The Clock Starts Ticking..: The Emergency Times V

The Emergency times Nov 8th, 2007 1
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The Emergency Times
The Clock starts Ticking..

V
The unashamed façade is crumbling… The delicate veneer of lies is being shattered… Even as the military
declares war on civil society, it has set in motion its own demise. The response of the police forces to the
various student protests around the country has laid bare their own cowardice; they are scared of the
students. They will try to suppress us further, to intimidate us into timid obedience. But we will not be
silenced. In Complete Unity, we will lay bare the sins of the oppressors; In Complete Unity, we will voice
ourselves against them; In Complete Unity, we will bring them down.
March on, my friends…
The Voice of LUMS roars in Protest

V
Over 800 students were part of a protest held in LUMS today. The protest happened dire warnings by the
police to the students that if they did anything (even within the campus), they would be baton-charged. Police
surrounded the LUMS campus from the morning, before the protest began. Plainclothes policemen were
wandering around campus warning students about the impending crackdown. It was relayed that they knew
the names of the students at the helm of the movement and they would be targeted. Many LUMS students
attempting to enter the campus were denied entry by the police from the onset.
However, the protest went ahead as planned. Students and faculty gathered first in the sports complex,
where, after reciting the National Anthem, they began the proceedings. Student and faculty speakers outlined
the cause of the movement and their demands, which were, the removal of the martial law, the release of all
lawyers, activists, teachers, students and leaders detained by the law enforcement agencies, the
reinstatement of the judiciary and an end to the curbs on the media. By this time, we were informed that
police were forcefully preventing media personnel from getting into the campus to cover the event.
Nevertheless, the protest continued; the crowd slowly moved outside the sports complex, in complete silence,
symbolic of the way in which their voices were being suppressed.
However, when they reached the entrance, where the police was present, armed with batons and teargas, the
Vice Chancellor came out and ordered everyone to stay inside and move away from the academic block. The
Disclaimer: This publication is not affiliated with or does not endorse any political party or social group. It is a humble
effort to inspire and make aware- for we together can make a difference in these troubled times.
Write to us at theemergencytimes@gmail.com. Our online version is on pakistanmartiallaw.blogspot.com
crowd then changed direction and made a round of the academic block, with the atmosphere getting more
heated up, the crowd indignant at the stifling of their voice. During this round, it was made evident to many
of us that plainclothes policemen and intelligence officials were present in the crowd, trying to create
confusion and pandemonium, as well as take pictures of the student leaders involved. In the huge crowd,
however, it was impossible to accurately isolate these people and have them removed. Meanwhile, a UET
student attempting to enter the campus was beaten up by the police and detained. After several hours of
detainment, he was released later in the night.
Right after this, about half the number of initial protestors carried out a silent, peaceful protest where they
simply sat down in front of the Main Entrance in front of the police personnel. Most of the protestors placed
masking tapes over their mouths, in a show of silent solidarity as they faced the police. At this time, all media
personnel attempting to leave the campus were accosted by police with their cameras confiscated. The law
enforcement agencies stayed outside the campus the entire day, with reports that they were ordered to
procure at least 15 people for detainment. The administration rejected their demand and refused to let them
enter the campus. A small contingent remains posted outside.
We have heard of the valiant efforts of our student brethren at FAST as well, who remain besieged inside their
university. We know of the students in Islamabad, from QAU and Hamdard who remain resolute in protest.
We salute you for your courage and call for a united effort against this military brutality. We call upon the
entire student community of Pakistan to rise up against this criminal, authoritarian regime. Together, we will
take this to its inevitable conclusion.
In Complete Unity.
The Rise of The Students..
X
The passion and zeal that has stormed into the hearts and minds of our youth is spreading like wildfire..
FAST, Lahore
A large number of FAST students protested on their campus, shouting anti-government and anti-Musharraf
slogans. They also denounced the PCO and media crackdown.
After sealing off the university early on in the morning, police officers entered the University, demanding the
arrests of the protesting students, which the administration rejected. Afterwards, FAST administration was
pressurized to disallow its students from holding more protests. Reports are that several students were
manhandled and beaten.
We salute our fellow students on their courage and urge them to persevere in the face of naked oppression.
Hamdard University Protests in Islamabad

Recent reports have been confirmed that this afternoon, a gathering outside Hamdard University comprising
of students, lawyers and journalists managed to stage a vociferous protest within the premises of the nearby
district court. Decrying the martial law and shouting slogans for Musharraf’s immediate resignation they
rallied together for a considerable period until the police showed up. Thereafter, they resisted police baton
charging successfully and managed to retain their stronghold of the district court and remained there
effectively making their point. They dispersed before any more serious action could be taken but some lawyers
are reported to have been arrested form the premises. The account is quite extraordinary and suggests the
very real phenomena of civil society coming together across all classes and walks of life under one common
umbrella. We are heartened and inspired to say the least.
We stand behind you all. As always, In Complete Unity.
Quaid-e-Azam University protests

Yesterday the students of Quaid-e-Azam University, in tandem with faculty, mainly from the natural sciences
department, staged a protest in their campus roughly 400 people strong. Intelligence agency officials were
reported to have been present as well.
Today a similar protest was staged in a much larger number (around a 1000 people) and another successful
rally was staged with morales running high. After the protest was officially over the police once again showed
up but thankfully no untoward incidences occurred.
All in all, the past two days have shown strong promise and high spirits with the youth and civilian forces
finally stirring. We must all rise to the occassion. And rise we shall. There is no stopping the heights to which
a students mind can soar. There is no force that can stifle the voice of the students. And the students of
Pakistan are proving this with their thoughts, words and actions.
We are all with you. In Complete Unity.
Punjab University Meeting:

Today the faculty of PUCIT (Punjab University College of Information Technology) discussed the issue of
emergency imposed as well as the unlawful arrest of our fellow colleagues and students. It was decided in the
meeting that this it is high time that academic institutes play their role in bringing the country out of the
current crisis. It is the need of the hour that the academic institutes move in full coordination so that their
sound should be heard not only within the country but across borders as well.
Friday, the 9th of November demands a very well coordinated move by the entire nation under the guideline of
Allama Muhammad Iqbal's vision who said "God has never changed the plight of a Nation who has not tried to
change it". It is time that we should stop sitting in our cozy rooms and wait for a heavenly miracle to occur.
We should move towards the right path so that the duty of guidance be fulfilled as members of faculty it is
our moral and legal duty towards our nation.
The Emergency Times reaches the New York Times:

The Online Version of our blog was quoted in the front page items of the New York Times. The following is an
excerpt from the article, entitled “Pakistan Protest Drama Unfolds online
(http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/pakistan-protest-drama-unfolds-online)”:
“Indeed, the history-in-the-making atmosphere is everywhere on Pakistani blogs, with a new blog called
Emergency Times striking several revolutionary notes on Tuesday:
‘It has begun.
The protest yesterday at [Lahore University of Management Sciences] will go down as the dawn of a new era in
this country’s history. It will, God Willing, mark the end of the debilitating cynicism and social apathy that
has afflicted the people of this country and led to the crossroads we find ourselves at today.’ ”
Our voices are being heard. They will echo in unprecedented unison.
Thoughts..
It has been said earlier, but needs to be said again! It becomes apparent from the current political scenario
(read: MARTIAL LAW) that the real 'terrorists' that the (make-believe) state of Pakistan is cracking down upon
is the political leaders, the legal community and civil society—in short any sort of opposition it is facing. Now,
the crucial point to ponder upon here is that if the current 'emergency' is being justified on the grounds of
curbing terrorism in the country, shouldn't there have been any immediate policy changes in that regard?
Shouldn't the emergency have been 'used' to facilitate this objective? But it seems that the other 'evil' that the
General (and deliberately choose not to say 'President' here) mentioned in his address is more of a concern for
him than the justification offered to the world at large. In my view this is, simply put, a blatant mockery of the
ideas and rights of freedom and liberty, and are desperate measures to cling to power. If this doesn't convince
you, consider how well-planned the Government's strategy was to curb any sort of resistance to this brutal
measure; they knew the lawyers had taken charge previously, and they would again, and to emasculate this
resistance by cracking down hard upon them was their first and foremost objective.
And we, the youth, the students of this country, are as culpable as the regime. For we gave them so much
room to carry on their atrocities that it got so worse as this brutal oppression. Had we taken to the streets
and provided effective resistance to mete a final blow when the opportunity was there, especially during the
previous protests to restore the CJ, the situation might not have gotten to where it is. Had we risen up, the
way we should have, when the carnage was committed in Karachi on May 12, this country wouldn't be where
it stands right now. Had we stood up for what's right, we would not be as desperate and frustrated as we are
getting with this country with every passing day.
WE NEED TO FIX THIS. If the principle of freedom does not convince you or the brutalities don't anger you
enough, look around you and see how your lives are being affected. Business? Pakistan's international credit-
ratings, according to the international agency, Moody's, have run into negative, implying a dry-out in foreign
investments in the country. Education? I don't see that time very far away when you would be TOLD by the
state what to study and what not to. We see darkness ahead of us, feel hopelessness and despair, but all has
not ended. Now is the time to stand up for your rights; now is the time to think of your responsibility to those
being crushed, and to this nation. For once, we need to fight for what's right. For once, we need to end the
oppression that has marred the history, development and social fabric of this country. For once, we need to
think beyond the surface of material luxuries and opportunities for a brighter, sustainable, stable future.
Pictures from Protest in NYC ON 7Th November:

The Clock Starts Ticking..: The Emergency Times V

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The Emergency times Nov 8th, 2007 1

Please Photocopy and Distribute

The Emergency Times

The Clock starts Ticking..

The Voice of LUMS roars in Protest

Hamdard University Protests in Islamabad

We stand behind you all. As always, In Complete Unity.

Quaid-e-Azam University protests

We are all with you. In Complete Unity.

Punjab University Meeting:

The Emergency Times reaches the New York Times:

Pictures from Protest in NYC ON 7Th November:

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