Pakistan Got Talent

I found this amazing video of a guy (I am trying to figure out who he is and from where he is) doing one man orchestra. It's just amazing. If you have heard the original songs, you will appreciate it even more. The performer is blind yet he is the most sensational talent I have seen in years.

Diversions by Opportunists

I wonder why this sudden rush of blood? Nawaz Sharif who has not visited Balochistan once in last 10 years has suddenly become too concerned about Balochistan. Not only that, but the right wingers have again become obsessed with the agenda of “Speedy Justice”, just when the man at the helm of Justice System of Pakistan is their hero. And I wonder why now?

Just when our men in uniform are fighting the existential threat to not only our state but our society and way of living, these right wingers have started blowing the trumpets of other issues, Balochistan, Speedy Justice.

As far as Balochistan goes, it goes without saying that all that the rightwing in our country has done is talk. No leader of theirs has visited Balochistan in last year or so. They distanced themselves from the efforts of normalization being carried out by PPP-led government. The only mentioning of Balochistan is to hang Musharraf for killing of Akbar Bugti. Bugti Sahab, a great statesman, is just used as a pretext to settle the personal vendetta with moron named Musharraf.

I think Baloch leadership is very mature and they realize that this fight against Taliban is their fight too. We have all fought the Army’s tyranny and dictatorships in past, our Baloch brethren probably more than anyone else did. But for the first time in ages, our Army is fighting a fight that is our fight. For if Army fails, our way of living will be at stake in Punjab, in Sindh, in Pakhtunkhwah and in Balochistan. I have full faith in wisdom and judgment of our Baloch leadership. They realize that if Talibanization comes to Pashin or Chamun or Quetta, it will destroy the Baloch value system as well. And if a strong Pakistan Army cannot defeat Taliban chances of anyone else taking on them will be close to zero. So, in their wisdom I have trust in and they will not be a party to this.

As far as the speedy justice goes, logically instead of turning it into an issue, Iftikhar Chaudhary must be given time to deliver. A judge should speak through his decisions and actions and not words. Saying that Talibanization of Swat is a result of injustice is criminal. To these people, I always have one question. PPP is the largest party in Pakistan. Its founder was hanged in a trial that is labeled as a judicial murder. Yet a party representing 40% of Pakistanis, and majority of them diehard followers of ZAB, still shows faith in the justice system, and it is not only the party leadership but its supporters too. If injustice was the cause of chaos, Bhutto’s murder would have burnt Pakistan in a few months. It is an armed mob we are up against which has no values, is regressive by nature, and wants to impose upon us its barbaric ideology. The sooner we all become clear on this, the better it is. And if someone tries to dodge us with something else, we should refute.

Right-wingers control our media. This Taliban threat is growing since last decade at least and yet our media always tried to downplay it and tried to justify it. I fear that just like the public opinion (among urban educated classes) has been diverted in past from core issues to non-issues by a rightwing controlled media, this time too they will try to divert our attention by raising Balochistan and speedy justice just when our Army is fighting the battle for our survival and existence.

My Baloch brethren, if we survive, I make a pledge to stand by you for the demand of your rights and our rights. We can fight it all together but first we need to kill this monster that is threatening our existence.

It's an absurd idea!

Just before President Zardari left for a critical visit to US; Pakistani and US media were rife with the news that US wants to bring in Nawaz Sharif at a position of influence in Pakistan's Govt. set up. There have been three explanations about timing of this story. Some think that to get a better leverage on Zardari during his visit, US administration decided to play hardball. Others say that to undermine the significance of President Zardari's visit, his political opponents (specially PML-N) spread this news story. If either of these is true, Pakistani media was very irresponsible in undermining the national interest by playing up this story. And for Americans, playing hardball at this critical juncture when the whole order is at stake is outright stupidity. In the quest for survival, you do not look for bargains.

However, it is the third theory which bothers me the most. What if US and Pakistani establishment have seriously made up their mind for having a Zardari-Nawaz or Nawaz-alone power setup. Just when I fully support PML-N's inclusion into the cabinet and government coalition at this critical juncture and expect their all out support in war against extremism, I think it will be a disaster-in-waiting if Mian Sahab becomes part of the power structure at this juncture and this is why.

There are only two ways Mian Sahab can be at the helm of affairs right now. First, by working with Mr. Zardari, it will bring in two of the most powerful men in the country into the power setup. I never underestimate the ability and power of local and international players but if two most powerful men in Pakistan, claiming 2/3rd of populace support between them, hit a deadlock, the results will be devastating for the fragile state of Pakistan. Real life and real politics is never 2+2=4. In the event of such deadlock, the strong egos of powerful men will kick in and will make it impossible for either to back down. We saw what happened during long march. Now imagine such a deadlock emerges when two men are at positions of power and where will it lead the fragile state of Pakistan. There exist differences of opinion between PPP and PML-N on war on terror and fighting Taliban. N has yet to take a clear stand on Taliban. Confusing the existential threat to our nation state (i.e. Taliban) with issues like delays in court proceedings and lack of speedy justice will not help in this war. In fact, it will be a criminal diversion in combating the existential threat to not only our nation state but also to our society. It is heartening to hear voices like Kh. Asif coming from N quarters and one hopes that such clear voices against Taliban will intensify in times to come.

Other way of replacing Zardari with Nawaz will be even worse. Despite all the opinion polls, President Zardari has established himself as the leader of PPP. Unlike in the West, in Pakistan, supporters of a government are generally opposed to it when it is in power but they remain loyal in their voting. Also, most of the opinion pollsters have access to urban educated classes of Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad and a media dominated by Lahorites and Islamabites. This segment, though very influential and wealthy, is a very small fraction of a diverse nation called Pakistan. So assuming that Mr. Zardari's exodus, especially only a year and a half after Benazir Bhutto's burial, will be smooth is a gross miscalculation. PPP vote bank, which has been around 35% - 40% throughout, is fully in the hands of Bilawal/Zardari leadership. 35% - 40% of votes guarantee a majority in almost all parliamentary democracies including Pakistan and unless there is a sea-change in public support over time, Mr. Zardari is here to stay. Trying to eliminate him from the power structure will be a fiasco, especially in the fragile state of the state. Also, bringing Nawaz in at this moment is also likely to create frictions because serious quarters in Pakistan establishment are very apprehensive of Nawaz for his reckless near mutiny attitude during the recent long march.

I personally do not think that there is any threat to Zardari government right now. I also do not think that American administration or Pakistani establishment, for now, are looking beyond Zardari. The notion that reports in American media are always reflective of policy decisions is grossly exaggerated. Like any corporate media, American media is for sale too (probably more so than any other media in the world). PML-N, PPP, and elements in both Pakistani and US establishments fully know how to buy traction (by turning their desires into news) in US and world media. For serious men in governments and nations of Pakistan and US, for sale media and its stories should not be taken too seriously. We will all be better off without it.

Help Displaced People of Swat, Bunir and Dir

Pakistan Armed Forces have launched a major offensive against Militants in Swat, Dir and Bunir. The fighting has caused many people to leave their homes and belongings and move to safer places. We hope that this situation will be temporary and the people will be able to return to their homes at earliest.

In the mean time, these men, women, and children of ours need our help. Please donate generously to help these countrymen of ours.

You can send in your donations through National Disaster Management Authority (http://www.ndma.gov.pk) contributing to National Disaster Management Fund (http://ndma.gov.pk/NDMFund.html).

Reshman - A Pakistani Icon

Demopak has not covered anything in the realm of entertainment thus far. But then I thought why not? So, here is our first ever coverage of entertainment - and just when we have had many great names in performing and fine arts in Pakistan, no one is more befitting a Pakistani Story than Reshman!

Voice of the desert - her melodies grip you and the depth of her husky voice leaves you spellbound. Born in Bikaner India in 1947, Reshman was discovered by Radio Pakistan and became a singing sensation right away. She is illiterate and yet through sheer talent, commitment and dedication, she has achieved artistic glory that very few in Pakistan have managed to achieve.



Renowned singers in India and Pakistan have sung the pirated versions of her songs (including piracy of Chori Chori by legend Lata Mangeshkar).





Though most of her singing has been in Punjabi, her claim to fame was Lambi Judai (an Urdu song) which was part of soundtrack of movie "Hero (1983)". Being illiterate, she shows mastery over every language. Here is a classic Urdu song Meri Hamjoliyan which shows her mastery over Urdu singing.



Her voice turned songs of an unknown poet Manzoor Jhalla into smash hits.



She is not only a class singer but also one of the most candid and sweet talkers of Pakistani show-biz scene.



She has been diagnosed with Throat cancer and has been under treatment at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital in Lahore. Here is a performance by her post-treatment.




May she fully recover soon, live long enough and keep entertaining us with her melodious and deep voice.

Help Displaced people of Swat, Bunir and Dir

Pakistan Armed Forces have launched a major offensive against Militants in Swat, Dir and Bunir. The fighting has caused many people to leave their homes and belongings and move to safer places. We hope that this situation will be temporary and the people will be able to return to their homes at earliest.

In the mean time, these men, women, and children of ours need our help. Please donate generously to help these countrymen of ours.

You can send in your donations through National Disaster Management Authority (http://www.ndma.gov.pk) contributing to National Disaster Management Fund (http://ndma.gov.pk/NDMFund.html).