Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Islam Series: Gender and Islam
Event: Gender and Islam Un-reading Patriarchal Interpretations of the Quran-1
Link: http://youtu.be/
Link: http://youtu.be/
Monday, 25 June 2012
Islam Series: Space of Knowledge Production in Pakistan
http://www.facebook.com/events/344575632278897/
Friday, 22 June 2012
Weep Democrats in Pakistan!
Nilofer’s Corner
Weep Democrats in Pakistan.
June 22nd
2012: 211 Members of The National
Assembly of The Islamic Republic of Pakistan elected MNA Raja Parvaiz Ashraf,
aka ‘Raja Rental’ as our Democratic Prime Minister; a discredited corrupt
individual who was dismissed from the PPP led Cabinet as a result of his
corruption. The National Accountability
Bureau received millions of rupees from 'Raja Rental' in return for amnesty
against ‘some ‘ of his corruption cases.
In spite; Asif Ali
Zardari is hell bent on bringing forward those forces in this very fragile
society who believe this country cannot be Democratic and can only be ‘saved by
the security establishment’.
This political
party which touts democratic credentials and at every opportunity screams
victimhood and defends corruption of all its elected members will be
responsible for ending any democratic development this country can begin
evolving towards.
What is most
disturbing are the Liberal and democratic individuals who continue to support
this political party and its current policies. Conspiracy theories with
substance abound that the Boots will be stepping in to ‘save’ this country from
this spiraling mis governance and economic crisis. What is completely absent is
the responsibility of these 300 elected members if this nightmare unfolds Again
continued
uncritical and absolute support for this corrupt PPP and its Alliance is
criminal and paving the way for the boots returning to Pakistan.
Democracy does not
mean keeping in office 300 odd members of Parliament in business. Democracy
means working towards improving the basic needs of 180 million souls starving
for justice. No excuses. If you cannot translate your ‘supposed democratic and
liberal values’ into policies and actions then this political party and its
supporters need to reflect upon the consequences. Leave the business of
governance to those who can amongst you. Leave it to those who have the guts to
take the risks necessarily to change the lives of ordinary Pakistanis for the
better.
As democrats there
is logic why we support this means of governance. It is suppose to ensure
accountability and ensure a better life for every citizen equally. That means
condemning the murders of your Governor and Minister of Minority Affairs
alongside those MNAs who have their sisters married to the Qur’an. It means
firing those responsible for keeping OBL safe in Pakistan for five years. If
you espouse democratic values then prove it! Its not complicated.
Democracy is a
system in which ousting those who do not work in the interests of the nation-
is automatic. That means ensuring those who flout the laws of the land do not
represent the nation!
Democracy is
supposed to reflect the views, needs and future of its people. If this is
absent in Parliament and the personal interests of just 300 is its purpose- why do Democrats support this farcical lot?
The myths of
better governance by the undemocratic military regimes not withstanding, the
inability of public scrutiny of the Military institutionalized and not so
institutionalized corruption, is strengthen by the absolute despicable
disregard of basic moral ethical behavior by our elected members.
Asif Zardari
chose out of 190 members of Parliament; that One who represents all that is
disgusting. Rental Raja is now supposed to lead the Nation out of the power
crisis he is partially responsible for? Punjab, Sindh, Baluchistan, KPK are
burning, violence is rampant, frustration is at an all time out of control
level and Zaradari asks the people to eat Cake; in the name of democracy. If
this isn’t a red rag in front of a frustrated bull I don’t know what is? What
does Democracy mean in Pakistan? Weep
Pakistani Democrats weep.
Tuesday, 19 June 2012
Need for Heroes in Pakistan?
Nilofer’s Corner
Need for Heroes in Pakistan?
I suppose in a
feudal semi literate country, more accurately a society, a single Leader or Heroes
are essential? The need to follow is a serious hindrance in this land of pure.
In constant wait, despair has set in. The inability to move forward, or
struggle out of this malaise and inertia has become critical. This existential
crisis is eating away the mental and psychological body politik of Pakistan.
As a coping
mechanism frustration has translated into violent behavior. No mama or papa has
emerged to lead the children out of these dark times. Chaos
exists. In this purgatory we remain and wait.
Some of the Heroes’
of our time, South Africa’s Nelson Mandala, Tibet’s His Holiness the Dalai
Lama, Burma’s Aung San Suu Kyi, and perhaps our very own Abdul Satar Edhi;
what lessons can we learn from their lives- to get out of this purgatory?
Each one of these
Heroes did not wait for a movement to act according to their conscious. They
followed no Heroes. They waited for no one.
Conscious
were led by convictions which looked beyond the welfare of their personal
lives. All of them sacrificed tremendously, but continued to struggle and were
rewarded by the overwhelming support of the public-eventually.
The societies’
they came from are/were repressive, oppressive and perhaps look as if they
would never change-certainly not by one person’s opposition! That assumption
was proven wrong in the end. They succeeded in their endeavors in-spite of all
the challenges they faced.
The manner in
which each one of these great individuals conducted their struggle has been
politically counter intuitive. There is no Machiavellian theory that can
‘explain’ their success. There is nothing status quo or real politik that can analyze
the successes of these individuals. They represent an idea. A movement led by
their behavior but based on an idea of change. They never faltered or
compromised on those ideas.
Most inspiring of
all the qualities they possess, is the sheer will power, which moved nations
towards change. The moral integrity they relied upon never faltered.
Most pertinent for
us in Pakistan, none of them relied on outside foreign aid, far from it;
foreign aid in many instances supported those who crushed their ideas. In the
face of overwhelming challenges, economic sanctions, power of the state they
maintained a staunch perseverance. The people were the source of the
strength and change-not money or political maneuvering.
Their notions of
national interests are human interest. Not strategic or regional or nuclear.
Just simply the well being of the average jo smo next door; rich or poor; men
or women; good old fashion dignity, freedom and prosperity for all. Peace at all cost!
None of these
individuals played to the gallery, or colluded strategically with any segment
of the establishment of their oppressive and regressive regimes. They didn’t
play ‘politics’ they weren’t playing a game and yet they were not delusional,
they weren’t idealistic; they simply did what was needed to be done for their
community. Simple.
Lesson for
Pakistanis’. Don’t wait for anyone to show you the way. You are a Hero. Be a Hero.
Saturday, 16 June 2012
Deciphering "Gates"
Nilofer’s Corner
Deciphering
‘Gates’
Since the revelations
(peace upon who did) of Malik Riaz’s generosity (s) towards our power elites
have surfaced, the theories of Why dominates most reasonable analysts mind
space? Who is behind this ‘conspiracy’ or attempt to bring some ‘institution(s)
into disrepute’?
Most of what
occurs in Pakistan seems complicated but is not necessarily. We are a Security
State in which one institution has dominated and owned the nation’s discourse,
narrative and future. That is clear.
The media although
rowdy, obsessive and unprofessional in many instances, is but a reflection of
Pakistan’s social, ethical and educational state of affairs. Rational,
responsible, mature behavior is absent amongst our elected folks too, certainly
amongst our security establishment, always reminding us, who is against us, how
many enemies we actually have; hence those whose job it is to ‘report’
‘investigate’ and ‘inform’ the public are naturally pulled into this psychological
pathological ‘gandh’ as well.
The people, most
of the 180 million souls either gape in continued disgust at those who rule
over them; or have very little interest in what is happening at the centers of
power while struggling with basic needs of their families. This of course I am
also assuming! Because their is no mechanism to gauge the general public’s
sentiments. Neither are their voices represented on television, print or in
Parliament, thus I am assuming those most disenfranchised would care very
little of revelations of moral and financial corruption in a state which
they’ve seen only to be just that.
How do we begin to
decipher what is happening in an environment where everyone seems to be on
speed, acid or perhaps just bi-polar? To begin with any ‘evaluation’ of
behaviour necessitates a berometer of
normal. Since we have little reference to ‘right ‘ or wrong’ or what constitutes ‘crossing any redlines’, it
becomes next to impossible to ‘judge’; what could possibly be a reason for an ‘action
or a behaviour’ cannot be truly understood because baseline behavioural
patterns are unclear?
Ok so my two cents
on the various ‘gates’ we are obsessing over these days; my premise has always
been the number one puppet master in our country has been the security
establishment. All things odious lead back to them.
So why would they ‘allow’ Malik Riaz to go
nuts with accusations, proofs and bring many institutions they use manage and
need into disrepute? The natural answer is that a message is being sent to the
Courts that stop your interference in x y z since we have proof that you /your family are no
better than we are. Hence shattering the
image of the Courts in the eyes of the
public has become necessary. Ending the Public’s romance with an active
‘saviour’ judiciary is critical in insuring that no ‘regime fundamentals’
change occurs.
Pakistan’s
obsession or cultural need to have a leader in shining armour continues, and
hence shattering the credibility of the seemingly ‘clean dude in town’ (well at
least post 2007/Long March avatar) the Chief Justice, leading his band of go
get all who are corrupt in Pakistan, has now become necessary?
BUT it still
doesn’t make rational sense! Why you ask? Well I assume you do ask?
Malik Riaz is a
creation of all things ‘Behria’. Got that. He has proof of EVERYONE’s greasy
fingers. Ok got that too. But once the floodgates of who has benefited from MR actually
opens, it will ALSO include our number one Holy CoWs not so hidden secrets to
emerge in the public. Thus in the 60 odd years where we have never been
‘allowed’ to discuss, inquire, let alone prosecute the security establishment’s
involvement in financial corruption such as land grabbing, institutionalised
corruption with perks, privillages, domination in public enterprises and the
insidious control over those who ‘legally manage’ the state of Pakistan why
would a process leading to them be ‘allowed ‘?
How will these
free for all revelations be ‘managed’ and not lead to the puppet master number
1? One possible theory on how ‘controlling’ the consequences of these leaks
is possible; this is only a staged partial ‘cleanup’ of uncomfortable actors,
along with a very clear message of
flexing muscles, reminding those who need to be reminded who is Boss in
Pakistan!
Thus this is no
free fall, no green light for those who came into the profession of journos to
actually go do your work -in peace! Na baba na; it is perhaps a very public
show of power, to perhaps Dunya television for example, and to some anchors in particular, certainly
the Courts and some judges in particular.
The silence by the
owners of the media outlets both in print and on air is also telling. Sitting
in the corner and listening to signals is probably the best option for there
collective interests?
There is
absolutely no proof or evidence that these series of ‘gates’ has initiated a
process of self reflection or correction inside of or amongst the Judiciary or
the corporate Media. Hence the ‘message’ we can read by these ‘inactions’ as a
reaction to these ‘gates’ are what?
First, there is a
puppet master operating and in control of what was going to be released to the
public. Second, the public is embroiled in revelations which they knew existed
but have irrefutable proof of now.
Third, this kind of chaos and undermining of all public office holders feeds
into the very dangerous support to undemocratic forces in Pakistan. Fourth, the
security establishment is flexing its muscles. Fifth, unless some amongst the
franchised elite ‘react’ to the puppet master’s game plans nothing will change
in terms of Pakistan’s trajectory towards no where. Finally, message has been
received and acknowledged.
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