Benazir-Musharraf
Deal, Or No Deal?
By Shakil Bhatti
Los Angeles, CA
Benazir will do a great disservice
to the people of Pakistan if she extends her hand
to save a sinking military dictator. She may be
able to get into power, and the usurper kept afloat
for some more time, but this arrangement would
ensure that the military retains its role as the
ultimate powerbroker in Pakistani politics. It'll
be only a few more years when they show her the
door once again.
The generals are in a tight spot, and are looking
for an escape route so as to blame the political
leadership once again for the mess they are going
to leave behind.
Benazir has the political support of the masses
that only needs to be turned into street power
through her charisma, to force an adventurer to
face the wrath of the people and full implementation
of the Constitution. If Benazir is thinking beyond
one more stint in power, and if she wants to carve
a niche for herself in history then instead of
cutting deals behind closed doors she should fight
for justice and rule of law. If justice is not
done, and Pakistani leadership refuses to learn
any lesson from history then rest assure history
is going to repeat itself.
The way things are going the generals will soon
be surrendering either to the rising menace of
jihadist militancy or to the will of the people
expressed through a genuine political process.
A secret deal between Benazir and the Army will
neither save Benazir nor the Army in the long
run. The deal will make Benazir an accomplice
in the crimes of the military dictatorship. This
will create a situation ripe for exploitation
by the jihadists who have sufficient motivation,
organizational network, and the will to kill and
get killed.
Pakistan is heading towards a Taliban style catastrophe,
which can only be averted if the will of the people
is brought into full play through a genuine political
process; failing which, deal or no deal, the writing
on the wall is clear.
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