Populism: A 21st Century Nazism?

Populism: A 21st Century Nazism?

Populism, in its most theoretical term, defined as the movement that defends the interests of the masses and maximizes the influence of the ordinary citizens. However, in the contemporary era, populism is mostly associated with extreme far-right politics: which opposes globalization, multiculturism and free trade. 

Demagogues instigate populist movements among masses by manipulating the facts and figures. They associate all the negative economic and social trend with the economic liberalization and immigrants.

The Rise of Populism around the Globe

In retrospect, Hitler's german nationalist and antisemitic ideology dragged the world to the second war. 

Hardly any incident has had that far-reaching impact on the globe as the world war two has manifested. Humanity suffered the worst; Great cities were reduced to the piles of ashes and rubbles, League of Nation was in shambles, high-rise buildings were clouds of smoke floating over Europe and great empires buried under the debris of history.

When the world was in chaos and mayhem, there was only one country which witnessed an economic boom. Yes, it was the USA whose economy was all-time high during the doomsdays due to the sale of weapons to the European countries.

Soon after the end of the world war 2, the USA and The Soviet Union opened a new chapter of the Cold War. An Iron curtain had been lowered in Europe, and both of them began clutching the allies. Those who sell weapons, Peace would be a bad option for them; thus an arms race kickstarted. US came up with massive appealing policies that led to the set-up of multiple institutions ranging from UNO to the World Bank. Thus, promoted a soft posture of it's behind the scene evil policies. 

The world then was mainly in need of such institutions that could bring more stakeholders to the table. Consequently, Liberal order emerged, and it shaped the 20th century. The US and Western Europe were architects of this order, analysts like Francis Fukuyama began to term it as 'End of History' making it the most desired order the world ever had witnessed. Western ideas, cultures, language and governance became so much popular that westernization and Modernization became almost the synonyms.

US and UK long uphold the notions of liberal democracies, even they are considered the pioneers and founders of the order. However, the year 2016 left the new mark on the world when the UK decided to pull herself off the European Union. Subsequently, the same slogans of scraping the Unions were heard from other corners of EU. Donald Trump's victory shocked the whole world. Demagogues around the globe grew popular during the last few years. From the US to Australia, the dangerous rise of populism and its effects on the present order can be well observed.

In the developed Western countries cleavages have opened up between the established globalized liberal order and the right-leaning parties who are using working-class' demands to further their motives?

Europe is witnessing the massive political transformation of the century. In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel's choice in 2015 to open the doors to displaced people from Syria triggered a crisis in the European Union. The AFD cashed her vulnerable position, the populist party of Germany, it grew stronger and opposed the refugee influx in Europe. 

Since the Great Recession, conservative populist developments have amazingly grown in Europe.

The Marine Le Pen's National Front in France is famous for her support to the economic nationalism and opposes globalization for the negative economic trends.

Apart from this, she is also the opponent of the multiculturalism and argues for the de-Islamization of France.  

On the other hand, the Northern League in Italy, the Party for Freedom in the Netherlands and the UK Independence Party, all these are considered to be eurosceptic and right-wing populist parties. 

They started to develop in ubiquity in massive part due to expanding resistance to migration from the Middle East and Africa, rising Euroscepticism and discontent with the financial strategies of the European Union. 

Pundits have summarized U.S President Donald Trump's 2016 political views as a right-wing populist and nationalist. Geert Wilders from The Netherlands also demanded the ban on Muslims. On the other hand, Modi is notable for his contempt against Muslims, and he is responsible for the slaughtering of thousands of Muslims in the Indian state of Gujrat. Till now, Muslims are being oppressed just because of their Islamic Identity.

If we burst the bubble of populism, then there are two leading causes behind the rising right-leaning nationalism.

One of the most resonating slogans of Trump's election campaigns was to give Americans back their job because his supporters believe they are losing their jobs to immigrants. Still, the rhetoric seems to be just another election-winning gimmick because a report indicates that around 800 a million jobs in 2030 will be taken up by the automation. In the US alone, between 39 and 73 million jobs stand to be automated — making up around a third of the total workforce. So, the problem is with the automation, not with the immigrants.

According to the sources, Islamophobia is Thriving in the western world. This is another reason behind the hatred of natives towards immigrants. Violence against Muslims are encouraged, and it is not considered offensive. 

At the point when President Donald Trump marked his since-modified executive order banning individuals from seven Muslim-dominant countries from entering the United States, he guaranteed it was to shield Americans from "radical Islamic terrorists'. 

However, reports suggest something else that since he is in office, more Americans have been killed by White extremist than any Muslim or even foreigner. Hence, White Americans are more dangerous than foreign Muslims.

Consequently, the rise of ethnic-nationalist parties can be perilous for the world at large. It would take us back to the time of Nazism and Fascism, the hawkish right-wing nationalist forces which resulted in the world war. Wars are costlier and savagely deadly today because we are living in such time where military spending exceeds the budgets of Health and educations sectors. Therefore, International Institutions must come out with such policies that should be above the interests of few and they must benefit humanity at large.

Six ways to start your CSS preparation

Almost every graduate in Pakistan once thinks of appearing in Central Superior Examination (CSS). CSS exams, held once a year in Pakistan, are the most prestigious examination of the country because the bureaucracy of Pakistan comes from these competitive exams.

In the beginning, most of the CSS aspirants get confused in very basic questions such as where to start, how to start, and what to choose. Therefore, they end up losing much of their time and enthusiasm.

Here are the six most useful way to kickstart your CSS preparation journey.

1.   Choose CSS subjects wisely

Subject selection in CSS is the most critical part of your preparation which can extensively increase your chances of success in CSS examination. 

Two things are highly essential while selecting optional subjects.

First of all, follow your aptitude; what you can do best. Begin from reading the syllabus of optional subjects which is available on FPSC official website, pen down your interest and knowledge about the possible topics. It can help you in knowing your interest.

Secondly, check the Scoring trend. Analyze the past results on the FPSC website. Some subjects score higher on a particular year and some low. Therefore, by checking the scoring pattern, you can quickly analyze which subject have the chances of high scores at your time of the appearance in exams.

2.   Read CSS syllabus Carefully

CSS aspirants often start scrutinizing the subject so intensely that they ignore the actual curriculum. Always keep in mind that CSS is neither a specialization nor a degree. It’s a competitive exam, and you are supposed to prepare the syllabus, not extra details. Thus, one should keep following the CSS syllabus prescribed by FPSC and develop the syllabus topic wise to save one’s time and efforts.

3.   Choose between academy or Self-preparation

It is another question which almost every aspirant asks from his or her seniors. Well, it depends on how you feel comfortable. If you have zero knowledge about CSS exams, you should join an academy for necessary guidance. Academies will only guide about CSS structure, examination, and teach you the syllabus. 

 However, in any case, there is no alternative to self-preparation. One will have to self-study extensively whether to go for academy or not.

4.   Stick to a Schedule

Believe or not but researches show that if one thing is common in the lives of successful people—it is the discipline. 

 First, select how much time are you going to allocate for CSS preparation and what time you can give.

Secondly, make a weekly schedule of your compulsory and optional subjects. 

5.   Make your Notes

 Every CSS qualifier has prepared his or her notes. In the beginning, it’s a good idea to use the notes of the academy or a person, but for better preparation, it is always recommended to make your notes. It is the only way to clarify your concepts.

6.   Practice English Writing Skills daily

 English should be a body language of CSS aspirant. What counts in the exam is how well you can express your opinions, and those opinions must be backed up by facts and figures. You can only present your ideas better when you have a command over the language. So practice English regularly and get it checked. It would further help in memorizing essential points and increase the writing speed, which would be helpful in the exams.

Elections and Politicians

                            Defectors and lifeline for Sharifs

Pakistan Muslim League(N) once again in hot waters. The party struck with another severe blow on Monday when a number of deserters turned their backs toward the government and set their loyalties somewhere else.
On Monday, eight members of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) including Khusro Bakhtiar, Qasim Noon, Tahir Bashir Cheema, Basit Bukhari, Samiullah and Asghar Ali Shah left the party standing up for the cause of Seraiki province

‘Defectors were never part of PML-N’ lamented Nawaz Sharif while Talking to journalists inside the accountability court about Monday's defection of eight party lawmakers from South Punjab on the pretext of making the region into a separate province.

He further asserted, ‘Such people bring a bad name to politics, they keep coming and going’.

According to the reports, a number of dissenters have risen to 40. The rising deserters have shocked the party. Stunned by recent defections, Shahbaz rushed to loyalists in South Punjab to ascertain the real motives behind the defections.
In a retrospect, horse-trading is not new for Pakistani politics. Floor-crossing or defections are almost the same cases referred to as horse-trading, it has been a common practice in Pakistani politics.

The Constitution of 1973 in its original form did not contain any article to stop defection. 14th amendment to the constitution piloted by Nawaz Sharif in 1997, incorporated provisions against defection into the constitution with the insertion of Article 63-A.

The fourteenth amendment defined ‘defection’ in a very broad sense. A parliamentarian or member of a provincial assembly elected on the ticket of a political party was deemed to defect if (a) he violated party discipline, (b) voted contrary to directions of his parliamentary party, or (c) abstained from voting against party directives on any bill.

However, General Pervez Musharraf made several changes to the constitution including the substitution of Article 63A, which significantly diluted the grounds of defection by inserting two grounds; (a) when a member resigned from his political party or joined another parliamentary party; or (b) or voted or abstained from voting contrary to the directions of his parliamentary party in case of election of the leader of the house, vote of confidence or no-confidence, or a money bill.
Substantial changes were made under the Seventeenth Amendment in the Article 63A. However, the grounds of defection remain the same. The only significant change was defection reference is to be filed by the head of the political party rather than the head of the parliamentary party.

The expression ‘Horse-Trading’ emerged out of the Mongol’s war event. Changaiz khan was First Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He conquered modern-day China, Korea, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and substantial portions of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. He used two formulae for his conquest one was speed and other technique. He would reach a particular place within a week where others took a month because of his war tactics; his military changed the horses whenever the horses got tired they were riding on and secondly Tatars were the only who warriors who could shoot arrow whiling riding. However, Alauddin Khazam Shah, Sultan of Turkey, was well aware of Changez's war tactics. Therefore, he bought all the horses in the way from North China to Samarkand. Consequently, when Khan was returning from China to invade Turkey, he was unable to find horses and thus his war technique failed miserably. Khazam Shah became the first leader to employ horse-trading for defeating the enemy. The expression got famous from the incident and known as ‘Horse Trading’.

The term became popular in politics when Thomas Jefferson tried to purchase the vote of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison in 1790. The term got famous when New York times referred the incident using this term.

Changing loyalties is not a new thing in our country as well. Almost before every election newspapers and channels abound with these kinds of news. Changing loyalties of our representatives depict our national behaviours. Nepotism, bribery, illegal obligations and other forms of corruption are very common among our political leaders.

However, problems compounded for embattled Nawaz Sharif with this blow. Sharif brothers are caught between a rock and a hard place. The election is just months away, other parties are seizing the opportunity to engage the deserters. Therefore, the only lifeline remains for the party is to pinpoint the reasons behind defection and formulate a strategy to prevent the further erosions otherwise Sharif brothers will be in tight corner in the upcoming elections. 

A life between incarceration and assassination

It is an utter fact and wholeheartedly believed in Muslim communities that there is no Prophet after Muhammad (peace be upon him), and his teachings serve the purpose of guiding every human soul till the final day of judgement. But the need of guidance is as imminent as the day of judgement itself is. So, God keeps sending some pious, resilient, brave, noble and dignified spirits whose existence becomes no less then messiahs. Their life becomes a manifestation of the great cause they preach and it revolves only around it wholly and fully. It is these people who become the glory of history and transfigure the shape of the destiny of their people. It wouldn't be just to not to call them sacred angels tending to eradicate all vicissitudes. But not everyone is bestowed upon with such grace and qualities. It is only a few lucky souls who demonstrate the extremeness of God's generosity and His magnificent attributes.

So is the tale of a protagonist named Benazir Bhutto .

Pakistan may not remember her in good name or try to defame her short spanned presence, but every struggle will almost go in vain as this brave woman has made to touch the golden pages of history. Benazir, a name truly deserved will never perish because unique and inimitable are the words that know no ends and thus are eternal.

To all those claiming her to be an heiress of rich political dynasty badly need to know that she never intended to be a politician but was plunged into this vast sea of blood and had to swim against the tide adding another permanent page in the book of the legacy of the Bhuttos. She could never give up on what she had promised because she was destined to meet her father in the next world.

Her opponents and critics should be aware of the fact that she was given the access to PM's office after a long heartbreaking and nerve-shattering struggle of almost 10 years and was not given the authority for being a PM's daughter and coming of wealthy background or subordinating the atrocious dictator.

The road she was traversing through was paved with blood-sucking thorns taking away all the male members of her family. Yet she was so unstoppable. The tragedies of engraving the blood relations before the very eyes can make a normal human being lose his senses and yet she was pushing herself firmly forward waiting for the day these long sufferings will bring fruit to the barren land.

In her book, Daughter of the east she mentions, while she was in solitary confinement in Sukkur jail: "Alone in my cell at Sukkur, I was being convinced that the regime was going to kill me. There ate terrible days ahead for you, one of the jailers whispered to me. I've seen a boy from your own hometown of Larkana with his toenails pulled out, he said, tears filling his eyes. I don't know how many can put up with that without breaking.

"Subconsciously, my body registered the tension. I began to push away the food the jailers brought to me, finding it difficult to swallow. I ate almost nothing, yet I became convinced that I was getting fat. My stomach seemed to extend. My rib cage felt larger."

"As I lost more and more weight, the jail authorities who had been telling me that the regime wanted to sentence me to death now became nervous that I might die on my own. My health deteriorated rapidly. The conditions were so unsanitary, it's remarkable that anyone lived. I suffered from repeated bouts of dysentery, malaria, cholera. My head was splitting with pain, the light at night slicing into my eyes so that I could not keep my self from screaming in agony.

"Death comes in the end, and I do not fear it, the animals of the regime can only eliminate people. They cannot eliminate concepts. The concept of democracy will survive. And in the inevitable victory of democracy, we will live again."

After chronicling her name in history and vindicating the cause she was struggling for, going through immense physical and mental torture, she was not even allowed to complete her tenure.

She might have failed to be a great leader, an astute politician or a blunt opponent but succeeded to every extent as a brilliant DAUGHTER who risked every bit of her existence to make the BHUTTO name an insignia of iron will. There could hardly be any tyranny that did not form the part of the long torture of 10 years.

Her term might not let women discrimination to be ended in all its forms but she sure played the role of an exemplary woman that can give light of hope to every passionate woman out there and to let her decide her course and to win liberty for herself. She emerged out a triumphant warrior in the battle that was imposed on her for being a woman resisting the traditional norms of contesting and being elected to the highest office of the state. Her grandeur persona that stood up to the ruthless dictator of that time is an indication of enthusiasm to all those who want to stand up to all such dictators of all times.

She might have been that successful apparently but she had stirred masses that is the attribute of those who tend to rescue the wretched and the destitute. She was conscious of the idea that she had chosen a path that could leave her in ruins but her sagacious and resilient walking made it praiseworthy as her destiny was to gain her an eternal name.

Her martyrdom did not only shroud a political figure and a head of a political party, but a messiah and a beacon of inspiration for many generations to come who desire to leave a never ending mark of human will. People of Pakistan have her memory instilled in their hearts and she continues to motivate her followers even from her resting place. 

Everyone who is a pursuer of truth, fighting a just and right cause, is in low spirits to face the atrocities, wants to emerge out a heroic character can openly look upon the long tale of an impeccable character named Benazir.

The best way to pay tribute to this heroic leader is to generate such nerves that will never deceive one's dedication to ones cause. Her political existence starting from incarceration and ending at her assassination only gained her a new beginning, a life of eternity.

Uswa Zainab Tirmizi

Iqbal's 'Khudi'

An interpretation of a haunting concept

Iqbal's poetry sprinkling the message of "khudi", is a strong transfiguration of wandering souls into saints. It can bless the ruined and abandoned niche's of the human heart with an unending search for spirituality. It can create lives zealous and fully dedicated to introducing revolution to modern era if aimed at reading the words of wisdom to quench the thirst of soul and to satiate the insatiable desire to the spiritual world. 
It requires the soul that never knows the meaning of " end", for there is no end to self-purgation.
"Khudi", is nothing but a journey of the soul that traverse the toughest path paved all along with thorns to reach " Nowhere". 

" The only journey with no true destination! "
For destiny is Eternity and those who travel it are sacrificing enough to be totally detached from the line putting an end to their journey. 
It is not to everyone out there but to those few rare protagonists whose soul has been composed with the clay of valour and enthusiasm and the holy blood of mysticism flows through their veins. 
Khudi requires to kindle their matter of composition and attain unreachable heights of altruism and incessantly interrogating the soul its meaning of being in this mortal world. 
Ascending the first step is always not easy but it does the favour to put the soul in a clearly defined direction and somewhere in the midst of this journey one may meet its destiny but it must not serve as an impeding force. 

One should be so submerged that not even the name of despondence should be known to it.
It is the very law of nature that not even a trivial thing of this universe can stay away from its originator. Such is the soul of humans! 
These modern catastrophes and crisis are nothing but waywardness of the true purpose of soul creation and putting a deaf ear to the mild tune of soul & conscience.
Eradicating the artificial roots of this flowering tree & altering them with true fertile ones can turn a desert into an oasis, a hell into a divine heaven and this wretched world into spiritual one!

By: Uswa Zainab Tirmizi

Facts about Pakistan

World’s youngest certified Microsoft Experts (late) Arfa Karim was from Pakistan

World's youngest noble prize laureate is from Pakistan

Pakistan Has The Sixth Largest Military Force In The World

Ustaad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Hailed As The ‘Worlds Best Qawwal Of The 20th Century”, Known As ‘The Legend'

First PC Virus Was Created By Two Pakistani Brothers

Pakistan has World’s largest irrigation system

Pakistan’s National Anthem Tune Ranks First In The Top Three Tunes Of The World

Pakistan has World's highest polo ground

Sialkot produces nearly half of the world's football 

Islamabad is world's second most beautiful capital city

K2 is the world's second highest mountain

Khewra salt range is world's second largest salt range

Eidi is running World's largest ambulance network

Pakistan is the first Islamic country to attain nuclear power

Isn't that Amazing...?

Rohingya Crisis and International Law

     Is Rohingya Genocide an unequivocal proof of the failure of international law?

 “I decided it is better to scream. Silence is the real crime against humanity.” Nadezhda Mandelstam

After World War 2, There was catastrophic destruction all over the world; nearly 60 million dead, families torn apart and great cities became piles of rubble and ash. So there was dire need of establishing such an inter-governmental organization that could ensure peace, stability and Co-ordination among the existing states. Thus, UNO was established.

However, international Institutions have miserably failed in fulfilling their explicit purpose-built. It seems as if we, instead of progressing, are steering back in the times of atrocious civilizations of Mongols and Spartans who impale and ripped through the innocent lives for a piece of land. One cannot deny the fact that Humanity has never suffered much at any time that it has been suffering in the time of technological advancements and
International institutions. 

Rohingya Muslims, a minority with 1.1 million population living in a coastal province of Rakhine, are the target of state-sponsored ethnic cleansing. Burma, a Buddhist majority country deprived the Rohingya community of nationality in 1982 on the grounds that they migrated from Bangladesh during British rule. Although, Historians are of the view that they have been living here for over centuries. Facts and figures, nevertheless, proved useless in altering the hatred-stricken mind of Burmese extremists.

Furthermore, The Rohingya have been deprived of the basic rights for years; denied livelihood opportunities forced to live in slum-like conditions, widespread hunger and epidemics added more to the grievances of persecuted community. According to World Food Program (WFP), more than 80,000 children may need treatment for malnutrition."

Although, it has been widely condemned internationally, yet mere condemnation would not sooth the oppressed community. there are certain laws which these institutions have passed to end this menace and now it is time to go for those measures which they passed to protect the right of minorities, convention against Genocides and refugee rights.

General Assembly on 9 December 1948 passed a resolution 260 (A) on the prevention and punishment of the crime of Genocide. There are 19 articles in this convention which clearly state that Genocide is crime and culprits would be punished.
Similarly, There is a declaration on Minority Rights adopted by United Nations Human Rights Council which covers protection from discrimination and persecution, protection and promotion of identity, and participation in political life. In spite of this, none of the above declaration has proved useful in this case.

So the main question is where does International Law stand in this regard? If Security-Council can legitimize the attack on Iraq on mere suspicion of possessing WMD then Why not in Rohingya case? Where Burmese Government is blatantly refusing visas to UN investigators— perhaps there are no oil and gas reserves in Burma.

Rohingya Genocide manifests that International institutions have confined their role in legitimizing the illegal invades and agendas of their donor countries. If this goes on like this, there would not be any human being left, on whom these institutions can exercise their jurisdiction.