Front PagePakistan is Back at Square One—Will it Ever Reach Democracy?
Submitted by K Prabhakar Rao on Mon, 11/05/2007 - 09:54. al qaeda democracy general musharraf marshal law pakistan taliban tyranny
Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao
Pakistan of late got engulfed in religious fundamentalism. The country became very important in world affairs after WTC 9/11 that resulted in the invasion of Afghanistan to dethrone Taliban rule which harbored AlQaeda network and its leaders Osama Bin Laden his lieutenants. By virtue of its strategic location with respect to Afghanistan, Pakistan has become the most important and favored ally of Washington. Billions of US dollars were offered to Pakistan to fight the terrorists in Waziristan province of Pakistan. However terrorism has flourished in Pakistan and Taliban and AlQaeda cadres have strongly regrouped in Waziristan and border areas of Afghanistan on Pakistan side. In fact Taliban has been successfully destabilizing Afghan government and certain areas of southern Afghanistan are literally controlled by Taliban. Bitter struggle is waging between Taliban and NATO forces in Afghanistan’s border areas (1).
President Musharraf who came to power after dethroning Prime Minister Nawaz Sheriff of late has been facing stiff opposition within his country. His earlier effort to dismiss Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammed Chaudhray of Supreme Court was not successful and there was a great opposition. There were nationwide strikes particularly from lawyers who took to streets. Justice Chaudhray was again reinstated after a court verdict in his favor and General Musharraf bowed to the courts orders. There was also a stiff terrorist activity by fundamentalists who got holed up in Lal Maszid and they had to be evicted by an Army operation. This Pakistan Taliban was trying to impose their own outmoded code on people and became a threat to the nation which is claimed to be on the path of modernity. Attention of readers is drawn to the crazy Afghan Taliban rule where they measured beards and flogged the defaulters. Just imagine Pakistan under Taliban rule wielding nuclear weapons. Probably they will not hesitate to drop the bomb on India and pass on these weapons as Islamic bomb to Al Qaeda to target West and America. It is to the credit of General Musharraf who has taken on war against Taliban and extremists in Pakistan. Hundreds of armed fundamentalists were killed in the army operation and this was a serious set back to the Mullahs and fundamentalists who are very angry. President Musharraf is facing stiff opposition from Mullahs, Pakistan Taliban and Afghan Taliban who were the creation of Pakistan who once fought Russian occupation Army (2). Nawaz Sheriff who flew into Pakistan defying the government orders from London was taken into custody and was deported to Saudi Arabia immediately. General Musharraf who also is donning the role of President has contested Presidential polls while in uniform after the Supreme Court gave a ruling in his favor to stand election while holding the post of Army chief. General Musharraf came to some understanding with former Prime Minister Begum Bhutto on the modalities of sharing power after elections. He declared that once he was elected, he would shed his uniform and would become the full time civilian head of State. The elections have been held and the result was a foregone conclusion. General Musharraf was declared elected by winning the contest by hands down and great margin. But official declaration was with held owing to the court cases that are required to be disposed off (3).
Former Prime Minister Begum Nusrat Bhutto who was in exile recently returned amidst many protests. Her welcome rally was marred by two severe bomb explosions in which hundreds of people died. Subsequently there was a severe explosion near the official residence of General Musharraf; the country appeared to be in great confusion and chaos with militants and terrorists having a free time everywhere. The terrorist actions earlier limited to Waziristan and border areas have now spread to main land and even to the capital where bomb blasts were carried out with impunity.
As per the recent developments, General Musharraf has declared a state of emergency in the country suspending constitution and declaring a provisional constitution. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Chaudhray been replaced. The Bar council chief Eitzaz Ahsan was also arrested It is believed that the verdict on Musharrafs election was likely to against him and suspecting the outcome, the emergency was declared to overcome the crisis. The State of emergency has been rejected by eight judges of the Supreme Court. All administrative departments in the country have been placed under army and Press has been completely controlled. General Musharraf addressed the nation and declared that declaration of emergency became inevitable with serious interference of judiciary in the process of administration. The fight against terrorism has been adversely affected by the interference. The General said, “The difficult decision to impose emergency was taken to save the country from threats from extremists and judicial intervention which led to paralysis in civil administration and law enforcing agencies”. He accused a section of the media of not acting in a responsible manner. “Pakistan is on the verge of destabilization and inaction at this time was suicidal”, the General declared. He accused a section of people of disrupting the process towards democracy (4). Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said the extraordinary measures would remain in place "as long as it is necessary." He also said parliamentary elections could be postponed up to a year, but no such decision had been made. The U.S. said it was disappointed and called for Musharraf to restore democracy.
However Former Prime Minister Begum Bhutto who arrived from Dubai was stranded at Karachi air port and was allowed into the country after few hours. She said that the country would face stricter dictatorship. India as usual expressed concern over the developments in Pakistan while some of the political parties condemned the emergency imposed by the President. The Pentagon said the emergency declaration does not affect U.S. military support for Pakistan and its efforts in the war on terrorism. Britain said it was deeply concerned (5). The US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice from Turkey said, “It was highly regrettable that Pakistan’s President has declared emergency”. She urged restraint on all sides and a swift return to democracy. “The US does not support extra constitutional measures”, she said (6). "He's obviously not very popular, and it's not going to increase his popularity," said Rick Barton, a Pakistan expert at the Washington-based Center for International and Strategic Studies. Musharraf issued two ordinances toughening media laws, including a ban on live broadcasts of "incidents of violence and conflict." Also, TV operators who "ridicule" the president, armed forces, and other powerful state bodies face up to three years in jail.
Thus we see that Pakistan has come back to the original State after a full circle and back to square. The present action by the General is seen as the second coup after his first coup in 1999 in which he seized power from Nawaz Sheriff. Some also would see this as welcome sign for the fear of loosing the country to the mad mullahs and fundamentalist Taliban wielding nuclear arsenal. The emergency that is nothing but a martial law in disguise and would continue for a long period and it is very unlikely that democracy would be restored in Pakistan although the President says that the present conditions would not remain for long than it is necessary. But who would believe him? In spite of all these shortcomings there is a general world opinion that General Musharraf has done reasonably well all these years in checking the terrorists and brought some credibility to the country. However of late there has been a greater conspiracy by the extremists and Mullahs in Pakistan to seize power and turn the country into Taliban State that would be disastrous to the nation. It would have been another Taliban ruled Afghanistan. If General Musharraf is sincere he must use this opportunity to completely crush Taliban and AlQaeda and Pakistan Taliban movement and rebuild the nation as a responsible State that has nuclear weapons that could prove danger to world stability. The country is like a gyroscope that would continue to spin along an axis and even if disturbed would again restore itself to the original axis of spin. It would continue to spin around the military axis of spin. All dictators in the world are like tigers that have tasted human flesh. Such animals even if kill their natural prey would soon return for making a human kill. It is improbable that Pakistan would restore a true democracy and it is destined to suffer military dictatorships for many years to come and its military dictators would continue to devour its own people. God save the people of Pakistan from the bloodshed.
Bibliography
1..Prof Dr Colonel ( retired) K Prabhakar Rao, 48. Is the seat of General Musharraf shaking? March, 19, 2007, 09:31
2. Prof Dr Colonel (retired) K Prabhakar Rao, Pakistan in turmoil, September 10, 2007, 13:50
3.Ibid
4.Shafqat Ali, PAK under Musharraf law, Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP,India, Date November 04, 2007, PP 1
5.Musharraf imposes emergency measures, Yahoo news, http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071104/ap_on_re_as/pakistan, 12 06 pm.
6. Anne Geran, US says situation to be regretted, Deccan chronicle, Hyderabad, AP, India, Date November 04, 2007, and PP 10
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Submitted by Dr K Prabhakar Rao (not verified) on Wed, 12/05/2007 - 07:46.
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General Musharraf is now Mr Musharraf devoid of colors, pistol and all frills. Now he is seen in dull drab black achkan ( Long coat). Deep in the heart poor guy would be literally weeping for shedding uniform. That is but natural for him who spent four decades in uniform. We have to see whether he can deliver goods. General clamor is for permanat ousting. How much support he would get from the present army chief has to be seen. Pak army has lost the confidence of general public. How long one can rule with a stick? In no place of the world dictators have succeeded eternally. They brought more miseries to the ocuntry men than doing any thing good and bringing long term benefits. Pak people want Pak army to be professional and confine to barracks. But Pak army that enjoyed power for three decades in spurts may not be ready to give permanent control over the nation to civilians. This is because civilian rulers turned out to be a corrupt lot and that is what world has witnessed. Some try to compare India and Pakistan in this aspect. How India is able to carry on with democracy in whatever form it is? People have confidence in army that they will not dethrone the civilian power. It is not worth buying the headache. There was a great fear at the time of General Thimmayya during sixtees. the post of commander in Chief was abolished and all defence wings were made independent. All their chiefs were made of equal ranks. Pakistan and India can not be compared. India is too vast compard to Pakistan. People are more docile. Muslim nations are generally averse to democracy ( except Turkey). They turn out be prefering princely rule, Or Mullah dominated pseudo democracies like Iran or dictatorships. World Mulsim nations have witnessed coups and counter coups. Pakistan is no exception. Religion is part of politics in Islam. When this happens democracy can not survive. Thus democracy can never flourish in Pakistan. It woul labor on and struggle with military rules, unrest, periods of short term democracies, Corruption at all and highest levels, and again military coups and so on so forth till the nation disintegrates. Musharraf may last for some time before he has to leave the chair. NOw again he can not bring in another coup militarily as he has no uniform. The guys in uniform may not listen to him. The alternative is repeat performance by the present army chief. There is no alternative to this.
Dr K Prabhakar Rao
General Musharraf is now Mr Musharraf devoid of colors, pistol and all frills. Now he is seen in dull drab black achkan ( Long coat). Deep in the heart poor guy would be literally weeping for shedding uniform. That is but natural for him who spent four decades in uniform. We have to see whether he can deliver goods. General clamor is for permanat ousting. How much support he would get from the present army chief has to be seen. Pak army has lost the confidence of general public. How long one can rule with a stick? In no place of the world dictators have succeeded eternally. They brought more miseries to the ocuntry men than doing any thing good and bringing long term benefits. Pak people want Pak army to be professional and confine to barracks. But Pak army that enjoyed power for three decades in spurts may not be ready to give permanent control over the nation to civilians. This is because civilian rulers turned out to be a corrupt lot and that is what world has witnessed. Some try to compare India and Pakistan in this aspect. How India is able to carry on with democracy in whatever form it is? People have confidence in army that they will not dethrone the civilian power. It is not worth buying the headache. There was a great fear at the time of General Thimmayya during sixtees. the post of commander in Chief was abolished and all defence wings were made independent. All their chiefs were made of equal ranks. Pakistan and India can not be compared. India is too vast compard to Pakistan. People are more docile. Muslim nations are generally averse to democracy ( except Turkey). They turn out be prefering princely rule, Or Mullah dominated pseudo democracies like Iran or dictatorships. World Mulsim nations have witnessed coups and counter coups. Pakistan is no exception. Religion is part of politics in Islam. When this happens democracy can not survive. Thus democracy can never flourish in Pakistan. It woul labor on and struggle with military rules, unrest, periods of short term democracies, Corruption at all and highest levels, and again military coups and so on so forth till the nation disintegrates. Musharraf may last for some time before he has to leave the chair. NOw again he can not bring in another coup militarily as he has no uniform. The guys in uniform may not listen to him. The alternative is repeat performance by the present army chief. There is no alternative to this.
Dr K Prabhakar Rao
» reply
Musharraff is free of uniform... Inside?
Finally General Musharraf hung his uniform and baton bowing to pressure obviously from America. His stage managed verdict from the Supreme court has given him the five year term as the civilian president. All sane persons would no doubt see this as the mockery of justice in Pakistan. People are happy that he finally kept his word of becoming a civilian. Some even thought that he would assume the rank of a Field marshall . A Field Marshal never retires from Uniform as practiced in Indian sub continent. India had Field Marshal Manekshaw who was bestowed the rank after victory in 1971 war and he was entitled to the uniform and perks although he had no administrative powers over Army and led retired life. Then earst while Indian Commander in Chief General Kariappa was made the Field mrashal before he died. General Musharraf some how failed to assume the rank which could have been very easy and none could have opposed him. It is not known whether A Fileld Marshal can become a President though he retires from active service. That could have kept Musharraf free from tears that he shed in his final speech and while taking oath. There is no doubt that Musharraf has done great service to Pakistan in uniform as a soldier in his own. Outsiders may criticise him.
Now it has to be seen how the elections would be held and who would become the PMi. How the marriage will last? Although Musharraf is a civilian his style of functioning would be like a general only as this is natural for him. If things go bad he shall always hand over the reigns to the Army chief who would probably be too pleased to take over. In fact there is a great clamor in Pakistan that Musharraf should go and entire set up should be civilan in nature and Army should be limited to barracks. This is never possible in Pakistan. Pak governmnet would be always shadowed by its army. A civilan rule will be only temporary till Pakistan lasts in the sub continent.
It has no control over Waziristan and slowly this area will try itself to get freed from Pakistan and there is great likelihood of Waziristan becoming the land of AlQaeda with the status of a seperate country. Similarly Sindh is trying to get freed from Pak clutches. It may be a reality in future. That would be the end of Pakistan as a major state in the region. If Pakistan has to survive, its Army has to be free from politics and support the constitution .
Dr K Prabhakar Rao