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Muslim Affairs
Answer
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Name
Adeel
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Profession
Engineer
Question
Assalam o Alikum
so now we common people dont expect any justice from courts?again beurucracy will play with us?no one will hear the voice of common person?Whom agencies will want will be out of stage again?What we will do common persons of pakistan?
Answer
The decision of General Pervez Musharraf to impose emergency and hold the constitution of the country in abeyance is nothing new in the political history of Pakistan. This country already has witnessed four military coups in the past. However, this time there is a difference.
General Pervez Musharraf's decision was purely aimed to save his own skin from a possible decision of the Supreme Court of Pakistan against his eligibility to contest for Presidential elections. But he made an excuse of Taliban-led insurgency in Afghanistan and Pakistani tribal areas to get western support for his decision.
I believe Musharraf would be trapped in the complexity of this move.
He's overcommitted himself to War on Terror, and now he would be required to fight more against the militants that he cannot face at this point.
Therefore, fault lines would be more deep. The civil society is already on move and you will see the backlash from tomorrow onwards.
Name
Shame on Army
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Profession
Question
How come we've allowed such draconian measures to be taken by the army in Pakistan? India has never been taken over by it's contry's own army, the army is to serve the people, not rule over them for power sake. Cheif of Army staff Musharraf says Judiciary has over-stepped its bounds. Really? what about the Army, does the army know any boundaries? Unfortunately, the very forces who're suppose to protect this country are tearing it apart, it's time Pakistani people remind the army their role and limits. It's time to take the rule back from the army, the rights and freedoms we've given up by fearing annihilation from al-qaeda and india, should be reclaimed now. Or else we'll loose them forever to the Army.
According to Musharraf, Pakistanis do not deserve the democracy and basic human rights as expected by the world?
The Army must go, Musharraf must go, and also the corrupt politicians who've been allowed back through US brokered deals.
An utter destruction comes out of this. Let's hope for the former.
Answer
This is an endgame of the dictator and his loyalists. Pakistan Army has been a very disciplined force, structured by the British for its Indian colony. This army is still the same in all its military traditions, and that is why the Pakistan Army, as an institution, has always supported the wrongdoings of its Generals.
However, the baggage is quite heavy now and I do not think that the institution of Pakistan's Army would be able to carry this baggage any more.
All attacks on General Pervez Musharraf have had military connections which show split within the rank and file of the Army.
I think these faultlines would grow further.
Name
Mohammed Al-Hindi
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Profession
Question
Is the opposition of emergency by ex PM Benazir Bhutto of Peoples Party for real, or is it just for show and behind the scenes a part of the deal between her and General Parvaiz Musharraf?
Answer
Musharraf imposed the emergency in the country after getting a green signal from Washington. Benazir Bhutto was sent back to Pakistan by Washington as well.
Whatever she would say apart, she would indirectly support Musharraf to announce an election schedule, expectedly on November 8, willing to help establish an interim government and then forge an alliance of secular and liberal forces of Pakistan to form a national government.
Name
Faisal
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Profession
Trading
Question
Does General Musharraf have any ulterior motives behind declaring the emergency besides the so-called desire to "cling to power"?
Answer
his ulterior motive is to stay in power as long as he can, but in fact, this declaration of emergency is the declaration of war against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan, because Washington supported Musharraf's bid for emergency in return for jacking up operations against the Islamic forces in the country.
The coming days, everybody would see crackdowns on Madrassahs, and a new battle against militants in North West Frontier province.
Name
Col. Mohammad Fiqh
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Profession
Military K.P.
Question
Sir, my loyal troops and aide-de-camp are very confused. We have taken an oath to honour and obey the Constitution and to do no harm to our citizenry. But our leader has now given orders to shoot to kill the opposition who breed mistrust and fear amongst us. What is your opinion as to our course of action for my brother officers in the corps?
Answer
Every Pakistani should abide by the constitution of the country and should not adhere to any instructions which would be against the spirit of Pakistani constitution.
The constitution of the country is still intact and only held in abeyance.
These provisional constitutional orders do not have any legal locus stand and only represent the will of a single person and are not approved by any parliament.
Name
Tallulah Bankhead
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Profession
Question
I hope that Mr. Musharraf realises that his actions will have a deleterious impact upon tourism this coming season. Will the hotels now lower their rates to attract tourists or will they increase their rates to recoup their losses?
Answer
I think only international tourists in the country are international journalists who visit Pakistan happily. Some businessmen from the Middle East also come to Pakistan, but the Europeans and North America companies ask Pakistan's companies representatives to setup their meetings in the United Arab Emirates.
I think if you would visit Serena Swat now, you can stay there for USD 20 to USD 30.
Name
Muhammad Asad
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Profession
CA Student
Question
Salam
Is this good that Emergency is declared while in fact Pakistan has been in a state of emergency since a very long time and now we have taken action to sweep away the corrupted leaders?
Answer
Musharraf is using the term of emergency, otherwise for all practical purposes this is a martial law. What action can be taken against corrupt leadership when several cabinet members who were charged with corruption cases by Musharraf's own national accountability Bureau are still all powerful.
Name
Editor
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Profession
Question
What do you think the Pakistani opposition groups' options are now in response to Musharraf's daring step of declaring emergency rule? And can they really change the situation on the ground?
Answer
Jamaat-i-Islami of Pakistan is the first political party that took to the streets with its 100,0000 members, workers and the supporters in Lahore this afternoon.
Cricketer Turn Imaran Khan escaped from his house detention and now has gone underground.
Imran is likely to be the natural leader of this civil society movement. The show would start from tomorrow when the judges of the high court would go to courts to defy Provisional Constitutional orders and the Bar councils would support them.
Journalists, political activists, and human rights groups would be right behind them.
I think this would really change the situation on the ground, and this is just the endgame of Musharraf's regime.
Name
Ibraheem
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Profession
Question
What does the future of democracy in Pakistan seem now? And what will be the short-term outcomes of Musharraf's declaration of emergency? Thanks
Answer
The future of democracy seems to be very bleak as the country is going in the clutches of an armed insurgency.
The immediate outcome of this decision would be the intensification of the US-led War on Terror, because Washington had sent a green light for emergency only to intensify the battle against Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Pakistan.
Name
Longing for freedom
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Profession
Question
-Do you think the reasons Musharraf used to declare emergency are real?
-Does the US have a hidden hand in this event? Thank you sir.
Answer
According to the service rules of Pakistan, no government servant can be the presidential candidate. It was very obvious that on coming Wednesday, the majority of the Supreme Court judges would opt for the same decision that Musharraf is ineligible to be the presidential candidate as he is Chief of Army Staff.
Therefore there was an obvious bias behind this declaration. Musharraf took Washington in confidence before the decision and using the pretext that extraordinary military operation against Taliban and Al-Qaeda needs extraordinary powers.
Name
Musliman
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Profession
Question
Do you think the Islamic militants pose a real threat now for Musharraf? And what is the real size of the tribal areas' militants that Musharraf seems to be so much alarmed by?
Answer
I interact frequently with militants in the tribal areas of Pakistan. They've always urged that they do not want to fight against the Pakistani Army. They just want to fight against NATO forces.
Even after Musharraf used so much brute force against them, they are unwilling to fight against Pakistan's Army, but if Musharraf pushes them to the wall, they would certainly retaliate.
The Jihadi base of Pakistan is far more greater than any other country. According to Pakistani intelligence agencies' own records, 600,000 people have been active Mujahids from 1979 to this date, and 150,000 are still active Jihadi.
Can you imagine what would happen if these people decide to turn against Musharraf and collectively decide an armed rebellion?
Name
anonymous
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Profession
Question
Imran Khan seems to be a really a good leader with the perfect political ideas that are needed to change the country. Then why does he not have that much support behind him?
There are so many people behind Benazir who already once proved to be a corrupt leader. Why so much support for her? I am sorry, this seems to be a very amateur question but I dont know much about pakistani politics, and I'm very hurt about the present
situation.
Answer
Imran Khan could be a popular leader, but he has made some mistakes. For instance, he initially portrayed his image as an Islamist and a Pakistani nationalist and then married to a British girl from an elitist background. As a result, people suspected his convictions.
Secondly, he did not allow any dissenting voice within his party. As a result, many important people have left him.
Last but not the least, the Pakistani society is still a traditional feudal one where family and tribal bounds are still working so effectively.
Pakistan Peoples Party and Pakistan Muslim League (Quaid-i-Azam) or Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz group still promote these family and tribal bounds, while Imran is an urbane person and could not use such links for his political benefit.
Name
Editor - Hany Ramadan
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Profession
Question
The session has ended. We would like to thank Mr. Syed Saleem for taking the time to answer your questions, and all those who participated in the live dialogue.
