A nation which hates its own sons is lost. And we are not talking of any ordinary person, but of the legendary Imran Khan. A few years ago the whole of Pakistan went gaga over this man’s cricketing. Now Pakistanis are mute spectators when President Musharraf betrays him. Khan has been arrested and fears for his life. This is ungrateful Pakistan at its best.
Imran Khan had dared to come out in the open and confront the dictator. By immediately arresting him, Musharraf sends a strong message to the people of Pakistan. Either they toe his line and mouth his words or they have no place in Pakistan. Musharraf cannot care less whether the sexy ex-wife of Imran Khan, Jemima holds placard after placard in the UK and protest the plight of Imran back home. When she deserted her husband and could make a show of herself with Hugh Grant, there is a tendency to dismiss her protests as trivial and self-serving.
Concurrently, Benazir Bhutto was twice put under house arrest and now she has been released. She has loudly declared her intentions of fighting Musharraf. There are two issues involved here. Either she is bluffing us because she has made some secret pact with Musharraf which allows her to speak as a dissident. That way the western world thinks that flames of democracy are still burning in Pakistan. If this is not the case, then we can be sure her time is up. From being daintily kept in her house, she will be now surely put in jail. Musharraf seems to be intolerant of any opposition.
Meanwhile General Musharraf keeps making the right noises about the restoration of democracy being utmost cause in mind. He is going through the motions of being democratic, the latest being the appointment of a caretaker government. He is compelled to these stunts otherwise his status as a US crony may be questioned by President Bush. Bush can now say that Musharraf is trying to become democratic. This is the greatest lie. Musharraf has shown through his past actions that he is first and foremost a warlord.
Common civilians can die for all he cares. The Washington Post mentions the President’s fear of allowing Pakistani nuclear weapons falling in the hands of terrorists. But we are confused: about whom is Musharraf talking? Is he not a terrorist?
Nawaz Sharif, another weakling in the cog of Pakistani politics is thundering in Dubai. Last time he tried to enter Pakistan; he was packed off by Musharraf. No one can save Pakistan.
May be it is time for India to lend a helping hand to Pakistan. We should ask this tottering nation to come back to us. In this way lies Pakistan’s salvation. The prodigal son must come home.
Via: Washington Post
Image: Daily Mail, MSNBC
