Struggle for Pakistan's soul

[Contrarian]

lets hope it works then *thumbs up*
AFAIK, there was something similar put in place by Yahya or whoever was the last dictator. Musharraf said so in his book.

 

[blain2]

lets hope it works then *thumbs up*
AFAIK, there was something similar put in place by Yahya or whoever was the last dictator. Musharraf said so in his book.

It was, but it was disbanded once Bhutto took over. Had it stayed after Yahya, Zia and Musharraf would not have followed Yahya's footsteps.

 

[Contrarian]

so they say mate, so they say.

But if the armytakes over the country, the constitution is disbanded, and martial law declared in most cases. A new constitution is made according to the ruling general. Musharraf did not do this so as to gain more acceptability. At the end of the day, he is a dictator with complete authority of Pakistan.

 

[Spring Onion]

At the end of the day, he is a dictator with complete authority of Pakistan.

But then its better to be like a PM who's strings are in the hands of Sonia and her's in some fanatic allied parties's fanatic leaders

 

[Contrarian]

her's in some fanatic allied parties's fanatic leaders

Who are the fanatics?? *confused*

Anyways, he cant be 'controlled'. He is an economist, he works the nations economy. And the charge that he is controlled by Sonia has even been dropped by the BJP!! , so its safe to say that the rest can drop it too!

 

[Spring Onion]

Well dear the same BJP had commented that no matter hez a good economist but hez not fit for PM slot he dosnt know ABC of politics thats what BJP's leader remarks were which was qouted by Indian media

 

[niaz]

Hon Members of this august forum. I came across this article in "opinions' in todays (29/11) Dawn. It is a food for thought for fellow Pakistanis. I may not agree with all of it but it does provide a food for thought to all fellow countrymen regarding the kind of Pakistan we would like to be and what it is becoming.



Plight of the minorities




By Hafizur Rahman


EVERY country, every nation, has its minorities — racial, ethnic or religious. In a truly Islamic state, which Pakistan is not, (nor is it likely to be with so much hypocrisy around) the majority is supposed to be the protector of non-Muslims. But one is heartened by the spirit shown by the Christians to safeguard their rights in the context of the Shariat.

Now another element has crept into the minorities question. Smug in our false satisfaction that we are being good, and even generous, towards the Christians (and particularly towards the Ahmedis) we have started calling the kettle black. You have to read the statements issued by our political leaders in the recent past condemning Indian Hindus for committing violence against Christians, to understand what double-faced means.

Christians in Pakistan do not properly appreciate how much better we treat them as compared to the Ahmedis. For example, if a Christian chooses to wear the Muslim kalima on his breast we’ll make much of him and exhibit him as an “honorary Muslim.” But if an Ahmedi has the temerity to do so, we trot him off to jail for a year or two.

Similarly, all Christians in Pakistan use the salutation as- salaam-o-alaikum even among themselves, but if an Ahmedi does that it is a crime, duly punishable with imprisonment. He can say ‘namaste’ or ‘sat siri akal’ if he likes, but not wish salaam to anyone which even Jews do when they say shalom. That is why I say that our Christians don’t count their blessings, something they are exhorted to do all the time by their faith.

A study of statements by government leaders reveals that Pakistan and its Muslim population have given unprecedented concessions and allowances to the minorities. Though if you ask the votaries of this claim to enumerate a few they are at a loss to do so. As for our maulvis, they think it is more than generous to let the minorities live in peace in the Muslim homeland. So what more do they want!

The whole atmosphere in the country as regards the attitude towards non-Muslims, as also the attitude of the adherents of one sect towards the followers of other sects, is so vitiated with intolerance that one now really marvels at what the Quaid-i-Azam did on Sunday, 17th of August 1947. (If I have the date correct).

On that day the Quaid and Miss Fatima Jinnah attended a special service in Karachi’s St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After the religious service, which was dedicated to the strength and welfare of the new state, Mr Jinnah reiterated his resolve before the Christians of the city that there would be absolutely no discrimination between Muslims and non-Muslims in Pakistan.

Elderly Christians and Parsis of Karachi recall his words fondly and remember how he assured them that Pakistan was as much their country as a new homeland for Muslims. Today they must be wondering which Pakistan the Quaid was talking about.

Can you imagine Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz attending a church service today? Of course it is unthinkable for President Pervez Musharraf to do so; he would never dare. With all their sincerity they wouldn’t venture anywhere near a church.

You can bet that on the birthday of the Father of the Nation next month, both the president and the PM will inform us that the best way to pay tribute to the Quaid-i-Azam is to follow in his footsteps. Are there different footsteps for the leaders and for the masses? Why don’t the two emulate his example, and as a symbolic gesture, attend a church service devoted to tolerance and mutual goodwill among various religions and various Muslim sects? The local Bishop would be happy to hold one. This would be far more effective than empty rhetoric and hollow slogans.

In the present state of affairs which, without doubt has been brought about over the years by our own leaders, the most important requirement is that the religious minorities and as well as the Muslim minority sects should feel safe and protected, and even privileged.

Of course there is no defence against individual acts of fanatics, but the government and the nation as a whole should

never allow themselves to fall below a certain level of civilized behaviour. Unfortunately the steps taken to reinforce society through Islamic principles

have only resulted in making fanatics of the whole Muslim population.

Some nine years ago there was Shantinagar, the Christian village in Southern Punjab, which was raided by Muslim zealots fed on false rumours set afloat without justification. They behaved like the Huns and laid the village waste. Nothing substantial was done by the PML government to either restore the confidence of the sufferers or bring the culprits to book. The then PM, Mian Nawaz Sharif, was in the habit of flying to the scene of a rape, but he didn’t consider it necessary to visit Shantinagar.

Then, probably in 1999, there was the abduction of a hundred haris — apparently Hindu men, women and children — in a part of Sindh. The purpose behind this brutal exercise was not clear, but if minority leaders had not raised the alarm, and a few good Muslims hadn’t shouted themselves hoarse, nothing would have been done to rectify the wrong.

A majority of the abducted were got freed, but who was behind their trauma and who compensated them for their mental torture? Votaries of the Shariat? It seems that Mr Liaquat Jatoi, Sindh’s chief minister at that time, was too busy doing the most important thing in the world, i.e. saving his government, so you can’t blame the poor fellow.

On a related piece on the subject last year, I had quoted from a long letter from a Christian woman to the columnist of a national Urdu daily. I shall not recount her complaints against Muslim bias and the insidious propaganda about non-Muslims, but I do want to repeat one sentence from it. She had said, “Let me share a private thought with you.

I honestly believe that it is the prayers of us Christians that are sustaining Pakistan, otherwise you people would have finished it long ago by killing one another and anyone who disagrees with you.” Ominous words, I must say.

http://www.dawn.com/2006/11/29/op.htm#top

 

[Contrarian]

yeah, i know they said that. And that is why he is also respected. His integrity is unquestionable. So it is a relief from the regular politicians. He is expected to bring about reforms in the country. Not being a heavy weight politician has helped his credibility a lot!

Incidentally do you know, that Manmohan Singh was the man who put the country on its path to progress in the earl 1990's, after the country went almost bankrupt!
It was Manmohan who started the reforms in India as the FM of the nation. He is the one who got India where it is today. It was and is expected, he will further this goal as PM. He is very widely respected.

We have Pranab as Foreign Minister too. He is a heavy weight ,savy politician. Just the man for the job.

Anyways, i think they are going to lose in the next elections. I think the BJP will come to power as the next govt. Inspite of being against BJP on many fronts, which is why i supported congress this time, i think its time back for BJP. The congress is too lenient on security and infrastructure.

When the bJP was in power, they paid so much attention of defence, they spent so much money on acquisitions!, they are also much harder on terrorists. Congress is too soft. Not to mention the fact, that the Golden Quadrilateral project started by the BJP which was going on at such a stupendous pace under BJP, is now crawling under the congress. Though it has almost completed now, 98% of it being finished. The BJP spent a far greater amount on roads, etc.

After a 'soft' term, where the focus was on economy, its time to go for a 'hard' one, to beef up security.For balanced growth.

The only thing i dislike about BJP is their rhetoric on Hindutva. It should be dropped.

 

[Bull]

It was, but it was disbanded once Bhutto took over. Had it stayed after Yahya, Zia and Musharraf would not have followed Yahya's footsteps.

well you see thats the exact problem.Everybody comes in and changes the law to suit them.There is no continuity,if musharff is thrown out tomnorrow so will be the NSC.

So you cant trust NSC as a security valve that would prevent future takeovers.