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The Viewer's Forum is a platform
where you can share your views with others on any particular
current issue.
Would the seven-point agenda presented by General Pervez Musharraf
pave the way for true democracy in the future?
(Please be precise and avoid diverting from the
question)
Note
The views in this forum
are from the contributors' perspectives.
The Editor does not necessarily subscribe to the views.
Your
Opinion
- It is a great calamity that
our country cannot get sincere leaders. The question here
is: who brings them to the centre stage? A populace
without any education will always choose hooligans and
bandits. In my view adult franchise should be abolished.
A middle-pass should vote for local bodies, a matriculate
for provincial assemblies and at least an inter-pass for
national assembly. Similarly the assembly members should
have the same qualification or higher as his or her
voters. Secondly I think Pakistan should continue with
the parliamentary set up. As far as the house of Sharifs
is concerned, I think it is a goodbye to them from our
hearts as well as Pakistan politics. A soldier never
forgets or forgives. Remember ZAB and MQM.
Talha Siddiqui
Canada
- I think a debate as to what
exactly are the conditions that a good vibrant democracy
flowers in is needed. To my mind, the following are the
absolute essentials for a good democracy to function,
most of which are absent in India and Pakistan. If the
General really attacks these problems, and gives a time
bound plan for their solutions, then there is some cause
to take him seriously.
1) Universal Primary education (100% literacy for men and
women)
2) Emancipation of women and other oppressed sections
3) Land Reforms to take power out of clutches of
zamindars
4) Rule of land
5) Foster institutions free from political interference
6) A free and vibrant press
7) Effective news media
If the General delivers on all these, he has my support.
Else, let democracy do these things, albeit slowly.
Vinay
USA/Indian
- Seven-point agenda is a
joke. When you violate the Constitution, the principal
body, the aspiration of the people, any number of points
of agenda is futile. General Musharaf has violated the
constitution he took oath to protect. This does not mean
that any person who did commit any sort of crime should
not be brought to justice, regardless who it might be.
But the due process of law must be observed. The world is
entering a new era and we Pakistanis are still struggling
about what form of the Government or how many point
agenda should we make? How could a seven-point agenda of
a lawbreaker be implemented? Most of his cabinet members
are the same old part of every establishment. It is the
people of Pakistan and their chosen elected people,
member of assemblies, who have the right to choose the
course, its leaders, keep them or remove them.
Muhammad Abu Saira
USA
- Historically, the Pakistani
armed forces have saved the country. They help bring
democracy but the leaders do not accept the results.
Yahaya Khan conducted the election but Bhutto rejected
the results. Most of the present day Pakistani political
leaders lack the minimum requirements to run the country.
There should be a minimum qualification (like BA or MA
degree) for politicians to become prime minister-
probably all of them will be disqualified. Another issue
is that most of the Pakistani leaders focus more on their
personal issues than on the needs of the country. By the
way, democracy is a kind of government selected by people
whereas Islam was selected by God.
Kamran
USA
- No. It will not. Reasons:
a) The present military government is illegal and
unconstitutional.
b) The military government has almost no support from
other countries.
c) The partial support this government enjoys at present
from Pakistanis is temporary. After only a few months the
mood of Pakistanis will change and they will again look
desperate for a return to democracy.
d) Time will prove that the general is as wrong for his
military take-over and his actions taken after that, as
he was when he planned for the Kargil misadventure.
c) It is very unfortunate for Pakistan to have this
present situation. How can the army bring about
"true" democracy?
d) What if the SC declares the present government
unlawful? Would General Musharraf accept the court's
decision?
e) Would this government allow Nawaz Sharif to tell the
court his reasons for firing General Musharaf?
f) General Musharraf has given a long list of
wrong-doings of the Nawaz government due to which the
military government had to take over. At the same time he
keeps telling his action as a counter coup. If the
General was sincere with the nation, why did he not take
over earlier? Why did he wait until Nawaz Sharif fired
him? The above reasons may seem to be irrelevant to the
topic of the forum. But the purpose to mention them is to
establish the fact that the general and his government
have no basis even to present any points agenda. I would
pray for the quick return of the democratic government in
Pakistan. General Musharaf deserves a court-marshal for
being responsible for the present mess.
Our future democratic government should work out a
possible constitutional amendment to define any military
take over as a crime so sinful that any person who
supports or offers his support should also be punishable.
However, on the other hand, there should also be a way to
dismiss a corrupt or unpopular government, rather than
wait till the following elections. It is possible to come
up with such a procedure; perhaps through courts, may be
by forming a special institute that could process the
removal of a government. The idea is not to leave any
excuses for any military take-over.
Rania Shouky
Egypt/Pakistani
- All the corrupt politicians
should be given harsh punishments. Work honestly to make
Pakistan strong on all fronts. Educate the general
public. Create awareness to serve Pakistan honestly among
the general public. Political parties/democratic system
is not for Pakistan at least now.
Tariq Mahmud
USA
- In Pakistan, we have not
seen any democracy; it has been hypocrisy. General
Musharaf's seven points should be named "7-up"
and the Agriculture tax is missing. YES IF PROPERLY
IMPLEMENTED.
Baqar
Pakistan
- Pakistan is a really
special case, in that it has experimented with both
civilian and military rule and in both cases the
experiment has failed disastrously. For example, right
now most Pakistanis have welcomed Gen. Musharraf's coup,
just as previous coups (by Field Marshal Ayub Khan and
Gen. Zia-ul-Haq) were also welcomed, and proclaimed
themselves thoroughly disenchanted with
"democratic" rule. But then, the same people
also welcomed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as their saviour, and
after Gen. Zia's death, voted Benazir to power. And it
was the populace that now rejoices at Nawaz Sharif's
ouster that created the "heavy mandate" in the
first place. But how long this honeymoon will last is
anybody's guess. At the end of the day the fact is that
Gen. Musharraf's coup was an act of treason against an
elected government, and his rule has no constitutional
legitimacy. Any future popular government would be free
to reverse any measures taken by him. Therefore, Gen.
Musharraf ought to hold a referendum, asking for a
popular endorsement of his continuing as the Chief
Executive and for a continued suspension of the
Constitution. This would provide atleast some kind of
"popular" approval and legitimacy for his rule.
Putting their faith in the old Greek dictum that
"... the best government is that of the perfectly
just tyrant," the people of Pakistan can only hope
that Gen. Musharraf turns out to be such a man.
J. Jagan Mohan
India
- Pervez Musharraf is going
to be another Zia. The joke of a democracy is what
Pakistan is for the whole world. No country is going to
help Pakistan because they believe in Pakistan. They will
help Pakistan because they do not believe in Pakistan and
deem it to be an unstable country. Pakistan should
extricate itself from Afghanistan. It should give up the
dream of breaking away Kashmir from India. Pakistan
should make a foolproof constitution based on the
constitution in India and follow it. There is no shame in
borrowing ideas from a neighbour who has been following
democracy and all its norms for the last 52 years. Try
and shun religious stupidity and open your eyes to the
reality. No bravado or positive thinking is going to ever
give a victory to Pakistan over India. Even if Pakistan
uses the nuclear option, it is forever going to go down
in history as a rogue nation. Save Pakistan, remove
Musharraf, he is the one who has brought this situation
on Pakistan. He did the Kargil fiasco or at least pushed
Nawaz into it. Nawaz is no less corrupt, but at least
there was some democracy before, what do we have now?
Kutub Gulmargi
Dubai
- Seven points or ten points
do not make any difference as long as we have rampant
corruption in every segment of our society. We as a
nation have to change. We just cannot lay the blame of
all our woes on a few people. We need the spirit of 1947.
And we have to ask what we can do for our country not
what our country can do for us.
Asad ullah Khan
USA
- In my opinion democracy is
usually the way to go BUT there are always a few
exceptional cases. Unfortunately, Pakistan is one of
them. We have seen the effects of democracy in the past
10 years. The declining situation in Karachi, the
corruption in government and the almost complete wipe-out
of religious values to name just a few. I think until
honesty and integrity of Pakistani people are restored,
there is no law but the Martial Law. General Pervez's
seven-point agenda is a great first step towards
rehabilitation for Pakistan. If the army sticks to it and
pulls it off, perhaps we will be able to go back to
democracy.
Hafsa Hasan
Canada
- NEVER. The general seems to
have forgotten that means are as important- if not more-
than the goals. By his own actions he has made the
achievement of his goals impossible. How does he expect
to bring true democracy when his very first act was
non-democratic as well as illegal? People learn not just
from what you say but also from your actions. I think
that the illegal overthrow of an elected government sends
the message to the people of Pakistan that it is OK to
use bad means as long as your goals are good. Isn't that
what the Bhuttos and Sharifs of the world were also
saying through their actions- their goal of
self-enrichment was achieved by robbing the poor people
of Pakistan?
Ahmad
USA
- The seven-point formula
presented by Mr. Pervez Musharaf is a good talk. He may
even have good intentions. The formulae don't make
democracy, freely elected leaders BY THE PEOPLE and not
by the generals make democracy. Mr. Pervez may be honest
he may be many things but a believer in democracy he is
not. If he is interested in democracy how about resigning
from the military and then standing in front of the
citizens with his seven-point formula or any other
formula he deems appropriate, and winning an election?
Newspaper articles by a few journalists or the absence of
strong disapproval by the citizens do not make democracy.
We are not donkeys who need a military danda to behave
and to elect our leaders. May Allah grant us some
self-esteem to stand by ourselves not with the help of
America and with the fear of Danda.
Mohamad
USA
- The General's seven-point
agenda will inshaallah allow future governments not to
ABUSE the country and its people. I have been feeling a
lot of pain for my country since 1970 till today. I
understand that in Pakistani politics none of the
politicians is sincere with the country. A few points
were missing in the agenda, and they are elimination of
the feudal system and limiting land-ownership to a max of
500. Pakistani nation doesn’t know about Liaquat Ali
's murder, General Ayub's retirement from the Army,
Sheikh Mujeeb's incident.
Bengali treated as second class citizen, Bhutto hanged,
World powerful General Zia's plane crash, twice Benazir
& Nawaz Sharif government overthrown, Karachi's
paramilitary Mohajir- crush Operation. The nation wants
answers for all the above incidents. Only two-party
system can survive in this country, because each
politician wants his or her way. 100% merit in each
category of life is the only medicine for this
unconstitutional virus. Otherwise Military's crackdown
will be the survival of this nation's future. General
Musharaf’s 7-point agenda will inshaallah allow the
country to be governed by a true democratic reform. He
will give Pakistan a real, workable democracy and will
prove to be the Ata Turk of Pakistan. May God bless him
for saving Pakistan.
Tariq Siddiqui
Chicago, USA
- Yes, it will; but they have
to be fast and honest. Accountability should be for
everybody like civil servants, politicians, army officers
(retired & present), close relatives of these.
Anybody should have the right to frame fact-based
charges. There should be severe punishment for corrupt
people, say three-year imprisonment for defaulting on one
hundred thousand rupees, and death sentence for
defaulting on more than ten crore.
Dr. Ahmad Babar
USA
- His agenda is very good if
it is implemented sincerely. He should also make the
following constitutional change.
1. Any leader (PM or minister) should declare his
property list and bank account to the supreme court
judges and give written permission to the court to audit
any of his property/account any where in the world. If a
panel finds him/her involved in any corruption then
he/she should be blacklisted and his/her property
confiscated. And there should be at least 2 years of jail
depending on his misconduct.
Waqar Qureshi
US
- Army has ruled Pakistan for
more than half of its age. Where will the accountability
start? Among the plunderers of nation's wealth are the
men in uniform as well. Who will bell that cat? The
current regime! The other thing is that many of the
defaulters are well connected with the sources of power
in Pakistan, that is the bureaucracy, feudal lords and
the forces. I believe that we as a nation should focus on
the future. Devise a system that can prevent such looting
in future. How could a nation with its entire ‘retro
focus’ advance?
Mufti Muhammad Ahmed
Canada
- Certainly it will but
depend on its implementation. First of all ruthless
accountability for looted money, misuse of power and
nepotism, is a must, of both politicians and bureaucrats.
God has given a golden opportunity to General Pervaiz to
make a name in the history and become a national hero; we
all pray for his success in the agenda, which he has
given.
Mohammad
Canada
- I hope the seven-point
agenda will help the country move in the right direction
towards democracy. The first thing is strength. We need a
strong Pakistan and then a strong democratically-elected
leader; the leader should be a strong one.
Ali A. Farooqi
USA
- With all the financial
problems, may be for a short period of time.
Hafeez
USA
- No. Not that there is
anything wrong in the agenda, but the fact that General
Musharraf will not be able to implement his agenda. For
instance, a thorough, ruthless and impartial
accountability is impossible in a country where military
Generals are as corrupt as the politicians. On God’s
earth, how is it possible that children of Pakistani
Generals study in the US, do not do menial jobs as we
ordinary students do while we are studying, and (they
are) still able to maintain a lifestyle of royalty:
numbers don't add up. They sure have loot money from
somewhere, otherwise a General’s income would not
support a person with $3000-$4000 monthly expense. Would
it? All said and done, the Sharifs, Bhuttos, Zardaris,
Judges, military generals have looted and plundered
Pakistan equally, the only difference might be by a
margin of couple of hundred million dollars! If democracy
means ritualistic voting after every 4-5 years, we might
be able to achieve that maybe after 2-3 years, but to
attain real, lasting, and enduring democratic set up, a
firing squad is the ultimate solution.
Shareef
USA
- Only if it is implemented
in its true spirit. A quicker action is required to
collect back the looted money. The present civil/banking
courts have to be replaced to achieve the goals.
Shaukat Javed
UAE
- I think it will, if it is
implemented properly. Another important question is
whether the present regime can get rid of these corrupt
politicians. May God save our country from all the evils.
Zahid
Kuwait
- The seven-point agenda can
lead us to an infrastructure of a democratic govt. to
implement the development plans only, but the policies
will have to be made by those purely professional in
their fields. So a Democracy can be run under a check on
military and policy support of a technocracy.
Shiraz
Pakistan
- I think that the army of
Pakistan has taken the right step by taking control of
the Nawaz regime. I think that Nawaz Sharif and Benazir
Bhutto should be suspended for the next elections. I hope
that the Islamic rule is brought in and General Pervez
Musharraf should remain in control for a few months and
then create his own civilian government exclusive of any
member of the PPP or PML. Yes, it will pave the way for
democracy in the future.
Maqsood ul Hassan Hashmi
United Kingdom
- I don't see the urgent need
of democracy in Pakistan, rather we need to bring peace,
stability & economic uplift of the majority by
transforming Pakistan in a true Islamic country. It is
not necessary for ordinary people to have democracy, for
them important is to have a sincere & honest
government. True democracy in Pakistan is not possible
unless the country is 100 % free of feudalism, unless
public servants are accountable to a scrupulously honest
judiciary and unless we have a reasonable percentage of
educated people (excluding those who can just write their
names). To be honest, I don't expect these things
happening overnight, but like me, I think all patriotic
Pakistanis have good hopes with present regime, but those
who think Gen Musharraf can bring true democracy in less
than 2 years, are not realistic. Let him start the
rebuilding process, inshallah he and our nation will be
successful.
Salman Zafar
Indonesia
- Keeping the requirements of
a stable and accountable political system in Pakistan, I
have the following suggestions for future governance of
the country:
The President should be directly elected by the people.
The current system of electing MPAs and MNAs should be
abolished. The elections should be held at local council
levels. The elected members should in turn elect the
representatives for higher legislative bodies from local
councils. This will ensure that the people actually know
whom they voted for and system of accountability will run
deep into the political system. It can happen that the
current MNAs and MPAs might not be in a position to win a
local council seat. Do they then really deserve a seat in
upper houses of parliament? The direct election of
president and also of local council will ensure a stable
system of governance. This system will ensure that even
the feudal have to climb down the ladder to establish
closer contact with masses.
We might need to abolish the constitution (which has
already suffered a number of amendments) and hold a
referendum for major political reforms in the country.
Casting a vote should become compulsory for all
Pakistanis between the age of 18 and 60.
Shahid Masud
UK
- Yes, if the same leaders
don't come into power again.
Dr. Hafeez Ur Rehman Jan
Australia
- Yes, provided the New
Leadership abolishes feudalism from Pakistan and sorts
out the political mess by taking the following steps:
1) Implement land-reform by nationalising the land,
stripping the feudal of power and limiting them to
compete with the common Pakistanis.
2) Maintain law and order by giving justice to all,
including women and minorities.
3) Recover looted national wealth from the corrupt people
inside or outside Pakistan and bring it back to the
country, set an example.
4) Recruit educated, selfless, middle-class new
generation in the current political parties.
Mohammad Munir
Canada
- I fully support the
seven-point agenda of General Musharaf. I hope that
General Pervez would be able to provide us the leadership
to enter the 21st century with our heads high on being a
Pakistani. I salute the army and General Musharaf for
taking power and for an excellent policy speech
especially mentioning the true Islamic spirit of peace
and tolerance. Many of us would love to return to
Pakistan with our wealth, skills and knowledge if General
Musharaf is able to remove corruption from the society.
As always, the overseas Pakistanis are ready to play
their role (although we have been really disappointed in
the past after supporting the country whenever it asked
for help). We are ready to do so once more with the hope
that inshAllah this time the change is for real.
Adil
USA
- If General Pervez Musharaf
is right and he is leading the country, and is taking
strict action against defaulters, and not extending the
deadline, then his seven-point agenda will work.
Shahdzi
Canada
- I think the seven-point
agenda presented by General Pervez Musharaf is very good.
The one provided by PPP and PML was also very nice. The
question is when are we going to follow any of them. We
need to learn from our history. Otherwise it will keep on
repeating itself. This means that we will have democracy
and after that martial law and so on and so forth like we
had had in previous years.
Usman Bajwa
Pakistan (USA)
- Although laudable, the
General's agenda cannot pave the way by rhetoric alone.
Democracy is predicated on authority vested in elected
institutions of the state, namely parliament, legislature
and a representative political body. Without reform of
these decayed institutions in Pakistan, the objective of
achieving a democractic society in Pakistan will continue
to remain unrealistic. This is the single greatest
challenge facing Pakistan today and nowhere in the
General's agenda is there a definitive or structured
framework for approaching the problem. At this juncture,
it appears that Pakistanis are still fixated with
individuals rather than structural issues that lie at the
heart of the problem. Until there is a clear and concise
realisation of the extent and depth of our institutional
dilemmas, no one, not even the army, the polity, and not
even the technocrats can pave the way for a democratic
state and society.
Nausheen Hafeeza Anwar
United Kingdom
- Yes, but only if the people
of Pakistan stand firm against the crushing tide of
western economic and political pressure. The west is
determined to subjugate Pakistan to Indian hegemony. The
rationale being that Pakistan as a Muslim state poses a
serious threat to western security (read Israeli
security). May Allah help Pakistan persevere and overcome
these difficulties against the anti-Islamic forces of the
west.
Mohammed Amana
Canada/Sudanese
- I am not sure. But whatever
Gen. Musharaf is going to do will be watched very closely
by all. Besides, he or the Army cannot possibly stoop to
the level of previous rulers; so this change and its
aftermath is most probably better for Pakistan. However,
we should not ignore the importance of a political
process in our society. Politicians may be corrupt, but
ultimately they should be involved in national
decision-making. So, please, quit saying clichés
ridiculing the entire political process. We needed a
major surgery and the Army was forced to do the job.
Watch them closely. Don't let the ex-rulers fool us
anymore. And believe in a good future, for being
pessimists does not help at all.
Irfan Tak
USA
- In my views the seven-point
is okay. Mostly we know our problems and their treatments
but we lack initiative to improve ourselves. The
"black sheep" are responsible for this. We need
perfect cleansing of the system. Those who were corrupt
should be punished and the money looted brought back. The
armed people must disarm. It is very important for local
peace. Reform and modernise the "Mosque System"
of Islam to preach peace. Imam must be educated with
modern and Islamic studies. This system is used by the
Turkish government in Germany for their citizens also.
Naseer Ahmed
Germany
- 100% it will not.
Reeturaj Baruah
USA
- I am sceptical if anything
will work in Pakistan. Pakistan is in the middle of
nowhere. PML and PPP both are crooks. Let us see what is
there in the waiting.
Amie Butt
USA
- Yes, provided that General
Pervez do first things first, that is: bring all corrupt
politicians to Pakistan, use all means which were and are
used on common thieves'. Squeeze out the money from them
and throw them in jail for life. In doing so, if General
Sahib uses his power in a discriminatory fashion, he
should get ready to be next in line.
Ghulam Sarwar
USA
- No. Unless he removes the
corrupt judiciary and the judges who had been watching
his interest and dismissed each other to provide strength
to the defunct Prime Minister. The Presidents in the
banks who were appointed by him for his specific interest
are still functioning. General Pervaiz Musharraf would
not be able to do anything in the long run unless an
operation Clean-up is carried out to remove the corrupt,
otherwise corruption will prevail and nothing good can be
expected in the future.
Kainat Syeda
USA
- The nation and the world
body are waiting for the day of judgement. The day team
of General Pervez Musharraf will be announced. The team
members along with announced seven-point agenda will tell
whether we are now on the route or not. Let me say that
the previous martial law rulers from the army were also
sincere. But they failed in achieving the goals because
they remained in their own inner circle. They could not
try to come out of their inner circle and search for
right talents from the masses. They trusted and had
confidence in their friends or friend's friends.
General Pervez Musharraf should find the right talents
from the masses to have their participation. We also
should not forget that there are several reasons for not
having stable political system in the country, two of
which are illiteracy and feudal lords. General Musharraf
has to help the nation to get rid of the large
professional political and religious parties. It is so
surprising that anyone can stand up and form his or her
party with out meeting any requirement. It is very
important to build confidence and trust among people
living in all the four provinces. Our good wishes are
with General Pervez Musharraf as the nation does not have
any alternative.
Ashraf Siddiqui
Abu Dhabi
- No. Unless the corrupt
judiciary that ran many Supreme Courts at a time and
dismissed each other like many "gundas" against
one at a time. They also encouraged the MNAs and MPAs to
attack the Supreme Court. The judiciary alone, if mended,
can result into removal of many evils, like injustice,
unrest, misuse of powers and above all the corruption.
Kausar
USA
- I agree with the
seven-point agenda. My advice to the General is
‘Keep a good eye while
accepting international loans; it is better not to accept
loans with hard terms. If you stop begging from USA, UK,
IMF, WORLD BANK etc., our country will be okay in two
years.
Rashid Khan
USA
- The agenda is vague and
general in nature. It needs to be specific, targeted, and
time-oriented. Here are a few points:
1. Ruthless, fast, and non-judicial accountability for
all politicians, government officers, industrialists, and
other corrupt people.
2. Lifetime ban on all rulers, including Bhutto, Zardari,
and Sharifs. Ban all Jagirdars and their families from
contesting any future elections, especially those who
have been elected in the past fifty years. These are not
more than 500 families. But 140 million poor will be well
served.
3. Decentralisation of power at the lowest level. Abolish
provinces with divisions as provinces. Replace
commissioners as elected governors with only two
ministers.
4. Establishment of Overseas Pakistanis Think-Tank for
International Issues, Economic Development,
Infrastructure Development, and Political Education.
5. We have to stop these corrupt politicians to come back
in this sham democracy. We must get this money back at
all cost. No elections for the next five years till
social, educational and economic change takes place.
Zafar Bokhari
Illinois, USA
- We can only hope for the
best as we have done in the past. Undoubtedly Allah is
with those who are patient and go with the will of Allah.
Our army is the only institution left intact. Politicians
will try to corrupt those who are not like General
Musharraf and are weak. Hopefully we will not lose the
last institution left intact. May Allah bless our
soldiers and keep them from being corrupt. We are ready
to help the new government in any way as long as they
stick to their own constitution (the seven-point agenda).
Even if they are able to resolve one issue successfully,
I will give Army the credit. How can you not get muddy in
a mud pond?
Nadeem Bokhari
USA/Pakistani
- I think the general is on
the right path, we have to eliminate the corruption from
our system, and we have to eliminate Benazir Bhutto,
Nawaz Sharif and Altaf Hussain; these are bloodsuckers
who suck the blood of Pakistanis and live like kings.
It’s time for a change. I’m with the general
100% because I see light at the end of the tunnel. My
request to the General is ‘please give exemplary
punishments to the corrupt politicians so that the future
generations will remember and think before they start
messing with Pakistan.
Muhammad Fahimuddin
USA
- No it won't; words don't
mean anything; look at his actions.
1.Rebuild national confidence and morale.
By thrusting himself on the people of Pakistan he has
shown that he does not really care about the public
opinion in Pakistan. The only way that he will stay in
power is if the people of Pakistan lack confidence and
are demoralised; this will stop them from resisting him.
2.Strengthen Federation, remove inter-provincial
disharmony and restore national cohesion.
He has dismissed the state governments. This shows that
the General the 'leader of the federal government' does
not respect state rights.
3. Revive economy and restore investor confidence.
If he is an intelligent person, he should know that there
is not going to be an IMF loan to a dictatorship. Also
nobody is going to invest money in a dictatorship.
4. Ensure law and order and dispense speedy justice.
He supported Sharif till he was fired, even though he
knew that Sharif is one of the most corrupt people in
Pakistan. How did he become the Chief of the Army when he
was not the senior-most General? He was grateful to
Sharif at that time. The General does not believe in
justice, he believes in self-preservation.
5. Depoliticise state institutions.
Army, the biggest State Institution of Pakistan, is now
involved in politics. Are they going to rule the country
without any political beliefs?
6. Devolution of power to the grass-root level.
From all the appointments the General has made, all the
important positions have been given to senior army
officers. This is not devolution of power to the
grass-root level.
7. Ensure swift and across-the-board accountability.
As long as the corrupt are not from the armed forces.
Manoj Ghayalod
USA
- Only time will tell how
this agenda will pave the way for true democracy. The
nation should not be overjoyed with this.
Saeed Ahmed
Pakistan
- I just want to say,
"this is the last chance". Whether it is a
seven-point agenda or or nine-point, we should stick to
it and extend all possible help to Gen. Musharaf in the
cleaning process of the mess that have been created by
others.
Syed Hammad Hussain
Pakistan
- Yes, if it is implemented
honestly keeping in view the best interest of the nation.
Otherwise if there is any carelessness on the part of the
Chief Executive then there shall be no way out for
Pakistan and if the Chief Executive does not implement
the true form of accountability then he would be
responsible for the consequences and not Nawaz Sharif. He
needs to justify himself by taking strict measures
against the corrupt people.
Muhammed Farooq Javed
Lahore, Pakistan
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