Musharraf’s resignation triumph of democracy: Sherry Rahman, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

Musharraf’s resignation triumph of democracy: Sherry Rahman

By Asim Yasin

August 19, 2008

The information minister said that the people of Pakistan had paid a heavy price while suffering a one-man rule. "It was Gen Musharraf's reluctance to clear the way for a civilian rule that triggered political disorder in the country. PPP leader Shaheed Benazir Bhutto lost her life for the political struggle to fight the crisis created by his illegitimate hold on power." The information minister said that Gen Musharraf's resignation was the result of the coalition government's determination to move towards complete transition to democracy.

She said during the last week, all the four provincial assemblies had passed resolutions with clear majority calling for his impeachment. "This reflects the elected government's understanding of the public opinion and willingness to take responsibility for creating a political system that caters to the public's democratic aspirations." She pointed out that immediately after his resignation, Pak rupee registered a sharp rise against the dollar, while the Karachi Stock Exchange rose by nearly 500 points.

http://newageislam.com/musharraf%E2%80%99s-resignation-triumph-of-democracy--sherry-rahman/current-affairs/d/598

The nation and its 40 hectares in Kashmir, Current affairs, NewAgeIslam.com

Current affairs

The nation and its 40 hectares in Kashmir

At a time when the national interest should come first, India’s

liberals’ turn on their own country and soldiers

By V.P. Malik

August 29, 2008

This week, a young fiction-writer-turned-activist writes that ‘denial of Azadi is delusion’. She accuses India of administering ‘military occupation for 18 years’ and causing ‘years of repression in which tens of thousands have been killed, thousands have been disappeared, hundreds of thousand tortured, injured, raped and humiliated’. Political leaders — Abdullah, Muftis, Azad and their colleagues — who were elected and ruled the state during this period and should be answering, let that accusation pass! When our political leaders and administrators convert a 40 hectares land dispute into a ‘secession’ issue in 60 days and award-winning romantic authors rabidly endorse that, I feel it is time to introspect India’s nationhood and governance.

There is too much political infighting and too little political consensus. We are a divided house in almost all essential policies including those of economic development, diplomacy and security. Long-term strategic thinking and the social and political will and determination to set things right eludes us in the kind of coalition politics and governance that exists today.

http://newageislam.com/the-nation-and-its-40-hectares-in-kashmir/current-affairs/d/656