Pakistan's Struggle for Democracy :: Military Rule
Recent articles from the archives
17 August 1988
Agha Amin Aug 17, 2008An army chief who should never have been the chief in the first place and should have instutionally retired by 1980 was finally terminated by divine design on 17 August 1988.
An Insight Into Pakistan Army and Musharraf
ijaz gul Nov 29, 2007A combination of threat perception and indispensability strengthened his quest for legitimacy till it consumed his reformist self.
Whither Emergency
Rezwan Bajwa Nov 12, 2007General Musharraf’s self perception of being indispensable to Pakistan is now compounded further as the US affirms him as the most valuable partner in the ‘war on terror’.
Daughter of the Beast: The General's New Clothes
Khan Khan Oct 25, 2007Benazir is eager to show that she is not doing deals with Musharraf but, as Ahmed Rashid points out, despite the army’s dwindling popularity she needs the army because it controls Pakistan.
A History of Failure: The Rise and Fall of Military
Athar Osama Sep 23, 2007Is military rule the solution to Pakistan's problems? Is Musharraf any different than his predecessor generals?
The Silent Majority Speaks
imran ahmad Jun 5, 2007I have not yet seen or heard that an excellent bank manager, an efficient medical doctor or the most qualified air steward has been made a Corp Commander or an Air Marshall. I have however see many armed force officers in positions where they are not supp
The General vs. the Judge
Tariq Ali May 25, 2007The attempt to browbeat a Judge has released a new fissure in Pakistani society. The violence in Karachi makes compromise difficult for both sides. There is an easy solution...
Musharraf’s Coup - Seven Years Later
Pervez Hoodbhoy Oct 12, 2006Some had feared – while others had hoped – that General Pervez Musharraf’s coup of October 12, 1999, would bring the revolution of Kemal Ataturk to a Pakistan firmly in the iron grip of mullahs.
Why Vice Chancellors should belong to Academia
Omer Cheema Oct 5, 2006If law and order situation is that bad in universities in Pakistan, I suggest that retired army officers should be appointed as chief security officers so that they can enforce law and order at university campuses. Appointing them as vice chancellors kil
Guess who is staying for a Thai dinner?
Bhaskar Dasgupta Sep 20, 2006Since 1992, after widespread protests, democratic rule was established and it seemed that the time has come for liberal democracy to come into play in this idyllic South-East Asian country. But on September 19th 2006, the military came back and is now ru
Children of a Lesser God
Bhaskar Dasgupta Aug 15, 2006The US Military officials caution against seeing the cases of abuse and murder as part of any broader pattern, noting that the incidents in question are isolated and rare! But as Bush himself has said, “we are different from our enemies” ̷
Judicial Murder or Plain Manslaughter
Gull R Khan Sep 6, 2005On Friday, August 26, a military court sentenced five men to death for their alleged roles in a 2003 suicide plot to kill Pervez Musharraf. Four of them are civilians ...
Who Tarnished the Image of Pakistan?
Xari Jalil Jul 13, 2005The Government placed her name on the Exit Control List thus canceling her scheduled visit to the U.S. with the President announcing shamelessly that it was done so that she wouldn’t blemish the image of the country. Her name was very conveniently r
The Genesis of Militancy in Pakistan
S F Hasnat Jun 13, 2005Militancy in Pakistan has many facets – ranging from military coups to sectarian killings.
General Musharraf goes on Struggling for Legitimacy
S F Hasnat May 23, 2005On May 18th the Pakistani official spokesman said that General Pervaiz Musharraf, who also happens to be the Chief of the Army, would continue to hold office beyond 2007.
The New Land Mafia
abdul naeem Aug 31, 2004Army started by toppling governments, usurping power, and got into business and banking. Now the latest paradigm is being the land mafia and in the process committing human rights atrocities on its own people like a vengeful occupation force
Military Intervention vs. Institutions’ Growth
Mubashir Akram Aug 19, 2004Jamali came with a smile and left with the same smile on his face. Between his two smiles nation lost some 19 months. Who should the people hold accountable for that?
Role of Pakistan Army Under Musharraf Just Stinks
Shaheen Sehbai Jun 13, 2004This situation is becoming perilously similar to the weeks and months shortly after the fall of Dacca in 1971 ...
Will Persecuting Hashmi Help?
Babar Sattar Dec 6, 2003It takes only one armed unit to overthrow a civilian government. But experience of past dictators has proven that the military finds it exceedingly difficult to retain direct control of the polity because of international impediments, domestic political c
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