Re: She promised me a Mountain, but did not give me a Mole Hill
"It is not a sad day; it's a dark, dark gloomy, gloomiest day in the history of the country. Something unthinkable has happened" said a visibly distraught Nawaz Sharif.
Benazir Bhutto is dead, the PPP in tatters, and the country in kios. As car's burn, besides banks, and banks burn besides railway stations, the nation is in grief. Benazir Bhutto, her thoughts, her dreams, and her aspirations now lie 6 feet deep, in her ancestral burial ground in Larkana. The time now is for national reflection.
Personally, I'm not sure who is mourning her death more, patriotic Pakistani's or the international community. Benazir for me was always the aunt or "sister" who promised me a mountain, but did not give me a mole hill.
In my eyes, her inability to nationally conciliate the country, and steer it towards a prosperous future is the true tragedy of Benazir Bhutto. Her inept failure was extraordinary as she wielded a power base, which would have put revolutionaries to shame. She despite favorable conditions was unable to do a single beneficial act for Pakistan. Unfortunately she was, as history proves more attentive to her own personal wealth rather than the nations.
She was seen by many in the international community, as a force of moderation, a force for women's rights, a force against terrorism, and most importantly as a force for democracy…I wish this was true.
Women Rights and Benazir Bhutto
During her two tenures as Prime Minister, she did not propose any motion to improve the daily lives of women. She did not act against the Hudood and Zina ordinances as she once promised the women of Pakistan. Women in Pakistan were left betrayed by one of their own.
Force against Terrorism
She has become the darling of the international community, for allegedly being the last bastion of hope against terrorism. If the international community were to open their eyes, they would correlate that the rise of the Taliban coincidently occurred during her tenure as Prime Minister. It is not feasible by any stretch of the imagination that the Taliban could exist without moral and other forms of support from the government of Pakistan.
Force for Democracy
A few weeks ago, I found myself utterly perplexed when the PPP manifesto was launched. The manifesto revealed that Benazir Bhutto was going to be the candidate for the Prime Minister post. I could not conceive how it was possible, as under the constitution of Pakistan, an individual can only serve two terms as Prime Minister of Pakistan in their lifetime; which she's already done on 1988 and 1993. I am baffled as to why, and how she even dared to campaign for a position which was illegal and unattainable by law for her. Certainly going against the constitution is not a very democratic thing to do.
Furthermore, I find it amusing that Western intellects, compliment her fight against "dictatorship" and her fight for democracy in Pakistan. As we all know democracy starts at the grass root level well it does everywhere except in Benazir's own political party, where she conveniently declared herself as "Party Leader for Life". Party Leader for Life!...this title reminds me of another departed leader Saddam Hussein. Certainly if she was democratic at the core, she would have allowed elections in her own party or at the very least name a successor.
Lastly I would like to point out she betrayed and left the APDM, to broker a power sharing deal with a General. Surely, her actions don't fill the bill of a true democrat; on the other hand her actions fit the bill of a power hungry politician dressed as a democrat.
Her Legacy
It is unfortunate, that she has died in the matter she did. Although equally unfortunate is the fact that; due to inept reporting, biased media coverage, and uneducated individuals, she will be remembered as a good honorable leader. Perhaps she'll get the noble peace prize, perhaps she'll undeservingly have a park named after her; to remind the latter generations of her exploits. I personally don't need a park to remind me of Benazir Bhutto;
The fact that the poverty rate increased during her tenure as Prime Minister will keep my memories fresh and livid.
The fact that when charged with corruption charges, she went into exile with her children and an estimated wealth of $1.5 billion, also will not allow me to forget her very soon.
The fact that she only came back to Pakistan, with the help of a foreign power, and after her corruption charges were dismantled, will also remind me of how her bravery is similar to Nelson Mandela, or her departed father Zulfiqar Bhutto. (Zulfiqar Bhutto being a man who accepted the death penalty whilst getting offers of going to exile.)
The fact of the matter is that, she was more of an iconic figure rather than a figure who helped Pakistan in any manner. There was not a single institution that benefited from her rule as Prime Minister. A legacy of a leader is not judged by their aspirations, or they're dreams, it is judged by their action and accomplishments.
Pakistan has faced many crises before. Despite the tone of the international media, Pakistan is not going to slide into civil war, or break apart into factions. A few days of civil disobedience is all that will happen. A few accusations here, a few there; something which isn't foreign to Pakistan.
Yes, there was widespread looting, and burning of public and private property, but Pakistan is not alone in that matter. When a public figure of her stature meets such a fate, a violent regurgitation is expected; in any part of the world. Such a response occurred when Indira Gandhi was assassinated. Her assassination led to Sikhs being hunted left, right and centre, leaving an estimated 20,000 Sikhs dead.
Perhaps the international media does not know that there is a long list of Pakistani leaders that have met a violent fate; and that Pakistan has always emerged with strength and hope.
Benazir Bhutto was a leader of a political party, not the leader of a country. The President is alive, the caretaker Prime Minister is alive, the head of the army is alive, the Superintends of Police are alive, so on, so on Pakistan will go back and function properly as it did before the tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
Let us pray as Pakistani's and as people who care about Pakistan, for the re-establishment of authority and discipline as soon as possible.
Very good post.