Politics
Olive branch
`Surveillance observers' over the half century of Pakistan's history comprehend that right from the military ruler Ayub Khan to the current President, Gen Pervez Musharraf, none have showed interest in the devolution of power to democratically-elected le aders. The happiness evinced by the people when the nation was taken over by Zia Ul Haq from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and later by Gen Musharraf from Mr Nawaz Sharif is proof that the majority of the people have absolutely no faith in democracy.

Staying on
It cannot be anybody's fault that the top rung of the bureaucracy at the Centre was severely handicapped in its efforts to make the ruling politicians wiser, that too after more than fifty years of experience, about the affairs of the state solely becaus e the tenure of the cabinet secretary has often been short. The top officers are masters of the art of sycophancy. By currying favour with the king-makers, they know they can manipulate a situation to remain in their seats beyond the normal age of supera nnuation or at least secure post-retirement sinecures.

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