In a thought-provoking op-ed "Drawn and Quartered" in The New York Times (Feb 1) noted American expert on south Asian politics, particularly of Pakistan, Selig S. Harrison,- has predicted a very sad end for the country following the cold bloodied assassination of Benazir Bhutto. He strongly believes that "whatever the outcome of the Pakistani elections on Feb. 18, the existing multi-ethnic Pakistani state is not likely to survive for long unless it is radically restructured." A loosely united, confederated Pakistan could still be preserved, according to him provided the defunct 1973 Constitution is re-instated. And his verdict: "....as matters stand, the Punjabi-dominated regime of Pervez Musharraf is headed for a bloody confrontation with the country's Pashtun, Baluch and Sindhi minorities that could well lead to the break-up of Pakistan into three sovereign entities."

Howsoever gory his assessment of post-Bhutto scenario, not many would disagree with Harrison's conclusion. After all, Pakistan under President Pervez Musharraf has become an unmanageable state. Internationally recognised and condemned as the epicentre of global terrorism, its writ of the state has ceased to function; its borders too have ceased to exist. Since long it is either described as a failing state or a failed state.

Expectedly, the denunciation of Harrison was swift and harsh. Pakistan's most 'honourable' Permanent Representative to the United Nations who had earned for himself universal notoriety for beating up his female partner (not wife) has blamed Selig Harrison of becoming part of what he calls "an international conspiracy to destabilize and disintegrate Pakistan, the only Islamic nuclear state."

Notwithstanding the fact that his boss is the obvious villain of the piece in putting the last nail in the coffin of federal Pakistan with the premeditated murder of Bhutto, he terms Selig Harrison's op-ed as: "The orchestrated campaign against President Pervez Musharraf, the denigration of the Pakistani Army, calls for the capture of Pakistan's nuclear assets, the string of suicide bombings and terrorism in Baluchistan are all seen as aimed at this malevolent design."

Much more laughable is his claim that "Pakistan is a strong state held together solidly by the patriotism of its people and the strength of its civilian and military institutions." He is blind to the fact that his boss has rendered Pakistan into a banana state with highest number of people committing suicide out of starvation due to unemployment and that people in more than half of Pakistan have either picked up arms against him or are getting ready to do so to free themselves of his stranglehold.

Sindhis are openly crying loud and clear "Pakistan Na Khapan" (Pakistan is not wanted), people of Baluchistan already carrying on a war for their liberation and a big chunk of NWFP and Northern areas already fallen to Taliban and Al-Qaeda; yet, Islamabad's Permanent Representative at the UN claims "all Pakistanis, including Pashtuns, Sindhis and Baluchis, are much better placed to achieve their aspirations within Pakistan, as they decided in 1947 through an irrevocable act of self-determination."

I would put it straight here that most Pakistanis do not worry about 'an international conspiracy', as Islamabad's fact-twister at the UN alleges. What concerns the majority of Pakistanis is the ongoing internal conspiracy to undo the federation by the man and his cronies at the helm of state affairs.

Could there be a greater internal conspiracy than the election of the President in the high-handed manner that he managed in violation of the Constitution, his sacking of the Chief Justice, the pogrom of independent judges, imposition of the state of emergency, clampdown on the media, freedom of expression strait jacketed by Draconian laws, and topped by the assassination of the country's only unifying leader? Most certainly not! General Musharraf is derisively referred to as YK2 (Gen Yahya Khan presided over the first disintegration of Pakistan in 1971).

His master's voice at the world body claims Pakistan has strong civilian institutions - an odd claim when considered in the light of incarcerated Chief Justice and other judges of the country besides continued detention of Barrister Aitezaz Ahsan, President of the Pakistan Bar Association. It is not "the machinations of external powers and their hired gun" that worry most Pakistanis, but the jerry-mandering and hijacking of the country by successive military juntas.

But since Musharraf's man at the United Nations is much in the pedigree of the animals that he had got himself photographed with in his arms to message the world that he is not a fundoo but a liberal Muslim, his job is to bark. He cannot be expected to grasp the fact that his boss is one man who has given a professional touch to the business of terrorism -notwithstanding the enormous cost to the country.

Benazir Bhutto before she boarded the plane for home on her fatal journey knew well that she was walking into the hornet's nest. Just on the eve of her departure she told me she wanted me to stay in London -"you never know what is in store for me." I expressed my fears about her life in view of the venomous hatred for her among the Bonapartists. As usual she responded "life and death is in the hands of Allah".

Two days before her assassination when I again repeated to her my apprehensions, she said that she had conveyed to President Musharraf and "our other friends" about "her would be killers" hiding in the ex-commando's closet. Not only that she had sent an email to her lobbyist and long-time friend Mark Siegel that in case she is killed Musharraf should be held responsible. Similar assertions are made in her latest book described as "Last Testament" by Sunday Times.

Like Shaheed-i-Karbala Hazrat Imam Hussain (SM) who took his last journey despite knowing what was in store for him to write an immortal chapter in annals of mankind by not surrendering to the usurper, Benazir has indeed repeated the historic sacrifice by not submitting to the modern Yazid now holding Pakistan hostage to his power.

I do not have words to express how rare her courage must have been to write a will two days before her departure to Pakistan-on the basis of information received by her from her knowledgeable friends-that she would be killed. The will-in her unwavering handwriting that I can recognise from far and in green ink-the colour that she loved most-will be remembered as the historic parchment engrained on the sands of time by the force of her conviction.

Even a person with boldest of nerves would have sweated on the very idea of writing a sure precursor of death. Indeed, top most in her mind even at the time of writing of the will "was the mission of Quaid-e-Awam Zulfikar Ali Bhutto for a federal, democratic and egalitarian Pakistan". She had fondly recalled and saluted PPP supporters' courage who stood by her side steadfastly during the two military dictatorships. Her words "I fear for the future of Pakistan. Please continue the fight against extremism, dictatorship, poverty and ignorance" was her message that came under tremendous pressure following her assassination when the people of Sindh in unison thundered out of sheer grief "Pakistan Na-Khapan".

How statesmanly and sagaciously her husband Asif Zardari handled the Pakistan Na-Khapan situation by raising the slogan loud and clear "Pakistan Khapan" (Pakistan is wanted)? He had scotched in the bud the most probable unilateral declaration of independence by the Sindhi nationalists forced into wilderness by Bhutto's commitment to the Quaid's and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto's Pakistan.

I think Benazir's wisdom in nominating Asif Ali Zardari as the Chairman of the PPP to lead the party in the interim period until he and PP members decide what was best-- has passed the most crucial test. He saved Pakistan from a sure break up when it had become most vulnerable for final disintegration at the hands of Sindhi nationalists following Benazir's martyrdom fuelling fire of hatred in their slogan of Pakistan Na-Khapan. His timely and forceful reassertion for the preservation of Quaid's Pakistan supported by the Sindhi masses established beyond any iota of doubt that his words carry weight with the people who have accepted him as their leader.

Not only he prevented Sindh from what appeared to be an imminent UDI, he also saved Pakistan from a civil war following Parvez Elahi's sinister move supported by the senior Pervez to pitch people of Punjab against the Sindhis. Zardari nipped the dirty conspiracy in the bud when he through his speeches and media interviews-told Sindhis that those who had died along with Benazir in Rawalpindi were not Sindhis but brave Punjabi PPP workers.

The publication of the will of Benazir Bhutto has quashed the propaganda of those elements who first said it did not exit and then described it as fake. As I said earlier I can recognise her handwriting from a distance and its genuineness is beyond question. Besides it could only be written by a person of strong nerves as well as innate love for the PPP and its supporters for their commitment to the mission of ZA Bhutto.

It is also a manifestation of the desire of the departed leader to continue struggle against military dictatorship, extremism, to establish democracy and an egalitarian order to eliminate poverty in a federal Pakistan. As a matter of fact she has bequeathed to her party a full agenda that address multifarious problems and challenges faced by the people and the country itself. Her will that identifies dictatorship as the enemy of the people also assigns party workers, their leaders and supporters to continue their struggle against the dictator meaning thereby that they must not surrender to Musharraf come what may. After all she gave her life rather than submit to him and his lust for power. The will that unequivocally asserts the supremacy of the people buries deep down all the conjectures floated in the media about her making deals.

Coming back to Selig Harrison, I agree with his fears that Pakistan is on the verge of a break up. In order to save the country from becoming a footnote in history Pakistanis shall have to restructure the country constitutionally, economically and militarily. Issues related to provincial autonomy shall have to be resolved. Islamabad's sphere of influence shall have to confine to minimal subjects. Provinces should have absolute autonomy in economy. Instead of them receiving share in resources it is they who should award certain percentage of their resources and revenue to the Federal government.

-Syndicate Features