MUSHARRAF is the best choice for Pakistan while others are corrupt politicians who have looted wealth of Pakistan for self interest.

Ahmad , riyadh, saudi arabia

The commentators are mixing up strenght with corrupt use of power. The President has no right to be both an army officer and President. He has abused the constitution and that is what the ethical judges have indicated but not yet judged on He again abused the constitution by dismissing them.He is trying now to hold onto power, not rightfully his, by the State of Emergency. If every officer, police or army believed he is right and takes action to obtian power to carry out what he/she believes there will be anarchy and abuse of rights of the people to justice and freedoms. Burma is another such example and both countries give Asia a bad image of corrupt power. Personally I do not support Bhutto..but the way of Musharaf is not the right way ..It takes the power away from the people and from the constitution which it makes a tool for tyrants .He has not handled the extremists nor the terrorists who are stronger by his undemocratic actions . He but emboldened them by his methods.

Tony, Hong Kong , China

For godsake....spare Pakistan now...all you politicians and army generals....everyone knows you all are corrupt....the very moment you get into power you forget the pains of nation which you champion before getting there....

I will say it is all because there is a huge corrupt population in Pakistan. To my estimates 90% are corrupt....5% are not corrupt coz they dont get a chance and only 5% carry clean character.....so this is 5% war against 95% !!!!

5% !! Let defeat the 95%.

Tanweer Bukhari, Dubai, UAE

I am totally with Musharraf. The judiaciary was playing into the hands of politicians. the judges were like puppets of the opposition parties. they are being showered praises to interfere with government administration and to create disturbances. this is only helping the power-hungry opposition parties, not the economy.

these Bhuttos and sharifs have already looted pakistan twice each. they are back to refill their coffers. they are pretending that they are uniting for democracy. if musharraf goes, they will be fighting like the shia and sunni blocks in iraq. you can never share in looting a country.

yasir, Karachi, pakistan

Let President Musharraf deal with Pakistan's problems. He had saved Pakistan from bankrupt politicians who don't deal with Pakistan's general interest. A strong leader is needed right now in Pakistan or else the country will be in chaos just like what had happened to Iraq when its leader, Saddam, was cut off without thinking how the country will continue to be ruled and made more worse when the leader's administrators were also dismissed. This scenario will repeat if mistakes of the past are not corrected. Pakistan's cohesiveness lies in the hands of President Musharraf right now. He controls the army which is the only resource of the country for maintaining peace. and order. He knows his country and he knows what is for Pakistan's best interest. Sectarianism is to be rejected at all cost or Pakistan will breakup and its road to freedom will be blunted and worse the country will be taken over by extremists who want their own brand of rule by instant killings.

John Flowers, New York, USA

I think Bhutto makes a mistake.
Her worst ennemy is not the general but Al Qaeda and the islamic fundamentalists. The alternative to Musharaf dictatorship is the Iranian type "democracy".
At least Musharaf listens to Uncle Sam, while the fundamentalists would send her to the kitchen (this would be the most human scenario for her).

I.D. Rusu, Bucharest, Romania

the whole drama of emergency was to remove the Judges of the supreme court, over 60 judges of the supreme court and high court did not take oath under suspended constitution.
Musharraf has told the west that it was necessary to continue with the war on terror. Is the west so stupid !!!!

wake up guys, another saddam in the making !!!!

Saeed Tiwana, memphis, usa

People who vote for corrupt leaders like Bhutto and Sharif deserve no respect ..these two are the worst it can get..Western countries know all of this yet still going to help them..army rule is much better than politicians like these two....

Sameer Khan, San Jose, USA/California

I dont know what it means when some Pakistani people ( especially those who live in other democratic countries) say that democracy is not suitable for their country. What other suitable form could they be thinking of? Are they hoping that some benovalent dictator (as was thought of of Musharaff) will take charge? What system exists in Pakistan that would create such leaders? Random? The Army?
That's why it is important for every one to push towards some form of peoples representation that cannot be overturned by the Army. It will be corrupt but people can modify it as you go. There are no perfect democracies anywhere.
Stop supporting your dictator and start voicing support for some political leader you think is the less evil. That would be far better than letting your Army decide your fate.

hn, Abington, USA/MD

"If Bhutto or Sharif f was american or british they would have been executed for revealing state secrect and corruption during thier rule. By supporting these corrupt politicos and kleptrocrats,we make mokery of ourself and their claim to represent free people.

jaffar Syed , Greater Boston , MA, USA"

Just dont vote for them. Thats it. Vote for say Imran Khan or somebody who may be better. This is a poor excuse for supporting a dictator who cannot be voted out or in. He is trampling on the only good thing going for Pakistan - a well spirited judiciary. That must be worst than any harm a corrupt politician can do.
Also Isn't Mushraff who recently sold a book with full of national secrets?

hn, Abington, USA/MD

If Bhutto or Sharif f was american or british they would have been executed for revealing state secrect and corruption during thier rule. By supporting these corrupt politicos and kleptrocrats,we make mokery of ourself and their claim to represent free people.

jaffar Syed , Greater Boston , MA, USA

There is an obvious constitutional crisis, roles maybe needed to be better defined, maybe 1 power needs to be moved to another office, in compromise and how about a panel of 9 made of 3 appointees of each branch, with a 7 vote minimum to settle disputes. ( at least 1 of appointee from each group would have to vote in favor for anything to pass ). a super majority is always a good way to make everyone feel safe.

john, salem, ma

Musarraf may by any thing but Corrupt like Bhutto, Sharif et al

jaffar Syed , Greater Boston , MA, USA

Please lets get our facts right and keep our emotions in check. Lets think with our heads for once! Pakistani's are all about "JAZBA",but not focused, leaping head first without analysing the full situation..or how easily they are being led. WHAT CHOICE DID MUSHARAF HAVE???? He is the only one who took the country towards some sort of respect and economic stability after years of "THE BELOVED BENAZIR>NAWAWZ>BENAZIR>NAWAZ fiasco...both are corrupt and are more than willing to endanger the lifes of one and all pakistani's for their thirst for power....before supporting either one, please look at the facts where were you then and where are you now??? what democracy is one talking about??? PAKISTAN NEVER WAS AND WILL NEVER BE READY FOR DEMOCRACY....IT CANNOT AND WILL NOT WORK in a country where most of the common people are nothing but emotional uneducated masses who like sheep are led from 1 slaughter house to another by their "DEMOCRATIC" shepherds....history is all you have to look at.

mustafa, Singapore,

Pakistan has sacrificed a lot to serve the World's interest in our region over the last three decades. For now we are meddled up with the "war on terror' , which has already started to affect the life of a common man in the country. We have learned how to handle our internal matters with our experience. Having a democratic government in place had never worked out for us, or has ever solved our problems. Post 9/11 Pakistan has managed to survive and is doing its best to live up to the World's expectation just for the reason that balanced decisions were taken in time. Our morally bankrupt politicians never would have taken decisions, rather dictations only! At least the decisions taken by the 'non-democratic' ruler were evenly balanced, and that is one single reason the White House still needs the man in the democratic set up as well .. just with few wings clipped. We are busy handling war on terror and insurgency in our northern areas. World ... please leave us alone for a while !!

Nasir Khatib, Karachi, Pakistan

"SAVE THE JUDICIARY FUND" ... Smart, very smart !

Syed F. Akbar, Sacramento, California

If Musharaf was american or british general he would have been executed for illegel war in Kargil. By supporting him we make mokery of our claim to represent free people.

Harshad Mody, Baltimore, USA

Presents a fair view of current state of affairs.

However, this article ignores the history of Pakistan. Military dictators ruled most of the times with "controlled" democracy in between. During “controlled” democracy, military and ISI remotely controlled the democratically elected leaders.

With this background, Ms. Benazir Bhutto has limited options on the steps she will or can take.

Under pressure, Gen Musharraf will call for elections after much dilly dallying and permit Ms. Bhutto to become a PM with limited powers.

In the turmoil ridden nation, pulled in different directions by different sections (in some cases totally opposed to each other), Gen Musharraf and Ms. Bhutto will only provide a temporary reprieve! Permanent solution, if there is one, for a stable Pakistan is a long way off! Meanwhile, different leaders will be playing different roles, some positively and some negatively!
Regards,

Krishna R. Kumar, Udupi, India

The problem that lead Pakistan to this path is implicit in some of the replies to this articles from those pointing their fingers at US etc. I recall Mushraff being hailed as a hero when he stormed into nations highest office. What made him the hero then is that he fought a covert war with India. Now that India hails him as the best thing they had from Pakistan yet he does not carry that feather. If from the beginning Pakistan (general public) had kept its principles above and beyond their hatred for their neighbor, they probably could have had some form of functional democracy.

Now the country is 30% army capitalizing on peoples hatred and distrust of others.

hn, Abingdon, USA/MD

The difference between India Pakistan and Myanmar which were all at one point one country is significant. India was able to retain a clear separation of the military, the judicial system and the administrative bureaucracy. Also India focussed on building its economic infrastructure and saying NO to tied aid as much as it could.

Newspaper reports should be supporting individuals who have a basic understanding of these concepts rather than worrying about how the US needs will be met, whether Bhutto or Musharraf will become leaders.

Until the country promotes the people who fight for the core concepts that define a democracy, choosing a leader is merely a little cherry on the top of a pudding ratherr than a solid foundation.

latika , toronto, canada

Its all a big drama staged by the western powers, Musharraf and Benazir Bhutto. US and Britain wants Musharraf to remain in power with Benazir Bhutto being the prime minister. They even brokered a deal between the two for this purpose. It is important the remember, that Musharraf charged Benazir Bhutto with corruption (which everybody knows is true) and she was living in exile. The After the deal was finalised, and the charges were lift, benazir came to Pakistan, but her popularity was gone because of her deal with Musharraf and by helping him win another term. Musharaf now had to do his part to increase her popularity, and imposed emergency which will serve other purposes as well. Benazir becomes the main opposition leader (while in reality she is not, she is actually Musharraf's ally). Every other political leader has to be arrested who thinks of staging demonstrations, while Benazir can stay in her home. She never came to pakistan in the last so many years because (continued)

F.S., Paris, France

just a comment that its the reality that in Pakistan there are people who speak punjabi, sindhi, pashto, saraiki, balochi and many more regional languages, all these languages are spoken across the borders and thats why i say openly that pakistani society needs higher values where community is respected and given due share including in the Army, Judiciary and Administration. Four states of the country should be given autonomy, but in a country where the democracy is raped several times by the Army. where some thing against the Government is considered as against the state and treated accordinly. Where the Military is considered as holy cow and treated above law, and no one can critize the Dictators.. where the people are treated as pets and when they wants roll back their constitutional rights. Where Army makes all the foreign and national policy, then they should suffer for what they have sown not Qadeer Khan nor any buddie else. Military should be questioned as well.

Kakar, Quetta, Pakistan

Unfortunately you all have abviously forgotten that this is Gen. Mussharaf and his Army colloegues who saved Pakistan from becomming an other Iraq. If you have any real affection for this country then you realise this. Main problem of Pakistan , everyone consider himself first a punjabi, sindhi, pathan, baloch , muhajar , sunni or shias and pakistani later. On top of it, not a single so called POLITICIAN has ever thought of taking any concrete steps to narrow down these ethnic divisions. Instead they took money and ran away. We all KNOW very well. Do you find it normal that Judges of Supreme court behave like political leaders and hold rallys , interfere in economic policies of government ? Is this job of Judiciary ?
I believe in strong Army action to clean up Pakistan from all this rubbish once for all as Atta Turk in Turkey and it is only solution to save our country from Disaters of religious terrorists and so called and self proclaimed people representatives!!!

F.Malik, Paris, France

Musharraf is a piece of shit for pulling a stunt like this, and so is our president George W. Bullshit and our other leaders in Washington to allowing it. If this shit had happened anywhere except Pakistan, that fucken hypocrite George Bullshit would have troops over there "toppling a dictator and spreading democracy." Since Musharraf is an "ally in the war against terror" he is allowed to operate with impunity. This is disgusting! This is why I hate politicians.

robert coleman, gary, in

Pakistan's Finest Hour

In a troubled country of 160 million, 6 months ago lawyers fought a popular struggle to uphold the Chief justice, fought to hold on to an independent judiciary. IT WAS INDEED OUR PROUDEST MOMENT SINCE INDEPENDENCE! And credit goes to our media and our lawyers! Now a self-serving dictator has challenged the nation, with might of brutal force and police state repression, to try it again. What was Pakistan’s finest moment has become now its darkest hour!
HELP US RESTORE OUR JUDICIARY!

Please contribute to our : SAVE THE JUDICIARY fund .

Imran Butt

Lahore , Pakistan

Imran Butt, Lahore , Pakistan

Yyour comments missing the main point, dismissal of independent judges. America must understand that Pakistani peoples have tasted justice and what independent juduciry can help them from injustice of army, elites and ploticians.
US may be ignoring the hole point about judciry but this Martial law came againt Juduciay and peoples of Pakistan know very well and will never settle less than reinstament of indpendent Judiciary Headed by Ch.Iftikar.
US should make peoples of Pakistan friend not Dectators of Pakistan be ready what one of the sentor said that Pakistan is standing on pre revolution Iran

Mohammad Ashraf, New York, USA

ONLY Benazir Bhutto meet with the definition of POLITICIAN.OTHER person's job is to work on the border as public servant.
so,LET the politician take the charge of the government and other may serve according to law under the government run by the politicians.

meem, karachi, Sindh

Declaration of emergency in Pakistan is ostensibly for Gen. Musharraf to cling to power. The petition was filed about his eligibality to becoming the President while retaining the uniform. He feared that an independent judiciary headed by Iftikhar Chawdry might decide it unconstitutional. Hence he declared an emergency and sent the judges back home.

Musharraf just to save his skin has put the whole country at stake. Instead of dealing with the terrorists he brutalized the lawyers, members of civil society,writers, intellectuals.History will never forgive him as it has not forgiven Hitler, Mussolini,

Mohammed Husain, Karachi, Pakistan