Carla Neal/Jan, 27 2008 2:35pm/Musharraf’s remarks on democracy slammed

This article was a response to some of President Musharraf’s(leader of Pakistan) remarks on his European tour. One of his speeches focused on why Pakistan has not yet become a democracy and why they won’t be able to become one as quick as some would like. It was in this speech that he remarked that “the western people are obsessed with democracy” and need to realize that Pakistan cannot just become a democracy over night. It seems; however, that these excuses have been heard before by the Pakistan people and other governments as a response to questions and other leader’s speeches on the good of democracy.

The responses to Musharraf’s latest speeches convey how fed up people are becoming of his continued excuses and lack of action. Opposing parties of the president were irate with his latest statements, claiming that the country was indeed ready for democracy and that Musharraf was just trying to keep hold of his country through dictatorial method and military rule. Another group, The Pakistan People’s Party states that Musharraf is just insecure, worrying about what will happen to him(his future) if democracy is applied in Pakistan. Governments and leaders of other countries are becoming increasingly annoyed with the same excuses time after time as well as annoyed with the delay of the President to help bring about the change of democracy in his country for the betterment of his people. But for some reason Musharraf is trying to delay or avoid democracy for his country.

While I do agree that a democracy cannot be developed in a short period of time, I believe that the main focus of a leader should be the welfare and happiness of it’s people, so while I can accept the President’s excuse that democracy can’t grow overnight, I believe his motives are more selfish than anything(power) and that he is not thinking of the betterment of his people(democracy or not).
http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/24/stories/2008012455371400.htm