Musharraf and Amazing Trade Avenues

I was completely relaxed about Musharraf’s return to Pakistan and Pakistani politics. I felt sure he did not have a future here anymore. In fact, I even felt cynical at times to his quotes regarding returning.

However, to my great shock, I heard a person speaking of some favorable chances for Musharraf in the Pakistani politics even now. I commented, ‘Well it must be by those wayward seculars who would vote for just about anyone as long as s/he keeps the wine flowing and all that goes along with it…’. To my surprise she said ‘No, but it is because of the economic growth that took place in his regime. People are interested in that’.

Dead silence.

I see. Is that so?

Are there people out there who would like to see Musharraf back despite Musharraf’s great crime of selling Pakistan’s sovereignty, constitution and people for an indefinite period of illegal detention in torture cells? He sanctioned surgical strikes within our North-West border. Does replacing with the word ‘surgical’ make it any different from the November 26, 2011 air strike of Mohmand Agency? He sanctioned ground and air logistic support for war against a neighboring Muslim country, Afghanistan. Ironically, this is the same country for which Jihad was declared by the Pakistani authorities when another superpower had encroached upon it. However, this time, anti-Jihad was in progress. However, the most amazing feat of Musharraf was selling Pakistani citizens along with their children, to American beckoning, and even taking booty upon it! He admitted this, perhaps even proudly, in his book ‘In the Line of Fire’. However, what he did not have the guts to admit was that he truly sold Pakistanis and he lies that they were foreigners. Aafia Siddiqui and many others were Pakistanis whom Musharraf declared otherwise. And I completely fail to understand his jubilance upon taking booty upon this sale. When I try to empathize and wear his boots in an effort to understand why he took the decisions which he did, I still fail to understand why he took money to hand over people for torture, be they Pakistanis or non-Pakistanis. I mean I can understand that I may be a soldier of very weak guts and my knees start to knock when the American foreign minister calls me and says ‘Either you are with us or against us’. And I, in my extreme hurry to ward off any potential danger, I even forget to consult the parliament or senate or even my group of core commanders of the country, and say ‘Yes SIR’, even then why would I take booty upon it? I can imagine myself hiding in a corner and weeping miserably that I did not have the guts to stand up to a foreign, bullish threat and I succumbed to violating the country’s sovereignty, constitution and public security, but, why would I take booty upon it?

One takes booty only upon something one considers absolutely rightful, even dutiful, and one does it with glee. I try to imagine the day Musharraf sanctioned picking up Aafia Siddiqui and her children. Did he manage to sleep that night? Perhaps not, because the payment shipment had not arrived yet…

All those who are pro-Musharraf even now, because of the economic growth during his regime, should immediately make a list of their assets which they can invest in business ventures with Musharraf when he arrives. The list begins; your wife, your children, your brothers and sisters, perhaps even your parents…

All you need is a stone heart and President Musharraf.

In view of your announcement to arrive here in Pakistan to participate back in politics, a most unwelcome to you, Pervaiz Musharraf.