DAMMAM/JEDDAH/RIYADH, 21 June — There was mixed reaction from Pakistani expatriates Kingdomwide to the dissolution of the National Assembly and Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s ascendancy as the country’s president. Expressions ranged from “good under the circumstances,” to “nothing surprising” when a cross-section of the community was contacted in the three major cities and around.
While some gave a cautious welcome to the developments in the country with the Indo-Pak summit set in New Delhi next month, some others felt that Musharraf’s move was very much expected going by what the chief executive had been saying since his coup in October 1999.
However, many wondered whether the much-promised restoration of democracy will come at all and even if it does whether it will be in a “stage-managed” manner. “It’s a tactic to raise the personal profile of Musharraf to stay in power beyond October 2002, the dateline set by the country’s Supreme Court to conduct general election,” said a Riyadh doctor. Muhammad Khatib who hails from Punjab said, “Musharraf has designs to continue to rule the country through unconstitutional means. His plans for an economic revival have been a farce and his move only seems to aim at further consolidating the army rule.”
Nida Qadri welcomed Musharraf’s elevation and felt he would now be in a strong position to introduce all-round economic reforms. “He is a good person, a strong soldier and an able statesman who has a large following in the country. He has already promised to hold parliamentary elections before the Supreme Court deadline.”
The move seemed to anger some sections of the community in the Eastern Province. Iftikhar Ahmad, who hails from Lahore and an ardent supporter of Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party said, “It’s an attempt to legitimize his dictatorship and appease India which has welcomed the move.” Riaz Piracha, a business executive and supporter of Pakistan Muslim League opined, “Democracy stands further defaced and defiled. The unceremonious dissolution of the National Assembly and summary dismissal of the elected president is totally unconstitutional.”
Some others in Dammam felt that the situation back home would deteriorate further as political unrest and demonstrations would have an adverse effect on the national economy. Fazaluddin, a resident of Karachi and sales manager in a food factory said, “What difference does it make. The general was in any case the supreme authority in his capacity as the chief executive and now by assuming the presidency he will still continue to be the supreme authority. The National Assembly was in any case a defunct body and its dissolution will not make any difference.”
Shafiq Ali who belongs to Karachi said, “The general will now have a handpicked Cabinet and will follow the tradition set by Gen. Zia-ul-Haq. “For the world it may appear to be the beginning toward the so-called democratic processes, but in reality it will be a real murder of democracy.”
Some Pakistanis in Dammam felt that the new development was made at the behest of India, which wanted to receive Musharraf as head of the state and not as general.
In Jeddah most of the expatriates contacted welcomed the move. Ehsanul Haq, an electrical engineer, said, “It’s a positive move. Musharraf’s position is more legitimate now than before. We would like him to complete his seven-point agenda, which includes accountability, transferring power to people, and tackling the problem of mounting debts. He must take steps as the GDP in 2000 touched the lowest. He can become popular if he fulfills the agenda.”
S.M. Arshad, Jeddah-based marketing manager said, “In view of the present political and economic situation, it’s a move in the right direction.“His ascendancy gives him more power to rule the country in the interest of stability, law and order, unity and communal harmony.”
A housewife, Shagufta Nasreen said, “It is good for Pakistan that Musharraf has become president ahead of Indo-Pak summit. We expect him to bring some substantial changes in the country’s ailing systems.” Muhammad Zubair, an electrical engineer said, “It’s a very good move. We wish him good luck in his endeavor to serve the nation. “He has had a good track record as a soldier and military ruler and hopefully he will have a much better role to play as the nation’s president.”
