Both groups are fighting, very hard too, but not each other. Their battlegrounds are different as are their perceived enemies. Their weapons are dissimilar as well. Both refuse to see the writing on the wall. In fact, they refuse the very existence of the wall. They battle on regardless of banging their heads against the unacknowledged wall, are being bloodied in the process and have yet to ask or answer the vital question. They don’t seem to be bothered about the consequences or the possible outcome of the battle. They have been assigned a task by their lord and master and they shall perform to the best of their abilities or perish in the process.
Live transmission of the proceedings outside and now inside the joint session appears to have given a very large energy boost to everyone. The great debate inside is a rhetoric aimed at displaying one’s loyalty to something which does not exist — democracy — and defending something which is being battered to death by these very warriors — the Constitution. Depending on how one looks at, the army bashing as its central theme, the joint session of Parliament has achieved the ultimate. So far, it has outdone the PTI and the PAT. The Parliament has come out as its own worst enemy. The Parliament has proved to be archaic, divorced from reality and a confirmed club of a mutually supportive, self-serving group of political ‘elite’. One can see the tension and fear on faces as speaker after speaker stands up lashing out at the unseen enemy. They are on the defensive and have barricaded themselves behind the garb of their brand of democracy and their interpretation of the Constitution.
They don’t know it yet but they have played their last card. Ironically, as I said earlier, they played it against the wrong enemy, their perceived third force, the so-called script writer who, according to them, is the cause of all their troubles. In the process, they have unveiled the fragility of the very system they are trying to protect. A personal spat between two of their stalwarts was about to bring the whole ‘democratic’ system tumbling down. Is their brand of democracy so fragile? Or are we imbeciles? What else can come out of the joint session of the great Parliament? A resolution asking the army to clear the capital? Or a charge of the red brigade? There is our Supreme Court though.
The brave people outside that building at least know their enemy, or so they think. Vague objectives, little or no planning and popular sounding claims were all they had. Dedication was and continues to be a force multiplier for them. Thus equipped, they were given to believe that success was theirs to be had. That they have survived so far adds another force multiplier to their armoury — perseverance. Rhetoric, incomplete ground work and lack of clear vision to see the effort through its required conclusion appear to have negatively impacted their enthusiasm. They had come to fight and win a battle. They are now in the middle of a war, improvising as they push forward. They were the ones on the offensive. They had all the initiative to begin with. Confronted with a united and politically shrewd opposition, they find themselves in a logjam. They don’t seem to have any contingency to meet this unexpected turn of events. Initiative appears to have shifted sides and a stalemate-like situation is on the cards. If only it were so. It is indeed a difficult position to be in. Unfamiliar as well. Extraordinary leadership, inexhaustible levels of dedication, perseverance and foresight would be required to get out of it, regain the initiative and achieve their objectives. They must understand that after stumbling a bit, getting beaten around and suffering defections in their ranks, they can now claim to have laid the foundations for the change. The process has begun. Actual change will take time. Patience would be a very useful commodity at this stage. Their leadership must break away from rhetoric and get their crowds accustomed to reality.
This truly is a defining moment in our history. The eternal battle between status quo and change has begun to tilt in latter’s favour. Very serious questions have been raised on the efficacy of the type of democracy we have in Pakistan. What kind of democratic dispensation massacres unarmed innocent civilians by the state apparatus in a provincial capital in broad daylight? How can you bring this tragedy on the negotiating table? How and with whom do you negotiate ‘14 dead and 81 seriously injured’? Has anyone accepted that the whole operation was illegal to begin with?
How can one claim legitimacy for a government in which everyone is crying foul? It is being done on the floor of the very House which is supposed to be a rule onto itself. God forbid, are we being told that this House can, and is therefore, going to condone what it knows to be illegal? There is this wall, as large as this august house, which carries this statement in capital letters:-
“Listen to the people outside. What they say is true. Do not analyse it in terms of defeat or victory. Look at it from the national perspective. Embrace the need to change. Make it your own before it swallows everything”. There will be change. Make no mistake about it. Sooner than later. Look at China. Look at the Soviet model. The process of change shattered an empire. Russia survived and is thriving once again because of its leadership and huge resources.
Will we?
Published in The Express Tribune, September 12th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (59)
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@Usman Ansari: try to argue with facts, not baseless statements. If you have figures for the fantastic developments (not the foreign loan driven bubble of the 1960's), pray share.
Looks like
A. Sheikh Rasheed is advising the Tsunamists.
and,
B. 'Dr' Ejaz Hussain is the counselor to the Revolutionaries.
The moot question is - Who is the the puppeteer behind Sheikh Rasheed and Dr Ejaz?
http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-2-271584-Who-pushed-Dr-Qadri-into-this-mess?
@Asif:
The military has had its chance and one of its failure, which occurred was the breakup of Pakistan under its watch.
The bias in the comments and people recommending these comments need a dose of awakening from prolonged self hallucination. Where are they living probably abroad. What has Democracy delivered and your main excuse is always give it a chance. To be impartial then the counter argument will be to let military dictatorship a chance?
@Ok: ET: Kindly help me with me right to reply to someone who has written to me. No one has the right to question who is a Pakistani or not. What I have said are not rumors but actual occurrences, as are becoming increasingly manifest as seen in the electronic and print media. Your reference to 9/11 and holocaust was still irrelevant and quite senseless.
@Ok: Please tell us how you say that rumors, when actually the go-in-between Ejaz Hussain has been exposed? A leading TV station still not allowed to show in many places is exposing the conspiracy as Najm Sethi is answering accusations about rigging the elections.
@Usman Ansari: Try to present counter arguments instead of superficial statements. Can you deny any of the "contributions" of army rule, from Pakistan's dismemberment, shameful surrender of the army in 1971, siachin, Ayub lotacracy, his superficial "development" by taking massive loans. If you can, do share.
@ObserverUSA: you say motiwala is accusing without evidence but your second comment on this page are just rumors at best. That was the point of my comment. Irrelevant it may have been but not more so than yours. Being a Pakistani I expected nothing else from you ! OkUSA
I want change Now. For last Ten Years Pakistan been on decline mode. Our participation in our affairs now reduced to Nil by imposed commissionerate system. Local governance and managing locally now non existent. People of Pakistan been pushed backward by those in the establishment and by those we elected. No we do not want centralized commissionerate system of governance instead we voted for local governance with power of taxation locally. There is much illiteracy in Sind and in Pakistan that no provincial government wants to improve public schooling. Provincial and Federal government just do not want to empower citizen of Pakistan. Pakistan is one of the Highest Taxation country in the world the beneficiary is defined as welfare of those governing not the citizens. I propose the children of those serving in the government as well as the armed forces must made to attend public school run at our expenses. Lets do that for Change.
@Mirza I am glad you brought up the Senate when I did not actually see anyone mentioning it. Your argument is well taken as to how can anyone question the legitimacy of the Senate where most of the members were elected before the 2013 elections. Actually, it is not good reason on the basis of which politics of dharna is taking place. More than that those playing their game or on the behest of powerful instigators are doing so on the basis of trying to win on the basis of intimidation. This partly is explained by unsupported charges which abound without evidence. Catchy slogans and charges get support from the disgruntled and misled gullible folks. The rigging of elections, for example, is blown out of proportion to make a mountain of a mole hill and even if rigging is proved in, say four constituencies and if it is not an organized effort, then why make it sound as if the whole election is rigged and therefore they are not legitimate. Those agitating want power by hook or crook and not by legitimacy.
I have written my comments twice but none appeared. However, there are many great comments that expose rich general's hatred for all elected leaders and senate and his love for the defeated lota. Even if one assumes that last elections were rigged, who gives these enemies of democracy and constitution the right to attack the Senate. Senate was not elected after last elections and most of its members are chosen before 2013 elections and as a result of elections under army general. Such countries cannot exist for long if they do not empower the senate and give equal rights to all federating units. The generals should continue to enjoy their exploits and lifetime perks at our expense and forget about politics it is not 20th century anymore.
Your attitude toward the Constitution is sadly reflected in your reference thereto in these words of yours: "something called the ‘constitution’" This is the crux of the problem wherein the powerful, such as, Musharraf and some powerful men of the Deep State has towards the fundamental law of the land. Whenever, it suits their interests, they are inclined to subvert it. Sad.
@ObserverUSA: "All Pakistanis should be concerned to unearth the roots of the present conspiracy that plagues the country. " Could ET do some investigation on the alleged conspiracy and enlighten the readers, please?
@Taimoor: I have often enjoyed and agreed with your comments. But I am sorry that you are one hundred percent wrong in saying that I must be Hussain Haqqani. As is common knowledge, HH is not with the establishment. On the contrary, he is anti-establishment. I am pro-establishment but against only a few powerful elements who are running the show in Islamabad.
@Motiwala: So you are accusing without any evidence. I am not an Indian troll. All Pakistanis should be concerned to unearth the roots of the present conspiracy that plagues the country. It does not matter where I live. My nom de plume is only for identification. Sophisticated and educated people like you should look at the content and not so much about the identity of the writer. @OK: Your post is irrelevant. @Jee viz: You got it right.
" Ironically, as I said earlier, they played it against the wrong enemy, their perceived third force, the so-called script writer who, according to them, is the cause of all their troubles." But you go on and on without taking the trouble to tell us as to whether there is or are scriptwriters behind the agitation against the Government, which also indeed is agitation against the State. This is exactly the knowledge you must have and must share with the nation.
what about the Lal masjid operation where there was blood everywhere and in Karachi on 12 may 2007. For God sake when will the Army and establishment learn. Change will occur definitly but be patient and let the time and people decide for themselves. If Nawaz ruled for five years, so what; he may be rejected. PLz Let the electoral reforms takes place and plz dont play with your country.
Sincerely, I am very impressed by the over all tenor of comments on this article. Yes the 'writing on wall' is there and it has been expressed so well by some one "We work hard, so that you can play golf, and other games that you like. Alas! The only thing you are not good at is for which you are paid for: protect this country from external enemies."
The General like most of his ilk talk of "real" democracy but are clueless when asked what they mean. Under all the verbosity, they simple have one solution: rule of the gun. Unfortunate.
@ObserverUSA: There is very strong evidence that you believe that there was no 9/11 or the holocaust. ;)
ET: Please post this comment
This is the most interesting piece on the current situation I have ever read. Finally, a direct input from the 'Script Writers', who use 'Democracy' and 'Constitution' (something called 'Constitution') in inverted commas in a derogatory manner. Yes Sir! We salute you. We hear you. We know you are the 'powers that be'. No worries if you are the 'powers that be' due to our blood and sweat. We work hard, so that you can play golf, and other games that you like. Alas! The only thing you are not good at is for which you are paid for: protect this country from external enemies.
ET: Please post this comment
@Motiwala: Paid indian trolls like you, are…dime a dozen, on this website.
How much do I get paid? And where should I go to collect it? Boggles me mind that I have been posting here for free this entire while.
Your point is valid.......for the first time the voice of the people is being enunciated from the platform of two container- trucks and on millions of TV screens.......and that is a change.
Anyone still wondering who is behind Imran Khan and Tahir ul Qadri?
sir, I salute you for your service. The itch, government by the people and for the people, will grow and grow and eventually take family dynasties down with it. Idea of family dynasties, nepotism and selective justice, days are over. These ideas are ripping through middle eastern countries and dominos will eventually fall in Pakistan as well. government is helpless against these ideas due to it being buried under corruption, nepotism, inept, and being outdated to tackle 21st century problems. There will be turbulent times ahead but. i pray that good can conquer evil and Pakistan can become a true democracy with laws applicable to all.
First we must accept the fact that both IK and TUQ have awakened a nation of Ostriches from their slumber and given a direction on a positive path. Secondly this Constitution designed by Feudal Lords will not allow reforms to bring socio-economic stability for the ordinary citizens. How many are willing to serve your Politicians as your Principal by compromising with your Principles of Humanity and your Religion. Let us awaken everyone who is asleep and bring the change.
@Hunza wala:
"WB ‘water bottle’ how do you live with all this hate bottled up inside you?"
I explain to you in detail after you enroll in primary school in a public school in India to learn English well enough to understand the meaning of the word hate.
Your Madressah has failed you like 180 million other.
ET, if you allow someone else's personal attack, give me the courtesy of publishing my reply.
Read generals and Air Marshals don't make any sense when they try to become political analysts or constitutional experts. What is the point he is trying to make, except perhaps that boots should take over and lead us into a worse mess.
@WB: WB 'water bottle' how do you live with all this hate bottled up inside you?
There is a maxim that says, "Change is inevitable, do not resist it." (BPC). My salutations to the author for a great article. Salams
The author has a point of view and we must respect whether sone one agree or disagree. Negation to anyones view point should be fennassed in a manner that it conveys all what few friends have opined and is also not bitter. Two of the commentators are certainly undercover have played the card of negativity and we have bad neighbors in surrounding. Respecting authors analysis of the shamozal that he talked about I partially disagree. The IK & TuQ protests are such scars that are going to have far reaching implication in times to come. Imran is an honest person and his intentions may be good. My personal assessment based upon his political gimmickry and understanding of managing Statecraftship leads to conclusion that he LACKS MATURITY. Every speech he deliver revolve's around running state of 200 million people like Shaukat Khanum Hospital which is not possible AT ALL. Having seen him on few occasions, my impression is that he is intellectually hard nut to crack being SELFEE. It's a fact that what Imran and Qadri talks is appealing to 60% of population that is living below poverty line. Both being untried Horse......people take their words seriously. It's so unfortunate that in a country where Chief Justice son is proven corrupt and rescued by him in his own court, where discrimination between HAVES & HAVES NOT is widening, where 80% kids are not attending school thus lending an attractive ground for terrorists to induct raw minds for terrorist activities. So under such environments, one should not expect these innocent people not to come out in the streets and support Imran & Qadri because both are talks about their miseries and both promise to solve their problems provided they manage to change the government by hook or crook and take over as PRIME MINISTER. It's sad that they are using anarchy as tool to let this government fall or Supreme Court to pass a decree for dissolving of government and hold new elections or Army to take over. I am reasonably positive that khaki is smart and understand the gambit. God save Pakistan and God give brains yo the political leadership to read the mind and aspirations of people of Pakistan
OK. To cut a long story short, according to the General Sahib,
A. Those attending the joint session of Parliament are- Archaic, Divorced from Reality, A confirmed Club, Self serving group of political elite, Tension and fear on faces, Barricaded and Defensive.
Now contrast this with
B. Those sitting outside- Brave people, Dedication, Success was theirs to be had, Perseverance, Improvising, On the offensive, Extraordinary leadership, inexhaustible levels of dedication, perseverance and foresight , have laid the foundations for the change.
No prizes for guessing on whose side the General Sahib stands.
If this , indeed, is a harbinger of CHANGE, I must say such CHANGE has been in evidence right since 1958. So what is new?
The esteemed author wrote an article par excellence. there will always be people with simple minds, who will be unable to grasp. Therefore the confused comments. Plus the ever present paid Indian trolls with their hate comments, who infest this website 24/7
@ObserverUSA: Inter Alia did you mean to refer to the email sent to a well-known anchor at a well-known TV station which was put on the Internet as a result of "breaking in" of his account. This email clearly shows the details of the Putsch that was planned. Unfortunately, it has sectarian leanings and if the Qadri dharna with sectarian tendencies succeeds it could likely upset the fragile sectarian balance in Pakistan with unpredictable consequences. As the COAS pointed out the situation, rather the "environment" as he put it, in Pakistan is becoming "growingly complex." God forbid that Pakistan turns into another Syria or Iraq.
Its so pleasing to read the comments from most of the people. That's the change Mr. General!
You call the people in the parliament elite? What about those who have been calling the shots all along in Pakistan's history from GHQ. They are elite of the elitest! Representing the biggest welfare organization in Pakistan. We can now understand why only a single institution in the country has all resources, is well developed, while no other institution is capable of standing on its own feet. I tell you the reason, coz Pakistan has been ruled over all along by you guys.
The change was when each and every commoner of the country stood up against Musharraf in the lawyers movement. I am confident that revolution in Pakistan is only possible with a repetition of that sort of movement! You dare do your game this time, you will then see the actual writing on the wall!
What a waste of investment of the people's money in making these sort of people!
@ObserverUSA: Go to a bookstore and buy a dictionary. That will help analyze what the author is writing about. And please, do not try to impress the readership by writing USA after your moniker. You could be from Papua/New Guinea. You very like are on Christmas Island. And finally, don't spread rumours and innuendos. Paid indian trolls like you, are...dime a dozen, on this website.
Genaral Sahib should realize that politics is not the business of soldiers as they are neither trained nor qualified for this job. The other day I saw him having some uneasy moments when confronted by Mujib ur Rehman Shami on one of the TV channels.
@ObserverUSA: "... a certain individual with an establishment background reportedly arranged Qadri’s visit to Iran and is seemingly coordinating the PAT movement with elements in the establishment." Are you referring to Ejaz Hussein?
Great piece of writing, excellent analysis, my humble input in this regard is that during this whole process who has suffered most, undoubtedly the poor people outside, no one is talking about how many dead in Islamabad, I saw a picture of young girl aged around 7 or 8 years who died during mayhem in Islamabad frankly speaking we all know enormous human right violations conducted in Islamabad and trying to put them under the carpet. My heart bleeds when I see my privileged friends make fiery speeches on the floor of parliament in defence democracy and scare army to avoid any adventure. Are they really afraid of any adventure, if yes why ? Parliament is there to protect the rights of people and if the job is rightly done then there will be no issues. Please think about the unprivileged and serve them in letter and spirit. Shun the hypocrisy and have a heart, which bleeds for humanity. Otherwise we might see many Imrans, Tahir and Raheels, then it will be too late for every one. Long live people of Pakistan, long live Pakistan
Excellent, considered piece of writing by Gen Ghulam Mustafa, meeting the same fate as Ikram Sehgal's recent articles, being dismissed as establishment nonsense by established commentators. There is some irony in that.
The fact is that thoughtful and well researched articles by persons of eminence can be sunk by a few choice words in the briefest comment. Can the commentators suggest exactly how the present political heavy-weights, with long histories of disservice to the Nation, will bring about its ultimate salvation.
Consider the quality of our democracy where all the politicos, in power, in opposition, and on the sidelines, have assumed the perfect unity of purpose. They have acquired unity, faith and discipline to plunder unabated and by turn.
In the army, no one was made accountable for dead bodies and enforced disappearances in Balochistan, the hundreds of civilians who are sure to have died when army did its carpet bombing in Swat, SWA and NWA, for the million IDPs now and 1.5 million during Swat operation, for the thousands of dead soldiers in Kargill who were sent out dressed as mujahidin and the army wasn't even willing to receive the dead bodies, the 200,000 civilians killed in what was then east Pakistan (if we go by the extremely conservative numbers proided by Shumaila whom all Pakistanis like to quote). Yet the good general is very concerned about accountability for the 14 dead in Model town. Amazing.
" The madness which has gripped the entire nation for the last so many days " +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Candid Confession: A mad nuclear state.
@Cheebz:
"We will survive and thrive (inshallah).. because we have faith.. faith in ourselves and in Allah. The change is real because we are starting to accept that something is very wrong with us and within us.."
If you had really accepted that something is very wrong within you, you would not have mentioned "We will survive and thrive (inshallah).. because we have faith.. faith in ourselves and in Allah."
This only proves that you have not understood yourself and the reasons behind your spectacular failure.
By the way contrary to what you wrote, the writing is not good.
YES there is change on the horizon, I agree. Credit goes to Imran Khan and Qadri not the forces that calm themselves democratic. Don't go by the numbers at the sit-ins there is an ocean of people who support the campaign for change but have not come out yet. This short government of thieves for the thieves will soon mess it up big time. Then you will see the relevant power of the people.
@ObserverUSA: You guy must be hussain haqqani, always with the establishment
Just proved himself to be an intellectual midget by writing this piece ...
Equating miscreants like IK and TuQ with parliamentarians is an insult to Pakistanis!
Impressive and quite eloquent. A perfect analysis of events.For change,the silent majority will have to play its role otherwise it will be a war of two political mindsets .Unfortunately,the silent majority believes in change only through a movement against status quo in social media,so change will never come in this way.For real change,we,as a nation,have to decide now. If we will not raise our voice against the atrocities of this so called democracy,we can't dream of real democracy.For real change,we will to come out of homes and we will have to join the forces,struggling for change.
This writeup is disappointing! I always thought Pakistan army has the best minds, I hope this retd general is the exception. China did not have any recent revolution but a gradual change. Soviet Union lost all its power and influence in the world after abruptly abandoning its system (revolution?) and is nowhere near where it once was. No, we don't need the revolutions, we have had enough. Please let us live in peace and give us a break from revolutions. We need to build our present institutions stronger, so no single person can ever trample over those.
nicely put article... answer to your question - "Russia survived and is thriving once again because of its leadership and huge resources. Will we?"...
We will survive and thrive (inshallah).. because we have faith.. faith in ourselves and in Allah. The change is real because we are starting to accept that something is very wrong with us and within us.. we are no longer blaming america for our vows.. and we are also demanding better living standard... so InshAllah... change will come.. as long as we keep our expectations high!
A crude attempt by the author to try and justify the shenanigans of his "peti bhai's": Mirza, Ayub, Ziaul and Mush. All the problems Pakistan faces today trace back to illegal army rules. General Mirza corrupted the politics of Pakistan which was a gentlemen's game, as defined by Mr Jinnah. No one can blame politicians he conspired against of corruption, not Khawaja Nazimuddin, not Molvi Tamizuddin, not Mr Suhrwardy. Ayub brought corruption and lotacracy and led to the dismemberment of Pakistan by murdering Ms. Jinnah and Mr Suhrwardy. Ziaul was the father of religious bigotry and terrorism, a hypocrite par ""excellence"-used to bear Bhutto's cup but branded himself as a religious man and now his progeny spends the loot money he amassed in London. Mush sustained terrorism to justify his rule to the world powers in a classical "either them or me style". He dished out the NWFP province to their abettors. Nice try Mr GM but you are trying to defend the indefensible.
Coming from an erstwhile member of the establishment, this article notches up hypocrisy to a whole another level.
A word of advice for the retired general - "Stay out of politics and enjoy your retirement".
I usually avoid commenting if I have an overwhelmingly negative view of a piece of writing but in this case I will make an exception. What exactly is the author trying to say? With such floral and ironically, rhetorical writing styles one can't help but question whether this piece made it pass the editor based on merit or simply by virtue of the authors title. And here I thought English print journalism in Pakistan had some modicum of maturity, depth and factual analysis normally found wanting in the Urdu press. I'm sorry to say this - utter waste of time.
There are indications that some powerful elements in the establishment are behind the sit-ins in Islamabad. One, SMQ visited Musharraf in Karachi during the sit-ins. Obviously, the latter has influence within certain elements of the establishment that he mentored, or promoted. Two, a certain individual with an establishment background reportedly arranged Qadri's visit to Iran and is seemingly coordinating the PAT movement with elements in the establishment. Three, Shaikh Rasheed is also reputed to have connections within the establishment and he could also be playing a "guiding" role here.
Not sure what the author is driving at.