Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A Series of Black Days

History of my country is filled with many black days, but the very recent ones have left me stunned, speechless and hopeless to some extent. The most recent black days are February 25, 2009 and March 03, 2009.

On Feb 25, a provincial assembly was holding its meeting and the governor of the province intervened by suspending the assembly on the orders of the head of the state. The point to be noted here is that the head of the state is co-chairman of a party which claims itself a custodian of democracy in Pakistan, projects itself as the largest party in Pakistan, preaches nothing but democracy, claims to have sacrificed for democracy more than once, and blah blah... The head of the state ignores the ongoing meeting of the provincial assembly, in which a new leader of the house was about to be selected, and orders the imposition of the Governor Rule in Punjab. The reason mentioned for this act was that the provincial government cannot be run constitutionally at this point in time. Which is not less than a joke, since the elected assembly was holding its meeting and the custodian of the house i.e. the Speaker had called for the next meeting as well. A few reasons for the imposition of the governor rule are obvious and a few are still hidden.One obvious reason is the wish of the PPP to rule the most populated province Punjab despite being a minority in the elected house as compared to the PML-N, i.e. approx. 29% seats as compared to the 46% of PML-N. By ruling Punjab, PPP can get (mis)use the resources of this province very effectively. The other reason is to sabotage the image of the PML-N and the Sharif Brothers by portraying them as the ppl responsible for the politics of agitation and the unrest in Punjab. Third and possibly the most important reason is to change the machinery of the Punjab Government so that the participants of the Long March can be dealt with. I am sure the PPP government will not hesitate to use the force against the peaceful and unarmed patriotic citizens of Pakistan. The hidden objectives of the governor rule cannot be identified so early, but the time will soon uncover the objectives. One thing I have noticed is the appointment of so many judges right after the imposition of the Governor rule. A recording by a DawnNews reporter clearly tells that these appointments are political.

A political process had started a little time ago, and a group of stubborn persons derailed the process. Institutions were getting stronger (the resolutions in the assemblies and the positive debates in the assemblies etc.) and the (elected) President exercised his (so called) right when there was no need to exercise it. It would have been better if the Governor had invited the PML-N the largest party in the Punjab Assembly to show the majority on the floor. The governor could also have invited the PPP+PML-Q to do the same if he thought that the PML-N has lost the majority now. But he didn't do that because, it was not the case :)

On March 03, 2009 our guests and the ambassadors of goodwill, the Sri Lankan cricket players were attacked. It was a moment of shock for me to hear that, and I was praying for the safety of all the Sri Lankan players. They are such a helping lot, so friendly and co-operative people that they visited us when the world was not ready to visit us due to the possible risk to their lives. Sri Lankan Cricket had always responded positively to our invitations. And an attack on these ambassadors left me in a mixed feeling of shame, regret, anger, shock and uncertainty. Sri Lankans had not even imagined that they'd be attacked. Neither did I ever imagined that any cricket player can be attacked in this way in Pakistan. Why did the Sri Lankans imagine that? Because there are no such attacks in past, which prompted them to believe that sportsmen are not the targets of the terrorists operating in Pakistan or Sri Lanka. Why did I believe that such an attack will not be carried out in Pakistan? Because I live here, I know the love for the sport in the hearts of Pakistanis. I know that the cricket is played and loved even in the northern and western parts of Pakistan. I know the trend of attacks in Pakistan, where South Asians are not usually attacked. I know the respect and love the Pakistanis have for the Sri Lankan cricketrs. Both crickets have very friendly relations. Whenever there is a defeat against Sri Lanka, I do not see any angry faces as I see them when India beats Pakistan. When Pakistanis love cricket, respect the Sri Lankans as a whole, then who can it be to attack the ties between the two countries? Who can benefit from this? Who wants to pollute the image of Pakistan? Lets see.

Can it be Pakistan itself???
No. Only fools will believe that. Pakistan is not irresponsible and stupid that it contaminate its own image and worsens its position in the world.

Can it be Taliban???
May be. But why would Taliban attack Sri Lanka? Sri Lanka was neutral in Afghan Wars. Sri Lanka is neutral in current 'War on Terror' against the Pukhtoons (Afghani and Pakistani) and Muslims. But lets not close this option because the Taliban might use this to destabilize Pakistan.

India???
Yes. Look at the potential benefits India can have from these attacks. India can single out Pakistan. India can further spoil Pakistan's image in the whole world. India can use this event to convince the world that Pakistan is a failed state. India can recommend the world to attack Pakistan and capture its nuclear assets, the biggest threat to the Indian at the moment. India can itself justify its attack on Pakistan for the same reason. India can further delay the dialogue with Pakistan on the outstanding issues like Kashmir and the dams on Pakistan's rivers. India can specifically point out to the Sri Lankans that even you should not visit Pakistan, because we are working on a plan to prove Pakistan the most dangerous place on the earth, and your visits are affecting our plan.

America??
May be. To destabilize Pakistan and pressurize it to work according to the American plan in Swat etc.

Can it be Tamil Tigers???
Yes, but do they have resources to do such an act in Pakistan? I believe, No. But we cann't be sure about that. Lets not close this option yet. If we believe that these were Tamil Tigers, then it becomes even more clear that India is involved. It is not a hidden thing who created n supported the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). Attacking through the LTTE is equivalent to killing two birds with one stone for India.

Whoever did that, the event was so evil and horrific that I am not out of the shock after three days of the event. I am still unable to believe that someone attacked the Sri Lankan cricketers in Pakistan, to be more specific in Lahore where you can see cricket even on roads and streets .

One interesting observation from my side is: After the Mumbai incidents last November, there was a sense of fear in the Indian people. On the other hand peace was returning to Pakistan for the last few days. India does not want peace and stability in any of its neighbours (Look at its influence on all its neighbours except China). So India had to strike and it did.

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