Journey to Pakistan - March 2008 - Hurdles
Posted Dec 19th, 2008 at 12:45 PM by thejoke
www.sarhay2.wordpress.com
I can’t believe I was finally in Pakistan again after a two month delay and a nightmare plane journey. It was warm and sunny and as loud as it always is with vehicles aggressively sounding the horn. It was a bit of a shock as it always is but still the start of a long holiday with many places to explore.
My trip had been delayed because of the political unrest following Ms Benazir Bhutto’s death and the growing numbers of Pakistanis who wanted the current President Mr Pervez Musharaf out. Ms Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, had returned to Pakistan following a self-imposed exile. This prompted another leader Mr Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz to return after he had been deported by Musharaf. Opposition to Musharaf and his tailor-made Muslim League Quaid Party was growing. It was all ignited by Musharraf’s attack on the judiciary which was resisted by the Chief Justice who then was arrested with other senior members. The lawyers and other judiciary workers protested resulting in harsh police crackdowns. Musharaf was alienating his support within the middle classes.
There was an emergency declared by Musharaf to target extremists who were fighting the army in the north west regions and who had managed to take over some areas but in reality it was the lawyers movement that suffered the brunt of it. The media was gagged too as their reporting was seen to be damaging to Musharaf and allies. They accused it of being biased and sensationalising the issues of the lawyer’s movement and terrorism. Ironically it was Musharaf who first encouraged media freedom.
The murder of Ms Bhutto delayed the much anticipated elections for about 6 weeks. There were lots of dark clouds – militancy and suicide bombing had become a routine matter, the potential of election rigging and also the wheat shortage, electricity shortage and rise in petrol prices were all making their mark on the public. The prospects did not look very good for the near future too.
The plane journey was the worst I had encountered. The food had made me sick and I vomited at least 5 times if not more. Air Blue was making me feel Blue. Our stop to refuel in Trabzon in turkey was a welcome break. At dawn we circled over snow-capped peaks and a large expanse of water. It was a surreal experience leaving the plane for a short break in crisp cold Trabzon as a winter dawn broke with the blue sea gently swishing in the background.
Relations visited and I went to the houses of those relations who had lost loves ones recently and the elderly who could not get out and about.
The next few days I spent getting used to the climate and shopping for things that I would need.
I had decided to fly to Karachi but near the airport one of the roads was blocked and I worried I would be late. I was flying by Shaheen Air and the ticket cost me 5600 Rupees single.
I can’t believe I was finally in Pakistan again after a two month delay and a nightmare plane journey. It was warm and sunny and as loud as it always is with vehicles aggressively sounding the horn. It was a bit of a shock as it always is but still the start of a long holiday with many places to explore.
My trip had been delayed because of the political unrest following Ms Benazir Bhutto’s death and the growing numbers of Pakistanis who wanted the current President Mr Pervez Musharaf out. Ms Bhutto, the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, had returned to Pakistan following a self-imposed exile. This prompted another leader Mr Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz to return after he had been deported by Musharaf. Opposition to Musharaf and his tailor-made Muslim League Quaid Party was growing. It was all ignited by Musharraf’s attack on the judiciary which was resisted by the Chief Justice who then was arrested with other senior members. The lawyers and other judiciary workers protested resulting in harsh police crackdowns. Musharaf was alienating his support within the middle classes.
There was an emergency declared by Musharaf to target extremists who were fighting the army in the north west regions and who had managed to take over some areas but in reality it was the lawyers movement that suffered the brunt of it. The media was gagged too as their reporting was seen to be damaging to Musharaf and allies. They accused it of being biased and sensationalising the issues of the lawyer’s movement and terrorism. Ironically it was Musharaf who first encouraged media freedom.
The murder of Ms Bhutto delayed the much anticipated elections for about 6 weeks. There were lots of dark clouds – militancy and suicide bombing had become a routine matter, the potential of election rigging and also the wheat shortage, electricity shortage and rise in petrol prices were all making their mark on the public. The prospects did not look very good for the near future too.
The plane journey was the worst I had encountered. The food had made me sick and I vomited at least 5 times if not more. Air Blue was making me feel Blue. Our stop to refuel in Trabzon in turkey was a welcome break. At dawn we circled over snow-capped peaks and a large expanse of water. It was a surreal experience leaving the plane for a short break in crisp cold Trabzon as a winter dawn broke with the blue sea gently swishing in the background.
Relations visited and I went to the houses of those relations who had lost loves ones recently and the elderly who could not get out and about.
The next few days I spent getting used to the climate and shopping for things that I would need.
I had decided to fly to Karachi but near the airport one of the roads was blocked and I worried I would be late. I was flying by Shaheen Air and the ticket cost me 5600 Rupees single.
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