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.
I have met Haqqani and read most of what he has written and he is no Neo-con…….You seem to be a bit of a conspiracy theorist. It must be flattering for Mr. Haqqani that he is being placed in the same company as a military dictator cum president and a former twice elected PM. I though he was a thinker. writer and strategist! You guys are really inventive man! Neo-con? Hah! Perhaps Qazi Sahib is more your speed and Hamid Gul???
My dream…
A “deal” could be good for Pakistan IF it ensures that the constitution is not mauled any further. The PPPP can share Govt benches but a leader other than BB must be Prime Minister, she, her husband and also the Sharifs carry too much negative baggage. A liberal and secular coalition Govt that is not corrupt would be a dream Govt, the PPPP can provide the idealogy and the PML(N) the governance, thumbs up to Shahbaz as a Deputy PM.
The General (then Retired) can serve as a President with stage presence but no powers. No other retired generals to be given significant political or bureaucratic office. Imran Khan should be found a job as Home Minister or Muhtasib, this leaves a vacancy for the PM and FM jobs which would be filled after the Parliaments fairly elected seats have been counted. The remaining Federal Ministeries, Secretariats, GHQ, MI and ISI should be brutally pruned and brought under strict Parliamentary control. The Police made to know and to respect the Law (A test for Khan sahib).
For this Term the obscurantists and the nationalist bigots should be kept within a strong democratic Opposition where they can keep a check on Military and Feudal corruption. In future terms they can take over should the public vote for them or even take over now (but hopefully this is unlikely). A country does always deserve the Government it elects.
Judges should be kept far away from the Executive, no more “Acting” Governors and Presidents, Chairmen or other bureaucratic titles, perks, public engagements or motorcades and flags.
A few years of this followed by another fair election and democracy could be underway.
Benazir bhutto wants to get rid of all the cases which if processed religously can end her political career. To do a deal she is using his masters sitting in US while assuring that she will do more than Musharraf to promote american policies.
Musharaff wants to prolong his rule by hook and crook. If he can appoint a governer who was once booked for number of murders and other cronies for number of cases then rest assure he can delete cases against benazir & party from NAB memory.
Hussain Haqqani is a part of Neocon supported RAND Corporation which draws the policies for famous One World Order. So dont expect from him to act sincere about pakistan bcoz he is being paid hefty amount to promote neocon policies.
Pakistan is infact a independent country where there is no rule of law. You can do anything what so ever legal or illegal on the basis of power / money. So please dont expect from rulers to act sincere.
Please act as independent citizen if you can:)
Thank you zjan for your kind comments.
BB has not said there is a deal.
She has said there are contacts.
That is what Haqqani is saying: That Musharraf is muddying the political waters by calling contacts a done deal.
BB is right in establishing and maintaining contacts. Was it Napoleon who said even warring armies should have achannel of communication? And BB and Mush need not be warring armies.
On another blog, someone posted the editorial by Najam Sethi (Friday Times), who claims he knows the details of the deal. Someone else read sethi’s article and wrote:
“SO help me understand this. Musharraf “will try and strengthen his current PMLQ-led grand national alliance by all means so that Ms Bhutto doesn’t sweep the electionsâ€