I AM RETURNING to Pakistan on October 18 to bring change to my country. Pakistan's future viability, stability and security lie in empowering its people and building political institutions.

My goal is to prove that the fundamental battle for the hearts and minds of a generation can be accomplished only under democracy.

The central issue facing Pakistan is moderation vs. extremism. The resolution of this issue will affect the world, particularly South and Central Asia and all Muslim nations.

Extremism can flourish only in an environment where basic governmental social responsibility for the welfare of the people is neglected. Political dictatorship and social hopelessness create the desperation that fuels religious extremism.

Throughout Pakistan's 60-year history, weaving between dictatorship and democracy, from free elections to rigged elections to no elections, religious fundamentalists have never been a significant part of our political consciousness. We are inherently a centrist, moderate nation.

Historically, the religious parties have not received more than 11 per cent of the vote in national elections. The largest political party is mine, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). Pakistan's political landscape has been molded primarily by the moderate PPP, which has demonstrated strong and continuous support from the rural masses and the urban elite.

Extremism looms as a threat, but it will be contained as it has been in the past if the moderate middle can be mobilised to stand up to fanaticism. I return to lead that battle.

I have led an unusual life. I have buried a father killed at age 50 and two brothers killed in the prime of their lives. I raised my children as a single mother when my husband was arrested and held for eight years without a conviction - a hostage to my political career.

I made my choice when the mantle of political leadership was thrust upon my shoulders after my father's murder. I did not shrink from responsibility then, and I will not shrink from it now.

I am aware that some in Pakistan have questioned the dialogue I have engaged in with Gen. Pervez Musharraf over the past several months. I held those discussions hoping that Musharraf would resign from the army and restore democracy.

My goal in that dialogue has never been personal but was always to ensure that there be fair and free elections in Pakistan, to save democracy.

The fight against extremism requires a national effort that can flow only from legitimate elections. Within our intelligence and military are elements who sympathise with religious extremists. If these elements are not answerable to Parliament and the elected government, the battle against religious militancy, a battle for the survival and future of Pakistan, could be lost.

The military must be part of the battle against extremism, but as the six years since September 11, 2001, have shown, the military cannot do it on its own.

Many issues remain unresolved in our political structure. Musharraf is precluded from seeking re-election in or out of uniform. Pakistani law requires a two-year wait before a member of the military can run for the presidency. The general can respond to the people's desire for legitimate presidential, parliamentary and ministerial elections, or he can tamper with the constitution.

The latter choice would risk a fresh confrontation with the judiciary, the legal community and the political parties. Such a confrontation could lead to another declaration of martial law, civil unrest or both.

Civil unrest is what the extremists want. Anarchy and chaos suit them.

The political element in Musharraf's party that presided over the rise of extremism has worked with every Pakistani administration since my government was destabilised in 1996. Its members are blocking the democratic change I have tried to achieve with Musharraf. They fear that democracy will be difficult to manipulate to the benefit of extremists and militants.

My dialogue with Musharraf aims to move the country forward from a dictatorship that has failed to stop the tribal areas from becoming havens for terrorists. The extremists are even spreading their tentacles into Pakistan's cities.

LAST month brought a fresh challenge. Just days ago, Pakistan's election commission arbitrarily amended the constitutional provision regarding the eligibility of a person competent to contest for the office of president. As the constitution can be amended only through a two-thirds majority in Parliament, a judicial hornet's nest has been stirred.

My party and I seek fair, free and impartial elections to be held by an independent election commission under an interim government of national consensus. We want a level playing field for all candidates and parties.

In words commonly attributed to Joseph Stalin, 'Those who cast the vote decide nothing. Those who count the vote decide everything.' That's why we have stressed electoral reforms - although our efforts have so far been in vain.

President Bush has rightly noted, 'The most powerful weapon in the struggle against extremism is not bullets or bombs - it is the universal appeal of freedom. Freedom is the design of our maker, and the longing of every soul.'

When my flight lands in Pakistan this month, I know I will be greeted with joy by the people. I do not know what awaits me, personally or politically, once I leave the airport. I pray for the best and prepare for the worst.

But in any case, I am going home to fight for the restoration of Pakistan's place in the community of democratic nations. - Global Viewpoint

(This article was written a fortnight before the controversial October 5 elections were held in Pakistan that saw General Musharraf being swept in virtually uncontested.)

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THEY ARE thousands of miles away from the land of their birth. Their have built their lives now in Canada, their adopted country. This is home now, but the ties with the land they were born and grew up in are still strong.

Every social and political development is watched, discussed and debated passionately. As various players tiptoe around the political minefield, they are keenly being watched by Pakistani Canadians.

Pervaiz Salahuddin's TV watching habits were quintessentially North American. Every evening he had to get his fix of Friends, Fraser, CNN and Seinfield. Nothing or no one could unglue him from the screen. He won't be weaned even now.

But there is a difference. In the past six months the only channel surfing he has done is to catch the latest news from his home country Pakistan.

Though spatially distanced, he is politically right there in Pakistan, thanks to the digital era where private channels deliver the political goings-on right in Canadian living rooms.

And he is not alone. The happenings in Pakistani political landscape - be it the country's fate under General Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif's deportation or Benazir Bhutto's return, are the subject of passionate debates and discussions in the privacy of sanitised living rooms as well as in rambunctious social gatherings.

For first generation immigrants, these discussions are also a thread connecting them with 'home' and the fears and hopes they have for its well-being.

Though vociferous in expression, not many are willing to go on record for they are unsure of the impact their statements may have on the extended family living in Pakistan.

The gist of their apprehension is: True Pakistan is not under a 'dictatorship' but the army has a pervasive influence and in the volatile ground of shifting political equations, one does not know how the politicians will align with. 'We are safe here but why create difficulties for beloved ones back home?'

Interest in the country's political quicksand notwithstanding, there seems to be a pervasive disappointment at the lack of viable and good alternatives.

Here is a snapshot of some Pakistani Canadians' comments on the current political scenario focusing on three main issues: the country under military rule with specific reference to Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif's deportation and Benazir Bhutto's impending return

 - By V. Radhika In Toronto

Atiya Khan, Filmmaker

GENERAL Pervez Musharraf wants to put the country back on track and is doing as much as he can to do that. He has faced a lot of difficulties but if we look at the steps he has taken such as Press freedom, inviting parties to hold elections and have their say, I think he has proved to be more democratic than so called democratic parties in the past.

We have to understand that to a large extent democracy in a country like Pakistan is tricky. What has passed off as democracy in the past is not democracy. There is a feudal setup and the way elections have happened is that everybody has their own areas where they exert power and people from those areas vote for those people for various different reasons.

Pakistan is not really a country where democracy in a true sense exists. Under the circumstances, Musharraf is very sincere and is trying his best to do what is best for country. He is balancing a very fine line, in fact more people in Pakistan condemn him for not being more strong. The people he is dealing with are well known corrupt people who have misused their power in the past and continue to ride on the bandwagon of democracy, human rights etc but don't practice it themselves.

Nawaz Sharif was threatening to destabilise the country. The faceoff with the judiciary was coming to a point where Musharraf was being seen as a weak president, he was losing his credibility. Under those circumstances to reassert himself it was justified.

If Pakistan is destabilised now it is going to be a very dangerous situation.

From events that happened in the near past it is obvious that Sharif's coming was a move towards destablising the government.

Benazir Bhutto's return is a tricky situation. She has her own agenda, terms and conditions. Personally I think she has had two chances in the past and she has done very badly, but if she is willing to work with government and Musharraf, let us see. In herself I don't have any kind of hope.

Nawaz sharief was elected twice and so was Benazir Bhutto. They were given two chances and I remember we all supported both of them and had great hopes for both of them, but they were a huge disappointment.

The country needs Musharraf, he has managed to keep us secure and given some credibility. Right now, with the religious extremism on one hand and the world situation on other, and our being strategically in the middle of these troubled areas, we need a very strong person running the country. I think he is trying his best to take country out of crisis and put it on the right track. I don't see him as power hungry. 

The 'future is uncertain'

Najeeb Kazmi, Engineer and activist

ANY PERSON person who has affinity with democratic socialism can never support a military ruler because that's not in the interest of the country.

But there is one thing, when Musharraf usurped power from the elected Prime Minister of Pakistan, at that time the Pakistan economy was in a bad condition. For the first three years there was a downward trend, but post 9/11 the economy showed a marked improvement.

It received financial support from the West for assuming a frontline role in the US-led war against terrorism. Then Musharraf became everybody's darling because he was selected to play a very definitive role.

Military or army rule is a curse for any nation.

The deportation of Nawaz Sharif? In Pakistan anything is possible. It is a medieval practice to deport someone, and what was that little piece of paper (exile agreement)? It is not an instrument, but a fraud, just a piece of paper This is just a vendetta of feudal politics. I am not trying to say Nawaz Sharif was good, but he should not have been treated like that.

And what happened to the court decision giving Sharif permission to return? Nobody followed up on that.

Benazir Bhutto's return:  People of Pakistan are totally confused. They say Musharraf has developed a fascination for staying in power and Benazir is seemingly part of a new US strategy. And now she is talking tough.

For the time being, let's assume that she returns to Pakistan with fanfare, she probably knows that in Pakistan's long history the inability of politicians and military generals to make a stable government is due to mutual suspicion. The military brass never trusted her and will not now.

We are poised for a readymade disaster. God bless Pakistan. The country is at a crossroads again and Pakistanis are looking at very uncertain future. 

'No place for men in uniform'

Fawad Mirza, Businessman

AN ADAGE in Lincoln's Gettysburg address, 'Government of the people, by the people and for the people' is true when people have the right to elect their true representative and vote them out of power when not representing the people's interests. History shows that a self-proclaimed saviour turns into a despot and a tyrant [later].

I;m not absolving politicians of their past doings. In Pakistan men in uniform have directly ruled for three decades and indirectly participated in power sharing for a greater part of the remaining period. The irony is that politicians are quickly blamed for their weaknesses but no one highlights the follies made by military rulers.

Politician may have failed in the past but a good analogy would be that if our electrician is doing a bad job we don't hire a plumber to replace him. In fact, it would be wise to look for another electrician to finish the job.

Regardless of the personality there should not be any room for a man in uniform to take the reigns of power. A country can't be run by a single person or a group of people but rather by an efficient system which is legitimate, transparent and inclusive of all segments of the society. Despotic rule creates elitism and insulates the ruler from the ruled hence denying proper checks and balances.

Moderation is a term that has taken a new meaning in the post-9/11 world. Historically speaking, in Pakistan the religious parties have never polled more than 11 per cent of the total vote cast in general elections. None of Pakistan's past civilian rulers have been directly or indirectly associated with the religious parties.

Democracy is not a perfect system but it's an ever evolving and self-correcting system. Whenever it is allowed to function in Pakistan, a moderate and forward looking leadership has emerged.

Nawaz Sharif's deportation is a despicable and shameful act by the regime. It's the birthright of every citizen of the state to come back to his or her country of origin and play a positive role in society.

Benazir Bhutto's return: Destiny has again put her on the crossroads to emerge as a true hero or an ordinary power broker but the question is if she's able to deliver this time.

Her first opportunity in 1988 was wasted due to her inexperience but now she understands the system better and shoulders the huge responsibility of putting the political system back on rails. Undoubtedly, she's the leader with the largest following and representation.  I hope she leverages her position and carries all the political forces together to create an atmosphere of harmony and coexistence.