Sigh of Relief on Musharraf’s Resignation
By Rohail Butt • Aug 19th, 2008 • Category: Politics • 3 CommentsIn a televised address to the nation, at last the absolute ruler of the yesteryears, a disconsolate General (r) Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation and the whole country erupted in euphoria. Handful of them may be gloomy here and there, but the majority of people came out in the streets. They danced, and they distributed sweets and they chanted the slogans in the favor of democracy and justice.
The mirth of the lawyers is worth-watching, and why not. The whole credit goes to them, because it was them who punctured the tyre of Musharraf’s vehicle first time after 9th March last year when Musharraf arrogantly sacked the then chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary, because CJP said ‘No’ to the dictator. That triggered a lawyer movement, which has resulted into the departure of the dictator and now all eyes on the political leaders to fulfill their promise of restoring the judiciary.
Investors and brokers saw the KSE-100 index shooting up by 450 points, after the news of Musharraf’s resignation. KSE 100 index closed at 10719 points with increase of 461 points at the end of trading. Trade volume was 15 crore shares, five crore more than yesterday. Musharraf’s departure brought much needed certainty and strengthened rupee value.
Now as Musharraf has gone, there is every reason that one should bid expectations from the new government, as now there is no one in the President House to weave conspiracies.
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In addition to this, Rupee is strengthening against Foreign currencies. Yesterday its price against US $ was increased by Rs.1.25. Inshallah good time will start soon. and we will be back on track.
Its the greatest loss that would haunt the pakistani nation for decades. Musharraf is a man of honour. The current parties are the most corrupt ever known in the history of this country. Its a pity that we all will have to face the deteriorating situation further and there is no one to take of all the nonsense the ruling parties bring with them. A TOTAL DISASTER FOR THE COUNTRY PLUNGED INTO FURTHER INSECURITIES IN ALL SPHERES OF LIFE.
WE LOVE YOU MUSHARRAF AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT EVER.
Brush aside the dirty Pakistani politics and look what’s happening in our neighbourhood, our selfish media (both print and electronics) is still involved in Musharraf bashing ( a malicious propaganda campaign) and it has closed eyes from any other news. This is completely unprofessional attitude.
I have just depicted three news (all from today’s paper) from a renowned Indian newspaper, which gives you an idea that the time has ripened for Pakistan to actively involved in Kashmir problem once again. If our stupid politicians wasted this opportunity like they did in 1962 and 1965, this opportunity will never come back.
Please look below:-
Kashmir needs freedom from India: Arundhati Roy
SRINAGAR: Activist and author Arundhati Roy, who was present at the massive Monday rally, said that the people of Kashmir have made themselves abundantly clear. ( Watch )
“And if no one is listening then it is because they don’t want to hear. Because this is a referendum. People don’t need anyone to represent them; they are representing themselves. As somebody who has followed people’s movements and who has been in rallies and at the heart or the edge of things, I don’t think you can dispute what you see here,” she told TOI .
Roy also said that “since the 1930s, there have been debates and disputes about who has the right to represent the Kashmiri people, whether it was Hari Singh or Sheikh Abdullah or someone else. And the debate continues till today whether it is the Hurriyat or some other party.”
Then she added, “But I think today the people have represented themselves.”
Roy concluded with words, “India needs azadi from Kashmir as much as Kashmir needs azadi from India.”
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We are Pakistanis, says Syed Geelani
SRINAGAR: Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani on Monday demanded the merger of Jammu and Kashmir with Pakistan, as leaders of the moderate Hurriyat faction spoke about independence and a dialogue over the state.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the tourist reception centre here, Gillani said there was “no solution to the Kashmir issue other than merger with Pakistan”.
“We are Pakistanis and Pakistan is us because we are tied with the country through Islam,” he roared, as the crowd cheered him and chanted: “Hum Pakistani hain, Pakistan hamara hai” (We are Pakistanis, Pakistan is ours).
Taking a dig at the moderate Hurriyat leaders who shared the stage with him, Gillani said the leadership issue of the Kashmiri separatist movement was “solved today”.
“Do you have faith in my leadership? I will be faithful to you till my death and will carry everyone along,” he said, as the crowd applauded him shouting in unison “zaroor” (certainly).
Srinagar streets on Monday danced to the tune of ‘‘jeeve jeeve Pakistan” as frenzied youth chanted ‘‘teri jaan meri jaan, Pakistan, Pakistan” and the Polo Ground resonated to the rhythm of ‘‘teri mandi, meri mandi, Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi”.
Hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani has every reason to be mighty pleased with the turn of events which marked the success of his efforts to put himself and his mentors in Islamabad back in the J&K equation just as they appeared to have been pushed to the margins.
But then came the twist. Giddy by the success of bringing secession back on the agenda, Geelani committed the indiscretion of coronating himself as the leader of the ‘azadi’ flock.
Quite a bungle it was. The boast pricked the sensitive egos of the rest in the secessionist choir and the rift became visible within no time, perhaps creating an opening for the government to try and salvage its chestnuts out of the fire. Geelani’s unilateralism left the likes of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Yasin Malik and Shabbir Shah miffed and they left the scene without submitting the memorandum to the UN Military Observer’s office, for which the march was called in the first place.
The strong bid to appropriate the ‘sadarat’ of separatism, which has parties of myriad hues, was said to have sent others in quick meetings to hammer out their responses. ‘‘The chinks are there to see,” said an analyst. Geelani sensed the resentment as he addressed a press conference in the evening to dub his ‘I am the sole leader of the tehreek’ claim as a ‘‘slip of tongue”. He apologised, said the movement was bigger than the leaders and the struggle would continue, reposing faith in the coordination committee of Hurriyat factions.
If the octogenarian leader sought to make amends, it had already reduced the fourth show of strength since the Amarnath issue triggered a surge in sentiments in the form of march to UN office into a game in one-upmanship. Yasin Malik had walked out of the coordination panel’s meet on Sunday at Geelani’s residence by reportedly expressing reservations on the pro-Pakistan agenda being pushed by others.
The Hurriyat factions have been trying to put up a united face, having led campaigns like ‘Muzaffarabad chalo’, mourning at Idgah for Sheikh Abdul Aziz who died in police firing and ‘Pampore chalo’ on Saturday. Now, all eyes are on how the other components of the separatist camp take Geelani’s apology. The separatists have already announced that the agitation would continue, rebuffing speculation that the march to UN could end the demonstrations which have brought Srinagar to a halt for over a month. On display on Monday was the fact that the fresh surge in ‘azadi’ sentiment is driven by a religious rightwing tilt for across the border.
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Comments to the Editor
Now we know whats the reason that terrorist are s | Read
19 Aug 2008, 2216 hrs IST, By Sonjay, India
Isn’t this the same “environmental activist” who | Read
19 Aug 2008, 2215 hrs IST, By Mathew, USA
“I think people of kashmir have represented thems | Read
19 Aug 2008, 2210 hrs IST, By Rajiv, New Delhi
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SWAMINOMICS
Independence Day for Kashmir
On August 15, India celebrated independence from the British Raj. But Kashmiris staged a bandh demanding independence from India. A day symbolising the end of colonialism in India became a day symbolising Indian colonialism in the Valley.
As a liberal, i dislike ruling people against their will. True, nation-building is a difficult and complex exercise, and initial resistance can give way to the integration of regional aspirations into a larger national identity — the end of Tamil secessionism was a classical example of this.
I was once hopeful of Kashmir’s integration, but after six decades of effort, Kashmiri alienation looks greater than ever. India seeks to integrate with Kashmir, not rule it colonially. Yet, the parallels between British rule in India and Indian rule in Kashmir have become too close for my comfort.
Many Indians say that Kashmir legally became an integral part of India when the maharaja of the state signed the instrument of accession. Alas, such legalisms become irrelevant when ground realities change. Indian kings and princes, including the Mughals, acceded to the British Raj. The documents they signed became irrelevant when Indians launched an independence movement.
The British insisted for a long time that India was an integral part of their Empire, the jewel in its crown, and would never be given up. Imperialist Blimps remained in denial for decades. I fear we are in similar denial on Kashmir.
The politically correct story of the maharaja’s accession ignores a devastating parallel event. Just as Kashmir had a Hindu maharaja ruling over a Muslim majority, Junagadh had a Muslim nawab ruling over a Hindu majority. The Hindu maharaja acceded to India, and the Muslim nawab to Pakistan.
But while India claimed that the Kashmiri accession to India was sacred, it did not accept Junagadh’s accession to Pakistan. India sent troops into Junagadh, just as Pakistan sent troops into Kashmir. The difference was that Pakistan lacked the military means to intervene in Junagadh, while India was able to send troops into Srinagar. The Junagadh nawab fled to Pakistan, whereas the Kashmir maharaja sat tight. India’s double standard on Junagadh and Kashmir was breathtaking.
Do you think the people of Junagadh would have integrated with Pakistan after six decades of genuine Pakistani effort? No? Then can you really be confident that Kashmiris will stop demanding azaadi and integrate with India?
The British came to India uninvited. By contrast, Sheikh Abdullah, the most popular politician in Kashmir, supported accession to India subject to ratification by a plebiscite. But his heart lay in independence for Kashmir, and he soon began manoeuvering towards that end. He was jailed by Nehru, who then declared Kashmir’s accession was final and no longer required ratification by a plebiscite. The fact that Kashmir had a Muslim majority was held to be irrelevant, since India was a secular country empowering citizens through democracy