The Boldest Challenges to Musharraf Take Shape

General Musharraf may have encountered perhaps the most serious, grassroots challenge to his administration yet. Musharraf's decision to suspend Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry this March has seemingly morphed into a dense political thicket, replete with every major political party and ideologue taking advantage of what was suppose to be a purely judicial matter.

The battle lines were clearly drawn when the former Justice arrived at the Karachi Airport to address the bar association in this volatile port city. With trucks, cannisters, and tires blocking the Justice's supporters from crossing the the roads leading to and from the airport, the prospects of violence was a foregone conclusion. The opposition, consisting of lawyers and members of the Awami National Party (PPP), which is led by exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, allegedly battled against supporters of the Muttahid Quami Movement (MQM), a political party that rose to power during the 1980s and one that strongly backs Musharraf's military government. The MQM however, speaking through its leadership headquartered in London, has strongly denied any involvement in the violence. Nevertheless, the degree to which various opposition parties have catalyzed the judicial suspension is remarkable and unpredictable, which certainly does not bode well for Musharraf.

Further, the rise of Islamic fundamentalism across the country isn't helping the situation. While certain pockets of the Northwest Frontier is known to be a bastion of Taliban-style semi-autonomous governance, such boldness has crept into the heart of Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, commonly considered to be a secular and liberal environment. Over the past few months, members of the Red Mosque, who support a Taliban-style government, have destroyed music shops, burned DVDs, and abducted brothel owners, police officers, and military soldiers, forcing some of them to publicly denounce their views. Apparently, the Red Mosque's actions are a response to the government's detainment of several of their members, however, the confrontation is leaving many scratching their heads as to how such extremism is taking root in the first place.

Musharraf's tolerance for such extreme protests and a freer press are manuevers that may help him in assuaging some of the political tension, but the reality is that there are far too many subvergent political parties and groups that have risen to challenge Musharraf on a platform that hardly connects to any of their underlying interests. Considering the far graver reality check of a Pakistan absent Musharraf, the MQM and other supporters are urging Musharraf to calm Pakistan's internal political atmosphere. Time will determine the fate of this government in a country that can hardly be ever characterized as politically stable.


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Shooter was another kind of Asian

News of the tragedy at Virginia Tech on Monday left many people shocked and confused. When it was announced that the shooter was a Korean national, the Korean government expressed its collective condolences to the victims and called for calm as Koreans feared a backlash based on prejudice. It is good for the Koreans that there are those calling for understanding, but who is standing up for the Pakistani victims of prejudice.

Before the police had made their announcement on the identity of the killer famous thought machine Debbie Schlussel already knew that the shooter was Pakistani and part of a terrorist attack. Of course, if he is a terrorist, he must be from Pakistan… except for one thing: Pakistan is not a terrorist country. Pakistani people are victims of terrorism, mostly from outside their borders. Ms. Schlussel was not content to just impugn her imaginary shooter, but by use a racial slur she impugned the whole nation.

Maybe she thinks that being nasty and bellicose is part of being a conservative. Maybe she would like to take that up with Muhammad Ali Hasan and his mother, Seeme Gull Khan Hasan founders of Muslims for America. The Hasans are visible spokespersons for the Pakistani Americans and uphold conservative values. They worked for George Bush’s re-election and promote “zero tolerance for any kind of terrorism, in following the example left by Prophet Muhammad PBUH.”

I am reminded of the scene in the BBC miniseries To Serve Them All My Days where the British boys are taunting a Jewish refugee because he is from Germany. A teacher catching the bullies pointed out that the Jewish boy was in England because of the persecution he experienced in Germany. “He must find it ironic that he now faces persecution because of where he comes from.” Some Pakistanis are in America to escape persecution, only to find persecution here. Ironic. “Do you know what that means?”

It is also ironic that the derogatory term used by Ms. Schlussel plays on the part of the name Pakistan (Land of the Pure) that stands for “pure”. A synonym for pure is innocent. The gunman was not Pakistani. The Pakistani are innocent then.

What Ms. Schlussel did just made her look vulgar and ignorant… all for cheap political points. That reminds me of another quote from the miniseries.

Christine Forster: Politics is full of people who can't cope with their own lives. I worry about that a lot.

Yeah... I know what that means. I worry a lot too.

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“Talibanistan:” A State within a State

Local tribal leader Haji Mohammad Sharif of Wana, the main town of Waziristan, recently spoke to the media and stated his tribe’s intention to expunge foreign militants from the area. Explaining his decision, he said that the militants, once their guests, had begun to kill his own people. Only one illustration of the area’s complex cultural and ideological dynamics, Waziristan has captured the world’s attention as one of the most volatile parts of the world. It is in effect, a state within a state, now commonly referred to as Talibanistan.

The near autonomous area within Pakistan has yet to be effectively infiltrated, philosophically or logistically, by any foreign power over the last two centuries. Musharraf’s government itself has been unable to wage a promising campaign in Waziristan, despite the remarkable fact that it exists within sovereign Pakistan. Indeed, Haji Mohammad’s statement lends support to the argument that greater change can only occur through a change in the hearts and minds of his people. Unfortunately, each limited gesture of change is met with a rather grave reality check. Flushed with not only foreign, but domestic militants deeply rooted in a perpetual jihadist ideology, Waziristan has become the central point of dispute between Afghanistan and Pakistan, and increasingly, between the United States and Pakistan. While Iraq may represent a logistical threat, Waziristan represents the playground where ideological forces are battling it out. Remnants of the Taliban are coloring its cultural and ideological spectrum, banning music and movies, requiring women to veil, and forcing men to attend prayers. The Taliban is once again rearing its ugly head six years after it was flushed out of Afghanistan.

Their resurgence in Pakistan is having consequences that reach far beyond Waziristan’s immediate territory. Suicide bombers are being deployed in mainstream Pakistani cities such as Islamabad, destroying any notion of safety in the usually quiet capital and bewildering the masses. Pakistan’s recent, so-called “peace deal” only fuels their fire to cultivate and regroup. The United States, unable to fully attack the militant bases in Waziristan due to Pakistan’s lack of permission, is left frustrated in its efforts to curb the extremism that is taking root. Instead, the U.S. is limited to providing intelligence to Pakistani authorities and funding social programs. A local tribal leader may change a few attitudes, but until the Pakistani government finds a way to control its own backyard, Waziristan, or Talibanistan, will continue to provide a haven for terrorists.

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Musharraf's Government is Committed to Freedom of Expression

Recently police stormed the Geo/News offices in Islamabad and manhandled the staff, breaking window panes and throwing tear gas at the staff members. Although the attacks were blamed on Musharraf, the President denies any such involvement. In fact, he has pledged his full support for the freedom of press and media, assuring the masses that all those involved in the attack would be fully dealt with, regardless of their political/governmental positions.

The President's words appear to be far from empty promises. In accordance with the President's statements, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz issued directives for judicial inquiry into the attack on the Geo offices. Aziz directed the Ministry of Interior to order the Home Secretary in Punjab, the Punjab IG and DIG to take action against the police personnel involved in the attack against Geo and make an immediate report to the Ministry.

In fact the Pakistani government suspended 14 policemen for their alleged involvement in the attacks. The immediate action by the government demonstrates that Musharraf's government is committed to freedom of expression in the media.

The ever-growing popularity of television channels are a testimonial to the evolving political environment of Pakistan. The attacks were an effort to mar that evolution, but the regime's quick response strengthened the commitment to freedom of expression. It is a strong step forward by the government in an effort to improve information dissemination in Pakistan.

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Rough week for Musharraf

We have been hearing all week how there are continuous demonstrations against the government of Pervez Musharraf for sacking the Chief Justice Iftikar Muhammad Chaudhry. The demonstrations have been made up mostly by the lawyers who are on strike in protest against this action. Several news sources speculate that this may be the “beginning of the end for Musharraf”. This would be calamitous for the United States foreign policy in the region as there is no “Plan B”.

Musharraf claims he had solid Constitutional grounds for asking the Chaudhry to resign. Chaudhry claims to be a fighter and would be betraying those who believe in him if he were to resign. Currently, there is a tribunal convening. There Chaudhry can state his case. The tribunal’s decision will be most likely be final as Musharraf has agreed to go along with its findings.

Those who are eager for the downfall of Musharraf might want to remember what life in Pakistan has been like since he took leadership. The Pakistani economy is growing, the rupee is on the rise, and Pakistan culture is more global. Musharraf may not fare well in the elections next year, but the citizens of Pakistan should hope his reforms and advances survive.

In other news, the Pakistani cricket team lost to Ireland Saturday. Wait, lads, don’t take it too hard. You were playing the IRISH on ST. PATRICK’s DAY; you hadn’t a chance. Maybe, you could sue for a rematch… if any of you could find a lawyer not on strike.

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Lack of Islam in Islamic Law

The most interesting thing about Pakistan's allegiance to an Islamic state is the lack of religious understanding put forth by the Shar'iah system. Laws often originate from individuals striving to interpret the legal needs of a community. The creation of Islamic law under the principles of Shar’iah serves a political purpose within a sphere of cultural knowledge.Muslims often confuse Shar’iah to represent a law derived straight from the word of God, which leads to Muslims giving deference to laws allegedly derived from the religion. What most Muslims fail to realize is that Shar’iah, as it stands today, is borne from a mixture of sources that include, but are not limited to, the Qur’an and Sunna.

The human meddling in the so-called divine principles evident in the Qur’an produced a patriarchal legal system which ignores the gender-egalitarian nature of the religion. This inequality occurred because most jurists responsible for interpret ting sources of Shar'iah were part of a patriarchal society. The same patriarchal society that has made Pakistan infamous. The male-led religious right of Pakistan holds onto their power by citing to the Qur’an and the Prophet to validate their jurisprudence against women and non-Muslims, despite the call for equality in Islam.

If Pakistan continues to adhere to an archaic misrepresentation of Islam and laws derived from Islam, the society will cease any possible progression.

The country needs to take a step back and analyze the intent behind Islam, compared to the implementation of religious law by state officials. Only then will the contradiction between the two become apparent - and catalyze a reformation of the Shar'iah system in Pakistan.

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Hope for peace in Indo-Pak composite dialogue

Pakistan and India are continuing the peace process which was started four years ago. The March 13th meeting in Islamabad is being called the fourth “composite dialogue”. The third took place last November after the July train bombing in Mumbai disrupted the continuity of previous talks. There is much hope for progress at this time.

One good sign is the increased high-level activity between the two nations. Pakistani officials recently seen out-and-about in India include Pakistan Foreign Minister Khurshid M Kasuri, Information Minister Tariq Azeem, and former Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali. Indian officials who have made their way to the Pakistani side of the border include Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Extra Secretary K.C. Singh.

There are many less than high-level yet still important Indo-Pak meetings. These would include Indians doctors attending the South Asian Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists March 8th to 10th in Lahore, Pakistan. Also, highly quiet negotiations between the two countries have brought about the highly publicized announcements last week of a joint oil pipeline project. On the cultural side, Salman Ahmed, called the Bono of Pakistan, performed in New Delhi on February 24th as part of his campaign to bring the message to citizens of both countries, “Coexist”.

Hope also sprang anew at a recent meeting of the Pakistan-India Citizens Friendship Forum in Karachi. The guest of honor was Satyabrata Pal, the current Indian High Commissioner and former Foreign Secretary.

While the peace talks advance, there are bound to be disagreements. However, “honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress,” according to Mohandas Gandhi, a sage for both sides.

There can be no denying that peace is just around the corner when a Pakistani can call the Indian High Commissioner, a real Pal. The rest of us have to call him “Mister Pal”.

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