Until recently I was also apolitical along with most Pakistanis who want to be left alone to chase whatever they want be it money or birds (unsuccessful on both counts in my case).
While in Pakistan itself for a number of years there have been two important interest groups
While in Pakistan itself for a number of years there have been two important interest groups
- Those that want to see a civilian government
- A similar sized minority that love military rule believing that authoritarian figures are needed to keep Pak intact
In the last year, however, all Pakistanis are being forced to decide which camp they belong to.
This has been due to General Musharraf's political oafishness and lack of common touch which has given the former renewed vigor to agitate for his removal.
The three main catalysts have been
This has been due to General Musharraf's political oafishness and lack of common touch which has given the former renewed vigor to agitate for his removal.
The three main catalysts have been
- The inevitable blow back from doing Bush's dirty work in Waziristan which has tarnished the image of the army generally
- Failure to blow some life into Pakistani politics by measures such as secret leadership ballots to get new party leaders
- His taking on of the judiciary has united the different political opposition to military rule where Bush and the Taliban failed to
In so many ways good old Musharraf was so much better than the previous generals - particularly his crisis management job between 1999 and 2003 in very trying circumstances when Pakistan's name was mud internationally.
But he has sown the seeds for his his own downfall by his lack of respect for the judiciary - this was what allowed Aitzaz Ahsan to turn a stuffy figure like Iftikhar Chaudry into a national hero.
Worse still he has appeared to the public as a pathetic rascal who would do anything to keep his presidency - even to do a deal with the crook Benazir (as proven in Swiss courts, however, much she may bleat and appeal) - to again weaken the opposition at the next elections.
His persona from this decision changed to a power drunk autocrat - one that wants to be in power for power's sake - however much he may say that the easiest thing would be for him to leave to be with his beloved Bilal in America.
The momentum that the Chief Justice generated was such that he became more powerful than the President himself - to keep his job the general had to even dismay his Western partners by sacking the Supreme Court.
Personally I think Aitzaz Ahsan and the judiciary went too far in that they were going to declare Musharraf's presidency invalid on the basis that he still had his uniform on at the time of the vote. I think that the opposition should have tried to win the election and given the general a dignified retirement in a few years in the interests of national reconciliation.
But I guess they are all gambling that Mush is losing support by the day even within the army and also want to get their own back on him for the way he has treated them.
While BiBi is having to join in on the bandwagon now that she is finally cottoning onto the fact that the general is sinking.
In the midst of these upheavals I have come to the decision that civilian rule must be Paksitan's political direction. It is the only way that personalities and egos are to be kept in check and that priority will be given to the wants and needs of the Paksitani public.
-- Hamza Anwar (Manchester, UK)
But he has sown the seeds for his his own downfall by his lack of respect for the judiciary - this was what allowed Aitzaz Ahsan to turn a stuffy figure like Iftikhar Chaudry into a national hero.
Worse still he has appeared to the public as a pathetic rascal who would do anything to keep his presidency - even to do a deal with the crook Benazir (as proven in Swiss courts, however, much she may bleat and appeal) - to again weaken the opposition at the next elections.
His persona from this decision changed to a power drunk autocrat - one that wants to be in power for power's sake - however much he may say that the easiest thing would be for him to leave to be with his beloved Bilal in America.
The momentum that the Chief Justice generated was such that he became more powerful than the President himself - to keep his job the general had to even dismay his Western partners by sacking the Supreme Court.
Personally I think Aitzaz Ahsan and the judiciary went too far in that they were going to declare Musharraf's presidency invalid on the basis that he still had his uniform on at the time of the vote. I think that the opposition should have tried to win the election and given the general a dignified retirement in a few years in the interests of national reconciliation.
But I guess they are all gambling that Mush is losing support by the day even within the army and also want to get their own back on him for the way he has treated them.
While BiBi is having to join in on the bandwagon now that she is finally cottoning onto the fact that the general is sinking.
In the midst of these upheavals I have come to the decision that civilian rule must be Paksitan's political direction. It is the only way that personalities and egos are to be kept in check and that priority will be given to the wants and needs of the Paksitani public.
-- Hamza Anwar (Manchester, UK)
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