well, I think it's become clear now that we have a state that can be called a "
banana republic". one long march, and people think they've managed to remove a dictator through their demonstration. Now, this misleading thought of "victory for democracy" is the main driving force for yet another long march. These people protest, blocking the streets, disrupting trade, commerce, peace, and peoples' life, causing fitna. They do not have a single thought of concern, as honorable Abdul Sattar Edhi mentioned, for the condition of the people, they claim to be representing.
Perhaps it is because of the same reason, Abdul Sattar Edhi still chooses to support Musharraf publicly till this day. The reality is much different, however. Musharraf was removed from power, only through US intervention.
Pressure from Washington, usually expressed so eloquently on phone, has always been the "king-maker" for Pakistani politics and even at times the establishment. Constant pressure coming straight from Washington, drove Musharraf to take off his uniform, perhaps the best known symbol of power in Pakistan, that everyone accepts or has accepted to this day. It was only after this self-curtailment of power, Musharraf became a civilian, and therefore susceptible to the weak democratic process and institutions. He became a ragtag doll for the feudal politicians, who continue to exist due to their unbreakable control over Pakistan's jahel population-most of its population. It is unfortunate and actually surprising that Musharraf would actually place his trust in these same politicians. Nonetheless, history repeats itself, and the cycle of politician-military power exchange continues for Pakistan.
After, a year or two, the same idiotic population, known for showing a total lack of common sense, realizes that Musharraf was a better alternative to these elected politicians, and that living conditions and standards have not improved but have actually worsened over the past year. One wonders why the population can easily be mislead into making the same choices they will come to despair sooner or later. But when the people have a history of making the same choices over and over again, it's not difficult to conclude that they are hopeless, idiotic and
irrational, and cannot be dependend on to run the country's state of affairs. Events soon to take place, will remove whatever little confidence people have.
Perhaps, the final blow to the government, at least to some analysts, was the Lahore "Mumbai style" R&AW attack. News has spread that the ISI had sent an intelligence report to the police department in Punjab, in which contents most accurately predict the timing and even the place of attack of R&AW agents, targetting the Sri Lankan cricket team. The most disturbing part of this news piece, however, is the date at which the letter was sent,
January 22, 2009. It is astonishing that the government can afford to crack down on politicians and protesters to preserve its own powers, replace experienced and capable police departments with choices of their own, and remain ignorant to reports coming directly from the agency they claim to be "against them" and nontransparent. It is clear the blame falls mostly on the government, even if R&AW may have orchestrated the attack.
Blame should go to those that were invested with responsibility, by the same people who they boastfully claim to be representing. There was a clear indication at the events that were going to take place, gifted directly from the ISI, which did a marvelous job of exposing the enemy's operation months before it even took place. However, the government knowingly turned the other way, and chose to protect its own interests, the interests of its party members and those of Asif Zardari's, instead of doing that which it was supposed to do. Yet, is criticizing the government, as a few journalists who haven't sold out, have been doing for the past year, going to accomplish something?
One can criticize the government as much they want, yet the undeniable fact, or in Pakistan's case "truth", remains that the current government was democratically elected by the people. The elected politicians rest at the helm of responsibility, and they do so alone. If they choose to systematically eliminate legislation of accountability, freeing them to loot from the national exchequer and other assets of national importance, who can oppose them? If the government chooses to avoid a vote of confidence, or a mid-term election, who can question them? If the President representing the same party that created the constitution and has sworn to stand by it and protect its contents, refuses to eliminate or even ignores the extra amendments they claim to be the "thorns of the Zia era", can anyone do something about it? over the past year or two, the problems emanating from irresponsibility will not cease to exist, and still continue to stack upon one another.
These problems are nothing new, history hasn't been too kind to registered Pakistani voters. The same calamities affected the people, in democratic rule much before this. whether it was the Benazir era or the Nawaz era, or the continuous repetion of rule between the two in a cycle during the 90's. Most people still do not realize that Benazir Bhutto was
actually elected again in 2007, but due to unfortunate events, was represented by her heir Asif Zardari, probably the most corrupt man in the history of man. Now, Pakistan can see the beginnings of the rule of Nawaz Sharif, who still enjoys-or has continued to enjoy-strong support from Punjab. obviously, this falls in line with dynastic politics of ethnicity, no different from Sindh of course, which has plagued the country since its existence, and thus the cycle has again been repeated for the third or fourth time. Now, the question arises, "can the politicians be blamed?" Are they responsible for the chaos and despair the country goes through, while enjoying strong support from respective Pakistani voters?
Personally, I believe these politicians have the undeniable right to rule the country. They have already earned it by taking the country hostage, thanks to the short-sightedness and idiocy of the people who elect them. I strongly support the politicians in government, and therefore, I do not support the long march.
