"Musharraf
can be Overthrown in a Week, or a Month"
By
Aijaz Mahar
ISLAMABAD:
A tall man with a long moustache, sits proudly on a wheel chair
in the premises of the Accountability Court, Rawalpindi. He is
talking to his supporters and visitors in his confident, defiant
feudal style. Seeing him and his ways, it would be hard to believe
that he has been in jail for seven consecutive years. His face
is fresh, his smile radiant. How hurt and damaged is he from within
is not evident.
But
his sense of humor has not left him. He still claims he has two
houses in Pakistan: The Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad
or any of the country’s jail. He is the longest jailed politician
of Pakistan. He is prisoner Asif Ali Zardari.
The
three year military regime of General Pervez Musharraf has done
him a world of favor. Immense good than harm. The more Musharraf
plummets to depths of immoral and unethical, politically corrupt
behavior, Zardari looks better and better. A man wronged immeasurably.
With known murderers and anti-state elements elevated to top government
positions, millions spent on purchasing loyalties of under probe
corrupt politicians, known thugs enjoying unmatched administrative
and executive power, the charges against Zardari looked trumped
up and kids stuff.
After
the death of his mother he has stopped exercising in jail. He
has become chubby and his belly is now visible. He is a bit worried
about his weight. He is not sure what his celebrity wife, Benazir
Bhutto, will have to say about his growing tummy when, and if,
she meets him any time soon, after a long four years. But Asif
is very confident he will reduce his weight, and waist, before
seeing his bold and the beautiful wife.
So
the surest indicator that he is preparing to fly off to meet his
mate would be when he heads for the gym, burning his calories.
Though
Asif himself denies any deal with the Government in the near future,
still something is in the air which makes him look optimistic.
Speculators say he may be catching the flight to Dubai as early
as 15 days to see Begum Nusrat Bhutto, his ailing mother in law
and his now grown-up kids.
It
is known about him that he is a ‘friend of friends’
and ‘enemy of the enemies’ but his jail years have
taught him a lot about life and people. He acknowledges that jail
has changed him a lot.
There
are a number of reasons this ruling couple is out from the parliamentary
political orbit at the moment but still enjoying an influence
in the power politics of the country, unmatched by any one.
Asif,
the only son of his father has three sisters. One of them, Faryal
Talpur, is the District Nazim of Nawabshah. The other, Fouzia,
was just elected Member of National Assembly on a general seat
from his home constituency. Credit however goes to jailed Asif
for managing that victory from his cell.
More
than one dozen cases were filed against him by the past three
governments, of Nawaz Sharif, Farooq Leghari, and General Pervez
Musharraf but all failed to prove any thing before the specially
created Accountability Courts to convict him.
It
turns out after long years in jail that his problem may have been
more of perceptions of corruption and the Bhutto administration,
and family, failed to change or remove those perceptions. If money
making in government was a crime committed by the Bhuttos, or
Sharifs, then Musharrafs and Choudhries are no angels. If they
can claim to rule, Zardari too can. The bottom line would then
be, who did something for the people and the country, along with
making some money.
His
years in jail also tell the story that political morality and
ethics in Pakistan is only about gaining and keeping power, no
matter by what route. General Musharraf got it by the gun and
holds it by dishing out State money. Bhutto or Sharif got it by
the votes but could not hold it in the face of the gun.
I
interviewed Asif during his appearance in the Accountability Court
in Rawalpindi on 16th January 2003 while he was presented before
the court to face the trial in BMW car-case, which looked like
jailing a boy for playing with toys. The Court was never told,
neither did the Judge ask, about the 300 duty-free Mercedes Benz
imported by the Musharraf Government. It all seemed so blatant
and politically motivated.
Asif
declined to be taped because he thought if his voice was played
by any radio or put on any Web site, the agencies may stop him
meeting journalists. So I took extensive notes for this interview
for the South Asia Tribune: Here are
the questions and his answers:
SAT:
How do you view the current political situation especially after
revival of “true democracy” in the country as claimed
by General Musharraf?
AAZ:
Musharraf ‘s true face has been exposed before the people
of Pakistan and the world. This is what he calls genuine and true
democracy. This is what he wanted for the country. The General
has used all state apparatus for manipulation of elections but
he could not able to form stable governments and finally he had
to suspend the law of defection to open the doors of State Treasury
and spend millions to buy MNAs under the shameful slogan of “Conscience
(Zamir) Vote”. We are happy that the true face of Musharraf
has been unveiled before the world while he sets new trends and
precedents in horse-trading and ‘Lotaism’ in the country.
Twenty-one MNAs of PPPP were compelled to change their loyalties
and support the Jamali government.
SAT:
There is an impression that PPP has suffered setbacks because
of lack of policy and direction, as Benazir Bhutto is in self
exile and you are not taking interest, do you agree?
AAZ:
I do not agree with that perception that there was lack of policy
and direction because western interest of the establishment have
architect on the absence of Benazir Bhutto who is the only genuine
democratic leader in Pakistan. I admit that due to her absence
from the country the PPP has suffered in October elections but
even then PPP has taken more votes than any party of the country.
It is pertinent to note that military regime had not left any
stone unturned to manipulate the elections at each and every stage
and even in such a situation people of Pakistan trusted the PPP.
Government machinery was used to strengthen the position of the
regime and that affected the performance of the party and other
democratic forces. Because of my incarceration and solitary confinement
for the last seven consecutive years I could not be effective
to help and handle the party affairs. There is no question of
lack of interest on my part.
SAT:
How long do you think the Jamali/Musharraf regime will last?
AAZ:
I am not an astrologer to predict how long his government will
last but as a political person I see it going. Jamali government
is a banana government and a test tube baby of the establishment,
or Musharraf. Dictator Musharraf’s government is lasting
because of the situation created after 9/11 and therefore his
exit depends on what the world thinks, specially about democracy.
I cannot give a time period but it could even be tomorrow. It
is crystal clear that this government shall not complete its term.
SAT:
Is it your desire, what is the basis of your prediction rather
than assumption?
AAZ:
Not at all it is not my desire and things did not go as per my
desire but as a political worker I can say that because there
are no roots of the government Jamali cannot survive for long.
He became Prime Minister because of our MNAs who became Lotas.
SAT:
Would you like to support Jamali government in future?
AAZ:
It depends on the Jamali government. If they want to legitimize
themselves they have to come closer to the democratic forces and
move out of the arms of dictator Musharraf.
SAT:
What will be your role in politics, once you are out?
AAZ:
My role in politics will be determined by the need of the hour.
If the Party thinks that there is any useful role for me I will
play it at any cost, otherwise I will go in the background.
SAT:
How do you see your role now?
AAZ:
I am playing a very useful role for the party. After staying in
jail since last seven years I have proved that I am suffering
because of the attitude of the establishment towards politicians.
I am not suffering only for the party or myself but for the survival
of the system and for democratic forces.
SAT:
PPPP Lotas say they are trying to bring Benazir Bhutto back to
Pakistan with Honor, Do you know how and will BB agree to deal
with them?
AAZ:
(A huge laugh) If you remember when Maulana Kausar Niazi (God
bless his soul) left the PPP he gave the same excuse and slogan
that he will save the life of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. It is the old
gimmick of the intelligence agencies repeated by NAB ‘zadas’
(Victims of NAB). Lotas cannot play any role in that
connection. Benazir Bhutto is staying abroad as a political strategy
to be able to operate among the democratic forces in the world
otherwise she has seen prisons of Pakistan a number of times.
To the extent she was brought from one jail to the other for the
last meeting with her father who was judicially murdered one day
later. She has seen and suffered incarcerations.
SAT:
What do you say to the dirty tactics used by Musharraf to manufacture
his own governments?
AAZ:
These tactics are not new; every dictator has used the same formula
of coercive and Machiavellian tactics. We were expecting such
an attitude on the day he enforced laws on day-by-day basis just
to keep BB and me away from the elections. All three dictators
who ruled Pakistan adopted the same dirty tactics.
SAT:
Has Musharraf not helped MMA and religious extremism to grow by
leaps and bounds?
AAZ:
Dictator Musharraf has not only helped unnamed architects of the
success of these fundamentalist and religious extremist forces,
Mutahida Majlis Amal (MMA) is the artificial political force created
by the establishment to counter the real democratic forces. And
they will break it (the MMA) themselves when it becomes a threat
to them. These forces are always acceptable to dictators not democrats.
SAT:
What will be Musharraf's ultimate fate, in your view?
AAZ:
God knows, He will decide the fate of Musharraf (laughs). I am
sure that he will not win the battle between the Establishment
and the democratic forces and very soon you will see the drop
scene.
SAT:
PPP was the party to get the largest number of votes. Do you think
after the manipulation by Musharraf the present Assembly does
not represent the true picture of democracy?
AAZ:
I agree that the present democracy is false and a fake image of
the democracy. PPP won the largest votes in spite of the pre poll
and after poll rigging. Even the Establishment forces failed to
stop PPP. We would have formed the government if blatant horse-trading
had not been resorted to by the regime while suspending the law
of defection.
SAT:
Do you support fresh elections under a new interim government?
AAZ:
Yes it is a demand of all political forces that free and fair
election should be held under an interim civilian government.
SAT:
It is a hypothetical question but what will happen if Musharraf
is overthrown and a new General takes over?
AAZ:
It depends on how and when Musharraf will be overthrown. It also
depends on the civil society at large as to how they react. Who
will be the coming General is also to be noted.
SAT:
Do you think that such a situation can arise in near future?
AAZ:
Yes, It can arise in a week or a month, who knows.
SAT:
Is it your desire or your assumption, and if so what is the basis
of your assumption?
AAZ:
It is the unwritten law (of nature) that history which has to
repeat itself. No dictator wants to go as per his own will even
if he knows that he cannot remain for ever. Always he is booted
out in a new situation. This regime is weakening and I see the
same situation, which can take a turn at any time. Musharraf regime
has weakened the real democratic forces of the country and strengthened
the rightist and fundamentalist forces and they have to suffer
on that account.
SAT:
When will it happen?
AAZ:
It depends on the USA and the war on Iraq.
SAT:
Do you think that our nuclear assets are in danger?
AAZ:
If at all, it is in danger because of the policies of the dictator
who is responsible for drawing unnecessary attention of the world
to our deterrent.
SAT:
Can you bring all the political forces together against Army's
interference in politics?
AAZ:
Yes we will bring together all the political forces whenever BB
returns to Pakistan and I am sure that all the forces will come
together against the army, against its interference in politics.
It is not the job of army to rule. They are servants of the nation
and they have to serve the nation to defend the borders. Politicians
created this country through a peaceful struggle. Pakistan was
created through a war by the army.
SAT:
Do you have any idea of a BB-Nawaz Meeting in London soon?
AAZ:
I have no idea of any such meeting but such a meeting is probable
if both leaders reach London.
SAT:
Are you flying out to Dubai?
AAZ:
No! I was given such offers several times but I have refused all
the times. But definitely I want to visit my children whenever
time allows.
SAT:
Any possibility in couple of weeks?
AAZ:
(Laughing) Not in the near future.
SAT:
Is a political government led by Jamali better than the army rule,
if not what is PPP doing about it?
AAZ:
Jamali government is still to become a government as senate elections
have not taken place and parliament is not complete and needs
time for completion. Army can also use civilian faces for its
nefarious designs and we have apprehensions of that. PPP is following
the ‘wait and see’ policy because at the moment world
political situation is not in favor of confrontationist policies.
SAT:
Recently your son Bilawal and daughter Bakhtawar met you in Karachi
and Islamabad respectively, do you think that it was a big favor
of the government to you?
AAZ:
It was not a favor of the government but I got permission from
the court to meet my family twice a week and due to security reasons
I did not ask them to meet me before. Now I feel appropriate to
call them to see me.
