Is Pakistan a failed country?

Just a few hours were passed after Lahore attacks and statements poured in from every corner of the world! Let us not give much importance to who said that but context which is very much important at this stage!

“I am glad that BCCI cancelled our tour to Pakistan!” – M S Dhoni

Indian captain was a little impatient to express his happiness that he would have been there instead of Sri Lankan cricketers if BCCI wouldn’t have cancelled the tour to Pakistan. It was a time to be with the Sri Lankans who still have traces of the incident in their body and mind, it was a time to condemn what has happened to the sport cricket and to be happy for those who have survived by less than a centimeter. But coming out with happiness for not being the victim, was not a very mature thinking and not a responsible statement!

“IPL should be postponed!” – Chidambaram

The statement from Mr Chidambaram was misinterpreted as it was released on the evening of Lahore attacks. Actually the Loksabha polls were clashing with the IPL and hence many diplomats wanted to move IPL after the elections. Although, it would be a step back if we postpone the IPL because of attacks. Yes, it is tragic and very serious regarding the security concerns for out-country players. But in a way it will be their success if we change the way of life. More securities and alertness would be essential but we have to keep going on! No player was killed in the incident (thank God!), but the match was called off and the team of Sri Lanka flew back to home the same day! There is a success lying behind this. Terrorists achieved to spread fear, disrupt the normal flow of life. We may need to think how not be defeated!

“Is Pakistan a failed country?” – Vinod Dua

Vinod Dua uttered a question which was in my mind a few days before! In his own program, he brings out such very crucial questions which directly points the root of the problems. He went to Pakistan as an international observer of national elections. He found that the Pakistan and Muslims go out and fight for their religion and become so called ‘Jehadis’, they do not have unity within their country even. Sindh regions vote for Sindhi party, Punjab vote for Punjabi and Frontiers vote for Frontier party! It clearly suggests that Muslims are also divided within the country!

Is Pakistan a failed country? – with regret, I would say, Yes! Pakistan has failed to retain the dignity of an independent nation. I would like to go back in the past and think about those people who hailed for the partition, what would have been their stand at this point of time. In recent years, leaders of Pakistan have remained indulged in fighting amongst for the power and money! I have a great doubt about Pakistan’s survival. Pakistan is also paying a big price for possible presence of Osama in the country. What would get them out of this mess? After the democratic government finally got deployed in the power, again Nawaz Sharif’s subtraction from the assembly has again lit the fire. Army of Pakistan is quite upset with the elimination of Sharif. A non-foreseeable consequences are awaited! Lahore attacks could be a fraction of it. It is said that the players of Sri Lanka were targeted for a kidnap!

One by one doors are closing for Pakistan! May God bless the innocent people of our brother nation! May peace come to our land!

We Do Not Need GUJCOC!

Although I witness these issues closely around us, in my state Gujarat, in India, I closely relate this to each country, each society and community. The increased violence through out the world is the biggest concern.

Could any law or could any police stop a person who decides to kill himself to kill other people? No. Gujarat government is insisting on implementing GUJCOC, a proposition of an anti-terrorism law. Mr. Modi did not have time to educate people about GUJCOC because he has been very busy in preaching for writing post cards to the Prime Minister to advocate GUJCOC. It seems, only one person would decide what “sada 5 karod ni janta” should do.

I call this person as a man with the metal chest; Lawyer Anand Yagnik has shown the excellent example how to be in complete senses regarding political happenings and policy making from which normal people are alienated. (Ahmedabad Mirror, 26 September 2008 | “Do we need GUJCOC or a collective will to respond?”) He has tried to bring in this issue in the best possible way that people can understand GUJCOC and decide themselves that is it really needed? In further, it also doesn’t seem to be a law to control terrorists as the definition of organized crime (for which GUJCOC is proposed) is quite contradictory from what terrorists do. As per the Statement of Object given by Gujarat Government, “The organized crime has been for quite some years now come up as a very serious threat boundaries and is fuelled by illegal wealth generation by contract killing, extortion, smuggling in contrabands, illegal trade in narcotics, kidnappings for ransom, collection of protection money and money laundering etc.” Give it a thought; do terrorists want to do these killings for wealth generation? Do they place bombs for extortion or is this contract killing? Poor reasons!

Now let us put some light on provisions of GUJCOC (As Anand Yagnik brought them for us):

·         Every offence punishable under GUJCOC is cognizable

·         No Anticipatory Bail

·         Provision of bail is excessively stringent so as to keep accused behind the bars for a substantial period of time without trial

·         Confession made before Superintendent of Police is admissible evidence irrespective of how much an accused is tortured

·         Valid intercepted communication is also admissible evidence

·         An accused can be kept in the police custody for up to 60 days

·         The failure of police to charge sheet an accused does not create a technical ground for bail

·         Special courts permitted to have summary trials

·         Protection for witnesses

·         Property of the accused on a reasonable ground liable to be forfeited

There are two affecting factors of GUJCOC. First is the Statement of Object from state government. The definition of organized crime and actual terrorist activities are quite different. Let us come back to that core issue after we get to know powers and authorities requested in GUJCOC for the police.

Each of the provisions can easily be abused by the authority and we know how much we can rely on government and police authorities!!! Keeping an accused in custody for uncertain time up to 60 days, no bail, no trial and tortured confession is evidence; it is questionable if these clauses are not violating the human rights. Apparently, they are insisting on more power over society by proposing this law. The initial picture suggests that GUJCOC is needed to target some particular people and community and making them easy targets with the name of law. Well Done! Even if it is not so, then it is an apparent threat to each citizen. Who knows if your son, your brother would be taken to custody without any reason, just on the basis of suspicion!? We may not feel secure in our home, in our own city.

Now go back to the long term concern, as a few brutal minds are spreading terror and targeting innocent lives, anytime anywhere without any glitch. Again, can hard laws stop these people? I don’t think so. This is no more a matter of crime, violence and police. It has gone far out of the reach of law and order. Have we ever realized and related these incidents with naxalism? Although unpopular, it is a modern way to fight for existence and self-respect. The actors of recent incidents claim this as a revenge of Gujarat riots of 2002. Yes, revenge itself is immoral. But how long and how much one can tolerate? Terrorism is not a monopoly of Laden anymore. This is the age of home grown groups who drive these bomb campaigns from one city to other, another characteristic of naxalism! We may not be aware of the complete truth, but we can see what is clearly apparent. We have chosen not to see and not to consider some aspects of it, but in this case ignorance is sinful. We cannot undo what has happen; we also can’t keep blaming and keep moaning about the injustice prevailed and also that how legal authorities applied its stamp on it recently. Let us forget and forgive all those people who wore knives and swords as ornaments and danced over blood of thousands.

Society starts from home and the strongest instincts get developed in a child from its own family. Family is the most important and primary institution of a person in his social life. Parents do have to pour in right values in children from the beginning. Not only skills of singing, dancing and drawing are the parameters of a better person. We have to develop better citizen because after being a student for a few years, a person lives rest of her/his life as a citizen in the social context. How strong and how determined is this citizen who would never involve in such activities? How could a bunch of people preach us and overshadow our learning of life, which we received from our parents, schools and colleges? This is what we need to learn and teach. If they preach for revenge and killings, why can’t we teach to forget and forgive? Why can’t we teach to accept others? There are endless conflicts in diverse communities, from among the countries to families. But we have to live with it, as we live in our own families.

Let us start afresh. Let us concentrate on our own selves and find out, do we contain any bit of such poison within us? If yes, you really need a treatment. Open eyes and open arms, a lot would get better. If we see it real, it is real. We have to support and be with those people and communities who are suffering the most. To blame is easier, to give a hand of courage is what does matter!

We do not implement rule of stick if our child, our brother or sister is being stubborn, violent and out of control. We always keep patience and try to nurture them.

I would like to present this as a petition and want to know and show that we really don’t need GUJCOC! Please leave your name, email address and also your comments in order to sign this petition. Also forward this if you feel it is worth preventing our state from ghost of GUJCOC.