Hosni Mubarak, who thought himself to be absolutely infallible while occupied the throne for long 31 years, is now not only hospitalized with mental depression but also caged as well meaning by that in the given circumstances he has absolutely, without any contradiction, has moved from one extreme to another extreme which he had never ever even dreamt alike throughout his 83 years of life but this is what he has himself opted for. Those who worked under his command and control and could not dare even to think to disobey him are now very much against him and wish that not only the tyrant himself but his family including wife and sons too to be sent to gallows for the heinous crimes they have committed against their fellow compatriots. The things have completely turned upside down so far as Hosni is concerned but none else he himself is to curse and blame for such an unprecedented debacle in the history of Egypt which once had been tipped as one of the most civilized nation.
As a neutral person, I will pen without any hesitation and reluctance that ever since Hosni had been too despotic, arrogant, cruel and oppressive while at the top of the ladder, he did not even think for a fraction of a second that one day he is to go, rather on the contra, there were apparent signs vividly projecting and pointing out that he wanted to reign the country till his death, if I am not mistaken. He had groomed his son Jamal to be his heir and he was very much confident that none but his son will occupy the throne as and when he quits. Next presidential elections were due in September, 2011 and he had no intention whatsoever to quit the power otherwise he at his own should have publicly and willingly announced that he will just contend to complete his present term and would not contest in September, 2011 but it was not so. He was not at all in a mood leaving the throne but alas he despite his all out efforts to linger on president did not bear any fruit and he had to quit in the most disgraced and shameful manner for which he is to blame none but himself only.
President Anwar El Sadaat was assassinated, which as such, provided the golden opportunity to him to take over as President on 14th October, 1981. Primarily Hosni is a person in uniform who normally should have retired in uniform which is the case with majority of the people. He joined as Air Force as a pilot officer in 1950 and by the year 1969 he has risen to the post of Chief of Staff in Air Force which is quite a coveted post in any case. It was 1972 when he took up as Deputy Defense Minister and later on luckily in 1975 he was sworn in Prime Minister as well. However, he while working under President El Sadaat had proved to be very much loyal to his boss who in turn too much trusted him and had sent him to too many countries to represent Egypt which quite naturally provided him an open window to climb still the higher. He was also very much fortunate to even address United Nations general assembly session where primarily head of states are invited to address the august gathering.
If we hurriedly look back as to what led to his downfall, we will notice that it did not take that long, not even three weeks what talk of a month or a year, just 18 days to be exact (25th Jan-11th Feb) and he was toppled which is a bit strange to comprehend. He was head of the state and not head of the government meaning by that he was at the top of the ladder and none was above him or in other words each and everyone was under his subordination. He who occupied the throne for 41 years normally cannot be dethroned so quickly but yet it did happen so. There was fire of discontentment, oppression and hatred already in the offing which was simmering and badly needed a bit of fuel to burst out and this is what exactly happened. Egyptians came on roads in such a bulk majority that none could even think of and they thronged in the capital Cairo and occupied Tahrir Square which is very much hub of the city. They raised their bitter voices against the president and wished that he should immediately and unconditionally leave the office but he did not listen to them at all rather he deployed police, para military and army to crush and quell the protesters by hook or crook and the world has seen that many innocent lives were lost in the melee but Hosni was adamant not to quit. The protesters instead of thinning out kept on growing in numbers and the human see demanded nothing but his resignation.
Hosni who had been too stubborn, tough, rough and stiff throughout his rule now when saw that the protesters are not deterred at all even though many have been killed; he in sheer desperation thought of a very tactical move to calm down the agitators by appearing on television and announced that he will not contest the forthcoming elections in September 2011 and wishes to complete his present term only. In the same appearance, he also promised that he will introduce some constitutional reforms but the people could not be tricked by such announcements and they voiced nothing but for his immediate resignation. Hosni very smartly and cunningly gambled on his fate but now it was too late to be reckoned and assimilated by his masses since his fate had already been sealed. He was still busy with his advisors and stooges to find any escape route, if possible.
On Friday 11th February Omar Suleman, Vice President announced that Hosni Mobarak has eventually though reluctantly tendered his resignation and the news was welcomed by all whether they were in the country or outside the country. Huge fireworks lit the sky and people danced and sang throughout the country since it was none but their exclusive triumph. The struggle which started on 25th January ended on 11th February and though and the one who thought himself to be infallible has fallen down with utmost humiliation and hatred if he can realize.
The prosecution has slapped ban of him and his family to leave the country and instead face various criminal charges leveled against him, his wife and his two sons. They have not only been accused or premeditated murder but also plundering national wealth and nepotism. It is also aired that prosecution is digging out if Hosni could be directly or indirectly involved in the assignation of previous president Anwar Al Saddat but it will take some time to establish his involvement in the said murder. His two sons who are already behind the bars and were clad in white prison uniform when yesterday they were produced along with their father before the judge. One can only imagine which cannot be described in words as to what the father or the two sons, for that matter, must have felt individually and collectively when they faced each other as co-accused before the judge. The father, who as per the law of the nature, is the commander and superior to his children in this case is does not enjoy that inborn authority anymore which must a lifelong remembering lesson not for them but total human beings at large that you reap what you sow and I wish it is not repeated alike neither in Egypt or anywhere else.
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With my honest and solemn prayers.
Iqbal Hadi Zaidi /