Is it that memories are surprisingly short these days thanks to deceptive media reports that have crafted a zeitgeist based on lies or is that we are willing to forgive and forget everything in hope for democracy or something that vaguely resembles democracy but in actuality it is feudalism at its worst? Ever since the unfortunate murder of Benazir Bhutto, the western media has started to sound like a desperate bunch of groupies by going head over heels in praise of the fallen politician. Now that the dust has started to settle after the atrocious events of December 27, 2007, I thought that I should remind myself and others that behind the so called ‘beacon of hope’ for Pakistan there was a person who could be considered one of the most corrupt leaders that the country or even the world has ever seen.

Lest we forget that she was the same individual who along with her husband allegedly accumulated about 1.5 billion dollars during her terms as the prime minister of Pakistan.

Lest we forget that this was the same person against whom charges were raised by the Pakistani government for an obscene amount of corruption but later dropped as she intended to make a deal with the General. By the way, charges are still pending against her and her husband in other countries including Switzerland, Spain and Britain.

Lest we forget that her husband who is now the co-chairperson of the party is still widely referred to as ‘Mr. 10 Percent’ as he took a 10 percent cut from all government contracts under her government.

Lest we forget that she was the same individual who backed the Taliban during her government.

Lest we forget that she was the same individual under whose government her own brother,  who happened to be her rival, was ambushed and shot dead by police in front of his own house and no one was ever held accountable.

Lest we forget that during her first 20 month term, the government failed to pass a single piece of major legislation.

This list can go on and on as there has hardly been a prime minister as corrupt and ineffectual as the late Mrs. Benazir Bhutto. But all this has largely gone unnoticed by the Western media. If it has been noticed, it has been regarded as unimportant as she was considered to be the only democratic hope for the poor people of Pakistan. It’s hardly mentioned that the form of democracy practiced by Benazir Bhutto is hardly democracy. It is nothing more than feudalism disguised as democracy. We are starting to see the true colors of this democracy with the recent appointment of her 19 year old son as the party leader.

The darling of Western media recently hired a PR firm, BKSH and Associates, from the United States and spent 300,000 dollars to boost her media image. This is the same firm that has been provided service to the likes of Ronald Reagan, George Bush, and Hillary Clinton. Once her image was systematically boosted, she triumphantly returned to Pakistan. Despite being completely irresponsible and ignoring threats of terrorism she decided to march through the streets of Karachi, which resulted in carnage and deaths of many but could hardly have been a surprise after repeated warnings by various groups. This didn’t deter her and she ended up meeting her demise after another rally in Rawalpindi leaving the country with her 19 year heir as the leader and Mr. 10 Percent as the man behind the kid. Her son has now even changed his paternal name and taken Bhutto has his last name so the dynasty may continue. This is hardly a democratic institution. This resembles a feudal kingdom. Have our memories become so short and deluded by half truths that we cannot remember the past at all or is it that we are so desperate for democracy that we are wiling to ignore all wrongs?

I can’t sit quietly and take any more of this charade. Happy New Years!!!

Here’s more for some insightful reading:

Benazir hired top US lobbyist, PR firm to boost her image
http://news.webindia123.com/news/ar_showdetails.asp?id=709020702&cat=&n_date=20070902

Pakistan’s flawed and feudal princess
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2233334,00.html

Daughter of the West
http://www.lrb.co.uk/v29/n24/ali_01_.html

My heart bleeds for Pakistan….
http://micropakistan.org/blog/2007/12/31/my-heart-bleeds-for-pakistan-it-deserves-better-than-this-grotesque-feudal-charade-by-tariq-ali-the-independent/