Pakistan’s Pinstripe Revolution

9/11 mastermind Musharraf.
Benazir attack mastermind Musharraf.
Kargil War mastermind Musharraf.
Musharraf Wanted Alive .

Choose for others that you like for yourself.Or, at least,don't try to undermine this universal princple.

despite knowing what our president has done and doing against the democracy and society as well, i m proud of him. let me explain why. in other countries, the presidents and prime ministers quit their positions by placing the resignations when found guilty in some case, be it of minor level. they leave their office in dignity. but our president, though he knows and admits that he is not liked by his ppl, still sticks to the chair and doesnt give up. thats the real spirit. way to go Musharraf!!!!!!!!

To Farrid, G Mush is a democrat.For us Pakistani,he is tyrant adictaoror of the worst ind and liar in thgarb of a democrat. whois just ruling us to serve the interests of foreign powers and in the process destroing the institutions and the country itself. this is strange brand of democracy being exported to pkistan from US

Every country in the world has a army, Pakistan is the only country where army has a country! Mr. Zakaria, when you talk of good things of the dictator, can you name a single institution this man gave to this coutnry who self-imposed himself by topling a demoratically elected government, ruled for 8 years with absoluate power, who destroyed a hardly stablizing judiciary in the name of fighting terriorism that he himself is a prouduct of. Is Pakistan army generals so honest that never in the history of Pakistan, a sitting general could be convicted? What do you expect from a year and a half old democracy after prolonged dictatorship when it is not allowed to complete its tenure. We must really wake up now and see throught the truth. Its right there if you want to know it. Its the military establishment that cannot afford to see any other institution to stand against its unaudited power. They can't see anybody saying no to them. We must stand against this relentless power which is menacing the nation. SHAHID FROM NEW YORK

abc

Come on people. For God Sake be real for a minute. Musharaf has absolutely no right to rule. He took over just to save his skin as it's apparent from the fact that the coup happened right after he was dismissed as an army chief.

The army of Pakistan has been and is a major force in the politics which has always been interfering and intervening time and again in the system of governance. They are not just military-men now. They have become real-estate agents, bankers, educators, bakers etc. This entrenchment into the civil society and business gives them a lot of "off-the-payroll" benefits not to mention the "above-the-law" treatment. It was this whole status quo that was attacked by the civilian government of the time and, bang, the coup happened.

This time the army's unlawful dictatorship was challenged by the Judiciary which suffered the same fate. Now tell me how can you defend a bunch of hooligans who are attacking every lawful pillar of the country just to save their dominance just because they are dressed in a uniform. Pakistan needs rule of law and freedom for the masses. Less than a million well-organized crooks have held the 160 million people of my country hostage which can not be justified any number of "paid-for" articles like this.

A Pakistani Student

An outstanding piece of journalism which is a far cry from the "Most Dangerous Country in the World" rhetoric this very magazine printed. General Musharraf has done alot of good for Pakistan, but he has erred in his unflinching loyalty and posessiveness. He clearly sees the new Pakistan, outlined by a surging economy, a free media, an empowered civil society, and an unintentionally stronger judiciary, as his babies. Hopefully there is still time for him to reverse his actions, and return Pakistan to the progressive trajectory that it was on.

The interesting question is not why the army in Pakistan is sensitive to public opinion, but rather why the army in Myanmar is so insensitive. After all, soldiers join a military to defend the country against its enemies. Naturally they do not want to be force to defend a government against their own people which likely includes their relatives and neighbors. So any thoughts anyone on why that did not work that way in Myanmar/Burma?

The interesting question is not why the army in Pakistan is sensitive to public opinion, but rather why the army in Myanmar is so insensitive. After all, soldiers join a military to defend the country against its enemies. Naturally they do not want to be force to defend a government against their own people which likely includes their relatives and neighbors. So any thoughts anyone on why that did not work that way in Myanmar/Burma?

But Musharraf is an illegitimate ruler. Coup leader.
The brain behind Kargil War with India.
Musharraf is shielding Nuclear peddler A.Q.Khan.
Arrested Imran Khan as a terrorist.

But Musharraf is an illegitimate ruler. Coup leader.
The mind behind Kargil War with India.
Musharraf is sheilding nuclear peddler A.Q.Khan.
Releases Terrorists and brands Imran Khan a terrorist !

The poor people of Pakistan need free schools,free hospitals,and a decent future for their children.I have never heard anybody on the pakistani media discuss these problems. The way ordinary middleclass professionals have been ruthlessly dealt with under draconian laws is lamentful and a disgrace for the image of Pakistan.Dignity and honour should be meted out to everyone as an inherent right in civilised society. Are all the successful countries in the world where human rights prevail are led by the military generals? I say let democracy flourish in Pakistan and let people decide what they want. Elections held under the present circumstances would be a waste of good resources which Pakistan cannot afford.

Come, come, Fareed Zakaria. Your pro-Pakistani bias would be laughable if only it weren't so trragic. Pakistan "has serious traditions of law, human rights and democracy" did you say ? Perhaps you could devote some time to research what happened to to religious minorities, notably Hindus who constituted 40 per cent of the population at the time of partition and now account for less than 5 per cent. Were the missing numbers massacred/ driven out or are you suggesting that they have all seen the light and joyously embraced Islam ?

Come, come, Fareed Zakaria, your pro-Pakistani bias is leading you to make ludicrous statements. Pakistan "has serious traditoions of law,human rights and democracy" did you say ? Please devote some time to research the ethnic cleansing of minorities, notably Hindus who constituted 40 per cent of the population at the time of partition and now account for less than 5 per cent. Were they massacred/driven out or do you believe that the missing numbers are actually those who have seen the light and joyously embraced Islam ?

The misconception and keyhole view of a country and its politics are astounding. I wonder whether any democratic country can ever understand the dillemma faced by Pakistan. The real reason for this whole fiasco, the absolute immorality and power hungry attitude of the people in power , the extent to which the elite can go to safeguard their interest. I dont think it can be visualized by anyone. I am strongly reminded of the Rwanda massacre story where the tutsis (with long nose) and hutus (with squashed nose) and shorter in stature reached such level of hatred that 0.8 million people were butchered by use of machette in about 3 months.

In Pakistan Musharraf and his predecessors Zia , Yahya and Ayub created an elite class who are prefferred on everything and they dominate everything. They manipualte things in a way that they manage to sneak into power after short absence. All institution of state has been subverted to the extent that none has the power to perform their mandate. The oath of loyalty is now a useless mantra. Honesty , integrity, patriotism, decency everything has gone overboard for the greed of power and a process to push Pakistan towards extremism is being accelarated as it will allow the powers to expand their rule. Democracy was never allowed to take roots and always sabotaged. The west must understand that its not the battle to remove one measly dictator who die their own death sooner or later anyway, it is the battle for survival for Pakistan. God save Pakistan

The act to curb on judiciary and impose emergency is shamefull for Pakistanies all over the world. We see a good man in Justice Iftikhar and hope he will do something for the country but it is not the fate of pakistanis to have a smile on their face. me is vey dejected, depressed on the act of General-----Shahid, Gujranwall

Those who think that Judiciary, army , lawyers and possibly the whole infrastrucuture is not corrupt are living in fools paradise..The peaple are suffreing whether its Politicians or Generals. Common man is interested in his basics needs.. If he is not getting that .. nothing else matters..who cares whether Musharraf is depriving them of this or some tried and tested politician who cannot see beyond their noses..