[Image from the NY Times]
The Long March began from Karachi and Quetta yesterday amid further police crackdowns, reports of torture, and numerous arrests. According to BBC News today, “Authorities in Pakistan’s north-west have banned political gatherings and a protest convoy [led by Supreme Court Bar Association president Ali Ahmed Kurd] has been halted in Sindh as a crackdown on activists spreads. The BBC quoted Kurd, who strongly condemned the Sindh government for halting their peaceful march, adding, “We will try to reach Islamabad by other routes and appeal to all Pakistanis to reach Islamabad in groups or as individuals by any possible means. This action of the government has shown to the people of Pakistan and the entire world that lawyers cannot move freely in their own country.”
Dozens of lawyers and political leaders were arrested in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) overnight.” Although the movement was supposed to reach Islamabad for a sit-in at the Parliament on Monday, the BBC’s Syed Shoaib Hasan noted “that while protests will continue throughout Pakistani cities and activists may try to reach the capital in small groups, the crackdown has effectively ended the ‘long march.'” Protest organizers told the BBC that more than 1,000 opposition leaders and activists have already been jailed or put under house arrest, and police last night arrested dozens of lawyers, political leaders, legislators and activists in the districts of Peshawar, Mardan, Abbottabad and Mansehra last night. Dawn quoted Arshad Qureshi, PML-N spokesman of the NWFP, who said, “More than 100 party leaders and workers were arrested in the province and police are raiding houses of party leaders and activists.” And it’s not just activists and lawyers who are being targeted, apparently. Curiously [or not so curiously, depending who you talk to] the transmission of Geo News has been blocked in some parts of the twin cities of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and Quetta.
Meanwhile, though, it seems a political compromise may be underway. According to The News, “A new political deal, backed by Washington, London and the establishment, has quietly been conveyed to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to bring down the political temperature.” The news agency added, “As part of the deal, the prime minister has been asked to immediately convince beleaguered President Asif Ali Zardari to demonstrate the flexibility required to break the present deadlock before the long march could reach Islamabad.” Dawn noted in its coverage, “Zardari has refused to reinstate the judge but the presidential aide said under the proposed compromise a constitutional court and an appellate court would be set up and the deposed chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry would head one.” A senior politician privy to the discussions told Dawn that the next 48 hours are crucial.
Other articles today reported that Nawaz Sharif and his party PML-N were open to dialogue and reconciliation. Nawaz confirmed to reporters that U.S. envoy Richard Holbrooke had phoned him Thursday night, and told reporters today, “I have no personal enmity with Zardari. If he shuns vested interest and sincerely fulfils his promises to reinstate judges and restore an independent judiciary, I am ready to cooperate with him…There is no need for back channel diplomacy or private and secret dialogue. I have not slammed my doors on dialogue.” A PML-N leader, Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told reporters, “We still believe there is a way out, we still believe that the elected prime minister of Pakistan should play his role.”
What’s interesting is how several analysts and pundits now believe that PM Gilani could be the key to resolving this problem. In an editorial today, the Daily Times wrote,
The prime minister is being seen by some observers as staging some kind of internal revolt against his party chief, President Zardari, but this isn’t true. Mr. Gilani has trodden his moderate path quite discreetly in the past, and his channel of communication with the PML-N’s top leadership has not ruffled too many feathers within the PPP. In fact, it is his statesmanship that could now open the way to reconciliation between the PPP and the opposition at the last moment. His meeting with the army chief General Ashfaq Kayani may have actually paved the way for a last-minute initiative.
The Daily Times added, “Mr. Gilani’s strategy may succeed because of the uncertainty of other ‘options’ for the PPP in Punjab. The PML-Q, which is supposed to help form the new coalition in Lahore, is not only fragmented, it is speaking with many voices even among the top leaders.”
So there could be a solution yet to the political turmoil. However, while the reconciliation may quell the PML-N’s angry voices temporarily, will it also appease the lawyers’ movement? After all, that is the real voice of this Long March, and regardless of our leaders’ attempts to hijack it for their own political benefit, the overarching call for rule of law is still there. If the CJ is reinstated to some degree, will that be enough for those who are marching so tirelessly in the streets? Sometimes I wonder whether the light at the end of this tunnel is really a light, or merely a promise of more disappointment yet to come.
Also: If you’d like a constant update on all things Long March, check out the live chat initiated by Teeth Maestro. I am one of the lucky moderators/producers of the chat, and aside from helping moderate the commentary and discussion, I’m also twittering in updates [http://www.twitter.com/kalsoom82]. Amazing what technology can do nowadays right?
UPDATE 1620 [EST]: Sherry Rehman, a PPP member and the Information Minister has reportedly resigned from her post, in protest of the GEO News ban.
They blocked Geo in a lot of cities. Who can blame them? Geo claims to be the first with breaking news. Sometimes thought it’s too sensationalized.
Like for instance, a few hours ago it got my hopes high. It said that governor rule was ending, PML-N was joinig the cabinet (again), Gilani had flexed his muscles and Zardari was a snake with his head cut off.
Turns out that it wasn’t true. O well, what to do…that’s Pakistani politics for you…
I should note that GEO may not be blocked because of the govt, but maybe also blocked because of server issues…I’m leaving that open for debate, although another GEO Update says the channel’s transmission was blocked in some parts of the country under a directive by Zardari. I have no clue what is going on at this point!
After participating/moderating in the live chat, which is an amazing initiative by Teeth, I’ve noticed one major pro and one major con:
Pro: up-to-the-minute news updates on the Long March, keeping commentators and the public informed of what’s happening. They also can engage with each other in real time.
Con: Because updates are coming in in real time, there may not be as much double-checking of sources. GEO for instance, is known for its sensationalized reporting, so, as Yawar noted, if we took what the news was saying a few hours ago, governor rule was ending, and Zardari was out. Some distance still needs to be maintained from what the news is reporting and what is actually happening.
[…] Long March”, url: “http://teabreak.pk/day-2-of-the-long-march-42/17082/” }); Read more at: CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan abbottabad, association president, frontier province, geo news, house arrest, kurd, north west […]
Good post Kalsoom, esp liked the Gilani theory – sure he can try to save us – but now the Q is how do we get more power to Gilani?
Also, Sherry Rahman has quit PPP, is this in response to Zardari blocking GEO? Sadly, I don’t get Geo or Dawn News here 😦
Yes, its true. It’s all over the news. She quit because of the ban on electronic media. But right now, the renowned women’s right activist, the really old lady, she was on GEO because PPP forces raided her house and beat her up. And she was speaking to Sherry Rehman, the entire conversation was shown on TV and she was crying hysterically and saying again and again “I am not a politician, I am a committed Pakistani” and this is not the way a committed Pakistani should be treated. She also named Syeda Abida and Nabeel Gabole (hope I got the names right) as 2 people who really mistreated her.
This is so tragic. The only good outcome is that Zardari is becoming increasingly isolated and he is resorting to the shameless tactics characteristic of all insecure, cowardly leaders. His downfall is imminent, that is clear.
I hope at least now, people will realize that it is not the military alone that is an impediment to democracy. It is our self-serving, money-driven “politicians” and political parties that represent the greatest threat to the future of a democratic Pakistan.
Kulsoom,
Why Geo television network? I feel other networks such as express group and aaj tv are also very anti-government. Other than being the largest news group in Pakistan, what other reason does Geo tv have for being the first in the firing line.
Also, the governer punjab factor.
Hammad.
http://beta.vajood.com/
Hammad,
You’re right, other news agencies are also guilty of biased reporting, in fact many of them are, I was just using Geo as an example because it’s a media outlet I monitor daily for CHUP. So apologies on that, I should have made my criticism more generalized.
Nabeel Gabole just came on GEO and insisted that this is all a misunderstanding and Zardari never ordered for GEO to be shut down. He has asserted that Zardari is going to personally approach the media himself and come before everyone and state the “truth”.
Right..
Something I was reading on the live chat was that GEO has been pushed to the end of the channel spectrum, and since most people have about 30 channels, they still can’t watch GEO News. Not the first time the government has done this btw, they move the channel they want to censor up the transmission so they’re not “technically blocking it” but its still not accessible. Ridiculous…
Thanks for the updates Shagufta!
Geo was targeted because it was the first of these channels that took a firm stand for itself. It has been through Geo’s example (alleged by some Musharraf lovers to be part of the massive Hindu-Zionist plot to destabilize Pakistan *eye-roll*) that we today have channels unwilling to kowtow to the government.
There are different ways to look at its style of reporting- some might say that it is sensationalized. I however, would question whether it is actually that and not us who have become too desensitized to what goes on around us. We know of the menace posed by Zardari and his ilk. We know how it is tearing the country to shreds. We also know that in certain places of Pakistan, this means nothing because as far as any government in power is concerned, their area is not worth being given any basic development.
So does Geo really “sensationalize”? Maybe if this country was a utopia or hell, even had some semblance of internal security in terms of facilities provided for its people, rule of law, gender rights, minority rights, sexual rights, etc, we would be justified in telling Geo to “calm down”.
I for one, am glad that in their own (admittedly someone self-promoting, but that’s inevitable) way, channels such as Geo, Dawn are becoming a platform through which Pakistanis all over can voice their opinions, learn more about their country without a government blindfold and hear something other than what the government thinks they should hear.
This is how societies begin to become self aware.
Kulsoom,
Wondering does this government really have a checklist of problems. They seem to be adding one each day.
Cant really figure out who is guiding them.
Hammad.
Kamil, Agreed.
Also, apparently AAJ is also “blocked” now, i.e. moved up the transmission so inaccessible for most Pakistanis.
Yeah I thought I would tell you that Sherry Rehman quit but I guess you guys already know. Good for her and good for the Pakistani nation. We need more ministers to quit when things go wrong. Face the music and carry the weight of their problems on their shoulder.
And the good thing is…we’re soon going to get rid of Zardari…INshallah Inshallah
CIA really needs to get in there and open up a few “independent” TV channels of it’s own… or just give a license Rupert Murdoch to do this thing.
I can’t help but feel good about Sherry Rehman’s resignation. I have a new found respect for the lady. Seriously. The first minister to ever stand by principles. We need more of those.
Yeah, sadly, the rest of our politicians aren’t likely to do the same. Rabbani and Sherry Rehman were the only two to resign on principle.
interesting happenings in the context of justice.
i hope justice will be served soon,ameen
but the real question is:
do we deserve this new found love about justice?
i see corruption at each and every level of our lives,law defying,status conscious citizen of new found love.
i hope this will have a happy ending,ameen 🙂
Been glued to the TV all day. I found the protests and the scuffles funny because there was a lot of back and forth betwen the police and the protestors concerning the tear gas canisters.
Nawaz has joined in. Shahbaz has reached Isloo. Kurd is still at the airport. Imran “The Mole” Khan is underground. Zardari’s defiant. Paki politics is a soap opera.
More updates for later.
Thanks Yawar! Ardeshir Cowasjee also wrote a piece today in Dawn, basically stating that neither Zardari nor Sharif will be able to accept a truly indpendent judiciary in Pakistan.
“With the aid of a pliant judiciary, the head of state has wilfully and knowingly created chaos, disrupting the lives of millions of citizens by its greed and grabbing tactics — the object up for grabs being the government of Punjab. The party and its leader have consolidated themselves in the Senate, the National Assembly and in three provincial assemblies. It wanted a clean sweep.”
Is this the “party of the people”?
http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/Dawn%20Content%20Library/dawn/news/pakistan/who-can-tolerate-an-independent-judiciary-hs
It may be favorite game of political leaders to make fun of law, Some don’t know the rules regulations and still and they are member of assembly, Pakistan have very good historical background, but about today law can be change next day
I really respect Shahbaz Sharif efforts, and I appreciate his work in Pakistan in last year, its not my own comments, Shahbaz Sharif work very hard in last year, and people feel its true feelings regarding nation, now he is under one political game, I hope that he will come back to serve Pakistan
Gilani to come on TV in a while to supposedly say something “big”. It better be good.
The Chief Justice will be restored to his position! I guess that was the big announcement. Umm.. so does this make Nawaz a hero now?
Welcome back Iftikhar Chaudhry!
Did you hear the speech? Gilani commended BILAWAL AND ZARDARI! I was like..ummm, exsqueeze me baking powder?!
Independent judiciary.
Independent media.
Bravo!!
[…] in many cities of Pakistan as crackdown on protesters continued. CHUP! – Changing Up Pakistan reported: Sherry Rehman, a PPP member and the Information Minister has reportedly resigned from her post, in […]