The inevitable has happened with Musharraf applying the doctrine of pre-emption to render the Pakistan Supreme Court irrelevant. While the fate of the Chief Justice Ifthikar Choudhary is unclear, the writing on the wall must have been amply clear with Benazir Bhutto’s flight to Dubai ostensibly to visit family. Offstumped had recently characterised Pakistan as Frankensteinistan. Nitin over at the Acorn saw this coming a few days back as well. The first political reactions from India came from BJP Leader and Leader of the Opposition L.K. Advani, speaking on Sahara Samay who hinted at a wait and watch mood in New Delhi.? A chatty Nawaz Sharif who was recently deported back to Saudi Arabia after an aborted attempt at returning to Pakistan has been doing the rounds on Indian News Channels calling Musharraf a Terrorist. Given the many conflicts within Pakistan it is perhaps too early to call how events will play out in Islamabad. But the chaos in Pakistan is an opportunity for India to move on Jammu and Kashmir. A Frankenstein Nation governed by a discredited regime has forfeited what little stakes it had to join the party in shaping Kashmir’s destiny. The events in Pakistan must leave a lasting impression on those Kashmiri minds that nurtured foolish hopes of? a future with Pakistan. The message from Islamabad is loud and clear, there can be no meaningful future with Pakistan as Pakistan itself grapples with questions about its future. The waning violence and a willing Hurriyat open to the idea of contesting elections are a signal for India that now is the time to make concrete moves on Kashmir. ?By weaning?away the moderates to corner the extremists, the Manmohan Singh’s UPA Government must get over its paralysis on the Indo-US Nuclear Deal to exploit this moment of truth.
More analysis from Nitin.
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There is visible ascendancy in the activities of anti-democratic, imperialism, and anti-people forces and incidents of communal attacks, including bombings, IED explosions, rocket firing and bomb explosions and the banding together of some communal elements with anti-democratic groups have taken such activities to an unprecedented level of violent intensity posing a grave threat to the life and values of the citizens of India.’
‘There has also been a spate of attacks on state infrastructure and on law enforcement agencies; whereas some members of the judiciary are working at the cross purposes with the executive and legislature in the fight against communalism and imperialism thereby weakening the government and the nation’s resolve and diluting the efficacy of its actions to control this menace.’
‘There has been increasing interference by some members of the judiciary in government policy, adversely affecting economic growth in particular. Constant interference in executive functions, not limited to the control of secular activity, economic policy, welfare of minorities, expansion of public sector, policies for the welfare of weaker sections of society, and marine planning, has weakened the writ of the government, the police force has been completely demoralized and is fast losing its efficacy to fight communalism and intelligence agencies have been thwarted in their activities and prevented from pursuing communalists.’
‘Some hardcore militants, extremists, and communalists who were arrested and being investigated were ordered to be released. The persons so released have subsequently been involved in heinous communalist activities, resulting in loss of human life and property. Communal forces which in some states have captured power through undemocratic means across the country have thus been encouraged while law enforcement agencies subdued.’
‘Some judges by overstepping the limits of judicial authority have taken over the executive and legislative functions. The government is committed to the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law and holds the superior judiciary in high esteem, it is nonetheless of paramount importance that the honorable judges confine the scope of their activity to the judicial function and not assume charge of administration.’
‘Whereas an important constitutional institution, the supreme judicial council has been made entirely irrelevant by a recent order and judges have thus made themselves immune from inquiry into their conduct and put themselves beyond accountability.’
‘The humiliating treatment meted to government officials by some members of the judiciary on a routine basis during court proceeding has demoralized the civil bureaucracy and senior government functionaries, to avoid being harassed, prefer inaction’
‘The law and order situation in the country as well as the economy have been adversely affected and trichotomy of powers eroded; Whereas a situation has thus arisen where the government of the country cannot be carried on in accordance with the constitution and as the constitution provides no solution for this situation, there is no way out except through emergent and extraordinary measures.’
‘The situation has been reviewed in meetings with the chairperson of the United Peoples Alliance, the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (M), the General Secretary of the DMK, chief ministers of states headed by secular parties, and with the chairpersons of the JNU Students Union, Students Federation of India, CITU, INTUC, and AITUC.
‘Now, therefore, in pursuance of the deliberations and decisions of the said meetings, I Manmohan Singh, prime minster of India, acting under the advice and guidance of the Chairperson of the UPA Smt. Sonia Gandhi, proclaim emergency throughout India. I hereby order and proclaim that the constitution of the Secular Socialist and Sovereign Republic of India shall remain in abeyance. This shall come into force at once.’
yossarin: agree that Kashmir is ripe for a solution. Of course, the way things are shaping, it may be in our interest to go slow. Pakistan is proving to quite the master of hara-hiri. When Pak is fast moving to chaos, that abominable, non-representative Hurriyat will water down its demands even more.
[...] Re: Musharraf imposes emergency in Pakistan the chaos in Pakistan is an opportunity for India to move on Jammu and Kashmir. A Frankenstein Nation governed by a discredited regime has forfeited what little stakes it had to join the party in shaping Kashmir’s destiny. The events in Pakistan must leave a lasting impression on those Kashmiri minds that nurtured foolish hopes of a future with Pakistan. The message from Islamabad is loud and clear, there can be no meaningful future with Pakistan as Pakistan itself grapples with questions about its future. Source [...]
Had Pakitsan left the Kasmir harping long time ago, Pakistan would have been now a developed country and free from what is happening now. They will get nothing by adding Kashmir to their country. It is time for them to leave the Kashmir from their agenda and look for developing their country in a constructive manner by promoting a true democracy.
The Pak politicians can not win if they do not show support to Kashmir agenda. Now Musharaf being a dictator, no need to win any elections, he should frankly, fairly and courageously drop the K word from his country’s political scenes. The Kashmir would be have been a well developed state like many other Indian states if it was left along peacefully with India.
total population of pakistan – 160 million
total population of Kashmir – a few million
for these few million they are sinking (already sunk?) the future of all 160 million – so ridiculous.
my few cents…
1. the last thing we want now is Manmohan Singh screwing up things in Kashmir.
2. India should actually be helping Pakistan in its transition towards democracy. Musharraf/Kiyani/Bhutto/Chaudhrys’ (of PMLQ) axis is the easiest way forward. That process also has the backing of US and I presume India. How about inviting Musharraf, Shaukat Aziz or Bhutto to cricket matches in India? That would send a ‘all is well’ message to Pakistani people. The judges/lawyers, militants and the rouge elements within the army/ISI are the biggest enemies of Pakistan at the moment!