Pakistan

Poor Pakistan. Ayub Khan, Yahir Khan, Zia Ul-Haq, Pervez Musharraf - it has had more than its fair share of military leaders over the years. There are hints now that things may change, but it seems as likely as not that the country will be let down again.

The military - civilian pendulum seems to keep time with the alternation of authoritarianism and corruption, Islam providing a backdrop of varying intensity.

Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took the country into civilian rule but was as autocratic as any dictator. I remember him being questioned in an interview about the particularly bloody put down of some civilian unrest and his reply - along the lines of 'you've got to be tough, it's the only language these people understand' - would have got a colonial administrator transferred back home. Bhutto was wealthy, Shia, corrupt, socialist and murderous. When the military under Zia ul-Haq took over he was imprisoned and hanged for the murder of a political opponent. After Zia was recalled by his maker (mysterious plane crash) the government alternated unstably from Bhutto's daughter Benazir to Nawaz Sharif. Both have been charged with corruption and sent into exile. They are now returning - Nawaz returned and was sent back the other day, Benazir has announced her return today - and one can't help feeling Pakistan deserves better.

I knew Benazir a bit at Oxford in the 1970s (her father had also been an Oxford man). There were persistent rumours then about her voracious sexual appetite, and a Malaysian journalist once told me he had reliable reports (!) that her cries of pleasure could be heard at some distance. I could only reply that my college was half a mile from hers and I heard little or nothing.

My memories of Benazir are of a young woman self-obsessed almost to the point of insanity. You could see a little of the Hitler, a little of the Nasser. Others, I know, felt differently, but if there was also a little of the Ghandi she managed to keep it well in check. I should personally regard her as a most unsuitable leader for a country in such turmoil and of such strategic importance. The corruption questions remain but presumably will be forgotten.

It is said that Benazir has done a deal with Musharraf, and it is said that Musharraf will drop her if he doesn't need her, and it is said that the West would rather have Musharraf with Benazir as a puppet prime minister. Who knows? As I said, Pakistan deserves better. What about Imran Khan? At least he could bowl.