Three cheers for Samad Khurram

Who is Samad Khurram? A student who has spurned the Harvard University Scholarship award presented to him by American ambassador, Anne W Patterson. He refused the award as a protest against the recent American air strike in the Mohmand agency. The American ambassador said that she regretted the attackin which a number of Pakistan security personnel were killed and that it was " a terrible misunderstanding."
Reports emanating from Washington suggest that the attack was in line with an understanding reached with authorities in Pakistan. Does the prime minister know the details of the agreement reached by Musharraf to allow such violation of our sovereignty - whatever is left of it? US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Donald Camp remarked on June 18 in New York that Washington would continue to deal with Musharraf. Yousuf Raza Gilani met Mr. Bush in Egypt and broached the subject with him. Response of the US president is not known. Gilani had referred to an earlier attack. The latest strike confirms the helplessness of the present government. Some cosmetic steps have been taken. Gilani condemned it in the National Assembly. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has discussed it with Condoleezza Rice. The American aircraft, however, keep flying over Waziristan, spreading panic amongst the local population. It is time Gilani finds out what Musharraf has already conceded. Obviously there is a deal. Hefty payment in dollars is a part of it. Americans are dead set on securing their pound of flesh. The seriousness of the threat to Pakistan can be gauged by the latest statement of Mr. Bush about the need for action in the tribal areas where he thinks Osama is hiding presently. Even Karzai has threatened to invade Pakistan. What cheek! The temerity of it. Yes, it was his master's voice. Amazing also the lowly status Pakistan has been reduced to. Does the government of the day have the guts to question American dictates?
Insensitive to the increasing disastrous threats from US and the NATO forces, oblivious to the need for a national debate on the issues involved to evolve a befitting response to the American designs which threaten the very integrity of the country, what has been the most powerful man in the country doing or saying?
Mr. Zardari presently is in Lahore making fiery speeches inside and outside the Governor's house strengthening Taseer's unconstitutional moves to turn the office of the governor into an instrument of a political party. Taseer is an educated person and he should know the limitations of his office. In his excessive zeal to prove his loyalty to PPP and Zardari he has crossed the line set by the constitution regarding the role and functions of governor of a province. Huge billboards displaying party leaders and tributes to Benazir and Zardari have been installed inside the governor's house. Mr. Taseer says his mission is to strengthen the PPP in the Punjab.  This, Mr. Taseer amounts to the distortion of the correct role you are expected to play as a constitutional, federal functionary in the province. Mr. Taseer also has to realize that he is not the chief executive of the province and except for his role as chancellor of the universities, he is not required to issue executive orders.
In a speech at Aiwan-e-Iqbal, Zardari promised a PPP man (possibly meaning himself) taking over the presidency. He also met Nawaz Sharif only to add to latter's disappointment regarding expeditious restoration of the removed "judges". Little about the danger hovering over the country and how USA keeps infringing the territorial sovereignty of the state and how to counter the nefarious intrusions.
Zaradri has pooh poohed the lawyers' Long March. He has hinted at a PPP long march. He says the judges would be restored at a time of "his own choosing". What hubris? A man who till yesterday was facing serious charges and who has escaped the long arm of the law through a deal the party struck with the dictator with US good offices, now holds in his hand the fate of the senior most judges of the land. He does not want an independent judiciary.  He and Musharraf cannot afford one. Independent
judges would make both uncomfortable. Though beholden to Musharraf for withdrawal of the cases and under pressure from US administration to cooperate with him,  true to himself, he is eyeing the presidency. He keeps making noises about Musharraf's irrelevance and yet is evasive about starting proceedings against him. PPP has a number of outstanding and experienced stalwarts. It is time they bestir and strive to make their contribution to raise their voice and endeavor to  save the situation.
So with Musharraf still around (though weakened and disliked) the country has landed into the lap of a man who doesn't care for solemn pledges and who excels in the art of political wheeling and dealings. Catapulted into high altitudes he flies around with his eyes fixed on the centres of power and glory. Can one expect good coming out of his manipulative management of politics? Can he wash away the perceptions of his past and the contaminated deal which gave birth to a foul special law known by the name of NRO?
Mr. Zardari may repeatedly say that he would like the coalition to continue but his acts belie his professed assurances. He is doing things which are aimed at damaging and weakening the PML (N). He has let Nawaz Sharif down on the judges issue. He has clamped a president's man (who is re-establishing his loyalty to PPP) over the head of chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. He lets Musharraf's hand picked attorney general to continue advising the government.
Little does he realize that the opportunity for the politicians to