Tahirul Qadri's Long March

[Mirza Ghalib]

Shim, So much praise on one and the same day! But better than than the opposite. Right you are, TUQ may well sound the death knell for Raiwind. And as for Sheikh Rashid, he's in a class all by himself. Swimming eternally in Water Buffalo milk, what a delectable prospect. May the angels make your every wish come true, Shim. God bless!

[aftab]

Thnx guys for the kind words, means a lot coming from such dear friends!

[Mirza Ghalib]

The PTI’s wise decision
By Rehana Ahmed Batlay
Published: January 22, 2013

The writer is a resident of Karachi and is involved in undertaking social welfare projects

Ever since plans for the Long March were announced, there was speculation whether the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would join the march or not, and much discussion regarding what it should do ensued. Ever since the march ended in an agreement with the government, many commentators have browbeaten the PTI for its folly of missing the mother of all golden opportunities. The problems in our political system that Dr Tahirul Qadri outlined and the plight of the people that he painted all rang true. The march proved that Pakistanis are capable of peaceful and focused protest. The way the march ended through negotiations with the government producing an agreement, was surely the best possible conclusion. Questions raised about Dr Qadri’s alleged links with the establishment and sources of funding may be valid, but they are not central. The compelling idea is the case that he made and the way he managed to make it: through a peaceful protest by ordinary citizens. Despite all this, let me explain why the PTI made the right call by not joining him.

The PTI is a young political party. With elections around the corner, it is naturally focused on planning for them. While the chances for free and fair elections can always be increased by having more robust rules and systems in place, when elections come up, a party must strategise to do the best it can in the political environment that it finds itself in. That is what the PTI is focused on right now.

Is it worth it to try and strengthen the rules for holding free and fair elections? Sure it is, and the Minhajul Quran, as an NGO, and Dr Qadri as a scholar, are the appropriate people to apply pressure on the government to try and achieve this. As a neutral party claiming to be striving towards electoral reform, it is a natural fit for them to do so. So, why should the PTI feel compelled to join them? Should the PTI have joined the march because it turned out to be a big show and joining it would have meant free publicity? Was this a perfect opportunity for the PTI to improve its media ratings and pick up momentum? These are all the wrong reasons for the PTI to have joined the march. To have done so would have been opportunistic and unwise.

The PTI took a very principled stand by not joining the march, which should be appreciated. It did not join the other opposition parties in opposing the march as it has consistently been critical of the performance of these parties. It did not join the government in negotiating with Dr Qadri as it is highly critical of the government and is gunning to compete in an election against it. So, the peculiar turn of events found Imran Khan missing from the container on January 17, but this was one photo opportunity that he was better off missing.

As the events of the march unfolded, suspicion of links with the establishment were very much in the air. Dr Qadri’s unqualified praise of the army, conveniently ignoring the countless times the army has displaced elected governments and violated the Constitution, does raise red flags. Would it have been appropriate for the PTI to ally itself with such a group? When the PTI takes a stance that clearly demonstrates that it has no linkages with the establishment, why is it not appreciated? For sure, had the PTI joined the march, charges of it being backed by the establishment would have resurrected.

Also, as Khan has explained, the possibility of violence was palpable. Would it have been wise for the PTI to have risked its reputation and prospects for election by associating itself with a movement that may have culminated in violence?

By taking a lone principled stand, the PTI has proven that it has matured as a political party. Had it been a part of the march, it may have found itself in the awkward position of being pictured arm-in-arm with leaders of a government that it is highly critical of. It resisted the opportunity for cheap publicity and did the right thing by remaining focused on the upcoming elections.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2013.

http://tribune.com.pk/story/496987/the- ... -decision/

[stingingnettle]

TuQ was unlucky on three counts; he allied his revolution with MQM and PML Q (both historically proven to be two faced and back stabbing), he issued deadlines that were unrealistic and finally the rain and the cold.

TuQ promised way more than he could ever deliver so it will not be surprising if people who camped in the cold for 5 days feel seriously let down.

PTI supporters abhorrence of this NRO backed parliament is not any less than that of TuQ but what is important is to clean the filth legitimately and properly. It is very important that no excuses are given to a highly unpopular and corrupt Government to claim 'foul play', absurd as it may sound.

TuQ looks like a lost man on TV these days and I do not wish him ill but the fact remains that he made decisions in a hurry and in doing so made fundamental mistakes; for that he and he alone is responsible.

[Shimatoree]

The difference the doctor has made

By Zafar Hilaly

The News, Jan 23, 2013

Whoever thought up the Qadri caper was a genius. If it’s an army man, he should be given another star, retired and sent to Hollywood where even Stephen Spielberg could learn a trick or two from him about staging spectacles.

The imaginatively choreographed cast of ‘extras’ milling about shouting, laughing and crying on cue added immensely to the impact. The happy ending was vintage Hollywood. Had Rehman Malik not been excluded, it would have been perfect. However there has to be a villain(s); Nawaz Sharif also helped out by collecting a whole slew of them at Raiwind.

The slick capsule housing Dr Qadri was a great stage prop. But its importance was not limited to being only that. It provides a clue to much else. Consider, we know it was made for Musharraf’s use. Then how did Qadri get his hands on it? The answer to that question will probably unravel a great deal of the mystery of who exactly were Qadri’s mysterious backers. Was it Zardari, Musharraf and the establishment, or all three?

Dr Qadri personally deserves two Oscars and a presidential pride of performance award – one for playing the leading role so brilliantly, and the other for co-scripting the spectacle. The presidential award is for helping Zardari to get a leg-up on Nawaz Sharif, yet again. As for the critics, forget them, ‘the dullard’s envy of brilliant men is always assuaged by the suspicion that they will come to a bad end’. Of course, Qadri may still come to that at the hands of the Canadian immigration authorities; or the Taliban may get him. He is high on their target list for being a shia-supporting-Barelvi-mullah, both of whom they consider detestable ‘grave worshippers’.

But in the eyes of the public Dr Qadri is a hero – the new star on Pakistan’s political firmament. And why not? Our tradition is one of protest and revolt. And for the cant about the constitution and legal procedures, the right of revolution becomes an inherent right when these procedures are inadequate or made unavailable by those hiding behind the jargon of law and order and the constitution.

In practice, too, Qadri’s performance was flawless. Knowing his flock of ‘extras’ was suffering from the intense cold after three nights out in the open, Qadri recalled the suffering at Karbala to revive their spirits. It was, of course, preposterous but it served his purpose, although my tears stayed in their ducts refusing to be jerked.

To strengthen their resolve, Qadri puffed out his (puny) chest and claimed he would be the first to confront Rehman Malik’s force. The high-pitched screams, his show of defiance evoked from his female followers, were ear-splitting. Rehman Malik would have been lynched, if even a stick had been raised over them.

At key moments during the proceedings, Qadri cleverly invited all doubters to leave, as if they would, even if they could. And when his audience appeared downcast, Qadri raised their spirits by swearing victory was at hand, although there was not the remotest possibility of that once Agha Murtaza Pooya vice-chairman of Pakistani Awami Tehreek (PAT) had reported back on his dash to Karachi and the outcome of his furtive meeting with Zardari.

Qadri’s was a masterly display of controlling a crowd not, mind you, composed of the usual rabble but one made up of educated middle and lower middle class supporters. That greatly impressed a veteran journalist who remarked: ‘In over 30 years of covering political demonstrations I had not seen a more disciplined crowd.’ Or, for that matter, ‘one as determined, focused, educated, polite and warm hearted’. ‘During the course of a single day’s wandering amongst them’, he said, he was searched on ‘no less than 16 occasions, very politely and efficiently’.

To conduct meetings with the government’s representative in full view of his supporters and the nation at large was a deft move by Dr Qadri. Clearly he was neither going to be bought out nor strike secret deals. It also ensured his supporters outside, and the press, had a seat at the table. Here was a man with an instinctive feel for publicity.

Dr Qadri received government ministers and a former prime minister and called out the government representatives one by one, much like apprehended rogues at the local thana are trundled out to meet the visiting crime beat reporter and they were obligingly contrite. But not content.

Qadri proceeded to do what the pope never does to visiting atheists, which is to rub their noses in the ground and have them recant.

I felt especially sorry for Kaira. He had done a good job ridiculing Qadri. Actually, Kaira’s mimicking of Qadri was among the stellar moments of the whole spectacle. We know Kaira has little regard for Qadri but there he was, on national TV, where he had to eat his own words and pretend he was enjoying it.

The fact is Qadri had tapped into a rich vein of public contempt for politicians. Just about every insult he hurled at them is what the public also feels. And when, at one point, he appeared at a loss for words to describe their corrupt ways, that lent his feelings greater sincerity. It also prompted the crowd to venture a few suggestions of their own.

Needless to say criticism of Qadri has been rife. He is called a ‘hypocrite’ and worse. But few among the great unwashed care what Qadri signed on to, or that he exaggerated the numbers of demonstrators. Of course, he did, but then not really. If not physically, then in spirit, millions were participating in the demonstration thanks to the blanket TV coverage. And if, as the rumour goes, Qadri gets to collect a dollar each from the Americans for every demonstrator in attendance (hence, his constant references to the imaginary two million), so what? He deserves it and the Americans can afford it.

Qadri has changed the political dynamics in the country. Henceforth, what politicians say, how they speak, the spirit and the size of the crowd and the way the latter behave will be measured by the standards set by the Qadri dharna.

Islamabad finally has something to boast about other than hosting the highest number of well-heeled thieves anywhere in Pakistan. And if those standards seem impossibly high, that suits Qadri even better.

Apparently Zardari has plans for Qadri. He believes that Qadri’s popularity, if skilfully exploited, will dent Nawaz’s hold on central Punjab, at least sufficiently to deprive Nawaz winning a plurality of the seats there, and, if not, of winning big. The latter concern also apparently greatly alarms the military.

Nawaz had had the opportunity to make his peace with them over the past five years but he chose not to. Nawaz often forgets that the devil is not always as black as he is painted and, as a result, if he wins, democracy may have to suffer in the future as it did in the past.

Imran Khan was wise not to jump into the fray, although he was tempted and had been invited to do so by Qadri. And that’s not because he would have gained. But it’s just as well he did not because Imran’s young, emotional and undisciplined followers would have risked the confrontation turning violent, and that would have almost certainly led to casualties and left a bad taste in the mouth. Meanwhile, here’s hoping we have smooth sailing till the elections, although that’s like asking for the moon.

Email: charles123it@hotmail.com

[Mirza Ghalib]

Javed Ghamdi analysis of Tahir ul Qadri’s Long march !

[semirza]

I will name him Illama bad luck. He is back again loaded with the same brief from his masters to somehow derail or atleast get elections delayed, a prime wish of PPP, MQM and ANP.

Imran's fall was a trigger to relaunch Qadri and his evil neocon briefed agenda. Three days from now onwards to election day but neocon planted slimy slippery creepy crawlies the likes of Qadri are back again..Now what he is upto? We should all realize that he is tasked to sabotage Imran Khan's mission and nothing else.

Imran injured....is recovering fast InshaAllah, and will be in the forefront leading Pakistanis.

[Mughal]

I am still busy with my quranic interpretation but it is bringing out the facts people ought to know for a real change in society. It is unfortunate that this forum has ended religious section for some reason but that is the only proper solution for all human problems.

http://www.jangforum.net/index.php?PHPS ... pic=5206.0