Dear Maj. Junaid Saheb

Thanks for the email. I have already seen this excellent piece by Tariq Ali. Pakistan’s salvation lies in democracy and not in military rule. Ayub’s martial law set the stage for the breakup of Pakistan, Zia’s legacy is extremism and Musharraf has created an outright chaos.

It is a lame excuse that poverty, tribalism, provincialism and illiteracy are impediments in the way of democracy in Pakistan. After all, despite similar obstacles, India has been a vibrant democracy for the last sixty years.

However, I do suspect the recent summersault of America and Britain. After propping up a military regime for six years, why have they started an international campaign for democracy in Pakistan?  The reason is simple; Musharruf is not doing a good job.  He failed on many accounts: did not fight terrorism well by killing “enough” of his own people, did not deliver A. Q. Khan (Not motivated by patriotism but for saving the top brass of the army that was also enabler and partner in the business of selling nuclear program) or failed to capture Osama dead or alive. In a free enterprise the management of a company that is not producing good results is changed. After investing over ten billion dollars, Musharraf was expected to do a better job.

When I support democracy, I mean homegrown democracy, reflecting the will of the people not America.  The recent micromanagent of Pakistan's internal politics proves that American design is to turn Pakistan into a "democratic" state like Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. An alternate view is that America would like to see Pakistan a permanently dependent state using Egyptian model,  

“Made in America” democracy would take away whatever semblance of sovereignty that is left.

Regards.

Anis Zuberi