Look Back At Musharraf’s Era
By Rohail Butt • Aug 18th, 2008 • Category: Politics, Worth A Second Look • 17 CommentsIt looked to me same people who were rejoicing on the T.V screens after the resignation of Pervez Musharraf who were distributing sweets on 12th October, 1999. Musharraf’s time is filled with rocking events.
Nawaz Sharif ignored three Army chiefs and gave preference to General Pervez Musharraf for the Army Chief on the recommendation of Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. Musharraf didn’t take much time to remove Nawaz Sharif on 12th October, 1999. Musharraf presented his own agenda, and now as we look back at those points, he failed miserably in each one of them, and now went out ignominiously with weepy eyes.
On June 2001, he became President of Pakistan along with the chief executive of the country. The same year, he introduced the system of local governments. He also followed the ritual of all the dictators and had a sham referendum on 30th April 2002. Then he held general elections in October, 2002 in which his hand-made party PML-Q consisting of lotas of colors won. Then came the 17th amendment through which he legalized all of his unconstitutional measures with the help of MMA.
After 9/11, the world changed and so were the Pakistan. Musharraf made some drastic decisions on the basis of a midnight phone call he received from America and the policies of Pakistan changed on their heads, and still those policies are going on and their backlash is ricocheting with the same velocity. Musharraf did everything for America but America ditched him when he needed them most.
Musharraf hurt himself by sacking the chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhary and that was the defining moment, when CJP said ‘No’, and an unprecedented lawyers’ movement was started against the Musharraf. Three times, it was tried to assassinate Musharraf, but he survived all three times. On 10th July, an operation was carried out on the Lal Masjid Islamabad, and that was when the sun of Musharraf started to set rapidly. Then latter in the year, Musharraf once again promulgated Emergency and house arrested judges. Then came the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, and the general elections were delayed.
But when elections came after all on 18th February, the people gave their verdict against Musharraf, and at that time luckily the Army has also become neutral. That was the best time for Musharraf to resign, but then power is a very bad thing.
He will be remembered like all the dictators are remembered.
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Following is a brief chronology of major political developments in Pakistan since 1999 when Pervez Musharraf, who Monday announced his resignation as president to avoid impeachment charges, seized power as army chief:
– 1999 –
October 12: Musharraf overthrows elected prime minister, Nawaz Sharif after Sharif sacks him as army chief.
– 2000 –
May 13: Supreme Court validates coup.
December: Sharif is freed from prison on hijacking and corruption charges, exiled to Saudi Arabia and banned from returning to Pakistan for 10 years.
– 2001 –
June 20: Musharraf declares himself president after the incumbent, Mohammad Rafiq Tarar, resigns.
September 11: Musharraf drops support for Taliban and allies Pakistan with Washington after 9/11 attacks.
– 2002 –
April 30: Musharraf wins controversial national referendum on his rule.
October 10: Pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League-Q wins general elections.
November 16: Musharraf sworn in for a fresh five-year term.
– 2003 –
December: Musharraf escapes two assassination attempts, one by Islamist military officers and the other by al Qaeda.
– 2004 –
January 1: Musharraf wins parliamentary vote of confidence affirming his unelected rule until 2007.
February: Musharraf pardons nuclear scientist Abdul Qadeer Khan for leaking nuclear secrets to Iran, North Korea and Libya.
December 30: Musharraf reneges on promise to quit as army chief.
– 2007 –
March 9: Musharraf sacks chief justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, sparking protests. Chaudhry reinstated by Supreme Court in July.
July 10: Pakistani troops storm the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad, killing scores.
October 6: Parliament elects Musharraf to another five-year term as president in a vote boycotted by the opposition.
October 18: Benazir Bhutto returns from exile.
November 3: Musharraf imposes state of emergency, sacks chief justice, and suspends constitution.
November 25: Sharif returns from exile.
November 28: Musharraf steps down as army chief and hands control of military to General Ashfaq Kayani
December 15: Musharraf lifts state of emergency.
December 27: Bhutto assassinated at election rally.
– 2008 –
February 18: Parties of Bhutto and Sharif trounce Musharraf’s allies in general elections.
March 24: Parliament elects Bhutto aide Yousuf Raza Gilani as prime minister.
August 7: Coalition says Musharraf to face impeachment.
August 17: Coalition says it has finalized impeachment charges.
August 18: Musharraf announces his resignation.
Source:www.hurriyet.com.tr
(Reuters) - Beleaguered President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of an impending impeachment motion by Pakistan’s ruling coalition government. The former army chief and firm U.S. ally had seen his popularity slide over the past 18 months and had been isolated since his parliamentary allies lost a February general election. Here is a chronology of recent events that led to the downfall of Musharraf, who seized power in a bloodless coup in December 1999 and became president in 2001.
March 9, 2007 - Musharraf suspends Supreme Court Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry over allegations of misconduct. Lawyers rally around the top judge and Musharraf’s popularity plummets.
July 10 - Musharraf orders troops to storm the Red Mosque in Islamabad to crush a Taliban-style movement there. At least 105 people are killed. Militant attacks and suicide bombings follow.
July 20 - Supreme Court reinstates Chief Justice Chaudhry, dealing a blow to Musharraf’s authority.
July 27 - Musharraf meets former prime minister Benazir Bhutto in Abu Dhabi for inconclusive talks on how to move the country towards a civilian-led democracy. Bhutto demands Musharraf step down as army chief.
Sept 10 - Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is arrested at Islamabad airport on his arrival from exile, despite the Supreme Court clearing his return. He is deported to Saudi Arabia.
Oct 2 - Musharraf’s government announces it will drop graft charges against Bhutto, clearing the way for her return.
Oct 6 - Musharraf wins a presidential vote by legislators. Supreme Court holds off confirming legality of vote.
Oct 19 - Suicide bomber tries to assassinate Bhutto in Karachi as she returns from eight years of exile.
Nov 2 - Supreme Court meets to decide if Musharraf was eligible to stand for re-election while still army chief.
Nov 3 - Musharraf imposes emergency rule, detaining thousands of opposition politicians and lawyers.
Nov 11 - Musharraf says parliamentary elections will be held by Jan. 8.
Nov 13 - Bhutto is placed under house arrest for a week in Lahore, hours before planned march against emergency rule.
Bhutto says Musharraf must quit as president.
Nov 15 - Musharraf appoints Senate chairman Mohammadmian Soomro to head a caretaker line-up to oversee elections.
Nov 22 - Commonwealth suspends Pakistan.
Nov 25 - Sharif returns from exile.
Nov 28 - Tearful Musharraf hands command of the army to General Ashfaq Kayani.
Nov 29 - Musharraf is sworn in as civilian leader.
Dec 15 - Musharraf lifts state of emergency, restores constitution.
Dec 27 - Bhutto is assassinated in a gun and bomb attack.
Jan 2 - Election delayed from Jan 8 to Feb 18 because of disturbances after Bhutto’s assassination.
Feb 18 - Resounding election victory for parties led by Bhutto’s widower Asif Ali Zardari (Pakistan People’s Party) and Sharif (Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz). Analysts say Musharraf may be driven out.
March 9 - Sharif says he will join Zardari to form a coalition hostile to Musharraf.
Aug 7 - Ruling coalition says it will launch proceedings to impeach Musharraf.
Aug 16 - Pakistan’s ruling coalition prepares impeachment charges against Musharraf focusing on violation of the constitution and misconduct.
Aug 18 - Musharraf announces resignation.
He was a man who rose to the occasion when our country needed him most. He was an individual with a military background but chose the country’s future over his own which led him to enter the filthy world of Pakistani politics. I truly believe that Musharraf is one of the best things to happen to Pakistan in a long time, we needed him and he delivered. He was a man stuck between a rock and a hard place and has had to make some tough calls as well as some questionable ones, but he is after all a mere erroneous mortal like us all but what distinguishes him from others is that he is a lion in the company of hyenas, I truly believe he did what he thought was best for the country. Someone once said, ‘ It is the sacrifice of great men to be hated by the ones they love the most’, that’s Mr. Musharraf in a nutshell for you, he made the decisions that no one else would knowing that they might be unpopular amongst the masses and be frowned upon by societal stigmata but as long as it helped the country’s survival and prosperity he did it anyway unlike our politicians who hide behind a superficial, pretend veil of righteousness, who impose on people of what greatness they bring to the country although in reality that greatness is a farce, a facade really that blinds the people of the actual plunder, corruption, poverty and injustice that prevail within a nation that was created to bring peace, harmony, success and justice to its residents irrespective of cast, creed, material status and religion and instead this ‘pure’ nation has become a shameful disdain upon our founding fathers’ dreams and aspirations.
I do not trust Zardari, I do not trust the Sharifs with the future of our nation, they are murderers and looters who would sell the soul of our great nation for monetary gains and luxurious lifestyles. I have no respect for these men who have stolen from the poor and the needy, who have put their personal interests over the country’s, who have used the corpses of the innocent to step on in order to rise to power and status. They are not Pakistani’s; they are freelance thugs who are given support by people who are either illiterate, under duress or just downright desperate to survive. Since they have come to power, the country’s situation has worsened. The people of Pakistan will suffer the consequences, the naive voters who are larger in number than their literate counterparts have chosen the ‘filth’ to rule our Land of the Pure. Pakistan’s future is tentatively balanced on the jagged edge of a knife and it will be plunged into chaos by the corrupt Zardari and the greedy Sharifs who, now with Musharraf out of the way, have been given an open hand, a blank cheque of sorts, to plunder the country at their will and take a whole nation as hostage to their vile intentions.
What is democracy? ; It can, in the simplest of terms, be defined as ‘government by the people’. Although it is very easy to understand the concept, there are underlying truths to it that need to be addressed before actually putting it into action. Like any other concept, democracy has its pillars which need to be addressed before instilling it within a system. These pillars are literacy, free thinking, patriotism and a collective sense of justice. Today, we live in a country where politicians can acquire votes through duress upon and false promises to the nation, the majority of which is poor, illiterate and desperate. How can democracy prevail in a society that lacks unity, justice, education and prosperity? It is not a one-size-fits-all social entity that works for every environment, for every nation. This issue of democracy is just a tool, as is the whole ‘reinstatement of the judges’ issue, used by the opposition to destabilize Musharraf’s Government and has eventually taken the focus on the nation’s economy and social structure. When Mustafa Kemal Attaturk liberated Turkey, he was there for almost a decade creating a social, political and legal system in order to educate the people, create a sense of unity and empower the people so that those who rule the country after him are chosen by educated Turks who act as one and this saw the advent of true democracy for Turkey. Even if I assume that Musharraf was a cruel dictator who abandoned democracy and was a puppet of the West, I would still vouch for the man over Zardari and Sharif because he is the lesser of the two evils. Being brought up in Pakistan, I have seen what these men are capable of; it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to distinguish between a human and an animal.
While Musharraf was in power, he was persecuted with social dogma and mass hate from the people which was so vividly portrayed by the media. This was the consequence that he chose in order to protect his country, he was labelled a dictator and protests were made by people chanting for democracy, the same people who were bought cheaply by the corrupt politicians to create havoc in the city. What is wrong with a dictator who provides freedom to the press, under whose rule the Pakistani Rupee (PKR) stood firmly against the dollar for 9 years ($1: PKR 60) and who showed signs of development as well as an abating inflation rate and foreign debts. During the elections in February, a dictator would have used his power to ensure that he stays as head of state but instead he promised a fair election which saw his opposition win thus proving that the election was fair from his side of the table although there is no doubt that the opposition literally used its power to amass votes from the masses, there were videos that literally portrayed the gruesome reality of people voting under gun-point for the opposition and yet again we turn the other cheek on such unjust, unfair and corrupt actions then point our hypocritical fingers at others. We are so much at the mercy of the West that we have started to voice opinions that are actually theirs rather than our own, the words have been put in our mouths by people who do not even share the same continent as us, calling Musharraf a dictator is one of the many propagandas that they have promoted, why dictator? Why not call him a supreme paternal watch-dog of the country or someone who’s taking care of the nation as best as he can, being a military man rather than a politician, until someone worthy, pious and righteous enough can be handed power so that he can lead the nation towards prosperity and success. Where did all this end up? The nation was handed to the same politicians who had raped our country in the past, one was in jail for ten years for corruption and murder charges, which were all dismissed conveniently after the elections, while the other made a deal to flee Pakistan to save his own neck and live a luxurious lifestyle in Saudi Arabia only to break the pact made with the Government and return to the country when he saw an opportunity to plunder it yet again. They are pirates, abhorrent degenerates of society who enslave their own people in order to reap the benefits of power and plastic justice in order to horde superfluous wealth that could be used to move the country forward on the path to success, the path to paradise.
When the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) everything changed, today, the inflation rate in Pakistan is soaring, the Pakistani currency has declined drastically against the Dollar, and other currencies, for the first time in 9 years keeping in mind the fact that the US and most of the Euro zone are going through a recession as we speak. It is a shame when the truths and realities are right under our noses but we choose to ignore them because we are cattle, we are mere sheep to the hyenas that are our politicians who prey on the disparity and helplessness of an illiterately naive population. These politicians and most of their followers do not come with an ideology or a righteous revolution, they come with the intention to amass wealth and invest abroad in order to make a future for themselves while putting the country into turmoil and chaos which actually abets their plans for corruption and hinders the nations growth as well as social and moral development. It also hinders education as the poor have no choice but to make their children work, in order to make ends meet, instead of educating them so that they could service the nation as a whole. This, in turn, works out well for the devilish fiends we call politicians as education brings free thinking, social and moral values, ideologies and revolutions; something that can get in the way of their flagitious intentions. If one man rises, he can be shut up but if a nation rises not even God can stop it from taking what is it’s right and a nation will only rise if there is unity, collectivism and an ideology that is worth fighting for, worth dying for.
We should be on the front lines of the revolution in order to bring change, peace and prosperity to the country that has been our haven, our refuge, our home for so many years. The idea is to have no fear, to be willing to go to lengths for the sake of the country, there are heroes in all of us, some of us fight, some of us write at the end of it all were all just standing up for what is ours and what is right. I was not a devout patriot, I love my country but I never thought I would be writing about something of this nature for it, but it is our innate humane instinct that longs for peace and prosperity of our nation, of our people that provides the impetus for us to call out to everyone to do what they can for the country, it need not be exorbitant, expansive or drastic but a little something until it gains momentum, becomes a norm amongst many which eventually becomes a system that will up heave the current system that operates at the expense of the nation’s freedom, the nation’s well-being. This change will not come easily or quickly, it has to be constructed accordingly over the span of the next many years because after sixty years of plunder and corruption it would take another sixty or more years to bring Pakistan to its zenith. No one has to start big, small acts of charity, compassion and enlightenment would put the wheels in motion. The beginning is always small and humble like the dead silence preceding an ominous storm; it’s just the way revolutions work.
Thanks to Umair Tariq Jamil
AOM, now the time has gone, we remained opposing him while he was in power, as he is not in now i feel it would not be a justice to talk about his personality, but we will remain talking about his wrong doings:
what he did with this country will have far reaching effects, the only humiliation he had done on November 3rd, 2007 imposed Emergency plus (Martial Law) and when he resigned as Army Chief he transferred power of Army Chief to President of Pakistan (Qaum kay saath mazaq tha). Acts like these will be remembered as his poor performance and bad governance and playing with most prestigious document of the country.
[...] Pakistan gingerly marks the end of a long nine year dynasty. His concluding remarks were mostly a walk back into history as penned down by The Pakistani Spectator, which was just to highlight his services for the people [...]
[...] Pakistan gingerly marks the end of a long nine year dynasty. His concluding remarks were mostly a walk back into history as penned down by The Pakistani Spectator, which was just to highlight his services for the people [...]
[...] Pakistan gingerly marks the end of a long nine year dynasty. His concluding remarks were mostly a walk back into history as penned down by The Pakistani Spectator, which was just to highlight his services for the people [...]
although credbility of such comparative statement is yet to be the discussion ,but still itseems woth
citing for argument.
Basic comparison of 1999 and 2007
Pak Economy in 1999 was: $ 75 billion
Pak Economy in 2007 is: $ 160 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 1999: $ 270 billion
GDP Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) in 2007: $ 475.5 billion
GDP per Capita in 1999: $ 2,000
GDP per Capita in 2007: $ 3,004
Pak revenue collection 1999: Rs. 305 billion
Pak revenue collection 2007: Rs. 708 billion
Pak Foreign reserves in 1999: $ 700 million
Pak Foreign reserves in 2007: $ 17 billion
Pak Exports in 1999: $ 7.5 billion
Pak Exports in 2007: $ 18.5 billion
Textile Exports in 1999: $ 5.5 billion
Textile Exports in 2007: $ 11.2 billion
KHI stock exchange 1999: $ 5 billion at 700 points
KHI stock exchange 2007: $ 70 billion at 14,000 points
Foreign Direct Investment in 1999: $ 1 billion
Foreign Direct Investment in 2007: $ 8 billion
Debt servicing 1999: 65% of GDP
Debt servicing 2007: 26% of GDP
Poverty level in 1999: 34%
Poverty level in 2007: 24%
Literacy rate in 1999: 45%
Literacy rate in 2007: 53%
Pak Development programs 1999: Rs. 80 billion
Pak Development programs 2007: Rs. 520 billion
Under Musharraf’s vision
Ø · 9 world class Engineering universities being developed and 18 Public universities already developed.
Ø · Public sector institutions have increased from 110,267 (in 1999) to become
Ø · Private sector institutions have increased from 36,096 (in 1999) to become 81,103 (in 2006).
Ø · PAK is 3rd best in world Banking profitability.
Ø · PAK IT industry now values around $2 billion, including $1 billion exports and employs around 90,000 professionals.
Ø · CNG sector has attracted over $70 billion investment in last 5 years; and created 45,000 jobs.
Ø · Telecom sector attracted around $10 billion in investment and created above 1.3 million jobs.
Ø · Industrial Parks are being setup throughout the country for the first time! M3 estate, Sunder industrial estate, Chakri, etc.
Ø · Major Mega projects like the Saindak, Rekodiq, Marble production, Coal production and Mining & Quarrying are being pursued.
Ø · In 2006, GDP growth is 6%. Earlier in 1999 was 3.5%.
Ø · Foreign Reserves from $1 bn to $17 bn.
Ø · KHI stock market: from 700 points to 13,000 points.
Ø · Literacy rate improved by 11%.
Ø · Poverty decreased by 10%.
Ø · He made 4 dams: Mirani, Subakzai, Gomalzam, Khurram Tangi dams.
Ø · 6 Motorways completed or under construction: M1, M3, M8, M9, M10, M11.
Ø · Six major highways under construction.
Ø · GWADAR advance mega Sea port developed under his vision!
Ø · Historic 100% increase in Tax collection of $11 billion.
Ø · Large scale manufacturing is 30 year high, and Construction activity is 17 year high.
Ø · Newly found World class copper- gold deposits in Chagai will fetch $600 million per year.
Ø · A new Oil refinery with UAE will fetch $5 billion & will process 300,000 oil barrels a day.
Ø · Industrial sector registered 26% growth.
Ø · PAK in 1999 was a $75 billion economy; and now 2006 it’s $160 billion economy!
Ø · PAK economy is now the 3rd fastest growing economy after China & India .
Education under Musharraf Era
In 1999-2000 there were 31 Public Universities. Now 2005-2006 there are 49 Public Universities. Under Musharraf 20 NEW UNIVERSITIES SET UP!
Ø · Air University (established 2002)
Ø · Institute of Space technology, ISB (established 2002)
Ø · Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University , Quetta (established 2004)
Ø · University of Science & Technology, Bannu (established 2005)
Ø · University of Hazara (founded 2002)
Ø · Malakand university, Chakdara (established 2002)
Ø · Karakurum International university, Gilgit (established 2002)
Ø · University of Gujrat (established 2004)
Ø · Virtual University of Pak, Lahore (established 2002)
Ø · Sarhad University of IT, Peshawar (established 2001)
Ø · National Law University, ISB (2007)
Ø · Media University, ISB (2007) etc.
Ø · University of Education , Lahore (2002)
Ø · Lasbella University of Marine Sciences, Baluchistan (2005)
Ø · Baluchistan University of IT & Management, Quetta (2002), etc.
Pakistan now has a total of 245,682 Educational institutions in all categories, including 164,579 (i.e. 67 percent) in the Public sector and 81,103 (i.e. 100 percent) in the private sector, reports the National Education Census (NEC-2005). The census — jointly conducted by the Ministry of Education, the Academy of Educational Planning and Management (AEPAM) and the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) — reveals that the number of private-sector institutions has increased from 36,096 in 1999-2000 to 81,103 in 2005, i.e. by 100 per cent.
Total 99,319 Educational Institutions (Public & Private) have increased in Musharraf Era!
[...] inaadhimisha mwisho huu wa miaka tisa ya utawala wa familia hii. Hotuba yake ya mwisho ilijaa hasa kurejelea historia na hii ni kama ilivyonukuliwa na The Pakistani Spectator, yaani hasa kuelezea ni kwa namna gani [...]
Dear Dr Razahaider,
App ne sarae achae points jo Musharaf era main thae highlight kar diya. Agar app main himmat hai tow woh points bhi dhondo jo us k era main howae aur us ne jaan bhoojh k unko nai roka jasia k 200 Crore k loan jo PML-Q ne liyae etc.
Long Live Musharraf, and hell with all the current political leaders……..
Allah Kay Wastay..Aik Din to Musharraf aur Politics Ki Jaan chor do… Thinks and pray for victims of Suicide attacks. This politics is not going any where. It is like a leech, which will keep sucking poor people…forget and address real issues of Pakistan.
Hassan Abbas Sahab and other well wishers of Mr. 10% and Mr. Sharif Brothers,
You think you are perfect??? Musharaf is human too……he had to make some decission for greater cause…….he didn’t illlegaly filled his own bank accounts overseas. Now, you have your Mr. 10% in power why don’t you ask him to bring all the money he stole from us “Poor Citizens of Pakistan” to bring back into country and stop begging from the world.
And where is “Lawyers Movement” now……..how come I don’t see or hear about any protest to re-instate ex CJP Mr. Chd? Do I consider lawyer’s movement also takes orders form Mr. 10%????
The facts and figures pasted above can be verified from the website (scroll down to see)
Economic Comparison 1999 to 2008
http://presidentmusharraf.wordpress.com
Long Live Musharraf
Haseen Abbas sahab. Aap Nawaz Sharif ki corruption ka zikar kyun nai kartay aor Benazir Sahibah ka. Kia Zardari ki jamhoriat logon ko khush kar rhai hai. Why don’t you people see the positive side of Musharraf. I am Musharraf’s ideological enemy. I am against his views about Islam. But I never doubt that he was and is a patriot.
Msuharraf is a brave person, i salute him, He took all decision in favour of Pak and to save pak nation.
He done good job. but our stupid and illiterate peoples specially (gothic lawyers) never understand.
about politicians leave it, they sale his dignity for few coins, always speak a lie and never admits his mistake. the bunch of bastards
long live Musharaf i pray for ur success in the next elections.