The lawyers and judges are the new heroes of this country.
These people have nothing to gain if democratic rule is restored in Pakistan. They are not going get lucrative contracts, jobs, sugar mill permits, diesel permits, plots in F-sectors or lands.
Yet they have voiced their opinion despite being few in number.
Also the human rights workers shud be praised for standing up for civil liberties.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
I think it is incredibly naive to beleive that a "Civil Society" is emerging in Pakistan.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
I disagree. The power that to be will never let civil society grow strong b/c that is the real threat to their power…and as we know no one like to share power. Present dictatorship is a perfect example.
http://www.paklinks.com/gs/showthread.php?t=268818
Save us from our saviours
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Shireen M Mazari
Lawyers and ordinary concerned citizens are being beaten up and arrested while one of the allegedly most corrupt, and now most opportunistic politicians, struts free salivating at the full coffers of the country’s reserves and ready to sell her soul to erase her past misdeeds and gain access once again to the state. The judges of the Supreme Court who have stood tall to defend the Constitution and have held the bureaucracy to account are literally locked behind their gates as the people’s basic rights are now abused with impunity by the same officials who resented being held to account for these actions earlier – probably for the first time in the country’s history.
As for the truth, it has been lost amid the media blackout and the plethora of unbelievable statements including the bizarre denial by the newly-appointed functionaries of the Supreme Court judgement on the PCO by a bench of the Supreme Court. This, despite the fact that the judgement has been printed in the newspapers and was sent to all the provincial high courts as well. In such an environment, the rumour mills are having a field day as an air of uncertainty and gloom haunts the nation. Certainly, how can any citizen with a passionate commitment to this country, to its beauteous diversity, to its intensely emotive people, to its achievements in adversity, to its institutions, do anything other than shed tears at this sorry state of affairs?
It is an irony that, despite the increasing tide of terrorism confronting the nation and the political machinations, despite the interventions and attempted meddling of external actors, despite the dialectic between so-called liberalism and so-called conservatism, there was a vibrancy and hope that pervaded the nation. This was the result of the resurgence of the judiciary and what one saw as a climate of healthy tolerance for “the other” as reflected in the innumerable media debates and discussions. Certainly the independent media erred often times as did the state, and certainly there was a growing debate on exactly where we were headed in the US-led war on terror. But there was a feeling that systems and institutions could finally come to take precedence over ad hocism and individualism.
Then in one swoop, that vibrancy and hope have been lost.** The dent to the democratic process, however flawed it may have been, has been a major blow for this nation as has been the violence and arrest of activists, leaders, lawyers, judges, journalists, students and simply ordinary citizens with a commitment to their vision of this great nation. A civil society living under fear and constant threat leads to a weak nation – something our enemies have been seeking for a long time.
Whatever the intent of the ‘emergency’ (effectively martial law) – and apart from the official rationalisations many other reasons are also being hotly debated – the loser at the end of the day is the nation as a whole.** However, more ominously, what is being threatened most immediately is the security of the country – at two critical levels. One is the more immediately visible level of detracting the security forces from dealing with the terrorist threat. With huge deployments in cities to counter the political and civil dissent, to sustain a growing level of house arrests and so on, and with a finite number of personnel, the loss will be felt in other areas of operations. So, in many ways, the terrorists will gain more space amongst the extremists far beyond the tribal belt.
However, it is the second more long-term negative impact that should be a cause for national concern. This is the impact that events have already been having on the institution of the military. The Pakistan military is a highly cohesive and professional organisation – one that has a central role in protecting and enhancing our strategic assets. That is why external actors like the US, who seek weak and compliant Muslim states, know that at the end of the day they will need to undermine the institution of the military even as they attempt to sow discontent within civil society – not only amongst each other but also in terms of the civil-military equation. After all, even at times of intense alliance, Pakistan as a state has managed to stand firm on its national interests.
This was the case when we developed our nuclear capability; when we refused to go along with the US invasion of Iraq and our continuing refusal to play ball with the US on Iran. On the US-led war on terrorism, for a while Pakistan chose to adopt a more holistic approach than the military-centric US approach with its massive collateral damage in terms of civilian losses. We did realise that such losses cannot be sustained by our military in the war on terror because the targets are our own people.
Also, a prolonged operation against our own people would be stressful for the rank and file of the security forces and this is what seems to be happening. Large-scale kidnappings of security personnel are extremely damaging to the security institutions. Equally damaging is the long-term political intervention of the military in national affairs. The rumours doing the rounds on Monday last regarding a counter coup and so on do no good to the health of the military institution. Yet it is critical for Pakistan to maintain the professional vibrancy of its military.
It is interesting to note that in terms of Pakistan the US has always praised its leaders with whom it evolved beneficial equations rather than the nation as a whole. Saddam was seen as a dangerous “tyrant” but it is Pakistan as a whole that is seen as “dangerous” or being overwhelmed by extremists. Interestingly, the US Centcom chief visited Pakistan a day before the declaration of ‘emergency’ and a few days earlier the Jordanian king had also visited. Was support for US policy on Iran an issue for discussion?
The point is that the US stands to benefit tremendously right now because it may demand costly quid pro quos for toning down their criticism of the ‘emergency’. That is why Ms Bhutto is increasingly being viewed as part of the US deal-making – hence her rather guarded protest against the ‘emergency’. Will the US now have a freer military hand in the tribal belt? Will Pakistan move closer to US policy on Iran? So many questions and suspicions naturally come to mind given the past record of the US vis-a-vis my beloved country. I am what I am because of Pakistan and I am nothing without Pakistan.
So, at the end of the day, it is not an issue of “transitionists” versus “confrontationists” or “revolutionaries”, within the Pakistani context – there being no authentic revolutionaries within our midst. It is an issue of national perspectives versus external perspectives and national institutions being strengthened rather than individuals. Our temporal salvation lies in strong institutions and stable systems, not in individual “saviours”.
The writer is director general of the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad. Email: [email protected]
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
This is the most encouraging factor coming out of all this situation in this country....people for the first time in the history of this country are reacting like this....the public opinion has never been as united as it is now....opportunist are hiding their faces and everybody is feeling like a patriot and nationalist...
We have new heros from media, judiciary civil society....We as a nation are evolving....Although there is a long struggle in front of us as a nation....and I have never seen the nation as united as we are today....
The need of the hour today is to tell the army establishment that enough is enough, please leave us alone....we can handle ourselves as a nation....I think everybody should stand up!!!
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
**
[QUOTE]
Whatever the intent of the 'emergency' (effectively martial law) -- and apart from the official rationalisations many other reasons are also being hotly debated -- the loser at the end of the day is the nation as a whole.
[/QUOTE]
So true**
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
This is the most encouraging factor coming out of all this situation in this country....people for the first time in the history of this country are reacting like this....the public opinion has never been as united as it is now....opportunist are hiding their faces and everybody is feeling like a patriot and nationalist...
We have new heros from media, judiciary civil society....We as a nation are evolving....Although there is a long struggle in front of us as a nation....and I have never seen the nation as united as we are today....
The need of the hour today is to tell the army establishment that enough is enough, please leave us alone....we can handle ourselves as a nation....I think everybody should stand up!!!
I think the other way round. The nation by no means stands united today. It is far more dispersed than ever before.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
The things may be different up in the north but people in the largest city of the country seem very indifferent. They are just watching the things happen quietly.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
true, one of my cousins has a mangni ceremny this weekend, another one is getting married soon and his mum and my mum have been out shopping and making wedding preps.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
Civil society emerges from civil and peaceful "work" (read the work of Edhi)
Anarchy emerges when people go bananas and burn their own house down (kalay kartoot of ba-ba black sheep lawyers and the suicider lackies of Arabs).
Learn from Afghanistan and Mogadeshu before it is too late.
Mourn for the loss of civil society in Afghanistan, Sierra Leon, and Somalia before it is too late.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
People can watch quietly all they want in karachi - if things are not contained, it will spread to Karachi. Karachi has already seen some suicide bombings.
I don't want to go back to Karach in some years, find there is no more music industry or shops, find out that the latest fashion is the burqa that covers you even MORE than other burqas, and find that women are getting thrashed in the streets because their ankles were showing when their burqa went up with the wind.
The grievances of the lawyers are understandable, but the best thing they can do is continue on with their work. Boycotting the circuits, and not taking on cases, etc is just futile. Crime is goin on rampant in the country, and do or die, civil judiciary has to function. They can find other more peaceful ways to protest than screwing up the system even further by their irrational behavior.
The law school training in Pakistan must be ridiculously beqaar for these people to behave so unprofessionally.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
People can watch quietly all they want in karachi - if things are not contained, it will spread to Karachi. Karachi has already seen some suicide bombings. ................................... The law school training in Pakistan must be ridiculously beqaar for these people to behave so unprofessionally.
So true!
We must as a nation stand guard against the anarchists. Otherwise we'll lose our big cities just like moderate Pashtoons lost Kabul, Kandhar, and jalalabad,
Or moderate Somalis lost Mogadeshu,
Or moderate Iranians lost Tehran,
and the list goes on if we want to learn from history.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
PCG, this was in reference to ppls views about the emergency situation, and most ppl are not directly impacted and they dont really care, they may be annoyed, they may be angry but not enough to come out and start some masss movement.
forget Pakistanis in Pakistan..when the protestors in London had the rally in front of Pakistan high commission, ..for a city that has hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis, a 100 or so protestors means little.
as far as karachi falling to mullahs, its nto going to happen, Karachi had become very conservative undr zia because of 'nifaz e sharia" coming from the general himself, right now the govt is not pushign for anything like that, and with MQM present, its not going to happen.
MQM in this case is like your local neighbourhood ghunda, beats ppl up, collects bhatta, harasses ppl, but does not allow another ghunda to operate in his territory.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
Where do you come up with such terminology? … sometimes it makes me laugh
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
There should be equal thrashing for men when their dhoti’s fly in the wind …
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
The things may be different up in the north but people in the largest city of the country seem very indifferent. They are just watching the things happen quietly.
No Mostar, after a long time people in Karachi have felt like this...I have a lot of friends in Karachi and I can tell you they are united with the rest of country....IT'S DIFFICULT TO STAND AGAINST TWO MAFIAS AT A TIME....MQM AND ESTABLISHMENT....their lives are more at risk when they come out on the streets to protest>>>>>
However it's time for Karachites to break free from both these mafias and stand for the truth and supremacy of law....both MQM and establishment are against the very concept of law>>>
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
that is why shalwaar is the talebani shariah prescribed garment..the only issue there is either narra malfunction, or really string winds that wouldstick the clothes o yer body and draw attention to naughty bits
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
No Mostar, after a long time people in Karachi have felt like this...I have a lot of friends in Karachi and I can tell you they are united with the rest of country....IT'S DIFFICULT TO STAND AGAINST TWO MAFIAS AT A TIME....MQM AND ESTABLISHMENT....their lives are more at risk when they come out on the streets to protest>>>>>
However it's time for Karachites to break free from both these mafias and stand for the truth and supremacy of law....both MQM and establishment are against the very concept of law>>>
yeah people prolly still remember what happened back in May. You dont wanna get killed on the streets when the criminals and police are both MQM.
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
and why are there no mass protests in areas where govt is weak and MQM is non existent?
matlab those places can hoist taleban flags, but protests naheen hon gi wahan ...
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
yeah maybe the establishment should concentrate on places where those guys are hoisting taliban flags instead of muffling the oppostion and arresting secularists
Re: The emerging civil society of Pakistan
sure, agree 100%
but you still did not answer the question.
why no mass protests there.
are the taleban supporters preventing ppl to go demonstrate against the govt? or are the people there content with status quo?