Editor’s Note: Ali Madison is the pseudonym of a leading Pakistani thinker and insider with ties to both the establishment and opposition. With an illustrious career and a number of books to his credit, Ali presents us with his thoughts on President Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto in the context of the upcoming elections.
The elections in Pakistan are just about two weeks away. Musharraf is fulfilling his promise by my reckoning; or was it the Americans, the Brits, or the lawyers and politicians in Pakistan who deserve the credit? The burning question of the day is will the elections in Pakistan be fair and free? The media in the US and the opposition parties in Pakistan are convinced that they will be opaque and rigged. Scores of international observers are on their way to Pakistan to monitor the elections though they too are convinced they will be rigged, such is the power of suggestion. Now where does this leave Musharraf, between a hard place and a rock? I think so.
Almost every body who is anybody in the US, starting with powerful voices on the Hill, the media, every South Asian think tanker worth his salt and let us not forget the Pakistani American scholar struggling to find a position in the land of opportunity have lambasted Musharraf for everything wrong in Pakistan. Let Ambassador Durrani and his team rave and rant that Musharraf is the best thing that has happened to Pakistan in recent decades, alas the opinion die is cast; Musharraf is a dictator and the elections will be rigged.
The Pakistani media, which expanded exponentially under Musharraf, the whiskey swirling liberals in Islamabad and Lahore and the major political parties with impeccable democratic credentials from the right, the left and the center all warn of the upcoming rigged elections, as they brainwash the representatives of foreign Government and the foreign media of the dictatorial credentials of Musharraf. The Joan of Arc launched by the US is a hot favorite for her liberal credentials. Of course we will turn a blind eye to her dictatorial credentials within her party and her Mr. 10 % who is upping the rate to 15 % because of global warming and the rising price of oil. Another favorite is the Saudi launched democrat who during one of his tenures launched a frontal attack on the Supreme Court and has deep connections with the religious right. Another positive about the Saudi launch is his ambition to become the Amir ul Mohmaneen, the rightful successor of the Zia ul Haq legacy, so help us God.The patient commoner of Pakistan with the wisdom of poverty, has discovered the right formula for obtaining justice in Pakistan and I quote him, “if you have a case in court, you have multiple choices — hire a lawyer, or hire a judge, if the going gets tough better still hire a judge through a lawyer, and in case you have no money lump it.” It is this wisdom that kept the common citizen from joining the protesting penguins (black suited lawyers); the alternatives to Musharraf did not appeal to them. Nor do they appeal to me.
I honestly believe Musharraf is indeed the best thing that has happened to Pakistan in a long time. He has turned around the sick economy of Pakistan, has improved the lot of the common man, enhanced the status of women, built the civil society, is improving education and is a true liberal. Not a single scandal of corruption against his name. Let me not push my luck but I feel he has done more for democracy than any of his recent predecessors. Yes he has made mistakes, is fighting an unpopular war and his popularity has plummeted. Incidentally his popularity is no worse than that of the Congress in the US. Musharraf at the helm for another five years will be in the best interest of Pakistan and I believe the US too, mark my words.
11 responses so far ↓
1 imran tahir // Dec 23, 2007 at 6:10 pm
black penguins i like it and cowasjee calls them terrorist in black suites.
2 Nasir Khan // Dec 24, 2007 at 3:23 am
I think it is a balanced perspective, especially in view of the credentials of the other big players involved. And as for the so called lawyers movement and Mr. Aitezaz Ahsan, the whole affair should be taken with a pinch of salt. Mr. Ahsan’s standpoint is very vague (and hence dubious) and he seems to be riding or trying to ride too many boats at the same time … and to what end is anybody’s guess!
3 Us Elections // Dec 24, 2007 at 2:20 pm
[…] Musharraf: An Alternative Perspective […]
4 Mohammad A Khan // Dec 24, 2007 at 3:28 pm
The piece by Ali Madison (Is he a kin to President Madison!)
Take a deep breath:
1. The PROBLEM is the ARMY.
2. Generals know it all.
3. They create Nawaz Shariff & make blunders.
4. Love with America because of “begging bowl” and now has to accept the Lady.
5. Talking of COMMON PEOPLE. They do not have where withal but to think about next Morsel of Sustenance. Economy: Real Estate Money and Gated Communities,Generals talking about Land Deals. Super Rich,Sons and daughters of Generals and Beaureacrats in Mulinationals,Askari banks and the ilks. You call it ECONOMY. Hail to Uncle SAM for help.
6. Sir! Who are the voices: To Fight the British given Institution (Army) the only organised voice is the LAWYERS. Whats wrong,let Democracy flourish,you do not perpetuate power by Amendments. Its Blasphemy to shred a constitution. Add to the mixture the FEUDALS who live on the backs of the Haris,indentures & serfs: This is the CESSPOOL where from we draw most of the RULERS and Generals.
7. Have we forgotten how a MAJORITY seceeded from minority? This has never happened to a Nation. We need to address THE PUNJABI PROBLEM. Our nation PAKISTAN is falling apart.
6
8. Talking about RIGGING. Its a culture that has been taken to a higher LEVEL by the cell in ISI.
9. Pakistan can only learn DEMOCRACY if we started everything right about 60 years ago. Thanks to ilks of Ayubs,Zias,Yayahs,Mush.
10. We are paying the heavy PRICE of trying to clear up the mess of the GENERAL that preceeded by the present ONE.
Asslaam Alaikum. Mohammad A Khan.
5 Abdul khaliq // Dec 24, 2007 at 7:38 pm
1.It is unfotunate that in absence of any standrad for good leader we are suppose to compare evils.Since BB and Nawaz sharif are bad
therefore Musharaf is good this logic is bit too shallow.
2.Musharaf had ample of chances to let the system of checks and balances be evolved but all he did was making his chair safe.
3.The only credit which can be given to Pervez Musharaf is that Americans are unable to stablize their occupation of Afghanistan so for.
4.BB and NS normaly try to encash hatred Musharaf could have put an end to it by going for proportionate representation system but he prefered to work for desired rubber stamp parliament instead of seeking true representation of people.
5.In future role Army will be to guard the constitution of Pakistan and help estabish the writ of judiciary by reigning in the executive for transgression of law of the land
6 Tighe Barry // Dec 25, 2007 at 5:06 am
I agree, I love Musharraf!
7 imran tahir // Dec 25, 2007 at 3:19 pm
khan shahib every country where army is it have role in politics sowehre on the seen like it was in pakistan and now in thiland but most off the seen like us where all policies made by pentagone not statedepartment and turky isreal india so called largest democracy of the world so its reality.all the notions why these politians go to ghq and say come people waiing for u so its fault of both sides cant blame one party in pakistan army has role and will have role in future but more off the seen.SO khan shahib the perstine democracy what u after u may never get in pakistan and not even in westren world where u and me live democracy is about corruption somewhere more somewhere less and by the khan shaib democracy on the march in pakistan God bless
8 noman habib // Dec 26, 2007 at 8:02 am
Army should not put their weight behind corrupted executive but behind the weakest organ of state which is judiciary.
Musharaf matters no more it is prestiege of Army which matters.We have to make sure that our executive works under the law and does not go beyond the legal limits to prove their loyalty to cirtain individual.
9 Zahid Malik // Dec 26, 2007 at 4:49 pm
Mr.Ali the way you have presented the undemocartic president is very interesting. You have put the blame on political forces of pakistan. Lets not forget this forces are the voice of pakistani people. If any one of this comes with majority this mean people have spoken. I strongly disagree with you the way you tried to present the undemocratic and skinned off general. Musarraf do not represent the voice of of people of Pakistan. I once remmeber Imran Khan saying that he cannot even win a single seat in the any kind of election. Musarraf has over estimated his intelligence, he is an not even an average person. He was fortunate that he got support from army and US. But he will always be unfortunate that he was never able to win the support of peoples of Pakistan. He was an arstocratic general, whose life style never let you know the issues of pakistan. The way he destroyed the Superme court of Pakistan, never a elected governement would have done. You talk about the Nawaz Sharif, atleast he had the courage to face the court. But this shame less and unskinned general dont even has the courage to face the truth. The time never stay same, the lawyers will come again. The men at their best will be back, and remmber that justice is always done.
10 noman habib // Dec 26, 2007 at 9:38 pm
To the best of my knowldge the only difference between Aitezaz ehsan and AP kiyani is that aitezaz does not wear uniform.It is indeed a good luck to our nation that on this critical juncture of our history we have an intelectual general in power.His inaction can be attributed to his wisdome
11 noman habib // Jan 9, 2008 at 7:19 am
1.A military take over can instigate US to try to secure our Nukes.Therefore it has to be with consent of all and very swift.
2.Musharaf might step down voluntarily and a care taker president takes over.
3.Macro economics,enlightened moderation and war on terror policies have failed miserably
hope he is sensible enough not to use american threat for his power grab it will further complicate the things for Pakistan.
4.Army need to take over election process totaly
to kill any rigging issues and leave the fate of president to the elected parliament
Leave a Comment