This opinion was first published at The WeCite Blog

All so called patriotic rallies, all sit-ins, all strikes and damages incurred to public properties and buildings, all efforts to get rid of a dictator have paid off! Democracy has won in Pakistan, Ladies, Gentlemen, Politicians, and Laywers (yes, the politicians and the lawyers are a separate breed in Pakistan). So what has been the ultimate and most promising thing to emerge from this struggle to be ‘democratic’ again?

Answer: President Asif Ali Zardari!

Ain’t that ironic! *chuckles*

All hail the new ‘democratic’ and ‘legally elected’ President of Pakistan: The man who has as many cases against him across several continents as the wide spectrum of his assets! The ‘Mr. 10%’ who rose from being a mere Environment Minister to becoming a President! The President of the very same country he was jailed in for well over a decade! This is Pakistani democracy! The easiest and most convenient way to rise in power and stay put, no matter how corrupt or vile you maybe.

As a President, he is untouchable! Make no mistake about that. You can’t take a rally out against him for being ‘enforced’ on you and you certainly can’t whine about him reaching out, grabbing you by the throat, and smiling that charismatic smile while he slowly suffocates you! He’s your democratic President of course. You fought for this democracy. You wanted it. You got it! *smiles*

I approached several of my ‘democracy-loving’ friends and asked them in all honesty how they feel about their new ‘democratic’ President. Some just shook their heads saying, ‘OMG! I can’t believe he will rule us!’. Some said, ‘What can we do now. What has happened has happened!’. Some even hinted at the beginning of a very troubled period for Pakistan ahead with a lot many pressures (both internal and external) and the inability of the Pakistani politicians to rise to the challenge. A few of them went as far as hint at a possible intervention by General Kiyani if things get out of control.

Each answer and reaction left me amused!

Why the jubilations have died down so quickly over reinstatement of democracy? You fought really hard for this didn’t you? Or have you woken up and realized that you were just taken for a ride by people who were angry with a General for not sharing the cake with them. Yeh mulk hum sab ka hai! Hamain bhi issay khaanay ka utna hi haq hona chahiyay! RIGHT?

Equally amusing were certain voices being echoed on the popular and much read metroblogs for Islamabad and Lahore. Did I forget to mention Karachi? No sir! It’s because there has not been a single post on the Karachi Metroblog that addresses the new man in Presidency! Is it because they are happy about him, or maybe afraid of him? Who knows maybe they just got bored of chanting ‘we want democracy‘ and are now more concerned with Miracle Babas of their city or the latest Ramadan deals.

Both Lahore Metblog and Islamabad Metblog couldn’t believe their eyes that Zardari is their new President! Lahore Metblog titled their post as “Welcome to Mr. Zardari’s Pakistan“. Hmm, I wonder why they didn’t simply say “Welcome to the new democratic Pakistan”? Isn’t this what we have now? Pure democracy? *chuckles* Comments on the post followed the very predictable trend that our ‘innocent’ people have followed after electing their heroes time and again. Statements like ‘arrghh… we deserve this‘, and “jesi qom hoti hay, waisa hukamraan uss par musalat kar dia jata hay” adorn their comments section. Funny how no one knew what road they were going on! Too funny!

Over at Islamabad Metblog, they were looking at a picture of Zardari with his hands clasped together as if praying (or begging *chuckles*) and wondering whether it will be a matter of months or days till the country gets sold. Of course, we did not see it coming when we were attending rallies by PPP or PML-N being all patriotic and all! The ONLY worthwhile support that I saw for Zardari came from the infamous Adnan Siddiqi who actively reminded people that it was his ideal Zardari who started the Savour Raffle Scheme. Such an achievement eh! On his own bog (sorry: blog), he was quick to deduce Zardari General Zardari (some people just can’t get off enough these days) and tagged him as an OFFICIAL dacoit. Respect your democratic President please. He is official if nothing else :)

My good friend at Islamabad Metblog, Talha shared his sentiments as:

I thought of the current political situation of Pakistan, and then thought that maybe we - the citizens of Pakistan - have been playing the monkey at the hands of a very few while being in the delusion of being a Pure Patriotic Protagonist (pun intended).

I hope - I just hope that I am wrong…

Pakistan Paindabad (Perhaps) !!!

You think? :)

As recent as yesterday, the news WeCite had posted back in August came true! We told you that the new government will surprise you! Petrol pumps might have weekly holidays we said! And what do you know, yesterday’s DAWN Online carried the following news: New steps to reduce oil consumption: Two weekly off days, petrol pumps to close on Fridays

Bravo!

And this is just the start!

Someone had written on a blog that: “The worst of democracy is better than the best of all dictatorships!”

Guess what! President Zardari just owned you and said, “Well the dictators have done their best! Time for the democratic me to do my worst!”

Happy democracy: Pakistani style. Bend over and lap it up now!

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Tags: Asif Ali Zardari, Crticism, Democracy, economy, humor, Inflation, International, Irony, national, Oil, Pakistan, Petrol, Politics, PPP