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Musharraf a victim of delusion

H K. Dua’s front-page editorial, “No one is shedding tears for Pervez Musharraf” (Aug 19) was exhaustive and interesting. As Afghanistan, where Osama Bin Laden, the prime suspect of 9/11 is having a field day, is the only route for America to secure him, lay through Pakistan, Musharraf got the much-needed reprieve and international acceptability.

Finding his base strengthened, he began to rule with an iron hand. Under pressure, he fought the presidential election as a civilian. He could not rig the Assembly elections. When his political settlement with Benazir was on, she met a violent death. Sharif managed to return from exile. The Assembly elections’ verdict made Musharraf vulnerable.

His voluntary resignation on moral grounds could have mollified the ire. But he stuck on, may be banking on America or the Army. With help from no quarter, he had to resign in disgrace. Thus ended Musharraf’s career. He continued a victim of delusion, regarding his elusive props till the clock ticked his doom.

India should cherish a stable, vibrant, viable and democratic Pakistan willing to solve disputes in the Simla pact spirit and obliged to observe the sanctity of the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of the identity of the chief executive, it’s internal affair.

V.I. K. SHARMA, Jalandhar

II

In his front-page editorial, “Better Musharraf leaves on his own than told
to do so” (Feb 20), Mr Dua had suggested Pervez Musharraf to quit gracefully leaving the country’s affairs to the elected representatives. Now, after six months, he has been forced to resign in an undignified manner.

I endorse the second paragraph of Mr Dua’s latest piece (Aug 19) which best sums up the predicament of the failed dictator: “If he had given up his office soon after last February elections, which rejected the “King’s Party”, a few people might have shed some tears on his exit from power he had  grabbed nine years ago in a coup.”

SUNDER SINGH GIANI, Dialpura (Mohali)

III

From the India perspective I presume Mr Dua may be right. But the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has to see Musharraf’s resignation from the Sikh point of view. We are a people living on the Indo-Pakistan border and as the English phrase goes – one man’s meat is another man’s poison. So our party will “shed a tear” for him.

India’s 123 Agreement, which will keep eight military nuclear reactors outside the inspection purview of the IAEA and is violative of the Hyde Act, we feel will add nuclear military muscle to India. This will make its minorities and neighbours more fearful as India has not signed several UN Human Right’s conventions and protocols. It has also not signed the NPT and the CTBT.

SIMRANJIT SINGH MANN, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), Quill S. Harnam Singh

IV

Mr Dua has rightly expressed apprehensions with regard to the Army in Pakistan. Since the Army has tasted power for many years after the creation of Pakistan, the Army remaining mute spectator is next to impossible. The PPP and the MLN were at loggerheads before they faced a common enemy. Now when the common enemy is out, their tug of war is unfortunate.

Undoubtedly, as the Army enjoys superiority over the civilians in Pakistan, that country’s experimentation with democracy has not proved successful since 61 years of its existence.

Let us hope and pray that wiser counsel would prevail on the people this time. In this context, they would do well to emulate the USA, their fair weather friend.

SURABHI AIRI, Kurnool (AP)

V

Mr Dua has very rightly stated that the giant’s fall was inevitable. Finding all his friends looking the other way, the marooned Musharraf was left with no option but to quit to save himself from the ignominy of a certain impeachment.

Despite all his tall claims about the country’s progress during his regime, Musharraf has left Pakistan in a boiling cauldron.

O. P. COUSHIK, Kurukshetra