Posts Tagged ‘musharraf’
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For the entire article, click here (Courtesy of CNN.com)
“Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has made it clear that a U.S. military mission to capture Osama bin Laden or other top al Qaeda leaders on Pakistani soil would be unwelcome and “against the sovereignty of Pakistan.”"
Let us analyze this: Pakistan is an independent state. It has a functioning government. The country is not like an open door to a house.
The U.S. claims that it is considering “expanding” the operations in the Northern part of Pakistan to shore up support for the president. This gives away two things: First, the U.S. armed forces are in fact on Pakistani soil. The other, more important thing is this: A major population of Pakistan dislikes the United States government (and not the whole of the U.S.). In order to increase support for Musharraf, the U.S. threatens its own international image. This will perhaps be the third or fourth country it “invades” and will cause a major outcry from the people of Pakistan. What does this say to the U.S.? Stay out of Pakistan. Not just what Musharraf is implying, but the whole of Pakistan is implying. U.S. presence in Pakistan is already a discourse which is a thin thread waiting to break under tension.
“I do not lead a war on terror on behalf of the United States, but on behalf of Pakistan,” Musharraf told French newspaper Le Figaro in an interview published Saturday. “
This is a very important statement. This shows Pakistan’s commitment to the war on terror initiated by the United States. It shows that Pakistan, on its own accord has decided to intiate its own “chapter” on the war on terror, and is doing a great job at that.
“The United States seems to think that what our army cannot do, they can do,” he said. “This is a very wrong perception. I challenge anybody to come into our mountains. They would regret that day. It’s not easy there.”
This statement is not to be taken out of context: It is not a threat to the U.S., it is a show of concern: Pakistani terrain in the north is not easy to conquer, and as far as comparison goes, the Pakistani army has more in-field experience patrolling and securing this terrain than the U.S. armed forces. They also understand how the minds of the terrorists work in this region and as such, are able to anticipate their moves. Another important thing to note is that many of the Pakistani soldiers have been trained in international training camps, mostly in the United States. Musharraf himself has had higher level training in the west. This is not necessarily true for the western armed forces.
It seems that Musharraf is a good communicator. He knows what to say, how to say it, and the message comes across loud and clear: It is not muddled up, it is honest. Musharraf and his military (well, ex military anyway) seems to be doing a fairly decent job taking care of the terrorism which has been on a rise due to the threat to the dogmatic extremists from possible secular law in Pakistan.
Bhutto – A Quick Look At International Reactions and Analysis of the Assassination
Posted on: December 27, 2007
- In: Information | Pakistan | Politics | Society
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The Bhutto Assassination has already begun to have severe impacts on the world. While people are crying and mourning, a very close friend, disheartened and tied up with family problems says that his city is dead, the rest of the country is on fire.
Individuals all over the world, particularly the states are the aftershocks of the massive quake that is shaking the country. Texas, a state with a major population being Desi’s have been reporting on the unrest and tension in cities such as Sugarland (Read the Houston Chronicle’s post with Barkat Charania Here).
Imagine this: with so much tension, one wrong move or one wrong word on the part of any prominent leader or organization may spark riots. There are supporters of each political party in the United States as there as in Pakistan, and there may well be fights emerging between them- this across the seas, tens of thousands of miles from where the tragedy occured. If this happens in every major country, not only will there be stress in Pakistan, but in other countries leading to stress on Pakistan. This may call for the United States to topple the military and the current care taker government for its interests in order to re-stabilize the scenario in both the local and international communities.
Earlier the same day, a few members of Nawaz Sharif’s party were shot and killed by an opposition party. We set light to our own busses and cars. Pakistani brothers and sisters, we must realize that this does nothing but cause more anger and we are the ones who with our own hands add to the loss.
The future prospects of Pakistan? The General Elections? This is how it might carry on: No other emergency or martial law is imposed. A new political candidate is selected for PPP and will have an equal chance at winning the elections as did Bhutto, despite having no prominence. The popularity of the party has already been boosted even further by what has ensued and now, PPP will not think in terms of a candidate winning the elections, rather, the political party, an ideology, a movement winning the election. The saviors?
Nawaz Sharif has an increased chance of winning the election now, however. With a major competing candidate out of the way, the PPP being dispersed, it remains to be seen if they can pull back together. In the meanwhile, Nawaz has an open gateway to win a major amount of votes.
The Musharraf regime has and will constantly come under critical fire from the country and foreign allies, and although Musharraf will be blamed in particular, each member of the party is at risk of revengeful crimes.
For the record, it is not clear as to whether this is Al Qaeda or another faction that was responsible for this event. Benazir was a secular leader and so had attracted hatred from extremists.
A word about the way the assassination was committed. There was enough security for guns to have not been allowed in the procession. However, the security may not have been too tight in terms of being able to detect explosives (this is after all, a suicide bombing). Since Benazir’s vehicle was surrounded by individuals, the explosion may have been intended to disperse the crowd, leaving Benazir an open target for any sharp shooters. Benazir’s political style may have also been studied by the assassins, since the vehicle glass was bullet proof. However, usually, Bhutto pulls down the window to wave at the crowd and so, it is plausible that the assassins may have played on Bhutto’s predictable method. The assassination was also committed at the same location as the late Liaquat Ali was killed. This cannot be a coincidence.
- In: Information | Pakistan | Politics | Society
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It is official. Benazir Bhutto, leader of the Pakistani People’s Party has been assassinated in Pakistan in a rally. Bhutto died of a gunshot wound to the neck, after which a suicide bomber blew himself up – this according to CNN. There is perhaps a lot of speculation, mourning and anger looming in the air. Everything seems to be chaotic, and the recent socio-political situation of Pakistan is reminiscent of a phrase, “order out of chaos.” When I wrote the articles, As the Fog Clears Parts 1 and 2, on Chowrangi, I never considered this a possibility.
It is important at this point to focus, not on what has happened, but what will ensue in what I believe will be a series of events leading either to a revolution or, well, nothing. People will either eventually forget about it, or instead of just demanding justice, will take it into their own hands.
A major portion of the Pakistani population and ex-pats will say that this is the Musharraf government at work – Satan at his best. But please, countrymen, let us not over-attribute, and remember that Bhutto had a lot of enemies. This assassination may well be an attempt to defame the Musharraf government. All the same, it is not even rational (at this point) to rule out that this was not an assassination attempt by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML, Musharraf’s Party).
It may well be Nawaz Sharif to secure his throne, since he is the obvious rebounder. Although Sharif claims to now boycott the election, he has done so before, only to compete in the January 2008 elections.
It may well be Mr. Zardari, who may come back to Pakistan with renewed vigor and lead his party to salvation. After all, he does have a disturbing track record.
It may well be the local or foreign intelligence agencies, trying all the more to destabilize Pakistan through internal stress.
It may very well be the Taliban, or other local extremists.
What I am trying to say here is not that one of these individuals or organizations have committed a heinous crime, a murder, deciding the fate of not just a country, but of human beings; rather what I am trying to say is that there are an equal number of possibilities as to what happened and why and that we must reserve judgement. What happens in a country such as Pakistan, which is so famous in the international media, has global repercussions. We must contain ourselves before we give our state up for grabs to a number of ill-intending entities. Let us not be another Afghanistan, another Palestine, another Iraq, or perhaps Iran.
Stay in your local communities. Keep a vigilant eye out for any suspected activities, and report to the police on their hotline numbers (Madadgar 15 in Karachi) of even the remotest suspected threat. Take care of chores during those times of day when there are not a lot of people gathered together. A suicide bomber is going to target a large crowd, not a dispersed one. Look for people wearing thick heavy clothing (for they may well be c4 strapped to the chest), some people with their hands constantly in their pockets, or those people you have not seen before.
Avoid keeping your cars outside of a safe and secure area, for this may allow enemies to use them in their illegal activities. Avoid taking routes which are deserted for that matter, for you may be stopped by dacoits or kidnappers. Stay out of home for as little as possible. Arrive from work early. Take extra security measures in securing your home and family. Be prepared for any emergencies (include a first aid kit, clean water, toiletries and important legal documents).
My brothers and sisters, this is a dark and gloomy day for all of us. Stay strong, Pakistan.
If anyone would like to add anything else, please do so.
Note: This is going to be very unprofessional and roughly transcribed.
- PCO imposed due to Judiciary’s action against Executive and for working against War-on-Terror
- Only 4 Judges from Supreme Court take oath under new PCO
- 16 Judges in Lahore refuse to take oath
- 23 Judges refuse to take oath in Sigh High Court, only four take oath under PCO
- CJ of Peshawar High Court refused to take PCO oath
- 17 Judges Full Court Bench is now announced for Current Situation
- Top Generals are meeting General Musharraf in President House
- General Musharraf will perform “Meray Azeez Hum Watano” at 11:00 PST
- Police surround Imran Khan’s residence
- Aitezaz arrested
- Judges of Sindh High Court ordered to report to Governor House for new PCO oath
- Police surrounds house of Aitzaz Ahsan’s house
- Mobile phones shutdown in Islamabad by orders of National Security Council
- Supreme Court emergency session suspends PCO – Geo TV
- Suspension of 1973 Constitution is Martial Law – Dr. Shahid Masood
- 1973 Constitution Suspended in Pakistan
- ARMY Enters Supreme Court – Chief Justice Supreme Court Iftikhar Chauhdry fired by Army
- Emergency to be only imposed on Judiciary and Media – Geo TV
- Musharraf to perform “Meray Azeez Hum Watano” tonight
- Emergency Bar council meetings announced
- 30 minutes deadline given to all cable operators in Pakistan to stop Private TV Channels – ARY
- Roads to Judges colony in Islamabad blocked – ARY
- TV channels shutdown in Pakistan – ARY
Musharraf’s Speech
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-pakistan is at a dangerous turn.
-internal stress.
-painful, important decision.
-if action not taken immediately, pakistan in danger.
-one promise: what ever i do, whatever decision i have taken, first and foremost taken on the foundation of pakistan. Pakistan first.
-above personal gains, considerations, pakistan first.
-Entire country thinks along the same lines.
-Past few months, Pakistan has faced many circumstances.
-Frankly speaking: fundamentalism, terrorism, suicide bombings all over pakistan at its edge.
-no one scared of law enforcement agencies.
-Sadly, all of this is also happening in the HEART of pakistan, Islamabad.
-trying to take rit of government. Govt. within a govt.
-Fundamental ideologies being imposed.
-In my view, this is a direct attack on Pakistan’s principles.
-Grave conditions.
-Government situation: semi-paralysis. All senior govt. officials taking rounds of courts. Being punished. Being embarassed in the courts.
-Therefore, they are not taking any decision. 100 suo-moto cases in the supreme court and 1000s of applications. All cases are concerned with govt executives.
-Law enforcement agencies: demoralized, particularly in Islamabad. No hope, lost hope: all officers being punished by the supreme court. 10 officers convicted. scared of action.
-Democracy: obstacles. 3 stage transition was proposed towards democracy. From failed, defaulted state. stage 1: 99-02 total control. Stage 2: 02-07 Democratic system, elected govts, senate, assemblies, etc.
-Overseen by Musharraf, governed by the democracy. Made a record, every institution completed their term. Last Stage of this transition: Was certain when assemblies finish their tenure, there will be presidential elections.
then general elections. Then elected govt. Political reconciliation. FULL democracy. I had hoped for this.
-Unfortunately, some elements are trying to interefere, causing obstacles, not allowing this even though all the time has passed, only a few months were left. Purposely, for personal political gain.
-With great sadness, I have to say We were going towards success and now everything indicates we’re going downwards, but I am still trying to stop.
-Investors, so much money coming in, has stopped. They are looking if Pakistan is going to be stable or should be establish somewhere else. 7 years of imrprovement, infrastructure, telecomm, IT, building and construction.
-Social sector: education and health: success based on this, unfortunately, god forbid, this hard work doesnt get washed.
-Based on all of these reasons, the country has become a victim of unhappiness.
-I am being mocked. I have been listening to this. Watching in disbelief. I had hoped that we will rise above all of the hardships. This has not happened. Conditions becoming worse.
-In media, I would like to say that even media (some channels) and some programs have contributed to this negativism, downslide. I am sad because this is the same media who I gave independance to. Only PTV existed.
Media needed to be independent. I asked to stop negativism. They can be independent but be responsible.
-I ask the entire country why this happened. I think this is because of judicial activism. The lawmakers are being challenged.
-On recommendation of the primeminister I sent supreme judicial council against the CJ. I had no personal gains. But i was pointed but I did not say anything but those events lead to this situation.
if one of us make a mistake, does not mean the whole country should be destabilized
above my ego, for stability of pakistan and its institutions, i accepted this decision.
-Thank you for giving me 57% of the votes for Presidential elections. But the case in the court still stuck. No judgement. Date keeps on slipping forward. Cloud of uncertainty.
-This country is in my heart, in my soul. I cannot watch it slide down.
-Time for action: Surveyed the entire situation. in this three pillar state, Judiciary, Executive, Legislation we need harmony.
Nawaz on Musharraf’s Speech
—————————
Shed all his anger on the supreme court.
Worse than Martial Law because attack on judiciary system.
Declared emergency because he thought that the judiciary would cast a decision against him.
Decision will be maked within 90 days.
If judges not allowed to enter supreme court, sit under a tree and make decisions.
