By *Masroor ul Hassan

Today, there was a news item on Geo Television that Musharraf has announced the dates of dissolution of assemblies, installation of care taker set up to oversee the forth coming general elections scheduled in first week of January, 2008. Almost concurrently an article, written by Imran Khan, Tehreek e Insaaf chief, has also appeared in some electronic media.  Imran has expressed skepticism on the possibility of “Free and Fair” elections under the tutelage of a dictator. He has urged Benazir and Maulana Fazal to seek restoration of pre-November 3 Judiciary and reinstatement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhary to ensure genuine fairness of elections. His appeal seems a bit optimistic.
 
Rapidly unfolding political scenario clearly indicates some below the carpet activity. Can any one justify the freedom with which Benazir is launching her so called struggle against the dictatorial regime? No other leader worth the name has been even allowed to appear freely in public. Imran khan’s hiding itself clearly indicates the unfavorable situation for any one other than the Daughter of the East. 
 
Pakistani public was well aware of a deal between Ms. Bhutto and General Pervez Musharraf when Nawaz Shareef was parceled back to Saudi Arabia post haste. He was not allowed to lead his party because he was showing anti-American inclination. Ironically on the other hand BB was given a VIP reception upon ending her self imposed exile.
 
The game, however, was not clearly understood by simple and well meaning party workers who turned up in hordes to receive their leader despite the fact she had been convicted by Swiss Courts on proven charges of corruption. But the corruption factor alone did not seem enough to alienate her loyal party workers. She, however, did suffer an acute loss of credibility on account of her stance against Dr. Qadeer Khan. Most ardent of her supporters were also disappointed and disillusioned by that unpatriotic pronouncement indicating her willingness, if brought to power, to allow foreign agencies interrogate Dr. Qadeer Khan. U.S. also failed to foresee the unfavorable effect of her irresponsible uttering, in Pakistani view. Her pro-America impression cost her dearly and affected her vote bank adversely.
 
The blunder, however, was sensed and damage repair strategy was hurriedly evolved and put into effect. Under the guideline of new strategy, she flew back to Pakistan and took on a collision course with the government to demonstrate anti-Musharraf sentiments in order to hoodwink general public. She was allowed complete freedom by Musharraf regime to stage one drama after another to prove genuineness of her anti-Musharraf struggle. She was even allowed to use Pakistan Senate Lounge to address foreign dignitaries.
 
All this was too obvious to be missed and swallowed by even political novices. The dichotomy is so evident that no one is likely to be fooled. People are wondering why no other political party was allowed to stage any protest. The contrast is too stark to be ignored.  Some of them are saying, “So the scientific pole rigging has already started.” This is what Imran also alluded to but in a difference perspective.
 
Can it be surmised, keeping preceding argument in view, that Musharraf- Benazir axis with supplemental benefit of Fazal is actually launched by some external actor; The United States? Or can it be supposed that she, being power hungry and shrewd politician, has assessed the ground reality in Pakistan and broken clean from a sinking dictator. Whether the former presumption is correct or latter will be evident within a matter of days by her future actions. Let’s keep an eye on between the lines of her statements and the cat will be out of the bag.
 
Renowned Pakistani and foreign journalists are forecasting, in no uncertain terms, that Musharraf has dug a deep pit for himself by declaring Emergency rule in Pakistan. They opine that Emergency Rule is only going to hasten his unceremonious departure from the scene of power. But the question arises who will remove him from the scene of power? The political scenario in Pakistan is rather complex at this point in time. Opposition parties are in complete disarray and there is a visible divide within Mutahidda Majlis e Amal. Nawaz Shareef is held back from entering the scene of struggle. Ms Bhutto was thrown into the scene to forge an alliance with Musharraf to continue the policy of unequivocal support to American war on terror.
 
America needs Pakistan Army’s support since 48 thousand troops in Afghanistan are far from sufficient to overcome a rejuvenated Taliban. No more NATO troops are being committed despite desperate American diplomatic efforts. Body bags dispatched to Canada, Britain and some other countries have created an effect too much to bear by those societies. So, the only alternative seems to be keeping Pakistani troops embroiled in Western mountains of Pakistan and directly engaged in America’s war against Taliban. Pakistan Armed Forces are being paid a lot of dollars to wage the unholy American war against our own brethren.
 
The emerging political and strategic scenario has become rather complex. The United States is anxiously watching developments taking a turn against their plans. The evolving situation looks similar to that of Iran in 1979. Some leading American politicians think and are vocal that Bush government is repeating an old mistake and betting on the wrong horse like their predecessors did in case of Shah of Iran.
 
America has no sympathy with Pakistan or Pakistanis. This has been proven time and time again. All the official statements mentioning Pakistan are always Musharraf specific. Pakistan is NOT mentioned an important ally in war on terror but Musharraf is. Gross miscalculation by the neo- cons has landed them in a quagmire of their own making. Musharraf is likely to face Shah of Iran’s fate and will find no place to hide. He has announced the election schedule but is he completely naive and does not understand that without allowing full fledged election campaign and a level playing field to all participants, free and fair elections cannot be held?
 
So, it is a foregone conclusion that there is already a grand rigging plan paving way for a hung parliament comprising of toddies of a selfish dictator with a divided and miserably weak opposition. Should that assumption be correct, then we are doomed. Present tumult and oppression will increase in magnitude and meanness. The parasites sucking the blood of innocent masses are likely to continue to govern. But 160 million Pakistanis are not likely to take it all lying down resulting in ever increasing unrest and turmoil. The pot will soon gather enough heat to start boiling and steaming. Over a million gun bearing natural guerrillas are already daggers drawn with Musharraf regime.
 
The anarchy thus caused will be worst of the scenarios we have ever confronted. That seems to be the eventual aim of The United States since it will provide a pretext to take Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal in their custody to prevent it from falling in the unholy hands.
 
Pakistanis need to wake up to the shenanigans of the power players before it is too late. Their continued indifference and callousness may cost them dearly. They may have to pay with their freedom and be doomed to eternal slavery.

*Masroor ul Hassan is a retired fighter pilot of Pakistan Air Force. He has a Masters degrees in Defence and Strategic Studies from Q. Azam University Islamabad (1985) and War Studies from Karachi University (1995). This is his first exclusive for Truth Spring.