Several Pakistani Dartmouth students openly support the military coup that took place earlier this month in Pakistan.
On October 12 General Pervez Musharraf led the coup to oust the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, suspended the Constitution and declared military rule -- an action that ended democracy installed in the country since 1986.
Although several armed soldiers stormed the residence of Prime Minister Sharif, it was an apparently bloodless undertaking.
While some Pakistanis demonstrated against the takeover, many native citizens approve the military effort to ensure an expeditious cleanup of government corruption.
Shehryar Salamat '00, a student who has family and friends in Pakistan, said "people are pretty happy about it."
Salamat found out about the coup the day it happened from a friend in Pakistan who e-mailed him about the event.
Salamat believes that the coup was in the best interest of the country. "The country was going to the dogs," he said.
Amyn Pesnani '03 said he was not surprised by the ousting of Prime Minister Sharif who was "becoming more or less a dictator."
"He tried to weaken the army, which was his worst mistake" because the army is "the most powerful institution" in Pakistan and "is popular with the people," Pesnani said.
Sadiq Malik '00, who also discovered the news from e-mails from friends, agreed that much of the native population is happy. While he thinks it is unfortunate that the coup had to occur since "democracy should be given time," he supports General Musharraf.
"A lot of people were frustrated with the government," Malik said. "Let's give [General Musharraf] a chance."
Malik, who has actually met General Musharraf since his own father is in the Pakistani military, added that he thinks Musharraf is an intelligent, educated man who appears to "mean business."
Malik also explained that the General's plans include appointing "professionals in each province to run the show" and establishing a formal governmental body of six members in charge of determining the country's national security interests.
Nikhil Bharadwaj '03, a Dartmouth student of Indian descent, believes the coup will have consequences that overreach the borders of Pakistan.
"It's going to have an effect in India," Bharadwaj said. "I have heard General Musharraf is on the hard-line side. It will make things worse" between the two nations when talks over disputed lands along the border resume.
On October 21, Musharraf made good on his promise to appoint regional governors, selecting both army and civilian representatives.
Former Prime Minister Sharif is currently being investigated for corruption, including stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from state banks. Held in isolation at one of his residences near Islamabad, Sharif will likely face trial on charges of defaulting on bank loans and tax evasion.