“A disgruntled unemployed) desperate opposition is spreading vicious rumors and clutching at straws my governments firm footed. I have just demonstrated a three fourths majority in parliament hence all these demands for a national government are totally misplaced. General Aslam Beg retired as scheduled on August 16.”
Nawaz Sharif Pakistan’s prime minister at least sounds confident as he dismisses the rumors of military plots the calls for a government of “national unity” and the sundry other problems economic and social besetting his ten-month-old govt. But does Sharif protest too much?
On August 4 Benazir Bhutto Sharif’s predecessor as prime minister pitched a large tent outside parliament and along with some 2000 followers staged a 12hour hunger strike to protest against Govt policies. “We have brought BOVE [0 a standstill” she claimed. A day earlier Naved Malik a rebel from the prime minister’s ruling party the Islamic Democratic Alliance confessed that he had been a member of the party’s election cell “which rigged the 1990 elections by adding 20000 bogus votes in each constituency”. The story was killed in the press the following day by timely pressure from Sharif’s information advisers. .
General Beg the army chief of staff whose presumed ambitions sparked rumors of an impending coup has been bidding farewell to army colleagues. “General Beg’s conduct has been at all times professional and honorable. I have had several meetings with him. He too is irritated by these rumors” Sharif told The Economist this week. Intelligence sources say “There is no danger to the Govt now” which could of course: mean that there were problems earlier.
General Beg retired on August 16. Bhutto held a rally on August 14 Pakistan’s Independence Day in Lahore. She says that Sharif’s Govt will not last beyond this C next year. A member of Bhutto’s inner circle is less restrained “It is us August 16.” Sharif is unperturbed “I am man with a mission. My Govt cannot ruffled easily”
(Economist)
Article extracted from this publication >> September 6, 1991
