Pakistani politics (catch all)

[omarali50]

at AFTERMATH: PAKISTAN ELECTIONS 2013 http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksd...2013.html#more

by Omar Ali
.....

All in all, the elections are a step forward. People voted in large numbers, proving once again that the Taliban propaganda against this “heathen system of government” is not getting much traction. The Zardari regime, for all its faults, managed to get Pakistan to this point and deserves appreciation for this achievement. The rigging allegations and various administrative irregularities have dented the image of this election but a more energetic and forceful elections commissioner next time can repair credibility in the heartland without a big problem. Miracles of various sizes (see above) may be needed in Karachi and Balochistan. Miracles will also be needed to bring the war with the Taliban and the war with India to simultaneous closure. If the PMLN can deliver a more capable regime and restore the economy (doable) and some of the miracles happen, we may be in a much happier place by 2018. If not, we may still hope for more of the same. The one thing we cannot afford is a revolution (Islamic, PTI-Paknationalist or Marxist-Leninist..the last is not on the cards but comrades are still around and appreciate the plug). We dodged a bullet this time and with luck we may get away next time as well.

[carl]

Omar:

I am always completely pessimistic about Pakistan having any chance at all given the Pak Army and the feudal elites. But after reading some of your comments I should be thinking more often that Pakistan is filled with people like that ambulance driver and policeman in Karachi that were profiled in the TV special I forgot the name of.

[davidbfpo]

Carl's post:

I am always completely pessimistic about Pakistan having any chance at all given the Pak Army and the feudal elites. But after reading some of your comments I should be thinking more often that Pakistan is filled with people like that ambulance driver and policeman in Karachi that were profiled in the TV special I forgot the name of.

My initial post April 2011

Peter Oborne, one of the UK's best reporters IMHO, has been in Karachi, Pakistan's commercial capital and a huge city beset with problems:

In the last 60 years the population of Karachi has risen from 300,000 to nearly 20 million. The pressure for homes, water and food - compounded by high levels of unemployment - has lead to furious conflict between the rival ethnic groups, with around 1300 people killed in gangland violence last year.

His report is based on following an ambulance driver, employed by a charity and a shorter period with a police inspector, who states:

...at least 100 of his officers have been killed in the past year.

The title of the thread comes from his closing comment - worth fast forwarding to, if twenty five minutes cannot be spared.

The film clip on: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/u...ld/4od#3180510

The written summary is on: http://www.channel4.com/programmes/u...2011/episode-4

The links do work in the USA and a SWC viewer responded:

They should stop making cop shows about Americans and make cops shows about Karachi cops. That was something.

__________________

[omarali50]

Not really about politics this time (except tangentially)

http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksd...real.html#more

[omarali50]

Shia and Sunni in Pakistan. Some musings about the latest outbreak of violence..

http://www.brownpundits.com/2013/11/...i-in-pakistan/

[omarali50]

The polio jihad
http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksd...ihad.html#more

excerpt:

...The fact is no CIA or Mossad operation and no unethical drug trial is sufficient excuse for killing innocent health workers trying to stop a lethal disease. If people are doing so, they need to be told that it is not acceptable to do so, instead of using every atrocity as another opportunity to attack imperialism, capitalism or whatever ideological current you hold responsible for the state of the world as a whole.

I realize that the above paragraph is not philosophically air-tight. If capitalism is indeed the cause of all evil, then everyone who is gumming up the onward march of international capitalism is, by definition, a good guy. But my contention is that Western activists (and their Westoxicated Eastern admirers) do not really believe in any such absolute clash of good and evil and would not really want to live in the pre-industrial utopia of the Taliban. They only find it easy to admire heartless killers when faraway people are being discussed. I realize that I cannot stop this huge anti-capitalist cultural force with one article, but I just wish they would stay off the topic of polio vaccination. Humanity is tantalizingly close to wiping out this menace. It would be a shame to fail now just to make a point about the CIA or capitalism or American imperialism.

- See more at: http://www.3quarksdaily.com/3quarksd...ihad.html#more

[carl]

Here is another example of why the poor, long suffering Pakistani people don't deserve their miserable excuses for an army and gov.

A high school boy takes on a suicide bomber heading for his school and dies.

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Secur...801-10-2014%29