Musharraf would have us believe that the people literally wept when he resigned from the presidency in 2008. The people of which part of the world is he referring to? They can’t be the generalissimo’s fellow countrymen for he was and will continue to be a symbol of hatred for them.
In an interview on BBC HardTalk early this week, he was subjected to tough questioning by presenter Stephen Sackur who asked him about the existence of Quetta Shura, Osama bin Laden’s discovery from Abbottabad despite his constant denial of Al-Qaeda Chief’s presence in the country, his double-crossing the Bush Administration and his plan to launch a political comeback when his popularity remains at the lowest ebb. But what was neither asked nor answered was the source from which he was getting enough funds to pay a staggering 25000 dollars a month to an American lobbying firm.
The interview was aired at a time when his arrest warrants along with those of Shaukat Aziz and Jam Yousaf have already been issued on the orders of the Balochistan High Court in connection with Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder. There are cynics who are trying to tarnish the late Nawab’s reputation and believe that the vacuum created by his death will not be hard to fill. This is tantamount to discredit not only the departed soul but also the entire Baloch nation which hasn’t recovered from the shock of the gruesome murder.
Former Governor Balochistan Owais Ahmad Ghani must have realised with hindsight that he was wrong to claim that the Baloch youth was fed up with the sardars and wanted to liberate themselves from their tyranny. Bugti was a father figure who inspired a great deal of admiration among the younger generation. It would always remember him for his endeavour to strengthen the federation and, while he was alive, Talal Bugti would not have even thought of talking about his province being on the verge of break-up.
By ordering the Nawab’s assassination, Musharraf had actually lent strength to the elements nursing separatist tendencies. During his nine years of military rule he had committed countless crimes but the one for which he deserves the harshest punishment was his having subjected the people of Balochistan to the worst kind of repression. Military’s intelligence agencies had been given a free rein to kill and kidnap innocent citizens on the mere suspicion of their links with the terrorist networks. Many of them were handed over to the Americans for questioning at Guantanamo Bay. The whereabouts of those who disappeared under mysterious circumstances remain unknown despite repeated court orders for their recovery.
Deceit being the inherent characteristic of his personality, Musharraf had constituted a two-member troubleshooting committee with master mumbler Ch Shujaat Hussain as its chairman. But while the committee kept shuttling between the federal capital and Balochistan trying to engage the “rebellious” sardars he gave a go ahead to the spy agencies to eliminate Bugti then hiding far away from his ancestral home in Dera Bugti. The civilian leadership had been kept out of the loop of the secret mission. It was in no way a partner in crime. So there’s no point in Shaukat Aziz writing a letter to IG Balochistan and passing the buck on to the provincial government. He simply panicked; he could have simply taken a cue from Ch Shujaat who is on record having told the National Assembly that “certain hands” were trying to create roadblocks in the away of restoring peace to the restive province.
Musharraf has been consigned to the pages of history but it is unfortunate that the current democratic dispensation has not so far been able to do anything to mitigate the accentuated sense of deprivation among the Baloch. That Interior Minister Rehman Malik and PPP’s enfant terrible Babar Awan were tasked to engage the enraged Baloch youth and the insurgents fighting against the government forces was a clear manifestation of the lack of seriousness on the part of the federal government to give a boost to the peace initiative of Senator Lashkari Raisani who managed to bring some insurgent groups to the negotiation table after hectic efforts.
Those who keep basking in the glow of the so-called Aghaz-i-Huqooq-i-Balochistan can ignore criticism from them for not taking any interest in resolving the crisis prevalent in their province. But they have to be receptive to the calls from their diehard supporters voicing serious concerns about the victimisation of their fellow citizens. Senator Raisani is perturbed he sees no let up in the incidents of forced disappearance; those involved in kidnapping and killing the people continue committing the crime with impunity.
The writer is Executive Editor, Pakistan Today.
Unfortunate that Musharraf's minions and sidekicks both in Pakistan and abroad are intolerant and refer to a perfectly well reasoned article as the work of an idiot.Learn to use decent language whoever you are.
with regret and apologies to the Baluchistan inhabitants, the share of responsibility lies with both the Establishment and the Baluch Sardars. Who have not been sincere to the Baluch people, more over the Geo political importance of Baluchistan has increased in the interference of International players, in the assassination of Nawab Bugti we can clearly see the hand of friendly Country, as he was a major thorn in the wider plans of our friends. The establishment had no choice but to oblige.
What a pathetic article from clearly, a traitor.. completely devoid of any logic or truth.. shame on you sir..
This article is one of the wackiest article I have ever read in my entire life. This ullukaphata writer should go back and born again and learn from his mother
Or father if he knows him how to write. People of Pakistan love Musharraf. We majority of bloch love him for Freeing us from akber bugti. “hitler of bolochistan”
Musharraf is missed loved and accepted by majority pro PAKISTAN Blochies. Pervez Musharraf zindabad Pakistan pa indabad
Balochi Bhi, ur name and ur writing does not reflect an iota of a Baloch personality. you rather sounds more a punjabi or an agent of an isi. If Baloch were with musharaf and army generals, Balochistan would not have been burning today. let me remind u that pakistan's 5th army operation is in full f ledge and Balochistan has been converted into a complete millitry Garrison. The abusing and cheep language used at the author of the article is a minute example of pakistani state establishments misbehavior to Baloch nation and to those who care to write to support people of Balochistan
You write about Bugti as he was Mother Teresa…..Is there a way in this world that it could be proved that Musharraf gave the orders for killing Bugti?…..not in a balanced legal system…….
I have nothing to do with Musharraf; however, when I was listening to his resignation speech at a public place (a restuarant) a waiter acutally started crying and said that Pakistan is now finished…..I understand that one person does not relect the national sentiment. However, one must not completely disregard that there are a number or people who support Musharraf.
i think musharraf was fully resposible for bugti murder ….if he was not ….then he would face the trial…..why he is sitting in aboard now
IF Musharraf made nation weep in tears the so called 'democratic dispensation has dried their tears which now bleed.This most corrupt government of Zardari-PPP,MQM,ANP,ML-C has ruined poor by its wicked and vile manipulations and machinations.THIS EVIL AXIS OF PPPZ,MQM,ANP,.ML-C must be decimated forever to be free from the agents of devils.The admirers of this dispensation should realize,that even Benazir would want you to disown the present clout of enemies of poor rather be adhered to for love of her.
A totally pathetic article! A biased seems shown by his words!
This article looked more like of a talk show ranting by the political midgets we see everyday on tv.
How naively the writer asked about $25,000. I think the writer is suffering from amnesia. He forgets that his autobiography was the best seller, and President Musharraf is the only Pakistani to do so. If the writer has any sense, he’d be knowing how much royalty you could earn from your international best seller. Plus his dozens of lectures in US, UK, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Russia, Middle East, pays him good money.
And Akbar Bugti? Killing him was one of President Musharraf’s greatest services for Pakistan. Bugti was a snake and was rightly crushed. His grandson, Brahamdagh Bugti, resides in the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan. He’s received by the RAW agents when he travels to India. Last I heard was that Brahamdagh Bugti was in Geneva, Switzerland.
Need I say more?
I don’t know what is happening to Pakistan Today. I had such high hopes when I heard the first time that this paper was to be launched. But Pakistan Today has bitterly disappointed me and many others. Apart from couple of instances, all the articles and level of argument dished out by writers borders stupidity and zero intellectual level.
Nice piece…. I have gone through comments… but keep it up i mark you 100 per cent because only literate and well educated person write such piece…. i again appreciate you…. the comments given are just naive…
Such paid writers have ruined our country. If not that time when Musharraf left, but now for sure the so called democracy has made people weep. Musharraf is the best leader Pakistan ever had. Shame on you Mr. writer for your biased and third class article.
very nice keep up u r those person they astel live sach in the nakam reyasat.we baloch love our father of nation nawab akber bugti.balochistan will a free country will soon.magar afsoos ke paki ko tod nia wale be paki jernal ho gea.
Sami bhai ne tou essay likh dia pura
I am now convinced that this man is a complete idiot and may be on the payroll of either RAW, CIA or Mossad.
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