Washington may regret for pushing civilian rule in Pakistan

Stating that the General Pervez Musharraf led military regime in Pakistan took the fight against the al-Qaeda in a much stronger way, a media report has claimed that Washington may regret pushing for civilian rule in that country.

Washington, Oct 7 : Stating that the General Pervez Musharraf led military regime in Pakistan took the fight against the al-Qaeda in a much stronger way, a media report has claimed that Washington may regret pushing for civilian rule in that country.

Musharraf has delivered "stellar economic growth, less corruption and a series of liberalising reforms", reported The Scotsman.

"For all the opprobrium heaped on President General Pervez Musharraf now, Pakistanis will come to miss the all-powerful commando ruling over them," it added.

"Pakistanis are desperate to go at Musharraf's throat right now. But they'll remember him very quickly when former premiers Benazir Bhutto or Nawaz Sharif are back in charge," the report further said.

According to the daily, "His administration pushed through a women's rights bill against stiff opposition from the country's powerful mullahs. In the 1990s, the Pakistan Government had backed the Taliban in Afghanistan, a regime that gave sanctuary to Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda."

"It was Musharraf who turned on the Taliban, albeit under massive American pressure. He made himself so indispensable to Washington that nuclear-related sanctions were lifted and billions of dollars of debt relief and aid flowed. Between 2001-6, economic growth was around seven percent a year, leading a consumer, stock market and property boom. Following the devastating earthquake in northern Pakistan in 2005, homes, schools, hospitals and lives have been rebuilt to an extent that would put the US government's response to hurricane Katrina to shame," it added.

ANI