Defining moments
Finally the moment has come and Nawaz Sharif has been reported by the media to have boarded his plane to Islamabad. However, Shahbaz Sharif has been dropped out at the last moment – a move quite understandable in view of the panic now prevailing in the government circles in Islamabad.
History is certainly repeating its filthy lesson. On October 12th, 1999 it was the then Army Chief who stood uncertain in much the same manner about his future while returning to Islamabad. This time around, it’s again the same duo. But one element is so contrasting – that it’s a whole new Pakistan now, upbeat with enthusiasm and expectations.
To stop history redefining itself, the Pakistani administration (under the direct poke of Gen. Musharraf, obviously) has run amok to restrain Nawaz from entering Pakistan again, in full contrast of the historic and clearly and categorically outlined verdict of the Hon’bl Supreme Court of Pakistan that Nawaz Sharif has all the right to return to his country unhindered.
News channels are constantly reporting that the area around the Islamabad airport has been converted into a high security zone and is being vacated of all vehicles except those belonging to the Civil Aviation Authority. This sanction has been imposed for a five kilometer radius area around the airport. Just this one action proves the extent of sleeplessness Nawaz’s return has been causing to Gen. Musharraf.
Various reports of unwarranted political arrests have also been shown of news media, alongwith reports of employment of every conceivable method to jeopardize the reception of Nawaz Sharif by his followers. This brings to my mind the various instances when Musharraf would never remain from stating that he stands for law. All lies. Anyways, what else can one expect from a person who has repeatedly broken promises with 160 million Pakistanis with impunity and without a shred of remorse.
The egoistic Musharraf constantly keeps believing that people are with him and will remain so. Afterall, if this had been so, then what the heck is he afraid of? Why each bit of the administration being used to put a check on the reception that a popular political leader expects to receive from his followers? Afterall, Nawaz is a human being and his followers who expect to give him a grand reception are ordinary human beings too and not part of some great foreign army wishing to invade Islamabad, that the administration is in so much of a panic.
Babar Ghauri, the MQM federal minister in Musharraf’s dispensation, on a visit to the KPT interchange in Karachi today remarked that dictatorship was the rule of the game during Nawaz’s stint as the Prime Minister of the country and that it was democracy under Musharraf. This comment flies back in the face of this idiot of a minister and the rest of the Musharraf gang; what’s happened today and is expected to happen tomorrow in Islamabad, alongwith numerous other instances (foremost being the May 12th massacre in Karachi), proves the dictatorial undertones of the Musharraf regime.
This is a defining moment in Pakistan’s history. It’s now upto us whether we grab the bus for the better of the country or not. Do we choose to remain in fear of the dictatorial gun or come out with a single loud voice to dump the military farce once and for all.
