Musharraf became a victim of his own liberal policies

Lahore, Sept 2 : Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf became a victim of the immense success of his own liberal policies like allowing a free media, giving women one-third representation in electoral system, and engaging India in an institutional peace process, said a senior PML-Q leader.

In an article in an Indian fortnightly news magazine, PML-Q Secretary General Mushahid Hussain wrote that Musharraf was a military ruler with a difference, having a liberal outlook.

His economic policies led to the emergence of an assertive and articulate middle class. In fact, he was the victim of his own success, the Daily Times quoted him as writing in his article.

Mushahid said that Musharraf was the first military ruler to engage India in an institutional peace process. The main security threat to Pakistan was redefined, away from India, to the internally generated spectre of extremism

He presided over one of the fastest media revolutions in any third world country. Within five years, Pakistan moved from one state-owned television channel to over 50 privately owned news and entertainment channels.

The media revolution gave the urban middle class the confidence to challenge state authority, the PML-Q leader wrote.

The role and representation of women in Pakistan's public life received a boost through Musharraf's policies, ranging from reversing the wrongs of the Zia era, to promoting one-third representation for women in Pakistan's electoral system, added Mushahid.

ANI