Wealthy Bhutto’s and their poor villagers

{This post is not to paint Bhutto’s as villains but telling that they are no different than many other leaders except that they are more educated and charismatic }

In previous post I said that their own villages are very much in poverty.  I talked to my friend who lives near the Garhi Khuda Baksh and he also pointed out that those villages are no different than other villages of Pakistan. What I was trying to say is that, I appears strange to me if being Prime Minister of Pakistan Bhutto family could not do anything for their own village.

Infact to do something for their village they dont need Prime Ministership

As for their wealth have a look at newyorktimes article

Like other foreign leaders, Ms. Bhutto engaged a public relations firm to arrange meetings for her with administration officials, members of Congress and journalists. For the first six months of 2007, the firm Burson-Marsteller took in fees of close to $250,000 for work on behalf of Ms. Bhutto.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/weekinreview/30bumiller.html 

Or CNN’s article”Commentary: Bhutto was essence of Pakistan”

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/30/plate.bhutto.commentary/index.html

I am not saying that she was alone in this, you will see the same thing in constituencies of many big leaders, they want to keep their farmers backward and poor, thats what benefits them. But these leaders do not move in the corridors of the Capital Hill and almost none of them have got degrees from Harvard or Oxford. They are not regarded as saviors of Pakistan from Western Media.

Unfortunately this education becomes zero when they are dealing with the poor of Pakistan. Just like Musharaf who’s speech becomes sober while talking to western media and whose Urdu speech is speech of Military leader wearing commando uniform.

 

Pakistan; still the land of Kings, Queens and slaves

Harvard and Oxford educated Benazir wrote in her will that her husband would lead Pakistan Peoples Party. Yes my friend we still live in the land where democratic parties do not get their heads elected but have them selected.

But Zardari wants his 19 year old son should inherit PPP. Son that has not even stood for one election. Son whose education and life has been far away from the land of Pakistan. But King wants his son to be crowned.

To enhance the claim of inheritance now his Son will not be Bilawal Zardari but Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Now Mr. Bilawal will go for further education and after his education he will come back to take leadership command. Isnt it like fairy tale where prince goes for learning art of war and then returns to take back the throne.

I am not amazed by the PPP’s top leadership’s decision, they are old experienced players of politics who would have little sympathy in changing the status quo.But what happened to this 19 year old Bilawal who is continuing his education from Oxford? Has the education system failed to build any moral and ethical structure in him? I have always thought that young people of his age are more realistic and resilient to the glitter of corruption. Or he seriously thinks he is the only hope of Pakistan (how different is this from what Musharaf thinks about himself)?

But how can I expect anything positive form the member of the family who got Prime Minister ship for 3 times and about their villages BBC best said

But there is little sign that the region has felt any benefit from living in the shadow of one of the country’s most influential dynasties.

The poverty which blights rural Pakistan is striking and most people eke out their living in the scrubby fields.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7163579.stm

The other thing that amazed me was silence from electronic Media, none of the them was even commented about this undemocratic act and its implications. Even Talat Hussain from AAJ Tv. kept mum about it.

They might be more busy in their duties, but even on some blogs respected writers and commenter’s (for example have a look at www.pakistaniat.com) were supporting that decision. General feeling you get from their messages is it is unfortunate but necessary to protect the PPP or some are saying they do not wanted it but if this happens they will support it.

They are fearful that party would break but with this decision what it would stand for? a dynasty of Bhutto’s? We know its not temporary decision, he will not be temporary head till they hold some party elections. He announced his plans of completing his education and comeback to become active Chairman of PPP

All this night while news of crowing of new prince was unfolding, I was remembering the early days of Musharaf. That time also many educated people and respected intellectuals supported him calling him a lesser evil, defending his actions as necessary to protect country. They kept on protecting him even when people were dying in various parts of country.

Today when it looked like that civil society has finally stood against dictatorship. Today when it looked we could see evil as evil and will not close our eyes for momentarily benefits. I am horrified to know our minds are still slaves, slaves of our own fears.

Sometime its better to do right & just act, instead of doing wrong act that looks beneficial.

{On side note I must say Zardari’s address on many times contained important things about stability of Pakistan, the way he defended Punjab and asked people to support for the federation, I was impressed. I feel the gesture of Nawaz Sharif played a very vital role in solidifying the feeling that Punjabis are with Sindhis. Its the first time I feel that existence of PML(Q) has been blessing, as all angre has been toward them and PML(N) was able to get sympathies of Sindhies for Punjab}

 

Was Benazir not the actual target?

I dont know whether she died from the shrapnel/splinter, bullet or as our ministry says the lever of the sunroof.  What I know is that where her car stopped was not scheduled and her coming out of the car was also unscheduled/unplanned and result of the decision at that instance.

So what was shooter and suicider doing there? Why was he sent there? to kill Benazir in the bomb proof and bullet proof car? Were the planners so stupid that they were planning to kill Benazir but their whole plan was based on that ‘if/if she comes out?’.

Or their whole plan to kill ‘few common people’ and scare out people from the Pakistan People Party.

They caught Benazir unexpectedly? It was not in their plan? Now they have got much larger than they could handle?Definitely when you send some stupid-head to blow himself and kill hundreds of people around him, he will try to get the ‘bigger prize’ he  can get before going to next station.
Unfortunately that mad man got what was prized by many as Leader of Pakistan.

 

Benazir Killed! Questions and Liaqat Ali Khan

Media is describing her assassination that she just came out of the sunrise window to wave for the crowd but they are not raising the questions about how it is possible that some assassin got clear shot in such small amount of time. Or was he lucky? But how did that lucky devil knew that car will stop at this point?

News is also there that the dead body has not been given any postmortem, why? I dont understand. How will they decide that whether she died with bullet or shrapnel? Without the medical exam who will tell how far away was murderer?.

These questions might not be able to find the conspirator, but not answering them will definitely raise more shades, give boost to the conspiracy theories. More fingers will be raised on the government, citing not only their incompetence but  doubts about their involvement

When Liaqat Ali Khan was killed, his murderer was killed on the spot and by the police themselves, till now we do not know why Liaqat Ali Khan was killed. Lots of questions that are still raised but there is no way to answer them.

Sad event for the Rawalpindi, it now has blood of two leaders on their streets.How different are two leaders, one about whom it is said that he was wearing clothes having holes in them and other who has long list of corruption on her. One who played important role in creation of the country, other whose biggest achievement was nothing more that being daughter of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. She might had potential of doing something great, but what ever she had she lost it in the dirt of the politics and personal dictatorship.

But she was leader, leader of this nation that does not get any leader for long time.

Nation who is so unfortunate that their best leaders are Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir.

May Allah Protect Pakistan

 

Writting off Pakistan!

I have been on many sites and many websites and many blogs. I was disappointed to read people writing with full confidence about Pakistan, much of which can be summarized in few sentences  i.e. Pakistan is finished, Pakistan is too dangerous to exist and every ones favorite Pakistan is factory of terrorism. With it was tag line that if we support the democracy thats what will be going to happen.
The American presidential elections added further factors. Most the messages except  Mike Huckabee every one else messages looked like they have already found who is responsible. Interestingly this the same tune of the Pakistani officials i.e. Terrorists and extremists are responsible of that. I think these people dont know what people of Pakistan are feeling, many of them feel that ‘someone else’ is responsible for that.

The people who are on the streets are not burning mosques, destroying the madrasas and beating people with beards; they are attacking the offices of the PML(Q) , burning the flags, banners and even sometime even the houses of the people considered to be allies of the Musharaf. If you see videos you see that people are raising slogans and chanting against Musharaf.

I must stress that in this time we dont know who is the killer and who is behind it, I have just tried above to show that how different is the view of the international community

Today we have got 4th main leaders killed starting from Liaqat Ali Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Zia-ul-Haq and now Benazir. We survived everyone of it.

Yes its a sad day but believe me we will survive it, in fact I feel its the moment we can transit to more prestigious position, by asking for the resignation of the Musharaf, holding the elections. People on the streets is what was not there before, now people will be more willing to come outside, it will be difficult for the leaders to make deal with the establishment.

But for this Pakistan require America not to mess with Pakistan’s internal matters for their own benefit, let people decide. Accept the verdict of the people.

 

CNN: Last some seconds of Benazir

On CNN reporter tells the last some seconds of the Benazir Bhutoo, he saw her come out of the car and then fall down.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/27/bhutto.photographer/index.html

Sad Sad moments

 

Edhi Ambulances attacked

Stupid Stupid people, attacking the Edhi Ambulances, why why?

Burning the cars of the normal people on the roads, putting train on the fire. I know most of them are just opportunists but its the system that has failed. Mobile (cell phone)  network not working, police enclosed in their stations, ambulances not able to reach anyone its worst worst situation.

Even somewhere electricity has been closed, this will only enable miscreants to do the mischief. By closing the mobile network they are allowing the people to be in chaos.  For 8 years a person has ruled the country in the name of strengthening the system and when emergency comes the system fails like flatted balloon.

 

Benazir Killed! Ramifications?

Finally her killers were able to kill her, remove her from scene. Last one of the Bhutto’s children also killed like her kins. In the long list of conspiracies one more has been added but it will echo a many years.

She might have long list of corruption both monetary and political but she was viewed as great leader for so many people of Pakistan. Her removal will going to affect Pakistan in a really bad way. Pakistan People Party (PPP) workers are known for their activism. They have already taken the streets. People have started rioting. Curfew might be imposed to control it.

However it’s the small problem, the big problem is that a major leader has been removed from the scene. Frankly if the elections are held in the fair way, now it will be really really difficult for Musharaf’s ally to win. But who will be the leader? Nawaz Sharif? he can not even contest the elections.

Benazir was not as big leader as his father Bhutoo. She was helped greatly by his father’s name. But now there is no one from Bhutoo’s family that could come in front and take the charge, the PPP would be run by someone not from Bhutoo.The impact of the larger than life leaders is that it shadows away all other leaders. It will take time before people will start recognizing anyone from her party. Right now there is only one person ‘Aitzaz Ahsan’ from her party being recognized and praised. Zardari might not be able to win the majority favor but he might be accepted for sometime to allow any one of the children to come and takeover the leadership. Yes my friends the political parties are like dynasties in Pakistan, unfortunate but true.

The other effect is who will be blamed? Al-Qaeda, Taliban, Musharaf or Pakistan Army, ISI ? There many suspicious names, but she herself have ruled out that she will be attacked by Taliban or people fighting in Nothern Areas, she was more inclined that ISI might try to kill her. Where will the anger go? Musharaf will be the most clear person, target of people’s anger.

Why I am writing this? I ask my self. People who have orchestrated these events would have thought about the future, but they dont know sometimes some events are too big to be handled by the planners.

I wish this event is the event which changes the direction of the nation in the right direction.

Long Live Pakistan

 

Should I vote?

Should I vote? or boycott elections.

Question so important for the people of Pakistan and it is without answer.

I dont know answer, what I know is that our decision should be unanimous. Unanimous is the silver bullet, its the solution. How difficult is to get? Extremely extremely difficult; even in the room full of educated, knowing and honest people its difficult and impossible.

But in this situation there is something we know what will not happen, its unanimous that there will not be complete boycott. There will be vote-casting either for the PML(N) or PPP or in the worst case for the Musharaf but there would be.

So what will happen now in the present scenario if we dont vote? We will just help dictator’s party.

But then I question my self what if the long lines of the people are just the used for propaganda for  free and fare election while results are manipulated in the background?

For this I dont have answer.  The answer I have is that if I had been in Pakistan I would have gone for voting.

I know that PML(N)  and PPP have made unwise decision for participating in the election, but now they have decided to enter the ring the only option I have is to either support the ring masters or them. I will support them even while I dont feel good in supporting them, they are not much  different from the ring masters, but they atleast require me for their existence.

But like many questions in Pakistan, there is no perfect answer and what decision is correct and what is wrong depends on the future.

I know one thing after the election the student/civil-society activism will become more important,  they will be the force ready for battle and then political parities will need them to put pressure on the government. They are the only threat to government and every party will play card with Musharaf that if their terms are not agreed they will become part of those who are protesting.

 

Nawaz Sharif Comeback: What the hell is going around?

Now Nawaz Sharif is back home, addressing the crowds, paying salams at Data Darbar, speaking to people at Sadar Chowk (my house is near the Sadar Chowk),….

I am angry, angry that how our Govt. is taking U turns to suite itself, making joke out of the country. And at the same time my head and heart is telling me be aware there is another deal, some other activity that has allowed Nawaz Sharif to comeback.

Why has he been allowed back?

I know our Govt. is not so good in heart, not upholder of law, not even by far beacon of moralit and they definitely don’t do anything for benefit of only Pakistan (definitely not for Pakistan without them as heads), they are doing it for themselves. They must be benefiting from his return. Might be act to balance Benazir or to back push Imran.

But the time will tell whether there is deal b/w Nawaz and Musharaf, direct or indirect. Or Nawaz plays cards intelligently, siding Benazir with himself.

The bad thing from his return would be that it will add one more variable in the equation. Making it more difficult for the equation solver to find the solution.

Presence of both Benazir and Nawaz will definitely take away the edge Imran was getting. But it also happened for small time when Benazir came, Imran was sent in background only Musharaf’s stupid action and Benazir’s limped stance in the beginning brought him back, as he stood up for Judiciary. I am not banking on him as he is long way from winning anything more than 2 seats.

Only time will tell what game is being played with people of Pakistan.