Breaking Ice: Yousuf speaking to the Nation

When its the first speech of a recently elected government's Prime Minister, things must have been tensed, I am sure. Speaking in times when nothing seems smooth in country, it was no ordinary event for him to record in front of his camera crew. Something went wrong. Nation kept waiting. His speech was delayed. Despite some rediculous rumours (which take no time in this country to start floating) he appeard live and alive on our TV screens three hours late.

Mr. Yousuf Raza Gilani, whom most in this country knew nothing about, emerged as the elected prime minister.

If you remember seeing this infamous visuals of Sherry Rehman grappling in a protest, then you probably have known Gilani before today . He released sacked judges from their house arrest. Thanks to Mr. yousuf that these fine men of law could now be seen in their barber shops, market place and rallying on almost all streets of Pakistan. Only place you can't find them is their benches in courts of Pakistan, simply because its not vacant any more. Before elections, emergency was imposed, by a long time solo care taker of this countries' affairs, Mr. Pervez Musharraf, who had recently dropped his uniform to emerge as both legal and a civil President. New order was floated for the judges to abide by, which could provide the final touches of legitimacy to Gen(r) Musharraf. Few ignored the call. Those good 70 judges were taken off from their respective offices only to be imprisoned in their houses.

Other than law, it was free media of Pakistan which came under direct assault of those emergency measures. Radio stations, TV channels, media anchors, broadcasters and several publications got terminated. It took time before some of them were resumed as they provided the assurity of abiding by the new set of laws. Finally they all came under the umbrella of the new prescribed set of laws and ammendments and got their transmission restored.

Pakistan's new Prime minister, sworn in and told the law enforcement to let go these judges from their houses. He was also quoted by the media to have taken the strict media regulations off.

Heeeeve Haa.

Thats it.

In addition to these steps, there was a huge list of promises, sometimes coming directly from the PM and on other occasions his cabinet and parliament memebers. These included dealing with power outages, price inflation, security and civil protection, resotaration of judges and implementation of consitutional package, relief for poor and the list goes on. This was stated as a 100 days plan.

Definitely the media in recent days, had already termed this address of PM to the nation, as an explanation he owes for not delivering upon his promises. I personally in my radio shows throughout weekdays approaching this saturday, was raising few of my own concerns along with people's, as of what we expect from him.

Along with faulty video telecast and some extracts from past speeches; which he might have already delivered on Fatima's Nikah, Pappu's circumsicion, and aunty Zubaida's funeral, there was nothing, absolutely nothing new. We have been fooled again, into believing something positive would emerge, finally.

He is just a man. In worst times of economic depression, global recession, and internal political turmoils and bad security situation; he is just a typical man of flesh and bones, who wears a natural dumbfound face.