Desicritics Comments on Pakistan After Benazir

Comment by temporal

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 15:05:06 EST

sharing from my blog: Where is the Will To no one's surprise no body is questioning the will of Benazir Bhutto. It is understandable to an extent why the western electronic and print media might have overlooked it. In the west the last will and testament is a legal document that is signed and dated by the person making the will, declaring him/herself to be of sound mind, witnessed by two persons, and attested by an attorney by affixing a seal. I have inquired unsuccessfully and have learned that some others who have been covering the meeting of the CEC (central executive committee) of the PPP have been rebuffed. This is what can be surmised from various reports and on air statements. * Two days prior to her departure for Karachi on October 18, 2007 Benazir Bhutto wrote this alleged will and found time to write several letters to her colleagues, friends and party officials that she entrusted with a 'female servant.' After her assassination the will and those letters were handed to Asif Zardari. * He has claimed that the will was read and verified by lawyers and party officials. * No reports have surfaced to date about the other "letters." * No facsimiles or copies have been made available to party leaders, members or the media for scrutiny. There are two sides to any public person. This will deals with Benazir's public side. This will should be made available immediately for scrutiny.

Comment by Ledzius

Wed, 2 Jan 2008 11:19:26 EST

What is the big deal about bullet vs bomb? Is there any hint of invlovement of a second assassin, just like JFK? Otherwise, how does it matter how she got killed? I don't understand the need for a cover-up.

Comment by kerty

Tue, 1 Jan 2008 15:03:26 EST

Sujai.. Pakistan will always remain a nation of moslems, but it has to fashion a polity that does not vest all its powers to Mullahs and Military. To do that, it must fashion a polity that is not Islamic. To do that, large moderate constituency is a must. To do that, it must rein in on its Jehadism and anti-Indiaism - that is Mush's mandate or whoever takes power in Pakisitan. If Pakistan can not deliver on that, it will be overshadowed by terrorists of its own. However, it is not clear if new USA administration will have the same priority to fight Jehadism - also there is growing sense among leftists of SE Asia that fighting Jehadism is not an urgency as it could actually prove useful to checkmate political developments in India. Thus Mush's stature has become uncertain and will have to diminish. Much depends on hardline GOP retaining power in USA. If situation in Pakistan becomes a political liability for GOP, Mush will become an orphan that neither USA, India or Pakistani poeple would want to own.

Comment by Sujai

Tue, 1 Jan 2008 12:45:27 EST

I am sad for Pakistan. The dynastic politics, the bane of South Asia, has gripped Pakistan in its vice much firmer than in some of its neighbors. Pakistan never enjoyed good leadership. The only hope for Pakistan is its moderates- who comprise a huge population. According to me, the biggest number of moderate Muslims on the planet reside in Pakistan. Yet, they have been hijacked by one wily leader after another. Not very different from India, but for Pakistanis it has been worse. Pakistani moderates should rise above their petty differences, unite, and raise their voice, and ask for better institutions. They should throw the garb and charade of being Islamic. Religion has never been or never will be the tool to rule one's people.

Comment by Sanjay

Tue, 1 Jan 2008 02:57:18 EST

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/world/asia/31inquiry.html

At a news conference Sunday, Ms. Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, said he had declined a request for a post-mortem examination. "It was an insult to my wife, an insult to the sister of the nation, an insult to the mother of the nation," he said. "I know their forensic reports are useless. I refuse to give them her last remains."

Comment by Sanjay

Tue, 1 Jan 2008 01:15:24 EST

temporal, I just had an ugly thought inside my ugly Shylock brain: It was widely reported that Zardari's marriage to Benazir had started breaking down - that's no secret. Like many political families, they were just keeping the marriage going for appearance's sake. What if Zardari had sold out, and cut a deal with someone who wanted wifey bumped off and "suddenly removed" from the picture? A fellow like Musharraf? Then Zardari gets son Bilawal named party head, while Zardari remains the real power behind the son's throne? It's being reported that it was Zardari who pointedly refused to allow an autopsy done on his wife, on the grounds that it "would be an insult to her", sacrilege, etc. If such accounts are true, then I'd find such behavior to be highly suspicious. Meanwhile, the govt is doing its part by insisting there were no gunshots fired into Bhutto, insisting that it was only the blast and her head impacting the lever which did her in. The govt also does its part by quickly having the crime scene hosed down, washing away evidence, instead of quarantining the area to preserve evidence for investigators. What if Mushy and Mr-10-Percent have cut a deal? It's quite plausible that neither man might miss having Benazir "suddenly removed". Indeed, both men might benefit, and live happily ever after.

Comment by Chandra

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:54:51 EST

T Uncertainity yes....but other metrics seem to be extremely positive- Development metrics, economic metrics, independent media, better external situation (India). Three negatives remain- Fundamentalism, Dictatorship and the Chaos at the border. Compare this with 1999 - Negative Dev metrics - Poor economic metrics - Much lower media consumption and availability - Very poor external situation (India) - Fundamentalism - Corrupt and incompetent Govt (nawaz) - Better border situation with Afganistan. In other words, most of the metrics were negative. Musharraf has done more positive than most Pakistanis agree. having said that the lack of instutions that can take over in the event of Mush's death is a major drawback. That is the the biggest Joker in the pack. rgsd

Comment by temporal

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:06:40 EST

chandra: the solution? this is what i wrote in the last paragraph:

The only thing that can be said with certainty is the coming months will be full of uncertainty. And the forces of dark glow with glee at it.

Comment by temporal

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:04:17 EST

sanjay: that brigadier cheema is naive or stupid or both save your breath and click on the second xray to the link in the article it shows a big hole in her skull these xrays were released by brig. cheema in the same 'hit the sun roof' press conference i don't think they are hiding anything - they are just plain dumb

Comment by Chandra

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:01:39 EST

T What is the solution for Pakistan? Mush's staying or leaving will change nothing.

Comment by temporal

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:01:19 EST

chandra: nahin bhai nahin:) if someone flogs a dead horse (not knowing the horse is dead) it is time to make better use of one's time;)

Comment by temporal

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:48:43 EST

My heart bleeds for Pakistan. It deserves better than this grotesque feudal charade Six hours before she was executed, Mary, Queen of Scots wrote to her brother-in-law, Henry III of France: "...As for my son, I commend him to you in so far as he deserves, for I cannot answer for him." The year was 1587. On 30 December 2007, a conclave of feudal potentates gathered in the home of the slain Benazir Bhutto to hear her last will and testament being read out and its contents subsequently announced to the world media. Where Mary was tentative, her modern-day equivalent left no room for doubt. She could certainly answer for her son. A triumvirate consisting of her husband, Asif Zardari (one of the most venal and discredited politicians in the country and still facing corruption charges in three European courts) and two ciphers will run the party till Benazir's 19-year-old son, Bilawal, comes of age. He will then become chairperson-for-life and, no doubt, pass it on to his children. The fact that this is now official does not make it any less grotesque. The Pakistan People's Party is being treated as a family heirloom, a property to be disposed of at the will of its leader. Nothing more, nothing less. Poor Pakistan. Poor People's Party supporters. Both deserve better than this disgusting, medieval charade.

LINK

Comment by Sanjay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:45:25 EST

Again, why is the Musharraf govt going out of its way to claim there were no gunshots that hit Benazir Bhutto? What could be the purpose of making such a claim and defending it? My intuition tells me they wish to avoid disclosing the full details of what caused Bhutto's death, because they themselves may have had a hand in it. There was no reason for the govt to hose down the crime scene, especially when investigators were not first given a chance to gather evidence from it. The govt has allowed this because it wanted the evidence to be washed away. Something smells funny about this whole situation.

Comment by Chandra

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:44:08 EST

T Kyon beta? Dimag khaney ka dar hain kya?

Comment by temporal

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 13:40:26 EST

#18: "daughter of the east" published as "daughter of destiny" in the US is OLD chandra 16: got tired of mike and orissa:)

Comment by commonsenseforall

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:55:47 EST

On this issue, an interesting essay by Tariq Ali on Bhutto in the recent issue of the London Review of Books. Interestingly, the essay is titled "Daughter of the West" in opposition to her own forthcoming book titled "Daugher of the East". Really fascinating study of Bhutto's character, feudal politics etc. although I'm not sure how accurate it is: http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n24/ali_01_.html

Comment by khojidesi

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:15:00 EST

Chandra # 16, Then Bhuttos will get Sind, Nawaz will get Punjab, Osama will get NWFP. yes Altaf hussain will get another Vatican that is Karachi. And Balochistan will be left for, they need somebody, Bughti clan can own it.

Comment by Chandra

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:02:23 EST

the best solution for Pakistan is to split into 5-6 major republics (like USSR). The enterprising people of Punjab and Sind will do very well without the laggards of Balochistan and Pathanistan (NWFP).

Comment by khojidesi

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:18:03 EST

Angrez chod gaye lekin log Ghulami nahi chodenge. It was English before and Bhutoo, shareef clan now.

Comment by khojidesi

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 01:13:34 EST

I can't understand Bilawal lived his entire life in England and Dubai, he is Political Science student, strange he did not learn anything about party Democracy, at least, he, a product of new enlightened generation should have rejected the post and given some sense to the wish of her great Democratic mother(who believed that Democracy is the biggest revenge). And the aam junta of Pakistan would vote for any puppet beside the pic of martyr BB. Nobody becomes a saint just because they are six feet under, so is with Benazeer. (I would call her BEGHAIRAT)

Comment by Sanjay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:23:19 EST

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/30/pakistan.politics/index.html

Comment by Sanjay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:22:48 EST

Tanay, why not put your money where your mouth is, and try to post the link yourself? The site won't publish it.

Comment by Sanjay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:21:55 EST

http://tinyurl.com/2l4udn

Comment by Sanjay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:18:52 EST

At first, I didn't think that Musharraf was involved, but now I'm beginning to feel suspicious. His govt is behaving in a manner that is consistent with suppressing the evidence. If Mush was truly innocent, he'd be doing more to get the facts out, rather than trying to block any investigative progress. The site would not have been hosed down to wash away vital evidence. The govt's insistence that there were no gunshot wounds, in the face of glaring evidence to the contrary, is alarming. He still has that headstrong reputation. He's looking more and more culpable with each passing hour.

Comment by Tanay

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 00:17:14 EST

#7 Sanjay, Please try to be express courtesy and politeness when you are not sure on something. Guess you didn't link the URL properly and don't put the blame on the programers and techies who maintain this site... Now if you follow the comment by #8 temporal, the one immediate next to yours, there is something Read on and it gets linked to the underlying URL perfectly. Guess you got the message and calm down ;)