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 There is a growing belief among the educated masses, particularly Pakistani youth, that Pervez Musharraf is the only one who has the vision and determination to make the country a truly modern and progressive state.
"18th August, 2008: the day Pakistan committed suicide." - Facebook status update
With General Musharraf gearing up to ‘formally' announce his political party- the All Pakistan Muslim League (APML)- in July, one wonders whether the overwhelming response that he is anticipating will be a clear reflection of his facebook fan page statistics. Though much has already been written about the Generals' hyped comeback, his critics seem to be getting unusually loud in their constant addresses to the ‘General' problem. Musharraf has been accused multiple times of harboring greed, nursing a damaged ego, thirsting revenge or even begging for new publicity. Few have concluded that it may be his genuine desire or pure loyalty towards his country that may be driving him to return. Punjab Secretary Information Mian Muhammad Asif who recently jumped on the bandwagon, blatantly (and baselessly) stated that "any party supporting Musharraf would jeopardize its political carrier." Much of the support that Mr. Musharraf may have already counted on also seems to be un-interested as his close friend and ex- Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz stated "Politics is not for everyone. You do not need a political office to serve the nation."
What then is ex-military dictator, ex-General Pervez Musharraf thinking? Is he even thinking? At a time when the average Pakistani is lining up outside the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad under the sweltering heat to secure a visa to leave this country, Mr. Musharraf seems to be planning and plotting a return to Pakistani politics, and that also...with a big bang.
A man who allowed the flourishing of private media channels in the country and eventually persecuted them has once again chosen the media as his prime PR tool. Unlike many in his generation, he certainly knows how to play the game. Avid (and even not so avid) users of facebook will tell you that Musharraf's very impressive fan page boasting over 200,000 fans has become the friend that everybody wants. He regularly uploads pictures and video messages to the people (in particular the youth) of Pakistan, securing for himself a perpetual slot on the newsfeed. Quickly becoming one of the biggest stars on facebook, Musharraf was declared Connector of the Day by CNN earlier this year. His popularity further peaked when he reached out to his fellow supporters on additional social networking sites such as Twitter and Orkut. The Internet is abuzz with pro-Musharraf rhetoric that has shown itself in the rising number of youtube videos highlighting Musharraf's moderate and modern speeches to not only the people of Pakistan but also his foreign counterparts. Various bloggers complimenting his grace and skill as a leader, his highly capable technocratic government and the golden state of the economy under his supreme guidance are the first to attack anti-Mush campaigns on the Internet (see Faisal Qureshi's blog). But how much will these fans feature in his re-rise to power?
With three quarters of the population under the age of 30, the disenchanted youth of Pakistan is desperate for political change and Musharraf is quickly becoming their messiah. He stands out from amongst the rest of his political rivals as he shows a genuine interest and belief in the youth as the ‘key for change' by making himself accessible to them and valuing and inquiring about their opinions. And why shouldn't he? It was after all the youth that protested outside the Press Club to (eventually unsuccessfully) convince him not to resign. Old parties and equally old faces, leaving the youth to bite the dust, have often monopolized Pakistani politics and Musharraf, though 66, seems adamant about breaking this tradition by enlisting a large percentage of the youth in the APML. Democratic parties today function more like authoritarian regimes where the power and authority of the numero uno is left unquestioned. Provoked and inspired, the youth for the first time is entering political awakening and Musharraf seems to be their elixir of life. But is this youth comparable to their politically active Iranian counterparts who made their presence known worldwide during the 2009 presidential election? Will they come through for him?
Often accused of being apathetic and divided, they are nonetheless full of vigor and strength if given the opportunity. They are searching for their Mousavi and Musharraf seems to perfectly fit that criteria. This increasingly active youth has prospered under Musharraf's ‘dictatorship' and suffered the grave consequences of a ‘democracy' gone out of control. Disenchanted with global democratic rhetoric, many in Pakistan are prepared to abandon this notion for a real pursuit of happiness. A reflection of their pathetic state, a majority of Pakistanis simply demand the little pleasures of life, such as electricity and water supply, returned to them as their rights as citizens command. Today a non-existent state of law and order, unprecedented level of corruption and massive inflation characterize a country that was, back in 2006, the third fastest growing economy after China and India.
Frustrated, young Pakistanis reminisce of the time when an articulate, confident and visionary leader represented them on the global platform. Today they shamefully see a self-involved government, struggling under the façade of democracy, limping across the world stage with a beggars bowl. Political discussion is rampant in this society and it isn't too long before the average Pakistani, with a wistful look in his eyes, starts listing the lower levels of poverty, immense job creation, rising stock markets, foreign investment, occasional load shedding and a steady exchange rate that characterized the Mush era. National security features as a prime concern and almost every young Pakistani is concerned about the presence of foreign troops on Pakistani soil and daily drone attacks. With old politicians caught up in the blame game, amusingly enough, it is the youth that comes to Musharraf's rescue whether in print or broadcast media. Barely surviving under the outstanding guidance of Zardari/pseudo Bhutto, this informed youth places security and foreign intervention, as priority and is able to intelligently contrast the two eras it most lucidly remembers. Acknowledging that Musharraf made his fair share of mistakes, an overwhelming opinion states that in order to re-establish a stable and prosperous Pakistan, it is imperative to have a man fluent in political diplomacy and well versed in military logic. Young Pakistanis, whether overseas or at home, are sick of the U.S. dictating its terms. Some circles may not fall for the god-like persona of Pervez Musharraf, but searching for the person who can look the Americans straight in the eye and speak to them like an equal, many unanimously conclude that Zardari is not their man.
Pervez Musharraf is not just another politician. Unlike the Sharifs or the Bhuttos he does not come from a politically charged background wrought with corruption and greed. While it can be argued that a General's place is solely in the military, Pakistan has shown time and again that it is not indeed ready for democracy. A product of the only structured and disciplined political party in Pakistan - the Army -Musharraf is a perfect representative.
A dictatorship is marked not by a title but rather by its rule of law. Speaking in Wales, Musharraf stated that "the economy is the core of everything" with law and order and "bringing political stability back to the country" featuring as close seconds. Musharraf portrays a modern and progressive Pakistan through his own public image. The betrayed people of Pakistan are ready to overlook his mistakes and welcome back a visionary leader who is bilingual in both politics and military. Though support for Pervez Musharraf is rapidly rising regardless of age, sex or social class, statistics illustrate that 80% of the support is from young people aged between 18 and 34. This cross section may ultimately prove to be Musharraf's saving grace. The Pakistani people are known for their intensity, loyalty and above all, forgiveness. Though Pervez Musharraf may not necessarily be the right answer. He is determined to not be the wrong one either. 
Arsla Jawaid is Assistant Editor at SouthAsia Magazine. She holds a B.A in International Relations, with a focus on foreign policy and security studies, from Boston University.
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