The Good Monster: Musharraf's Cultural Legacy

#77 Posted by tahmed32

... refusing to allow this man to become another Hosni Mubarak ... So, Pakistan's future is bright. It is the future of this dictator and his henchmen that is already mud ...

I wish I could share your optimism. The restriction on 3rd time PM is being lifted. All major parties are participating. Even though neither PML (N) nor PPP will form a 2/3rd majority, together they will alongwith JUI (F)/MQM/ANP.

So you can safely look forward to the scenario of the 18th amendment going through (giving legal cover to action of 3rd November) in return for PPP in the centre with BB as PM, Punjab to PML (N), NWFP/Baluchistan to JUI (F)/ANP and Sind to PPP/MQM coalition.

PML (Q) to remain in the political wilderness till another fauji arrives, and the lawyers movement (Aitezaz Ahsan) plus Imran Khan sidelined till either Musharraf leaves voluntarily or forced to leave by some unforeseen event. And the CJ? Perhaps he will form a good legal practice.

Musharraf is not going to leave and no one can make him. That reality has dawned on NS.

But a little at a time is good strategy under the circumstances. Musharraf has now become openly oppressive in the classic manner and will stoop to any lows in crushing any budding movements against him, and the military will back him all the way.

I just read the article and my response to it.
Ref: “A military dictator’s cultural impositions actually gave birth to a newborn sense of democracy. Weird, but true”.
This is neither weird nor in fact true. It is not weird because all great political revolution or work of art took their first breath during dark days of depression as a reaction against injustices of tyrant rulers of their times. The cultural impositions or impositions of any other kind had always being considered as ‘Monster’ by insightful people who worked hard against that, never succumbing to the lowest level of attaching “Good” to it. This is like giving the credit of “French Revolution” to “King Louis the Fourteenth” instead of Voltaire or Roseau or acclaiming British Imperialists for ‘Quit India Movement’.

“Though Musharraf’s cultural strategy may not have engaged the common man the way Bhutto’s policies did, however, it did have a deep impact on urban, middle-class of Pakistan”

I wonder which positive cultural policies Mr. NFP has referred to. Can he be more specific please? Karachi which was ruled by the educated middle class people in good old days of seventies has gone from bad to worse, from living to dead because of the policies of first Zia and then Musharraf. Seeds of ethnic biases which were sown during Zia’s regime bloomed into giant trees in Musharraf’s period. Musharraf’s policies like his predecessors have only reinforced the polarization among the multi-cultural society of Karachi. And the middle class of Karachi had only suffered one culture, which was and is MQM’s Gunda gerdee’. I thought hard but could not find the effect of any impact deep or superficial, because of Musharraf’s cultural strategy in middle class of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawer or Quetta… Come on NFP you tried hard but really you can do better than that. Just try to enlighten us more with clarity and specificity about Mr. Musharraf’s cultural strategies in your next ‘darbari’ appraisal.

“As one section of the middle-class youth responded with newborn religiosity, the other part blossomed in their new-found freedom, with gradual economic growth witnessed by the economy making the experience that much sweeter.”

False again; Religiosity was the outcome of eleven years of Zia’s ‘Islamization’ and sustained organized political struggle of religious parties’ esp. Jamat-e-Islami. This section of people had always been in the social picture of Pakistan. But Musharraf’s slogan of ‘moderate Islam’ (which was also a borrowed term from Bush) did succeed in fragmenting the people of Pakistan, just like any other dictator. While Zia created ethnic parties to shatter unity of Pakistan Musharraf’ policy ignited the most volatile zone, Islam for the same purpose. Never in the history of Pakistan had we seen so many sects of Islam, ‘the green turbans’, ‘the white turbans’, ‘Tableegies’ etc; their extravagant ‘Ijtimas’ (religious gatherings) and lavish religious ceremonies.
And speaking of gradual economic growth, are you kidding me? Really! If by economic growth you mean mushrooming of franchisees, ‘corporate-o-cracy’ (a term by author of ‘Economic Hit Man’), privatization of our most basic sectors (telecommunication, KESC, Medical colleges and Universities) than I could just pity your insight. Because of Musharraf’s economic policies we had witnessed the exploitation of young girls and boys who were gratified with easy money/overnight fame. They were lure in fields of modeling, TV and films or were hired as waiters and escorts in multinational chains of restaurants/hotels having no solid education, merits or real hard work. Musharraf’s economic policies generated record number of ‘Up-starts’. The urban middle class youth of today is hungry for money, glamour and power. The small minority of them who really wants to acquire education by keeping their morale’s find their dreams to get shattered by the hands of corrupt, greedy professors and teachers. The educational system has collapsed completely because of the meticulously planned strategies of establishment. Whatever political awareness is left is only seen in Punjab. Musharraf’s legacy (if there is any such thing) has nothing positive or beneficial to be remembered of and surely has no comparison with Bhutto. At least Zia has given us the celebration of Independence Day as a national event but what cultural moves Musharraf’s regime made, ‘Valentines Day’, Women’s day, Mother’s day or Basant? By the way ‘Basant had always been the colorful celebration in Punjab and it has not at all reached to the masses of Karachi, Sindh, NWFP and Balochistan inspite of laborious propaganda.

There is no comparison of Bhutto’s policies to Musharraf’s .Bhutto had a clear philosophy, an ideology of its own (though unacceptable for many) but for which he struggled way before he achieved throne and he formulated his manifesto based on that principle. And Musharraf has nothing of its own, all his terms are borrowed from west like ‘soft image, ‘Moderate Muslims’ , ‘enlightened moderation’ bla bla. Musharraf is simply the abhorred puppet, a deplorable pawn for Bush’s despicable administration. Bhutto was the first ‘Awami leader’ introduced the first unisex dress ‘Awami suits’, founder of the nuclear energy plant, aspiring force behind ‘United Islamic front or the Islamic Bomb’, the craftsman behind the first constitution and what not. Bhutto’s following, his ‘Jiale’ did not belong to one ethnic group but stretched from Indus to Khyber. Aah the seventies! Those were the days of true liberalism unlike Mr. Musharraf’s phony ‘enlightened modernism’. The political awareness we are observing in youth or through electronic media today is because of those people who acquired their political maturity during seventies. Aitzaz Hassan, Asma Jehangir, executives of Geo channel like Abdul Rauf, Imran Aslam, Dr Shahid Masud, Zia Awan, Ayaz Amir, Jawaid Jabbar, Gazanfar Ali etc they all had tasted the flavor of real democracy during magical times of Bhutto. Imran Khan is the only political leader among these who attained his political maturity during present regime but then he also belonged to the same generation. The forces behind today’s political awareness had long history of struggle for social and political injustices within their small circles but internet power and booming of satellite channels sort of combined their efforts. Not only this but they have managed to spread the sense of true democracy to the poor eighties generation. The eighties generation who suffered generalized cerebral degeneration during Zia’s time is finally grabbing the meaning of civilized political movements. The eleven years of dictatorship has not wiped out the charisma of Bhutto’s five years of democratic leadership. Now this is what a real legacy is...
The time obtained by the dictators to set a good example, to create a legacy which would be cherished through ages is huge as compared to the time given to our poor elected civilian leaders but whenever Pakistani nation felt ecstasy of national pride it was incidentally during the period of civilian rule; be it the acquiring of nuclear technology, hosting of Islamic summit conference, acclaiming of fame through Pakistan TV dramas, winning of the world cup cricket title or being the first Islamic country with nuclear bomb. And trageically whenever Pakistan’s solidarity was stabbed or Pakistan was internationally disgraced, it was because of these saviors of borders, be it the ‘fall of Dhaka’, ‘the drug traffics’, the culture of Kalashnikovs, the empowering of biased ethnic groups, religious extremism or suicide bombings.




Nikhat Riaz

#82 Posted by Nikhat,

Excellent post. Thanks.

Majumdar Sahib,
"I was referring to Pak's occupation of FATA in violation of the agreement under which FATA acceded to Pak. Please consult Zee sahib for details".

I agree with Zee Sahib on this one. Pak forces need to get out of FATA.

"Besides UN's resolution also calls for Pak Army's withdrawl from POK, has Pak done that?".

Pak will have to do its part to let the plebiscite go through. What's the big deal?

"(there will, at best, be cold peace between the two countries.)

I will be more than happy with that".

Good. Then we are in agreement. That is all that I had said in the first place. Just forget about normalizing the relations.

Regards.

Re: # 62
"You want to add Kashmir to that? What future will you offer them?".

Calm down Ranjit Sahib. I am not championing the cause of adding Kashmir to Pakistan. It is for the Kashmiris to decide what they want. Prsonally I can live with an independent Kashmir.

"Its hight time that you guys grasp the power equation in the subcontinent. India is far ahead now in all aspects of life - economic, political, social, military power, cultural, you name it".

Ah ... at least I am not going to grasp any "power equation" as long as I live. You are progressing in leaps and bounds. Good for you.

"You need to change your policies in that context if you want to remain competitive in any manner. That can happen by throwing out the last 60 years of rhetoric and focus on stronger economic ties so that you can also participate and benefit from India's economic growth. Politically you should focus on a EU like scenario with free movement of people and goods. At least that way you will have a chance to visit Kashmir and see its sights. Otherwise, you have no chance since India is perfectly happy in pulling ahead from Pakistan and letting the status quo go on forever".

Good or bad, the policies of Pak are for Pakistanis to discuss and change. We haven't asked for your advice on this one.

And I am certainly not dying to visit a Kashmir in bondage.

Re: # 63
"Again this notion that Pakistan is different by virtue of being Muslim are at best romantic ideas that have no place in the cutthroat world of realpolitik. I think folks such as Iqbal, Faiz and the others drilled such delusions through their patriotic songs among Paki minds, which are great to listen to at independence day parades and functions, but are of little value elsewhere. Pakistan has believed too seriously in such notions and embarked on reckless misadventures with almost all of its neighbors and beyond with the result that other nations think nothing of poking their noses deep into Pakistan without hurting Paki sensibilities. If Pakistan today is in such a soup, it is precisely because of the delusions of grandeur nurtured amongst its leaders and also an extent the public. I sincerely hope for Pakistan's own sake that Pakis come out of this delusion".

Yaar, I do not deny that we Pakis have many faults and shortcomings. Whether we are delusional or not, time alone will tell.

Let us leave it at that, shall we?

Re: # 64 Dash_Dot
"I do not know if I should laugh or cry at this rather naive statement".

Why don't you try both and see which one works better for you.

"That it is heading in that direction now is something which every right thinking Pakistani must be more worried about than Kashmir".

But that is one of the biggest problem we have. We can't seem to figure out who is a "right thinking" Pakistani.

"Even Bangladesh, which was rendered a basket case because of the Pakistani policies, and it subsequent annihilation of the Bangladeshi intellectual class in 1971, is performing much better than pakistan".

I am not surprised. If they believe in themselves, and do what they can, they will do better.

In Pakistan we have zillions of views pulling it in all sorts of directions. Ironically the only ones who are focussed are the extremists.

"And you are worried about what is happening in some other country".

What other country are you talking about? I am thinking about Pak and its future.

"Has Pakistan not learnt that it has not taken the thekka of the muslim world world".

????

"Stop worrying about the world and start worrying about Pakistan. This is what Mush-e-ruff tried, and has done up to a point. I wish he continues for a few more years so that he can change the situation for the better. He has stopped the rot (not entirely, but made it more manageable) and he needs time to rectify the ills".

It remains debatable whether he has stopped, or compounded, the rot. Some, like me, would say he (Mush) has been busy putting the last nails in the coffin. Now it will take some doing on our part to bail ourselves out.

Re: # 65
"wake up and smell the coffee...or don't...either way, indians don't give a shit".

Oh thats fine. Indian have my permission to remain eternally constipated.

zeemax: you say "musharraf is not going to leave and no one can make him."

Mush has already left - without his wardi, he cannot order a single soldier to pick up his rifle. He as to go through the COAS (as he himself was whining about a couple of days back to the press about military "protocol"). And now time is against him - and his actions are probably now geared to saving his skin.

No doubt the "amendment" now being mushed (!!) into the constitution to allow a third term for PM indicates that mush sees BB as the best bet to being allowed to continue as president.

But then one has to ask: will BB, even if she wants, be able to compromise with mush and keep the Supreme Court disabled after getting elected? Seems highly implausible to me given the strong public resentment at the destruction of the Supreme Court by mush. We shall find out soon enough I guess.

Nikhat #82 Your post takes apart the rubbish Nadeem Paracha has tried to promote in this article that seeks to glorify mush and berate Pakistanis. Enjoyed reading it.

anil #79 in asking whether pakistan would have been better past 8 years with mush or with BB/NS, you make two basic mistakes:

1. You assume "other things equal", i.e. you assume the comparison is with mush vs bb/ns being within the same political system. in fact, it is mush running a dictatorship where he is clearly outside the law vs. bb/ns being within a democracy where they would have been accountable within the law.

2. Your question relates to a conjecture about the "road not taken", and as such is academic. What is important is: what is good for the future of Pakistan as of today - democracy or dictatorship, freedom or slavery?

Correcting for the above two, the answer to you question is obvious, dont you think?

NFP,

Not so sure, tempted to agree but having difficulty understanding Mush & Co's deliberate push towards social liberalization. Events of 9/11 changed the geopolitical situation that has forced change in many Muslim countries. Gone are the days when Mohammedans were the dominant social factor in Gulf countries including Soodi Arabia, economics has become the new Almighty God. Mush simply presided over an era where China and India have emerged as the engines of growth and in turn have forced change in their regions. Add to that Uncle Sam trying to impose their political domination via Afghanistan and Iraq.

El Prezidente Musharraf can be credited with his economic policies but then again much of that credit belongs to easy liquidity and Dr Ishrat Hussein.

"This is like giving the credit of “French Revolution” to “King Louis the Fourteenth” instead of Voltaire or Roseau or acclaiming British Imperialists for ‘Quit India Movement’."(Nikhat)

Nikhat it couldn’t be said any better. This is a misplaced "Shahnama" from a supposedly progressive Firdausi to a self-serving reactionary one-man dictator.

Pakistan was not a fundamentalist Jahiliya state before Musharraf – the land of Faiz, Jalib, Ahmed Nadeem Qasmi, Ahmed Faraz – was even ahead of India intellectually in those good old days of yore.

Pakistan was far more progressive, possessed many more people with powerful intellect than it is now – today mediocrity rules – in fact mediocrity and toadiness are the king and queen in civilian politics in the army’s performance, in the arts and sciences and in international relationships -- Pakistan has been pushed behind -- during these 8 years of chamcha cultivating dadagiri promoting personalized colonial kind of whimsical Durbari rule.

Strangely to this supposedly golden era of the Progressive Pervez the only crops that grew aplenty in the planes and the valleys of Pakistan are more and longer neards -- more fundamentalist militancy, more madarassas, more sectarian killings and more suicide bombings.

None of them by any means 'progressive' or of any ‘enlightened moderation’ by any stretch of Musharrafian imagination cum hallucination.

And talking about that 'economic miracle' -- with a 15 billion dollar infusion of Uncle Sam dollars in 7 years -- with a continuing manno-salva of 500 million dollars a month of US tax payers money -- even a Pygmy of African Savannah could outperform any citbank teller like Shaukat Aziz -- thanks to the Osama bin Laden's unloading of the 9/11 shit.

#93 Posted by nasah on December 13, 2007 2:10:25 pm


Pakistan was not a fundamentalist Jahiliya state before Musharraf


yes...lashkar-e-toiba, jaish-e-mohammed and the taliban are all cultural societies..

Re: # 93

What? What was declarng Ahmadiyas as non-Muslims
and keeping it that way?
A progressive state/society thing?

shishapa and arjun

In its earliest days, right up to the sixties, Pakistan was a very different place than it became later. It's not for me to say which is or was better, but it was a place where Muslims lived, not where Islam thrived. Imagine India without Nehruvian socialism.