The Asian Outlook.com

A call to treason

by Mir Jamil-ur-Rahman

There are very few nations in the world that could compete with Pakistani religious-political leaders in bombast. When facing a mike, the language of our leaders becomes pompous and extravagant. A crowd of few thousands fills them with a sense of self-righteousness that is obscene and bigoted. There are no limits of indecency, which they will not cross, and they would mix facts with fiction with the ease of a juggler.

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is organizing protests against bombardment of Afghanistan. Its protests so far have been relatively non-violent, which is creditable, but the language of its leaders is far from non-violent. The JI has been slow to take off in its campaign against the Musharraf government and the Americans. Immediately after the attack on Afghanistan, it was the more fundamentalist JUI (Jamiat-ul Ulema Islam) that was in the forefront of the anti-government agitation. The JI, a little ambivalent in the beginning, is now running in full steam and rushing headlong towards a showdown with the government.

The JI perceives that Afghan situation has opened a window of political opportunity, which it should not miss. It seems JI has reached the conclusion that it is the most opportune time to unnerve Gen. Musharraf and to win sympathy vote. The JI is wrong on both counts. Try as it might, the JI cannot make a slightest dent in the position of Gen. Musharraf nor it can ride to an electoral victory by uttering calumnies against Gen Musharraf and his government. The JI and other religious parties are fighting a lost battle.

People though perturbed at the incessant bombing of Afghanistan are solidly behind Musharraf's policy to provide help to the anti-terrorism campaign. The subsequent events have proved that Gen. Musharraf was right and his detractors were wrong. The image of
Pakistan as a moderate Pakistani state has been restored. The economic sanctions have been lifted paving the way for foreign investment. The international aid agencies and donor countries are expressing confidence in the economy of Pakistan by softening their lending terms. World dignitaries are visiting Pakistan to personally lend support to Musharraf and shore up Pakistan's resolve to fight terrorism. It has never been so good. And the credit
equally goes to Gen. Musharraf for taking the right decision at the right time and the people who stood by him and supported him at this critical juncture in Pakistan's history.

Last Sunday Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of JI, gave full vent to his venomous and hateful feelings against Gen. Musharraf while addressing an anti-government rally in Rawalpindi. First, he incited the armed forces to revolt against Gen Pervez Musharraf and throw him out.
Second, he exhorted the people to rise and force him to abdicate. He reminded his audience that long ago the followers of Muhammad (PBUH) overturned the reign of another Pervez [Zoroastrian king of Persia] and likewise the people of Pakistan will overthrow this
Pervez. He especially pressed the Punjab to wake up and liberate the nation from Musharraf Government.

These are treasonous words laced with bigotry. Gen Pervez Musharraf is not only the COAS but also the legally recognized president of Pakistan. His government has the full sanction of the Supreme Court. There could be nothing more treasonous than to instigate the armed forces and the people to insurgency against the lawful government, a government
that was -welcomed by Jamaat-e-Islami in no uncertain words. Lest we forget, Qazi Hussain Ahmed was the most vociferous in demanding army intervention to end the Nawaz Sharif government. Gen. Musharraf eventually did intervene but not in response to the treasonous demand of Qazi Hussain Ahmed. Nawaz Sharif himself created a situation that left Gen. Musharraf no choice but to intervene to safeguard the integrity of the armed forces and the country.

This region presently is embroiled in a deadly game. Afghan people are suffering untold miseries because their leader had made a wrong decision. Qazi Sahib wants the same fate for the people of Pakistan. He has no convincing argument against the policy of Gen.
Musharraf. But he has made up for that deficiency by making personal attacks on Gen. Musharraf. By equating Gen. Musharraf with the Zoroastrian Pervez, the JI chief exposes himself as a bigoted leader who would go to any length to achieve his political objectives.

Qazi Sahib has asked the people to boycott the American products to register anger at the US policies. The boycott, JI surmises, would hurt the American economy forcing US government to rethink its Afghan policy. The JI chief either does not know what the boycott would do to us or he is oblivious to the terrible consequences that would ensue the boycott. If Qazi Sahib is serious and means what he says then he should lead the boycott to set example for the people to follow.

Qazi Sahib and his colleagues and followers may start their boycott offensive by refusing to travel by Boeing aircraft, an American product. This will inspire the people to follow suit. However, the American economy would be least hurt, but the PIA would surely go bankrupt. This is a classic case of 'cutting off one's nose to spite one's face'. Qazi Sahib in his efforts to disadvantage America is actually disadvantaging Pakistan.

Qazi Sahib to prove that his boycott thereat is not hollow should immediately stop using Internet because it is a 100 percent American product. The people, if they are with him, will also say goodbye to Internet and e-mail messaging. Pakistan would thus lose access to a vast ocean of information and its nascent information technology would die of unnatural causes.

The boycott should also include overseas telephone calls, incoming and outgoing, because the Americans own all the communication satellites that facilitate these calls. American companies also own the submarine telephone cables. The satellite and cable companies
would indeed lose a customer, but we will lose the world.

Now we come to some mundane American products. It would not be too difficult for the JI to force the boycott of McDonald burgers, Kentucky chicken, Coca Cola, Pepsi and 7-UP. The JI has just to stage sit-in at their outlets and the boycott will become effective. It is beside the point that these foods and soft drinks though licensed by American companies are
produced locally providing thousands of jobs. However, the JI and other religious parties would be the last to worry about the adverse economic impact of the boycott. Likewise they would be least concerned if Americans were to retaliate by boycotting the Pakistani products. Be sure that America at currently is sunk in a terribly retaliatory mood.

No wonder people reject the JI and other parties of its ilk at every election. People know that if elected these parties would bring havoc to Pakistan and its economic and political structure.





		A call to treason by Mir Jamil-ur-Rahman There are very few nations in the world that could compete with Pakistani religious-political leaders in bombast. When facing a mike, the language of our leaders becomes pompous and extravagant. A crowd of few thousands fills them with a sense of self-righteousness that is obscene and bigoted. There are no limits of indecency, which they will not cross, and they would mix facts with fiction with the ease of a juggler. Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) is organizing protests against bombardment of Afghanistan. Its protests so far have been relatively non-violent, which is creditable, but the language of its leaders is far from non-violent. The JI has been slow to take off in its campaign against the Musharraf government and the Americans. Immediately after the attack on Afghanistan, it was the more fundamentalist JUI (Jamiat-ul Ulema Islam) that was in the forefront of the anti-government agitation. The JI, a little ambivalent in the beginning, is now running in full steam and rushing headlong towards a showdown with the government. The JI perceives that Afghan situation has opened a window of political opportunity, which it should not miss. It seems JI has reached the conclusion that it is the most opportune time to unnerve Gen. Musharraf and to win sympathy vote. The JI is wrong on both counts. Try as it might, the JI cannot make a slightest dent in the position of Gen. Musharraf nor it can ride to an electoral victory by uttering calumnies against Gen Musharraf and his government. The JI and other religious parties are fighting a lost battle. People though perturbed at the incessant bombing of Afghanistan are solidly behind Musharraf's policy to provide help to the anti-terrorism campaign. The subsequent events have proved that Gen. Musharraf was right and his detractors were wrong. The image of Pakistan as a moderate Pakistani state has been restored. The economic sanctions have been lifted paving the way for foreign investment. The international aid agencies and donor countries are expressing confidence in the economy of Pakistan by softening their lending terms. World dignitaries are visiting Pakistan to personally lend support to Musharraf and shore up Pakistan's resolve to fight terrorism. It has never been so good. And the credit equally goes to Gen. Musharraf for taking the right decision at the right time and the people who stood by him and supported him at this critical juncture in Pakistan's history. Last Sunday Qazi Hussain Ahmed, chief of JI, gave full vent to his venomous and hateful feelings against Gen. Musharraf while addressing an anti-government rally in Rawalpindi. First, he incited the armed forces to revolt against Gen Pervez Musharraf and throw him out. Second, he exhorted the people to rise and force him to abdicate. He reminded his audience that long ago the followers of Muhammad (PBUH) overturned the reign of another Pervez [Zoroastrian king of Persia] and likewise the people of Pakistan will overthrow this Pervez. He especially pressed the Punjab to wake up and liberate the nation from Musharraf Government. These are treasonous words laced with bigotry. Gen Pervez Musharraf is not only the COAS but also the legally recognized president of Pakistan. His government has the full sanction of the Supreme Court. There could be nothing more treasonous than to instigate the armed forces and the people to insurgency against the lawful government, a government that was -welcomed by Jamaat-e-Islami in no uncertain words. Lest we forget, Qazi Hussain Ahmed was the most vociferous in demanding army intervention to end the Nawaz Sharif government. Gen. Musharraf eventually did intervene but not in response to the treasonous demand of Qazi Hussain Ahmed. Nawaz Sharif himself created a situation that left Gen. Musharraf no choice but to intervene to safeguard the integrity of the armed forces and the country. This region presently is embroiled in a deadly game. Afghan people are suffering untold miseries because their leader had made a wrong decision. Qazi Sahib wants the same fate for the people of Pakistan. He has no convincing argument against the policy of Gen. Musharraf. But he has made up for that deficiency by making personal attacks on Gen. Musharraf. By equating Gen. Musharraf with the Zoroastrian Pervez, the JI chief exposes himself as a bigoted leader who would go to any length to achieve his political objectives. Qazi Sahib has asked the people to boycott the American products to register anger at the US policies. The boycott, JI surmises, would hurt the American economy forcing US government to rethink its Afghan policy. The JI chief either does not know what the boycott would do to us or he is oblivious to the terrible consequences that would ensue the boycott. If Qazi Sahib is serious and means what he says then he should lead the boycott to set example for the people to follow. Qazi Sahib and his colleagues and followers may start their boycott offensive by refusing to travel by Boeing aircraft, an American product. This will inspire the people to follow suit. However, the American economy would be least hurt, but the PIA would surely go bankrupt. This is a classic case of 'cutting off one's nose to spite one's face'. Qazi Sahib in his efforts to disadvantage America is actually disadvantaging Pakistan. Qazi Sahib to prove that his boycott thereat is not hollow should immediately stop using Internet because it is a 100 percent American product. The people, if they are with him, will also say goodbye to Internet and e-mail messaging. Pakistan would thus lose access to a vast ocean of information and its nascent information technology would die of unnatural causes. The boycott should also include overseas telephone calls, incoming and outgoing, because the Americans own all the communication satellites that facilitate these calls. American companies also own the submarine telephone cables. The satellite and cable companies would indeed lose a customer, but we will lose the world. Now we come to some mundane American products. It would not be too difficult for the JI to force the boycott of McDonald burgers, Kentucky chicken, Coca Cola, Pepsi and 7-UP. The JI has just to stage sit-in at their outlets and the boycott will become effective. It is beside the point that these foods and soft drinks though licensed by American companies are produced locally providing thousands of jobs. However, the JI and other religious parties would be the last to worry about the adverse economic impact of the boycott. Likewise they would be least concerned if Americans were to retaliate by boycotting the Pakistani products. Be sure that America at currently is sunk in a terribly retaliatory mood. No wonder people reject the JI and other parties of its ilk at every election. People know that if elected these parties would bring havoc to Pakistan and its economic and political structure.