Dangerous speculations
Matters weren’t helped by an online report in a blog linked to Foreign Policy, a respected US-based magazine, that quoted a former American government official as saying that Zardari sounded incoherent in a telephone conversation with US President Barack Obama and that he would likely step down for health reasons. How a former government official would be in possession of such information was never explained. But using the principle that smoke must be accompanied by fire, the PPP government generally and Zardari specifically, are obviously facing threats to their survival from the usual suspects. It is an old tactic to first float the idea of carrying out a coup and gauge the public response before taking any action. Such talk needs to be nipped in the bud. The country is weary of constant military adventurism and, unsatisfied though it may be with the PPP government and its perceived corruption, the time for expressing that anger will be next year at the polls. But the military can only be kept at bay if the PPP is willing to fight back and enlist the public in its cause. Instead of adding to the uncertainty with its waffling and half-truths, it needs to trust the people it governs and present them the unvarnished truth. Now is also the time for other political actors to stand up for democracy. Nawaz Sharif has talked a good game about holding the military accountable. Standing up for the civilian government’s right to rule would only bolster that.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 9th, 2011.
COMMENTS (6)
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The reason why conspiracy theories and much speculations abound and are easily resorted to by the intellectually lazy, hyper-imaginative, and/or gossipmongers is that the government has never been transparent in its dealings, perhaps, owing to a traditional security mindset and/or a feudal system that has little regard for the ordinary people, except during campaign seasons.
President Mush's rule was the best for Pakistan.GDP grew 7+% ,$ = 60 Rupees,Foreign investment at record levels , poverty level came down from 33% to 23%.Foreign reserves more than 16 Billion US$.Much better law and order situation,much less corruption and much good talk about Pakistan in international press.All the achievements during that period are wasted by the selfish politicians in the name of democracy . In fact there is no democracy in any country in the world, not in US or any other country
@Khan Jr: If the GHQ comes to power next, the blame would fall squarely on the PPP and it's allies in the Govt. The best way to keep the GHQ at bay if by good governance by the civilian Govt. PSM, PIA Railways all speak for themselves in terms of this Govt.'s performance. Don't blame the military for taking out the trash
After 30 plus years of direct military rule and several decades of indirect military rule -Zardari or no Zardari - the last thing we want is the GHQ to rule 180 million hapless Pakistanis once more.
If you detest Zardari, fair enough, but if has to go then it is either by elections or by law (i.e. The Constitution) and NOT by the power of tanks and guns. We've had enough of them!