I have been since long propagating the idea that the Partition of India in 1947 was a British swindle, and that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh are really one nation, sharing the same culture, were one for 500 years since the time of Moghul Emperor Akbar, and must reunite under a secular government.
In response, many people said that the fact that atrocities are being committed on Muslims in India, especially after 2014 when BJP came to power, proves that Partition and creating Pakistan as a separate Islamic state, was a good idea.
One person ( possibly a Pakistani ) tweeted :
” May be it was worth giving a thought a decade ago but now it’s more than obvious that Jinnah’s ideas were prophetical. Don’t you see what BJP is doing? They’re reinventing history, Muslim persecution, Babri Masjid replaced by Ram Mandir, lynching of Muslims and cow vigilante on the loose ”.
I submit in reply that it was precisely because India was partitioned on religious lines on the basis of the bogus 2 nation theory, and an Islamic State called Pakistan created, that what is happening in India now is happening, and was sooner or later inevitable. It could not have happened if India had remained united.
Newton’s Third Law of Motion states : Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. So once India was partitioned on religious lines and an Islamic State called Pakistan created, India, though declared to be a secular country in its Constitution, was one day bound to become a Hindu State, and atrocities committed on non Hindu minorities ( just as they are committed on non Muslim minorities in Pakistan )
After all, the Constitution is just a piece of paper. The ground realities, which are very different, are what really matter.
The Indian subcontinent has such tremendous diversity ( perhaps more than in any country in the world ), that only secularism can work here. The Moghul Empire lasted so long because it was broadly secular and inclusive.
The idea that Hindus and Muslims are inherently hostile to each other was bogus. For centuries they have lived peacefully and amicably in India.
The purpose of Partition was that united India should not emerge as a modern industrial giant ( of which it has all the potential ), and thus become a big rival to Western industry, as China has become.
But without becoming highly industrialised we cannot abolish massive poverty, unemployment, malnutrition, lack of proper healthcare and good education, etc
So those who still believe Partition was a good idea are totally mistaken
The Chief Justice of Pakistan, Umar Ata Bandial, retired yesterday, 16th September, 2023. What is his legacy ? How will he be remembered ?
No Judge is perfect. Some are short tempered and rude in court, some are dim witted and often cannot understand the lawyer’s argument, some know little law, some talk too much in court ( in violation of Bacon’s dictum ” A much talking judge is like an ill tuned cymbal ), some cannot get along with their colleagues, some go off to sleep even when the lawyer is arguing, etc
All these can be forgiven. But what cannot be forgiven is a Judge’s refusal to abide by his solemn oath to protect the rights of citizens under the Constitution. Let me explain.
In feudal times the King was supreme, and the people had no rights.
However, in his ‘Second Treatise on Civil Government’, written in 1690, the British political philosopher John Locke propounded the idea that the people had certain ‘natural rights’ ( e.g. life and liberty ) which even the King could not violate.
These were later incorporated in the Bill of Rights in the US Constitution of 1791, the Rights of Man proclaimed in 1789 by the French National Assembly, the Fundamental Rights in the Indian and Pakistan Constitution, etc.
What was the purpose of having these rights in the Constitution ? That was because it was felt that Parliament, though elected by the people, may sometimes turn autocratic and anti-people. Hence the people had to be protected not only against autocratic behaviour of the executive, but also the autocratic behaviour of the legislature.
When a Judge assumes office, he has to take an oath to uphold the Constitution, and since the Constitution incorporates certain fundamental rights of the people, that oath includes his undertaking to protect those rights.
Did Justice Bandial abide by his oath ? Not at all.
After the events of 9th May a reign of terror was unleashed in Pakistan, over 10,000 people arrested, beaten, tortured, jailed, killed or simply ‘disappeared’ in Pakistan, but Justice Bandial turned a Nelson’s eye to these atrocities and horrors, probably because all he had in mind was his salary, perks and pension.
He seemed to show courage by ordering Punjab Assembly elections on 14th May, but when it came to enforcing that order ( by taking contempt of court proceedings ) he beat a hasty retreat, thus making it clear to the Pakistan Establishment that the judiciary is only a paper tiger, that judges talk a lot but are not to be taken seriously.
When the Pakistan Govt said that they would not obey the Supreme Court’s orders, Bandial should have closed down all courts in Pakistan until the govt announced that it agreed to abide by court orders, but evidently he had no backbone, gumption or spunk to take such a bold, but necessary, step.
To sum up, Bandial’s legacy is of a weak, spineless, and cowardly judge, who betrayed his oath, and let his country and his institution down, causing misery to countless number of people.
One can tell him, as Cromwell told the Rump British Parliament on 20 April 1653 :
” You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately In the name of God, go ! “
According to a very recent opinion poll, the popularity of Imran Khan has crossed 95% in Pakistan.
The Pakistan army, which has thrown away its mask of being apolitical, has now emerged as the real ruler, and it is determined not to release Imran Khan from jail, where he was incarcerated after obtaining a fraudulent, pre-planned verdict from a crooked Addl Sessions Judge, rewarding him with a free trip with his family to England. The army is also determined to finish off Imran Khan politically, if not physically.
On the other hand, Imran Khan is insisting on free and fair early elections, which seems a fair demand to any right thinking person. But the army is totally unwilling to concede that, knowing that Imran Khan’s PTI will sweep the polls, which will result in him becoming Prime Minister again. This is something which is totally unacceptable to the army ( or at least its generals ).
The situation is now very clear : a terrible clash between the Pakistan army and the Pakistan people is looming ahead..
It seems inevitable that this terrible clash will assume the form of a long drawn civil war, the people using guerilla tactics. While the army may initially score many victories ( as the people are initially unarmed ), this conflict will soon get bogged down in a stalemate, as it happened to Russians in Afghanistan, or to Americans in Vietnam.
An army can fight another army, it cannot fight the masses. A tiger can kill a prey, it cannot kill a swarm of mosquitoes. The British learnt this bitter lesson in the American War of Independence, Napoleon in Spain, the French in Algeria, the Russians in Afghanistan, and the Americans in Vietnam.
In all these conflicts, the people emerged victorious, though after a protracted struggle, and after making tremendous sacrifices. The same will happen in Pakistan.
A fascist reign of terror has been imposed by the army and police in Pakistan, over ten thousand people have been arrested and jailed on false and frivolous charges, many beaten, tortured, killed, or just ‘disappeared’. The judges, who took an oath to protect the people’s rights, have become deaf and dumb and have turned a Nelson’s eye to these horrors, and the media has largely kowtowed before the Establishment. The people are reeling before the worst economic crisis in Pakistan’s history, with record unemployment, highly inflated electricity bills, and soaring prices of food and other essential commodities.
In this situation the lawyers of Pakistan have risen to the occasion, and are fighting back, bravely leading the struggle for democracy and the rule of law.
The Pakistan lawyers have recently decided to unite, and unitedly fight against this tyranny and trampling of human rights. They have formed the All Pakistan Lawyers Convention, and held their first meeting in the Supreme Court Bar Association in Islamabad. Here are some of the speeches delivered in that meeting :
A study of history shows that lawyers have given leadership to countries which were passing through a crisis in history. Thus, in the American Revolution ( 1775-81 ) most of the American leaders were lawyers, e.g. Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, etc. The American President who led the nation during its Civil War ( 1861-65 ) was a lawyer, Abraham Lincoln.
In the great French Revolution of 1789 over half the members of the French National Assembly were lawyers e.g. Robespierre, Danton, Prieur de la Marne, Billaud Varenne, etc
The leader of the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution of 1917, Lenin, was a lawyer ( though he practised only for a short while ).
Most of the leaders in India’s independence struggle were lawyers.
In Pakistan, the major cause of the downfall of the dictator Gen Parvez Musharraf, were Pakistan”s lawyers.
Why is it that lawyers were leaders of many countries in their hour of crisis ? That is because among all professions lawyers are closest to the people, and have society’s pulse. A doctor deals with medical problems, and an engineer with technical problems. So their knowledge of society’s problems is limited.
But a lawyer deals with legal problems, which are connected to society as a whole, and he interacts with people of all kinds and all walks of life–workers, farmers, teachers, govt servants, businessmen, people with matrimonial problems or property disputes, criminals, etc. Hence he best understands the needs and problems of society. Also, belonging to an independent profession, he does not have to kowtow before anyone. Hence he is often the best person to lead the people.
In the situation prevailing in Pakistan today, with most people living in fear, the Pakistan lawyers are the fittest to lead the people in these dark times. And they are doing their duty fearlessly, valiantly, and undauntedly
One would have thought that the job of an army chief is to protect his country’s borders, and render assistance to the civilian authorities in cases of internal disturbances when asked by the latter. But it seems that the Pakistan army chief, Gen Munir, has other ideas, and believes he can fix Pakistan’s tumbling economy.
He recently held several hours long meetings in Karachi and Lahore with over a hundred prominent members of Pakistan’s business community to sort out the country’s economic woes.
Pakistan has a 27% inflation rate, and the prices of food have gone up recently by 40%. The currency has been rapidly depreciating ( presently about Rs 306 vis-a-vis the dollar ). Highly inflated electricity bills have resulted in massive demonstrations and protests all over the country. Traders are on strike.
Pakistan has a civilian government ( though a caretaker one ) and fixing the economy is surely the task of this government. But Gen Munir has now dropped even the fig leaf of civilian rule,and the army has taken full control.
In his meetings with the business leaders Gen Munir has announced a plethora of steps he is going to take viz corruption will be eradicated or largely reduced, 100 billion dollars will be invested in Pakistan by foreign countries like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, smuggling of Iranian oil checked, forex traders taxed, the ‘grey economy’ curbed, sick government industries privatised, etc
There are several problems with Gen Munir’s plans
Firstly, Pakistan’s present economic crisis was largely due to the misdeeds of these very business leaders whom he met, who along with corrupt politicians, bureaucrats and army generals looted Pakistan for decades. Now all they want is reduction in income and sales taxes, and various other concessions for themselves ( as they told Gen Munir ), and they are least bothered about the public welfare..
Secondly, checking corruption is easier said than done. Much of the corruption is by army officers themselves, as explained below :
So the army has a vested interest in maintaining corruption.
Thirdly, it is presumptuous to believe that anyone will invest money unless he is assured that he will get back the money he invests with a reasonable profit. After all, he is not doling out charity. Gen Munir may give his guarantee in this connection, but what are words when not backed up by deeds ? The past performance of Pakistan has been dismal, with its leaders repeatedly going around with a begging bowl to the IMF, Saudi Arabia, etc.
And lastly, recovery of Pakistan’s economy depends on peace and stability, which is only possible after a free and fair elections.
But Gen Munir, knowing that Imran Khan’s PTI will sweep the polls as he has support of 85% Pakistanis ( as all opinion polls indicate ), is adamant not to hold elections for parliament or the provincial legislatures.
In fact the very purpose of holding meetings with business leaders was to convey the message that first we have to fix Pakistan’s economy, however long it takes, and only thereafter can elections be held ( which is putting the cart before the horse ).
I am afraid Gen Munir has bitten more than he can chew, and is living in la-la land
It seems that life in Pakistan has become hellish, with exorbitant electricity bills, skyrocketing prices of food, gas cylinder, petrol; medicines, etc, record unemployment, and fascist reign of terror unleashed by the Pakistan army and police, so that many Pakistanis want to migrate to a foreign country.
Some are even willing to migrate to BJP ruled India, as this email which I received today from a Pakistani Muslim discloses ( he requested me not to reveal his name or address )
” Assalaam Valekum Sir,
I am xxxxx from xxxx Pakistan.
Sir kaise hain aap ?
Main aapka follower hun aur aapka fan bhi. Sir aap to hamaare mulk ke halaat jaante hain.
Sir aap mujhe yeh bataa sakte hain ki kya mujhe India ki nationality mil sakti hai India mein rehne ke liye ? Kyonki mera mulk Pakistan bilkul tabaah ho chuka hai, aur yahaan jeena ab naamumkin hai.
Overseas Pakistanis are probably over 90% in favour of Imran Khan as they perceive him to be honest. He has hardly any assets abroad, whereas the ruling PDM leaders are regarded by Pakistanis as a bunch of dacoits who have looted Pakistan, and have siphoned off huge amounts of money abroad ( as the Panama Papers and other credible evidence discloses ).
Hence overseas Pakistanis are bravely carrying on a campaign in USA, Canada, UK, middle east countries, and elsewhere for release of Imran Khan ( who has been incarcerated in Attock jail on bogus charges ), and for holding free and fair elections in Pakistan at the earliest.
In this connection I wish to give them an advice : they have been crying hoarse against the fascist reign of terror unleashed by the Pakistan army and police, and violation of civil liberties and human rights in Pakistan.
While I too condemn violation of human rights, I submit this is a wrong approach. While Westerners may talk a lot about human rights, they do not really mean what they say, and do not care about violation of human rights as long as their financial interests are not adversely affected. What they really care about is money.
So long as their investments in Pakistan are safe, they really do not care if thousands of Pakistanis are arrested, beaten, tortured, killed or ‘disappeared’.
The correct tactics for overseas Pakistanis is therefore this : they should talk less about violation of human rights, and instead explain, particularly to US Congressmen, Government officials, businessmen, and the American public ( and also people in other countries ) how US financial investments in Pakistan ( and in the long run also in some neighbouring countries ) are being endangered and jeopardised by the continuing agitations and instability in Pakistan. For this purpose, overseas Pakistanis need to do research, and find out details of these US investments in Pakistan ( and also in some neighbouring countries ), publicise them, and explain to US officials and Congressmen that business requires peace and stability.
With almost 90% Pakistanis supporting Imran Khan ( as all opinion polls indicate ), there will certainly not be peace and stability in Pakistan as long he is kept in jail, and early parliamentary elections are not held. And if the present agitations and volatile situation in Pakistan continues, it may well spill over into neighbouring countries, thus further jeopardising US financial interests.
So it is in their own interest that the American Government should give up their present hostility towards Imran Khan, advise the Pakistan Government to release him and withdraw all cases against him, and hold early free and fair parliamentary elections.
Imran Khan’s PTI will certainly sweep the polls in these elections, and he will become Prime Minister again.
Only then can there be peace and stability in Pakistan, and only then will American economic interests in the region be safe.
Pakistan is in a terrible situation. The government is bankrupt and the economy is in shambles. Massive protests are being held everywhere against exorbitant electricity bills, and rise in prices of oil, gas and food.
The political situation is dismal, and a reign of terror has been imposed by the army and police, thousands thrown in jail, often after being dragged out of their homes, and many beaten, tortured, killed, or ‘disappeared‘. The judiciary, whose duty was to uphold people’s rights under the Constitution, is lying impotent. Minorities, like Shias, Ahmadis, Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs, live in fear.
No doubt by their massive ongoing demonstrations they have proved that they are not a bunch of cowards, as was earlier supposed, and will not take things lying low. But that is not enough. Clarity of ideas is now needed, otherwise they will be like blind men or men groping in the dark, and going from the frying pan into the fire.
Since the time of Partition in 1947, and even from before, false ideas were drilled into the heads of Pakistanis e.g. Partition of India and the creation of Pakistan as an Islamic State was correct and justified, since Hindus and Muslims are two separate nations ( the 2 nation theory ), who cannot live together, and Jinnah, the main creator of Pakistan was a great man ( Baba-e-Quom or Father of the Nation ),
Changing the mindsets of people, removing false ideas, and replacing them with truthful ones, is an extremely difficult and long drawn process. It is very painful to the majority who have held such false ideas for long, and would be very reluctant to discard them. And it requires tremendous patience and forbearance in the enlightened minority seeking to educate the majority and persuade them to give up their false ideas. They will have to endure abuses, vilification, and often even physical attacks by the majority.
Historical experience shows that the majority give up false ideas only when there is an economic crisis or war, for then people’s lives are so terribly and adversely affected that they find it impossible to continue living and thinking in the old way.
For instance, the French Revolution of 1789 was caused by the bankruptcy of the government of King Louis 16 and the huge rise in the price of bread.
The Russian Revolution of 1917 was caused by the First World War, and the huge rise in prices of bread in Russia.
The Chinese revolution which culminated in 1949 was caused by the Japanese invasion of China, and rural bankruptcy in China.
Pakistan is currently going through a severe economic crisis, and to survive Pakistanis will now have to rethink over what was dished out to them for over three quarter of a century, and which they had faithfully lapped up.
This will be very painful for most Pakistanis, for they will be questioning what was regarded as gospel truth for long. It will be like Copernicus’ heliocentric theory questioning the Biblical ( and the Greek astronomer Ptolemy’s ) assertion that the sun goes around the earth ( the geocentric theory ), which was believed as the final truth all over Europe for 2000 years.
Moreover, it will also be dangerous because questioning them will not only invite the wrath of the mullahs and religious extremist organisations like the Tehreek-e-Labaik, it is also a crime since section 123A Pakistan Penal Code makes speaking against Partition an offence carrying a sentence of upto 10 years imprisonment.
However, the truth cannot be suppressed forever, even by laws. Supporting Copernicus’ theory was also at one time dangerous as it went against the Bible, and one could be burnt at the stake for that ( Galileo survived by recanting). Yet it spread, and is believed by everyone today.
Since long I have been saying :
(1) Partition was a British swindle, to keep Hindus and Muslims fighting each other, and thus to prevent united india from emerging as a modern industrial giant ( as China is today ) and become a big rival to Western industry.with our cheap labour.
(3) Pakistan is a fake, artificial country. It is part of India, and will one day inevitably reunite with India ( along with Bangladesh ) under secular, modern minded, patriotic leaders determined to rapidly industrialise and modernise the country, and give our people a high standard of living and decent lives
(4) The leaders of both India and Pakistan are puppets of Western countries, and will obey their orders. So the way out for the people of both India and Pakistan is to launch a mighty united people’s struggle led by secular, modern minded, patriotic leaders to overthrow the present political systems and create a new one under which united India rapidly industrialises and modernises, and the people get decent lives..
As to when this historical struggle will begin, how much time will it take to attain success, how will it be conducted, who will be its leaders, etc it is impossible to predict, since one cannot be rigid about historical forms. The people will have to use their own creativity to figure all this out
Cricket fans overall are preparing for the exceptionally expected second One Day Global (ODI) match among Afghanistan and Pakistan, set to occur tomorrow at the Public Arena in Karachi. As the cricketing scene watches anxiously, fans and specialists the same are anxious to see which group will dominate the competition in this exhilarating challenge.
The primary ODI of the series, held recently, saw Afghanistan arise triumphant in a firmly faced conflict. Afghanistan’s lively exhibition left fans on the two sides of the boundary enthusiastically anticipating the second portion of this amazingly exhilarating cricketing competition.
The second ODI among Afghanistan and Pakistan is planned to start at 3:00 PM neighborhood time (10:00 GMT) on August 26, 2023. Cricket fans can get all the activity live on different stages.
For watchers in Pakistan, the match will be communicated on Pakistan TV Enterprise (PTV) Sports. Moreover, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has collaborated with a few computerized stages to guarantee that fans can likewise stream the match on the web. The PCB’s true site and its YouTube channel will give live web based choices to cricket devotees.
Fans outside Pakistan can check out their nearby games channels for live inclusion or depend on web based real time features that have gotten telecom freedoms for the series.
Cricket specialists have been intently dissecting the groups’ exhibitions and techniques, offering significant experiences into what’s in store in the forthcoming ODI. Pakistani cricket legend, Wasim Akram, remarked on the meaning of this series, expressing, “This ODI series isn’t just about cricket; it’s a demonstration of the getting through cricketing connection among Afghanistan and Pakistan. The contention adds an additional layer of fervor.”
Moreover, Afghanistan’s commander, Rashid Khan, communicated his group’s assurance, saying, “We are here to contend at the most elevated level. We regard Pakistan’s group, yet we haven’t arrived to withdraw. Anticipate a serious and cutthroat match.”
The conflict between these two skilled groups vows to be an invigorating experience. Pakistan’s Babar Azam, known for his exquisite stroke play, and Afghanistan’s power-hitter Hazratullah Zazai will be the central members to look out for. The two groups will depend intensely on their bowling assaults, with Shaheen Afridi driving the speed for Pakistan, while Afghanistan’s twist sensation, Rashid Khan, will be a huge danger.
As cricket fever grasps the subcontinent and then some, the second ODI among Afghanistan and Pakistan holds the commitment of extreme focus activity and important minutes. With well-qualified conclusions and the energy of the players and fans, this challenge is set to be a cricketing display that will be associated with years to come. Cricket aficionados are encouraged to write in their schedules for August 26, 2023, as the Public Arena in Karachi plans to have this amazing standoff among Afghanistan and Pakistan.
