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Voice of People
The nation’s mandate
Aqeel A Malik
The system has helplessly watched superseding of two constitutions and
thrice abrogation of the third one. Such a political system does not
commensurate to the wisdom, maturity and strength required to address
the tough future challenges. In spite of all the weaknesses of the
system, Pakistanis as a nation were optimistic for Feb 18 poll results
as they voted under threats of suicide attacks and had firm belief in
their verdict. The formulation of ruling alliance between rival
political
powers, claimed to be in the best interest of the nation, further
strengthened their belief. The verdict of people of Pakistan also
countered the false allegation of political immaturity labeled by the
pseudo intellectuals who remain supporters of the pseudo leadership.
The hidden hands, as claimed by the politician, did not let the poor
people enjoy these moments of relief for any long .The fake claims of
politicians just proved a sand model which brought down with them the
high aspirations of the nation in a very short span of time. If the
verdict was for change no change has occurred and probably nothing can
be predicted as well. The attention of the nation was diverted towards
return of military officials from civil departments who would cost a
few million rupees to the Government while the NRO silently cleaned
billions of US $ inland and abroad .A unique reconciliation process in
the history which is a message to the nation that there is no rule but
law of the ruling class.—Via email
Of people & problems
Syed Atiq ul Hassan
It has been more than three months to the formation on a new
democratic government in Pakistan. Two major parties of the ruling
coalition — Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League
PML (N) — promised to bring change in the lives of the common people
yet no improvement but more uncertainty. Pakistan’s economic situation
is deteriorating day by day; growing poverty and starvation is
increasing rate of suicides in the country; the prices of items of
daily use, electricity, oil etc are getting out of reach of the common
people; law and order is worst. Unfortunately, in Pakistan, the army
implements democracy on its own terms. Army Generals pick and choose
leaders and their parties. Even army decides which form of democracy
suits the country. Everyday changing statements of Mr. Asif Ali
Zardari show that he is not serious in impeaching President Musharraf
or it is another part of the game. However, even if one assumes that
Mr Zardari, Mr Sharif and their coalition partners are honest to oust
President Musharraf for the sake of promoting democracy in Pakistan
then they should also come out and explain how their action would help
people of Pakistan making their lives better. Today, Pakistan’s
reality is that rich is getting richer and poor is getting poorer.
Looters of government funds are getting free and taking control of the
country. Recession is going high, the value of currency is decreasing
frequently in international market. Insecurity on the northern borders
keep escalating and law and order situation unstable.—Sydney,
Australia
Road to democracy
Mir Tabassum Mairaj
Nepal declared Republic. Monarchy abolished -King given 15 days to
leave the palace. Katmandu—Nepal’s lawmakers abolished the monarchy
and declared the country a republic Wednesday, ending 239 years of
royal rule in the Himalayan nation. The newly elected assembly, led by
the former communist rebels, adopted the resolution at its first
meeting by an overwhelming majority. King Gyanendra has been given 15
days to leave his palace in central Katmandu. (Pakobserver dated 29th
May 2008). Who will request our ‘king’ to vacate army house so that a
‘gentleman cadet’ could use the proper environment for his national
duties?—Islamabad
PSM privatisation
Sqn Ldr Tarique M Malak [R]
The recent interview of Lt Gen Abdul Qayyum [R] in which he spilled
the beans on the privatization attempt of the Pakistan Steel Mills by
the previous government raised my blood pressure. For the first time,
the ex-chairman of the Steel Mills has claimed that the value of the
Steel Mills’ land and inventories alone was estimated at Rs60 billion
(excluding the price of the mill itself) while the whole project was
being sold at Rs21 billion! Thank God, the privatisation process was
annulled by the Supreme Court. Also, the ex-chairman alleged that the
then prime minister Shaukat Aziz asked him to hire lawyers Wasim
Sajjad at a cost of Rs6.2 million, Sharifuddin Pirzada for Rs6 million
and Abdul Hafeez Pirzada for Rs3.5 million despite the fact Kamal
Azfar had already been hired for a much lower fee. Eventually, the
general said that he was sacked. The facts revealed by the former
chairman call for a high level investigation by the sitting
government. —Kamra
A day to remember
F Z Khan
On May 28, the nation celebrated Yaum-e-Takbir to remember the
achievement Pakistan made 10 years ago by going nuclear in response to
India’s provocative atomic explosions on May 11 and 12, 1998. Pakistan
made history by becoming the first Muslim nation entering the nuclear
club. This is indeed a matter of pride that the country went ahead
with nuclear tests despite immense pressure from the world, especially
the US. Its credit goes to first of all Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for
envisaging the nuclear threat from the neighbouring country,
conceiving the nuclear programme and initiating a gigantic project
with little resources. He was a great leader whose visionary
leadership helped Pakistan survive through thick and thin. Its credit
also goes to Gen Ziaul Haq and former president
Ghulam Ishaq Khan who did not compromise and continued the nuclear
project despite many hurdles and pressures. Similarly Benazir Bhutto
gave Pakistan the missile technology because without it the nuclear
capability was not effective. And finally, credit goes to Nawaz Sharif
who withstood the unprecedented pressure from America and the world at
large and refused to budge an inch and remained steadfast in his
determination to make Pakistan a nuclear-armed state. Above all, the
country owes Dr A Q Khan and other scientists and workers lots of
gratitude for their great service. All of them are the real heroes of
Pakistan.—Islamabad
