The New Nation - Internet Edition

Md. Masum Billah

The two fresh developments in Musharraf's declared state of emergency gained momentum towards going to democracy-first one the release of Benazir Bhutto after twenty hours of her house arrest. The second one is the declaration of elections by February 15, sate media quoted President Pervez Musharraf as saying he moved to quell global outrage over his imposition of a state of emergency. The statement came hours after US president George Bush telephoned Musharraf to urge him to repeal emergency rule, hold polls that were due in January and quit as army chief. Geroge W. Bush personally intervening in the political crisis in Pakistan is telling President Musharraf he must hold parliamentary elections soon and resigning as army leader. " You cannot be the president and the head of military at the same time." It was Bush's first contact with Musharraf since he declared emergency rule on Saturday and granted sweeping powers in authorities to crush political dissent. "My message was very plain ,very easy to understand and that is the United States wants you to have the election as scheduled and take your uniform off". Bush said during a news conference with French President Nicolas Sarkozy held at George Washington's home on the banks of the Potomac River in the capital of Verginia suburbs. United States has soft corner for Pakistan for her own interest i.e. waging war against the terrorism of Al Quida. John Negroponte Deputy Secretary of state in Congress said ,"No country has done more than Pakistan in terms of inflicting damage and punishment on Taliban and Al-Quida since 9/11. He continues, "US is reviewing its aid to Pakistan but hopes USA will not punish Pakistan."

Pakistan is heading for a very uncertain time because this special kind of coup is challenged by political parties. This will also build strain between Musharraf and the military. Benazir Bhutto said for her countrymen" I am your sister fighting for democracy." Police blocked her with armour personnel carriers. She said in response to it " I am not afraid of these tactics. My struggle is for the people of Pakistan, for their rights and for an end to dictatorship." Pakistan's sacked chief justice urged people to rise up against Musharraf's emergency rule on as the government ignored a global outcry and cracked down on fresh protests. He urged people to save the constitution."I want lawyers to spread my message to the people of Pakistan, the time for sacrifice has come to rise up for the supremacy of the constitution."

Defying the red eyes of military, paramilitary forces countrywide protest against Musharraf's emergency has engulfed the nation. 5000 PPP supporters have already been arrested. The bloodless coup Pakistan embraced several times but the present coup proves different now. This time the cause clearly proves personal daggers drawn between Musharraf and Iftekhar Chaudhury . He wants to teach the judges and lawyers of Pakistan who what he says intervened in exercising executive power of the state. Not only that he further says because of the intervention of the judiciary in the state affairs the religious extremism sprung up in the country.

So, Musharraf says, " Inaction at this moment is suicide for Pakistan and I cannot allow this country to commit suicide.'' Musharraf speaks in the same voice as Yahya Khan said 36 years ago, " We have imposed martial law for the good of Pakistan and to preserve the unity of Pakistan." All the generals come to the power uttering such kind of patriotic and religious sermons. They want to expose that God has sent them to save the country and people have given them popular verdict to shoulder the responsibility. So, beating, harassing and torturing the intellectuals are legal actions and they have got the license. The human rights activists must be arrested. The lethal forces who have been nurtured by the public exchequer would be used against the innocent people as generals are the ambassadors of God.

It is true 667 people had been killed and 2000 injured in terrorist attacks this year in Pakistan including an unprecedented 43 suicide bombings. It is also true that these sad incidents took place during the time when Musharraf held full executive power of the state. So, he cannot avoid the either his lethargic or lenient attitude towards the extremists. The present turbulent situation of Pakistan created by him on the plea of curbing or eradicating religious extremism fails to convince the civilised world. Even, Pakistan's close allies China says, "We are concerned about the situation in Pakistan." We are also concerned over deteriorating human rights situation and the strangling of democracy in Pakistan.

(The writer works as a specialist in Brac Education Programme, PACE and regularly writes on national and international issues.)