Democracy must be 'customised' for Pakistani climate and realities.

[A.Rafay]

I blame Pakistanis to vote for Nawaz And Zardari Over and Over again.

Musharaf allowed them favorable atmosphere to come and grab the corrupt political setup and take turns. He dismissed corruption cases against them and didn't bought the real change that he wanted to.

 

[A.Rafay]

Yes, he is saying the same from day one he usurped the power. However, what did he do to change that or to tailor as per Pakistani climate and realities? He remained unchallenged for quite some time but did he utilize that time to make improvements? What he said or saying is nothing new, a majority of us already know about that but what did he do to change that? Nothing, instead awarded a clean chit to the criminal to come back to Pakistan and do what they have been doing all their life. I don't know if Musharraf deserves to be called a statesman for he was everything but a statesman.

This is what I am saying.

 

[Kompromat]

Musharaf got owned by the hardtalk anchor. Musharaf resorted to lying and denying simple facts. Sorry time for Musharaf is over. Grow up.

Stephen Sackur does a good job. Musharraf is certainly not without his faults, no politician is.

 

[Cheetah786]

Musharaf allowed them favorable atmosphere to come and grab the corrupt political setup and take turns. He dismissed corruption cases against them and didn't bought the real change that he wanted to.

Fair enough, but my way of looking at is because of him Zardari and PPP party as it stands is toast. Nawaz will be judged after his term and we all know he got nothing to show for.

 

[Kambojaric]

Pakistani people need true western democracy.

How can you customize democracy? If this is not customized democracy then what is?

"True" Western Democracy will never work in Pakistan today. Do you honestly think we can have complete freedom of expression regarding say religion in our country? A blasphemous cartoon published in the West resulted in people dying in Pakistan from violent protests. I highly doubt our society is ready to accept some of the core principles hence of Western Liberal Democracy.

Democracy in itself is a fluid term and simply means the "peoples will" (Demos Kratos from Greek). In theory thus any political system that has the support of the people is democratic even if it means an autocrat is in power in this system. In the context of Pakistan some of the core principles of Western Liberal Democracy such as freedom of expression and freedom of religion run against the traditional/religious belief's of our masses. To expect this form of democracy to exist let alone thrive in Pakistan is hence nonsensical. Ultimately some kind of hybrid between Islam and Western Liberal Democracy has to be found and implemented upon. I personally feel we have created this hybrid. The problem is simply the implementation.

 

[Norwegian]

To expect this form of democracy to exist let alone thrive in Pakistan is hence nonsensical. Ultimately some kind of hybrid between Islam and Western Liberal Democracy has to be found and implemented upon. I personally feel we have created this hybrid. The problem is simply the implementation.

Only hybrid system in existence is Islamic Republic of Iran. Ask any Iranian in exile how well its working for ordinary Iranians

 

[Kambojaric]

Only hybrid system in existence is Islamic Republic of Iran. Ask any Iranian in exile how well its working for ordinary Iranians

The Iranian diaspora is largely made up of Shah supporters who fled into exile post Islamic Revolution, so I would take their opinions with a pinch of salt. Is Iran the direction that we should follow? I personally would say no way since I am an adherent of the belief that there should be a separation of religion from politics(to the greatest extent possible in the context of Pakistan) but I would also be a fool to say that the average joe on the streets in Karachi or Peshawar thinks my way. Pakistanis based on my observation want a greater role of Islam in their daily lives (which explains the positive ratings countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly gotten from Pakistanis in Pew Research Polls). To develop a sustainable form of democracy hence the "peoples will" needs to be taken into account.

 

[Khalid Newazi]

Pakistan must be run with its people in its mind and thus the rules and regulations should be adjusted. Not how a foreigner wants it to run.

 

[Norwegian]

The Iranian diaspora is largely made up of Shah supporters who fled into exile post Islamic Revolution, so I would take their opinions with a pinch of salt. Is Iran the direction that we should follow? I personally would say no way since I am an adherent of the belief that there should be a separation of religion from politics(to the greatest extent possible in the context of Pakistan) but I would also be a fool to say that the average joe on the streets in Karachi or Peshawar thinks my way. Pakistanis based on my observation want a greater role of Islam in their daily lives (which explains the positive ratings countries like Iran and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly gotten from Pakistanis in Pew Research Polls). To develop a sustainable form of democracy hence the "peoples will" needs to be taken into account.

Peoples "will" is good health, good education, good work opportunities. All the rest of Islam talk is just talk. We collectively chase wrong ideals and values instead of what is necessary to sustain a worthy life. Tell me, what would a starving, illiterate, jobless person do in a Shariah based Islamic State? According to Islam, any such place would automatically become heaven on earth since it would be based solely on Islamic teachings. Yet Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan and Islamic State is full of such people. Islam becomes secondary when people living in these countries feel no more than hell holes. I have seen widespread poverty in all Islamic states. No such thing exist here in western democratic states of scandinavia. Again, you can achieve prosperity to its maximum without following sharia or Islamic teachings of any kind!

 

[IceCold]

General(r) Ashfaq Pervez Kiyani, the actual munafiq and backstabber was. He played the same role which was performed by General(r) Mirza Aslam Beg in case of Zia.

Why do you think that DG-ISI was specifically asked by BB to be present in N.R.O negotiations? She knew that he was going to be next COAS. Why was he the only one who didn't submit an affidavit against Iftikhar Chuadhry? I am sure that he also had some involvement in instigating Lal Masjid case.

Mush had done its own wrongs. The biggest one was Kiyani who played in the hands of international establishment to remove Mush. For protecting NRO-1, he got 2 terms of COAS. For NRO-2 known as May 2013 elections, he was expecting to get another term or some other post but he was of no more use or maybe property business was already booming under the umbrella of Malik Riaz and Zardari.

Yes i am aware of Gen Kayani's role in reconciliation between Benazir and Musharraf. He was the key person who facilitated this, yet the ultimate decision was of Musharraf and so the larger portion of the blame lies on him. He is the reason we have people like Zardari and Nawaz.