Democracy: only a glittering generality

In Pakistan, military rulers have generally been planted by USA to serve their interests just as Shah of Iran, was their chosen surrogate in the region. When defiance was perceived on the part of any one, his ultimate fate was death. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, when he tried to unite the Muslim world into a cohesive force or when he decided to make Pakistan a nuclear power, he was murdered through a legal façade called trial. But those who collaborated in the "judicial murder" were never subjected to accountability.

The fate of Ziaul Haq even though a military ruler was no different, as he wanted political stability in Afghanistan and legitimate share of the mujahideen in the governance of the country, as they had earned it through a heroic feat by defeating a very formidable power – the then Soviet Union. But the US game was different. The mujahideen were to be condemned later as Taliban, "terrorists" or whatever. The occupation of Afghanistan by USA and NATO forces, was deemed necessary to find safe access to Central Asian States and Azerbaijan to be able to control the rich oil reservoirs in the Caspian Sea.

The invasion on Iraq was also to gain control over its oil. Saddam Hussein was only a scapegoat, and made-to-order tyrant to invade Iran and even use chemical weapons, supplied to him. There is no accountability for supplying the chemical weapons, which he used against the Kurdish of his country. The War on Terror is only a ruse to justify the cruel military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq, Iran being contemplated to be the third serial target.

Oil, oil and more oil are the latent strategic objectives of USA, in order to continue its economic preponderance besides the phenomenal military superiority it wields. That it invaded the Muslim countries to liberate them from autocratic rulers, and introduce democratic system of governance is a blatant lie. The war they imposed are essentially economic wars, no different from the opium wars of the 19th century launched against China by Great Britain, the then great colonial power, and the mantle has now been passed on to USA, to adopt "policies" reflective of neo-colonial mind-set. Hegemony, domination, military intimidation and attack to create shock and "awe" effect are to extract total compliance. Democracy is only a glittering generality to hide the imperialistic propensity.

Benazir Bhutto, an astute politician and very perceptive of the mood of the people, when she landed in Pakistan, took no time to assess the need to reorient her policies in consonance with the wishes of the people. The popularity graph of General (retd) Musharraf was abysmally low and the people wanted a change to determine Pakistan's policies to support their latent urge to restore democracy – a real one not made-to-order type, which USA wishes to adopt.

When she had resolved to operationalise what has been denied to the nation, due to constant military interventions. The noble wish, Alas! Ended into a dreadful tragedy, as she was eliminated from the scene, a fate her illustrious father Z A Bhutto had met. He gave Pakistan a constitution, which was acceptable to every political party and all the provinces. Besides, he also took determined decisions for ensuring Pakistan's security through nuclear deterrence.