Adil Najam
Noises drenched in that uniquely Pakistani mix of rumor, spin, speculation, and analysis suggest that something is afoot in Army House, Rawalpindi. Some suggest that spurred from the US as well as the new political dispensation in Pakistan, but largely because of their own accord, the military leadership is finally ready to ease Gen. Musharraf not only out of Army House, but also out of the Presidency. Official spokesmen, of course, deny this vehemently. Which, given that this is Pakistan, adds an added layer of authenticity to the rumors.
It is time, once again, to wonder what lies in the future of Pakistan.
Although October 2007 now feels like another era, we had asked some similar questions then. At that point we had wondered about the future of Pakistan’s politics (for the next year) in light of the possibility of Gen. Musharraf doffing his uniform. Our readers’ responses had been mostly on the mark - most of you had predicted a year of increased political turbulence and a curtailing of Gen. Musharraf’s influence. Of course, the year is not up yet and anything could well happen between now and October 2008.
The record of our readers in the last ATP Poll we did - on the future of the PML(N)-PPP coalition - was a little less stellar. Most had thought that the coalition would weather the judicial storm. As it turned out, the coalition fell even before the Poll ended.
So, what do you think lies in Gen. Musharraf’s future between now and October 2008. Has anything changed since the last poll? What? Do vote and do share your views in the comments section.
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Have seen some interesting comments by fellow readers. Everybody has the right to express one’s opinion but when Aamir says that we ourselves have supported Mush, let me correct him. We Pakistanis never supported any army general neither did a general ever ask us whether we want him or not. Every general comes with a “danda”. Sometime he constitutes “basic democracies” (The world talks of democracy but in Pakistan we have not only democracy but even the “democracies” so fond we are of democracy, thanks to our men in uniform.
The second in command general (who was more of a Don Juan” than the leader of the Islamic Republic). He too had his coterie of fellow generals, bootleggers and sycophants, was so power hungry that he felt proud in presiding over the dismemberment of this proud nation. His man in Dacca Gen Niazi handed over the major part of Pakistan to the arch enemy not over his dead body but through a normal handing over of his pistol to Indian General Arora and thus wiped out Pakistan’s largest province from our map as if it never existed at all.
The third in the series the Mard-e- Haq who lost Siachin to India, shamelessly admitted that Siachin “main tau ghass bhi nhin ugti”. He created a Majlis-e- Shoora, a body which had a bunch of handpicked personae. When people were given a choice, not out of free will of Mard-e-Haq, but because of pressure from political forces, and especially because of the leverage the US always has had on our governments, they did choose people for the renovated, rejuventaed Majlis-e-Shoora. There the general in command dismissed his own appointee, the meek and gentle Muhammad Khan Junejo.
The fourth general in our series ruled the country through his “grass root democracy” He still wanted and wants to govern the country for another 5-10 years but the movement by country’s media, the political forces, the civil society and a change in the rank and file at the GHQ forced him to go for an election which though did have some element of rigging, by and large its results have not been disputed. Resultantly the elections returned politicians that Mush had never liked.
When we are asked by ATP will Mush go the answer is of course he will go although he does not want to go on his own accord, neither did his predecessors.
But what the country needs, is not only that he should go but also he should face an enquiry into all what happened between 1999-2008. I mean the Kargil fiasco, the Pakistan Steel affair, the Wheat Scandal, the stock market crashes and so on and so forth.
I do give in. here in Pakistan it is fashion to denounce a person who is eclipsed either due to his own follies or due to other factors beyond his control; yet in case of Mush it has to be done through legal process. Put him under trial, if he is guilty, let him face for his deed, if proved innocent; put the people who malign him to a judicial process.
Law must take its own course and justice must prevail. This is what every Pakistani is wishing now.
Adnan Siddiqi, You are doing it again. PLEASE STOP LYING.
And trying to get traffic directed to your website through these baseless comments is really a cheap trick.
RAND, is NOT a Liberal institution it is a Right Wing Conservative institution… much like Bush and the Mullahs you defend. So, please spare us these silly comments.
Answer the question if you can. Yo have been making baseless accusations about Pakistani liberals on this blog and elsewhere and you just made the accusation that we (I am a Pakistani Liberal) think that those who die from US drones are not innocent. That is a lie against me and other Pakistani Liberals. So, please, show me where I or anyone else has said that.
Otherwise, at least apologies for your lies. And pray for your own forgiveness.
By the way, here is what is beyond hilarious. DO you actually think Musharraf is a LEFTEST!!!!!!!!!
Give me a break. Musharraf is a political Right Winger, maybe a Noe-con. His biggest ally is George Bush–No one has ever accused Bush of being a Leftist. Musharraf’s political partners were Right Wing parties like the religious parties and the PML-Q and Military leaders are generally right wing anyhow.
Give me a break, man. DO you even know what a Leftist is? The left is people who believe is social justice, in equality, in human rights, in equal economic opportunity, in social welfare. Right-wingers - like you, like George Bush, like Musharraf, like Mullahs, like your suicide bombers - all like to solve their problems by killing people!
I agree that Gen. Musharraf is no longer as important as he was to anyone, so whether he stays or leaves it does not matter to most Pakistanis
But he does matter to Americans. Sooner or later we might hear some “news” about him like we heard about Saddam and Zia? *shrug*
Musharraf has always been having his way. Now he wants to be humiliated and then leave in disgrace. So that is what he is getting and will get sooner than you may expect. You may wonder why does he want to leave this way. Well, because he wants to atone all his sins , starting from Kargil to his action of 02 Nov 07, this way. Can you think of anyother reason for his getting humiliated the way he is. I can’t.
I agree that Gen. Musharraf is no longer as important as he was to anyone, so whether he stays or leaves it does not matter to most Pakistanis. he did not solve our problems by staying and will not solve them by leaving.
Bilal:
I am talking about the period between 2001 and today, not just 2007 and today, when Mr Musharraf got into some political trouble. When Alqaida members were being arrested from Pakistani cities, when religious lunatics were being confronted in Lal Masjid, when warlords were being fought in Waziristan and Baluchistan, the people of Pakistan never ever supported Mr Musharraf or his efforts, the result is that today Pakistan is ruled by terrorists, and plunderers have once again taken power in the country in the name of “Democracy”. Dont blame Musharraf for this, blame yourself.
Amir, i really admire your perception about this issue, but let me rectify the statement you have mentioned in your comment. I.e. ‘Support’ let me personify it by reminding you about the power sharing deal b/w Late BB and president Musharraf, martyrs of October 18 and December 27, suicidal attacks in the major cities of Pakistan targeting the most central parts and bodies of the state, detention of judges, battering of lawyers by police constables and many more that i cannot embed all of them in this box. Pakistanis have always supported Musharraf either by giving their lives or by undergoing the consequences of his so called endeavors. Even though, could you ask for a better support Amir. This is not about blaming him but it’s all about the fact that nothing has changed in his tenure as president of IR of Pakistan. Yes, I certainly agree with you that there is a big venture ahead if Musharraf resigns as president but nonetheless, Pakistanis have already made their mind for it. Remember, the intervention of US in our fight against terror and in our personal affairs will intensely deteriorate the situation.
Bilal:
Musharraf would have succeeded against terrorism if the people of Pakistan supported him and his efforts. Instead every time the govt took action against dangerous extremists, they were denounced as “American dogs”. Now you blame Musharraf for failure.