Pervez Musharraf Declares Emergency in Pakistan

Do these words sound sadly familiar, or merely ironic in retrospect?

"...Accountability must take place, and bringing in competent individuals to key positions is a decision that should not be taken in haste. Time WILL reveal the sincerity of purpose of individuals in question and actions will speak louder than words to give each of us confidence. I have one request though, and I would not say this if it was not absolutely crucial at this time. Pakistanis, wherever they are abroad, need to understand that this is a very unique point in Pakistan's history. We need to make the world appreciate the context in which the much needed reforms will be undertaken."

Bilal Musharraf on chowk.com
October 14, 1999
Article name: He Had No Choice

#58 Kamath sahib

I don't think most Indians would mind too much if our Pakistani brothers had a change of heart AND the mindset!

Borivili_Express miaN, do you know this Ali Ettefagh guy?

(From the Washington Post)

Ali Ettefagh from Tehran, Iran
(Dr. Ali Ettefagh serves as a director of Highmore Global Corporation, an investment company in emerging markets of Eastern Europe, CIS, and the Middle East.)

Why Not Dissolve Pakistan, Too?

Pakistan is not a country. It is a failed British fantasy about the fabrication of a nation-state. It has other failed and failing peers in the Middle East, all fabricated during the 20th century. It is time to seriously review all of these structures and redraw the borderlines.

Pakistan was a phrase coined for an idealistic confederation of five Muslim provinces within the old British-controlled India (Punjab, Northwest Frontier Province or Afghania, Kashmir, Sindh and Baluchistan). However, these are tribal lands with distinct traditions and have very little in common. These provinces were all knocked together, on presumption of a common religion, and a “dominion” was fabricated within the Commonwealth with self-governance authority akin to independence after World War II. It was all part of the post-war fire sale of territorial control of Britain. The ill-conceived plan even set up a separate territory of East Bengal as East Pakistan, a subcontinent away, with the rough-and-ready argument of common religious beliefs and a majority Muslim population. East Pakistan eventually became independent and renamed itself Bangladesh.

Pakistan’s short 60-year history is full of coups and raw, violent tribal rivalry, peppered by jailing or executing the previous rulers. Most recently, we saw a stark and bold example of such rivalry: a returning Pakistani politician, a former prime minister, was deported from his own country.

There is no commonly accepted language among these tribes and thus the official language of Pakistan is English.

For as long as I remember, Iran’s eastern border with Pakistan has always been a hub of instability, smuggling and violent crime. Pakistan is the main transit route for opium and heroin from Afghanistan, where more than 90% of the world’s opium supply is produced. In turn, that cash flow encourages money laundering, armed banditry, murder, violence and corruption. Therefore, several conflicting layers of official structure naturally form, each operating as lawless gangs or states within a state. Drug-infested territories have a poor record of development. Power and corruption leads to uneven, Byzantine relations between groups and to opaque alliances. Meanwhile, the masses remain in poverty: according to the World Bank, that’s about a third of all Pakistanis.

In this kind of political greenhouse of a country, no new politicians or doctrines surface. I wonder why news about Pakistani politics seems to be a game of musical chairs, with familiar names and faces periodically recycled.

There are other issues to ponder, namely a nuclear arsenal, missiles, a brisk small-arms export business (about $250 million a year) and the schizophrenic dual-tracked “friendship” with the U.S., al-Qaeda and Wahhabi extremists. Pakistan’s aimless Kashmir policies are perfect examples of circular political indecision. U.N. peacekeepers have remained stationed in Kashmir for more than three decades.

Pakistan is a relic set up as a counterweight to India -- and its tendency to tilt towards the Eastern Block. I think it is high time to revisit the old composite structure of five provinces combined into one artificial country. A redrawing of borders might serve useful and to cut through the farce. Let each province mature and declare independence. Some will eventually join their long-time tribal allies, leaving two or three independent lands and a more transparent political agenda.

Musharraf action 'very disappointing' -- White House WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (AFP): The White House Saturday called Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf's declaration of a state of emergency “very disappointing” and said he needs to keep a pledge to hold elections by January. “This action is very disappointing. President Musharraf needs to stand by his pledges to have free and fair elections in January and step down as Chief of Army Staff before retaking the Presidential oath of office,” said the statement from White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe. Rice says move highly regrettable: U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told CNN television on Saturday Pakistan's declaration of emergency rule was “highly regretable” and she hoped its intention was to have free and fair elections.

Re: # 1 Hey IslamIslam!

Who said, "...The most practical solution for most of Pakistan's problems is re-unification with ndia.......Blah, blah, blah.."

Do you honestly believe anybody with a vee bit of intelligence -in India wants to touch Pakistan with a 100 mile long pole?. No kidding! I bet most have come to the conclusion that partition was a good thing with all these loonies running Pakistan!

Kamath

See let me tell you one thing the important core commanders are all personally chosen by Musharraf, the Karachi Core commander spent his Eid drinking and making mery in Bali. Now the only way Mush will go is if the core commanders and kiyani say thank you very much. What will force them to bite the hand that feeds them? unlesss the army rank and file mutinies, either in the nwfp which forms a quarter of the army or in the punjab which forms 65% there will be no change.

But now is the real test for Mush can he handle the situation without a mutiny, i think he can, and this war on terror will slowly drag on and provide the cover for him from the US to stick on as well

the other thing is that mushy said that islamacists want a parallel islamic system that coexists with the federal govt. any comments?

Re: # 53

possibly. but he seems to have more credibility than benazir. none of this of course is saying much

#53 Masadi sahib, you are right on that score. Some of these rulers would make excellent actors/actresses.

neembu writes "Musharaff's speech seemed heartfelt"

Not as "heartfelt" as Zia used to look, teary eyed and all...all dictators "feel from the heart" as they impose their BS on the helpless masses. When you deceive others for a living, soon a full circle is made and the end is self-deception...

MiaN Hamidm2,

Mushy is an idiot to think that he can rule the country like the previous khaki dictators. The world is a lot smaller and the media of communication too diverse to control – and it does not matter how many of your fellow countrymen are sitting on train tracks – the khakis can’t do crap to stop public protests!

I would say that miaN Mushy is on his last leg now. Whatever chances he had of retaining a (small and marginalized) role for himself in the post-November setup, he has blown it. He has blown it royally! He can antagonize anybody, but antagonizing the US is absolutely foolhardy!

My bet is he is not going to last the calendar year!

I personally do not think the BeeB has an understanding with him – and that lady seems to have a lot of courage!

Regarding your fascination with the Rashid character (who, as per your affirmation – is endowed with “balls”) – here is something to consider. Please consider – Mushy may be a dictator but he has no hanky-panky-business going on the side, as far as we know! If leaders of the country kept chasing the fair maidens of the country, how will they have any time to govern?!

In #50 read "Read what I wrote several months back as you want these events unfold.... " as


Read what I wrote several months back as you watch these events unfold....

The main issue over the declaration of emergency was not the SC decision or lack thereof, neither was it that the SC and media have conspired to ruin the economy for "personal gain"- the issue at the heart of the matter was the UNIFORM. Strip a man of uniform in the Pakistan political context and he becomes as powerful as a cockroach running around in Hamid's Islamabad bathroom. As I have been saying ever since the CJ crisis erupted, the US is quite well versed in skinning rats, they will take his uniform off either privately ( he does it on his own) or publicly (using a hellfire aimed for his a$$), the only option left (as I had said months back) for him to avoid crisis after crisis (0f the US creation using the Pak Army)and at the same time maintain power (i.e. the uniform) was to declare emergency and martial law, which would then leave the only option left for the US that of sending a hellfire homing towards his a$$. Read what I wrote several months back as you want these events unfold....

bjk writes "It is absolutely incorrect to assume that the khakis listen to the US when their own selfish interests are involved!"

The Khakis "always" listen to the US, now and again one of their leaders develops the madness that he or she is indispensible,and it is not the institution that the US works with, that individual might act independantly to his own detriment, as we will shortly see with Musharraf, taking that and concluding that the "khakis" act independantly regardless of what the US wants is total BS.

DM Sahib,

I believe that it is just frustration caused by prior issues. I think all Indians know that the country cannot take the next few steps towards prosperity without taking the Pkaistanis along. It is a pity that this is taking so long.

giani_240

Re: # 42

Masadi Sahib, please refrain from these kinds of personal attacks

Kunkil,

Please refrain from referring pejoratively to tribal communities.