Jinnahs Pakistan heading for disaster

Pakistan would be celebrating its 60th year of Independence on August 14, a day before neighbouring India will be doing same, but the country which was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a peaceful homeland for the subcontinents Muslims, is faced with a serious domestic crisis.

London, Aug 2 : Pakistan would be celebrating its 60th year of Independence on August 14, a day before neighbouring India will be doing same, but the country which was founded by Muhammad Ali Jinnah as a peaceful homeland for the subcontinent's Muslims, is faced with a serious domestic crisis.

The civilian defiance against the military government fuelled by its President Pervez Musharraf's controversial sacking of Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the almost impenetrable hold of Taliban and Al Qaeda elements in the tribal belt of the country and the strings of suicide attacks on Pakistan Army is driving the country closer to disaster.

"The country hasn't had a crisis of this magnitude since the 1970s when East Pakistan split off and became Bangladesh. But in this case it's an Islamist movement that wants to transform the country from within," the Guardian quoted Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution in Washington and author of The Idea of Pakistan, as saying.

Fears of an impending civil war is also looming over the country as political leaders are being targeted in the country.

"If we don't mend our ways, it could spell the end of the country. The Islamists have sleeper cells in every city. We could have a civil war," PPP leader Enver Baig said.

Burt Musharraf is also facing the external pressure from Washington, which recently passed new legislation imposing stiff conditions on Pakistan for acting against Al Qaeda elements in its western tribal areas.

"We must be clear with Gen Musharraf that if Pakistan won't take out al-Qaida, the United States will," Lee Hamilton, a member of President George Bush's homeland security advisory council, wrote on Monday.

The reactions from Islamabad was immediate and equally cold.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said that the US legislation, based on the 9/11 Commission recommendations, could spoil bilateral relations and Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri last week termed the resolution as "irresponsible ... counterproductive."

The daily stated anti-American hostility was building up with analysts, saying that the US strikes on the western provinces are unlikely in the short term.

To add to this, the pro-democracy cry in Pakistan and the demand for Musharraf's removal is becoming shriller.

Musharraf's 'deal' with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto hammered out at a secret Abu Dhabi meet, is also being frowned upon by some political leaders, both within and outside the establishment.

Cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan termed the deal a "fatal mistake".

Khan argued that any such move would embolden extremists.

"She's (Bhutto) completely out of touch. I fear that Pakistan could become another Algeria. We need someone who believes in talking, not guns," he added.

After years of casually disdaining his rubber-stamp parliament, Musharraf now needs it to shore up his rule. He wants the chaotic national assembly - the product of a rigged vote in 2002 - to return him as president for another five years later this year. For this he needs a deal with Ms Bhutto, and has reportedly promised to lift long-standing corruption charges against her. The US and Britain are behind him, apparently convinced Gen Musharraf is still their best bet, the daily wrote.

"This is very demoralising and could undermine the whole process," said Talat Masood, a retired army general and liberal commentator. "Benazir has bracketed herself among the opportunists. Her support will dip, and it will be taken up by the religious right."

ANI