If people have come out on road in their millions, PM would have not dared to send him back into exile. I think NS has been very badly let down by his supporters.
He could not match Benazir’s reception’s of 1986 when more 500,000 people turned up to receive her in Lahore.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
I have posted a similar thread on this topic.
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=263594
NS was not just let down by his own party, but also by his APDM partners as well.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
hayn? NS was sent right from the airport from what I gathered and all roads to airport were blocked till few kms so how would've his supporters done anything for him? It doesn't matter if 2 people are standing 5 km away or 10 million, a dictator can send anyone anywhere, period.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
hayn? NS was sent right from the airport from what I gathered and all roads to airport were blocked till few kms so how would've his supporters done anything for him? It doesn't matter if 2 people are standing 5 km away or 10 million, a dictator can send anyone anywhere, period.
NS's supporters and local leadership knew in advance that majority of the roads would be blocked. But did you see thousands or even hundreds of people "testing" these barriers?
Musharraff is apparently unpopular among Pakistanis because it is in our culture to start hating the people in charge and blaming them for everything we miss in our lives after they have had a chance to stay in power for 3-4 years.
But as we have all noticed, Musharraf's unpopularity doesn't translate into the kind of passionate following popular leaders used to enjoy in the 60s/70s/80s/90s. The ordinary 'dukandar' is no longer willing to do the bidding of 'Drawing Room' politicians. If the local leadership wasn't willing to risk arrests and come out themselves, the ordinary 'dukaandars' and 'thelaey walas' shouldn't have to. I am happy for the poor man in Pakistan. They have been a mule for the 'drawing room' politicians too long. Time to ask the sugar-mill politicians to experience some hardships themselves before asking the street people to make sacrifices for them.
Also, the resistance against Musharraf is largely ideological (myself included. I am not PRO Musharraf either when it comes to picking our next government). The lives of ordinary people have improved quite a bit in the last seven years, to the extent that they are not willing drop everything and participate in protests and processions like they used to 15-20 years ago.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
The ordinary 'dukandar' is no longer willing to do the bidding of 'Drawing Room' politicians. If the local leadership wasn't willing to risk arrests and come out themselves, the ordinary 'dukaandars' and 'thelaey walas' shouldn't have to. I am happy for the poor man in Pakistan. They have been a mule for the 'drawing room' politicians too long. Time to ask the sugar-mill politicians to experience some hardships themselves before asking the street people to make sacrifices for them.
That's right.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
The lives of ordinary people have improved quite a bit in the last seven years, to the extent that they are not willing drop everything and participate in protests and processions like they used to 15-20 years ago.
I don't know from what perspective 'lives of ordinary people have improved', are you talking about salaries/income only? Poor is just getting poor, yeah we can blame him for being born as poor. Economy this and economy that, yeah, I am from Karachi so I can only look at Karachi where crimes are only going up... so I don't know how lives of ordinary people have improved... yeah no "hartaal" is taking place, I agree to that.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
Exactly! and that is what the newspaper editorials are saying as well.
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showpost.php?p=5281710&postcount=15
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
NS's supporters and local leadership knew in advance that majority of the roads would be blocked. But did you see thousands or even hundreds of people "testing" these barriers?
Musharraff is apparently unpopular among Pakistanis because it is in our culture to start hating the people in charge and blaming them for everything we miss in our lives after they have had a chance to stay in power for 3-4 years.
But as we have all noticed, Musharraf's unpopularity doesn't translate into the kind of passionate following popular leaders used to enjoy in the 60s/70s/80s/90s. The ordinary 'dukandar' is no longer willing to do the bidding of 'Drawing Room' politicians. If the local leadership wasn't willing to risk arrests and come out themselves, the ordinary 'dukaandars' and 'thelaey walas' shouldn't have to. I am happy for the poor man in Pakistan. They have been a mule for the 'drawing room' politicians too long. Time to ask the sugar-mill politicians to experience some hardships themselves before asking the street people to make sacrifices for them.
Also, the resistance against Musharraf is largely ideological (myself included. I am not PRO Musharraf either when it comes to picking our next government). The lives of ordinary people have improved quite a bit in the last seven years, to the extent that they are not willing drop everything and participate in protests and processions like they used to 15-20 years ago.
Very good point.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
Even an editorial in the staunchly pro-Nawaz “Nation” has conceded that the PML-N is in complete disarray, especially after the pathetic turnouts of Sept 10th and 11th.
Opposition in disarray](http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/14/editorials2.php)
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
^ chalo, shayed iss se PML mai kuchh aqal aa jaye (hope against hope)
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
:rotfl: Infighting and recrimination continues.
http://www.dawn.com/2007/09/14/top7.htm
MMA blames PML-N for Sept 10 fiasco
By Amir Wasim
ISLAMABAD, Sept 13: The Muttahida Majlis-i-Amal (MMA) has said that the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is responsible for the poor turnout of opposition workers and general public when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad on Sept 10. According to sources, the MMA has complained that the alliance was not consulted when the reception plan was finalised. The sources said the MMA had told the PML-N that the wrong choice of Islamabad as the place for Mr Sharif’s arrival and his interview to a foreign news channel in which he supported the US war against terror were the main factors for the embarrassment faced by the PML-N. MMA leaders were of the view that office-bearers and leaders of other parties in the ALL Parties Democratic Movement should have been included in various committees constituted by the PML-N to finalise the arrangements. MMA leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed said the alliance wanted Mr Sharif to come to Peshawar but decisions were being taken by the PML-N leadership in London. He said he had told PML-N chairman Raja Zafarul Haq that Mr Sharif’s last news conference before his departure to Pakistan had created doubts in the minds of the people of the country. Mr Sharif had told reporters that his understanding with the Saudi government was for five years of exile and not 10 years. Earlier, Mr Sharif had been denying having signed any agreement barring him from participating in politics. Meanwhile, the government on Thursday released all the arrested PML-N leaders and office-bearers. However, attempts to contact them to seek the party’s view on the concerns expressed by the MMA failed.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
http://www.nation.com.pk/daily/sep-2007/15/columns2.php
The let down
Fakir S. Ayazuddin
It was indeed a black Monday for the PML (N), for poor Nawaz Sharif it was not just a let down, by his Party officers, and workers, but a complete rout by the forces under the able command of the Chief Minister of Punjab Parvaiz Elahi. Poor Nawaz fell for the old Punjabi hype of ‘maharaj toosi jahaz te charo gey te saray dorh jaan gey.’ Thus: “Maharaj as soon as you board the plane the opposition will run away.” Sadly for the PML, their loud rhetoric was just that. Rhetoric. The numbers just did not exist, if they did, it was in the imagination of the (N) Party. For this miscalculation, Nawaz will pay with the next three years of his life. There are a few lessons here for the political analysts. Don’t believe the hype would be amongst the first. Secondly, the long arm of the Law (read administration) is indeed stronger than Wasi Zafar indicated. Ruminating in his plush accommodation in Saudi Arabia, Nawaz must be wondering at the extent of his erroneous feedback. He is indeed fortunate that the only plus has been the lucky escape of Shahbaz, who must be now back at the drawing board designing new plans, this time with alternates. The Jamaat Islami’s ‘hidden hand‘ was also visible in the tight-lipped grimace of Qazi Hussain Ahmed, and the totally missing JI street power, which is reputedly the most fierce in Pakistan, and yet was conspicuous by its absence. Showing the Saudi incline. It would have been wiser to enter into a negotiation with Musharraf, but here again his Hawks had advised Nawaz against such a move. While the political pundits in the media had unanimously affirmed and reconfirmed that the regime was on its last legs, it was amazing how wrong they were, and indeed how strong the administration turned out to be.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
Poor Nawaz fell for the old Punjabi hype of ‘maharaj toosi jahaz te charo gey te saray dorh jaan gey.’ Thus: “Maharaj as soon as you board the plane the opposition will run away.” Sadly for the PML, their loud rhetoric was just that. Rhetoric. The numbers just did not exist, if they did, it was in the imagination of the (N) Party. For this miscalculation, Nawaz will pay with the next three years of his life.
So much for the khomeini like reception that was being predicted.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
Yes, that is what his party and the APDM was promising him. 
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
It is unfortunate to see NS going to the political dumps. He probably is the only pro-industry and pro-development popularly elected leader in a long time. His reign saw immense development in the sectors of road infrastructure and public transport.
However his political failures are the result of one big misstep. That he is a Punjabi but he behaves like a leader form a tiny province like Balochistan.
Picking up fights with the Punjabi dominated army suites only to the little place leaders. This is like MQM picking fight with urdu dominated bureaucracy. You don't pick fights with your own ruling elite (period).
And if you do, then your ruling elite will be much harsher with you than the others.
In the history of Pakistan only two things have been able to shake Pak army from inside: A Punjabi NS, and Islam. These are the only two things that can potentially destroy Pakistani army and with that the possibility of destruction of life in Pakistan as we know it.
NS should retire and become spiritual Abba Ji for his younger sibling Shahbaz. Whatever the case may be, the two should work closely with the army. At least they should learn a thing or two from BB.
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
i was expecting a historic welcome!
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
i was expecting a historic welcome!
He got a historic welcome - 50 people turned upto to greet him. :D
Re: NS let down by his supporters!
Dissension and infighting within the PML Nawaz over the humiliating welcome they accorded their leader. :hehe:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\09\22\story_22-9-2007_pg7_25
PML-N workers protest Nawaz’s poor reception
LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers participating in a protest meeting on Friday held up banners inscribed with a statement that the PML-N party leaders who had committed negligence with regard to Nawaz Sharif’s reception at Islamabad airport on September 10 should be removed from their party offices.
**When PML-N Punjab President Zulfiqar Ali Khosa arrived at the protest along with a dozen party workers, some PML-N workers started shouting slogans, saying that party leaders who had not received Nawaz Sharif at the airport did not deserve to hold party office. Other PML-N workers immediately hushed these angry workers. PML-N leader Saad Rafique also reached an hour late, and when asked by the speakers to come to the stage, he refused to come up. Saad Rafique also refused to speak to the disgruntled APDM workers on the occasion. **