Parvez Musharraf’s home coming

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?