Sahibzada Ahmed Raza Khan Kasuri's father Nawab Mohammad Khan was murdered. His son fingered Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB), leader of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). The case went up to the Supreme Court of Pakistan and by a verdict of 4-3 Bhutto was convicted and sentenced to death.
Now, 30 odd years later, when nothing is going PPP's way and it's Chairman stands to be indicted in several criminal cases, it has chosen to dig this case out of the ground and is trying to get an acquittal for ZAB from the Supreme Court.
To hash out the particulars of that murder trial, Fariha Idrees got the son of the victim and one of PPP's jiyalas, Faisal Raza Abidi, together on her show. As expected, the young Turk exploded all over the TV screen and blamed the murdered victim's son, for orchestrating the murder of his own father, among a stream of other foul and personal insults which ended in this threat of bodily injury, "Mein ney aik chamaat mara, bahar ja ke giro gay (With one hit of my fist, I can throw you out on the street)".
I wish at the end there, when Faisal Raza Abidi was threatening Ahmed Raza Kasuri (who is a long-time practicing barrister), he could have just smiled and replied, "So what are you gonna do ?, kill me too ?".
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Faisal Qureshi & Wife, Mixing Facts & Opinions
What is wrong with this picture ?. Faisal Qureshi is the co-host of the show Karvan, on News One channel with his wife. They had four guests on this particular show. A reporter, a retired Brigadier, a Baloch leader and a PPP representative, N.D. Khan. The topic was Balochistan.
When Faisal Qureshi raised Bhutto's role in the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971, N.D. Khan the PPP loyalist, of course jumped to defend him. What happened next, you can follow in the video. What Faisal is alleging, may have merit behind it. What N.D. Khan is demanding --that there be a separate panel, with independent guest of stature who should argue Bhutto's role in East Pakistan's secession-- also seems fair. So why does this exchange appear so unseemly ?.
Because N.D. Khan in his advanced age is right, however, he gets clobbered by a young husband-wife duo, who are better actors with larger lungs.
Faisal Qureshi & wife are the hosts, conducting the show. They can ask questions, "Sir! I have the right to ask questions [in a democracy]" as Faisal contends. But as N.D. Khan points out later, Faisal cannot become partisan and fling accusations. Especially, when he loses it and starts casting absolute allegations in the guise of facts. "This is my future which you have ruined!... you have categorically ruined the future of this country...".
These are not opinions. They are stated as facts. Categorical facts.
His wife (bless her heart), hammers the final nail into the coffin. She starts accusing N.D. Khan of not having a "democratic mindset!", since what Faisal just finished saying was "just an opinion!... everybody has an opinion!". When cornered at the end, for flinging accusations, Faisal again retreats behind the safety glass of democracy. "Democracy means I have the right to question!", finger digging into the table and looking around for approval.
Democracy, is not some chador you use to cover up personal bad behavior.
Yes, you can question. But that, is not what you did. You flung personal accusations. You badgered him, slammed your fist onto the glass table, pointed and wagged your finger into the face of an elderly gentleman. All the while wearing that smug, self-satisfied, oh-I-am-so-clever look. You were not only wrong in principle, but also in appearance, manner and tone. And what it did was, shift any sympathies from you, to your guest.
That's why there is only one Talat Hussain in Pakistan. A man who has the gift of weighing situations and intentions. Who can negotiate his way through dangerous waters, political static, baits and rhetoric to arrive at a thoughtful resolution. That not only requires brains (which Faisal has too), but an emotional IQ tuned at the highest frequency.
Faisal & Co. has a lot of work to do, starting with learning how to differentiate fact from opinions. Journalism 101.
When Faisal Qureshi raised Bhutto's role in the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971, N.D. Khan the PPP loyalist, of course jumped to defend him. What happened next, you can follow in the video. What Faisal is alleging, may have merit behind it. What N.D. Khan is demanding --that there be a separate panel, with independent guest of stature who should argue Bhutto's role in East Pakistan's secession-- also seems fair. So why does this exchange appear so unseemly ?.
Because N.D. Khan in his advanced age is right, however, he gets clobbered by a young husband-wife duo, who are better actors with larger lungs.
Faisal Qureshi & wife are the hosts, conducting the show. They can ask questions, "Sir! I have the right to ask questions [in a democracy]" as Faisal contends. But as N.D. Khan points out later, Faisal cannot become partisan and fling accusations. Especially, when he loses it and starts casting absolute allegations in the guise of facts. "This is my future which you have ruined!... you have categorically ruined the future of this country...".
These are not opinions. They are stated as facts. Categorical facts.
His wife (bless her heart), hammers the final nail into the coffin. She starts accusing N.D. Khan of not having a "democratic mindset!", since what Faisal just finished saying was "just an opinion!... everybody has an opinion!". When cornered at the end, for flinging accusations, Faisal again retreats behind the safety glass of democracy. "Democracy means I have the right to question!", finger digging into the table and looking around for approval.
Democracy, is not some chador you use to cover up personal bad behavior.
Yes, you can question. But that, is not what you did. You flung personal accusations. You badgered him, slammed your fist onto the glass table, pointed and wagged your finger into the face of an elderly gentleman. All the while wearing that smug, self-satisfied, oh-I-am-so-clever look. You were not only wrong in principle, but also in appearance, manner and tone. And what it did was, shift any sympathies from you, to your guest.
That's why there is only one Talat Hussain in Pakistan. A man who has the gift of weighing situations and intentions. Who can negotiate his way through dangerous waters, political static, baits and rhetoric to arrive at a thoughtful resolution. That not only requires brains (which Faisal has too), but an emotional IQ tuned at the highest frequency.
Faisal & Co. has a lot of work to do, starting with learning how to differentiate fact from opinions. Journalism 101.
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