A little over eleven months ago it would have been impossible to imagine Asif Ali Zardari assuming any position of importance in Pakistan People’s Party let alone becoming the elected President of Pakistan. The man’s rise to fame and p
ower has been meteoric. From obscurity to the cover of Time magazine. And although one is already witnessing criticism of his party and the government that it has formed, his rise to power is not just a work of destiny. The man has employed some of the most effective and time-tested laws of power to propel himself into annals of the history of power. No matter what his legacy, he will always be Pakistan’s 12th President.
I very much doubt that he is a student of history. However, he has used historically proven tactics, used by those who have gone before, for his purposes. To analyse those tactics is like tackling an economic problem; too many assumptions and too many variables. In Zardari’s equation of power there is a constant (his fortune) and many variables (his tactical moves) and a damn good net result (the presidency). Continue reading ‘Zardari’s Equation of Power’
The latest news to come out of Islamabad is that the government is contemplating imposing a state of emergency. Although it is not confirmed as yet, some sources say that the details have been finalised and it will be imposed in the next 24-48 hours. Initially it was reported that it would be put in effect by midnight, but that has not happened.
Most TV hosts have questioned the reason for declaring a state of emergency at this time. GEO News stated that there were three reasons: US threats, Chinese workers and NA debate. The last two make absolutely no sense (If ‘NA debate’ refers to a debate on the law and order situation in NWFP and Balouchistan then it may be the strongest point, however, the killings and kidnappings of Chinese workers is a flawed reason considering the many Pakistanis that have died recently. It may have been better to just cite the general law and order situation in the country.) and the first one sounds baseless in light of recent statements emanating out of the US. Things have only improved in the last 2-3 weeks.
Continue reading ‘Pakistan: Declaration of emergency imminent’
The Lal Masjid crisis, which has proven to be quite a thorn in Musharraf’s side for the past six months, finally took an ugly turn today morning.
Even though the media channels are having yet another field day and declaring this a blot on Pakistan’s reputation (frankly I think its just another one in a whole patch of blots), the real story is still a bit hazy.
However, what has been confirmed is that students at the Lal Masjid opened fire on the Ranger’s posts set up near the mosque, primarily due to the fear of a Government operation. This resulted in retaliation from the Rangers and local Police in the form of tear-gas and firing as well.
Continue reading ‘Lal Masjid Crisis Boils Over’
Firstly, viewer discretion is strongly advised. Children and women should definitely avoid it. Now, generally I would not put up this kind of video, but as much as I am absolutely disgusted and embarrassed at calling this man my country’s law minister I would like to bring to people’s attention what he did on live television (plus its funny).
Secondly, I was thinking if I was asked who I think could do such a thing on live television I would have put my money on this man any day. And I am not saying this because of the incident where he amazingly (even more so for a ‘lawyer’) misconstrued ‘long arm’ for ‘big arm’, but because subsequently he has come across as one of, if not the most uncouth, rude, crude, discourteous and vulgar person, lacking in polish and grace, to come on television recently. This video does nothing to dispel that belief.
Continue reading ‘Caught In Action: Wasi Zafar Making Use Of His ‘Long Arm’’
I got an email recently that talks about the government using covert tactics to pressurise Justice Ramday, who is heading the full bench hearing the CJ’s case. I really can’t confirm how much of this is true, but considering the way things are going, you never know. At the moment there is no way of finding out the veracity of these claims. All I can confirm is that a reference has been filed against certain PIA officials and Cyrus Minwala, general sales manager of Cathay Pacific by NAB.
Conspiracy theories are abound and not all of them are true. However, if this is indeed true…then…well, what can I say. Read below and make up your own mind. Just thought I’d put it for your benefit. What if it really is on to something.
The real inside story of Justice Ramday and the PIA Reference - Email
Has anyone tried to find out why suddenly the NAB has moved a reference against all those PIA executives who leased and purchased aircraft from Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific Airlines several years ago?
Continue reading ‘The real inside story of Justice Ramday and the PIA Reference’
Here is an article by Senator Farhatullah Babar on the involvement of the armed forces in the corporate sector. It gives details of the influence wielded by the armed forces in Pakistan’s corporate sector and the preferential treatment quasi-military institutions get from the government. I had written a satirical piece titled ‘Real Estate 101 for Army Officers’, which was a humourous way of putting what Senator Babar has said in this article. Do have a look at it after you go through this.
By Farhatullah Babar - April 30, 2007 - Appeared in The News
Continue reading ‘The Armed Forces and the Corporate Sector’
The third open letter we’ve put up in little over a month. They’ve been addressed to the Chief Justice, the President and the Prime Minister, respectively. Do they serve any purpose? There is evidence to suggest that in our country they do.
The first one led to the reference being filed against the Chief Justice. The second one was part of a general show of discontent over the President’s actions with regards to the CJ reference. Together, the actions of all those involved brought about an admission by the President that the entire issue had been mishandled and forced the government to backtrack on certain aspects. Here we have the third one requesting the Prime Minister to show what he is made off, or rather what most people who know him think he is made off, and defy the President. It urges him to stand up to the President and act in the interests of his country. We’ll only have to wait and see if Shaukat Aziz has finally arrived. Otherwise, soon it will be time for him to depart.
April 8, 2007
Mr. Shaukat Aziz
Prime Minister of Pakistan
Prime Minister House
Islamabad
The Last Advice
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
Continue reading ‘The Last Advice: An Open Letter to Prime Minister Aziz by Tariq Hasan’
