It wasnt me
Posted by Padraig Belton on 02 18th, 2010
http://blog.dawn.com/2010/02/18/it-wasn%E2%80%99t-me/
For the briefest of moments, again within the ambit of power politics, Citizen Pervez Musharraf told (two) jokes, set out his stall to succeed Asif Zardari, and proposed a Shaggy reading of Pakistani history: It Wasnt Me. All this while speaking at Chatham House and the Georgian St Jamess townhouse where once lived Gladstone and Pitt the Elder.
It is one of a pair of engagements, for a general on a visitors visa whose London residence was meant to be short. Next Tuesday, he follows his July parliamentary appearance in the House of Commons with a sequel, in the Lords, as guest of Conservative life peer Lord Sheikh.
On Monday, when Musharraf spoke, the overflow room was overflowing. To say that the audience was fawning would be inaccurate it was along the spectrum between obsequious and obeisant. Speaking for an hour from infrequently consulted handwritten notes, the talk seemed like an interview for two positions: the one he has already held, and Pundit-Supreme interpreting Pakistan to Anglo-America.
Musharraf was always going to be described as the Pakistan Armys ambassador to London. Now, though, he can flesh this penchant into a political theory and justification of (past and prospective) rule. Democratically elected governments, he says, have been failing to perform the objectives of government, offering good governance, and ensuring the well-being of the people. If these arent being achieved, governments, whether democratic or military, must be changed.
Compared with civilians, Musharraf adds, the military are possessed of better trained minds, and better administrative capacity. But the general concedes that the civilian government must learn to perform. Musharraf has no doubt he does not seem a man much given to self-doubt that Pakistans way forward lies in the integration of the political forces, political parties, army, and bureaucracy, and unity of thought between these entities.
And then he sets out his wares: Clearly, I love my country. I would do anything for my country. I took an oath when I passed out of the military academy to go anywhere when ordered to serve Pakistan, even at threat to my life. The ungenerous might see a nod at Benazir Bhutto in that comment. I want for the people of Pakistan to understand I am a civilian now, I am not a military man. I cannot take over anything. There is laughter, then the pay-off: Electorally, I think I will have that legitimacy I never had. Then if one unites army and bureaucracy, with legitimacy of political process that is for the people of Pakistan to decide.
In Musharrafland, perhaps it all seems possible. He did, after all, encourage nazims facing the unemployment queue in Zardaris local government reforms to visit him abroad last year, declaring he would advocate for their continuance in office. It may be telling that he traces Afghanistans bloodshed to the elimination of its monarch, a glue that held an ethnically fractious people together.
In general, the West ought to have listened to the general: In 2003, when I was going down a political path, all the West said I was double-crossing and double-dealing. They still have their chance to hear Musharraf out, with him now conveniently in London. He trots out his credentials for punditry: Afghanistan and the tribal regions of Pakistan are the centre of gravity for all extremism and radical thought, from the Maghreb to Somalia and Yemen to western China. British and American telly viewers can come aboard, says Muhsarraf, inviting you to (and here his second joke) the most happening place in the world, where theres never a dull moment.
Without such a sound local guide as him, he tut-tuts, western adventurers will make blunders; for example, treating all Pathans as Taliban I always said there was a need for a policy change. His prescription for Afghanistan betrays a presumption that there is only one sector to an economy: the military. He advocates for the arming of lashkars and building up of the Afghan National Army, underneath a government more responsive to Pathans, and buttressed by an Anglo-American military commitment tied to results rather than timeframe. When we create lashkars and the ANA, he says, we create jobs these people need jobs.
Kashmir, meanwhile, is a hat-trick: Musharraf demonstrates first-name affability with a world leader (complimenting Manmohan Singh on his vision and sincerity), states he was close to resolving the long-standing dispute, and (in a backswipe at his successor) he argues that a leader capable of doing so would possess the three qualities of sincerity, open-mindedness, and boldness.
Musharraf concludes that the unsolved wound of Kashmir, wanting a leaders suture, together with a militia-arming caused by the Wests blundering abandonment in 1989-2001 of Pakistan(s army), is the root of all Pakistani extremism. It wasnt him, indeed.
Perhaps it is as a Pakistani immigrant in Britain that Musharraf never seems quite at ease with the first person plural: we fluctuates, for Musharraf-the-public-speaker, between Pakistan, the West, and the free world, with Pakistan at its lead. In September, the Guardians Declan Walsh profiled Musharraf in his unassuming three-bedroom flat beside Edgware Roads shisha bars and kebab joints. It seems the former general has now made it to Westminster.
Comments:
Imran says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:28
I say General is better then the options of Leaders are available in Pakistan. Although General had committed some mistakes (which some rather would say blunders & I probably would agree with that) in his 9-years rule. It is a need of time that we need someone who is open minded and brave enough to face the world instead of someone who is weak enough to put the interests of the country on risk. However I am not too sure how General would make his way into the current political scenario in Pakistan which indeed is very thorny & knotty. Also our leaders should try to ascertain from their past adventures which they dont seem to gather.
Reply
Asif says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:06
Its always surprising to see that none of Pakistans Ex president/Prime Minister can live in their country after their tenure is over. They are subjected some kind of probe and found guilty but never could try them.
Reply
Rehan says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:59
I feel that Musharraf is a person who is full ego and anyone who thinks the country was better off during his rule is blind. Not to mention that most of the problems we face today are because of his misrule. I think he should just live his life with dignity and stay out of politics as he has done enough damage already, and he should just be grateful that he isnt being tried for treason. To Azam Chawdhary above: Musharraf has been loyal to no one but himself.
Reply
Ammar says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:56
Excuse me,
Musharraf was not a perfect politician but he did a lot more of this country than any democratically elected. He was a man the stood for education and in his time supported building schools in rural regions. Our stock market and economy was the best performing and fastest growing in Asia, respectively. If anything this extremist crisis was being handled in a more professional way. There were less drone attacks and he was not at all afraid of addressing the West and clarifying their Lack of Support in the matter. More than anything, he is someone that has served this country rather than serving a jail sentence.
Reply
Imran says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:39
@ Rehan: I am not sure from which exactly point you said this. Because it seems from the facts that his time of power was apparently better than the ones we had before him and after him. There is a lot which could be said on this, we had started to make some steady progress. Sectors like Education we had only handful of Universities before 1999 and in 2008 we had alot more Universities in Public sector and altogether we have app. 140 Universities or so. Our Financial sector had started to build up. KSE worth only $5 Billion before 1999 and by the end of 2007 it was worth over $75Billion. Having said this, it doesnt mean that it was such an remarkable thing but atleast something for the people of the country has been done.
Reply
Azam Chwdhry says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:24
I have always liked President Gen Musharraf because he is loyal his country. Yes, he has made some blunders, but over all Pakistan was better off during his presidency than under the corrupt politicians who are going to be disastrous if not removed soon. I hope there is away for Musharraf to lead Pakistan again as an elected President and problem between him and Nawaz Sharif can be ended. Current govt. is the worst thing that could happen to Pakistan. We definitely need the elected government to complete its term but without most corrupt person in the history of Pakistan.
Reply
khoob says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:08
Cant quite figure out what the angle is in the piece. Or the upshot. Or exactly what its about.
Posted by Padraig Belton on 02 18th, 2010
http://blog.dawn.com/2010/02/18/it-wasn%E2%80%99t-me/
For the briefest of moments, again within the ambit of power politics, Citizen Pervez Musharraf told (two) jokes, set out his stall to succeed Asif Zardari, and proposed a Shaggy reading of Pakistani history: It Wasnt Me. All this while speaking at Chatham House and the Georgian St Jamess townhouse where once lived Gladstone and Pitt the Elder.
It is one of a pair of engagements, for a general on a visitors visa whose London residence was meant to be short. Next Tuesday, he follows his July parliamentary appearance in the House of Commons with a sequel, in the Lords, as guest of Conservative life peer Lord Sheikh.
On Monday, when Musharraf spoke, the overflow room was overflowing. To say that the audience was fawning would be inaccurate it was along the spectrum between obsequious and obeisant. Speaking for an hour from infrequently consulted handwritten notes, the talk seemed like an interview for two positions: the one he has already held, and Pundit-Supreme interpreting Pakistan to Anglo-America.
Musharraf was always going to be described as the Pakistan Armys ambassador to London. Now, though, he can flesh this penchant into a political theory and justification of (past and prospective) rule. Democratically elected governments, he says, have been failing to perform the objectives of government, offering good governance, and ensuring the well-being of the people. If these arent being achieved, governments, whether democratic or military, must be changed.
Compared with civilians, Musharraf adds, the military are possessed of better trained minds, and better administrative capacity. But the general concedes that the civilian government must learn to perform. Musharraf has no doubt he does not seem a man much given to self-doubt that Pakistans way forward lies in the integration of the political forces, political parties, army, and bureaucracy, and unity of thought between these entities.
And then he sets out his wares: Clearly, I love my country. I would do anything for my country. I took an oath when I passed out of the military academy to go anywhere when ordered to serve Pakistan, even at threat to my life. The ungenerous might see a nod at Benazir Bhutto in that comment. I want for the people of Pakistan to understand I am a civilian now, I am not a military man. I cannot take over anything. There is laughter, then the pay-off: Electorally, I think I will have that legitimacy I never had. Then if one unites army and bureaucracy, with legitimacy of political process that is for the people of Pakistan to decide.
In Musharrafland, perhaps it all seems possible. He did, after all, encourage nazims facing the unemployment queue in Zardaris local government reforms to visit him abroad last year, declaring he would advocate for their continuance in office. It may be telling that he traces Afghanistans bloodshed to the elimination of its monarch, a glue that held an ethnically fractious people together.
In general, the West ought to have listened to the general: In 2003, when I was going down a political path, all the West said I was double-crossing and double-dealing. They still have their chance to hear Musharraf out, with him now conveniently in London. He trots out his credentials for punditry: Afghanistan and the tribal regions of Pakistan are the centre of gravity for all extremism and radical thought, from the Maghreb to Somalia and Yemen to western China. British and American telly viewers can come aboard, says Muhsarraf, inviting you to (and here his second joke) the most happening place in the world, where theres never a dull moment.
Without such a sound local guide as him, he tut-tuts, western adventurers will make blunders; for example, treating all Pathans as Taliban I always said there was a need for a policy change. His prescription for Afghanistan betrays a presumption that there is only one sector to an economy: the military. He advocates for the arming of lashkars and building up of the Afghan National Army, underneath a government more responsive to Pathans, and buttressed by an Anglo-American military commitment tied to results rather than timeframe. When we create lashkars and the ANA, he says, we create jobs these people need jobs.
Kashmir, meanwhile, is a hat-trick: Musharraf demonstrates first-name affability with a world leader (complimenting Manmohan Singh on his vision and sincerity), states he was close to resolving the long-standing dispute, and (in a backswipe at his successor) he argues that a leader capable of doing so would possess the three qualities of sincerity, open-mindedness, and boldness.
Musharraf concludes that the unsolved wound of Kashmir, wanting a leaders suture, together with a militia-arming caused by the Wests blundering abandonment in 1989-2001 of Pakistan(s army), is the root of all Pakistani extremism. It wasnt him, indeed.
Perhaps it is as a Pakistani immigrant in Britain that Musharraf never seems quite at ease with the first person plural: we fluctuates, for Musharraf-the-public-speaker, between Pakistan, the West, and the free world, with Pakistan at its lead. In September, the Guardians Declan Walsh profiled Musharraf in his unassuming three-bedroom flat beside Edgware Roads shisha bars and kebab joints. It seems the former general has now made it to Westminster.
Comments:
Imran says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:28
I say General is better then the options of Leaders are available in Pakistan. Although General had committed some mistakes (which some rather would say blunders & I probably would agree with that) in his 9-years rule. It is a need of time that we need someone who is open minded and brave enough to face the world instead of someone who is weak enough to put the interests of the country on risk. However I am not too sure how General would make his way into the current political scenario in Pakistan which indeed is very thorny & knotty. Also our leaders should try to ascertain from their past adventures which they dont seem to gather.
Reply
Asif says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:06
Its always surprising to see that none of Pakistans Ex president/Prime Minister can live in their country after their tenure is over. They are subjected some kind of probe and found guilty but never could try them.
Reply
Rehan says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:59
I feel that Musharraf is a person who is full ego and anyone who thinks the country was better off during his rule is blind. Not to mention that most of the problems we face today are because of his misrule. I think he should just live his life with dignity and stay out of politics as he has done enough damage already, and he should just be grateful that he isnt being tried for treason. To Azam Chawdhary above: Musharraf has been loyal to no one but himself.
Reply
Ammar says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:56
Excuse me,
Musharraf was not a perfect politician but he did a lot more of this country than any democratically elected. He was a man the stood for education and in his time supported building schools in rural regions. Our stock market and economy was the best performing and fastest growing in Asia, respectively. If anything this extremist crisis was being handled in a more professional way. There were less drone attacks and he was not at all afraid of addressing the West and clarifying their Lack of Support in the matter. More than anything, he is someone that has served this country rather than serving a jail sentence.
Reply
Imran says:
February 18, 2010 at 17:39
@ Rehan: I am not sure from which exactly point you said this. Because it seems from the facts that his time of power was apparently better than the ones we had before him and after him. There is a lot which could be said on this, we had started to make some steady progress. Sectors like Education we had only handful of Universities before 1999 and in 2008 we had alot more Universities in Public sector and altogether we have app. 140 Universities or so. Our Financial sector had started to build up. KSE worth only $5 Billion before 1999 and by the end of 2007 it was worth over $75Billion. Having said this, it doesnt mean that it was such an remarkable thing but atleast something for the people of the country has been done.
Reply
Azam Chwdhry says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:24
I have always liked President Gen Musharraf because he is loyal his country. Yes, he has made some blunders, but over all Pakistan was better off during his presidency than under the corrupt politicians who are going to be disastrous if not removed soon. I hope there is away for Musharraf to lead Pakistan again as an elected President and problem between him and Nawaz Sharif can be ended. Current govt. is the worst thing that could happen to Pakistan. We definitely need the elected government to complete its term but without most corrupt person in the history of Pakistan.
Reply
khoob says:
February 18, 2010 at 16:08
Cant quite figure out what the angle is in the piece. Or the upshot. Or exactly what its about.
