Archive for June 2013
CONTINUITY OF DEMOCRACY STARTS BEARING FRUIT
Continuity of democracy starts bearing fruit
So a ‘first timer’ successful transfer of people’s mandate
to a fresher mandate has taken place. A handshake between an outgoing
legitimately elected civil government with another elected government is no
less important than the creation of the country itself. Finally we have proven
and shown to the world and especially ourselves that we are no kind of savages,
as many out there want to prove us as such, many within as well.
Who to give credit for this biggest milestone, let me say
bigger even than achieving the nuclear status milestone, I think goes to Mian
Nawaz Sharif. Media, Judiciary, Establishment et al, are still busy
congratulating themselves, but none left no stone unturned for the demise of
the last elected government prematurely. Especially media considered it only
legitimate to topple a government as long as their freedom to air fiery talk shows
is assured, which runs this Biilions Rupees industry.
May be Mian Nawaz Sharif helped complete the last tenure in
an anticipation of his own tenure attaining completion (would be another ‘first
timer’ if happened), but his selfish approach, if it really was, proved to be
better omen for the nation. Democracy got strengthened. Democracy itself is not a system of government
per se (many consider it to be one, owing to lack of education about it), it
only provides a nation to develop one, which works best for itself. It gives
people not only power to govern themselves, but awards them the right and
opportunity to pursue happiness.
Now what we see with the continuity of democracy is an
increase in the belief in state(balochistan and kpk, for instance), the
confidence that we can oust a bad performing regime, the trust that our vote,
our voice bears power, which can shake the tall walls of power centers but can send
ripples abroad. That effectiveness of people power cannot be surpassed by a
media, which eternally wants to remain in the mood and mode of ‘king-makers’
and ‘kingship-breakers’. The myth has broken. And its noise has reached out to
the Eskimos of arctic and aborigines of western Australia (of course metaphorically).
Irrespective who won the elections, more important is masses are first time
breathing the fresh air out of the smoke of confusion, created by powers of
doom, about the choice between ballot and boots.
The clarity of perception, no matter how subtle, is a big
breakthrough in favour of democracy. Welcome the awareness of individual’s
right as a next step. The discourse in who is right and who is wrong is
changing into ‘who can deliver’. The slumber-loving bureaucracy has started
feeling heat of public pressure, as the shade of their long created
smoke-screen is giving way. Reminds me of my innocent question to my (ex-) French
boss almost a decade ago, how come French bureaucracy is so efficient and each
step government takes clearly seems towards welfare of general public? She first
seemed startled and then bearing with my non-democratic nationality
credentials, patiently replied (as if admonishing) that ‘they know they would
have to face public pressure’. Sure by public pressure she did not mean burning
tires, ransacking public buildings, smoldering government offices or even
staging sit-ins with donuts and coffee in hands and blocking roads, but may be
a fear of all this. As a small traffic hazard in the developed democracies puts
the whole metropolitan police in a state of an emergency.
Now the media and judiciary cannot be totally discounted
from the credit of creating the sense and hope that justice (sorry but I refuse
to budge from my POV that the terms ‘hope’ and ‘justice’ can be trademarked by
any person or party, these terms were free and should remain so, so that their
meanings and purpose of creation don’t die with the demise of any person or
party) can be achieved. Another myth busted. So the mafias and powers who wanted
to keep generations after generations in agony and ordeal by creating myths,
must be in pain, deep pain. The prone ones must be taking my cue to armed
forces, but not exactly, though there could be and most likely would be such
elements there, but I mean to point towards all who survive on the carcass of
democratic set-up, yes all scavengers and parasites, all these combine to make a single ‘anti-democracy’
interest group with varying individual/group interests.
The public out-cry against corruption has shown that a real
democracy is not a good thriving place for it. Understandably masses may not
yet be able relate rooting out of corruption with the tools democracy provides,
but they have successfully used some of these tools. And for it no party can be
credited, no matter how loud they spoke against it, especially the ones which
are in childish race of collecting credits. Political parties only spoke about
because people took the lead and raised questions, showed anger wherever
possible. Raising questions, showing anger and still remain civil is what
continuity of democracy instills in a populace. Democracy continues, hope
continues.
It’s about time that government, media, intelligentsia, various
types of influencers, intellectuals create and join a platform which can work
to spread the awareness and education about the benefits of democracy but also
how it can help and has so far helped them. Though masses have played a role
which can only be termed as sensible by opting for democracy despite a lot of
efforts to distract from it, but political parties must realize that wolves out
there still want to prey onto it. How they weaken them to the point of giving
them a death knell and how they make sure to successfully relate performance
with democracy is a billion rupee question. It’s no more a challenge, no more an
option, but it’s a MUST.
If politicians, in the presence of all cheap tactics and
conspiracies can be successful in democracy’s continuity, they can also use it
to make ‘the Pakistani dream’ come true.
Wasey Azim: the author of this blog wants to live in a democratic and prosperous Pakistan
PM Sharif: Rising To The Occasion And Puncturing NRO
PM Sharif: Rising To The Occasion And Puncturing NRO
Not many would have bet that Prime Minister Of Pakistan would announce to invoke Article 6 against Dictator Mushraf but yes miracles do happen and dreams do come true. Pakistan seemed to have detracted from the Quaid vision of "Civilian Supremacy" and a country where civilian will take the driving seat, take key decisions on interior and foreign policy but alas down the road we lost that dream and "State" became a ping pong between "Dictatorship and Democracy". Dictators ruling the country in the name of larger interest and indirectly meddling in civilian matters even when they were not in power, end result Pakistan State heading towards economic bankruptcy, Sectarian chaos, Institutional collapse and breeding ground for terrorist activities..
It's a fact intermittent "Coups" and hatching conspiracies against civilian rules caused lots of damage to the state, only one Institution was able to prosper and stand on its own was "Pakistan Armed Forces" and I think that's where they remained successful and able to rule because of their superior institutional depth and resources available to them. They were able to manipulate the system and turn horrendous acts like "Kargil" in their favor and hence were able to sent packing a sitting Prime Minister who won by 2/3 majority. Sitting Prime Ministers were jailed, hanged and exiled, literally leaving a black dot on Pakistani history.
But miracles do happen and history took a new turn, Judiciary historically worked as a subordinate institution to establishment and validated their illegal acts, hanging one sitting Prime Ministers and Life imprisonment to the other on orders of their masters, found a new lease of life when "Justice Iftikhar Ch" took over as "Chief Justice Of Pakistan" and started making few independent decisions in dictatorial regime, threatened by his powers, Dictator threatened him and asked him to resign from his post, Iftikhar Ch for once wrote his name in Pakistan's Judicial History with stood the pressure and said no to Dictator, starting the beginning of a new struggle, ending in historic long March and his reinstatement, importantly laying foundation of a judicial institution.
Secondly Credit must be given to "Nawaz Sharif", standing by the judiciary and leading that historic "Long March" ending in Judges Reinstatement. But he didn't stop here, remained very vocal about Democratic values and his commitment to Parliament as an institution. He was the sole reason "Zardari Regime" was able to complete their term because he was very clear in his mind that people of Pakistan trusted PPP and voted them to power, his popularity which skyrocketed after Long March, took a big hit and allowed Imran Khan PTI to emerge as a force. But Nawaz Sharif believed in people's wisdom, turned down every opportunity to topple Zardari Regime unconstitutionally and unlawfully, stuck to the Democratic and Parliamentary norms, acted as a Statesman, in the end he was proved right, his perseverance with Democracy, trust in the people of Pakistan paid, was elected by simple majority by people of Pakistan and literally wiped off PPP from Pakistan and restricting them to a regional party.
Pakistan Print Media and Social Media acted as a rumor factory, many senior and renowned journalists talked about NRO 2, many political activists started promoting the idea that Nawaz Sharif winning of GE was part of the deal and giving Mushraf's safe passage was mandatory according to that deal. Columns written and stories were broken on a daily basis in print and Social Media, whispers were heard about electronic Media as well. This was more or less the same group who was declaring 2013 GE rigged ones and finding excuses for their disastrous predictions regarding Polls despite every survey declaring PMLN front runner with PTI a force as well but still a long way from getting a simple majority. Unfortunately people were bombarded with "Tsunami" rhetoric's to such an extent that PTI voters believed in PTI victory, their emergence as the second biggest party in elections was not enough for their young and exuberant supporters because they were told all along about the Tsunami and the clean sweep. PMLN won the GE and one started to hear NRO 2 again, daily rumors of Mushraf leaving the country, stories of "Saudis and Americans" breaking the deal but in the mean while Courts kept on doing their job and it was a business as usual. Nawaz Sharif kept his cards close to his chest until the Supreme Court during the hearing asked the then Care taker rulers about their position on Article 6 and imposition of emergency on 3rd November but Care Takers remained mum and elected Government had to take the decision. Nawaz Sharif stunned everybody and announced to invoke Article 6 against the Dictator, puncturing rumors of NRO 2, impressing everyone with his decisions and wisdom.
Now let us come to the very important point why on earth Mushraf left a peaceful self exiled life in the UK and came back. There are two reasons, he was fed wrongly that he was very popular, his Facebook got a million likes and thousands add to daily. Secondly he was of the view that current Establishment will bail him out and he be allowed to contest Elections, his Face book likes will materialise into a big victory, despite the fact that current Military Regime led by General Kiyani asked him many a times to stay away from Pakistan but General Mushraf seems to be an arrogant man, as I still remember his famous saying "Mein Aik Commando Hoon, Mein Darta Werta Kisi Sey Nahi Hoon", another saying "Those who haven't taken the Oath are no more judges of Supreme Court and High Court", rubbishing all the warnings and coming back, infect threatening Establishment that if he was not protected he will name many and Military as an Institution will pay the price of his wrong doings, his Lawyers are already talking about opening up a Pandora's Box by invoking Article 6 against Mushraf as many will go down with Mushraf.
Now one should hope and pray that the Establishment will take it as an act of one individual, think in the larger interest of the country. General Kiyani seems to have learned a lot and under his Command things have definitely taken a turn and moving in the right direction. The Pakistani Nation must rejoice the true emergence of another Institution "Parliament" under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif , must not be carried away by the events because it is a big step forward to lock a dictator and impeaching him under Article 6, it doesn't matter what is the outcome of the case but history has been made and many have been proved wrong.
Elections 2013 | Supremacy of people of Pakistan
Elections 2013 | Supremacy of people of Pakistan
Written by Hadeed Sher
Through this election 2013 it was also proved correct that democracy is the best revenge. The Pakistan Peoples Party who was holding the reins of federal government and provincial govt of Sindh, Baluchistan and Awami National Party who was the custodian of KPK government, are held responsible for the present bleak condition of Pakistan, and were rejected by the voters. In KPK ANP lost the position of govt and its mainstream leadership lost the electoral battle miserably. Ghulam Ahmad Billor who was the federal Minister of Railways was defeated by Imran Khan in NA-01. Raja Parvaiz Ashraf who was the person behind the rental power case lost his home seat against PMLN candidate. Dr. Firdos Ashiq Awan, another PPP stalwart known for her aggressive talks in TV shows was also defeated in Sialkot by a PMLN rival. In general, the people of Pakistan announced their verdict loud and clear that only performance will matter in the future democratic setup of Pakistan and that the people have understood that the power of the vote must be exercised in the right way.
It is also worth mentioning here that in these elections people rejected most of the turncoats thus giving their verdict on GE 2013. In most cases these turncoats were once closest aide of Gen Musharraf. Ameer Muqam who was supposedly the most influenced people of SWAT was rejected by the people. Similarly, the people outrightly rejected Khusheed Mahmood Qassori and Marvi Memon in Punjab and Sindh respectively. Although there are a huge number of parliamentarians who have changed their parties but surprisingly the so called giants of politics were defeated missebly in these elections and this process will go on with the continuity of the democratic process.
As a whole nation deserves congratulations on holding peaceful the elections. This bonanza of colors is not black and white and various bleak issues of democracy will be enlightened with the continuation of the democratic process.
As a whole nation deserves congratulations on holding peaceful the elections. This bonanza of colors is not black and white and various bleak issues of democracy will be enlightened with the continuation of the democratic process.