Musharaf's Symbolic Entry on Palm Sunday
Published: 24 March 2013 Abiodun Giwa
General Pervez Musharaf
A curious political observer has linked General Pervez Musharaf's entry into Pakistan on Palm Sunday as symbolic, because he sees people holding palm leaves.
But what has Palm Sunday got to do with political events in Pakistan, someone asked. You can never trust these politicians, he may have decided to arrive mimicking Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem as a king.
However, unlike Jesus Christ who arrived in Jerusalem amid the shout of hosannah with "BLESSED BE THE KING THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD", without armed guards, Musharaf was welcomed to Pakistan with arrays of armed guards. And a ceremony planned for his arrival cancelled, the BBC reported.
According to the BBC, the earlier planned return of Pakistan's former president from self-exile had been cancelled on more than one occasion. Thus observers say his determined return on a Palm Sunday signifies courage and readiness for the worst since he is planning to vie for election to return as an elected president.
One weird statement of his return's report that observers find confusing is the suspension of trials over three murder cases against him to facilitate his return. Are unresolved allegations against him not strong enough to bring public backlash against his ambition to return to office?
A report by CNN says that the former president has paid for a type of bail that will give him freedom for 15 days during which he can't be arrested. This leaves unanswered question about what will happen after 15 days.
And that has brought questions about what type of country is Pakistan, and more about what kind of man is Musharaf?
Pakistan hardly needs introduction as a hotbed of terrorism and political instability. Perhaps, Pakistan status may explain the type of man who had ruled the country as a military general for over 10 years before he embarked on self-exile.
The CNN reports that Musharaf has declared his intention to run for office in the country's May general election, saying he defied risks to save his country. He has disregarded Pakistan Taliban's announced intention to unleash a death squad to assassinate him. Virtually all monitored reports about his return said he had returned despite threats against his life. In a separate report by the BBC, he said he felt emotional returning to Pakistan, but said he had mixed feelings because of the risks to himself and his supporters.
Unfortunately, no one asked him about why he decided to return on a Palm Sunday. Although Jesus Christ didn't return to Jerusalem, having been born in Bethlehem, began his Ministry and declared his coming as fulfillment of prophesies as the King of the Jews. Jerusalem at the time being the headquarter of the Jews, he was forbidden by tradition from entry as the Jews couldn't have been expected to welcome another king since it already had a king. But the similarity between Christ's story and Mustaraf's is the threat against both of them before they made their respective entry. Disciples of Christ forbade him from going to Jerusalem, but he insisted that he must go to fulfill his father's plans. Musharaf said he returned home following his decision to overlook warnings from some of his supporters.
Christ was arrested and charged for calling himself the king of Jews and nailed on a cross. No one can say what fate awaits Musharaf in Pakistan other than wait to see how events unfold in the country, first in the murder case against him, while the country prepares for the May election. He certainly has conquered fear by returning home relying on government and his own security apparatus.
But what has Palm Sunday got to do with political events in Pakistan, someone asked. You can never trust these politicians, he may have decided to arrive mimicking Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem as a king.
However, unlike Jesus Christ who arrived in Jerusalem amid the shout of hosannah with "BLESSED BE THE KING THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD", without armed guards, Musharaf was welcomed to Pakistan with arrays of armed guards. And a ceremony planned for his arrival cancelled, the BBC reported.
According to the BBC, the earlier planned return of Pakistan's former president from self-exile had been cancelled on more than one occasion. Thus observers say his determined return on a Palm Sunday signifies courage and readiness for the worst since he is planning to vie for election to return as an elected president.
One weird statement of his return's report that observers find confusing is the suspension of trials over three murder cases against him to facilitate his return. Are unresolved allegations against him not strong enough to bring public backlash against his ambition to return to office?
A report by CNN says that the former president has paid for a type of bail that will give him freedom for 15 days during which he can't be arrested. This leaves unanswered question about what will happen after 15 days.
And that has brought questions about what type of country is Pakistan, and more about what kind of man is Musharaf?
Pakistan hardly needs introduction as a hotbed of terrorism and political instability. Perhaps, Pakistan status may explain the type of man who had ruled the country as a military general for over 10 years before he embarked on self-exile.
The CNN reports that Musharaf has declared his intention to run for office in the country's May general election, saying he defied risks to save his country. He has disregarded Pakistan Taliban's announced intention to unleash a death squad to assassinate him. Virtually all monitored reports about his return said he had returned despite threats against his life. In a separate report by the BBC, he said he felt emotional returning to Pakistan, but said he had mixed feelings because of the risks to himself and his supporters.
Unfortunately, no one asked him about why he decided to return on a Palm Sunday. Although Jesus Christ didn't return to Jerusalem, having been born in Bethlehem, began his Ministry and declared his coming as fulfillment of prophesies as the King of the Jews. Jerusalem at the time being the headquarter of the Jews, he was forbidden by tradition from entry as the Jews couldn't have been expected to welcome another king since it already had a king. But the similarity between Christ's story and Mustaraf's is the threat against both of them before they made their respective entry. Disciples of Christ forbade him from going to Jerusalem, but he insisted that he must go to fulfill his father's plans. Musharaf said he returned home following his decision to overlook warnings from some of his supporters.
Christ was arrested and charged for calling himself the king of Jews and nailed on a cross. No one can say what fate awaits Musharaf in Pakistan other than wait to see how events unfold in the country, first in the murder case against him, while the country prepares for the May election. He certainly has conquered fear by returning home relying on government and his own security apparatus.
HTML Comment Box is loading comments...
