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'Musharraf and Pakistan cannot exist together' November 19, 2007 22:35 IST Hamid Mir is probably the most well known Pakistani journalist. A regular commentator on rediff.com, Mir has in a career spanning 20 years interviewed many Pakistani and world leaders, including Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf [Images] and Opposition leaders Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto [Images]. The executive editor of Geo TV, Islamabad, Mir is also the last journalist to have interviewed Osama bin Laden. Complete coverage: Pakistan is crisis In a prescient article he wrote on rediff.com, Mir asked whether Pakistan is getting ready for martial law. Weeks later, the Pakistan president proved him right, imposing emergency on November 2. On Monday, Mir discussed issues like Musharraf's compulsions in resorting to this extreme measure, conducting elections and restoring democracy in Pakistan, whether its nuclear weapons are in danger of falling into extremists' hands and what the ramifications for India would be. Here is the transcript. digvijoy asked, Hi Hamid,my question is are you concerned about the fate of nuclear weapons in this political turmoil?if musharraf sheds his uniform is he not vulnerable as his predecessors for getting proseceuted like(Zulfikar Ali Bhutto)?Hamid Mir answers, at 2007-11-19 17:56:34I think that when Musharraf will shed his uniform he will become very weak but Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was not a military dictator he was the first ever elected prime minister of Pakistan.Our nuclear weapons are safe in this political turmoil,i think concern about the nuclear weapons is baseless and it will only help Musharraf. ASAD asked, how long do you feel emergeny is applied? hillary asked, Hamid jee , Will pakistan get democracy in near future ? saurabha trivedi asked, Hello Hamid ji I want to know that in the emergency what the united nation will take step to re-organizing the democracy in pak at the time of election proposed. What are the possibilities in this arena of democracy. suhaana ali asked, These politicians have taken this country to the dogs. I have given up hope that Pakistan will ever become what Quaid-e-Azam wanted it to... sameer asked, Mr. Hamir, do you think that Mr. Mushrraf will be punished or may face some legal action once he quits as president and the new government will come into existence? Phani asked, Mr Mir, you have said that Musharraf has two sets of supporters - one in Pak and the other in India. What makes you say that? Can you elaborate? Kanishka asked, Hamidji, do you think Nawaz is more popular compare to Benazir and Musharraf? will he be amenable to US? Kanishka asked, Hamid Mir, if you get audience with Prez Bush what will be your message to him? Princess asked, What is America's gameplan in all this? Are they condemning emergency just for the record, to satisfy the world, while secretly supporting Musharraf? Sandip asked, why musharraf want to go with emeergency? thomasabu asked, is the common man safe Hamidji? Janavai asked, Sir, which is biggest weakness and greatest stregth of General Musharraf? harry asked, Mr Hamid what is the reaction of a independent pakistani citizan towards Gen. Musharraf musharraf asked, Sir dont u think that general was successfull in making whole world believe that emergency was neccessary to stop terrorist from taking over country? Janavai asked, Sir, where is Osama bin laden and what he must be thinking of emergency in Pakistan? rajesh786 asked, what is future of pakistans nuclear bombs. Princess asked, What is with Pakistan and democracy? Across the border India, from which Pakistan broke off, has been enjoying tremendous democracy, today it is the toast of the world whereas Pakistan is often called a failed State. Why is it so? nabirouf asked, Mr. Mir is it not true that US is using Pakistan for it own interests and it acomplishes it goals, Pakistan will go through the same fate as is what happened with Sadams Iraq SPB asked, What is the main reason behind so much instability (or lack of democracy) in Pakistan ever since independence when compared with its neighbor like India? manugill@rediffmail.com asked, Has Musharraf not done enough to bring the country back on the tracks or atleast try bring it back. If he steps down today and goes to live in US or UK, will the people of pakistan, which your channel says are on the streets protesting in favour of the likes of Bhutto who ran away from the country rather than facing the court and Sharrif who brought the economy to a stansdtill, be happy to be goverened by the same old looters Bhutto & Sharif. It is a shame the people of pakistan did not realise what Mush has done for them. If they do not support Mush at this time of crisis created by people who have never and will never be worried about the development of the country and the national character, this country is heading towards stone age. Do you agree? In today's day and age, we will expect the politicians to be corrupt, but is not enough that he has managed to run the country in Einy asked, How do you view the life of common man in pakistan during emergency? Singha asked, Hello Mr. Hamid Do you think Renaissance (evolution from the dark ages similar to what happened in europe 500 years ago) is possible in the islamic world - muslims openly admitting that islam is wrong - providing equal rights to women, minorities and separating the mosque from the government? mamu asked, Do you think Pakistan (the democratic as well as the authoritarian rulers) has created a Frankenstein's monster in the face of the so-called Jehadis and is reaping now what it has sowed in India & Afghanistan for all these years? rajiv asked, Is US supporting Benazir or Musharraf sunil asked, how safe are you feeling in pakistan ritu asked, would like to congratulate you & your team for the courage you have shown. how come your army in pakistan have so much of power??? the power should be in the hands of the people of pakistan. Samir asked, Namaste Hamir Saab, In your view how long this situation will continue in the PAK??????????? rajveer asked, how can pakistan have elections under emergency?? nawaz sshariff is in exile , imran khan is in jail ( a shame how can a national hero be put to this) & bhutto is soon going to be sent off!!! manish asked, Stability of Pak is very import for the stability of the region K asked, In your openion, do you sincerely think the opposition parties are capable of uniting to form a "true democratic front"? It seems all events are going as scripted by General Mushrraf. Can he survive the latest crises assuming he does indeed have USA support? sana asked, hamid jee do u think that election will be held in schedule in pakistan hi asked, hamid ji mujhe bhi journalist bana do sheekya asked, Do you think that, Pakistan be ever a democratic nation like India Suniana asked, Hamidji, you can't disagree that Mushrraf is acting in intrest of Pakistan. he is able to snub US and take them for ride becasue he wanted to save Pakistan. Sriram asked, Can a theocracy be a democracy? shreekant asked, Mr. Mir, what role do you think India can play in sorting out issues Pakistan is facing right now. LP asked, Hi Hamid, Don't you think that this crisis has been perpetuated by an over ambitious chief justice, when Musharraf had publicly announced that he would shed his unform by the end of this year. Why is the media, judiciary and the politicians hell bent on pushing him and the country to the brink of a turmoil ParyForPakistanis asked, Dear Hamir ji, It is a matter of geo-political realty that a strong Pakistan is god for the region. The two issus - religious fundamentalism and military interference - are preventing Pakistan from reaching the levels of prosperity it is capable of. Why do you think it is in such a bad shape now ? Would like to know your thoughts ...Regards wax ghumman asked, MUSH HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH HEHEHEHEHEHEH HAHEHAHEHAHEHAH TU MARNAI WALA HAI INSHALLAH contact asked, WILL YOU STOP PROTESTING AGAINST MUSHARRAF IF MEDIA AND JUDICIARY CURBS ARE LIFTED? Mujeeb asked, what will the future of pakistan its seems people always fighting for differnt cause which has no meaning, I am in China,the infracture is no comparision to pakistan I feel all leaders of pakistan should visit china to see the growth and apply there brains for development. sengupta asked, Mir Saab, I admire you for what you stood for. Dont you think that over dependance on religion and its overt display need to be contained for Pakistan to save itself? Singha asked, Hamid Saheb This pertains to my earlier question on islam and renaissance. The Pakistan movement was sowed by educated muslims such as Syed Ahmed, Jinnah, Iqbal not mullahs. Do you think at some point Pakistan and India should form a common Union. After all the punjabis, muhajirs and sindhis, if not the pathans have linguistic, cultural and racial kinship with us. skh asked, Hello Mr Gul, i read another news somwehere taht UAE govt is thinking of allowing GEO TV to start again. Did u get any intimation for the same and are u looking forward to it? KalyanChaubey asked, If we take experience from India and China, development works(not human development, infrastructure wise) can be done better under an enlightened dictatorship than a chaotic democracy. Democracy requires educated people. The vulneralabity of democracy is, intellectual people like Hamid Mir has the same right as that of a begger on the street, who has no idea of what going on around him. and it is, one single ballot. So most of the times, people give inconclusive verdict. If you take the example of Hitler [Images], on the human development index, the regime was bad. But under him, infrastructure, industry, employment had a boost. Musharraf can never be another Hitler because of the omnipresence of media everywhere. So, why dont you expect Musharraf to do the same development works that authoritative Chinese leadership is doing? Like Indian politicians, Nawaz Sharif and Benazir would keep on opposing each other on development agenda. So progress of Pakistan can be slow. fukpakis asked, When we will hear the good news of Pak breaking down to another four parts?? So your happy now for your forefathers who demanded a free muslim state.....for their greed? WHERE IS THAT BASTARD DAWOOOD IBRHAIM?? GIVE HIM TO US::::HE DESERVE A TREAT FROM INDIANS nazimaliabidi@yahoo.co.in asked, what do u see the future of Pak in near future? Syed Rafi asked, Hello Sir, I've been watching Pakistan politics over the past few years.I feel really sorry for the miserable state.I strongly feel that US is playing dirty politics thru Gen Musharaf for its se4fish means.If Pak cud get away from the US,I think it can have a gr8 future.Whts ur take Vishal asked, How a long lasting peace can be reached between India and Pakistan. S asked, Mr. Mir, I did not see any response to my previous 3 postions tooo, pl. respond...many online postings from Pak says that "people who wants the power are not letting him to do the good job, which he is capable of, similar to what he did in Kargil" what do you want to say to them. Arjun asked, Welcome here Mr.Mir. Nice to see you here , we all are happy in talking with you. Will you think that emergency Rule will help in ending Terrorists network inside pakistan ? Presently pakistan is having big inner threat than any one. hello asked, Hi Hamid Isnt it the first time in history of Pakistan that media and judiciary have become powerful enough to question an army dictator? Deepak asked, i believe you are more popular than sharif and bhutto, why don't you join politics for the sake of pakistan? Everybody would be happy to have you as Pak PM, be it pak people, intl community and most importantly India. Please do think about it husain asked, salaam e walaekum hamid bhai ! please explain the role which right now journalist are playing for the better ment for pakistan ?? cssanjay asked, Hello Hamid Mir Given that MQM and Altaf Husssain is a major player in Pakistan( atleast Sind)politics What do u think has been theire Attitude to the Emergency in Particular and Pervez Mussharaf in General? Administrator says, Thank you Mr Mir, it was a pleasure and an honour to have you with us | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||