Adil Najam
UPDATE: The picture on the left, published in Daily Times, comes with the caption:
“Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz, Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri, PML-Q President Shujaat Hussain and MNAs react to an announcement by the Election Commissioner (unseen), at Parliament on Saturday. President Pervez Musharraf won a landslide victory in the election but the official results will be declared after the Supreme Court verdict on his eligibility.“
Maybe our readers can suggest what some of the people here are thinking as they clap. Suggestively, some, you will note, are making too much of an effort to clap, and others too little! The picture is also a good compliment to an earlier one we had posted here.
ORIGINAL POST: It is neither a surprise nor really news that Gen. Musharraf just got himself elected. It was always clear that he would get himself elected by hook or crook; eventually it took a bit of both. The way it had to be done is sad – pathetic really – and no one has come out of this mess looking good. Gen. Musharraf got the votes he needed, but neither he nor anyone else is a winner.
Gen. Musharraf lost whatever little credibility he might have had as someone interested in Pakistan’s development or people’s aspirations. He also lost the ability to make the claim that he was any different or any less p
ower-hungry than his political predecessors. He is now, clearly, one of them and has lost the one thing that had given him a support base. Benazir Bhutto lost the principles her party and father might once have stood for. PML(Q) had little to loose and yet lost big, they may even loose the government. Nawaz Sharif had already lost out some weeks ago. Maulana Fazlur Rehman had already lost all credibility but now they can’t even pretend to have any left. The Supreme Court lost at least some of the public goodwill they had gained as an institution with last minute shenanigans. America lost too because instead of backing one bad bet (Musharraf) they are now backing two (Musharraf + Benazir Bhutto).
But the biggest loser here may be the people of Pakistan who – once again – lost big time. But, then, I guess we are used to it.
Frankly, there is little need or point in commenting on the sham elections today. This was not a news event, this was a scripted stage drama. The real question remains what will happen next. There, it seems, that all of the losers – including Gen. Musharraf – may be confronted with some unexpected turn of events. There, one continues to hope, the people of Pakistan may yet emerge as winners eventually. Whenever ‘eventually’ comes!
Talking of subsidized American wheat, did we forget that this is the country that kept our hard earned money for 15 years for planes that were never delivered and was then converted to upfront payment for Soyabean that we did not need; but maybe Ali Reza likes his parathas well oiled.
Subsidized american wheat? Seems like someone is still living in 1950s…..
And for the so called american aid….. almost half of it is interest bearing loan and half is the rental for logistical facilities provided by Pakistan for the occupation forces in Afghanistan. The only ‘aid’ that america is poviding is a couple of hundred million dollars for “secularization of education curriculum” and training of teachers from FATA in USA.
“Contrary to your statement about my nocturnal affairs, I am very much awake and absolutely happy with – not the person of Musharraf – but what his continuing in office means for our country. It means there will be stability and continuity of policy.”
What kind of stability are you talking about? The only “stability” we will see is Musharraf holding onto his power. Like I said, your comments do not acknowledge the joke he has made of this country. Is the stability you are talking about the ones where the people of this country are beaten for expressing their opinion against the government? Or when the lawyers are harassed because they don’t follow Musharraf’s direction?
This is not stability. As for “continuity of policy”, you can forget about any continuity of policy as long as it is not in favour of Musharraf. If there’s one thing in Pakistan that is very wrong, it’s that Musharraf has changed his policies to suit his needs – not the people of Pakistan.
“That is more important for Pakistan than anything else right now.”
Pakistan does not need another dictatorship.
“What have slogans ever given this nation? I am interested only in the REAL opportunity that has been created in the past 8-10 years. I have personally benefited from it NOT BECAUSE I AM MUSHARRAF
For a country that loves parathas made from subsidized american wheat, we sure are touchy about them being interested in our affairs
The amazing thing is that we all used to say but there was little direct visibility is the interference of US in our internal political affairs. The blatant involvement of US in our internal affairs in current drama can bring down the head of any self respecting and self proclaiming SOVEREIGN nation in shame.
From Condi Rice’s telephone call to BB after the deal, the congratulations to Musharraf in biggest sham election ever, to visits of US state department officials during the SC saga, to Mush claiming that he was under pressure to do this absurd and ridiculous deal.