A fine article - that must have been difficult to write.

I agree that the civilian "democratic" institutions in Pakistan are so weak, fragile and largely a facade that the guiding institutions need to be recognised.

Those guiding institions include the feudal overlords but also the more modernising armed forces, which in such an under-developed country as Pakistan have much more political, economic and even intellectual influence than in the west.

That said, I think Musharraf largely led his democratic opponents into an ambush - particularly regarding the conditions under which Benazir Bhutto was assassinated. Her security was largely an ISI responsibility. Her death was too automatically blamed on Muslim extremist elements when Pakistan state based elements had equal or greater reasons to kill her.

If Pakistan can develop an Ataturk style military strongman, with a broader democratic base than Musharraf, I would agree with the author's main argument. But its a chicken and egg risk - the US and UK might endorse a hoped for Ataturk who might then become an uncontrollable Saddam Hussein (with Pakistan's nuclear arsenal).

Pete
another example of deadly security "protection" http://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2008/10/islamabad-marriott-hotel-bombing.html

Pakistan is doomed anyway - as this BBC ASSIGNMENT program illustrates:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p007hcby

Bottom line: The Pakistan Talaben is about to open a new front in Punjab Province.

My guess is that the US and India have contingency plans to seize the nukes and destroy Pakistan's bomb making capacity in the event of the country imploding or falling into Taleban hands. After that Westerners will care about the fate of Pakistanis about as much as they do about the Sudanese or the hundreds of thousands of people who died in North Korea's famine.

Pakistan came into being by the will of Allah to serve a special purpose and until that purpose is achieved nothing is going to happen to Pakistan. All those people who are saying that Pakistan would be doomed are wrong because in my frank opinion those opressive nations would soon be doomed who are dreaming to hurt Pakistan.I think it is the duty of every educated Pakistani to spread real education in Pakistan and that can be achieved by journalists and other sincere people who are in the media to educate and inform people such as this beautiful article written by my friend S.A. Hassan.

A very fine article and even though i agree on many points with the author but i do differ with the conclusion.

I understand and acknowledge the pain and suffering the people of Pakistan are going through right now, and i also agree that after the departuer of Mr Musharaff, the economy and overall law and order situation has wrosened but stil this is not the solution for the problems.

Their is no point in arguing about Mushraff's Agenda and whatever he has achieved in his "Tenure". In my opinion, we have to be patient with the democracy and i am hopeful that with a contineous democratic process, we will definitely come up with a better government.

By saying that, i do agree that Democracy is not the only solution or should i say they quick solution. But, do we have any other? (Obviously, not the one suggested in this article)

>>For the Western powers, particularly in the UK and USA, these political actors fit in well which is why they are enjoying their support.<<

The ruling elite in the USA and UK have taken over power and are in control. There is no true democracy in the UK or US.

The Anglo/American Empire are in charge. The have a great say in deciding who the next president or prime minister of the country should be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tey_XDi0BSU
(Pilger on Anglo-American empire influence)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH6kuvn617w
(The Anglo/American Empire)

http://www.johnpilger.com/page.asp?partid=46

The Author must live in UK...and be projecting the current political climate of reward and punishment onto innocent Pakistan.

http://www.bnp.org.uk/?q=news/taxpayers-forced-give-%C2%A318-million-communist-controlled-unite-trade-union

But hey.....the BNP is onw of those wacko nut job fringe parties...right ?

Ok.. let's take mainstream media :)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7473683/Union-behind-BA-strike-receives-18m-from-taxpayers-in-money-laundering-deal-with-Labour.html

The problem with Democracy.. is also it's greatest thing..freedom.
I tend to agree with the author's comment ( a quote I think) that the best thing for Pakistan is a benevolent Dictatorship and for the reasons he cites.