The writer is a lecturer in English at the Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Chitral Campus
Despite the boycott of the 2013 general elections by the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML), the party managed to get two seats from Chitral.
This APML victory proved yet again that people never forget the leaders who give prime importance to their demands and are keen to serve them at all costs.
Chitral is a far-flung area in the north of Pakistan with scenic beauty all over the mountainous district. It is blessed with tourist attractions like the Kalash valley, the Shandur polo festival, Qaqlasht festival, hot-spring resorts, and the Baroghil festival. Despite being very close to Afghanistan and Dir, not a single incident of terrorism has taken place here during the last 50 years. The literacy rate, too, is very encouraging; among females, it ranges above 60 per cent.
Chitral is bestowed with many natural gifts by the Almighty. However, it remains disconnected from the rest of the country for nearly six months a year due to heavy snowfall on the Lowari Pass, the only road that connects Chitral to Dir.
Winter is difficult for people as prices access to Peshawar becomes near impossible. People get stranded, while thousands lose their lives in trying to get through the Lowari pass.
In these difficult times, Pervez Musharraf proved to be a messiah for the people of Chitral as he took unprecedented interest in the construction of the Lowari Tunnel project. The Rs8-billion project was given to a South Korean construction company and the work began in 2005. Within three years, the work on the 8.2km tunnel was partially complete and it was a day of celebration in Chitral.
However, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) coming in to power in 2008, work on the project suddenly stopped. The main reason cited for this was the unavailability of funds.
During the five years of the PPP government, all the heavy machinery was removed from the site and a dispute ensued between the construction company and the government, over the non-payment of dues.
The people of Chitral were dismayed and a general sense of abandonment prevailed. They lovingly and longingly remembered their benefactor Pervez Musharraf.
Had Mushharaf been in power, the Lowari tunnel project would have been completed in time, they thought. The road could have been extended to Tajikistan providing a link between Pakistan and the Central Asian countries, as envisaged by the APML leader.
Musharraf decided to contest elections from Chitral on the demand of its residents. When he returned to Pakistan, cases were reopened against him and he was imprisoned.
Still, the people of Chitral voted for his nominated candidates, showing that they were still loyal to him.
With the indictment of Musharraf, a general consternation is found among the people of Chitral. They believe that he will prove to be innocent and eventually all the cases against him will be dropped.
The common people of Pakistan are not concerned with high-profile cases and the developments that take place on higher planes. They only need a leader who tries to solve their basic problems.
What happens inside the corridors of power in Islamabad or the tussle between various players of the game means nothing to the people. They only need an honest and true leader like Musharraf whose aim and purpose was to see Pakistan as a developed and responsible country.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 2nd, 2013.
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COMMENTS (11)
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Every Pakistani knows who are the great and what is going on inside the justice or government, but the media should perform to handle all cases in reality and to show the justice what are true and how? the youth of pakistan are worry to see the situation of court and justice.
Musharraf is hero of Pakistan, there are no any mistake during his tuner, all decission are depend on the parliament. so how is possible only a president is ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Can u tell people of Pakistan,who started this project?
Musharraf is hero
Winter is difficult for people as prices access to Peshawar becomes near impossible....seriously?
Anis ur Rehman, you have expressed the sentiments of all Musharraf's loyalists, amicably. You deserve appreciation for writing this piece. Musharraf was Pakistan's best leader and will always be. He had the courage, will, vision and strength to set things right and no other military or political leader has ever matched or will match his charisma and leadership qualities!!! Musharraf will come out of all 'nonsense' and 'fabricated' cases against him successfully!!! He will lead Pakistan again, inshaAllah!
Usman.
Masha'Allah ! Musharaf cared for Pakistan because he started work on a Tunnel which was badly needed by the ppl of Chitral. The day people of this country learn that building institutions are more important than building roads,metro or tunnels, our leadership problem will be solved.
Musharraf is not just Chitral's hero, he is all of Pakistan's hero!
we love mussharraf. the charges are the biggest lies against him in the histroy of pakistan. the people of pakistan needs the army back to takeover. nawaz and zardari are all theifs who stole millions from the country. the currency value is down the toilet. during musharraf times pakistan prospered. what we did with the laal masjid operation thugs were well deserved. as far as bugtig and benezir. those are baseless claims. its a shame crook judges and crooked politicians run the country. the elections were rigged. imran khan was the last hope but now thats gone too.
There were about 12 pro-musharraf comments here, what happened to them???? Jaundice journalism by ET.
Should Mussharraf be excused the excesses he committed because of the sentiments of the people from Chitral?