Interesting Dimensions of The American Political Culture!

February 16, 2020

Interesting Dimensions of The American Political Culture!
By Saeed Qureshi

There is a great deal of similarity between A1 Gore (Democratic Party) and President Trump with regards to the fluctuating political fortunes. Al Gore was the Vice President of President Bill Clinton. Clinton served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Al Gore became the Democratic nominee of the 2000 elections. His opponent, the then-Governor of Texas George W. Bush, and the  Republican candidate, narrowly won the elections. Gore won the national popular vote but lost the electoral college vote after a bitter legal battle over disputed vote counts in the state of Florida. The election was one of the most controversial in the American history.

The upcoming 2020 presidential elections are being contested by 8 candidates from various political outfits. However, the main contest would be between Donlad Trump as Republican party candidate and Joe Bidon as the Democratic nominee. 

A 2019 House impeachment inquiry found that Trump solicited support of the Ukrainian government in order to win  the 2020 U.S. presidential elections against his Democratic rival Joe Biden. President Trump held back the financial support to the Ukraine till his condition of throwing mud on Joe Biden and his son was fulfilled.

 President Trump was impeached by the House on December 18, 2019, for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. He was acquitted on both charges by the Senate on February 5, 2020. We have yet to watch if there is a possibility of the case going to the apex court for verdict to decide if President Trump was guilty or not and whether he could continue his political role.

Politics in America is the exclusive preserve of the elite with unlimited sources and influence. The battles in politics whether for presidency, Senate, Congress or for prestigious and authoritative jobs are fought on the strength of money. One has to be rich to enter and survive in political arena. The masses influence the elections through the ballot and there ends their role. They however, are the recipients of the enormous rights and privileges guaranteed to them in the American constitution and by the social welfare set up of the society. They may take the help of law, which is the absolute and most powerful helper of the common citizens. All are equal before law and have equal rights of liberty and dignity. But politics becomes a forbidden land for ordinary people, even if they want to participate, as it demands vast wealth, huge funds and intensive lobbying. The politics by virtue of its being limited in a few affluent individuals can be defined as oligarchic or elitist in nature. It can also be defined as plutocratic democracy.
The, president, vice president and all elected members of Congress are supposed to be mostly big business magnates or landlords. Although the concept of a landlord is not used or understood in America in its classic sense, yet it connotes an individual much prosperous and prominently placed in society. The landlords possess ranches spread over hundreds and thousands of acres and live an exceptionally luxurious life. While they are equal with an ordinary citizen of meager means, their life style is markedly on a very high pedestal. These two major divisions in social and economic status are glaring in US society. Neither care for each other. There are equal opportunities for every person to earn as much as one wants to reach the stage of an elite or a wealthy baron. However, it seldom happens. The wealth of rich grows astronomically while of those with limited or modest income either remains static or declines.
The fund-raising is common for contesting for the highest status in politics or administration. It is permissible by law but it has got to be transparent. The politicians practically and indispensably remain in league with the business tycoons and executives of big businesses, gubernatorial corporations and banks for funds and donations which they need for the party and electioneering. On the either hand, the big bosses of multi-billion corporations keep the political leaders in good humor by generously contributing towards their fund-raising appeals. Thus, the interests of the business classes and politicians are complementary. It could therefore, be said that the corporate sector indirectly rules America without giving any inkling to the common man as they also take decisions along with their chosen representatives.
The big companies and corporations influence national issues and decisions from behind the curtains. It is also evident that the politicians who are elected, also themselves own big businesses and thus both economic and political powers converge in the same hands. The members of bureaucracy also own huge businesses. As such they have a personal stake and interests to look after their business when they come into power.
The common American won’t bother who rules, even if they know the link between the politicians and the business giants. All that they are bothered about is the rule of law and comfortable living. They know that by resenting and agitating they cannot knock down the system nor would they like to do so even if they can. Americans are liberal cosmopolitans, which means that they like progress, individual rights yet they would not disturb the power wielders. This is so as the overall objective of the political elite, their conjunction and alliance with the business classes and special interest groups is for the national good and welfare.  When it comes to facing law, all are equal.
 People are not averse to the rule of the majority as long as they are socially satisfied. If the tax increases beyond acceptable or tolerable limits or if there are more curbs on their pursuits of happiness, they may agitate and react. But the mutual co-existence of the ruling elite and the masses is accepted and respected by both the sides. The elite try to keep the public happy and satisfied. The people restrained by lack of resources to delve in politics seldom question the rule by a few. As stated earlier, the electoral system is expensive and beyond the reach of common man. It inherently speaks for lacunae in the democratic system. The membership of the political parties is open to everyone. While the elite and the wealthy, with limited representation can assume power every one cannot contest elections due to paucity of resources.
The influence and dominance of corporate and industrial sectors in policy and decision making is pervasive domestically but it too affects the externally policies of United States. This is borne out by one example that after the disclosure that China was supplying M-11 missiles to certain countries, the US wanted to do away with the special trade relationship with China. It could not do so under pressure from the entrepreneurs, the investors and all those big business magnates who had made very heavy investments in China. The essence of all recent wars in which US was involved, were basically of economic import. Despite the claims of fighting terrorism that fact remains that the brief war in Afghanistan against Taliban was meant to pave way for the US and the west to exploit the oil and other abundant natural resources of the Central Asian States.
From their birth, the Americans remain classified into Republicans and Democrats. The fringe or peripheral political parties hardly matter as their vote bank is always limited. Depending upon the administration run by a party, all important posts are mostly filled from the members of the ruling party. So, a kind of political bias constantly runs in the body politic of the society. It should be extremely rare that the members of one party switch over to the other party. The tradition continues with the succeeding generations. Such is the nature of party affiliation and loyalty in the political system of the United States.  Party standing in the elections is affected by the votes of the minority or ethnic groups. It is, therefore, up to a party how best and how successfully it can woo the minorities. For instance, president G.W. Bush was over- whelming supported by the Muslim voters particularly, who thought his immigration policies would be beneficial to them. The. church, the family, the civil rights for blacks and other ethnic entities, religious freedom, the abortion, the child care, the old age benefits, and similar other issues dominate the elections. It means that the American public opinion can be swayed with the promises that address the public hopes and aspirations.
Externally however, unless US is not involved in a war or a massive event of high intensity takes place, the Americans would remain passive. That is why initially, action against Saddam Hussain and in Afghanistan brought a surge in the public support for the government in power.
Interestingly, the Americans are both well-informed and ill-informed about the world affairs. During the pre-election media encounters, G.W. Bush in 2000 did not have much information about the then military ruler General Pervez Musharraf the 10th president of Pakistan (20 June 2001 to 18 August 2008).Answering a question on the television, he merely said that he did not know his name but all that he knew was that an army general was at the helm in Pakistan.
About the internal situation, the people habitually get their information mostly from TV and the newspapers. The ordinary workers and laborers express their ignorance about the political matters. It is the white-collar population, which remains aware of the daily happenings political and otherwise. The role of myriad special interest groups is highly important in a pluralistic society like America. Those citizens who, by any reason, cannot take part in elections may influence the decision making by joining such organized groups as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, America Legion for Veterans and so of. There are countless such groups which weigh very heavily with the political leaders. Their opinion and sentiments about national issues are well taken.
As such it is all elitism which remains on the surface in politics whether through big interest groups or traditional wealthy political families. It is paradoxical that while politics and economy offer equality of opportunities to all for participation, both remain exclusively open and accessible to the members of the privileged classes. Even in economy there is an equality of opportunity for all. Yet these are only over 100 big business organizations and a limited number of banks that govern the economic realm.
The electioneering is subjected to a set of rules which include the clearly laid down methods by which the funds are raised by the political parties. But like all such countries where there is a limit on election spending and where transparency in collection of funds is a pre-requisite by law, in USA these benchmarks are strictly observed. The government sets aside a specific amount for the final contestants whose spending is closely watched and scrutinized. But funds are also raised through private donations. It is forbidden for the candidates to accept donations from the business classes and entrepreneurs and private contributions Yet on personal and private levels the contributions are given to the candidates of choice. The private wealth of the contestants is in addition to that.
But when it comes to vilifying or smearing the opponents, a no holds barred situation exists. One may go to any limit in heaping all kinds of vicious and vile degradations upon the rivals, particularly the allegation relating to moral turpitude. The definition of moral turpitude is not fixed but primarily it means sexual and fiscal misconduct. The political bout for the seat of Texas governor between Rick Perry and Tony Sanches assumed deplorable proportions. Each one of them tried to paint other as a devil incarnate and in this exercise of insinuation, the facts or truth is seldom cared for .For instance Perry had leveled a very serious charge on Sanchez for pocketing $ 25 million in league with the drug traffickers and then he asked the Texan voters if they could trust such a dishonest person. In return Sanchez dubbed Perry as a rank liar and a species of debased leadership who has disappointed Texans with his poor performance and questionable behavior.
In a way that is a productive exercise as the hidden aspects of a leader’s life come to the public view and thus the voters can form their opinion in an objective manner. It is the local leader which is better judged by the people than that of the national stature, because the electorate of a particular state know them so closely. It so happens that even before the day of casting their votes, the citizens of a particular state, already form their opinion and arrive at a common decision as to whom to vote for. If a voter is asked about the credentials of a candidate, he or she would candidly express his or her opinion and that for whom he or she would cast the vote. That is why the Gallup Polls are invariably correct barring some slight variations. The candidates, who were already in power are judged by their past performance, while the fresh competitors are prejudged for their promises. The people are more appreciative of a person’s personal conduct, which means that if he has not been very successful in his official capacity or on the official assignment, he has been at least upright in his conduct and human relationship.
President Richard Nixon can be considered as the architect of Sino -American contact, which was a milestone in the Americans foreign policy domain. That helped ease tension between the Chinese Communist State and the United States and ultimately helped US to ease out of the whirlpool of Viet Nam war. Yet ironically, he became the most condemned president due to the Watergate affair. Although Watergate will remain a controversial issue, the stigma and charge that he was heading a government, which came to power through fraud, and cheating became the reason for him to step down ignominiously. This allegation completely over-shadowed his sterling achievements for the people of America and for the world peace. He had to leave the presidency in disgrace, although the role of pro-democratic lobbyists was central to the whole scandal.
The pressure groups in America are always on the lookout of undermining the dignity of such a leader whose policies or political behavior goes against their interests. If these policies conform to their wishes, he is spared despite wrong doings. But if he shows defiance and persists in his policies, which go against the powerful special interest lobbies and groups, he at an opportune moment is subjected to a tirade of character assassination and unusual odium. Invariably there are backdoor maneuverings that some time stem a tide against a candidate for an office. But once the accusations come in the public limelight, there is no escape for the accused. The courts too are absolutely strict in deciding matters purely on the merit and fair-play.
Basically, it is the corporate interests which endear or demonize a leader. As such he or she is exposed to some wrong doings and thus remains vulnerable to making compromises. Retracting from such issues as opposition to communism and supporting democracy is tantamount to violating the spirit of the American liberal conversates and to certain extent from the constitution of the United States. Every candidate exhibits the image of a person who respects and practices moral values, who loves families, is compassionate for elderly and children and less privileged sections of the society. The elections in America have remained as a tough contest between self-glorification and condemnation or censure of the opponents.
 Reagan got elected twice due to his strong and beneficial economic policies. Partially one can give him the credit for the downfall of communism and defeat of Soviet Union in Afghanistan, although the process started during the Presidency of Jimmy Carter. His economic policies suited the big business interests particularly the weapon producers and dealers. Despite his remarkable achievement, attempt was made on his life. George Bush was not only a favorite candidate for the presidency as he not only destroyed the military might of Iraq (built by America during Iraq Iran war) in 1991, but was able to attain the much-coveted goal of maintaining American military presence in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. Such a presence was unthinkable due to the Muslim sentiment against the United States.
The role of press both print and electronic in molding or at least influencing the American public opinion is formidable Although the press can be adjudged as completely free it does convey and represent the interests of various lobbies that are very strong in the USA. Such groups can be ethnic, corporate, religious or patriotic. It is up to the press to treat an ordinary affair or happening in a big way or a big event in an ordinary manner. The element of sensationalizing crime, sex and the competition of the celebrities, most notably the politicians is the favorite pastime of a particular brand of press in United States. It is extremely difficult to tame, bridle or appease this brand of media because the more one may rebuke them the more, they turn hostile.
The press is independent and ruthless, both partial and impartial and reigning supreme. Ironically the huge press organizations, the powerful elite and rich members of strong ethnic groups own business empires. But they cannot force and persuade the working journalists at the lower level to go by their wishes and preferences. As a matter of fact, politicians, by and large, and even on the whole remains hostage to the press.  Since dissent cannot be suppressed, politicians can expect any kind of treatment from the press.
What demolished President Richard Nixon were the media and the press. It was again the press which kept Clinton constantly on fire. The sexual misconduct of church has invariably come under the close scrutiny and unsparing critique of the press. As a result; one can witness the miserable plight of the church and the reformatory measures that have been set into motion.
The judiciary can come into picture when there is a dispute or an interpretation is needed about a certain caveat, interpretation of laws, action or decisions of the governments and the departments and the bills passed in Senate or the House. As stated above the decision of the Supreme Court about the 2000 election in favor of G.W. Bush was a landmark decision. It indeed helped averting a serious crisis which could have rocked the entire American political system. That decision is still being viewed at the public level as not being in consonance with the ground realities. But Al Gore the rival candidate from the Democratic Party, accepted it in good faith. Thus, a big controversy was averted in the national interest. Such is the spirit and candor of the American political system which solicits accommodation, sacrifice and tolerance.
Primarily it is the Congress, which disposes off the business concerning the elected representatives and Senators with regard to any dispute about their credentials. But finally, it is the judiciary which disqualifies the corrupt members of the Senate or house. For example, in July 2015 a federal judge sentenced Malcolm Smith to seven years in prison, by decreeing “that the former state Senate majority leader corrupted the political process by trying to buy his way onto the ballot in a crooked bid to become mayor of New York City.)
The white population (of British origin) or the descendants of the first discoverers or conquerors constitute 72 % of the total population of about 3oo million Americans. The black population is 12 per cent while the Hispanics are 11 %, at present. Keeping in view, the strong heterogeneous trends, it is inconceivable that black or Hispanic can assume the presidency of the United States in the foreseeable future. Although the Hispanic population is growing fast, yet even by the year 2050, their number is projected to be 30 % and black Africans trailing behind with 15 % of the whole population. The other ethnic groups would be in the vicinity of 5%. It means that although while the white population would come down to 50% from the present level, they would still be numerically in a position to hold on to power if the majority of the whites vote for the white candidate.
In another 50 years the integration of Hispanics, the white migrants from East and West Europe would be so merged and integrated that it would be utterly difficult to distinguish the white non-Hispanics and the Hispanics. The demographic complexion having undergone a big change, the Hispanics stand a bright chance to get into power as equal partners or at least capture the Presidency by that time There could be as well a possibility that the racial divide and bias might vanish and white Hispanics may find themselves in majority to pursue the political ends one of which would be to capture the presidency through electoral process.  The black and Asian population would, however, still remain marginalized for pretty longer period of time. They could change their culture but not the pigments.

June 27, 2019

Imran Khan Should Focus on Rebuilding Pakistan Than Targeting Political Rivals

By Saeed Qureshi

The PTI (Pakistan Tehrik-e- Insaf) party is sitting in the saddle of power since 18 August 2018. It is the day when Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman took oath of the office as the 22nd Prime Minister of Pakistan. Out of that Five years tenure, PTI has already exhausted ten months. The PTI and for that matter its Chairman Imran Khan’s slogans, roadmap and pledges announced before and after elections for bringing a remarkable revolution for the uplift of Pakistan were extremely plausible and enticing.

It was an historic victory for PTI, a back bencher political party to defeat the traditional political parties as well as the veteran politicians, and take over power to rule Pakistan for five years. The young generation was in the lead allover Pakistan in bringing the PTI and Imran Khan in power. There were quite a few prolonged sit-in demonstrations in big cities of Pakistan and specifically in Islamabad; the Capital city of Pakistan.

During his victory speech, Imran Khan as prime minister laid-out the policy planks and outlines of his future government. Khan therein said that his inspiration to build Pakistan as a humanitarian state was based upon the foundations and principles of the first Islamic State of Medina established by prophet Muhammad himself. He announced that his future government will put poor and commoners of the country at first and all policies will be geared towards elevating the living standards of the lesser fortunate.

He promised an investigation into the allegations of election rigging. He said that he wanted a united Pakistan and would refrain from victimizing his political opponents. He pledged that everyone will be equal under the law. He promised a simple and less costly government devoid of pomp and artificial luster. He pointed out that the spacious Prime Minister house will be converted into an educational institute and that the governor houses will be used for public benefit.

On foreign policy, he declared to learn from China and hoped to have better relations with Afghanistan, United States, India and the Middle East. He said his government will strive to have a balanced relationship with Saudi Arabia and Iran. The people of Pakistan were exuberant and excited for an historic revolution and believed Pakistan to be emerging as a country advancing on the path to the progress and prosperity and as a modern state in making.

Now when we look around in Pakistan, we find just the opposing scenario unfolding of what was promised by prime minister Imran Khan. The economy is in bad shape. Pakistan seems to be worse than what it used to be during the previous dispensation of PPPP and the PMLN. We find an overall and expanding deterioration and pervasive decline in all spheres of national development as well as the nation-building institutions.

We shudder to watch the television and the anchors announcing the rapid decline of the Pakistan rupee and fattening of Dollar. There seems to be no stoppage in this trend of Pakistan rupee getting weaker day by day and moment by moment. Currently one U.S. dollar is equal to Rs. 164.00 which is an all-time high in Pakistan.

The PTI failed to achieve Rs. 4435 billion taxes target. Fiscal deficit is Rs.3.6 trillion. So far it overspent 2000 billion dollars. Inflation has gone by 13% and interest 15 %. Abolishing zero regime for exporters has caused low exports. Imposing 27% custom duty on 2400 TAMFF lines is another blow to the export and import business activity. At the same time PTI has procured 5 trillion rupees from IMF and other international financial sources.

What has proven to be the bane of the PTI government is that it has engaged itself in a useless wild goose chasing kind of pursuit against the political opponents as its top priority. That priority or undertaking should have been left to the concerned law and order agencies and related departments. The involvement of the prime minister and his ministers with venomous declarations, vendetta oaths, frightening challenges and dire threats hurled at the political opponents have been a consistent pastime with the stalwarts of the incumbent PTI government including the prime minister and his ministers.

Granted that the politicians in the past, have been corrupt and grabbed money. Yet this should be carried along with other urgent and indispensable reforms such as bridling the worsening law and order situation including the daily murders, thefts, highway robberies and break-ins and similar heinous crimes. Runaway economy has to be bridled. Rupee has to be stabilized and exports to be encouraged with more incentives and easy loans.

Thus far, what the people come across is a kind of bitter blame game, rhetorical rebuttals and vicious condemnation against the political rivals and party leaders, launched by the foot soldiers and spokespersons such as Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, (the former

information minister and presently Federal Minister for Science and Technology), Madam Firdaus Ashiq Awan, the fire- spitting advisor to the prime minister and other stalwarts in power. This rancor and vendetta are so intense and unstinting that the leaders of the opposition parties notably the PPPP and PMNL have been implicated in corruption cases for which they had to remain in jail for a prolonged period of time and are still being prosecuted.

Even otherwise the culture of corruption and lawlessness is still in place. The PTI government has not been able to carry out other measures and reforms that could stop the pervasive culture of corruption all over Pakistan. It demonstrates that the aim was not to root out corruption and lawlessness but to use that ploy for fixing, harassing and sidelining the political opponents or political contenders. That attitude and outlook is a barrier for democratic culture and political freedom to the opposition leaders.

There should be an end to this kind of rancorous blame game and political witch-hunting by the PTI government that is aimed at keeping the political rivals out of politics and domain of democratic culture. The PTI government should focus on launching such schemes, projects, programs and reforms that can eliminate the overall poverty of the masses. It should enact laws and efforts to root-out lawlessness, culture of crime and thuggery, moral and financial malpractices in Pakistan.

Along with initiating financial and fiscal corruption cases against the politicians, it should have initiated and launched programs, projects and reforms geared towards nation building. It should aim at bringing relief to the people and making their lives easy and comfortable as we can see in many countries elsewhere in the world. A gigantic campaign of restructuring all public serving departments and institutions such as education, agriculture judiciary, infrastructure, road buildings, provision of water and electricity in every house and business location. Besides Pakistan needs to create a civil society by applying the local government systems and models of the countries such as USA, Canada, Great Britain West Germany and Scandinavian States. That would bring Pakistan in the comity of the fast developing and even developed nations in due course of time.

PTI Government seems to be focused on wrong priorities. Primarily it is not a question of fixing the politicians but improving and modernizing the state and society of Pakistan, Pakistan needs modern models of education, health, jobs, courts, infrastructure, roads, highways, modern sewerage and water supply systems that we find in advanced countries. The dirt, the filth both physical, moral and

similar wicked pursuits should be rooted out by copying the systems enforced and in place in developed countries. Turning Pakistan into a later day State of Medina is all alright from moral and religious angles. However, the people need the modern socio-civic living comforts such as electricity, water, roads, hospitals hygiene peace and institutional efficiency.

Imran Khan who lived in western countries and must be having awareness as to how those countries are serving their people with galore of socio-civic facilities, peace, law, order and harmony. Imran Khan can become the architect of a new, modern, prosperous, civically advanced and a modern state of Pakistan. Thereafter the people won’t flee and sneak legally or illegally to foreign countries for better and peaceful living, jobs, security and galore of socio-economic and civic facilities, true justice, accountability and safety.

Let us not forget that Pakistan came into being after great efforts and colossal sacrifices by the Muslims of the Indian Subcontinent under the inimitable leadership of Quaid-e- Azam-Muhammad Ali Jinnah and his illustrious companions and cohorts. It looks Pakistan would be going through another phase of chaos and turmoil caused by the meaningless tussle between the PTI government and the opposition parties. If this bizarre situation prolongs or worsens, the army may step in and impose martial law as we have witnessed in the past.

In the aftermath of the All Parties Conference, JUI Chief Maulana Fazalur Rehman announced in a press conference to observe July 25, 2019 as a Black Day against what he accused of rigging in general elections. This might spur another crisis that would entail oppressive retaliation by the PTI government embittering the political climate further.

The Writer is a Former Diplomat, Senior Journalist and Former Editor of Diplomatic Times Published in Pakistan

Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Speech at the United Nations General Assembly Forum was Patriotic and Historic

September28, 2019

By Saeed Qureshi

During his seven days visit to the United States, Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27. He spoke for 52 minutes over almost 40 issues. Yet the issues that he emphasized and that were most important were Kashmir, Islamophobia, the bilateral relations between Pakistan and India, the climate change, the rampant corruption and money laundering from poor countries to the rich countries by wealthy and the rich robber barons including the politicians and business tycoons.

One is reminded that in a similar situation in 1971, the then Pakistan’s prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto tore his speech and walked out of the session of the Security Council. The Security Council members stalled the debate over Bangladesh separation movement aided militarily by India and then Russia. Mr. Bhutto tore the papers in his hand and walked out by saying that he “would not like to sit in a council which was biased against Pakistan”.
Prime Minister Imran Khan emphatically lamented that the United Nations lacks will to force Modi government to lift a barbaric and prolonged Martial law to keep the nine million Kashmiris confined to their houses now for 54 days by 9000 Indian armed soldiers spread all over.  Prime Minister called Modi a murderer of the Muslims, a Hindu racist and a fanatic. The business centers and educational institutions have been closed ever since the imposition of the inhuman martial law.  
Imran Khan compared Modi with Hitler and Italian Prime minster Mussolini who were the upholder of racial supremacy over other European races. Although ultimately, they had a miserable end with Germany defeated on all fronts including the Russians resistance. But those devastating wars were the outcome of the racist mindset of diabolic persons in which millions of people in Europe and Russia perished.
Altogether he had some 50 meetings during his visit to the United States. In his meeting with Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations he underscored the responsibility of the world body to take urgent steps to save lives in Indian occupied Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
In his meeting with president Trump and the secretary of State Mike Pompeo,  the prime minister discussed and raised emergent issues that concern the stability of Pakistan, peace in the region including Iran versus Saudi Arabia, peace in Afghanistan, and in the Indian subcontinent.
Imran Khan’s visit has revived a genre of thoughtful diplomacy that adequately serves the interests of Pakistan, peace with the neighbors and beyond of the Islamic world. He offered even to solicit between Iran and the United States for peace in the region.
In his press conference Imran Khan explained how the term Islamophobia was being misused and exploited by the enemies of Islam. He conveyed to the American leadership that while Pakistan eliminated the terrorists in Pakistan and helped United States in Afghnistan in her war against the terrorists and even Taliban, in return after 9/11 the Islamic world was held responsible for the 9/11 attack. He lamented that even the suicidal attacks by religious militants were related to Pakistan.
The prime minister argued that Pakistan had been helping United States in her prolonged war in Afghanistan. He said that 70000 Pakistanis lost their lives in the aftermath of the 9/11 happening at the hands of indigenous terrorist organizations one of which was Taliban. Pakistan had to suffer for her support to the United States in Afghanistan and that infuriated the Taliban and indigenous religious outfits who turned on Pakistan with a vengeance and killed the people of Pakistan over a prolonged period of time.
In his press conference he categorically announced that Modi was a small person, a habitual liar and enemy of the Muslims living in India and elsewhere. Imran said that Modi was the murderer of the minority sects in Gujrat.
He questioned that when the 90000 Kashmiris will come out what would be situation? He expressed his deep concern that there would be a mayhem and massacre of the Kashmiri Muslims. He declared that if there was a war between India and Pakistan on Kashmir 

Pakistan would not remain aloof and fight back on all fronts.

He said that as the holocaust pains both Jews and Christians, similarly the Muslims are tormented when Islam’s prophet Muhammad were degraded by the opponents of Islam

72 Years of Pakistan Gone Wasted!

September 17, 2019

72 Years of Pakistan Gone Wasted!

By Saeed Qureshi
The religious zealots contend that Pakistan is a citadel of Islam, although most of the religious parties opposed the creation of Pakistan. Pseudo nationalists gloat that it is a nuclear power. I say Pakistan cannot be the second country after the United States to use the atomic bomb under any circumstances as it would receive the same in return.
Which Pakistan are we talking about and proud of? The one with barricades and barriers all over the land as if the whole country is a jail or a concentration camp! Religious denominations and cults take pride and self-entertaining divine blessing for massacring each other. The more this nation is getting into the religious mindset the more barbaric, backward looking and intellectually marooned it is becoming.
In every locality or street, there are loudspeakers blurring sermons and Azan (summoning for prayer) five times a day causing a lethal sound pollution. The people defecate in the open or in manual home latrines, all the members taking turns. The meagerly paid sweepers from scheduled castes carry away the heaps of human excretion on a weekly basis and dump it in an open filth depot or dumpster (I am not talking of Islamabad) where it rots for days till the rain washes it away. The municipality trucks come once in a blue moon.
In a sanitation and sewerage deficient country, if you find human refuse running into open drains outside the houses, don’t take it seriously. If swarms of mosquitoes and flees surround you all the way to your destination: be it market, mosque and work place, take it as indifferently as part of a decadent civic order. If the worms and bacteria cause deadly epidemics, don’t panic.
Don’t mind the mind-boggling traffic jams on the narrow roads as we are destined to endure those and that by our faith, we are goaded to thank God in every affliction. The puzzling and ear-splitting sound of smoke emitting rickshaws and run-down buses are not eye sores because that is how Pakistan is supposed to be. If the whole landscape, roads, footpaths, market places, grounds are littered with garbage; such gory spectacles should not incense you as we have been living under these abominable conditions since the inception of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1947. And Islam ordains cleanliness is half faith (Iman).
A culture of dishonesty and deliberate delinquency pervades and sprouts in every office: from presidency to make shift kiosks (khokhas). In offices burdened with red tape and inefficiency and nepotism, the five times praying Muslims prey upon the visitors and customers with full vengeance to pay for what they were doing for them as public servants. It is called bribe or graft is simple terminology.
The permits and licenses are for sale. If you need a connection for electricity or water or gas or phone, don’t go straight to the concerned department with only an application. Along the official fee take a service fee exclusively for the official doing the needful. But still your name will be placed in the waiting list. A letter from a political heavyweight or powerful bureaucrat would also be helpful. Be aware nothing is done on merit.
After 72 years of Pakistan’s creation, it takes 90 minutes to cover a distance of 10 miles to and from Islamabad and Rawalpindi: the so-called sister cities in the Potohar plateau. The police pickets, the road barriers, the para-military contingents stop you to find if you are a suicide bomber. The social life in the most protected cities has come to such a dreadful pass. I remember, as a student, it would take maximum 45 minutes to reach Rawalpindi from Wah cantonment by bus. Now this time is no less than three hours and one has to pay toll tax at many places.
Go to the Bara or Landi Kotal (tribal Business enclaves) to buy a 12-bore pistol for a pittance. Come back to your city, get into a house for robbing or forcible sex with a teenage girl or boy. One may also use it to kill his enemy or opponents at will.  The police would not know and would not like to probe who committed such a heinous crime because these have become commonplace daring daily occurrence. But if you want to indulge or watch a combined spree of robbing, killing, raping and extortion, go to Karachi. And take care that you could also be targeted.
Pakistan is the most ideal place to witness murders and massacres for reasons ranging from ethnic, sectarian, tribal, clannish, honor to land grabbing or just for show off in streets. The poor raped young girls have to produce four eyewitnesses to prove that they were raped. Is it possible? Law and order have become razor-thin and no one cares who is killing and who is being killed.
It is a tall order to explore who is raping whom, who is kidnapped and who kidnaps. These are signs of doomsday but the prophesied doomsday has already descended on the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Ironically Islam is a religion of tolerance and peace as it commands that killing one person is killing the whole humanity. Just imagine how many humanities have been killed and are being killed in Pakistan.
The new generations of Pakistan boys, girls, toddlers, adolescents, are living in an atmosphere of persistent fear, insecurity, bomb blasts, rape, arson, loot and plunder, in filth, in dark and dingy streets, in a nauseating environment of sound and filth pollution. They come out of the homes with a lurking fear of being blasted or kidnapped and targeted for unspeakable heinous crimes.
The food is costly and adulterated, the drugs and medicines are spurious, and the water is contaminated. The meat could be of a dog, a pig or mad cow. Who cares and scrutinizes for such infringements! We never ponder how many young children are forced to work with sex maniacs at auto workshops, restaurants or hotels or in private homes as servants? How alarming the level of molestation of the underage males and females is: no one bothers.
The country is in the grip of Thana and Patwari culture: the symbols of corruption and vehicles of obsolete, moribund institutions started by Mughal emperor Akbar the great, or the British colonialist. Caring a fig of what the law or the religion obligates, invariably everyone from the president to a police constable seems to be obsessed with making money through fair and fouls means alike. The whole nation seems to have fallen into a morass of moral sleaze.
The contracts are given in wrong and delinquents hands. The newly laid-out roads are washed off in one shower of rain, the bridges dash to the ground not long after being commissioned. If rental power generation units are purchased from foreign sellers, it brings hefty commissions to buyers (Raja rental scandal) and crooks are elevated to the higher positions. Pitiably such leased power units do not produce a watt and are paid in advance to the tune of billions of rupees.
When poverty grinds and inflation ruins the household, the crimes and prostitution sprout and rob the people of modesty, honor and religious penchant. That is what is happening in Pakistan and that country created in the name of Islam may turn into another Thailand in due course.
The army was there at the helm for half of Pakistan’s existence, a drunkard and lewd military president held the first free elections and then equaled this good deed by truncating Pakistan. Cessation of East Pakistan and surrender of a Muslim army are those calumnies that cannot be washed off ever unless the river Ganges starts flowing in the opposite direction and the sun starts rising from the west. And during those crippling moments (surrender) several generals, politicians and bureaucrats were reported drinking in five-star hotels with their concubines. This is the story of a nation that claims that it ruled the sub-continent of India for a thousand years.
If there was no obscurantism until 1980 notwithstanding Bhutto turning Pakistan into another Saudi Arabia. So, Pakistan an economically feeble and socially torn apart country has to put-up two-pronged war: one with the enemy across the eastern border, the other against Islamic militants rampaging the length and breadth of Pakistan.
Why in 65 years, the sermons and preaching of Muslim pontiffs failed to turn Pakistanis into good citizens not to speak of good Muslims? Yet the dreary and ineffectual sermons continue to foster sectarian hatred, reinforcing warnings of hellfire. Alongside, the construction of new mosques remains apace uninhibited. If there could not be one single model Islamic state in 1400 years, how one would hope for that in the present times when old taboos and gospels are losing their relevance.
Which war is for Islam and which one to safeguard the territorial integrity of Pakistan? Pakistan is doomed as the menace of Taliban abetted and supported by external abettors would not die nor surrender so soon. There is a noose of Islamic militancy around the neck of Pakistan that is tightening by way of proliferation of bomb blasts and violence.
Can one dream for the day when a true and patriotic leadership would take the reins of Pakistan? Will that day dawn when the citizens would travel with a relief that their lives would be safe and they won’t be molested, kidnapped or killed on the way? Can we visualize a society when law and order would prevail and dispensation of unhampered justice would be possible by nabbing the highest culprits in government, aristocracy and from the elite classes? Would our judges be upright and strong to uphold the law and not selling the justice? Can our institutions, government departments and bureaucracy function even by a fraction of other civil societies?
Can Pakistan generate enough electricity that the word “load shedding” becomes obsolete? Can everyone have access to schooling, medical facilities, drinking water and job? Can we integrate the Islamic teachings into the established curricula and syllabi and close the ghost schools imparting hatred and spurious Islam to the students who come to Islamic nurseries due to poverty or ignorance?
Can we limit the number of religious institutions and affiliate them with the national educational system from the primary to the university level? Can we bring about a national reconciliation? Can we eliminate the thugs, the crooks, the public enemies, briber takers, the goons, and all those who have turned Pakistan into one of the most dangerous and debased places to live?
Can our roads be widened, railways modernized, bridges built, hidden natural resources tapped and stalled projects such Kalabagh be undertaken? Can the whole country be washed off the glut of dirt and mounting debris and trash? Can the cities be embraced with centralized sewerage system? Can we check the burgeoning population so that the resources can be better utilized?
Can we elect a leadership that is visionary, selfless, imbued with nationalistic spirit, progressive and dedicated to promote a democratic culture and liberalizing the society? Can a stable, democratic, economically prosperous and socially liberal, and civically a modern Pakistan be rebuilt? The list of challenges is endless.  It primarily depends upon the quality of the leadership that we choose.  

A Magnificent Mushaira Hosted by Al-Noor International

July 26, 2019
By Saeed Qureshi
On July 19 instant a remarkable International Mushaira was hosted by “AL-Noor International” whose president as well as founder is the famous poet and social figure Dr. Noor Amrohavi.
 Noor Amrohavi has been hosting such literary functions including the poetry sessions for almost 16 years. This Mushaira was unique and excellent because not only that the local poets participated but also the famous poets from India as well took part.
The guest poets were Abbas Tabish, Shakeel jazib, Rehman Faris, Lata Haya, Khalid Irfan, Hammad Khan and Aqeel Ashraf. All the guest poets were highly appreciated. However, Lata Haya was tremendously applauded for her unique and enticing poetry as well the style of presentation.
The local poets who presented their poetry were:  Saeed Qureshi, Yunus Ijaz, Masood Quazi, Nahid Shaad, Zohra Chishti, Shaikh Ijaz, Pramod Rajput, Dr Amer Suleman, Asif Nathani, Farhan Syed, Shazia Khan and Noor Amrohavi (the host)

This unique poetry congregation was held in a spacious hall of Funasia. Funasia is the most sought-after place for holding meetings, social and cultural functions for over a decade now. The Mushaira was conducted by the host: Noor Amrohavi himself. It was presided by a senior poet Iqbal Hyder. The chief guest on the stage was Dr. Shamsa Qureshi. Dr. Shamsa is not only an excellent poetess but has a reputation of being a patron, philanthropist and a generous donor for social and poetry functions. Azhar Aziz was the Guest of honor.

The roles and contribution of other persons towards making this Mushaira a great success is as under:
It was one of the most laudable and successful Mushairas held in DFW in recent years.
This Mushaira last for over four hours with tremendous response and approbation from the audience. The specious hall was filled to its capacity and additional seating arrangements were made for the overflowing audience.
Every poet was dully and enormously applauded by the audience. The audience remained glued to their seats until midnight. At the end of the Mushaira, the host Noor Amrohavi thanked the poets as well as the audience for participation and gracing that rare and most successful and glamorous poetic session.
This report would be incomplete if the names of the organizing Committee are not mentioned. As a matter of fact, most of the credit goes to the committee that organized this memorable mushaira and ensured its success. The name of the committee are as follows:

Shawkat Mohammad, Shazia Khan, Mohammad Shah, Irfan Ali, Saleha Hyder, Zehra Khan, Pramod Rajput, Arshad Chishti, Mohammad Ali Siddiqui and Shabnam Yusuf.

There was quite a novel and interesting way of welcoming the poets to the stage. As soon as a poet would step on the dice, a shower of flowers would be released from a device placed on the entry part of the stage.  The flowers would partially fall on the poet and partially over the stage. At the same time, there would be a sound heralding the arrival of the poet on the stage. As a poet myself, I have seen for the first time, this entertaining and interesting mode of welcome.
At the end of the Mushaira a sumptuous dinner was served to the poets both local and the guests.

Hopefully There Won’t Be A Fourth Martial Law in Pakistan

July 9, 2019
By Saeed Qureshi
There have been three successful military coups in Pakistan replacing the elected civilian governments with the army rule.
The first such coup took place in 1958 when the first Pakistani President Major General Iskandar Mirza dismissed the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan and the government of Prime Minister Firoz Khan Noon. President General Mirza appointed the then  army commander-in-chief Gen. Ayub Khan as the Chief Martial Law Administrator. Thirteen days later, general Ayub Khan exiled Mirza and appointed himself as the President of Pakistan.
The second military coup d’état codenamed as “Operation Fair Play” was led at midnight on July 4, 1977 by the then Chief of Army Staff General Zia-Ul Haq, against the government of -Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. Bhutto was arrested and lodged in Rawalpindi Jail where he remained until his death by hanging on April 4, 1987( at the age of 51 years) .General Zia dissolved the National Assembly and all the provincial assemblies. He also suspended  the Constitution of Pakistan.
The third military coup happened in October 1999 by the then army chief Gen. Pervez Musharraf along with his loyal senior officers against the PML government headed by prime minister Nawaz Sharif. That military coup was conducted in retaliation to Nawaz Sharif’s attempt to dismiss Musharraf and prevent his plane from landing in Pakistan after his visit to Sri Lanka.
In Pakistan, besides these three successful military coups, there have also been unsuccessful military coup attempts carried out in 1951, 1980 and 1995.All the above-mentioned military take-overs were the result of the political chaos and failure of the respective elected governments in promoting and establishing the veritable democratic political culture. The ousted leaders and the governments, failed wholly or partially, in serving the people as well as the country with dedication, indulgence and sincerity. They were hard and oppressive with their rival political parties and failed to deliver for betterment of the country and the people of Pakistan.
The democracy fructifies not by the people in power alone but also by the opposition parties as well. The role of the opposition is to keep a watch over the incumbent governments and to point out where these fail or falter in serving the people, the democracy and the country as mandated by the constitution and in accordance with their manifestos.
If the incumbent PTI government’s agenda is only to come with a heavy hand on the opposition leaders and parties and represses their leaders with vindictive decisions and policies, then neither would the country move forward, nor the democratic culture and freedom of expression can prosper. An elected government by the popular mandate should not turn into a kind of a civilian dictatorship. It should rather give priority to alleviating the peoples’ sufferings and resolving their day to day problems for a better living. The accountability of the corrupt leaders and politicians should be left to the relevant departments, courts and institutions to deal. To these departments, the PTI regime can provide all facilities and support to carry out their job.
What a common man generally feels is that the PTI government has not shown any meaningful progress in industrial, economic, social and other nation building sectors such as education, health, agriculture, industry, cost of living, prices, law and order and so on. On the contrary, during almost a year in power, while sidetracking uplift of the Pakistan, it has been engaged in harassing, suppressing, condemning, jailing and curbing the opposition parties, most notably the PMNL, PPPP, JUI and JI. The PTI government would complete its full one year in power on August 18, 2019.
The unfulfilled pledges for prevalence and promotion of parliamentary democracy, the arrests and jailing of the opposition parties leaders,  the wanton statements issued by the prime minister cutting across the national interests, the squander of public funds, and a casual and regal way of governing the country might create a justification for the army to re-enter the power corridors.
It would be a benighted day if fifth Martial Law is imposed on Pakistan.  If it happens then it would be solely due to the uncalled and unnecessary mutual rivalry between the party in power and those of opposition, their aversion for each other, mutual political battling and undemocratic and intolerant behavior. But who can stop the inevitable?
Presently the onus falls on PTI and prime minister Imran Khan who are busy in fulfilling personal vendettas and fixing only the rival politicians while the mammoth issues for reconstruction of Pakistan and the nation building are pushed aside. The prime minister whom I voted for has arrogated to himself the exclusive distinction of being a past master in issuing meaningless threats to the opposition leaders of dire consequences, in double speak and back-tracking from his solemn electoral commitments to put Pakistan on the road to progress and prosperity and fashion it as a developed state.
The PTI government has put its pledges and mandate announced during the election campaign for the uplift of Pakistan and the nation on the back burner. Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be personally involved in condemning and catching the opposition leaders by repeating the threat such as “I shall not leave you and would punish you”. Granted that he wants to eliminate corruption in Pakistan but this task should be left to the judiciary and relevant institutions to accomplish.
It seems as if he is entirely riveted on eliminating and fixing the corruption and its perpetrators. It is a goal that might not be achieved alone by the PTI government in five years’ tenure and can be carried out along other indispensable reforms.  He should take the opposition along in achieving this gigantic goals of rebuilding Pakistan. Besides the pledges to curb the corruption (which is not confined to only to the political leaders) he should not ignore or sidetrack the fundamental task of uplifting Pakistan as a viable state in all respects. He should focus on alleviating the countless sufferings of the people by way of quick and inexpensive social and legal justice, low and affordable prices of commodities and food items, good roads, cleanliness, safety, law and order and free or affordable education for all and so on.
The industrial and agricultural sectors need utmost and urgent attention and a rapid road map for uplift.  Safety from the persistent and prevailing menace of lawlessness and mushrooming crimes, institutional breakdown such as transportation and railways, paucity of water, shortage and unremitting outrages of electric power, filth and dirt in every city and town and village of Pakistan. All these goals and reforms have been promised by PTI and personally Imran Khan in his speeches and interviews prior to the latest general elections held on July 25, 2018.
The Pakistan army that had surged in Pakistan as a savior in the turbulent times, may not ignore the widespread public unrest and their woes due to appalling civic and social problems, sky rocketing cost of living, poor governance,  poor economy, fragile law and order situation and the tussle between the government and the opposition parties   The top brass of the Pakistan army might also be getting apprehensive of the policies of the ongoing PTI government.
If army rule is imposed on Pakistan then this time the martial law won’t be as a benign as it was that of Field Marshal Ayub Khan or even Musharraf.  It would spell doom for the politicians as well as sleazy rulers in shape of the nemesis that any army is perfectly capable of delivering. There could be a mayhem, arrests and martial law courts’ proceedings.  
My humble suggestion to the honorable prime minister of Pakistan is to minimize his personal onslaught against the rival politicians.  They should be judged and punished by the police, the judiciary and the relevant accountability institutions. He should hold a national conference and exhort his political opponents and contenders to join hands in the most urgent task of nation building, alleviation of the countless sufferings of the people and laying down the foundations of Pakistan in order to shape up as a developed nation and  a modern state which we  witness in Europe and even in Islamic states such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Iran and Turkey. If he embarks on this path he would be remembered as the architect of a democratic, advanced, rich and modern Pakistan.