Page 4 - Pakistan Link - November 24, 2023

P4 - PAKISTAN LINK - NOVEMBER 24, 2023 OPINION
Pakistan Link n By Mowahid Hussain Shah Little Guy, Big Impact for schooling – which he hated – he
would have travelled far.
ub-continental culture is a VIP- The German philosopher, Arthur
hunting society, with an obses- Schopenhauer, was on target when he
Advisory Board
Dr Sohail Masood Ssive focus on the wealthy and the said: “Mostly, it is loss which teaches us
powerful. In Punjab, they are called about the worth of things.”
President “Vedda-banda” (big 14 centuries ago, outlining the prin-
Arif Zaffar Mansuri guy). They are not ciples of governance, Hazrat Ali put it
ArifMansuri@PLpublications.org seen ‘big’ because of best, in his letter to Malik Ashtar, Gov-
big deeds, big think- ernor of Egypt:
Editor
Akhtar Mahmud Faruqui ing, or big learning. “Remember the privileged few will
afaruqui@pakistanlink.com They see themselves not rally round you in moments of
as indispensable. But, difficulty: they will try to side-track
Editor Urdu Link & Bureau Chief as the old saying goes, the graveyard justice; they will ask for more than
(Pakistan) is full of indispensable people. what they deserve and will show no
Shabbir Ghori
urdulink@yahoo.com Big people are accustomed to hav- gratitude for favors done to them. They
ing society genuflect before them and will feel restive in the face of trials and
Resident Editor Urdu Link getting goodies on a platter without will offer no regret for their shortcom-
& Director Video Operations much effort. But when they depart ings. It is the common man who is the
Anwar Khawaja
akhawaja@pakistanlink.com from the scene, they are seldom missed strength of the State and Religion. It
and quickly forgotten. The 50 million strong Hispanic population, with roots in Latin Ameri- is he who fights the enemy. So, live in
Manager Sales & Advertising On a late cold night in Washington ca, form the backbone of the US economy, doing most of the rough and close contact with the masses and be
sales@pakistanlink.com a few years back, I got a call from La- tough work, which the mainstream eschews. Yet, they bear the brunt mindful of their welfare.”
hore that my long-time trusted atten- of anti-immigrant sentiment. The movie, “A Day Without a Mexican,” The 50 million strong Hispan-
Regional Offices
dant, Ghulam Mustapha, had died in depicted how the US economy would break down if suddenly they were ic population, with roots in Latin
YKKB his sleep. Little education, little money. not there – Highlander Newspaper America, form the backbone of the
ykkb03@gmail.com In the existing cultural parlance, he US economy, doing most of the
was a little guy. are gone. also the tireless washer lady Barkat, the rough and tough work, which the
Sacramento, CA Little folks are ubiquitous. They at- In the household staff of my youth well-dressed Mehboob, and the daring mainstream eschews. Yet, they bear
Sacramento@plpublications.com tend constantly to your needs. Little at- in Lahore, I recall the indefatigable Yaqub. All gone now, but forever in the brunt of anti-immigrant senti-

San Fransisco/Bay Area, CA tention is paid to them. Nobody ever Ibrahim, constantly running errands; memories, like long-lost family mem- ment. The movie, “A Day Without
Sanfrancisco@plpublications.com asks to be photographed with them. Meedan, the cleaning lady, always smil- bers and friends. a Mexican,” depicted how the US
But, yet they matter. Like a favorite ing; Sardaran, poised and dignified, They say: “The best employees work economy would break down if sud-
New York, NY
Newyork@plpublications.com tailor, a favorite mechanic, a favorite despite enduring unspeakable cruelty for their employers as though they denly they were not there.
waiter, a favorite fruit vendor. They are of having a daughter burned alive for were self-employed.” And they antici- The little guys form the invisible pil-
Houston, TX the constants in a changing panorama. the perceived crime of bringing insuf- pate your needs. Mustapha was among lars in one’s life. They leave a big im-
Houston@Plpublications.org
Often, they are not noticed until they ficient dowry to her in-laws. There was the best. Bright, honest, and caring. But pact. They are actually the big guys.
Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix@Plpublications.org
Ontario, Canada Nawaz Sharif’s Path to Power May Appear Paved another airport away from the flight’s
Ontario@Plpublications.org destination Karachi.
The PML-N leaders were later freed
Letters to the Editor but He Will Soon Be at a Crossroads again and exiled in a deal brokered by the
Readers are welcome to express their Saudis and Lebanese leaders and stayed
opinion in these columns. Please keep long years in Saudi Arabia before mov-
your letters brief and to the point. Let- n By Abbas Nasir
ters without full name, complete ad- ing to London. While in Saudi Arabia,
dress, and a daytime phone number will Pakistan Ms Bhutto called on Mr Sharif and
not be published. Also, copies of letters initiated a dialogue, as there appeared
sent to other newspapers are not en-
couraged. Letters can be mailed, faxed aving returned from a four- to be a realization that while the two
or e-mailed to the Editor at the Pakistan year, self-imposed exile, the popular parties were at each other’s
Link Headquarters address listed below.
Hpath to power for PML-N throats, the usurper was making hay.
Pakistan Link (ISSN 1074-0406) is pub- leader Nawaz Sharif may appear In May 2006, this dialogue resulted
lished weekly for $85 a year by JAZ LLC, paved but it is also true that within in the signing of the Charter of Democ-
DBA PL Publications, LLC.
the next few months he will be at a racy (CoD) by the two leaders, pledg-
Periodical postage paid at Anaheim, CA crossroads again and forced to make ing adherence to democratic norms
and additional mailing offices.
POST MASTER: Send address changes to difficult choices. from then on. By the following year,
Pakistan Link, P O Box 1238, Anaheim, If he is cleared by the courts to run elections were called and Ms Bhutto’s
CA 92815 for office and leads the next govern- long and deft negotiations with the
The management has the right to re-
fuse to print any advertisement, news, ment, as all indications are that he may military leader created space for both
article, letter or any other material. In (I am not talking of opinion polls or New Age her PPP and the PML-N.
case of any errors in advertisement the surveys that are indicative of popu- Tragically, Ms Bhutto was assassi-
management will not be liable for more
than the amount paid for the advertise- lar support), there will be intense de- mains excluded from the process and latter’s agenda to block Benazir Bhut- nated as an enraged dictator refused to
ment to the Link. mands on his ‘civilian’ credentials to let how that itself rocks the boat as well. to’s path to power including deploying provide her security despite a suicide
Advertisements in Pakistan Link are justice prevail and allow the opposition The 73-year-old, three-time former a vile misogynistic and parochial cam- bomb attack on her in Karachi just
placed in good faith. The newspaper is
not responsible nor endorses the con- their liberty, freedom and space to op- prime minister began his political ca- paign ahead of the 1988 elections and weeks earlier. Musharraf was hoping
tents of any advertisement. In case of a erate. reer after he was handpicked as Pun- partially succeeded. she and Mr Sharif would not return to
frivolous lawsuit, the plaintiff will bear
the total cost of the suit, including but As things stand, he is being called jab’s finance minister by the province’s Through most of the 1990s the two campaign, enabling him to manipulate
not limited to the Link’s costs and the the establishment’s ‘ladla’. If he were military governor, Lt-Gen Ghulam parties played a revolving-door game the polls. She defied him and convinced
attorney’s fees. to err on the side of his democratic Jilani. After the party-less 1985 elec- to power, instigated by the military and the PML-N leader to do the same.
Information for instincts, would he risk falling foul of tions, he took over as chief minister, facilitated by presidential powers to This isn’t to suggest the PML-N and
Subscribers the powerful forces that facilitated his ostensibly under the prime minister- sack governments and dissolve parlia- PPP have embodied the CoD com
The printing of Pakistan Link is un- potentially phoenix-like return after he ship of Muhammed Khan Junejo but ments gifted by the dictator to himself (Continued on page 23)
failingly completed by Wednesday was down and out? remained loyal to his chief mentor Gen before he perished in that Bahawalpur
every week and its copies are hand- Views and
ed over to the mailing house for Clearly, the state of the economy has Ziaul Haq. PAF C-130 crash.
prompt dispatch to the subscribers. been identified as a serious existential When Zia sacked the Junejo gov- Ms Bhutto and Mr Sharif shared opinions ex-
The Link should reach its destination pressed by
on time if there is no delay at the issue that needs to be addressed ur- ernment — he couldn’t reconcile with two truncated stints each in power authors and
post office. If a delay is occasioned it gently. If Nawaz Sharif were to bury the the exercise of powers by even his own from 1988 to 1999. During their short
is in no way attributable to the per- contributors
formance of Link’s management. In hatchet, seek a more congenial political chosen prime minister and dissolved tenures, they persecuted each other in articles,
case of delayed receipt of Pakistan atmosphere and secure the release of parliament — as if on cue, Nawaz Shar- relentlessly and viciously. Finally, in letters, opin-
Link or missing issues, please contact
your local Post Office and submit a Imran Khan and his supporters jailed if rebelled against his party leader and October 1999, Gen Pervez Musharraf’s ion pieces, reports, advertise-
“Publication Watch” form. mostly on dubious charges, will they ousted Junejo. coup dislodged the Sharifs from power ments, etc appearing in Paki-
Tel: 714-400-3400 take to the streets again? Thus, he continued to endear him- and lodged them in prison. stan Link and Urdu Link are
Fax: 714-400-3404 The impact of any such protest on self to the military leadership. When They also faced, like the PPP leaders their own. The paper neither
E-Mail: Editor@PakistanLink.com shares nor endorses them
the economy will determine the extent Zia was killed in an air crash, he vowed before them and more recently the PTI
Pakistan Office of civil liberties and political rights in at his graveside to take his ‘mission leadership, the flimsiest of charges and and thus should not be held
responsible for the views/
42 Rehman Court Pakistan. Who knows if the party said forward’. And he did, as he became the were sentenced to life in prison for ‘hi- opinions of the writers & ad-
Plaza Square, Off M. A. Jinnah Road to be the most popular in the country major tool in the hands of the then ISI jacking’ Gen Musharraf’s homebound
Karachi-74400, Pakistan then faces more curbs on it and re- chief Hameed Gul. He worked on the PIA plane by ordering its diversion to vertisers.
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