Leaders of Hatred
THIS POST IS MIGRATED FROM BLOGSPOT AND WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED ON 20 Jan 2008.
Today, when there is so much hatred for Musharaf, I am thinking as to who we will choose his alternate. It fears me that we will make another wrong decision by choosing someone who is not capable of leading us as a nation. I worry that we once again will choose our new leader due to our hatred for rulers.
In 1958, we (and our politicians) welcomed Gen. Ayub because of our hatred for Iskandar Mirza and Ghulam Muhammad. In 1970, our extreme hate for Gen. Ayub (and for Gen. Yahya) made us choose another leader and this time we voted for Z.A. Bhutto (in West Pakistan) and Sheikh Mujeeb (in East Pakistan). Their huge victories were result of our huge hatred for 12 years long army rule. Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Awami League were only two parties at that time who were confronting establishment (i.e. Army rulers). This time there were two leaders of hatred and both insisted to get their share. …… and we lost East Pakistan
In 1977, we (especially our politicians) again welcomed military rule when Gen. Zia took over the control. This time again, our hatred for Z. A. Bhutto was the main factor in welcoming Zia and celebrating second marshal law of our history. In 1988, we were again full of hatred for Gen Zia and were looking for another alternate. This time PPP was the only party confronting Zia’s regime. Almost all other major parties were pro-Zia at that time and formed alliance against PPP under the name Islami Jamhuri Ittehad (IJI). (Gen. Rtd. Mirza Aslam Beg, Army Chief in 1988, recently admitted of forming IJI to outclass PPP). In 1988 election, we chose Benazir Bhutto. Reason for this time was the same; hatred for Zia (and Sympathy for Bhutto).
In 1991, IJI was confronting PPP again and our hatred for Benazir (and her husband Zardari) brought us a new leader of hatred; Nawaz Sharif. Both Nawaz Sharif and Benazir were confronting each others like enemies during 90’s. We selected Nawaz Sharif because of hatred for Benazir and then selected Benazir for our hatred for Nawaz Sharif.
Then there came Pervaiz Musharaf taking over from Nawaz Sharif and throwing him out of Prime Minister House and we all were so relieved. We celebrated another army take over and another marshal law (though it was called “Emergency” this time). All opposition leaders at that time also welcomed Musharaf’s actions.
And now, in 2008, our hatred for Musharaf is on the peak but this time story is a bit different. There is not only one party or one person confronting Musharaf; there are many. This time again there is more than one candidate for Leader of Hatred.
My worry is we will again try to elect our new leaders based on our hatred for Musharaf and not based on credibility of those who are confronting Musharaf.
My worry is having more than one leaders of hatred. My worry is they will insist to get their share like they did in 1970.
Thursday, October 16, 2008 at 7:03 pm
[...] Our political parties throughout the history of Pakistan have exploited this nation in the name of democracy – just to get into the power. They were never able to get public support but supported public anger, frustration and hatred (for rulers at time) to get the support. No political party has ever given an agenda to work on but just the popular slogans to bag the votes or to destabilize the government at time. Unlike in civilized countries – where “democracy” is implemented like a democracy, where political parties survive based on their policies rather personalities, where public issues are crucial to win votes, where parties are not political dynasties – our political parties ( generally) are like group of people who fight with rivals just to hang on to power or to get into the power. They do this in the name of democracy, in the name of “public interest” and yet there is no democracy in Pakistan and “public” fighting over “aatta” (flour). Our political leaders are creation of our hatred for others. [...]