Nawaz Sharif in October 1999

Posted by Arsalan

August 19, 2008

Today as I write, the short memory of Pakistani people has made them consider Nawaz Sharif as a hero and savior, who can bring them out of current crisis. Most of the people believe that Pakistan was on road of prosperity when his government was toppled on 12th October 1999.

Let me refresh your memory a little bit. The state of economy that time is best desribed by BBC in its report of 14th October 1999:

Voters had elected Mr Sharif largely for his pledge to revive the economy. But, after two and a half years, foreign investment has dried up, prices are spiralling, foreign debt stands at $32bn against reserves of little more than $1bn, and unemployment is at an all-time high.

The International Monetary Fund had already suspended aid payments to Pakistan before the coup, demanding that the country first got its finances in good order.

When the news of toppling of Nawaz Sharif’s government were heard, people came on streets and distributed sweets and started rejoicing. The opposition leaders were also more than happy including Benazir Bhutto:

Ms Bhutto told the BBC in London that Mr Sharif was an “unpopular dictator” whose attempts to divide the army had triggered the military revolt.

“Mr Sharif boasted he was a man of crisis,” Ms Bhutto said. “This crisis overcame him.”

She said he had attacked the president and the supreme court, as well as accusing the press of treason. “He fought with everyone.”

Ms Bhutto also said members of the ruling parliamentary party were backing Pakistan’s army chief because they felt that Mr Sharif was turning the country into a police state.

Imran Khan, now a good friend of Nawaz Sharif, didn’t have different views:

Leader of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-insaaf (Justice) party, Imran Khan, said people in Pakistan welcomed the coup.

“The sad thing is, everyone in this country has welcomed the army,” he told the BBC.

Mr Sharif ran a fascist government, he said, and wanted to gain control over every institution in the country in order to become “a middle-eastern monarch”.

“The only thing that stood in the way of Sharif from becoming a complete dictator was the army and he was trying to manipulate the army to get his man on top.”

People and political parties celebrating today on Musharraf’s resignation must not forget these “golden words” of the past by the same leaders who are dreaming to be on driving seat of Pakistan now. We can expect to see the same celebration on exit of Zardari or Nawaz Sharif after a couple of years or maybe months.

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