1. It seems that the ruthless onslaught of the army chief as part of his war on justice has damaged Pakistan's Judiciary beyond redemption. It has also exposed the weaknesses of the legal/judicial system which was an extension of the alien monarchical system in which the judge instructs the jury not to give judgment on the accused but to find a culprit from amongst the others who were present on the scene. The demand for the implementation of Islamic jurisprudence in Pakistan is going to gain momentum and the West's dreaded Talibanism may benefit from any delay in restoring a judiciary not subservient to the army.
2. The superior judiciary used to be a beacon of hope for the mostly oppressed and downtrodden people of Pakistan. The desperation resulting from the disappearance of the last ray of hope may have serious repercussions upon the national psyche and more and more people may decide to take the law in their own hands.
3. It seems that the incumbent army chief is being threatened with dismissal if he does not speak up in favor of the extremely unpopular president. In December 2001 when a similar situation had existed, the US diplomats had arranged a terrorist attack on Delhi parliament and the US ambassador to India (who had also been an ambassador to Pakistan) had made public speeches inciting the Indian people to demand military action against Pakistan, finally resulting in the massing of Indian troops on Pak borders and the capitulation of politicians and acceptance of 17th constitutional amendment. This time round, the tactics are different. Will Kiyani's nerves hold?
4. At the moment Pakistan is being run exclusively and single handedly by deceased Benazir's “will power” and the parliament has become less than a rubber stamp. It is true that a confrontation between the real parliament and the artificial judiciary can provide the provisional president an opportunity to exercise the yo-yo of 58-2-B and do the ultimate disservice to the nation, but then what are people for? After all Ayub resigned when he found that everyone in the streets was calling him a dog. Does the “will power” have the charisma to bring the people out into streets? Some pessimists have already started wondering if Pakistan's future depends on the number of signed blank papers Benazir may have left behind.
5. Those who witnessed the spontaneous outburst of violence following the murder of Benazir can well imagine what might happen if the people of Pakistan lose their patience. They have learnt that they can only survive by uniting as a single nation and asserting their democratic rights. With the army, the judiciary and the presidency being recognized as national culprits and a leaderless parliament, the people have to find new leaders and create a new system of their own. If a hand gets in their way it must be broken. It will be an unprecedented carnage which will make the French revolution look like a picnic. The Urdu revolution will be remembered in history for a very long time.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Hail H2O
John 2:1-11
1) On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2) Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3) When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4) And Jesus said to her, "What does that have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5) His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6) Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7) Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8) He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9) When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10) and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11) This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Moral: Those who always drink wine and have never tasted pure water will appreciate it as an excellent drink when they consume it for the first time.
1) On the third day there was a marriage at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; 2) Jesus also was invited to the marriage, with his disciples. 3) When the wine failed, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." 4) And Jesus said to her, "What does that have to do with me? My hour has not yet come." 5) His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you." 6) Now six stone jars were standing there, for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7) Jesus said to them, "Fill the jars with water." And they filled them up to the brim. 8) He said to them, "Now draw some out, and take it to the steward of the feast." So they took it. 9) When the steward of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward of the feast called the bridegroom 10) and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first; and when men have drunk freely, then the poor wine; but you have kept the good wine until now." 11) This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed in him.
Moral: Those who always drink wine and have never tasted pure water will appreciate it as an excellent drink when they consume it for the first time.
The Poor Fig Tree
Matthew 21:14-22
14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15) But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; 16) and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, `Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise'?" 17) And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. 18) In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19) And seeing a fig tree by the wayside he went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. 20) When the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" 21) And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22) And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Moral: Hunger takes away a man’s reason. Even Jesus, the epitome of mercy cursed the fig tree that was unable to satisfy his hunger; rather than commanding it to bear fruit at once.
14) And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15) But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant; 16) and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, `Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast brought perfect praise'?" 17) And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. 18) In the morning, as he was returning to the city, he was hungry. 19) And seeing a fig tree by the wayside he went to it, and found nothing on it but leaves only. And he said to it, "May no fruit ever come from you again!" And the fig tree withered at once. 20) When the disciples saw it they marveled, saying, "How did the fig tree wither at once?" 21) And Jesus answered them, "Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and never doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, `Be taken up and cast into the sea,' it will be done. 22) And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith."
Moral: Hunger takes away a man’s reason. Even Jesus, the epitome of mercy cursed the fig tree that was unable to satisfy his hunger; rather than commanding it to bear fruit at once.
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