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Our inane leader
By Usmann Rana
One of the rallying points in favor of the rise of Pakistani politician Imran Khan, apart from the utter disillusionment of the masses and corruption of both the major and leading parties, has been his charismatic personality. But Khan’s recent interview to NDTV’s Barkha Dutt, seemed to have lost that element and for once laid bare the stark contradictions between his own statements showing his inanity.
For example, Khan believes, to quote him, ‘the age of martial law is over… Whatever happens I don’t see military takeover.’ Yes, Mr Khan it is. But the ‘military Raj’ has not ended, it has found new ways to penetrate back into the Pakistani society. To believe that military makes its presence felt only through martial laws and coups is naïve. Furthermore according to Khan the parliament may be sovereign but the ‘constitution is supreme’. No doubt that constitution must be upheld at all times and given utmost respect. But if the constitution is supreme and not the parliament, what about the fact that the parliament can amend the constitution? Would that not be against the supremacy of constitution? If not, then would that not make parliament supreme and not constitution?
Khan has a problem with stereotyping but would not hesitate to label Pakistani liberals across the board as drone loving ‘fascists’, or ‘scum of Pakistan’ against the interests of Pakistan. One is but bound to wonder the expression Shirin Mazari and Yasir Lateef Hamdani must be wearing while the great Kaptaan uttered the words. Ironically he uses the typical image of a liberal woman in Pakistan, wearing jeans, to show how his jalsas had garnered the presence of Pakistani people across the board from all sections of society.
The inspirational philanthropist and cricket legend deems the corruption of PPP and PLMN so despicable, and perhaps rightly so, that he would not join hands with them. Not until they declare their assets. According to him once they honestly do so, they would lose out in the game even before he accepts or rejects partnership with them since they are corrupt and an impartial Election Commission of Pakistan would preclude them from running.
However Khan seems to have made corruption the only criteria, or so it seems. That may not be wrong. But one is to ask some questions on that account. He may have problem shaking hands with PPP and PMLN but is alright having representative from his party, Pakistan Tehreek-I-Insaaf, attend Defaye Pakistan Rally holding hands with the religious zealots such as notorious Hafiz Sayeed, whose inflammatory speeches the talk show host Barkha Dutt raised issue about. Khan failed to answer adequately why he would send PTI representatives to Saeed, save the explanation that one needs to reconcile the polarized sections of society than to marginalize themg. But not marginalizing the voices of the likes of Hafeez Saeed would in turn mean silencing the voice of progressive Pakistanis, and sanity. Is that really the price Mr Khan is ready to pay in hope that Hafeez Saeed and company might have a change of heart given their status quo depending on blind Islamic nationalism? How mature of Khan to believe that people like Saeed once brought to table may leave aside their fundamentalist demand for further rigid application of Shari’ah laws. It is true that the strategy would most probably work for the low levels of such fundamentalist movements, where the support and muscles are derived from the poverty stricken sections of society but let us not forget the strategy would most probably fail for the higher cadre of these movements where more than poverty it is power status quo and rigidly jihadi mindset at work. How can you reconcile them, without compromising on fundamental principles of democratic and open societies in 21st century, is my question.
One may deem it easier to imagine that if given a chance to reconcile and leave their old ways, PPP and PMLN, including notorious Zardari may turn all saints and leave corruption. On what grounds is it exactly that a misogynistic, anti-religious minority party with no sense of what the demands of a 21st century open and democratic Muslim society are, is to be given leverage over corrupt albeit progressive and secular parties. The point is not to defend any party in particular but to raise a serious question regarding the future prospective partnerships between PTI and others. While Khan is not ready to work in alliance with liberal ‘fascists’ (read: drone loving liberals), he is fine having talks and attending rallies with Islamist fascists.
For many perhaps such questions may sound moronic. Are not PPP or PMLN guilty of such crimes, leave alone almost all the so called secular parties in Pakistan? Correct. But not in the way Khan and company does it. If it was a political alliance only, we could have justified it in the name of real politik. But the darling takes it a step further and repletes his speeches, interviews and even on stage actions with ‘I Used To Be A Playboy But Now Am A Humble Sinner’ statements, while openly promising us a religious freedoms and rights in an ‘Islamic welfare state’. We know how well that promise works, in an Islamized society. Also, not only freedoms and rights Mr Khan but religious equality should be the goal of any man seeking to change the ‘status quo’ to quote you favorite word.
But how would Khan be able to change status quo when he is not ready to take on the Military/Mullah axis in Pakistan? Do the problems of Pakistan begin and end with PPP and PMLN? Surely corruption by political parties is a serious crime but one ought to ask are these parties and their corruption the disease themselves or mere symptoms of a much more serious issue lying underneath? If Khan wish to change status quo in Pakistan he would have to be a bit more courageous and call spade a spade. It comes with a price of course. But wait! Was he not the one promising us unprecedented change and the one Pakistani society deems to be an honest and upright man of principles? After all according to Khan “Religion liberates you from fear; fear of being killed.”
During the interview Khan somewhat admitted he thinks it dangerous to discuss the whole blasphemy law controversy. His solution to the problem? Reconcile the polarized society by eradicating poverty (and of course drone attacks). But is it that simple? To deal with the controversy of the misuse of blasphemy laws we would always need an unpopular iron fist move. Is Khan ready to speak up for real change? Nobody wants to end up dead but nobody should be allowed to give such reductionist explanations, making him seem like a simpleton and misleading people.
Khan speaks of revolution but why is it that there is little attention paid by him to the issue of Balochistan and how military is using its might? Why is it that he is silent on the persecution of religious minorities, especially Ahmadiyyah and Hindu community? Similarly if Khan believes, as he stated elsewhere, that ‘any law that discriminates between human beings is unjust’ and if one is to believe ,as he puts it, ‘Tehreek-I-Insaaf stands for justice’ why is it that Khan has not talked about the unjust religious laws against religious minorities in Pakistan, in the face of their ever more increasing persecution day in and day out, save the same old mantra by almost all of the political class in Pakistan stating under their rule religious minorities would enjoy liberties and freedoms? But by playing his Islamic cards he is doing exactly the opposite. His explanation that Allah is Rabb-Ul-Aalaameen (Lord of the Worlds) and not Rabba-Ul-Muslimeen (Lord Of Muslims) sounds just in an idealized Islamic state. But the fact is Khan is more than sixty now and would soon be with his Rabb-Ul-Aalaameen. What about then? Would the next leadership of PTI show the same reformed mindset while pandering to the Islamic voters on the party lines set down by Khan? That is the reason a clear cut party line for PTI must be set out now, a party line which is all-inclusive, a secular one. If Imran Khan has reached such an enlightened understanding of Islam ( “In my opinion someone who is religious, who is spiritual is going to be compassionate, leftist,” he says while his party’s Ijaz Chaudhry along with religious parties declare al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden the ‘martyr of Islam’ at the Istehkaam-e-Pakistan Caravan on The Mall in Lahore), it does not mean every PTI voter would think like him nor would be watching every interview of his explaining his understanding of Islam. For voters, the Islamic symbols that adorn Khan’s speeches may well represent a common understanding of ‘Muslim identity’, and thus add to the present status quo’s power Khan would like to deconstruct, without an intellectual exercise to comprehend the real meaning behind Khan’s usage of them. That is the reason playing with religious politics, even with a reformed mindset, is a dangerous deed. That should answer Khan’s question to Dutt, “Am I not respecting the sentiments of my own people?” when asked about his praying on stage in front of 100,000 people.
Khan goes on to tell Dutt how “if I was not spiritual I would not have been in politics” and “if I did not have faith in God I would not have been in politics”. Good Mr Khan. Now stop shoving your spirituality down our throats. Pakistan has religious minorities, and nonreligious minorities, apart from Liberal and Secular Muslims. Do you not count them in when you tell Ms Dutt that PTI “is a party that hopes to get all the country on the platform”?
In 2002 when he was elected into the parliament as the sole spokesman from PTI, Imran Khan aligned with Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), and criticized the idea of madrassah reforms as well as the mixed sex races being held. Can we be sure now that he has support even from the moderates Khan will shake off the earlier influence of MMA? To convince his critics just as he has conceded his wrong by once supporting Musharraf, he ought to concede publicly being wrong on this note as well. Above all he ought to admit how wrong he was in his reservations on the Women’s Protection Bill in 2006. If he did have the problem with bill and not the freedoms and rights of women it was seeking, Khan could have proposed amendment(s). But he did not. Unless he does so his saying to Ms Dutt that “youth and women are always in the forefront of the change” is futile and contradictory to his actions for he would have failed to protect the very harbingers of change he is counting his support and hopes from a change on.
What then is the alternative seems to be the favorite question of PTI supporters. You, one should tell them. Supporting Imran Khan does not and should not mean pinning down all on him. Your vote does not mean you have lived off your responsibilities as a citizen. It is time that PTI youth should start asking Khan critical question and form a pressure group within party to pressurize him into not only fulfilling his commitment but to move beyond rhetoric and contradictory statements. Today Imran Khan may be Pakistan’s symbol of hope, but the real force is the support behind the symbol. Liberals (if they have any shame and self-respect they should have left the party by now) and Moderates within the party must pressurize PTI to bring itself in line with common sense. Or else, if what we are seeing is the coming of a revolution, a tsunami, we better cross our fingers and hope it dies out soon.
Filed under: Opinion, Politics · Tags: corruption, fascist, Imran Khan, liberal, moderate, NDTV, PMLN, PTI
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This post represents a case of very chronic diarrhea of words and constipation of constructive ideas…
PTH has gone full throttle to discredit IK without fielding a single credible and/or honest opponent… Now that is a dilemma for PPP supporter like myself also but I am willing to let the time take its course.
Anwar puts it very well.
This is what has led to the haemorrhage of good governance.
Pakistan is being turned into Pack-A-Satan with Gill on The Hill as the catalyst of these doldrums. Is the democray? Nio, this is demoncracy.Goods Governance permeates.
People are yearning for change, not leftovers.
Iron fist move like governor taseer.
In muslim lands and societies only liars, militarists, protectors of terorrists and fascists have the possibility of becoming leaders. IK will prove to be no exception to that.
MAJ = Mohammad Ali Jinnah = Megalomania Arrogance Jealousy
Only these MAJ-types rule and will rule over Pakistan. Others have no chance. The pakistani society has gone down the drain but everyone is pretending that it is moving upwards. They can’t differentiate between up and down anymore because of their intoxication with this arab religion.
Muslims and minorities
Irfan Husain | Opinion | Dawn 28.01.12
Quote:
“Across the Muslim world, Christians are under attack from Muslims. In Nigeria, an extremist Muslim organisation calling itself Boko Haram has killed hundreds of Christians and attacked dozens of churches. In Iraq, nearly half a million Christians have been forced to leave their homes, and scores have been killed. In Egypt, the ancient community of Christian Copts has suffered repeated attacks by Salafists.
And yet when these appalling acts of violent intolerance occur, there is scarcely any protest from either our clerics or our politicians. Nevertheless, we are constantly and deeply sensitive to all real and perceived wrongs meted out to Muslims in the West. `Islamophobia` is regularly trotted out in our criticism of foreign countries Muslims have opted to settle in.
But the reality is that Muslim immigrants in the West don`t face a fraction of the injustice and intolerance native non-Muslims have to put up with in Muslim countries. In almost every western country, laws protect minorities from open racism. In the Islamic world, even where anti-discrimination laws exist, they provide scant protection, as show our daily acts of open discrimination and violence against our minorities.
…
The level of civilisation a country has achieved must be judged by its treatment of the most vulnerable sections of society. By this standard, we earn the reputation of barbarians incapable of living with people of different beliefs. And yet we demand more than equal status when we build our mosques and spread Islam abroad.”
I had to my two early Stress test. The family physician recommended Indian sounding group practice. But the nurse told that one Kureshi G is coming to see ou before test. I had to tell the white nurse that I do not want to do the test. She asked why? I had to tell her that I do not want my hard earned money to go to this G who will put some of it in LET Chanda box. To my surprise the white lady understood and told that “if I were you, I would also do the same.” Lady knew about LET & ISI. Internet O Akbar!
unfortunately kurushi g was standing outside… I asked him if he dropped money in the chanda boxes for LET & Cashmere GMast? The guy started stammering…it felt as if he is going to get heart attack. He told he works for the Indian Hindu owners of cardiology group practice. He is from Karachi and that there are lots of Hindus in Karachi waigera waigera …. we cannot believe in these Dawood David Hadley Coleman Gilani and utterly devilish Gs. There needs to be UN resolution to nuke these Hyaena Gs. 10s of millions of them need to be sublimated in thin air. Even Afghanis want this to happen to them. Arabi Green GMasti need to vanish from Bharatwarsha.
I have heard the guy in Davos with BBC. I wish him all the luck to succeed. It is tough for any intelligent and honest person to get involved in Pakistan politics. As a crickeer, he is familiar with controlling the pitch but the control of the strong military and involvement with the powerful talibans will require on job training, lots of practice as well as advice from the professional consultants. His mind thinks cear and straight and his articulation of public needs and their mind on major issues, infront of the world press was excellent, very well explained and fully understood. The author should list the salient points of his article and present it to Mr Imran Khan when he does succeed. The author should also not ignore the Aufklarung process which is going on in arab countries.
Rex Minor
to rex
There is no aufklaerung so long this 7th century arab religion is around. No chance. This so-called arab spring is just a fake that will end up as civil war and/or capture of power by the islamofascists. The history-writing-teaching in muslim lands takes “care” that there is no honesty and there can be no honesty in the muslim societies. The arab spring will result in more non-muslism being vilified and persecuted in arab lands (as is already happening in Egypt). The larger the muslim population component the more the fascism, backwardness and falsification of the history-narrative. The arabic language is a vehicle of this fascism all over the world now.
Amazing that an entire nation can be so delusional and on dope. So according to this paki, the rest of the world is islamophobic and misunderstands her faith.
1) Moro “Islamic” front misunderstood in Phillipines;
2) Jemehiah “Islamia” misunderstood in Indonesia;
3) Bodo’s “Islamic” front misunderstood in Thailand;
4) Party se “Islam” misunderstood in Malaysia;
5) Hizbul Tahrir misunderstood in Australia;
6) Uighur ISlamic front misunderstood in China;
6) Lashkar Mohammed misunderstood in India;
7) Taliban misunderstood in Afghanistan;
6) Laskah e Toiba misunderstood in Pakistan;
7) Khomenie and gang misunderstood in Iran;
8 ) Moqtada Al Sadr misunderstood in Iraq;
9) Hezbollah misunderstood in Lebanon;
10)Hamas misunderstood in Jordan;
11) Whole of Saudi and GCC are misunderstood;
12) Nour party and Muslim brotherhood misunderstood in Egypt;
13) NLF in Libya is misunderstood in Libya;
14) Boko Haram is misunderstood in Nigeria;
15) Whole of Sudan is misunderstood;
16) Chechens are misunderstood in Russia;
17) Kosovars are misunderstood in Balkans;
18) Assorted Imams are misunderstood in Europe;
19) Assorted Imams are misunderstood in US; and
20) Not to mention Somalia or Anjem Choudhary
Quote:
‘Strict Muslim’ raped four women at knifepoint to ‘punish them for being on the streets at nigh
# Sunny Islam, 23, kidnapped and raped girl, 15
# Subjected victims to his ‘trademark double rape’
# Attacks took place over 2 months in east London
# Jailed indefinitely due to danger he poses to women
Read more:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2091669/Sunny-Islam-Strict-Muslim-raped-4-women-knifepoint-punish-them.html#ixzz1kcrnuqbe
Serial rapists are well known. But here is a serial rapist who justifies rape using his religion. He even calls himself Sunni Islam It is amazing how many murderers and violent people use Islam as justification. Is this about Islam or is it …”
You cannot use something for a purpose unless it is indeed appropriate and usable for that purpose. The hudood laws against banned sexual relations, do not apply to non-muslim women, or those women who are captives [this guy could technically claim that the girls were his right hand possessions], or during military jihad on women of the opponents. With such women of the opponents, even coitus interruptus is banned – the ghazis must come inside.
Vasudev Kutumbakam! Happy Chinese Dragon Year! Hope Dragon swallows Papilandis hyenas.
But Khush Raho Gs
From 19 min onwards http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WYQgBHUbs7A#!
@ Hazarath Peer Ajmal Kasab AK47wale G
[[[[You cannot use something for a purpose unless it is indeed appropriate and usable for that purpose.]]]]
Well, people are using many things for a purpose those than they were made. for example, gays use Vaseline for a purpose not actually meant
for its use!
@ Usmann Rana
IK is not a faux froftet. why do you expect miracles from him like you did from Mirja Ghulla???? Like most other articles and posts here this one too demands something nay everything that catered to Mirjai aspirations! What a shame!
@bserv
Unless Aufklarung takes place in Pakistan, I am afraid that Pakistan military under Imran Khan is no longer to indulge in diplomacy with India. The three pronged march into the Indian land is preprogrammed, the taliban force heading towards Kashmir.
This scenario must be prevented at all costs.
Rex Minor
@observ
Aren’t you a liar, hateful, fascist, madman, megalomaniac, crazy son of a witch?
Rare common sense Pakistani-
https://e-paa.org/testimonials/why-i-was-led-out-religion
“An evil man will be evil without religion, but it takes religion and dogma to corrupt a Good man. Sometimes I am ashamed to be born into a country like Pakistan”
@ rex minor
Aufklarung took place in India when Mirja Ghulla was born…now what is needed is needed is more than that, perhaps Shivklalund!
@ Milestogo
Those who don’t like Pakistan or Pakistanis should leave the country or
just shut up and stop all this shitty propaganda!!
@ observ
I don’t find any Xtian or Hindu aggrieved around me …they all drink from the same cup that Muslims drink from. It’s all pro=po-Ganda on the internet. This is what you call the curse of ”freedom of speech”!!
Imran Khan made one error in his interview with BBC, he warned musharaf Din the former General indirectly not to visit Pakistan because of bounty on his head now. Mr Musharaf, the brave General of Edgware road, has officialy postponed his visit. Too bad Zardari/gillani clan were preparing a big reception for him in Karachi and Rawalpindi to take him on the famous route reserved for elite politicians.
Rex Minor
@ rex minor
IK’s advise to Mush was more than sincere.
Mush would have earned a great name in history if he had stayed as an absolute dictator. In his later years he fell prey to the curse of bloody democracy and plunged Pakistan into a dog pit!
Pakistan does need a new leadership, a dictator perhaps, who could set the mind and soul of his unfortunate nation level! Democracy is just a myth, a hoax of the West. We need something better than that to rule the poverty-stricken and ignorant people. It’s high time that Pakistan also got rid of the pseudo-intellectuals who have nothing to talk about but criticize for the sake of criticism!
As for Indics, it is advisable that they too got rid of their so-called democracy…and secularism. Both are a curse upon the 80 per cent ignorant Indic majority….
To AKB who is sitting in the Dog’s pit with his majority! Pakistan could become a country of law if Imran Khan and Pakistan Interior minster had not blubbered, arrested the ex military chief and put him on trial along withose who collaborated with him for ;
. assault on the Red Mosque and deaths of inmates,
. causing deaths of prominent Baluchi leaders
. the intrusion in Pakhtun territory and deaths of its residents,
. the loss of sovereignty by surrendering to the yanks without a battle,
. riding roughshod on the judiciary of the country.
This action alone could go a long way in restoring the integrity and independence of Pakistan State.
Pakistan is an Islamic State, not controlled by the clergy, and therefore does not need the implant of western democracy, nor a khalifa state, but simply a true Islamic State the nearest of which is turkey. The Govt. should keep away from religionanrelated social issues but should be supported by the country’s constitution which guarantees full rights to the minority and majority alike. The consensus for having such a modus operendi in any society is difficult and many in Germany would also opt for the american type Presidential rule or to have a ‘Führere’ a dictator to conduct the opera without having individual musicians.
Rex Minor
PS as a punishment, he should learn the Pashto and the baluchi language and sent to exile in his country of birth. He should also be allowed to take his followers, including AKB with him.
Allah says
” Belief or lack thereof in the existence of Sun does not make any difference”
Instead of leaving they should fix it and Put some sense into the likes of you. Islamists can not defeat Internet. Muhammed killed who criticized him. But Internet has changed that.
Websites like e-paa should be promoted.
Rex, AKB in reality is not Abra Harami Ki Buchha (ie G) and not Baccha either. He is in plain Papilandi language plain old bamman, baniya, indoo for khujali Karav Papilandi’s Fati G. Thoda thoda Halu Mirach Malam Laga Ta Hai.
Earlier some Papi G was asking about kabir Bedi…. I do not know much about this new anglophied G whose wife ran nude on Bandra beach… but I know a lot for the original Nanak Bedi (Vedi) …Ek Vedi not chatur Vedi.
Enjoy this for change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_WhA2FB0GY
AKB jibberish is not understandable and his video is banned in Germany.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKLqrNbDk_k&feature=related
[...] Our inane leader [...]
AKB
You don’t find any aggrieved christians or hindus around you because you are in the dark prison of islam in an isolated cell with islamic propaganda showered on you day and night. Around you there are only skeletons of muslims dried up due to islam. Many of these skeletons still hold knives in their hands. Your saviour will be a christian. Wait patiently till that day comes. I wish I could send you a packet of vegetarian food and a few good non-islamic (=peaceful) books. But your address is unknown to me.
Mr Dracula
the video cannot be seen in Germany.
Rex Minor
@Observ
AKB is not a vegeterian, nor lives during daylight. He is waiting for Mr Ghulla whois lying in peace in India: If anyone could send him a pinch of raw indian earth, this would be his day. Like the old fox General he misses Indian part of Punjab Who does’nt in Pakistan?
Rex Minor
The problem with IK & company is that they have been taught lies for the last 1400 years, it wil probably take another 1400 years to teach them humanity.
To amjad
Although you are born in islam you have the ability to see through the lies, threats and manipulations which have sustained and sustain islam’s hold on the muslims. I hope there are more muslims like you and they get a safe chance to express themselves openly. Every fascism (and islam is no exception to this) needs and hence creates a climate of terror/fear against those who wish to be honest and free themselves from this fascism.
The drug cartels morph Roman 4th century -> Arabi Moha Maddism -> Marxy DeHumanizing GMsati -> Anglo Capitalistic Currency driven GMasti. They basically feed each other. Angloes thru their media create lies and are i bed with Islamists…. ie how draculla was made into so called great leader, all papilandi leaders are made in London including ImRan. …some one has given a good name to the disease
“There is a new disease that is now increasingly being recognised. It is rampant in the UK and US and like multiple drug resistant bacteria it can spread into India. It’s called “Pakagnosia”. Pakagnosia is the inability to recognise Pakiness and Pakistaniyat even when it turns its ass up and farts directly into your nose.”