Karachi protest frizzles out before starting…
A massive protest had been planned outside the Karachi Press Club today. A *lot* of people showed up. The problem was, however, that a majority of them probably thought that the protest would be a dinner party.
A pre-protest meeting was held inside the KPC premises, where some people starting chanting slogans. The KPC management objected to this, and asked people to go outside if they wanted to chant slogans. People decided to step outside the KPC. At this point, some people tried to hijack the demonstration, and starting chanting slogans on their own the moment they realised they were surrounded by TV cameras.
[In the meantime, please remember that the entire area around the press club had been cordoned off, and heavy police contingents had been placed all around, including female police personnel.]
So yeah, the media cameramen got out of the KPC, followed by everyone else. This was a mistake — the cameramen should have let everyone ELSE come out first.
Now, Instead of waiting for the entire crowd to come out and protest together, some people decided to be lone rangers. During this time, they realised that an “agencies ka banda” was in the group. Everyone started beating him up — and when I say “everyone,” I mean the cameramen AND the protesters. The guy ran towards the nearest police mobile, where the policemen just gaped at him. [This was a funny bit -- a guy runs towards the police mobile, he's being followed by people who's trying to beat him up. "Maaro saaley ko!" k naarey all around, and the policemen stand and gape. ROTFLOL!!!]
So they guy realised that these policemen were useless and he ran towards a bunch of mobiles at the other end of the road. WahaaN sey a whole BUNCH of policemen came running back with laathiaN and all. They saw cameramen on the frontline and starting baton-charging them. Cameras were broken, people were chased. Some guys fell down, and at least five to six policemen each hit EACH of those guys brutally with sticks before dragging them off. :-S
Khair, so everyone rushed back to the press club, where a “meeting” was held. Anis Haroon and all were of the opinion that people will get arrested if they went outside to protest (no really, ya think?), and decided that the conditions were “too harsh” — the protestors were outnumbered by the police personnel, they said. Now at this point, I was wondering WHY they came there in the first place. Did they not realise that all of this would happen when they first announced a protest? Yaani k KIA?!
They then decided that a meeting would be held at the Aurat Foundation offices at 03:00 p.m. tomorrow (jeez!). I will not attend it, neither will a lot of other people who were there today.
In the meantime, policemen cordoned off the Press Club, and said that they were waiting outside for political leaders holed up within the KPC premises. Yousuf Masti Khan (secretary-general of Minto’s National Workers Party) was arrested the moment he stepped outside. The police believe Bizenjo and Tehrik-e-Insaf’s (TI) Alvi saheb are still in there. Bizenjo has refused to step outside. The standoff continues…
I know bits and portions of this post are very rude, but I’m angry at the people (they know who they are) who tried to first hijack the protest, and then kill it. This was a demonstration to register Karachi’s protest against the Martial Law, people, not a friggin’ photo op. Give us a BREAK, okay?
meri communist behan, put some heading on this post
“Heading less” atleast a change from political KMB.
These people prolly have NOTHING to do with their lives and most probably uneducated and/or have political cause (want to mint money) and the journalists who support these acts are more lika pathetic cowards, trying to hide their sorry asses for being biased by giving hype to every little crap they can find in this country!
Now that when GEO, ARY and AAJ TV are off the air, most of the people must be feeling a significant change and might I add a POSITIVE one in their blood pressure readings. Our MEDIA has gone NUTS and so have the journalists!
Done!
LOL @ Communist behin! ROFLOL
What I am seeing in these protests is that the police greatly out numbers the protestors. It seems like the police are the ones that are protesting and those who are protesters are trying to control them.
For any civil dis-obedience movement to succeed you need numbers, actually you need at least 10 times more protestors than the law enforcers, not the other way around. I guess our political leaders and activist have been spoiled by the media, they thought they could do politics from newsrooms, but, all of a sudden that platform is no moreand you need to do politics the old fashioned way, they need time to adapt, and when they do, it will be too late.
That’s exactly the point. The current chaos in Pakistan is the production of the good-for-nothing citizens who, instead of directing energies towards something creative, have taken up the job of finding faults with OTHERS (whoever the eye rests on), breaking down things, and replacing the chaos with more utter rubbish. No one has a plan for what to do next – so what does our juvenile delinquent-minded nation wants?
Each and every one of us is at fault – when even a blog can’t take mad comments, how can any person handle an entire country full of useless bums – all of us seeking personal glory? It’s time that as a nation, we grow UP.
heehhee..These stupid lawyers and journalist think they can gather few dozen people to fight against Govt. Bunch of morons..Opposition parties have no street power they cannot even get thousand people on the street to fight these policemen. Chalai hain tehreek chalanai..hahaha. the biggest Moron Imran Khan is hiding his ass some where and asking others to come out on the street…HAHHAA bunch of loosers.
Well said, Ramla!
This protest was neither called, not endorsed by the media. Journalists were there merely to COVER it — they were doing their JOBS.
Death of pakistani people’s will. Dead nations dont deserve any better. Revolutions happen in living societies. Pakistan deserves a bastardd like Musharraf,Altaf ,chaudries & BB.
kuch nahi ho saktha pakistan ka 5lac Army(read pigs) will never see pakistan prosperous.
good post btw — it’s a shame that some morons have to bring in the writer’s political views into everything
Napak Army Generals – Terrorists in Uniform
By definition, MEDIA is MEDIA – i.e. a medium (go-between) between at least two entities.
If one entity is “people,” the other has to be CONTENT. What is CONTENT? Content are subject matters for news/ opinions/ stories.
In Pakistan, we have to understand, we do not HAVE much subject matter. There are literally few institutions, and by institutions I am not referring to the Big 4 – Legis, exec, judic, media – etc., but everyday civic and private institutions.
The current government – with which I am not in complete agreement (of course) – is NOT preventing the citizens from carrying on the REAL business of life. No ban on arts, sports, culture, science, education, construction, women enterprises, roads & bridges, etc.
Yes – what we MAY disagree with are exact policies, such as interest rates etc., but we can’t deny that the current Pakistani government is doing A LOT OF WORK! I was once talking to a person from a Southern Punjabi village, who said that “Well, our village now has a town square, we have roads, and it matters to us!” Mid of this year, I heard from another person in Gilgit, and on the subject of leadership he reported that much trade development has taken place in his area – the industry is developing – the only issue in Gilgit is from religious tyranny. I visited a mountain village there – and the social structure indicates that knowledge (psuedo-religious and otherwise) is used as a tool for power. Anyhow that’s a long story – point is, the government was WORKING, and no citizen is prevented from carrying out these duties.
BUT – we have a problem! The problem is that we have a problem, i.e. we need a problem. It’s as simple as that. Aray bhui, if we don’t AGREE with land development projects, then there is a simple solution, stop bunking college, spend a few years being a scientist/ engineer, and go build a responsible project! This is how change is brought about, not be demanding change. I mean, WHO is going to being change if we are demanding change? Where exactly is change cultivted (if not in the hearts and actions of individuals) and supplied? What is change?
The problem with media is that we had mostly resorted to speculative content – opinion-based journalism. Personally, I agree with opinions, I think that’s the future of journalism. However, I don’t think our journalism had knowledge or content.
It’s not a journalist/media problem either. It’s a situation that afflicts us as a larger society. We need to get down to work – it’s as simple as that. The bigger picture is this: “freedom” is needed so people can go about carrying out the business of their lives. If they CAN carry out that business, why not take the opportunity?
If that opportunity is flawed or needs to improve (e.g. we don’t think there’s enough support for small corporations) – then there’s a very simple way known to humanity since the dawn of humankind: GO AHEAD, CHANGE/CREATE WHAT YOU THINK OUGHT TO CHANGE/CREATE.
Einstein and Newton and Lincoln and Iqbal and Nightingale didn’t get a book telling them, “Child, do this, here’s the recipe.”
With such hot boiling intrepid blood, the Pakistani nation needs to WORK, not whine. Learn from history!
I am glad to see that bloggers here are quite fearless in posting their views and reporting the facts on the ground! Strength to you guys… Please be patient.. Things will turn around for the better. The General is trying his best. He lost the best chance he had around a year back to gently ease in democracy, and wishes to turn things around a bit before a hand-off. It seems that he wants to see a progressive Pakistan, but is struggling to figure out the exact path to it. True – me being Indian might make you think that I have vested interests in tolerating him, but alas, he is not exactly loved by us over here too…I am truly optimistic that one day both our nations will prosper in harmony with at least a reasonable tolerance to each other, if not outright friendship. Here is wishing for better times in Karachi & in Pakistan -
Anuj from India
Take for instance the wheat crisis. I did some research, and an agriculturalist’s view was an eye-opener. He said Pakistanis consume too much wheat as part of the diet. The disproportionate cultivation of wheat at the cost of other crop – to be specific vegatables – means that any trouble with the wheat crop can yield in very high distortions in the market.
Also, cultivating the same crop year after year renders the land infertile over time.
We have to develop experts who can work on issues hands on – and real “experts” in media. E.g. on this crisis, we have a litany of “hakoomat ki kharabhi” (government’s mistake) opinions. One did not see opinions – if opinions are to be asked for at all – from the experts on agriculture and food. Our media is too immature – i.e. too early on the learning curve – yet it’s taking the weight of the world upon its shoulders. As Pakistanis, we need to face the facts.
The say if a person is cheated again and again, the fault is with that person, not the cheater. Why is our government collapsing again and again? because we have uneducated people handling everything, the educated do slightly more than crib and hoard up any opportunity to make money – depriving the “lower classes” of sources of income, and then we end up with crazy economy and institutions.
THINK about it. We have a free mind on top of our heads. No one is “keeping” it. It’s right here. Let’s use it, and work out real solutions, not hangamas, to solve problems/ create opportunities.
Thank you for listening.
(And I DON’T agree with the govn’s economic policies or some of the institutional policies. But the position of weakness is to demand – and the position of strength is to assume. This is the law of nature.)
Thank you for this great report “à chaud”, Bokshevik. Geo News in English has some coverage of the protest at the Karachi Press Club, including of the police spy being chased:
Part of Geo News in English dedicated to the Karachi Press Club protest (towards the end).
Video version: http://pkpolitics.com/2007/11/05/news-english2-5-november-07/ (towards the end). Also in audio version: http://pkpolitics.com/audio/emergency/news%20english2_5_nov_07.mp3
Thank you for the discussions. Shanta Devarajan, Chief Economist of the World Bank South Asia Region, comments on his blog (http://endpovertyinsouthasia.worldbank.org/) about the situation in Pakistan and are inviting people to share their views on this important matter!
http://endpovertyinsouthasia.worldbank.org/emergency-rule-and-poverty-reduction-pakistan
ramla:
well said
email me comments for my blog coverage
i like what you said re MEDIA
also DEMAND (as in DEMANDING but not WORKING to ameliorate)
:)
Bravo! RAMLA, What a post, like a breath of fresh air.
* Ramla wrote:
He said Pakistanis consume too much wheat as part of the diet. The disproportionate cultivation of wheat at the cost of other crop – to be specific vegatables – means that any trouble with the wheat crop can yield in very high distortions in the market.
****** I also believe that in addition to too much roti and chaaval desi diet also includes too much onion. Pakistanis (Indians too) love to put damn onion in every thing and as a result stink up whole houses, neighborhoods, and cities. Plus, Pakistanis (those who can afford) eat too much meat. Too much meat, too many onions, lots of roti, and tons of rice, has made our people stinking lazy and prone to diabetes. Stop all this nonsense. Eat more vegetables, don’t marry cousins, and produce fewer babies. This is what enlightened moderation should be.
Is it just me or shouldnt this be happening in Swat, with police mobiles? I mean arrests and FIRs and all? Couldnt the government make their so called display of strength where it is needed? Why bring the military in the city when there is a war going on near the border? Shouldnt the military be moving its contingents towards Swat etc? I think the protesters should add the “Send the military to Swat not Islamabad” to its slogans.
In my opinion, the “good-for-nothing citizens” are just fed up of being used by few political leaders for personal gains time and time again.
So now all this crises boils down to the diet and our mating habits, very interesting.
On a serious note I agree with RAMLA that when you travel around the world in democratic or undemocratic progressing states, people don’t have time to indulge in luxuries such as politics, every body is focussed towards his/ her work. Nobody knows who is their representative or whats happening around the world. Every body has a job to do and they are doing it. In Pakistan we have far too much time to indulge in not only local but also international affairs.
The pleasant change is that people have finally got it and no matter how loud certain sections of our society are crying wolf, a great majority is saying,” Take care of it yourself, we have got work to do.”
Ramla is from league of people who know where exactly is the problem – Teetho see there are people who are willing to stepp up and work for the country…. ! for the people.
@Jamal
im sure after a genuine hunt u’ll find a couple of 1000′s of Ramla’s kind…but then who takes the initiative, n even the ones who do end up being manipulated exactly the way ppl were as mentioned in this post…
sad state our nation is in, yet again a victim of our unstable political system n failed attempts at introducing democracy in the country…
however its the ppl i feel genuinely sad for coz we as a nation r capable of so much more n deserve so much better then THIS…
I am bit curious here. What is the source of income for these lawyers? Shouldn’t they be at courts fighting for their clients? Or is that not part of their job description?!?!?
LOL@BALMA
ofcourse the lawyers shud b at courts fighting for their client! provided the courts r functioning n either not shut off by the govt or on strikes!
isnt that sth plaguing our entire nation n not just the lawyers…i.e.minding everything else other than ur own business?
BLAMA pray that you never have to engage in any legal wranglings, a trip to a Pakistani court for any litigation will cost you a fortune and you will get no where. The time wasted in peshee after peshee cannot be estimated. The day you enter a court house your wallet is not yours, people will be literally pulling it out of your pants, its like a Machlee Bazaar. A typical Pakistani court house presents a scene of parasites attached to poor victims sucking the last drop of their blood and moving onto the next one. From the Notary Public to the session judge its an hierarchy of pests, with a well defined pecking order.
So if these lawyers are not worried about their livelihood, its because they will more than compensate in the next peshee.
because we have uneducated people handling everything
and those uneducated people are backed by educated lot of Pakistan. Why don’t you see this Ramla?
BAsically, what I understand is that our lawyers don’t believe in actually arguing their cases at the court or such things, no logic, nothing. All what they deal is in how to delay the session…i.e. as Reality_check says, from peshi to peshi.
So, who cares these people are protessting. Legal profession is not an izat daar profession in Pakistan. I don’t see kids growing up in Karachi saying that ‘mae baRaa ho kar vakeel banoo’n gaa / gee’.
These are society’s rejects. Those who can’t even get into a good commmerce college for intermediate, go to law collges.
Legal profession is not an izzat daar profession it once used to be. They should stop this nonsense and get a job or start a business, and try to make money like every other hard working Karachiite (minus politicians).
A person, whom I know, works for a bank in the leasing/financing dept. He told me once that when the bank gets a lawyer for recovery cases, the lawyer contacts the other party to have a deal. The deals is to pay the lawyer money so that he can keep on delaying the hearing, even though he is supposed to win the case for the bank.
Balma wrote:‘mae baRaa ho kar vakeel banoo’n gaa / gee’.
Let’s analyze this sentence in feminine form as can be derived from what Balma wrote: ‘mae baRaa ho kar vakeel banoo’n gee’.
iss jahil ki aql ki tarhain Urdu bhi kamzoor hay…Balma, you should have written vakeel/vakeela with gaa/gee. Next time make sure to write properly. Otherwise, I’ll give another lesson if I felt like it. Samjhay?!
PS: There is another mistake but I leave it for Balma to correct. Daktay hain kay iss ki hasiyat kiya hay. Watch this space people.
No_Need, I am very happy to have you around to fix every Urdu mistake on KMB. Welcome, you will have a lot of fun considering most people in Pakistan have become burger.
Just to make you happy, here is the correct Mu-annis form of the sentence:
I don’t see kids growing up in Karachi saying that ‘mae baRee ho kar vakeelah banoo’n gee’.
Happy?
thanks anuj.
also great post bolshie …far and away the best post i have ever read and one of the few that wholy justifies trolling thru kmb. hope you dont mind if i cut and paste it someplace else.
country is in mess and people are busy playing ‘muzakkar muwannas’ here.. ha ha ha..
here is another urdu idiom:
“chullu bhar pani mein doob maro”
just kidding.
now that was some good report writing, natural and funny. the “agencies ka banda ” part is freakin hillarious , som real spontanious comedy i say .
peace and love all
DV
– acts of extremsim and its threats are being planned and executed by external forces to weaken Pakistan and make it the most dangerous country in the eyes of the international community.
– mush, benazir, mullas, and army, are just puppets (dummy idiots).
– this whole conspiracy theory has been brought in to “DISARM PAKISTAN” eventually.
iss qism ki ghaltian phir kien tou KMB par likhnay ki koi zaroorat nahin. aik aur baat batata chaloon: tum bhi adhay burger ho. kabhi apnay griban main jahka ha bhi ya nahin? aik aur baat, Urdu kay saat saat aql bhi durust karnay ka arada rakhta hoon…samjahy mian ya nahin?
NO_NEED if you want to give threats to fellow commentators then you should have the courage to do it using your original nick. Taken your chicken stuff some where else.
Reality_check bharak uthay aur boltay hain NO_NEED if you want to give threats to fellow commentators then you should have the courage to do it using your original nick. Taken your chicken stuff some where else.
aur main farmata hoon, jahalat chor doo. ghaib kay ilm hay kay samajhtay ho kay main dou ya uss say zaida nicks istimal karaha hoon…jo main likh raha hoon agar zahan hay tou uss ka jawab dou warna ya alzamat apnay pass rakho aur ya lafangay bazi chor doo…samjhay mian ya nahin?
>>>> “samjhay mian ya nahin?”
I got it. This must be a case of domestic problem.
mian = husband.
According to Dr. Phil,
Take your domestic problems off line and keep it in the closet.
LOL!
for the post and for the funny comments
Not for the “Emergency” though :(
NO_NEED Tumharey jaisey chapandukh bohat dekhein hein. Mein koi burger nahein, tum jaison ko samjhana aataa hey. Is dasht mein bohat waqt guzaraa hey, aur tumhaarey jaisey frustrated loag bhee bohat dekhein hein. Tum nein kutch likhaa ho tou uska jawab doun aur jo likhaa hey uska jawab alfaaz se nahein dia jaa saktaa.
Munnay I have a pretty good guess who you really are, so be careful, dont play with fire. To the moderator, Sorry about this, feel free to take this comment off this post, but sometimes people needed to be delt with at their level.
The media, of all people, should be more responsible than hogging the limelight.
More professionalism needed. And more moderation needed in the Nation, hence this drama was inevitable, unless we are willing to let the Nation go to dogs and become a fanatic Nation.
leejiya janab, Reality_check sahib ki abhi tak bharas nahin nikli. wasay, RC pata nahin hum say ulajhnay pay kuin tulay huway hain. hum tou Balma ko sabaq sikharahay thay.
chaliya, abb Reality_check kay bhari jumloon par ghor kartay hain aur unkon samajhnay ki koshish kartay hain:
‘Mein koi burger nahin, tum jaison ko samjhana aataa hey’
yani, in sahib ko tou kissi nay burger bola hi nahin magar apnay app khud samajh bathay kay janab iss mulk may agar koi burger hay tou main hi hosakta hoon!
Phir khatay hain ‘Is dasht mein bohat waqt guzaraa hey, aur tumhaarey jaisey frustrated loag bhee bohat dekhein hein.’
yani, dou jumlay bhi Urdu kay baghayr angrazi lafz kay nahin likh paii aur phir dannt hamain kay ‘burger’ kuin bola (jabkay inko burger kissi nay nahin bola…sirf wahm hay). bahut mahzooz horaha hoon main aur dousray bhi!
Phir farmatay hain ‘Tum nein kutch likhaa ho tou uska jawab doun aur jo likhaa hey uska jawab alfaaz se nahein dia jaa saktaa.’
yani kay jawab danday say diya jasakta hay kuinkay baqaul inkay alfaaz say nahin diya jasakta. phalay hum par buhtan lagaya giya kay ‘threat’ kar raha hoon aur abb ya. lagta hay ka zahan kam nahin karaha hay ka ‘alfaaz’ say jawabaat daynay say qasir hain janab.
Reality_check ka Urdu likh likh kar bura hal hogeeya hay aur abb angrazi par hi iktifa kartay aur apni awqat dikhatay huway farmatay hain ‘Munnay I have a pretty good guess who you really are, so be careful, dont play with fire.’
Abba jan, forun bata dain kay main kon hoon! dukan say mazay mazay ki cheezain dilwaoon ga theek jawab milnay par. nasihat kay shukriya…agg say waqai bachna chahiya lakin wo agg jo hamaray tan badan main lagti hay app jasay ahmaqoon kay jawabaat say uska kiya kiya jayee? shaid, app KMB par likhna chor dain! kiya khiyal hay iss tajweez kay baray main?
everybody goes to the T2F who goes to KPC ? tum bhi naa…!lol
Bravo Mush, screw all these lawyers. When I see pics of lawyers throwing stones on police then I wonder why Mush took this action so late. And by the way that camera man would definitely report that police tortured him and broke his camera. How the hell you could beat a person just because he belongs to some agency.
During this time, they realised that an “agencies ka banda” was in the group. Everyone started beating him up — and when I say “everyone,
This piece brings some hope. Tells that this nation is just sleeping not dead and have a bit germs to bear any revolution. What all is required is guidance and someone to suck out all the fear from their hearts then no Altaf,BB,nawaz or dictators could screw them up.
OWK: you continue to amaze me. However, I guess none from your family was ever abducted by any agency that you have been making comments thousands of miles away from the soil. As I said earlier, Expats living abroad having luxurious life sound lame and pathetic when they comment about pakistan’s situation. Be Thankful dude you’re not on this soil
And when I said earlier that uneducated cabals are fed by educated lot, comments made by the guy OWK are one of many examples why uneducated lot still serving in Pakistan and why can’t we have some good leader. Few months back this guy was preaching about Imran and was cursing Musahrraf while this dude didn’t make any attempt to see the news when several mothers were outside of court and on many places with pictures of their loved ones.
When ignorance is bloss, its folly to be wise.
I have been following politics in Pakistan ever since I was 6-7 years
old. I still remember Bhutto’s unlawful hanging. I remember Zia’s
corrupt and bigoted martial law and I also remember the nascent and at
times the corrupt democracies which followed. But what I see happening
today in Pakistan is not only unwarranted but also unparalleled in our
history.
Our Judiciary is under siege, they are effectively arrested as if they
are nothing more than common criminals. Imagine majority of the Supreme
Court is being held hostage in any civilized country. How shameful. With
them a majority of the High Court Judges of Pakistan are also being held
hostage by the present regime.
And then the usurpers who call themselves the government of Pakistan
have the galls to talk about that they are doing all this for the
betterment of the country. They speak to us as if they are speaking to
their slaves. They talk down to us.
How long, how long are we going to suffer this ignominy? When will we
stand up and be counted?
All these years I have been disillusioned by the dream called Pakistan.
A ray of hope arose when the lawyer’s community and the Higher Judiciary
rose to the occasion.
A hope that yes maybe I too might have some recourse against the people
who sit in the corridors of power and who are not used to any one
questioning their authority and wrong doings.
A hope, that I too can enjoy basic freedoms and human rights.
But for now it seems like it was just an amazing dream that has just
ended too quickly. The ray of hope was quashed by those who are nothing
more than Usurpers of this nation’s rights and hopes. And darkness
prevails again. The fight between good and evil has moved into its
second phase.
The judges have done their duty, the lawyers and ex judges have done
their duty, the media has done its duty, and now the bugle blows for us
the citizens of Pakistan wherever we are to do our duty.
My fellow Pakistanis there is no better time to be counted than now, let
your voices be heard, let the people who are assaulting us in the cover
of darkness know that we will not take it lying down any more.
Let the usurpers and their cohorts know that Pakistan was not created
for them but for us the common man, so that we could enjoy life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness.
I ask my fellow Pakistanis to register their protest peacefully and for
those who are in Pakistan to lay wreaths on the gates of the judiciary
that has been murdered by the evil usurper, and do it in large numbers.
So that by leaving behind these wreaths we can let these usurpers know
that yes we are peaceful but we are aware and we will not let them take
away our rights without a fight.
I suggest we lay these wreaths outside all the courts in Pakistan. And
mourn the death of our brave judiciary. And then when we have done this
in the thousands, then we should rejoice and welcome the new judiciary
which has arisen out of these ashes the brave judiciary who lies
captured in the hands of these usurpers, and rise to free them from
these shackles.
For those who are not in Pakistan I suggest, we register our protest by
writing to the editors of the various influential newspapers and writing
or calling our elected representatives wherever we are and letting them
know that they need to now stand up with the moderates and the democracy
loving people of Pakistan and only then is there any salvation against
the extremists that they are trying so hard to defeat. Or otherwise what
stares them in their faces is a civil war in Pakistan. And that is not
good. For you don’t want another Iraq or Iran in the face of Pakistan.
It is time to be counted. Time to let our voices be heard. Stop all that
you are doing. Your country needs nothing more than for you to be on the
streets, and on the phones or with your emails to let you voices be
heard among all mankind that we will not take this lying down.
In today’s News
We have nothing to cook while I had my children with me.” He said the other day he was asked to take oath under the PCO but I said, ” I am for upholding the Constitution and the rule of law. I can’t be such a hypocrite as earlier we had been giving decisions against Musharraf and now we take oath to legitimise the PCO and imposition of emergency.”
Awesome piece by Abbasi. One thing which thrilled me is firm belief of all judges on Allah. Mashallah. If they r not political statement then I believe that Hundreds of Mushrrafs can’t defeat them at all. Bravo guys! keep it up!!
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tinyurl.com/22uzsp
@ KASHIF
In larger picture from outside it seems that Pakistan is in state of misery and state of people are worst then congo, burma and somalis and anyone can rant from distance for sympathy and try to dictate and spell out a policy for Pakistan – right ?
We live here, we are Alhamdolillah sustaining, surviving and Inn sha ALLAH we all will strive to improve whatever we can do to lead the country out of bad. If not us then our next generation will be much happier and better then us and the generation next & next & next will look at us a history of effort which gave them better Pakistan.
The naturalised un-rated E class citizens with zero standing of xyz country may rest in peace.
http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2007/11/little-english-.html
Other good resources include the aggregation at BuzzVines, the reporting at Teeth Maestro, and the Karachi Metroblog.
ramla i feel sorry for you
btw that teeth doc’s blog was mentioned in a guardian story that i just read
Adnan Siddiqui wrote:
As I said earlier, Expats living abroad having luxurious life sound lame and pathetic when they comment about pakistan’s situation. Be Thankful dude you’re not on this soil
Just want to tell you that we have been on that soil and we belong to that country as much as you do. Just because we are abroad (to get further studies or acquire more skills) doesn’t make us any lesser than you. It surprises me that on one hand you say things like the goras have been using the Divide & Rule concept on us but how you fail to understand that you yourself in every comment of yours on this blog Divide people in a heart beat! Based on their opinions, their views, their religion, their political affiliation, the fact that they are expats, or even if YOU feel they are ignorent and do not deserve to comment. How ironic. No offence bro, you are another Pakistani and just like a brother. Just wanted to make you realize that its better to look at your own self before you point fingures at others. Look at your own attitudes, i smell hatred in each and every comment you post. Maybe im completely wrong but this is how i felt.
Call me cynic, but I am totally scared now. I am wondering if all this nooraa-kushti between Bushie and Mushie is to install Budnazir idiot (Benazir, so search engines pick this) as the Prime Minister. This way Paksitan does not even have to go through horse trading and election farce to get her selected. Oh Khudaa (allah for fanatics), show us your mercy….keep Budnazir away from Prime Ministership but safe enough so some honest judge or ruler of PK can get stolen money back from her and then try her for her brother’s (a terrorist, but still a human being)murder. Aameen, Summa (thumaa for fanatics) Aameen.
BALMA dont forget the Choudhri’s, they are exuding confidence, BB is not in for a joy ride, She will get a very tough time in Punjab and probably in some areas of Sindh too.
Hey KASHIF cool down heaven has not fallen, people have got work to do they are not foolish to stand in a line which goes no where and get themselves counted.
Election will happen, mean time just chill out and get some entertainment.
Also, please avoid using double line spaces.
REality_Check bhai, this is indeed the reason I am scared…that Busie and Mushie will use emergency to install Budnazir. i.e. Budnazir will come to haunt us on DanDay kay zore per. i.e. No one in Panjab or Sindh matters.
aaltoo-jalaaltoo, aayee Budnazir balaa ko Taal too.
BALMA this will not happen, it was the Choudhry’s that insisted on emergency since LAL Masjid, Mushahid and others opposed it.
Imposition of emergency is the victory for Chaudhry lobby within the establishment; they have already marginalized the deal between BB and Mush.
However, the fact remains that nobody can control all the variables, things can always take a turn.
Balma, aik martaba phir yaddahani karwa raha hoon…ya tou angrazi likho ya sahih Urdu likho. angrazi aur Urdu kay alfaaz ko aik hi jumlay may nahin likha karo. agli martaba sakht alfaaz ka istimal kiya jaeey ga agar baz nahin aaey. Samjahy mian?
agar iss baat ka jawab dayna hay tou aql istimal karna. Reality_check ki tarha aaien baien shaien baatian na karna (uper daykho).
No_Need: you sound like a funny guy.
I like you already!
@XYZ: yes you are completely wrong. I was clearly addressing MAJORITY of those expats like reality, OWK and many others who just try to get idea about homeland by newspapers only or just some random calls back at home. When these people try to reject those who actually have been suffering then it makes me to feel like what I said earlier.
Rejecting or denying something doesn’t mean hatred. I hope you understand it quite well.
ADNAN I told you b4 my experiences are not second hand and neither is my knowledge of what is going on. All I am saying to you guys, as RAMLA A so eloquantly phrased, change does not come by demanding it, but by being part of the effort to bring it about, everything else is whining. I did in practice what I felt was needed to be done risking the most precious thing i.e. life.
I dont think at present there is a need for creating chaos and I am patient enough to see what can be achieved by this emergency plus I have never doubted the sincerity of Mush towards Pakistan. But those are my personal views.
If someone things otherwise then I have offered my advice, call me old fashioned or out of touch but struggle demands sacrifice and in this day and age with the support of Media and a benign dictator that sacrifice will not be too much. Believe me hand dusting by police and couple of weeks in a lock up are not a big price to pay. There are no millitary courts, no CIA torture centres and no public lashing, what we are seeing now is kid stuff.
Ofcourse for the known terrorists there is special treatment, but even they can get relief from the courts.
@XYZ –
Part of my family is unrated E-class naturalised citizen of PQRST country., and still want to HAVE a CNIC, NICOP, etc etc.
They rant alot when such things happen, I always tell them to stay calm, and and worry only when WE are worried.
lately i attended a family video conference, Supposedly 11 concerned Pakistanis families were gathered discussing situation and future of Pakistan, and It was like a comedy show for all of us here.
I muted the microphone not to hurt their feelings, but they were discsussing as if (nauoz billah) Pakistan is coming to an end and Isreal & India with US forces would be landing anytime to take over. POOR EXPATS
We commoners – I fail to understand what is reason we are so worried knowing all it is somehow the other a ‘DRAMA’ – be it CJ, BB, NS, Mullahs or THE TROIKA by themselves.
Unless there is CURFEW and common people are denied to earn & work for their daily living, I take that as ‘OK’ – Yes I will protest and load my gun and come out on street if my neighborhood starts to starve, kids cry, sick are not allowed to approach hospitals, etc etc.
Under the current ruckus situation, this fits well – GOD HELP THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES… !
Peace is everywhere, may be it is not within those who are opportunist.,
Out of all Acredited Bloggers –
and people like me –
HOW MUCH WE HAVE LOST and in WHAT SHAPE We have LOST – Because of EMERGENCY
Please share it.
BTW – did anyone noticed The Wall Chalking all over the city of Karachi is WHITE WASHED ??? – :)
@jamal shamsi and all those who feel secure and smug today…
there is a story narrated of an american man…
they came for the commies in the 50′s …I stood and watched…they came for the blacks in the sixties and I stood and watched ….now they have come for me, will no one stop them?….
make whatever you want of it..twist it, spin it …
but I leave you with two quotes…
‘Most men, after a little freedom, have preferred authority with the consoling assurances and the economy of effort which it brings.’ ~Walter Lippmann, A Preface to Morals, 1929
and most appropriately…
‘He that would make his own liberty secure, must guard even his enemy from opposition; for if he violates this duty he establishes a precedent that will reach himself.’ ~Thomas Paine
think about it….
Jamal Shamsi – completely agree with you. About the people living outside Pakistan in your family, I don’t know what you meant by they “rant”. I’m assuming you meant they freak out and start discussing theories about what the whole thing is about and what will happen next. Isn’t what we all do by the way? It’s funny because i used to laugh at such expats too when I used to live in Pakistan. Now i can see the other side of the coin. I myself freaked out and called home and asked them what was going on. It’s just very natural, when you’re far away from home/country, you tend to get a bit more worried and concerned and there’s nothing wrong with it. And I am very much aware of such situations. I have experienced a few bomb blasts very closely, have lifted bodies so I know how it’s like practically. But still i freak out – human nature. But I never give judgements on who’s right and who’s wrong and what’s going to happen next, because I dont know and I maybe completely wrong and those statements by me could impact others. People might start believing in what I say (theories or made up stuff).
My take on emergency is somewhat same as yours. I dont think common people have lost anything, there is business as usual in the city (as I gather from people’s comments). I say if things are peaceful, kids can go to school, people can go to work and there are no holidays in the name of “protests”, then i’m happy. Atleast innocent people are not dying. I wonder why can’t the lawyers do their jobs dedicately from 9 to 5, handle cases honestly, rather than coming out on the streets and throwing stones at the police? Where in the world is such behaviour considered revolutionary? Does any one really think THIS will cause a revolution in Pakistan? Does anyone really thing THIS will bring a change? How about brining a change by being economically strong, by just doing our work with integrity, giving our kids the good tarbiyat so they can be good human beings. I know it all sounds like a speech to alot of people, but face it guys, THIS is what will bring a change that this nation needs.
XYZ and Jamal Shamsie: could not agree more with you.
most citizens are trying to go about their daily lives. yet at the same time they are not apathetic to the situation or to the chaos in the judiciary. we are all concerned at whats happening and we hope and pray that it is the right action at the right time. No one really knows how it will turn out. But we need to be thankful that peace prevails and go about our work and actually contribute in our small ways to the nation.
@XYZ
Few of my family members choose to migrate and adopt other country as homeland due to situation of late 80′s onwards, – so i know what you mean.
Again, judging from distance is not wise, passing comments and suggesting to quit living in Pakistan, doesn’t make sense,.
QABAR KA HAAL MURDA JANTA HAI fits to all.
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@Libertarian
By WE I never mean me or my family, BY WE i always generalise about what i read on this blog and see around me daily. right from my gardner to the driver, the grocerry shop owner, the cobbler, the maid the work place staff, the car washing boy, the hotel waiter, the stationery shop guy, the vallet waiter, milkshop owner etc etc who i do salam alaik on & off every day.
They are all at peace & happy., and least bothered about what is with lawyers, journalists, etc etc etc, they even asked where and what is emergency like.
What you referred from US History does not apply in this region.
If you mean Talibanisation seeping down from mountains to plains, :) people can wait and have fantasy for it, no harm in dreaming.
JAMAL you have my vote too…..thats what I say to people here that heavens is not falling down. We have seen much worse times. The people who were born in 80′s have not even seen curfew. This constitutional wrangling can be the opium of the few, but it does not affect ordinary people. When workplaces, school, colleges, factories and business are open then where is emergency? Not even in the hospitals, except in the courtrooms. The irony is, the closure of the courts does not affect the ordinary citizen because nothing gets decided there anyway, the poor litigants have been spared unnecessary visits. In fact its bail time for the lawyers and they are in a catch 22.
As for the media anchors and the hype creators, I compare them with the shopkeepers jo Dukaan sajaa key shaam ko beth jaate hain aur roozana dukaan key aagey kuch rakh ke they endulge in encroachment. One day the municipality comes and tears down whatever chairs, boards and stalls they have put in front of their shop. Things remain as is for a while, dukaan phir khul jaatee hey and the cycle is repeated.
@ jamal and the rest …how your ancestors and mine will be turning in their graves listening to your comments…its an insult to say the least for the people who migrated from India to Pakistan in the name of ‘freedom’…did your father and grandfather stay in British-India saying this is between Jinnah, Gandhi and the british empire as I am going to work 9-5 every day and earning bred for my family…were they delusional of the state of Pakistan and what it represented that they would risk their lives to cross over to reach Pakistan where they had no food,clothes or shelter…answer me why?…
You say the sky has not fallen …do you know what a constitution of a country is?…It is the most sacred document of the country…why? it would be best if you read it…its self explanatory…or maybe you enjoy seeing people rounded uplike cattle without charges…hey its your right to feel so but that is what I want to protect…read your constitution for once as it is your duty being a pakistani…you have become desensitized and now quoting from history which you think are just memories which apply to specific people and regions…the most absurd thing I have heard to date…
”A long habit of not thinking a thing wrong gives it a superficial appearance of being right’…
you say this doesnt affect an average man…then go read the articles that have been removed by this ‘emergency’ before you answer my post…and then tell me if you are a free man or a slave…
irrespective of who I am…I have the right to say feel , protest and assemble anywhere I want…my ancestors died trying to achieve this for me ..and I will not let a few oligarchs and plutocrats take it away from me…you can go to your 9 to 5 work…feed your child and try convincing him that he is born a free man…we/I do not care …but let it not be said that I did nothing…we will fight for your and your future children’s civil liberties for maybe he shall covet it more than you do….
LIBERTARIAN My father is one of those guys who made that perilous journey in 1947, he is alive and supports Musharraf. He believes that Muslims of sub-continent were taken for a ride by the slogan mongers.
But that’s all history, Jamal is absolutely right, no use in running after vague goals and hypocrat leaders. What liberties have been taken away from you? If you are suffering from media withdrawal symptoms then relax you will receive your dose very soon, that will calm you down and you will be able to sit in front of the idiot box and Wah Wah the conspiracy theorists.
In the modern day and age the formula is to work hard, earn an honest living, attract investment, improve education, avoid chaos and everything else will follow.
@reality check …if you and your dad believe that the muslims were duped and taken for a ride …the door to india and the rest of the world is still open…sad in this day you don’t read and value your
civil liberties…I am sick of citing the clauses that have been removed from the constitution…khair about this improving education thing you mention…all i see is cosmetic parks and fly overs being proped up….what investment are you talking about…the 10 billion in us aid or the loans from world bank and IMF…we are the third largest country getting aid=slaves from america after iraq and israel….read the secret history of the american empire by john perkins and then look at what is going on in the country…that book will alter a lot of childish beliefs of security….haha Pakistan was avague goal too but I guess you and your dad have a stated position on that….