Emergency in Pakistan and the general state of affairs

Martial law is nothing new for Pakistan. Since the 1950's, we have had more army rule in the country than civilian. Yet this time there is something scarier and more overwhelming about the sudden move to Emergency rule. Did I hear someone say 'nukes'? Yes, that is the correct answer dear child. Nukes it is. And whosoever happens to be in charge of them. Now the wisdom of restricting nuclear capabilities sinks in as we have time to sit and ponder the consequences of them falling in the wrong hands. Can Amreeka save us Dear Lord?? One of the three A's has to swoop in to help!! Allah seems to be abandoning us, the Army is harassing and killing us, Amreeka? help? please?

Army rule in Pakistan may not be new, but suicide bombings are a very new phenomenon in Pakistan. There was always violence, granted. But not in the form of bearded crazies blowing up hundreds of innocent people with them. It is the scope and the enormity of the havoc these bombs wreak that is frightening. A gun or two in the Frontier never hurt anyone, except the rival tribe perhaps. But such indiscrimate killing is frightening because it can ruin lives entirely disassociated with any politician, any madrassa, any international drug ring. People cheering Benazir Bhutto- children enjoying the parade of the big-shouldered horse-faced lady; poor people selling their wares hoping to make a few extra rupees because of the large turnout; and then those who just want to see this spectacle. Shame on the horse-faced nasal-twang-voiced lady who knew this could happen and decided to put thousands of lives at risk for a measly publicity stunt. And a blight on her House.

Then the free and fair polls set for January 2008 gave a certain general and chief of army some bad days running to the pot. Yes he would step down as general, but no not in the next twenty some years. So he decided to suspend the sham of a constitution, kick out the judiciary and yell "Emergency everybuddy!" Sher aya, sher aya. Now what to do re baba? Condi bibi called to say General bhaiya, not a good move. And surprise oh surprise, bhaiya was in no mood to oblige. There was a lot of killing to do without domestic and international media yelling bloody murder. So not only did general sahib have to unplug all independent media outlets, cut off communication lines and deploy the guardians of our borders with what now seems like a very benevolent enemy (India...did you really not guess?), but he had to arrest about 500 people (Asma Jehangir must have sermoned all the way to jail) to quell any movement against his Godhood. Now what we ask?

Now: Killing in once-peaceful and really so beautiful Swat Valley; Army killing people, people killing army, people killing people.
Army continues to harass and kill Balochi's.
suicide bombings because of horse-faced lady's arrival in Sindh.
Tikka boti parties in Punjab.

One more bomb dropped in Waziristan. Few more children killed. General sahib has land in Turkey, BB has land in...oh she owns half the world, and Nawaz Mian is enjoy the palaces of Saudi and the hoors of the desert. No one hears the anguished cries of the people who lose their houses, their loved ones, their entire lives in the 'accidental' bombings on the frontier. People killing their own. We don't need to wait for the vilayati armageddon. Ours has already begun.