A martial law-ed Pakistani rants

Let us not delude ourselves. The purpose of the emergency/martial law monstrosity was to remove the Supreme Court bench. Most Pakistanis are happy to believe what triggered the declaration of the emergency was a tapped phone call indicating that the impending court verdict would not be favourable to the General. Having imposed the emergency, gotten rid of the stubborn justices, what purpose can the emergency serve? None. Why rejoice then? 

It’s amazing how one man rules a country like it’s no one else’s business. But it isn’t just one man. We’ve (from ‘our’ part of the world) heard about how the US has historically supported military regimes the world over. I used to read about the banana republics and I found it bizarre. Of course, Zia was not done to us by the US. He just happened. Sure! As did Musharraf. They call it misfortune? Bad people keep happening to us. In retrospect, that reasoning is naive to say the least. This is not to clump all that is America into a monolith labeled the US: let’s restrict ourselves to US policy.

Musharraf was on television today: “Hum nay women empowerment kii hai” (we’ve done women empowerment). How do you do that? In all earnestness. Women empowerment won’t be done by increasing women’s representation in mock assemblies. Women empowerment was a process when I checked last — a long term process involving a change in attitudes ‘etcetera’. Hundreds of women die of domestic violence each year; this figure is so bandied about you’re bored? I’m not surprised.“Hum nay minorities ko empower kar diya. Hum nay in ko joint electorate diya”. The tone is striking for its benevolence (read hubris). I shudder to think what it must feel like being a minority in this country. Yes, this country I’m castigating is mine and there is much love for it. What this vitriol is aimed at is not the country. It is at all those who’re trying so hard to ruin it and make sure it does not work.Please tell me I’m not alone in being offended. Since when did this country become his sole prerogative? ‘Main nay’ (I) is inserted into every sentence. The general thinks we need emergency rule on Sunday and so we do. The general knows best. On Friday he thinks it is needed no longer.  He must be correct. All hail the benevolent father figure eh? 

On another, more distressing note: Yesterday, the beheaded body of a police constable was found in a village near Thall. He had been kidnapped by six masked men a few days ago. A note found on the body read: “People should not join the police, paramilitary and army”. With photographs and videos posted everywhere on the internet, the figure of the baton-wielding policeman has become fairly ubiquitous. One wonders though, where exactly does one place the blame? The constables are performing their duty. They’re instructed to be ruthless. Not following duties can mean losing their source of livelihood. Is it not unfair, then, to be targeting them?

Anonymouse # 1