Gut reaction
From the Blog PkColumnist.com: Gut reaction - Two Pakistanis were shot dead by Raymond Davis, a US consulate employee who claims that he did so because he feared the youths were "chasing" him to rob him. A number of questions arise from Davis' statement. But, basically, how did he know that the men were "chasing" him, with intentions of "robbing" him? If Davis' display of "self-defence" was caused by the security situation in Pakistan, he should have brought a security guard along for his protection, if not a convoy, since he was allegedly a diplomat. Again, how could Davis be so sure he actually saw the men handling weapons when his full concentration must have been on driving, since he was so desperate to escape robbers chasing him? And whether or not they did have weapons, was he not a little trigger-happy, anyway? Legal experts in Pakistan are of the view that Davis cannot claim diplomatic immunity. "There is no diplomatic immunity for the American 'killer,' " Barrister Farogh Naseem was quoted as saying in The News on Sunday. "But if immunity is claimed by the US embassy, or even the Pakistan government, a court will have to decide to grant it or not," said Mr Naseem, who is a former advocate general of Sindh. Technically, Davis was not a diplomat under the Vienna Conventions, he added, and that even a diplomat can claim immunity only in a situation where he/she is performing diplomatic duties. The US Embassy insists that since Davis is a member of its "technical and administrative staff," he "should" be given diplomatic immunity. The Lahore killings, in which three Pakistanis died – including the man killed by a speeding American diplomatic vehicle during the incident – have sent shockwaves across Pakistan, and people expect justice. If anything, consideration for the grieving families of the deceased requires that the process of law take its due course in Davis' case. That's only fair if Davis is not a diplomat, as the barrister has stated, and he did not carry out the shooting in his line of duty. The London-based Association of Pakistani Lawyers (APL) has described the shooting as an extrajudicial killing. It has emphasised that justice cannot differentiate between a "Pakistani" criminal and a "US" criminal, particularly in an arguably capital offence. If the Americans adopt a more reasonable position in the Raymond Davis case, it would be an opportunity for them to stem the growing tide of anti-US sentiments in Pakistan, as well as to prove that America is the land of justice, as it presents itself. Meanwhile, it is an occasion for the Pakistani government to assert the country's sovereignty. It is essential for the United States to allow rule of law to prevail and help in the revelation of the truth, whatever it may be. If requested by the Pakistanis, they should agree to the calling in of neutral foreign experts to help in the investigation. There is no point repeating the Nisour Square incident way, in which 17 people, including a ten-year-old boy, were shot on Sept 16, 2007, by a convoy protected by the US mercenary outfit Blackwater – since renamed XE Services. But let's reverse roles and suppose that two American, and proven robbers, at that, had been shot dead in self-defence by a Pakistani on American soil. One can only imagine how the authorities would have dealt with the shooter. . Read Full Post
Military's role
From the Blog PkColumnist.com: Military's role - Scenes of ordinary people embracing soldiers and taking out their wrath on everything representing failed politicians happened for the second time in a few weeks. An uprising led by middle and lower-middle class citizens welcomed the Egyptian military's deployment on the streets. Rioters obeyed orders given out by military officers. In sharp contrast, the same rioters pounded every symbol of the politicians, beginning with the police and its intelligence apparatus that protected an incompetent political system. Unlike Tunisia, Egypt has a robust and plural political culture controlled from the top. And yet not a single politician from any party dared join the protestors. Nor did the demonstrators demand the politicians to come out. In this context, how the Egyptians embraced the soldiers who came out to restore order is important. Desolate Pakistanis flooded by water in far-flung parts of Balochistan and Sindh also embraced military rescuers while stoning the cars of visiting politicians. This does not mean people want military rule. The Egyptians want their military to ditch the corrupt elite and side with the creative, educated and honest people. Egyptians want their military to ally with them against a failed political system. This simply shows the military institution in countries with underdeveloped political systems have a role. The system cannot evolve on its own because we are not Sweden or England and conditions do not simultaneously exist for democracy to produce the same results here as it does in its European home turf. But democracy is a good system and we need it, albeit with local conditioning. In our case, a strong hand that inspires confidence and enforces discipline in the shape of a strong federal government is necessary for evolution. What is needed is military's support for change and not a direct military rule. But the lead – both for change and governance – must come from the educated middle and lower middle class Pakistanis. Tunisians and Egyptians begged their military to break its traditional ties to a political class that is tested, tried and failed. Similarly, Pakistan's military establishment has grown too comfortable with a corrupt and incompetent political elite. Over five decades, our military establishment developed dependencies on elite politicians. This mutual dependency prolonged incompetence and corruption. The mutual ties became so strong that a former military chief who launched a coup in 1999 in the name of change ended up restoring to power the worst of the worst in Pakistani politics. Look at what the Tunisian military has done. Key ministries of interior, defence, finance and foreign affairs were entrusted to technocrats and independent figures without any political affiliations. The new faces include an internationally acclaimed Tunisian filmmaker, a web designer and blogger, and political activists. The military, bowing to public pressure and possibly internal pressure as well from the rank and file, moved from the first hours to arrest corrupt relatives of the deposed president who were pulled out from airport departure lounges. The military did not hesitate in issuing arrest warrants for a president who looted public wealth. No deals were cut with foreign governments to house exiled corrupt Tunisian leaders. Even the tainted president of France found it difficult to grant asylum to close relatives of the former Tunisian president. This is not to say that the Tunisian military are walking angels. Some of its recent actions might turn out to be half-hearted. But whatever it managed to do in a few days is just a daydream in Pakistan. Like the existing failed political system in Pakistan, many arguments can be made in favour of Hosni Mubarak. He stabilised Egypt and allowed its middle class to prosper and progress. But his government is incapable of unleashing the full potential of his nation. The common thread between Tunisia, Egypt and Pakistan is the middle class. The Pakistani middle class and the business class are responsible for most of the innovation in the country in the fields of culture, sports, music, film, education and science over the last two decades. The same is true for Tunisia and Egypt. Our existing political system is a roadblock in our progress. The required changes are nearly impossible to undertake from within the system. Our politics has degenerated into armed conflict. Political parties have become instruments for creating and sustaining linguistic divisions. They are unable to recognise that the fourth and fifth generation of Pakistanis is the most assimilated and integrated since independence. Technical issues like water-sharing and dams are politicised and foreign powers keep the ruling elite busy in 'imported debates' on religion vs secularism and whether the Afghan war is ours or not. It is not that Pakistanis are hopeless. It is a corrupt political system that pushes them toward these self-created divisions. Pakistan's military can play a major role in sustaining democracy in the country by ditching a failed political class. Tunisians have done it and the Egyptians are next. . Read Full Post
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