Hanif I am no authority to even comment on this article,its beautifully written, a joy to read and does make a strong point. Its like reading a Khushwant Singh's short story, and with that I am complimenting you to the highest.
But theirs this other side to the article, Musharraf. I did get your analogy about the drunk uncle,and until now,i always thought that god has chosen my life for such cinematic moments but I guess their are more drunk uncle's in this world then I thought. But anyway this guy, Musharraf might seem to be going in the wrong direction but somehow I feel that Pakistan has taken a turn in its life where nothing but dictatorship can control things, and by that I mean a real strong one. Extremism is on a unimaginable rise in Pakistan and even if democracy is put into a place, it would be a matter of time when a Imam or a shah would be elected to power. The pakistan would become a democracy but a democracy ruled by the mosque and religion not by its people. Musharraf has no doubt lost his grip but I dont think a benarzir or a sharif could do any better in the present situation. Whatever he said,might sound stupid but I think he meant a lot of it. A boss would no more then anyone if his authority is challenged and being ruined and someone else has taken his place. He knows it well that all his actions are being challenged now. Continued--
RE:Strange Article
by S S on Nov 06, 2007 04:00 PM Permalink
The extremism which is a common occurrence where ever religion is given a priority, has broken all boundaries and become more violent and extreme. Pakistan in my opinion is on its way to be ruled by taliban or become another iraq. We all know what happened at Lal Masjid,so he was right to quote about Islamabad.
Anyway my point is not to support Musharraf or anyone, but being from India, everything that happens next door is to watched very keenly, a small change their might make some change here. Pakistan in my opinion has to be ruled by a strict hand, but not by a religious fugure, not by a democratic prime-minister who are more concerned about filling their pockets but by someone who really wants to get rid of this. Pakistan is on a verge of collapse and in this extreme circumstances only extreme actions can help. The worst thing for Indian would be,to see pakistan get controlled by some religious fanatics who have no respect for life. Anyway good article.
RE:Strange Article
by Vijay alias Teesmar Khan on Nov 06, 2007 04:44 PM Permalink
Why do you think a Shariff or Benazir could not do better. At least they would have support of their masses. Musharraf does not enjoy support of anybody except his army. At the time he overthrown Nawaz Shariff, Nawaz was enjoying two third majority in the parliament.
RE:RE:Strange Article
by S S on Nov 06, 2007 04:55 PM Permalink
Vijay I said that because pakistan has come a long way since Nawaz Shariff was overthrown. Its not the same pakistan atleast to me. Democracy is good but how can you get good leaders elected when the local population is being scared by extremism. You know its a scenario like we get a politician elected in India,which might have a huge criminal record but he still wins. He keeps getting elected again and again.And one of the reason that happens is the people who elect him are scared. I am not sure if I am able to explain you correctly but I think right now the need in pakistan is not to cure the infection but to eradicate the disease itself. take care "Khan".
RE:Strange Article
by Kabeer on Nov 06, 2007 04:26 PM Permalink
Dear SS, Now I have read almost all of your posts. I know that Musharraf is a great patriot. He thinks from his heart and head. How can anyone forget that he took an unpopular choice of going with the US immediately post 911? If he wanted to be popular he would have pleased his people-but it would have been shortlived. Pak would have been invaded by the US and India (remember those hot parliament attack times)
However, I still feel that the number of extremists and their sympathisers are still in a minority though the extremists actions are significant. It is always the shouting brigade that gets noticed-however it must be remembered that the silent are most of the times are a majority. It is only the NWFP that got infested. Punjab and SIndh are more or less peaceful and civilised. Balochi ofcourse not! But Punjab and SIndh are the lifelines of Pak!
Regarding a strong and a benevolent dictator remember the fallacy of French Revolution. The French after pulling down monarchy chose Napolean as Emperor the very instituion they wanted to demolish and bring democracy!
Benevolanet dictator tempts following generations that they can become one of him/her.
A free and fair election may initially bring right wing sympathisers but in the long run the system finds its equilibrium. It is a slow process; but it is a right process and a sure one.
Punjab and SIndh are the most populous ones and a free election should bring responsible representatives.
RE:Strange Article
by S S on Nov 06, 2007 04:47 PM Permalink
well you could be right Kabeer, I only talk about pakistan from an Indian prospective,which might not be the correct one. I would wish that pakistan is as democratic as any country in the world and things get better their. You are may also be right when you say things are not as bad as they seem, we always get to know whats wrong in Pakistan.But I just think that pakistan does need sometime to return to democracy. Theirs a lot going on which needs to be controlled. I have read about NSFP, but any infection in the body, if kept for long would in turn poison the whole system. In my opinion Pakistan needs a real strict hand not on its general population but to curb this extremism that is slowly spreading its tentacles among the common population in Pakistan. Lal masjid was a major disaster because it happened in a major city. A stable and democratic pakistan is not only good for Pakistan but India too. Remember its never the local population or "amm janta" that wants war or fights war..its always the leaders. So a democratic Govt. elected by the "People" would looks for solutions not more problems.
RE:Strange Article
by piyush bakshi on Nov 06, 2007 08:44 PM Permalink
porkistan's attitude to india has nothing to do with religious extremism.. their nation was formed on the basis on illogical religious extremism. they have fought with india under democratically elected govts and dictators, so where is the question of mullahs making a difference.
it is the common man's mindset over there which needs to change. let them realize that the best interests of this region lie in an undivided india
