Shadow of the Dictator
By Ashraf Mian
New York
It is a great coincidence that the Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations, Heraldo Munoz, is meeting with another dictator in London this September. Heraldo Munoz is the Chairman of the UN Commission that is investigating the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, former Prim Minister of Pakistan. He was in Pakistan with two other members of the commission to piece together information relating to the murder that took place in mid-July this year.
Ambassador Heraldo Munoz is not only a diplomat, he is a politician, intellectual, writer, and author. Munoz was in Chile in 1973 as a member of President Salvador Allende's administration. General Augusto Pinochet toppled the elected government with a bloody coup and took over power. He became a tyrant. Heraldo Munoz has written a book called Shadow of The Dictator in which he mentions the many atrocities committed by General Pinochet during his rule.
The former ruler of Pakistan, General Musharraf (Retired), has many similarities with Pinochet. Musharraf has an eight-year record of atrocities; including killings, torturing and kidnapping of political workers. The majority of people think Musharraf is one of the murderers of Benazir Bhutto. How ironic that now he is living in London in luxurious accommodations. According to Musharraf, his son Bilal Musharraf bought a beautiful home for him that an honest ex-serviceman could never be able to afford. Heraldo Munoz will soon see the elaborate accommodations. He knows how Pinochet robbed and plundered the country.
Finally, Pinochet was extradited from London to Chile and was tried in court for corruption and abuse of civil rights. He died during the trail.
On July 31 the Supreme Court of Pakistan declared the Nov 3, 2007 Emergency Rule as unconstitutional. The apex court said that the parliament could try Mushrraf for treason. Now Pakistani's ruling party and other opposition parties are bringing a resolution on the floor of the parliament to try Mushrraf. Soon Mushrraf will have to appear before the parliament.
Lord Nazir Ahmed; member of the House of Lords, is trying hard to file cases against Musharraf in Britain.
It appears Musharraf still considers himself the President of Pakistan. Recently, he told his ex-member of cabinet, Makhdoom Saleh Hayat, that people of Pakistan will soon overthrow the present Govt. and invite him to once again take control of the country. He is living in a fool’s paradise like other dictators - the Shah of Iran and Pinochet of Chile. All dictators think like him when they are out of power. In conclusion, I strongly suggest that Ambassador Heraldo Munoz write a second part to his Shadow of The Dictator when he meets dictator Mushrraf. Let’s hope that it will be a great book for students of history and political science.
