Pakistanis Rejoice Over Restoration of Justice ......SABRINA TAVERNISE (NY Times)

We had seen Sabrina Tavernise of New York Times interviewing people outside CJ's official residence, following are a few excerpts from her piece in NYT, for detailed story plz visit the link below.

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/world/asia/17voices.html

ISLAMABAD — It was a day of rejoicing, of drum playing, and of smiling at strangers. Pakistan’s chief justice had just been reinstated after a two-year struggle, and for those assembled in the country’s capital to celebrate, anything seemed possible.

In the crowd, whose members included a radio announcer who was researching homosexuality and an illiterate mechanic who wore a flower pot on his head to stay cool and admitted to stealing monkeys to get by, one word was on everybody’s lips.

“Justice,” said Mr. Khan’s wife, Rubina Javed, smiling broadly. “We came for justice.”

The word was apt for the victory at hand: the restoration of the chief justice, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, to his court. But others in a jubilant crowd celebrating on Mr. Chaudhry’s lawn on Monday were working from a broader interpretation.

“Justice is the solution to the common man’s problems,” Ms. Javed said, seated on a blue scarf on the grass with two daughters and four sons, ages 6 to 18, around her. “I want justice in schools, on roads, in transportation. Now the common man is speaking.”

In the Arab world, the word is a constant companion. Islamic political movements use it in struggles against autocrats, arguing that justice is a central tenet of Islam.

But in Pakistan, the political class comes from a powerful feudal elite, which has largely avoided policies that would bring greater social equality, like land reform. With only half of the population literate, so far the strategy has worked.

“The ruling elite can get away with anything,” said Muhammad Ali, a software engineer. “They are like kings here.”

But the lawyers’ movement may be starting to change that. Though small in number, it is made up of an educated, diverse cross section of Pakistani society that includes lower middle class professionals, whose reach may extend deeper into Pakistan’s 160 million population than initially expected.

“This movement has given an awareness to the common people in Pakistan of their rights,” said Shamoon Azhar, 26, a doctoral student at the International Islamic University in Islamabad, sitting on the lawn with a large group of his friends. “This is about awareness. It’s given people confidence. It’s shown people it can happen.”


Saif Abbas, a consultant who used to work for the Asian Development Bank in Islamabad, was more clear-eyed about the meaning of the march. Pakistan is still a poor country with a vast illiterate population, and a corrupt, unresponsive ruling class, he said.

His vision for Pakistan is a “thoroughly democratic” country based on an Islamic system of governance, with a strong, powerful middle class, like that in Turkey or Malaysia. The current system will simply perpetuate the power of the mullahs on one hand, he said, and the elite, on the other, “who are totally disconnected from the people of this country.”

In that respect, the march was meaningful.

“The next government is going to fear the people who pushed this one against the wall,” he said, as a troupe of lawyers from a city in central Pakistan, stormed past.

A revolution it is not, he said. “But it’s a good beginning.”

CJ to be reinstated, Governor Rule & Governor to be changed

The unprecedented show of public force by the participants of the Long March has led to a recent breaking development Media reported with reference of Chaudhry Nisar (N-League) senior party member, that accord between Govt. & Long March participants has been reached, and.........Chief Justice Of Pakistan, Justice Iftikhaar Mohammad Chaudhry ...........will be reinstated, with full powers.

PM Yousuf Raza Gilani is expected to come on TV and announce it, officially.

The poeple's power and the politicial maturity of this nation has proven once and for all, that we can rise upto the occassion, make it clear what we want for ourselves, we can demand and decide what kind of a future we want to have for ourselves.

Good show this nation, I hope that we will continue to stand upto the occassion and will act, will be out on streets, and no force would be allowed to trample on our rights, constitution and our lives.

Long Live Pakistan, Long Live People Of Pakistan

As soon as official announcement comes in, we will update RiseOfPakistan with it, Being in Rawalpindi, I will be joining Student Action Commitee's karavan enroute from Lahore.

Muneer A Malik Arrested?

Muneer A Malik is reported to have been arrested from Karachi's airport today. It is reported that he was arrested aboard a PIA flight, which was delayed for about 1 hour.

Some reports suggest that he was released later on, and he is on his way to Islamabad. There are no confirmed reports regarding his current status. It will be updated as soon as any news report confirms it.

Sherry Rehman resigns ?

The Federal Minister for Information Sherry Rehman has supposedly resigned. Some say its in protest for banning Geo & Royal News, Some say its the outcome of the high level meeting in President House which is just ended.

It is being rumored that Zardari Camp, including Rehman Malik & Salman Taseer are going to resign.......... only time will tell

Is the P.M. going to rise to occassion?

It is being widely circulated in media reports that P.M. Yousuf Raza Gilani after successfully getting the Army, Foriegn actors, Civilian & Military beauraucracy and even N-League & Lawyers leaders on his side, is going to take a series of steps to implement the charter of Democracy & reinstatement of judges & Punjab Assembly.

What remains to be seen is that, the circulated news is based on proper facts or a mere wishful fragment of imagination of political pundits and analysts.

Though a couple of weeks ago, it seems that P.M. & President seemed to be playing the classical 'good-cop/bad-cop' game, but now it is more evident than ever, that P.M. is acting as an independent actor.

Will he rise to occassion? will he be able to deliever what it takes to pacify the situation and take the country out of the current Zardari & cohorts produced political turmoil ???????????

Barani Agri University Hostilites told to vacate hostels

In another dramatic development, The V.C. of Barani Agriculture University has directed the hostilites to vacate their hostels. "Duniya" T.V. report at 10:15 PM today, cited a university official that the University administration does not wants its students participating in the Long March.

The hostels are to be vacated for four days, upto 17th March. At the moment the Hostel residents are protesting over decision and have refused to do so. They are being threatened by a police action, if they choose not to comply with University Administration's decision.

and so it begins...

the gatehring of lawyers from Southern Sindh at Toll Plaza Karachi was baton charged and many arrests were made. So begins the long march, a last ditch attempt by the civilian elements of the society for upholding the rule of law & usual high handedness of a Federal Govt. to discourage it.

complete story: http://geo.tv/important_events/lawyers_longmarch/pages/english_news.asp

PPP old-school irked over Governor Rule & Opposition to Long March

While it is no secret that after assuming PPP leadership & becoming president Mr. Zardari has side-lined the former prominent members of BB erra and placed his assosciates on key positions i.e. Governor Punjab, Advisor on Interior Ministry and now the Chairman Senate.

This was supposed to have irked the former active and prominent members, but it has started to surface now, more than ever, that they are being irked and oppose the iron-fist tactics of Mr. Zardari.

Resignation of Mr. Razza Rabbani, Enver Baig, the vocal opposition and arrest orders of Naheed Khan & Fakhr, The oppostion of Makhdoom Amin Faheem and in-party sympathies of MNA's with him & most importantly indifferent stand of PM Yousuf Raza Gillni on mobile courts, his recent adresses in National Assemble expressing concerns over opposition of Long March are all indicators that for the first time in 40 year history of PPP, an internal pressure in building up against the party leadership.

PML-N & Nawaz Shareef's policy of targetting Zardari rather than PPP in general seems to have been carefully thought of, and is paying off. He provided the old-school members with a position to support the Lawyers movement and his stance on Punjab Govt. crisis, while at the same time starting an active public movement.

It still remians to be seen, however, how this will effect the events of 16th March. A miraclous executive order from PM, or involvement of resenting members of PPP in long march might still be a long-shot, but possibility is more than ever!

Speaker announced PA session on 18th of march.

As Governor announced PA session on 16th of March, so that PML-N people can not attend it. But, speaker announces the session on 18th of March by using his constitutional right. Lets see what happens.

Long March and preparation by Government.

There is no need to tell about the preparation of lawyers, students, political parties and civil society. But, the most impressive preparation are going on by Government.
They started by doubling the salaries of Islamabad police. Then they gave orders to the DPOs of all the districts that their job depends on their performance during Long March. And they seems to stick with what they said as they fired one SP in Gujranwala.
They have decided to seal Islamabad for two days.
So, there are multiple circles of blockage. city is sealed, people will be arrested from G.T road, people will be tried to stop at the edges. On top of that Govt. has threatened all fast food places and others to not to give food to Long March people. All rest houses in Islamabad are also instructed to not give places to attendees. So, lets hope govt. stay only this insane :P.