The New Nation - Internet Edition

Of late General (Parvez) Musharraf had to resign to skip impeachment as President of Pakistan. The ground reality was that there was none to rally behind this military ruler (who ruled Pakistan for long nine years, like General Ershad of Bangladesh, in a dictatorial fashion) at the end of the day. It is a common knowledge that Gen. Musharraf has been paid back (by the people of Pakistan) in the same coin he (Musharraf) took the power.

Earlier Musharraf refused to give-up his military badge (post) saying that the uniform was his 'second skin'. But eventually, he had to bare the uniform and pass over the command to another general. This is by nature the most logical development in the life of dictators. It was true for Field Marshal Ayub, General Yeahya, Zia-ul-Huq and General Ershad (of Bangladesh) - all self-professed power hungry military rulers. Now, Gen. Musharraf has said, 'I leave my future in the hands of the people' - a wise word professed by all deposed dictators.

However, I do not think that politics (more so democracy) has settled down or Musharraf has surely saved his 'first skin' because, since birth politics in Pakistan has been an ideal thing of 'palace click'. Let us wait for some more days to see what really turns up there. Because, it is the most humble teaching of history that 'no body takes lessons from it'.

And we know that the aspiring 'Musharrafs' would take no lessons from history.

Abu Musa Miah

Lalbagh, Dhaka