ISLAMABAD, July 5 — There is hope and anger in Pakistan over the actions of the Pervez Musharraf regime with indications that the Chief Executive Officer is not in control of the situation.

To bring “accountability” in Pakistan, General Musharraf has apparently stepped on too many toes, especially the all powerful business community. The rich businessmen of Pakistan are upset over the actions of the military regime and are of the view that too many excesses are being committed in the name of accountability.

Although General Musharraf has taken the initiative of having talks with the political parties in Pakistan and invited their leaders for a dialogue, there is a sense of mistrust over what course of action the military regime will take in the future. The politicians in Pakistan, who also actually represent the powerful business lobby want the National Assembly to be restored as soon as possible, but privately admit that this might not happen in the near future.

Besides there is one lot of politicians, especially raised and reared by the military, who have been put behind the bars. And there is no hope for them to be out in the near future as apparently the General does not feel quite safe with them around.

He is facing pressure both within the country and also from abroad. There is pressure from the clergy, pressure from the business community, pressure from his own fellow officers, pressure from the politicians and above all pressure from the West, which the General is facing on a day-to-day basis.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB), which the General created to bring the erring businessmen to book is being viewed as another law to trouble the common man. People are actually on tenterhooks that men from the NAB will come to nab them for the offences which they have not committed.

The shadow of General Zia-ul-Haq’s 11-year regime as the military dictator still haunts people of Pakistan. This is one of the main reasons for them for not believing in the promises which General Musharraf has been making so frequently.

People openly point out that General Zia had been given just six months when he took over the reigns of the country, but he continued for 11 long years. “How can we believe that General Musharraf will step down after three years,” which have been given to him by the Pakistan Supreme Court.

The general perception prevailing in Pakistan is “who wants to leave power?”. Incidentally, he has already started stressing on the word `politician’ for himself, which has sent warning signals to all sections.

He has been using the word every time he stresses on the need for a dialogue between India and Pakistan. While on one hand he says India is not ready for a dialogue with the military regime, on the other he points out that there is a need for talks between the ‘political leaders’ of the two countries.

Reports say even a large number of General’s subordinates, especially those in high positions in the military are also not very happy with the way he is trying to run the country.

There is apparently a clear partition in the military establishment over the manner in which the country is being run. Some of the senior military officers feel that some of the decisions the General is taking are actually not in favour of the country’s growth and prosperity.

The prevailing divide and tensions were very apparent at the recent seminar-Towards a free, fair and vibrant media — organised by the Jung group of newspapers in Islamabad, which was also attended by a large contingent of newspersons from India.