KARACHI, Dec 22: Political analysts believe that in 2006, Pakistan has further weakened politically and economically and become more vulnerable to external threats due to the policies of General Musharraf’s government.

They were speaking at a public dialogue on “Pakistan’s political development: an assessment of 2006” organised on Thursday by Pakistan Press Foundation at the Vicky Zeitlin Media Library.

Secretary-General National Party (NP) Mir Hasil Bizenjo, Yusuf Masti Khan, secretary-general of Pakistan Workers Party (PWP) and former central information secretary of the PPP Senator Taj Haider were the main speakers. They criticised the government’s Balochistan policy, military operation in the tribal areas and accused it of reducing Pakistan to the status of a US surrogate.

The speakers were of the view that the government’s policy of plunging Pakistan in the global war on terror without deliberating on its parameters and seeking guarantees was a big mistake because it had seriously endangered the country’s security.

They felt people had lost confidence in the political process, political parties and politicians due to frequent martial laws, discontinuity of political process and misdeeds of political parties. The desperation among people was due to the political parties’ failure to mobilise and create a sense of participation among them regarding political process, they said.

PPP leader Taj Haider said while a huge majority was against all forms of terrorism, the war on terror could not be won by militarily and by marginalising the majority.

Mr Haider was critical of the US-led aggression in Iraq and Afghanistan and abetment of Israeli terrorist attacks on Palestine and cautioned against the rapidly changing security environment to the detriment of Pakistan following Indo-US strategic alliance that culminated in the nuclear deal which would reportedly give New Delhi an additional capability of making 50 nuclear bombs a year.

He said the Indian objective was to retain control of Kashmir and secure its energy sources. He was very concerned about Indian activities on Pakistan’s borders and maintained that it could embark on a pincer move to achieve its strategic and economic objectives.

Mr Bizenjo said this year besides the killing of Nawab Akbar Bugti, there were the scams of Pakistan Steel Mill’s privatisation and stock exchange. He said political parties had never been strong enough to block military intervention. He also spoke at length about the economic deprivation of the Baloch people.

Editor Daily Express Tahir Najmi said Pakistan was an example of leadership failure. He held the political parties and politicians responsible for the loss of people’s confidence in the political system.

The NWP leader said unless all parties evolved a programme for empowerment of the people, they would continue to lose their popularity.