A Post-Musharraf Pakistan Policy

Farhana Ali | Friday, March 7, 2008

Now that the parliamentary elections in Pakistan have gone decisively against President Pervez Musharraf, there are two relevant questions for the United States to consider: Will the newly elected Pakistani prime minister agree to work with Musharraf, America's staunch ally on the war on terrorism? If the answer is no, what should the United States do in response?

To allay U.S. fears about the elections, Musharraf and his Pakistani friends in Washington repeatedly assured American policymakers that Monday's elections would be "free, fair and transparent," as well as on time -- a relatively new word attached to the infamous slogan.

Voting did proceed as planned, but many U.S. experts and officials were wary about whether the elections would produce an honest result. From the U.S. State Department to the Washington-based think tank community, there were concerns that manipulation of the results would force the White House to make some tough choices.

Yet contrary to some Western news reports, the choice for the United States in Pakistan is not simply between a moderate democratic leader or the all-powerful military regime. Rather, the choice for America was boldly articulated by U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice a year ago during a hearing before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee: "No matter what the [election] result, we need to move in Pakistan from a Musharraf policy to a Pakistan policy."

Her remarks signal that the United States no longer can...Full post @ www.washingtonpost.com

Pakistan's President Agrees to Resign

[Hope this is a credible news]

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf agreed on Monday to resign from office to defuse political tensions, provided there are guarantees that he will not be persecuted in the courts, well-placed sources have revealed.

Musharraf informed Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani of his decision to resign in the larger national interest during a meeting at the Camp Office in the Army House that doubles as the official residence of the president, sources said.

"The president was responding to General Kayani's request to Musharraf to consider playing a statesmanlike role to resolve the political and constitutional crisis in the country," a well-placed source privy to the meeting revealed.

Sources said that Musharraf agreed to quit national politics in response to the growing calls for him to step down or face impeachment by the new parliament in the wake of the resounding drubbing to the Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain-led Pakistan Muslim League-Q, which is closely associated and with Musharraf.

According to sources, Musharraf has requested three face-saving measures: (1) safe passage...

Full Story @ http://english.ohmynews.com

Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazu-e-qaatil mein hai

aye watan Karta nahin kyun doosra kuch baat-cheet
Dekhta hun main jise woh chup teri mehfil mein hai
Aye shaheed-e-mulk-o-millat main tere oopar nisaar
Ab teri himmat ka charcha ghair ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Waqt aanay dey bata denge tujhe aye aasman
Hum abhi se kya batayen kya hamare dil mein hai
Khainch kar layee hai sab ko qatl hone ki ummeed
Aashiqon ka aaj jumghat koocha-e-qaatil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hai liye hathiyaar dushman taak mein baitha udhar
Aur hum taiyyaar hain seena liye apna idhar
Khoon se khelenge holi gar vatan muskhil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Haath jin mein ho junoon katt te nahi talvaar se
Sar jo uth jaate hain voh jhukte nahi lalkaar se
Aur bhadkega jo shola-sa humaare dil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Hum to ghar se nikle hi the baandhkar sar pe kafan
Jaan hatheli par liye lo barh chale hain ye qadam
Zindagi to apni mehmaan maut ki mehfil mein hai
Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai

Yuun khadaa maqtal mein qaatil kah rahaa hai baar baar
Kya tamannaa-e-shahaadat bhi kisee ke dil mein hai
Dil mein tuufaanon ki toli aur nason mein inqilaab
Hosh dushman ke udaa denge humein roko na aaj
Duur reh paaye jo humse dam kahaan manzil mein hai

Wo jism bhi kya jism hai jismein na ho khoon-e-junoon
Toofaanon se kya lade jo kashti-e-saahil mein hai

Sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamaare dil mein hai.
Dekhna hai zor kitna baazuay qaatil mein hai.

~Bismil Azimabadi

This poem was written as an ode to the young freedom fighters of the Indian Independence Movement, and is often associated with the younger generation of inter-war revolutionaries such as Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Ashfaqullah Khan, Ram Prasad Bismil and Chandrashekar Azad.


Shaheed Bhagat Singh leader and founder of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). He was hanged at the tender age of 24 for shooting a police officer in response to the killing of veteran social activist Lajpat Rai. His legacy prompted youth in India to begin fighting for Indian independence and also increased the rise of socialism in India. His favourite poet was an Indian freedom fighter Allama Iqbal. He joined the Hindustan Republican Association at the request of Professor Vidyalankar, which was then headed by Ram Prasad Bismil and Ashfaqulla Khan.

Musharraf Is still focus in Pakistan

A protestor burning and spitting on a picture of Musharraf.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The parties that won Pakistan’s elections say they will select a prime minister any day now, but that is not expected to calm the country’s turbulent politics, as the next government refocuses opposition to President Pervez Musharraf.

Energized by their victory two weeks ago, members of the incoming Parliament are questioning with new vigor Mr. Musharraf’s continuation in office.

The election has also revitalized the lawyers’ movement that formed to oppose Mr. Musharraf nearly a year ago. It is re-emerging as a political force with the release of its leaders from house arrest last weekend.

The election results for all but 10 National Assembly seats have been confirmed, and the winning party of the assassinated former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, the Pakistan Peoples Party, will lead the government.

Makhdoom Amin Fahim, the longtime deputy to Ms. Bhutto and the party’s longest-serving member of Parliament, will probably be chosen as the prime minister, according to members of the party. Then it will depend...

Full story @ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/05/

Apne ushaq se aise bhi koi karta hai...

تجھے کتنوں کا لہو چاھیے اے ارض وطن

جو تیرے عارض بے رنگ کو گلنار کرے

کتنی آ ھوں سے کلیجہ تیرا ٹھنڈا ھوگا

کتنے آنسو تیرے صحراوُں کو گلزارکریں

ھم تو مجبور وفا ھیں مگر اے جان جہاں

اپنے عشاق سے ایسے بھی کؤی کرتا ھے

تیری محفل کو خدا رکھے ابد تک قایم

ھم تو مہماں ھیں گھڑی بھر کے ھمارا کیا ھے