Has Pakistan moved backwards in these 30 years? Feb 12, 1983, was the day when scores of people came out on streets to protest against Gen Zia’s dictatorial ‘Law of Evidence’. Since then Feb 12 is observed as Pakistan’s Women’s Day. Since departure of Zia in an air crash, in 1988, it had been a long way for women to get back their rights snatched during the dark days of Zia’s regime.
Has someone felt ashamed on the resolution passed by Pakistan Senate Feb 12, 2014? The resolution asks the government not to compromise on rights of women and minorities in the ongoing negotiations with Taliban. Is there any alternate word for ‘surrender’; that’s what Pakistan state has chosen by entering into peace talks with those who don’t recognise its constitution, its democratic form of governance, judicial system, multi-religious/ sectarian society, and are murderers of 50,000 Pakistanis. As a defeated army always makes its last ditch effort to appeal the winner not to kill and plunder its cities, similarly Pakistan’s upper house of the parliament moves in frustration. Perhaps the senators are not aware that the old general is smiling while looking down from hell that the journey towards darkness he started in 1980s still continues, even if he is no more alive to see what his children are doing. His ex-colleagues from right-wing parties and their brainchild, Taliban, are very much here to finally takeover Pakistan. Zia ruled the country as a dictator but Taliban are smarter than him as they are going to install Mullah Fazlullah as Caliph and Mullah Umer as Ameer-ul-Momineen.
Is there an alternate word for ‘Banana Republic’?
MASOOD KHAN
Jubail, Saudi Arabia