Archive 2009
Other Archives
|
|
|
June 1-15, 2007
Crisis in Pakistan
The dismissal of the Chief Justice of Pakistan Iftikar Choudhary by the President Pervez Musharraf, has become an issue around which opposition to Musharraf in Pakistan is getting consolidated.
Two months ago, when Musharraf, in a surprise move, dismissed the Chief Justice on charges of corruption, and the Chief Justice decided to challenge his dismissal, the issue drew protests mainly from lawyers. Lately, however, the protests have become more frequent and extensive, drawing in tens of thousands of people. They have been supported but not apparently directly led by either of the two main opposition parties of the two exiled former Prime Ministers, namely Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Matters started coming to a head when the former Chief Justice began to take his challenge to Musharraf outside of the courts and outside the capital Islamabad. In early May, he addressed dozens of rallies in the course of a road trip from Islamabad to Lahore, in which thousands of people participated. However, his efforts to repeat the same in Pakistan’s largest city, Karachi, on 12 May became the scene of a bloody showdown between his supporters and opponents, which led to 37 people dead on the streets of the city. Reports say that the pitched battles were led mainly by activists of opposition parties and of the MQM, one of the parties allied to Musharraf’s party, which had called a counter-rally on the occasion of Choudhary’s planned visit to the city. Despite the near certainty that such a clash would take place, the police and paramilitary forces maintained a low profile on that day. The following days have seen the people of Karachi virtually off the streets and the city almost paralysed.
The recent developments in Pakistan suggest the following things. Firstly, there appears to be a growing groundswell of dissatisfaction and resentment among the people against their conditions. When General Musharraf took power in a coup nearly 8 years ago, he did so in a context in which there was considerable disgust with both the main political parties and their leaders. Musharraf had promised to end the loot and corruption and take Pakistan forward. However, there is great frustration today with his regime as well. Particularly, he has aroused anger in different parts of Pakistan for actively assisting the hegemonic activities of US imperialism in Afghanistan and in his own country. The ruthless measures he has taken in the region of South Waziristan bordering Afghanistan, and in Balochistan, have alienated many, and have weakened his regime.
The mayhem unleashed in Karachi on May 12 also reflects the desperation of rival political forces to settle scores with each other, and to use every means to do so. It is a fact that none of the major political parties has been able to present itself as the clear opposition to the regime in power. This could be a reason for the Chief Justice becoming a focus for opposition. Whatever the reason, the large scale and systematic violence that was unleashed has achieved the effect of driving people off the streets and making it even more difficult for them to engage in political activity. Rumours of “emergency” being imposed have added to the atmosphere of fear and tension.
US imperialism has its hands deeply into Pakistan. It had deployed Pakistan first as a front line state against the former Soviet Union, and then, in the past few years, in its plans for domination of Asia in the name of “war on terrorism”. The Pakistani military establishment, as well as the major political parties have historically had close ties with the US imperialists. The US, which is in a position to try and manipulate affairs in Pakistan in its own interests, will not sit back and watch while the people of Pakistan assert their sovereignty.
The issue for the people of Pakistan is to resolve the crisis in their country in their own favour. The Pakistani ruling classes, which are closely aligned to US imperialism, have ruled over the people either openly through the military, or through a “civilian” regime of one of the political parties aligned with the military. Already, there are reports of behind the scene maneuvers amongst the military, the leaders of some political parties, and the imperialists, for a change of regime which will preserve the interests of the imperialists and the ruling classes. The people of Pakistan must be vigilant of such efforts to sabotage their struggle.
The recent events reflect the deep crisis in the political system and process in Pakistan. Every major political party has been discredited for their complete disregard for the well-being of society while they go to any lengths to maintain and enlarge their constituencies. The ruling classes have done everything in their power to divide the polity. The people of Pakistan must unite to overthrow these ruling classes and take power in their own hands. It is only through this that they will also be able to stop the US or any other imperialist interference in their affairs.
|