PAKISTAN: Imran Khan arrested as pressure mounts on Musharraf
Updated
Former cricket star Imran Khan has been charged under Pakistan's anti terrorism laws after attempting to address a group of students. He's now in Lahore's biggest prison, possibly facing seven years jail.
Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Pakistani security analyst and writer, Ayesha Siddiqa. Her book, 'Military Inc, Inside Pakistan's Military Economy' is published by Pluto Press.
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well you know every effort counts. It's not that what Australia can do is unimportant, in fact it's very important. Australia knows the principles and norms of democracy and what it should do is put pressure, unrelentingly put pressure on Pakistan, Pakistan's regime to withdraw the emergency, to re-instate the judges and you know let people live, let the political process return to normalcy as it was.
SEN LAM: But I guess apart from the symbolic gesture, the symbolism of the gesture, and apart from also putting the issue, keeping the issue alive, realistically though Canberra doesn't have much leverage with Islamabad.
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well yes you know, the entire world well that way, it doesn't. But it does because every opinion matters. Pakistani regime constantly looks outside for legitimacy. The reason Musharraf rules Pakistan today is because of the support he gets directly and indirectly from the world outside. And he needs to get this message that unless he begins to treat his people well, that support he cannot depend any longer on that support. I mean look what has happened to Imran Khan, who was a cricketer, who has done so much for the community, he's opened a cancer hospital - that gentleman has been arrested and is being charged under anti-terrorist law. That is the main concern.
SEN LAM: Do you think that might backfire on President Musharraf who has after all seems to have alienated quite a few sections of Pakistan community?
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well the emergency has backfired. I'm sure what has happened to Imran Khan will contribute. But generally the emergency has backfired because this is something which was not going to contribute in, in the war on terror. In fact, the judiciary which has been sacked precisely for the reason that was it was you know putting hurdles in, in the war on terror - the judges who actually helped the militants and the extremists are the ones some of them, have they've just been given a, a fresh oath. So you know, there is hypocrisy, there is contradiction in, in government's action and in fact the secular segments of the society and the judiciary have been sacked.
SEN LAM: Well members of the judiciary and certainly thousands of lawyers, have been locked up and the legal fraternity says the struggle is not over. How do you see this thing ending? What outcome do you think might we expect?
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well, the civil society is going to put up its pressure. This is a new Pakistan. I mean this resistance has happened; this is a secular non-religious movement, which has started. The first time we ever had it was in 1969 against another dictator General Ayub Khan. This is a secular movement again and people are asking, demanding for liberties. I mean two days ago, there was a bunch of young student teenagers who were arrested and all they were doing were, was a non-violent silent protest. So that's the way the regime you know, plans to clamp down. But the civil society is still putting pressure. Now the thing is that General Musharraf also has these other partners, who are absolute hooligans. I mean one of his key ministers before 18th October, that is the day Benazir Bhutto arrived in Pakistan, predicted the next elections will be bloody and violent. Did he have access to information which the rest of us don't have? This is dangerous, I mean…
SEN LAM: You speak of civil society keeping up the battle against Musharraf's regime. You've just flown in from Islamabad, what's the atmosphere there like? How does the man in the street feel about the state of emergency?
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well the man in the street is under pressure. It is the select group, you know the lawyers, professional groups, civil society, human rights activists who are actually out on the streets - it's the more educated lot which is out on the streets. Does not mean that the poor man, the man on the street, you know the common man, is not with them. It's just that the entire leadership has been put behind bars. Imran Khan was the last of the leaders who was at large, who was free and he has been put under, behind bars as well. So this is suddenly a society which doesn't have leaders.
SEN LAM: Well we speak of General Musharraf's alienation and it would seem that he's also alienated sections of Pakistan's military. And already there are reports that the military has already earmarked another General to take over from Musharraf. Now with Pakistan's military hanging over the country like a kind of Damocles sword, do you think Pakistan will have true democracy so long as the military's always watching from the sidelines?
AYESHA SIDDIQA: Well this is a struggle. But the thing is that this is what the civil society was doing. An independent judiciary which is one of the key demands, re-instatement of the eight judges who've been sacked and other judges in the high, provincial high courts, it is essential for democracy. An independent and autonomous judiciary is key to a healthy democracy in the country. And that is the, one of the main things which we need to push back the military. But you know coming to your point about you know problems within the military, I do not think so that …that is really happening at the moment. Yes the military, the officers, the officers in the junior ranks and the mid-ranks are extremely uncomfortable with what General Musharraf is doing. But his Generals are with him precisely because I think they have interest in holding on to power. They benefit immensely.
