Let’s agitate for regime change in Pakistan: Tunisia and Egypt style – by Ahmed Iqbalabadi

Related article: Lets have a revolution: Yeh, Yeh, Yeh! – by Razzak Memon

Context: An FCS Meeting

In a recent kitty party lunch held at Karachi’s famous Korean Restaurant near the KPT Underpass in Clifton, it was resolved by the attending mothers that we need to call our monthly lunches as “Civil Society Meetings”.

Upon questioning we were told that us civil society mothers are unable to enjoy our lunches because “our husbands want us to collect the children from school as sending another car to collect them is getting an expensive affair. After all, rising fuel costs have been temporarily stopped for the time being bringing relief to the masses and us but this cannot go on and on.” It was also resolved that we need to step up our efforts to bring about a revolution in Pakistan on lines of what has happened in Tunisia and what may happen in other copy cat nations like Egypt, Algeria etc. Mrs. Zaidi has been made a coordinator for the revolution campaign. Why she has been made the coordinator asked another person. He was told that Mrs. Zaidi has an unlimited internet package, two gmail accounts and uses facebook, twitter and other social networking sites on her blackberry. It is also likely she will get an Iphone specifically for this task.

It was also decided that there is a need to increase the number of participants to such revolutionary lunches. “I can bring my children’s aaya and our driver is always available. Three people from my side!” said Nighat, wife Mr. Razzak, a leading banker. Mrs. Zaidi said “Subhan Allah, we are gaining traction!”. After one and half hours of discussion and the restaurant about to close down for an afternoon break, this month’s kitty recipient Mrs. Uroozia collected her 120k, paid off Rs. 5000 lunch tab and left Rs. 50 as tip. Dispersing peacefully, it was decided that next month’s lunch will be held at Elbow Room on II Chundrigar Road, but on a Saturday.

Some reflections

This is a typical “fake civil society” (FCS) meeting outcome. All talk, make plans and leave after a sumptuous lunch or a filling hi-tea.

I for one used to live in an Arab country working in an organization where 1/3 of the workers and 2/3 of the senior management positions wer occupied by Egyptians. They are all “high caliber” people. Just to give an example, the Financial Controller, holding the highest possible degree in Accounting from Cairo couldn’t calculate 10% of 55 million. He put in the full number and then calculated through the % function on a citizen calculator. The Head of Legal will never sign when asked to and will not let anything through if not sought comments. These are glimpses of Egyptians who are highly intellectual and apparently “the oldest civilization of the world”.

It would appear that the Egytian educated elite are as clueless as ours; the percentage example I cited above can also be related to Talat Hussain’s arithmatical deficiencies, for example, in his encounter with Hillary Clinton last year.

In Saudi Arabia where I used to work, if one wants to curse an Arab, call him a “Misri”. You will see the response. Ask any South Asian expatriate about Egyptians. Simply put “Egyptians are real dramas”. They want to make an issue out of everything and are known copy cats. The recent “revolution” in Tunisia that started because of a self-immolation act of an unemployed person, was tried to be repeated in Egypt. They have started the revolution chant in their country asking Hosni Mubarak to go. Their demands for him to go may not be unjustified. Afterall, Hosni Mubarak has been holding on to power since 1981. He routinely wins elections with 95% votes and off course, occasionally leads global leaders through photoshop acts of the state news agencies.

Now coming to Pakistan, Jang, The News and Geo have been giving a lot of headline space to the “revolution” in Tunisia and now to be repeated in Egypt. Erstwhile BMW X-5 driving journalist, Kamran Khan, has been inciting public asking them to overthrow corrupt leaders in Pakistan.

Even Nadeem Farooq Paracha has been making fun of Kamran Khan. In his recent tweet, he said:

“Aaj Kamran Khan Kay Fart: “Amazing scenes, nazreen, as you can see, people rising up against Zardari even in Egypt!”

A fellow LUBP editor, Ali Arqam tweeted:

Let’s agitate for regime change in Pakistan. But am confused who will replace General Kayani? And how will he get us out from the current mess…

Can we ask these prophets of doom in Pakistan, whether:

  • Current leadership in the country has been in power for 23 years like Ben Ali in Tunisia, 30 years like Hosni Mubarak in Egypt and 40 years like Gaddafi in Libya?
  • When did Zardari become the President? When did the PPP come into power?
  • After the revolution, if it does come, who will lead Pakistan? Arms and Ammunition requiring General Kayani? Ad Hoc Judges Appointing Iftikhar Chaudhry? Clean Shaven Taliban leader – Imran Khan?  The misguided Aashiq-e-Rasool Mumtaz Qadri?

Let us not make a joke out of Pakistanis’ intellect. In a nation where from the financial system, Rs. 60 billion worth of Zakat is deducted, and no stats on the charity given by people, are we going to see a revolution?

Also can anyone guarantee that it will remain an Inqalab and not turn into an intaqam?

——–

Further readings:

‘President’ Kayani is the most powerful man of Pakistan

WikiLeaks unmasks who are our real puppet-masters?

Comments

comments

Latest Comments
  1. Abdul Nishapuri
    -
  2. Babar
    -
  3. nair
    -
  4. nair
    -
  5. nasir
    -
  6. Dr. M. Ahmed Khan
    -
  7. Rizwan
    -
  8. Rizwan
    -
  9. nasir
    -
  10. RimJhim
    -
  11. imtiaz
    -
  12. aftab
    -
  13. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  14. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  15. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  16. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  17. Rizwan
    -
  18. imtiaz
    -
  19. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  20. Abdul Nishapuri
    -
  21. Rashed Aurakzai
    -
  22. imtiaz
    -
  23. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  24. imtiaz
    -
  25. Disco
    -
  26. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  27. Ahmed Iqbalabadi
    -
  28. Raza
    -
  29. ahmed usman khan
    -
  30. Bea Lecorchick
    -
  31. Fake Ray Bans Are Good
    -
  32. Viablillerome
    -
WordPress › Error

There has been a critical error on this website.

Learn more about troubleshooting WordPress.