The People’s Party government in Islamabad has either done or tried to do almost everything that the Indians have been demanding. With Musharraf in power, Pakistan had the courage to tell the United States and India of their involvement in the Balochistan and the Frontier province unrest. What use is a democracy that cannot uphold our dignity, sovereignty and self-respect? Where has one of the three P’s in the PPP gone? The Pakistan?

Amend Foster

Sunday, December 14 – 2008

Ever since it came to power, the People’s Party government in Islamabad has either done or tried to do almost everything that the Indians have been demanding Pakistan to do for them over the past several decades.

While Musharraf was in power, the government was labelled ‘cowardly’ and one that strictly followed American directives. We dived into the ‘War on terror’ for the United States at a heavy cost. We handed over Pakistani citizens who were ‘suspected’ of being involved in terrorism.

But with Musharraf in power, Pakistan had the courage to tell the United States and India of their involvement in the Balochistan and the Frontier province unrest. It had the power to tell the United States ‘Sorry, we will not support you to attack Iran from our territory’. It had the guts to say ‘No, Gawadar port shall be built and completed’ much to the United States anguish.

Let me come to where I wanted to take you. What use is a democracy that cannot uphold our dignity, sovereignty and self-respect? I am not opposed to democracy, I am talking about this specific form of democracy that is in place in Pakistan. A democracy so fragile and insecure that if Mumbai is attacked, the President of this country (sitting happily over the 17th ammendment) comes out to say that it is an attack on the democratic establishment in Pakistan. Absurd right? Absolutely!

The ISI has been a nightmare for successive Indian governments. It has discharged its duties in the most efficient manner and ensured territorial integrity and security of Pakistan. India has repeatedly demanded that the ISI be suppressed and limited. No Pakistani government EVER even hinted that such a demand would be paid heed to.

And there we had it. The PP government tried to ‘curb’ powers of the ISI by placing it under the rogue figure, Rehman Malik (who is not even an elected representative).

What forced me into writing this was yesterday’s incursion of the Indian Air force into Pakistani air space. The Indian government would never have thought that the Pakistani Information minister would defend them so well.

As if nothing important had happened, Ms. Sherry Rehman brushed aside the issue saying the incursion was ‘inadvertent’ and that the issue should not be hyped. On being asked why the Pakistani government should believe such a response from the Indian government given the fact that the incursion took place at two locations at the same time, she coldly replied ‘This is what the Indian government has told us and the issue must not be hyped. Thank You!’

Where has one of the three P’s in the PPP gone? The Pakistan? Somewhere you find the defense minister Ahmed Mukhtar expressing Pakistan’s inability to shoot down planes (while the military maintains it never gets permission from the government to do so) and sometimes you find Social welfare organizations like the Jamaat-ud-Daa’wa being banned and its operations closed down. Just because the United States or the Indians want them to do so!

This government has gone out-of-the-way to facilitate US and Indian demands. So much so that we’re ready to lick their feet in public. This is causing serious waves of discontent going through the Pakistani populace. And the People’s Party understands ‘People’s Power’ better than the rest. If public sympathy can get you the throne, its agony, anger and frustration may also bring you begging to the streets.

To all the rulers of this country: You are NOTHING without ‘US’. The people of Pakistan.

Is the People’s Party Pakistani anymore? I think they need a reminder they’re losing a ‘P’, on purpose or by accident!

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