I just emailed the Open Letter to SC with signs and comments by more than 2,000 ordinary Pakistanis (in less than a day), clearly showing that #NationStandswithCJP
Below, I'm sharing some of the best comments
(captured perfectly in this📽️ by my great friend @soufiasiddiqi)
🧵👇
A whole day collecting, collating, and anonymising this data & I'm simply amazed just how aware the general public is! From students to academics to workers like drivers, painters & housewives.
I hope judges can see this and take heart that this isn't 1997 anymore. 1/n
The next 5 tweets have more text, with a conclusion in the final tweet.
2/n
3/n
4/n
5/n
6/n
And finally, the video from my dear friend @soufiasiddiqi captures the essence of the entire 2,000 comments I read through, only a few of which are shared above.
Dear CJP, please defend the constitution.
The nation stands with you. #NationStandswithCJP
End thread.
I really urge everyone to read at least few of the text in the screenshots above. This is the mood of the nation, they know what's going on, they want their rights, and they will not sit idly until they get them.
Incredibly grounding experience to read from "ordinary" Pakistanis
“آپ سب کے کندھوں میں آئین کی بالادستی کی زمیداری ہے۔اور آپ پکستان کو ایک عزیم ملک بنانے میں ایک اہم کردار ادا کر سکتے ہیں۔ آپ ہماری
امید ہیں، ہمارے حقوق کے محافظ ہیں۔ الله آپ سب کو اپنی حفاظت میں رکھیں۔ آمین”
ثمن، کراچی، ہاوسوائف
Respected Judiciary, being a son of an ex Army Officer who served his country with his blood and youth while keeping the Sabz Hilaly above any other possible benefit, I advise you to write your names in gold in the history of our beloved country.
1/2
Do what the constitution says and I guarantee you will always be at peace with yourself. We all are dust, Pakistan isn't. Stand with your country and people.
Mohammad, Rawalpindi
2/2
“We are with you! Stand tall Qazi ka rutba Islam mn Wali sy b bra hy. Allah apko sabt qadm rakhen ameen.”
Rida, Vehari
“The Chief Justice of Pakistan Mr. Umar Atta Bandial Sahab is now the only person in the whole of Pakistan from whom awchei Cheontprael to deliver justice and our rights. God, you will judge with justice. We all stand with you”
Hammad, Karachi
“I am common citizen who had a salary of 120k and inflation of 48% recorded since then which left me with buying capacity of 80-85k.elections will bring political stability which inturn will bring Economic stability and will minimise the suffering of common citizens”
Umer,Lahore
Some more comments from the letter to CJP:
I am honestly amazed by Pakistanis. Make me fall in love with this country once again
A lot of noise is being made by certain sections of media about today’s judgment by J. Faez Isa regarding the use of “suo moto” powers under Article 184 (3).
2 questions are key: timing of the ruling, and if it’s consistent with J Isa’s past positions.
I answer both🧵👇
First: why has the decision come out today?
This is important because the case on which the judgment is issued doesn’t actually have anything to do with the present matter being heard about the Punjab/KP Elections. It’s about extra marks for Hafiz-E-Quran in MBBS/BDS tests! 2/n
As stated in the full judgment, this is a 14 month old case.
The fact that the decision has come out in the midst of one of the most important cases of Pakistan’s democratic history, asking to influence these proceedings is deeply suspect, as noted by the dissenting judge
Please RT and share in WhatsApp groups/ Instagram/ FB etc. Let's get this thousands of signatures so that the judiciary knows where the people of Pakistan stand.
Some of the comments received on the Open Letter to CJP Bandial are incredibly moving and emotional. Imagine the impact comments like this can have! Ordinary Pakistanis never cease to amaze me 💚
Journalists including @melissakchan and @AmberRShamsi have made Trump and @ImranKhanPTI comparisons over the last few days, insinuating that Khan is a rightwing "populist".
I looked into these claims to see whether these comparisons are accurate or justified.
Thread below 👇🧵
Comparisons of Mr. Khan and Mr. Trump started as early as August 2018, just after his party emerged as the biggest political party in Pakistan, winning 116 seats in the 272 member parliament. Unlike Trump however, Khan had a 22 year political struggle when he was elected. 2/n
Critics making the Khan/Trump comparison equate their fame and larger than life personas.
But these comparisons should have stopped there: Khan was one of the greatest cricketers ever, Trump was the architect many failed business after inheriting 400 million dollars. 3/n
Writing for @AJEnglish, @AmberRShamsi among other things, claims that PTI is a “right-wing” populist party, that their supporters threw petrol bombs at police, that Khan is avoiding the courts, and that they rely on propaganda like Trump & Bolsonaro. I counter her with facts 🧵👇
First, she claims that police only had tear gas and sticks, when there is proof that they were carrying guns as while rubber bullets were also widely used (see videos below). There is also no clear evidence that petrol bombs were used so far. 2/n
Video 1: Policeman outside Zaman Park passes a pistol to his colleague showing that they were in fact armed (unlike what Ms. Shamsi claims) and 3/n
PTI supporters on Twitter need a little realignment IMO
We already build the narrative in Pakistan, but we need to fact check Int’l media reporting which help build global public perception. Today’s articles on Lahore in CNN, Guardian, NPR were such BS. I try but I need HELP! 😢
There’s no point going after lowlifes like Shama Junejo, Kasim Gilani, Shake Shack, Saad Kaiser etc.
Spend your time constructively and help the movement!
Lots of people already know how to do this, but anybody who wants to join and has questions, send me a DM. I will share tips on how to approach this, and maybe we can even form a working collective. You can see the pinned thread on my profile for an example.
The article asked comments from completely biased observers like @muneebfaruqpak who said that Khan will not be harmed but the interior minister himself has threatened him as shown in this video
It then asks another Khan detractor @hidhussain who blames the entire crisis on Imran Khan, carelessly forgetting that he has the largest party in parliament and in any democracy, a successful no-confidence would have led to new elections