Anil Narendra
Amidst Taliban threats of suicide bomb attack on his life
and to save Pakistan from numerous challenges, former Pak President, General
Parvez Musharraf has returned home after a self-imposed exile of four years.
One must praise his spirit and courage that he has returned home under a great
illusion of once again forcing history to side with him. Though we talk of
history repeating itself, but experts say that it would not be easy for him to
re-assert his power as before. But, a glimpse about the future, however, can be
seen in the dispirited welcome that he received on returning home with an eye
on participating in the general elections to be held on May 11. It may also be
claimed that his presence could transform the nature of electioneering. But the
problem is that his party – Pakistan Muslim League lacks a strong
organizational structure. The party also badly lacks of experienced leadership.
Political leaders whom Musharaff had patronized during his rule, have now
joined other parties. Musharraff has even failed to establish a cadre of
dedicated workers for his party. It is difficult to say, what Musharraff could
achieve with the help of this weak structure. Elections are not far off, just
one and a half months is left for people to elect their government. It is very
difficult to raise an organization and effectively fight elections in such a
short time. The impressive tamasha
that was witnessed at the return of Benazir, was nowhere to be seen on his
return, nor there was a crowd of one lakh of people that had gathered at the
rally of Imran Khan, a day earlier to his return. What he will be able to
achieve with a mob of just 10-15 thousand people? Emphasis on numbers is
important as it could prove a serious challenge in Pakistan where by completing its
tenure the first democratically elected government of President Asif Ali
Zardari has created a history. Moreover, Musharraff has a number of other
crises to face. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and other organizations
are after his blood. He is also entangled in a number of suits in Pakistan . Cases
relating to the assassinations of Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti, military
operation at Red Mosque and detention of 62 judges will continue plaguing him.
During these four years, after his leaving Pakistan , situation has undergone a
considerable change. Human Rights Watch, an international organization, has
asked the Pakistan Government to press charges of human rights violations on
Musharraff on his return. He has been accused of involvement in the conspiracy
to murder the Baloch leader Akbar Bugti, who died in mysterious circumstances
in 2006. A Rawalpindi Court
admitted the interim charge sheet filed by the Federal Investigation Agency of
Pakistan in February 2011, which alleged his involvement in the conspiracy to
murder former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto. Later, the Court declared
Musharraff an absconder. Human Rights Watch says that during Musharraff’s
tenure as the Army Chief, the Army and intelligence agencies of the country
violated human rights with impunity. A number of political opponents were
either exiled or detained and were tortured. Baloch nationalists and Imran
Khan’s Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan
have posed challenges for Musharraff in their own ways. Pak media is also
claiming that for his return, Musharraff had to make a deal with Nawaz Sharief.
According to a leading Pakistani newspaper ‘The Tribune Express’, the main
opposition party of Pakistan, Pakistan Muslim League was persuaded not to
obstruct the return of Mushsarraff. An assurance was also sought from General
Kayani for Musharraff’s safety. According to a source close to Musharraff,
Nawaz Sharief and General Ashfaq Kayani had recently traveled to Saudi Arabia .
No doubt, people in Pakistan
are angry with the Zaradari Government, but it may be quite difficult for them
to accept Musharraff, because as far as governance is concerned, Musharraff has
greater faith on Army than on democracy. He prefers to run the democratic
government under military command. Musharraff considers democratic governments
as corrupt and possessed of all evils. The youth of today in Pakistan and
rich classes are not likely to subscribe to this thinking, but we have to wait
and watch for the future strategy of Musharraff to unfold. Whether he will
follow the democratic secular agenda as of now or shake hands with the Pak Army
and extremists directly or through back-door to secure power?
