The Declaration of Independence

Another 4th of July has come and gone, celebrated by hysterical warnings of terrorist threats and elaborate fireworks displays. Amidst all this brouhaha its easy to lose sight of the actual document itself and the fact that it truly did have some interesting things to say - not least to for a Pakistani hoping for the restoration of democracy in the country.

Lets remind ourselves about some of the salient points in the Declaration:

- The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

- He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

- He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

- He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.

- For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury.

- For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

- For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:


Now replace the King of Britain with General Pervez Musharaf and what do you see?

IZ