I WRITE in response to letters about the lecture tour of Pervez Musharraf to America. The praise given to the former dictator has astonished me. My fellows might consider an invitation from America as a token of honour.

However, the fact is that such tokens have been a method of dumping old allies of the United States from around the world. While the US speaks of democracy and freedom of expression, it is notable that they have always supported autocracies for their own vested interests.

They used to honour Zia for the heroic deeds that he committed against the red army and used to call him the strongest man between communism and the free world. The Americans also titled the mujahideen fighting against Russia as eagles to George Washington.

Time has proved that all it was dissociation from the reality, keeping people in a dream state to get the benefits of their own. An honour must be taken as an honour when it is bestowed by an honourable authority.

If we look at the record of Musharraf as a soldier, that being his field of expertise, he states in his book that he had multiple red entries to his name.

He was as nearly given a court martial on the same account the war of 1971 saved his career. He violated his oath as well as the very Constitution of Pakistan by overthrowing an elected government. Further, not just once but repeatedly as he has admitted it in his publicity- seeking interviews. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. And he was destined to be corrupted.

How can we take him as a saviour when he didn't prove himself to be a good general even? But he is not the only one to blame. It is a whole history of indulging in politics by power-hungry generals who brought a bad name to the institution of the Army.

We as a nation should realise, once and forever, that democracy is the only way of life, be it the worse for now, but we don't have a choice. It is not only an election followed by an accidental rise to power of feudal lords, but a way of life.

If true representatives of people are allowed to come to power, and not the children of autocratic regimes and deals politics, the institution will deliver.

The money that Mr Musharraf is earning from this lecture tour is the price of that the US owes him for his services. It might be a false cover to hide his corruption. We must realise that our future has nothing to do with the return of a self-loving general. We must look forward to democracy as an institution and try to strengthen it through its adoption in our lifestyle. Perks offered to deposed autocrats must not be an honour for anyone.

KHALID FAROOQ
Paris