Yesterday, President Musharraf addressed first News Conference after Emergency’s imposition. Of a few things he was asked, ousting of three foreign journalists from Pakistan within 72 hours notice was the most interesting.

Two days back, I initially heard in PTV news that three journalists (read goray) were asked to leave Pakistan within 72 hours time, due to lingual profanity used for president Musharaf in an article “Bankrupt Relationship” published in Daily Telegraph (UK). When I read through the article, I myself felt offended, let’s quote the profane part here (should I??):

In the old parlance, General Pervez Musharraf is “our sonofabitch”. He has failed to stamp out extremist groups and close the madrassas that inspire them. He has allowed the tribal areas bordering Afghanistan to fall into the hands of assorted jihadis. And he has sacked independent-minded judges for fear that the Supreme Court declare illegal his re-election as president last month.

When Musharraf was asked regarding the deportation of three foreign journalists, he said:

In fact I expect an apology from them.

Also he mentioned that what they had written and the way their newspapers had commented about him were highly objectionable and could not be tolerated in any civilized society, and asked what would be their reaction if any Pakistani reporter used such a language against their president.

After reading the article, I was disgusted too. I feel the depature of trio was well justified. Reporters can be sans borders but the ethics should never leave Journalism. When it comes to country concerns, should we not discourage such foreign outbursts??

Quoting from a blog, wecite, I end the post but the question remains.

NO ONE has the right to use such foul language against our leaders. Granted Pakistan is going through enough turmoil lately but that is our INTERNAL affair! We do not give the right to ANY one in the world to downgrade us and our leaders!

Are you Offended by this event??

News in media: BBC, Telegraph

The song that comes into my mind after seeing images below :\\

Taken by Sajjad Ali Qureshi (The Nation’s photo journalist). Please click on images to view the original page.

Here, it seems people are finding it fun to pull barbwires, this side or that side. I can feel the song (in title) running in background. Even the policemen are smiling …. :-)

Dozens of armed personnel are sprinkled around the city in every nook and corner. Hiding behind the sand bags … looking at you with those huge eyes, uncertainty spread. I almost feel sad for them. They are the ones who gets punished if they do their job and if they dont. Totally Clueless.

Do you think violence and forceful protests are needed to ensure your voice is heard?? Sadistic but this fashion is always heard.Media cover violent happenings for minutes on; the peaceful ones rarely make it to the national news. Is it our attitude to react towards happenings and issues or something else??

I was at a colleague’s wedding today noon, when I learned that Baraat, coming from Lahore, has been stopped from entering the city at G.T. Road by the security officials. As per the live update coming from different cell phones connected with individuals present on the spot, the guys with the guns were in no mood to listen to anything. They were not even interested in checking the cars, only to learn that this was merely a baraat, and that the baraatis have not even any remote plans to join BB’s protest. The groom returned back and tried to enter from motorway, going all the way to Chakwal, Balkasar and Chakri only to meet the same fate again. At this moment, they talked to bride’s father, who happens to be a guy with a crescent and few stars on his shoulders in Armed Forces of Pakistan, and asked him to find some solution to the, one of its kind, problem. I got busy with something and missed the transmission for a while. When I joined back, by then, the groom was able to enter from Chakri interchange. I dont know if it was the bride to make this happen or the groom managed the security-guys on his own, but they eventually made it to the marriage hall.

BB says that she is proud of today’s outcome: one call for protest has jammed half of the country, and that she will continue with such calls.

Alarm bells for all the brides whose baraats are planned to come from outside the city in the weeks to come. Make sure your day doesn’t collide with BB’s, as the vice-versa doesn’t seem to be practical. And the grooms too, who plan to bring the brides from other cities, your bride may be denied the entry on the way back home :)

PS: At the wedding more than one versions of the story were available, all claiming to be live :)

I’ve just heard on the “wireless” that BB has been placed under house arrest. She announced the “long march” and hey presto, she too has been made “nazar bannd”… the entire nation is at the mercy of the armed forces once again in our turbulent 60 years having to submit our fate to the Armed forces - again.
At the same time we have seen how easily chacha Bush has so much influence over our dear leadership - one phone call and we are on the road to “democracy” !..

The question I’d like to ask is where is the United Opposition ?? it seems each party has once again resorted to thier petty demands which Musharaff easily exploited to his advantage earlier in this year.
Who will lead Pakistan out of this quagmire ?

“Har Cheeez Band Ho Jaayay ….”

With apologies from Behzad Lakhnawi’s departed soul (the poet of “Aye Jazbah e Dil” in case you’re not aware).

As if the shunning of All Private Channels from the Cables was not enough, news are Government takings teps to prohibit dish Antennas selling too. With 60+ channels coming on cable, very few people go for exuberant choices available on Dish Antennas.

As I earlier posted about PTV’s Glory Time, the reminiscences of early 90’s is getting settled in. When Dish Antennas came in lime light, every single house in here used to have one installed on their roofs or terraces. A few years later, seeing two dishes erected was a common sight, we are never fulfilled :-) PTV struggled to compete with satellite channels, resulting in tragic presentation, standards lost (if there were any).

Images like the one below reminds me of when I went to buy the dish more than a decade back.

_{People hungry for the news in the absence of cable networks are buying dish antennas to fish for “the news” in the sky.}

But NOT ANY MORE
(more…)

<On 5th November, students of LUMS carried out a masive peaceful protest in wake of Emergency imposed in Pakistan.

Yesterday, a reader informed about a similar kind of protest scheduled for Today by students of various universities in Islamabad.

On Facebook Events, the details are provided. I’m quoting them here.

Students Protest for a Free Pakistan
Date: Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Time: 2:00pm - 5:00pm
Location: Outside Hamdard University, F-8 Markaz

Yesterday rumors spread like fire in town of a house arrest of Gen. Musharraf and a coup by Gen. Kiyani.

As Daily Times reported:

Cell phones rang a great deal and text messages were exchanged perhaps in millions as rumours spread on Monday that President General Pervez Musharraf had been put under house arrest with General Ashfaq Kiyani taking over as the Army chief. Although there was no truth whatsoever in the matter, the rumour mill went into motion early in the morning and it was not until late in the day that things died down.

BBC has some story too:

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was forced to dismiss rumours circulating on Monday that he had been placed under house arrest, just two days after he declared emergency rule. As things stand, there is little reason to believe that Gen Musharraf, who is both president and head of the army, is in imminent danger of being removed from office by force.

Is there any such possibility??