Musharraf 2.0: Democracy Centuries Away!

Ever since he unleashed his second martial law on the nation, Musharraf is scolding Pakistanis for confrontation – by which he means any difference of opinion with him whatsoever. On the other hand, he is lecturing the West media about "our own" way. Some startling insights may be drawn from what he is saying.

“There is an unrealistic, unpracticable [sic.] obsession on your part to expect us to ape your form of democracy, human rights and civil liberties,” Musharraf told the West after he sworn in as a civilian president by his hand-picked chief justice.

“What the West has adopted and gained took centuries to achieve, and they expect Pakistan to adopt it in a matter of months and years. This is not possible.

“We want democracy, we want human rights, we want civil liberties, but we will do it our way, as we understand our society, our environment better than anyone in the West.”

And: “One can’t sacrifice the stability and development of the nation for the sake of your views on democracy, civil liberties and human rights”.

So there folks; if we are expecting democratic rule, civil liberties, and the related sundry stuff, we may have to wait for centuries – unless we are willing to fight our way there.