General Pervez Musharraf is comfortably ensconced in his london apartment, but is desperate to return to Pakistan’s hurly burly politics. Can he do soIJ
In a desperate bid to come back to power, erstwhile Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is now on a publicity spree to enter the turbulent political arena in Pakistan. Cooling heels in a luxurious london apartment, Musharraf is engaging himself in several TV chat shows, projecting himself as a potential candidate.The self-contained apartment is believed to be an expensive gift from the Saudi royalty — leading analysts to believe that Musharraf continues to enjoy its patronage, both moral and material, for his political survival.
His TV appearances are just anti-India acerbic outbursts — a favourite tactic of the General. He expects to thrive politically through India-baiting. Interestingly, in one of the shows he appeared on, Musharraf was waxing eloquence on Hafiz Saeed of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, describing him as a strategic asset. Musharraf passionately proclaimed that Hafiz had never resorted to any terrorist activity within Pakistan but directed his terrorist misadventures only in Kashmir. Such an illustration and profuse praise heaped on a terrorist at this juncture signals Musharraf’s attempts to resurrect the former and appropriate the man’s services and those of his cohorts.
It is, therefore, amply evident by these antics that Musharraf is preparing his ground for re-entry into Pakistan’s politics. To reinforce the argument, it's also noticed that Musharraf was cautious in praising Masood Azhar, head of Jaish-e-Mohammad, as he dreads him because of the Jaish leader’s anti-Musharraf stance and his nearly successful plan to kill the former President in an abortive assassination attempt in 2003. Musharraf has also not forgotten that the attempt to eliminate him was when he tried to make peace with India, engaging Atal Bihari Vajpayee for a rapprochement. Musharraf’s restraint in praising Masood Azhar was also perhaps prompted by his intelligent adhering to the old dictum, ‘Discretion is the better part of valour”. Wily that Musharraf i , his survival instincts and the proverbial ‘nine lives' have seen him escape many brushes with death — both literally and also politically.
Such anti-India statements and indications of a political revival have possibly led to incumbent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to display some magnanimity and political astuteness as a statesman with eyes on elections. An overture to this effect was apparent on March 14, when Sharif attended a Holi festival in Karachi which was not only well attended but which also received wide publicity across Pakistan and even beyond. Importantly, Sharif announced a grant of Rs500 million for the well-being of the Hindu community. In the same vein, he also declared the introduction of the health card scheme for Hindus living in Sindh. On March 19, President Mamnoon Hussain signed the Hindu Marriage Bill 2017, making it into law and providing for the regulation of Hindu marriages in Pakistan .
Sharif's gestures to woo Hindus for electoral or other reasons, are likely to incur the wrath of forces inimical to minorities in Pakistan. These forces are extreme and known for their explosive actions against those softening towards Hindus, Shias, Ahmadiyas or Christians. It may not be out of context to mention that at a Holi event in Pakistan's Sindh University, those opposed to Hindu festivals demanded an unconditional apology from those who participated in the festivity and revelry. Also, they wanted such an apology on a sworn affidavit! Judging by this negative reaction, Sharif's overtures to warm up to the Hindus may not be an easy path to walk .
Given the political ambitions Musharraf has exhibited, he may target Sharif rather aggressively in the not so distant future. After all, Sharif has been Musharraf's principal adversary and oldest political foe. With Musharraf flexing his muscles through systematic propaganda and India-bashing, the political scene in Pakistan, in all likelihood, will be sullied and divisive ahead of the elections. It remains to be seen whether the mainstream politicians or those like Musharraf succeed.
(The writer is a security analyst and a retired IPS officer. He is also a senior fellow with India Police Foundation. Views expressed here are personal)