The Importance of a Dictator’s Failure

Rozaiba

Well done dear! But excuse me you missed an important thing - Mush is not a dictator by general definition but a mere reactionary Matarwa. Like a dictator he is not committed to any agenda or scheme of his except reacting opportunistically like a Matarwa servant- in-uniform to defend his skin which he likens now to his uniform. By his latest U-turn which led him to the lap of MQM, he seems now to forsaken all enlightenment and has belatedly started gagging the media in his desperation to save his skin-uniform. So politically he is finished when he makes still another U-turn and seeks the support of his Commanders against the civil society to be virtually on war path with it now. May God save us now from the holocaust to which this man`s `skin` may lead us to!

#26 rozaiba {``You’re right, I forgot about the 1974 operation in Baluchistan under a democratic government. Could Bhutto have avoided it? ``}

Rozaiba,
What grounds are you basing this stupid assertion on? When was Bhutto ever elected to become President or PM of Pakistan? The 1971 elections were won by the Awami League under Sheikh Mujib. Bhutto, who ran on an ethnically chauvinist platform won only Punjab and Sindh. In NWFP and Baluchistan, if my sources are correct, the NAP was the victor. So, his ``democratic`` victory in two provinces was based on a united Pakistan. Once the nation was truncated, don`t you think that fresh elections were in order? How can one expel a majority and then claim ``democratic`` victory based on a new majority that was formerly a minority? Paki logic, no?

rozaiba sahab

until there is a real middle class in pakistan i am afraid democracy will remain a pipe dream. there is artificial middle class in pakistan, but it`s not the real mccoy.

Re: # 25

You’re right, I forgot about the 1974 operation in Baluchistan under a democratic government. Could Bhutto have avoided it?

It`s speculation now whether Musharaf could have avoided the Waziristan operation or not. People analyze the operation in Waziristan in several ways. a) it was bowing to America, b) it was a calculated move to prevent American/NATO forces entering Pakistan territory in hot-pursuit, c) it was part of an overall series of miscalculations for the post 9/11 situation and d) (least likely) that it gave an excuse to eventually treat the Tribal Areas much like the other provinces.

Maybe a democratic government would have been compelled to do the same. In any case, under the auspices of a dictatorial regime, even small decisions, what to speak of something as daring as attacking the tribal areas, are hard to stomach and add poison to the anti-government perceptions building up. Whether there was any other choice or not becomes a mute point. The Waziristan operation will be seen in the context of blunders committed in areas Musharaf clearly not only had a choice, but the upper hand.

Re: roziba #16
“The Waziristan operation was Pakistan`s first civil war since 1971. “

What’s your perspective on the Baloach resistance in 1974 and more recently.

“No one supports it. That Musharaf had to retreat before more lives were lost is something to be thankful for. The nation waits for Musharaf`s final retreat.”

Did Musharaf have a choice! could he have avoided the Waziristan operation ?


Regards,

Faruk

#15 by rozaiba,

Gwadar was Nawaz Sharif’s vision. As were the motorways.

... and the telecoms (including cellular), and the FX liberalization through the Protection of Economic Reforms Act, 1992, as well as reducing Government expenditure to contain budget deficits, as well as the Paris Club debt rescheduling negotiated by Ishaq Dar which finally came through in 2002, amongst others.

The economic policies determined by the two very short NS tenures of around two and half years each are still being followed, but with two major departures which have changed the entire focus of the long term objectives: (1) the shelving of the low-cost nation wide housing projects financed by private/public resources in favour of FDI in high-cost real-estate and (2) the shelving of expenditure on education reforms to fill skill-gaps - both on advice of IMF.

Still, the public remembers only the Rai-Wind Estate which he built with his own money, and the Supreme Court storming incident which actually was just rowdiness resulting from NS supporters holding passes being prevented to witness NS`s contempt of court hearing.

At this point in time, Nawaz Sharif remains the only candidate with enough credibility and sensitivity towards the people`s real problems to achieve a badly needed national consensus amongst all four provinces to end this fatal polarization, as well as to put the economy on track in line with the `people`s` aspirations as he did during his previous two short-lived tenures, particularly the first.

About your point re ``State Bank tried to get folks to take money out of the bank and invest it in productive ventures.``, I suppose you mean the lowering of interest rates and loose monetary policy. This is correct, and it didn`t result in any fresh industrial undertakings though capacity utilization was enhanced through cheap consumer finance available mainly in the auto sector, and some in the cement sector. Overall, this policy resulted in asset-price bubbles in the stock market/housing market and more damagingly a soaring inflation. So the monetary policy had to be tightened again, but then with a disastrous impact on exports.

Having said the above, the policy direction adopted by the Musharraf Regime is not the ideal for a country like Pakistan, but it is the only one prescribed under the Globalization regime led by USA. Only a democratic Government could resist that pressure in favour of the country`s own priorities, but then that would have been the farthest concern from Musharraf`s mind.

#20 hasanmahmood {``For them Musharaf is everything evil and even real evil-doers like Nawaz an BB are better for this country. What world do these guys live in.....``}

Hasan Sahib,
You have stated the real problem that many of us have with these so-called ``liberal`` elitists seeking ``democracy`` AT ANY PRICE. :) Thanks.

Hasan Mahmood sahib,

It is irrelevant whether Mush is more incompetent or less incompetent than NS/BB/IK. The important thing is that the people of Pakistan have a right to chart their own destiny and get ruled by a constitutional mechanism. Even if that means putting up with NS/BB in the short-term.

Regards

che:

True, Karachi`s got a lot of development projects going on. Lahore had substantial ones in the 90`s. I suppose urban planning can come under the `visionary` category.

salim:

BB and NS didn`t launch a civl war in Pakistan. That is a sufficient indicator of who is more incompetent.

atif:

Whoa! 100 million wahabi fascist fuks! Must be that many in your wet dreams.

another idiot blowing her own horn without any rhyme or reason. By saying that ``BB and NS weren`t as incompetent as Mush `` the author shows her own ignorance. Why can`t we ever talk of democracy without talking abut BB and Nawaz. Why do all ther speeches regarding Democracy end with the ultimatum that Nawaz and BB should come back to Pakistan. Why are people so stupid and arrogant and forgetful when it comes to those two idiots. And now we have Imran - a guy I like; however he has 1 seat (yes just 1 seat in NA) and he is on the front covers of newspapers like he is everything in Pakistan. I guess people like this author are really desperate. For them Musharaf is everything evil and even real evil-doers like Nawaz an BB are better for this country. What world do these guys live in.....

{``#16 by rozaiba on May 29, 2007 6:08am PT
BB and NS weren`t as incompetent as Mush - but Mush can get away with committing high treason. ``}

Rozaiba,
So you are saying ``So let it be written, so let it be said.``
Just because you say so doesn`t make it so. I am now wondering about the validity of your other points. That was a serious mistake on your part.

rozaiba:

``I’ve still not seen any ‘new’ projects they were responsible for.``

The development projects that have been taking place in the Republic of Karachi under the Musharraf regime have been unprecedented since the times of Ayub Khan.

#16 ``most sunni fascist fuks are really plain wahabi fascist fuks``

I think you have a much bigger issue at your hand than one dictator...you have 100 million ``sunni fuks`` to kill or convert to your cause :)

So much for your bleeding heart article on the state of Pakistan. Good luck!

Salim_Chauhan:

BB and NS weren`t as incompetent as Mush - but Mush can get away with committing high treason.

atif:

``The move back-fired and Musharaf had to follow a strategy he learned in the hills of Kargil, then became well-versed in with the attempts to change the blasphemy law, taking on the fascist Mullahs and finally (and thankfully) the operation in Waziristan. Musharaf applied the strategy of retreat.``

The Waziristan operation was Pakistan`s first civil war since 1971. No one supports it. That Musharaf had to retreat before more lives were lost is something to be thankful for. The nation waits for Musharaf`s final retreat.

My opposition to the Waziristan Army operations aside, most sunni fascist fuks are really plain wahabi fascist fuks. And the fuker who calls himself `Imam-e-Kaaba` is the leader of these fascist fuks.

zeemax:

A few years ago the State Bank tried to get folks to take money out of the bank and invest it in productive ventures. Most of this money went to real estate and perhaps to the stock market. Don’t know how much of it went towards establishing industries or entrepreneurial ventures.

Dubai has become a services oriented economy (oil supposedly finances less than 10% of its revenue). Dubai can buy skilled labor. The construction projects are to attract those skilled folks. Pakistan has done little to overcome the skill shortage of its population. And it cannot buy skilled labor from abroad.

All in all, Musharaf’s team at best seemed to ride the wave rather than anything else. I’ve still not seen any ‘new’ projects they were responsible for. Gwadar was Nawaz Sharif’s vision. As were the motorways.

The electricity crisis is the most damning evidence of the sheer incompetence of Shaukat Aziz and Musharaf.

Re: # 2

Strategy is lacking. Or if it is present, it is on that is entirely counterproductive. For example, Musharaf takes over, sets benchmarks - the seven point agenda - adopts a strategy - LFO, referendum, President, 17th Amendment, etc. and ends up failing on all seven points.