Pak citizens oblivious while Musharraf is endorsed, Sharif debarred

Abhishek Behl


Political events unfolding in Pakistan have raised adrenalin in most parts of the world but the average Pakistani on the streets is oblivious of the hype created by chasm between the army and Pakistan politicians.



PEOPLE FEEL that this is a just a war of interests between Military and political mafia of the country, who wants to serve their own selfish ends. Battle is not between dictatorship and democracy but for owning Pakistan and using, rather misusing her resources like a personal fiefdom, feels an average Pakistan citizen.
Striking a despondent note on the future, Abdul Sattar, an electrical engineer, living in Karachi, says, “Forget about democracy in Pakistan. It is basically feudal-cum-military society ruling at the top, either one of them will be owning us and any one point of time.”
Not ready to discuss the political situation, Sattar told merinews that future of Pakistan was decided in America and an average Pakistani had no role to play in the entire game.
“We are still a colony and decisions are made in Riyadh, Dubai, London and Washington,” he said, echoing the views of large number of citizens on the streets.
Interacting with Pakistanis it becomes clear that they want to break from the extremes imposed by religious fundamentalists as well the military rule.
Sandwiched between the devil and the deep sea, Adnan, a software professional from Karachi, said, “People are fed up with the military rule of Musharraf. They want democracy but they are helpless.” He added that Pak president had outlived his utility and was more of a burden to the country.
Accusing Musharraf of diluting the concept of Jehad, which was one of the most fundamental precepts of Islam, Adnan opined that Pakistanis do not like the blind modernism promoted by him.
“We want to live peacefully and are least concerned with politics of the country,” he added.
From what is emerging it becomes clear that people are resigned to their fate and though angry at the treatment meted out to Sharif are obviously not in love with ‘Mian Sahib’, as Sharif is popularly called.
Identified more with Punjab than with other areas of Pakistan, Sharif’s arrest and subsequent deportation has not caused much stir outside Punjab.
A resident of Lahore, Mohd Imran Zafar, Network engineer, said that situation was quite normal.
“Yahan par sab kuch normal hai aur traffic bhi aam dinon ki tarah hi chal raha hai (everything is normal here and the traffic on the roads too is normal)”, he told this scribe over the phone from Lahore. He however said that there was lot of support for former Pakistan premier and people want that he should come back.
Instead of talking about their political future, if you talk to Pakistanis they prefer discussing Indian heroines particularly Ashwarya and Kareena. This became evident when, Abdul Sattar, the electrical engineer from Karachi said “Forget about democracy in Pakistan tell me how is Aishwarya Rai and how is her marriage with Abhishek?”
Adding somewhat wistfully, “Yeah, the situation in Pakistan is really sad and depressing but actresses from India give us the high.”
Meanwhile, ignorant of what majority of Pakistan wants, the military government in Pakistan barred the former Prime Minister from participating in the ensuing elections saying that he had already been convicted in a case.
On the contrary the Federal Cabinet which met under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz endorsed the re-election of President Musharraf, to ensure the stability, security and growth of Pakistan.