Lighting candles

Being out of Pakistan now, it is difficult for me to tell if there has really been a deepening of the crisis in the last weeks as many foreign observers suggest. During my stay in the country, events had been unfolding at a fast speed too. Nevertheless, I had a strong feeling of detachment between what is going on on the political stage and the lives of the vast majority of the Pakistani population (especially in the villages). Having said this, there are a million ways in which the overall political context makes itself felt in sometimes quite subtle ways. One example are the rising candle prices that I read about in an article in the Pakistani newspaper The Post. One reason for this is that power cuts have been getting more frequent and longer forcing many people to use candles for lighting. Another reason is the (new) custom of lighting candles to remember victims of bomb blasts or express solidarity with detained lawyers and judges. Sad and beautiful.

Life in Pakistan

In this great article, Jason Burke gives a very good impression of life in Pakistan. Well written, funny and informative.

Back in Freiburg

It's a long time since I last wrote here. In the meantime, I've finished my fieldwork in Pakistan, crossed the border to India, taken a plane from Mumbai (Bombay) to Frankfurt, arrived back in Freiburg, spent Christmas with my family and New Year with friends, met lots of people, taken a break from work, gone skiing and eaten a lot of great food. By now, my batteries are recharged and I look forward to getting back to work.

Shortly after I my return to Germany, the assassination of Benazir Bhutto came as a real shock. Even though I was not a very big fan of her as a politician (as you can see from my 12 November post), I have a lot of respect for the sacrifice she made. I think that she was quite well aware of the grave risk she was taking and must have anticipated her death.

For those who are interested in a well-written obituary, click here.

Even though all of us outside the country reading, seeing or hearing news from Pakistan would have got the impression that the country was really facing the abyss, it seems that on the ground, things were not quite that dramatic. Friends from Pakistan told me that after a few days of uncertainty, rumours and tension, life now continues pretty much as before. At least in the Province of Punjab.

In terms of the future of politics in Pakistan (and a return to democracy), things seem even more difficult now than before Benazir Bhutto's death.

We'll see what the elections, postponed to 18 February, bring.