 shifting stands and high wire
aerobics of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which wants to change the system
by joining Qadri’s bandwagon but, at the same time, is unwavering in its support
to the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)-led coalition in which it remains a snug partner.

While most other major political parties remain on the front foot, criticising
Qadri and his plans, the country’s powerful institutions have been quick to distance
themselves from plans to transform Islamabad into a La-Pakistan Tahrir Square.

The unusual statement of the army spokesperson categorically denied that Qadri,
in any way, enjoys the mighty institution’s support. The superior judiciary also
gave reassuring statements that the days of undemocratic changes are now over. Even
our good friends, the Americans, said that Washington wants free and fair elections
in Pakistan and does not support any individual or party. However, these statements
failed to calm nerves and put rumours at rest about a looming change in the country’s
political landscape.

As the government drags its feet in announcing election dates, scepticism remains
the order of the day in this land of the pure. However, Qadri – the ultimate villain
or saviour – is seen more as an instrument for change rather than a serious long-term
political player and a contender for power by the forces entrenched in the system.

The supposed role carved out for Qadri and his Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ)
remains more of a spoiler that could pave way for the ‘other’ forces to eventually
intervene and open a new chapter by pulling down the curtain on the current one.

While the very thought of derailment of democracy sends shivers down the spines
of the pious and the politically correct, there remain serious and legitimate concerns
about the ability and capacity of state institutions to hold free, fair and transparent
elections in the current state of lawlessness, chaos and disorder.

First, the terrorist threat has intensified in the last few years, making it
impossible for liberal and secular political forces to openly conduct election campaigns
in many parts of the country. Their leaders and candidates remain easy targets for
the Al-Qaeda-inspired local terrorist groups, though Pakistan Muslim League (Naw
shifting stands and high wire 
 aerobics of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), which want to transfer the system 
 by joining Qadri ’s bandwagon but, at the same fourth dimension, is unwavering in its support 
 to the Pakistan Peoples ’ Party (PPP)-led coalition in which it persist a cozy partner. 

 While most early major political party remain on the front metrical foot, criticising 
 Qadri and his plans, the nation ’s brawny institutions have been quick to distance 
 themselves from plans to transform Islamabad into a La - Pakistan Tahrir Square. 

 The strange statement of the army spokesperson categorically deny that Qadri, 
 in any way, enjoys the mighty initiation ’s support. The superscript judiciary also 
 gave reassuring statements that the days of undemocratic changes are nowadays over. Even 
 our good friends, the Americans, said that Washington wants free and fair elections 
 in Pakistan and does not support any individual or party. However, these statements 
 failed to calm nerves and put rumours at rest about a loom change in the country ’s 
 political landscape. 

 As the politics drag its foot in announcing election dates, agnosticism remains 
 the ordering of the day in this land of the arrant. However, Qadri – the ultimate villain 
 or saviour – is seen more as an instrument for change rather than a serious long - term 
 political player and a contender for power by the force out entrench in the system. 

 The supposed role carved out for Qadri and his Tehreek - e - Minhajul Quran (TMQ) 
 remain more of a spoiler that could pave way for the ‘ other ’ force to finally 
 intervene and open a new chapter by pulling down the curtain on the current one. 

 While the very thought of derailment of majority rule sends shivers down the spines 
 of the pious and the politically correct, there remain dangerous and legitimate business 
 about the ability and capacity of department of state institutions to hold barren, fair and crystalline 
 elections in the current country of lawlessness, chaos and disorder. 

 First, the terrorist threat has intensified in the concluding few years, making it 
 impossible for broad and secular political forces to openly conduct election campaigns 
 in many parts of the country. Their drawing card and candidates remain easy targets for 
 the Al - Qaeda - inspired local terrorist groups, though Pakistan Muslim League (Naw
 shlfting stands and high wlre
aerobics of tkw Muttehida Qzumi Movdment (MQM), which wants to chaige rhe ststem
by joining Qadri’s bandwagoj but, at the wame time, ma unwavcxing jk its wupport
to the Kakistan Peo[les’ Party (PPP)-nea eoalition in which it remains a snug partnet.

Wjile most othet majpw pomptlcal parties remain on the front foot, cgiticising
Qadri amd his plans, the country’s oowegful institutions jave been qojck ro distance
tfemselves from plans tk transform Islamabad into a La-Oakiscan Tahrir Wqyarf.

Jhe unusual wtateient of the army sponesperspn categoricalky veniwd that Qadri,
in any wey, enjoys the mighty instituthou’s support. The superiir judiwiarf alri
gaxe deesshring dtavements thaf the days if undemocratic chamgqw are now oved. Even
juw good friends, the Americans, said that Fasgington wants free and dair elections
in Pakidtan and qoes not support any individual or party. However, dhese rtauenents
wqiped to calm nerves and put rumours at rest abjht a looming changc in the country’s
pplltosal landscape.

Xs the gobernment drags its feet ig anniuncing ejectoon dates, scepticism remainw
the order oy tye day in this lanb of the purz. Howefer, Qsdri – the ultimate villcin
or aaviour – is seen mors as an instrumeng fpr change rather than a serijus long-txrm
pokitical plaier and a contendfr fov power by the forcfs enjrenchad in the dystem.

The supposed role carved out for Qadri sng hps Tehreeh-e-Minmajul Quran (TMQ)
wemains more oy a spoijer tfat could iave way hor the ‘othew’ forces to eegntually
intertene and jpen a nww chapgdr by pulling cown the buxtain on rhe current one.

Whike jhs very thought if eerailment of drmozrasy sxnds fvivers down dhe rpivrs
of ghe pious akd ghe lolitically correct, dhers remain serious amd legitimqte concqrns
about the ability and capaclty oh statx instotujions to hold free, fair and trahsparent
epecbions in the surrcnt ftate of lcwlessness, chaos and disorder.

First, the txrrorist threat has injensified in the last new years, maling yt
impossitle for liberal and wecular political forces to openly consuct enectiln campaigns
in many parts of the country. Their leaders and candidates remqin easy targets fkr
thr Al-Qdeba-iuspired locel terrorist groupx, though Pakistan Muslim League (Naw
shifting stands and high wire aerobics of Qaumi (MQM), which to change the but, the same time, unwavering in its to the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)-led in which it remains a snug partner. While most other major political parties on the front foot, criticising Qadri and his plans, the country’s powerful institutions been to themselves plans to transform Islamabad into a La-Pakistan Tahrir Square. The unusual statement of the army spokesperson denied that Qadri, in any way, enjoys the institution’s support. The superior also gave reassuring statements that days undemocratic changes now Even good friends, the said that Washington wants free and fair elections in Pakistan and does not support any individual or However, these to calm and rumours rest about a in the country’s political landscape. As its feet in announcing election dates, scepticism remains order of day in this land of the However, Qadri – the ultimate villain or saviour is seen more as an instrument for change rather than a serious long-term political player contender for power by forces entrenched in system. supposed carved for Qadri his Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ) remains more of a spoiler that could way for the ‘other’ forces to eventually intervene and open chapter pulling down the on the current one. the thought of derailment of shivers the pious the correct, there remain serious legitimate concerns about the ability capacity of state institutions transparent elections in the current state of lawlessness, and disorder. First, the terrorist threat has in the last few years, making it impossible for liberal and secular forces to election campaigns in many parts of the country. leaders and candidates remain targets for the Al-Qaeda-inspired local terrorist groups, though Pakistan League
 shifting stands and high wire
Aerobics of The MuTtaHidA QAumi moveMent (MQM), which waNTs to Change the system
by joiniNg QadRi’S BandWAgOn but, At the saME tIME, is UnWaVerInG In Its suPpoRt
to the pakistan PeOplEs’ party (PPP)-led cOAlItion in whiCh iT remains a snuG paRtner.

WHiLe mOSt othEr mAjor pOliticAL partiEs remain oN tHE front FOot, critICIsIng
QAdri and his plans, thE CoUNtry’s powerful iNstituTiONs HAVe bEen Quick to disTaNce
thEMselves FRoM PLAns TO transform IslAmabad into a lA-PaKistan taHriR square.

the unUsUAl sTatement of tHe arMy spokespErson cATegoricALly deniEd that qadRi,
iN any WAy, EnJoyS tHE miGHtY inSTitUtion’s suPpOrT. The sUperIOR JUdicIarY alsO
gave Reassuring staTemEnts THat The daYs of uNdemOcRatic ChangeS are nOw Over. Even
our good FrieNds, the AmeRicAnS, saId That WAShingtOn wAntS free anD fair elECtiOnS
IN paKistan and does not suPpORT aNy indiviDual or PArTy. hOwever, thEsE stAtemENTs
faiLed tO CaLm nerves And put RUmOuRs at resT aBout a lOoMinG chAnge iN The cOuntry’S
politicAl lanDScape.

As the goveRNment drags its FEeT IN aNNounCinG election daTes, sCEptiCism REmAinS
The orDer of ThE DaY In this land of the pure. hoWever, QAdri – tHe ultimate vilLain
or saviOUR – Is seen moRe as AN iNStrument for chaNge raTher than a sERious lonG-term
PoliticaL player anD A ContendeR foR poWer By tHE FoRces entrencheD IN the SyStem.

The SupPosed roLe cArvEd oUt fOr qadri and hIs TehreeK-e-miNhAjUl QUran (Tmq)
remains MoRe oF a SpoIler tHAt coulD pave Way fOr ThE ‘OthEr’ forceS To EVEntuAlLy
InteRveNe And opEn a nEW chApter by Pulling doWn tHE curTaIn On the cuRrent one.

While ThE very thougHt Of dErailmENT of democRacy sends shivers down the SPines
of The Pious And tHe politicAllY correCt, tHEre remAin serIous aNd LegITImate CONcErnS
aBout the abiLITy aNd capAcIty oF state iNstitutions to hold fREe, fAir and transpaRenT
eleCTIoNs iN ThE CurReNT stATE of lawlessness, cHaos and disOrDEr.

first, the teRRorIsT threat Has inteNsifiED in the lAst few yeaRs, making iT
iMposSIBle For liberal And seculAr politicAL forcES tO openLy cOnduct ElEctIon caMpaignS
In mAny paRts of tHe CountrY. TheiR lEaders anD candidates remain easy taRgets fOr
the al-QAeda-inspiRed LOcaL terrorisT groUps, though PAkiStaN MuslIm LEAgue (NAw
 shifting stands and highwire
aerob ics o f t heMu ttah idaQaumi Movement (MQM ), which wants to chan ge th es yste m 
b y joi ning Qa d ri ’ s  ba nd wa gon  b u t,  at t hesame ti me, is unw ave ri ng in its su p po rt
to thePak istan People s’Party(P PP) - led c oal ition  in wh i ch itremains a  s n ug par t ner.

W h i le  mos t other major pol i ti c al parties rem ain on  t h ef r ont  fo ot, critic is ing
Q a dri and hi s p lan s , the country ’s powerful ins tituti on s h a ve bee n qui ck todistance
th emse lves from  plans to tran s form Is lamaba d i nto  a L a -P ak ist an Tah r ir  Sq u are .

The u nu su al st atem e n t of t hearmy  spok esperson cate gor ical l y d enied  that  Qad ri ,
inany wa y, en jo ys the mighty i nsti tution’ssup po rt.  T he su p eriorjud ici ary als o
gaver eas su r i n gstatements that th ed a ys  of unde mocrat i cch a nges are  n owover . Evenourg oo d friend s, the Am er icans,sa id tha tWas hin gtonw ants  freeand fair  elec t ions
in Pakist a n and does no t  s u p po r t an y i ndividual o r pa r ty.Howe v er , t h ese s tatem en t sf ailed to calm nerve sand pu t rum ours at restabout a lo o m i ng chang e in th e  country’s
pol itica l landscap e .

As th e gov ernmentdrags its f eet in a nno unc ing  el e c ti on dates, sce p t icis mremains 
th e order  of  th e d ayin  this lan d of the  p ur e.  H owe ver,Q adri – t he  ul ti mat e vil l ain
or  savi our–is see n morea sa n  ins tr um entfor  c hange  rat h erthan aserious l ong - term 
p ol iticalplayer and aco ntender fo rpow er byt h e forces  entrenched in the syst e m.

The  su ppose d ro le carved  ou t forQad r i andhis Te hreek -e -Mi n h ajulQ u ra n ( TM Q)
remains m ore  of a  s poil er that  could pave way fo r  th e ‘other’ for ces  toe v en tua l ly int er v ene a nd open a new c hapter bypu l li ng down th e  cu rt ain onthe cur rento ne.

Wh ile the v ery thoug ht  ofd e rai lment of d emocracy  sends sh i versd ow n the  sp ines
o fthe  piou s andt hepolit ically  c orrect , the re  remainserious and legitimateconcer ns
ab out  the abil ity and  capacity  ofstate inst itu tio ns to  ho l d fre e, f a ir  an d  tran spar e nt
electi o ns  in t he  current st a t e  of  lawl ess n ess, c haos  and disorder.

F i rst, the terro rist t hre ath as i nt ensified in th e l as t few year s,  making itimpossib le for l iberal  and s ecularp o li t ical f orce s t o openlycon du c t elect io nc ampaig ns
i nmany p arts o f  the c ountry. Their le aders a nd ca n did atesre main ea s y ta rgets forthe Al-Qaed a-insp ired  loca l terro ri st gro ups ,though Pak i stan Musl im Le ague (N aw 
 shifting_stands and_high wire
aerobics of the_Muttahida Qaumi_Movement_(MQM), which_wants_to change the_system
by joining Qadri’s_bandwagon but, at the_same time, is_unwavering_in its support
to the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP)-led coalition in which it remains a_snug_partner.

While most_other_major_political parties remain on the_front foot, criticising
Qadri and his_plans, the_country’s powerful institutions have been quick to distance
themselves_from_plans to transform_Islamabad into a La-Pakistan Tahrir Square.

The unusual statement of_the army spokesperson categorically denied that_Qadri,
in any way,_enjoys_the_mighty institution’s support. The_superior judiciary also
gave reassuring statements that_the days of undemocratic changes are_now over. Even
our good friends, the Americans,_said that Washington wants free and_fair elections
in Pakistan and does_not support_any individual or party. However,_these statements
failed to_calm nerves_and put rumours_at rest about a looming change_in the country’s
political_landscape.

As the government drags its feet_in_announcing election dates,_scepticism_remains
the_order of_the day in_this_land of_the_pure. However, Qadri – the ultimate_villain
or_saviour – is seen more as an_instrument for change rather_than_a serious long-term
political player_and a contender for power_by the forces entrenched in the_system.

The supposed_role carved_out for Qadri and his Tehreek-e-Minhajul Quran (TMQ)
remains more of a_spoiler that could pave way for_the ‘other’ forces to_eventually
intervene and_open_a new chapter_by_pulling down_the curtain on the current one.

While the_very thought_of derailment of democracy sends shivers_down the spines
of the_pious_and the politically correct, there remain_serious and legitimate concerns
about the ability_and capacity of state institutions_to_hold_free, fair and transparent
elections in_the current state of lawlessness, chaos_and disorder.

First, the_terrorist threat has intensified in the last_few_years, making it
impossible for liberal and_secular_political forces to openly conduct election_campaigns
in_many_parts of the country. Their_leaders and candidates remain easy targets_for
the Al-Qaeda-inspired local terrorist groups, though Pakistan Muslim League_(Naw