A woman called me and started crying over the phone. She said she had been collecting money for the last five years so that her mother could perform hajj but each time the government increased the cost; this year the increase was by Rs38,000. She said that this was her mother’s last wish but now it seems it would remain unrealised. “If my mother dies without performing hajj, I will send the money to the prime minister and ask him to spend it on his protocol instead.”
I trembled with fear because I know Allah is very close to the hearts of the poor and He listens to the plight of the oppressed.
Another call I received was from Mansehra. Khalid Mehmood said he was a poor carpenter. However, his business was booming and prosperity knocked at his door during Pervez Musharraf’s days. Good food to eat and his children admitted to good schools. “Then I was told Musharraf is a dictator, an American agent and against Islam and Pakistan so I also shouted: ‘Go Musharraf, go’ with other people”. The democratic government came followed by slump and poverty. No money to pay the school fee, or for petrol or the utility bills. “The worst dictatorship is better than the best democracy. Please keep your democracy and return me the dictatorship.” Again I shuddered — since I like democracy but I could see that it had not delivered.
The last call was from Karachi. It was different and more interesting.
The man on the other end of the line said that Pakistan has had four military dictators: Ayub Khan, Yahya Khan, Ziaul Haq and Pervez Musharraf. All four left the corridors of power with full protocol and their lives ended honourably. Ayub and Musharraf left the presidency with guards of honour. Musharraf is enjoying a relaxing time in London and Ayub had spent his last days on a rocking chair comfortably in his lawn. Yahya Khan’s coffin was wrapped in the Pakistan flag and was given a salute. As for Zia, when he died, the eyes of the entire nation were full of tears on his death.
Contrary to that the end of democratic leaders was not good. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was hanged and only a couple of prisoners participated in his funeral prayers. He was buried in the darkness of the night. Two of the Benazir’s governments were dismissed disgracefully and no one came out in her support. She met a tragic death. Nawaz Sharif was arrested along with his family and was exiled. Ninety per cent of his party men betrayed him. Chaudhry Shujaat and Pervaiz Elahi currently are in search of face-saving as well.
Why is it that in Pakistan dictators often do not meet unfortunate ends while democratically-elected leaders do?
“The answer is the state of poor common people” the man said. They lived better lives, filled with less pain, and they had food and medicine and this was during the time dictators were in power. As for democratic leaders instead of providing ‘roti, kapra aur makan’ for the people, they deprived them of these things and this only increased their troubles. That is why, the man said, ordinary people prayed for dictators.
“If the present rulers do not understand this point and do not wipe the tears of the poor people, the same thing will happen again.”
And then the call dropped.
Published in the Express Tribune, June 10th, 2010.
its because each time a dictator leaves ‘honourably’ as you so put it, they have left the country in tatters waiting for democrats to clean the mess up. i might point out that musharrafs economy was a bubble. zia gave us the taliban. yahya dismembered our country and ayub created the massive gulf between the rich and the poor (and also had a hand in the murder of fatima jinnah). I might also point out that the three prime ministers were killed by the army. politicians for all their flaws arent as vindictive.
Why don’t you take a few calls from Fata and Balochistan and you will know the difference between the democracy and dictatorship
It is really nice to see Jawed Sir’s piece here. He is really an inspiration for people like me.
It is really a point of concern. But here we have to see the level of privilege. Democratic governments have overconfidence that they are being elected by people and they know how slave these voters are under the pressures of caste system, Feudal field, blind loyalty etc, so majority of elected representatives are even not bother to work for people. Military rulers have no other options than putting something on board to morally prove them justified. But the biggest question is the role of PAKISTANI NATION. Are we only there to see the show, sometimes crying, sometimes smiling? Who are we? Are we saying that if British government could offer us great living opportunities in 1947 so we never had to propose for a separate homeland? I think today we have to sit and think in order rather than emotions. Democracy, dictatorship are far inferior, WE ARE OUR OWN & SMARTEST SOLUTION. Let us not forget that our beloved prophet Muhammad S.A.W. lived three years in hunger among mountains for a cause of liberty, justice and freedom from oppressors. Being a nation we have to set priorities. At the moment priority must be Freedom, Rule of People and rule of law things shall come in order InshaAllah. Dictatorship and Democracy are more terms in our country otherwise a specific class of people have made it two sides of one coin. True democracy is still in line in Pakistan and this can only be there when we will pace ourselves to the houses of power. Being a nation we are in deplorable condition so no bother to take risk of planting a new future of our generations to come. Struggle, struggle and struggle and then people shall go on Hajj, all children shall go to school and whoever commit crime shall face disgraceful end even if he distributed gold to people.
In 2006, the Hajj fare was increased by 20%. May I ask the moralist Javed Chaudhry to present his column from back then? Also he revealed his true self in his talk show in the fistfight with Senator Abidi.
The reason for this may well be because we as a nation are timid and weak against usurpers and fail to notice and take into account all their wrongdoings (read raping the country), and by the time the politicians come to clean up the mess we tend to vent our anger of the past and present situation on them.
All of a sudden everyone from the ordinary Joe to the media and to the Judiciary becomes active who were until very recently all quiet and timid, suddenly start flexing their muscles and suddenly their patience for a 5 year government also starts running out.
I trembled with fear because I know Allah is very close to the hearts of the poor.Mr.Javed, don’t you want”Allah to be close to your heart”?Instead of trembling with fear,you should donate all your wealth to needy people,become poor,and close to Allah.Please do not mislead the poor people.
My dear Poor countrymmen
As you had heard it time and again that “Democracy is the best revenge” so in reality it is a revenge from the poor for electing the feduals and industrialists.
So be patient and elect, if you were alive at that tims by chance, these professional leaders in the next election once again. Please don’t curse our ‘democratic’ rulers curse yourself for electing them.
Mr. Chaudhry,despite having so many reservations with the so-called free electronic and print media of our beloved country I must see it flourishing more and more due to only one reason if some one asks me.Reason is very simple.It has very mercilessly exposed and is going to expose further so many pseudointellectulas like you present in media who might be having some of their face-value before they became the anchorpersons of TV channels.I feel regretful to state that you might have earned a lot in terms of money after becoming an anchorperson but you cant even guess the loss you have sufferred from by no body else but yourself in terms of your reputation as an open-minded journalist and as far as your intellectual calibre is concerned.Your present image is nothing but of a querrlsome luddite partysan anchorperson who might be defending the vested interests of some others for some very cheap purposes at the cost of your professional repute.I feel sorry to expect such an insane attitude from you as you have disappointed so many people by engaging yourself in fistfight with Senator Faisal Raza Abidi in your talk-show.I feel that if you totally lack the abilities to reconsider any more and continue like this in your talk-shows and go on wrting articles like this one,you will be left nothing as an intellectul but a lot of money in your bank account.As a very sincere well wisher I dont like to see your talent being spoiled in this world of “free market economy”.I dont think you have learnt some lesson at the Nimaz-e-Jinaza gathering of late Mr. Irshad Ahmad Haqani,althougn you also wrote a column on this subject on the very next morning.
plzz Back Musharaf
i always belev that musharraf time was de bestime in pakistan ever in history.politicians always make fool to a common jahil man who dont nething.b4 our country litracy rate goes to 70 % they dont desereve democracy.
I would give credit to Musharraf for unlocking the mouths of these journalists turned anchor-celebrities. His column is as useful as Zardari’s way to control the power crisis by switching off all unnecessary lights in presidency.
Listen people! this is Pakistan not Athens.
Here democracy means, GOVT. OF THE RICH, BY THE RICH, FOR THE RICH.
Poor will remain poor and rich will become more rich, weather its DICTATORSHIP or DEMOCRACY.
The best and the most balanced system was told us 1400 years back. Now I
its time to try something else.
Good Luck!
It looks like again we are in need of Musharraf as we were in 1999.
Pakistan ka Khuda he Hafiz
Pakistani politicians are most effective when they are out of power, screaming against dictatorship and emotionally motivating people by showing them lush gardens if civilians come to power. But when civilians actually get in the hot seat they are clueless as to what to do.
Mr. Chaudry suggest a system to Pakistan please. We see no working here 😛
well i think we dont have any sense whom to vote n whom not nd datz da reason y democracy has failed in our country. So i m in the favor of dictatorships. Plus there is no concept of democracy in islam. It always talks about Khilafat. So we should think n gain some knowlege about what islam n quran says about democracy b4 posting any comments.
چوہدری صاحب
آپ کا کالم بیحد پسند آیا اللہ آپ کو اسی طرح سے لکھتے رہنے کی توفیق دے ۔ باقی ۰۰
عرفی تو مندیش ذغوغائے رقیباں
آواز سگاں کم نہ کند رزق گدارا
@Danish Butt
we don’t have sense and still we love to answer(wrongly) to all questions.
@javed chaudhry sahab
Hmain ye jamhooriat or aamriat ka bukhaar kion charha rehta he kia ye fatoor hmarey dimaghoon me west se inspired honey ka nateeja to nhi ,hm aie din dictatorship or democracy ki batain krtey rehtey hain.
sach ye he k awam koi iski koi parwa nhi na hi iski koi ahmiat he………
jo na ahl or corrupt hoga chahey vo dictator ho ja democratic awam ko kabool nhi ,vo bura he………
jo competent or honest hoga vo awam ko pasand he he is good chahey vo dictator hi kion na ho.
sarey democrates b dictator hain inka tareeka e wardaat mukhtalif he.inka zahir kuch ore he batin kuch ore he sirf jamhoori libaada he awaam se naarey lagwaney k liaey ander sirf yahi khwab he awam ko ghulaam bnaney ka.
musharraf ko hataney k liaey secret game chalee us se kon parda utha ae ga.Media valo ka jo mashkook role raha usko kon benakaab krey ga.
Media jo pasand na pasand ki bunyaad pe khabrey chalata he usko kon poochey ga.
Jb is hakoomat ki karkardagee pe baat hotee to aap inki himayat krtey pichli hkumat pe sara ilzaam dalney main.
sawal to ye he k bhai aap hukamran ho u are responsible now agar nhi deliver kr saktey they to election hi nhi larna tha.
Itna arsa ye hkoomat apni na ahli musharraf hkoomat pe daltee rahee ,aap jesey parhey likhey samhajdaar log b pata nhi kion musharraf ko hi mured e ilzam tehratey rahey.
jiskey dor e hakumat tk bilji thee lakin vo jatey he shayad bijli jaib me daal kr saath le gaya.
itni mushkil se NS or benazir jesey luteroon ore munafikoon se jaan chootee thee lakin aap media valoon ne inhein phir musharraf k saamney hero bna diya (musharraf jis se sirf 3 ghaltian hoee k jo usney Q league bnaee ore pata nhi kis sazish ka hissa bantey hoey CJ ko jb doosri dafa hataya or NRO)
Sirf maghrabi complex valoon ka democracy vs dictatorship vala naara laga kr ,aapko pata hi hoga k ye naara kion west use krta he ore kahan kahan use krta he.
lakin phir b hm ne vohi nara lagaya ore phir pakistan ko in luteroon or na ahel begharto k haatho me de diya.
is me aap media valo ne kai kirdaar ada kia democracy k narey laga laga kr.kia aap nhi jantey they k pakistan me democracy ka matlab kia he ore pehley democracy k naam pe kia hota raha he.
phir b javed sahab aap log democracy k narey lagatey rahey ye jantey hoey b k pakistan me democracy ka matlab sirf benazir ya Ns ki hukamrani he.
Kia aap jesa parha likha insan sahib se nazar sahafi ye nhi daikh sakta tha k musharraf k baad kia honey vala he????
Kia javed sahab do dafa dassey janey k baad b hmain sanpoon pe aitebaar he ….kia hmain dass vaney ka shoke he.
javed sahab aam pakistani ko to rooti kapree k chakr me phansaya hoa he kia aap jesey parhey likhey sahib ilm logo ka ye kaam nhi k qaum ko aney valey halaat se agah krain?????
Democracy is the best revenge(from the poor)Democracy k narey laganey valey pata nhikis ki zuban bol raehy they.abb to sb kuch samney agaya he.
sawal phir b vohi he “kia hmain baar bar dass waney ka shoke he”
“kia hmaree apni koi raey nhi apni koiee soch nhi apna koi vision nhi sirf aik hava chaltee he to saree vohi bolna shuru kr detey hain.
“kia maashrey k parhey likhey tabkey is maghrabi hava pe hi chaltey rahengy ore qaum ko jannat dikha kr qurbaan gah le jatey rahen ge ,ya hm apni gherat ka soda krna chore daingey”
RESPECTED JAVED CH.as our presdant mr 10 % now mr 100% said that the democracy is best revange i would say that the dictatorship is best revange for democracy
if this is democracy that your children die of hunger and you are not able to give them food,education,or you cant provide them the other utilitys of life so what you will do with the democracy like this.if you look 3,4 years back you will found that the ratio of poverty was less then this time. and i must say that it is an american, indian,afrghanistans,and others consperacy that keep PAKISTANI people in hunger and poverty so it will help them to distroye an islamic atomic power. may be i am wrong but these are my deep worry feelings. i trust allmighty ALLAH that he will help us and will keep safe of our enimies and those meer jafar and meer sadiq in between us inshALLAH
so the moral is.
“The woerst dictatorship is better than the best democracy.
MOHSIN ALI BAACHA
political immaturity…
i agree bcouz of nowadays condition
Jo marzi kar lo……..(chahay Mr. Jinah ko la kar dobara bitha do……)………….hamaray muqaddar mei chittar khana likha ja chuka hai…………..
ALI ALI
nahi ishallah change ay ga
*MAhmood sial . i am really sad to read ur comment …WE the people has the power to change our futrure …don’t change anyone first change urself ….everyone in pakistan should thinks what he is?is he loyal to his country? is he doing right things and etc etc…..
hamaray muqaddar main naheen hai yeh ….. v just have to make other ppl aware so that the next time they go for voting they must chose the right ppl but again who we chose?…
nai siyal bhai ALLAH na kary k aisa hu hum bohat baa waqar qoum hain.
@ Mobeen : I can count the persons on my fingers of one hand, whom i met in my all life(27 years) who are sincere with themselves……….not even me………..then where is nation………….???
@ Mohsin:Agar ye baa waqari hai…………tu bey waqari kia ho ge……….???
mahmood bhai ap ne tu soch main dal dia realy…
There is no Differnce between Musharaf and Zardari.both r the slave of America.they do what America want to do.
Dr Afia and Musharraf
Before casting aspertions on Gen Musharraf regarding Dr Afia, one should go through the facts. Dr Afia siddiqui was picked from afghanistan according to her own sister Dr Fouzia Siddiqui .Please watch the video as a proof. Her mother called Gen Rashid Qureshi many times regarding dr Afia’s release and said she consider Gen Musharraf as her son, He’s a great leader and she has never said nor she thinks that dr Afia was handed over by Gen Musharraf. These lies are only being spread by the media. Those who blame Gen Musharraf for her abduction and take up the case of missing persons should raise the issue of Aimel Kansi first who was handed over to the foriegn authorities when nawaz sharif was the Prime Minister.
kuch to insaan main khofe khuda bhi hona chahiye….one should like some one but not upto the extent of worshiping like Khalid sb….Musharraf was no doubt far better than the current leadership we also liked him but He made some blunders not mistakes which cannt be recitfied either, only history can…thats y we dont like him now….if one think that Dr.AFIA was caugt from Afg one should rethink perticularly on this take..can Khalid sb plz calrify that without the knowledge of ISI or any other intelligence agecy is it possible for a woman vd 3 little kids to cross the border & reach to Bagram air base..If KHALID sb can do so himself being a man & also may be influential…then we will deffinitly beleive…otherwise dont misslead ppl plz…awr videos ka to plz koi hawala hi na de q ke aajkal kia kuch possible nahin ha….
This is right because we are not right
Modern Democracy is not the answer to problems faced by Pakistan or any other developing country.
62 years of continued democracy in India gave nothing to her people…… 40% live below $1 and 80% below $2….. no roti, no kapra, no makan, no saaf paani, no doctor, no dawai…… nothing is available to them……..criminals in parliament…… literate Indians fleeing to become American, British, Canadian nationals…….. this is so called democracy……
Mr. Javed Chaudhry and friends, after reading above do u still wish for 62 years of CONTINUED DEMOCRACY in Pakistan….. for this result???
politician in Math
Chor = MPA
MPA+Dhoky Baz = MNA
MNA+Bankrupt = WaZeer
Wazeer+Qatal=Wazer-e-Azam
Wazer-e-Azam+Be-Shram = President
Firstly i would like to say:
Asslam-o-Alaikum,
just reading mammoth comments i also would like to share some thing with you especially with shahid ali sahab:
just generally talking what you said about india as we are pakistani’s but when ever i read these type of things my heart start crying it is the country which get freedom in the same day as our great country came into being but they are to much far than us their litracy rate is 68% their number on the line of prosper countries would be 40 their 95% youth which visit other countries for study get degree’s All this is because of true and best politicians they only suffer from one bomb blast in six months or even year’s period while only the number of blasts in 2009 was much more than your expectations i don’t mention all our country figures about lieracy,best to live in prosper countries number,blasts numbers etc because i don’t like to tell any one else our situation you all know that well one biggest example is bangladesh our own part it came in to being in 1971 now its currency rate is higher than us all this was due to a bull shit system
A O A Javed bhai main aap ka bara fan hoon.main ap kay coloums baray shook say parta hoon ..meri khawaish hay k jab kabi aap mujay millain tu main aap k haath choomo aap itna acha likhtay hain .ALLAHA aap k ilam aur zehan ko aur woosaat day ameen. regards kashif bhatti
rite knw m student of FAST ISL but
inshallah change aye ga hm lyn ge. jo leaders azmany the hoo gya……
inshallah sb sy pale indivually apny ap ko teek krna hy phr ksi or ko…….
sb pasey k pechy hn. ye sb shaid ye bhool gye hn k pasa kanjron k pass b bot hota hy buh ye to… m really sori to say all this buh … chezan ap k samny hn…
The democracy or dictatorship—- – is not the problem of ordinary person neither is solution for Pakistani, as this region has a very different geo political and hitorical background..we need to resturcture DEMOCRACY +DICATORSHIP (LEADERSHIP) to achiev the targeted goals….Lack of education does not enable us to play the desired role in the favour of long lasting positive measures for future of PROSPEROUS PAKISTAN…more oever special request to you PM is now head of a political party kindly take that into account now on that he is also part of ur favpourite democracy and voice of miiloions oh hearts from all over the world in love of PAKISTAN.
it is a great forum to say something…… unfortunately we are a blind nation who cannot see things in their proper sense. Some people who are either fools or flaterers always say something against military rulers…. Do not consider past for the time being and see the performance of the present government… they are DEMOCRATIC FOOLS ….. All the politicain should be wiped out. The greatest democratic leader was Z A bhutto
he destroyed our education and industrial system….. The rest are totaly rubbish… Why can’t their blind supporters see what are they doing….
Very true picture, as we never find a President or Prime Minister for Pakistan from any Political party. To start with Mr. Z. A. Bhutto he was the President then Prime Minister of Peoples who belongs to Peoples Party yes it is true and no one can deny this. He focused the area where his supporters live but never act as Prime Minister of Pakistan he crushed those who were against him or his party, then Nawaz Sharif he became the PM of Muslim League and not the PM of Pakistan and always focused to make strong and stronger his Muslim League. Then Be Nazir too became the PM of Peoples Party and Not the PM of Pakistan She addressed those problem which belonged to her party and party worker and never selected people on merit or capabilities. Now come and see Asif Zardari never act as President of Pakistan, he is always be having as President of Peoples party and supporters only. He made the President House as Sectriate of Peoples Party therefore always we find Pakistan goes down in the regime of democratic people. And always goes up under Dictatorship as Dictator has no party therefore he works for Pakistan. The political people due to their poor performances only blames dictators for this and that. But real picture is that Political Party will never deliver unless they change their mind set and stops politics when they are on rulling chair. They must stop their political game while rulling the country. One of the best example is that the Media has got independance in the period of Musharraf a dictator, but the political parties like Muslim League or PPP never took steps to FREE this media. And because of this FREE media we are able to get exposed these dirty politicians and their wrong deeds like a matriculate is being appointed as Chairman of OGDC and a minister is being exposed in Hajj corruption this is because of FREE Media and Done by a DICTATOR. There were Two FAIR and FREE Elections one is 1970 by Yahya Khan and Other is 2008 by Musharraf, the both were Dictators. Where as Mr. Bhutto a political person rigged the 1977 Elections…..This is History, which speaks truth…
XtaEz7 I’m not easily impressed. . . but that’s impressing me! 🙂
hello everybody,
i have my presentation on democracy….plz send me verses in urdu related to democracy on my adress