Atilla Iftikhar (Islamabad, Pakistan), 24 August 2006

on The Janus Head of of the Musharraf Regime, by Thomas Bärthlein

I largely agree with Boris Wilke, but please allow me to elaborate on following issues:

1) The "Islamists" are not only some remnant pro-Talibans in the tribal areas or even only to the religious MMA alliance. The "Islamists" are also fully a part of the Pakistani Armed Forces officers corp, other political parties in the Parliament and even Overseas Pakistanis. In particular, I would like to emphasise that the Pak Armed Forces currently chaired by General Ehsan-ul-Haq (Musharraf is the Army Chief) was largely "Islamified" under the former rule of General Zia-ul-Haq during the 1980s. This "Islamification" of the Armed Forces was mostly supported by Western powers because of the situation in Afghanistan. Today, when we speak of the "Islamists" kindly do not confine this "title" to some few remnants in the tribal areas or even the religious MMA alliance.

2) The educational system in Pakistan is very inadequate and the madrassas or religious schools offers an opportunity for poorer segements of the Pakistani population. While it is true that madrassas must fulfill a basic education curriculum which offers a diverse education for children (this is being done by the government), it is not feasible for the government at this stage to close down all these educational opportunities and not offer some alternative schooling free of significant charges.

3) Most of the international attention is devoted to the "Islamists" or "pro-Taliban" sympathisers in Pakistan, not the current ills of the ruling pro-feudal powers under General Musharraf. Fact is that both Benazir Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P) and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Qaed-e-Azam (PML-Q) consists of some highly corrupt and inept leaders only interested in their own business or power interests. The ruling PML-Q leadership is seen as highly associated with the criminal Mafia-type groups originating in their own rural places of origins in the province of Panjab and the PPP-P leader Benazir Bhutto (with Husband) has embettled millions of dollars to Swiss bank accounts (recent development and verdicts in the Swiss bank scandal case goes against the Bhuttos). In this context, the MMA is seen more accountable and interested in good governance. Combined with the foreign policy dimension and the corrupt practices of the main two political parties (PML-Q, PPPP) it is understandable why even educated and urbanised Pakistanis will vote for the MMA in the next elections.

With the crumbling situation in Afghanistan where corruption in the Karzai administration, money extortion and abuses of Afghan civilians by warlords, military excesses by the US/coalition forces, booming drugs trading and street crime have turned most of Afghans belonging to all ethnicities (in particular the Pashtuns) against the Kabul/US-Coalition/warlords alliance. In this context, most Pakistanis are likely to support the Pakistani "Islamists" in continuing efforts against the US agenda in this region - inside or outside the Armed Forces and the government.