benazir assasinated

It is horrible. It is unbelievable. It is shocking beyond words. She didn't deserve to die like this. Despite all her faults, she was a popular leader. She was worshipped by many. She was followed like a guru. She was intelligent; she was shrewd, she was fearless. She was a LEADER.

Once again, the people of Pakistan have been wronged. Their wisdom has been challenged; they happen to be the worst losers yet again. The country is simmering with discontent and the police, found very active when it comes to peaceful protests is actually asking people to stay indoors while the cities are left at the mercy of angry protestors who have gone on a rampage, especially in Karachi. It was bad enough for the UN to convene a special meeting on the 12th May incident calling for all the countries of the world to come together to handle the situation in Pakistan, worse for Pope Benedict to call Pakistan a "tortured" region amongst others such as Afghanistan, Somalia to name a few and today UN once again has convened a special meeting to discuss the situation in Pakistan. Recently while talking to an American friend preparing to go to Africa with the Peace Corps, I wished that he would come here too "obviously and hopefully, not with the peace corps...". This addition to my statement expressed a dread of such a possiblity, particularly in these circumstances. Now, i am even more shattered, that dread nagging my mind even harder than before.

It's very heartening to hear that Nawaz has announced a boycott. Better late than never. Probaably sad tragedies like these can run home some points. But in the disconcerted circumstances of today, it's even more clear that whoever maybe behind this incident, dictatorships cause unrest eventually. I used to hear about colleges shutting down for weeks on ened because of unstable political situations. I grew up in the 90s era; such a scenario in comparison to these times felt so distant. Despite one period of lawlessness that was rife in one point in time in the 90s, there was no particular major issue in the country. Despite the economy and the political rivalries, the country wasn't divided. Political heavy weights didnt fear for their lives as much as they do today, the bullet proof podiums and indoors 14th August and 23rd March ceremonies being introduced in Musharraf's time. I remmebr how Nawaz Sharif used to mingle with the crowd after his 14th August address in Islamabad and how we mocked the Indian primeminister's high stage and shielded dais. Today, we suffer from the same turmoil; infact a more pronounced state of affairs because of the small size of our country.

Elections are not the issue. One man rule has to end. We cab't afford another Bangladesh kind tragedy. For this country to survive, some issues have to be settled once and for all. Elections are just a cosmetic step.

We can wait to vote till elections become a symbol of empowerment; when all of us start owning pakistan; when leaders do not feel threatened, when this country is not talked about in hushed tones behind closed doors by the powers-that-be.

Let us all march to the same tune today.

Aur raj karegi khalq-e khuda
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hum ahle safa mardud-e haram
masnad pai bithaiay jaian gai