as good as mine; the ghost of Agartala case has come back to visit us.
Elections 2013; more of the same disappointment
I have been researching several things in Pakistan from the point of view of the outcome of Election 2013; the role of media, people in the media and those making the content for the media (news makers). It has been very interesting to note that media as the sum of all its elements is probably at its best, whereas majority of those in the media are essentially spin doctors and those making the news are merely playing to the gallery. In other words, news is created with the same disregard to propriety as before but those with vested interest in the media are glossing over, skewing or just leaving it alone for fear, favor or fortune. Having said that, the media reports the news instantaneously -- almost just as it happens. That is one and only tangible change in the entire equation.
It is good to see media running promos asking viewers to 'vote for education' etc. but come May 11, 2013, no real change will happen since as a nation we fear change and change is NOT possible so long as we have unchanged newsmakers. Change comes from people, and we have exact same people give and take a few. Some 16,692 individuals will contest the elections -- most of them are the 'usual suspects'.
We have the exact same Judiciary from time immemorial -- born in the land of corrupt. The Chief Justice of Pakistan is a mere BA LLB from an University somewhere in the interior of Sindh. Here I have to mention that the Supreme Court of Pakistan's website very proudly makes a mention of his Honorary Doctorate from a certain Nova Southeastern University, in Florida. You can check out the credentials of this institution on the Internet. He is indeed a very apt choice for the post of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; like nation like institutional heads.
That was the law...lets move to the keepers of law and order. Ok enough said. I am sure you got my drift.
Next stop; Pakistani politicians. Except for Imran Khan himself, they are all old hands with plenty of tried and tested tricks up their sleeves. Hence, Imran Khan may mobilize all the youth and may wear his heart on his sleeve but Nawaz Sharif and Zardari will out smart him with resources at their beck and call. I may mention the bureaucracy in passing; though there is not much to mention. It weaves the web for all and deceit is its game.
Now you tell me where is this real change going to come from? Surreal television promos and talk shows!
It is good to see media running promos asking viewers to 'vote for education' etc. but come May 11, 2013, no real change will happen since as a nation we fear change and change is NOT possible so long as we have unchanged newsmakers. Change comes from people, and we have exact same people give and take a few. Some 16,692 individuals will contest the elections -- most of them are the 'usual suspects'.
We have the exact same Judiciary from time immemorial -- born in the land of corrupt. The Chief Justice of Pakistan is a mere BA LLB from an University somewhere in the interior of Sindh. Here I have to mention that the Supreme Court of Pakistan's website very proudly makes a mention of his Honorary Doctorate from a certain Nova Southeastern University, in Florida. You can check out the credentials of this institution on the Internet. He is indeed a very apt choice for the post of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pakistan; like nation like institutional heads.
That was the law...lets move to the keepers of law and order. Ok enough said. I am sure you got my drift.
Next stop; Pakistani politicians. Except for Imran Khan himself, they are all old hands with plenty of tried and tested tricks up their sleeves. Hence, Imran Khan may mobilize all the youth and may wear his heart on his sleeve but Nawaz Sharif and Zardari will out smart him with resources at their beck and call. I may mention the bureaucracy in passing; though there is not much to mention. It weaves the web for all and deceit is its game.
Now you tell me where is this real change going to come from? Surreal television promos and talk shows!
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