Comments on: Pakistan’s parliament elects first woman speaker

By: Avi Cohen

Avi Cohen — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:03:30 +0000

Sid – I think the question is more how you wrench control from feudal oligarchies as Benazir whilst advocating democracy and securlarism only approved of it if it meant her party got power and it was literally her party.

So in order to progress one needs to get rid of essentially corrupt feudal oligarchies.

That was my point at least in my earlier post.

By: Ruzi

Ruzi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:18:10 +0000

ashik agree. .indian scontinent is going through a period of experimantation and social change. discredited elites both in politics and in the army. Hopefully responsible people will come forward with public spirit not avarice in the future. thats why diaspora is important.

By: Sid

Sid — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:20:58 +0000

Democracy and Secularism are evolutionary and tweakable, as opposed to Divine Law and Military rule. This is still millions of miles better than what Pakistan was cursed with before. Idiots sitting in England who wish for Paksitanis to continue to live in feudal oligarchies should be ashamed of themselves.

By: Ashik

Ashik — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:02:29 +0000

What exactly will this parliament accomplish that previous parliaments have not?

In Bangladesh and Pakistan the only two choices at the moment are between:

-Corrupt feudal & incompetent elected party political groups or
-Unaccountable authoritarian but marginally more competent military rule

By: Sofi

Sofi — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:50:14 +0000

They should rename the party to Bhutto’s Peoples Party(BPP).

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:46:29 +0000

I was about to say in response to Sunny that I think Mirza would have a shot at PM later on but after reading #2 I don’t know. Is that true? I suppose it’s not surprising if it is.

By: Avi Cohen

Avi Cohen — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 19:41:46 +0000

“I wonder if she could take over Bhuttoâ€™s party and eventually become the next PM?”

If she isn’t in Bhutto’s will then she cannot lead the party. Bhutto’s Son is the chosen heir in the will.

This is feudal dynasty democracy – we allow voting as long as we are in charge!

By: nodn

nodn — Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:49:41 +0000

Sunny, please check your email.