Please see my last post for clarification. These allegations, in my view, are a massive problem, but I have no solution either in terms of 'controls', and as I said in my first post on this thread, I don't support measures such as the bill in question.
Never thought you would. I know you better than that.
Just frustrated at the continued and willing fall of the country and its people towards obvious disasters. So please don't take any of what I'm about to say as directed towards you.
Lets make clear that there is NO evidence the Army itself pushed this bill, and I don't support it, and I doubt it will actually become law.
Completely unnecessary and uncalled for - there is no evidence the Army is behind this bill
C'mon, brother. We both know how it works. We both know how the military does its bidding. There is no other way this could have ever existed.
The Army, if anything, has acted with extreme restraint even in its public messaging even when confronted with the kind of rhetoric the PTM and Sharifs have directed at them.
and the Army has acted with a lot of restraint against the kinds of slurs and abuse directed at it from groups like the PTM and PMLN, to the point where the Army has been called 'cowards' for not reacting strongly by other members on THIS forum
So you and the other members should sit down and figure out what you actually want, because between the two sides, the Army gets called 'cowards' for not interfering in politics and not taking action against abuse directed at it, and gets called 'cowards' because some XYZ legislator moves a bill of this kind on their own volition.
And that criticism, right or wrong, is a sacred right of every Pakistani. They are subject to that criticism as is their duty. They have no right to not exercise restraint. Let us not forget that it is this criticism which has removed the treasonous rule of military usurpers three times already. The mighty generals are afraid of words now? They should use their own then. And have they not? Have they not pushed us pills of their greatness? Of them being the only bulwark defending the country against all these corrupt civilians? With song and dance? While constructing the most elaborate network of corruption in the country themselves? Removing and installing politicians like Lego pieces? Usurping the country on a whim? The military's power and authority is by my allowance. It is subject to you and I. And it will take whatever criticism we throw at it.
Let's be very frank here. The military's involvement in the country's affairs today is predominantly self-serving and corrupt. They have eroded their goodwill themselves. It was not what some politician said. They have come out of their barracks and wrapped their corrupt tentacles around every thing in the country. The politician didn't ask them to, you and I didn't ask them to. In fact, they had no right to. They will receive the kind of rhetoric that PTM (which is a foreign funded propaganda tool) and Sharifs have directed at them, it is their own doing.
That said, my comment about when our chattering classes will stop attacking the Army remains a valid one. Army interference has become the go-to excuse for the PMLN & PPP (and their supporters) to justify lack of performance.
They will stop attacking the Army when it goes back to its barracks. If they want to embed themselves everywhere then this is what it comes with. The Generals have had more than their fair share of ruining the country. They have literally supported, abetted, enabled, and enforced treason 3 times. There is a reason you see an incompetent retired officer everywhere you look today. Now they are complaining? Of criticism? By politicians? And these men are supposed to fight nuclear wars?
The PTI, despite struggling severely since it came into power, has not once tried to deflect the blame onto the Army and Imran Khan has taken responsibility for every decision, good or bad, made by his government.
It is our chattering classes that just cannot seem to stop rumor mongering - Asad Umar removed & Hafeez Shaikh brought in because of Army. Hafeez Shaikh removed because of Army. Tareen coming, going or becoming non-binary because of Army
He's been throwing it at the parties before him. The Army is his benefactor, he won't bite the hand that feeds him, not yet. Nawaz did not do it for the longest time either and for the exact same reason. The chattering classes are operating well within their rights, no matter how idiotic they may be. That is the very point of our freedom of expression; to sift out the idiotic noise.
Seriously - its a fucking shit-show when it comes to our media, and this absolutely has a negative impact on democracy because no one is actually bothering with critical analysis and educating the masses on the issues facing Pakistan through the media platforms they have.
A shit-show of words that should be answered with words. This censorship is aimed exactly at curbing the critical analysis and the education of the masses. Freedom of speech is the very corner stone of democracy, education, critical analysis, and progress. No good has ever come from curbing it.
FYI, moving such a bill is the right of the legislator. Voting the bill into law is the right of the legislature. The courts overturning such a bill on the grounds of being un-constitutional is the right of the courts.
And it is my right to call out every such legislator who is pushing the defiling of my constitutional and God given right at the behest of a corrupt and self-serving entity.
ps: This is exactly how an authoritarian, usurping, regressive, and/or extremist entity forces its will. Be it the blasphemy laws, CAB, or the "free and fair" elections that made presidents out of Ayub, Zia, and Musharraf.
