Long March
By Asim • Jun 14th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 24 Comments •“Dedicated to all who have contributed in this struggle”
Arrival of a dawn of this new beginning
As the nation march, with prayers and hope
In preparation, the state and its machines
In preparation, the nation and its voice
Brings them together, the old oppression
The muffled rage from years of existence
In the old corridors, in the old avenues
The city of green, the city of conceit
Walk with me, the annals of tomorrow
The only chance to witness your present
Witness this place, where history is made.
Long live the justice, long live those voices
Imprinted and inside, in hands and in souls
No longer the concern where it will take
The old fate, the old destiny and its effect
From years of sleep; from years of its demise
As the clock strikes its decisions on the wall,
In oblivion they reside, in oblivion they perform
The old routines, the old disease of greed
Time to remove, the old despair and stigma
Never will we stop, never will we rest
For our tomorrow, for justice and freedom
Trade we will not, this promise of change
Trade we will not, our conscience and soul
Rise my friends through these moments of time,
Of choices we have and all that remains
As each step gathers a pace, in silence in formation
As each pace gathers a storm, in its existence
The voices of Kurd and voices of suffering
The wakeup call, for our tomorrow
In this hour of decision, what will we do?
Not enough, this participation from the corner
Time to settle, the old matters,
Will you stop me, my brothers and my sisters?
What will you do, it’s only the voice
It’s only the truth, no options left
I am this prisoner of conscience, free me
From this burden of pain and of responsibility
As these steps of distant past gather in its storm
No longer the need to forget, they are all with them
Not alone in their voices, not alone in their anguish
As this storm gathers its might, walk with us
Journey hard and long, and sacrifices infinite
But if only you walk, if only you stay
Bring me the justice my friends, in our sufferings
From all who thought, from all who predicted
We cannot afford, we cannot carry
No longer the hostage, no longer the victim
The hour to decide, where will you remain?
The old euphoria of revolution, the old perfume
As lines are drawn, as hands are joined
In unity we will perform, the miracles
In thousands, we will march, for change
Hear you will my friends, not far away
The days of change and nights of comfort
Walk with me, as each step gathers its storm
As each step gathers a storm, in the unblinking eyes
Cross we will these thousand obstacles,
See me; I am still there, in this circle of friendship
As the hour of decision not far away, the justice
For you and me, as the light begins to whisper
Remember, we will never surrender or weaken
Our promise, or slogan, only our right we ask
In these long avenues of green, in the city of conceit
As each step gather a beat, a beat into a storm
As the colors emerge from thousand nights
Remember this place, remember these roars
History, the unforgiving friend, for our tomorrow
Don’t look back, remove those shackles
Of our conscience and our past, in me
My silence is gone; my voices are you
Revolution will come; we are not alone
Look at them, as these winds carry this storm
Of our conscience, of our souls, of our roars
You may forget me, you may discard me
But history will not, it will see my blood
It will hear my voice, as it pierces the sky
I WAS THERE, for change and for freedom
I WAS THERE, for you and myself
One day in distant future, you will understand!
Last 5 posts by Asim
- Quaid-e-Azam, M.A.Jinnah: A Man for All Seasons - December 25th, 2008
- Response to Thomas L Friedman's Article: "Calling All Pakistanis" in New York Times - December 6th, 2008
- Children of Congo - November 7th, 2008
- The Disease called “Indifference” - November 1st, 2008
- Balochistan (The Earthquake Poem) - October 30th, 2008
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This long march is a BIG SLAP on the faces of lawyer’s and their movement and to the faces of nawaz sharif, imran khan, qazi hussain, ex service-men and others so-called civil soceity, media (especially geo who are blindly supporting long march at the cost of their neutrality and independence).
There are few thousands people participating in this long march after spending billions of rupees on its campaign. If we exaggerate a lot , we suppose the participants are 100000 out of 160000000 people of Pakistan; which will become 0.00625% of the total population.
Compare this long march with only a protest in South Korea where more than 2.5 million people attended (last week) against a tiny issue of demanding govt. to stop importing American beef in the country. The population of S.Korea is just 4.5 million.
So we can say that the people has given vote to Musharraf again and all these people must die NOW in “CHALOO BHAR PANI MEIN” AGAR THDI BHI SHARAM NAM KEE KOI CHEESE HEY TO….
SAB SEY PEHLEY PAKISTAN AUR US KEY BAD MUSHARRAF
JEAY MUSHARRAF
Asim, fogive AOM, he is above sixty.
You have written a very good peom, those who were watching the march on TV sets due to many reason (one told before the media by Mr Aitezaz) with a spirit that we need change may also be considered as they were also there.
again, weldone
Flood of lawyers, political activists pummels capital:
A political tsunami pummelled the capital on Friday as hundreds of thousands of charged lawyers and slogan-chanting political activists poured into Islamabad to pile pressure on a foot-dragging parliament to reinstate judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf when he imposed emergency rule in November last year.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose faction of the Pakistan Muslim League quit cabinet posts in May, told journalists upon arriving in Islamabad that Pakistan was incomplete without the judges who were put out of work by the president when he enforced the controversial Provisional Constitution Order.
“Let me tell you that the reinstatement of judges is very near,” he said.
While there was no official word if President Musharraf was in the capital, two flags flew over the presidency, indicating that the occupant of the house — within a stone’s throw of the demonstration’s venue — was indeed in Islamabad.
However, Asif Ali Zardari, co-chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party, chose to be in Karachi, where he gave a pep talk to union activists of the Pakistan Steel Mills who recently romped to victory in a referendum.
Athar Minallah, a spokesman for Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, told Dawn that the deposed chief justice of the Supreme Court would not address the marchers because they comprised members of the legal fraternity as well as red-hot, flag-waving political activists. A large number of members of civil society, including students of Jamia Fareedia, family members of victims of ‘enforced disappearances’, ex-servicemen and retired bureaucrats, were in evidence.
Reception camps were established in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to welcome the demonstrators of the long march protest, some of whom reportedly refused to break bread at a PPP camp.
Elaborate security arrangements were in place and the entire Constitution Avenue, which had been declared a ‘red zone’ on Thursday, was sealed so that the Parliament House, President House, Supreme Court building and other main buildings remained off-limits to the marchers.
The local administration in Rawalpindi stayed its hand when it took no action against some of the marchers who strayed into the cantonment area. On their part, the demonstrators withstood the temptation of marching on to the Army House.
Heavy contingents of Rangers and Punjab police were deployed at different places in the capital to assist the local police to prevent an eminently possible breakdown of law and order. A helicopter flew over the main venue of the demonstration.
Earlier, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association Aitzaz Ahsan and former vice-chairman of the Pakistan Bar Council Ali Ahmed Kurd led the marchers into Rawalpindi. They were accorded a rousing welcome.
While their convoy entered the cantonment city at around 1pm, they had not come to the main demonstration venue in Islamabad till the filing of this report. A large number of lawyers came all the way from the NWFP to participate in the long march.
The political leaders who took part in the rallies included PML-N leaders Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan, Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, Jamaat-i-Islami chief Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Liaquat Baloch and Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan.
Cross-country caravans consisting of hundreds of slow-moving buses, mini-wagons, cars, jeeps, trucks streamed into the capital as a large number of demonstrators came on foot. They were encouraged by bystanders who enthusiastically chanted pro-judiciary slogans.
Posters bearing the images of the deposed chief justice and Aitzaz Ahsan and banners inscribed with anti-Musharraf slogans greeted the demonstrators as they entered Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
In a curious development, many PPP activists and members of the People’s Lawyers Forum also took part in the demonstration. Dr Israr Shah, who lost his legs to a bomb attack on a rally held to welcome the deposed chief justice on July 17, 2007, also spoke at the demonstration on Friday night.
Imran Khan of the PTI urged PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif to table a resolution in the National Assembly to reinstate the pre-emergency judiciary if the PPP was in a dither about fulfilling its pre-election promises. His suggestion was greeted with a sharp rise in slogan chanting.
Lawyers from across Pakistan commenced their long march simultaneously from Karachi and Quetta and, after making several stopovers in Sukkur, Multan, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Gujrat, Wazirabad, Lahore, Jhelum and Rawalpindi, converged on Islamabad’s Parade Avenue in a forceful show of strength.
Great Day, Great History, Great People of Pakistan (Minus Mushi/Partial PPP lickers)
I have never seen such a big big gathering ever. If still people thinks that we don’t need Justice then its better to excuse us and rule their area without Justice. We need justice and we are serious about it.
Its first time that in long marches and these kind of events…ladies, old citizen, children even participated. Its first time in history that Islamabad people participated in it and welcomed other city people with open heart. They offered food, water as per their budget. Its first time that families living in Sectors like F6, F7, E7, I8, F10 came out of their homes to support this Long March. InsAllah change is coming soon. Inshallah.
After 1 year, 1 month and 1 day…… People of Pakistan slapped back on the face of Musharraf and their NRO friends at same place and time…… where last year Musharraf showed his “MUKKAY” while standing behind Bullet proof Stage.
12 May and 13 June…. One day was Dictator’s day and other is People’s Day.
Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….! Go Musharraf Go….!
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Go Musharraf Go….!
Very interesting…this long march was just one of the crap political moves…i was talking to a friend today (whilst i live in the uk) i do follow the news in pakistan very diligently and regularly. my friend comes from an interior province and it was quite interesting to what he related. he said at one point in time at all times during their lives they’ve had 5 or 6 cases on them. never ever has a court case been resolved!!
these cases which are run in district courts when moved to high courts turns out to be the happiest day of their life cause everyone is aware that it will never get resolved and will go on for a few years..
what crap judiciary we have? and if proper accountability done, i am sure there will be loads of corrupt ones as well. why the hell would anyone support such judiciary? and then above that, judiciary has been in ‘problems’ since the last one year or so what about all the other years before that?? what did the judges do? nothing at all except rake money from people for putting forward court dates and making sure no one gets justice!! who is accountable for all this?
also, not to forget the famous saying we have in pakistan…it is easy to buy a judge than to hire a lawyer!!
i have myself been a victim of such corrupt judiciary..my father died during the 13 year court case that just went on and on and we couldn’t get our property back..he was immensely pressurised and tensed despite the fact that it was our property and we had legal right to it…nothing happened!! eventually after his death we did an out of court settlement (courts and judges and lawyers still didn’t do anything!) with us losing a few million rupees!! why would judiciary be supported in such instances? i would never support one!!
Naeem,
So what you want??? Should we keep same practices??? Should we keep supporting corrupt system??? Should we keep bringing Legacy infront of us to continue same??? Should we keep making excuses again n again so that people remain away from Justice???
yes but it doesn’t help…our population doesn’t understand and if there are corrupt lawyers and judges which people are supporting by long march and all that stuff…its not fair..because we are supporting corrupt people isn’t it?
i am not saying that any particular person is corrupt or anything but the general view is that corruption is present in the judiciary system and to a very large extent…how will that ever end? never??
ok so the latest is that subsidy on electricity gone and the rates likely to increase by 15% or more!! now do we expect judges to bring electricity to people? (cheap elec? ) no they can’t…Mr. Ahsan (who i am a big fan of only when it comes to his speaking abilities and his lawyer profession) says ‘qaum ko eendhan (petrol) sasta daingay’…where will they bring it from? its just misguiding people!!
Just one more question….
Tell me how to change system>>> If you have reservations from all this then tell us how to bring change.???? Come with solution…
start afresh..leave it where it is…whatever has happened has happened. just like what happened to our fav mr. zardari (although i am totally against the NRO)…but then just forget the judges issue let everyone keep their egos aside and come to amicable discussions…do what they are supposed to do and continue working..and this is for the country’s sake. not my personal aggression against anyone.
on every damn talkshow and channel you keep hearing about ‘judges ki bahaali’…still nothing has happened for the poor people….has the budget helped in real terms? No!
With the kind of system we have and the history of our ‘current’ leaders (i am sure you know what i am talking about)…the first thing that came to mind when the ‘Benazir card’ was announced was ‘chalo aik or raasta nikaala khanay ka!’ ..now this may not be true but this is what the mind thinks when you have people blessed with the nro…but can we do anything for that? probably not? lets just wait and see if this policy goes on well..if it does well and good and would be the betterment of the country and the poor.
Mr. Farid thanks for clearing out the situation with AOM, I was beginning to worry about him.
The unprecedented turn out of the public was a big slap on the face of dictatorship and the supporters of dictatorship which is also clear from the language they use in their comments on the site. Mr. Ashique sahab, please try to recall (since you are so old) the gathering of paid government servants, etc. in Islamabad last year and compare it to this gathering of people who were not forced by anyone to join the long march or the long drive, whatever name may please you.
Farid,
Have you got revelation that I am over 60. Idiot man, if I know the history of Pakistan and talked about different govts. of the past; it does not mean I am 60 or over.
I know about Adam and Noah and Moses does it implies that I am of their ages.
Just to give you a hint, I got my degree in civil engineering from Lahore in 1995 at a very normal age.
I think it is evident now for the people to understand how do you guys assume things by yourselves and manipulate it and present it to the general public (same like what geo tv is doing).
People of this blog should know your mental level now as well.
Aitzaz Ahsan was born in 1945? That makes him? Difficult calculation, right? He is above 60. Actually 63! Now, you and Farid can begin to worry about him, too.
Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry was born in 1948 - Age 60 !
Nawaz Sharif is almost 60 - begin worrying about him.
Shahbaz Sharif is also almost there and busy in marriages - his own!
Now, you guys have some worrying to do.
Happy worrying!
For Farid yes!
Musharraf didn’t know about hte killing at that time. Do you know by yourself at that time about killings in Karachi. Everybody knows that ch.iftikhar and ch. aitazaz are responsible for those killings due to their stubborness to do the bloody speech to KBA.
Had they postponed that visit, there would not have any killings.
Salim,
If this lawyer movement succeeded o you know what these bloody lawyers will charge from poor people and how much ch. iftikhar will put his price for sale. Think about it and do not support them.
They are the blood suckers of poor people.
And yes thanks for reminding about geo tv…i think it has an ego problem as well. sometimes i do think about such news channels…surely these are owned by someone and the owners well may be supporting some particular political party? wouldn’t that be unbiased? well anyway, i think they have been politicised as well and surely such a great channel as geo tv can do something more to actually bring the true ‘judiciary’ picture in front of the people…
i am sure they can…it wouldn’t be a difficult task to take a hidden camera to the lawyers and the judges whilst they are at work! and we will get to know the real judiciary!
By the way just out of interest, does anyone know what the political workers get? in terms of remuneration etc? No one does anything for free or without ‘consideration’…so i always wonder what do these political workers get?
Friends,
MANY THANKS for all your comments. We all may have different opinions; but the intention is to see Pakistan to realise its true potential as a country, as a nation and as its institutions. To agree or to disagree is good; as it does show the concerns we all have.
Once again, I thank all of you for taking your time out to comment, analyse and provide your opinions.
Asim