I have been quite busy, and leaving shortly to the hospital.I read your post last night. Upon my return later today, I will share some thoughts with you and others here.

I am proud to know Pakistani’s like yourself and A Khoka. Keep up the excellent work of guiding others here to think clearly.

All the best!

By the way, is dealing with other people’s pains and sufferings not in itself ‘poetic experience’? I guess what I am trying to say is the fine arts of helping those who need your help must be an enriching experience raising the practitioner to the level of a sensitive poet and artist, a philosopher. Enlightenment me, please.

Kindest.

Aftab S. Alam Says:

July 4th, 2008
Salaman Magsi Sahab, in my opinion anyone who wishes to be in any public office, elected or selected, must be driven by a sense of public service; success or failure becomes irrelevant as long as the individual is motivated by a sincere desire to serve the public interest.

The Pakistanis have their distinctive character to behave as masquerades; while wearing the face of humility and priestly garbs; they are seen good at stabbing in the back; but pity is that most of the time the victim of stabbing are not people and Pakistan’s foe; but our home land it self.

This is the only reason why our foes and other oppressors let Pakistani survive that we are very good at doing the jobs for others; as proxies with un-dithering resolve. These happens to be the top traits. So people always hire us as a nation and we get paid. We also work as individual and group also; like in Baluchistan to act as Baluchistan liberation forces and get paid. The sindhu desh business in Sindh and get paid from RAW. Uncle sams perks in FATA and NWFP to act as decoy terrorist. Turning mosques into armed bunkers and use the boogie of Sharia law; challenge the writ of state at vim and claim an instant grab of power. How happily; we pocket all the perks and monies. The opulence and power, we are loving it.

Do not quarrel that Zia was a bad dictator or BB+ Zardari fled away with huge sums. Nawaz sharif took all the possible investments out and built a huge steel mills in Jeddah Saudi Arabia while posing to public that he was forcibly exiled by dictator Musharraf. Sheer hypocrisy; [sub maiya hey]; two faced peoples all the times! Every leader; every effective post in Pakistan is decided in Washington. [Jo pia mun Bhaey] There is no need to curse them. Can any one possibly curse, whose conscious is asleep.

And every time we come across people; seen demanding the privileges and benefits from Pakistan; is there any one who is serving this country also?

I sincerely appreciate the way you try to address issues. I was not expecting a long essay (do not take my words negatively by saying “essay”) from my brief comments. You have brought up a lot of issues and to be fair to you, in most part, I do agree with your assessment and conclusions.

First let me address this issue of my “name” to you. As you must be aware that “dr alshaer” is a nom de plume just to protect my identity here on the Internet. The pen name of dr alshaer was given to me by my Palestinian friends and in way does it imply, that I am a poet…:) (maybe an aspiring one but let’s not go there) Nor do I have need to be addressed as a “doctor” though I am by profession a surgeon. I know it is typical in our society back home to be addressed by titles but being brought-up here in the West since the mid-60’s, I am not accustomed to being called a doctor other than by my patients. Back in Pakistan, I would be addressed as “one to be served” and no way am I worthy of that title. I am just a humble man trying serve humanity, the best I am able to.

Now let’s go the other issues that you so eloquently addressed. I am in no disagreement with you on the qualities of a leader. In an “ideal” world, we would have more just people, that lead us, but we must be realistic in our expectations. We sometimes forget, in the case of Pakistan, that the country is still new to the idea of understanding its position in the world; especially for the idealistic and passionate Pakistanis.

We still are struggling with the legacy from the British and now the Americans have their own agenda that has further confused the leadership of the country (along with its masses). No doubt we, have our share of corrupt leaders that are filling their coffers with ill gained assets in the name of trying to do “good”. Now is it fair to say, that Pakistan does not have “just and fair” leaders that are trying to makes changes for the betterment of all and not just themselves? I sincerely believe we do. The question should really be addressed as, are they being given a fair chance to govern, and that I believe they are not.

For now, I will end this response to you here. I must get some sleep and I will take time to address the other issues another time.

I have hope and pray that the people of Pakistan and its leadership will pass through these dark times. My prayers are with you all. May God help us all.

All the best!

Sorry for addressing you a bit formally as ‘Doctor Sahib’ in reply to being addressed by my first name (which is friendly!) since you use a ‘nom de plume’ and calling you alshaer is a little funny to my taste.

Now, it is difficult to comment on the speculation about our performance had we decided to opt for such a role, it is too hypothetical. However, I personally do not have any illusion about the hardships (what you have approximately termed ‘what they have to go through’) involved in managing the affairs of a nation / country. Of course, it is a horrendously demanding job and we the people are not compelling anyone to accept this responsibility. My point is if one is not fit for this job, either by temperament or training [(here I include all the qualifications in inclinations – the absolute ‘Gold Standard’ – you know the personal integrity and sense of purpose, the ability to cope with stress, the willingness to put the national interest above personal interest, the ability and willingness for public scrutiny (the Omer Farooq Standard! and certainly other Caliphs and Companions of our Prophet)] lacking these character traits one should not aspire or vouch for such a difficult job, nay, for such a sacred responsibility. But, if you, me, or anyone wishes to be there then the rest of us have every right to demand excellent performance.

Coming to your statement regarding the character of “a person” who focuses “only the negative” . Here we are not talking about people who do not have a history and being judgmental in anticipating negative outcome; we have a record of their performance and also their failings, and their corrupt past. Now, based on these facts if we still try to convince ourselves that one may hope that this time around they will behave different than their past. You are a doctor, say, does personal history play a role in prognosing a person’s future behaviors?

There might be another question arising here, what should be done in our present scenario?

The common sense would dictate following options:

(1) Lets have an honest ‘Truth and Reconciliation’ process which must be honest and sincere, all of these present players come to us, the people, and confess, show remorse, repent, and beg for our pardon. Pardon be granted, get on with the job.
(2) All the present player / actors in this national drama must go through clearing their conduct / records from an independent commission comprising those ex supreme court judges who never compromised with any tyrannies (military or civilians) and left on principles with their head high. Those not cleared must be prepared to face the music as prescribed.
(3) They all, without any exception, not a single one, must be forced to stay out of public life without any role whatsoever. Thus clearing an open and clean field ( the ‘tabula rasa’) and the such new people with fresh resolution and sincerity of purpose must come forward and we may be pleased to look at them ‘positively’ with only ‘positive’ expectations.

It will be difficult process but not impossible and I am more than certain that if undertaken with honesty the people, explained and informed properly, will support it and it will work.

Call me optimist!

Best.

I believe this tells a lot about a person that can only focus on the negative and see nothing positive.

Ayub Khan left seat after hearing above slogans…What about Musharraf? I myself heard, how people used words for her daughter, wife and mother but he is still sitting in Army House as ShameProof man of the World.

Baysharam Ka Aik He Naam…. Musharraf.

After this there is not much left to comment about your article. This is more than self explanatory, nobody likes to be ruled by dictators but what choice is left for us then, Nawaz Sharif ( I wish he had last time said yesterday Pakistan is breaking and I pray to God he must die before he is going to say this thing again) and Zardari ( who says the relations between India and Pakistan is more important than Kashmir).

PERVEZ MUSHARRAF WE REALLY NEED YOU UNTILL AND UNLESS ALL THE ENEMIES OF PAKISTAN DEAD