**ISLAMABAD: Retired Army generals, including some who trained and groomed Pervez Musharraf, have planned a long march and a sit-in before the Army House in Rawalpindi to get it vacated so that Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani could move in. **
The long march, the date of which will be announced soon, is being given final touches. The procession to force Musharraf to vacate the Army House would be led by former Army chief Mirza Aslam Beg and General (retd) Hamid Gul and about 200 retired Army officers will be there.
The presence of General (retd) Ali Quli Khan in the rally would be watched with a lot of interest by many as he was not only the course mate of Musharraf, but once the main candidate for the slot of Chief of Army staff.
Ali Quli had fallen victim to palace intrigues as Nawaz Sharif’s personal bias against him had helped Musharraf to capture the top slot. Another ex-Army general, General (retd) Faiz Chishti has been actively putting pressure on Musharraf to quit the post of Army Chief.
Talking to The News, Brig (retd) Mian Mohammad Mahmud, who is from the first PMA and an organiser of the event, confirmed that the top retired Army generals had decided to stage the long march. Brig Mahmud said efforts are under way to bring maximum number of Army generals in the demonstration as this issue concerns the reputation of the Pakistan Army.
Meanwhile, Brig Mahmud also handed over a statement on behalf of ex-Army servicemen. The statement said the common man’s urgent problems need to be addressed immediately. To examine the vital issues, a meeting of all like-minded and patriotic ex-servicemen is being called shortly, it said. A date will be announced soon, it said.
Wow!! That would be a sight to watch – the once arrogant, haughty & mighty army generals walking down the street for a long march! I am not sure if they’re capable of doing that. Much of their adult life is spent being pampered by a battalion of orderlys & servants. They won’t even step out of their villas without a chauffeur driven limo waiting for them already. Perhaps it’d be a long march of chauffeur driven shiny black limos jamming in front of Army House :)
Re: Why is the dictator still sitting in the army house
Interesting that the active members of the Army (as opposed to the retired generals) seem to be content in letting Musharraf continue to live there.
The symbolism is astounding... one wonders just how much control, influence, and loyalty Kayani has in the army compared to Musharraf. If Musharraf lives in the Army head's house, and the Army lets him.... do they still view him rather than Kayani as their real leader, do they view Kayani as just a figurehead acting on Musharraf's behalf?
Does anyone know if Musharraf continues to meet with senior generals on a regular basis - more regularly than one would expect a civilian president to do so?
Interesting that the active members of the Army (as opposed to the retired generals) seem to be content in letting Musharraf continue to live there.
You are forgetting the day a GC joins the army, he has to sign bonds stating he wont show any political opinion or bias. They are not content with him living in the president house, they have no 'pyaar or maamta' for him, its just that they cant do anything about it and they will be court martialed if they do.
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The symbolism is astounding... one wonders just how much control, influence, and loyalty Kayani has in the army compared to Musharraf. If Musharraf lives in the Army head's house, and the Army lets him.... do they still view him rather than Kayani as their real leader, do they view Kayani as just a figurehead acting on Musharraf's behalf?
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You are forgetting who actually keeps this dictator in power. Once that president leaves, so does his little puppet.
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Does anyone know if Musharraf continues to meet with senior generals on a regular basis - more regularly than one would expect a civilian president to do so?
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He prolly throws a bone at them and tells them to come over for some scotch where they'll all take turns and tell him what a big man he is.
You are forgetting the day a GC joins the army, he has to sign bonds stating he wont show any political opinion or bias. They are not content with him living in the president house, they have no 'pyaar or maamta' for him, its just that they cant do anything about it and they will be court martialed if they do.
You are forgetting who actually keeps this dictator in power. Once that president leaves, so does his little puppet.
But there are military rules governing how long a retired officer can stay in an official residence, and those rules can be enforced when the military chooses. If the rules are not being enfored by the military, it shows a choice being made. You must wonder why.
And as for the bush theory.... I see little evidence ever produced that the White House has enough influence in Pakistan to enforce its own choice of leader opn the country. Who in Pakistan is it influencing? Give names, and proof of how, else keep your peace.
Conspiracy theories planting blame for our issues outside our country have always abounded in Pakistan.... and served conveniently to prevent us from looking for solutions from within to issues of our own creation.
But there are military rules governing how long a retired officer can stay in an official residence, and those rules can be enforced when the military chooses. If the rules are not being enfored by the military, it shows a choice being made. You must wonder why.
Then why were you trying to create the impression that the 'entire' army was happy with Musharraf? If a few sell out generals in the top brass are ok with it, that doesnt mean everyone else is. If anyone dares speaks out against the dictator, we all know what happens. Even civilians weren't spared, what makes you think an army man would be spared?
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And as for the bush theory.... I see little evidence ever produced that the White House has enough influence in Pakistan to enforce its own choice of leader opn the country. Who in Pakistan is it influencing? Give names, and proof of how, else keep your peace.
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I know you are quite a fan, but lets not kid ourselves, the whole world knows what a nice little puppet Musharraf is and you don't need proof for the obvious.
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Conspiracy theories planting blame for our issues outside our country have always abounded in Pakistan.... and served conveniently to prevent us from looking for solutions from within to issues of our own creation.
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What exactly is the conspiracy theory here? Do you have a single justification why the illegal retired general is sitting in the army house? Why isnt Karamat or hamid gul living there then?
So why isnt this idiotic dictator vacating the army house, now that hes retired?
I wonder where is burqaposhx when he was crying about Chief Justice not leaving the house given by government.
As if people like me, you or Spock would have “evidence/proof” to show how much influence “outside” has in Pakistan … not much more would be available than “2:00AM calls”
One wonders if it was a coincidence that military over-threw civilian govt in Pakistan TWICE when US was about to launch offensive in the region.
I wonder where is burqaposhx when he was crying about Chief Justice not leaving the house given by government.
Oh yeah! The irony! haha
i) Chief Justice was house arrested (though that incompetent minister of ours, another one of dictators indian pow loving ansar burni thought he was forcibly living there.
ii) He is allowed to stay there for some months, even after he leaves office.
iii) He was and is the CJ of Pakistan, should and will continue to live there.
do they still view him rather than Kayani as their real leader, do they view Kayani as just a figurehead acting on Musharraf's behalf?
now please also explain us why would they still consider him their 'real leader'? for selling his country to his masters at the lowest price or for that humiliating defeat at kargil or for allowing his masters to bomb the civilians of this country or for killing 50 civilians on the streets of karachi or for killing a 79 years old sardar of a nation who has been colonized by it own governments?
Then why were you trying to create the impression that the 'entire' army was happy with Musharraf? If a few sell out generals in the top brass are ok with it, that doesnt mean everyone else is. If anyone dares speaks out against the dictator, we all know what happens. Even civilians weren't spared, what makes you think an army man would be spared?
I know you are quite a fan, but lets not kid ourselves, the whole world knows what a nice little puppet Musharraf is and you don't need proof for the obvious.
What exactly is the conspiracy theory here? Do you have a single justification why the illegal retired general is sitting in the army house? Why isnt Karamat or hamid gul living there then?
Is the army's top leadership is continuing to take its orders and leadership from Musharraf, and junior officers are taking their orders and leadership from the top leadership, then the net effect is that the entire army is taking its orders and leadership from Musharraf and that Kayani is serving is a figurehead instead. Which would explain why there is no drive in the entire serving army to remove Musharraf from Army House.
It's easy to label Musharraf as a Bush puppet, but in order to keep a puppet in power you have to have people propping up the puppet. Can you name individuals in Pakistan who are propping up Musharraf at the behest of a foreign government? No dictator can ever stay in power by his own degree - powerful men around him must also agree to it. Who are the powerful men in Pakistan who are happy to serve a foreign power and hold up Musharraf?
If you can't show me they exist, then it's impossible to believe that Musharraf is a pippet held in place by someone else. To hold a puppet you need strings, else he collapses. There are no strings you can show me in Pakistan; hence no puppet.
now please also explain us why would they still consider him their 'real leader'? for selling his country to his masters at the lowest price or for that humiliating defeat at kargil or for allowing his masters to bomb the civilians of this country or for killing 50 civilians on the streets of karachi or for killing a 79 years old sardar of a nation who has been colonized by it own governments?
If they don't consider him their leader, why don't they enforce their own regulations? Gen (retrd) Mirza Aslam Beg stated that Army House can only be occupied by a former army chief for 2 months after leaving his role according to regulation. That's a special case as it is an Official Residence; even normal Army accomodation can only be occupied by a retired officer for 6 months after leaving the military. If the Pakistani Army wanted to move out Musharraf, they could enforce their own rules.
The army is choosing to give Musharraf greater respect than their own official leader; once can only presume they hold Musharraf as their continued true leader and Kayani as a publically acceptable figurehead.
I know you are quite a fan, but lets not kid ourselves, the whole world knows what a nice little puppet Musharraf is and you don't need proof for the obvious.
No matter if it is Kayani or Gilani or Biryani, joining the side of the terrorists will be the death knell for Pakistan. No matter Bush or anyone else is in office, no will except terrorists roaming free in Pakistan, so don't kid yourself into thinking that with Bush gone, your taliban heroes will be given nobel prizes.
So why isnt this idiotic dictator vacating the army house, now that hes retired?.
The only reason that comes to my mind is that that by allowing him further living in the army house the Generals want to show that Musharraf is still enjoying their support and they are behind him and they want him to remain the president as long as possible. Musharraf is an ex army chief and he's working for the interests of the establishment.
Re: Why is the dictator still sitting in the army house
Lets face it...we have a massive earthquake or flood like in Myanmar or some other natural disaster...you want me to believe that Zardari, Gilani or Nawaz will be able to cope with that...bs...
PS: President Bush of America failed in to cope with Katirina disaster...pretty a so-called democracy...only obssessed with their own interests...
PS1: Of course, only the dictator and his army will come to aid in disasters...wow...
PS2: In the near future, Japan, USA, and many of European countries will be sliding to dictatorships...while China, Russia will be becoming democracies...
PS3: Interests and survivals overrules the forms of governments... :)
Re: Why is the dictator still sitting in the army house
The idea that Bush is doing everything and once Bush goes its all hunky dory confetti from the skies people running out with their mouths open into the rain and drinking it all in is a silly conspiracy theory.
Bush is a lame duck president who doesnt have enough leverage left in his own country let alone someone else's. For all practical purposes, the establishment in Pakistan, if it wants to "please america" will be trying to please one of the two nominees. Obama or McCain. Neither has a marked preference for Musharraf specifically, even if he does serve american interests. By himself, Bush is nowhere near competant enough to keep the army of another country the other side of the planet house the man he likes specifically in the Army house.
I believe shawaiz_k is closer to the mark. The Army sees him as an extension of itself. Whereas he has given up his uniform, the meaning of the uniform is attributed by Army walay. They dont turn against Musharraf the same reason why they didnt overthrow him years ago, he still has their loyalty, and he still serves their interests.
Re: Why is the dictator still sitting in the army house
scientist saheb: only the current COAS is the real leader of the army and noboy else. As I said in my previous post, the generals want to have Musharraf as the president as long as possible. The last thing the generals need now are the strong political parties, united and vibrant civil society and the lawyers who are fighting for the rule of law. They want to tame these 'anarchist' as soos as possible and Musharraf is their important partner in this jihad.
… not much more would be available than “2:00AM calls” 
