Why is it
that every opportunity which the Pakistani people have to
re-address their misfortunes are squandered at the earliest
instance? Presently it may be the best time for all Pakistanis to
actually take a step back from the current election rigmarole and
assess what is actually going on. General Musharaf has been urging
the people to reject the ‘dynamic duo’ who have collectively
taken the country to the brink of destruction and annihilation,
and select a clean new dynamic leadership. Well that clean new
leadership is the Chaudry brothers and the ‘one and only’ Mian
Azahar, a leader the likes of which the world has never seen and
fortunately will never see! The way in which the state media is
promoting the PML(Q), one would be forgiven for assuming that the
clean leadership which the general is speaking of is that of the
PML(Q). Well every one with a bit of sense will be aware of the
fact that the PML(Q) leadership consists mostly of PML(N)
deserters with a few ‘lotas’ from the PPP. In fact the PML(Q)
would be more appropriately named as PML-L (Lotas).
Getting back to the matter in hand we realise that the state media
is not portraying the message which the General seems to be
conveying. Whether the fault lies in deliberate deception and
double standards by Musharaf or deviant generals who differ with
Musharaf and wish to bring their family members back to power.
Whatever the cause, the fact of the matter is that all avenues to
power are being blocked for the type of ‘new leadership’ which
Musharaf wants to bring forward, whilst the one that he is
apparently trying to block from coming to power is given full
official patronage. This fact is not hidden from any Pakistani let
alone political parties so the question is will it be allowed to
continue or will something be done about it.
Going by the past, one can suspect that the establishment will get
its way as no entity has the courage or the moral will power to
stand up and face state manipulation. People-power can achieve
anything and once united it is unstoppable. Unfortunately whether
it be circumstantial duress, greed, ulterior motives and
interests, one thing or another has made a public revolt against
this manipulation a mere theoretical possibility. Nations only
remove the strap of slavery from their collars when they stand up
for the truth against exploitative powers. Until the Pakistani
people realise that angels will not come down to free them from
the turmoil they find themselves in, they must select and get
behind a capable, clean, honest and courageous leadership in order
to break through the flood-banks of corruption, manipulation,
dictatorship and exploitation. If the Pakistani people fail to
realise this then they will continue to be the laughing stock of
the international community.
Well where is this new leadership which will rescue Pakistan from
this abiss, which Musharaf seems to be wanting the Pakistani
people to bring forward. Well the new leaders and parties which
have emerged up to the national level till now are Imran Khan’s
Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) and Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s Pakistan
Awami Tehreek (PAT). Both have distanced them selves from the
government at a time when it seemed they may be in a position to
reap the rewards of supporting the government, but this itself may
show that they did not support Musharaf for ulterior motives. Both
of these parties seem to be on the wrong end of severe opposition
from the establishment.
On one hand Imran Khan is being grilled in the media by the
chaudry brothers whilst on the other hand Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri is
being virtually blocked from appearing in newspapers. There were
recent reports that the government has instructed The Daily Jang
and The Daily Nawai-e-waqt to give minimal coverage to PAT, which
answers the query of many on the lack of PAT coverage in
newspapers with existence of highly professional, experienced and
well known media teams which the PAT has in all major cities. |
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About
Writer:
Mr. Jawed Iqbal, is an independent writer and a
political analyst. His articles appear in printed and
electronic media of Pakistan
eMail : JAWEDS_WORLD@HOTMAIL.COM |
Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri has tackled the
newspaper blackout by launching a successful TV campaign on PTV1
and all cable channels with having at least one full hour of his
detailed interview on all. PAT’s Adverts on PTV1 which were
aired daily just before the 9.00 pm news have reportedly done
wonders for his party, as the viewership of PTV1 at that time is
phenomenal multiplying the total readership of all newspapers put
together. He should be given full credit for out playing the
moneymen who have a monopoly on what is printed in newspapers.
This monopoly is further evident with the inability of major
newspapers to report blatant and open pre-poll rigging such as the
governor of Punjab attending programs also being attended by PML(Q)
candidates such as Aleem Khan from NA 127 being most recent. The
lucrative advertisement deals made by PML(Q) are successful in
keeping such facts from the public.
The Chaudries as with the rest of PML(Q) do not do anything
without the consent of the establishment, have been toileting
millions of rupees on colour adverts on all national urdu papers
aimed at Imran Khan’s Character defamation. Well the only person
to benefit from this childish behavour seems to be Imran khan who
is given daily front-page coverage on all national dailies.
In terms of attempts at character defamation, Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri
may have had a slightly tougher time as he was virtually put to
gun point by Jhang police, with his security guards being
assaulted and arrested. Numerous charges were filed against the
PAT chairman together with other PAT leaders. It is unclear why
the Jhang police took this action when it was reported in many
papers that the government had advised Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri to
increase his private security. This may have been an attempt to
disqualify Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri from participating in the elections
but he successfully presented his case to the nation on the
Election Hour program which is seen as one the best performances
on the program by any leader so far. The failure of the courts and
the Election Commission to disqualify the leader of the banned
Sipah Sahabah Azam Tariq, and Waqas Akram who are rival candidates
to Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri in NA 89 Jhang, fits in to the “Stop Qadri’
jigsaw puzzle.
It is clear that the leadership which the establishment is wishing
to stop from progressing to the corridors of power is that of the
PTI and PAT, which makes it easier for the Pakistani people to
select a new leadership to lead a revolt against state
manipulation. This of course will also fall in line with the
wishes of the beloved president who is sick of the old corrupt
plundering leaders of the nineties. The failure of the Pakistani
people to stand up and be counted has been the reason for the
nations demise. Blaming leaders for the country’s mess is simply
a case of shifting blame on others. As it is the Pakistani people
who allowed these so-called leaders to enslave a proud nation. The
truth may hurt but it has to be said that the Pakistani people are
Pakistan’s worst enemies not India nor America, as history
speaks for itself.
This
article published in;
Local Media
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