March 16, 2009: A Historic Day for Pakistan?
The news that the Pakistani Government has finally given into the demands of the “long marchers”, and protesters is officially about 10 hours old now, and the nation is gripped with a euphoria that has driven everything else from their minds.
I am no historian, but it reminds me of the time, back in 93-94, when the supreme court of Pakistan reinstated Nawaz Sharif’s government, after it had been dismissed by the then president Ghulam Ishaq Khan, taking advantage of the 8th amendment. The mood of the nation was exactly the same back then. There was talk of change, of an independent judiciary not bowing to political pressure and taking the right decision in favor of an elected prime minister. But what happened next? Did this nation really witness any change? Was democracy able to save us? Are we still not standing where we were 10 years ago?
Some might argue that no, we have moved forward. And I wont deny that either. I guess we have. But what price we have had to pay? The past ten or so years will be marked as one of the darkest of the three darkest periods of our only 62 years of existence. Musharraff, despite his promises of change and ridding the country of corrupt politicians, did not only follow in the footsteps of Zia and Yahya Khan, he left his own dark marks on this nations history, marks that the future generations will feel for some time to come, just like the ripple effects of Zia’s doings can still be felt today, almost 21 years after his death.
The Long March
Image courtesy of Dawn.com
Been sometime since I last posted. Not that anyone reads what I write here, but when, and if I do, its just to let out what ever’s bothering me… regarding the current state of affairs of course.
So the “Long March” is on in Pakistan. After two rather peaceful days (by Pakistani standards), the true face of the way protests are carried out and handled in Pakistan was very visible today, but with something that hasn’t been seen before… which I will come to later.
Seems like almost all Pakistanis, or almost all Pakistanis, have come to a consensus on one thing: The deposed judges must be restored and Zardari must be ousted. What’s strange is, even the hardcore PPPites seem to have come to an agreement with the lawyer’s movement and Nawaz league on this.
Sherry Rehman, one of the greatest loyalists of Benazir, resigned as the minister of information day before yesterday. Now THAT shows you the actual state of affairs in Pakistan. What I mean to say is, this act goes on to show you the rift within the ruling party. Prime Minister Gillani has been silent for the past two days. The only barking dog on the government’s side is Rehman Malik right now. And it’s a known fact that he is definitely the most hated man in the country right now after Zardari himself.
The politics of open hypocrisy and false promises: PAKISTAN
Geo Television’s another attempt at showing the mirror to the establishment. A Story of false promises and betrayal.
Ruling coalition on the rocks
Source: The Nation
NEW YORK – Pakistan Muslim League-N leader Nawaz Sharif has threatened to pull his party out of the governing coalition if it does not decide by Friday (today) about the reinstatement of judges sacked by former president Pervez Musharraf, but said he will not bring about the collapse of the government.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Sharif said that the sacking of the judges last year had shaken the foundations of the country and it was necessary to restore them to their jobs.
“We will not try to bring the government down,” Sharif said in remarks published on Thursday. “But of course we then have no choice but to sit in the Opposition.”
Sharif said Zardari had earlier assured him that the judges would be reinstated within 24 hours of Musharraf’s impeachment. “We supported him on impeachment. It’s now his turn to support us on the reinstatement of judges.”
About the next president, Sharif said it should be someone from outside the two main parties. He has put forward the name of Ataullah Khan Mengal, a well-known politician from Balochistan.
