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Sun, Mar 23rd 2008, 08:27

ilyas m mohsin, ppp, Platinum Contributor (250)

Venu Menon has produced an elaborate version of popular pot-pourri found, generally, in the Western media. If he was reading reports produced by guys like Robert Fisk, he would be better informed.
The hot spot is called MIRAN SHAH as against the term used by him; may be a clerical mistake.
Popular perception in the Muslim world, generally, and in Pakistan particularly, holds the US responsible for preferring Musharraf as a dictator to a democratic setup in Pakistan. In the aftermath of 9/11, the two parties operated at the whims of Washington. Hundreds of people were sold by the Northern Alliance as ‘arch terrorists’ to US forces and flown to Gitmo to suffer atrocities even before anything was proved against them. Musharraf also joined in such man-hunt and, it is believed here, that many of those picked were actually ‘usual suspects’. Some were released after 4/5 years as even worst atrocities could not establish anything against them. Imagine a one-time Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Zaeef being incarcerated in Gitmo and humiliated for quite sometime
before some conscience got pricked to order his release.
Terrorism is a fact of life in Pakistan and we are paying a heavy price for the short-sighted policies of the neo-cons abetted by Musharraf. Our army gets ambushed and our people are killed every now and then while friendly fire/ indiscriminate missile-firing also cause many deaths. Apparently we are much better off than the Afghans.
The US must give all-out support to the new democratic Govt so that it can act decisively on all fronts. As Feb 18 elections confirmed, the people of Pakistan are liberal and they cherish democratic aspirations. Despite the risk of bombings etc, they delivered a crashing blow to the dictator and his henchmen. Our friends all over, particularly in the US, should shed their tunnel-vision and see the emergence of a new dawn in Pakistan as a wondrous window of opportunity which should be utilised by all concerned to bring peace to the area as well as the Globe.

Tue, Apr 8th 2008, 08:31

ilyas m mohsin, ppp, Platinum Contributor (250)

Triumph and Tragedy in Pakistan

The demolition process started by the people of Pakistan on Feb 18 was, generally, a major triumph which would remain a source of pride for our posterity. Considering the last statement of the ‘supremo’ before the elections castigating the opinion polls/ surveys, he highlighted his bias against the opposition. Dreaming about the outcome, he visualised a National Assembly which would be dominated by his Q-league with PPP as the second-best while he had written off the N-league. He had even pooh-poohed the foreign organizations predicting a debacle for the regime if the polls did not become a repeat performance of 2002 whose massive rigging has been confirmed by Maj Gen Ihtisham Zamir. May be he was counting on Arbab Rahim etc’ genius for sharp practices which produced unbelievable results in Karachi Rigging was there in the rest of the country but not like Karachi which reminded one of the infamous ‘Referendum’ a la Musharraf. The current dispensation, whose hallmark was immunity against accountability/ corruption, became the scourge of God as the people experienced no ATTA, no Gas, no electricity and a make-believe security disposition. Given a chance, thanks to foreign pressure, the people of Pakistan have taken a major step to pulling the Bastille down. Such a start could bring a Democratic revolution.
Unfortunately, for more than 8 years, Pakistanis tolerated one-man rule supported by some carpet baggers. This was facilitated by the absence of major leaders from the country as they were hounded for promoting political vacuum at home which strengthened the status quo. No wonder, inducements like threatened victimization/ money were freely used by the regime to liquidate the PML N while the PPP was also undermined through multiple malpractices.
Since the ‘supremo’ had decided on ruling like Pinochet of Chile with the help of the US, he got arranged the passing of 17th amendment which changed the character of the 73 constitution so that he could remain the COAS besides being a ‘president.’ He bargained with the religious parties, generally, for the same but the bad faith in the deal was reflected all through, more so, since the end of 2004. As a quid pro quo he had to treat certificates issued by religious schools as equivalent to BA which was made the qualification for contesting the national elections. Tragically the matter remained sub judice. Likewise the MMA was given power in NWFP while it shared the same with some strange bed-fellows in Baluchistan. While some individuals made fortunes, the MMA lost face, generally, in the country.
As the hangers-on of the supremo were, generally, rich people who wanted to enjoy power, thanks to the gun dangled by their master, everybody was welcome who swore by such mantra. Thus many people, like Shaukat Aziz pooled their resources to create a Trojan horse whose strength was the COAS and not the people. It is no surprise that many rich Pakistanis living abroad joined this business which guaranteed monopoly of some power to them. While the COAS called all the shots, such underlings were content with being ‘his master’ voice’ in return for the crumbs of Musharraf’ table. For the likes of Shaukat Aziz, it was a wonder of wonders to be occupying the PM’ position even though practically he was the counterpart of the Shah of Iran’ Premier called Amir Abbas Hoveida. The elevation of the former was engineered by the disdainful rigging of bye-elections with impunity in Attock/ Mirpurkhas. All such characters knew their own standing vis-à-vis the people so they meticulously lived of ‘Hail ‘Ceaser’ mode.
The people may have crossed the Rubicon which has led to the induction of an elected Govt. However, this vital breakthrough would not have been possible but for the martyrdom of Benazir Bhutto which is attributed, generally, to security lapses by the regime etc. The regime’ approach to the tragedy of such international importance further aggravated the disgust of the people. Besides the Quixotic security arrangements, the elimination of evidence as well as the withholding of autopsy led to all kinds of finger-pointing at home and abroad.
Scotland Yard was invited to act as a red herring but it failed to impress due to the wholesale tempering with the evidence on the scene of offence by those in-power. To start with, the British agency had a nebulous mandate and it earned no credit among the Pakistanis for whatever it did. Bibi’ sacrifice smote the people’ conscience, generally, except those who tend to forget that death is the ultimate reality of human life. Hence the wave of sympathy for the biggest party which won the maximum number of seats despite the delayed-elections and selective gerrymandering.
The PPP has been asking for a UN probe on the lines of Hariri Murder in Lebanon. Prima facie, the demand is legitimate. The regime wasted no time in charging Baitullah Mehsud for the assassination. In order to sell their version, a cock and bull story of a tape-recording was released to the media immediately after her death alleging an indirect confession by 2 juniors of the charged- Taliban Commander. The ruler also blamed the victim for her death forgetting his own responsibility to ensure security of a leader of such stature.
Pakistan has suffered a vital blow in Bibi’ assassination and even the world is not immune from its fall-out. As it is a society which is highly deficient in political capital, the breach would be hard to fill. However, it is encouraging to note that Mr.Zardari has conducted himself, generally, in a statesman-like fashion after assuming the mantle of responsibility.
A coalition is in place which faces horrendous challenges at home and abroad. The announcement of targets by the Prime Minister on the floor of the House has made many people, generally, hopeful. The COAS, Gen Kiyani, has maintained a professional aloofness from political process which augurs well for all of us.. However, the Presidency is looked upon by the people with qualms. While the new Govt/ Parliament is elected, the ‘Head of the State’ provokes serious question- marks.
The coalition on whom the people have made their bets must remember their obligation as a genuinely-elected setup. Its mandate stands for achieving the national interest in all spheres even though it entails some personal losses. This is the lesson taught by Bibi who laid down her life for the revival of democracy. Any deviation there-from would only give a fillip to a major disaster for politics as well as the people of our country. The parties in power, particularly, must avoid a situation where people turn desperate and start thinking that their support for the political process was only, as Dr. Johnson said, “The triumph of hope over experience.”