Remembering Benazir Bhutto
Today is 27th December 2009 and a year ago I was writing this. But after a year I am trying to figure out if that would not happen then how different Pakistan would have been from today? What Pakistan would have if Benazir would have been alive? How much she would have made difference to my life, a common Pakistani?
Judges Issue: I believe this would have been very first initiative of Benazir under her government and this is the thing that Pakistan needs from its inception. Justice in Pakistan has been exploited by group of people since 1956. We can’t be sovereign nation without it. History has yet to come. If Justice Ifthikhar doesn’t restored to its restored position. These very same people will be suffering what they call dictatorship. Then there would be no one to complain as we saw in ’99. Another coup is what I am seeing. If not Kiyani then someone else may be. If it is done to save the crown then I’ll be calling the worst deal of Life for PPP leaders.
Post-Mumbai Diplomacy: May be Benazir is not my favorite leader but I really acknowledge for her diplomatic tactics. She is very elite and incredible diplomatic that we rarely have especially in this landlord system of democracy. She would have been the best weapon of Pakistan in current scenario because I don’t see Zardari or our hand cuffed prime minister handling the issue in the way it should have been. India is not missing even a single chance of shattering the all-ready damaged image of Pakistan. What we lack today on this issue is not F16s or U2 Bombers but true diplomatic leader who knows how to handle the things in hot water.
Mushraff Issue: Of course Mushraff left with some deal as it seemed earlier and as no political party is raising the issue so it is understandable that there must have been some hidden signatures under this red carpet and I don’t see even Benazir would have been doing anything about it.
Economic Crisis: Economic crisis would have been looming around in the way they are now. Things may not have been worse, if not bit better, than what we have now. But there must have been difference in level of trust of foreign donors and People would have been more optimistic about economy and the democratic system.
FATA territories: FATA has been most mishandled issue under this so-called democratic government. Of course Benazir would have not some magical difference but I believe there would have been less surgical strikes of U2 bombers at Pakistani territories.
Internal Politics: Things would have been same as there are now. This Benazir-Sharif relationship would not have thrived much as it did under President Zardari.
Education: Being University Student, I know and feel the heat of this government. For me the worst decision of this government was removing the Dr. Atta-ur-rehman from HEC Director-ship. He made so many revolutionizing changes to higher education of Pakistan for which not only me but every student of Pakistan is thankful to him. His support and effort for higher education can’t be described in words. We’ll see soon be witnessing of reversing of reel and the consequences of this removal.
Overall for me, If Benazir would have been alive today atleast we had hopes and optimism about our country, if not more.
We miss you, BB.
