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Has General Musharraf
Prepared Ground For Disintegration of Pakistan?
All serious analysts agree that the
foundation of separation of East Pakistan was laid by
general Ayub Khan. Had Ayub Khan not imposed martial law in
1958, Pakistan would have avoided circumstances that led to
separation of East Pakistan in 1971.
General Musharraf has exactly done what
general Ayub Khan did during his rule from 1958 to 1968. He
has laid the foundation of dismemberment of remainder of
Pakistan. The longer general Musharraf stays in power, the
chances of dismemberment of Pakistan will become more
imminent.
Former prime ministers, Benazir and Nawaz
Sharif, regardless of mutual tug of war, rejuvenated
Pakistan during 1988-1999. They took several successful
steps to pull Pakistan away from the shadows of Generals
Ayub, Yahya and Zia. They revived peoples’ confidence in
Pakistan. They made Pakistan a real entity which Pakistan’s
internal and external opponents eventually accepted as a
reality that was not going to wither away. The people of
Pakistan put martial law behind for ever. They started
believing in Pakistan’s future and they stopped talking
about its demise.
General Musharraf reversed all these
things on October 12, 1999. He moved Pakistan’s clock back
on October 8, 1958. Another Ayub Khan emerged on the scene
and motion was set in to undo what had been achieved during
fledgling democracy during 1988 to 1999.
Right now, Pakistan is going through the
phase of 1968 to 1971. It’s the same chaos, same
lawlessness, same disbelief in Pakistan’s future, and same
struggles in Balochistan and Waziristan. GHQ’s scenario,
generals’ priorities and behavior, is also same as described
by Hamoodur Rehman report prior to 1971 tragedy.
Unfortunately, general Musharraf’s
behavior, outlook and thinking are not any different. In
many ways he is worse than general Yahya Khan. He lacks
general Yahya Khan’s qualities, but has his many times
inflated idiosyncrasies.
In his view, things are not as bad in
Balochistan. “The situation in Balochistan is not like
1971”, he assures Pakistanis in his statements, but people
don’t trust his words. As a matter of fact the people of
Pakistan don’t trust whole Musharraf regime at all. “They
are liars”, that is how many people describe Musharraf
regime.
There are several reasons behind peoples’
this view of Musharraf regime and their faltering confidence
in the future of their country. First and foremost reason is
the gap between the rosy picture Musharraf’s exponents paint
and the harsh ground realities of Pakistani society:
Officially, economy is growing at the rate of 8% and foreign
exchange reserves are record high, but people are committing
suicides because that is the only way out for them from
massive poverty. Officially, general Musharraf believes in
enlightened moderation, but practically he behaves most
ruthlessly. His many political opponents are in jail for
life time, many newspapers and journalists have disappeared
without a trace, whereas many criminals have become
governors and ministers. Apparently, he is fighting war
against terrorism, but his allies in government have been
running terrorist camps, still committing terrorist acts
against their local and international opponents and blaming
others for these crimes.
Politically, he has imposed a barren
system on Pakistan. He insists it is democracy, but
practically he has blocked political process in the country.
Parliament which he insists will complete its term is more
like a brothel house which has only catered or satisfied
general Musharraf’s dirty desires throughout its existence.
During his 6 ½ years (mis)rule, general
Musharraf has not only reactivated Pakistan’s all old
political fault lines he has created many new fault lines
which are more deadly, destructive and ferocious.
In our view, general Musharraf has
prepared the ground for Pakistan’s further division and
dismemberment.
It is a bleak scenario. However, general
Musharraf can reverse this process by resigning and handing
over power to Chief Justice of Supreme Court. Chief Justice
should hold elections within three months and hand over
power to the elected representatives of the people of
Pakistan. |
