It is a pity that threats have once again started coming from same group that is charged with the country's division in 1971. People were of the view that this time Pakistan People's Party (PPP) would show statesmanship in running the country's affairs, with utmost care and sense of responsibility and would never resort to such acts that were led to the end of its earlier governments in 1990 and 1996.
But it is regrettable to point out that it has not learnt any lesson from the past and is intent on doing such acts that may result in ending its government, prior to completing two years. The PPP's leadership would have avoided showing antagonism towards Pakistan and its institutions and forbidden its stalwarts not to make hostile speeches in the wake of the NRO's decision, lest anyone from our military junta may come out to try his luck.
There is no doubt that PPP has a history of struggles against dictators. In bringing the democratic set-up in Pakistan, it has made a sacrifice of tow great leaders. Indeed, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto could have compromised with General Zia to save his neck but he did not do so. Had it been so, he would certainly have been the ruin of Pakistan People's Party in the country for good.
Let us see what the history has done to General Zia. He has suffered the inglorious fate of being forgotten, even from the hearts of those who had distributed sweets or made merry when this great leader was hanged. No one likes to respect Zia and the whole nation watched him burn to death in the C-130 air crash.
The same obscurity was in store for General Musharraf, who illegally toppled a civilian government in October, 1999 on flimsy grounds. He used to claim that he did not let both Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif come to Pakistan. But look at the irony of fate that he himslef brought about BB's return to Pakistan. If BB had not died a martyr in Rawalpindi, Musharraf would have been at her mercy.
Moreover, he had to drain the cup of humiliation in Nawaz Sharif's return to Pakistan. Mian Sahib is doing politics in the country, while the General is leading his life in exile. Does it not look strange that he is, these days, roaming about in Europe, delivering a course of lectures on the topic of terrorism, to those who are not suffering the agony of watching their people burn to death in terror attacks?
His presence is needed most in the country from where he has run away by involving it in an unending war of terrorism. These days, Pakistan is the victim of terrorism and also involved in manifold ills viz. Corruption, load shedding, high cost of living, acute shortage of drinking water, and so forth. The main causes of these ills are said to be nothing else but our military junta.
Out of our short existence of 62 years, it has ruled over Pakistan for more than three decades. The dictator captures power; makes much noise of politicians' corruption and their other ills. He first tries to control the judiciary and forces it to take oath under the PCO. The judges that do not like to take oath are sent home.
And, in this way, he becomes all in all in Pakistan and governs the country without hindrance for a decade or so. When he is forced to leave power, his successor do not like to run a democratic set-up for more than a few years. After one or two years, plots are afoot to topple the government. There are no two opinions that civil rulers remain under constant pressure that their government can cease to exist today or tomorrow.
All anti-democratic forces begin to raise their ugly heads and start plotting to undermine it. Here, the role of the media is worth seeing. Hardly a day passes when they do not publish tales of the political leaders' corruption or theirs other ills, while they keep mum about the corruption cases of the government in military regimes.
It is incumbent upon all PPP people to behave sensibly; otherwise its great leaders sacrifices will go to waste aimlessly. The hostile attitude of its few stalwarts is, no doubt, creating an impression amidst the general public that the PPP is devoid of a sagacious leadership; otherwise talks to dismember the country or to disrespect the NRO decision would be made publicly.
Countries do not come into existence overnight. For their establishment, tremendous sacrifices are required. Pakistan has not come into being on its own. For it, our forefathers made great sacrifices. The English used to call the Indo-Pak sub-continent the "Golden Sparrow". They did not show such haste to slaughter it as we are showing these days. Pakistan is for all the people who live within its boundaries. It is incumbent upon us all to devote all our energies to build it so strong that no one could dare undermine it.