Time for Electronic Voting

I feel sorry for Hakeemullah Mehsud. To his utter dismay (as if he cares), people went out to vote and made the current elections a milestone in Pakistani history. The bloodiest of all elections , the turnout was more than ever before (around 60%) in which Pakistanis of all hues and color took active part. PML (N) stole the spotlight overall whereas PTI made history in KPK. In all this environment of festiveness, competitiveness, ugliness on social networks, fights amongst party workers, violence, bomb blasts and rigging concerns - One thing was for sure; Pakistanis went all out to show the world that they are the really the bravest lot in the world.

One aspect that kept raising its head was rigging and it seems that it will take quite a while where this issue attains a low profile. Now that the elections are over, lets discuss now how can the next election process can be made more transparent.

1 - Elections Under Army Supervision.

Now, this one makes me uncomfortable. Yes, Army is the most powerful institution but come election day, where do you see them apart from the TVs? They are no where to be honest. Also, living in Karachi, I have come to this conclusion that Rangers are just figurine of people in army fatigue; completely useless and just a drain on the finances. So why give them more importance by calling them every time in elections? I say No to army for elections.

2 - Electronic Voting

Now this gets me more buzzing. Voting through electronic means indicates a natural evolutionary step. I do not know how many countries go through elections by electronic means but I do know that ECP and Nadra have a service called 8300 that has all my electoral data! That is a huge step ahead. So what measures can be adopted? Let’s examine.

a) SMS Based Voting

If ECP/ Nadra has all my voting credentials, why not registering one further info? My cell phone number. This would be the number officially registered with ECP/ Nadra which could be used as an authentication of my being a genuine voter. Bogus voting would require someone snatching or sending a vote through my phone without my knowledge to the ECP database. Still better than the scenario wherein you are being forced to vote by peer pressure (the person standing alongside you forcing you to vote for a certain party). The voting can be SMS based or App based. The communication can be encrypted as well as the database. All political parties can be made aware of the security mechanism for credential and data protection adopted.

The trouble would be that only people of the urban areas would be more inclined to this mode of voting, people of rural areas might not have the knowledge/ interest of using this facility - or the fact that they do not have a mobile phone for that matter. Other issues could be ECP server overload, communication signal strength or no signal at all or IT based attack of Denial of Service (DoS).

b) Electronic Booth Voting

The issue of mobile phone availability, signal strength or the issue of difficulty of usage of electoral means through it can be addressed by Electronic Voting Booths.  Here, the voting machines would be connected to the electoral database and by keying in your CNIC, your electoral credentials will appear. Select the candidate and your vote will be locked.

This will obviously of no help considering the fact that in the current mode of manual voting, person standing alongside you belonging to a political party forces you to vote for someone of their choice. Also, procuring machines in such a large number for all the polling stations would be a hugely expensive exercise.

What can be done is that polling stations can be reduced. The cost of manning polling stations and printing the ballot papers would be reduced. The voting machine can be placed in secured selected spots easily accessible where people can go and poll. There will be no issue of separate electoral list for every polling station because the electoral lists would be centralized.  If voters of a certain area do get blocked out because of the high handedness of any political party workers, any machine can be utilized to vote. The only issue would be to make people reach that machine and that would be a real problem for voters.

Electronic voting can reduce the instances of rigging – forcing people to vote for someone, stuffing ballot boxes, influencing polling staff, taking over the election material. It obviously cannot remove rigging but it sure can make elections in Pakistan more transparent to the satisfaction of people. ECP can opt for any one or a combination of the above for conducting the next general elections.

As for Hakeemullah, any news of his implosion yet?

US, Haqqanis, Pakistan & I

Jeez. They are getting desperate aren’t they? What is with Haqqanis and US? Again there is a call by US to Pakistan to disengage from Haqqanis and take action against them in North Waziristan area of Pakistani tribal belt. They are getting more vociferous by the day especially after a raid by Taliban (US says Haqqani faction) attacked the US Embassy in Kabul. So much so that it has now threatened to halt civilian aid to Pakistan. In all this fury, cries and confusion - I am thinking.. what the hell is going on?


US is just acting like someone who is standing in dark and trying to fight anyone from any direction. Things are not going to improve after Haqaanis are vacated from Pakistan. But words coming out of Washington are not wise, in fact they are plain ridiculous. Here is what Mr. Leon Panetta had to say.

“The network cannot be allowed to cross the border, attack troops in Afghanistan and then cross back into Pakistan through the border.”

Imagine. He is the Defence Secretary. In effect what he is saying is that US has no control whatsoever in Afghanistan! Which quite frankly is the case. The Haqqani fighters come all the way from Pakistan, attack the embassy in Kabul and then return back! Amazing isn't it? So what were the US-NATO-Afghan army doing there? Counting chicken?


It even gets more ridiculous. Now there is a suggestion by US that ISI might have urged the Haqqanis to attack US interests in Afghanistan. I mean ‘inaction’ against Haqqanis in tribal areas is one thing… colluding with Haqqanis to attack US in Afghanistan is the most unimaginable thing for Pakistan to do right now. On top of that one gets to hear comments that make you say 'really? is is to so easy?'. Consider the following.


'Strategic Assets'


One often comes across this term while Pakistan and the proxies it supports are discussed. This states that Pakistan supports Taliban because it wants to have a strategic depth in Afghanistan in case it goes to war against India. Taliban are strategic assets since they are pashtuns so they would naturally support Pakistan.


'Strategic Asset' is a wet dream of military commanders of Pakistan during 90s. It is so last century. And it is so naive that one begs to think whether someone actually thought about it? First that Afghanistan can be used a strategic depth in case of war with India. No one has the guts to go in Afghanistan. British empire was beaten there. USSR drowned due to Afghanistan. US now is totally bankrupt due to its invasion there and people might think that Pakistan will be able to do so? Please teach me like I am a four year old.. but how is it going to take place? Secondly, if in case nobody mentions it, the fact that Afghanis hate us - whether they are Taliban or the Northern Alliance.


Third, and most importantly, the Taliban never listen to Pakistan! Whether it was the Bamyan Buddha that was destroyed or the issue of hand over of Osama to US after 911 - hey do not give a damn about Pakistan.


'India & Strategic Assets'


This is another one that one gets to hear. That Pakistan is stirring up trouble in Afghanistan so that US leaves and Pakistan is able to focus on Indian Kashmir. Notwithstanding the fact that Pakistan cant hold on to her pants when it comes to managing her own affairs, troubling a superpower in a troubled neighborhood is an idea that seems making trips to moon a child's play.


Another things important is that whatever the policy measures regarding Indian Kashmir in 90s, Pervez Musharraf during his tenure in early 2000s, greatly reduced the influence of jihadis in Kashmir - a fact even admitted by Indians themselves. That is the reason LeT and HuJI types are running amok in Pakistan - in fact they even attacked Musharraf through suicide attacks. This can be the reason that attacks on Indian Parliament in 2001 and Mumabi in 2006 occurred. If Pakistan were to 'throw out' US to gather momentum again against India in Kashmir, sadly, there is no one for them to help them out. Jihadis are against us now.


'Inertia of State of Pakistan'


There are two fundamental question that need to be answered: 1) 'What women want?' and 2) 'What does Pakistani State want?'. Sadly, it seems, we are not in luck to know the answers to these questions in near future.


But really, what is it that Pakistani State wants? Are Taliban our stooges or not? What is our policy in Afghanistan? Is there a difference between good taliban and bad taliban? If we say that Haqqanis are not given shelter in Pakistan - why not say so and let US come and deal with them? Why not deal with them ourselves and tell US to keep out? Why did not the Army act against them in Parachinar? What was Osama Bin Laden doing in Abbottabad?If he was not being protected - admit that it was a failure and seek help in better management of intelligence? I do not at all give any merit or credit to the theory that the Pakistani state protected him - they are just not capable of it. Pakistan army cant wipe their bottoms properly, as it was shown during the Abbottabad raid, and it hid Osama for 10 years? The Answers? 'Silence'. Had it been gold we would have been rich but no. The only thing, it seems, that army is capable of doing is tell the civilians how to run the government or torturing ordinary Pakistanis (in Balochistan) and reporters (Saleem Shehzad).


You might think since Pakistan is controlled by the army so it will not act against Taliban & Co. So why then the civilian administration is keeping mum on LeT, Sipahe Sahaba an Lashkar e Jhangvi? LeT is against security agencies and targeting them, the latter two are killing shias right and left. If the argument is that LeT is supported by army then the latter two are not all concerned with India or Kashmir - why not take action against them? Why let innocent Pakistanis being slaughtered by these mercenaries of faith? No answers of course.


Seems like Pakistan is this headless chicken that is roaming around the farm with no clue where to go. If anyone thinks that there is this great scheme by Pakistani establishment to somehow orchestrate all this and turn things to its own advantage - God be merciful please let me know too.


I am clueless too.

PPP and MQM in Karachi - Abyss.

Around 1300 people are dead in Karachi since January this year - and why cant this stop? because our leaders are busy making deals! Welcome to Pakistan!


Karachi is the face of Pakistan. The economic hub that makes the engine of Pakistan's economy run. Whenever Karachi sneezes, the rest of Pakistan catchers cold - for sure. Karachi has this live spirit in it as city that keeps you glued to it. People from all across Pakistan have come, still do, to Karachi making a living and diversifying the language and cultural base. Karachi truly is a mini Pakistan.


Like any metropolis, Karachi faces multitudes of  problems. Rapid urbanization, improper planned localities, illegal constructions, corruption, water and sanitation issues etc. Apart from that it has to face drug mafia, land mafia, terrorists of all sorts ranging from sectarian to ethnic and criminals. The latter is the really worrying part as law enforcement agencies including rangers and police are extremely ineffective in protecting the Karachiites.  This leaves the people of this city at the mercy of their luck - just hope that you are not at the wrong place at the wrong time because then there will be no one  to protect you.


Unfortunately for Karachi, the city is the worst managed of all in Pakistan I think. Every city, especially a metropolis like Karachi, faces problems but the administrators and leaders of the city try to somehow manage it - amidst ineffective government and corrupt bureaucracy. Somehow somewhere the administrators make the city go about its life but in Karachi, no one is interested in running the affairs of the city. All they want is the booty! To hell with the city is their motto it seems.


Amongst the ruling lot, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) an Mutahidda Qaumi Movement (MQM) run the show in administrating the city. They are joined by small time players of ANP, Jamaet e Islami, Sunni Tehreek etc. Turn by turn they take the Admin's Chair of this city and promote their vested interests. 


MQM should feel ashamed of using 'ethic cleansing' card by playing dirty politics on the deaths of innocent people, for example, Qasba Ali Garrh. People lost their loved ones on that horrible of events and MQM cites it just to gain favours? What did they gain? They are back in Govt and have the amendments in commissionarate system? and through what? Getting their demands by playing deals on the death of innocent people. Downright ugly.


Value of each of Pakistani's life is important - whether urdu speaking, pushto, sindhi, balochi or any of the regional language. Please do not do politics on the blood of innocent people. The Urdu speaking brethren should not fear any other ethnic group as their enemy - their supposed political leaders are their worst enemy.


And PPP - the less said the better. Democracy, in the current environment, has been the worst revenge. Politics of appeasement at the lives of innocent people. Horrible. What is the point of praising the President as an astute political player by chanting 'reconciliation' when all you do is trying to save your posterior for 5 years and in the meanwhile people are getting killed, economy being ruined and corruption galore? What good is reconciliation I ask? Then we have the buffoon of an Interior Minister who says that killings in the city are due to the reasons that girl friends are taking revenge from their lovers? See the audacity of this guy? He is making mockery of people who lost their lives in Karachi by suggesting so. But anyone cares? Of course not. They have to make deal my brother.


Oh we are so lost!


Related Post
- Dear Karachi

The 'Terrible' Chechens

Know why the Chechens do, what they do. How can one be so sick? The answer lies in the following article.

Time To Set The Chechen Free

War or peace on the Indus?

First time I have heard a third party on the water conflict between India and Pakistan

"Who will be the Indian Mandela who will do this – for the benefit of Pakistanis and Indians – on the Indus? "

The News

Welcome Back CJ

Unbelievable. For a politically indifferent mob called Pakistanis... totally unbelievable. They have seen people come and go, military men jumping over the democratic fence and back, politicians and bureaucrats doing corruption and then getting scot free. They have been seeing lawyers protesting for independence of judiciary and reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary for two years now, every Thursday they boycotted court proceedings and protested. Yesterday it all culminated in restoration of Chief Justice. Surreal. Does it happen in Pakistan too?

It started slow yesterday. Couple of days earlier when long march started from the rest of Pakistan, police effectively thwarted plans especially of lawyers to go to Islamabad by arresting key and influential leaders. The Federal Govt too barricaded Islamabad, deployed heavy police, arrested lawyers and politicians - think of a nutcase act and Govt (read Zardari) did it. Early scenes from yesterday saw PML-N workers taking police on. later JI workers appeared to fight teargas shells. Later in the afternoon it started to buildup, ordinary people were on the streets. It was getting more and more difficult for police to handle them. Then came the point when they refused to obey orders, the blockades that were placed by them were started to be removed. Media kept it very tight on Govt, frankly media had a lot of hand in this all movement. As they started breaking news that hurdles were being removed, more and more people came out on street.

As the night fell, it was very obvious. The Govt had lost it. People in throngs were out on streets, 'celebrating' if you will, they raised slogans in favour of CJ, honked horns and just shouted against Govt. No doubt Nawaz Sharif and his PML-N workers made the major impact. Had the Govt not blundered by sacking PML-N govt in Punjab through their goons in courts, not imposed Governors rule in Punjab then things would not have gained that momentum. Zaradri also ordered blocking of Geo News and that made journalists get on to the offensive. Plus Zaradri has a huge question mark on his credibility and integrity as he reneged on promises that he made with others. Key figures of the ruling PPP started showing their displeasure at events, cabinet minister resigned. As the people started coming on streets and police started to back off, the bureaucracy felt the pressure as Deputy Attorney General, DIG Police and DCO Lahore resigned.

Early morning, the reality sunk in to Zaradri that things were not that rosy. He made PM Gillani address to the nation and say that CJ will be restored. This is surely a great news. The struggle that lawyers made a huge impact on this dormant nation. For the past two years they have been struggling hard - the only active civic unit, supported by media, they rallied for the casue of independant judiciary. It paid off.

But we have to be very careful. Does that mean that judiciary in Pakistan is really independant now after CJ Iftikhars restoration? Mind you, CJ Iftikhar is going to retire soon! Lets all hope that this was not just as exercise to restore a single person. The idea was to restore the pre-Nov 3rd judiciary that was kicked out by Musharraf. The idea is to unroll all the illegal and unconstitutional acts of Musharraf. The idea is to put National Reconcilliation Ordinance (NRO) in the bin. President Zardari has already inducted hordes of judges in courts who are mainly his partymen that were rejected in Feb 18 polls. Zardari is not a man to be trusted, he is cunning and he will not sit that easily after suffering this humiliation. Army Chief kiyani acted wisely, PM is a sissy as we know, US concernde as always.

Lets hope that this announcement is the harbinger of true independant judiciary in Pakistan. This will result in the rule of law that ordinary Pakistani so wishes. Lets be hopeful.

Fingers crossed.

Here Come The Militants!

They have announced their arrival with a bang. The police checkpost in Mianwali, a border town near restive NWFP, is a grim reminder that Pakistani society is facing the worst scenario of civil unrest that it has seen for decades. The two story building was reduced to rubble when the militants destroyed it with powerful explosives. They attacked the post around 3 am, killed the constables on guard and then killed 6 police personnel inside before blowing up the building. Militants have come to Punjab with an attitude.

So how is it different this time around? I mean, suicide attacks have taken place before in Lahore and Rawalpindi. Yes indeed Punjab has been struck with tragedy of suicide bombings on various occasions but this attack on post signals the fact that militants will now increase their sphere of influence outside the frontier province and tribal belt. Swat is already under Taliban's control, Peshawar is closed from 3 sides, Dir - hitherto untouched- is falling to their control. Taliban are effectively utilizing their FM radio transmission network. They use it to broadcast information, threats, jihad sermons and everything that matters. And locals do listen.. because in these transmissions is their security. If your name is aired. rest assured you will be dead soon.

They have also established Taliban High Courts (THC). Young men recruited from these area are dispensing justice - quick time that is. People actually prefer these courts because they get quick results although usually Taliban are thrashing someone for some reason. You say 'Nay' - you will get drubbed. This of course highlights the most atrocious act of State negligence as it could be. The militants now and religious outfits before them, wanted a speedy justice system - not the one is plaguing rest of the Pakistan since ages in which there is no relief for the complainant. Swat had an effective justice system under 'wali e swat' and when in 1969 they formally came under Pakistanis state rule, the administration system was removed with the inefficient and corrupt system prevalent all across Pakistan. People don't forget mind you. Forget that, why should anyone NOT demand a speedy system of justice?

Then there is this intriguing role of Army. Just what the hell are they doing in Swat and tribal areas? They cant even pin point location of Maulvi Fazlullah - the notorious cleric of Swat? They cant stop FM transmissions? People of these localities say that there is no protection for them against militants. Army is no where to be seen! So where is the Army? Is it afraid of militants? Are they busy with 'strategic depth' issues in Afghanistan so much that they cannot find the time for their own homeland issues? Or are they waiting for the 'opportune time' to strike at civilian government saying they are ineffective in controlling situation in Pakistan?! Luck it seems on their side as Pakistan is bestowed with an extremely incompetent Government. Mr Zardari is busy in extracting revenge through Democracy from poor Pakistanis.

So Punjab be prepared. Your police check posts will be attacked. Your political administration will be weakened - targeting Nazims, political figures, anyone standing against them. They have routed the administration in Swat that is why police and locals cant do anything. So the time has come for Pakistanis to stand their ground against the assault on them - mind you, don't expect help from civil government or Army. God bless.

Buckle your seatbelt, Dorothy, ’cause Kansas is going bye-bye.

Hail Erdogan!

"Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan stormed out of a heated debate on the Gaza war with Israel's President Shimon Peres at the World Economic Forum on Thursday."

"Turkey's state-run Anatolian news agency quoted Erdogan as saying to Peres: "When it comes to killing you know very well how to kill. I know very well how you killed children on the beaches.""

""I do not think I will be coming back to Davos after this because you do not let me speak," the prime minister shouted as he left, though he said later he could reconsider."


"Thousands welcome Turkish PM in Istanbul on his return from Davos"

"People chanted slogans and carried banners read as "The Leader of the World", "Turkey is proud of you," in a bid to extent support to Erdogan's reaction. The crowd carried Turkish and Palestinian flags."

"The road in front of Erdogan's residence in Istanbul was covered with red carnations."

Hail Erdogan. You just won yourself an admirer from Pakistan. I did not know Turkey had balls.

Benazir Bhutto 'shaheed'

Give me a break will ya. First she became 'shaheed' (I don't know what is the criteria for being eligible for 'shaheed' or martyr but she does not fit it), then we had a national holiday on December 27th to commemorate her martyrdom (I am all ok for holiday trust me!) then we had a commemorative coin released by the central bank on the same date! I don't know but I guess Pakistan Post must have come up with a stamp too! did I miss it?

The thing is.. in Pakistan.. a thing is exploited for way much of its value - Benazir Bhutto's death is just the latest example. Bhuttos are one tragic family. One feels sorry for them really the way they transferred out of earth. Father hanged, one brother killed, another one poisoned, she herself got killed. They are in essence truly 'unlucky' family of Pakistani politicians. I mean a Pakistani politician does not die like this. They are one pampered lot.

The press, tv were all praises for her. I honestly do not know why. She was a feudal. All her life she spent the life of the elite. She 'ruled' the people of her constituency. She did not give a damn about democracy. She was in a power fight, first with General Zia and then with her political foe Nawaz Sharif. She had come to Pakistan by making a 'deal' with Pervaiz Musharraf who was by anyones definition a military dictator. Yeah that was for 'democracy'! hurray! She was the 'Lifetime Chairperson' of her party! ever heard of that anywhere in world?!

She kept denying whole her life that she did not know of Surrey Palace (they were alleged to be the owners and which they were), she made a deal with Musharraf that she'll support him as president if all cases are dropped against her (NRO was the result). Her husband was dubbed Mr.10% for the commissions that he took on deal when he was Minister for Privatization in her premiership.

Its also a facade that she cared for people. She only cared for herself - just like any feudal pakistani politician. She gave lectures to west on democracy and Islam and duffers that they are considered her to be the leading light of the two issues. A 'woman' from a third wold country? especially Islamic country? unheard of! Unbelievable! so every crap she utters is gleefully accepted as true! Although I must admit we as muslim world did not use her 'marketing' potential that much because hey.. if they keep telling us their democracy is best bullshit then we can do the same too eh?

She did nothing for women. She did nothing for people of her constituency. They are in fact more poor. Please do not tell me that 'army and religious parties were against her so she was not successful'. If they are true then they are hurdles for every politician in Pakistan who wants to amend things for good in Pakistan for women or minorities - she was not God sent. And Women's Bill was put forward by the dictator Musharraf - not democrat Benazir.

So thanks for the Holiday but no thanks. Leave me out of this martyrdom crap.

The Palestenian Curry

Must be delicious for the Israelis this time. Ingredients: 300+ Palestinians, peppered with missiles and aircraft attacks. The nation of Israel needed 'protection' from the Hamas fired rockets (it would be a shame to call it a rocket. Mind you Israeli blockade can never provide Palestenians with latest rockets) so the Israelis thought better to impress upon all of us how urgent the security needs are. US as usual, sided with Israel. OIC and Arab League, as usual, the impotents.

The real winners will be the 'jihadists' who will 'remind' the fellow muslims that there is only one solution to muslim problems - hit back because no one else is going to listen to us.

Mumbai Burning

Heart goes out for the innocent victims. What is afflicting humanity? What do these crazed individuals want? Let us live in peace will ya! Someones interests are death blows for the others. Unfortunate.

I Love Zardari

What?! You don't have that T shirt?! Oh come on! Every politician in Pakistan is wearing it! Well at least seems so! We have the whole of Pakistan People Party supporting him, then came the Sindh Assembly resolution and then the Frontier's - all imposing faith in The Man.

Well he is all around in the news. The master schemer that he is, he checkmated Nawaz Sharif, cajoled MQM, made ANP and Maulana Fazal toe his line, kept control on dissenting voices in his party, booted out Musharraf and now is all set to take the chair of President. Apart from PML-N, every so called political party is his supporter! Marvelous is it not? The man who was in jail couple of years ago has now has his fortunes reversed.

Very interestingly, the people of Pakistan (at least the ones that I interact with) don't seem to 'impose' that confidence in him - the one that currently legislators are displaying. Why? Whats the big deal? Does Mr.10% not enjoy the confidence of the masses? But How do I know that? Before I tell you, there is a background to this one.

When the February 18th elections were held this year, a series of SMSs were roaming all over Pakistan regarding PML-Q basically insulting or ridiculing them. I wrote a post on it too 'SMS - The Opinion Maker' and had predicted what lied in front for PML-Q. No, I am not a sage but it was clearly written on wall. This time, although it is not SMS but Internet.

You must have received that email regarding 'Wealth of Zardari'. The sources may be different but I think Teeth Maestro first published it on his blog. You see the same text on discussion boards and various forums. This is 'very surprising' for me. I do not what is due to either, the political maturity of the people of Pakistan or the fruits of free media and telecommunication finally bearing results. Whatever the reason, this only indicates good as the politicians and others will have a strong check on them.

Zardari was named Mr.10% because this was the supposed commission he took on transactions or deals when his wife was the Prime Minister. He got his current angel-white-feathers after he struck a deal with ex President Musharraf under National reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) according to which all the corruption cases against him would be withdrawn and in turn he will have to support Musharraf's presidency. And some support he gave to Musharraf! He gave a clean way of exit to Musharraf in which the retired general will not be out on trial or impeached. Now he will become the President himself :)

Yes. No court cases were proved against him but people of Pakistan I think know you Sir. You may have had the bath of NRO but you still have a long way to go to cleanse yourself in the eyes of ordinary Pakistanis.

The Next President?

Come on guys.. vote with me. Justice (retd) Bhagwandas for President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan!

A noble guy, a person with great integrity. He is a Hindu and the best I can think as a representative from minority and as President of Pakistan. But the hurdle you, he and I face is the Constitution of Pakistan - specifically Article 41 (2), which states

(2) A person shall not be qualified for election as President unless he is a Muslim of not less than forty-five years of age and is qualified to be elected as member of the National Assembly.

Amend it for heavens sake! Article 41 (1) suggests the following:

The President. (1) There shall be a President of Pakistan who shall be the Head of State and shall represent the unity of the Republic.

See? A president shall represent the unity of the republic! Republic is not composed of muslims only! A president should be a 'Pakistani Citizen'! No religious affiliation should be there. Minorities have equal rights to be President of this country! its theirs too!

And nothing is going to happen to 'Islam'! It will stay safe and secure! Majority of the people of Pakistan are muslims, a non-muslim being President will not hurt us or Islam for that matter.

So who is in?!

Check My Previous Post:

- Why cant there be a non-muslim Pakistani Head of State?

Bush unhappy with Taliban’s movement on Pak-Afghan border

Really? No kidding right? You also want to discuss this issue with Prime Minister Gilani I have read. You must be serious this time.

How about a solution to this problem Mr. Bush. You have the best army in the world right? Your army is equipped with the most technologically advanced weapons, communication systems and allied accessories. If Pakistan is doing nothing to prevent movement of Taliban across the border.. how about you doing it? I mean, Pakistan can do anything on her side of the border but can not do anything on that side of the border right? How about plugging all the holes on the Afghan border?

The moment the Taliban enter in to Afghanistan - put them to smithereens. Do not let them get away. Put all your army on Pakistan's border. Focus all your satellites on that area. Map, man and monitor every inch of that area so that no militants hop across.

Or do I sound illogical? If you can not do so since being in Afghanistan, from I don't know when, ages?... how can you expect this from Pakistan? Yes Pakistan is the trouble maker in Afghanistan but surely you are there to correct the situation and prevent anything bad from happening? Either the Taliban enter in droves in Afghanistan loaded with Stingers or something fancy or they enter Afghanistan one-by-one using the paths they know well - you cant tackle them? You do not know where they come from? Is it not your fault you cant plug those holes on border?

Or you have already started doing so by amassing army at our borders?

Where is the Lawyer's Movement Heading?

I found this sticker on a door of a toilet on motorway. Is the movement heading in that direction?



'hum mulk bachanay niklay hain, aye duniya hamaray sath chalay'

Eunuchs in Parliament

(discussion on whether eunuchs are eligible to become member of Parliament in Pakistan)

....
Mr. A: In the last elections the nomination papers of a Eunuch were rejected from Lahore heera mandi area (Red Light Area). If I remember correctly his/her name was Aslam KIRLA.

Mr. B: what did the Returning Officer do.. 'inspected' him/her? :p

Mr. A: By the way what difference it would have made if our PM was Shoukat Aziz or Aslam KIRLA. At least the latter would not have screwed this nation.

Mr. B: You mean in the latter's case we [as a nation] too could have had the chance?!
....

Pakistan Votes

Pakistani's have voted. And they have voted for change. Really?

You know what.. I really feel for PML-Q! I know they were going to be dumped no surprises there but they were just a political lot with a tag of PML-Q on their forehead! Majority of the politicians are the same! People are treating them with contempt as if they are the ones who are the cause of every ill Pakistan is afflicted with. I mean you do not have to go 100 years back in time to know that Nawaz Sharif, the champion of judicial supremacy, himself was responsible for attack on Supreme Court. Benazir Bhutto came to Pakistan by a deal with Musharraf. She had cases against her removed through National Reconciliation Ordinance! Zaradari, the current co-chairman, is the biggest thug of all.

Anyways.. coming to the results of the election, PML-Q's stars lost the game. Chaudhry Shujat, Sheikh Rashid, Ijaz ul Haq etc. I was also not surprised by the success of Awami National Part (ANP). The pukhtoon nationalist had to make a comeback since the mullahs of Mutahidda Majlis e Amal (MMA - the alliance of religious parties) did a terrible job. Mind you I voted for MMA in the last election. I had done that because I wanted to try other faces. I had even voted for Musharraf in referendum! so much for my selection :p But I totally believe that leadership is what matters even if you don't have effective political parties or the kind of democracy Pakistan has. Musharraf though has totally lost it. He wont survive much.

I could not vote this time because I was some 1800 km away from my polling station! I would have voted for ANP too perhaps. A party that takes a principled stand on various issues and are not nuts when it comes to religion. In fact, they tend to be more on the left on this count as they opposed the Afghan jihad and now the militant version of talibanization.

MMA got routed as well. Partly because of boycott, Maulana Fazlur Rehman's pro-Musharraf antics and their own performance. Or perhaps I am too biased against religious parties because I feel they exploit religion for their political gains? For the first time I guess Qazi Hussein Ahmad sensed it right where the opinion will lie and boycotted early.

The biggest surprise was from Nawaz Sharif's PML-N. The number of seats that his party bagged in National and Provincial assembly was really surprising. Good that he was not contesting because I do not want to see him as PM. Nor did I want to see Benazir as prime minister! Though her death was tragic which was exploited to the maximum by PPP, she herself was just another opportunist feudal!

There is one thing that I like. This time around there will be a new face for prime minister. I think the two-time Prime Minister term limit is very good because somewhere in me, I assume, that this would inculcate democracy within parties themselves too! Silly me! But I am not pessimistic. PML-Q got the treatment it deserved. Pakistani voters told them not to side with dictators. This is a very strong message. Its a strong reminder for anyone who is coming next. The message is loud and clear. Do not mess with Pakistani voters!

I hope what I state is true!

SMS - The Opinion Maker

I just received a joke on SMS and it is again about PML-Q, the erstwhile goons of Musharraf. Tell me, if you have received political jokes recently, how many relate to PML-Q? I can safely say 90% or more of the times its about the same party. The 'ridicule' factor is most prominent in these jokes.

Its this type of politics-based joke that interests me. (Yes I do receive other jokes as well that interest me even more :p) You read the joke, you laugh and you forward it to someone else. Was it just simple as that? What you did as simple an act of laughing and forwarding was that you formed an opinion about PML-Q as well! What is the image of PML-Q in your mind now? Idiots most probably! And that is most important. I am not saying that its only the SMS that formed your opinion like that but it certainly is a build up on the earlier information.

SMS and cellphones are ubiquitous these days. Its such an important element in the modern day of communication but we do not give it due importance rather take it for granted. Yes we are aware of the 'nuisance' factor of it but do we really appreciate the timeliness of information received? Remember Benazir Bhutto's assassination? You read it on blog first or got the SMS first? Do we know how can it be utilized to further your cause?

Talking about political jokes, Propaganda has now taken on new form. I do not know whether it was by chance or some deliberate attempt but this is certainly working. The majority of the users of cell phone are young aged-middle aged Pakistanis. They can sms - not just receive and send calls. They are the ones that are more aware of the changing scenarios of the country and perhaps would want to do something about it. They are the decision makers and they are the recipients of these messages.

The usual medium of information like Newspapers, Radio and TV still play an important role in forming an opinion. The information they provide is portrayed as balanced and accurate. You cant really blame them because they are working in boundaries of ethics and fair-play (at least they say so). But when it comes to SMS, the language is more straight forward than the draped-thing that you get from other media. A joke is short, precise and to the point! Conveys what the meaning is and helps do it in less cost! Forget about expensive advertisement campaigns against opponents which sound sleazy anyway! SMS will spread much faster, will cover great distances, will have impact and you will not have to bear the expenses too! What an effective propaganda tool!

Blogs come close to quick opinion-forming information dissipation. Bloggers are usually more aware of the events that are going on whether political or apolitical. SMSs even outshine them in the sense that you do not spend that much time on computers. If you do, you would go to your favorite places on the internet including blogs and newspaper sites. You will not visit every site to get information. On the other hand, with SMS, the destination of the information is the 'recipient'. You get a message and you 'read' it! You will even forward it to your friends. A network of opinion was generated.

Perhaps you can clearly see the results of the next elections if SMS popular sentiment is to be believed. PML-Q will find it very difficult because the most powerful element of 'information' is not on their side! Pakistani politics is peculiar in the sense that dynasties, feudals, 'biradri' play more important role than the voter conscience. Would it be any different this time?

Emperor Musharaf's New Clothes

12th October 1999 - "Have to hear this guy! whatever is going on is unbelievable!"
3rd November 2007 - "What the hell does he want to say now?!"

The above equates almost what I had in mind.

Mr. Musharraf.. whatever you are selling.. we are'nt buying it. Whatever credibility you had.. has been lost. I was perhaps the biggest supporter of yours - now I dont give a damn to the explanations you give.

You are not the saviour, you are not indispensable, you are not infallible.

The common man may not come on streets... cuz they are too busy trying just to survive. My friend asked a bread maker (tandoor wala) that emergency has been imposed. He replied "Will it lower the prices of essentials?"

Please do not consider us idiots. Nawaz, BB, you - all of the same category. Just your interests to safeguard.

It sucks really. By the way.. you are not wearing anything.