Fears of a Military Coup in Pakistan

It is surprising that army has been able to impose a total blackout even on internet services.

Any one aware of any link still active and giving uptodate info?

Regards

Any comments from readers in Pakistan would be greatly appreciated.

Let the millennium begin with a hope for Pakistan. I hope this time round democracy is re-installed in Pakistan with someone who has half a brain of Najam Sethi. No more repeats of the likes of the ignorant, incompetent, and corrupt Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif. Is this asking too much?

unbelievable.

It is sad that democracy could not grow roots in Pakistan. Yet, speaking from India`s point of view, it is better to deal with a united Pakistan, even if it is under martial law, than it is to have a collapsed state on our borders. Make no mistake that that is exactly where it was headed.

Even from pakistan`s point of view,I don`t think there would be many people there who would consider their experiment with democracy a success. Maybe the stability that army rule will bring can help that bruised nation recover from its wounds. Maybe time is what is needed for a better polity to emerge.

On the other hand: Both our people want peace. But with the army in power in Pakistan, will peace ever come to the sub-continent?

-narain

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Here we go again.

Pakistani military has the main switch to all power - both electric as well as ``government.`` The Pakistani newspaper Dawn says ---

``Internal Server Error -- The server encountered an internal error or misconfiguration and was unable to complete your request. -- Please contact the server administrator, webmaster@dawn.com and inform them of the time the error occurred, and anything you might have done that may have caused the error.``

This is an ironic situation. I heavily support anything that keeps Benazir, Nawaz Sharif, fundamentalists, and the respective cronies of the above three, out of power. While even the moderate religious parties have been kept out of power, by the voters, NS and BB seem to have a knack for getting back into power. The are experts at manipulating the system. At the same time I oppose the military from taking power. As long as the military hands over the power to a neutral civilian govt. immediately, I will support this move. Supporting a military coup sounds anti-democratic, but then again does it make sense to allow Nawaz Sharif, and Benazir to run the country into disaster, again and again.

Some more news:

Pakistan TV: Army Dismisses Government



The Associated Press

Tuesday, October 12, 1999; 1:36 p.m. EDT

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (AP) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his Cabinet have been dismissed, army-controlled television said today. Troops took control of airports and government buildings throughout the country.

A message scrolled across the television screen announcing that Sharif`s government had been ousted. It said Gen. Pervaiz Musharraf, who had been fired hours before by Sharif, would address the nation in a broadcast speech.

Here we go again!

Another coup, another govt., another cycle, is this gonna END.

This look like Army finally fed up with Nawaz Gump Sharif. If Army did this coup d`état keeping in mind with the rising sentiment of the fellow country men than move is applauded but if this is due the retreat (Kargil) of Mr. Sharif in Washington and firing of the army Chief then God bless Pakistan!

We don`t need another Zia, I hope cooler heads of army will prevail and do the right things for the country (that`s the only institution commands respect). If Army is serious then there should be FIRST and only first accountability, FAIR & FIRM. Let, the looters of national economy pay for their crimes and don`t let any one off the hook. Let`s hope this time it`s really for the good of country.

Meanwhile, childish remarks (civil war in Pakistan) only strength west fear of `Who`s the in charge of Pakistan`s nukes`. She is playing the THEOCRACY and the victim card again. She need to be more mature in her remarks other than getting the sympathy of the America`s top political elite.

This is what you get when you remove the powers of the President. Pakistan had been flourishing in a so called democracy for the past 11 years because through the Presidential amendment the parliament could be dissolved. Now only the army could remove the government as it has done so - so dramatically.

Only time will tell if this is a good move and a lot depends on Musharraf. Is he a democrat? Can he remove the obstacles to democracy? Will he rule like Zia? Is he a fundamentalist? As a Pakistani I can only hope he can form democratic institutions, bring about land reform, attack the feudal stronghold, bring about law and order and bring able men and women into his government. One can only hope. Only time will tell.

With no presidential amendment enabling to dissolve parliament, a military coup was always envitable.

Ironically, Nawaz Sharif in soldifying his power over the years, has, like all elected leaders of Pakistan underestimated the power of the Army.

In essence, democracy in Pakistan has not worked and will not work until strong leadership comes forth and removes Pakistan`s obstacles to democracy. We need stong independent democratic insitutions that implement political checks and balances. We need land reforms and laws that strengthen the economy and democracy for the future.

These are the scenarios i forsee:

1.Musharrif rules indefinitely;

2.Elections are held in typical 90 day style (interim govt.) and

a) benazir comes back (highly unlikely though not impossible)

b) Nawaz comes back (not likely)

c) a third party/coalition (God knows who)

3. Musharif hand pick zia style his own Junejo government

This is a time, when strong leadership is required with a vision towards strengthening democracy for the future. Maybe Pakistan needs authoritarianism first, in order for democracy to last stronger and longer.

Probably the best site for updated news....

http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/fc/breaking/Pakistan/

Some more updates from the Dawn site:

PM and new COAS Under House Arrest - CNN 23:55 PST CNN, quoting ``senior US officials``, has reported that Nawaz Sharif and Lieutenant General Khawaja Ziauddin (who had been appointed the new COAS by the Prime Minster earlier today) are both believed to be under effective house arrest.

No Time Announced Yet for COAS`s Speech 23:45 PST: No definite time has yet been announced for the speech of Gen Pervez Musharraf. PTV is still periodically broadcasting a recorded announcement between national songs that the speech will be `later tonight`.

Nawaz Govt. Dismissed: Gen Pervez Musharraf to Address the Nation - PTV 22:25 PST: PTV and Radio Pakistan have just announced that the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been `dismissed` and that Gen Pervez Musharraf will address the nation `soon`. No time was given for the broadcast.

We will cover the highlights of the speech LIVE on this site.

According to reports on CNN, people are on the streets of Islamabad shouting, ``welcome army, welcome army``. The Press Trust of India is reporting that the Indian Army has been put on alert following the developments in Pakistan. (Bureau Report)

All PTV Channels Resume Transmissions: 22:20 PST: All channels of Pakistan television and Radio Pakistan have resumed transmissions. At the time of the filing of this report, all PTV channels are carrying the same programming consisting of national songs, and Radio Pakistan is carrying a news bulliten that appears to be a recording from before the present crisis broke. (Bureau report)

US says Situation in Pakistan is ``Confusing``: 22:15 PST: A US State Department spokesman has said that the situation in Pakistan is ``confusing``. He said Pakistan`s Ambassador to the US could not give them answers to the key questions that were asked as to who was in control. The spokesman reiterated that the US wishes to see the constitution respected in Pakistan. He said that ``if there has been a coup`` the US hopes for an early resumption of democracy in Pakistan, and till then there could be `` no business as usual with Pakistan``.

He said that that the US was not aware of this move in advance. Asked if the US was concerned about who controls the nuclear weapons in Pakistan, he said that there is ``no fear right this moment, but that does not mean that this cant change``, and added that at this time it is a ``political crisis``. (Bureau Report)

PTV Back On Air: 20:50 PST: PTV has resumed transmission on two of its three terrestrial network with a documentary, a short while back. However, both the satellite channel and the Shalimar Television Network (STN) are still off air. (Bureau Report)

Benazir`s Reaction: 20:25 PST: In separate interviews to Fox News and BBC TV, leader of the opposition Benazir Bhutto has said that Pakistan is now in a state of civil war. She said this was a ``battle between the forces of theoracracy and democracy``, and that she was the victim of ``gender discrimination. (Bureau Report)

Governor Punjab Arrested? 20:15 PST: There are reports from usually reliable sources, though not yet independently confirmed, that Governor Punjab, Zulfiqar Khosa, has been taken into custody by troops of the Pakistan Army from the Governor`s House in Lahore.(Bureau Report)

Pakistan Television Off Air after Troops enter Key Areas - Gen Musharraf Arrives in Karachi: 20:00 PST: ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: PTV went off the air at 19:22 PST after troops entered the building following the dismissal of Pakistan army chief general Pervez Musharraf, witnesses said.

Troops have also taken over security at the airports, sources here said. The television went off the air about two hours after the dismissal order made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, witnesses said, adding ``troops are inside the building.``

Troops have also been deployed at the main government secretariat, and witnesses said military trucks were seen outside the prime minister`s residence here. The army was also guarding the gates of the television station while police were manning traffic outside, witnesses said. Later mobile telephones also stopped working here, sources said.

In Lahore troops have been deployed outside the governor`s house, witnesses said, adding the army was also surrounding the city`s airport. Sources in Karachi said Musharraf flew back to the country from Colombo late Tuesday amid a heavy military presence at Karachi airport.(AFP & Bureau Report)

Gen. Pervez Musharraf sacked: Lt.Gen. Ziauddin new COAS 18:00 PST: ISLAMABAD, Oct 12: Pakistan`s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif today dismissed Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf amid persistent reports of differences with the commander, officials said. The Prime Minister ``retired the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) and Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, with immediate effect``, an official announcement said.

Lieutenant General Khawaja Ziauddin was promoted to General and replaced Musharraf, the brief announcement added. Ziauddin had headed the military`s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

The announcement gave no reason for the dramatic dismissal, which came only two weeks after Nawaz Sharif had confirmed Musharraf would complete his tenure as Head of Army and Chairman of JCSC. His tenure was to last till October 6, 2001. On September 29, a spokesman for the Prime Minister had said the confirmation ``will once and for all set at rest the uncalled for rumours and speculations about change of command in the army``. (AFP)

Though the ouster of nawaz was much needed but this is not the way. In Pakistan people were never made stronger. As the momentum builds up against any govt from the public`s side, either the president, the opposition, or the army comes to the rescue of the system. This what precisly happened this time. They all support one system and that`s exploitation, of people, of resources etc. So they have saved the system once again!

Good Luck Pakistan