Comments on: The Thinkable Has Happened! http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/the-thinkable-has-happened/ An Investigation into the Life and Times of a Nation Sun, 01 Aug 2010 06:40:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2 By: Rehmat Yazdani http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/the-thinkable-has-happened/#comment-3200 Rehmat Yazdani Tue, 06 Nov 2007 12:15:35 +0000 http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/the-thinkable-has-happened/#comment-3200 Glad to see you back Athar. For the past four days, I was watching online transmission of AAJ and DawnNews , thinking if there would be a mass protest in Pakistan or any where else around the globe on this newly imposed ' Martial Law’. Unfortunately, I have not seen anyone protesting except Lawyers and a few human rights activists in Pakistan. All private TV channels transmissions have been banned by the government for more than 48 hours but the only reaction which I have seen from Pakistani media is today : which is they have refused to cover any of the government’s event. The most absurd response is from the political parties, where are they; I don’t know, they are not yet over with their petty issues. I have asked this question from every of my friend in Pakistan ' Why are you sitting in your offices rather than protesting '. And I am not getting any answer except ' take it easy, we are use to it and nothing will change if we protest'. This is really frustrating. We tried mobilizing Pakistani students in Melbourne and the only response we get was of ‘e-protest - lets sign this petition and exercise our right to express’ which I think is not enough. I was thinking that why as a nation we are so dead?? I am not getting any answer? How could we let it happen with us again and again and again? Glad to see you back Athar. For the past four days, I was watching online transmission of AAJ and DawnNews , thinking if there would be a mass protest in Pakistan or any where else around the globe on this newly imposed ‘ Martial Law’. Unfortunately, I have not seen anyone protesting except Lawyers and a few human rights activists in Pakistan. All private TV channels transmissions have been banned by the government for more than 48 hours but the only reaction which I have seen from Pakistani media is today : which is they have refused to cover any of the government’s event. The most absurd response is from the political parties, where are they; I don’t know, they are not yet over with their petty issues. I have asked this question from every of my friend in Pakistan ‘ Why are you sitting in your offices rather than protesting ‘. And I am not getting any answer except ‘ take it easy, we are use to it and nothing will change if we protest’. This is really frustrating. We tried mobilizing Pakistani students in Melbourne and the only response we get was of ‘e-protest - lets sign this petition and exercise our right to express’ which I think is not enough. I was thinking that why as a nation we are so dead?? I am not getting any answer? How could we let it happen with us again and again and again?

]]> By: Arif http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/the-thinkable-has-happened/#comment-3185 Arif Mon, 05 Nov 2007 19:46:39 +0000 http://www.understandingpakistan.com/index.php/the-thinkable-has-happened/#comment-3185 I am glad to learn that you are continuing with this project. I have enjoyed reading the articles and have found them to be enormously informative. With regard to your question about the apparent apathy of the people of Pakistan, I think it is unlikely that you will see the general population protesting the Emergency Rule. I believe that the masses have more immediate problems of trying to secure the basic necessities of life - food, water, shelter. They are in a constant state of negotiation with the government for these basics and will not jeopardize their position by taking on the Establishment. By and large their lot does not change with the change of government. I think the struggle for democracy in Pakistan will be fought by the educated middle class and will always remain a 'fringe' activity. I am glad to learn that you are continuing with this project. I have enjoyed reading the articles and have found them to be enormously informative.

With regard to your question about the apparent apathy of the people of Pakistan, I think it is unlikely that you will see the general population protesting the Emergency Rule. I believe that the masses have more immediate problems of trying to secure the basic necessities of life - food, water, shelter. They are in a constant state of negotiation with the government for these basics and will not jeopardize their position by taking on the Establishment. By and large their lot does not change with the change of government.

I think the struggle for democracy in Pakistan will be fought by the educated middle class and will always remain a ‘fringe’ activity.

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