Saadgul’s Weblog

Since the Pakistani media is pertually in a tizzy over the latest disaster to strike the nation, some perspective might be in order. An August 2007 article by William Dalrymple might provide some badly needed context.

Remarking about how the nation’s relative prosperity strikes first time visitors, he write:

“There is far less poverty on show in Pakistan than in India, fewer beggars, and much less desperation. In many ways the infrastructure of Pakistan is much more advanced: there are better roads and airports, and more reliable electricity. Middle-class Pakistani houses are often bigger and better appointed than their equivalents in India.

Moreover, the Pakistani economy is undergoing a construction and consumer boom similar to India’s, with growth rates of 7%, and what is currently the fastest-rising stock market in Asia. You can see the effects everywhere: in new shopping centres and restaurant complexes, in the hoardings for the latest laptops and iPods, in the cranes and building sites, in the endless stores selling mobile phones: in 2003 the country had fewer than three million cellphone users; today there are almost 50 million.”

Thank you Mr. Dalrymple, for saying what few Pakistanis would say today for fear of appearing “politically incorrect.”

Sincerely,
Saad Gul
USA

The double standards exhibited by Pakistan’s ostensible “liberals” are disgusting. Whatever issues one had with Musharaf – and I had plenty – the man has done much good.

These days however, our discourse will permit nothing but vitriol directed at the person of the President. The destruction of public property in “protest” is lauded. And the crimes of our political parties and their founding patrons are glossed over, if not forgotten entirely.

As Aitzaz Ahsan has recently found out in a public dressing down, there is a yawning chasm between our lofty rhetoric and the nitty gritty of wadera politics. I look forward to the day when the rest of our English speaking chattering classes who fault Musharaf for failing to live up to the aspirational levels of say, Sweden, wake up to this reality.

http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=105503

Disgusting. And abominable. Shows the double standards of Pakistani “liberals.” Any action, so long as it has political colors – Lal Masjid on the rampage, or a brazen attack on an elected member of a legislature within its premises, is ok – so long as its a political party doing it. Provided of course, its not a pro-Musharraf party.

Would the word “bastards” be too strong for these “liberals”? (Quotations because they are anything but.) Ugh.

As this poor chap has recently found out:http://thenews.jang.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=105508

“Fickle Pakistani Liberals”

Need one say more?