Author: Mazhar Abbas
Publication: Rediff on Net
Date: October 21, 2004
URL: http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/oct/22spec1.htm?headline=Special:~The~Jihadi's~Enemy~No~1
All countries have armies, but here
army has a country, even under a civilian rule.'
This old joke in Pakistan seems
particularly apt at a time when the country's national assembly is about
to pass a Bill asking President Pervez Musharraf not to shed his uniform
in the 'national interest.'
Two provincial assemblies, Punjab
and Sindh, have already passed bill. This is called 'democracy in uniform.'
But the government in North West
Frontier Province, bordering Afghanistan, opposed the bill, while it was
withdrawn from the Baluchistan assembly, after the ruling PML-religious
party combine ruling these two provinces failed to reach a consensus.
The constitution of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan, 1973, had fixed a five year tenure for an elected
government. In practice, it has been always less than three years except
in case of late Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1972 to 1977).
Military dictators fixed their own
tenures. Field Marshal Ayub Khan ruled for a decade, General Zia-ul Haq
ruled for 11 years, while Musharraf completed five years on October 12,
and remains 'unbeaten.'
Since assuming office, Musharraf
has strengthened his grip on power through one amendment after another.
He is a President of Pakistan, head of the National Security Council, Chief
of the Army Staff, Commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
He has also regained the power to
dismiss parliament or sack the government, which was abolished by the government
of then premier Nawaz Sharif.
He recently promoted two three-star
generals into four-star, including the vice-chief of army, a post only
created when the army chief also decides to hold the government office.
Defence analysts believe that the
appointment of General Mohammad Yusuf as vice chief for three years is
an indication that Musharraf has no intention to quit Pakistan's most powerful
post.
But if at the last minute he does
decide to quit, the vice-chief will take over and the post will be abolished.
Until October 2001, Musharraf used
to attend functions, went to restaurants and even paan shops with his friends.
He still wants to live a normal
life, but the mujahideen of yesterday and the terrorists of today won't
let him.
The 'Hero of Kargil' for thousands
of mujahideen in 1999 before the fall of Nawaz Sharif, is now their number
one enemy, and their 'prime target.'
They hate him, describing him friends
of infidels, an American puppet. He blocked the jihad in Kashmir, is shaking
hands with India, is responsible for the overthrow of Taliban regime and
killed hundreds of Islamic extremists, they say.
Musharraf survived two deadly attacks
on his life in December last year near the well guarded army headquarters
in Rawalpindi.
Musharraf's new Prime Minister Shaukat
Aziz, also considered an American agent by the extremists, survived a suicide
attacked on his life earlier this year, when a man blew himself up near
his car as he left his election rally in Attock near Punjab.
'Let us see who will go first, me
or him (Musharraf),' said Omar Ahmed Sheikh, who was released from Indian
jail after the hijack drama in Kandahar and now faces the death penalty
for the kidnapping and slaying of Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel
Pearl.
The security expenses of the president
and prime minister are estimated at around Rs 2 billion annually, and involve
hundreds of policemen, paramilitary and army men.
Musharraf has partially succeeded
in the reversal of General Zia-ul Haq's legacy within the army of producing
pro-Taliban or Islamic militants.
But Zia's son Ejaz ul Haq is not
only federal minister of religious affairs, he endorses his father's policies,
some of which directly affect women's rights.
The main jihadi parties hope to
bring in a new army chief by creating major disturbances in the country
after the holy month of Ramzan.
The sectarian outfits have already
created a wave of terror through suicide bomb blasts and other acts of
terrorism in which over 200 people have been killed so far this year.
Musharraf portrayed himself as a
modern and liberal person from the very first day in office. When his first
photograph was published he had two puppies in his hand, and he described
Turkey's Kemal Attaturk as his ideal.
But he ultimately failed to satisfy
the liberals and secular class as well, though he promised 'enlightened
moderation' and pursued his peace efforts with India, softened his stance
on Kashmir, and cracked down on Islamic extremists.
He tried to rally civil society
behind him through his promises to amend the Hudood ordinance and blasphemy
and other anti-women laws, but retreated to avoid further confrontation
with the Islamists.
Zia's son Ejazul Haq announced the
other day that these laws would not change.
Musharraf did increase seats for
women in the national and provincial assemblies, resulting in a large number
of women legislators. But given his five years in office, that is not enough.
After assuming power, the general
has opened too many fronts, but failed to convincingly close a single one.
His hard line against Nawaz Sharif
is quite understandable as the latter humiliated him by sacking him before
he himself was sacked on the night of October 12, 1999.
But his continued confrontation
with former premier Benazir Bhutto forced the two most popular leaders
to come close to each other. As Musharraf celebrates his fifth year in
power, the two former rivals have also forged ties with the religious parties
alliance, Muttahida Majlis-e- Amal.
Musharraf may have put the brakes
on exporting militancy to the Afghanistan and Kashmir fronts.
But every year, some 20,000 students,
including women graduate from the 10,000 madrassas after completing their
12 year course, completely brainwashed and prepared for 'jihad.'
These madrassas, whose annual budget
runs into billions, provide meal, clothes and even accommodation for students.
Most students belong to the lower income class, who feel that theses schools
ease their burden.
The majority of these madrassas
were not involved in jihad until the US paid for and led the 'jihad' against
the Soviets in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
The Soviets withdrew from Afghanistan
and US withdrew itself from the jihad, but left behind hundreds and thousands
of trained mujahideen.
Whether you call it jihad or terrorism,
the fact remains that it has now become a growing culture.
Musharraf knows the power of the
'uniform' in Pakistan, and has indicated that without it he may not be
able to address major issues.
These include 'peace with India,'
'the nuclear issue,' the alarming shortage of water as well as economic
issues. Though he insists he has instilled financial discipline during
his five years in power, his critics question these claims.
As some of them put it: "There are
two Pakistans. One belongs to rich class, which has really prospered as
they become more rich, but the Pakistan of the poor has not progressed.
They still not getting basic rights like education, health, justice, equality."
We have a Parliament, legislatures,
opposition, free press, a civilian government under a civilian prime minister.
All under the sword of a powerful military ruler.
Democracy in Pakistan still dependent
on the 'uniform.' Even after 57 years, the nation is still in search of
a system.
