Now the problem with the declining days of a dictator is that as the insecurity sets in and longtime allies start ditching him, at times his own colleagues in uniform, the dictator has to gather around him a coterie of appeasers and defenders of either questionable integrity or blind faith in his person. Gathering this class of people is normally not his doing. Musharraf did nothing different. That is exactly why you see a marked difference in the choices he made during his last one-and-a-half year and the rest of his rule. Usually, when the dictator eventually goes away, so does the abovementioned coterie. But this didn’t happen either. Musharraf’s departure from power was painfully slow. After the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, when the PPP assumed power, it was considerably diminished and weak. This lot then was not purged out of the system. What is more, given that the country was fighting terrorism and insurgency on two different fronts, this class, banking on the goodwill that had generated through close cooperation with the general president, found ways to get deeply entrenched, reached the nerve centre of our very start and clouded its judgment for the PPP’s five years.
Result? Bedlam. Those who once told you how critical it was for Pakistan to cooperate in the US fight against terrorism would now inundate you with never-ending torrents of conspiracy theories. We were told how the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was in league with American intelligence. How the wily Americans were using mythical technologies to orchestrate floods, earthquakes and other natural calamities in our country in order to destabilise it. On the political front, we learned from them how untrustworthy, deceitful and unpatriotic the political class was. The media, too, could not escape such accusations. And while all this was going on, a new generation was gaining consciousness. While I am no apologist for flaws in the PPP’s governing style, I know for a fact that this constant bickering made decent policymaking almost impossible for the party. On the other side, this propaganda was music to the ears of the non-state actors that the state was confronted with. When the deficit of trust between state institutions, the rulers and the ruled and even the federating units touches the sky, undermining every institution as a result, only the enemies of the state can prosper. Consequently, our state and society missed the opportunity to identify and vanquish the true enemy and could not benefit from the healing effects of democracy.
This class that I call ‘Musharrafia’ (Musharraf’s ashrafia — the elite) is a parochial, selfish and extremely noisy class. After ruining the general’s legacy, it continues to constantly destabilise the system. Even the ongoing political circus, a product of countless political misunderstandings, was helped considerably by this class. As its insecurities become the insecurities of the nation, its manners are also copied wildly. Hence, you see the use of abusive language on television, within political parties, even in educational institutions, and paranoia assumes life-threatening proportions.
Given that we had a narrow escape from a total meltdown of the system that could easily damage the state and that this nation badly needs a healing touch, it is up to you, dear readers, whether you want to live with this class that makes you see enemies where there are none. In my humble opinion, we cannot remain bonded to a painful past nor can we afford more anger and vitriol in society, given that we have a very proactive and impressionable youth. The idea then is not to put anyone out of job, but to ensure that no pressure group with narrow personal agendas is allowed to hold any individuals or groups hostage. In this case, perhaps, Musharraf can be of great help by asking this group to stand down, especially as he still claims to believe in the slogan — Pakistan first.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 4th, 2014.
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COMMENTS (13)
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Great job Farraukh. Keep it up. Glad to see that another military brat calls the spade a spade. You are hundred percent correct that Musharraf ruined the country, and its institutions including the one that gave him too much. You are equally correct that this IK guy is nothing but a stooge of the Ashrafia class. Hats off to Brig. Alvi for his courageous comments. Yes! he had created a circle of self-centered around himself. The criteria for promotions and postings was personal loyalty and not the merit. He ruined the army, its morale, and its discipline.In brief he bit the hand that fed him.
@Abdur: All the current problems in Pakistan are due to a decade of Musharraf's misrule: terrorism, violence, no energy added to state grid, weakening institutions and general backward slide.You couldn't be more wrong about supporting an illegal dictatorship of 10 years. It's easy to wish for someone to just take over with a magic wand but harder to work for democratic systems and change which takes time.
What the writer says about Musharraf and those around him is right up to a point, but then he takes it to a ridiculous extreme by painting the whole phenomenon of middle class dissatisfaction with the existing system as nothing but a conspiracy by the Musharrafia! Come on, there is a lot more to our ongoing political instability than just the 'Musharrafia.' The fact that our political system is very dynastic, non-inclusive and corrupt also has something to do with it.
Of course people like Musharraf and the cronies around him are eager to try to benefit from any situation that could be turned to their advantage. Just like PPP and PML-N exploited Musharraf's blunder of firing the Chief Justice. But that is just politics. The real problem is that a non-inclusive system that totally ignores the legitimate concerns of a groing middle class about rule of law and accountability is bound to be unstable. The focus should therefore be on reforming the system and making it more accountable and inclusive. If that is done, the Musharrafia will automatically be weakened too
Time for more Prozac!
Mere noise and political rhetoric in this article! Bias article showcasing loyalty to a parochial theocratic system which is subservient to the elite oligarchs like feudal, industrialists and land lords. I pray he raises voice effectively for full fledged implementation of first 40 articles of constitution and for Article 140 A also. Biased article reflective of people who feed on a system which doesnt give anything to a common man! Author's disgust for General Musharraf is sheer only on basis of his personal bias then on substantial reasoning. General Musharraf was/is more democratic then these so called, at least he gave something to this common man! I know anyone wont challenge the economic and other parameters during his time i have a log of justification to back my point. For a starter keep Rs 60 to a dollar for the sake of our countrymen in whatever way for 8/9 years then i would say a Govt has served its people. Musharraf's time was a lot of better. We miss his time! One of his biggest asset to a common man Rescue 1122 was started in his time in Punjab and it has been a major asset when it concerns accident/disaster management.
It makes sense alright but where is the light at the end of the tunnel. The overrated and clueless Qadri sounds like a schoolboy and Imran barely entering college now; With leaders like these what can one expect. Mushraff was just a mistake of Nawaz Sharif which we all had to pay for. It will take years for these freaks to move out of the system and the NewGen knows nothing about the sacrifices of socialism.
Very interesting article and there is a merit in the writers research. Musharraf has been too self focused and in this pursuit he always created a group of psychoanalysts around him. For him merit was of no consideration but personal loyalty was a prerequisite to reward a person. While commanding army formations he will use this strategy and same was applied as the head of state.
There is really no need to worry about Musharrafia because they are on the run. One has to have morality and conviction to hold on to ones views and loyalty. The sycophants have no character to make sacrifices. It will be unfair to say that Musharraf did not have really motivated people around him, There were very few and they were the one fighting for him. They have realized a fake personality of their leader and have distanced themselves from him.
It is Pakistan Army which has suffered the most due to him. He payed with processes and procedures. There were serious violations in the merit to promotions and postings. He involved many officers in politics. Amazingly documents like NRO were framed and discussed by his military subordinates. For me it is most unfortunate for a professional army, which has to fight in all directions to safeguard the country.
The site of army three star governor making speech in his rallies was a high comedy. This was the real damage. Because they were the role models for all of us, the junior cadre. The challenge is now for General Raheel Sharif to make our army apolitical and bring merit and reforms in its training and education systems. Musharraf can be best helped by a psychiatrist now.
Quite clearly, IK is the new Musharraf. No wonder people around him used to be Musharraf's B team. Off course, Musharraf's. A team is rallying behind TUQ.
Quite clearthe class that supported Musharraf has found a new symbol in IK to follow.
Current problems in this country were not created by Musharraf but by politicizing religion and aloofness of the ruling class PML-N, PPP, and others.
You are right sir. There are certain elements like Sharif Pirzada, AK Barohi, Choudhries of Gujarat, Saif family and likes who have always conspired against each elected govt and have been a tool for each dictator. I agree that agitation should be to put more people to work, study, better healthcare, pure food and opportunities not to stop them from working. While our children are prevented from going to school and work, their kids are living large in huge mansions in safe foreign countries. These are lifetime dictators of their own parties and have never worked for living in their entire life. Just like Mush they are popular on the Net and among elites but have nothing in common with the rural families of Pakistani heartland.
Musharraf has the leadership qualities to bring Pakistan out of the present mess. Musharraf's time was the best time for Pakistan in the living memory. We need him back in power.
I disagree... All nonsense!!!!