Click Here to Visit our Sponsor
Your Opinion
Page-2
- The suggestive and dubious
tone of the question posed by Jang reeks of
pro-government and pro-establishment stance. Jang is
probably trying to fulfil the professional obligation and
maintain itself in the good books of the government
simultaneously. With all the pillars of the state
hijacked one by one by Nawaz Sharif...is there really any
forum left for opposition parties other than strikes and
mass rallies?
With small businesses ...burdened to their umpteenth
limit by the state, the back bone of the country is
already broken...the economy is at the verge of
collapse...I really do not feel that the current strikes
would make any meaningful damage to the economy.
Nouman Alvi
USA
- This is so much fun, the
Pakistani problem with Pakistanis. Have fun, but
don’t kill yourselves! Pakistan is a nation full of
frolic and fun, and hey, why just Kashmir, let us unite
the whole of India with Pakistan and rename the entire
country as Pakistan. Then, what do they have to fight
about, we are all Pakistanis anyway. This will end the
Indo-Pak strife, but the Pakistanis will continue to have
their murderous riotous fun anyway.
Pakistan, get your act together, learn the art of living,
love thy neighbour. India is not out to get you; you are
just paranoid. The poor in either country can care two
hoots about the Indo-Pak strife. The Pakistani elite has
successfully hijacked social issues. The people of
Pakistan- wake up, be friends with India, and let us
prosper together, otherwise, Pakistan will be all strife
and strike.
Praveen
USA
- Whatever is happening in
Pakistan today, is all a result of the only wish of
Pakistani people, especially politicians, to see India
divided/ruined. Instead of taking care of their people,
their problems, education etc, Pakistani politicians are
busy spreading militant activities in India. It is high
time Pakistan started development activities. It's still
not too
late.
Manish
California/India
- Benazir Bhutto, who is
trying to obtain the sympathies of the United states and
Western world by foul means, should take a lesson from
her father, who did the same thing and finally was
destroyed by the Masters when they no longer needed him
for their interest. They are nobody’s friend, but
the friends of their own interests and Benazir should
understand this.
Shams uz Zaman
USA
- The country is being run by
selfish politicians. Their priorities are only their
pockets and the power required in keeping their pockets
full. As the suicide rate climbs higher and the
people’s misery increase, they have nothing to
offer. No country can run on nepotism and corruption for
too long, for the weaknesses seeded in the past grow to
rot the foundation of the state, leading to strife and
anarchy. The only solution is heed to democracy and
allowing people to voice their grievances
Javed Khan
USA
- In democracy and if you
want to call yourself a democratic country, then all
related values should be allowed to function whether it
is ruling party or the opposition. Having said that,
strikes just can not sustain the luxury of our depleted
and fragile economy, which simply adds to the miseries of
the common man. However, rallies and other forums should
be allowed for expressing each other’s point. It is
rather unfortunate that the opposition is always the
traitor.
A. Siddiqi
Canada
- Just tell me what will
happen after Nawaz Sharif. The same or even worse. So
what’s the point in all this fuss. I am sure nothing
will improve that’s why I did not ask about it.
Izhar
Canada
- It is very bad indeed to
see the opposition leaders waste their time, efforts and
money for nothing. Why can't they wait for next
elections, do their homework, learn from past mistakes,
and understand how the world around them is changing. And
what will they do when they come into power. It is not
very good for newspapers too, to publish everything,
without verifying it first.
It is everyone’s responsibility to create an honest,
fair and hardworking culture and society.
The owner of this newspaper started with nothing in 1947,
and now he has the biggest publishing house in Pakistan.
We all can learn from him.
Qasim Khan
Sweden
- Of course, certainly. When
do you think it’s enough? After surrendering to
India in Kargil, backing out of all the support for
Kashmiris? When Prime minister doesn’t pay his debt
and taxes why does he expect the nation to pay their
contribution? Why didn’t the opposition protest when
they were not taken into confidence in any
policy/situation? Is there any peaceful platform in
Pakistan available for the opposition to register their
protest? Strikers are subject to police brutality.
When do you think it’s enough, when the KESC is
being sold to Daewoo to pay for Mughal-e Azam 's toy
(Motorway)? Why should the people of Pakistan pay for
Nawaz’s luxuries? We don't want Taliban-style
Pakistan but a true Quaid's Pakistan. People have every
right to get jobs. It’s the government’s
responsibility to create an environment for business to
flourish. But instead of giving jobs to the masses he
left hundreds of thousands jobless. We were told that
Pakistan has become invincible but look what happened
when we actually went to war with India; we lost
miserably, our prime minister rushed to the United states
and signed a one-sided agreement. What happened to
"Karaz utaro Mulk sawaro"? We are living
day-to-day on IMF loans. We get a sense of relief when
IMF releases quarterly tranches. Is that how we are going
to live? I don't think so! If today opposition is on the
streets this is because the government has pushed it to
the wall. We still have to see the corruption charges
framed on Benazir Bhutto and Zardari; it is just like the
way Bhutto made Bangladesh. People living outside
Pakistan have no clue about the plight of poor masses of
Pakistan. Seeing the cost of living increase by 30-40% in
months, tell me who is responsible?
Zakir Akbar
USA
- I think that it’s a
wrong step, which is affecting Pakistan's economy really
badly. In my opinion government should take a step in
order to stop these kinds of strikes and rallies and give
some relief to the people and small businessmen who are
really smashed by the steps taken by the opposition
parties.
Hasan Ahmed Zia
Canada
- The Nawaz Sharif government
left no leeway for the opposition except agitation. I
think the opposition has every right to protest against
this worst dictatorship in the history of Pakistan.
Rana Khan
Japan
- All our leaders are
corrupt- Nawaz, Benazir, all of them except Imran Khan.
If Pakistan wants to progress, it must rid itself of
corruption, and the first thing to do that is to vote for
Imran Khan in the next elections.
Arshad Khan
Britain
- Yes there are very solid
grounds for the opposition parties to agitate through
strikes and rallies. The most prominent of them, in my
view, are:
1. The precedent established by the government itself
when it was in opposition.
2. The failure of the government in fulfilling her
electoral promises.
3. The irreparable damages caused by the government to
the economy, integrity, unity democratic institutions,
judiciary and defence.
4. The dictatorial approach of the government.
5. The highhandedness of the government in respect of
human rights.
6. The scale of corruption in the ranks and files of the
government.
7. The defiance of the ruling elite regarding repayment
of outstanding loans which run in billions.
These are just a few of so many grounds. This government,
in fact, is the worst this country has ever had. As such
the country must get rid of this government as soon as
possible and through all available means. I believe that
it is the end which justifies the means and not the other
way round.
Mussavir Ahmed
Norway
- The normal way in a
civilised and democratic environment to register the
protest is to hold rallies and observe peaceful strikes
against the policies of the government. The present
Government of Pakistan headed by Nawaz Sharif is on its
way to making Pakistan a "One Party Country".
Strikes affect the normal life but there is no other way
at the moment for the political parties to register their
protest, mainly for the MQM. The MQM carried out a world
wide protest that includes peaceful march, demonstration
and symbolic hunger strikes to register their protest
against the extrajudicial killing of MQM workers at the
hands of the police and other law enforcement agencies.
The government of Nawaz Sharif did not take any notice.
So the best way, particularly for the Muttahida Qaumi
Movement is to stage rallies and go on strikes.
M.T Khan
South Africa
- Agitation through strikes
by all political parties should be banned. Strikes are
equally common in India where the government machinery
comes to a halt and causes a lot of pain to the public at
large. Strikes drain the economy of a country. In
Pakistan, both the opposition and the ruling parties are
to be blamed for the economic mess. The political parties
of Pakistan spend most of their time and resources on
Indian held Kashmir. This has really boomeranged on them
and they are solely responsible for it. Pakistan is fast
turning into another Afghanistan where the clerics rule
the country with total disregard for the welfare of its
people. The recent Kargil affair must have cost Pakistan
billions of rupees. What has it achieved by the way?
Pakistan is spending billions of rupees and precious
foreign exchange in supporting the Kashmiri issue. If
Pakistan wants to improve its economy it has to forget
the Kashmir issue once and for all. Do the people of
Pakistan know how much of their tax money is being used
on the useless Kashmir issue? Is there any accountability
on the use of the precious foreign exchange?
I have been reading the editorials of various newspapers
of Pakistan for some time, and I regret to tell that not
one single person mentions that Pakistan is really losing
on the Kashmir issue and that the political parties are
exploiting the religious sentiments of its citizens.
India had never increased its defence expenditure for the
past ten to 12 years. It concentrated more on its
economy. We did have problems with the IMF initially and
now we call the shots. We are in a position of rejecting
the loans from foreign agencies if there are stiff and
unjustified conditions attached. The World Bank and IMF
now agree to our terms and give up their rigid stand
because they know that India has achieved good
credibility.
It is the people who suffer for the bad policies of the
government. It is the duty of the press to highlight the
bad policies of the government and bring it to the
attention of the public.
I wish Good luck to the People of Pakistan.
Sriki
USA/India
- All politicians are just
selfish and working for themselves. None is interested in
Pakistan's future. The general public should understand
this.
Tariq
Canada
- I think, in democracy the
government has no right to stop the protest. Every
citizen has the right to protest against the government.
It’s not the matter of right and wrong. It’s
about what our politicians can and can’t do.
It’s like a dictatorship to stop protests. We are a
free country and all the people of Pakistan can exercise
their rights in a way they deem fit.
I think Nawaz government should be brought to court and
charged with not allowing the citizens of Pakistan to
exercise their basic rights. We are free People of
Pakistan; no one, I mean no one should be able to stop
any one doing protests through strikes. We are a free
nation. We have freedom of speech. GOD, help us get a
government that allows the people of Pakistan their basic
rights and does no corruption. Ameen
Azmat Aziz
USA/Pakistani
- I think the opposition
parties should keep their long noses out of other
people's businesses and let the government and the
strikers reach a deal on their own. Their interference
not only complicates matter to a certain degree, it also
makes reaching an agreement rather hard.
Hafsa Hasan
Canada
- NO NO NO! I don't think
that there is any reason for agitation. These politicians
were rejected by the people of Pakistan just like
Naserullah Khan, Azghar Khan, Mairaj Mohammed Khan, ANP,
PPP, and especially the MQM (looting and destroying
Karachi). Like the others, they are all corrupt. They
should wait for the next elections. I know a couple of
them personally. When they come to the USA and meet the
"gora" government officials, they act like
their "ghulaam". The people of Pakistan should
let Nawaz Sharif do his job until his term ends and then
elect the next best candidate. At least Nawaz Sharif is
"Made in Pakistan". PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!
Tahir Khan
USA
- The opposition parties have
every right to strike since Nawaz Sharif is very
anti-poor. He is one of the richest men in Pakistan but
how much tax does he actually pay? That is why I believe
that he has no right to impose these taxes on the poor
and middle class. To improve the economy, rich
industrialists and feudal lords in Pakistan should come
forward and pay more taxes.
Owais Khanzada
USA
- Stop blaming India for all
your problems you LOSERS! Run to China and hide behind
it. One minute you are threatening to kill Americans, the
next minute you want them to solve your problems. Someone
wrote that East Timor is Christian, so it got help. What
about Kosovo? It was Muslim and got help.
Naveen
India
- It is a game being played
by the US and British agents in the country simply to
blackmail the government; to pressurise it for signing up
the CTBT, preventing it from remedying its relationship
with China, Iran and other Islamic countries. Also to
back down from the efforts of standing up on its feet,
making its own decisions whether they are related to its
defence or economy, and to give in to the matters like
the Hubco Power Co etc.
These external elements never want the people to stay
cool for a while and concentrate on their fundamental
problems. They want to keep them busy in one dilemma or
the other. Who should lead does not matter to them as
long as he or she is in their good books. No one is their
person but all of them are, and those who are not on
their lists are dying to be on. Whether it was Ayub or
Bhutto, Zia or Benazir or Nawaz Sharif, they are
acceptable only until they match their ambitions. As soon
as one tries to go astray, the same drama that has just
got started is started.
People of Pakistan, illiterate both in modern as well as
Islamic education, start polarising and agitating,
thinking that it will bring the change they need in their
lives. Yet no one is ready to change him or herself. They
are so foolish that they don't understand that change
won’t ever come by changing the faces, but by
changing the system.
These so-called political and religious leaders are all
the same, and belong to the existing system. All these
vultures just get together when they see some one caught
up and getting weaker while trying to get away from the
masters.
Yes they have the right to protest but don't we have
proper forums for that like National and Provincial
assemblies and Senate? Must they come on roads, burn
tiers, destroy public and private property, hurt the
choking economy? It's so funny that most of these don't
have even a single seat in any local body let alone the
provincial or federal legislatures, but they still are
the national leaders- leaders in corruption and
blackmailing. And those who have had a chance in the
government, why could not they bring the change then and
what different plans do they have now? And even if they
do have a different plan, why can’t they bring it to
the public through proper channels? Or why can't they
wait until this government completes its tenure and faces
the consequences of its wrong doings. It can be no worse
in the next two and a half years than it has already been
in last fifty years. What good did it do to the nation in
the past that it now wants to topple the government
again?
YOU THE LEADERS OF THE NATION, DO YOU HAVE ANSWERS TO
THESE QUESTIONS?
Mian Kasuri
Canada
- Anyone who agitates through
strikes and rallies in Pakistan should be kicked out of
that country and sent back to India. These people are
Indian paid agents who create trouble in Pakistan. Once
they go and live with in India under their pressure,
within few weeks they'll understand what Pakistan means,
and the value of freedom that we enjoy in a Muslim
country! Pakistan Zindabad.
Nazim ullah Khan
Belgium
- There are no grounds for
the opposition parties to agitate through strikes or
rallies. Pakistan is a democratic nation, and Pakistanis
have elected Mr. Nawaz Sharif as their prime minister and
he had a landslide victory. Pakistan was in a tough
situation and our economy had almost collapsed when Mr.
Sharif took office. And since then, the condition of the
nation has really improved. Masha-Allah Pakistan is now a
nuclear nation too. And now when the conditions of the
country have improved, opposition parties want to seize
power from him! What is this? He was the person who
really saved the nation! I don’t say that Nawaz
Sharif is perfect, because it’s a fact that no
politician is perfect in Pakistan. They are all corrupt.
In fact, this is one of the major problems our nation is
experiencing for the last 50 years. What I am trying to
emphasise is that Nawaz Sharif is at least way better
than the other politicians we have.
There is no point in having strikes and rallies in
Pakistan. All these people are trying to ruin the
country. They are abetting our neighbour in attempting to
destroy us. Our opposition parties are good for nothing.
How can PPP call a strike? Aren’t they aware of the
problems caused by their chairperson Ms. Bhutto? She, in
fact, ruined the whole nation with her crook husband Asif
Zardari. Ms. Bhutto is having a great time in London
while Asif Zardari, although locked in prison, is getting
all his needs fulfilled and their kids are enjoying life
in Dubai! What sort of a punishment is this? All they are
losing is being together, that’s it!
I personally think that the Pakistani people should not
heed to the call of the opposition parties. Instead, they
should think and take their own decision. Democracy means
that our people have the right to choose the people they
want in power!
Nabeel Ghyas
Vancouver, Canada
- As a student I think that
the opposition parties are doing wrong. They are just
misleading people with all these strikes. Why don't they
understand that these are just normal conflicts between
the government and the traders. Why are they creating
troubles for the ordinary people? What will they do when
all the matters are solved? They will pick another issue
to frustrate the nation.
Mohammad Usman Afzal
Pakistan
- Being a regular reader of
your newspaper and curious about comparing the turn the
two societies, Indian and Pakistani, have taken, I'm
obliged to see a useful issue being raised. Never-ending
discussions on Indo-Pak relations prevent real issues
from coming to fore. Is it possible to freeze this issue
for a while just to let the people get on with their
lives? Ensuring decent education for the children, a
reasonable level of living, appropriate health care,
peace in retirement etc.. there must be many things a
Pakistani should be concerned about, just as it is the
case with an Indian or for that matter, a Kashmiri. When
public mindset knows only conflicts and insinuations, it
won't change so quickly, specially when it creates a
diversion from daily routine. If the attention is given
to more economic and social issues, agitation and strikes
will be replaced by cool-headed discussions. It will
definitely help in relations with India.
Claude Pereira
France
- What is the alternative?
All the opposition leaders, except Imran Khan, are worse
than this government. Imran may be a good prime minister.
Asif
UK
- Strikes are a form of
democratic protest that takes place in any healthy
democracy. However, considering the present plight of
Pakistan, I don't think it is advisable to go in for a
national-level strike. Just calculate the loss to
national exchequer in US $...Any sane person would avoid
this kind of activity when your country is in the throes
of bankruptcy.
Arun Raghavan
Madras, South India
- Of course, the present
governmental policies are meant to strengthen the
government’s own hands by selling the economy to the
IMF and World Bank. The imposition of GST is one of them.
Ultimately, the poor will be hit by that. People have the
right to agitate on governmental policies if they
don’t find them fit. This is their basic right.
Reducing the purchasing power of common people will
affect small businesses.
Naveed Ahmad
Canada
- I don't understand why some
Pakistanis are bashing India for their problems. It is
your problem, deal with it. We have nothing to do with
your foolishness. India was never involved in any kind of
terrorist and covert activities like ISI and Mujahideen.
Amudh
India
- Sharif is least concerned
about others, and is doing good only to Punjab. If the
recent natural disaster that happened in Sindh, had
happened in Punjab, instead of the pitiful photo
opportunity response by Sharif, there would have been a
much, much better response to help the Punjabis. In
Karachi, good men like the recent Governor Moinuddin
Haider are dismissed for trying to help their country,
and the MQM keeps on killing while yelling 'abuse' when
the police comes to stop them. While Zardari rots where
he should, the country disintegrates and the Punjab
pushes all the other nationalities towards thinking of
independence. Bring back ex-governor Moin Haider, bring
back ex-caretaker PM Moin Qureshi. Let people like them
build Pakistan, not corrupt Zardari, butcher MQM, and
Punjab-only Sharif!
Said
Pakistan
- Absolutely yes. Mr Nawaz
Sharif has proved himself to be incompetent in every
respect. He has failed to deliver any good whatsoever.
After betraying Kashmiri freedom fighters and the whole
Pakistani nation, he has no moral right to continue as
PM. He should resign to avoid any bloodshed. We need an
honest, trustworthy, and brave leadership which should
start fair, across the board, the accountability process.
PM has to go.
Basharat J. Sahi
United Kingdom
- The people of Pakistan are
sick and tired of this corrupt system and these corrupt
and sadistic rulers. The only way the people should join
the strikes and rallies is by purging the society of
rulers like Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and all the
other parties that have been in power since 1988. Once
Nawaz Sharif is gone, there must be a severe
accountability process and anyone found guilty must be
punished and barred for life from office and all the
money looted must be returned to the country. And any
party that questions the federation of Pakistan and whose
patriotism is in doubt like the ANP and the MQM must be
dealt with severely too. These are the views of a
PATRIOTIC PAKISTANI.
Shabby K
Chicago
- To consider the real intent
of the opposition is the most important factor here. And
without much doubt most of us can agree there is only one
agenda in most of the opposition leaders’ mind that
is somehow to come to power and share the loot which has
been going on. There is no real intention or sign of it
if they want to do it for the betterment of country. The
dilemma of all Pakistanis is that we can support the
government, as it is too inept and inefficient; there are
serious doubts about the policies followed also.
But we should be careful not to let opposition and big
traders play with public grievances and gain from them.
As by doing so, we will further strengthen the system
which has been causing much hardship to common people. A
system which is designed to serve only a few powerful and
corrupt people. That is why we have this scene for the
last 13 years or so. At first a couple of parties make an
Ittehad to get rid of the ruling side and once in power,
those who in their mind receive lesser share start to
join the then opposition to get bigger share of the slice
next time. This time around the situation is even worse.
Benazir is apparently desperate and is cornered. She will
make any deal to get rid of the present government. I
guess we should realize that neither the opposition nor
the government is sincere about changing the actual
system. I can recall that when the PML came to power
there was a lot of talk about police being brutal and
corrupt, and talk to change the set up. MQM was furious
with Benazir over extra judicial killings, and Jamaat was
unhappy with the killing of its workers by the PPP
government.
Today, due to daily demonstrations, PML is heavily
dependent on the police to maintain grip on power, so if
we are realistically thinking the change agenda of police
force to protect public, it cannot happen as the rulers
again need the police to save them, and for that the
sacrificial goat is the public. Also ironically, most of
the opposition is demanding the same thing, reforms etc.
but how can the government reform any thing if you make
them so dependent for it's survival on the very same
system? MQM is all too happy to have the power sharing
with PPP and so is Qazi, he is happy if he is PM, and for
that, he would forgive the blood of a few PPP workers.
May I ask why that sacred blood became so cheap today? Or
maybe Qazi and Altaf think that the price is right and
they are willing to sell the blood of common like a
commodity to the highest bidder. And believe me, the
highest bidder today is Benazir; she knows she can not be
the next PM, and this is what every other so-called
leader knows also. This makes the race this even tougher
and bloody. Today every foolish self-centered leader of
some small party is hoping of becoming the PM. If we go
this route this time, we go total chaos.
Time for my fellowmen to analyze the situation carefully
before giving more sacrifices for this corrupt and inept
system.
Amir Saleem
Bahrain
- All the opposition parties
have good grounds for opposing a democratically elected
government in Pakistan. The opposition probably feels
that they can once again loot the treasury like the way
they did last time. There is enough money there now for
them to move in. Sadly, Pakistani people do not
understand the hidden agenda behind these strikes. It is
true that Nawaz Sharif has made some mistakes but at the
same time one must remember that he had to go through
some tough times, like the nuclear explosions, the Kargil
and economic crisis. The opposition left the country's
exchequer empty for Nawaz government and since then, it
has been responsible for helping international forces
against Pakistan. How can any one expect Nawaz Sharif to
perform miracles? Can any sincere Pakistani think that
another leader would bring Pakistan out of all these
problems? There is no other but Nawaz Sharif! Benazir and
her likes would destroy our nuclear and missile
capability, like they had done in the past. Leave
Pakistan in the hands of corporations like the IPPs. Is
that what all Pakistanis want? If yes, then for
God’s sake give yourself up to India and accept
dominance of the Hindus. That would be the best thing.
The USA wants that, and they quite clearly rejected the
truth that there are no atrocities in Kashmir, and
Kashmir can not be compared with E.Timor. The difference
is E.Timor is Christian, and Kashmir is Muslim. Therefore
they can not be compared.
Azad Hussain
England
- By getting rid of one
corrupt and letting the position be taken by another
hungry corrupt will not solve anything. Unless the
fundamentals are not corrected, Pakistan will go from bad
to worse. Pakistan has to explode Economic Atomic Bombs,
test Long Range Economic Missiles and test other Economic
arms and ammunition. Pakistan has to market itself as a
friendly country for investors. Nobody in his right frame
of mind would invest in Pakistan with Jamiat Islami and
Fazal ur Rahman running around with their version of
Islam. Pakistan has to open up. Forget about Kashmir and
develop a peaceful posture.
Riaz Khan
USA
- Pakistan is caught between
a rock and a hard place. If Nawaz is ousted, what choice
do you have? Ms. Bhutto?
Ned McMood
USA
- Nawaz Sharif is a
power-greedy person like Mr. Bhutto. He got what he
deserved.
Nawaz is going on the footsteps of Bhutto. I would
suggest that before his term expires, he step aside, take
the wealth he looted from the poor people of Pakistan and
run away. Pakistan is on the verge of collapse, and this
time Pakistan will be PUNJAB only. Mr. Nawaz Sharif
should step aside for the integrity of Pakistan.
Saleem Khan
USA
- Yes. So long as there is no
violence. Strikes and rallies are a peaceful means of
expressing displeasure with the government’s
policies. In fact, this alone shows the depth of the
reaction of the people to the government's functioning.
This serves as a useful feedback also. As strikes are a
one-day affair there is no talk of "small business
being affected" Small businesses are more prone to
dangers like proprietor falling sick, family problems,
etc and one-day closure does not affect it too much. In
fact, if the cause is genuine they can willingly
participate in the strike and the benefits if any will
accrue to them too. After all, they are to do business
and make profits. But the opposition should ensure that
the cause is for the common people's good and not to
derive political mileage or embarrass the government
unnecessarily.
N Nageswaran
Bosnia
- This type of agitation will
surface again and again unless the people of Pakistan
aren't kept well-informed before reaching any agreement
with the donor agencies. Why the common people of
Pakistan are targeted all the time? Why isn’t the
elite class of Pakistan nabbed who have 50 billion
dollars in foreign banks, which is equivalent to the
total debts of Pakistan? These people are defaulters in
Pakistan but their children are getting best education
and medical treatment abroad. No ruler has given good
basic education, basic health facilities so that a good
generation is brought up and the feudal lord's system is
eliminated.
Zahid Ahmed
Bahrain
- I believe that the
opposition has no grounds for making Nawaz Sharif step
down. And even if they have any, they certainly don't
have any one clean on their side who can perform the
tough duty like what the current government is doing.
When Nawaz government came to power, the economy was
already dead- thanks to few opposition leaders. What is
this anti-government alliance? Nothing but greedy
politicians who want to get power no matter who they have
to shake hands with. The neighboring country doing every
possible effort to destroy our freedom and what we are
doing is making their hands stronger by fighting with
each other. I think whoever is elected by the people of
Pakistan, should be given a chance to complete the term,
so that next time he or she will have no excuse.
Zia Ullah
USA
- I believe after the Kargil
war, Nawaz Sharif should have stepped down himself, but
he didn’t. So I think all parties have the right to
strike to bring down the government. Since this
government has failed to make the economy strong as it
promised during the elections campaign. I therefore do
not see any reason for them to stay in power. While these
opposition parties shouldn’t use the business
community to their own interest.
Khalid M Chohan
Chicago,USA
- I don’t think that
there is any ground for any opposition party (including
when Nawaz Sharif is in the opposition) to agitate
through strikes and rallies. When BB was in power she
used to say that Nawaz Sharif is harming the country by
calling strikes and stuff and now just for power she has
joined hands with MQM, whom she accused at one time of a
lot of bad things (I am not anti-MQM). Doesn't she now
realize that she is harming the country? The ones that
are calling for strikes are harming the poor people and
are least bothered about Pakistan. The politicians that
are calling the strikes just say one thing and then sit
in their air-conditioned car and leave; on the other
hand, the poor workers die and get nothing. It is mostly
the fault of the people, who give positive response to
such strikes.
Ibrahim
USA
- Nawaz Sharif must go. He is
not the Prime Minister of Pakistan but the Prime Minister
of Punjab. He is spending 70% of government money on
Punjab, even though Karachi generates most of the
revenue. Pakistan is basically a failed state. Corruption
is rampant. Pakistan will be bankrupt if something is not
done. Pakistan would be a great country only and only if
Punjabis become more liberal mentally and try to
understand that Punjab is not the only province of
Pakistan. May Allah bless Pakistan, make Pakistan the
greatest and wealthiest country in the world.
Molvi Naveed Awan
New York, USA
- The opposition is no better
than Nawaz Sharif. As a matter of fact, they are the
worst. All criminals! Everybody wants to devour this
country; they are vultures. None of them should be
permitted to destabilise the country. These people have
no intentions whatsoever to do any good to the poor
people of the country. They want to make money by hook or
by crook, and then leave the country to live in other
countries. And then they come back again to do the same.
We don't deserve these criminals ruling over us with the
agenda of looting only. THINK ABOUT IT.
Khalid Ali
Calgary, Canada
- I have two words for all
opposition parties and those who are agitating and
disturbing the peace in the country, " STOP IT
".
Saeed Lodhi
Kuwait
- Pakistani economy is in
shambles. Nawaz Sharif has done well to stop the Kargil
conflict. The Mujahideen have gifted enough arms and
ammunition to the Indians. WE cannot afford more wars. We
are running to International agencies who dictate their
own terms.
Beggars have no choices. We are on the verge of being
declared a terrorist state by the USA, Russia and China
and the European states. Muslims have yet to free West
Bank from Israel. Please learn to live in peace with the
world.
Allah Rakha
USA
- Mr.Nawaz Sharif and his
cronies should realise that their policies are a failure.
Mr Nawaz is having inept finance ministers like Ishaq Dar
and sadist like Saif-ur-Rehman. Mr.Sharif was unable to
take the nation into confidence before taking a serious
step like the Kargil withdrawal. In my opinion people
will never forgive him for this blunder, whatever the
reasons behind the decision. Now, if the opposition and
the people are on the streets, this
credit also goes to Mr.Sharif's dictatorial policies. He
has to take back what he has delivered.
Mohamed Aslam Najef
UAE
- I just want to ask one
question from Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif: "What
did my country ever do to you that you are so revengeful
towards it?" Why do I feel that you have an old
enmity with Pakistan? For Benazir, it is understandable-
Pakistan gulped her dad up. But what about Sharif? Why
are your pursuits so different from those of other heads
of states? Why do you want to only fill your pockets? Now
see what a mess we are in. The economy is in shambles and
there is not even the will to boost it. The citizens are
committing suicides. The MQM issue has been mishandled,
national cancers like MQM are to be dealt with surgical
instruments not bullets. National criminals like
bureaucrats and politicians are escaping and the ones
that are not corrupt are incompetent. The investigative
agencies can't even get a person like Asif Zardari
convicted. Price hike is the only way we can generate
more revenue to pay the markups on foreign loans. The
world really thinks Kashmir is part of India and not
similar to East Timor. None of the political parties has
any political agenda except to get the ministries of
their choice. Look around relevant quarters, every
country around us does every thing for national interest.
You are not getting any aid anyway, so why not do this
orphan country a favour and rid it of all the enemies of
the state.
Bilal Ahmed
USA
- NO NO NO!
Not at all, any one who calls such strikes and anyone who
responds to those calls is not a Good Pakistani, not
faithful to Pakistan, because those strikes and agitation
hurt Pakistan and Pakistani Economy.
Samina Ismail
Dallas USA
- As far as the basis for
current strikes and rallies is concerned, it is the
government itself that is providing it right from the
first day. The issues of President, Chief justice, 12th
amendment, Sharia bill, the so-called Ehtesab Commission,
foreign currency robbery, GST and last but not the least,
a shameful defeat of Kargil, are all reasons why this
government is accountable to the nation. But
unfortunately, right now I don’t see any dynamic
personality not only to challenge this foolish and
childish government, also to give a nation a clear and
successful programme. To cut short, I say in the best
interest of this nation this regimen has to
GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
Abid Hussain
USA
- I think the opposition
grand alliance is making a big mistake; they have no
agenda but a one-point notion that Nawaz Sharif step
down. What will they do afterwards? What we will see is
just another government and another opposition alliance.
This is what democracy means to us, and it is now the
responsibility of the people of Pakistan to give a chance
to the present rulers so that they pave the way for the
next government for five years. Then also we the people
will be fully authorized to ask what that government did
in its five years for which we have given them votes. In
this way we would be able to understand democracy and its
values. So, I strongly condemn the alliance which has
nothing to do with the betterment of the people except
there own interests.
Yasir Sultan
Pakistan
- As long as we do not
educate our people to distinguish between right and wrong
candidates and make them realize the cancerous tumor of
feudalism which is silently killing Pakistan, we should
not expect the situation to change. People would come out
like herds behind these parties no matter in opposition
or government. Right now, no one has a vision or clue as
to what they want to do after Sharif clan is booted out
just like the Kargil debacle lacked such planning. The
people of Pakistan have to be educated and the menace of
feudalism has to be eradicated in order for us to compete
with the rest of the world.
As for who will accomplish all this, I do not see any of
these political parties doing this good deed, as they are
all full of feudal and money-laundering people. We the
people have to revolt against this ruling clan and throw
them out and start from scratch like Pakistan has just
been born again.
Z.A Sufi
USA
- There are absolutely no
grounds for strikes. Our politicians have no clue as to
how the economy of a country works. Anyone who has any
sense and has some regards for the country should never
ask for the strikes. After all, haven't we already seen
the politicians like Benazir who had already sucked the
blood of this country? People calling for strikes make me
sick.
Safdar Malik
USA
- Even though the small
business community is being affected the most by these
strikes, I think it is the only way to draw the attention
of the masses towards removing the ruling government. Are
there any big industrialists willing to take part in
these strikes? That would be definitely a boost to the
cause. Yes, it’s high time we got rid of this
corrupt government. We need leaders who are sincere
enough to pay their taxes before they deliver sermons to
other citizens about 'tax chori'. I certainly do not want
to see Benazir or her likes to replace Nawaz Sharif. They
are all birds of the same flock! It is extremely risky to
trust and vote for someone who hasn't proved his or her
mettle yet, but we have got to give it a shot. After all,
we really don't have a choice!
Farah Ahmed
USA
- Is there any party in
Pakistan that can think about the future of Pakistan
rather than agitation and strike? I can not understand
where these political parties are headed for; do they
really want to destroy the country or are just
power-hungry? We have seen the Bhutto family want to
create their own dynasty; for them it does not matter
what happens to the country. The Kargil mistake by Nawaz
Sharif does not mean that we shut the country down. By so
doing, no party is going to gain, but INDIA. These
parties are helping India gain power over Pakistan. These
parties have not done any thing good for Pakistan. If
they really want to help Pakistan why don't they come out
with some better idea rather than shutting down the
country by agitation and strikes? Give Sharif a chance to
straighten out his mistakes. If this goes on, very soon
the country will be begging for food. Please help the
country; stop agitation and go to work. That’s the
only way to help the country. Don't give India a chance.
Farzana Maqbool
USA/Pakistani
- Every citizen of a
democratic society has a right to criticize and
appreciate the government for their actions. There is one
basic thing: all actions will be judged by the
intentions- in the eyes of God, people and world
community at large. Of course, the PML government is
corrupt, it is trying to form a government which is based
on family and friends, which denies the very basic
concept of democracy - either current norms or even in
the history. By history I men Hazrat Omar- whose
government is still considered an ideal way of governing
which ever existed in the Muslim history after the
Prophet (peace be upon him).
The Sharif family is ruling Pakistan, Bhutto family is
ruling Peoples party, and so on. But where is DEMOCRACY-
probably it does not exist. Now the question is: why do
we have corrupt people in the government? Because we are
all corrupt- to our limits. As a nation, we don't pay
taxes, and agitate when asked to pay taxes. And we expect
the government to do the welfare work- when theoretically
they don’t have the money- how can they have money
if we don’t pay them? Our country is on the brink of
an economic disaster- but we are still engaged in
disastrous activities. I think we should let the people
rule for the required amount of time, criticize them but
let them complete their agenda. Then we can elect some
one else. If people are poor then we will continue to
have problems like this. We need to stabilize the country
economically.
Muhammad Baber
USA
- Both constitutionally and
Islamically, the opposition has the right to criticize
government policies in a constructive and positive
manner. Alternatively, opposition should offer
alternative solutions to the problems that the country is
facing and do that either in the parliament or at
discussion forums or in in-camera briefings. Whoever is
trying to change the government by following
unconstitutional ways and means or by creating chaos in
the country must be discouraged by the masses. They
should not let these politicians fool them over and over
again. Patriotic citizens of Pakistan should ask these
power-hungry politicians a simple question "how are
they planning to bring a revolutionary change in the
country which is trapped in abysmal poverty and billions
of dollars of foreign debt". The masses and business
community, regardless of their party affiliation, should
look at these so-called politicians' faces and try to
read their lips carefully before making a decision to
come out on the streets or before making a decision to
say good bye to the much-needed business day.
I don't think the opposition has an agenda to bring about
a revolutionary change in the country. Enough is
enough...let us put an end to the politics of
destruction.
M. Akhtar Khan, Ph.D.
USA
- Not at all. There should
not be a single strike. Opposition leaders are selfish.
They are not honest with the country, MQM is Thali Ka
Bengun: it is never satisfied with the government, no
matter who’s in power. Karachi was 1000 times better
before MQM 10 years back. Now look at the mess they have
created. The Nawaz govt. should complete its term and
opposition should wait for elections, come up with some
positive agenda. Let the govt. do some work and let it
complete its term without strikes.
Khalid Sheikh
Dallas, USA
- The problem with Pakistan
is that the masses are uneducated and the political
leaders can lead them by empty slogan of Islam,
prosperity or success over India. Unfortunately they have
a different face but all are from the same family- the
family of exploiters. Unfortunately no body can do
anything to replace them because they, like locust, have
corrupted the whole system. I feel that we need to have a
revolution (somewhat like the case of Iran), take back
all the land confiscated by the Jatois, Benazirs and
money looted by the Sharif's Shujaat and the rest and
siphon it back into the economy. However there is no body
with a clear record who can do it. I have a feeling we
are paying for digressing from the principals that Allah
has set for us. However most of us living abroad feel
that we are fighting a lost battle. I hope we are Wrong!
Salman Zahid
Vancouver, Canada
- Nawaz Sharif and his
cronies must step down. They must be banished from the
country. He is an inept and sadist ruler.
Asim Ali
Saudi Arabia
- It is the government that
should ask all political parties to help it formulate a
national agenda in the interest of Pakistan as a whole
nation, and not as a federation as some opposition
politicians have been stating. Pakistan is not a
federation and never will be. In the face of a dangerous
enemy, and its rogue agency RAW, Pakistan has to be
vigilant. It is time that the ruling party and the
government stopped looking merely for power, but governed
along with the wishes of the people living there. For
instance, Karachi can revert to its safe and prosperous
status as it used to be in the 1960s, if the
administration is governed by the people who live there,
not by bringing in the police from Punjab, labour from
the frontier, land grabbers from Sindh etc. This is not
to say that no one else should live there but that
everyone live in the city as a Pakistani and not as a
provincialist, otherwise there is an enemy on the border
ready to destroy us!
The injustices committed are clear already; the prime
minister’s brother is the CM of Punjab and his
friends the inner confidantes. Where are the educated
people in the government? I guess the opposition feels
the government uses dirty tactics hence they respond.
Educated rulers would approach in a civilised way,
through a dialogue. Only idiots and uncouth people resort
to dirty tactics and intimidation, by putting journalists
in jail and putting their own chosen ones in positions of
importance, not even the judiciary has been left
untouched. And for sure we do not want Shahbaz Sharif as
the next PML(N) head and prime minister. I wish a genuine
nationalistic leader emerges who represents the four
corners of Pakistan and not any one province. Once such a
person comes, Pakistan will be great again. Just look at
the economic mess the politicians have put us in, looting
the country’s wealth themselves. At this moment just
an honest prime minister would be a breath of fresh air,
that is why maybe Imran khan should be given a chance.
Khalid Ahmad
UK
Back
Click Here to Visit our Sponsor
The News International
Pakistan