Why Pakistan’s army is more popular than its politicians

[Developereo]

The whole premise of the article is flawed. The author's main 'data point' is the amount of revenue collected. This is a false data point for two reasons:

- agriculture sector is not taxed: http://www.defence.pk/forums/nation...ggestions-restore-our-pride-4.html#post446703

- many large corporations are headquartered in Karachi, so their taxes count as Karachi's but their source of revenue may well be nationwide.

Finally, this quaint concept of viewing everything through a prism of caste and ethnicity says more about the author, and perhaps the Indian mindset, than anything else.

 

[livingdead]

The whole premise of the article is flawed. The author's main 'data point' is the amount of revenue collected. This is a false data point for two reasons:

- agriculture sector is not taxed: http://www.defence.pk/forums/nation...ggestions-restore-our-pride-4.html#post446703

- many large corporations are headquartered in Karachi, so their taxes count as Karachi's but their source of revenue may well be nationwide.

Finally, this quaint concept of viewing everything through a prism of caste and ethnicity says more about the author, and perhaps the Indian mindset, than anything else.

The author has acknowledged that here:
"
Pakistanis may feel offended at such reduction in their identity to what might be seen as a purely Hindu currency, caste. However, it is impossible to understand India without being aware of caste and I see no reason why this should not be true for the area that used to be India till 65 years ago.
"

 

[53fd]

The whole premise of the article is flawed. The author's main 'data point' is the amount of revenue collected. This is a false data point for two reasons:

- agriculture sector is not taxed: http://www.defence.pk/forums/nation...ggestions-restore-our-pride-4.html#post446703

- many large corporations are headquartered in Karachi, so their taxes count as Karachi's but their source of revenue may well be nationwide.

Finally, this quaint concept of viewing everything through a prism of caste and ethnicity says more about the author, and perhaps the Indian mindset, than anything else.

You've hit the nail on its head, & there are a few other things I have reservations as well. Meengla bhai, while I respect the opinion of the writer of the article, & I have no objections with his nationality or him expressing his views, but I find his arguments very weak & flawed. I am a Karachiite myself, so I know my city very well. I have no problems hearing others express their opinions, but I feel that Express Tribune's opinion section is full of such articles that have very little substance.

We must not forget that the the major influx of Indian immigrants in 1947 came to Karachi & Hyderabad, the two largest cities in Sindh. But Sindh (especially interior Sindh) has still maintained its pre-1947 Sindhi identity (some call this Sindhi nationalism) very well. Similarly, there was a huge influx of people from East Punjab & Kashmir into West Punjab as well in 1947-48. I do not understand what the author means when he says Punjab is not as 'stable'. Punjab, like Sindh is one of the stable regions in the country, both from an economic & security point of view. Punjab generates huge about 55% of the country's revenue I believe. Besides Lahore, it has the industrial powerhouse Faisalabad, as well as other big cities like Gujranwala, Multan (South Punjab), Sialkot etc. And the arguments he made about the Army was lacking too, as well as being false.

Basically, he talks about a myriad of issues/topics, & makes a weak argument about why the Army is popular in Pakistan. I have no problems with anyone disliking the Army or having objections to its role, as long as they have a solid, substantiated arguments based on facts.

 

[Rafi]

We did benefit from our brothers and sisters who came to Karachi - with their mercantile abilities, but Punjab also has a merchant tradition, this article is totally biased.

 

[W.11]

i pity the writer and also those pakistanis who view all the things on terms of sindh/punjab, mahajir/punjabi etc

why karachi holds the economics, simply because it has the port and it remained capital for the start, in the beginning talented people lived in karachi, so karachi became focal point of all talented pll across the country

also because of zamindari and feudal system all provinces of pakistan didnt prospered

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

What exactly does that article have to do with explaining the popularity of the Army in Pakistan?

Sounds more like an article on the various castes/communities in South Asia and their 'distribution' post 1947 ...

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

What are the inaccuracies...they seem to be proper only.

Sindh is 'more normal than Punjab'?

Feudals dominate in both provinces, and Lahore would, in fact, appear to be more peaceful than Karachi - take out the recent terrorism related incidents post 2007, and Lahore is not even close to Karachi in terms of levels of violence.


The author's premise is based on a very shallow interpretation and analysis of the events in Pakistan.

 

[Xeric]

What exactly does that article have to do with explaining the popularity of the Army in Pakistan?

Sounds more like an article on the various castes/communities in South Asia and their 'distribution' post 1947 ...

i think you missed the Part-1 of this article. i have yet to decide, which one was lamer:
Why is the army so popular in Pakistan? – The Express Tribune

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

i think you missed the Part-1 of this article. i have yet to decide, which one was lamer:
Why is the army so popular in Pakistan? – The Express Tribune

I thought this was 'Part I', and the author was working on 'Part II'?

 

[Ghareeb_Da_Baal]

Liberal Fascism. How I feel only Pakistanis can invent such terms.

Ask any right wing republican in the US. They invented the term .............

 

[LaBong]

It has become fashionable for some Pakistanis(and probably pioneered by Agnostic_Muslim himself) to tag each and everything as Liberal Fascism when they have whatsoever no idea what the term actually means and how exactly so called Pakistani Liberals fit in the shoes of Liberal Fascists.

The whole premise of the article is flawed. The author's main 'data point' is the amount of revenue collected. This is a false data point for two reasons:

- agriculture sector is not taxed: http://www.defence.pk/forums/nation...ggestions-restore-our-pride-4.html#post446703

- many large corporations are headquartered in Karachi, so their taxes count as Karachi's but their source of revenue may well be nationwide.

Finally, this quaint concept of viewing everything through a prism of caste and ethnicity says more about the author, and perhaps the Indian mindset, than anything else.

From the article :

Pakistanis may feel offended at such reduction in their identity to what might be seen as a purely Hindu currency, caste. However, it is impossible to understand India without being aware of caste and I see no reason why this should not be true for the area that used to be India till 65 years ago.

Fair to say, Indians are comfortable at being Indians!

Now explain -

How agriculture not being taxed debunk what the author says.
What are the big corporations in Karachi whose source of revenue are nationwide!

 

[Thorough Pro]

You don't compare armies as a percentage of popultion. You errect your defence forces to counter your enemy, and the size of your enemy dictates the size of your defence forces. Simple isn't it.

 

[LaBong]

Since it's purely an Indian mindset to view everything through a colored prism of caste and ethnicity, then please explain the Pakistani mindset which results in Punjabi dominated Pakistani Army and negligible representation of Sindhis/Mohajirs in PA.

 

[53fd]

It has become fashionable for some Pakistanis(and probably pioneered by Agnostic_Muslim himself) to tag each and everything as Liberal Fascism when they have whatsoever no idea what the term actually means and how exactly so called Pakistani Liberals fit in the shoes of Liberal Fascists.

The liberal fascist brigade are the people that are towards the extreme left on the political spectrum. How are 'these' liberals fascists? In 1946, George Orwell said that fascism has no meaning, but signifies "something not desirable". The factor behind fascism, that defines fascism is the (art of the) "cult of unity, & submitting yourself to a cause as a part of 'redemption' & bringing justice". Just like the Nazis mastered this art against the Jews, this can be applied to anything in the present era. The liberal brigade of today has mastered this art, without looking at the facts on the ground, to speak against the Pakistani establishment. This is what makes these liberals fascists. Just look at what Asma Jahangir (who I once had enormous respect for) said & did to the Supreme Court of Pakistan on the memo gate issue.

 

[Developereo]

It has become fashionable for some Pakistanis(and probably pioneered by Agnostic_Muslim himself) to tag each and everything as Liberal Fascism when they have whatsoever no idea what the term actually means and how exactly so called Pakistani Liberals fit in the shoes of Liberal Fascists.

A fascist is a fascist, whatever other labels may apply to them. If in doubt, feel free to look up the definition of a fascist. I am not saying that this particular author is a liberal fascist. Just making a general comment about the term.

Fair to say, Indians are comfortable at being Indians!

Good for you. We want nothing to do with castes. You can keep them.

How agriculture not being taxed debunk what the author says.

Did you read the link I provided? It answers his furphy about the disparity in government revenues.

What are the big corporations in Karachi whose source of revenue are nationwide!

For starters, just about every Pakistani bank is registered in Karachi.

Since it's purely an Indian mindset to view everything through a colored prism of caste and ethnicity, then please explain the Pakistani mindset which results in Punjabi dominated Pakistani Army and negligible representation of Sindhis/Mohajirs in PA.

You do realize it's a volunteer army?