The madness of King Musharraf

[POA]

"The madness of King Musharraf"
Printed on Monday, April 19, 2004 @ 00:01:02 CST ( )

By Rannie Amiri
YellowTimes.org Guest Columnist

(YellowTimes.org) -- While the world's attention is focused on the ever deteriorating situation in Iraq, Pakistan's self-appointed President, Pervez Musharraf, has quietly and deliberately taken measures to remain ensconced in power and shamelessly stifle internal dissent. Two recent disturbing events orchestrated by Musharraf are making Pakistan look more and more like a police state, as the military's influence over civilian affairs widens and human rights continue to deteriorate. As we shall see, the United States' support for the dictator, allegedly invaluable in the "war on terror," is yet another example of a shortsighted foreign policy which is unable to fathom the long-term consequences that legitimizing two-bit tyrants (and I need not mention the multitude of names) eventually brings.

The seeds leading to the present situation in Pakistan were planted and took root when General Musharraf first came to power by coup in 1999, deposing the elected Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif. He soon suspended the constitution and ruled by martial law until June, 2001, at which time he declared himself President. Elections held in November, 2002 resulted in Zafarullah Khan Jamali being named the nominal Prime Minister. Although Musharraf remained unelected President, it was retaining his position as Army Chief which made it clear he was the country's true authority. Real transfer of rule to a non-military administration, which Musharraf initially pledged to do after the coup, never occurred.

Then, in late 2003, Musharraf brokered a deal with a coalition of Islamic parties, collectively known as Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal or MMA. This permitted him to stay as President through 2007 on the condition he step down as Army Chief by the end of 2004. Not to be outdone, Musharraf simultaneously issued twenty-nine sweeping amendments to the constitution. Among them and to the dismay of opposition groups, was the ability to unilaterally dismiss the Prime Minister and dissolve parliament by decree.

With a history of broken promises, it came as no surprise that when asked on the BBC World's Hard Talk program this month as whether he would honor his agreement to step aside as military leader, Musharraf replied he "...wouldn’t like to promise anything." Pressed if there were any circumstances in which he could foresee not doing this, he answered, "Well I wouldn’t like to comment on it at all."

These vague statements, portending the indefinite continuation of his joint military/civilian role, sent shivers throughout the country. Shortly thereafter, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed released a statement indicating President Musharraf would abide by his prior agreement with the MMA.

It is actually from this point onward where developments get worrisome. Shortly after the BBC interview, Pakistan's lower house and Senate on April 14 hastily passed a law guaranteeing an official role for the armed forces in the government, a first in the nation's history. The creation of a National Security Council now permits military leaders to sit alongside the top civilian leadership, allowing them to "advise" the government on security matters.

How this bill was passed is even more interesting. The opposition, who swiftly condemned the legislation, were absent from the parliament for literally two minutes when it was railroaded through. Afterward, opposition MP Raza Muhammad Raza declared this to mark the beginning of "permanent martial law."

It does not take an expert on Pakistani affairs to appreciate the implications such a law will have for the nation. Formal ambiguity between military and civilian rule is just what Musharraf seeks, and he has already raised doubts about his willingness to take off the uniform. The creation of exactly such a council now gives him the flexibility required to remain in command, even if he should ostensibly resign from his military post.

The portfolio of any tyrant would be incomplete without evidence of silencing dissent and limiting free speech. Pervez Musharraf is no exception. Last year, Javed Hashmi, leader of the organization Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy, a group advocating the restoration of civilian rule in Pakistan, was arrested for circulating a letter written by military officials. This letter was critical of Musharraf and charged the top military brass with corruption. Hashmi, who also heads the opposition Pakistan Muslim League, was sentenced to 19 years in prison this month on the all too familiar charges of sedition, inciting mutiny, and defamation. The trial, as one would expect, was conducted behind closed doors.

I have not discussed the myriad of other issues which Pakistan has encountered in recent months. These including the Abdul Qadeer Khan nuclear fiasco, the completely botched assault in South Waziristan, and the sectarian strife Pakistan faces between Sunnis, Shi'as, secularists, and the growing influence of Wahabi-minded Islamists. A superficial sense of security may have dawned on the subcontinent during the friendly cricket matches between India and Pakistan, but it was only that, for deeper problems remain.

Pakistan has just been granted the status of a major non-NATO ally by the Bush administration. The United States again finds itself actively supporting rogue leaders for short-term gain, turning a blind eye toward their despotism at home. From the time he first assumed power in Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf has proven himself to be one of these leaders. Acting more like the King of Pakistan, he continues to ramrod legislation through parliament custom fit to suit his future ambitions, while dissidents are jailed for questioning the legitimacy of his leadership.

It should not escape our attention that recruitment for al-Qaida most often occurs in lands run by entrenched kings, monarchs, and other lifelong leaders. Morocco, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf countries have been the natural breeding grounds for such extremist movements. There, ready and willing volunteers are found in abundance due to their inability to reform government by peaceful means, leaving them completely disenfranchised. As King Musharraf maneuvers to secure his reign, cracks down on outspoken voices, and bypasses an electoral mandate all with tacit United State's approval, I can only conjure up one image:

Osama bin Laden, somewhere in the terrain between Afghanistan and Pakistan, stroking his beard, gazing up to the heavens as he contemplates Pakistan's future...and smiling.

[Rannie Amiri is an observer, commentator, and exponent of issues dealing with the Arab and Islamic worlds.]

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