Rally In Washington, DC To Condemn Karachi Massacre, Call For Democracy

Speech by Iqbal Tareen

On May 12^th, Urban Terrorist opened fired on a peaceful procession of people in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. Once a city of lights was now lighted with flames. It is understandable when state resorts to law enforcement through legal institutions and instruments of law.  But to create a law and order situation with the help of gangsters and urban terrorists has never been seen in recent history. Not after the fall of the Third Reich.

You would think that a sitting President of a nation would condemn such a barbaric act and will instruct law-enforcement agencies to take an immediate and swift action against the perpetrators of the crime. But what stunned the world was General Pervez Musharraf’s endorsement of an act of terrorism against peaceful procession. While innocent people were being showered with bullets, President Musharraf was citing this massacre a testimonial of his “People Power”.

So what was the motive behind this planned carnage? As rightly identified by Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto, this is nothing but a charade and a smoke screen to justify delaying of elections and thus restoration of real democracy in Pakistan.

Pakistan once again stands at a very critical juncture. Years and years of military intervention in Pakistani politics has thwarted the true democratization process leaving every major institution in complete shambles. Pakistan today is imploding from within.

The very fabric of Pakistani society is in danger of tearing apart, due to General Musharraf’s dictatorial and egocentric actions.  As we are all witness to one of the saddest events of May 12^th in Pakistani politics, when MQM (Mutahida Qaumi Movement), a party belonging to government coalition, was given full reigns on the street of Karachi to reign in an authentic democratic movement of the people of Pakistan. These people came from all walks of life to restore the sanctity of the Judicial branch of Pakistan, which General Musharraf violated by firing the sitting Chief Justice of that country.

This was done through purely unconstitutional means. Let there be no confusion, that there is no example of a democratic government in the world in which a Chief of Army staff, can summon a Chief Justice and force him to relinquish his post. This was purely a politically motivated move by the General to rid of one of a few independent thinking judges left in Pakistan. This would have insured the General a clear path towards regaining the Presidency through unconstitutional moves.

The Chief Justice chose to stand tall against the General. In recent history Pakistan has not seen a man from judiciary with such a courage who is not ready to be sold out to the highest bidder. Pakistani people have rightly and collectively seized on this defiance and made the current judicial crisis as their cause celebre. Let there also be no confusion that this movement is an authentic movement deeply rooted in the sentiments of every Pakistani who realizes that the first step towards a peaceful and prosperous nation is a strong and independent justice system. This battle has resonated among all people of Pakistan spanning classes, races, ethnicities and various religious sects. As the events have unfolded in front of the whole world, it is getting progressively clear that General Musharraf is losing his grip on Pakistan and because he has become weak, he is reacting the way any dictator would react.

Instead of showing prudence he is showing pride and prejudice. His decision to let MQM open fire on innocent civilians, who were on their way to receive the Chief Justice of Pakistan, shows us that he thinks of himself as a King and not a statesman. The whole nation of Pakistan for the first time saw on live television these images of MQM militants carrying weapons and firing at anybody who they suspected as a supporter of the Chief Justice.

These images will not be easily forgotten by the people of Pakistan. The Pakistani media has done an unusual service by forcing Pakistanis to ask themselves questions. Pakistanis belonging to every walk of life and from every village, city, and province seriously doubt if Pakistan army has qualifications and ability to be in business of governance. They are fearful that their national army could be used against civilians by a few ambitious senior officers instead of shielding national frontiers.

They are asking questions about what kind of a society do they live in and more importantly what sort of a society will they be a part of in the future?  By showing these live images of carnage and state sponsored terrorism, the media has forever changed the rules of the game. The government of General Musharraf can no longer hide behind the curtains of its own propaganda. The Musharraf propaganda campaign has been two pronged: One directed towards the west, that he is truly a partner in the war against terrorism and the other towards his own countrymen, that Pakistan is a model for democracy in the Muslim world.

With the Taliban and Al Qaeda re-emerging and recent political unrest in Pakistan have exposed the hollow claims of a dictator, who will say anything to stay in power. The only thing worst than a dictator is a weak dictator, for he becomes unpredictable. Today General Musharraf is capable of doing anything to maintain his hold on power and because of such reality we believe that his days are numbered by the virtues of his own actions. Sooner or later the sun will set on his era and a new era will begin in Pakistan. Whether, it is an era of stability or chaos that will depend on the people of Pakistan.

Pakistan has come a long way, for it is truly responsible for its own destiny. The situation on the ground is fluid and unpredictable. Every day brings a new chink in the armor of General Musharraf’s dictatorship and his shield is getting weaker.

In these testing times for the Pakistan nation, who will America stand with? A withering and a weak dictator or 160 million people of Pakistan. We believe that America should stand with the people of Pakistan, not only because it is the right thing to do, but because it serves America’s long term goals in the region.

On September 11^th, 2001, Pakistan stood at the cross roads of either siding with the free world or lining up against it. Very wisely General Musharraf chose a right path but he stumbled by refusing to team with his natural allies. General Musharraf is blessed with another historic opportunity to save nation of Pakistan from a great grief and commotion. The world has come to identify pressing need of Musharraf to constantly create and maintain a major crisis to justify continuity of his rule. The rise and consolidation of religious extremists within Pakistan and on our Northern borders is now clearly being recognized as his insurance policy to retain unchecked power.

Since he has already relinquished his duty of maintaining law and order by delegating it to bands of urban terrorists, he is no more competent to occupy chair of a chief custodian of law and order in the country. He is party to the killings of innocent people who became victims to an open ambush by MQM.

He should step down both from his Chief of Staff and President’s posts and shall handover presidency to Chief Justice of Supreme Court.  Free and fair elections should be held under the watchful monitoring of Carter Center and other independent international human rights organizations.

Manufactured cases against Muhtarma Benazir Bhutto should be withdrawn and both MBB and Nawaz Sharif should be allowed to freely participate in nation’s general elections. This is not asking too much. These should be the most fundamental rights of every sovereign nation. If the above mentioned things are carried out in Pakistan, America will see that Pakistanis will resoundingly reject religious fundamentalism and chart a course towards a progressive, enlightened and a democratic Pakistan.

This Pakistan will strive to live in peace with its neighbors and others around the world. Pakistan with a sound justice system, will allow every Pakistani to live up to their God given capabilities and it will be only then can become a true model for the rest of the Muslim world.