End Of An Era - Initial Reactions

As someone that has spent their teen years watching a Pakistan under Musharraf, this is the only era of Pakistan that I know from experience. All else that I know of my country comes from either a reading of history or speaking with those older than me.

While today appears to reflect in some manner the series of events that led to a similar resignation of Ayub Khan almost 40 years ago, for me this experience was very new, and it leaves me with many thoughts, emotions and concerns.

This post is no attempt to sum up the last 9 years, to analyze his successes or failures - political, economic or social, or a glorification of the Musharraf era or otherwise. It is a mere exercise in thinking aloud and reflecting on recent history and the future of this country.

Musharraf resigning - with English translation

Sitting at the student lounge at LUMS, I saw the small crowd erupt in an applause the moment the words (I translate), ".. in light of this, I am resigning from my post", were spoken by the now former President Musharraf.

Almost 9 years ago, I had rejoiced in a similar manner seeing him oust Nawaz Sharif in a military-led coup. For years after that, I was a vehement supporter of the man and his policies, calling him a benevolent leader. I did buy into his charisma and the straightforward manner of his expression. I did appreciate the skill and confidence with which he carried the flag of the country internationally. I liked the easing relationship with India and I appreciated the moderate views he brought with him to office. My single bone to pick with him (big bone, that!) was the fact that he was an unelected military person, and for that, I opposed him in principle, while I did speak about voting for him, should he contest a direct national election.

However, over the past year, I was the same person who had to switch sides due to Musharraf's actions on the judiciary and the state of emergency. I marched along the civil society, chanting 'Time to Go, Musharraf!', and I wore a black armband to register my silent protest, wherever I went and I protested the loss of civil liberties that are at the foundation of the social development of any nation.

The country is bigger than one man, be it ANY man.

So what does the future hold?

He's probably going to remain in Pakistan. I don't see Musharraf being prosecuted as he has probably bargained his immunity in return for a resigning and preventing a lengthy and intense impeachment process. But it is now that the political focus will shift to the differences between the coalition parties PPP and PML-N. There will be massive horse-trading for the decision of who will succeed Musharraf and there is bound to be friction on other issues such as the restoration of the judiciary, the state of the economy, the War on Terror and so on..

In any case, I am terribly concerned to the point of fear for the upheaval that lies ahead. I dread a Pakistan ruled by Zardari. Just like every other Pakistani, I truly do. But that may in fact be the price we have to pay to move ahead in the hope for democracy and the institutional development that is bound to come after this period of strife. Let me reiterate: It is GOOD to see the end of an era led by an unelected man. It is GOOD to see the remnants of military rule disappear for now. Musharraf, for all his true intentions, was the embodiment of both. It is GOOD to see hope return.

Coming back into my classy little financial sector office, I reflect on the events of today while staring blankly at the stock market's graph for today. I guess popular sentiment wins the day.

The Karachi Stock Exchange - 100 Index for today

There IS this one thing, though. I do hope to one day sit with Mr Musharraf and really talk about what was it that drove him through his term and what specifically was the thought process behind the events that took place in his last year. I hope to someday understand.

Primal Instincts

Today's been one of those days you get up in the morning, and with a smile on your face you try to exude positive energy for the day. And then.. the universe begins to conspire against you. To test your resolve towards that positive energy. And you fail!

You go to get your car thats lying with the workshop. It's not fixed.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You ask the guy to make a temporary fix so you can use it for a few hours.

You're driving to your next stop when standing at a traffic signal, a motorbike zooms by, hitting your sideview mirror. It's intact. You look at the biker who doesn't appear the least bit apologetic.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You smile and let it go. You still wanna save this day.

You begin the pursuit of a 'Passport protector' - a ridiculous, pointless, mindnumbing, expensive, time consuming process that a Pakistani has to engage in when they are planning to start work internationally. Long story short, this was your 4th visit to that office and you had finally gotten all the documents and their exact number of photocopies and the bank receipts to submit your application. They tell you that your passport shall be returned to you in a few hours and that you had to sit for a compulsory 'Living outside Pakistan' briefing.. Sigh..

So you go for the briefing which is a gruelling two hours of bullshit, about how you must be a responsible Pakistani, respect the law, pray 5 times, live in the religiously 'correct' manner (that was how the speaker described not sleepin around so you don't contract AIDS! Funny that this guy was still so uncomfortable with talking about it given he does the EVERY day for the last 15 years. Oh well!). You thank your lucky stars for being tech savvy and begin chatting randomly on Gtalk on your cell phone via eBuddy. Then there is a voice coming from an untidy, extremely corrupt looking official, 'Come get your passports now!'. The expected hoard of people begin throwing fists at each other in an effort to get ahead. You decide that you're better than this and you will wait for the nonsense to be over before you get yours. Funnily, yours is the first name thats called so you have to make your way through the mess of living breathing flesh that is between you and the window where your passport is being held hostage. You finally make it there, getting jabbed and pummeled by a few people on the way and stand there waiting for instructions. The grumby dimwit on the window tells you to stop wasting everyone's time, and you're like 'Woah?', still waiting for him to peacefully hand over your documents. He gives you a dirty look grabs your passport and throws it at your face.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. Swearing under your breath you take your green booklet and walk off.

Next stop's a photo studio. You want to print your some pictures of close friends to take with you. You go in and hand over your flash disk. The guy, who looks like he had been having domestic issues looks at you and says, 'No'. 'No?', you ask. 'No!', he reiterates.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You take your flash disk back and walk back to your car.

Driving carefully, you look for a parking space in a congested market. You find one. You smile. You're patiently waiting for the exiting vehicle to peacefully be able to leave so you can replace yours in that space. Waiting. Waiting. BANG! You look at your rear view mirror and you see some random striker has decided to hit your car. You get out, still trying to keep your composure to expect the damage. You look at the person in the car and it's a gray haired old man with a family. You smile and you say, 'Please be careful, Sir. You could hurt someone.' You've been brought up to respect gray haired dudes as a general rule. Of course, it doesn't work vice versa. He starts screaming at you for having stopped like that. You continue to be polite and tell him to walk away without incident even though its his fault. He curses at you loudly.

Fight or Flight? Fight! You blow your lid. Within a matter of moments you transform from the cool headed, sweet talking, respectful young man, to a street style, pissed off, flustered, growling, visibily furious person. You are ready to bash his head into the pavement for swearing at you when you were being so polite and when it was his fault. His family hold him back as he makes a symbolic attempt to come out of the car and lock horns with you. You're ready! His eyes give him away. He isn't. You let him walk away.

You park at your prized spot, and go into the departmental store to pick up a new perfume. The guy at the counter is no eager beaver. You ask him if he has the brand you want. You can see it behind him on the shelf. He looks around, and says he doesn't. You point it out. He says, 'No'. 'No?', you ask? 'No!', he reiterates.

Fight or Flight?

Flight. You're done dealing with these morons. You'll come back another day.

On your way home of course, a car decides to come outta nowhere head-on on the wrong side of the road. You swirl outta it's way just in time and it clips your side view mirror. It shatters into a million pieces, as glass flies directly towards your face. Thanks to your sunglasses, you can still see as you type this post.

You're now going to go hide under a quilt and wait for this day to pass without further event. Good luck to you!

Truly Tragic

My Nokia N70 decided a couple of days ago to stop notifying me when I would get new messages or missed calls. You have NO idea how annoying that can be.

96 hours of software updates and reading every forum out there, all I could find was that there were others with the same problem and no known fixes existed! Sigh.. After trial and error, I figured the only way to fix this was to delete ALL my text messages. Now I feel like a year of my history has been erased - 2800+ msgs..

This sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before!

Theory Time

Chain of events that might be possible in the next few weeks:

1. Musharraf's impeachment begins
2. Musharraf restores judges, NRO potentially gets thrown out
3. Impeachment fails
4. Musharraf used the constitutional clause to dissolve parliament (saying I gave them a chance but they ruined the country)
5. Musharraf resigns taking a moral high ground making (4) look selfless
6. Caretaker government formed. Military plays a role in constituting it.
7. Caretaker government files a petition with the Supreme Court to not have re-elections in 90 days since the political atmosphere does not allow for elections.
8. Caretaker government spends 1-3 years in office, being run behind the curtains by the military.
9. Stability returns
10. Possible chance of assassination attempts on Nawaz/Shahbaz or Nawaz getting back in power as he has a clear victory in this chapter

Word has it that Benazir's son, Bilawal, who is co-Chairman of the PPP has refused to sign a power of attorney to Zardari saying, 'Mama said no!'. Her daughter recently tried to commit suicide and the kids are all against him. Breakup of the PPP is a potential outcome.

Of course certain things such as the Taleban situation, relations with India, etc. still remain in the open..

This I-day, I pray for my country..!

Round 1 - FIGHT!

The politics in Pakistan are about to take a real interesting turn. The PPP and PML-N, leading parties of the coalition have reached a consensus on impeaching Musharraf. Reports just coming in that Musharraf, in an act of self-defense, has signed the order for restoration of the judges of the Sindh High Court.

Now, the controvesial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), that protects Zardari, Kingpin from the PPP, is under direct threat due to judges being back. Musharraf is making a point saying, you mess with me, I KEEEEL you!

"God makes dinosaur. God kills dinosaur. God make man. Man makes dinosaur. Dinosaur kills man." (Jurassic Park)

What be happen now!

World Peace Starts At Home

Over the last couple of days, a lot of things have spun out of proportion in Pakistani foreign relations. The latest episode is where the heat is on the ISI for playing a malicious role. It's really all a big mess. I am pretty pro intelligence reform but the nature of these organizations whether they are called ISI, CIA, Mossad, RAW, KGB and so on will always remain rather shady.

There's a lot of negative news coming out of Pakistan and I felt a great sense of grief while writing this article for Voices. I certainly hope more than anything else, I am able to one day write about success and prosperity, the way I have had to write about despair and failure.

In 12 days, this country turns 61 yrs old. Perhaps, now.. A little less conversation, a little more action required for Pakistan. There is light at the end of the tunnel.