Adil Najam
Not totally unexpectedly, Gen. Pervez Musharraf has announced that he will return to active politics, that he will contest in the next elections whenever they are held, and that he will form a new political party. How do you react to this news? Is it great, good, irrelevant, bad, or terrible news? Cast your vote in our ATP Poll here and then, please, tell us why.
As you think about this, you may also like to revisit our August 2008 ATP Poll done right at the time of his departure, where we had asked what lay in Pakistan’s future after his departure: 30% said “everything will become much much worse” while another 30% said that “everything won’t become perfect, but things will improve.” Clearly a split decision.
We did a similar ATP Poll in October 2008 asking how people thought Pakistan had fared in the first two months without him: 31% said “everything became much much worse,” 24% said “only the faces changed, things are what they always were,” and 22% said “Everything hasn’t become perfect, but things have improved.”
Details of the news is still trickling in, but here are the essentials as reported in The Express Tribune:
Former military ruler Pervez Musharraf has unveiled his plans to return to active politics, saying that he will contest the next general election in Pakistan.
Musharraf made the announced at a gathering of his supporters in Islamabad by teleconference. “I have decided to take part in Pakistan’s politics and I will contest the next elections, irrespective of whether they are mid-term or ends term elections,†he said in his brief address. A number of cases have been filed against Musharraf since the Supreme Court (SC) declared that the emergency imposed by him in 2007 was unconstitutional and illegal.
Musharraf said that he has received a lot of support from Pakistanis living abroad. “The Pakistanis I have met abroad have told me I should return to Pakistan,†he said. He remained secretive about his future plans saying that he would present his vision for Pakistan’s progress and the direction the country should take at a suitable time. “If you are with me, I will not let you down,†he added.
Musharraf asked his supporters to attend the Pasdare- Pakistan gathering on May 8 at the Islamabad Press Club. “Sitting on the sidelines of history never changed anything, become a part of positive change in Pakistan,†he added. Musharraf’s supporters have also launched a move to register a new party, The All Pakistan Muslim League.
He is the only one who can crush Radicalism in Pakistan.
Musharaf or Taliban is the only choice we have. And I choose Musharaf.
Here is the list of things he did for Pakistan for morons who forget.
asic comparison of 1999 and 2007
Pak Economy in 1999 was: $ 75 billion
Pak Economy in 2007 is: $ 160 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 1999: $ 270 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2007: $ 475.5 billion
GDP per Capita in 1999: $ 2,000
GDP per Capita in 2007: $ 3,004
Pak revenue collection 1999: Rs. 305 billion
Pak revenue collection 2007: Rs. 708 billion
Pak Foreign reserves in 1999: $ 700 million
Pak Foreign reserves in 2007: $ 17 billion
Pak Exports in 1999: $ 7.5 billion
Pak Exports in 2007: $ 18.5 billion
Textile Exports in 1999: $ 5.5 billion
Textile Exports in 2007: $ 11.2 billion
KHI stock exchange 1999: $ 5 billion at 700 points
KHI stock exchange 2007: $ 70 billion at 14,000 points
Foreign Direct Investment in 1999: $ 1 billion
Foreign Direct Investment in 2007: $ 8 billion
Debt servicing 1999: 65% of GDP
Debt servicing 2007: 26% of GDP
Poverty level in 1999: 34%
Poverty level in 2007: 24%
Literacy rate in 1999: 45%
Literacy rate in 2007: 53%
Pak Development programs 1999: Rs. 80 billion
Pak Development programs 2007: Rs. 520 billion
Under Musharraf’s vision
Ø • 9 world class Engineering universities being developed and 18 Public universities already developed.
Ø • Private sector institutions have increased from 36,096 (in 1999) to become 81,103 (in 2006).
Ø • PAK is 3rd best in world Banking profitability.
Ø • PAK IT industry now values around $2 billion, including $1 billion exports and employs around 90,000 professionals.
Ø • CNG sector has attracted over $7 billion investment in last 5 years; and created 45,000 jobs.
Ø • Telecom sector attracted around $10 billion in investment and created above 1.3 million jobs.
Ø • Industrial Parks are being setup throughout the country for the first time! M3 estate, Sunder industrial estate, Chakri, etc.
Ø • Major Mega projects like the Saindak, Rekodiq, Marble production, Coal production and Mining & Quarrying are being pursued.
Ø • In 2007, GDP growth is 6%. Earlier in 1999 was 3.5%.
Ø • Foreign Reserves from $1 bn to $17 bn.
Ø • KHI stock market: from 700 points to 13,000 points.
Ø • Literacy rate improved by 11%.
Ø • Poverty decreased by 10%.
Ø • He made 4 dams: Mirani, Subakzai, Gomalzam, Khurram Tangi dams.
Ø • 6 Motorways completed or under construction: M1, M3, M8, M9, M10, M11.
Ø • Six major highways under construction.
Ø • GWADAR advance mega Sea port developed under his vision!
Ø • Historic 100% increase in Tax collection of $11 billion.
Ø • Large scale manufacturing is 30 year high, and Construction activity is 17 year high.
Ø • Newly found World class copper- gold deposits in Chagai will fetch $600 million per year.
Ø • A new Oil refinery with UAE will fetch $5 billion & will process 300,000 oil barrels a day.
Ø • Industrial sector registered 26% growth.
Ø • PAK in 1999 was a $75 billion economy; and now 2006 it’s $160 billion economy!
Ø • PAK economy is now the 3rd fastest growing economy after China & India.
Education under Musharraf Era
In 1999-2000 there were 31 Public Universities. Now 2005-2006 there are 49 Public Universities. Under Musharraf 20 NEW UNIVERSITIES SET UP!
Ø • Air University (established 2002)
Ø • Institute of Space technology, ISB (established 2002)
Ø • Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University, Quetta (established 2004)
Ø • University of Science & Technology, Bannu (established 2005)
Ø • University of Hazara (founded 2002)
Ø • Malakand university, Chakdara (established 2002)
Ø • Karakurum International university, Gilgit (established 2002)
Ø • University of Gujrat (established 2004)
Ø • Virtual University of Pak, Lahore (established 2002)
Ø • Sarhad University of IT, Peshawar (established 2001)
Ø • National Law University, ISB (2007)
Ø • Media University, ISB (2007) etc.
Ø • University of Education, Lahore (2002)
Ø • Lasbella University of Marine Sciences, Baluchistan (2005)
Ø • Baluchistan University of IT & Management, Quetta (2002), etc.
Pakistan now has a total of 245,682 Educational institutions in all categories, including 164,579 (i.e. 67 percent) in the Public sector and 81,103 (i.e. 100 percent) in the private sector, reports the National Education Census (NEC-2005). The census — jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) and the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) — reveals that the number of private-sector institutions has increased from 36,096 in 1999-2000 to 81,103 in 2005, i.e. by 100 per cent.
Total 99,319 Educational Institutions (Public & Private) have increased in Musharraf Era!
Though I don’t believe his 200,000 fans on facebook would translate into that many votes, I think if he does return, he will come back with a bang and fade away in the next 5 years. That said, the oft-mentioned ‘establishment’ of Pakistan, might have a field day. If there does exist some influential network that does what it is said to be doing, they might have a legitimate man in the game in the shape of Pervaiz, not least because he was a General, but mostly because of his comfort in dealing with the media through some ill-fashioned straight talk. The constant meddling in the political circles might also decrease. Why go through with mysterious deals with unpopular and corrupt, when you can have a legit candidate in the game. I think if that happens, a substantial change may be coming in our politique.
I will not vote for him but I also think that his coming back and running in elections is good for Pakistan
this is really the ONLY way the Army can have direct power in Pakistan’s civilian affairs..
and given our gullible awam.. he’ll definitely get votes..
But if he comes.. we should actually lose hope about Pakistan ever going towards democracy..
.. as an Army-sponsored democracy will hardly be democracy..
He has already ruled for enough time. He should take a rest now.