Oakley speaks out against America’s Colonisation of Pakistan

By Majed Iqbal- ‘We’ve alienated them tremendously. Whether we agree or not” says former US ambassador to Islamabad Robert Oakley. Airing his views on Americas role in Pakistan, Oakley was responding back to a host of views presented by Obama and his team on dealing with this ‘hotspot’ in the world which has drew international attention in the last years.

Americas increasing role in Pakistan through the Bush administration and the man of ‘change’, Obama, the new President of America who singled out Pakistan in his presidential campaign and within days of coming into office resumed drone attacks has clearly highlighted that Americas next target is Pakistan

“If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won’t act, we will” Said Obama in 2007 outside the Woodrow Wilson Centre in his Presidential run up campaign.

Oakley, who served in Islamabad from 1988 to 92, has criticised Americas approach to Pakistan airing views which present a clear picture of a structured policy to colonise Pakistan.

The Long March Episode- Democracy and Dictatorship- Two sides of the same coin?

 By Majed Iqbal- The weekend in Pakistan saw the much awaited long march take its turn to add itself onto the list of the on-going Political crisis plaguing the country.

President Zardari had pledged to reinstate the deposed Chief justice Mr Chaudhry, who had been removed by Musharraf in the November state of emergency, within 30 days of taking office, but reneged on the promise, fearing the justice would re-open the case of alleged corruption by his late wife Benazir Bhutto and him over which immunity was granted by Musharraf in a potential power sharing deal.

The election of the PPP in power in January and the ‘in-house’ move of Zardari to Presidency saw him back down on his promise during the elections of re-instating the deposed judges if the PPP won.

Whilst Musharraf was in power we saw parties rally around the message that dictatorship was bad for the country and that is should be removed to guarantee ‘real’ progress. The message was not just for Musharraf but anyone with similar ambitions for dictatorial rule which had caused havoc in the country through the pursuance of the war on terror with no consultation from the national assembly, rasing juniors in army ranks above seniors who were more loyal to Musharraf, sending the heads of the two opposition parties into exile and sacking judges who could contest President Musharraf’s authority as un-constitutional.

Musharraf’s Resignation- Déjà Vu for Pakistani Politics

By Majed Iqbal- “No charge sheet can stand against me, no charge can be proved against me, because I never did anything for myself, it was all for Pakistan…….This is not time for individual bravado, it is time to think seriously. With impeachment, the country’s dignity will be undermined and, as you all know, Pakistan is my love, my life is ready to be sacrificed for it.”

In his usual Military mantra and irrational charisma, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf made these statements on a televised address to the nation on Monday 18th August in which he announced his resignation from the Presidency of Pakistan.

This move came amidst growing pressure form the newly formed government, elected in February this year who planned from the onset to oust Musharraf from his position and impeach him for violating the constitution in November last year, gross misconduct and economic mismanagement.

It asked the president to seek a vote of confidence from national and provincial lawmakers or to resign. Otherwise, they warned, the assembly will ask Parliament to impeach him

The National Assembly, or lower house, convened in Islamabad on as coalition officials gathered to prepare a “charge sheet” against Musharraf to strip him of his presidency.

Will Gillani, the New Pakistani PM deliver?

By Majed Iqbal- Tuesday 25th march 2008 saw Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani sworn in as Pakistan’s new Prime Minister in the central hall of the Aiwan-e-Sadr by President Pervez Musharraf, making him the country’s 25th Prime Minister.

After a turbulent tenure of Musharraf’s nearly 9 year rule, the Pakistani nation looked ahead for a new change and a more promising future amidst the sequence of events which had bought the country to standstill over the last couple of months.

Gillani’s Political background and family history seemed to have appeased segments of the nation who saw some depth in him. His father Alamdar Hussain Gillani was a signatory to the Pakistan Resolution, the 1940 document that laid the ground for the creation of Pakistan. His grandfather Ghulam Mustafa Shah Gillani and paternal uncle Raza Shah Gillani were both MLAs in the 1940s whilst his great-grandfather Raja Bakhsh Gillani was Mayor of Multan in 1921.

Pakistani Elections 2008- What now holds for the future?

  Also available on the Asian Image Website

By Majed Iqbal- February 18th 2008 saw Pakistan embarking on its Election Day amidst the chaos, Political unstability, violence, Foreign Interference and heavy handed tactics of the darling of London and Washington, the self styled “President” of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.

Dubbed as the most crucial and most important Elections in Pakistan and the sixth in the country’s fifty one year history, international Media and Western states alongside a “Special” Foreign Election Investigators team sent to observe the whole process, were watching events with close attention as events unfolded minute by minute in this country described as a “volatile” and a “politically unstable” area.

If Elections in Pakistan ever changed anything, They’d be Abolished!

  Published on the Heritage Section of Asian News

By Majed Iqbal- Today is February 18th 2008. A much awaited day and for some a day which supposed to have begun last month for many. Today, Pakistan is embarking on its Election Day amidst the chaos, Political unstability, violence, Foreign Interferance and heavy handed tactics of the darling of London and Washington, the self tyled “President” of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.

Discussions on Elections and restoring the country onto a democratic route have been heavily discussed by Pakistani politicians, TV Channels, Newspapers and by the existing government officials.

Promises flavoured with enticing language of development, progress, education for all, rooting out corruption, free media, helping the poor, quashing extremism and placing the country of Pakistan back onto the international stage with pride amongst the world community; all such lollypop advert styled slogans have come thick and fast in efforts to engage the nation into voting for the “right choice”.