Gen. Musharraf’s Re-election: Who’s Gonna Stop Him?

"Democracy means majority, whether there is opposition or no opposition,” said Gen. Pervez Musharraf, military ruler of Pakistan, after he got an overwhelming majority in a recent “presidential election”. It seems that Musharraf is now out to teach the world what democracy is all about! What an irony! A military ruler who captured the power in Pakistan through a coup is now delivering lectures on democracy. Who has given him the authority to hold the election? He is nothing more than a self-styled "president" of Pakistan.

But, is there any real need for Mr. Pervez Musharraf to hold an election? I believe that he can stay in power as long as he wants. Because, military rule in Pakistan has become a normal thing for the ordinary people and they have accepted it as their destiny.

That’s why we can’t see any backlash against his rule all these years. The protests we have seen so far inside Pakistan are not against Musharraf’s illegal occupation of power. Some of the protests came from fundamentalists - those opposing his support to the US led operation in adjoining Afghanistan border. Another range of opposition came when he sent troops into Laal Masjid; that’s too from the fundamentalist groups. We also witnessed another nationwide protest by the lawyer community in Pakistan, when Musharraf dismissed the chief justice. He handled all these with ease and put himself back into the position of comfort.

But, no real protest from the general public or no political movement against his illegal rule. We have seen what people and political movement can do to a king in Nepal. Popular outrage has already started in Bangladesh just after a few months of illegal rule. The only exception is Pakistan, where people has learnt to live under military rules and compromised with their democratic rights. People of Pakistan show their anger against the US led invasion of Iraq, but not against the invasion of their own parliament and democracy. They come out to the street to protest against the killings of Taliban militants, but not against the person who threw out their democratically elected prime minister and his government.

So, I think, it’s a safe haven for Gen. Pervez Musharraf to continue his illegal rule in Pakistan with the blessings from the president of the United States of America, who considers Gen. Musharraf as a “trusted ally” in his so called “war against terrorism”.

But, I really don’t understand why these people are holding this drama of election? Is it to gain some sort of legitimacy? Is there any need for that? He is the “Boss” out there. He can do anything. Who’s going to stop him? People of Pakistan can’t do that, neither the US has any such intention. So, stay in power Mr. Pervez Musharraf, but please don’t call it a democracy for the sake of democracy.

Gandhi - A Cool Dude!

Just saw a report published in the Times of India on Punjab Jail Manual that prohibits prison inmates from wearing a Gandhi cap even after 60 years of independence. Shall we laugh? Feel crazy or just ignore. I feel, we have become so indifferent with these kind of reports coming out in media that we don’t even read these stories. It’s because of our “chalta hai” kinda approach that we are now very much used to it. Everything is “chalta hai” in India.

But, I really feel crazy when think deeply. What the political people, leadership, bureaucrats, and other institutions and of course citizens (you & me) were doing all these 60 years? Have you ever think about the terrible condition of our institutions? Why we failed to make these institutions strong enough to work properly? Think about the parliament, the judiciary, law enforcement agencies, and financial institutions. There is not a single institution in India that you can be proud of.

I have been listening since my childhood about parliamentary reforms, police reforms, judiciary reforms and so on. But, there is still no progress. We are happy with our age-old system – Chalta hai. Now, don’t ask for a solution from me. I have no idea about what can be done to resolve these issues. I am writing just because I feel crazy about all these. Just think for a while, how crazy these people are that they can’t even change a clause in the above mentioned police manual that stops prisoners from wearing a Gandhi cap.

And people here are out for Gandhigiri. I feel the so called Gandhigiri is nothing more than a fashion trend driven by a masterpiece movie staring Sanjay Dutt. Everything here is driven by Bollywood movies (ask a child here to sing a song, s/he will definitely sing a Bollywood item number).

It’s just the blind following of a movie superstar. Our hero has done something in a movie and now we have to follow. It’s the same as following a haircut or a particular dress. I don’t think there is any substance in the latest Gandhigiri movement. It will fade up soon as many other fashion trends. People are happy doing Gandhigiri just because it’s “Cool”. They are not following it because they love Gandhi’s thoughts or principles. It’s because Gandhi is “a cool dude” now.

Share your thoughts.