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Pakistan's Enduring Strife Echoes in San Francisco
As enduring strife in Pakistan reaches ever more critical proportions, supporters of democratic reform in that country protested at Union Square in San Francisco today. Their purpose was to inform public opinion and to put pressure on international political leaders to censure Pakistan's military leader Perez Musharraf and to allow the country to have a real democracy.
San Francisco
November 25, 2007
In view of hundreds of shoppers taking advantage of after-Thanksgiving sales, about two dozen supporters of former Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, protested at Union Square yesterday afternoon.
On park steps facing Neiman Marcus and Macy's department stores, they unfurled a banner with a picture of a nuclear bomb, waved Pakistani flags and protest signs-- and shouted: "No Musharraf No!"
They were referring of course to General Pervez Musharraf, the dictator who has ruled Pakistan since 1999 and who appointed himself president of the country in 2001.
Despite increasing doubts in Washington about his reliability as an ally of George W. Bush and his international "War on Terror"-- Musharraf and his regime have been the recipient (with Congressional support) of over 11 billion dollars (about half used to pay debts and half for military aid) since September 11, 2001.
Pakistan, the sixth most populous country in the world has the second largest Muslim population in the world-- and it has nuclear weapons aimed at its neighbor, India. (Interestingly, Musharaff signed a trade deal today with Chinese President Hu Jintao which would "boost defense, energy and trade ties. Nuclear energy cooperation was the key component of their talks." http://tinyurl.com/2y77mu)
Without doubt, rapidly unfolding events and long-time jarring factions in Pakistan present many puzzles to observers worldwide. Will Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif make a deal to share power with Musharrif (Bhutto has suggested the possibility, Sharif has said "No.")? What influence will the United States and the international community exert? (Bush recently sent John Negroponte to pressure Musharraf to release political prisoners. Britain's 53 nation Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan from its membership.)
United by their dislike of Musharraf-- the protesters at Union Square voiced their hope for a radical change-- almost a miraculous change-- in Pakistan's direction. They declared their support of a ten-point resolution adopted by representatives of the PPP in California, stated thus:
1) WE WANT REAL DEMOCRACY NO DICTATORSHIP
2) NO MUSHARRAF NO
3) MUSHARRAF MUST RESIGN
4) RESTORE 1973 CONSTITUTION
5) RE-INSTATE JUDICIARY
6) LIFT BAN ON GEO TV
7) FREE ALL POLITICAL LEADERS AND WORKERS
8) ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION
9) ARMY MUST GO BACK TO BARRACKS
10) WE WANT TO END THE EMERGENCY
Said one protester, K. B. Bhutto (a cousin of Benazir Bhutto), when asked what advice he would give George W, Bush with regard to Pakistan, he said: "I want democracy... real democracy all over the world! I request that Bush support Democracy... not Dictatorship!"
Links for more information:
Pakistan Sinks Deeper Into the Night by Tariq Ali
http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq11042007.html
Pakistan article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharraf
Benazir Bhutto article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
Nawaz Sharif article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawaz_Sharif
Pakistan Peoples Party in California
http://pppcalifornia.org/index.html
Pakistan Muslim League
http://www.pmln.org.pk/
Missing in Pakistan (an excellent 30 minute film which looks at human rights abuses in Pakistan)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/24/18463280.php
Recent Developments in Pakistan
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/#nov2307pak
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=111216
A Terse Statement from a true believer in the War on Terrorism
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-05-2007/0004697987&EDATE=
The truth of Washington's bi-partisan interests
http://www.topix.com/us-senate/john-kerry/2007/11/lawmakers-question-us-aid-to-pakistan
Please address comments and corrections to this story below in the comment section.
November 25, 2007
In view of hundreds of shoppers taking advantage of after-Thanksgiving sales, about two dozen supporters of former Prime Ministers of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, protested at Union Square yesterday afternoon.
On park steps facing Neiman Marcus and Macy's department stores, they unfurled a banner with a picture of a nuclear bomb, waved Pakistani flags and protest signs-- and shouted: "No Musharraf No!"
They were referring of course to General Pervez Musharraf, the dictator who has ruled Pakistan since 1999 and who appointed himself president of the country in 2001.
Despite increasing doubts in Washington about his reliability as an ally of George W. Bush and his international "War on Terror"-- Musharraf and his regime have been the recipient (with Congressional support) of over 11 billion dollars (about half used to pay debts and half for military aid) since September 11, 2001.
Pakistan, the sixth most populous country in the world has the second largest Muslim population in the world-- and it has nuclear weapons aimed at its neighbor, India. (Interestingly, Musharaff signed a trade deal today with Chinese President Hu Jintao which would "boost defense, energy and trade ties. Nuclear energy cooperation was the key component of their talks." http://tinyurl.com/2y77mu)
Without doubt, rapidly unfolding events and long-time jarring factions in Pakistan present many puzzles to observers worldwide. Will Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif make a deal to share power with Musharrif (Bhutto has suggested the possibility, Sharif has said "No.")? What influence will the United States and the international community exert? (Bush recently sent John Negroponte to pressure Musharraf to release political prisoners. Britain's 53 nation Commonwealth has suspended Pakistan from its membership.)
United by their dislike of Musharraf-- the protesters at Union Square voiced their hope for a radical change-- almost a miraculous change-- in Pakistan's direction. They declared their support of a ten-point resolution adopted by representatives of the PPP in California, stated thus:
1) WE WANT REAL DEMOCRACY NO DICTATORSHIP
2) NO MUSHARRAF NO
3) MUSHARRAF MUST RESIGN
4) RESTORE 1973 CONSTITUTION
5) RE-INSTATE JUDICIARY
6) LIFT BAN ON GEO TV
7) FREE ALL POLITICAL LEADERS AND WORKERS
8) ESTABLISH AN INDEPENDENT ELECTION COMMISSION
9) ARMY MUST GO BACK TO BARRACKS
10) WE WANT TO END THE EMERGENCY
Said one protester, K. B. Bhutto (a cousin of Benazir Bhutto), when asked what advice he would give George W, Bush with regard to Pakistan, he said: "I want democracy... real democracy all over the world! I request that Bush support Democracy... not Dictatorship!"
Links for more information:
Pakistan Sinks Deeper Into the Night by Tariq Ali
http://www.counterpunch.org/tariq11042007.html
Pakistan article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan
Pervez Musharraf article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pervez_Musharraf
Benazir Bhutto article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benazir_Bhutto
Nawaz Sharif article in the Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nawaz_Sharif
Pakistan Peoples Party in California
http://pppcalifornia.org/index.html
Pakistan Muslim League
http://www.pmln.org.pk/
Missing in Pakistan (an excellent 30 minute film which looks at human rights abuses in Pakistan)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/24/18463280.php
Recent Developments in Pakistan
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/newsroom/blog/#nov2307pak
http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?category_id=1&newsid=111216
A Terse Statement from a true believer in the War on Terrorism
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-05-2007/0004697987&EDATE=
The truth of Washington's bi-partisan interests
http://www.topix.com/us-senate/john-kerry/2007/11/lawmakers-question-us-aid-to-pakistan
Please address comments and corrections to this story below in the comment section.
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San Francisco Chronicle
SAN FRANCISCO
No sign of planned protest against Pakistan president
Rachel Gordon
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Gordon wrote today:
"If there was, as planned, a protest in Union Square Saturday against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the participants did a mighty good job blending into the crowd of holiday shoppers."
Link:
SAN FRANCISCO
No sign of planned protest against Pakistan president
Rachel Gordon
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Gordon wrote today:
"If there was, as planned, a protest in Union Square Saturday against Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, the participants did a mighty good job blending into the crowd of holiday shoppers."
Link:
For more information:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...
Nawaz Sharif suggests that he and Benazir Bhutto will unite to boycott January elections that they expect General Musharaff will try to manipulate.
Said Sharif today on his return to Pakistan:
“We want democracy and nothing else.”
Said Sharif today on his return to Pakistan:
“We want democracy and nothing else.”
For more information:
http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.a...
Musharraf pays farewell visits to armed forces HQs
Nawaz Sharif urges Benazir to boycott poll
International Bar Association condemns targeting of lawyers by Pakistan authorities
More
http://www.pn.com.pk/
PPP California Stages Demonstration Against Emergency
Nawaz Sharif urges Benazir to boycott poll
International Bar Association condemns targeting of lawyers by Pakistan authorities
More
http://www.pn.com.pk/
PPP California Stages Demonstration Against Emergency
For more information:
http://www.pn.com.pk/news_detail.php?id=10291
December 22 / 23, 2007
Musharraf's Punchlines
The Comedian of Pakistan
By AHMAD FARUQUI
TIME magazine has declared Vladimir Putin as Man of the Year, even though he has severely restricted civil liberties in Russia and slowed its march toward democracy. The argument is that he has brought stability to the country and restored its status as a great power. What must also have weighed heavily in the magazine's choice is that Putin remains very popular in Russia. He can even count Mikhail Gorbachev among his supporters.
Being a dictator and restricting civil liberties is of course not a sufficient condition for making it to Man of the Year. No one knows this better than Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf. Like Putin he has been in power for eight years. And like Putin he is trying his best to extend his tenure. But unlike Putin, his popularity has tanked. Events have gone downhill since he declared an emergency on the 3rd of November. Things did not improve much when he lifted it on the 15th of December. All of this is a self-inflicted wound which began when he decided to "suspend" the Chief Justice of Pakistan on the 9th of March. That event set in motion a country-wide protest by the attorneys the like of which the country had never seen. This protest threatened the army's dominant role in society since it was designed to institute the law in the country. It brought out the worst in Musharraf.
That is why he was not on the short list released by TIME for its Man of the Year competition. This is ironical, since the general was featured extensively in the magazine just a few years ago as having "the world's most difficult job." His picture in uniform, taken as he stood overlooking a panoramic view of the white government buildings in Islamabad, spanned two pages.
This year, as a consolation prize, perhaps the magazine should have created a special category and declared him "Comedian of the Year."
On the global stage, Musharraf is the undisputed king of dark comedy. But mind you, Musharraf's humor is very different from the slapstick humor you might see on the Monty Python show, the kind that would leave you in stitches.
Musharraf's comedic device is the utterance of non sequiturs with a stern demeanor. And it is this austere visage almost bordering on anger that imbues his acts with an inimitable touch.
Who else would say the following? "Against my will, as a last resort, I had to impose the emergency in order to save Pakistan." You see, he is a man of many wills. The president in him did not want to impose it while the Chief of Army Staff in him did. Hah!
And what does it mean when he says, "As a last resort?" This is an admission, albeit a very indirect one, that without the emergency, he would no longer have remained president. Just the thought of Pakistan without him as president is enough to bring a smile to most people's face.
The script continues, "The conspiracy was hatched to destabilize the country." But the conspirators were never named. Dame Agatha Christie would not have approved of such an incomplete story but it is funny in an old fashioned way.
READ THE REST:
Musharraf's Punchlines
The Comedian of Pakistan
By AHMAD FARUQUI
TIME magazine has declared Vladimir Putin as Man of the Year, even though he has severely restricted civil liberties in Russia and slowed its march toward democracy. The argument is that he has brought stability to the country and restored its status as a great power. What must also have weighed heavily in the magazine's choice is that Putin remains very popular in Russia. He can even count Mikhail Gorbachev among his supporters.
Being a dictator and restricting civil liberties is of course not a sufficient condition for making it to Man of the Year. No one knows this better than Pakistan's Pervez Musharraf. Like Putin he has been in power for eight years. And like Putin he is trying his best to extend his tenure. But unlike Putin, his popularity has tanked. Events have gone downhill since he declared an emergency on the 3rd of November. Things did not improve much when he lifted it on the 15th of December. All of this is a self-inflicted wound which began when he decided to "suspend" the Chief Justice of Pakistan on the 9th of March. That event set in motion a country-wide protest by the attorneys the like of which the country had never seen. This protest threatened the army's dominant role in society since it was designed to institute the law in the country. It brought out the worst in Musharraf.
That is why he was not on the short list released by TIME for its Man of the Year competition. This is ironical, since the general was featured extensively in the magazine just a few years ago as having "the world's most difficult job." His picture in uniform, taken as he stood overlooking a panoramic view of the white government buildings in Islamabad, spanned two pages.
This year, as a consolation prize, perhaps the magazine should have created a special category and declared him "Comedian of the Year."
On the global stage, Musharraf is the undisputed king of dark comedy. But mind you, Musharraf's humor is very different from the slapstick humor you might see on the Monty Python show, the kind that would leave you in stitches.
Musharraf's comedic device is the utterance of non sequiturs with a stern demeanor. And it is this austere visage almost bordering on anger that imbues his acts with an inimitable touch.
Who else would say the following? "Against my will, as a last resort, I had to impose the emergency in order to save Pakistan." You see, he is a man of many wills. The president in him did not want to impose it while the Chief of Army Staff in him did. Hah!
And what does it mean when he says, "As a last resort?" This is an admission, albeit a very indirect one, that without the emergency, he would no longer have remained president. Just the thought of Pakistan without him as president is enough to bring a smile to most people's face.
The script continues, "The conspiracy was hatched to destabilize the country." But the conspirators were never named. Dame Agatha Christie would not have approved of such an incomplete story but it is funny in an old fashioned way.
READ THE REST:
For more information:
http://www.counterpunch.org/faruqui1222200...
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