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Pervez’s exit big relief for Pakistan

H K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “No one is shedding tears for Pervez Musharraf” (Aug 19) is timely. Pakistan has heaved a sigh of relief with Musharraf’s resignation. The humiliating exit has not come a day too soon. Had he resigned after the formation of the new government, he could have saved his face. The agenda for the PPP-PML (N) coalition was the dictator’s removal from the Presidency. The new coalition government would be able to run smoothly following his much-awaited exit.

As elucidated by Mr Dua, during his nine-year-long dictatorship, Musharraf maimed the Constitution and subverted the judicial system to strengthen his position as Pakistan’s so-called saviour. Fundamentalism and 1S1-sponsored terrorism flourished during his rule. He took special interest to fan extremism in Kashmir to destabilise India. The Taliban and Al-Qaeda-like groups used Pakistan territory to attack other countries including India.

Understandably, Pakistan is in a jubilant mood after getting rid of the notorious dictator. Now there is no reason why the coalition government should not work unitedly to help the fragile democracy take its roots deep enough to thwart any attempt to uproot it. Mr Zardari and Mr Nawaz Sharif are answerable to the people. They should try to meet with their aspirations.

KARNAIL SINGH, Kharar

II

Mr Dua’s editorial is brilliant and balanced. In fact, there is cheer all around the subcontinent. Musharraf’s exit proves that you can fool some people for some time but not all people all the time. Needless to add, the chief architect of Musharraf’s ouster is Nawaz Sharif. He has established that he is not that ‘sharif’ in the game of politics as his name erroneously suggests.

Actually, Musharraf had despatched Nawaz Sharif to Saudi Arabia thinking that he would pass his rest of life doing ‘Namaz’. However, Nawaz has turned the tables and Musharraf may have to spend the rest of his life the way Nawaz Sharif wanted to do and sing what Nawaz used to hum, Din Kat Jaye, Raat Na Jaye!

On its part, India has to keep its powder dry for establishing peace with Pakistan. This is, no doubt, a difficult task. Even Musharraf’s so-called friendship with India was not genuine. The following couplet aptly sums up the situation:

Aap Bhi Aate Rahiye,  
Hame Bhi Bulaate Rahiye
Dil Se Dil Mile Na Mile
Haath Milaate Rahiye!

As rightly pointed out by Mr Dua, there are two parties in Pakistan — the Army and the political outfits. They keep rotating and work on the principle of divide and misrule.

Though dictator Musharraf has gone, two other dictator Presidents remain in tact. They are Egyptian President Mubarak and Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe.

K.J.S. AHLUWALIA, Amritsar

III

Musharraf has seized power in a bloodless coup on Oct 12, 1999, by dismissing Nawaz Sharif’s duly elected government. The country was put under martial law. All institutions including the executive and the judiciary were under the military dictator’s thumb.

During his rule, the Army was in charge of the day-to-day governance. He introduced sham democracy, in acting as both the Army Chief and President. He was always playing a second fiddle to the US. He abrogated the Constitution and dismissed the Supreme Court judges by imposing national emergency.

The people’s civil liberties were curtailed. No remedial measures were taken to improve the shattered economy. Radicals were holding sway in the country. The February elections were held under the US’ pressure. The people have given their mandate with a strong will to remove Musharraf — the big stumbling block in restoring democracy.

Now that he has resigned, the coalition government should help improve the foreign relations and promote peace with all countries including India by controlling terrorism.

GURDEV SINGH, Mohali

IV

The front-page editorial speaks about the man who might have never dreamt that he would be deserted by his friends and followers. Musharraf acted like a mad maniac with absolute dictatorship. He treated his people like subjects and did little to improve their quality of life. He refused to see the reality when retired Generals asked him to resign to save Pakistan from further division and destruction. Rather he called them the force of frustrated Generals.

MULTAN SINGH PARIHAR, Jalari (Hamirpur)