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Answering Musharraf’s Orientalism

When Musharraf took fresh oath of office he said that he was aware of the democratic values but the west should not expect Pakistan to be ready for unshackled democracy when the west took centuries to eveolve them. Does any name come to your mind? Edward Said’s Orientalism. For those who are not acquainted with Said’s monumental workI must point here that he unveils a systematic effort to construct an imaginary orient by the western colonialists that would convince their people to support their cause. In this imaginary world the people of the east were portrayed as uncouth and uncultured. While the west might have given up this habit to quite an extent our domestic colonialists like Musharraf certainly want to revive this culture. Pakistanis are a blood thirsty and uncultured people and it is only me (mush-a-rough) who is standing in their way. Remove me and they will attack instantaneously. Pakistanis do not deserve democracy, they can only be given improvised democracy. Don’t conduct opinion polls or else the silly folks here may start taking them too seriously and resort to violence. I know I am very popular and I know everything about Pakistan the country of the terrorists hence don’t question my decisions. All rubbish. Musharraf is a man who has lost his marbles and is now trying hard that if he goes the country is not left in one piece. Where he thinks that the west tries to show even a semblance of principled stance he dubs it an international conspiracy and destroys our peace of mind. Then he goes on to blackmail the west that he will stop cooperating in the war on terror. Oh damn it, o damned one.
Let me tell you why there is a possibility of violence on the election day. Not because the predictions of the pollsters may prove wrong. Everyone knows that the opinion polls can impact the thought process of the west but not of a Pakistani. Why would a Pakistani resort to violence? He may fight because he may learn on the election day that from the polling station where he went to vote, his favourite candidate could not get even a single vote. He may ask where did his own vote go. I know, I know you may consider it a case of immense exaggeration but sir something of the same sort happened during Musharraf’s referendum. If you don’t believe it come and ask anyone. Let me tell you I have absolutely no reluctance in saying that if free and fair elections take place People’s party will break all the records of electoral success. It will be a clear case of overwhelming majority and only three exceptions might be found, 1) MQM in Urban Sindh, 2) ANP in NWFP and 3) Balochistan where nationalists and MMA may bag some crucial points (MMA because of Achakzai’s boycott). No matter what you are told this time there does not exist anything called anti-PPP vote so no question of any faction of Muslim league getting substantial number of seats. The biggest surprise may come from Punjab where the tide may turn absolutely. Hatred towards Musharraf is uniting the entire nation unprecedentedly in support of the People’s party.
But Musharraf will want MMA to win again from NWFP so that he can further blackmail the west, PML-Q to win at the centre and other provinces to escape impeachment. But while there are chances of rigging, it cannot be denied that anti-Musharraf sentiment may just jeopardize lives of Musharraf and his sycophants. If you think army will try to risk its skin to save a liability like Musharraf then wake up. Army will ensure that no large scale violence erupts but please know it that it may not be found too interested in impeding political change regardless of its nature. Today marks the start of the most intense period in Pakistani history but if it is handled properly by the political actors it may offer the greatest opportunity yet.

Coming up by this evening: Uncountable ways to rig the elections (so better stay tuned).
Original Post at Answering Musharraf’s Orientalism by Farrukh Khan Pitafi’s Official Weblog

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