Democracy more about Power than the People

By Moh Bloggs

Democracy by some is seen as the one stop fix for all the ills of the developing world. It is in the poorest regions of the world which have been exploited for years by mis-management that the "free" choice of the people is pushed the most, by the media and the political elite of the developed world.



In the modern world a counties intellect and acceptance into the mainstream of the "global village" is measured on how democratic it is (so we are told), in reality many other factors play a role but that's a discussion for another time. Economic benefits are offered and based on democratic reforms in a particular nation.

The Phony Politics of Pakistan

Published on the Asian Image Website

By Moh Bloggs- The events of the last 36 hours in Pakistan should have shown us all something , beyond the death of Benazir Bhutto and above the billowing black smoke as Pakistan burns in rage there should have been an epiphany (a sudden insight into the reality) for the people and press Pakistan. It was a moment in History where you would hope a people would collectively stop, look and think about the situation they are in.



However the media on mass have refused to question the very status quo that has allowed Benazir to be killed in almost broad daylight in front of scores of people. Rather as is the nature of Pakistani’s there is nothing more they love than a good old conspiracy theory, so theories of who and why someone would have Benazir killed have been doing the rounds on channels such as GEO and the like.

Benazirs Assassination- A Product of Foreign Intervention

By Majed Iqbal

No week has elapsed without Pakistani politics being thrust onto the international media in the last couple of months. The tragic event of Benazir's assassination has once again shed the spotlight on the volatile nature of Pakistani Politics; something which no one is currently aloof of. However, the debates continue to rage within Pakistan as well as outside of the country in Europe, USA and the Middle East where many Pakistanis reside on attempting to understand and reason out the events.



Without a shadow of doubt, military despotism and anarchical conditions created by Musharraf's government echoes sole responsibility for Benazir's assassination. Despite the government highlighting Islamic extremism in the country as the root cause of the unrest and consequent assassination of the opposition leader, the Pakistani population no longer seems to be buying the argument any more.

SKY News Interview on Bhutto Assassination

In light of the current events in Pakistan with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, Sky news visited Rochdale to ascertain the views of young Pakistanis on what they thought about the events of Rawalpindi.



In line with other participants from Rochdale, i also presented my views today on the current predicaments in Pakistan.

Watch the Interview here

Benazir Bhutto Blames Musharraf for her Assassination

Former prime minister and chairperson of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in an attack yesterday, plunging the nation into turmoil less than two weeks before elections.

Whilst News Channels and Newspapers focus on the minute details of the tragic event, it is important to take a step back and look at some of the real causes which has led to this dire situation. The following report points fingers clearly at Musharraf and American interference in the region.

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=9QKflp5TnHg]

The gruesome assassination of the leader has plunged the country into deep political uncertainty ahead of general elections set on January 8. The next few days will be important to evaluate the steps now America and Musharraf will be taking to concoct a new plan to deliver to the Pakistani Nation.

Rochdales got the "EID FACTOR"

Well well well.......................what an interesting week its been. Its not been the usual EID. In fact its been very UNUSUAL. It all began with the Rochdale Reut-e-hilal Committees announcement that Eid-ul-Adha would be on Friday. This kinda sent some shock-waves around Rochdale.

"Friday!!??" was the puzzled response with everyone looking at each other. "But Oldham, Bolton, Manchester, Bury and other areas are doing it on Thursday!" was the flabbergasted response. Hmmm...........things were not making sense!!

Anyhow, an idea propped up in the minds of a couple of taxi drivers. "Why not organise an Eid Prayer on Thursday?" was the thought (sounded quite radical and revolutionary to me!) The idea resonated with a lot of people. So it was then taken forward. Dissent with those people who are in-charge of the moon sighting and announcing Eid was clearly being expressed- not just in words- but now in actions.

Kashmir Youth project (KYP) was booked and on Thursday 20th December, an Eid prayer was organised (two jamaats) with attendees exceeding over 500. In fact there was even a collection made which amounted to £1510 in total- It was then decided to be used to purchase two Dialysis machines to send to a needy hospital in Pakistan.

"Arrange me a Marriage!"- TV Program Review

By Majed Iqbal

A fresh new program has hit the television screens at peak prime time viewing on the BBC 2 channel. Actually, one which has taken everyone back! Titled "Arrange me a marriage" the show attempts to matchmake couples by using the principles of "Asian" arranged marriages.

Sounds interesting! Also sounds taboo! After all, such a concept of an arranged marriage seems backdated to Victorian Times for the English population. More pertinent for the host nation is the gutter press coverage of this concept which is associated with families of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, examples of which can be found littered in Tabloid press for "good" reading. So the idea already strikes the wrong chords with many people. "We'll stick to curries" we may hear. Nobody needs anything else of Asian People.

Dubbed as the "Desi" or Asian styled version of Blind Date, Aneela Rahman replaces Cilla Black in not just hooking up two couples but two families to arrange a relationship leading to marriage. Aneela transports "Asian" traditional methods in finding the perfect partner to be by involving the family heavily. "Go through a list of all the people you know" she says to the Brothers, Sisters, Mother, father and friends of the respective 30-something individual who is finding it difficult to settle down.

WWE, Chris Benoit and Impressionable Young Minds

Jon Ronson- Guardian Newspaper (8/12/07)

It's June and my nine-year-old son, Joel, has become obsessed with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) on Sky Sports 3. I catch glimpses of it during the moments I look up from my paper on a Saturday morning. A wrestler yells, "I spit in the face of people who aren't cool." Then he grabs his opponent by the chin, repeatedly smashes his face into the floor, kicks him in the head, takes a big bite of an apple and spits it all over him. Joel looks impressed. Suddenly, a midget (as small people are called in the wrestling world) dressed as a leprechaun emerges from underneath the ring and scurries around to the sounds of Irish pipe music. "It's Hornswoggle!" Joel squeals, clapping.

And so on. Bodybuilders beat each other to a pulp. Women in bikinis beat each other to a pulp, sometimes with midgets on their shoulders. From time to time the wrestlers lay out their philosophies for the camera. Joel recreates fights with his WWE action figures. "Take that, Undertaker," he says, whacking him with Chris Benoit. Benoit is one of his favourite action figures because of his lovable, gap-toothed smile.

DM Digital Appearance discussing Pakistan Crisis

On Sunday 12 December I was invited on the DM Digital Channel to join another panelist to discuss the Current Events in Pakistan on the Mehboob Khan Late Gup Shup Show. I was joined by Qaiser Malik, the main guest on the show who focused on the root economic and political problems plaguing Pakistan.



I was presented Questions revolving around the developments on Tehreek-e-Insaaf and Jamaat-e-Islami boycotting the forthcoming elections and what would be the impact of such moves. Questions were also posed on why the Judiciary is not functioning and wielding out corruption and do Pakistanis have any power in the West to make change.

Salman Ahmad of Junoon Slams Musharraf, Benazir & Nawaz

By Salman Ahmad

As Pakistan descends into political chaos, much attention has been given to two leaders competing for power -- the current dictator, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and the media-savvy former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto. The White House appears to be backing Musharraf as its best bet in the "war on terror," while much of the world's media and Western liberal elite see Bhutto as a democratic savior for a country mired in Islamic fundamentalism.

Both fail to recognize the core problem plaguing Pakistani society: Without a strong and independent judiciary, Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state, will forever be at the mercy of dictators and power-hungry politicians. Lack of oversight and institutional accountability leads to coups, counter-coups and perpetual instability.

As an artist and social activist, I have worked with the governments of both Musharraf and Bhutto on peace initiatives and socially uplifting themes. I have been disillusioned by their lack of commitment to getting real work done; they appear to spend most of their time consolidating their power bases.

On several occasions after Sept. 11, 2001, I was invited to Musharraf's house in Islamabad, and he even joined me onstage at a concert to help support a united front against extremism. I, like many members of my generation, initially believed Musharraf's commitment to introducing an era of "enlightened moderation" in Pakistan, a nation that was hijacked by religious fanatics during the American-backed military dictatorship of Gen. Mohammed Zia ul-Haq in the 1980s.

Review of Rageh Omars Al Jazeerah Report on Swat- Pakistan

DEVELOPMENTS in Swat

Rageh describes some of the numerous challenges that Pakistan is currently facing with emphasis on the the Pakistani army's major offensive in the Swat valley, against what is described as "supporters of a radical local cleric".

Gunship helicopters and heavy guns were used against mountain positions and hideouts of the "militants" in the area as the army plans to "regain" control of the area and its towns. According to the army, up to 220 fighters and 50 soldiers have been killed in just the past two weeks whilst also forcing thousands of people to flee their homes.



Rageh fails to deliberate on what has caused not only the people in swat valley, but the judges, lawyers movement, civil society, and the masses in Pakistan to turn against the army and its operations nationwide. Rageh also fails to highlight any linkage to the war on terror and how Pakistan is being used as a client state to execute policies of America in the region.

MUSHARRAF- Good, Bad OR the Ugly?

By Majed Iqbal- The last few weeks in Pakistan have seen events unfolding at roller-coaster speeds. Starting from early November’s emergency imposition, to Nawaz Sharif’s election barring at the beginning of December. In between, a whole range of issues have been quickly dealt with to resume the endeavors of the existing Governing body to maintain power.



The silence of Western governments on the current events in Pakistan comes as no surprise as they continue to support the equivalent of Saddam and Mugabe of South East Asia. Whilst Western governments have been swift in preaching well rehearsed dialogues of freedom and democracy and talks of removal of dictatorships in their Iraq and Afghanistan campaigns, responses to the crisis in Pakistan have been mild and somewhat muted.

Diplomats at the U.S. embassy in Islamabad could hardly believe what President George W. Bush said to anchor Charles Gibson on ABC "World News" Nov. 20. He described Pakistan’s President Musharraf as "somebody who believes in democracy" and declared: "I understand how important he is in fighting extremists and radicals."