The Urdu Revolution

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.