Does Musharraf Fear Democracy More than Extremists?

Military dictators in Pakistan are inevitably forced to ride two horses — the US administration and the Militants/Terrorists. The art of survival lies in appeasing both. For years Musharraf managed to keep both happy. But now chinks have begun to appear in his General’s armour. He is managing to keep the militants in good humour…but the US is losing patience.

“Washington is more concerned with Islamic extremism than Musharraf, who as military chief in 1999 sent jihadi fighters into Kashmir to challenge Indian troops, says The Christian Science Monitor.

“He (Musharraf) pays lip service to democracy but views the Constitution as an impediment and elections as a threatening menace. Little wonder that while presenting a secular image to the West, Musharraf has looked to Islamic parties to upend democracy and keep former prime ministers Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif out of politics.

“Musharraf engineered the unexpected electoral success of Islamic parties in the 2002 elections and helped them form governments in two provinces.

“Since 9/11, Washington has embraced Musharraf as an ally in the war on terror and the bulwark against extremism in Pakistan. But Musharraf’s Pakistan has not lived up to expectations. Pakistan’s contribution to fighting Al Qaeda is open to question; the Taliban hiding in Pakistan are terrorizing southern Afghanistan; and in Pakistan, there is now more violence, extremism, and instability than when Musharraf took over in 1999.

“As a price for their cooperation, Islamic parties got protection for their Taliban and extremist allies and a free hand to impose more Islamic laws on Pakistanis. Since 2001, Musharraf has selectively cooperated in the war on terror but resisted cutting all ties with extremists. Extremism is not a clean weapon, and the jihadi Frankenstein that Pakistani intelligence has let loose is now threatening its master.”

Musharraf is still doing the balancing act. In a bid to assuage angry world reaction to the imposition of emergency/martial law in his country, the General is ready to shed his military uniform (remember once he said that his uniform was like his skin!!!)

“Faced with a virtual ultimatum from the United States and mounting protests within and outside Pakistan, President Pervez Musharraf has said that he will shed his uniform and become a civilian President,” says India’s leading TV channel NDTV.

“Speaking at a meeting with diplomats, Musharraf also said that the elections would be held on schedule in January.”

But his friends in the West are not asking the General a crucial question: Will Musharraf hold the elections with all his opponents in jail??? This is a drama of the absurd!!!

But in this drama of the absurd one person who has gained my admiration is the Chief Justice of Pakistan, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, who urged the lawyers today to continue to defy the state of emergency imposed by the president. More here…

Photo above: Courtesy The New York Times