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THIS is apropos of Waris Shere’s letter on ‘Musharraf and democracy’ (April 3).
I think Pervez Musharraf’s entry into the democratic foray deserves a balanced analysis.
In my view, he has shown courage in returning to Pakistan to face charges against him, he conducts a press conference better than other leaders do in Pakistan, he is known to be money-wise honest from Pakistani standard, he is knowledgeable or else he won’t be delivering lectures and reaching the top in the army.
In terms of acumen, he is far better than many other political stalwarts in the field at this time, including those who call ‘degree is a degree’ or possess questionable credentials. Here, I think, the positive points of Mr Musharraf end.
With Articles 62 and 63 of the constitution now being pressed into service, the bar of eligibility for a political office has been considerably raised.
Ability is not just good enough, good character is more important. Leaving aside the Kargil fiasco, the infamous and disastrous National Reconciliation Ordinance which he promulgated only for continuing in office through this dubious deal is enough to make him ineligible for any public office in a healthy democratic setup.
S.M. ANWAR Karachi
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Comments (24) Closed
Apr 06, 2013 06:51am
Pervez Musharraf has several good qualities, I would pick him over both the corruption parties as well as any of the Mullahs, however now we have someone who has all his good qualities minus his key bad ones, now it is Imran Khan all the way.
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Apr 06, 2013 08:22am
Well you have one with mostly good yet proven qualities and another one with supposedly even better but mythical credentials. Are you ready to take the risk of losing one bird in favor of two in a bush?
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Apr 06, 2013 09:07am
About time someone came out and said this. The fact is that the 10 years of Musharraf were extremely prosperous, and we could actually be proud of being Pakistani. I think his only mistake in office was, in fact, the NRO. Everything else has been so muddied by political, religious and ethnic bias, and should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Whereas, there is no doubt that amongst the most corrupt people on the planet, are the Zardaris, the Sharifs and the myriad families that fall in between. In 11 years of the see-saw 'democracy' we had prior to Musharraf, both PML-N and PPP were disastrous for the country, economically, militarily, in every way, in fact, except in inflating their own personal wealth.
If we elect these guys again, then all our miseries be on our heads - we deserve them.
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Apr 06, 2013 09:12am
What the people of Pakistan today need is GOOD GOVERNANCE for which Musharraf has proven his ability. The highly respected ex mayor should prove his popularity against Musharraf in the polls rather than giving the impression that he is scared of defeat.
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Apr 06, 2013 09:13am
Interesting that you think that Articles 62/63 should only be applied to Musharraf. IF our judiciary was honest, if our media was fair, if our people weren't so blinded by emotion and loyalty, they would see that not a single politician, including the Sharifs, the Chaudhrys, the Zardaris or anyone else you can think of, would be eligible for contesting elections under these constitutional articles.
Because we are not traditionally honest or fair people, however, we are ready to ignore the corrupt behaviour of past politicians, since their crimes are over a decade old, while Musharraf's actions are fresh in everyone's minds.
Sheep. That's what we are, and we deserve the disaster that will be Elections 2013.
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Apr 06, 2013 09:24am
Nawas shreef lied to the nation bout 10 years agreement not to take parts in politics....clinton was removed in USAb b/c he lied regarding Monica
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Apr 06, 2013 11:04am
Articles 62 and 63 were inserted by Musharraf in the constitution, or some other army stalwart, I think. Let him taste the medicine, he proposed for others.
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Apr 06, 2013 12:14pm
The NRO was a horrible act but if we are not going to stop the beneficiaries of this from contesting the election then we should let Musharraf participate in it too.
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Apr 06, 2013 01:13pm
Leaving aside the Kargil fiasco, the infamous and disastrous National Reconciliation Ordinance which he promulgated, and dismissing the Cheif Justice and other judges ... over riding the constitution, bringing an unwanted coup ... and the rest of him is all good.
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Apr 06, 2013 02:31pm
Musharraf threw out an elected government. Yet he wants to run for elections now. Can he be trusted at all? Pakistan has to allow democracy to take root, even if it means an imperfect democracy getting better over decades and even over generations. Or may be Pakistanis should overtly come out and say democracy is not a suitable form of government at all. In addition to democracy, Pakistan also requires an identify outside of 'mere hatred for India'. A constant obsession with wars, and hatred for a much larger country-India, is often the results of the Pakistani military wanting to run the country with its own survival being the main objective.
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Apr 06, 2013 03:10pm
Very well said. Musharraf is 100% better then these crooks.
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Apr 06, 2013 03:12pm
His other mistake was that he took Choudry brothers on board.
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Apr 06, 2013 03:56pm
If articles 62/63 could have been applied to its creator, Mr. Zia, I am sure he would have failed miserably and truthfully so. He must have failed the entrance to Heaven and must be rotting in Hell. For all his nefarious activities that is MINIMUM he deserves. Articles 62/63 is what will ultimately doom Pakistan
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Apr 06, 2013 08:01pm
Clinton was not removed because of that scandal. Please correct your statement . He completed his term
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Apr 06, 2013 08:07pm
How about taking over elected govt in 1999?
Was that a treason ?
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Apr 07, 2013 12:45am
Imran Khan is the best choice if Musharraf is not interested in becoming leader of Pakistan. But now Musharraf is in, there is no any other leader in Pakistan who can serve Pakistan as good as Musharraf. He will turn the tide in Pakistan and stabilize Pakistan.
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Apr 07, 2013 01:06am
Right on buddy. Lesser of the evils is......... your guess is as good as mine.
Long Live Pakistan.
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Apr 07, 2013 01:42am
Also we must not underestimate the external pressures put on Musharraf by our democratic politicians to bring about NRO to enable them to come back into the country ,As Musharraf said you can only stand up to the outside world if we stop begging as nation
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Apr 07, 2013 03:16am
Miss Saba, I am only surprised that there are people like you, who understand the issue so vividly. Before reading this comment, I was of opinion that people have only that yellow picture which our media want us to imagine.
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Apr 07, 2013 07:25am
SHB what are you talking about? Sharif's government? with mentality as yours, i see no hope for pakistan. What sharif did was democratic? removing the COAS while he is on the plane was a democratic decision?not giving him permission to land along with other passengers to die was democratic? Sharif should then be charged for treason not Musharraf.
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Apr 07, 2013 09:33am
You are so unfair, Imran's public service is even visible to blind but not to you biased person. Musharraf's personal greed and misrule is crystal clear. Thank you for being blind to both. Well done
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Apr 07, 2013 03:59pm
there is vast diffrence in power n authority governing as dictator n elected president.his kargil misadventure cost country too much in money n image n reliability of pakistan
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Apr 07, 2013 04:59pm
If Musharraf took over the command of government to save Pakistan and Pakistani nation, then it is justified act. But if he took over the command of government of Pakistan for his personal benefits and not the benefit of Pakistan and Pakistani nation then he is guilty. The only problem is who should judge him. You have to have impartial people to judge him and not those who have personal prejudice against him, We have to remember that Pakistan and Pakistanii nation are to be protected at all costs even at the cost of changing government and all its institutions.
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Apr 07, 2013 08:01pm
Musharraf is the best. He is even more of a leader than Imran Khan. He can make Pakistan a welfare state.His words express more enthusiasm than Imran Khan who just seem overconfident in the political field.Musharraf knows how to govern Pakistan rather than Imran Khan who can't even analyse the situation in Pakistan all he talks about is making a new Pakistan and criticizing the current rulers of Pakistan. The only Hope is Musharraf just Musharraf
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