13 responses so far ↓

• 1 oal // Jan 22, 2008 at 4:04 pm

  Thank you for this lucid summary.

  One might do well to look over the field of those “locally elected councillors” for exceptional administrative and political ability.

  The voting ballot, ideally, provides for the expression of individual political will with the guaranty of privacy and freedom from intimidation. Given that principle, it’s less up to Musharraf to produce democracy and more the burden of ordinary voters and, perhaps also, more conscientious and less egotistical, exploitive, or flamboyant candidates, the goal of office being public service.

• 2 Khwaja Aftab Ali, Advocate & IP Attorney // Jan 25, 2008 at 2:24 am

  FACTS ON THE GROUND IN PAKISTAN.Reference to the Islamic history and Pakistan’s independance period, I want to go a step further and will recomand to select/elect every Chief of Army staff as president after retirement and the present Army chief should be be given extra time for his oustanding services at national and international level and all other Corps. Commanders of the Army and COS of Airforce and Navy should be apponited Governors and Deputy Governors of the provinces and regions ( by creating regional governments in all four provinces, 2 in Punjab 1 in each province- these regions already exist based on language, culture and history , such as Saraiki, Potahari, Upper Sind-Sukkar, Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP and Gawadar- Balouch Area. And all additional bureaucrates who love to live in provincial capitals should be trasfered to these remote areas of the country. These new regions should invite and attrect the foreigner and Pakistani origin people to invest in the area to creat jobs and eliminate poverty.) This is the only way we can stop further intereption/ coup in Pakistan . After all armed forces personnel are wel diciplined and organized . And above all represent Pakistan’s divercified population who retire at young age and maintain better health physical ly/mentaly. With this arrangement no one is loser except few feudals and industrialists, who reprent non of the masses in Pakistan. We already have a quota system applied for superior services since 30 years and had killed thousnds of innocent talented young people, why not try this arrangement for the welfare of the country which will effect none but very few so called politicians who after all deal with generals behind the curtains.And it’s good to know that supporters of these politician are 500/600 Mafia heads who live in125 districts in Pakistan and provide so called public leadership for national, provincial and local levels . They all involved in worst kind ofcrimes on this earth against humanity.WOULD THE EDITOR PUBLISH THIS LETTER in the larger interest of the nation. KHWAJA AFTAB ALI , the first and only post graduate of Intellectual Property Laws on scholarship from USA. Residing in Orlando, Florida.U.S.A. at 4418 St. Georges Court, Kissimmee, Fl.34746 Phone. 407-729-3983 & 407-397-1376

• 3 Khwaja Aftab Ali, Advocate & IP Attorney // Jan 25, 2008 at 2:29 am

  FACTS ON THE GROUND IN PAKISTAN.Reference to the Islamic history and Pakistan’s independance period, I want to go a step further and will recomand to select/elect every Chief of Army staff as president after retirement and the present Army chief should be be given extra time for his oustanding services at national and international level and all other Corps. Commanders of the Army and COS of Airforce and Navy should be apponited Governors and Deputy Governors of the provinces and regions ( by creating regional governments in all four provinces, 2 in Punjab 1 in each province- these regions already exist based on language, culture and history , such as Saraiki, Potahari, Upper Sind-Sukkar, Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP and Gawadar- Balouch Area. And all additional bureaucrates who love to live in provincial capitals should be trasfered to these remote areas of the country. These new regions should invite and attrect the foreigner and Pakistani origin people to invest in the area to creat jobs and eliminate poverty.) This is the only way we can stop further intereption/ coup in Pakistan . After all armed forces personnel are wel diciplined and organized . And above all represent Pakistan’s divercified population who retire at young age and maintain better health physical ly/mentaly. With this arrangement no one is loser except few feudals and industrialists, who reprent non of the masses in Pakistan. We already have a quota system applied for superior services since 30 years and had killed thousnds of innocent talented young people, why not try this arrangement for the welfare of the country which will effect none but very few so called politicians who after all deal with generals behind the curtains.And it’s good to know that supporters of these politician are 500/600 Mafia heads who live in125 districts in Pakistan and provide so called public leadership for national, provincial and local levels . They all involved in worst kind of crimes on this earth against humanity.WOULD THE EDITOR PUBLISH THIS LETTER in the larger interest of the nation. KHWAJA AFTAB ALI , the first and only post graduate of Intellectual Property Laws on scholarship from USA. Residing in Orlando, Florida.U.S.A. at 4418 St. Georges Court, Kissimmee, Fl.34746 Phone. 407-729-3983 & 407-397-1376

• 4 oal // Jan 25, 2008 at 4:16 am

  I’ve found retired military leadership in civilian corporations inclined to maximize the autonomy of their private enterprise by treating government both as a key client as well as something of a threat. Basically, many executives in government contracting know the system from both sides, i.e., as buyers and vendors, as auditors and as entrepreneurs. Although the lay public really cannot follow so much business, there’s quite a community of auditors, public interest groups, investigative journalists and others working on improving standards and combing the field for profiteering. Government contracting, including the part that involves privitization of government services, has not been, imho, a “populist” process, but the sort of thing that gets worked over by executive adversaries and politicians to a certain level of mutual grumbling and satisfaction. At the end of the day, however all have dealt with their responsibilities as regards accountability, oversight, and “transparency”, none go home hungry.

  Where fraud or profiteering surface, there’s nothing quite like a free and fearsome press for telling the story and there’s plenty of political and legal talent around for organizing the story in the public interest and through the courts producing redress.

  . . . without that unfettered but conscientious and responsible press, there would be no freedom of any sort.

• 5 Mariam Farid // Jan 29, 2008 at 8:17 pm

  western type democracy is not workable in Pakistan? ok fine…then why do u condemn the “type” that Ayub came up with, as u mentioned? Obviously here by “western” cannot work do u mean to say only the “militocracy” should i call it, is the only feasible option? your biased and clear support for Musharraf shows just that. Mind u im not against him or in favour of Ayub, my point only is that western style democracy even if not workable in its entirety here in Pakistan can never the less be ‘aimed’ at. We ve many political problems, the thing we need to do so crucially is straigthen up our perspectives about what system to follow and what is actually correct…u write about democracy and then support a military dictator whose achievements are shadowed by his vast censorships of institutions that form the very basis of what u happen to call “Democracy”.

• 6 M. // Feb 3, 2008 at 4:30 pm

  Western-style democracy is basically the form of government based on the following premisses:

  1. Freedom of expression, including the right to criticize the government;

  2. Freedom of religion, including the right to religious conversion, to proselytism and to atheism;

  3. Regular and fair elections;

  4. Civilian control of the political power, the police and the armed forces.

  These premisses were established by the France’s Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789 and by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948.

  So, I think the two greatest problems of Pakistan are the fanatical Islamism and the unruly military and intelligence services, who act like a “state-inside-the-state”. As long as Islam and the military get their way into politics, there will be no peace and no democracy in Pakistan.

  I don’t think that democarcy and Islam are incompatible: just look Indonesia, which is majoritarily Islamic but democratic.

  Pakistan must move to normal democratic politics, where the wish of the people are truly respect. That’s it.

• 7 oal // Feb 3, 2008 at 9:25 pm

  Pakistan has more democratic leadership talent than it knows. Whether out of academe, business, or government, I think some are inhibited, others bureaucratically obscured.

  To bring out that talent–ethical, just, qualified, responsible–Pakistan’s candidate-launching parties and parties in the making may need urging to replace star-like ideologues and other personalities with consideration of others devoted already to select issues and progressive programs.

  The western European democracies have each had long histories of monarchal and feudal religious warfare, invasion and civil warfare, nationalist warfare, and in one instance, extensive, sustained, and undeniable genocide.

  The U.S. democracy started mere centuries ago with disease for the indigenous, which, fairly, comes of nature herself, but then, of course, fence wars, forced marches, territorial warfare, and what some call “cultural genocide”; then there’s a Civil War drawing into it the southern aristocracy, as it were, and its slave holders; and then by turns a slow and sometimes bloody expansion(granted, not terribly so, but still the forces of white fire, rope, and murder had a long day) of voting rights and privileges and labor-related protections over time.

  It might interest some to know that for both Great Britain and the U.S., the tight censorship of war news persisted quite to the U.S. Vietnam Era (ref.: Knightly, Phillip. _The First Caualty_).

  Finally, as regards U.S. democracy, the population overall, especially in its urban centers, is extraordinarily heterogenous (and includes more than 2 million Muslims). Less as consequence but certainly related to that, the entire social fabric cleaves politically along business, class, or sentimental (e.g., environmental attitude) lines to a far greater extent than gender, origin, race, or religion although it looks like all of the latter will be highlighted in the next Presidential election.

  Things don’t just happen, not in Europe, the United States, or anywhere else: where things are comparatively good or working toward good, it’s because leaders and their people worked hard to create environments and systems where law, equality, opportunity, and respect were each sustained by integrity in administration, legislative process, judicial discipline and insight, and the common will.

• 8 Ilyas khan baloch // May 5, 2008 at 12:39 am

  Dear Sir/Madam,
  Dare to raise your voice for the inevitable socio-political change in Pakistan, to empower the Pakistani , the country belongs to.

  Since the creation of Pakistan the Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power so that the ruling elite can do what they wanted to do in favour of their interest, leaving the Pakistani people at the mercy of circumstances. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani people to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to built this country, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan there for your intention is invited to the crucial movement which could be the point of distraction or disaster.

  We have already lost the major part of Pakistan in 1971 simply to save the centralised sole power to exploit this country by the ruling elite they let the country break in part then allowing the masses to rule this country democratically. In the present circumstances we are again dragging our sovereignty at stack for the external interest in the name of national interest, instead of our interest i.e. the interest of Pakistani people at large.

  The only way out of these crucial circumstances is the only way to empower the common Pakistani at grass route level i.e. the change of system. This change is inevitable for the prosperous Pakistan .As a citizen of this country I have try to provide an alternate socio-political system to empower the masses at grass route level for rapid industrial and agriculture development with transparency and accountability in the system. Along with basic guarantees for the creation of welfare state, where in public representative and institution shall be answerable and accountable to the masses.

  Kindly see web site….www.idp.org.pk

  Kindly acknowledge with your comments.

  Ilyas khan Baloch
  Organizer Islamic Democratic Party

• 9 MMS // May 5, 2008 at 12:09 pm

  Why do we call democracy western style democracy? If there are more types of democracies than one than what are these other democracies called. After reading the above discussions these questions came to my mind.
  Why we call democracy western is because countries in the west developed before us and evolved into modern democracies.
  Democracy is inherent to human nature and whenever people form associations they form democratic association. Factory workers, artists, teachers, residents of a locality etc. all form democratic association to protect their interests or to create environment for social intercourse. Even tribal systems have democratic structures although they may be less visible. A state in its natural form can only be democratic.

  Only people living in some form of slavery are ruled by non democratic methods like military dictators who without exception serve oligarchies which protect the interests of some external power. Dictators are convenient excuses for oligarchies who abuse and exploit people and than conveniently put the blame on a dictator who in most cases is a soldier president.

  And why some people condemn democracy as being western and yet appreciate everything else that is western. The same person who will condemn democracy because it is western will proudly assert that the fridge he possesses is made in USA and not Taiwan. He will rant and rave about the great holiday he had in England or USA and how the people over there are democratic and we are not. What they do not wish to understand is that everything else that they appreciate about the west is the product of social and economic progress which was possible only through democracy.

• 10 Ilyas khan baloch // May 5, 2008 at 5:08 pm

  Dear Sir/Madam,
  Patriotic way, to prevail “Democracy in Pakistan”…?

  Democracy as a system of governance and interest representation demands respect for dissent and opposition. It recognizes the principle of majority rule and guarantees protection of minorities. Democracy also builds faith in electoral contestation to gain public office and gives legitimacy to political parties as primary instruments for acquisition and transfer of power from one set of individuals to another. Democracy teaches us equality, tolerance and justice without any discrimination to establish welfare society based on peace, progress and prosperity.

  Therefore, it is essential to denounce the killing of innocent people in Pakistan, since it look excellent and compassionate but are we really feel sorry for that killing of innocent people ? if it is so, then we must eliminate the route cause of suicide killing and other hatred, being a democratic Islamic country and people, we must think in the light of teaching of our prophet (PBH) because killing for killing and bloodshed of innocent people, due to one pretext or other can never gives flowers in return, peace cannot prevail in this circumstances we must adopt democratic ways and means to settle the differences with who so ever they may be.

  In reality, factual reason behind this hate is not born by us, but borrowed by us for the sake of US pleasure “Aa bel muje mar”. Because, those who were supported, financed, equip and trained by the USA and its allies, and who fight in the name of freedom of Afghanistan from occupied forces, were not aware about the truth behind their fighting, their fighting, was to protect the interest of USA, they were fighting a war of USA against USSR, for the political gain of USA (petrol resources around the Afghanistan and get easy excess for ,Iran, china) and when they realise their national interest was going to be robed, they dare to refuse, what kind of robbery was that is mentioned in the recently release book by the France authors.
  “ French authors Jean-Charles Brisard and Guillaume Dasquie recently published a book entitled Bin Laden: The Forbidden Truth which tells of the negotiations for oil pipeline rights in Afghanistan that collapsed in August 2001 after the U.S. told the Taliban: Accept our offer of a carpet of gold or you’ll get a carpet of bombs.”
  Despite the fact that, “Bush administration was expecting from Taliban, to cooperate with their plans for exploiting the oil resources of Central Asia. US were sure until August, that the Taliban, as a source of stability in Central Asia, would enable the construction of an oil pipeline across Central Asia.” But, all of a sudden a trusted partner of USA, turn in to so-called terrorist?
  But fortunately, the Taliban realize that their national interest was going to be robed by USA; they dare to refuse, to accept US conditions for their support in exploitation of oil resources from central Asia.
  As a last hope in the talks between the Bush, administration and the Taliban which began in February 2001, shortly after Bush’s inauguration. A Taliban emissary arrived in Washington in March with presents for the new chief executive, (an expensive Afghan carpet). But the talks themselves were less than cordial. Brisard said; “At one moment during the negotiations, the US representatives told the Taliban, ‘either you accept our offer of a carpet of gold, or we bury you under a carpet of bombs’.”
  USA and its allies attack the Afghanistan under the immediate aftermath of September 11, there were press reports—against, largely overseas protest and hiding the factual reality behind the attack on Afghanistan, they almost destroyed remaining infrastructure and killed thousands of innocent people, such as they attack the Iraq under wrong pretext of having the WMD and against the will of the world to capture the oil resources and acquire a place for their continuous presence in the middle east for their political gain. The United National has lost its credibility as neutral authority to intervene and protect the small and week nation against foreign aggression but instead ,UNO, proved as failed organization playing in the hands of the brutal power intimidating and capturing the countries, in order to grab their, resources such as OIL and to attain political influence, while killing their innocent people under one pretext or other in the name to “demoralized” them and to accept the terms and condition suitable for the occupier.
  At present they (US/NATO) are fighting their war of military/political interest in the region, involving the dependent country like Pakistan, under intimidation of sever consequences to bear, if refuse to support them; The current demand draft of 11 points, submitted by the so-called democratic imperialistic state of USA is a clear sign to a sovereign government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan to accept and obey as matter of master’s voice. This act is a kind of intimidation and direct involvement in the internal matter of a sovereign state. This act create a question as if we are really a sovereign state or part and partial of USA,
  Because, they want Pakistan to fight and kill his own people under one ploy or another, want to drag them in to the chaos and uncertainty, so that they can further impose more condition on the Pakistani Government to follow them, dip and dip until armed forces of Pakistan loose the trust of the Pakistani people and come openly to fight against his own people like they did in east -Pakistan, this is the movement they (USA) are waiting for, so that their, in time financial help to the traitor can play the role to disintegrate the strength of the nuclear country.
  This is a moment invite us all for serious consideration weather to keep our independence in tact or bow down before this mighty evil, democratically bullying to accept the terms and condition of his interest, or in other words be ready to loose our independence for ever.
  How? a patriotic person can repeat, the past mistake for supporting the fight, for external political and regional gain instead, we have already paid to much price in the form of social unrest, ethnic conflicts, drug- addicting and arms problems through Pakistan, If, we have to survive as a Sovereign Islamic Nation, in this world with dignity and respect as a free nation, then we must adopt and adhere the following essential change immediately;
  • Decentralize the power on the basis of division to empower the people at grass route level without any delay.
  • Allow free, complete education with technical knowledge to every able citizen.
  • Establish research institute at divisional level to encourage the youth with god gifted skill to develop and those who are interested in research work in all field, it is necessary step towards self sufficiency in technology.
  • Provide guarantee for job opportunity to all man and women after education/technical training.
  • Rapid industrialization of small, medium and cottage industries be allowed at the divisional level with total protection to capitals and facilities to flourish.
  • A cooperative farming should be introduced at divisional level for large scale agriculture product and development of agro-industries.
  • Supply of controlled price utilities could only be possible if we follow the mass industrial and agriculture production
  • Provide separate working facilities for production and services to women, so that majority women force of 52% can join the force of national production/services.
  • Insurance coverage should be provided all working man/women along with complete medical treatment coverage.
  • Better residential facilities be provided to all
  • Export oriented foreign policy should be adopted and find markets for our excess products in the regional country surrounding us, and provide them market place for their excess products.
  The right way to reverence to Martyr is to eliminate the causes after the incidents. If we can redress the route cause after the suicide killing, we can save many lives in future. The only way out is the change of system, the route cause of all kind of grievances, the time is to empower the Pakistani at grass route level to eliminate the socio-political injustice and strengthen the unity within the society at large, and closing the door for outsiders or intruder to penetrate in our society because of social unrest.
  Pakistani people are left at distant from the corridor of power. As this policy is denial of right of Pakistani igniting the unrest within the society, let the people of Pakistan, to rule their country according to their aspiration and desire to build, which can provide equal opportunity to all without any discrimination for the establishment of welfare society. Only the society base on tolerance, equality and justice can be the real guarantee for the prosperous and strong Pakistan
  See www.idp.org.pk
  Ilyas khan Baloch
  Organizer Islamic democratic party

• 11 Media Maven // May 5, 2008 at 5:09 pm

  I think democracy is not suitable in Pakistan at all. See what’s happening here … Either bring someone from the middle-class to the PM’s seat or just don’t vote… These vultures are not worth a single vote, Look what they’re doing at ‘Restoration of Judges’ for what they’ve been elected by the people.

  Shame on you - The New Govt.

  Social Media Mavens
  http:\\socialmediamavens.wordpress.com

• 12 oal // May 5, 2008 at 10:42 pm

  It’s good to see this lively!

  And it’s good to be back and IP unblocked.

  1. General literacy plus integrity in education systems and in journalism, all of which enlarge how we know what we know, make a mighty difference in the health of political systems.

  2. Separating tactics serving practical considerations from those linked to both political and spiritual concerns may be something worth concentrating on in Pakistan. There are many things worth having–roads, trade, tourists, lol, communications, and basic services (water/sewer) infrastructure–that may be treated as value neutral: helpful to populations but not necessarily expressive of who they are. Coming up with capable administrators and politicians more interested in national repair than power and control in their own right proves a challenge, but such may be a right consideration for national health.

  3. I’ve touched on Kenya’s issues as a foil to the idea that Islamic countries must have egregious problems. Politicians in that non-Islamic country managed to a) overlook the development of a slum of nearly 1 million souls and b) foster tribal division to fuel their own power bases. One suspect election — you have been through it prior to this latest — and the country started to unravel in violence.

  It’s good to have a Kenya on the map of countries suffering from potent internal conflicts because it may demonstrate the workings of an adverse universal process rather than something to be associated with and confined to Islam.

  4. Whether engaged in a peaceful politics or violence, leadership personalities may have trajectories all their own. It is scary electing anyone, anywhere, for any number of reasons, but they nonetheless rise out of corresponding behavior in their people. Democracies provide enfranchised citizens to exert some control (through election) over who rises to power.

  Pakistan’s elected officials are Pakistan’s employees!

  That may be worth thinking about.

  We’re all susceptible to charismatic personalities; some populations, however, may be better prepared to separate affection from the evaluation of candidate efficacy and suitability for office.

  Enough said for this one post.

• 13 Khwaja Aftab Ali // Jul 27, 2008 at 3:44 am

  FACTS ON THE GROUND IN PAKISTAN.Reference to the Islamic history and Pakistan’s independance period, I want to go a step further and will recomend to select/elect every Chief of Army staff as president after retirement and the present Army chief should be be given extra time for his oustanding services at national and international level and all other Corps. Commanders of the Army and COS of Airforce and Navy should be apponited Governors and Deputy Governors of the provinces and regions ( by creating regional governments in all four provinces, 2 in Punjab 1 in each province- these regions already exist based on language, culture and history , such as Saraiki, Potahari, Upper Sind-Sukkar, Dera Ismail Khan in NWFP and Gawadar- Balouch Area. And all additional bureaucrates who love to live in provincial capitals should be trasfered to these remote areas of the country. These new regions should invite and attrect the foreigner and Pakistani origin people to invest in the area to creat jobs and eliminate poverty.) This is the only way we can stop further intereption/ coup in Pakistan . After all armed forces personnel are wel diciplined and organized . And above all represent Pakistan’s divercified population.And it;s leadership do not transfer within family but earned by hardwork and talents only. Every second family in Pakistan is represented in the army one way or the other and the Pakistan Army is the only ever lasting popular party-yes it’s an important ruling party other than Bhuttos and anti-Bhuttos, Sharif brothers. With this arrangement no one is loser except few feudals and industrialists, who reprent non of the masses in Pakistan. We already have a quota system applied for superior services since 30 years and had killed thousands of innocent talented young people, why not try this arrangement for the welfare of the country which will effect none but very few so called politicians who after all deal with generals, behind the curtains.And it’s good to know that supporters of these politician are 500/600 Mafia families who live in 125 districts in Pakistan and provide so called public leadership for national, provincial and local levels. Any restriction to stop them is useless. Recent example of education condition brought their unseen educated women forward in politics. All 8000/9000 candidates in recent elections were from the same mafia group who are the biggest law breakers and around 1000 leading law breakers have been elected as new law makers who will take care of themselves but none. They all are involved in worst kind of crimes on this earth against humanity with the colaboration of junior police officials.An enquiry by a nuetral agency may prove my claim.WOULD THE EDITOR PUBLISH THIS LETTER in the larger interest of the nation. KHWAJA AFTAB ALI,(a former Secretary Iranian Embassy, Saudi Arabia,1975-88), first and only post graduate of Intellectual Property Laws on scholarship from USA. Residing in Orlando, Florida.U.S.A. email.all_languages@ hotmail.com phone 4077293983
  Posted by Khwaja Aftab Ali, Advocate & I.P. Attorney, Pakistan

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