Pakistan… at 61

It’s getting imensely difficult and depressing constantly defending my nation. And not just against other people, but my own self. I’ve always made it clear in simple , complex or complicated terms, however you want to take it, that I love my country. I love it. But honestly it’s getting difficult to give myself even a logical and rational reason behind it. First it used to be just the corrupt politicians, and the society’s flaws were always there in the backdrop. But not so blatantly out there. Now it’s nothing like that. Our own deeds have manifested this current situation. Not just the so called ‘Leaders’.

Our media, is more politically charged, more politically obsessed rather then giving just that… News. It’s not giving news anymore. Its giving propoganda. GEO Started running a reel of a mock poem which insulted the Ex-President and his supporting ‘Q’ League. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve never appreciated these tactics employed by them even when they were applied for persons I detest and am not just dissappointed in.  This is an act of irresponsible media.

Our society, has increased robberies, murders, kidnappings etc. Shots are being fired constantly every night in certain neighborhoods. Every night. Interestingly robbers used to carry TT’s or Pistols before. They’ve decided to shift to AK’s. Some people I know, one of them a guy of 27, was heading to his valima, before he, his elder brother, new bride, bhabi and younger sister were held up by AK’s in the middle of traffic. And the robbers due to unfathomable reasons for a lack of patience of 3 seconds even, fired shots. The groom was on the ventilator for 2 days.

The elite of our nation, the rich society. They display even more and more disorderliness with each passing day. They are breaking lights. Ramming cars into innocent bystanders or other car drivers. Speeding. Causing wreckless damage. Engaged in all sorts of illegal crap.

Our law, is so busy with their protests that cases which were already held up for long periods of time are further delayed. Furhter cases are getting piled up. People who would probably be sentenced to 1 year or few months for their crimes, end up spending 5 or more years in prison waiting for their hearing.

Senators of our country merely say that an act of burying 3 women alive when they wished to marry of their own choice is a ‘tradition of our province….’ . A tradition! It is a henious crime. And he who condones it is an even bigger and more barbaric criminal.

Country’s refuse to come play sports in our country. Cricket ( the only refute for the common man for hope of some glory for this nation we call Pakistan ), died in Pakistan recently. Or suffered as severe set back. Whatever you want to call it. Teams felt strongly about their security in a country where the residents themselves are not safe and refused to participate in the Champions Trophy if it was held in Pakistan. As a result of which the event has been postponed till next year.

Bribery has not just remained a flaw in the system. It’s no longer a choice. It’s a lifestyle. Some would argue with me, and rightly so perhaps, that it was always a lifestyle post XYZ’s era.

I am actually afraid of an era where our country’s President, even if the post is made merely ceremonial, could possibly be a man like Asif Ali Zardari. The man who chose to ditch his own family name in the name of politics. A man who has constantly been linked with corruption charges since the early 90’s or even earlier perhaps. A man who apparently has $60 Million in a Swiss account which is un accounted for. A man who has claims of doctors of him being mentally ill looming on his head.

There is a grave danger of our northern regions being over run by the Taliban. The barbaric cult which ultimately doomed Afghanistan. Again a manifestation of our own policies. Our own culture. Our own doing.

I still want to hope. I still want to believe. But when you are facing the current situation it becomes harder for you to convince yourself even. I am still going to pray.  I am praying that after 61 years of this country being mismanaged by it’s leaders, misused by the fortunate citizens and being made a victim of barbaric people and frustrated people, that someone will rise, someone will bring about a change. Someone has to. Change won’t come itself. Someone has to start it. Even if a little change, in a little thing, is a start. As long as it’s a permanent change.

Please remind me if I’ve missed out on anything. Sad as it may seem, I might just have.

True Origins

Fury was never a trait I could distnace myself from. Ever since I was young, my rage was my fuel. And soon this fuel over flowed. By the time I was old enough to be crowned a Prince, that is the authority of a Prince, my fuel had pretty much become my driving force. That is all I had come to know. That and pride. The pride of being the Prince of my race. And an ever lasting rage. Burning inside me.

I was from a special race. A race of warriors. Proud race we were. That’s all we had ever known. Our fore fathers, and their fore fathers before them, carried the flag of being warriors. The ultimate fighters. And this was all in my blood, my essence. The only addition was, as I have mentioned, my rage.

My abilites as a warrior far exceeded those of my fellowmen. I was unchallenged. I was at the top. No one could touch within a mile. I was the best there was and the best that was ever to be there, for centuries to come. That’s how the script was supposed to be, at least near me. For I was a Prince. The Prince of all. And all bowed to me, to my power. To my abilities. My name was to live on for centuries. At least in this world.

For in the other world, the world after life, everyone knew whose name was to be written for centuries even after mine. The one that had been banished by my father. Out of fear. A fear brought on by his pathetic advisors, wizards. Corrupt lot they were. They were afraid of the fortunes they had seen for the boy. This young soul was to directly clash with their interests. Purely theirs. Nothing to do with anyone else. Their selfish corrupt greed. But we didn’t come to know this till it was too late.

My father, King Amadian, was tricked into believing by these false priests that this boy was the sign and the omen of the devil. And that he would directly destroy the ruling hand of my Father. So convinced was he that he had the entire family ordered and ready for execution. I was too young to remember any of this. But now when I am told of this, the boy, who was almost the same age as me, suddenly was driven by a fire greater than that of rage. A drive of survival and justice. Two things that I have never really had to encounter in my life till now. I had been told about this boy. And I knew that this boy was far better. Far superior to anyone. Which is why they managed to escape, the boy and his family.  My father, the king, ensured that this be removed from the recordings of any sort. He wanted the existance of this boy to be rubbed out of our history. The last we heard the boy was sent away to another world. Far from our own, to protect him from the wrath of my Father and his corrupt priests.

Today, I am standing, questioning my own abilities. Simply because you exist. I, Prince Taramis, am in doubt only because of you. Well I cannot rest, until I find you, and destroy you with my own abilities, to prove that I, the Prince of all, am truly the perfect warrior. And that no one can stand a chance against the likes of me. Not even you, the legendary boy they call ‘Renegade-X’.

Life After the General

On August 18th, in a speech filled with emotions, President Pervaiz Musharraf announced his resignation. The General’s 9 year regime had come to an end. One filled with just the right ingredients for being called a mixed legacy. There were the good points and there were the bad points. A horrible 2007 in terms of decisions that were taken by the General. However the same person stabilized detoriating relations with nuclear neighbors India. So yes, the 9 year regime of the General will always be remembered as a mixed legacy.

But now all of this is part of history. The past cannot be changed. We must now look towards the future. And not just the future of who will be the next president or the ever lasting Judges Issue. But the future of the masses and of greater Pakistan. The economic future, the developed future of the country.

I fear however, the coalition will not be functioning along the same lines. The PPP and the PML-N are suddenly going to find a huge gaping hole in their relationship as coalition partners. One which will be found by the loss of a common enemy. And it will be fueled even more by the fact that Mian Sa’ab is probably not very happy ( at least he didn’t look happy ) with the fact that Musharraf will probably not stand in any trial. As I have always maintained that the entire issue of the Impeachment is nothing more than personal vendetta as far as Mian Sa’ab is concerned. With no more Musharraf in the equation, the power tussle between the two major parties of the country will now start. I sincerely hope I am wrong, and that through some miracle, these two remain together for the next 5 years of their term.

Whatever will happen, we will have to see over the next few days. The actions and ‘decisions’ will be indicative enough of where they plan to head with this country.

Some of my friends have asked me since the announcment, of what my sentinments are and what comments do I have. Well I think I have made my comments and opinion somewhat clear. Not crystal, because honestly, it’s not crystal even in my mind. I just don’t know what to expect honestly. We are the mercy of two faces from the past of our country. A decade which has been named the ‘Lost Years’ in many economic books. Two ‘political leaders’ who are not even elected. They aren’t in a government position. Why is that they are taking decisions? Why are they holding high level meetings with every tom, dick and harry in Dubai, London, Karachi, Islamabad over dinners and lunches lavishly prepared? These are the same people who claim to bring ‘real democracy’ to our nation. That’s the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. There isn’t even a single party which functions on democracy. We have parties which are ‘khandaani’, which are based on ‘jageedari’, or even whose leader hasn’t changed in years and years. So please, lets stop making mockery of a word which isn’t practiced even on the very basic levels of our political systems.

My sentiments towards Musharraf’s resignation, sad. I wish he could have continued or rather conditions would have been favorable for him to continue. He made mistakes which led the situation to where it is. I wish him all the best, for I still believe that he was a decent leader who did honestly try.

And then there was the Impeachement issue…..

The talks had been going on for the past 4 days and finally today, a smug looking Mian saa’ab and the ever dramatic Dark Prince, announced at a joint press conference, their plans to pursue the Impeachment of President Pervez Musharraf. And of course how can we forget the judiciary, which will be restored after the previous mentioned action.The very basis of PML-N’s election victory mandate is on two points; restoration of the judiciary and the impeachment of the President. Hence it’s no surprise that Mian saa’ab was looking all smug. Happy. Gleaming. His objective was complete. The personal vendetta was a reality after all.

For the past 4 months, i.e. since the new government officially took charge of things, all we have seen is a battle of wills between PPP and PML-N. There has been no proof or evidence of any sincere work towards the issues which are threatening the well being of this nation. The restoration of the judges and the impeachment of the President are certainly not even close to being under that category.

Petrol prices have gone through 7 hikes. It’s currently at Rs. 87 per liter. That’s almost Rs. 30 more than what the prices were before the elections. The food prices are spiraling. The common man is finding it extremely hard to make ends meet. The event of Ch. Iftikhar and the rest of the ‘deposed’ judges being restored and the independence of the judiciary will certainly not put food on the table of the poor. Economic management will. That is something that this so called ‘Coalition to save the democracy of Pakistan’ has not done. In fact, the first month in and the PML-N part of the federal cabinet resigned. That too a short time away from the annual budget. How much more irresponsible can you get?

Every single day, in the papers, in the news, it’s the same old story. Judges, judges, and more judges. After a long time the impeachment issue got a second wind hence we are seeing activity on that front. No one seems to remember that there is an economy within this country that is withering away to totters.

I demand, as a citizen of Pakistan, that give me one, even just one LOGICAL and JUSTIFIED proof that the events of the restoration of the judiciary and the impeachment of the President, especially at this point in time will help change the fortunes of Pakistan for the better. I am safely going to say none can be provided apart from a few vague statements. That’s what they are best at giving.

The impeachment, if it succeeds will I can guarantee, further move to destabilize the economy. Instead of being productive in whatever sense that these jokers of the past might consider this act to be, it will be counter productive in reality. I am not supporting President Musharraf. Although in all honesty, he made mistakes, but at least there was economic activity during the 8 years. Yes, that should have been better directed and focused, but it was there. Yes the politicians with him were corrupt as well. But so are the ones who are meeting 12 times a month over fancy lunched in a gazillion venues.

There consistent claims that ‘talks of such matters’ takes time is bullshit. Yes I am saying its bullshit. Absolute rubbish. It’s nothing more than a waste of the tax payer’s money. Scrap that, it’s nothing more than daylight robbery of the tax payer’s money.

The President has remained very firm and says that he will fight it out. That he will take whatever measures necessary. He can no longer use article 58-2(B) (correct me if I am mistaken with the number), the one to dissolve assemblies, since the coalition has already announced their plan of action.

I’ve said it before, in this write up and in previous write ups. The problems that this country is going through will not be solved by any of the two needle points, i.e. the Judiciary and the impeachment. They will be solved through COMPETENT Economic Management. Those two points are not magic wands. Those actions carried out at this sensitive point, will further damage the situation. Not only economically, but otherwise as well. This is a time when the country and its leadership needs to further strengthen the country; it has just moved to weaken the state.

The past four months were the Judiciary; the near future can aptly be labeled ‘then there was the impeachment’.