Hypocrisy of Musharraf Lovers

I am sorry Mukhlis, but you are too soft on this despot and I resent that. Mushraf is a Don of world`s biggest organized crime family called Pakistan army. Throughout the history of Pakistan no dictator has gladly and smoothly handed over government to civilians then why should we expect that from Musharaf; either these despots died an un-natural death or they inflicted such a catastrophy upon the nation that they did not have any other option but hand over government to civilians and save their faces. It breaks my heart but I am convinced to the core of my heart that Pakistan Army will never stop interferring in civilian affairs unless a catastrophic situation like East Pakistan befells upon us or some foreign army - Indian or American - invade us, inflict a humiliating defeat to Pak Army, and dismantel this crime syndicate for good. There is no hope.

....romair is going to have a fire in his pant over this...

This is an excellent article, the kind I have never seen written by any one or read by myself before.

Being an `ML`, I would have love to come up with a point by point response, but for now the following should suffice:

1. Its the results that will matter. President Musharraf has already given us the vision, the broader version of which (i.e. Enlightened Moderation) has been approved by OIC. The vision, as I understand it, is a moderate, progressive and democratic Pakistan that is militarily, economically and socially developed to become a role model for other Muslim countries. How Pakistan fares against all the objectives set against these 3 areas remain to be seen. As of now, we are doing fine militarily, economy is showing signs of rebounding (now an internationally acknowledged fact), but we are still struggling on social indicators.

2. Another way of looking at why President Musharraf may be a good thing for Pakistan is to gauge the behavior of extremist Indians on this board and in the physical world. If they are against him, then there can`t possibly be any thing wrong with him. On another side, if countries like the USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada, Israel, Muslim countries (except Afghanistan) and many others support him, then there can`t be too many things wrong with this gentleman or his Government. If USA sees a strategic partner in us, which it seems it does on the basis of statements coming out of Washngton from time to time and as long as extremist Government in India sees a strategic enemy in us, its fine by me at least.

For more points in President Musharraf`s defense, chowksters may kindly read my posts in exchange with those of Mantolives and Tauheed on other hot topics.

One clarification though. I have a weird feeling that just because of his increasing independence and openness, the powers that be may be getting a bit jittery. I hope he is getting all his speeches and action plans getting approved from White House ;-)

re: Mukhlis

Thanks for an excellent article.

I don`t disagree with arguments #1 through #5 as well as argument #7.

Argument #6 ignores the fact that granting of land to army officers is an institutional privelege, not corruption. From a legal point of view, this is legitimate. The moral aspects are a different debate altogether.

Argument #8 holds true however. NS himself requested exile. Even as PM, Nawaz was uncomfortable with the Justice Sajjad Shah`s bench that was hearing references against his wilful bank default of Rs.9 billion. Nawaz figures in the top 5 bank defaulters in the list published by SBP. As for BB, she has been convicted by a Swiss court as well.

I don`t think these leaders are staying away just because of ``weak-kneed`` judiciary. The corruption cases against them are too solid for them to evade conviction. You may remind yourself that these leaders are using political arguments instead of legal ones, to defend themselves.

Musharraf will eventually be judged on his promise to restore the economy. On other counts (accountability, free judiciary, democracy, nepotism), he has already made too many compromises with the wrong people.

I see Musharraf as a catalyst for change... a change of faces and emergence of new political players in the country. He is simply formulating a vision. But in my opinion, he will not implement the vision. Somebody else will take over the mantle and implement that vision. That ``somebody`` must be democratically elected civilian. (If Musharraf takes off his uniform and lets the Parliament elect him as President for next 4 years, he could be that ``some body``)

I say this because in Pakistan`s history, the actions of a dictator have never survived his death/ouster. Only the decision implemented by a democratic govt have longevity. Thus, Musharraf needs a democratic/political ally to ensure the permanence of his reforms.

Shakespeare wrote - Some men are born great, others achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.

Look at how Mush came to power. It was thrust on him. Heck, he did not even administer the coup, but was trying to save his life in a plane above the ground. The coup was engineered by other senior armymen. He is just a front for a group of Generals. Which is why he keeps giving contradictory statements. I think except for saying ``Osama has had a sex change and joined Hollywood``, he has made every possible statement on Bin laden`s status.

He is not like Zia. Zia was wrong, weird, and crazy, but he was his own man. He was a true dictator. Mush is just the front. A facade, a mask.

Excellent article.
Democracy is like elephant anyone can buying it but not everyone can maintain it.
Sometimes I amazed to see some Pakistani praised autocrat. As a Indian I cant understand their mentality. How can you praise someone who rule you with gun on your head.
I some times taken aback after heard by some Mussaraf apologist that he was brave.
How can he brave when he had not guts to face people. Brave are politicians generally we
Labeled them as cowered. at least that people had guts to face people. Pakistan army is rouge Army. In India some politicians (Narshimha Rav,Rajiv Gandhi,Jaylalita,Laloo act…..) are corrupts at level that even Nawaj and bb have feel shame for their ability for corruption.
But highly professional Indian army never kill democracy. If system is corrupt then we have to try amend it instead of kill it. But for democracy you must deserve democracy and honor it which I think Pakistani people not. They distribute sweets when army takeover.
I show one good thing in Musaraff which I had to admit. He give more freedom to press which his predecessor fails to give

Mukhlis,

Good, you have cpmprehensively thrashed the faujis, which is no different from the thrashings romair gives to the feudals, urtruly gives to the politicians, and YLH gives to the mullahs. Each and every one of pakistanis are busy blaming one or the other. How about making a small change yourself, writing an article that gives a new way of thinking, that challenges the established values.

How about writing an article about basant, how every local pakistani takes part in it, how the flight of the kites has nothing much to do with religion. That would be challenge about the mullah, it will not find its place in chowk.

The tragedy of pakistan is not the military, the feudal or the mullah, it is educated pakistanis like you, the steriotypical thinking that prevents any new ideas. It is all slander, it is all looking to the past.
YLH laments the state of shersha suris tomb in india, no one wants to write about the incrasing beggers of pakistan.

``As they say that change should come from within and our leaders are only a reflection of what we are. So in order to have a better Pakistan we should first do soul searching ourselves, analyze our own behavior, and see whether what we say and do makes any sense. ``

Well my friend that is what I had been telling all along. You have to look at the small elements of the social fabric that guide social actions. They are the seeds that blossom into the hoodood laws, blasphemy laws and legalisation of honour killings.

Ask your self, the curriculam requirement to identify the hindus. How it is moulding the childs orientations. Read about the achievements of gaznavi and compare it to that of andus salam. As an educated pakistani ask yourself, why you never dare o emntion that name even in private conversations with fellow pakistanis.

Ask yourself, a nation that makes a hero out of ghouri, can it ever be anything other than jihadic country. A nation that erases the memory of abdus salam, can it ever excell in education other than the jihadic kind.

Ask your self could any other rule other than the fauji one can sustain the killings. Both are trained to kill.

We just can`t compare Mushraff with anyone to be honest!
Mushraff has his fall backs but atleast he is more democratic
then BB and Sharif. Remember how Sharif had a fight with teh
Dialy Jang ? he was a democratic dictator ... not to mention
Mushraff sure is kind of a dictator but atleast he allowed
new tv channels, new news channels ..
In Sharif`s time they Sind was forgotten ...and Sind was treated
as a colony because of which organizations like POONAM created.
Yes, I am one of those hypocrite ML`s ! because I think in this country
there`s no good guys left and we have to select lesser-evil (with due
respect) and to me Mushraff for all has he done right or wrong (the right
percentage is better i think) is one of those lesser evil .. !

Thanks for showing mirror to the boot lickers !!!

I remember, I was chatting with a pakistani friend over the net when the news of Mush taking over exploded in the air. I asked my friend what is going to do now that the government is being taken over by some guy who has the biggest gun.
He said something like this
`` Man, Forget it, this keeps on happening after every 5 years, why bother. I am off to Boston for my studies. Let the Generals enjoy! they will leave after having some fun.``

I still shudder at the thought of this guy becoming the most powerful man on the earth who singularly holds the control over the nuclear trigger!! Nobody in this world is as powerful as Mush is- and this is a fact!!!!

An excellent article. I used to be Musharaf lover and used to do same thing which you have mentioned above but after referendum its vice versa. Because of the stark rigging in referendum, October 12 elections wheeling and dealing, ISI`s role in politics and giving all the major civilian posts to army generals, I can say that i dont see him different from previous dictators of this country. He is relatively better then previous dictators but its blatantly wrong. He says that democracy is flourishing in Pakistan; but this democracy is same as was introduced by Dictator Zia-ul-Haq, Pakistans worst military dictator. Still he controls the country and rest are dummies.