It just takes a little time, Sometime!

It just takes a little time, sometime!...... and then suddenly you see a sweeping revolution. More and more people in lockups will soon have a snow ball effect....... and then their frustrated relatives will pour into streets.... protests may go violent..... Pakistanis are f***g unpredictable (one day, they let Imran Khan beaten up and go to jail; and next day same university students bring 2000 protesters in street in his favor .... heralding IJT to role their sleeping bags and get the hell out of there--seeing bad mood Jammat has started distancing from it's student leaders... so as not to loose their ground zero in Punjab University----f***g crazy). Keeping my fingers crossed to see when it happens. This is going to happen very soon if the emergency in Pakistan stays in place. And, if crowds role on to streets...... I believe Army will return to barracks for longtime. If that happens, then before everything gets back to normal, I bet the country will be destabilized for sometime..

You bet .... for long time

Et tu Brutus

image courtesy http://www.jang.com.pk

As I said earlier, Imran Khan has been a born-again type and tried to get close to religious parties in order to tap on their vote bank and street power; however, he ran out of his luck .... (See BBC report)

The former cricketer was detained after going to Punjab University in Lahore. He was initially held for an hour by students from the Jamaat-e-Islami party after a confrontation on campus.
On Tuesday, Mr Khan said there should be no negotiations with General Musharraf.
In interviews for foreign media on Wednesday, General Musharraf insisted he was not a dictator and that he was the man to lead the country back to democracy.

"Jin Pay Tukiya Thaw, Wohee Puttay Howa Dayenay Lugay" (My Urdu editor is disabeled so please forgive me for writing in english alphabets, cannot translate it either. Actually, Et tu Brutus is a very right expression for this)

I liked him like any other youngster and thought he could bring a change as a moderate; however, when he got close to Mullahs... I said no way.

I participated in some development seminars due to my job in Pakistan last year, where he was also invited. Many times, I thought I should tell him he is making a mistake by entering into religious alliances--otherwise he could do well (based on my personal assessment)--but I could not do so, because my job required me to stay away from politics and political personalities. It is sad to hear the tall tale of his recent arrest. He really made a mistake by getting close to MMA and especially Qazi. I think, Jammat knows he is a potential threat to their domination on campuses and that could be the major reason JTI turned him in.

IN A NUT SHELL: THE MILITARY GOVERNMENT AND MULLAHS HAVE A CLEAR NEXUS. JAMMAT HAS PROVED THIS

And Harvard Madel of Freedom goes to....

PAKISTAN-
Originally uploaded by ijazphoto

Says the harvard press statement....

"As lawyers who value freedom and the rule of law, we at Harvard Law School want Chief Justice Chaudhry and all of the courageous lawyers in Pakistan to know that we stand with them in solidarity," said Kagan. "We are proud to be their colleagues in the cause of justice, and we will do all we can to press for the prompt restoration of constitutionalism and legality in Pakistan."

Freedom and justice will prevail in the end.

Jemima Khan leads protest against martial law imposed in Pakistan

jemima khan leads protest against martial law in Pakistan, originally uploaded by uponfreud.

Is she coming back to Imran or for her kids sake she is showing solidarity to Pakistanis

Pakistan's new demographic dividend is the key to its future

The post on a new blog "emergency times" speaks for itself how Pakistan's new demographic dividend will change its future. I wish, I have time to write more on this dividend and how it will change our future but at the moment, I can only tell you that it overthrew Nicolae Ceauşescu regime in Romania in 1989. Read about these new student protests here in Washington post and excerpt from the new blog The Emergency Times about the shameful act of the Government of Pakistan arresting youth and children.

Yesterday, 12th November, the regime crossed a new threshold by shamelessly attacking, arresting and detaining schoolchildren in Islamabad. A group of students, most of them between 14 and 18 years of age, was silently walking towards Blue Area as a sign of protest when it was accosted by Islamabad Police.
. . . . . . the students obliged, showing that they did not want to confront the Police who were clearly just following orders from above. As they were walking back, the students were surrounded by more than 500 policemen –their ranks now
reinforced with Punjab Police and the commandos of the Anti-Terrorist Force –and were asked to disperse immediately. When some of the students pointed out that they were merely walking back to their starting point, as previously ordered, the Police turned violent. They started manhandling the children and pushing them into their trucks. 48 boys were physically assaulted and detained, amongst them a 12-year old boy. Even after they had turned themselves in with docility, many of them were beaten with sticks and severely bruised. They were detained in the Margalla Police Station for hours, and were prevented from meeting visitors or making calls. They were eventually released after they had given written assurances not to attend protests in the future."

I can imagine, to whom these kids belong in Islamabad; and some would have definitely rebelled against their parents to join protests. YooHoooooooooooo to Pakistan's new generation.

Ali Cheema: Leading Pakistani Academic Economist's Arrest during protests

One of the leading Economists Ali Cheema a Cambridge graduate and critic of Musharraf's devolution policies has been arrested in the first wave of protests. Please pray for his health and run a movement: Free Ali Cheema on blogs.
His profile here

About his arrest, click on BBC news link, scroll down, and read the Anonymous account of protests.

Asma's moving article in Washington Post

Only problem I have with some human right activists in Pakistan is that they would smoke in a room full of people in a public place and not care about my human right to fresh and carcenogene free air other than that a really good article by Asma Jehangir in Washington Post. Musharraf is really afraid of her.

Since Saturday, police officers have barged into my house twice after receiving (false) warnings that I had escaped. On seeing me, they sheepishly admitted they were misled.
I have tried to make them understand the difference between people such as myself and terrorists. "If I did run away, how far would I go?" I asked them. "In any event, I am not likely to blow myself up around the corner." One police officer said that he agreed but that his job was at greater risk if I got away than if a terrorist escaped the law. Terrorists, he pointed out, outnumber rights activists in our country.

By the way, those who were doubting about BB's contact with Musharraf
should know she will care more for democracy in Pakistan than anything else.

The march, due to start on Tuesday, is part of her campaign against President Pervez Musharraf's emergency rule.
Commonwealth foreign ministers meeting in London gave Pakistan until 22 November to lift its emergency rule or face suspension from the body.
Other steps they want Mr Musharraf to take include:
1. stepping down as army chief
2. releasing all detained political party activists
3. lifting all media restrictions

Imran Khan behind student movement in Pak Universities claims an article in WP

Article in Washington post claims that Imran Khan is the new driving force behind anti Musharraf student protests in universities. Imran Khan is often influenced by the religious factions of the country and sounds more like a born again type. On the other hand secular organizations are joining Ms. Bhutto to organize protests.

But in computer labs and cafeterias on this campus and others across the country over the weekend, students were busy making placards reading "Democracy Now" and "Students Against Martial Law" as they prepared to demonstrate against emergency rule. Some said they would join former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's so-called long march, scheduled to begin Tuesday in Lahore and progress to Islamabad, the capital, 250 miles to the west, in defiance of President Pervez Musharraf's ban on protests.

One of the driving forces behind some of the student protests has been Imran Khan, a shaggy-haired cricket star turned opposition leader and an icon of cool among young people.

Time's up for the dictator

The Economist has to say "Time's up, Mr. Musharraf"

No longer the potential solution, the general has become a big part of Pakistan's problem

The LUMS students had a big protest on their campus; will be remembered in history. The professors are active too. See one in the picture explaining the movement to students. I have already said about this--here.

Is Musharraf-Bhutto conflict real?

South Asia Is Musharraf-Bhutto conflict all it seems?: "'Mock conflict' But is the falling-out quite what it seems? More cynical observers think Friday's dramas in
Islamabad and elsewhere are an exercise in mutual face-saving, a clandestine
understanding that is meant to benefit both."

OK! I have been reading this for a while and also hearing from all quarters why the heck she has been talking to brass mafia.

• First, By the way, all politicians in Pakistan do...
• Second, There was intense pressure from outside world, which off course we did not like ... that they suggest her to compromise with Musharraf.
• Three, whatever she bargained... she bargained for all political victims of Musharraf's Baton-cracy. Four, She knew all the way that Musharraf will never deliver. By engaging in dialogue it was the best way to show the Musharraf's Western well wishers that the brass headed guy cannot deliver and will never fulfil his promise. She wanted to convince the world that Musharraf will never deliver as he will eventually crackdown on moderates and rather cut a deal with Mullahs. This is what exactly happened.

By the way, don't ask me how do I know this; but I can assure you that this is the real reason and she knew it all along.

Pakistan's Old and New political conscience

Students in elite schools and Lawyers are becoming Pakistan's new political conscience. History is repeating itself. Ayub went down after a massive student movement outbroke in Rawalpindi and swept his rule. Mr. Zulifqar Ali Bhutto (a.ka. Z. A. Bhutto and Jeeya Bhutto) managed to capitalise on this movement. The movement started by students of Rawalpindi Polytechnic Institute, located on a major national highway (Peshawar Road), is still remembered in books and stories from our elders. Everyone was so shocked, army and politicians alike, that college remained closed for long time and later it was handed over to army so that the future movements are nipped in the bid. Now, it has become Army Engineering College and I believe upgraded to a University controlled by the Pakistan army.

Recently, the lawyers have stood up against the assault on judiciary by the long boots. I witnessed the movement six months ago during my one year stay in Pakistan.

At the same time another movement was started by the students and professors of "The Lahore University of Management Sciences" (LUMS), especially in the law school. The creation of a law school at one of Pakistan's elite schools has brought a new feather in their cap--movement against the dictators tyrannical rule. They were holding protests when the General sacked Pakistan's top judge few months ago. As I write, they are back in this business again as Musharraf has imposed emergency in the name of so called fight against extremism. The professors in the law school are hired from top American Universities and a few foresee themselves as new Harvard or MIT gang (remember the student movement against Vietnam war in US) to start a student oriented socio-political movement against Pakistan's rotten politico-military culture. A well renowned and highly respected professor Dr. Ali Cheema (LUMS), critic of generals so called devolution has already been arrested on the first day of protests (I got this info from my family inPakistan). As I am writing this post, I expect more from LUMS students and Professors who wore black ribbons everyday, while top judge Justice Iftekhar Chaudhry was removed from his post earlier by the brass head and his yes man Shaukat Aziz. Read below a statment from a LUMS professor Rasul Bukhsh Rais ---what it means by the lawyer movement:

Lawyers: Pakistan political conscience - Yahoo! News: "They feel if Musharraf has his own way and is able to restructure the system according to his whims, that is the end of Pakistan as a progressive and moderate country and the state will never be able to rehabilitate itself,' said Rais, a professor at the Lahore University of Management Sciences."

Next few days will show us-- what LUMS and Lawyer's movement have for us in store.

As the US and most of Western countries have put all their eggs in General's basket (only the Dutch have pulled the plug on aid to Pakistan), I should pay some respect to the General as well.
Our General Musharraf is a brave man and is among a breed of few who dug their own grave. I believe he is writing an obituary of his political career.

In Iqbal Haider's words "He is drowning, and he is trying to take Pakistan with him." Iqbal Haider is the Secretary General of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. That's a nice one, I really like that. Listening to Iqbal Haider on other occassions was really informative and fun. Read more here Musharraf's War on Moderates

Mushy: Handsome in Uniform by Maureen Dowd

Maureen Dowd is hilarious here (read a small snippet)

Condi was very worried about Mushy suspending the Constitution, but Vice says Constitutions are for sissies. He doesn’t see anything wrong with Mushy’s press blackout. He thinks we can learn a few lessons from him. Vice says if we had someone decisive like Mushy in Iraq instead of those floppy Iranian puppets we put in power, we’d be a lot better off.
All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will ignore your oppression and excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will not stand with you.
The leaders of governments with long habits of control need to know: To serve your people you must learn to mistrust them. Stop your journey of progress and justice, and America will not only walk at your side, we’ll give you billions of dollars and lots of big-ticket stuff, like F-16s — no strings attached. And we’ll take you at your word that you have no intention of using them against India.
In the long run, there is justice without freedom, and there can be human rights once the human rights activists have been thrown in the pokey.
Three years ago, I believed that the most important question history would ask us was: Did our generation advance the cause of freedom?
But now I am older and wiser. I know that the most important question history will ask us is: What’s a little martial law between friends?

You may also wanna read inside story of Pak Army's role in supporting extremism by Hanif here. Our Bibi's article is a little flat but in nutshell she says this:

It is dangerous to stand up to a military dictatorship, but more dangerous not to. The moment has come for the Western democracies to show us in their actions, and not just in their rhetoric, which side they are on.

Top judge attacks Musharraf rule

BBC NEWS South Asia Top judge attacks Musharraf rule: "He said the constitution had been 'ripped to shreds' by Gen Musharraf and added it was now 'time for sacrifices'. "

Also read this by Chairperson of Human Rights

Thanks for Hassan's blog

Pakistan's Second Coup and Musharraf's Frank (Pakistan's Donnie Darko III)

In the movie 'Donnie Darko' a character 'Frank' tells 'Donnie' to commit certain acts of violence. In Pakistan's case, our 'Darko' is Musharraf and his 'Frank' is Mullahs. Read here on BBC some reactions by different leaders; the weakest one is by Maulana FazalUR Rehman head of MMA who rather tells us "he ran out of options." This guy has not even protested--unlike others. So Army and Mullahs have clear nexus.

Read the story by Rashid Ahmad Pakistan's Second Coup at Washington Post

Pakistan's Donnie Darko did it again (II)

The Army and Mullahs have a clear nexus in Pakistan. I would reiterate Ms. Bhutto's quote that I have already posted here:

I believe the problem is dictatorship, I don't believe the solution is dictatorship."

The extremists need a dictatorship, and dictatorship needs extremists."

I believe Ms. Bhutto is very right in her analysis. As soon as the emergency is imposed, surprisingly, the militants in the troubled Waziristan agency has set free 213 Pakistani soldiers on Sunday Nov4, 2007 who were kept hostage for almost two months by the militants of Baitullah Mehsud (since August 2007). It is possible that they are assured that a free and moderate government of Ms. Bhutto will not come into power as imposing the emergency in the country was the only way out for Musharraf to get out of his commitments with leading moderate political parties.

It should also be remembered that Musharraf himself warned Ms. Bhutto not to return to Pakistan. If Musharraf claims to be the only hope against rising extremism in Pakistan then he should have done every possible thing in his power to ensure Ms. Bhutto's safe return to Pakistan. The place (Karsaz) where attack on Ms. Bhutto's convey took place is very close to Pakistan army's Naval installations and is supposedly a high security area. The security should have been ultra high in that area so that no one takes advantage of the procession and harm government installations as well; however, a security lax and turning of street lights clearly indicate that some government or agency elements were involved in that carnage. If Ms. Bhutto had become a victim in Karachi carnage the emergency would have been imposed right away; however, God saved our Ms. little Brave Heart. Therefore, Musharraf found other excuses to impose emergency.

On the other hand one cannot ignore the role of Punjab's Chaudhries who are hoping to get the next premiership. An emergency in Pakistan will prolong their hold on to power as well. Their nexus with Mullahs is very strong and the following events clearly reveal that:
1. The crisis of Lal Masjid clearly indicates that the ruling party was involved in it up to their neck and their involvement in the North Western Frontier Province cannot be ruled out.
2. By inviting Shaikh of Kaaba to Pakistan for instance they have revealed their close ties to pro-extreme Islamic elements in Pakistan. The extreme Islamic elements have high reverence for the top Saudi cleric, while for the real moderates don't put that much faith in top clerics. It was a show of assurance to Islamists in Pakistan that Chaudhries and PML(Q) are the well wishers of Islam and Muslims in Pakistan.
3. It is very likely that freeing Pakistani soldiers by Mehsud in Wazirastan right after the imposition of emergency would have some involvement of the PML(Q) or the Chaudhries of Punjab.

......Only time will tell.

Pakistan's Donnie Darko did it again (I)

In Pakistan, an emergency has been imposed. Had the democracy thrived we would have not seen this. Just wondering who is Musharraf's 'Frank'; A clue is in the Brave Heart Ms. Bhutto's words, which I would like to qoute here

I believe the problem is dictatorship, I don't believe the solution is
dictatorship.
"The extremists need a dictatorship, and dictatorship needs
extremists."