With the botched sacking of Chief Justice and today’s ransacking of Geo news offices in Islamabad, the government of President Musharraf has launched two-pronged full scale attacks on judiciary as well as free press.
Whats going on right now can only be characterized as “damage control” … Government now says “oh, these were over-enthusiastic police officers who attacked Geo, and we are now taking action against them”. So either the government has lost control of their own police force or this is an attack clearly with the full permission and insistence of high government officials to shut up an irritant news station.
One person from Islamabad described the city to be like a “war zone” and “total chaos”. It may just be an exaggeration. However, things appear to be going in a severe downward spiral for Musharraf. In the history books, sacking of Justice Chaudhry may just be noted as the turning point of this government’s demise.
Or it may all just be premature, and with Army and Amreeka’s backing (lets not drag Allah in this), Musharaf can pull through this crisis too.
Or, this just be the time for another General to take over, and Mohammad Mian Soomro to become the interim President (as some news reports have suggested).
With some of our former political leaders again aiming to become relevant, some are placing bets on BB to be back in power before the year is out.
As much as I hate Mush for screwing with the judiciary, I still can't bring myself to accepting BB or NS as head of the executive. Maybe they will be different this time with a freer electronic media but just the thought gives me creeps.
As much as I hate Mush for screwing with the judiciary, I still can't bring myself to accepting BB or NS as head of the executive. Maybe they will be different this time with a freer electronic media but just the thought gives me creeps.
If America continues supporting Pak as it has since 9/11, it doesn't matter who is in charge
The corruption present in Pakistan today is as high as any previous levels
At the very least we can kick them out, not so easy with the goonda dictator
Either he tenders his resignation (to whom? I have no idea) and is expelled from the country to live whereever he choses to live in the world.
.
Lets rewind the tape, a general comes into power after a decade of pseudo democracy in which the army overtly and covertly influences things with the assistance of the establishment (a cabal of civil servants, ever green politicians, and opinion makers).
The general oversees an economic boom which is unprecedented in the region but marked by an unfair distribution geographically and class wise, a major alignment with the US of A to an extent that outraged nationalists, two military debacles in which soldiers died being sent for poorly planned operations that killed hundred for no good reason. He is aided by his own carved out version of the Muslim League taken from odds and ends of different parties, and the fact that the opposition is discredited and deeply divided.
Approaching nearly a decade in office, his police rough up some people for no rhyme or reason but do so quite publicly, the next day the country is paralysed by a total confrontation by a significant segment of the population and the government. The opposition, who had little to do with the initial strikes and protests, throw their weight behind the movement..followed by a wide cross section of society.
Within a year the beleaguered general is out of office in disgrace, but rather than resign and give power to even his own handpicked civilian 2nd in line he instead hands it over to another army chief, in part because the army generals wanted to wield political power just as much as he did and because he feared that he would be held accountable for his own acts..not of financial corruption per se but "the abuse of power"
Sound familiar? it should, it's the story of the rise and fall of General/Field Marshal/President Ayub Khan. To say our leaders never learn from history ..would be an understatement.
As i said, in Pakistan one needs support of two to stay in power:
Army
Uncle Sam
.
true but it's the third A that decides when we leave, Zia gave ZAB a dogs death and burial he in turn had no remains to be buried. That is why political leaders, bureaucrats/military or civilian should think of the consequences of their acts of cruelty.
with power gone to their heads and other areas, who would give a rats ass to the repurcussions. Mush is not going anywhere for sometime to come. Its just a bad start for the government as they make one blunder after another in a bid to assert themselves. the shair, " low aap apnay daam main sayaad agai," is apt for the situation. I see this whole affair in a positive light: judicial, press, civil activism...its unprecedented.
with power gone to their heads and other areas, who would give a rats ass to the repurcussions. Mush is not going anywhere for sometime to come. Its just a bad start for the government as they make one blunder after another in a bid to assert themselves. the shair, " low aap apnay daam main sayaad agai," is apt for the situation. I see this whole affair in a positive light: judicial, press, civil activism...its unprecedented.
Agreed. Some people really need to get a grip. It will take a lot more than protests by lawyers to convince Mushy to leave.
On his way out. Past the turning point. Part of the problem than solution right now. He did his bit but, now he seems to have had his play with power and cant leave the high.
Mushy has gone too far. To suspend a man who refused to bow at the altar of military rule and stood for judicial independence is unacceptable. Mushy has no bigger supporter then me on this forum, but this is just wrong.
Opposing a junta is no reason to be under arrest. The facade of judicial independence and democratic institution building has been exposed.