President Musharraf may possibly be the most affable of generals to have ruled Pakistan during its 60-year history, but there is a resentment growing over some of the military regimes financial dealings.
London, Aug.29 : President Musharraf may possibly be the most affable of generals to have ruled Pakistan during its 60-year history, but there is a resentment growing over some of the military regime's financial dealings.
According to The Telegraph, so deep is the resentment that a group of retired generals have called for "the disengagement of the military from political power" through an open letter.
The publication earlier this year of a book, Military Inc. - Inside Pakistan's Military Economy by Ayesha Siddiqa, which detailed the army's massive business interests, has further stoked resentment against the country's generals.
The book showed that the military's private business empire, which is run mainly by retired and serving officers, is worth 10 billion pounds.
It owns Pakistan's largest conglomerates, which are not liable to auditing and thrives off government capital.
They own banks and insurance companies and produce goods ranging from cement to cornflakes. Toll roads, beauty parlours and travel companies are also within the army's investment portfolio.
"The large number of military taking up civilian assignments and large number of corporations are a significant factor of resentment," claimed Lt. Gen. Talat Masood, former secretary of defence production.
ANI