November 17, 2007

Pakistan In Tumult

By P.B. Masdal |

Posted In : Global Politics

So tumultuous what’s happening now in Pakistan. I had been monitoring the events there on cable news for some days now albeit flippantly and unevenly for my mind is so occupied with some important things. There were the lawyers in glib black suits carrying placards in protest of General Pervez Musharraf’s re-election to office last October 3. And then there was the very dramatic return of a nation’s once adored daughter—-and could still be by many in Pakistan—- in Benazir Bhutto after 8 long years of self-exile in London, with nearly two hundred marchers accompanying her when a very destructive explosion laid the street march not reaching it’s end, killing 148 people and maiming many more.

On November 3, Gen. Musharraf dissolved the Supreme Court, declared emergency rule and went on to detained about 2,500 lawyers and oppositionists, just when the high court would have decided to nullify Musharraf’s re-election on the ground that he was still the army chief when he had sought the said election.

Now the general disturbance in Pakistan halts into a deceitful silence so pregnant with extreme tumult, like the silence is so heavy and strong, that one could actually smell it. Perhaps, General Musharraf smells this and fear and great anxiousness inures in him that now, he offers to conduct another presidential poll on January next year.

But Benazir Bhutto’s camp does not trust anything coming from General Pervez and even with the offer of passing administration to a caretaker government pending the January election, Bhutto is primed to boycott the said polls.

What does Bhutto really wants? There’s an offer for the holding of snap polls on January. There would be a caretaker government that should oversee fairness in the election process.

Apparently, Bhutto wants none other than Musharraf’s resignation from office, which at this time seems like a high demand, a very high demand in fact.

Maybe there’s a middle point to all this. But even U.S. Deputy Secretary John Negroponte is so hard-pressed to find one.

In a situation as tumultuous as this, a middle point is always the hardest thing to find.

43 Comments »

1. snglguy says; November 17, 2007 @ 11:36 pm

   Well I’m sure the US will make sure that Musharraf stays in power as a deterrence to that country’s growing radicalism.

2. bw says; November 18, 2007 @ 1:23 am

   Bhutto is also a pretty well known moderate but I think the fundamentalist Pakistanis prefer Musharraf to Benazir. For starters, fundamentalists hate to be led by a woman

   Interesting part of a dual executive system is – where’s Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister of Pakistan on all of this brouhaha ?

3. ipanema says; November 18, 2007 @ 4:51 am

   Musharraf looks a pity over the last several weeks pondering what to do with some unrulies in the military and the judiciary. Perhaps calling on an emergency rule would just put these people where they should be.

   Of course, the international community and the opposition wouldn’t like that. Having dual roles made it easy for him to declare and emergency rule.

   Personally, I still go for Pres. Musharraf. So far during his rule, there were some good political moments. Some peace for awhile. I don’t think Ms. Bhutto can hold the country at peace as well. It needs some strong hands to quell chaos.

   It’s so hard if everyone wants power.

4. Sidney says; November 19, 2007 @ 8:03 pm

   Once again. All those leaders are ruthless. And General Pervez Musharraf is no exception. As long as he is backed by the military he will stay in power.
   Look at what happened over and over in the course of history. Those guys prefer to die than loose their power. You see this kind of behavior in all parts of the world.

   And yes, I think he is the best option for Pakistan right now. You can expect chaos after him.

5. Major Tom says; November 20, 2007 @ 2:54 pm

   To sngl: That’s why Mr. Negroponte is so busy nowadays—-they got the US interest in that region so intertwined.

6. Major Tom says; November 20, 2007 @ 2:55 pm

   To BW: Seems to me that is is clear that the Prime Minister plays merely a puppet role; non-significant altogether.

7. Major Tom says; November 20, 2007 @ 2:58 pm

   To ipanema: I somehow share your sentiments about Gen. Musharraf, aside from being reasonably personable, he had seem to be well-educated in his moves.

   However, he had committed such a major error in tinkling with the constitution—that’s why he is embroiled in such disturbances.

8. Major Tom says; November 20, 2007 @ 3:00 pm

   To Sidney: In my mind, Gen. Musharraf realize this all too well, that Pakistan may unbind into great chaos if there’d be change in power, all that he had gained, would be unraveled in seconds virtually.

9. Schumey says; November 21, 2007 @ 7:32 am

   Any good leader when drunk with power becomes evil. And this is what “Pervert” is at the moment. The only thing the opposition ask is for him to resign from the military not the presidency. Its obvious that all he wants is to stay in power.

10. verns says; November 21, 2007 @ 10:51 am

    Hi Major Tom just dropping by…sorry can’t really comment. Don’t know anything about the issue but I pray that someday they’ll have peace there.

11. Ferdz says; November 21, 2007 @ 11:12 pm

    You know what I like visiting your site. I get to be updated on world affairs. hehehe. I don’t watch/read to much news so it’s a nice stop here.

12. tutubi says; November 22, 2007 @ 4:43 pm

    it’s dangerous of the country collapses. nuclear weapons might fall into the wrong hands or a radical new government

13. ipanema says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:23 pm

    Perhaps it was the only way to control peace if ever it was achieved by doing that. At least there are no killings so far because of that. Apparently, he has to forego his second power.

14. Major Tom says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:37 pm

    To schumey: He should have been more cautious tinkling with their constitution. Now he’s in such a bind.

15. Major Tom says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:39 pm

    To verns: Oh that’s all the comment one really neead about Pakistan, for that place to have stability after being disturbed by countless disturbances over the decades.

16. Major Tom says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:40 pm

    To ferdz: Thanks for the good commendation bro, I appreciate it so much.

17. Major Tom says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:44 pm

    To tutubi: It’s good that you mention this angle; it should be a major cause for concern. No wonder, US is moving heaven and earth these days to resolve the present crisis over there.

18. Major Tom says; November 22, 2007 @ 7:49 pm

    To ipanema: I wonder if he would do that—relinquishing the army chief position. He would be too anxious from another military takeover in that situation—-having to drink his own bitter pill.

19. Talk2Discuss says; November 23, 2007 @ 7:12 pm

    this means another conflict within their country? i hope they will understand what is happening and resolve it for humanity….

20. Mon says; November 24, 2007 @ 9:37 am

    Magresign na kasi.

21. collapsing barrycade says; November 24, 2007 @ 12:25 pm

    Even if Musharraf’s been an effective leader, there’s no justification for wanting more power and trampling over people’s human rights. The issue here isn’t how effective he has been, but the long-term repercussions of dictatorship on his people and on his country.

22. Major Tom says; November 26, 2007 @ 7:22 pm

    To talk2discuss: Conflicts seem to never end over there, since the time of the Pakistan-India separation…

    To MonMon: Ayaw yata yan ng America since they wouldn’t have much influence over the very cooperative Pakistan (in its afghanistan campaign) without Gen. Musharraf on the helm.

    To collapsingbarrycade: It remains to be seen if Musharraf’s gambit would work all too well; being very machiovellian in his approach.

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24. ysrael mendez says; December 4, 2007 @ 4:24 am

    I go along well w/ Ipanemas comment that Gen. Musharraf is still the best man to govern Pakistan. Well, Martial law is very unpopular decision but I think it was right, just like Marcos did in Sept. 21. 1971 (is this the right date?)

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