Adil Najam
Rumors of a ‘deal’ between PPP leader Benazir Bhutto and Gen. Pervez Musharraf have been rife for a long time. All indications now suggest that a deal of some sort has, in fact, been reached.
The ferocity with which the rumors are being denied – with obvious insincerity – suggests that something is afoot. The question is, exactly what.
There is little utility, it seems to us, to indulge any further in the speculation than people already are. The much more important question is what – if anything – will such a deal mean for Pakistan and for democracy in Pakistan.
Will it make things better? Will it make things worse? Will things remain as they have always been and this will simply be one more round in the ‘great game’ of musical chairs that has always been Pakistan politics?
That is the question for our new ATP Poll (see top of middle column). Let us know what you think, and why? With your vote in the poll and with your comments below.
Daktar has come up with the ultimate conspiracy theory. Mr. Haqqani is writing all these comments against and in favor of himself to become important.
Let Peace Reign is moral and, therefore, has all the insight. Too bad we don’t know who he is otherwise we could all annoint him our great leader and thinker.
C’mon guys and gals, we can do better than that.
Let us get back to the debate over whether there is a deal or not and whether it is in the country’s interest or not.
My father keeps telling me that blogging is for those who just want to voice opinions, not for those who want to exchange ideas in the hope of learning something and possibly changing their minds.
Is he right?
Husain Haqqani is a rank opportunist and is quite an immoral person, no matter his “political insight.” Insight is garbage without morality!
Another interesting article on the deal from New Pakistan (http://www.new-pakistan.com). this subject obviously generates quite a lot of points of views.
Issue No 30, April 6, 2007
Fearful of Bhutto’s Impending Return, Musharraf Floats Rumors of Deal
No Deal Likely Unless Musharraf Agrees to Give up Uniform, Withdraw Cases and Hold Free Polls under Caretaker Administration; PPP Offers Musharraf ‘Safe Passage’
By Sadiq Saleem
With domestic opposition rising and international support dwindling, General Pervez Musharraf has resorted to what he always does when he is under fire: He has run for cover and resorted to spin.
Once again Pakistan is awash in rumors that Musharraf’s emissaries and Opposition stalwart Benazir Bhutto are on the verge of a deal. The rumors began when the government transferred an official who had been pursuing corruption cases against Ms Bhutto and her husband Asif Ali Zardari. Although the said official has been transferred before, and his transfer is not the same as withdrawal of cases, the government propaganda machine made a big deal of the matter and claimed it was the first step to gain Ms Bhutto’s confidence for a deal.
According to media reports Mr. Tariq Aziz, a top aide of General Musharraf and secretary of his National Security Council, met with Ms Bhutto in Dubai. Ms Bhutto did not deny the meeting but said that the talks were of “routine” nature. As a politician, Ms Bhutto says she will not refuse to meet with any representative of a Pakistani political force but each meeting does not translate into an agreement.
The rumors of a deal suited General Musharraf. They took attention away from the crisis generated by the suspension of the Supreme Court Chief Justice and mounting international criticism over growing Talibanization in the country.
General Musharraf has only recently reshuffled his media team and brought back Anwar Mehmood as Information Secretary. Mr. Mehmood is an expert at creating distractions as a means of changing the major story in the media and is considered particularly valuable for the establishment’s management of corrupt elements within the media. It is believed that Mr. Mehmood suggested using the Musharraf-Bhutto deal story both to change the subject as well as to defuse the growing attention in the international media to Ms Bhutto.
Only a few days ago, the New York Times had written: “As the Pakistani president, General Pervez Musharraf, wrestles with swelling public disaffection over his rule, one of his key political rivals, Benazir Bhutto, has embarked on an international campaign to revive her political standing. In recent weeks, Bhutto, 53, a former prime minister and the leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), who has lived in exile since 1999, has stepped up her criticism of the Taliban who operate in the remote regions of the country. She has sought to marginalize Islamist political parties from an opposition party alliance that has emerged in anticipation of elections later this year. “
By spreading rumors of a deal with Ms Bhutto, General Musharraf expected to give the impression that greater acceptance in the United States of Ms Bhutto does not mean he is on his way out.
The rumors of the deal created panic in the king’s Party, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), which would be left high and dry if Musharraf and the intelligence services do not continue to act as its sponsors. PML-Q President, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, tried to score points with wittily suggesting that Instead of deal the PPP was receiving dheel (Urdu for being set loose).
The PPP’s ally, the PML-N led by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also got worried at the prospect of an agreement between Musharraf and Bhutto. The PPP leader went and met her former rival to reassure him that no deal with the Musharraf regime was in the offing.
Once the initial thrust of the government’s spin effort was over it became clear that Ms Bhutto and the PPP are not interested in a deal that does not restore democracy to Pakistan. Ms Bhutto is not too concerned about the cases filed against her to intimidate her. She would welcome their withdrawal but she has fought them valiantly so far –and her husband Asif Ali Zardari has spent eight and a half years in prison without being sentencedâ€
I find the discussion funny. Why are we discussing Mr. Haqqani so much. Is he really that important? Also, amazed how come his ‘fan club’ seems to know so much about him and his thoughts and thinking process!
Independent Citizen’s comments reflect the sad conspiracy theory mentality that has prevented Pakistanis and Muslims from being able to analyse and face realities.
many pakistanis want good relations with Pakistan not because they are paid by anyone but because they think it is in Pakistan’s interest.
Benazir Bhutto has won two elections and received millions of votes from Pakistanis. it is an insult to BB’s voters to accuse her of being an American stooge, implying that millions of Pakistanis vote for an American stooge.
Husain Haqqani is one of a few Pakistani scholars to have international recognition. He has never worked for RAND –a fact easily verified by a little reserach.
But conspiracy theorists never do any research, do they?