DATE=10/18/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=PAKISTAN - COUP - REACT(L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255190
BYLINE=AYAZ GUL
DATELINE=ISLAMABAD
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Most Pakistanis are cheering their new
military regime, which overturned the government of
the country's democratically-elected prime minister
last week in a bloodless coup. As Ayaz Gul reports
from Islamabad, people see the political upheaval as a
chance to resolve the social and economic problems
that have plagued Pakistan.
TEXT: Pakistan's new military leader says he will
not allow the country to revert to what he calls the
"era of sham democracy" that marked the rule of former
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
General Pervez Musharraf outlined his plan to improve
Pakistan's economy and political system in a broadcast
speech to his nation Sunday. He says those who have
defaulted on loans or evaded their taxes must return
the nation's wealth, or face punishment.
The general's comments appear to have struck a chord
with many Pakistanis. On the streets here in
Islamabad, and in the capital's shops, people are
beginning to speak of the future in hopeful tones.
/// TARIQ AHEMD ACT IN URDU, IN AND FADE UNDER ///
Tariq Ahemd, who sells chickens in Islamabad, welcomes
the military takeover. He says he believes General
Musharraf will address the problems of society, unlike
previous governments.
Aziz Khan, a businessman in the capital, says the
military should be able to perform better than the
elected governments.
/// KHAN ACT ///
The nation has experienced that democracy has
been failed in this country. All politicians
are corrupt. They have looted the [national]
money. That is our money.
/// END ACT ///
Mehmood Ali comes from a village where people are
happy about Prime Minister Sharif's dismissal.
/// MEHMOOD ALI ACT IN URDU, IN AND FADE UNDER ///
Mr. Ali says no government has ever followed through
on promises to bring electricity to his village. In
his view, Mr. Sharif is typical of all politicians,
who make promises but never deliver on them.
Although most Pakistanis appear to support last week's
military takeover, some say they do not believe the
country's new military rulers are going to make a
difference in their lives.
/// DIALOGUE ACT WITH TWO SHOPPERS IN MARKET ///
[1st Person] Nothing [is] different. Because
whoever ever has come as yet, even the
martial law came before as well.
Nobody made any difference. Pakistan
remains there where it was. It may get
a little better but probably it will
get more worse.
[2nd Person] I have seen the previous governments
and whenever a new government comes,
they just blame the previous
government. So what I think is that
faces change but things really don't
change.
/// END ACT ///
Since 1988, all of Pakistan's democratically-elected
governments in Pakistan have been dismissed, amid
charges of corruption and mis-rule. Governmental
corruption has plagued Pakistan throughout its 52-year
history, and analysts say the country's chronic
problem of inadequate education has only made the
situation more difficult to solve.
Professor Pervez Hoodbhoy is a social commentator in
Islamabad. He says support for the military
government is evidence of the deep disenchantment of
the Pakistani people.
/// HOODBHOY ACT ///
The present government has a lot of good will on
its side at the moment because the problems are
so deep and endemic to this society. I think it
[the army] will not be able to solve them by
itself. It will have to bring the rest of
society along with it. And eventually, or
rather very soon, handing over the real power in
this society to the elected representative of
the people.
/// END ACT ///
Political observers are concerned about the future of
democracy in Pakistan because, in his speech, General
Musharraf did not specify how long he plans to stay
in power. But he has established a National Security
Council to run the country, which he says will work
towards restoring democracy. (Signed)
NEB/AG/WTW
18-Oct-1999 13:13 PM EDT (18-Oct-1999 1713 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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