Adil Najam
This seems to have suddenly become a news-heavy day. Lal Masjid blast on teh one hand and now Musharraf-Benazir meetings. The News reports on this:
The second round of meeting between President General Pervez Musharraf and former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto is underway here, the reliable sources said. The first round of the meeting lasted for about lasted for 55 minutes and it was a short a meeting. The ISI chief, some personalities of Arab countries and western diplomats also attended the meeting, the other sources said. Although the details of the meeting were not issued, however, the reports said that Musharraf and Benazir discussed important issues including current political situation in Pakistan.
“If Musharraf-Benazir meeting has been held it could be the final round of PPP-government talks and it is hoped that this meeting will have long-term positive impact on the politics of Pakistan, said Federal Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid Ahmed while commenting on the meeting. Meanwhile, the reports said that Musharraf will also hold meeting with former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Shahabaz Sharif in Saudi Arabia during the second leg of Musharraf’s visit. However, the PML (N) sources have rejected the reports of Musharraf-Nawaz meeting.
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Things are still too much in flux and too complicated to comment meaningfully on this. Much coming from the insta-pundits is still either the restatement of their already known positions that they now churn out as spin, or is entirely speculative. So, we will wait to see how the dust settles. But it is quite clear that the dust has been kicked and things are in flux. Abb ount kis karwat baithay ga?
In order to get a sense of the pulse of ATP on this issue we are asking the same poll question about a BB-Musharraf deal we did back in April. Let us see what you have to say now.
I would have said that the Mush-Benazir deal would be good in the sense that it had the potential of bringing more stability to Pakistan. But I think as a direct consequence of this deal, the Sharifs are going to team up with the mullah cadre and the forces of jihad will gain political and electoral legitimacy via the substantial PML vote bank. Then the calls for Shariat are going to come from the opposition benches and not from the Lal Masjids.
On a completely irrelevant note, thank you Eidee Man for providing the first review of KKL; I am heading to PK in a week too and will be sure to catch the show.
With the CJ’s restoration and the prevailing national mood, it will be very hard for the courts to rule in favour of Mush if he tries to get reelected without taking off his uniform.
I expect that he will have to give up the uniform, drop all cases against BB and let her come back to power in return for being elected president.
Consequences for the country: with Mush having completely lost his credibility, he is a liability and the return to civilian rule will be a positive thing.
BB’s return is a bad thing though; it represents the failure of the nation and civil society. Unfortunately, in the prevailing circumstances, it seems inevitable.
There is a ruling establishment and there is the people. There is a small top and a big mass at the bottom.The Top worked very hard to obtain a Free Country for the Indian Muslim Community. Once Pakistan was created the Top was only interested to be in power and only power so that it could have all the benefits on this earth.
So far, in the history of Pakistan, the Top has never bothered for the well being of the people. I do not see why the things will shange now or in any new future.
If there is a deal between a crook and a currupt, no good will come out for Pakistanis. It is a deal between a Satan and a Devil. The compromise beteen the two from the Top is only for the benefit of DEALERS. The consumers will have to pay for their greed (of Top) and for their mismanagement.
I am waiting for the DAY of Bastille when the people will grab the power to get rid of the Top!
I don’t think Mush will meet the Sharif’s in Saudia. Nawaz Sharif will only come back to Saudia at his own peril, he previously hoodwinked the Saudi royal family and Mush to allow him to go to London.
This is a part of the bigger story where Musharraf has been asked to seek a graceful exit by the “core commanders”. (read today’s The News and Urdupoint).
Full story at:
http://free-pakistan.blogspot.com/2007/07/are-core -commanders-asking-musharraf-to.html
This is a last ditch effort by Mush to devise a bailout strategy for himself. I am not sure what BB will gain though.
Actually, I don’t think this poll is very representative. That’s because between when this poll was first put up, my own view of this “deal” has changed several times due to news reports, the chief justice decision, lal masjid, statements by benazir, etc etc.
On a totally irrelevant note, I am in Pakistan right now and just returned from watching Khuda Kay Liye. I’ll just say this: I didn’t think it was possible, but Shoaib Mansoor has outdone himself once again. Each scene looked like it had been composed like a painting…..the film is very relevant, even more so to all of us expatriates. If they translate it into English, it’ll definitely be understandable to Western audiences. Who knows, we may win a foreign film Oscar before the absurd song-and-dance of Bollywood.
It may be naive to expect too much from the deal but it’s weird to keep following the politics of confrontation in such critical times. Those who believed that Lal-Masjid was only a drama, might have rude-awakening today, when the mosque is open again.
Now Musharraf’s uncertain future has forced him to deal with a lady to whom he has declared thug and corrupt. After this deal, poor people will never gain any thing and only Benazir and Mussharraf will be benefitted.
It is amazing that after ignoring PML(Q) resistance, Musharraf has decided to make a deal with PPP. I wondering what will happen to PPP Patriot and Chaudhri Brothers. It is true when cat is going to burn down, she puts her kitties under her feet and same thing is going to do Musharraf with Chaudhry Brothers.
It means Musharraf who earned fame to curtail corruption wasn’t right and he didn’t help to create corruption free political system in Pakistan.