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Politics : Idea Of The Day -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: IQBAL LATIF who wrote (42362)	4/7/2002 10:29:12 AM
From: IQBAL LATIF	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 50167

Street-level reactions on Saturday to President Pervez Musharraf's plan to hold a referendum on extending his rule showed many were resigned to supporting the military ruler. General Musharraf's announcement on Friday of a May referendum to extend his tenure by five years has drawn howls of condemnation from opposition and religious parties and a cool response from the Commonwealth. However, for many, Musharraf remains the lesser evil since politics has been heavily tainted by corruption. "I don't care. At least he's better than the political parties," said 30-year-old shoe shiner Amir Hussain. "I'm sitting here in a very good spot but if there was a political government, someone would have told me to move away. "Life is very tough for us but do we have any other choice?" Islamabad-based mechanical engineer Khawja Nasir, 37, said Musharraf's military backing was the key to stability in Pakistan. "We have seen political leaders striking deals and making money and running away from the country. The army is a reality and the only organized force in Pakistan which cannot be removed from the scene." "Its position is strengthened by the miserable record of politicians especially in the last decade. The political leadership only battled each other and neglected their basic duties to serve the people," he said. Musharraf has also won support for his largely secular stance despite the fact that politics in the country is often swayed by religious factions. "Musharraf is a clean man and his honesty is his strength. We feel safe as long as he is there because he wants to destroy these hardline mullahs (religious leaders) and that's a very good thing for society," said bakery worker Shahzad Gabriel, 22. However, not everyone is convinced. Legal aide Akhtar Ali, 42, said Musharraf's willingness to cooperate with the United States in its campaign in Afghanistan had undermined his credibility. "He's a puppy of Uncle Sam. The referendum is meant to prolong his rule because the Americans want him to stay. He's an agent of foreign powers," he said. According to reports in The News...