CHOICE BEFORE PAKISTAN

CHOICE BEFORE PAKISTAN role is meant for a leader like President Pervez Musharraf. Those who question his right to hold power can find an answer in the example of former military president Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Earlier, General Zia-ul-Haq did the same thing—he seized control of Pakistan through a military coup and then declared himself President through a self-initiated process. At that time, everyone—from Pakistan’s religious groups to the U.S. State Department— accepted it, and it was justified under the “law of necessity.” That precedent is enough to justify accepting a military leader like President Pervez Musharraf in the same way. It is hypocritical when someone becomes practical where personal interest is involved but starts talking about ideals where personal interest is not at stake. General Pervez Musharraf’s rise to power in Pakistan, and later taking the oath as president on June 20, 2001, may seem like an unconstitutional event. But in my view, it happened at exactly the right time. In the current situation, only a military leader like President Musharraf can make the bold decisions Pakistan needs. A democratic leader elected through the usual process would not be able to make such calm and rational decisions. The only solution to this problem is for Pakistan to move away from emotional policies and adopt a realistic approach. Pakistan should reach an agreement with India on the Kashmir issue so that peace can be established in the country and national resources can be redirected toward