Mr. Khan is a man of great integrity, a true son of Pakistan and a great Muslim (the "he's a Mossad agent" conspiracy theories seem to have died down). He has built a hospital that cures cancer, has committed himself to education, eradicating corruption and promoting idealism. He wants a free Pakistan, wants to throw out the imperial troops of the Empire (in this case, not Darth Vader’s boys but rather the constantly meddling American Army, the infernal CIA and devilspawn NATO). All in all, his scheme sounds noble, leaving his audience the impression of Mr. Khan sitting atop a white horse, glittering scimitar held in one hand as he holds the reigns in the other with a determined look on his face, as if he is out to behead the enemy during a time of war (and the holy justified jihad look is complete). The urban elite finds him to be a “cool” politician who has rock stars performing at his rallies. Others feel that they have been let down by the PPP, the PML-N and the military and Mr. Khan may be the only viable solution to the numerous socio-economic and political issues that plague Pakistan. Almost all of our citizens believe he is incorruptible and therefore corruption will be dealt with seriously making him the only viable contender. Young Pakistanis in general, and younger urban Punjabis ("the youth") specifically seem to think he is the greatest thing to happen to Pakistan since Atif Aslam. Indeed, the man and his party have become a rallying point for those who want “Change” (Obama flashbacks anyone?).
I am about to admit something that makes most of urban Punjab look at me strangely (at times, even murderously). I am not an Imran Khan supporter (surprise of surprises!). I do not feel his agenda has been outlined properly and I feel he takes the very real and immediate threat of militancy far too lightly. I feel his alliance with the right wing ultra conservative religious parties can pressurize him into making patriarchal decisions that could affect Pakistan adversely. I think his priorities are a bit muddled, terrorism is the thing we need to fight the most as opposed to turning a blind eye to it and thinking everything will be okay once we kick America off our soil. However, all that being said, I do love the idealism he displays. For that one reason, I feel I should give him a chance to prove how liberal he is. So, despite all these reasons I have cited for not wanting Mr. Khan to run our fair country, there is still one way I (and possibly others like me) would happily vote for him (or for any other political entity that undertakes what i am about to suggest). Unlike many others, Ms. Veena Malik has exposed her assets (and has done so much more elegantly than most of our politicians could) and we have found nothing wrong with them. If any of our politicians allow her to join their party and contest elections, I will vote for said party. This I swear!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
The cricketer on his way to political rock-stardom
In a recently aired discussion with veteran journalist Mr. Arif Nizami, ex cricketer turned politician Mr. Imran Khan defended himself as a leftist. He expressed his desire to establish a welfare state with a more socialist view concerning the economy. He spoke passionately about the anti-imperialism agenda he wishes to follow – once again appealing to the audience that he is indeed left liberal. Mr. Khan’s wonderful Shaukat Khanum Cancer Hospital was mentioned to show what a good philanthropist the good cricketer is. A few days after the interview, Mr. Khan organized his biggest rally to date. While different agencies and papers are reporting conflicting numbers, there is no denying that people turned up for it en masse.
Mr. Khan appears to have learnt the game of politics at last. Alliances have been forged; a few big names have joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The party was until recently described as a “one man show” by many politicians. There are many rumors of the Inter Services Intelligence Agency backing him as they see him as a better rightist alternative to ex premier Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; a man who has interfered with the military before and even now calls for curbing its power.
While his ambitions seem honorable, there are many issues he seems to be silent on. He talks about empowering women, talks about how his vote base is many educated urbanites and the “youth”. He does not talk about his affiliation with the religious parties or what his strategy is to stop extremism. Mr. Khan seems to believe that the only thing plaguing Pakistan is corruption, not religious extremism, not xenophobia, and certainly not the rights of minorities. He goes on about “daughter of the nation” Aafia Siddiqui but has not done a single thing to help out Asia Bibi, the Christian women on death row over blasphemy charges. Contradictions seem to emerge in his party philosophy. He told the Daily Telegraph while sitting in London that his party was in favor of changing the dictator created blasphemy law that was never blessed by a parliament. His political workers attended a pro Qadri rally (the murderer of the late Punjab Governor Taseer) and announced that if the PTI came to power, they would never let the blasphemy law be amended. He insists that the war on terror is an alien war brought to the country by the Americans. What he does not take into account are the conditions of Pakistan where radical extremism is escalating at an alarming rate. Even if Pakistan abandons its partnership with the US, terror will continue, groups who believe that their version of Islam should be imposed in Pakistan will continue to attack the Pakistan government and the people.
Mr. Khan keeps talking about “Sharia law” and how he plans on introducing it in Pakistan. Clearly, he is not the leftist he claims to be. Whose Sharia law Mr. Khan? General Zia’s? The Sip-e-Sahaba’s? Sharia can be interpreted in many different ways and with his alliances with the far right leaning religious parties of Pakistan, the Sharia he will impose could be quite harsh. Will his Sharia go as far as stopping all male female interaction if the pair in question are not related as is the case with many types of Sharia law? Perhaps Mr. Khan believes that by imposing the same brand of Sharia that the Taliban want in Pakistan he will be able to convince them not to attack the government of Pakistan and its citizens. These are all questions we need to think about before we decide to go out and vote for him. Voting is a freedom, by voting in a man who wants to establish Sharia, will we be giving up our own freedoms? Yes Mr. Khan has now become a force to be reckoned with and yes, Mr. Khan does has the power to change a lot. The question we must ask ourselves is, are the changes he wants to introduce a good idea?
http://youtu.be/jIRgiYs8LK4
Mr. Khan appears to have learnt the game of politics at last. Alliances have been forged; a few big names have joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. The party was until recently described as a “one man show” by many politicians. There are many rumors of the Inter Services Intelligence Agency backing him as they see him as a better rightist alternative to ex premier Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif; a man who has interfered with the military before and even now calls for curbing its power.
While his ambitions seem honorable, there are many issues he seems to be silent on. He talks about empowering women, talks about how his vote base is many educated urbanites and the “youth”. He does not talk about his affiliation with the religious parties or what his strategy is to stop extremism. Mr. Khan seems to believe that the only thing plaguing Pakistan is corruption, not religious extremism, not xenophobia, and certainly not the rights of minorities. He goes on about “daughter of the nation” Aafia Siddiqui but has not done a single thing to help out Asia Bibi, the Christian women on death row over blasphemy charges. Contradictions seem to emerge in his party philosophy. He told the Daily Telegraph while sitting in London that his party was in favor of changing the dictator created blasphemy law that was never blessed by a parliament. His political workers attended a pro Qadri rally (the murderer of the late Punjab Governor Taseer) and announced that if the PTI came to power, they would never let the blasphemy law be amended. He insists that the war on terror is an alien war brought to the country by the Americans. What he does not take into account are the conditions of Pakistan where radical extremism is escalating at an alarming rate. Even if Pakistan abandons its partnership with the US, terror will continue, groups who believe that their version of Islam should be imposed in Pakistan will continue to attack the Pakistan government and the people.
Mr. Khan keeps talking about “Sharia law” and how he plans on introducing it in Pakistan. Clearly, he is not the leftist he claims to be. Whose Sharia law Mr. Khan? General Zia’s? The Sip-e-Sahaba’s? Sharia can be interpreted in many different ways and with his alliances with the far right leaning religious parties of Pakistan, the Sharia he will impose could be quite harsh. Will his Sharia go as far as stopping all male female interaction if the pair in question are not related as is the case with many types of Sharia law? Perhaps Mr. Khan believes that by imposing the same brand of Sharia that the Taliban want in Pakistan he will be able to convince them not to attack the government of Pakistan and its citizens. These are all questions we need to think about before we decide to go out and vote for him. Voting is a freedom, by voting in a man who wants to establish Sharia, will we be giving up our own freedoms? Yes Mr. Khan has now become a force to be reckoned with and yes, Mr. Khan does has the power to change a lot. The question we must ask ourselves is, are the changes he wants to introduce a good idea?
http://youtu.be/jIRgiYs8LK4
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
the death of idealism
Ever since I have come back to Pakistan to work on my masters thesis, there have been exactly two incidents which have made me shout out loud the phrase, “what the fuck?” upon waking up and reading the latest news online. The first incident to which I refer is the assassination of the Punjab Governor Taseer. The second article that made me utter the profanity instantly was due to yesterday’s brutal murder of yet another leftist politician and Cabinet Minister Shahbaz Bhatti who was also a member of a minority religious group.
The murders themselves are tragic for the family members of the deceased, but they signify an even bigger tragedy, one that threatens to engulf the whole nation. While the country has faced bombing after bombing, the number of official scandals increase, while the law and order situation in this country is deplorable, it is these two news items that have affected Pakistan the most. These murders have impacted the rights of the citizens of Pakistan more than anything else and left me, an idealist human rights student feeling like there is not much hope for my own country.
my own bereavement for my state aside, these crimes have resulted in proving two things; one, that minorities and leftists who dare speak out are facing mortal peril, and two, the image of “the Land of the Pure” in the international world can be tarnished further. In a country founded by a minority Shia, irresponsible fatwas are given out by mullah’s everyday, yet none seem to be arrested for inciting hatred and violence. Contemptible media personalities such as Kamran Shahid and and Meher Bokhari get away with inciting more hatred and intolerance. Murderers are hailed as being Islamic heros by highly educated professionals and are offered free legal representation by insidious lawyers who ironically seem to ignore the very concepts of the rule of law or freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution. Everything damaging to the state and its people is blamed on “the foreign hand” regardless of local inefficiency and bad policy that cannot be changed due to fear of the “Mullah” and ergo, the risk of facing death.
In conditions such as these, with this new wave of religious intolerance, extremism, militancy and loss of life, is it a wonder that the world calls Pakistan a failing or a failed state?
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/blasphemy-law-claims-another-life.html
http://tribune.com.pk/story/126287/shahbaz-bhatti-attacked-in-islamabad/
The murders themselves are tragic for the family members of the deceased, but they signify an even bigger tragedy, one that threatens to engulf the whole nation. While the country has faced bombing after bombing, the number of official scandals increase, while the law and order situation in this country is deplorable, it is these two news items that have affected Pakistan the most. These murders have impacted the rights of the citizens of Pakistan more than anything else and left me, an idealist human rights student feeling like there is not much hope for my own country.
my own bereavement for my state aside, these crimes have resulted in proving two things; one, that minorities and leftists who dare speak out are facing mortal peril, and two, the image of “the Land of the Pure” in the international world can be tarnished further. In a country founded by a minority Shia, irresponsible fatwas are given out by mullah’s everyday, yet none seem to be arrested for inciting hatred and violence. Contemptible media personalities such as Kamran Shahid and and Meher Bokhari get away with inciting more hatred and intolerance. Murderers are hailed as being Islamic heros by highly educated professionals and are offered free legal representation by insidious lawyers who ironically seem to ignore the very concepts of the rule of law or freedom of speech enshrined in the constitution. Everything damaging to the state and its people is blamed on “the foreign hand” regardless of local inefficiency and bad policy that cannot be changed due to fear of the “Mullah” and ergo, the risk of facing death.
In conditions such as these, with this new wave of religious intolerance, extremism, militancy and loss of life, is it a wonder that the world calls Pakistan a failing or a failed state?
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/blasphemy-law-claims-another-life.html
http://tribune.com.pk/story/126287/shahbaz-bhatti-attacked-in-islamabad/
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Here’s to you, Aacia Bibi and Govenor Taseer
Ser independiente es cosa de una pequeña minoría, es el privilegio de los Fuertes (It is the business of the very few to be independent; it is a privilege of the strong)
Nietzsche
Here’s to you, Aacia Bibi, Jesus Loves You More Than You Will Know, Woah Woah Woah!
In a hostile environment filled with biases, what chance did poor Aacia Bibi have? ? That’s right, Aacia Bibi. We all feel sorry for Aafia, hell, the “saviour” of the people, the Punjab Government feels sorry for Aafia and goes out of its way to protect her and yet wont touch this one with a ten foot pole. Our conservative politicians and the rightist elements have kept up their practice of disappointing those who champion minority rights. Alternatively, the eloquence of Sherry Rehman’s article on blasphemy laws and her demands in parliament were truly inspirational for the idealistic. There were few others who dared to take a stand against such issues. The Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer had the courage to stand up against "the black law"; something to be applauded considering that most members of parliament were too scared to do anything about it. In a country such as Pakistan where intolerance, xenophobia and extremism is rising, perhaps the politicians are right not to fight for justice because it can end up costing their lives at it did for Governor Taseer.
Right wing fanaticism is on the rise as was proved by The Lahore High Court ex Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif when he deemed Aacia un-releasable because Governors and Presidents apparently cannot pardon blasphemy law victims. A stay order was granted before the president had even had a chance to give her a presidential pardon. A pardon is the right of the official head of state, it goes against the concept of separation of powers for a judge to block it. The Supreme Court Bar Association’s president, member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Partner at the law firm come NGO AGHS Asma Jehangir’s criticisms regarding certain judicial norms that were ignored make much sense.
The ex Lahore High Court Chief Justice has ignored justice for the needy. Irony people, or do Mr. Friedrich Nietzsche’s words just start to make sense? The strong right wing Mullahs need only protest on the streets of Islamabad and the government cowers to their demands. With a weak PPP government running the center with thirteen people short in their coalition to maintain a majority, who will have the courage to speak up against a law that discriminates and is easily misused? So why the hypocrisy regarding the save Aaafia but screw Aacia debate? This is where we as a society need to examine ourselves. Why do we not have the will to speak out against a law we know is not just barbaric and easy to manipulate for political purposes and personal biases, but one that is part of a bigger evil, the so called Sharia Law that General Zia gave us that allowed a blind teenage girl to be convicted of sexual promiscuity for being raped. Until we can find someone to rally around, someone with the courage that Governor Taseer displayed, these human rights violations shall continue.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/01/asma-jahangir-assails-lhc%E2%80%99s-aasia-order.html
http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/a/3448/
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/blasphemy-law-claims-another-life.html
Nietzsche
Here’s to you, Aacia Bibi, Jesus Loves You More Than You Will Know, Woah Woah Woah!
In a hostile environment filled with biases, what chance did poor Aacia Bibi have? ? That’s right, Aacia Bibi. We all feel sorry for Aafia, hell, the “saviour” of the people, the Punjab Government feels sorry for Aafia and goes out of its way to protect her and yet wont touch this one with a ten foot pole. Our conservative politicians and the rightist elements have kept up their practice of disappointing those who champion minority rights. Alternatively, the eloquence of Sherry Rehman’s article on blasphemy laws and her demands in parliament were truly inspirational for the idealistic. There were few others who dared to take a stand against such issues. The Punjab Governor, Salman Taseer had the courage to stand up against "the black law"; something to be applauded considering that most members of parliament were too scared to do anything about it. In a country such as Pakistan where intolerance, xenophobia and extremism is rising, perhaps the politicians are right not to fight for justice because it can end up costing their lives at it did for Governor Taseer.
Right wing fanaticism is on the rise as was proved by The Lahore High Court ex Chief Justice Khawaja Sharif when he deemed Aacia un-releasable because Governors and Presidents apparently cannot pardon blasphemy law victims. A stay order was granted before the president had even had a chance to give her a presidential pardon. A pardon is the right of the official head of state, it goes against the concept of separation of powers for a judge to block it. The Supreme Court Bar Association’s president, member of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and Partner at the law firm come NGO AGHS Asma Jehangir’s criticisms regarding certain judicial norms that were ignored make much sense.
The ex Lahore High Court Chief Justice has ignored justice for the needy. Irony people, or do Mr. Friedrich Nietzsche’s words just start to make sense? The strong right wing Mullahs need only protest on the streets of Islamabad and the government cowers to their demands. With a weak PPP government running the center with thirteen people short in their coalition to maintain a majority, who will have the courage to speak up against a law that discriminates and is easily misused? So why the hypocrisy regarding the save Aaafia but screw Aacia debate? This is where we as a society need to examine ourselves. Why do we not have the will to speak out against a law we know is not just barbaric and easy to manipulate for political purposes and personal biases, but one that is part of a bigger evil, the so called Sharia Law that General Zia gave us that allowed a blind teenage girl to be convicted of sexual promiscuity for being raped. Until we can find someone to rally around, someone with the courage that Governor Taseer displayed, these human rights violations shall continue.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/01/asma-jahangir-assails-lhc%E2%80%99s-aasia-order.html
http://www.altmuslimah.com/a/b/a/3448/
http://www.dawn.com/2011/01/05/blasphemy-law-claims-another-life.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)