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The emperor has not clothes
Saturday, November 3, 2007
3:30:00 PM EDT
Call it emergency or martial-law; it is the same. An emergency has a provision under our constitution, a right that a civilian offical - say, a President - can exercise. Whereas a martial-law has to be undertaken by the COAS. In this case, one person fulfills both the
roles. So it becomes an exercise in semantics when we try to figure out whether we are under a state of emergency or under yet another martial-law.
Soon after the declaration, Lahore's main roads have seemed quite impervious to this new development. People are still out and about and enjoying this weekend night as the weather turns quite favorable.
What remains to be seen is how the rest of the days will play out in this aftermath of yet another twist in Pakistan's polital drama. As has already been deemed by the Supreme Court tonight, this “illegal and unconstitutional” act is likely to first rile the feathers of the judical fraternity. Their reaction will start from Monday. However, whereas before, where they had the media helping their cause by broadcasting all their moves, this time, this important support channel has been plugged.
The state of emergency has banned broadcast of all independent channels and they are not likely to come back on air until a government lackey is safely placed to oversee all the material that is being sent on the electronic airwaves: so much for the independence of the media. Now whether the government is able to actually implement this dracronian plan in action, remains to be seen.
The third and the most unsturdy leg in this wobbly equation is the part that the political parties will play. As is quite apparent from the past few months, the opposition is non-existent. Their roar is a mere whimper that is heard by few of the masses - they do not command the respect following of the awaam of Pakistan. The only party/person that was able to mobilize a strong contingent from its constituents was the PPP and Benazir. And, by the signing of the NRO, our able president has made that party quite toothless.
A most important catalyst is the external, nay the American point of view. Quite obviously, the Americans were taken in confident before such a move was even contemplated. But they are a fair-weathered friend that backs off at the first sign of the change in wind. If a popular uprising ensues, America and its presidential candidates will find themselves in a predicament trying to endorse an unpopular dictator of the most dangerous country in the world.
In the end, we need to watch out for the snowball affect that occurred with the saying No by the Chief Justice. Can a movement be created with same gusto and momentum given the aforementioned scenario.
As I write this, regional chief justices have already taken oaths in our provinces strengthening the government. However, can this government sustain this facade? Can it sustain this lie once it relaxes it hold on the judiciary, the media and the people? Only time will tell.
Till then, we are forced to figure out what channel airs PTV News and then further cornered to listen to what the sycophants on that channel have to dish out to insult our intelligence.
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3:30:00 PM EDT
The emperor has not clothes
Call it emergency or martial-law; it is the same. An emergency has a provision under our constitution, a right that a civilian offical - say, a President - can exercise. Whereas a martial-law has to be undertaken by the COAS. In this case, one person fulfills both the
roles. So it becomes an exercise in semantics when we try to figure out whether we are under a state of emergency or under yet another martial-law.
Soon after the declaration, Lahore's main roads have seemed quite impervious to this new development. People are still out and about and enjoying this weekend night as the weather turns quite favorable.
What remains to be seen is how the rest of the days will play out in this aftermath of yet another twist in Pakistan's polital drama. As has already been deemed by the Supreme Court tonight, this “illegal and unconstitutional” act is likely to first rile the feathers of the judical fraternity. Their reaction will start from Monday. However, whereas before, where they had the media helping their cause by broadcasting all their moves, this time, this important support channel has been plugged.
The state of emergency has banned broadcast of all independent channels and they are not likely to come back on air until a government lackey is safely placed to oversee all the material that is being sent on the electronic airwaves: so much for the independence of the media. Now whether the government is able to actually implement this dracronian plan in action, remains to be seen.
The third and the most unsturdy leg in this wobbly equation is the part that the political parties will play. As is quite apparent from the past few months, the opposition is non-existent. Their roar is a mere whimper that is heard by few of the masses - they do not command the respect following of the awaam of Pakistan. The only party/person that was able to mobilize a strong contingent from its constituents was the PPP and Benazir. And, by the signing of the NRO, our able president has made that party quite toothless.
A most important catalyst is the external, nay the American point of view. Quite obviously, the Americans were taken in confident before such a move was even contemplated. But they are a fair-weathered friend that backs off at the first sign of the change in wind. If a popular uprising ensues, America and its presidential candidates will find themselves in a predicament trying to endorse an unpopular dictator of the most dangerous country in the world.
In the end, we need to watch out for the snowball affect that occurred with the saying No by the Chief Justice. Can a movement be created with same gusto and momentum given the aforementioned scenario.
As I write this, regional chief justices have already taken oaths in our provinces strengthening the government. However, can this government sustain this facade? Can it sustain this lie once it relaxes it hold on the judiciary, the media and the people? Only time will tell.
Till then, we are forced to figure out what channel airs PTV News and then further cornered to listen to what the sycophants on that channel have to dish out to insult our intelligence.
Written by sameer1siddiqui Blog about this entry |
Add to del.icio.us | digg this
