| January 02, 2008 | Wednesday | Zilhaj 22, 1428 |
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Requiem
A turbulent year
PPP’s new chairman
Martyr of the east
Time to bow out
Utter madness
A fiery leader
Wrong implication
Slight correction
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
THE death of Benazir has prostrated the whole nation with grief.
It will be difficult to close mourning for her. She was a dynamic and charismatic leader, and also a leader of national and international stature who put Pakistan on the world map.
Her transition from Pinky to Mohtarma was the stuff of legends and Greek tragedies; and she accomplished this transition through great assiduity and hard choices.
Privileged by God with beauty, brains, education, wealth and family status, she chose to become a political figure rather than a social debutante. Her role of public leader from her first government to her last appearance shows a remarkable evolution, of a mature political leadership.
Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto at a young age achieved what most public figures have not, during their long tenures –national and international recognition, and the love of an entire nation with the hope that she would lead this nation to a great future.
Though many feel that her final act of rising from a bullet proof vehicle to greet her supporters was indiscreet as her life was under perpetual threat, it was considered the gesture of a leader who had absolute faith in her people whom she loved and trusted.
The public life of leadership is fraught with danger, with death lurking at most corners. Her end as a martyr in the truest sense of the Islamic tradition of Shahadat, places her in the pantheon of the great martyrs of Islam.
She returned to her country to its unshaken highly feudo- tribo, chauvinistic order and dented it! She succeeded in bringing about reconciliation and accord between dangerously confrontational groups, convincing her former political opponents to contest the forthcoming elections.
The chaos that follows her death is a direct blow to the democratic dream, for those who want to destabilize the country who are forever looking for opportunities to fill the vacuum in political leadership, will thrive on the present state of anarchy.
In order to sustain the dignity of her memory, her legacy as a catalyst for peace and accord, the members of her bereaved family, who are undergoing a hard trial, the senior leadership of PPP and the leaders of all political parties must issue repeated directives to the people to refrain from all negative acts that are cruelly punishing an already distressed nation for the last four days — leading to critical shortages of medicines, food supply, water, milk and fuel, and lack of hospital care, causing untold suffering to the people.
This is the time for the government (that has hither for performed a laggards role in providing her the appropriate security) to take the sternest action against the malcontents who we are sure are neither her admirers nor her true supporters indulging in loot arson and destruction.
It is highly distressing to hear her words repeated over and over again that Pakistanis are not terrorists but hard working labourers and factory workers-decent simple people who need to be guided and led — to see the images of violence and destruction being repeatedly telecast, bringing this already internationally denigrated nation to a lower position! This violence must be controlled.
The tribute we should pay to the memory of Benazir Bhutto is to ensure that the nation does not drift into anarchy. She stood for reconciliation, peace, federation and democracy. Thus in the fitness of things the emphasis should be on conference for accord and harmony, not acrimony, recrimination and vendetta.
The forthcoming elections should not be boycotted but contested. They must be in questionably free and fair so that this nation can march ahead and not stagnate in the darkness that presently surrounds it.
As we remember the radiance and joy of her final expression, her arms out stretched to her people, we pray to Allah Almighty to rest her soul and the others who died with her, in eternal peace and bestow His mercy on our plighted country.
MRS NARGIS RAHMAN
(President) and members of Pakistan Women’s Foundation for Peace
Women’s Action Forum grieves.
It grieves with Bakhtawar, Bilawal and Asifa,
It grieves with Nusrat and Sanam Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari,
It grieves with all members of the Bhutto family,
It grieves with the PPP and all PPP workers and supporters,
It grieves with the poor and the oppressed,
It grieves with and for our country and the people of Pakistan,
WAF grieves.
Benazir Bhutto lived a tragic and tumultuous life,
Fraught with pain and loss,
A celebrated life,
Of success and exhilaration,
One that reached out and responded to the anguish and hope of people,
And articulated and converted these hopes, giving sustenance to so many.
Women’s Action Forum while sometimes critical of her policies
Took pride in the fact that she was a woman.
A woman who controlled her own destiny,
A woman who instinctively and wholeheartedly
Embraced equal rights and opportunities,
For women and religious minorities,
A brave woman, a woman of courage.
As with her father, Z. A. Bhutto,
Look for her in moments that need fortitude,
Look for her in moments that need courage,
Look for her in hope,
Look for her in all those she touched.
Women’s Action Forum grieves.
WOMEN ACTION FORUM
Karachi
THE year of 2007 will be remembered in the history of Pakistan for having so many black days.
On March 9, a reference was sent to Supreme Judicial Council against the Chief Justice of Pakistan and he was house arrested with his family.
On May 12, 42 people were killed in Karachi and it was termed as a show of power.
On Oct 6, the most controversial presidential elections were held.
On Oct 18, 140 people were killed in Karachi in a bomb/suicide attack on BB’s rally.
On Nov 3, an emergency was imposed with a fresh PCO.
On Nov 28, Musharraf completed his 3 terms (a total of 9 years) as Army Chief.
On Nov 29, Musharraf took oath for his 3rd term as a president.
On Dec 21, 57 people were killed in Charsadda (NWFP) in a mosque suicide attack on Eid day.
On Dec 27, Ms Bhutto was brutally assassinated along with dozens of her supporters.
On Dec 28, government started tampering, twisting and molesting the facts related to the murder of Ms Bhutto. Doctors, spokesman of Ministry of Interior and caretaker Interior Minister, all narrated quite different stories about the facts related to the murder. Even the doctor changed his initial statement.
In 2007, thousands of other innocent Pakistanis and personnel of the law enforcing agencies were killed in suicide / bomb attacks and blind operations.
In 2007 lawyers, journalists, intellectuals and citizens were brutally beaten on the roads by police.
Emergency was imposed in the name of fighting terrorism and lifted soon after Musharraf became the president. More than 50 honorable judges were removed and house arrested along with some senior lawyers. Their families and children were also arrested.
With tears flowing and blood almost trickling down my eyes, I hope that this will be a better year. Also with a hope that our honorable judges will be released or at least the kids will be allowed to go to their schools.
I’m unable to use the word of happy, as if I do so it’ll sound artificial.
I’ve a very little hope that our judges will be restored. Also I’ve a little hope that instead of cover-up, a transparent investigation will be done of Ms Bhutto’s murder followed by real justice.
SQN LDR (RETIRED) ZULFIQAR AHMAD
Rawalpindi
BEFORE 27 December 2007, I used to consider PPP as a corrupt and rebellious party destined to damage Pakistan and its armed forces, a thinking in line with many other people similar to my profile. However, the response of the Pakistan People’s Party to the recent incidence has made me review my opinion about the political outfit.
First, the political acumen of Mr Zardari has to be appreciated. The way he negated anti Pakistan slogans of Pakistan na khapey, desired to hold elections in time, defused the Sindhi-Punjabi tension by mentioning that a good number of Benazir guards hailed from the province of Punjab and also clarifying that PPP has no enmity with the Army, has proved that Mr Zardari has guts to take challenges like the one at hand.
Second, Makhdoom Amin Faheem has also played his role in anchoring PPP at this delicate juncture.
Last but not the least, is the extremely mature response of Mr Bilawal Bhutto Zardari who wants to complete his education before taking active part in politics. His statement of revenge through democracy speaks volumes of his second to non political background.
In all, the PPP has responded in the best possible manner to the recent situation. Should, the Bhutto family and its political leaders remain united, think PPP will be even stronger than what it was, at the time of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto.
YL
Karachi
PPP’s decision on 30th December to nominate Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as chairman of its party, with his father Asif Zardari, as the co- chairman is yet another indication of how un-democratic the party is. From having BB as the “life-time chairperson” to choosing one whose name she left in her will, instead of having intra-party elections, speaks volumes of how this party is more like a dynasty or a kingdom.
It is shameful to see how long-time party loyalists have been ignored especially after they kept the party alive during BB’s 8-year exile.
The signs of times to come were very evident at recent press conference where Mr Asif Zardari did not give a single moment to Mr Amin Fahim to speak, even though he is presumably the PM hopeful from PPP.
RAHAT M KHAN
Karachi
PAYING utmost tribute to Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, I strongly suggest that Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto be conferred with the title of Shaheed-i-Mashriq i.e. The Martyr of The East.
I solemnly demand all the writers, analysts, editors, media reporters, TV studios and newsrooms and the public to use her title in all sort of communications.
SHAMIM BUKHARI
London
JUST when we all thought that things were returning to normalcy and looking up to the coming elections, this most dastardly but highly professional act of eliminating Benazir Bhutto took place.
It all started when in 1947, following partition, Maulana Mawdudi was escorted to safety after violence broke out in the Gurdaspur District of Punjab, where the Jama‘at was based. He was safely escorted to Lahore by units of the Pakistan army. This most unholy nexus nurtured and carefully groomed by the Pak Army with its grandiose plans of conquering Delhi’s Red Fort and to craftily use Islam, grew with time and started becoming more powerful than the state.
These mercenaries who were the progeny of this unholy nexus were used on many fronts besides Kashmir and their utility was well availed and richly funded by the US Government during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and was duly praised with titles like holy warriors. While Pak Army’s coffers were growing by billions of dollars every year, the Pakistan’s economy kept sliding and social disintegration began. Fast forward to the fateful day of Dec 27, 2007, it seems that Pakistan is back in the treacherous labyrinth. We see shameless declarations of affection, reverence and esteem from all those who have used most foul language on record against her and some rushing to Larkana to gain shameless political mileage.
We have to understand that the enemy is not only well armed, shrewdly intelligent, resourceful, technologically suave but amongst us. The so called moderates are confined to chattering classes and is well known to the extremist that these spineless souls will never rise or lay claim to Pakistan. If we don’t take up cudgels, rise up and deliver lethal strikes against Islamic extremism and the ugly tribal interpretation of Islam, we are doomed forever and should start writing a eulogy for Jinnah’s Pakistan and inscribing our epitaphs.
We don’t see any leadership, no writ of law and building of institutions. The all powerful, high and mighty Pak Army needs to do some soul searching and take off its khaki goggles and look at the country with the eyes of an average tax paying person who is no less patriot to appreciate the plight, dismay and depression this nation is suffering from. It needs to realize that since 1971, its popularity is all time low and that it is time for a graceful retreat and to bid farewell to politics forever.
SYED KHAWAR MEHDI
Karachi
This refers to the news item reported by Imran Ayub in the Metropolitan pages (Dec 29), that the Edhi Village was ransacked by an armed mob.
I was shocked and appalled upon reading that not only 16 of the Edhi ambulances were torched in the city, but a mob even beat the staff and the disabled children living in the Edhi Village after vandalizing the place.
Where is our nation heading to? Or rather is our nation moving on or is going back to further darkness? I would like to ask these ruthless beings as to why did they beat the innocent disabled children? What was their fault?
Handicapped people have hardly ever been taken care of with generosity in our society and this is one fine example. How can we expect kindness and care from others when we do not even care for our disabled people?
Moreover, Abdul Sattar Edhi, the one who made the Edhi Village, is one of the best humanitarians of the world and our only ray of hope as far as spreading humanity in our country is concerned. Ransacking the office of the Village and beating the innocent children defeats Edhi Sahib’s purpose of doing such hard work.
Thus I would like to apologize on behalf of all of Edhi’s admirers and make him aware that we are shocked and dismayed by this incident.
It is extremely shameful that our people do not consider national property as their own and it signifies utter madness.
ANUM JAMAL
Karachi
I WAS never a blind supporter of Benazir Bhutto, I was alive to some errors of judgment on her part (which showed that she was human) but in the present circumstances she was the best bet as the prime minister of the country.
Even though the army breathed down her neck while she was the premier, particularly during her second innings, she took some bold steps.
No other leader enjoyed nationwide support (her party should try and capitalise on that), no other leader is enlightened and determined to fight against terrorists. She was braver than any macho leader of ours.
She took a stand against Gen Ziaul Haq, who created at least a couple of leaders to toe his line.
After his death in an air accident, poetic justice prevailed when her party got the majority of votes and she was elected the country’s prime minister. Now times are different, the army couldn’t have browbeaten her.
We have not had the tradition of finding the culprits. Who assassinated the country’s first prime minister is not yet known. Who were responsible for the crash of the aircraft that had Ziaul Haq on board is also a big question mark. Who killed Ms Bhutto and, more important than that, who got her killed is a question which may well remain unanswered.
ASIF NOORANI
Karachi
With reference to Mr Anwar Syed’s article “Reinstatement of the deposed judges” (Dec 30), this is to clarify that my father Mr Aitzaz Ahsan has wrongly been attributed a statement implying that the new Army Chief should revoke the PCO and the amendments under it.
My father being detained cannot communicate but this issues on his behalf.
In response to what the Attorney General has been asserting what Mr Ahsan said was that when an executive order is passed or promulgated by any executive authority it can be rescinded or recalled by the same executive authority or its superior without the need for Parliament to intervene with a simple or two-thirds majority. Mr Syed, too, may think otherwise but that is the simple position in law.
The PCO was not passed by Parliament under Articles 238 and 239 with a two-thirds majority. It was an executive order.
That being so, no Parliamentary intervention is required unless the Parliament wants to itself factor in those amendments for which it will require such a majority in both houses. Otherwise not.
The issue is simple. The purported amendments in the Constitution have been “introduced” by a President exercising authority delegated by the COAS.
Apart from the unprecedented and absurd anomaly of a subordinate delegating powers to his superior, even if these amendments be considered lawful (which they are not) they can be withdrawn by the executive order of the authority that passed them or by any authority superior to it under the law e.g. the Defence Secretary, or the Defence Minister.
Why must the Parliament bother to repeal any executive order or decree? The executive itself can do so on the age-old principle that the authority that has the power to do something has the power to undo it. That is the point.
ALI AHSAN
Lahore
The portion of Fariduddin Athar’s story of the ‘Conference of the Birds’ reproduced by Mr Jalaluddin Ahmad (Gallery, Dec 29) needs slight correction.
Actually, thousands, and not thirty birds, undertake long journeys to meet Simurgh, the features of whom were narrated by a certain hudhud.
After the tedious journey only thirty birds survived “to end nowhere making them self aware that they contain within themselves what they are seeking”.
KAZIM AHSAN
Karachi
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