Most heads of state paint a positive picture of their nation. During his recent tour of Europe, General (retired) Pervez Musharraf did the exact opposite. According to him, Pakistan’s people are “ill disciplined,” “tribal” and “feudal,” and certainly not ready for modern democracy. Pakistan’s politicians, in his view, are “corrupt.”

Its Supreme Court judges are “politicised,” “inept,” “corrupt,” and “nepotistic.” Its most respected media personalities are “undermining our forces and [their] own country.” Pakistan’s religious leaders, we have repeatedly been told, are “extremists.”

The impact of Musharraf’s assertions was reflected in the question posed to me by a European intellectual in the Conference Centre Lounge of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “When he has so much contempt for his own nation why does Musharraf want to lead it?” he wondered.

Before arriving in Davos, Musharraf gave a longish speech in Brussels during which he argued that Pakistan should not be judged by European standards of human rights. He pleaded with members of the European Parliament to have “more patience” with his unique brand of constitution-suspending “democracy.” Musharraf’s exact words were, “We are for democracy and I have introduced the essence of democracy, but we cannot be as forward looking as you are [in the West]. Allow us some time to reach that state.”

Describing the West’s concern with democracy in the third world as an “obsession,” he said, “You have taken centuries to reach where you have come. Allow us time for going for the value that you have reached for yourself.”

... contd.