Musharraf in America
LONG before the start of Pervez Musharraf’s July 21 Woodrow Wilson Centre address, the auditorium had already filled to capacity. With crowds continuing to surge, swarms of people were diverted to three overflow rooms.
By the time Musharraf stepped to the podium, 400 people were on hand — many of them jostling outside the doorways of packed overflow rooms, straining to catch a glimpse of him on video feeds. Still others, muttering angrily, were turned away due to lack of space. Many Pakistanis may loathe their former president, dismissing him as a political has-been reduced to a life of self-imposed exile in London and Dubai. Yet in the United States, where Musharraf recently participated in a speaking tour, he is regarded with keen interest and accorded considerable respect.
In Texas, he hobnobbed with politicians (including a probable US presidential candidate) and lectured at Rice University.
Texas is where, not long ago, a Dallas journalist spotted him at a restaurant and gushed that he was “probably one of the hottest men I have ever seen”. Musharraf later travelled to New York and appeared on The Daily Show. He strode onto stage amid boisterous applause, and sipped Gatorade as host Jon Stewart peppered him with relatively painless questions.
Then, in Washington, a diverse audience — high school students, scholars, bureaucrats, diplomats, packs of journalists — politely welcomed him to the Wilson Centre. Some refused to applaud him, yet nary a catcall was heard. The only protests were lodged (in advance, via email to Wilson Centre staff) by several Balochistan activists.
How does a disgraced former president and fugitive, who now admits he diverted $10bn of US counterterrorism aid to strengthen defences against India, command such respect in the United States? One reason is America’s infatuation with celebrity. (One often hears that we worship the House of Windsor more than Britons do.) Another is that Americans are far removed from the actions — the raid on the Lal Masjid mosque, the firing of Chief Justice Chaudhry, the media crackdowns — that turned Pakistanis against their president.
Yet perhaps most important, soon after the 9/11 attacks Americans came to believe that Musharraf was the indispensable leader — Pakistan’s only hope for fending off fundamentalism. Today, US public opinion towards Pakistan has never been more hostile, yet the triggers of such sentiment are the current government and perennial villains like A.Q. Khan. Musharraf is rarely a target of such ire.
In reality, this interest in and respect for Musharraf is observed in Pakistan more than is often acknowledged. His speeches generate banner headlines (witness the response to last year’s announcement of his new political party). And while the country undoubtedly expressed widespread hostility towards him just before his inglorious resignation — in 2007, he was less popular than Osama Bin Laden, while by early 2008 his approval ratings stood at 15 per cent and three-quarters of
Pakistanis wanted him to resign — today he is more divisive than discredited. Some hate him, yet others admire him.
Consider, for example, all those who argue that Pakistan was less dangerous, corrupt and impoverished during the Musharraf era than it is today. Last year, an Express Tribune blog post articulated 50 different reasons why Pakistan “needs Pervez Musharraf”. To be sure, some of these reasons (“Copper and gold deposits were found in Chagai”) have more to do with circumstances than with Musharraf, while others (“A historic 100 per cent increase in tax collection was observed”) are of questionable accuracy. Yet others still — industrial sector growth, increases in foreign reserves — are hard to dispute. The post spawned more than 400 comments, with many heaping scorn on the author’s reasoning — and many others applauding his analysis.
Musharraf, contrary to the hopes of many, is not going away; he is, after all, running for the top political slot, with plans to return to Pakistan next year. His prospects are admittedly slim and he faces a slew of challenges, from the popularity of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif to that pesky arrest warrant.
Yet stranger things have happened, and certain factors could work in his favour. These include the military’s continued high marks; according to recent polling by the Pew Research Centre (conducted after the discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad), nearly 80 per cent believe its influence on Pakistan is positive. Or the perception that Musharraf remains a viable political figure. Several days before his Wilson Centre speech, an informal Pakistani newspaper poll of several
hundred readers found that a substantial 43 per cent believe he can become “a serious political force”.
While being escorted out of the Wilson Centre following his talk, Musharraf, always an engaging personality, extended his hand to several passers-by, all of whom clasped it heartily. One onlooker began chanting, “March 23, 2012, let’s go! March 23, 2012, let’s go!” — eliciting a chuckle from Musharraf and his entourage.
Neither Musharraf nor his handlers nor the onlooker may have realised that this date marks not only his expected return to Pakistan, but also the US release of a movie called Hunger Games. This much-ballyhooed film, based on a best-selling young-adult book trilogy and expected to become the next Harry Potter phenomenon, depicts a post-apocalyptic America.
March 23, 2012: one more tie that binds Musharraf and the United States.
The writer is the South Asia programme associate at the Woodrow Wilson International Centre for Scholars in Washington, DC.
michael.kugelman@wilsoncenter.org
Bilawal Bhutto will be your next leader after his father Hounarable Mr. Asif Ali Zardari…
Jeay Bhutto Pakistan!!
Let Musharraf fight in the 2012 Pakistan General Elections, after getting his name cleared. But this should happen right now.
Michael Kugelman should read Musharraf's book,'In the line of Fire'.It is full of bravados and self contradictory statements.For instance he categorically blamed Benazir & Nawaz Sharif for all the misfortunes that Pakistani public was enduring and pledged that he would not allow these two to come back to Pakistan. At the end he did opposite, under NRO, he permitted them to return, hoping that in return they would allow him to stay in the presidency.The man was no Charles De Gaulle but a tinhorn military dictator. I am surprised to read some comments, making him a saviour of Pakistan.
Man was an absolute dictator for 9 years, hobnobbed with proverbial corrupt politicians, shredded the constitution,fired judges,passed infamous NRO facilitating the return of people with tainted past – Amazing some comments here,making him as if he was the saviour of the nation. !!
Pakistan need Musharraf, he has done a lot and can do more.
PM is only solution for Pakistan. we need to support him
No one is above the law. This disgraced former president and fugitive Musharraf should surrender to the courts in Pakistan and clear his name.
He is not only admired by those in US. He is respected by anyone who has the capability of understanding the achievements during his time in power. Corruption is not his legacy, it is well rooted in our society today.
It will be a big mistake for the former president to come back.
With Nawaz sharif around, his security will be endangered. Stay in London and visit USA as often as you like. Leave Pakistan behind.
surely he should come back and drive the last nail in the coffin of Pakistan. Pakistan Zindabad
The only person who has the guts to get rid of the waderas, chaudreys of Punjab , he is honest and can have the support of the people to bring land and tax reforms. Good luck Musharraf.
Let Musharraf enter the arena of politics in Pakistan as a regular citizen. If people elect him, let it be. As the pattern requires,he'll have to go through legal trials,jail term etc. Without these hardships people of Pakistan are not satisfied. His two big sins were his association with the Chaudhris of Gujrat and his collision with the Chief Justice. He should admit these were his misjudgments and apologies to the nation. Then he starts with a clean slate. Many a great man in history have made mistakes and apologized. Musharraf needs to consider this act seriously. If he joins the People Party, he'll surely be elected to high office within a short time. He should keep his mind open about this possibility.
Pakistan must adopt the American style of democracy. Directly elect a President and let him build his own team. Parliamentary democracy is captive as the people under a sardar, a jagirdar, a wadera or a zamindar have to vote for him come what may. And who says that Zardari is not a dictator. Or an autocrat. Lets work for the country. And its people. Pakistan first.
Even though I personally like former President Musharraf, the way he went about as a ruler, I am very surprised that the majority in this blog-post want him to lead the country again.
For one, the clock can never be turned back. Both Pakistan and the world have changed since the time Mr.Musharraf relinquished his post. Besides, the entire Lal Masjid episode will cost him his life, if he re-enters Pakistan, as his immediate family members and friends have warned him.
The best he can do is give advice, and render consultant support to whoever rules Pakistan, and give the benefit of his experience.
When Musharaf speaks ,every one listens-what a great statesman.when nawaz and other leaders talk no one cares. One thing is sure -He is honest,sincere and not cheater
Pervez's performance in the beginning was not bad.The crises started when he dismissed the CJ. After that he kept on making blunders after blunders.He did everything possible to keep himself in power.Hundreds died. Those were bad days for Pakistan. If he comes back again and is elected, he will make sure that he remains in power till he passes away.Being an army General he has got a dictatorial mentality.He also likes "yes" men around him.
He is fooling the Americans with his sweet talk telling them how efficient he was.Pervez is history. Pakistan does not need him. Although the present government is not performing, it is a far better option then dictator Pervez.
Through Ages Pakistan is growing mature , but its health , wealth and Prosperity being never ensured, there is a dire need of sincere leadership, to drive emerging potential of this God gifted state. Musharif was a hope and may be a ray of light to Future. May Allah be with us all and bring peace to our homeland, Amin
Lal Masjid cannot be looked at as a blunder by General Musharraf. The government was faced with no option when its offices, police force and innocent citizens were being harassed and destroyed.
Operation was the only logical approach and offered the Mullahs every opportunity to surrender.
The author should take note of this.
Musharraf is respected by patriotic Pakistanis for keeping the integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan in tact while keeping the fundamentalism in check. Americans are smart enough to know that their current policy in Pakistan is failing and they may need Musharraf again even if they have to agree to moderate and inevitable fundamentalism and to his terms not to sell Pakistan completely. I said completely.