Re: Naked Musharaaf?
MS,
"Right wing extremists" in Pakistan, as they are in any other country, are not one single entity. The groups that targeted Musharraf for assassination were used by the Pakistani state in Afghanistan and therefore were angry when they were cut off abruptly following Musharraf's post 9/11 U-turn. Other groups like the LeT never really tried to harm Musharraf because they still get state patronage behind the scenes.
The political extremists are a different case. Musharraf is clearly in bed with them. Without Musharraf's changing of rules regarding a Sanad being valid as a secular college degree and without ISI help, MMA would not have won so much the 2002 elections. Despite their bravado, MMA leaders have always caved in to Musharraf's demands and Musharraf has always caved into what MMA types feel are non-negotiable. The bogus honor killing laws, backtracking on blasphemy law reform, religion column in passport etc. are examples. MMA never faces state machinery obstructing them when they conduct rallies.
The fact is that the MMA types and Musharraf are on the same side. Both need the other. Musharraf uses the radicals to justify the need for him to stay in power - "Look the mullahs are coming" and the mullah party needs Musharraf to demonize publicly and then cut backroom deals with his men like they did in 2003.