Kingri House special: ‘No time for agar, magaar, Mash’Allah and Insha’Allah - it is time for martial law’
After a meeting with Awami Muslim League leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed at Kingri House, Pagara told the media that there was no time for “Agar, magar, Mash’Allah and insha’Allah”. “It is time for martial law,” he said. “People who used to criticise me over the demand to call the army to the city will now support my point of view.” The AML chief claimed that as there was no opposition party in the country, he had come to Karachi to persuade Pagara to join him.
The PML-F chief predicted that the situation in Karachi would worsen by next month and September would prove to be the nastiest month of the year. He demanded that the capital of Pakistan should be relocated to Karachi in order to solve one problem. “The president has invited the Muttahida Qaumi Movement to rejoin the government but no one knows what the consequences could be,” he said. Ahmed claimed that the MQM and Pakistan Peoples Party had been using the Sindh and Mohajir cards but once the army took over the city they would only worry about ration cards. Speaking about PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, he said that people did not believe him when he claimed that Sharif’s future was bleak and that he would not play an important role in politics. He commented on the suo motu notice taken by the Supreme Court of Pakistan against the recent target killings and claimed that no tangible result would be reached.
Ahmed claimed that the killings were making lives miserable. He added that the people were burying their loved ones rather than going out for Eid shopping. “The people are not seeking the chief justice’s help, they are looking towards the chief of army staff instead,” he said.
Pagara added that the Sindhi nationalists should avoid dreaming because they would not win seats in the elections.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (26)
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The current democratic setup failed because last elections were held by musharraf. We know that 45% voters were bogus. We need a new democratic government and not a martial law. The army should only help in holding fair elections. Martial laws can never solve our problems. Dont test what is already tested many times.
ET please correct your spelling in the caption/headine under the picture. You spelt "martial" law as "marital" law. Haha :p
It has become amply clear that people of Pakistan are not in favour of military take-over the country, therefore the rulers must pull up their socks and give better governance to the masses who are giving them their total support.
@M A S and to clear you..karachi was not supposed to be the capital...=) capital was to be shifted to "Gadap city" as soon as pakistan was stable..oh yeah karachi was also not safe millitarily and cyclones tsunamis could strike...the people who moved capital had some brain and and logic! and first make ur place better then demand some favours... karachi burning and your politicians talking about good governance in punjab? hunh.?
since the govt seems gutless.. perhaps we must turn towards our American bros ;) and request for precision drone strikes on the miscreants.. clearly the country democratic set up has failed..
Pir Sahib is right here. He is the honest and elderly voice of wisdom. We respect him!!
what happening in karachi right now i think its good not to have capital in karachi and there are so many example in the world countries made it new capitals and islamabad is best example of that and the reason behind that was also peoples of karachi allways wants more and arguments on every things they never satisfied on any thing.
@Tanoli:
Your comment does not have any weight and to give a simple legitimate reason to discuss as why Ayub Khan took the Capital to Islamabad.
There are numbers examples in the world that Capitals being shifted from one place to another are re-shifted back to the place where the Capitals were existing before, then why not to shift the Capital from Islamabad back to Karachi.
Pir Pagara demanded that the capital of Pakistan should be relocated to Karachi in order to solve one problem.
Can some one tell me that when Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah made Karachi as Capital of the Country then what was the reason for the late Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan to take the capital of the country to Islamabad?
The right of Karachi was snatched in 60’s and the rights of Karachiites are even been denied today.
This has made the whole situation complex. The problems Karachiites are facing today is due to the faults of our past leaders and no one else.
i dont get it whats wrong with demanding martial law atleast people will grow out of ethnic issues for some time .atleast there will be peace and even some food.What has this democratically elected (nominated) leaders given us ???
Keeping in view of an ineffective civilian govt, martial law should not only be imposed in Karachi but whole of Pakistan. Military would then be accountable for all the killings taking place in Karachi and bomb blasts in other parts of the country thus saving Pakistan from an anarchy.
I-G-N-O-R-E-D
@kazmi wake up..."no Army, No Police & no Rangers can stop and it will end with the logical end" which world you living in. your army blitz the taliban in bajaur.. a place which for years was thought untouchable.."A taliban fortress" and never had government writ. took out fazullah and tourist have returned to swat.. khi would be a cake walk.. miscreants would be blown away in one day if the army is called..or decided to act on its own..
Pagara Sb. you are very much rite, It's time for Martial Law...Army should rule these sick illeterate and emotional people.
Mr Pir Pagara is honest and very factual and truthful. He understands and feels for the helpless victims an d humanity . . . . It is time for Army to step in immediately. The country needs Martial Law . . .this is no time for hesitation by the Army. The government has already done the damage and brought Anarchy. For the Army to even think of taking permission from a failed government that has let the genocide go on for so long is another set back. If at this stage, the Army cannot protect the people, then this is headed in a very dangerous direction and people will be forced to bear arms to protect themselves and their families from the Killers (who ever it may be - domestic or international). And then, it will be too late for the non reactive, hesitant Army to react!! The Country is going to Dogs and the people do not trust their government!
There are lot of discussions, who is killing people who are involved, Army should come or not. All are absurd. Every senior member of the political and Govt is saying "Every one knows in Karachi who is doing all that". But in fact no one knows. People are hiding the fact or they do not know the fact?. The fact is that there is a war in Karachi which no Army, No Police & no Rangers can stop and it will end with the logical end i.e. Mass Human Tragedy in Sind.
Baba G relax. Are you sure this guy is a politician?
Well, we are always grateful for the wisdom of Pir Sahib Pagara. His gems of views on the situation of Pakistan is why everyone: from Shaikh Rashid to Chaudhry Shujaat Husain to Mushahid Husain make their pilgrimage to Kingri House to seek his guidance. Thanks ET for this coverage.
//He demanded that the capital of Pakistan should be relocated to Karachi in order to solve one problem.//
el o el.
Yes to operation in Karachi. No to martial law!
Both Mr Pagara and Mr shaikh should spare this nation. They have done their time of service and stop propogating for Military take overs. Haven't these Martial Lawas caused enough damage to the country. Every time military came Pakistan lost land to its enemies.
Ayub Khan..cesed some kashmir territory to China
Zia Haq. Ceded Siachin to India
Musharraf: ceded Tribal lands top extremists and disaster in Kargil
Pakistan needs a National Goverment that can use Military to bering peace to Karachi,not another military take over..
Very well said. Its time for Civil-Military setup.A well thought concerned citizens in the government backed by Army Judiciary. No elections and political parties any more.
Yeah Right Mr GHQ. :P I dare Kiyani to do that :P