Pakistan: All Martial and No Law

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it is probably a martial law. President Musharraf can call it what he likes, Emergency or Amer-Jensee (as he pronounced in his speech on television) but in all intents and purposes it is martial law. The legality of enforcing such an emergency is more than questionable and the official reason (war on terror) is laughable to say the least. Musharraf could have claimed “aliens are attacking” and it would have been more credible.

Minos’ Mine Kampf presents his analysis of the situation in his inimitable fashion.

Well, the kid gloves are finally off. The smiley mask, too, is slowly being dissolved by the vitriol oozing out of dilated facial pores. Dear Leader San, sans Chaplinesque mustache, stands before us in all his pint-sized totalitarian glory. A strongman-the-laaltein (trans.lantern) for our weird and wonderful times. A Sodomise-’em Hussein in the making. Der Führer Redux in khaki, whom we should face with right arms raised in reverent salutes, chanting Sieg Heil (or else crawl back into our little foxholes and go back to sleep).

In order to address the threat of religious extremism and terrorism, the government cracked down on the judges, lawyers, the media and human rights activists, while the religious extremists and suspected terrorists I suppose let out a collective “phew!” and went about their business.

Pak Affairs explains the reasons for “Martial Law – Lite

Musharraf caught in the middle of this has been trying to strike a balance by appeasing its people and at the same time keeping NATO and US off the limits from entering Pakistani territory. It’s tough to be in Musharraf’s shoes at this point where he is trying to hold the country’s dignity in place and yet not agitate a wounded bear, the US.

The Chief Justice and most of the Supreme Court and high court judges were removed and their replacements were sworn in under the banner of “out with old and in with the new” and the subsequent protests resulted in the arrests of many lawyers. There's a complete blackout on all private Pakistani news channels and it has also been reported that the government has tried to restrict the publication of a supplement on the emergency situation by the Jung newspaper. By the way, Musharraf still believes in press freedom as he claimed in his speech. I guess he was talking about the freedom to get censored by the government.

Silsila-e-Mah-o-Saal asks an important question of supporters of Musharraf, while Windmills presents a fable that is worthy of publication as an opinion piece in a broadsheet newspaper in Pakistan.

There were rumours yesterday about President Musharraf being placed under house arrest by a faction of the army who were displeased with his abuse of authority. This rumour resulted in the Karachi stock exchange taking a massive hit. But Freedom and Democracy highlights an interesting video clip from GEO News that discusses the latest Supreme court order that warns Core commanders and servicemen from taking part in unconstitutional activities. Perhaps there was something to this rumour after all. (Although the news clip is in Urdu, the order itself is read out in English).

Baithak presents an update on the media's reaction to the emergency.

The anchor persons are saying that the people are angry (at the imposition of Emergency.) But from what we see here, across the channels, the media hosts appear angrier.

Procrastination presents a detailed review of Musharaf's address to the nation. (The post includes excerpts from the speech including the video of the speech.)

You’ll notice the “I” in Musharraf’s speech, i.e. “I did this, I did that” and his conflation of him and Pakistan and how everything he has done and is doing is for Pakistan. That is of course the staple of such speeches, I still remember Zia’s speeches.

Metroblogging Lahore presents a summary of Press views on the situation, while Metroblogging Islamabad highlights the link to the Dawn News channel live web cast.

Well, that's it for the current round up on views from the Pakistani blogosphere. I'm off to Karachi (Pakistan) for a short visit. It is short because my wife has placed Martial Law (more appropriately Marital Law) on my trip. She qualifies the reason as War on Terror. Hey, if Musharraf can use that excuse, why can't she!

9 comments

  • […] blog is silent until further notice. Meanwhile, you can read my GV post […]

  • […] partner on the Don’t Block the Blog campaign, is writing regularly from the UAE and has just announced that he’ll be making a short trip to Karachi – his wife has ordered him to make it a brief trip, “because my wife has placed Martial Law […]

  • have a safe trip

    did mushy or the home ministry advised you not to come?

    if they did, pay heed…158 persons had to pay with their lives when the last person ignored the advise

  • Mushy, Rummy, Dölfi, what the heck ?…

    Global Voices Online » Pakistan: All Martial and No Law: did mushy These diminutives are completely out of place !…

  • Heh heh…I too found it funny how Gen Pervez (typing Musharraf is too much Kilo Joules lost, and I have a thermodynamics exam in 8 days) pronounced particular sentences/words. “Maine amer-gensee declare kiiye hainn” heh heh, awesome. I guess white skin,pointy noses and chiselled cheek bones doesn’t necessarily make people more prudent than usual. Bangladeshis have none of them, yet despite sporadic interference by the armed forces we’ve generally lived a more “Martial Law” free life.

    All hail to the mixed bloods.

  • […] sang to me might be under arrest in the wake of President Pervez Musharraf’s declaration of virtual martial law in […]

  • Faiza Alvi

    In the darker days of emergency, WWW has once again proved a beaconhouse for me. Not only can I remain uptodate with the news from disparate sites, but also can read articles and views on the blogs like this.

    To contribute my little share to raise awareness, I would like to share a link, where if you want you could watch GEO New on web, even with an average bandwidth.

    http://www.chowrangi.com/geo-news-live/

    regards.

  • Abu

    I think Musharraf is going to regret this Marhsall Law,

    He has shot himself in the foot and gone against everything he has ever said, in public, Now public will not view him positively and he will lose all support including that of politician, off course some people will continue to support him.

    http://pakstrategy.blogspot.com/2007/11/emergecny-that-destroyed-musharraf.html

  • Al

    A fatwa to all peace loving Pakistanis to stop the violence and unite aganist the devil forces of the al-qaida cowards.

    Killing woman is cowardly act against all Allah, God, Yahweh wishes.

    Benazir assassination was done because she wanted Democracy to return to the Great people of Pakistan and the radical elements did not.

    For those who criticize Musharraf remember freedom is not given, it is earned.

    Responsibility lies with the people. If you have power and a better way than Musharraf they need to organize and defeat the devil forces first otherwise without Musharraf you would have chaos.

    The other choices are much worse.

    One is living under the Taliban like government if the radicals take control. If they take control it is guaranteed the other surrounding countries would not like radicals controlling weapons of mass destruction.

    What future do you want to have in Pakistan and the region.

    Some violence or hell. It is up to Pakistanis who believe in the right and reasonable or beleive in the Taliban taking away your country into hell.

    One solution is Pakistan and Afghanistan join forces can drive out the Taliban. Only with a determine force you can drive out the devil forces and create a better peace. Radicalism is the reason for instability in the area.

    It takes strong people with resolve to push out the strong radical with resolve.
    Fight fire with fire!
    If you fail to see this any country will fail to move forward.
    Allah, God, Yahweh is Light and beauty for HE does not like Darkness and terror for terror is tear down life for which HE does not stand for.
    Belief we have choices and he expects us to make the right choices. Building in HIS name is glory. Destruction is not in HIS name means we must defeat the devil where it stands to build a better life for all that is Good.

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